The One: Gilmore Girls

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Logan's POV
     I had been sitting at this dinner for nearly two hours already and just wanted it to be over. It felt as if the men around me were talking in a loop with the same topic over and over again. I can't wait for this particular carousel to stop turning. I haven't had the chance to really talk to Finn to see how things went and I was starting to worry. All I had gotten was a quick text saying things were being discussed and he'd get back to me. That was two days ago and I've heard nothing. Is she okay? Is she still processing the things in the letter? What could she be thinking? Will she…
“Logan, Tom and Matt were just saying how well things are running here. We've been talking over the last few weeks and feel it may be time to give Bobbi her shot. Let her spread her wings a little and run the show here in London”. As I look up to respond I swear I see her and Colin in the mirror behind the bar. I close my eyes briefly and when I open them again they're gone. I really need to get some sleep if my mind is starting to play tricks on me.
“So what do you think?”
“I believe she would do well running things. My only question is where exactly will I be?”
“Some problems have come up in New York. With the company expanding and my travels we need you home to run things. Is that going to be a problem for you?” A problem? Is he kidding, I'll be that much closer to Stars Hollow. I look up and I swear I see them again. This time heading towards the back of the restaurant. Again a blink and they're gone. This working until 3 a.m. and getting up at 6 a.m. must be starting to catch up to me.
“No that won't be a problem at all. How quickly are we looking to transition?”
“Well Bobbi is you're right hand so she already knows the drill. We need you back in New York in two weeks. It's not long but it's all the time we have”. I'm ecstatic in two weeks I’ll be that much closer to my girl.
“No problem we'll make it work”.
“Alright gentlemen I believe that's all for this evening. Logan, the apartment in the city is still available if you want to stay there.”
“Great thanks”. We all stand to leave and as the others start to walk away I hear a whispered “Loogan”. I glance around but everyone is involved in their own quiet conversations. I shake it off and head to the bar exit. “Loogan” another whisper and again no one notices. I'm starting to get a little freaked out so I speed to the door. Opening the door I hear it I swear from three different directions “Loogan”. As I step outside I run straight into a man in a top hat, waistcoat, gloves and carrying a fan. He pulls out a pocket watch mumbling “Oh my,  I'm late”. That brought back memories of my favorite book and the white rabbit. Looking out into the night I realize it's eerily similar to the night we picked Rory up in Star's Hollow. The fog is thick and you can see signs flickering in the distance. Out of the fog appears a man on a unicycle that looks vaguely familiar. He raises his top hat and bows as he rides by. I hear him say “by the pricking of my thumb” and I freeze on the sidewalk. No they couldn't, they wouldn't at least not in London. Shaking my head I walk to my car but instead of my usual driver I see Frank.
“Frank, long time no see, how are ya man?”
“I'm good Mr. Logan I was hired to drive you this weekend”.
“Excellent, it's great to see you”. I'm exhausted from the week so I lay my head back and close my eyes. My flat is half an hour from the restaurant so I had plenty of time. The strange occurrences of the evening circling in my mind were causing me to question myself. If I were in the states I would know it was the boys but not here in London. The boys are apparently boycotting because they are repeatedly shot down by the fairer sex whenever they visit. I feel myself beginning to drift and allow my mind to shut down knowing Frank will wake me when we are close. I'm jolted from a dream of whispers, white rabbits with pocket watches and unicycles when Frank runs over a bump. I glance at my watch and panic when I realize it's 11 p.m. I've been in the car for nearly four hours!
“Frank, what's going on? Where the hell are we?”
“I believe if you pull down the center seat there is something for you”. Okay now I'm slightly annoyed. I pull down the seat and slide out a large clothing box with a top hat sitting on it. Wait that's the same hat I wore in New Hampshire.  I look to Frank who says “In Omnia Paratus” and closes the divider. Opening the box I see an eccentric invitation sitting over the rest of my clothes from that night.
Logan Elias Huntzberger
You are cordially invited to join us for a very merry un-birthday celebration.
Sincerely yours,
The Mad Hatter
The March Hare
Dormouse
Well I'll be damned looks like the boys decided to come here after all. I laugh and begin to change my clothes. Twenty minutes later we are pulling into the drive of a large castle estate.
“Hey Frank where are we?”
“Bovey Castle sir. I have been instructed to have you follow the path to the right of the castle around to the back. Enjoy your weekend sir”.
