Summer

That summer was one of the longest and hottest in Logan's life, it seemed to last so much more than it actually did. It surely didn't help that Rory's pregnancy was finally taking its toll on her.

Every day she struggled more and more with tasks that used to be among the easiest ones for her prompting some midday meltdown worthy of one of the tv show she loved so much.

Logan did everything he could to make these last months easier on her: he started to work at home so he could help Rory, even when she insisted she didn't need any help; he tried to have Lorelai over when he couldn't be around so she could keep her daughter company and help her plan their wedding, and for every pound Rory gained he never failed to tell her how beautiful she was.

That particular day was one of the hottest to date, Logan could practically feel his skin melt, he could only wonder what his poor fiancee was feeling. He tore himself from his laptop to sneak a peek at Rory and Lorelai, one furiously writing down things on her laptop and the other using a fan on both of them in an attempt to cool off.

This feeling of domestic bliss still took him by surprise, even if so many months had passed since his life drastically changed for the better, it was an intoxicating feeling, one he could easily get lost into.

A pierced scream broke the stillness in the room; he immediately jumped to the source of the interruption.

"Rory, are you okay? What's wrong? Talk to me."

She barely had the time to shake her head that Lorelai was already filling in the gaps, "Her water broke. I recognized the scream, it's one of a kind, like seriously it should come with its own trademark —"

Logan quickly interrupted her, "We need to get to the hospital. There's no need to worry, everything's ready, we're ready, okay?"

Rory didn't answer, she simply took his hand and hold onto to it with everything she had. Logan took it as a signal of trust, she was delegating everything to him because she trusted he know what to do and how to act.

He didn't waste any time, he helped her off the couch, instructed Lorelai to call for a cab while he went looking for the suitcase that had been prepared since the beginning of the third trimester.

The cab ride was smoother than he thought it'd be, the contractions were quite close and definitely painful judging from Rory's squeezes on his hand but they got to the hospital soon enough. As soon as they arrived a nurse promptly admitted her into a room and instructed them to wait for the doctor to come check on them.

Once she was sure her daughter was alright, Lorelai stepped out the room to make a few calls and to give them some privacy since soon enough they would not have any.

Logan was sitting on a chair beside Rory's bed, never letting go of her hand and checking how far along the contractions were on his watch.

"So doctor Huntzberger what's the prognosis? Am I gonna deliver our baby girl in the next two minutes?"

"Look who's in the mood to joke. And I thought we agreed not to call her baby girl anymore, she has a name, you know?"

"I know, I named her", Rory replied with a teasing smile.

Logan pretended to look offended by her sentence, "I named her too, thank you very much."

Rory nodded before saying, "You haven't left this room since we arrived, you need a time out, go stretch your legs and breathe a little fresh air."

Logan was about to protest when she interrupted him, "And before you say anything, mom will keep my company. You don't need to go for that long, just enough so we don't both go crazy waiting for Laurel."

He felt compelled to oblige to her so he got up, kissed her forehead and left the room just as Lorelai was getting in to take his place.

The fresh air didn't do much for him, he was antsy, he was anxious to meet his daughter, he was ready for Rory to feel better, he was ready to begin this new chapter of his life.

He used the time to text his gang and his sister about the birth of his girl and before he could talk himself out of it, he took his phone and composed a very familiar number, it went straight to voice-mail so he left a message.

"Dad, it's Logan. I'm just calling to tell you that in a very little while I'm gonna be a father, it's a girl, Laurel, I just thought you should know, bye."

That phone call was too much to deal with, his day was erratic as he was so he gladly got back inside.

Just as he entered the room the doctor proudly announced that Rory was ready to deliver, he sprung into action immediately: he took his rightful place at Rory's side while Lorelai took her other hand. They both worked together as one:, telling her when to breathe, when to push, wiping the sweat from her forehead, encouraging her to keep going.

Logan felt like days had passed since he entered into the room and Rory started pushing when a loud cry interrupted his thoughts.

His daughter was finally born and her cry was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.

Rory was openly crying now, wanting to hold her daughter in her arms, Lorelai wasn't any less of a mess, she was crying just as much as Rory was and trying to sneak a peek at her granddaughter.

"Would the dad like to do the honors?", the doctor asked him handing him a pair of scissors. Logan barely nodded before snapping the umbilical cord, effectively freeing his daughter into the world before he even got a chance to look at her.

The nurses were quick and efficient: they cleaned up their daughter in minutes and handed her back to her parents.

Rory was eager to get ahold of her, she thrusted her arms forward to receive her baby and she gently brought her to her chest; Logan got closer and finally managed to get a good look at her.

Words failed him, probably because the sight of little Laurel was too much for him to take to even try to put into words.

Where words lacked, feelings abounded: love, joy, pride, devotion, gratitude.

Love for this little baby that had already stolen his heart within moments of being born; joy for his new formed family; pride of what he managed to create with Rory; devotion for someone he already loved so viscerally and gratitude for what life had finally given him.

Rory looked at him and despite the tears in her eyes she was radiating happiness.

"Are you ready to hold her, daddy?"
He was ready. He had always been ready for her.