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The next couple of weeks pass quietly. Lorelai comes to visit, exclaim over how big Rory's getting and takes her shopping for maternity clothes. When Rory asks after Luke, Lorelai tells her he's visiting Jess. Rory feels awkward but fortunately her mother doesn't seem to notice as she changes the subject. Lorelai leaves with a promise to accompany Rory to her ultrsound and, a few days later, Jess calls. Rory hesitates before answering,

"Hey."

"Hi," Jess says. "How's it going?"

"Okay. How are things with you?"

"Fine."

Jess sounds as forcedly normal as Rory, and he goes on,

"How've you been?"

"Great."

"Really?"

"I'm okay, Jess."

There's a pause and Rory says in a rush,

"Thanks for calling."

"I didn't know if it was okay. Is it?"

"Of course it is. I'm glad you called."

"Yeah?" Jess asks and Rory grins.

"Absolutely."

"It's good to hear you too."

Rory smiles contentedly and Jess asks,

"So what have you up to?"

"Not a lot. I saw Paris a little while ago."

"Huh. How is she?"

"Scarring me with stories about pregnancy."

Jess chuckles and Rory says,

"I have an ultrasound next week."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, on Wednesday. I'm kind of nervous. They want to check that everything's okay."

"Right," Jess says quietly and Rory says quickly,

"Anyway, Mom's going to come with me."

"I figured."

"She's really excited. I can find out the sex, if I want."

"Are you going to?"

"I don't know yet."

Rory pauses, tracing a pattern on her pants with her hand, and Jess says carefully,

"You can call me after, if you want. I'm going to be out of town but I'll pick up."

"Oh - thanks," Rory says, touched. "Where are you going?"

"Truncheon stuff. We're meeting with some authors."

"That'll be fun."

"Potentially," Jess says. "I'm going to Omaha, so I'm hoping it's a decent group."

"Yikes. Logan had to go there once."

Rory bites her lip but Jess doesn't sound awkward as he says,

"Yeah, well. It's a chance to travel, anyway."

"When are you going?"

"Monday. I'm back Thursday."

"Oh. Well, safe trip."

"Thanks."

There's a long pause and then Jess says,

"Do you want to go for coffee or something, when I'm back?"

"I would," Rory says sincerely. "You can tell me all about your trip."

"And you can tell me about your ultrasound. If you want."

"Yeah," Rory says happily. "Talk to you then."

"Bye, Rory."

"Bye, Jess."

Rory hangs up and hugs the phone to her chest for a moment, a wide smile spreading over her face. Going to the kitchen, Rory makes a pot of coffee. Her body's considerably heavier, but Rory's mood is light and she grins, placing a hand on her bump. It feels good to have made up with Jess. As she sips the coffee there's a feeling of a flutter and Rory stops, putting the cup down and staring at her stomach.

"Was that you kicking?" she asks. "Or just a weird reaction to coffee?"

Rory holds her breath and moments later there's the sensation again. Her eyes filling, Rory goes and sits on the couch, the coffee forgotten.

"I think that's you," she whispers, putting a hand on her bump. "Hey, kid."

The baby kicks again and then lets up. Reaching for the phone, Rory dials her mother's number and Lorelai answers hurriedly.

"Hey, kid. I'm halfway through my newest Lifetime movie and I think Luke's plotting to delete it, so make it fast, unless you want to stay on the phone to hear the rest, because -"

"Mom!" Rory interrupts. "The baby's kicking!"

There's a loud gasp and Lorelai exclaims,

"It is?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, wow!" Lorelai cries. "I want to come over!"

"Mom, it's nine o'clock at night. I'm sure the baby will kick for you on Wednesday."

"But I feel like a bad grandmother."

"Please."

"Well, tell me about it!"

"I made some coffee and I was just drinking it, and I felt something, and I wasn't sure, but then it happened again and I'm pretty sure it was a kick."

"It definitely was! It's appreciating the coffee."

Rory laughs out loud and Lorelai says sadly,

"I wish I could be there."

"You'll be here in a few days. You can gush all over it then."

"And you'll wear that cute maternity shirt we picked out?"

"I'll dress for the occasion."

"I can't wait. I'll take you for coffee afterward, hopefully the baby'll kick again then."

"If it knows what's good for it."

"It will."

Rory smiles and says,

"Mom, go back to your movie before Luke deletes it."

"Trying to get rid of me?"

"No, I just know you'll talk all night otherwise."

"Mean!"

"I'm not mean, I'm doing it for you. Don't you want to find out what happens?"

