Chapter 36

Over the next two weeks, Rory and Finn started packing his things and preparing his house. He planned on putting the property on the market before the baby arrived. Lorelai was assisting with staging between trips back to Stars Hollow to help out at the Dragonfly. She knew how to make each space homey, desirable, and inviting.

On their final day, Rory got a phone call from Logan as they were in the midst of directing the movers. She stepped into the next room, where it was quieter.

"Hey, Logan! How are you?" she greeted him.

"I'm good, Ace, and you?"

"I'm very ready for the baby to come out! I think I'm bigger than Octomom!" she replied and they both laughed.

"I've got some good news for you," he said.

"What's that?" she asked excitedly.

"I wanted to be the one to personally tell you that your book has been officially sent to the printers. You'll receive your copy in about two weeks," he revealed.

"Oh, my god!" she squealed. "That is amazing news!"

"What is it, Love?" Finn called from the next room. He walked to her.

"Logan said my book's been sent to the printers!"

"That's wonderful news," he replied with a huge grin. He loved seeing her so happy and excited. He gave her a small kiss on the head before he went back to the movers.

"There is something else I'd like to discuss with you," Logan began. Despite the fact he was desperately working on his marriage to Odette, hearing Rory share the news with Finn still stung. He knew that he and Rory were over in a romantic sense, but it didn't make accepting her relationship with his best friend any easier. Regardless of his personal challenges with the situation, he just wanted her to be happy. In order to have a relationship with her and his daughter, he'd have to accept that Finn was the source of her joy.

"What's that, Logan?"

"With you getting close to your due date, I just wanted to make sure it was still ok for me to come," he said warily.

"Yes, I'd love for you to be here. Just so you know, it's only going to be my mom coming in for the delivery," she replied with a caveat.

"That's fair, but know that I'll be there if you need or want me," he offered.

"I appreciate that," she said softly.

"I'll be flying in next weekend, and I wanted to let you know, Odette will be coming with me. She won't come to the hospital and will likely stay with my mom or Honor," he explained with apprehension in his voice.

"You don't have to be afraid to tell me this kind of stuff, Logan. She's your wife, and I know you two are really trying to make things work. I think it's great. I really do, but I can't lie when I say that I truly appreciate her not making an appearance at the hospital," Rory confessed.

"We've talked about it a lot, and she'd like to make amends with an apology. She's insistent it is face-to-face, but I'll leave that up to you. She really has changed for the better. The accident was a real wake-up call for both of us," Logan said.

"That's great news," she said sincerely. "I'd suggest keeping her away from Shira if that's the case."

Logan chuckled. "That's a very good point. I'll shoot you a message with flight details later today."

"Make sure you send it to Finn, too," she requested.

"I will," he replied. "Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for letting me be a part of this," he said with an appreciative tone she'd never heard before.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," she answered in kind.

They both hung up. Rory was pleased with the outcome of the call from Logan. She was thankful they were able to deal with things in a mature manner. It wouldn't always be so easy, but for now, she'd take what she could get. It meant a lot to have Logan in her life, even if it wasn't the happily ever after she'd fantasized about for years. She realized they'd never work because neither was willing to fight for the other. With Finn, it was very different, and there was a connection she'd never felt before. They didn't have to question whether things were right or wrong, it had simply fallen into place naturally, organically. Although things weren't conventional, she wouldn't change a thing.

Rory walked back into the room where her mom and Finn were laughing hysterically. Both turned to her when they heard her walking in.

"So, what did Logan want? Besides the brilliant book news," Finn asked.

"He and Odette are flying in next weekend," she answered nonchalantly.

"As in the Perfectly Pampered Parisian Princess, Odette?" Lorelai asked with bite in her voice.

"Yes, they've been working on their relationship," Rory explained. She wished that her mom could give him the benefit of the doubt just once, but it was a complicated history with them.

"He's got some chutzpah to bring her here for the birth of your child," Lorelai replied.

"Mom, she's not coming to the hospital. Besides, she is his wife, and I'm glad he's working on his relationship," Rory said sternly.

"Me, too," Finn added. "I just hope she knows enough to stay away from you."

"Logan said she was staying with his mom or sister."

"I hope it's his sister. Keep her away from the cocktail waitress!"

"I made the same suggestion," Rory said. They all laughed and it helped break the tension from the impending difficult situation. "Besides, only you are coming into the room with me." Rory nodded to Lorelai. "Neither of the guys need to be in there."

"Ok, Kid, if that's what you want," Lorelai responded.

"I'll be there if you need or want me," Finn offered.

"Logan offered the same thing, but I think it'll be just us Gilmore Girls," Rory said and turned to Lorelai. "You think Grandma would want to come in, too?"

"Do you want to come out of this down the eldest Gilmore?" Lorelai retorted.

"No, I figured it would make for a great distraction from the pain caused by doing the splits on a crate of dynamite."

"Very funny. Now, unless they let Mommy drink unlimited martinis in the delivery room, I'm going to veto this idea."

"Ok, Mom," she replied. "I've got time to convince you otherwise because I think Grandma would be thrilled to join us for the arrival of the littlest Gilmore."

"Um, Ror, I don't think you've got as much time as you think," Lorelai said as if she knew something Rory didn't.

"Huh? What are you talking about? I've got nearly three weeks -"

"Take a look," she interrupted and nodded to the very wet spot on her daughter's pants.

"Oh, my god!" Rory quickly turned away in embarrassment. She ushered her mom closer. "Is losing bladder control a sign?"

"No, but your water breaking is," Lorelai replied in a whisper.

"But I'm not due for almost three weeks. I'm not ready for this!"

"It's ok, Love. Just relax and we'll get you to the hospital," Finn said reassuringly.

Rory's anxiety was becoming more visible and her breathing was quick and shallow. Finn tried comforting her with an arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close to him, but it didn't seem to help her at all.

"Just breathe! Hee hee hoo, hee hee hoo," Lorelai directed. She moved her hand in a circle motioning for Finn to join in. "Hee hee hoo!"

Finn started breathing with Lorelai. Rory began calming down without breathing like Lorelai and Finn.

"You know that kind of thing is for when I'm actually in labor," she said.

"It got you to calm down though," Lorelai countered.

"Yes, but only because you two looked and sounded ridiculous!" she was laughing.

"We really should get you to the hospital, Love," Finn recommended.

"I'm going to make a big mess, and I don't have my bag packed or even here," Rory responded.

"You give me a list, and I'll get your things. Then, I'll meet you two at the hospital," Lorelai suggested.

"It's settled, let's go!" Finn said.

Rory pulled Lorelai to the side. "Mom, what does labor feel like?"

"Don't you remember the story of your birth?"

"Yes, but I mean before that part."

"It feels like a hug on the inside that gets tighter and more intense. Why?"

"Because I think I've been in labor since yesterday. I thought I was overdoing things, but it hasn't stopped. In fact, it's more frequent," Rory admitted.

"How close are those feelings?" Lorelai prodded knowing that she might be further along than anyone thought.

"Every few minutes," she whispered.

"Finn!" Lorelai called in a slight panic. "Get her to the hospital now! Unless you want to deliver this baby here!"