Chapter 131

February 26th, 2022

"So how's Rosie?" Logan asked, as he'd joined Colin on the passenger seat of Colin's car. They were going to go buy some drinks for the housewarming party slash Logan's birthday party because the food delivery he'd made had by accident been missing a few zeros due to a system error of somesort. Instead of 10 bottles of IPA-s, 10 bottles of non-alcoholic beers and 10 bottles of wine Logan was stuck with 1 of each, and needed to go for a quick store-run.

Colin was in town early, having gone for a quick visit with his dad's place to see him, but even if he had planned on sticking around long enough to have lunch with his dad he never really had the patience to stay around that household.

"She's been good. She's starting school soon," Colin replied and went on the topic of what a big hastle it was to get a almost 3-year-old enrolled somewhere decent.

Logan nearly wanted to comment that he wondered when Finn was going to start seeing the positive in his situation, but he wasn't sure if Finn had, in fact, told Colin about becoming a father. He hadn't talked to Finn much either since the move.

"Well school politics is certainly not something I'm looking forward to," Logan replied. "It's been strange living with a kid to be honest, different from what I expected," Logan replied. "She has been bonding with Loki too. I swear it'll be just a few months before she'll be calling it her dog. And honestly I couldn't blame her," Logan added with a chuckle.

"Hey, did you ever call that assistant of yours?" Colin asked.

"I did, thanks for the number. It was good to talk to her. Invited her to the wedding and everything," Logan replied, keeping to himself how healing it had been to speak to the person who had taken care of him in a lot of ways over some of his worst years.

"Are you sure you wouldn't need an NDA with her? I thought about mentioning it to you before…," Colin added, struggling to step out of his lawyer shoes.

"I am sure," Logan replied without a doubt in his mind. The woman had protected his secrets long before, though sure the non-disclosure clauses had then been a part of her contract. But Logan needed to believe there was someone out there whom he could trust, just because he'd treated her well in return. Besides - what was the worst that could happen - some paper writing about him and Rory. Frankly, he didn't care who knew - the more who knew the better as far as he was concerned.

"If you say so. Just don't say I didn't warn you," he added.

"Marjorie is harmless. Odette, however, might be a different story," Logan said.

Colin frowned, definitely curious to hear what Logan had to say.

"My therapist has been suggesting I should reach out to her. Sort of forgive and apologize kind of thing. First I was firmly against it - but I don't know… something when I went back to the Vineyard.. Something clicked. Like I really was no longer angry at her. Because we all got what we wanted, didn't we? And you have to agree that the way I split wasn't exactly the nicest. So what I can do is apologize and tell her that I don't hate her. We were friends once…," Logan explained. Speaking to Colin about this was better than speaking to anyone else, because Colin had actually learned to know Odette fairly well. Both during the good times and the bad.

"Well as your lawyer I simply cannot recommend you do that, my friend," Colin said, shaking his head.

"I had a feeling you'd say that," Logan pointed out. He'd already nearly made up a plan on how he'd do this. He'd write an e-mail, explaining what he wanted and then there'd either be a phone call or meeting up in person, knowing she used to make frequent visits to New York to see her friends every year.

"It's like asking for trouble. It took a lot of money and mediation to get her to agree to the deal in the first place. While there's no official restraining order in place, it was well established when I last spoke to her that she wanted nothing to do with you," Colin explained. The deal had also included Odette asking for a lot of the lies she'd told to be taken down, for example. That too had been further embarrassment for her, having to say that she'd acted irrationally. Nobody liked to admit to their faults, especially not the personal kind. She'd been hormonal and vulnerable.

"I don't want trouble. Honestly I just want to ask her how she's doing, tell her that I'm sorry for how things turned out and say that I hope that she's happy," Logan clarified, raising his hands as a sign on his innnocent intentions.

"What would happen if you didn't? What would be really so different?" Colin argued, as he pulled up in front of Whole Foods. He switched the car off but remained seated.

"Then maybe that relationship wouldn't be such a big dark cloud above my past. Maybe I could once again imagine taking a casual business trip to London, for example, without dreading the place I once loved," Logan opened up, even surprising himself. "Five years is a long time to just pretend it didn't happen," he added, feeling a little embarrassed of his openness. No matter how much he'd tried to focus on the fact that him and Rory had been able to pick up where they'd left off and improved that, the truth was that there was a lot about him that had truly and deeply changed. He saw a lot of things differently. He had self-restraint like never before, he knew how to pause his thinking and not let it spiral. But he wasn't connected to these things that had shaped him, even if it was for the positive, but simply wanted to block out the whole time-period. Even if comparing and contrasting the two relationships didn't seem like the best idea, sometimes he felt like he wanted to, believing there was something learn from it, but just didn't dare to, especially out loud.

