"COOKIE?! SHE WANTS TO BE CALLED COOKIE?!" Lorelai exclaimed. "And you guys gave me a hard time about wanting to be called Lola."
Rory picked up a mallowmar cookie, studying it for a minute before taking a bite. "We gave you a hard time because only people like Shira Huntzberger make up nicknames instead of being called grandma. If I have it my way, Orie won't be calling her much of anything."
"That bad huh?"
"The whole night was just awful. We should have just left when I noticed that she 'forgot' to set a place at the table for me. There was so much yelling and screaming, thankfully Honor took Orie out of the room, but it was all too much. Then we came home, and me and Logan got into this big screaming match. . ."
"Whoa, wait a minute! Is he mad at you over this? His parents acting entitled, uppity, and too good for their own granddaughter is not your fault. He better not think that he can just. . . "
"He's not mad over that! Honestly we worked out some things that should have been worked out years ago. . . Like Pre-Orie things. We're trying to figure out how to. . . move past me lying to him."
"Just be careful. . . I know you still love him, but it's not just about you anymore. You two will forever be in each other's life, regardless of how your relationship works out."
"It's not like that! We're working things out because Orie needs two parents who aren't at each other's throats all the time, not because we want to jump each other's bones."
"Mhmmmm." Lorelai murmured, taking a sip of her coffee.
Rory rolled her eyes. "Seriously. I'm pretty sure that ship sailed long ago. I've got a lot of making up to do to Logan, I highly doubt he wants to date me."
"Hey if you say so. Are we still doing birthday dinner on Friday? I was thinking Korean barbecue night at Al's followed by a create your own sundae bar here at the house. After all, you only turn 37 once."
"Do you think Luke will be there?"
"No, hun. He said he has to do inventory that night."
"More like he's still avoiding me."
"Rory, these things take time. Truthfully he has every right to never talk to you again. I don't think that will happen, but he does. He's always thought of you as sort of his, and for you to disregard all the pain he went through with April when you decided not to tell Logan. . . that was just a slap in the face to him."
"But I can't even apologize to him! I know what I did was wrong. I know I wasn't protecting Logan, I was protecting my image, my ego. When I decided not to tell Logan. . . I wasn't thinking clearly. When I talked to dad he said he didn't resent you for raising me alone and that he . . ."
"Whoa whoa slow your roll a minute. You talked to your dad about not telling Logan? Did he tell you not to tell Logan?"
Rory shook her head. "When I left the doctors office after finding out I was pregnant I visited him at his new office. I didn't tell him, I just asked how he felt about you raising me alone. He said that it's as if it had always been in the cards. He felt like it was always supposed to be just me and you. After he said that, deep down,I felt like it was supposed to just be and Orie."
Lorelai rubbed her temples. "Honey, we were sixteen. You and Logan were grown adults. That was nowhere near the same situation. You and Logan had something real, something stable at one time. . . Your dad and I. . . .we were stupid kids who drank to much Jack Daniels and thought stable was having a date to the Winter Formal in a few weeks."
Rory groaned, laying her head down on the table. "I am so stupid."
"You are not stupid. You've made mistakes. As long as you learn from them, you are not stupid." Lorelai tenderly kissed the top of Rory's head. "Now taking relationship advice from Christopher? That's stupid."
...
"I'm coming, i'm coming!" Logan called, which just made the impatient person on the other side of the door knock even more furiously.
His face downturning as soon as he opened the door. "What do you want?"
"You change the locks?" Mitchum asked as he strolled into Logan's townhouse.
Logan grimaced. "As soon as I found you and mom had a key."
"Son, about the other night. . ."
"I'm not apologizing."
"I'm not asking you to. Your mother was completely out of line and. . ."
"And so were you!" Logan protested. "Since when do you take mom's side?!"
Mitchum furrowed his brow. "Since you're not thinking clearly."
"I'm thinking just fine, thank you very much."
"I saw the way you looked at her last night. I saw the way you placed your hand on her back, and whispered softly in her ear. I'm not stupid, but you are. She's clouding your judgement."
"Did you want something?" Logan scoffed.
"I know you don't think Rory is 'one of those girls'" Mitchum said, making air quotes with his fingers, "but you don't know for sure. A man of your social class needs. . . protection."
"Protection? Protection from what? What are you trying to say?"
Mitchum handed him the small file folder of paperwork that he was holding.
