A/N: loved, loved, loved, loved, LOVED your reactions to last post. Have to admit it totally threw me off. Still wrapping my head around how well received this is. I thank everyone who took the time to leave a comment. I am thrilled to hear you guys are loving it. I love you.
The next post might take a little while, I know you're into it, but please bare with me :)

P.S. I'm quite interested to know what is your favorite scene/moment in this fic so far. Just my pure curiosity. Feel free to drop a line and share.

Timeline clarification: The last chapter ended at August 2012. I did mess up at first with a typo and it's fixed. Thanks for pointing that out. Aiden is around 3yrs in 2018 to all those who asked. We continue where we left off the last time.


August 2012

Four negative home pregnancy kits. One negative blood test. A nerve-wracking week-long wait for a very anticipated period. Rory was NOT pregnant.

False alarm. What a relief. Everything was alright with the world.

Rory Gilmore could eat Sushi again. She realized she should keep taking the vitamins, though. And the fruit-eating. The things she found in a google search on child defects utterly freaked her out.

Rory shoved the pamphlets she got from the doctor office into her desk's drawer. Carefully hiding them under her dwindling stock of Mars bars.

~w~


"Seriously, Logan, change the ringtone." Ben groaned frustrated.

Everyone at the office was weary of the Cher ringtone. At first, Kate and Shiri broke into a little dance every time 'Strong Enough' shrilled through the office. Logan found it amusing to a point.

The girls' enthusiasm wore off pretty quickly when the frequency of the tune escalated.

It wasn't his regular ringtone. It was an additional one. One that Logan just let ring out unanswered. Some days it rang at all hours of the day. Without fail, it rang two consecutive times before the caller the other end gave up.

It's been going on for weeks.

"It was Finn's idea," Logan silenced the phone. Flipping it to face downwards and continued digging into his lunch. The electronic item kept buzzing on the table. He ignored it. "I'm going hiking this weekend. No cell reception. Wanna come?"

"Does it have to be the campiest song in the world?" Ben was beyond agitated at that point. "I can't. It would stop if you answered it."

"I can talk to Priscilla for you," Logan offered, determined to let the subject slide.

"You really shouldn't."

"I'll offer to babysit," Logan said without a beat.

"Your enthusiasm to babysit creeps me out, Logan." Ben looked equally tempted and worried.

Logan shook his head at his friend.

"Just broody, then," Ben muttered under his breath. Logan ignored him. Like Honor, Ben still has his feathers ruffled over his personal plans.

The Cher tune pierced through the air again.

Ben grabbed the phone and accepted the call before Logan could beat him to it; "Stop calling, Chelsea."

"She was going to get the message, eventually," Logan muttered looking at his friend pissed.

"No, she wasn't. She never does." Ben dropped the phone down like it burnt his fingers. "No need to thank me or anything."

~w~


"Okay, good Miella," Logan commended Ben's oldest while balancing her younger duplicate on his hip, "Now we add the sugar. Be careful, it's hot."

The girl dressed in a purple dress paired with tights and a tight ponytail stood on one of the chairs in the break room by the coffee machine. Logan stood by her side in a t-shirt and slacks combination. His entire attention set on the girl carefully pour a spoonful of white grains into the one of the two cups set before her.

Rory felt the camera working at its own accord. His body tensed immediately at the sound of the shutter closing.

"Do you must?" Logan made a face.

"It's a cute picture," Rory estimated the frozen image carefully, "Babies look good on you."

He looked like a dad.

She felt a weird tag in her when the words left her mouth. Babies and pregnant women were everywhere she looked lately. In the street. In the supermarket. On her Facebook feed. At the wedding she photographed. Pregnant brides. Pregnant bridesmaids.

Maybe they were always there, and she just never noticed.

He looked at her like she got under his skin, quickly slipping into boss mode, "You're late."

"I'll throw in an hour more." Rory rolled her eyes, "Happy?"

"We're making coffee for daddy," Miella informed Rory. "I work here today,"

Summer vacation brought a lot of communion to the office. Last week, Kate's two boys wrestled on the floor after indulging themselves in Rory's chocolate drawer. Nicole announced they weren't allowed back.

Logan switched the sugar with the salt jar while his friend's daughter explained about her 'job'.

"One?" Miella asked, demanding his attention again.

"Two for daddy, he likes it extra sweet," Logan winked while bouncing her sister up, "Doesn't he Andrea? You weren't this heavy last week."

