AN: Thanks for all the reviews.
Today's chapter is a bit of a filler chapter. There needs to be those too.
Chapter 62
March 15th, 2017
Rory was relieved to be done with her classes for the day. She really hadn't wasted much time and enrolled at Hartford University, taking Introduction to Pedagogy and Theories of Learning and Teaching to get a head start before enrolling after the baby was born. She was already almost half-way through the semester, and several weeks past her first trimester. But as she was feeling more energetic than ever - she was really loving pregnancy at this point. She had a few jobs a week substituting at various schools, mostly English or Journalism. And she helped her mom out on occasion answering the phones and e-mails for the Inn too. Despite her father being the one paying for her education and insurance at this point, and grandmother already ready to pay for her house in part as a loan, she was feeling pretty good about how things were progressing.
"Hey, mom," Rory hugged her mother in the parking lot of Westfarms mall.
"Hey," Lorelai exclaimed. "Wow, I swear you've grown already," Lorelai added, glancing down at the sweater dress that was hugging Rory's small bump.
"I know, and this is why we're here - it's the only thing that fits. I can't even wear pants anymore. I am pantless!" Rory exaggerated, having still two pairs of leggings at home that fit.
"And I'm here to fix that, say no more," Lorelai replied.
Shopping with Lorelai always took a while to get to what she actually needed to get, but that was no news. In a way, after spending years away with never having enough time to do something like this with her mother, this was actually very comforting. She'd missed this.
They took stops in the jewelers, Lorelai liking some necklace they had, and sniffed at some bath salts at The Body Shop, but discovered Rory had a weird aversion to cherry blossom. Naturally, Lorelai also just had to try on some heels, making Rory realize that she'd probably not wear heels for the rest of the summer, the way her heels were aching already.
They finally made it to a couple of stores that sold maternity clothes. And Lorelai encouraged her to grab a bunch of summer wear as well, suggesting she was buying. That caused a small argument, but it wasn't the angry kind. Rory felt like she was accepting enough charity already.
But eventually, as anyone who had ever fought with Lorelai knew, there was no point and Lorelai ended up buying the clothes for her - even if she held back on the pile a little. Still, she'd gotten a good pair of light jeans, some skirts and dresses, leggings and tops, which she hoped would get her through most of this.
"So how are you dealing with all of this? It's a big change..." Lorelai inquired, after they landed on a bench inside the store, both placing several bags of clothes next to them, taking up the entire bench, to rest.
"Okay, I guess... It's a weird feeling seeing that my clothes don't fit," Rory replied, innocently, not really wanting to talk about the mental part of this.
"You know, that's not what I mean," Lorelai insisted.
"Well it's not like there's a way to make this pregnancy to progress slower now...," Rory shrugged, already sensing what was coming.
"Yeah, but it's a lot. The baby, house, Jess, school…," Lorelai listed, but it was nothing new to Rory. "What does your therapist think?" Lorelai added, hesitantly. They didn't really talk about what she was talking to her therapist about but she knew Rory went.
"She thinks I just need to keep my focus - eye on the prize," Rory simplified.
"Does Jess know?" Lorelai asked.
"About what?" Rory asked, shooting a frustrated look at her.
"That you're seeing the therapist, and about why you're seeing the therapist," Lorelai said.
"Yes, he knows. He knows that it's a mix of things, and that is what it is. He doesn't know about that," Rory explained, reluctantly.
"Okay," Lorelai exhaled. Wordlessly, she was saying that it was better than nothing, and Rory could read her pretty well. "It's just that you're getting pretty serious here… maybe he should?" she suggested, biting her tongue.
"We're not that serious…," Rory replied, sensing a problem already in her words. She was thankful Lorelai had never once asked about whether they were getting married, thank god.
"Isn't that the problem, kind of?" Lorelai shot back, hesitantly. "Here's a man who is clearly committed to you enough to…," Lorelai began, but saw that Rory was already looking like she was on the verge of crying, and stopped. This wasn't the place. And Rory probably knew what she meant anyways.
"I just need to move on," Rory managed, looking up, trying to hold herself together.
"I'm sorry," Lorelai replied, and wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
"Now, how about we go look at enough cute baby stuff to focus on the positive?" Lorelai asked a few moments later, thinking of things to do to cheer her up. The answer in the form of Baby Gap was staring right at them.