Logan opened the folder and peeked inside. "A custody agreement?!" Logan threw the papers back at Mitchum.
"I had the lawyers draw up some paperwork for you. A standard custody agreement, a child support plan that goes all the way until Orie is eighteen, and also some paternity paperwork that is needed to make it all legally binding. All Rory has to do is sign. I've even added in a bit of a trust fund for Orie, the same as Theo and Liam's."
"I don't need protection. I said it before, and I'll say it again. Rory's not like that."
"Son just hear me out, I've seen these things unfold before. It starts off innocent, oh I just need a little extra this month, but before you know it, BAM! You're not seeing her until you up my child support. Next thing you know Rory and Orie are riding around in a boat appropriately named "Daddy's money".
Logan rolled his eyes. "I have a meeting to get ready for."
Mitchum sat the folder down on Logan's desk. "Just look it over ok?"
Logan opened the front door. "Goodbye dad."
Logan slammed the door shut, sighing loudly. He sat down at his desk, raking his hands through his hair. He opened the folder, looking over the paperwork. Asking Rory to sign this would be a slap in the face to her. Their relationship had drastically improved after their argument the other night, all of the tension around them seemed to resolve as they shouted out fifteen years of thoughts, feelings, and anger. He wasn't about to jeopardize all the ground they had gained. He tossed the folder on his desk, scattering papers everywhere. Now angry and late for work, he grabbed his keys and left.
…
Logan's phone rang, buzzing loudly across the table, making the whole restaurant look.
"Ooooh who is it?'' Finn teased. "Has Loagie got a new girlfriend?"
He glanced down at the screen and saw Rory's name. He quickly flipped the phone over. "It's no one."
"Look how red his face is! He DOES have a new girlfriend!" Robert exclaimed.
Colin grabbed his phone. "Well let's just see who this mystery woman is!" Confusion spread across his face as he picked up the phone. "Rory?"
"I've already told you, we're only in contact for Orie's sake."
"Mhmmm that's why you've got that derpy look on your face." Finn asked.
Logan jerked the phone out of Colin's hand. "Give me that!"
He briskly walked away from the table, making sure he was a safe distance away before he answered. " Didn't expect to hear from you today Ace."
" I have a really big favor to ask." Rory said, her voice fast and panicked.
The urgency in her voice grabbed his attention. "Anything, just name it."
"I just got a call from Orie's school. She's been suspended."
"Suspended?!"
"She lit a smoke bomb during the Stars Hollow Theater company's presentation of the Very Hungry Caterpillar. "
"She lit a smoke bomb?" he couldn't help but smile, thinking of the time he had done almost the exact same thing in grade school.
"She smuggled it into school in her book bag. Kirk thought there was a fire and ended up accidentally spraying the principal with a fire extinguisher. It was awful."
Logan chuckled, imagining the chaos that Orie had caused.
"Are you laughing?"
Logan tried to stifle his laughter. "No. . .not at all."
Rory ignored his blatant lie. "My problem is she has to leave school ASAP, but my yearly teaching observation is today, and I can't miss it. My mom is short staffed at the inn because Michele is on a Destiny's Child reunion cruise, and Luke. . ."
Logan winced as Rory trailed off, knowing that her current relationship with Luke was a sore spot for her to talk about.
"Is there any way at all you could get her? It would only be until three, three - thirty tops"
Logan pulled at his collar. "Ughhh Ace, I wish I could get her, I'm free now but I've got a phone meeting with some investors at. . ."
He glanced over at the table where Colin and Robert were making kissy faces, Finn's arms wrapped around himself like he was making out with someone. Suddenly, A light bulb went off in his head. "Actually, don't worry, just go ahead with that observation. I'll pick her up."
"But what about your phone meeting?" Rory asked.
"Don't worry about that, I've got a plan."
...
"This is absolutely unreal," Finn muttered.
Colin nodded. "She's like a miniature Logan, but with pigtails."
"I can't believe you and Rory. . . made her. Like from scratch." Robert said in amazement.
The trio sat on the couch staring at Orie, who was sitting cross legged on the coffee table.
"Gentlemen please stop staring at my daughter." Logan said , entering the room.
"She's staring at us too." Finn whined.
Logan laughed. "She's five."
Orie stood up, walking over to Finn. "Why do you talk funny?"
"It's not funny, it's Australian." Finn replied, fake pouting.
