It was funny how every time Logan tried really hard to be quiet, while drunk, he hardly ever succeeded, his coordination and reaction being less than exemplary. One would think the man had more practice. He wasn't as drunk as he'd been after Robert's bachelor party, but he wasn't far behind - walking in a perfectly straight line but miscalculating when it came to closing doors and finding his way in the dark - on his defence he hadn't really been drunk at their new house before, had he?
The night had enabled him to relax, the company of other men adding to him feeling more secure in the city again. Men hardly ever admitted things like that, but it was the truth. For the first time in a week he'd forgotten what had happened for an hour or two, just focusing on the moment. He wasn't over it - but it was a start.
"Logan?" Rory stirred, hearing him close the door behind him. She'd just been to the bathroom a few minutes ago, hence it was really no wonder she hadn't fully fallen asleep again. She'd been thinking back to the time when she'd had to get up at night to feed Finny, realizing that soon she'd be doing that all over again with the girls. While the nighttime was somehow special, intimate bonding time at the same time - one of the things she really disliked about night feedings were the struggles of falling back asleep. She wondered that perhaps her bladder being squished during the pregnancy was somehow supposed to be good practice for that.
"Sorry," he replied apologetically.
Logan placed his wallet, phone and watch onto their dresser, the slight clinik of his watch making another sound he had hoped not to make. He quickly peeled off his layers, which there really weren't that many in the warm July evening.
Rory could feel him slipping between the sheets, behind her, her nose clearly picking up the slight scent of whiskey on his breath. But that was to be expected.
"Did you have a good time?" Rory asked, quietly.
"Yeah," Logan sighed. "How is it that you always know just what I need?" Logan mumbled, kissing the back of her neck, and laying another small peck on her shoulder, while his palm lingered on her hip.
Rory loved how that felt. Despite feeling like a beached whale, she too missed their intimacy and the way it relaxed her - it even helped her get back to sleep in most cases. And while she knew they really shouldn't, the way his body felt up against her, made her for a split second consider risking it.
"I love you, and I promise - I'll never hide anything from you again," he continued, sounding almost childishly genuine, for a moment resting his forehead on her back.
"I love you too," she replied, turning her head just a little towards him. She really did appreciate him saying that, despite him being a little tipsy while he'd said it.
She turned her side, feeling like she wanted to be in this moment a little longer - she was far from being asleep. It had been a few weeks since he hadn't been on edge, nervous about her and the babies, the move… everything - she liked seeing him like this - not drunk necessarily, but relaxed and carefree, the way he'd been when she'd first met him. He did deserve that, at least every once in a while. Rory could see his eyes still open, just looking at her, the low glow from the streetlight illuminating more of Logan's face than hers.
Rory stroked the side of his face with the back of her finger, feeling an urge to kiss him - he was a great husband, despite the recent slip in judgement. But mistakes were human - and on his defence they really hadn't been in this game of marriage for that long to have the experience of every situation that could be thrown in their way. Forgiveness and understanding were vital.
Her tounge could taste the whisky on his lips, and while on occasion the taste of alcohol had averted her, right now she actually kind of liked it. It was a slow and gentle kiss, with a little tongue - like some of their most memorable kisses, his hand wrapping around her head and part of the neck in the process. Rory could sense he fought the need for more within him from the way he held back - normally he would've let his hands caress her body by now, especially when already in bed. This was so unfair - she thought.
"Kiss me Logan, just relax," she said, as he broke free after a minute, Rory not appreciating the loss of contact.
He eyed at her for a second, wondering what she was up to. But kissed her then, smirking through the kiss. He felt ridiculously lucky, even if it was just going to be left at kissing.
It wasn't entirely comfortable, her position being somewhat awkward whichever way she laid in bed. But she had her hands, and as her one hand wandered from his neck down his chest and abs, just gently over his boxer briefs, the touch made him gasp.
"Ace, you don't have to do that," Logan said, with an audible smirk, breaking the kiss for a moment, clearly struggling to say it. Damn, that felt good.
