Hello my amazing readers!

I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter. I made a big change in my employment about 2 months ago and it has definitely been for the best. I think it has helped bring me out of the spot that I was stuck at. I hope you all enjoy this coming chapter and I plan to have a new one out sooner rather then later.

As always rights go where they are deserved, I own nothing except the characters I have created.

Chapter 10

Outside the hospital room

Donny walks back inside after instructing Clarisse on what to do in regards to Rory's mother. He heads back to the waiting room and looks carefully at Finn and Mitchum. He says carefully, "Following Rory's instructions, I told Clarisse to tell Lorelai to go home."

Mitchum and Finn look back and forth between each other and then carefully back at Donny. Donny then looks around and approaches one of the nurses. He carefully asks her, "Excuse me, could you reach one of the doctor's working on Miss Hayden's case for me? I need to ask them a question."

She looks at him questionably, but then nods her head and heads over to the phone. She makes a quick call and then says with the phone to her ear still, "Miss Hayden's doctor is currently not available to come here personally. What did you need to ask?"

Donny looks back at Mitchum and Finn and looks back at the nurse, "Could you ask if her other visitors can be allowed into the room? They have calmed down and if they step out of line, I will remove them from the room."

The nurse nods her head and returns her conversation to the phone. She looks back at Donny and then towards the other men. She hangs up the phone and walks towards Mitchum and Finn. She stops in front of their chairs and says, "The doctor has approved you two to enter Miss Hayden's room, but if you cause any more issues you will be removed from the hospital and not allowed to return."

Both men nod their heads and follow Donny toward Rory's room. Mitchum looks around carefully still pondering who could have caused Rory's injuries, but too afraid to question her directly as he doesn't want to lose her. Finn stops just outside the door to think over everything he said and everything he recanted and regrets it immediately. He wishes desperately that he could go back in time and let it play out differently, but unfortunately he knows that he has screwed up again.

Inside the hospital room

I hold a sleeping Rose to my chest still rocking her gently. I look up from her sleeping form as I hear the door open. Donny enters the room, carefully followed by Mitchum and behind him slightly delayed comes Finn. I look over the three men currently in my life trying their best to keep my life safe and secure and I hate what I know that I have to do. I know that it will hurt them all, but it will be best for Rose and myself. It is a plan that I had presented to me just three months before Rose's birth, but at the time I did not see the risk in continuing as I had and I turned it down. The person offering it had offered an extension of it stating that the plan would be there for when my eyes were opened to the danger in front of me. I smile at Donny and Mitchum, the two men who had become protectors and father figures for me in the last several months, and then I look at Finn, the best friend of the father of my child who recanted his earlier statements of love for me, and I say, "Well I am glad to see all three of you have gotten permission to enter my room again."

Donny and Mitchum chuckle and Finn looks at me with slight concern in his eyes. I look over the three men in front of me and know that the first step I have to take to follow my plan of escape is to push away the one that I see a possible life with, but he recanted his earlier profession. I look carefully at Finn and say, "Finn, I thank you for your concern and your presence during this uncertain time, but I request that you leave the hospital. You are Logan's friend and I don't want to come between your friendship. I know that you care about me as well, but ultimately when I pushed Logan away I also pushed you boys away. We were never friends before Logan and will never be friends without Logan."

Finn looks at me carefully and says, "Rory, I understand all of the concern you have for Rose's safety and your own and I would never divulge the information of your location to Logan or Sally. You have to understand that I would never do anything to purposefully hurt either of you. Are you sure you want me to leave?"

I take a deep breath as I know that Finn believes he is speaking the truth. In truth, I know that he will follow the words he has spoken, but I also know that it will tear a hole in his friendship with Logan and I could not stand to do that to them. After thinking that, I also feel the protective urge flow even fiercer into me. He had said that he understood my concern for Rose's safety and my own, but he didn't understand that my safety became no concern of mine once Rose was born. If I thought it was the best solution for Rose, I would have gladly given my life for hers back in my apartment. I knew though that she needed a warrior defending her to take down the force that was coming after her. I knew from the way she spoke that Sally saw both Rose and I as a threat for the bubble that she had created with Logan, but ultimately she saw Rose as the greater threat as she was Logan's blood. I look at Finn and say defensively, "I am sure I wish that you leave Finn. I don't want to tear a hole in your friendship with Logan."

