The early April weather was unusually warm and sunny that Sunday as Rory and Logan were driving a rental SUV to Stars Hollow, to pack and move Rory's things from her mother's place to their new apartment. She'd called Lorelai in advance, and she'd sounded hopeful that she was coming. They could've clearly had the stuff delivered, but they both knew that this was about more than just packing up some things. This was an attempt at rebuilding relationships, and not just Rory's and Lorelai's but also Lorelai's and Logan's. If there ever was a time to roll up one's sleeves and carry some boxes on your own, this was it. It was a miracle really how few things Rory had really needed for the past half a year, essentially her basic clothing items and tech, buying a few odd items along the way.
"Here they are!" Luke exclaimed from the driveway, "Lor, they're here!" he called towards the house. "I got your stuff from Lane's last night, she said she was sorry to miss you but they left for Zack's mom's place early this morning," Luke added, gesturing towards his own truck that contained a number of boxes tucked away under a tarp.
"That's too bad. I hadn't seen her since forever," Rory said disappointedly. She felt bad actually - over the last months they'd really drifted apart too, but then again she'd been too overwhelmed to really maintain what they'd had. But this wasn't the first time this had happened, and Lane had understood. Nevertheless, she made a mental note to reach out, mend what could still be mended.
"Hey!" Lorelai greeted from the porch. "Come on in," she gestured and Logan and Rory followed, glazing a look at each-other in assurance. It was obvious to the two of them, that Lorelai was seriously trying, being somewhat more withheld than usual.
"You guys want some coffee?" Lorelai asked.
"I just had one in the car, maybe just water for me," Rory lied. She craved coffee, but in her fears, she'd gone cold-turkey. She was prepared to lie further, saying that she had high blood pressure, if she started asking questions.
"I wouldn't mind a cup, actually," Logan replied, feeling like it was almost like the polite thing to do in this household. It had been a little less than 10 years since he'd last been in this house, and a lot had changed. The place clearly had Luke's handwriting all over the place and strangely the place seemed smaller, especially Rory's room, than he remembered.
"So, you've got your new place all set up?" Lorelai asked, pouring Logan a cup of coffee. Rory hadn't hidden the fact that they'd gotten an apartment at the very house she'd come to talk to her when she had been with Paris, but she hadn't emphasized that it was the penthouse.
"Yeah, most of it, we're still waiting for the bed and some smaller items," Rory replied as she helped herself to a glass of water.
"We actually want to invite you to our housewarming party on the 21st," Logan said and took a large gulp of coffee. He couldn't deny that this house did always have exceptional coffee.
"I'll have to check to be sure, but we should probably be able to make it," Lorelai replied. She was happier than she showed, trying to keep her cool. She wasn't sure how Rory would perceive her if she just switched back to their usual banter.
"You guys could even stay for the night, drive back Sunday, we have room. We could do something for your birthday," Rory offered, surprising Lorelai somewhat. This was a turn from cold to mild.
"Sure, that'd be fun," she replied.
"So alright, I better check on my stuff," Rory stepped into her childhood bedroom, pulling open her closet.
"I'll help," Logan offered, leaving her half-finished coffee on the kitchen table, not wanting her to lift anything heavy, at the same time respecting her wishes to hide her secret for a few more weeks.
"Those boxes are books," Rory gestured towards the six cardboard boxes at the back of the closet, adding, "And there's more in the drawers and under the bed."
"Should've figured," Logan smirked, throwing his sleek bomber jacket on the bed and rolling up the sleeves of his henley shirt. Rory couldn't help but to smile at the sight of his husband actually doing physical labor, he looked hot to say the least.
"You guys need my help?" Lorelai offered from the doorway.
"I need to go through the clothes, decide what I want to donate and what not," she said, glancing around and realizing there was a lot to do. Logan continued to carry the boxes out to the car.
"That's the job I was born for - fashion police!" Lorelai said as she pulled open the first box labelled 'clothes'. So did you hear back from the colleges yet?" Lorelai asked, showing Rory a pair of dark blue skinny jeans questioningly.
Rory grabbed the pants checking for their size and tossed them to an empty box that she quickly scribbled 'donate' on. There was no way she'd fit into those jeans anymore.
"I did, but I decided for NYU, they're a little further from the apartment but I liked their programme better," she replied.
Both Luke and Logan returned to get another round of books, while they continued with the clothing, Rory trying to multitask by clearing out the shelves and drawers.
"Never realized there was still so much stuff," Rory mumbled with a sigh, after she'd filled two boxes for donation and three to bring.
"Oh, do you want me to throw away some of those boyfriend boxes?" Lorelai asked as the guys were outside.
"Ehmm… Dean's box definitely, Jess' box too, except for the books. But I'm definitely taking Logan's box," she replied, thankful that she hadn't kept up with the box system since graduation.
