So, there are a lot of these kinds of fics, I know... but that doesn't mean I can't try my hand at one myself.
Hope you like it!
Reviews are love people!
disclaimer: I do not own any part of Gilmore Girls... But I sometimes wish I was one
Love!
PROLOGUE
There are some things in life, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore absolutely detested. Mornings without coffee, long bus trips with no bathroom breaks, vegetables or fruit that wasn't dipped in chocolate. But there was one thing she hated above all else. One thing she just found herself smack in the middle of.
"No mother, I do not expect you to be fine with this. Because this is none of your damn business! She's my daughter, and I will not just stand by and watch you tear her apart because of this. This is her choice and hers alone. And if you don't like it, well then, I guess we'll be out of your hair now." Lorelai stopped to take a breath, after her longwinded ramble. A furious scowl directed towards the elder Gilmore woman. Who –as it so happens – was wearing an almost carbon copy look of the one her daughter was giving her.
Friday night dinners had been going well, up until the time the Lorelais decided to drop some bombs on the Gilmores. The first one had been the divorce between Lorelai and Christopher. Although divorce was a strong word, since their marriage wasn't even legal in the US. Lorelai hadn't been happy, and found it to be a relief when she found out about the marriage status. Christopher and Gigi had moved back to Boston, and that was that. Except that it wasn't. Because Emily really didn't want to drop it.
"This is like this thing with you and Christopher all over again. What is it with you two and turning down marriage proposals from decent, good, hard-working men. I swear to god sometimes I think we don't share any genes at all!" Emily yelled at them, angrily glaring between her daughter and granddaughter. "First you come and tell me your marriage to Christopher isn't legal and that you aren't going to marry him for real. And now you come here and tell me you" she pointed an accusing finger towards Rory "refused to marry Logan Huntzberger, even though you've been happy for the past 3 years! I just don't understand you!"
Emily threw her hands up in the air and dropped herself down into the ottoman that was standing in the foyer. A sudden silence fell over the house, as three generations of Gilmore Girls were staring at each other. And, even though she hated, absolutely hated to see her mother and grandmother fight – about anything and everything – she never liked to get in between them when they did. It never really worked out well for her, and she found that self-preservation was key in the Gilmore household.
But this was Rory's mess, and she would have to be the one to fix it. "No grandma. That's not how it went. I just, I asked for time. I don't want to have to give up my career in order to be Mrs. Huntzberger. I've got dreams and ambitions. Things that do not work well with being a socialite wife. And he wouldn't wait. He said it was now or never. And I just couldn't choose now, so he chose never." A silent tear rolled down her cheek, and she had to try her very best to not let any more slip out. She loved Logan, with all her heart. But the expectations of being his wife, those were things she just couldn't conform to. At least not at her age. That's what had compelled her to say 'not yet'. She never imagined he would reply with 'not ever' and walk away from her.
She let her head drop on her mother's shoulder, for comfort and to hide the other tears that were welling up in her eyes. Lorelai draped her arm around her shoulder and whispered "come on Sweets, let's get you home."
Losing Logan was hard on Rory. He was the love of her life. He was the Yin to her Yang, made her serious nature a little more fun, just by being there. And while he wasn't perfect, not even by a long shot, he was the perfect fit for her. She let her tears run freely the moment she stepped into her quiet little room, dropping down on her bed and wondering how she got to that place.
She stayed in her room for days on end, only coming out to go to the bathroom and to grab some of the food Luke kept leaving her.
When she found herself eating the apple-slices he put in the bag (though he never expected either of them to actually eat them) she got worried. A trip to the Woodbury pharmacy and some time spent in the bathroom, confirmed her fears. And changed the course of her life, permanently.
"Mom!" a voice yelled across the airport, the only warning Lorelai Gilmore had before she was practically tackled by her daughter and grandson. The threesome hugged each other so tight, they looked like one huge person. After a few moments, Lorelai pushed her daughter a little further form her chest. "Let me look at you, my beautiful offspring. And at you, beautiful offspring of my offspring." She said it with a fondness in her voice, one she reserved specially for those people closest to her heart.
Rory put down the little boy, and Lorelai crouched down to look him in the eyes. His startlingly green eyes looked up shyly at her and he quickly hid behind his mommy's legs. Rory turned around and gently pushed him forward again. "C'mon Logan honey, why don't you say hi to Nonna. You do remember her, right?" The boy nodded hesitantly and waved his little hand at Lorelai. She beamed a brilliant smile at him and stood up, directing her next words to her daughter. "I can't believe he's so big already. Seems to me like it was just yesterday when he was still trying to figure out how to lift his little head. You did a wonderful job with your kid, kid. But I sure am glad you're back in the US."
