Rory is 23 and has just given birth to a beautiful baby boy. She has not seen Logan since he walked away at her graduation despite the efforts of family and friends she insists on going it alone. What will happen when Logan finds out in a very unusual way?
Disclaimer: Nope still not my characters – but they are so very fun to write.
Special Delivery
Chapter 1 - Surprise
Stephanie stood in front of the door to Logan's house, she was nervous and the baby was beginning to fuss because of it. "Shhh, it's okay Will, daddy is just behind this door, it'll be fine soon." She mustered her courage and rang the bell.
Logan opened the door and was surprised to see her and the bundle in her arms as well as the various baby items surrounding her.
"Steph, what a surprise, come in and introduce me to your friend. I know it isn't yours, I saw you just a few weeks ago and I would have noticed if you were pregnant. So tell me who is this little one?" He had a sinking feeling in his gut but he waited for her to reply.
"Logan, I would like to introduce you to William Logan Huntzberger, he is four days old today." She held the baby out to him. He took the child and sat down stunned.
The baby looked up at him with wide eyes, eyes he would know anywhere,"Why didn't she tell me? Why would she do this alone Steph? I would have been there for her, for him." He kissed the baby gently in the head. "A son, I have a son – wait – why are you here? What happened to Rory?" His voice held a panic that he tried to keep even for his son, was she okay, had something terrible happened – 'how could she do this to me?'
Steph had busied herself setting up a bottle from the diaper bag, "First things first, he is going to start to grizzle soon, so let's check that his diaper is clean and you can feed him, I will bring in the cot and once he is asleep I will try to explain. Oh and you should take off your shirt, the nurse told me it would help form the bond."
Logan just nodded and allowed her to take the baby from him, he then went to the patio to retrieve the other items she had brought. He took note of the instructions printed on the bag that contained the cot and took the time to set it up beside his sofa. All the while he stole glances as she changed the baby, his mind was a whir of questions, 'why was the baby here? Where was Lorelai? If she didn't want him to be a part of his son's life before – what changed her mind?' the most important question that remained was – 'Where was Rory, why wasn't she here?' Once the cot was set up he removed his shirt and sat on the wing-back chair and held out his arms to accept the child and give him his bottle. He was in awe of how tiny and perfect he was. Little fingers, with tiny nails, long blonde eyelashes, soft rosy cheeks. This was his son – his son with Rory and she hadn't told him. It wasn't as if he was far, he was just in New York having decided to forgo California without her. If Steph knew then Finn and Colin knew. He couldn't for the life of him understand why he didn't know until he opened the door to find Steph on the other side with this little bombshell. The baby finished his bottle while Logan's mind ran amok, Steph had gone to the kitchen to make a pot of tea, he was going to need it. Once the bottle was empty, Logan set it down and placed the cloth on his shoulder then gently rubbed his back eliciting a healthy burp. The sound made him smile, and he moved him down again gently rocking him entranced by his sleeping face.
"I'll put him down." Steph said taking the sleeping child from his arms and placing it in the cot. She poured a cup of tea for each of them stirring honey into his and handing it to him. "He's beautiful right? He looks like the perfect blend of you both."
Logan redressed and took a steady sip of the soothing beverage."Okay, he is clean, fed, burped and asleep – will you tell me now what the hell is going on and why am I finding out about this from you and not her?"
"Well, I kinda – sorta – kidnapped him?" she said averting his eyes and side biting her lip, "They know he is with me, but they don't know I brought him here to you. I just thought this was too important and that you deserved to know him."
"She doesn't know you brought him! What kind of mother is she?! Why would she keep this from me – why are you here now? If you knew before; why am I only finding out now?" Logan's tone was terse and he was doing his best not to shout he didn't want to disturb his sleeping son.
"She was scared, she knew you would never leave your child, but after you gave her the ultimatum - she was scared. She knew your parents hated her, she knew she wasn't cut out to be your wife; but when she found out she was pregnant – it took all she had not to tell you and that is probably why she is in the state she is in. She is suffering severe PPD – the doctors released the baby, but are keeping her for further observation. Lorelai and Emily are besides themselves with worry, that's how I came to have him. I told them I would take care of him, I just left out the where part. Honestly I was hoping you would come back with me, talk to her. I think it's the guilt of you not knowing that has her in such a state." She noticed the incredulous look on his face but held up her hand to staunch his response. "Look Logan – I know you, I know that if you would have known wild horses couldn't have kept you away; but she was so scared and fragile." she sighed, "I know it was wrong, we were all wrong, but we promised her to let her tell you in her own way."
"And look how that worked out, you had to kidnap MY 4 day old son to bring him to me! Is she even in New York – oh god Steph – did you cross state lines?! This could be bad – really really bad. I'm not the custodial parent..." Logan was pacing waving his arms about frantically.
Steph jumped up, "Logan – Logan calm down. Didn't you hear me introduce him? He is Huntzberger not Gilmore; not Hayden – he is Huntzberger, you are listed on his birth certificate, she did it on her own – listed you. Lorelai was stunned, Emily was quiet, I have never seen Emily look so sad – I think she was sad for you – for your family. When I saw what she had done and how distant – depressed and I don't know – lost she was. I knew then what I had to do – I had to bring him to you. She's at NY Presbyterian. It was a tricky birth, and she lost a lot of blood – but she is okay." she rushed out when she saw him reach for the chair arms to steady himself. "I know this is a mess – a complete and utter mess; but you still love her right?" He nodded in the affirmative. "Then you need to see her, to take your son back to her; try to figure it all out." She was pleading with him and he felt contrite.
"What if she won't take me back? What if I just make it worse? I want us to be a family – I wanted to marry her? This past few months – well you know. I just can't believe she kept this," he indicated the sleeping baby,"Away from me; I mean – I loved her enough to propose..."
"But then you turned your back to her and walked away – on her graduation day – Logan – you had to know how much that would hurt her. It still hurts her – she told me that she felt like such a failure when you walked away, but she wasn't ready. Then when she found out about the baby – she just couldn't have you walk away from him too." She rubbed his back with soothing circles.
Logan sighed deeply, "Can I take a nap? I feel like I have run a marathon."
Steph understood, it was a lot for one day, "Sure, I'll wake you when Will gets up – that is if you want to do his next feeding." She led.
"Yeah, that sounds great – thanks Steph – for everything." She watched as he walked past the cot and pet his sons head then entered his room and closed the door.
"Yeah, that sounds great – thanks Steph – for everything." She watched as he walked past the cot and pet his sons head then entered his room and closed the door.
Steph sighed and lay her arm over her eyes as she collapsed on the sofa,'I hope I did the right thing.'