"I want to," she whispered, and pushed down his underwear, continuing to stroke his hardening erection, while she kissed him again. She could feel him breathing more heavily, and with each touch - growing.
She moved on to stronger and longer strokes. Squeezing a little, imitating a narrow passage around him, making him groan. She then released her grip just a little, but continued more rhythmically.
"You are the sexiest woman on the planet," he murmured to her, recalling the former discussion at the pub. Just a pretty figure without the mind to complete it just didn't do it for him anymore.
He added some lubrication and felt her hand around him with his - that alone was sexy as hell. He let her continue, but there really wasn't much needed for it to feel incredible - to be at her mercy.
"I wish I could feel you inside of me," she purred to his ear. She was in control, leading him over the edge one rhythmic motion at a time. "Deep," she added and kissed him again with tongue. "Oh, how I want you right now," she exhaled - and she did, but she knew that was just wishful thinking. She continued to move her hand up and down, alternating between different strenghts.
"Please don't stop," Logan begged. Her touch, her words - it was just too much.
She felt him swell in her hand and then spasm, followed by a deep and satisfying moan. Her hand milked him until the last drop, leaving her own centre throbbing without release. She almost wanted to grunt, but it wasn't his fault, so she didn't say anything.
"I feel like I didn't deserve that," Logan said, after having helped both of them clean up with a moist towel.
"Well you did," she replied. He deserved it all - he did so much for her.
He climbed back to bed, Rory having by now positioned herself the other way again, her body pillow tucked under her bump and between her knees. He put his arm around her, and kissed her shoulder again with gratitude, still the slight guilt of leaving this one sided lingering.
He was so ready to sleep - all of the stress had poured right out of him, and while he would've loved to reply with the same to her, he knew that there was nothing to be done at this point. And it really wasn't too long until Rory could already hear his breathing change - an indication of him having fallen asleep.
Rory took a deep breath and sighed - was she seriously supposed to survive weeks of this? But It wasn't long until she too fell asleep, her mind full of strange imagery.
She dreamt of Logan running, experiencing a glimpse of that possible fear he must've felt. She dreamt some alteration of a dream she'd seen a while back, when she'd been in Maine, of her laying on her back with a toddler laying on top of her - the cute little legs and arms feeling so soft, only now there were also two on her sides - six little hands, each one cuter than the other - feeling their touch. She saw herself in Maine - on the beach between the rocks taking a deep breath like she hadn't taken one in years. These strange images transformed from one to another, on occasion flashing into a series of scenes of her having sex with Logan - the settings and states of mind they'd done it in through all these year - sadness, anger, guilt, euphoria - and everything in between. All in all - effective enough to make her forget, forgive and love. Those acts, flashing in front of her eyes, together with his words that were permanently imprinted in her brain - his "I do" and the way he called her 'Ace' all rolled into one burst of emotion. And while she hadn't knowingly touched herself - she could swear she woke to an orgasm, her skin feeling sweaty, a blush on her cheeks and a hot mess between her legs.
Whatever it had been, Rory woke more rested than she had in weeks. It had almost felt cleansing. While nothing than the actual labor could take the heaviness, she carried, away, it was literally the first day when she felt like she wanted to be moving around, and as Logan was fast asleep, a bed sheet draped loosely over his body, she pondered if she was up early enough to actually fix herself her own breakfast, having grown sick of being served her meals on the couch all the time. She craved something she hadn't had in a while, 'something good, something bad for her' - recalling one of Logan's phrases she'd heard echo in the dream, the thought of it making her smile.
And while a couple of poptarts would've been the obvious answer on many occasions, what she really craved was Cap'n Crunch with Coco Pops and mini marshmallows. She was past non-fat milk, the organic pasture raised whole cow milk they usually bought just for Finny, seeming like just the thing. After all, getting the babies fat was highly unlikely and she herself had been abiding by Celeste's and Logan's healthy meal plans on most days.