"And what does Rory think about all of this? Or have you strayed from her already by not discussing this with her," Colin accused him.

"She knows," Logan replied, like it was obvious.

"And what does she think?" Colin inquired.

"That if it's what I feel like I need to do then she's not objecting," Logan replied. But the truth was that other than mentioning that he was considering it, they hadn't really talked in depth about it. Even the reasons he'd just listed to Colin were unknown to Rory, even though it was fairly easy for her to assume something along those lines. Rory hadn't even dared to aske him if he'd contacted Odette already.

"But you have to realize that even if she's giving you the green light, she's probably not too happy about it. And concerned about you, as am I," Colin insisted. "I don't understand why you can't just focus on what you have. You're happy, aren't you? Focus on your future wife, your life, and all those children you two are no-doubt thinking about having already," he added in a lot more carefree manner, but they both knew he meant it.


"Finn, how are you? It's been too long," Rory said as she'd answered the door of her fairly new house to an old friend. Rory had asked Finn to come a little earlier than the others, hoping to touch base with him. It wasn't even just about Paris, but also about him and her. Over the years they'd become good friends and now that Logan had been in the picture they hadn't really had a lot of chances to maintain that friendship properly.

"Much better now that I'm here. And you look photogenic as always," Finn replied and wrapped Rory in an intimate, yet friendly, embrace.

"Here come in, will you?" she gestured to him to step in and make himself feel at home. She accepted the bouquet of flowers he'd brought and thanked him.

"And where's the wonderful Miss Emily?" Finn looked around and threw his coat onto the coat rack demonstratively. His hand held a small present for Em, which he was looking forward to handing over.

"My mom took her to the park with Loki so I could tidy the place up a bit. Boy, one thing I do miss about the old place is how conveniently small it was," Rory explained. Rory had a maid who came out to clean the place from head to toe every once in a while, that having been one of the compromises she'd made with Logan considering the size of the place. But inconveniently the maid was due on Monday, while she really could've used her now.

Rory gave Finn a qiuck tour of the place, and went on talking about how they'd found the place, what decisions they'd made, and how proud she was about figuring how to keep Em in bed until morning, so she wouldn't end up wandering downstairs to sleep with Loki. But she didn't waste too much time on it, wanting to have a word with Finn alone now that Colin and Logan had conveniently gone shopping.

"Well you look happy, really," Finn said, as they reached back downstairs.

"Thanks, Finn. I am," Rory replied, not really capable of fighting her wide smile. "But now you've got to tell me how you're doing. How are you really doing?" she asked him and took a seat on her living room couch curling up her legs under her and patted the seat next to her. Finn must've known this was coming.

"I assume Paris told you," Finn said as he sank down onto the couch, leaning his elbows on his thighs, hunched forwards, only glancing a quick glance towards Rory.

Rory nodded.

"I'm not taking any sides in this, but I do think she deserves some clarity in this," Rory said, trying her best to sound helpful and not like she was trying to pressure him. He didn't want him getting all upset on him and just walking out. She wanted him at the party. Paris wouldn't be coming to the housewarming, the nanny having gotten the flu and she wasn't feeling well enough to do a roadtrip with her twins all by herself if she felt like throwing up every 30 minutes. So at least there wouldn't be any awkwardness or push to force them to have this conversation here. But Rory realized Finn really didn't know that so she added, "And just in case you were worried… no, she won't be coming today. The nanny got sick," Rory added.

"Huh," Finn shrugged. "I'm not even sure if I'm relieved to hear that," he added.

"So what's going on in your mind, Finn. You can tell me," Rory pleaded, sitting more to his side, much like they'd once sat at Paris' rooftop balcony talking laughing at their own expense after their misunderstanding of a date.

"I like her, alright?" Finn threw the sentence into the air. "But just look at me, Rory? I am no father, I don't even have a single cell in my body that's made for this. She doesn't deserve someone like me to make things complicated for her," he added and went on to describe what his lifestyle and job was like using many colorful expressions. None of it was news to Rory, not really.