"Here you go, go crazy," Lorelaid shoved one box after another out of the hallway cupboard.
Rory looked through the boxes, removing anything too personal not suitable for donation.
"Hey, I know that rocket," Logan said as he returned, giving Rory a little kiss along with a smug smile. "Anything else for the car?" he asked.
"That," she gestured towards the box with the rocket.
"Can I peek what else is in there?" he asked with a smirk.
"Sure, but later," Rory replied.
Next there was the rack of clothing, most of which she decided to pack, along with a number of nick nacks and jewellery she'd accumulated over the years. It was when Rory needed to excuse herself to the bathroom, and Logan stood hesitantly in the kitchen, waiting for another box to fill up, taking a sip of his, by now cool, cup of coffee. He took a deep breath, after swallowing it, feeling like he needed to say something.
"Listen, I know you don't like me much. But I think you should know that the pretence is over. Odette sent the press-release about our public annulment a week ago. I'm not rushing into putting Rory and me into the papers or anything, but we're not hiding in any way now. She's my wife and I aim to treat her like she deserves. I've never loved another woman like I love her, and I am honestly sorry for the detour that we needed to take to get here, but I just want you to know that I aim to prove to you that I deserve to be with her," Logan lectured.
"Honestly, Logan, I have no doubt that you love her," she replied a little sceptically, adding, "It's the influence of your lifestyle, the expectations, your family, that I'm worried about," Lorelai replied picking her words carefully.
"Well you don't have to be. Your daughter is very capable of making her own choices and wording what she will and will not put up with. And I don't aim to force her into anything she doesn't want to do. When it comes to my family - Honor loves her, my dad has accepted us. And when it comes to my mother - that is just something my mother needs to adjust to, not the other way around," Logan explained.
"Okay," she exhaled, hoping that all that was indeed true. It didn't mean that she liked the idea, but seeing Logan confidently defending himself accounted for something - he clearly wanted to make an effort too.
When Rory returned, they continued to pack - the end in sight. With the stuff from Lane's, still unsorted, the stuff barely fit into the car.
As they drove off, after a quick lunch by Luke, Lorelai stared at the almost bare bedroom that was left behind - Rory was really gone. But a small hope lingered, the invite to New York as a bridge between them.
Rory was still at Odette's, the delivery of their bed at the apartment delaying somewhat their move, eating take-away Indian food, in the dining room while doing a final reading of one of her assignments on her tablet. Logan was on a short business trip to Miami for a few days, and she figured she might just as well spend the evening productively.
At some point Odette walked through the dining room, heading back to the kitchen to get something, clearly dressed for going out, in his dark orange lace pencil dress with a deep V neck.
"You're going out?" Rory asked in passing seeing Odette lean against the doorway, checking something on her phone as if killing time, half a bottle of water in her other hand.
"Yeah, might as well have some fun," she noted. Odette felt like celebrating - she had her newfound freedom, and considering the three month break between IUI-s, she didn't just want to sit at home waiting. For tonight, she had a date, in fact.
"Is it weird using the new name?" Rory asked curiously.
"It's a little. Like the people I know still refer to me with the old name, and I guess I should start correcting them but that just feels weird," she replied.
"Did they just stick you with that name or…?" Rory inquired.
"Actually, no, it was the name I'd spoken to Colin about. Celeste was an old childhood friend of mine and Martin is just a very common French last name. I wanted to have a little bit of that French part with me, so it might explain some of my mannerism.
"That makes sense, Celeste," she tried the name out.
Odette smiled at her attempt to grow accustomed to it.
"So this meant that you gave up your inheritage and everything?" Rory asked her, only beginning to realize what something like that must've meant for her.
"Yes. But it's not like I am bare without it. I got my trust fund years ago and I've managed fairly well with it on the stock market. I want to start a small business, begin with subcontracting some of my service through my contacts, whom I trust and don't mind the change of name. It will take a few years to get recognition, but so be it. I have somewhat other plans for the next few years anyways," she replied hopefully. "How have you been feeling so far?" she asked in return, her mind trailing back to the pregnancy.
"Alright I guess. Physically hardly any symptoms, which is a little difficult as I could really use the reminder. Mentally I'm struggling a little, but I found a therapist, who helps. It's hard to shake the fear you know," she explained, and Odette replied with a nod.
Rory had been to that therapist 6 times already, and what had in fact helped a little were the statistics - right now there was a 6% chance of miscarriage, which would drop to 3% after the 12th week and since she'd already had one, that would further diminish to 1.5%. That was more sure than most contraceptives. She wasn't ready to start shopping for the baby or touch the nursery, but she did find her thinking more and more about the baby, they'd even talked more about it with Logan. And for now, that was already a big advancement.
The next moment Odette got a text, making her smile broadly in response. She seemed almost giddy.
Rory saw that look on her - she looked good, happier than she had for months Things were finally looking up for everyone.