"It is pretty funny." Colin teased.
"I like it." Orie said, as she jumped down off the coffee table. "I like you."
Finn bowed dramatically. "You know I was always your mom's favorite."
Colin rolled his eyes. "Excuse me, I believe I was her favorite."
"You're both wrong, I was her favorite." Robert retorted.
"Actually, you all three are wrong, I was her favorite, I'm pretty sure." Logan teased.
"Well I'm Orie's favorite." Finn said smugly.
Colin shook his head. "We just met her, you can't be her favorite yet." He turned to Orie, "Hey do you like toy stores? What if Uncle Colin bought you one?"
Logan sighed. " Nobody is buying anyone a toy store. Are you sure I can trust you to watch her while I'm in my meeting?"
"Logan, we are three grown men, I think we can handle a five year old." Colin said, offensively.
He bent down, eye level with Orie. "I'll be in the other room if you need me."
Finn playfully shoved him. "Go on, go play businessman, we got this."
Finn turned to Orie. "So Littlest Lorelai, do you know how to play poker?"
Orie shook her head, her long blonde pigtails flailing. "No but I can learn!"
...
Logan opened the door to the living room, afraid of what he might find. Orie sat cuddling a pillow, engrossed in a cartoon on the television, Finn sitting next to her.
"Wow, the living room is still in one piece."
"She's not that bad, Logan." Colin retorted from the chaise across the room.
Logan laughed. "I know I was talking about you three."
Orie glanced over at Logan. "Daddy, I'm thirsty."
Finn draped his head dramatically across the arm of the sofa. "Excuse me dear, I'm a bit parched as well." he fluttered his eyelashes seductively at Logan.
"Yeah dad we're parched!" Orie cheered.
Logan nodded. "I think I have some milk? Is that ok?"
"I'm lactose intolerant!" Finn cried.
"I'll get a La Croix for you." Logan said, rolling his eyes.
"Milk's fine." Orie replied, turning back to her cartoon.
"I'll take a La Croix too." Colin said as he stood up. "Let me see what flavors you have." he followed Logan into the kitchen.
He opened the stainless steel fridge peering inside. "It's still pretty trippy that you and Rory have a daughter together."
"Yeah, some days I wake up thinking it was all a dream."
Colin pulled out a bin of strawberries, studying them intently before placing them back on the shelf. "You seem pretty ok for someone whose whole world was just blown apart."
Logan shrugged. "I'm slowly coming to terms with it."
Colin grabbed a La Croix and shut the door. "Why did she keep it a secret?"
Logan sighed."Well there was the whole French fiance for starters. . ."
Colin leaned against the marble counter, and popped open his can. "I saw the custody agreement on your desk. Pretty solid agreement."
"Ugh, my dad brought that over wanting Rory to sign it. As if dinner the other night wasn't a big enough slap in the face to her."
"You know. . . it wouldn't be such a bad idea."
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to say 'hey sign these papers that give me partial custody of our child because I don't trust you'll keep your word?"
"Well she has given you reason to not trust her."
Logan slammed the milk carton onto the counter causing milk to spray all over. "Why are you pressing this so hard?"
Colin dabbed at the milk on his shirt. "Look, We all love Orie. Even if she does say Finn is her favorite uncle. . . The last thing I want is for her to be in the middle of the custody battle."
"You know Rory. She wouldn't do that."
"No, the Rory I know wouldn't do that, but the Rory I know wouldn't have kept Orie a secret from you either."
"I know it's hard to just forgive her, but I have to at least try, for Orie."
"Being respectful to her doesn't mean falling in love with her all over again."
"I never fell out of love with her." Logan thought.
"I'm nearing forty years old. I don't need a babysitter."
Colin held his hands up in surrender. "Ok, just be careful."
Logan nodded. "Of course."
The tv let out a string of profanities as they walked into the living room. Logan looked up to see Glenn Quagmire and a female character in a compromising position. He quickly grabbed the remote, turning the tv off.
"Daddy!" Orie groaned. "They were wrestling!"
"YOU LET MY DAUGHTER WATCH FAMILY GUY?"
"We grew up watching Ren and Stimpy and we turned out just fine." Finn huffed.
Logan rubbed his temples. "Rory's going to kill me."
Colin grinned sheepishly at him. "Orie might forget if you let me buy her that toy store."
…
"G'day mate! Just hanging with my blokes!" Orie cheered as she ran towards Rory.