Rory smiled at her mother and her son, realizing how lucky she was with having both of them. "I know, he amazes me every day. And I'm glad to be home to, mom. I loved Italy, but with Logan being ready for pre-school, I just figured it would be better for him in the States." She grabbed hold of her bags and said to her son: "Honey, you grab Nonna's hand and we'll go home." She started walking but stopped all of a sudden. "Mom, where's Luke? And Ethan?" Her mom chuckled a little. "You know how the grump is, he hates crowds and he hates showing public affection. He's waiting in the car, so he can cry like a girl without all of JFK seeing it. And Ethan is with Sookie, she said it made no difference if she was watching 3 kids or 4. And it's not like he'll be much trouble anyway, he can barely walk." She snorts a little at her own joke, that boy is lightning fast. "Besides, he doesn't like long car rides; which is totally weird, because every kid likes that. He's so much like his dad, it isn't even funny."
They made their way out of the airport, little Logan clutching Lorelai's hand like it would save his life. Which it might, seeing how busy it was at the pick-up zone. People were bustling about the place, running and screaming. That, combined with the smell of gasoline and the 9 hour flight gave Rory a nasty headache. But when she saw Luke, her face lit up like a Christmas tree, and she ran into the arms of the man who had been the only father figure she'd known in her life. "Luke! I'm so glad to see you! I've missed you so much!" That earned her a comment from her mom, about not being missed, but she ignored it in favor of the man standing before her. He still looked like the Luke he'd been before she left. Jeans, flannel shirt and backwards baseball cap, the smell of pancakes hanging in the air. That, more than anything, made her feel like she was home. "Zio!" Came a small voice from behind Rory's back, and she nearly got bowled over by her son, running towards Luke. Rory was happy with the bond her son and Luke shared, even if they hadn't seen each other much recently. She heard her mother mutter something about being under-appreciated and Luke bribing kids with pancakes, but she didn't really pay attention to her.
She wasn't really paying attention to anything around her anymore. Her eyes focusing on a familiar blond head in the crowd. As if he knew she was staring at him, he turned. The look on his face flashed a lot of emotions, sadness, guilt, anger before settling in practiced indifference. Rory got pulled out of her reverie when her son yelled "Mommy! Pancake time!" and jumped up into her arms. One last look towards him, revealed a questioning look in his eyes, and then she was in the car driving home.
The whole town had gathered around Luke's Diner when they arrived back in Stars Hollow. It never ceased to amaze Rory how much this town cared. Oh sure, they loved to gossip about each other and they fought at times. But when push came to shove, this town was like one big, happy, dysfunctional family. All eager to watch the prodigal daughter return home, where she belonged.
Her job had taken her away from her home for over a year, but the whole town looked exactly the same as when she left it. Right down to the newspapers in the stands. She stifled a giggle, because, nowhere else but Stars Hollow. They actually tried to stop time, as much as they were able to, to prove to her the town was nothing without the other half of their favorite Gilmore Girls. Taylor made a speech, because that's what Taylor did. She got happy hugs from every single member of the town, including the town troubadour. Kirk even tried to pull a 'Dopey' and sneak in the line a second time. When she got to Lane, she let out a high-pitched squeak and pulled her best friend in so tight, she nearly squashed the little boy she was holding. "Lane, Steve… or is it Kwan?" she looked at Lane in question. "Steve" she nodded. "Lane, Steve I'm so happy to see you! Logan, come meet Steve." Even though they had met before, their cribs often shared with each other, Rory was sure her son wouldn't remember that far back in time. Because, let's face it, Steve wasn't helped by the lingering smells of pancakes.
The boys thankfully hit it off right away, and when Kwan joined them with Zack, they happily played with their toy cars in front of the gazebo. Ethan joined them a little later, and the four boys were best friends by the time the pancakes were ready. With everybody giving their welcomes over, and Rory and Logan sufficiently stuffed with pancakes, they went upstairs. And there Rory found the first change in her hometown in forever.
The upstairs apartment, long treasured by Luke, and sort-of despised by her mother, was unrecognizable. The space was split into different rooms. 1 main room with a small kitchen/living room and 4 doors leading into it. One was the door they were standing in, 2 small but adequate bedrooms and one she assumed to be the bathroom.
The look in her eyes was well worth all the effort Luke had put into this place. He'd moved in with Lorelai when they had given their relationship it's second – well, actually third – shot. Rory and Logan had stayed in the apartment before they'd left for Italy, but it had been just as Luke left it. Now that she was home, and going to stay home, he'd figured he'd do something special to it. She was his family after all, and his father would have approved.
