Chapter 36
They went back into his apartment and loaded the dishwasher and put the leftover food away.
"You had enough food for an army tonight," she said smiling up at him.
"Well I had two baby mama's that needed sustenance," he chuckled.
She giggled and put her arms up around his neck and leaning into him she kissed him.
He took her hands and led her to the couch. They sat together shoulder to shoulder holding hands. He played with her fingers.
"Ror?" he said.
"Yes," she responded.
"Can we talk about what happened the other day?" he asked her.
"I guess."
"I want to know what is going on with you and Logan."
Playing with his fingers she looked at him and sighed.
"Marty there is nothing going on. I had lunch with him the day of the doctor's appointment. Finn came and took me to the doctors when Steph and Jess couldn't go with me."
"Why didn't you ask me to go?" he asked searching her eyes.
Looking back in those dark eyes she replied, "I was going to, but Steph told me that you and she were going to look at apartments for your sister. So, I knew you were busy."
"Yes, I'm sorry but if you had asked I would have changed that appointment with Steph. You are my number one priority," Marty answered.
She closed her eyes and put her head against the back of the couch trying to hold her tears back. She wanted to be strong.
"You haven't explained about Logan, what's going on?"
"There is nothing between me and Logan. We are trying to move on and just be friends."
"Does Logan understand that?"
"I hope so, I try to avoid anything that he would misunderstand."
"Rory, I saw you two on the waterfront, he looked like he was going to kiss you."
"But he didn't. I turned away. You are the only one I kissed, well except for Finn and Jess."
"What? You kissed Finn and Jess?"
"Marty, it wasn't like that. Jess kissed me like he always does at the event when we talked about his new book. Then Finn kissed me in excitement when he saw the Ultrasound."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, ask them both. They love me like I'm their sister. Not how I love you."
Without thinking she verbalized her feelings towards Marty.
Marty looked at her and asked, "Rory, what did you say?"
Putting her hand on his face she said, "Jess and Paris both told me to look in front of me and that you were right here. I know now it was you in my dreams singing to me and reaching for me."
"Rory, Princess what dream?"
"I had a dream that I was at the Four Seasons again and I heard the song Moon River. I was dressed like Audrey Hepburn. Jess wanted me to go with him on a bus to California, and Logan wanted me to dance and they were pulling me. Then you came out on stage, but I could not see your face, but I heard your voice singing, "In Case You Didn't Know." You then said, Don't listen to them, I am here Princess. You reached out to me and then your hand disappeared. I realized that it was you in my dreams. I... I'm falling in love with you. You're it - the missing piece, the person I need in my life. You're my missing piece."
"Are you sure?"
"I've never been so sure of anything in my life," she replied looking at his dark eyes.
She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer to her. She kissed him feeling the desire for him that she had been trying to hide from herself. He responded and gently pushed her back on the couch. Lying beside her, he gently caressed her face.
"Ror, when the words of the song go,
In case you didn't know
Baby I'm crazy bout you
And I would be lying if I said
That I could live this life without you
Even though I don't tell you all the time
You had my heart a long long time ago
In case you didn't know
That describes how I have felt about you for a long time. And when we kissed at Steph and Colin's, I knew it was real. I could feel it. "
"Marty, I felt it too, it was a spark. I never felt it before with anyone else."
Then he sang to her,
"The way you look tonight
That second glass of wine
That did it, mmm
There was something bout that kiss
Girl it did me in
Got me thinking
I'm thinking
All of the things that I've been feeling
Mmm, it's time you hear em
In case you didn't know
Baby I'm crazy bout you
And I would be lying if I said
That I could live this life without you
Even though I don't tell you all the time
You had my heart a long long time ago
In case you didn't know
You've got all of me
I belong to you
Yeah, you're my everything
In case you didn't know
I'm crazy bout you
I would be lying if I said
That I could live this life without you
Even though I don't tell you all the time
You had my heart a long long time ago
Yeah, you had my heart a long long time ago, mmm
In case you didn't know, know, know
In case you didn't know "
"Rory," pulling her close to him he kissed her deeply. He trailed his kisses down her neck. He lifted the t-shirt she was wearing and caressed her breast. She gasped as he bent down and kissed her sensitive breast.
