Chapter Two: One Night Stand
Todd was an understanding man. His father had raised him that way. But his mother also taught him to never take no as an answer. He listened to her ramble on and on about not wanting to cancel, not wanting to get him sick and having to study for midterms because her friends had dragged her out a few days ago during her study session. He laughed and she accused him of not caring that it was physically impossible for her to get out of bed.
"Fine, fine. I understand."
"It was probably you who got me sick in the first place." She cynically directed at him. He feigned hurt.
"Hey! WhatchatalkingboutWillis?" He threw out a pop culture reference and heard a laugh at the other end.
"They say laughter is the bed medicine."
"My chest hurts now, and I lost my voice." She pouted over the phone in her hoarse voice.
"Poor baby. Maybe I should come over and play doctor." He offered jokingly but hoped she'd say yes.
"Sorry to disappoint but I don't do role playing." She coughed into the phone. Her statement gave him a shocked look.
"No, I think you misunderstood." Thinking she was referring to sex. She never corrected him, she fell into another coughing attack.
The two said their goodbyes. Todd hung up his phone and plopped down in his couch. He ripped the tag off his new shirt and put his feet on the table. He was supposed to call Rory back in a few days to reschedule but he wanted to see her now. His fists clenched in anger at her for getting sick. He looked down and realized what he was doing. He stopped. He had anger issues. But it was getting under control.
His mother was a bitch. She really was. She never took no as an answer. She expected to be treated like a queen instead of the white trash she really was. It took Todd many years to come to that conclusion. His mother didn't allow people to make mistakes. When was eleven and fell off his bike breaking his wrist his mother screamed at him for hours because the x-rays cost a fortune. She was always so concerned with money. He always had to go to the good will to get clothes, he was never allowed to wear anything new. Once his father had bought him some new Nike shoes for basketball and he was so excited. He could finally understand why all the other kids got excited about the holidays. But then his mother had come home and took them away saying that they couldn't afford new shoes for him.
"Toddy we can't afford these. Do you want to live in a tailor park all your life?" She had said to him. He had shook his head like a good boy and took off the shoes for her to take back. He had run out of the tailor crying. He ended up at the rich side of town. He picked a random house and knocked a the front door.
"I don't eat much. I don't need any affection. Just a place to sleep." He told the woman who answered the door while out of breath from all the running.
Mrs. Forest ended up taking him back to the trailer park. She looked at him with pity but told him things would get better at some point in his life. When he walked into the tin can he saw his father hit his mother. All he could think was that it was about time.
"You were only supposed to be a one night stand." His mother shouted at his father. Todd couldn't help but wince. He was ten then. He didn't notice his mother's tears or his father's cold expression.
"You can't do better than me, Melissa. I give you everything." His father had yelled back. Todd nodded his head in agreement. He thought his mother deserved it.
"We can't afford these luxuries, Kevin. We have no money." She retaliated. She turned around and saw Todd standing in the doorway. She walked over to him. And knelt at his level.
"Daddy's just angry." She told him in a sickening sweet voice. She didn't know what else to say. Although her husband was wrong in hitting her, she just didn't know how to explain it to her son. She didn't even have a way out if she wanted to leave. She had no where to go and take her son.
Todd grew up in an abusive household after that. He always took his father's side because even though his father couldn't show affection he spoiled him with fancy new toys and clothes. Todd held his father in the highest of regards for quieting his penny pincher mother.
Two years ago his mother had died. He was only nineteen and despite the fact that he hated the woman he mourned. He had been living on his own for almost a year and could clearly understand her issue with money. He also realized that she was the victim in it all. But his new found realization could erase years of hate.
He also knew that day when his father had called and told him his mother was dead that his old man had done it. His father had lost his temper and went a little too far. He grew to hate his father after that. He wished he still had a chance to tell his mother he loved her but his father took it away.
He remembered that on his last birthday with his parents. He joked around making chauvinistic remarks. His mom gave him a piece of the small cake she had baked and he scowled at how small it was. His mom went back to the little kitchen they had and gave him her piece as well. When she handed it to him she whispered in his ear.
"No woman will love you if you keep acting like your father." Todd would never forget those words. But by the time they registered in his head he was living in a small apartment in Connecticut. His mother was dead and his last girlfriend walked out on him telling him he was only good enough to be a one night stand, nothing more.
