Hello everyone! This my first Gilmore Girls fanfiction, but I have been thinking of writing one for a while now. Some of the places mentioned in this story are real and some are fake, just so you know. All rights go to the creators of Gilmore Girls. This is just my take of what could have happened after AYITL. Please feel to review as you see fit below.

PS If you got notified about a chapter being posted as this one, please know it was just an update for an accidental plot oops. Thank you kimarmot for your catch on my oopsie with the time zones.

Chapter 1

I cradle my baby girl in my arms as I rock her carefully to sleep. I never thought I would be doing this on my own. I never thought that I would have to run away from home, just like my mother did. At 32, I followed in my mother's footsteps of having a child out of wedlock. Lorelai Rose Gilmore was born on May 5, 2017 at 3:30 am in the Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, Maine which was close to the city of Sunnyvale, Maine where I landed after everyone in my life spurned me away. It all started when I told my mother after her wedding that I was pregnant. Her first reaction was excitement to have a grandchild, but by the time she returned from her honeymoon she was absolutely devastated and angry about the pregnancy. She called me out on not being safe to prevent an unwed pregnancy, on not being able to push away an engaged man, and she stated that it was a mistake. I was shocked and angered by her statements, so I called out to her before I left, "Say whatever you want, but just know you raised me to always be like your mini-mi and now that I am doing something just like you you are pushing me away. Have a good life, Emily!"

I stormed out of the house with the bag I had quickly packed and quickly regretted the statements I had made. I knew though that my child didn't need to be around someone who wouldn't love them and thought was a mistake. I ran then from there and hopped on a plane to tell my baby's father, Logan, about her. When I got there though, he pushed me away. He told me that we had said our good byes, he was marrying Odette, and it didn't matter if I was pregnant. I left London, scared and alone knowing that I couldn't go home and no one cared about me or my baby. As I landed back in the states, I decided that I need to follow once more in my mother's footsteps and step out on my own going to a small town where hopefully my baby and I could be safe and eventually loved without having to feel destroyed. I eventually decided to head north and as I was driving through Maine, I saw the sign for Sunnyvale and it just seemed right. I pulled into town at first as a quick stop for lunch, stopping at a locally owned diner called The Cool Place. It was no Luke's, but the food was still good. Although, baby at that time had me eating healthier then I had ever eaten before. Over the next 6 months or so, I became a part of this small town and found a job with the local paper before Rose was born. Now in present day, Rose is 3 months old and I am still working from home the most of the time for the paper. The editor loves my voice seen in my stories and has tried a few times to push me to send articles to the bigger papers, but I turn him down every time. The last thing I need to be is discovered in my hiding. My latest article I am writing is on the new hotel that will be opening in about a week. It is said that it will draw a large crowd to this town, but we will see. It has been interesting researching the hotel and the family chain it is coming from. The Morgan Hotels is a family brand originally started in Australia and it slowly has spread across different countries as the family members spread from the home land. They still keep an Australian touch to all of their hotels though which seems to draw in the clientele. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the project manager to get his thoughts on the hotel opening in the town. I wonder what the project manager will be like.

The Next Morning

I wake up to Rose crying in her crib next to my bed. I carefully pick her up and get her settled against my chest so she can enjoy her breakfast. I grab my phone and see a text from the lady I had set up to babysit Rose during my meeting. It states that she is sick and can't come assist with Rose. I know at this late time frame no one else will be able to step in and watch her. I look down at the sweet baby girl cradled to my bosom before stating, "Well baby girl, looks like you get to come to work with mommy today."

I let her finish eating and then get her all changed and dressed for the day. I then move towards my closet and quickly get dressed in a black pencil skirt and red button down shirt. I slip on a pair of flats and pull out Rose's stroller. I set her down in her car seat and then set that in the stroller. I hang her favorite monkey from the bar above her and head outside. It is a gorgeous day and I know that the cold weather will soon be starting, so I enjoy it some as we walk towards the hotel. I stop outside the building and pull out a camera to take some pictures of the building. I don't notice a man walk up behind me until he clears his throat and says in an Australian accent, "Mrs. Hayden, I presume?"