"With your blokes?" Rory laughed, a bit puzzled.
Logan chuckled. "Orie! Let her get in the door first! She thinks she's talking like Finn."
Rory's eyes widened as she looked around. "Finn was here?! You met Finn?"
Orie hugged Rory tight. "And Uncle Robert. . . and Uncle Colin. . . Mommy, Uncle Colin is going to buy me FAO Schwarz. Whatever that is!"
Rory kissed the top of her head. She glanced at Logan "So there was A whole brigade reunion today?"
"We were at lunch together when you called. they watched Orie while I was on my phone meeting."
"They babysat Orie?"
"I hope that was ok. . . I was just in the other room." Logan replied, nervously gesturing to the study.
"It's perfectly fine as long as they didn't have her cliff diving in Costa Rica while she's three sheets to the wind." Rory joked.
"We'd never do that. . . . until she's twenty one." Logan chuckled.
"I'm just mad I didn't get to see them."
"I don't know about that." Logan said as he bit his lip. "You're . . . not their favorite person right now."
Rory's face crumbled in a way that made him wish he'd lied to her. "Oh.. . yeah. . .I. . . I guess that's understandable."
Instantly feeling awful for being responsible for the downward spiral Rory was now on, Logan sprang to his feet. "How about dinner?"
Orie looked up at Rory. "Dinner with dad?! YESSSSS!"
Rory shook her head. "I don't know, It's been a long day."
"There's a great little place a few blocks over. Best italian food you'll ever eat. . . but the proprietors aren't as angry as our place at Yale. I've only seen one fight."
Rory tugged awkwardly at her sleeves, pulling them over her hands. "I really just want to go home, throw on some sweats, and do nothing."
Logan walked over to his desk. His eyes landed on the file of paperwork his father had given him that morning. He picked it up and crammed it into his desk drawer quickly. He pulled out some take out menus. "We could just hang out here. The Chinese place down the street has some great sesame chicken, I know it's your favorite."
"I just want to go home!" Rory snapped.
Logan sat the menus down. "Everything ok Ace?"
Rory shook her head. "I've just had a crummy day. I'm sorry I snapped."
"Is this about Orie getting suspended? Because I talked to her about it and told her it wasn't ok. . ."
Rory shook her head. "That was just the cherry on top. This whole week has been extra hard. Then today there was my teaching observation,which no matter how much you prepare for you're never prepared."
"I'm sure you did great. Just remember to breath . . . Friday is almost here."
"Friday is my birthday." Rory muttered.
Logan's heart sank. For years after she had declined his proposal, He had tried so hard to forget October 8th. However, now, he felt terrible for forgetting. "Even better!"
Rory sighed. "I guess."
"What's wrong? Is it because you're turning 38? Because thirty eight isn't old. I. . ."
"It's because I ruined everything. Luke still won't talk to me. I don't really feel like celebrating. I feel like part of my family is missing. Luke is my step-dad, but he's been there more than my own dad. This is the first birthday he hasn't been there to celebrate with me in almost thirty years! No Luke! Oh and no rainbow chip cake! I just realized that there won't be any rainbow chip cake! What's a birthday without that? I mean Luke has made me a rainbow chip cake every year on my birthday for as long as I can remember. He even smuggled me a piece when my mom and I weren't talking on my twenty-first birthday! I . . . I just miss him so much."
Logan instantly remembered the almost overly sweet, yet oddly delicious "Rainbow chip cake". It wasn't ornately decorated, or anything like the lavish pastries he was accustomed to, but Rory had gone on and on about Luke's Infamous rainbow chip cake. One birthday she had even split her last piece with him, which had shocked him, because a Gilmore sharing food was a rare occurrence. Logan wrapped his arm around her slightly, which made her instantly stop rambling.
"Ace, He needs time. I know you like to fix things right away, but some things you just can't."
Rory leaned into him and he pulled her closer, rubbing her arm. She sunk into his side, appreciative of the small gesture. Despite the heaviness in her stomach, it fluttered at the feeling of her body pressed against his. "Thanks Logan."
Orie ran over wrapping her arms around both of their legs. "I love our family!" she gushed.
Rory and Logan wrapped their arms around her, their hands touching for a brief second. Logan glanced down at Orie, and then over to Rory. "I love our family too."
Rory smiled meekly. "Now how about some chinese food?"