Todd changed his ways but eventually his father snuck in. He started taking anger management classes at the Hartford Community college. He started wanted more in his life. He decided that he would stop being a sexist pig. He swore to himself to never become his father and hit a woman. But deep inside, Todd knew he already was.
"I'm so glad you could come." Todd smiled at Rory on their eighteenth month anniversary. She had finals and graduation so he didn't think she would make it. He was ecstatic when she finally did come.
"Of course I came." She gently laughed. He stood up as she sat down in efforts of being a gentlemen.
"What was that?" She looked at him like he was crazy.
"Chivalry, my dear." He answered.
"You look nervous." She asked him after the main course. They had ordered dessert and were just waiting for the waiter to get it for them.
"You're not going to propose are you?" She laughed and he laughed nervously with her.
"Of course not. I know you don't want to get married for a while." She raised her eyebrow so he could continue.
"You know I'd never hurt you, right?" She nodded skeptical of what he was getting at. If this wasn't a proposal then what was it.
"You know I love you, right?" He asked. She nodded again and was about to say it back but he stopped her.
"Well see I have this problem." She looked at him confused and he smiled.
"I have newly acquired this space, some people would call it an apartment, with my newly acquired purpose, or as commoners would say a job, and well this space and this purpose is located in another state, New York to be exact. And see I know how much you love your personal space but I was wondering, if you'd come with me." He babbled. He noticed exactly when she got the point of his rant because her face lit up like the sun.
"You're asking me to move to New York with you?" She clarified in case somewhere in his rant he didn't imply that.
"Uh huh." He nodded. Rory leaned across the table and kissed him. It was a timid kiss only because she didn't like public displays of affection. He smiled at her.
"So you will?"
"Uh huh." They stared at each other smiling until their dessert was brought out. Todd watched as she dove into her chocolate mouse. He looked down and started taking small bites of his cheesecake.
"Todd?" She asked at her doorstop. He thought she might invite him in.
"You know if you proposed tonight, I'd have said yes." She walked into her apartment and closed the door. She had to do some studying and write a speech because she was asked to for graduation. After she closed the door she slid down the frame of the door. She was actually disappointed that he didn't purpose.
"Hello offspring." Lorelai answered the phone.
"Mom, I'm moving to New York."
"Um okay. Wait, what about graduation? Are finals that hard?" Lorelai asked, sometimes she felt like she didn't know her own daughter.
"Mom, why would you think that?"
"Well not too long ago you were dropping out of school." Lorelai explained her reaction.
"Well after graduation I'm moving to New York with Todd." Rory tried to beam but the idea of leaving her comfort zone to live with a boy was freaking her out.
"I told him that if purposed I'd say yes." Or more likely it was that.
"Wow, that's a lot to process all at once."
"Did I make a mistake? In saying yes, in telling him that?" Rory panicked and Lorelai felt like she knew her daughter again.
"I can't answer that. I like Todd, you know that. He's good for you. But aren't you a little young. I mean I just got married."
"How'd you know Luke was the one?" Rory asked she heard Lorelai sigh.
"Trouble in paradise? What kind of example of you?"
"Rory I really wanted to tell you this in person." Lorelai somberly spoke. Silence was heard.
"Well don't hold me in suspense." Rory broke the silence.
"Okay well Luke wants kids and I don't. I've already got you, I don't need more." Lorelai paused.
"Now normally this wouldn't be such a big deal except that he's really pushing, and you know I'm stubborn as hell. So you can imagine what we're both like now." Rory nodded. And it seemed like Lorelai paused just for that.
"So in my efforts to win I went to the doctor to get my tubes tied. Well they found cancer" A thud on the other end of the phone stopped Lorelai from talking.
"Rory? Rory?" She asked through the phone.
"You didn't tell me to sit down, I didn't have time to prepare myself for this. Are you okay?" Rory cried through the phone.
"Hon, it's not a big deal okay. I go in for treatment, they take my ovaries. It's no big deal sweetie. The worst it's doing is causing turmoil on my relationship with Luke." Lorelai comforted her daughter the best she could from twenty miles away. She was scared shitless but the doctor had explained that this was nothing to worry about especially since she didn't want to have kids.
"Oh. Did you tell him?" Rory sniffled through the phone. She got up from the ground and was looking for her car keys.
"Heh, well that's the problem, I didn't and then he found out. Hell broke loose and he's living in his old apartment." Lorelai whined.