Rory could tell her mom had a lot more opinions up her sleeve. How Jess had turned out to be the better man, how he was responsible and reliable, how she should embrace that even more than she was - she knew all of that too. But it didn't change how insecure and uncertain she still felt.
November 21st, 2021
"Umm.. What is this? It's really good," Rory asked, as she'd just been served breakfast in bed, and she'd taken a bite of the omelet-looking thing on her plate. They were very much clothing optional at this point, and Rory was beginning to feel a lot more comfortable around him in her nude form. She'd missed that feeling of not having to hide herself, not physically or mentally.
"Chickpea-omelet, it's vegan," Logan explained.
Rory rolled her eyes, but not in a judging way. "You're pretty insistent on staying healthy aren't you?"
"Well I can try," Logan smiled smugly and landed on the bed next to her, having set his tea already set on the bedside table. He took a bite of his own smaller omelet.
He was just in his underwear and as Rory grew more used to seeing him around half-naked, she was beginning to get used to seeing his body art on him. It did suit him, but it was still a very different look. But it was kind of hot, even.
"I really shouldn't tease you on it, I know… I could probably eat healthier myself," Rory added, feeling like maybe she needed to check where the line was, whether he minded.
"I don't quite believe I heard you right?" Logan rubbed his ear, playfully, playing deaf.
"Cholesterol," Rory tilted her head, recalling her doctor's words.
"Wow... never thought I'd hear those words from you," Logan shot back and chuckled, mouth half full.
"Mom blames it on my dad, says he spoiled the perfect set of genes," Rory replied. Her mother was almost as fit and healthy as she had been in her 30s - it was a real miracle.
"Have you had a chance to talk to her about me some more?" Logan then asked, after having sipped his tea.
"A little, but I feel like she's reluctant to take this as seriously as I'd like. Like she left me with the impression that she thinks it's something light and casual, and you and I know it really is not," Rory explained, recalling her conversation with her mom.
"I feel like there's a lot of bad image for me to make up for," Logan replied, and knew that to be the truth even if Lorelai had never read a single gossip article about him. He kind of felt like he needed to show in person how much he'd changed, but that was hard to do if he never saw her. And it was difficult to make her see him too.
"I would've wanted to take you with me to Thanksgiving dinner, but..," Rory began to say. She'd truly wanted to include him in that side of her life again. But considering how things were still tentative with Jess, she knew better.
"I know. Don't worry. I'll go to Honor's," Logan replied, knowing Rory being as keen on holidays as she was, would certainly worry about him being alone. He hadn't actually told Honor he'd be coming yet, but they both knew it was an option.
"I love that you're being so understanding about this," Rory replied, and took another bite of the omlet.
"There'll be other holidays. Em comes first, I know that," Logan added. It was a changed position for him - knowing he wasn't her first priority. The college-aged-Logan wouldn't have known how to deal with that.
"We should do our own little thanksgiving, Friday maybe," Rory suggested.
"I was actually kind of hoping to go see Colin, but it's not a specific guy thing. You could come with me," he suggested.
"You're sure?" Rory asked, not wanting to be a burden.
"Absolutely!" Logan assured her. "We'll go someplace special, farmer's market, do some shopping - get something nice for Em to bring back. Book a nice place to ourselves...stay overnight maybe? Colin has Rosie that weekend, you'll get to meet her too," he explained.
"Okay," she replied and smiled, not minding that outlook one bit. If she was going to be without Em during thanksgiving, distracting herself seemed like a good option. After all this co-parenting thing did have some benefits.
"But I think Christmas - you're definitely spending Christmas with us," Rory added. Christmas was still a way away, but as that was happening on her terms, she desperately wanted him there next to her, even if Jess was going to be there too. She wanted him to be a part of her life, not just someone she had to hide. And sure, she'd have to take Em into consideration and not overwhelm her. But surely - Christmas dinner he could be a part of.
Logan smiled, humbly. Appreciating her decisiveness and will, despite his own hesitance on whether that was too fast or not. He had nothing against it, he would've loved to hurry this along in many ways, make up for lost time, but he was in uncharted waters with a kid - that part was making him hesitant. But Rory was the mother, and he needed to trust her judgment.
It was at the next moment, when a piece of omelet with some sauce on it dropped onto Rory's bare chest, making her laugh. She quickly put the piece of omelet into her mouth, shaking her head. She was just about to say something about being a klutz, and look for a napkin, but before she had a chance to do that, Logan had put his cup away, and kissed the sauce right off of her breast with his mouth, creating a very different tone to their breakfast.