"Marty," she gasped, "I need you." She reached for his pants and unbuttoned them. She slowly undid the zipper and reached inside feeling his arousal underneath his silk boxers.
Pulling the shirt off over her head he tossed it on the floor. He traced her nipples with his tongue. She felt her body become inflamed. Lifting her he carried her into his bedroom and put her on his bed.
"Rory, are you sure you want to do this?" he moaned.
Her eyes grew darker with desire. "I'm ready if you are," she whispered.
They slowly undressed each other, relishing the feel of this newfound intimacy.
"You're so beautiful, Rory." he whispered, pulling her closer to him. He leaned in and kissed her again as he ran his hands down her curves.
Rory kissed down his neck and kissed his muscular chest. Rory bit her lip as she took in his muscular, toned body. He was gorgeous. She continued to kiss his chest, and wrapping her arms around him she grabbed his toned back feeling his muscles.
"Marty," she moaned as he caressed her body. She rolled over and pulled him on top of her, loving the feel of the weight of his body on hers. "Please, I need you."
"God, Rory. I love you so much. Say nothing - you don't have to. I need you to know how I feel," he whispered.
She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer and he almost came undone. He was about to make love to the woman he had loved since college. He bent and kissed her on the forehead and closed his eyes at the feeling of being inside her.
Rory turned her head and kissed the inside of his arm, completely overwhelmed by what she was feeling emotionally and physically. She felt warm tears on her cheeks.
"Are you okay, Rory?" he asked in concern.
"I'm perfect. It's just... it's so perfect, Marty. It feels right - like we belong together," she whispered, pulling him closer as she needed to feel him as close to her as possible.
"That's because we belong together, Rory," he said with a smile.
He lowered himself down to her and wrapped his arms around her as he continued to make love to her.
"God, I love you, Rory."
"Marty, I love you. Je veux être avec toi pour toujours."
That's the most amazing thing I've ever heard," he whispered as she moaned in pleasure. "Or maybe that is," he chuckled.
"Shut up and make love to me," Rory replied with a laugh.
"Whatever you want," he whispered as they continued exploring each other and reveling in the intensity of their intimacy.
Finally, both satisfied, they fell into each other's arms as their breathing returned to normal. Cuddling in his arms she thought about what she said to him.
She doesn't regret it, but she whispers, "Marty, are we moving too fast?"
"Are you having doubts about how you feel about us?" he asked her.
"No but it hasn't been that long. I feel that we belong together, but then I am afraid…" just then her phone rang.
She looked at the number and smiled. It was her father. She hadn't heard from him since Ace's memorial. She laid back in the crook of his arm as Marty continued to play with her hair. She answered her phone.
"Hi Dad, this is a nice surprise. How are you and how is Gigi?"
"Hi Ror, we are fine, in fact we will arrive in JFK tomorrow morning. We are returning to Hartford and Gigi will attend Chilton in the fall."
"Dad this is sudden. Can we pick you up? Do you want to stay at my place?" she asked. Her couch was a pull out and she and Gigi could share her bed and her dad could sleep on the couch.
"That would be great Rory, our plane arrives at 11:10 am."
"Ok see you then and say hi to Gigi for me." Rory ended the call. "Well you get to meet my dad tomorrow."
Marty looked at her and wondered if there was more going on. He remembered she talked about her dad never being around much. Maybe that is why she is always afraid to make a commitment.
Marty and Rory arrived at terminal seven at eleven o'clock. Rory was nervous about their arrival. She would wait to tell them about the baby when they were alone. The arrival board announced their plane arrival and soon they saw people walking out of the gate. She noticed her dad and sister, she ran to the door and Gigi came running into her arms. Gigi was now thirteen with long blond hair and she appeared more sophisticated than she was at her age.
"Gigi, you look beautiful, and you have grown up so much," Rory told her as she gave her a big hug. Marty was standing behind Rory and noticed that the sisters were the same height. Gigi was attractive but did not possess the mesmerizing eyes as her older sister.
"Dad, I've missed you." she gave him a big hug and felt her words choke in her throat.
"Hey kiddo, you are glowing. I am glad you look so good." Chris replied her hugging her back.
"Dad, Gigi, this is Marty, Martin Knight." she said introducing them.
"Nice to meet both of you," Marty said shaking both Christopher's hand and Gigi's hand.