Finn looks at me like he wants to say something more, but then he shakes his head and walks out of the room with a look of almost defeat. I look carefully towards Mitchum and Donny, who had shockingly been quiet during my discussion with Finn, to see a look of confusion on Donny's face and an almost look of smug pride on Mitchum's. Donny looks towards Mitchum and then towards me before carefully asking, "If you asked Finn to leave because he was first friends with Logan, why have you never asked the same of Mitchum?"

I look carefully towards Mitchum and then back towards Donny before saying, "I think the answer to that is at the time Mitchum came back into my life I didn't know of the threat towards my child or myself, but he was the one who informed me of it. He also helped me work on a plan to stay away from the danger present in my life."

Donny nods his head and Mitchum looks towards me before carefully saying, "Did you really mean what you said to Finn?"

I look towards him and ask him cautiously, "Which part are you questioning, Mitchum?"

Mitchum looks at me carefully and asks, "I meant the part about when you told him that your were never his friend without Logan and will never be his friend without Logan."

I look towards Mitchum and carefully say, "Yes I did mean it, Mitchum. I also have come to realize in this time that while I didn't push you away when I first probably should have that I must do it now. You are Logan's father. My child or I shouldn't be coming between a relationship between you and your son or your son's significant other. It has been nice the last few months to have your support, but I have been extremely selfish to take that away from Logan. It is time for you to return home and support your son while forgetting about his unclaimed child."

Mitchum looks at me carefully and says, "Rory, you can't necessarily mean that. My son may have not claimed your daughter, but I see her as every bit family. I want to support the both of you and be in your lives."

I look back at Mitchum and say, "I mean exactly what I have said Mitchum. You, your son, and your entire family have no claim on my daughter as I did as you instructed and claimed her father as unknown. We don't need your support and it is time for you to learn your greatest lesson. Sometimes you don't always get to have everything Mitchum, but you take what you have you run with it. You have a growing relationship with your son and it is time that you show him the growth that you have made. You need to show him that you will not judge his choice in significant other or the choices he has made, but that you will support him in whatever decisions he makes. Finn told me that they are hiding out in London to protect her, but it is time you bring them home and support them. Mitchum I hope all of this goes well."

Mitchum looks at me closer and with a fierciness says, "Rory, I don't understand why you are doing this. Have you gone crazy? You were just stabbed in your own home and you are pushing me away when all I want to do is protect you and your child?"

I look at him and say defiantly, "I know what happened to me, Mitchum, and I know what could have happened to my child. I don't need you or anyone to protect myself or my child besides me. Now the question Mitchum is are you going to leave willingly Mitchum or will I need to call the hospital security to remove you?"

Mitchum looks at me almost stunned and then looks back towards Donny. Donny looks at Mitchum and says in almost a whisper, "Just go Mitchum."

Mitchum shakes his head, but then stands and heads out the door. Donny looks at me and says carefully, "Are you going to push me out as well Rory?"

I look towards Donny and then look down at Rose in my arms before saying, "No, I am not going to push you out Donny. I know you maybe confused right now why I did all of that, but I promise you I only did it because I had to."

Donny nods his head and says, "Will you tell me Rory why you have done all that you have done?"

I look up from Rose and look Donny straight in the eyes as I say, "Donny I can tell you some of why I have done what I have done, but first I need you to make me a promise. I need you to promise me that you will not tell anyone and I mean anyone what I am about to tell you."

Donny looks at Rose in my arms and then back at me before saying, "Rory I promise you that I will not tell anyone what you are about to tell me."

I smile down at Rose and then look around the room as I say, "First off Donny, I need you to understand that I do know who hurt me, but I am not going to tell you or anyone as it will just cause more trouble and won't solve anything. Secondly to protect Rose I am going to have to utilize my back up plan which means leaving everyone that I love and care for behind me. I want you to understand something though. I can't tell you much of the plan from this point forward, but if anything happens to me I have ensured that Rose comes to you and Clarisse as you are the only ones I trust to care for her and raise her right."