"What are you talking about, Finn? I know how you are with Em, you're great with her. And then there's your sister's kids. I've heard you talk about them in awe. And if we're talking about cells, Finn, I'm sorry to tell you but those very cells very much already made you father-to-be whether you aimed it for this to happen or not," Rory said, draping her arm over her friend's shoulder, supportively.

"You know, I've never had this happen to me… I've never not been safe," Finn explained, still not believing this had happened in the first place. Frankly he thought that his sperm was probably not good with all the partying he'd done in his life. Rory wrinkled her nose slightly, not wanting to imagine that in too much detail under the circumstances.

"So it happened against all odds. Maybe it is faith? Maybe deep down you wanted this to happen, maybe with her?" Rory suggested, hopefully.

"Yeah, on the first night. I was drunk out of my mind so I barely remember anything. That's an admirable story to tell the little one, isn't it?" Finn snorted, sarcastically. He really didn't sound too proud of the circumstances.

"But would it really be so horrible to have a kid? Paris is not even asking you for anything. She's essentially just asking whether you'd like to be on the birth certificate. She doesn't need your money, she's perfectly capable on her own - she's done this before. But I do believe some hand-holding and assurance couldn't hurt? Maybe just tell her that you are still thinking about it, tell her how you feel. Tell her that you haven't made up your mind yet. Explain all those things you're worried about. Just don't leave her waiting and winding herself up. She can really do herself a lot of harm with that. She looks so strong on the outside, but really she's just human like the rest of us," Rory explained.

"Do you really think I could do this? I don't know… maybe even just be a weekend dad?" Finn asked, and looked at Rory. Thinking he'd be able to do this together with Paris as something more than co-parents, even though he really did like her, seemed like something unimaginably complicated to him. He didn't have a lot of experience in the relationship department for one, second he was pretty sure he'd end up disappointing Paris sooner rather than later and he preferred to avoid that. So he wasn't even daring to think of anything more than the weekend dad status, if that.

"I believe you can do anything you want to do, Finn," Rory assured, hearing her mother's car pull up in the driveway.


The housewarming party was in full swing. Smooth music played, and conversations were lively, accompanied by several bursts of laughter inciating well that people were having a good time. Just as well - wine and drinks flowed, snacks, while nothing fancy, disappeared from the buffet table almost as quickly as Rory could put them out.

It was no wonder since the living room and kitchen were full of visitors: Christopher, Gigi, Lorelai, Tristan with his son and his date - some woman named Laura who worked at the hospital with him, Honor, Josh and their kids, Lane and Zach, Colin, Finn and even Robert sans his fiance had all gathered up to see them. And naturally Em was there too. Rory had invited Luke too, but he'd made some excuse - but knowing him she wasn't really too surprised even with his health issues put aside. They'd made it a point to invite Shira separately, possibly together with Lorelai, but didn't really see that as something urgent. With this many people the house no longer seemed big and empty.

"We have more mushroom caps. Watch out they're hot," Rory cautioned, throwing the oven mitts onto the kitchen counter after she'd placed them onto a tray. This much she could cook herself. "Give me a sip," she asked Logan, who was nursing his glass of red wine. Even he'd decided to just enjoy this day, not limiting himself much. Rory took a large sip, largely drinking from thirst right now.

There was a big burst of laughter from Finn and Robert, while Colin looked less amused, making Rory think the joke must've been at his expense. Oh, those boys - she chuckled to herself.

Rory hurried through her study, wanting to check on Linus, Liam and Em who were playing some simple card game on her study floor, having excluded themselves from the adult company.

"It's a tie! Again! Liam complained, indicating the game had come to an end, as Rory continued onwards to the foyer.

Conrad seemed to feel a little too cool for this party, being the oldest of the kids present, and had positioned to the side of the stairway with his Nintendo, but he seemed content enough.

"If you want something more to drink, just help yourself, alright?" Rory told the boy, as she passed. "You kids could also probably go play with Loki outside in the yard for a bit if you want," she suggested, turning back for a minute, and that definitely got Conrad's attention.