"Marty, Martin Knight…. Rory that names sounds familiar, didn't you know a Marty at Yale? You used to talk about him a lot when you first went," Chris said.
"Yes, this is the same Marty," and before she could finish her sentence.
Christopher turned to him and said, "You're the naked guy that Rory met her Freshman year. Her grandparents and mother laughed about that for a long time."
Rory rolled her eyes, it's so typical for her father to bring something up like this to break the ice. Marty just laughed and put his arm around Rory's shoulder.
"Naked Guy. Yes, I guess I am. I must have made an impression on her," He smiled and gave her a kiss on the lips.
"Rory has told me how you have been a big help to her the last few months. Thank you for being here for her," Christopher said as he put out his hand to shake Marty's hand.
Shaking hands, Marty looked at Chris and with a smile he responded, "My pleasure, I told her that I would be here for her."
He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. Rory didn't blush. She liked the PDA with Marty and it didn't bother her anymore, she smiled up at him. They headed toward the baggage area. Christopher and Gigi shipped their belongings ahead to his mother's home in Hartford, so they both had one bag with their essential clothes. Francine Hayden was 85 and she was not in the best health. Chris decided he needed to be near his mother now and since Gigi no longer wanted to be in boarding school, he brought her back to Hartford and enrolled her in Chilton.
"So, Dad, how long will you be here?" Rory asked him.
"Didn't I mention it, Ror, we are moving back."
"Back, like in Boston?" she asked.
"No, kiddo, back to Hartford. Gigi and I decided that she didn't like boarding school and since you had such success at Chilton she wanted to go there. Grandma Francine isn't doing well, and I missed you too."
Rory's eyes teared up. Maybe she won't be alone like she thought. She will have her father and sister near her and now Marty. Then she thought of Ace and her mother and cried. Her sister was sitting beside her in the backseat as Marty drove them from the airport to her apartment. Gigi reached over to her sister and held her hand.
"Rory, what's wrong?" She asked her.
"Nothing, Gig, these are tears of happiness. I have missed you both so much that I didn't realize it. I am so glad that you are both back," Rory told her.
Gigi reached over and hugged her big sister.
Marty pulled up to Rory's apartment and Gigi and Rory got out. The girls walked to the elevator and got on while the men got their luggage. On the way to the 24th floor the elevator stopped at the Club Floor. Rory was talking to her sister and didn't notice the handsome man in a bathing suit with a towel around his neck get on until her sister poked her in the ribs.
"Gigi, what was that for?" she asked annoyed at her sister.
Suddenly the man turned around, "Rory?"
"Liam, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I am living here now," he mumbled.
"You do, that is wonderful. I like living here but I know that soon I will need to get a larger apartment. Oh, excuse me, Liam this is my younger sister, Gigi," she rambled.
"Enchanté" Gigi said putting out her hand as she had seen her mother do so many times before.
Liam raised his eyebrows at Rory, thirteen he limply shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you Gigi, is it?" smiling at her. He never would have guessed this gawky young lady with the bleach blond hair and too much make up was Rory's sister since Rory was a natural beauty.
"Oh, what button do you want me to push?" Rory asked him.
"Button? Oh floor, it's lit, no need to push anymore buttons."
She noticed that the only button lit was the 24th floor. She smiled at him and the three-exchanged small talk. The elevator bell pinged indicating that they had arrived at their floor. Liam stood aside, and Rory turned to the right and he turned to the left. They said goodbye and Rory walked to her door and opened it. Letting her sister go in first, she stood in the hall and watch Liam disappear.
Christopher and Marty arrived a few minutes later and they brought their overnight bags into Rory's bedroom. Since Chris had never been to her apartment before he looked around. He saw the picture of her and Ace by the television but also a picture of Rory and Marty dancing that she had put in a frame on her refrigerator, he also noticed the basket of seashells she had set on her coffee table.
Before they went to pick up Chris and Gigi, Rory had called Jess and Luke and asked them to meet them for lunch. She knew that Chris and Luke had put away their differences since her mom's death and since her memorial was coming up on Friday, she thought that it would be nice if they were together when she gave them the picture of the baby.
Glancing up at the clock, Marty said, "We better get going if we want to keep the reservations."
