Chapter 196

"Rory!" Doyle smiled, opening the door.

"Hi Doyle," Rory smiled back, giving him a hug, "It's great to see you, and congratulations!"

"Oh, thanks," Doyle said, "I mean, it's…thanks." Rory watched his reaction for another moment, and decided to redirect the conversation.

"Where are Paris and the baby?"

"In our room. I don't understand why we had to put together a whole nursery in the first place, since they spend all their time in their anyway," Doyle said, shaking his head, "Anyway, I have some plans with friends from work, so just wanted to stick around to say hi. I'll see you guys in a bit."

"Okay," Rory nodded, her brow furrowed, "See you later, I guess."

"See ya!"

After the door shut behind Doyle, Rory stood there, confused. Doyle didn't seem upset, really, but he certainly didn't seem as exhuberant as he'd been when he and Paris had told them "the news" several months earlier. And she couldn't believe he was going out to see friends, when his daughter was three days old. And he hadn't even wanted to be around when Rory met her. It was strange, she thought.

Shrugging off all of her confusion and concern, Rory tenatively walked down the hallway. Gently, hesitantly, she called, "Paris?"

"In here," Paris called from behind one of the doors. Rory pushed it open, still trying to get her bearings in the unfamiliar space.

Rory opened the door, and found herself staring at an extremely peaceful scene. The lights in the bedroom were dimmed, and there were candles lit on the dresser, with some warm ambery scent emanating from them throughout the whole room. The foot of the bed was stacked with throw blankets, and there were pillows all over the floor. Paris was sitting up in the bed against a supportive back pillow, and hadn't even looked up when Rory entered the room. She was holding a tiny bundle to her chest.

"Rory…come meet Simone," Paris said softly, a smile omnipresent on her lips. Rory walked over to the side of the bed tentatively. The bed was very tall.

"Mind if I…"

"Not at all. We've got a lot of space here," Paris joked. Rory climbed up onto the bed and sat next to Paris. She sat awkwardly for a moment.

"Um…I don't want to violate your personal…"

"Rory, it's fine. I'm just breastfeeding, it's perfectly natural. But as soon as she's finished, I'll let you hold her. If you want to."

"Sure," Rory nodded, "She seems quiet."

"Right now. But she likes eating," Paris laughed, "She can get pretty feisty, and has a good set of lungs. Not like I can say much about either of those things." Rory smirked.

"True," she nodded, "I love her name, by the way."

"Thanks," Paris beamed, "Me too. It just felt like it was her name, you know?"

"Not really," Rory admitted, "But maybe one day."

After a moment, Paris put Simone on her shoulder and burped her. After that, she took Simone back into her arms and showed her to Rory.

"Okay, now you can really meet Simone," Paris smiled, swaddling her daughter in a soft green blanket. Paris gently handed her to Rory, correcting the placement of her hands to make sure the baby's head was properly supported. After a moment, she let go, and Rory was holding Simone.

"She's…she's beautiful, Paris," Rory said. She was in awe. Simone had gorgeous, dark blue eyes- oceans, or stormclouds, maybe. Her skin was probably the softest thing that Rory had ever felt, and she had a tiny sprinkling of soft hair atop her head. She was tiny and pink and wriggly and pretty much perfect.

"I can't believe you made her," Rory laughed, earning a grin from Paris.

"Me either," she admitted.

"What's she like? I mean, I know that's a silly question, but…"

"I know what you mean. She's…incredible. She's feisty and sweet and completely attached to me."

"And Doyle?"

"Indifferent."

"Her or him?"

"Yes."

"…do you want to talk about it?"

"Not now," Paris said. She didn't sound sad, or angry, or even avoidant. "Right now I just want to soak her in, you know? I had no idea I could feel like this. Like, I love you a lot. You are my best friend in the whole world. But I didn't even think it was possible to love someone this much. You know?"

"…I can imagine," Rory demurred. Though, watching Paris, she knew that even if she couldn't really imagine that feeling, she wanted to feel it for herself one day.

"I have to change her real quick. Why don't you wait for me in the kitchen? She's falling back asleep, so I'll bring her in with me in a second."

"Sure. Um…where's the kitchen?"

"Doyle didn't give you the tour?"

"Um…I hate to be blunt, but he pretty much high-tailed it out of here the second I showed up."