"I don't care so much now," Lorelai says emotionally. "But I'll go. Goodnight, honey."

"Goodnight, Mom."

Rory hangs up, hand on her stomach, but the baby doesn't kick again. She wishes her mother was there, so there's someone to hug and scream with, but Rory settles for celebrating with a bag of oreos and glass of orange juice. Her one craving is dunking the cookies in the juice and Rory indulges. She'll celebrate properly when she sees Lorelai, Rory thinks, and feels a little brighter when she goes to bed. She thinks of calling Jess, but awkwardly decides that it's late, and might be weird. The baby kicks off and on for the next few days and on the morning of her scan, Rory answers her phone happily when her mother rings.

"Hey, Mom! It's kicking!"

"Rory," Lorelai says. Her voice makes Rory stop and she asks quietly,

"What is it?"

"Honey," Lorelai says slowly, "My jeep broke down."

"You can't come?" Rory asks, voice trembling and Lorelai sounds like she's about to cry.

"I'm so sorry. I was halfway there and the light started blinking and I had to pull over. There's a problem with the engine. I called a truck but I don't think I can make it in time."

"Do you want me to reschedule?" Rory asks and Lorelai says gently,

"It's up to you, sweets. I want to go with you, more than anything, but it might be hard to get your next appointment, and you were all ready for today."

"We both were," Rory says tearfully and Lorelai says,

"Are you mad at me?"

"It's not your fault."

"It is my fault, I should have left earlier, or taken Luke's truck, or the bus, or -"

"Mom, things happen. It's okay."

"It's not okay."

"No, but it can't be helped."

"You shouldn't have to go alone."

"It's okay," Rory says, taking a deep breath. "I'll be fine. Look - I'll go and see how I feel, and if it's too hard or weird I'll try and go another time."

"Call me as soon as you're out of there."

"I will. Bye, Mom."

"Bye, angel."

Wiping at her eyes, Rory picks up her purse and looks down at her stomach.

"It's just you and me," she says. "We're going to be okay."

Rory thinks she feels a small kick and, trying to compose herself, makes her way to hospital. The waiting room feels lonely, filled with couples, and Rory jumps when they call her name.

"Rory Gilmore?" the technician asks. "Are you ready?"

"Absolutely."

Rory follows her into the room and the technician closes the door.

"Are you on your own?"

"Yes. My mother was supposed to come but she got held up."

The technician looks sympathetic and Rory shakes her head when she asks,

"Do you want to reschedule? It's a couple of weeks, but -"

"No. I want to know if it's all okay."

"Alright. Are you okay to get up?"

Rory slides herself onto the trolley and this time doesn't wait to be asked to lift her shirt. Holding the blouse out of the way, Rory winces at the cold gel and nods when asked if she's ready.

"Here we go," the technician says. "Has everything been feeling okay?"

"The baby's been kicking."

"Right on time," the technician says kindly. "Okay, here it is."

She turns the screen around and Rory stares. The baby looks a lot bigger now, its legs tucked up, and the technician smiles.

"It's at a very healthy size."

"And the rest?"

"I'm going to check right now."

She focuses all over and Rory nervously asks,

"Well?"

"Everything's looking great," the technician says and Rory lets out a long breath. "Do you want to know the sex?"

Rory pauses, looking at the screen and shakes her head.

"No," she says eventually. "I'll keep it a surprise."

"Alright. Well, you should look away, as I need to check there too."

Rory dutifully turns her head until the technician announces that she's done. Sitting up, she smiles at the technician says,

"You have a very healthy baby so far. Congratulations. Are you sure you don't want to know the sex?"

"I'm sure."

"Alright. Well, I'll get you a copy of the ultrasound and pictures. We're all done. You can clean up now."

"Thanks."

Rory wipes the gel off, goes to the bathroom and slowly makes her way home. The pictures are in her purse and Rory is happy, giddy with relief that the baby's okay, but she can't stop the pall of sadness. Trying to shake it, Rory calls Lorelai who answers instantly.

"Was it okay?"

"Everything's fine. Ten fingers and toes."

"I so wish I was there," Lorelai says. "And I'm so happy, Rory! Did you find out what it is?"

Her voice is tingled with excitement and Rory smiles ruefully as she tells her,

"No, I didn't."

"You didn't ask?" Lorelai exclaims. "I thought you wanted to know!"

"I wasn't sure."

"But you hate surprises."

"I do not. Besides, the most important thing is that it's healthy."