"After I'm done, Shiri will paint my nails." The girl continued chatting more to herself than to Logan.

"That's correct." He confirmed, "It's what the girls in the office do all the time."

Rory shook her head, holding a laugh. She felt him watching her camera suspiciously from the corner of his eye.

"Logan," Shiri's wild curls filled in the spot in the door Rory occupied just minutes ago, "A Jillian Merriweather for you. She says she's with Congressman Rosen."

"Get her number, I'll call her back."

"I can't do that."

"You'll have to because I'm busy," He said through his teeth. "And that is what you are paid to do."

"But…" Shiri started to protest her case only to be interrupted by a deep male voice:

"Logan, I assumed Mitchum taught you better than to keep your guests waiting." Rory's attention snapped from Logan to the impressive man in an expensive suit standing at the door of the breakroom.

Congressman Rosen's hands clasped behind his back. The same signature power-pose her grandfather's mastered. He radiated power.

Rory never saw Logan Huntzberger's composure slip. Until now. He looked perplexed. Sensing the change in him, the baby squirmed in his arms.

"Are you his daddy?" Miella looked at the stranger with interest.

"Almost. Once upon a time."

"Miella," Logan found his best authority voice, "Can you go tell your dad that my friend came to visit?"

The little girl looked at Logan, unsure, "But what about the coffee…"

"Come on, Honey," Shiri hurried to help her off the chair, prying the other child from Logan's arm. "Let's go and paint our nails."

"Rory Gilmore," Congressman Aaron Rosen greeted her briefly for the first time. "I was under the impression you were heading down the political path. It appears the rumors are true."

"Congressman," She acknowledged him politely. What has the gracious tongues of Hartford has been wagging about her? Logan still looked a little off. "It didn't work out."

"I've come to discuss the same-sex marriage bill." Aaron Rosen announced with a loaded tone his eyes back on Logan, "I'll see myself to your office. I trust someone can help my campaign manager set up a laptop while we're at it?"

Logan nodded tensely at the man confident man.

"Logan," Rory searched for words as the congressman back turned. So many questions ran through her mind.

"I can't do this with you right now," He followed the elder to the office and rolled the blinds down.

~w~

Ben's wife came in shortly after the two men locked themselves in the office. The Chinese woman looked like freedom was rubbed off her as she left with her girls. Other than that, the office was unusually quiet. Like they were all trying to eavesdrop on the storm inside Logan's.

So quiet that Kate said she missed the Cher ringtone.

Rory was pretty sure the two were connected. Because why would Logan discuss with his ex-wife's father a bill that passed four years ago?

When Congressman Rosen left the Logan's office, nearly two hours later, Rory could swear the older man was deeply upset. The blinds and the door in Logan's office remained closed.

She was preparing another cup of coffee when jaw-clenched Logan finally stepped out of his office, Ben hot on his heels as he marched intentionally towards the elevators. They huddled for a moment, with Logan repeatedly calling the elevator.

The two coffee cups that Miella prepared still stood lonely. Rory decided to wash them.

On her way back to her desk, she crossed paths with Ben.

"Remember what we talked about," He hissed warning.

~w~


September 2012

Joel clad in hugging blue jeans, white t-shirt plus new halo of confidence chatted Nicole and Kate casually sitting comfortably in her seat.

"Hey, when did you get back?" Rory clenched her notes from the meeting with Ben close to her chest.

"A few hours ago," Joel jumped to his feet, "Came straight to see you."

"He's a keeper that one, Rory. Finally, a step in the right direction," Nicole has romance written all over her face, but didn't fail to use the One Direction butt of the joke.

"Can you cut out for half an hour?" Joel beamed at her, "I've got the best news."

"I… Ben just asked that I… and he needs it by 5 p.m." Rory knew she was fishing and hosing down his fire, "Can it wait till after?"

"Just go," Kate instructed, "I'll work the boss for you."

"You're one awesome Lady, Ms. Katie." Joel fist-bumped Kate not wasting time in pulling Rory away, "I'll have her back in 30 minutes on the dot."

~w~

"I got a job, at the bar you go to after work," Joel announced over his coffee, "The pay is decent and they say the band can play regularly once a week."

"What about college?"

"I'm still doing that. But this semester is a lot lighter," Joel assured her, "Anyways, this is what I'm meant to do, you know? Play music. Not sit in class all day."

"Okay," Rory hoped her nod translated as supportive, "If you're sure."