I realize quickly that I recognize the voice and I hold myself steady slightly as I say without turning, "It's actually Miss Hayden, but you can call me Rory."

I hear a deep intact of breath from him and then turn to face him. I state, "It's been a while, Finn. How's life been treating you?"

Finn smiles at me and then pulls me in a tight hug. He then looks over at the stroller and says, "It has been a while love, but I think that time has been more exciting for you then it has been for me."

I grin at him and at that moment Rose decides to cry out in her stroller done with being ignored. I walk over to her and carefully unclip her from the car seat and walk back towards Finn. I smile at him and say, "Yes indeed it has. Finn I would like you to meet Lorelai Rose Gilmore or Rose as we prefer to call her."

He looks at Rose and smiles before looking back at me and asking, "Is she Logan's?"

I nod my head and he shakes his before asking, "Does he know about her, love?"

I nod my head again and he swears quietly under his breath as if to protect Rose's innocent ears from such filth. He then looks back at me before asking another question, "Why are you here?"

I look down at Rose and back at Finn and say, "How about we head to a local diner and we can talk this out there?"

He nods his head and I set Rose back in her stroller. I lead him to The Cool Place and I wave at the owner. I sit down at one of the window seats and Finn sits across from me. The owner, Donny, walks over to us with two glasses and a pitcher of water. He sets both glasses in front of me and fills them up. I smile and say, "Thanks, Donny."

Finn watches the interaction with Donny in intrigue and then looks at the water cups in front of me before asking, "Is one of those for me?"

I chuckle and then state, "Nope. Being a nursing mother means I have to keep hydrated and Donny always makes sure I have enough water to do the job. If you would like, he can bring you over something to drink."

Finn looks at me confused and then looks over at Donny before saying, "I'll have a cup of coffee."

Donny nods his head and heads back to the counter to get Finn's coffee. Finn meanwhile looks towards me and says, "I can't believe this is the day where I see Rory Gilmore not drinking coffee."

I chuckle before saying, "Well I had to drop the habit when pregnant with Rose and since she's been born I seem to have lost the taste for it. Also, with my need to constantly be hydrated drinking a product that will dehydrate me isn't a good idea."

He smiles and Donny brings over her coffee setting it in front of me. Donny looks at me and states, "Your usual, Rory?"

I nod and then he hands a menu to Finn before stating, "Let me know once you are ready to order."

Finn takes the menu and looks quickly over it before looking back at Donny and stating, "I'll have whatever the lady is having."

Donny looks at me questionably, but I nod my head. He then heads towards the kitchen to work on making our meals. Finn finally looks at me and says, "Now Rory, can I have an answer to my question? What are you doing here?"

I look at him carefully and say, "Finn, I am here because I got pregnant out of wedlock and everyone who I thought would stand by me pushed me away. My mother attacked me for the pregnancy and called my baby a mistake. Logan told me he was with Odette and pushed me away not caring about our baby. I had no one left in my corner, so I ran."

Finn shakes his head looking at me carefully, but he also seems deep in thought. He finally responds, "About what time did you inform Logan of your pregnancy?"

I think back on the time frame and knew that it was just after my mother's wedding. I finally respond, "It was probably about the middle of November when I informed him of my pregnancy."

He nods his head almost looking conflicted. Donny walks up at that moment with our food. My regular order is a side plate of fruit, egg whites, wheat toast, and cut up pieces of a pork chop. When I was pregnant with Rose, my eating habits changed dramatically mostly from the pregnancy cravings and since she has been born I keep up the healthy habit as when I eat unhealthy Rose seems to get grumpy. Finn looks down at the food in front of us and then back at me almost questionably. He finally stutters out, "This is not what I was expecting for a Gilmore breakfast."