"Logan," Rory called out over the crowd, seeing he was talking to Lorelai, Christopher and Gigi, almost hearing the word Yale being mentioned. Gigi had been on the quieter side all morning, and she hadn't really had a chance to talk to her much in the bustle of preparations. "The kids want to go out to play with Loki, can you come and help them?" she added. Someone needed to go help the kids outside, and show them how to handle Loki so he wouldn't end up escaping and had his ears protected. They'd kept Loki upstairs in his room, so he'd get some rest after his trip to the park. This many people were a little tiring for the puppy. But by now Rory was pretty sure Loki would need to go out for his bathroom break anyways.

Logan complied, happily, but since this process required making sure the kids put their jackets and boots on, Honor wasn't far behind him. Tristian's kid had been nearly ready to go the minute he'd heard they were going out and didn't seem to require much assistance.

"Now, who of you needs the bathroom before you head out?" Honor took charge, already looking for her kids' coats.

Rory handed Logan Em's coat, suggesting he make sure Em got dressed too, as he returned from upstairs with Loki, who was definitely excited to head out.

"I'm here, finally," Rory exhaled, finally reaching the group where Lane, Zach, Tristian and his date had been talking, having not had a chance to catch up with them yet.

"The house looks great, Rory," Lane commented, mentioning a few details she especially had noticed. She certainly had an eye for antiques.

"Hell, I should live here - it'd be so convenient to get to work from here," Tristan commented, his workplace being mere five minutes from here.

"I actually used to work as a private nurse in this neighborhood, what… 10 years ago? Mrs. Graham, a really sweet old lady," Laura, Tristan's date, replied.

"Oh really?" Rory reflected, and continued to inquire where that had been, having during their recent walks around the neighborhood with Loki gotten to know the area a little better. Mostly she knew the area by houses though not by people who lived in them as people in this neighborhood tended to keep to themselves more.

"Rory, do you mind if I used the bathroom upstairs," Gigi asked her in whisper, and as Rory glanced towards the foyer she saw indeed there being a bit of a line of kids formed behind the guest bathroom.

"Of course, any one of them is fine," Rory offered, casually, not paying too much attention to it.

She continued to catch up with Lane and learned that she was planning on taking over Sophie's music store. Lane already had a small business teaching instruments to kids, but this would've actually meant she could do this somewhere other than her living room to teach them in. She was talking about how she was going after a small business loan to make it happen. Rory could already sense how she wanted to offer her the money - loan, investment or a gift, the sum really not being too big, but she knew that Lane was a lot like herself in that sense and would be very reluctant to take it. So she knew that she needed to let her try to do this her own way and only offer it as a last resort. It was better not to mix friendship and money.

Rory was asked some questions about the wedding, and Rory could already observe how Tristian was becoming increasingly worried of these questions that Laura was asking her, but if anything it was just a little funny. Rory had no problem talking about her wedding plans, being excited already.

"Hey, Rory?" Robert soon stepped by, pulling her aside. "You wouldn't have a charger that I could use, would you? I promised to make a call," he added, but indicated his phone was about to die.

"Sure, I'll go get it," she replied. Being a hostess was tiring work. Thankfully just as she headed up she saw Logan coming back inside. She smiled at him in passing, and he returned the smile, feeling like a team, and she made her way upstairs at a speedy pace.

Logan took over talking to Tristan and the rest of the group, at least making Rory sigh a little from relief that she wasn't the hostess who kept leaving her guest alone all the time.

"Charger, charger," Rory mumbled to herself, as if she would otherwise forget why she came up here in the first place. It was as she found it, she noticed the light in her bathroom was on and while that alone wouldn't have been cause for concern, the weak sobs coming from inside of it certainly were.

They were definitely sobs, she was sure.

"Are you okay in there?" Rory asked after a quiet knock on the door.

"Uh-uh," came an unconvincing reply. She thought the voice to be Gigi's, and it made sense too - she'd sent her up here, hadn't she?

"Gi, can I come in please?" Rory asked, not liking this one bit.

It took a moment, and she could hear Gigi turning on the tap, possibly washing her face, and it was then the door lock unlocked. Rory turned the knob and hesitantly pushed the door open. "I don't mean to intrude but..," Rory began.

She'd barely gotten a whole sentence out, when Gigi burst into tears, even more strongly than she'd heard her before and fell into her arms, desperate for her to hold her.

"I'm so sorry, Rory," Gigi sobbed, unconsolably.

But it was then Rory realized what this was about, seeing one of her pregnancy tests on the vanity table. She'd stocked up on them to use whenever she would get that feeling, so she wouldn't have to go looking for one while being all nervous. The sign on the test was a very clear plus-sign.