"Oh well that sucks." She started her car.
"What was that? You're not coming here are you?" There was a crashing noise and as expected Lorelai panicked.
"I'll call you back."
Rory got out of car. She was fine, in fact she was still in the Yale parking lot. It was just a fender bender after all. She examined her car and found it to be fine, just scratched up. She looked at the beamer and groaned. It's front end was smashed in. The driver got out of the car and walked over to her obviously to yell. He took a deep breath then stopped when he noticed who had hit him.
"Rory." He said. She looked up at him and groaned again. Just what she wanted. To run into her ex boyfriend, literally.
"I'll pay for it." Rory up front offered. She didn't know how she could but she would.
"No, it was my fault." Logan stated. He didn't know why he took the fault. Maybe it was because she looked like she was crying. It seemed that every time he saw her she was crying.
"I wasn't looking, don't cover for me Logan." She wouldn't let him take the wrap for this. Maybe if he said he would pay for it she could leave and go see her mom.
"Is something wrong? You're crying." He stated. She rolled her teary eyes at his statement.
"Don't act like you care Logan."
"I'm not acting Ace. I still love you, I always will."
"No Logan. I'm not your ace. You don't love me, you love your money. You'll always love your money." She spat at him. She didn't have time for this bullshit.
"You still love me, I know you do or you wouldn't be acting so vehemently towards me." He reasoned. He hoped she'd say yes or anything to make him believe that he could still be with her.
"No, I love Todd." He looked down shocked at that statement even though almost two years had gone by.
"Look I have to go, just bill me the cost please." She made her way back to her car.
"Not so fast. I can't get where I need to go now. And I have to wait for a tow truck." He was trying to be charming.
"Call Frank." She yelled back to him referring to his limo driver.
"I think you take me where I need to go." He negotiated. He had no idea she was holding a royal flush.
"Look my mom has cancer I have to go." She turned around to look at him. He backed off. She got in her car and left. Logan called a tow truck. He still felt like he had a good hand. He wasn't going to bill her a dime. He was thinking about billing her a date or a coffee but he guessed that Todd wouldn't like that too much. Plus it seemed that Rory had enough on her plate. It they were destined to be then it was up to destiny to bring them together again.
When Rory pulled into the driveway she saw her mom run out of the house. She was pulled into an immediate hug when she got out of the car. Then what she didn't expect was a smack on the head.
"You tell mommy you're okay before hanging up." She lectured.
"I was worried about you." Rory defended.
Lorelai went in for treatment the day after graduation. Rory stayed with her while she was in the hospital. Luke eventually forgave Lorelai and was there as well. Todd got the apartment set up in New York and visited the Gilmore girls on the weekends. Everything seemed to be going great. Todd never responded to Rory's statement. Rory never brought it up again.
In the fall Lorelai was cured so to speak. She was let out of the hospital post-op and in remission. She complained lots about her loss of hair but once it started growing in she shut up. Luke told Rory that he expected grandkids so he could spoil them. It of course caused Rory to blush then to stumble over her words in panic. Todd walked into the room.
"What's going on?" He asked quietly since Lorelai was on the couch sleeping.
"I was telling Rory I want grandkids and soon." Luke repeated. Unbeknownst to them all Lorelai was awake, she was just resting her eyes.
"Oh well how's nine months from now." Todd let the cat out of the bag. Lorelai's eyes popped open. Rory left the room muttering about how now was not the time. Luke smiled.
After a stressful dinner all that was needed to know about Rory's pregnancy was answered. Lorelai kept wanting details of the actual conception which caused everyone to make disgusted faces.
"Okay so we'll visit in a few months when Lorelai is strong enough." Luke spoke for him and his wife. Lorelai was actually sitting outside on the patio swing with Rory who was falling asleep.
"Do you remember when you were little and we just got this house and you and I would sit out here in sleeping bags and look at the stars and talk about our future?" She felt Rory nod into her chest.
"Did we ever think it'd be like this?"
"No, we had dreams mom." Rory paused to gather her thoughts.
"We had hopes, we had aspirations but they were never real." Rory paused again and yawned.
"You told me once that life cannot be planned out, it's easier to fantasize about doing the ommpa loompas. Now that think about it, you were kind of drunk." Rory laughed. Lorelai laughed as well.
"Baby, you're all grown up."