I chuckle before saying, "Well Gilmore breakfast habits tend to change especially when the latest Lorelai seems to hate processed foods."

He chuckles and then finally responds to the statement that I made, "Did you pay much attention to the media news regarding Logan's engagement that came about at the start of December?"

I shake my head and then he continues, "At the beginning of December, Odette broke off her engagement with Logan because she caught him cheating. Since the break off of the engagement, Logan has started dating the woman he was cheating with and hasn't left London almost as if he is protecting her. Colin, Robert, and I all thought the mystery woman was you, but apparently not."

I look at him with many questions in my eyes, but I stop to pick up a piece of fruit and eat it. I then shake my head as I say, "He was probably already with the mystery woman when I told him of my pregnancy which is why he pushed me away. It doesn't matter though as long as he is happy. Rose and I are doing just fine on our own and don't need anyone outside of this town to take care of us."

Finn looks at me and then looks at Rose in her stroller before saying, "Why didn't you contact any of us when Logan pushed you away? We all would have been there for you, had we known about the pregnancy."

I shake my head and say, "Finn you were always his friends first and so I have no right to take you from him. It also wasn't my place to contact any of you. If he doesn't want to be in his child's life, than he also doesn't want any of you in their life. Now I came out to meet with you today to interview you about your new hotel opening next week. Lets focus on that instead of things that can't be changed."

He watches me carefully, but we start discussing the hotel and his family's hope for the town while we eat our breakfasts. As we near the end of our discussion Rose starts crying out and I carefully take her from the stroller. I grab my diaper bag from the handle of the stroller and look at Finn saying, "Sorry to interrupt our business breakfast, but motherhood calls."

I head off with Rose to the restroom to change her and feed her out of the way. I am unsure of this whole Finn situation. In some ways, I am happy to see him, but I also know that I have no right to him as he was always Logan's friend first.

Meanwhile back at the table...

Finn pulls out his phone and dials the number for one of his very best friends. His friend answers with exhaustion present in his voice, "Hello?"

Finn shakes his head and says, "Hello good mate. How's life treating you? Spent any time lately with any gorgeous brunettes?"

He can hear Logan's voice get a little angry as he responds, "What the hell are you talking about, Finn? You know I am not divulging any information about my latest girl. I got to protect her from my crazy family."

Finn shakes his head and says, "Ah I see, but you see Logan I have ran into a certain gorgeous brunette."

He hears a deep breath be taken by Logan as his friend says, "How is Rory, Finn?"

Finn shakes his head, standing from the table and stepping out of the diner. He decided that the locals didn't need to directly hear his conversation with Logan. As he walks out the door he states, "Since you pushed her away when she came to you, I am not going to bother to answer that question. If you cared at all, you would have done what is right and have dropped your mystery woman for mother dearest, not lie to her."

Finn walks a short distance away from the door as he hears Logan's response, "Finn, you have no idea what you are talking about."

Finn looks around carefully before saying, "I know Logan that at some point after you and Rory said your good byes you found a mystery woman that you have been keeping away from everyone, even your friends, and that you pushed away the mother of your child with a lie after her own mother had done the same."

Finn can hear a deep intake of breath on the other end of the line as Logan finally responds, "Finn, you have to understand that the mystery woman I have been keeping from everyone is the absolute love of my life and she doesn't come from our world. After how my parents reacted to Rory when I first brought her home, I knew I couldn't do the same thing to Sally. When Rory came to me telling me of her pregnancy, I had finally moved on from her and I knew if I told her the truth or tried to be there for the baby that it would cause me to lose the love of my life and I couldn't handle that."

Finn looks back towards the diner and then around the town that he had found her in. Even if she was on her own, he realized that in reality Rory was probably doing a whole lot of better on her own then if Logan had claimed her and their child. Finn finally responds, "Well that is understandable and you can stay out of their lives, but don't expect me or anyone else to. Also, it's good to have a name for your a mystery woman. Sally sounds fantastic and when you are ready for us to meet her, I am excited too."

