A/N - Thank you all for all of the wonderful feedback today. It keeps me motivated. I know I left you all with a cliffhanger and have had so much enthusiasm about it, that I decided to drop this chapter a little earlier than normal. As long as I have chapters written, I usually try to space them at least 24 hours. But here it is, early. I hope you enjoy. Review, Review, Review, Happy Reading.:) EC

Chapter 37 - Rory

Rory heard his voice go from questioning to suave.

"Hey Ace!" And a part of her responded to the familiarity, to the feelings she had always felt when she heard him call her that. She shoved the sensations aside looking at the large bump out in front of her. Jess had sat on the couch, she wished he would have stayed so she could hold his hand, but she knew this was probably difficult for him as well.

"Logan… what's going on? What was so important?"

"I love you Ace!" Rory's heart jumped out of her chest. She had no choice but to say the first thing that popped into her head.

"You what?" Rory hoped her mother wasn't standing there watching Logan talk to her.

"Look, let's get together to talk. I am here on business in New York and being so close, I couldn't not see you so I came here to talk as soon as I had a free day."

"Didn't you hear my mom, I am out of town, in California actually. Anything you need to say to me you will have to do over the phone. I am sure that your schedule isn't going to allow you to travel all the way to California."

"Well, no, I am only free today, but how long will you be there, I might still be here when you come back."

"I will be traveling for the next few weeks from place to place. My book has a publisher and since I am a first timer, we are working on getting it placed with some of the larger chains."

"Really? Who published your book?"

"Truncheon books is publishing it, but they have backing with a larger publisher for widespread distribution."

"Truncheon, Truncheon, it sounds familiar, but I am surprised I can't place it."

"It is a small independent publisher based out of Philly, you probably can't place it because of that. But it probably sounds familiar because my old friend Jess Mariano is one of the owners, so I am sure I have mentioned it at some point."

She knew that Jess' name would impact Logan, he had the run in with him, but only the one time. Rory wasn't surprised that Logan hadn't placed Jess in the diner. He had the tendency of the rich to look through people instead of at them.

"Jess? The ex Jess?" She could hear the jealousy in his voice.

"Jess was an ex, yes." She chose her words carefully, she was trying to lie as little as possible. Everything she had said about the travel was true, she had just bumped up the dates a few months. She was traveling after the baby was born, in three months the baby would be about six weeks. They were already hammering out the schedule. Him being in publishing meant she couldn't make up blatant lies, he knew the industry too well.

"So whatever you need to say, you need to do it now, over the phone. We can't meet, and in all honesty, I really don't want to. I said all I had to say at the inn in New Hampshire." Rory was trying to be firm.

"Look, I have spent over six months without you. Without a phone call, without you calling to tell me you were going to be in London, without seeing you. I have come to the conclusion that I can't live without you. You wanted this secret clandestine relationship and I went along with it, because it meant I could see you. Say the word and I cancel my engagement with Odette and we get back together."

Rory thought back to how much she had hoped he would say that, then, at the inn, when she asked him if he was going to marry Odette. Even though she was the one who wanted to hide their relationship, she had hoped he would say that he wouldn't marry Odette and that he would wait for her to be ready for a real relationship. Despite his family, despite his obligations. But he hadn't said that, in fact, when asked he had only confirmed that marrying Odette was the dynastic plan.

But the excitement she thought she would feel at his words wasn't there. Instead flashbacks to their last night together seemed to fade into a fog, details were lost, feelings were muted. Instead, as bright as daylight, were the feelings she woke up with this morning. Feelings that cast a shadow over every other experience she had. Even the first. What happened last night was different from everything else and she realized that it was bigger than even a promise of a relationship with the father of her unborn daughter.

"You have to be kidding me Logan, I am sorry, but it is too little, too late. You didn't even bother to break up with her before you decided this. So keep her around in case I say no? You can't think I would take you seriously. You are not even free to offer me what you just did. You are still engaged. If you had even shown up yesterday, things might have been different, but things have changed. "

At that moment there was a knock on the door, Rory chose to use this moment to drive home her point.

"Jess" she called, "that must be the room service! Can you get the door, love!"

"Sure, hun, I will take care of it." Jess replied, answering the door to the delivery from Luke's.

She heard Logan's explosion on the other end of the line.

"Jess, Jess! I thought you said he was an ex?!"

"Exactly Logan…he was an ex… he isn't anymore."

"Rory, you are going to regret not accepting a life with me! It could have been amazing." Rory could hear the desperation in Logan's statement.

"I don't think so Logan. Ask your parents, I was never going to fit in your world. I want to do more with my life than go to tea and social functions. I am sure your princess will be a perfect fit. I wish you much happiness. When's the wedding, I will send a gift." Rory could not help but ask the last question, she was too curious.

"The wedding is in six weeks, in Paris." Logan's voice was quiet and defeated.

Trying to sound sincere and let go of the hostility she had just shown him, she said with all honesty, "Logan, for all that we had, all the years, know that I wish you a happy life, I do care what happens to you. Just know that I could not be happy in your life."

"Bye Ace." Was his almost inaudible response and the line went dead.

"Bye Logan." Rory spoke to the silenced phone and she set it on the table.

Jess had come to stand by her and she buried her head in his chest and cried. She cried for her loss and also for her freedom. Standing in that man's arms in the middle of the room made her cry for joy. She was sad about Logan, but as happy as she had ever been, as sure as she had ever been. Yet the overwhelming emotions left her sobbing.