I turn my gaze towards Donny as I finish my statements. I can see the confusion in his eyes, but also an almost understanding look. After a minute or so, he finally says, "I may not understand fully why you are doing all of this, but I will support it Rory. If anything should happen to you and Rose does come to us, Clarisse and I will raise her to be a force just like her mother. We will make sure also that she knows about her mother."

I nod my head at his statements and then Donny quickly questions, "How much longer until you leave?"

I look around the room and then at him and say, "I will leave as soon as I am released from the hospital. Can you and Clarisse help care for Rose until that time."

He nods his head and I feel that one burden lifted off of my chest. I know that I will have a few days in this hospital and be questioned by police, but I see the light of freedom at the end of the tunnel. Soon I will be starting a new path, but hopefully it will lead overall to the safety of my sweet darling Rose.

In London

Logan watches carefully as the plane touches down at the private airport. Sally had left a few days before stating a family emergency in the states that she had to rush to. He had of course offered to go with, but she had asked to go alone. In the days without her he had come to realize how much he couldn't live without her. He knew ultimately that it was time to make a big step in their relationship and he was afraid because the last time he had willingly asked this question he as told no. He watches as Sally carefully exits the plane and steps from the vehicle. She smiles as she sees him and comes running to him. They great excitedly with a passionate kiss. After this they enter the waiting car and converse quietly as her bags are loaded in. As they leave the airport, Sally asks, "Are we headed for home, Logan?"

Logan looks at her and cautiously shakes his head before saying, "No, my dear, I have a surprise for you first."

Sally smiles almost giddily and snuggles up next to Logan as they continue their drive. A short while later they stop and the door is carefully opened by the driver. Logan exits first, but then reaches in to extend his hand to Sally to allow her to exit. She takes it and exits the vehicle amazed by the sight in front of her. They are parked at one of the highest points in London looking over the city and in front of her is an elegantly set table overlooking the scenery below them. She looks amazed towards Logan, but they head together to the table to enjoy the meal. They eat their meal and enjoy conversation throughout. Right before dessert Logan looks carefully at Sally and says, "Sally the last several months have been the most amazing of my life. I love every moment that we have spent together and want a million more."

He stops his statements and carefully gets down on one knee producing a ring box from his pocket. He then opens it to reveal a gorgeous 3 karat diamond ring and continues asking, "Sally, my dear, will you do me the pleasure of being my partner for the rest of my life? Will you marry me?"

Sally starts excitedly jumping up and down and says, "Yes, of course, yes Logan yes!"

Logan quickly slides the ring on her finger and they kiss enthusiastically. Logan then motions to the caterers who bring out their dessert and a bottle of champagne. They go to pop the champagne open, but Sally quickly says, "Stop."

Logan and the caterers look at her confused as she says, "Logan, I have a confession to make. I didn't return to the states because of a family emergency. I returned home because I wanted to see my own doctor to confirm something for me."

Logan looks at her confused and asks, "What did you want to confirm with your doctor?"

Sally carefully says, "Well I wanted to confirm what a little test told me and it turns out it was right. My doctor says that we are about 10 weeks along."

She carefully slides an ultrasound picture across the table to Logan. He looks stunned at her and says carefully, "I'm going to be a father?"

She nods her head carefully and he starts to cry tears of joy. He centers himself and then carefully asks, "Sally, since we are starting a family how about we make that family official sooner than later?"

She looks at him cautiously and asks, "What were you thinking, Logan?"

Logan looks at her and says, "I was thinking that we head back home to the states in a couple days and we get married then. We can have your family there, Honor and her family, and my parents there or it can be just us if you want."

Sally looks at him and carefully asks, "How about we get married here in London, just the two of us?"

Logan looks at her and says, "Whatever you want, my dear! You say the word and I will make this family official."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that chapter. There will be a small time jump (just a couple days to get Rory out of the hospital) in the next chapter. As always, please feel free to review, favorite, and follow as you desire.