Finn hears Logan chuckle before saying, "I wouldn't expect any less. Now man, I got to head off to dinner after a busy hectic day at work. Good night."

Finn chuckles, says good morning, and hangs up before heading back into the diner.

Back in the diner

I sit down at the table carefully holding Rose as I pick up a piece of fruit. I look around wondering where Finn may have wandered off to, but ultimately know that he wouldn't have left without saying good bye. Donny walks over and fills my water glass before asking, "So who is this guy, Rory?"

I look over at Donny, who is right around my mother's age if not a little older and reminds me a lot of Luke. I smile and respond stating, "He's an old friend that I haven't seen in a while."

Donny smiles at me and then looks towards the door. I hear the bell above it jangle and hear footsteps heading toward the table. Finn sits down across from me again and states, "Sorry if I kept you waiting long, I had to make a quick phone call."

I shake my head and watch Finn's mannerisms carefully. He picks up a piece of his toast to eat it and I carefully ask, "That's alright. We just got back out here. We've been so busy talking about my personal life and your business life that we haven't even had a chance to talk about your personal life, so how has life been Finn?"

Finn looks at me carefully and I gently rock Rose trying to settle her to sleep. He then looks around us before stating, "Well since you last saw me, I have become much more centered on work. Less gallivanting around with random women, more business meetings and hotel launches."

I chuckle at that and he continues on, "I still see the boys every once and a while. Colin and Steph finally got their act together and have settled down. I spend some time with them quite often. They are discussing adopting children as they want to give a home to those who need it most. I am excited to be a Godfather to their children along with Logan."

I nod my head and then I carefully ask what I had been wondering since he came back into the diner, "Was it Logan that you were talking to on the phone?"

He nods his head and states, "Yes, indeed it was. After hearing what he had done to you and to Rose, I couldn't leave him on his own in London. I called him mainly to tell him that even if he didn't want to be in your lives, that that wasn't going to stop the rest of us. Of course, some of my annoyance at his abandonment of you may have seeped out, but overall we ended the conversation on good terms. I even got to be the first to learn the name of his mystery woman."

I smile at him and ask the hardest question I have, "Does he seem happy, Finn?"

He nods and looks at me carefully before saying, "Yes, he does. It's the happiest I've seen him since you two were truly a couple, which is why I assumed you two were together."

I grin and then look down at Rose to see that she has fallen asleep in my arms. I look back at him and say carefully, "Well this has been fun Finn, but I have to head out now as it looks like its Rose's nap time. I will have my editor get in contact with you if I need anything else for the article."

I stand up and carefully change my grasp on Rose. Finn looks at me dumbfounded and then says, "Rory, what just happened?"

I look back at him as I put a hand on the stroller. I decide to just carry Rose as she sleeps best with direct skin contact and I don't want to wake her by putting her in the car seat. I shake my head and say, "Nothing happened. I am happy to hear that all of you are doing well, but I have to focus on being a mom right now and you guys are Logan's friends first. I have no right to any of you and I think you should give his new girl a chance. Good bye Finn."

I grab the handle of the stroller and walk quickly out of the diner without waiting for a response from him. I stroll quickly down the street with Rose sleeping on my shoulder. Some of the town people give me a quiet wave as they notice Rose asleep on my shoulder. I reach home and set her down gently in her crib before quietly stepping out of the nursery. I pick up my phone and dial a number I hoped to never call. I wait as it rings before a gruff masculine voice answers, "Hello?"

I shake my head and just carefully state, "One of his friends ran into me and reminded Logan of me. Sally may soon be pushed enough to try something."

I listen as the gruff voice says, "I'll take care of her. I'll let you know if you need to move locations."

I click the phone and look around the home I had made for myself. I really hope I don't have to run.