"I am." He looked completely convinced, "Things are looking great. Rolling Stones Magazine contacted us. Rolling Stones, can you believe it?"

She smiled at his enthusiasm.

"They want pictures they can use. Any chance you could help out with that?" He looked kind of embarrassed to ask, "We can't pay you... but…"

"I'd love to." She squeezed his hand warmly, "You don't need to pay me. Consider it a gift."

"Great! We're doing an acoustic show at the bar next week. That would be good, right? Maybe we'll need some more official images too."

"I'm at your service. Anything you want."

"Anything I want?"

"Sure."

"I want you back," He admitted shyly. "I missed you like crazy."

~w~


A firm hand pulled Rory by her elbow into a corner not far from the bar's washroom. "Are you back with him?"

Logan's eyes bore into her face.

"It's none of your business. Let go." He released her arm per her request. She noticed the fresh breaks on his knuckles.

"I was under the impression the kid was out of the picture." Logan's voice went an octave lower, "You said I'm not stepping on anyone's toes. I would have never…"

"It that my boss asking?" She cut him off.

"Are you?" He probed, not providing an answer.

"This is Seattle." Rory said decisively, "Logan, you're the one who said."

"I know what I said!"

"You ain't my boyfriend. And I ain't your girlfriend. Then what the fuck is your problem?" Logan didn't look impressed.

Suits him right.

"Keep it out of the office," Logan said his voice rough around the edges.

"That's rich, the pot calling the cattle black," Rory didn't know where she gathered the spank. "You know, when you divorce someone, you divorce their family too."

Logan's lips shaped into a tight line, "That's not as straightforward as that."

"It is. You stay out of mine; I'll stay out of yours." Rory suddenly appreciated Ben's advice. She should just stay away. "And sort out your hand. It looks bad."

~w~

"What is she doing?" Joel refreshed Ben's and Logan's beers looking at his girl concerned. They sat watching the basketball game on the TV behind the bar.

"She's losing her money in darts," Logan stated the obvious.

"Rory doesn't do sport." Joel's quick assessment of his girlfriend state echoed in disbelieve, "She can't be high, right? Rory doesn't touch that stuff."

"Sure she doesn't," Logan looked at the musician behind the bar skeptically. Logan had to admit that while Rory was an easy to stray drunk, a high Rory was far more entertaining. It went straight to her head fast.

"Maybe you should take her home," Joel suggested. Logan barely mastered to cover his uneasiness. The last time he took an intoxicated Rory anywhere got him more than he bargained for. Ben struggled to swallow the huge gulp he took from his beer.

"Game's not over." Ben deflected the suggestion elegantly.

"Don't worry, it's just the boys from work." Logan expression didn't match the worried one of one her boyfriends, "I'll intervene if she starts betting something else. She's not that brave. I've got her covered."

Ben cast Logan a disapproving look. The musician cast another glance at his girlfriend again, she looked like she was having fun. Nicole was around. Joel decided to drop it.

"I got a call from a guy from Rolling Stones magazine, he's doing a piece about 'College bands in the digital sphere'? something like that…" Joel looked at Logan wiping the bar top clean, "Do you think we should do it?"

"It's Rolling Stones," Ben answered in a clipped tone, his eyes glued back on the screen. "You don't turn down Rolling Stones magazine.

Logan rode Ben's answer and shrugged his agreement. "A nudge in the right direction."

"Okay, cool." Joel threw the towel behind the bar turning to serve another customer "Call me if you need anything."

"I know what you're doing." Ben said accusingly when the bartender's back turned, "Cut it out."

"I'm not doing anything."

"Rolling Stones, Logan?"

"I might know a guy."

~w~

"Okay, okay, break it up, guys." Ben left after the Clippers lost. Logan was too ready to leave, "Come on Rory, time to go home."

"Ah, big boss. Way to spoil the fun." He couldn't pinpoint which of the web developers said it. Fortunately to whoever it was, because Logan realized that if he could have - he'd be fired.

"You're not the boss of me. My boyfriend can take me home." She waved loosely in the direction of the bar, "See, he's right over there."

He suspected the merriness didn't wear off yet, the tequila shots the loser was supposed to knock off didn't help either. Rory was a lousy dart player, anyone could tell.

"Your boyfriend asked me. He needs to stay to close up." She still looked defiant, "Tell you what. If I put this dart in the middle, it's home time. If I don't, you can wait for Joel."

Rory seemed to calculate her probabilities.