“Thanks Frank”. I follow the path and realize that this place must be beautiful in the daylight. The scene I see before me as I round the castle takes my breath away. One long table is surrounded by chairs and spread with a variety of finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries. There are teapots and kettles staggered everywhere. Lanterns and tea light candles as well as twinkling lights are strewn around. It is very reminiscent of the animated party and I love it. I look to the end of the table and there they are. My Musketeers dressed in the same steampunk outfits I saw them in seven weeks ago. Sitting with them in a light blue dress, white apron and black headband is Rory. My heart begins to race, my throat clogs up and my eyes begin to sting. She's really here and I wasn’t imagining her back at the restaurant. As I walk closer Finn yells out “New cup!” always the perfect Mad Hatter. As they change seats I realize they haven't missed a thing. Finn is the first to notice me and can see the question in my eyes. Who did all this? He smiles and nods his head towards my Ace.
“Tell us a story!” he demands of her.
“Why do I have to tell the story?”
“ You're a girl plus you love to read”.
“You tell a story I don't want to.” Robert decides to step in.
“There once were three chums who lived at the bottom of a huge barrel of scotch”.
“How in the world did they survive in the bottom of a barrel?”
“By drinking all the scotch of course!”
“Oh of course silly me.”
“At least for a few years after that all their livers shut down” I say as I finally reach them.
“He finally arrives! I was beginning to wonder if you were actually going to show.”
“Good to see you too Colin.”
“I was going to call you mate but we decided to surprise you instead.”
“I'm glad you did. This is much better than a phone call. Ace, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.” We walk for a few minutes in silence as I try to think of what to say. Luckily for me she beats me to it.
“Logan I know you are wondering what I’m thinking and I'll tell you, I will I just want you to relax and not think tonight.” I feel my stomach drop.
“Ouch Ace that doesn't sound good”.
“Sorry you're right it didn't. That wasn't what I meant at all. I just heard that you've had an especially difficult week and haven't really been sleeping. I want you to be able to leave that all behind even if it's just for tonight and have some fun. You're letter was incredible Logan. You have no idea how much I needed to hear all of that. I want us to talk in the morning before brunch. I want to talk first to you as if I'm writing you a letter just to get it all out. When I'm done we'll clear the air and finally let the past go. At least that's what I would like to do. I want us to start fresh with a clean slate. Equal ground Logan because that's where we'll need to stand to make this work”.
“I couldn't agree with you more Ace. There is one thing that I really want you to know tonight. Mitchum just told me this evening that I'm moving back to New York”.
“What?! When?”
“Two weeks. Apparently they are struggling and he wants me to come and straighten it out”.
“Logan that's amazing!”
“I know, New York Ace no more London”  We beam at each other and are walking back to the party when something clicks.
“How did you know I had a rough week and haven't slept or what restaurant I'd be at tonight?” She gives me a sheepish smile and points towards the party. Of course it would be her she is the only one who would know all of that. I shake my head laughing as I see Honor standing there dressed as the Queen of Hearts.
“Hey there baby brother” I walk to her and give her a hug.
“What are you doing here and where are the kids?”
“Well when Finn and Rory called for help they asked if we wanted to come on a weekend get away. I called mom and asked if the kids and nanny could stay so we could have a romantic weekend and she agreed.”
“Logan I forgot to tell you that Finn rented out the whole castle for the weekend. It was just going to be the five of us plus Honor and Josh but it snowballed. Colin called Stephanie for something who called Rosemary who called Seth and well now the whole Life and Death Brigade are here”.
“That's actually perfect. This is going to be an amazing weekend. Any idea what the stunt is?”
“No idea yet and the boys won't say.”
That night ended as one of the best I've had in years. We all learned exactly what went down during Lorelai's reception.
“Logan you'll appreciate this. The boys decided everyone was exaggerating about Miss Patty's punch. They had her make a whole second bowl with an extra shot of everything because they could take it. They finished the bowl off themselves.”
“Hey you loved when we got up and did our own male review.”
“Please tell me they didn't?!”
“Oh they did! Thank God mom and Luke had already left and the three stooges were too drunk to figure out how to take off their pants.”
“I'm disappointed in you love. Every time I was about to be inappropriately groped you pulled me away. I was just trying to give the ole' girls a good time.”
“Really Finn! I'm surprised Taylor didn't lose it and have the one cop arrest them.”
“Nope he loved them. They concocted some crazy ideas to try and help Stars Hollow surpass Woodbury. He's actually going to use them. The town is voting at the next meeting about giving them a plaque and naming them honorary town citizens.”
That was the way the rest of the night went and it was perfect. Everyone sharing stories of the last ten years. Now I'm lying in bed with my girl in my arms looking forward to the morning.
“Night Ace”
“Night Master and Commander”