Rory's POV

I pulled up in front of Bella Bridesmaids in West Hartford. Lane had suggested that we look there for a dress for Finn's company party this weekend. I patted my newly-growing belly and turned to look at Lane. "Hopefully we can find something in here that will make Finn's jaw drop and compliments my growing waistline."

Lane laughed at me and rolled her eyes. "You're looking for sympathy from the wrong woman - I've been in your shoes, and it was over ten years ago. Let's go."

I followed Lane into the store and we began looking through the racks of dresses. I flipped through a sea of silk, taffeta, satin, lace and polyester as I looked at dress after dress.

"Do you have any idea what you're looking for?" Lane asked while she looked through the racks.

I shook my head. "No, not really. I just know that I want to take his breath away when he sees me," I said as I wrinkled my nose and put a dress back on the rack.

"Take his breath away, huh? I thought there was nothing going on there?" Lane teased.

"Hmm? It's...complicated, I guess? I don't know how to explain it."

"You could try using your words," Lane deadpanned.

I sighed and walked over to where she was standing so we weren't yelling this conversation across the bridal store.

"I really don't know how to describe it, especially using my words," I said as I rolled my eyes. "We've been spending a lot of time together, and getting to know each other, and I can't deny that there's definitely something there. When I'm with him...I feel safe, and beautiful, and relaxed, and comfortable. But then he touches me or kisses me - well actually, I'm usually the one that kisses him - and it's just unreal."

"It sounds like you're falling for him," Lane said pointedly.

I turned away and looked through another rack of dresses, adding one more to the two I'd already picked out to try on.

"You know that ignoring me doesn't make it any less true," Lane teased.

"I don't know what to say, Lane. I definitely care for him; I just don't know exactly what I want."

"Or maybe you do and you're just afraid to admit it," replied Lane.

"God, have you always been this obnoxious?!" I joked.

"Only when you're in denial and I'm right, my pregnant friend. Now, what about this one?" she asked as she held up a beautiful midnight blue one-shoulder dress.

"That one is a definite possibility."

"Here, let me take these and have them hang them up while we continue looking," Lane offered. She walked off with an armful of dresses and found a consultant to put them in a dressing room for us.

"You know how you always dreamed of your parents figuring things out and getting married when we were young?" she asked when she walked back over.

"You mean before they crashed and burned the final time?" I chuckled.

"Yeah, before that."

"I remember," I answered quietly.

"Don't you think that you owe it to your kids to at least explore that option for you and Finn now, before they're old enough to remember if it doesn't work out?" she asked.

My mouth dropped and I stared at her blankly for a minute. "I think it's time to try on these dresses," I finally answered, hoping to get away from her pearls of wisdom for a bit.

"Don't think this is over, Gilmore," Lane warned.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

I walked into the fitting room and looked through the dresses that were hanging there. I chose my least favorite first, and decided to build up from there.

I'd gotten my clothes off, and stepped into the dress, but needed help with the zipper. I summoned Lane to help me, and after zipping she spun me around for a look. We both looked at the mirror, and then to each other, crinkled our noses and shook our heads.

"Next!" She said, unzipping me.

I stepped into another one, and she helped me zip again. We liked it better, but neither of us fell in love with it, and I certainly didn't think it had jaw-dropping potential.

After trying on every one, and not being happy with any of them, I finally decided to try the midnight one that Lane had picked out from earlier.

I could tell the moment I stepped into it that I was going to love it. There was a split up the thigh and it had a one shoulder design with a belted high waist. It was pretty and feminine, with long, ventricle ruffles along the shoulder, down to the thigh, as well as all down the back the same way. It was flattering, and fit me perfectly. I didn't feel like it was overly obvious that I was pregnant, yet it was still form-fitting enough to make me feel sexy and I definitely think it gave the effect I was hoping for when I looked up at Lane who had her jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"I guess this is a winner?" I asked her.

"Yeah, that dress looks like it was made for you. You absolutely have to get that dress. Finn won't know what to do with himself, he'll be falling all over you" she teased. I tried not to look phased by her comment, but I smiled at the words anyway.

"I saw that. Now let's get going so we can finish our talk over lunch" she said, unzipping me again.

Lane and I had made it to the Cheesecake Factory, also in West Hartford, and were seated quickly. "I haven't been here in forever and it's one of my favorite places" Lane said.

"Really? What do you get here? I'm not sure I've ever been" I told her.

"My absolute favorite are the Thai Lettuce Wraps. They're so good, and they say they're an appetizer, but they're big enough to be your entire meal! I highly recommend them - even to people as 'allergic' to eating healthy food as you are. I think you'll like them" she said.

I shrugged, not wanting to admit I'd been craving healthier foods these days. "Sure, I'll try it" I said adventurously.

We placed our order with the waiter and then Lane immediately turned to me, her face resting in her hands, waiting as if I were going to tell her a story.

"What?" I asked.

"You know what. Start from the beginning and spill it" she insisted. I took a deep breath and groaned before finally giving in.

"Okay, so, I guess you might be right, in some ways… I mean, I would be lying if I said I hadn't given some thought to being with Finn, but he's afraid that starting a new relationship might complicate things beyond repair and I feel like he might have a point. I want to be sure of everything before I would ever decide to date him, and I'm just as afraid of screwing it up as he is, maybe even more so since I saw what happened to my mom and dad while I was growing up" I told her.

"So he's told you how he feels?" She asked.

I nodded. "He's told me he has feelings for me, but that he wouldn't want to act on them. He doesn't want to lose what we have now" I told her.

"But what if it wasn't losing, but gaining?" She asked.

"Without a guarantee, though, I'm not sure either of us want to make that choice or take that chance. We would both be too afraid that we would put a rift between us and then raising the babies together would be too awkward" I told her.

"How are you two planning to co-parent, when you're not together, and you're not living anywhere near each other? I'm not understanding that part…" she said.

"Well, he might be moving to Hartford, actually. We both might. My grandma insisted I take hers and my grandpa's house, so it looks like I'll be living there, and she suggested he live in the pool house, but we haven't decided yet if he'll live there or somewhere else in Hartford" I said.

"Somewhere else as in the master bedroom with you, where he belongs?" She asked.

"No, Lane. I meant somewhere else as in not on the same property line, sharing an address" I said.

She rolled her eyes. "You'll figure it out one day, and when that day finally comes, you're going to be so mad at yourselves for waiting so long" she pointed out.

"You seem awfully sure of that" I said, taking a sip of my drink.

She shrugged. "Mark my words" was her only response.