"That sounds right," Paris sighed, "Well, it's out this door, at the end of the hall to the right. Once we have some snacks, I'll show you around. Where are your bags?"

"By the front door."

"…I'll show you your room too," Paris said, rolling her eyes. Then Simone shifted in her arms, and her smile came back, immediate and bright..

"Sounds good. I'll see you in a minute," Rory smiled, following the designated path into the kitchen. Once there, she opened the fridge.

The fridge was stocked with an amazing selection of healthy foods. Rory marveled at the options in front of her, especially given that Paris had given birth a few days ago. She grabbed a sparkling water for herself and sat at a barstool at the kitchen island. A moment later, Paris walked in, the baby snoozing in a soft, navy blue wrap around her chest.

"I'm trying to get used to the baby-wearing thing," Paris said, patting it awkwardly, "It feels more natural to hold her, but I'm trying to do it at least once a day, so that once I'm out and about more, we're both used to it."

"Seems like a good idea," Rory nodded, "Want me to get us snacks and drinks?"

"Please," Paris nodded, "I'd go for some lemonade. Glasses are in the top right cabinet. And maybe some of the cheese and fruit? I'll get the crackers."

"Paris, how did you have time to get all this?" Rory asked, stunned, as she put together some snacks on a small plate and poured Paris a large glass of lemonade. Paris grabbed two boxes of crackers from the pantry. She shrugged.

"I set up a delivery while I was in labor."

Rory grinned. It was always nice when the old Paris showed her stripes every once in a while. "While you were in labor?'

"Before the part where I'd go to the hospital," Paris explained, "I'd always planned on doing it that way. The groceries came, Doyle put them away, which gave him an excuse to take some space, and then we went to the hospital."

"Sounds smart."

"It worked out," Paris shrugged, "I have weekly deliveries scheduled for a while. I figured I'd be too busy to handle it. Really, I just want to spend all of my time being with her rather than doing anything that's so easily outsourced."

"…you seem blissful. I honestly can't think of another word for it."

"Enamored," Paris admitted, "But blissful's pretty accurate too. Here, let's go to the living room with our snacks. Follow me."

Paris led Rory into a room just down the hall, with a beautiful, though comfortable, luxurious sectional and gestured for her to sit down. They placed their snacks and drinks on the table and got comfortable.

"…I like this room," Paris smiled, "We spend a little time here. But the bedroom is more private."

"…you…"

"Don't want to talk about it. Just saying," Paris said. Rory nodded. Suddenly her face lit up.

"Oh! I forgot. I got something for Simone. Let me grab it from my bag."

"You did? That'll be her first present," Paris smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're the first to meet her, besides me and Doyle. And the hospital staff, and the doctor, and the doula."

"You had a doula?" Rory asked incredulously, as she opened up her bag to find the present.

"Yeah, I did. Actually, two. And they were both amazing."

"Two? Why two?"

"So I had a doula for the birth, which was extremely helpful. Particularly because Doyle wasn't," Paris started. Rory nodded. Paris continued, "I also have a post-partum doula. She helps with things I need, checks in regularly, and is just generally great. She'll run errands, she'll help talk through things with me, and she's also a lactation consultant."

"That sounds handy."

"It is. They're both great," Paris said. Rory walked back over, holding a gift bag. She passed it to Paris sheepishly. Simone was still snoozing on her chest.

"So it's actually two gifts," Rory said tentatively, "One thing she can use now, and one thing for later."

"…oh my gosh," Paris grinned, pulling out the first one, "I can't believe you did this."

"I snuck to the school store while we were in New York," Rory said, smiling as Paris held up the Barnard baby blanket, "I thought about getting a Yale one. Or a Chilton one. But Barnard feels more like you now."

Paris smiled, her eyes welling up. "Thanks, Rory."

"Okay, calm down, crazy hormone lady. And open the other one before you decide whether or not to cry," Rory joked. Paris laughed, nodding as she pulled out the other present. She looked at Rory.

"This is…amazing," Paris said, impressed. The second gift was a gorgeous, leatherbound, collector's edition copy of Matilda.

"It was my favorite book when I was little," Rory admitted, "I liked it because the girl in it was smarter than everyone else around her. And I have a feeling that's what your daughter's gonna be like, too."

Paris looked at Rory, now properly teary. "I wish I could hug you, but I'm going to wake her."

"Awkward side hug?"

"Awkward side hug it is."