What should've been

Mitchum

"That was my mom" Logan said quietly "my dad had a heart attack"

"Is he ok?" Rory asked, concerned

Logan shook his head

Rory sighed and hugged Logan tightly. He hugged her back and took a deep breath.

"I uh...I have to go to Hartford" Logan said "my mom's a wreck and Honor...they need help making arrangements"

"Do you want me to come?" Rory offered

"No, I don't wanna wake them" Logan said "I'll be back in the morning"

"Ok"

"I gotta go" He kissed her "I'll see you tomorrow" he started to leave

"Logan" Rory called out

Logan turned around to look at her

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine"

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"Where's daddy?" Lena asked the next morning as Rory gave her breakfast

"He had to go somewhere" Rory said and adjusted Daniel on her hip "he'll be back soon"

A few minutes later Rory was sitting at the table, next to Lena, drinking coffee when she heard the door open.

"I'll be right back" Rory said before getting up and walking to the door

"Hey" Logan said and kissed her before pulling her into a hug

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine"

"Logan...your dad just died. It's ok if you aren't"

"That's the thing" Logan sighed "He was my father, but he wasn't my dad. A dad is the guy who you run to when they get home at the end of the day. He's the guy that you know would do anything for you. He's the guy that will always love you and there's nothing that you could do or say that would change that. A father is just some guy that you share DNA with"

"When's the funeral?"

"A week from tomorrow"

"Do you need help?"

"Honor seems to have it handled but I told her to let me know"

They walked into the kitchen

"Daddy!" Lena stood up and Rob to Logan to hug him

"Hey munchkin!" Logan picked her up and kissed her cheek "I missed you"

"Where did you go?"

"I had to help aunt Honor with something" Logan said and put Lena down.

"Ok"

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3 days later

"Mom, no!" Logan shouted into his phone as Rory walked into the room "I'm not gonna do it!"

Rory walked over to Logan and wrapped her his waist.

"It's not my job! It was his job and now it's someone else's"

'Is everything ok?' Rory mouthed

Logan nodded and kissed her forehead "I told you that I would help sort things out but I won't take over for him" ..... "what do you mean 'why?' ? Mom, I have a job already" ..... "fine, bye" Logan hung up, threw his phone onto the bed and hugged Rory back

"What's going on?" Rory asked

"My mom wants me to take over HPG" Logan sighed "I told her I'd help sort everything out but I won't stay there permanently"