She couldn't really fit behind the kitchen counter, leaving her options either holding the bowl above her belly or sitting sideways, but it would have to do. It was the perfect amount of crunch and texture, and a momentary sugar rush energized her brain like she hadn't felt in a while. It wasn't too long until the rush seemed to even alert the girls - getting a nudge towards her back. She stroked the spot with her fingers, thinking for a moment on how much she wanted to meet them already, her dream of the three kids coming back to her.
"Rory…," Celeste said in a slightly scolding but not at all surprised voice.
"Morning," she mumbled with her mouth full as if eating something forbidden and clearly having been on her feet more than she was supposed to.
Celeste really saw no point to scold her about not being in bed or on the sofa, as advised, she knew Rory was well aware of the doctor's orders set to her. But she understood too - she would've gone completely crazy by now having to sit still for all that time.
Celeste continued to make herself a greek yogurt into which she mixed in some almond butter, oatmeal, chia seeds and topped it off with a few blueberries, while the coffee machine made her an espresso. Rory always wondered how on earth she always remembered all these recepies and what suited what in the kitchen, while she herself still went by notes Luke had made her.
Espresso was never really Rory's poison of choice, hence she simply took a whiff of it's scent as the dark liquid poured into Celeste's cup.
"So what's the plan for today?" Rory asked, realling not liking the prospect of seeing her leave until the babies came.
"Jess wants to go check out some huge warehouse in Brooklyn that's supposed to sell used retail and office furniture - maybe we'll find something," she shrugged. She'd never really been to places like that - but Jess spoke highly of it, so she was willing to give it a try. "But I'll let him sleep a little while longer, it sounded like they had fun last night," she added laughingly.
"Yeah, it was good they went," she replied, feeling another slightly stronger nudge aimed at her back. "Hey," she scolded one of the babies, realizing that it was probably her own fault - the sugar rush reaching them.
"You know, with you having babies again… I swear just for a split second I thought about having another. Just that newborn baby smell..," Celeste admitted, nursing her cup of coffee.
"Well you probably could - I mean there are options, you wouldn't be the first," Rory replied, standing up. She even missed standing, even though she felt like she needed to support her bump with both hands while she did, the kinesio tape only helping a little by now.
"I know, we talked about it even - but I really think it's just hormones you know - being around you and all those cute things you have upstairs. But I think we're done with that. I'll just have to come and smell your babies," she chuckled.
It was mid-mornign and Logan had taken his breakfast to Rory's side in the parlor. Rory had by now gone back to obeying her bed rest rules after her breakfast, feeling like her back needed a rest. Celeste had gone upstairs to take Jess his breakfast and call Evie, to get him up and going so they'd make it to the warehouse in good time.
"What did you say to Finn?" Gigi stormed downstairs and huffed at Logan, suddenly.
"Gigi!" Rory reacted to her tone.
"What?" Logan asked, deciding to play at least a little oblivious of what this could be about. Logan's head still throbbed slightly, waiting for the glass of water and a glass of red orange juice to kick in.
"I was getting along with Finn really great, he's so easy to talk to. And now, after he hung out with you, he's talking about how chatting with me is inappropriate," she explained. She really did looked upset and Gigi certainly had a very different temperament - flaming up like a little firecracker - Rory had seen it before.
Logan really didn't know what to say, glancing briefly at Rory.
"Gigi, can you honestly not see how you befriending a 36-year old man can be seen as borderline inappropriate?" Rory stepped in, frowning slightly as she felt the strange ache in her back again. Her contractions usually didn't quite feel like this, so she figured it was probably just another nudge from the girls, just in a poor angle.
"What does age matter?," she exclaimed.
"Well it does matter - I really don't want to be playing this card, but what would dad say, if he knew? Even if it is all innocent," Rory replied.
Logan almost wanted to add some legal aspects, but didn't quite want to reveal that they'd given the topic that much thought - perhaps that would give her ideas she hadn't even gotten to yet. After all Logan didn't know half as much about Gigi's experiences with guys as Rory did.