"If it's any consolation I wish I was still little and living with you. Things were such much easier." Lorelai pulled Rory into a side hug.
"Aw. You're so good to mommy."
"I don't want to be a mommy." Rory's voice cracked.
"You're scared. That's normal. In a few months you'll be glowing." Rory kissed her mom on the cheek. The door opened and the boys walked out. Todd held out his hand to Rory. When she took it and stood up Luke took her spot by her mother.
"In a while that'll be us." Todd whispered in her ear. She suddenly felt like if he asked her to marry her she'd say no.
Everything went as planned. Lorelai got stronger. Rory got more excited. She and Todd were having a boy. They had the name all picked out and everything, Lucas Melvin Dunmark. Melvin was named after Todd's mother, it was the best they could come up with. And Lucas was obviously after the diner owner in Stars Hollow.
"I'm so excited to see mom." Rory was standing by their sound system trying to pick out a CD to put on. Todd was chopping onions in the kitchen.
"You talk to her everyday." He told her with a bit of a snap to his tone. Rory pushed it off thinking he had a hard day at work.
"You know we could have ordered pizza."
"No we couldn't. Every time we go there Luke makes us a gourmet meal. We can't order in when they visit. Haven't you the Miss Manners handbook yet, you read everything else." He full on snapped at her. She furled her eyebrows in anger. She was hormonal and nauseous all the time and he was giving her shit.
"I'm sorry did I deserve that?" She yelled back at him.
Todd sighed. He put the knife down and walked over to her. He pulled her into a hug.
"I'm a jackass today okay. Donald got promoted over me. Now Donald's been there longer but I work harder then the lazy bum. It didn't seem fair I guess. I'm sorry. I was uncalled for and here I am making up excuses." He walked back to the kitchen and continued making dinner.
"Did you know I was going to purpose tonight?" He hollered from the kitchen. She smiled but didn't say anything. She didn't want to get married because she was pregnant.
"And to think you were just supposed to be a one night stand." She joked while putting a CD in the player.
Something in Todd snapped. He came charging towards her with the knife raised in the air. Rory, frightened, started to put distance between her and the crazy man carrying a knife. She started stepping backwards. She tripped over the glass table and fell through it right when the knife was making contact to the skin under her right eye. This caused the knife to move downward and barely miss the actual eye.
Todd straddled her. Rory moved her body in all directions, anything to get him off her and away from her. She turned right and seconds later she felt the knife pierce her skin and delve deeper into her side. She screamed out in pain. She screamed out in fear.
Todd pulled the knife out of her quickly causing her to scream again. Nothing seemed to phase him. Rory fell on her back and grimaced in pain she moved her hand to the wound on instinct and Todd plunged the knife into her left fore arm. She recoiled in pain. She continued screaming, praying for someone to hear her. Todd stabbed her in her slightly swollen belly. The thought of losing her baby entered her mind. She couldn't do anything though.
She started kicking him realizing that she hadn't tried this before. Todd turned his body and the knife made contact with her right thigh. Rory was ready to give up when the door was kicked open. She swore Luke was wearing a red cape.
Luke ran up to Todd and kicked him in the face. Lorelai ran over to her daughter and just broke down in hysterical sobs.
"Put pressure on her wound!" Luke yelled over to Lorelai. He punched Todd in the jaw. Lorelai looked down at her now unconscious daughter and could only see several holes pouring out blood.
"Which one?" Lorelai cried out. Luke elbowed the jackass in the nose and kicked him in the groin upon hearing that. Once Todd fell unconscious Luke hurried over to Rory and took control.
"Call 911." He ordered his distraught wife. She hurried over to the phone and dialed the three numbers that could hopefully save her daughters life. She answered as many of the questions as she could to the paramedics on the phone but she didn't know much.
By the time the police and EMT's came Luke was covered in blood. It was safe to say Lorelai was hysterical. She wanted to beat up Todd as well but he was on his way to jail. Lorelai walked over to Luke, he welcomed her into a bloody hug.
"I um thought you didn't like blood." She stated to Luke.
"I don't, but Rory needed me." Lorelai nodded her head. Luke would have made a fantastic father.
"I'm going to ride with Rory." She stepped into the ambulance. Luke nodded his head. He got into his truck and cried.
there was some Rory/Logan in it. Hope you enjoyed it. And hey thanks for all the reviews, it lets me know if i should continue or not.