"Luke, you didn't have to do this. It's beautiful." Rory put Logan down and went over to hug Luke. "Well, I just did the building, your mother made it look like this really." He was never really comfortable with compliments, but he deserved them none the less. "Thank you. Both of you." She said honestly and from her heart.
Rory spent the rest of the night unpacking the stuff she'd brought with her from Italy. It wasn't all that much, some clothes and other small knickknacks. She let her gaze wander around the main room and stopped at the bookshelves. They practically took up an entire wall, filled to the brim with her books. It gave her the comfort and strength she needed to make a very important phone call.
TWO DAYS LATER
Rory found herself sitting in a little coffee shop in Hartford, nervously picking apart the napkin she'd received with her bearclaw and her coffee. Her legs were crossed and her foot was bouncing up and down, earning her angry looks from the table beside her. She uncrossed her legs and planted both feet firmly on the ground, hoping it would help with the nervous twitching she was doing. Her mom, Luke, Ethan and Logan were out shopping for stuff the boys would need when attending pre-school, and maybe some new – Connecticut appropriate – clothing. They'd visited Grandma and Grandpa earlier in the day, having lunch at their house. Things between Emily and Rory wasn't as light and friendly as it once was, but her Grandfather made up for that in spades. He absolutely adored Logan and Ethan and they loved him with as much gusto.
Still, visiting with her grandparents had set her a little on edge, and she started to wonder if it was such a great idea to meet him now, after that strained lunch. But her internal debating stopped when she saw him open the door and walk in. Her breath caught in her throat again, as her eyes landed on his for the second time since she came home. Nothing else existed except them. Then a chair shuffeling next to her shook her out of the bubble and she watched as he gracefully made his way to her table. He stayed quiet for a few moments, opening and closing his mouth a few times, constantly reconsidering what to start with. In the end he went with something simple but so uniquely theirs.
"Ace… How you been?"
She was at a loss for words. It had been a little over 3 years since she'd last talked to him, since their romance fell apart. But with those 4 words, all the memories came rushing back. The laughs and shenanigans they pulled, the parties they threw and attended, the love they shared. He cleared his throat a few times, giving her time to respond, but she stayed silent her eyes boring a hole in his head.
"Wow Ace, I've never seen you so quiet. And I've watched you sleep, so that's saying something." He tried to joke, to lighten the mood. It didn't work exactly, but it did shake Rory out of her stupor. Unfortunately the first thing that came out of her mouth was not what she planned to say, at least not this early in their conversation.
"We have a son." She blurted it out so fast, Logan wasn't even sure he'd heard her right. But her downcast eyes and nervous picking at her coffee-cup told him otherwise.
"We… we have… we have a son?" his voice was barely above a whisper, but the confusion and anger were clear as bells in his tone. "What do you mean, 'we have a son'?" he grew a little agitated because she still wouldn't look him in the eyes again. But then she sighed and looked up. "I mean just what I said. We have a son. His name is Logan Gilmore and he's 2,5 years old. And before you start yelling and throwing stuff around, I would like you to hear me out." He crossed his arms across his chest defiantly but nodded. He'd give her a chance to explain herself, before he ripped her a new one. The story however, didn't make him want to yell at her. Oh, there would be yelling, but directed at an entirely different person.
Rory found out she was pregnant in a pharmacy bathroom in Woodbury. When she mustered up the courage to tell her mother, she was about 4 weeks along. 6 weeks when she finally told her grandparents. And 8 weeks when she visited the Huntzberger home in Hartford. Mitchum and Sheira all but chased her out of the house. Calling her a liar, and a whole lot worse. Forbidding her to contact Logan, not wanting to tell her where he was. She was not to ruin his very bright future with a child, especially not when he'd finally agreed to take up his place in the company.
She'd tried his cellphone, Honor's, Colin and Finn's, but nobody wanted to talk to her. Nobody wanted to give her any hints about where he was. And she didn't dare tell them she was pregnant. She knew he was in California but she didn't know where. After a while she gave up, not wanting to risk the wrath of the Huntzbergers. She made a life for herself, and her son. But she told him about his dad. Showed him pictures and shared stories. And even though Logan jr. had never met his daddy, he was totally engrossed with the idea of him.
When Rory finished her story, his anger was directed at his father but that would do him no good. The man had died of a heart attack a few months earlier. Which was one of the reasons Rory thought it was a good time to introduce the Logans. Just when he finally let the words sink in. He had a son… A little boy burst in the coffeeshop screaming "Mommy, mommy look wat Nonna and Zio bought me." While he was proudly holding up a TMNT backpack.
When the little boy turned around, he saw a face he'd never before seen in real life. But he knew perfectly well who it was. He beamed across the table and said simply: "Daddy, do you like my new backpack?"