"Ugh, god, you're so lame, you know that?" she huffed at her, and walked back upstairs without further discussion.
"Hell… we're getting the full hot and cold teenager experience here, aren't we?" Logan chuckled after she'd left, feeling relieved Gigi wasn't their's.
"Tell me about it. One day I think we're bonding and the next… I don't even know," Rory shook her head in disbelief.
"Well at least it seems Finn talked to her about boundaries a little," Logan added, hopefully.
"I wish someone could talk her about manners too," Rory noted. She had never talked to anyone like that in that age.
"Yeah," he sighed. "But let her cool down - I'm sure she'll come around, it's not too long until school starts." he added.
"I guess," she exhaled.
"So, what are we watching today? I thought I'd hang out with you for a change," Logan suggested, putting his arm around her shoulder. He didn't want to spend all day unpacking and runnign errands that day, with their newfound understanding (or perhaps it was just rediscovered) he wanted to be there with her.
Rory smiled up at him, and replied, "your choice," snuggling into his side. She really didn't care.
It wasn't long until Finny joined them on the couch after his breakfast, turning their morning into a cosy one - and that even despite having to watch Beat Bugs.
Rory had been feeling strange nudges to her back all morning and she'd had a few false contractions in the past few days, but that was pretty normal for her. It wasn't until lunch time, until she began to get a little suspicious as the throbs she felt in her back were not stopping - the babies hardly ever kicked her at fixed intervals like this - usually being active for some minutes and then asleep for hours. It wasn't frequent enough to cause alarm yet, and her app confirmed it.
She didn't want to worry anyone - it wasn't like the contractions she'd felt a few weeks ago, so she didn't make a big deal of it, knowing that Logan would be on his feet the next second asking her every five minutes if she thought this was it. But she had no idea herself.
They'd just had a light lunch, a nutty bulgur salad Logan had made, which they knew even Finny liked.
"I might actually go try to nap a little," Rory said. As the aches were not really easying up, she thought trying to get some rest, just in case, might be a good idea.
"Sure, I think we'll go to the garden to play for a bit before his nap," Logan replied, quite liking the low fountain they had in the yard that was perfect for soaking one's feet in on a hot day while sailing a toy boat with the toddler.
Rory had just settled in bed, having pulled down the roman blinds, and positioned her pillows in the perfect places, as she heard a gentle knock on her door.
"Rory?" Celeste asked, apologetically. They'd just gotten back and Jess was upstairs gathering up their stuff to leave. Celeste was going to drive back her new car and Jess his, both filled with the last of their things.
"Yeah?" she replied.
"I didn't want to wake you," she said. "I just wanted to say, we'll be off pretty soon," she added, wanting to say her goodbyes properly.
"Already?" Rory made a sad face.
"Yeah, I need to get back to Evie," she added, and Rory understood. How could she not?
It was then Rory felt a contraction, this wasn't just a back ache anymore - this she recognized. She exhaled through it audibly.
"Was that just a...?" Celeste asked, her eyes wide, as it passed.
"It might have been," Rory replied, stroking her belly.
"First one or…?" she inquired further.
"I've had these strange aches in my back all morning, I first thought it was kicking. But this was a first," Rory said, beginning to worry that perhaps her disobedience that morning had been what had caused this - or maybe even her dream?
With Finny there really hadn't been much warning at all - just her water breaking - but with the girls, it seemed to be anything but.
"God, I really don't want to leave now," Celeste commented, hating the divide between Rory and Evie.
"I don't want Logan to worry before I know what this is," Rory said.
"Hey - wouldn't that be like repeating his mistake?" Celeste said, raising her eyebrows.
Rory groaned - she was right - it was - if she hid this from him, she would be no better. "Fine. Can you go tell him for me?" Rory added, not feeling like texting this. This uncertainty felt horrible - could this be it? Or was this just another round of practice her uterus was putting her through?