The phone rang. She sent it to voicemail.
It was Jess, in his perfectly coiffed haired glory, checking in on how the rest of her days have been going since he rolled out of bed that morning after. She had looked perfect just laying with hair flopped in her face and a makeup-less complexion. He had sat and watched her for as long as he possibly could before she eventually woke and immediately asked for coffee.
He happily obliged adding a piece of toast and a goodbye kiss in the mix. She looked sad to see him go. He felt truly unworthy and vowed to start looking for apartments that were a lot closer to Stars Hallow then he had ever imagined he would live. Suddenly he was seeing himself in a house of his own, sitting through town meetings and forcing (t)his kid to be a bulb in some stupid dance recital.
He tried again.
She sent him to voicemail again.
She felt awful, stomach turning and twisting with anxiety and the constant fear that she would end up with nobody and nothing through this process.
Jess wasn't exactly Mr. Reliable and Logan literally had a soon-to-be wife. She wondered if she should have taken her mom up on the offer to camp out in her childhood bedroom until further notice and left the boys out of it entirely.
A knock startled her from her spot on the couch and she walked to the door. The small hole in the door revealed a mess of blonde wisps and a bouquet of flowers. If it wasn't for the cup of coffee he was holding in his other hand she probably would have walked the other direction.
"You can't just run away from me!" He stated from his spot in the doorway. She extended her arm to grab the cup of dark roast but he ripped it away, stalling her from the goods, "Can I come in?"
"How did you get my address?" She pointed to the spot on the couch where he could sit and reluctantly took the gifts he brought. She waited for him to judge the depth of the couch cushion or the lack of picture hanging skills that she possessed but instead he just stared at her. He seemed fascinated and intrigued, quiet, mysterious even. Although they had been in constant communication throughout the years it was different. Who was the once the guy she confided in regarding anything was now just a guy she had a casual catch up lunch and fuck with.
He interrupted her reminiscing, "Your Mom told me! I went to see her. Assumed she hadn't moved since the last time I was here!"
"You assumed right…" Rory sat in the chair across from his spot and shifted nervously.
He seemed equally as uncomfortable which was surprising for her. He usually possessed such confidence, "I have something for you. Well, two things…" He dug in his coat pocket and revealed a petite, cushion-cut ring in gold. She crinkled her nose, "This is the ring I gave to Odette when we got engaged. I took it back before I came to see you." He pulled out a blue velvet box next, "And this is the ring I proposed to you with years ago. Same exact ring, same exact box."
"Are you asking-," She opened the box to reveal the same magnificent diamond she had turned down a decade prior, "Logan, no."
"I'm not asking you to marry me!" He said this with a chuckle of embarrassment, probably remembering the previous rejection, "I'm asking you to hold onto it and try to work towards it. With me…"
A tickle formed in her throat as she thought about the voicemail from Jess, the things they discussed regarding timing, soul mates, and similarities. They had finally got it right.
But maybe this was also the time she was supposed to finally get it right with Logan.
Her hand rested on her stomach and with an undeniable force she felt movement, "It's kicking! Oh my god Logan!" She lunged to him, forcing his hand. She had never seen him so shocked and so silent. The man with a plan was utterly speechless.
"That's amazing!" He had a hard time letting go even after the kicking had subsided. They sat in stunned silence, him staring at her and her staring at the ring. He could feel the cranks creating a pro and con list and he wondered what cons she had regarding them or this or him.
She opened the box and deliberately slipped it on her right hand. Even after all of these years it fit like a glove, "I'm not saying yes but I'm saying I'll work towards it…"
"Ace…" His eyebrow raised, "No take backs!"
She nodded, "No take backs… I mean it… And for the mean time…" Her hands crossed together hesitantly, unsure of if she could touch such a beautiful piece of jewelry, "Maybe you could move in here… Just in case you know kicking or I need a ride to the hospital or-,"
"You need coffee or your feet rubbed or you need to wake somebody to talk about some book at two in the morning?" His body leaned in towards her and his lips met her forehead, sweetly. It felt like old times. Exciting, relaxing- it felt right.
The one thing that didn't sit right was calling Jess. He would have to understand. Hopefully.
"Do you have bags or anything?" She wondered how he managed a trip across the country wearing cashmere.
He nodded, "In the car… I'll grab them in a second!"
"Go, grab them!" She ushered him out, "I'll clear a spot in the drawer for you." She needed more time than a quick run downstairs, "Could you also run to the store and maybe grab me some ice cream! Cravings!" Truly the thought of food at all made her want to throw up but she needed to make the call now or she may never do it.
"Of course! I'll be back shortly!" He paused, hands wrapping her cheeks before laying a kiss on her lips which she gladly welcomed with only the smallest tinge of guilt.
She watched him stroll through town, looking like he was a local resident of the small town. Maybe he'd fit in after all. She grabbed her phone and listed to the voicemail. The man of few words had pep in his voice, even mentioned an upcoming movie they could go to if she wanted to meet him half way. A sad sigh escaped her mouth as she dialed back.
This wasn't going to be pretty.