Arriving at the restaurant, Marty dropped them out front of the restaurant and he went to park the car in the parking lot. Rory told the hostess her name and she led them to a large table near the back. They were the first to arrive, as she was sitting down Marty, Luke, Jess and Cindy all walked in together. Chris stood up making the introductions and shaking Luke and Jess' hand.
"Gigi, the last time I saw you, you were 3 yrs. old." Luke said.
Gigi smiled she remembered going to Lorelai's that Christmas and staying with Rory in her bedroom. She loved having a sister around and she hoped that they could spend more time together now that she was moving back to Hartford.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves at lunch. Near the end of the lunch Rory reached into her tote that she was carrying and pulled out two large picture frames and a smaller one. She was glad that she could share this with both at the same time.
"Dad, Luke, Jess I have something for the three of you." she said as she handed them each a bag with tissue paper.
"Ror, what's this?" her dad asked. Gigi was sitting next her dad and was looking at it as he unwrapped the tissue paper.
"Rory is this a picture of a baby? Are you having a baby?" Gigi squealed as soon as Christopher unwrapped the tissue from the frame.
Luke had the biggest smile on his face. This picture was a 3d picture and you could see more detail than the first ultrasound she gave him 7 weeks ago.
"Rory this is amazing, look at the little hands and feet. Hey what's the arrow for, it wasn't in the last picture," Luke said.
Marty and Rory laughed. "Well look where the arrow is pointing, Luke," Rory told him.
Jess got up out of his seat and hugged her.
"You mean I missed this?! Damn, and I had to talk to my publisher. You're having a boy! Marty, we are having a boy!" And the two men high fived each other.
Rory laughed, "Guys, you're not having anything, I'm having it."
They all laughed. Chris came over to his daughter and they stood up and hugged each other.
"Are you ok, kiddo?" he asked as she hugged him as her tears fell again.
"Yes, but dad, I miss mom." Tears began to leak from her eyes.
"Oh Ror, I know we all miss her."
Marty, Jess, Cindy, Luke and Gigi sat quietly and watched the exchange of father and daughter. Luke was a little jealous because he was always there for Rory when Christopher wasn't. However, he knew that Rory thought of him more as her father than Christopher. The waitress came over with the check. Marty and Jess took it and split the bill not letting Rory or her fathers pay for any of it. They all said their goodbyes. Christopher told Luke that he would stop by Stars Hollow soon so they could catch up.
Luke shook his hand. "I would like that Chris," Luke said, as the two men reached in for a hug. Rory looked at Jess with amazement, and Jess smirked.
Leaning towards her he whispered, "Time and love can heal old wounds, Book Tease, remember that."
Hugging Jess goodbye she said, "Dodger, thanks for being my best friend. And you were right. He was right there all the time."
Jess gave her his crooked smile then kissed her on the cheek and then she hugged Cindy goodbye.
Marty, Chris, Gigi and Rory all returned to her apartment. When they returned, Gigi asked her father if she could use the pool. Chris looked at Rory. Rory wanted time alone with her dad but wasn't sure how to ask him. Marty noticing her hesitation offered to go with Gigi and use the health club while she swam. He also knew that Rory wanted time alone with her dad.
Gigi came out of Rory's apartment wearing a revealing bikini.
"Go back inside and put on a different bathing suit now, young lady." Christopher ordered. "And don't tell me you don't have one, because I know I bought you a one-piece bathing suit. This is not the south of France."
Rory laughed, and Marty smirked. Chris looked at the two of them.
"What's so funny, wait until you become a parent, Rory."
Rory blushed when he said that. She looked up. "I never heard you speak like that before," Rory admitted.
"Well Kiddo, you never gave me cause to talk like that. Your mom always handled that, and she raised you to be an amazing young woman," he told her as he hugged her.
Gigi came back out wearing a floral one-piece suit carrying a towel.
"Gigi, you need to wear a coverup or a t-shirt," Rory told her. She went stomping back into the room and pulled out her Christian Rose T-shirt and pulled it on.
"Now can I go to the pool?" Gigi asked sarcastically.
While Gigi went to change Marty went down to his car in the parking garage, to retrieve the gym bag he kept there. He entered the apartment and went into the bathroom and changed.
When he came out with his iPhone in his hand he said, "Ok let's go."
