Finding Rory

Chapter 81: Closure

Logan looked at Tristan and Rory and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I thought I was coming here to try to stop the wedding, but I can't do it. I accidentally found myself right in the middle of your very private moment, and seeing the way you two care for each other and how happy you are - I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come," he explained emotionally.

"How did you even find out about the wedding?" Rory asked.

"Honor overhead your moms at the club and called Shira. I got an edict from the elder Huntzbergers telling me that I needed to come do whatever it took to get you back."

"But you're not?" Tristan asked.

"No, I'm not. I'd only thought about myself this whole time, but watching you two together made me realize how in love you are. I couldn't live with myself for trying to come between you two. I'm so sorry," Logan apologized. "I hope you both can forgive me for being such an ass lately. I just...I don't know what to say other than I'm so sorry for everything."

Rory looked up at Tristan questioningly and he nodded his head. She took a few steps toward Logan and reached out and touched his arm. "Logan, what you and I had was so raw and special and I really did love you. Please don't ever doubt that. But we couldn't be forever - it just wouldn't work. I'm sorry that you got hurt in the process, but I want you to find happiness. You'll always have a special place in my heart. I hope that we can work on rebuilding a friendship - all three of us - and you can still be part of our family's lives."

Logan choked back a few tears and nodded. "I would like that very much. You...you are the only woman I've ever loved, and I know it won't be easy, but I also know that I need to let go now. Seeing the way you look at Tristan - it's so clear that you love him. I'm so sorry that I ever gave you the impression that you weren't important to me or that you weren't enough for me. Nothing could be further from the truth. I loved you, Rory - hell, I still love you - but you're not mine to love anymore."

Rory took a deep breath and reached out and pulled Logan into her arms. "Find your happiness," she whispered. She kissed him on the cheek and then walked the few steps back to where Tristan was standing.

"I really do wish you two all of the happiness in the world. I hope we can move forward. I would still really like for you to stand up for me at my wedding," he said, looking at Tristan. He reached out and took Tristan's hand and brought him in for a hug. "Take good care of her, man."

"For the rest of my life," Tristan confirmed with a smile.

"I'm just going to get out of here and let you two enjoy your wedding day. Again, I'm so sorry. I hope when you look back at your wedding day, this part doesn't ruin things," he said sincerely.

"You didn't ruin anything, Logan. I'd go so far as to say that you made it better - we're all on good terms now," Rory reassured him.

Logan took one last lingering glance at the soon-to-be-wed couple and smiled sadly. "Fair warning - if you don't treat her like she deserves I'll be by her side so quickly you won't know what happened," he joked.

"Noted," Tristan chuckled.

"Stay in touch," Logan said. He turned and walked away, willing himself not to look back. He didn't want them to see the tears that were pooling in his eyes. He finally understood where he'd gone wrong. He'd turned into his father somewhere along the way, and it had cost him everything. He resolved then and there to be a man that Rory could be proud to know. It was time for him to put everything into making his life what he wanted, starting with apologizing to Odette for being such a jerk and fixing their relationship. She was a great girl, and any man would be lucky to marry her, but she deserved better than what he'd given her thus far.