"Fine." She dared him placing the dart in his hand, "Five steps behind the line."

She could hear the air slice as he shoots the dart, it landed right in the middle. The boys cheered.

Finn's notorious college parties finally came to his advantage. Logan smirked.

"Replay! You cheated." Rory demanded.

"A deal is a deal." He gestured his hand towards the door sliding her camera strap over his neck, "Where's the rest of your stuff?"

"Tell him I'm fine." She turned to Nicole.

"I'm going home too." His other female employee gathered her stuff, passing Logan the rest of Rory's. She wasn't intoxicated as Rory. Probably a better dart shooter as well, "We got to work tomorrow."

"Kiss ass," Rory muttered at Nicole on their way out. She shook his hand off the top her back in protest. "I don't need your hand."

Logan let his hand fall to his side keeping a close eye on her wobbly steps. Allowing her enough space as she walked two steps before him. They might as well walk home if she could manage it, air will do only good.

Nicole got in a taxi. Rory was deliberately ignoring him until she stopped in the middle of the street and took off her heels. "Logan?"

"Yes."

"These stupid heels make my feet hurt and I need a burger."

~w~


Rory busied herself with folding her laundry as Joel browsed the photos on her computer. The guy from Rolling Stones said he'd give her credit and commission if he could use them.

"Can I go through the whole folder?" Joel asked her permission, "I've never seen your pictures."

"I think you saw all the good ones already," Rory didn't try to talk him out of it, "The rest of the pictures there are just pictures of wedding receptions, brides and grooms, autumn leaves and stuff…"

"Umm." Was his only tense response. "Do you have pictures of me?"

"What do you mean?" Rory asked alarmed. "Of course, I do, you just saw them."

"Those are ones I asked you to take," he flipped the computer screen her way, "Which are very different from pictures like this."

The image of Logan sleeping on Ben's couch dominated the screen. The composition of that picture was perfect. It was one of her favorites. "Yeah, so?"

"Aren't you going to explain that?"

"I think that's self-explanatory."

"What's with you and him?" Joel dreaded the answer more than he dreaded asking. How can one question be so justified, yet so loaded?

"Nothing. He's my boss. You know that." Rory grabbed another load of items from the laundry basket. Folding her underwear very intentionally. "It's just a picture, Joel."

"He's more than your boss."

"We hang out with everyone else from the office. In a group."

"That's it?" Joel didn't look convinced.

"Yes. That's it."

If you leave out smoking joints in alleys, midnight hamburgers, and all the other things she's not allowed to think of, because that reality doesn't exist in Seattle.

"I can never quite tell if you two are actually friends," Joel pointed out, "One minute you have this weird banter where no one else can get a word in - and the next you act like he is a nuisance."

"You're reading too much into it." Rory decided a change in subject was the only way to stop this awkward conversation. "I thinking we should order Pizza tonight, what do you say?"

"Fine. Can I ask you something?" She nodded, "Were you with anyone else while I was on tour?"

"What?" Rory took the bait, "Why would you ask me that?"

"Just wondering, because those aren't my socks," Joel looked at the Candy Cane socks in her laundry basket suspiciously. "Whose socks are that?"

Rory cringed at the awful awful timing for the socks to make an entrance.

"Logan's."

"Why would you have Logan's socks?" The musician looked down at his empty hands.

She had them because wearing his socks instead of walking barefoot in the street, seemed like a good idea at the time. When he took her home from the bar the other night.

"He must have left them in the dryer." The lie burnt her tongue. She couldn't possibly tell him the sock's story. Not when he had his feathers ruffled over some stupid picture.

"God, I'm such an idiot." Joel talks but more to himself than to her. His hands running through his brown locks distressed, "I can't believe I trusted the smooth, skillful son of a bitch. It was him, wasn't it? All this time I've been taking his career advice. Listening to his Kwan bullshit…"

"He wasn't wrong about that," She can't help it but defend him. Although once it's out there, she knows it's the wrong move.

"No, it just turns out that he has been fucking my girlfriend behind my back." Joel let out a surreal laugh, shaking his head, "And stupid, gullible me. You know I tried to ignore this. I don't know what the hell I was thinking. Asking him to take you home. It's so obvious."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't want to be with me Rory."

"Yes, I do."

"Oh please. You're into him, and he's into you. Everyone can see Rory! Everyone. So, go ahead. Be with him, there's nothing standing in your way now, because I'm out."