The two of them left and Chris looked at her. "So Ror, you're having a baby."
Rory sighed and sat down beside her father on her couch.
He looked at her and smiled. "That's great, is it Marty's?"
"No, it's Ace's. I didn't know I was pregnant when he left, it must have happened just before."
Christopher opened the bag again and took out the photo. Looking at it he looked back with tears in his eyes. He pulled her close and hugged her. "Oh kiddo, I'm here to help this time. I will babysit, I will teach him how to ride a motorcycle, heck I will buy him his first motorcycle. I promise I will be here for you."
Rory started to cry. He held her close to her stroking her hair. "Dad, I miss mom so much."
"It's ok, you will be fine. Hey, your mom raised you to be a strong independent woman."
"Dad can we go for a walk in the park?" she asked.
"Sure," he answered and the two of them walked out of the apartment and took the elevator to the Health Club level.
Rory walked in and found Marty. She told him that she and her dad were going for a walk in the Private Park. She will text him where they are so that they can meet them. Chris checked on Gigi. She was swimming with a few teenagers that she had just met a boy and 2 girls. Rory and Chris went down to the main floor and walked through the lobby to the Park entrance.
Walking together down the path, Rory told her dad about what had been going on the last few months including Logan.
"Dad, I have been having nightmares and dreams again. The nightmares are so real. I am looking for my son who is calling for me and Ace is watching me. I can't reach anyone."
"Can I ask you about your relationship with Marty?" Chris asked her.
"Marty and I are together. He told me he loves me. He wants to take care of me and my child. Dad, he feels right. But I am afraid, what if these feelings are just hormonal, is this too soon? Should I wait?"
Stopping at a bench they sat down. Rory wiped at her face as the tears fell.
"Ror, don't wait for the right time. If he feels right embrace it. I always waited, waited till I had a better job, waited till your mother was ready, waited till I had enough money to support you and your mother, and when I felt the time came, it was too late because your mother stopped waiting. Your mother was the love of my life. We should have been together forever. But I waited too long. Don't make the same mistakes we did."
Looking at him she nodded
"Hon, you know I only met Ace after your mother died and you two were traveling in Europe. I liked him. He was charismatic, good natured, and he appeared like he was in love with you. But he was bigger than life… he was bigger than you. When you were with him you were not your usual self, you were happy, but quieter. You let him make the decisions. He reminded me a little of Lorelai," he chuckled.
"What do you mean dad? Mom and Luke didn't like him at first either?"
"I'm not saying I didn't like him…. Ror do you believe in fate?"
"Sometimes, but are you saying that this was all happenstance? This was supposed to happen to me?"
"No, I say that sometimes life happens for a reason. Look at my life and your mother's. I wouldn't change what happened because it brought me to this place in my life. I have two beautiful daughters and soon I will have a grandson. If Marty loves you and you find that you love him then don't wait. Embrace him."
Rory looked at her father and leaned into him. He put his arm around her shoulder and held her close to him. He felt her cry and he let her. He never could hold Lorelai like this when she was pregnant, and now he hopes that Rory will let him play and active role in her and the baby's life.
"Hey, do you want to go back or have them meet at a restaurant near here?" he asked his daughter.
"Let's go back and we can order take out," she said.
The two of them walked back. He kept his arm around her as they walked back into the lobby. Marco the weekend doorman was there, and she introduced him to her dad. She also went over to security and added her father's name and Gigi's name to her approved visitors list. When they returned to her apartment, they notice that Gigi was in her t-shirt and designer sweatpants, drinking a soda and watching a movie while Marty was working on his laptop. She walked over to him and kissed him.
He looked at her puffy eyes and asked, "Is everything alright?"
She smiled, "It's perfect."
She kissed him again and then walked into the kitchen to get herself a bottle of water and 2 beers for Marty and her father. She moved her sister over and pulled her in for a hug and sat and watched the movie with her.
Chris and Marty looked at the two sisters and grinned. Then clinking their beer bottles together, they sat there getting to know each other. Christopher was impressed that he was in the same type of Law Practice that his father had left him. He knew that Straub would be proud of Rory and the choices she made. She was a strong young woman and he loved his daughter, and he too missed Lorelai.
A/N "In Case You Didn't Know" by Brice Young