"Of course it is, I just expected you to ask. Well, the town will be disappointed. They're betting on that too."

"Oh jeez," Rory says in disgust. "Tell me you're not betting on your grandchild."

"I'm not," Lorelai says defensively. "I'm sure it's a girl. I didn't ask to be part of it."

"Mom, aren't you going to feel guilty taking a load of money if you're right?"

"Hey, I'm not committed to any of it. And I'll use the money for baby gifts."

"If you're right."

"If I am."

Rory smiles but feels the sadness again as Lorelai says gently,

"I wish I could have come. More than anything, sweets."

"I know. It's okay, Mom."

"It's not, but I'll make up for it."

"I'm going to hold you to that. We're meeting up next week, right?"

"You got a list prepared?" Lorelai jokes. "Yes, kid. I'll see you then."

They say their goodbyes and Rory clutches the phone in her lap. Her unhappiness settles all over, anchoring her mind, and without thinking Rory dials Logan's number. It rings and rings and finally Logan answers.

"Rory? What's up?"

"What's up?" Rory shouts angrily. "I'll tell you what's up! I'm pregnant and you haven't asked how I am at all!"

"Rory -"

"I'm five months pregnant," Rory says, tears spilling and dropping on her blouse. "And you haven't called once."

"I've been busy."

"You've been busy? Are you serious?"

"Rory, you said that's what you wanted! You wanted to do it without me!"

"But I'm still pregnant," Rory says, voice shaking. "You could have called."

"Rory, don't. You wanted a break. I said we could get married."

"I don't want to get married!" Rory shouts. "I just want you to care!"

"I do care!"

"I'm doing this all on my own," Rory says tearfully. "I had my ultrasound today and I had to go alone. My mom couldn't make it and I had to find out if our kid was okay without anyone there. I'm doing this by myself and it's scary, and you haven't called once since I found out."

"Is it all okay?" Logan asks and Rory cries,

"Yes, it's all okay! But I'm not, Logan! I'm having a baby in a few months and I've been freaking out and trying to act like I'm not and defending you, and I don't even know why."

"Ace -"

"Don't call me that! Why haven't you been there?"

"I got married."

"I know. I saw the pictures Honor sent me."

"She shouldn't have done that."

"She didn't know. Besides, it's not the point. You didn't make time."

"I haven't had any!"

"You had the time to make calls when you were engaged," Rory snaps. "You didn't mind calling when we were hooking up, paying for me to come see you, but now I'm pregnant - it's not a priority, right? It's just your embarrassing secret."

"Don't say that."

"It's true, isn't it?"

"Of course it's not true. I think about you all the time."

"If you do, you should have talked to me. What if something hadn't been okay? What if the baby was gone or there was something wrong or if I wasn't okay - and I'm not," Rory sobs. "I'm not. Do you know how unhappy I've been? My grandmother's not speaking to me and I had a fight with my friend and I'm trying to be calm. And you've got married while I'm trying to figure this out and learn to do it all, and you'll never tell Odette."

There's a pause and Rory presses,

"Will you?"

"I thought you wanted this," Logan says eventually and Rory takes a shuddering breath, wiping her eyes.

"I don't want you to be with me," she says eventually. "But I want you to care. I want you ask how I am, ask about the baby. But you don't, and you haven't. You didn't even know I had my ultrasound today."

"You didn't tell me."

"You didn't want to know."

"I'm sorry," Logan says. His voice is serious and Rory shrugs, able to envisage his face.

"I knew it could never work," she says eventually. "Even without this. But I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"You miss what we had," Rory says honestly. She waits, but Logan doesn't deny it.

"I'm sorry," Logan says again. "Rory, I - I still want to know when the baby comes. Did you find out what it is?"

"No," Rory says coldly. "You'll have to wait. If you can stand to."

"Rory."

"I'm going to go," Rory says, squeezing her eyes shut. "And don't worry, I'm not going to call again. Not unless it's about the baby. You're busy, right?"

"You can call me."

"I don't want to."

"Rory -"

"We both messed up," Rory says. "I'm not asking you to change anything for me, or to leave Odette, but you should have called. Even if we're not together. I deserve that much."

"I wasn't trying to hurt you."

"Forget it, Logan. I'll call when the baby comes. Goodbye."

Rory pauses, half expecting Logan to protest, beg her to stay on the line, but he simply says,

"Goodbye, Rory."

Rory ends the call and lies back against the cushion, tears streaming. She wonders if her child will ever understand the truth she refused to believe - being an adult is impossibly hard.