AN: Smaller filler today, and tomorrow there won't be a chapter. But I aim to be back Monday.


Chapter 143

March 19th, 2022

Rory and Gigi were walking down Newbury Street in Boston, enjoying the sunny spring weather, Gigi already holding a large and classy looking totebag that held her bridesmaid's dress, the bag closed off with a large pink bow. It was a lot easier to shop for a bridesmaids dress than it was for a wedding dress. And it certainly helped that Gigi had the type of body that'd look great in a potato sack - pretty much every dress she'd tried would've have worked and it had only taken her three dresses to find the one she and Rory both liked. It certainly helped that Gigi seemed to be really good at making quick decisions and not fretting over them unlike Rory often found herself doing. Gigi had gone with a light gray short sleeved cowl front maxi dress, that had some beautiful button back detailing. It was simple, nothing too revealing, but it definitely had some understated sexiness to it.

Gigi's accidental pregnancy and the abortion weren't taboo topics, but they'd definitely been swept under the carpet - Rory was willing to listen, but Gigi didn't really seeming to want to or need to talk about it. At least on the surface she seemed to have her own methods to deal with it. In a way it was a relief and maybe she indeed was a little bit more resilient, and perhaps all of this was a little bit more easier when the hearth wasn't involved as much as it had been in Rory's case.

Rory hadn't brought up her 'maybe' either, planning on taking the test the next morning together with Logan, in hopes for the most accurate results. She was looking forward to doing this together with him this time, loving the support she'd felt throughout the week from Logan already. The little things mattered. Him switching out his coffee too half de-caf and making sure he integrated more greens into her diet, but not in a way that was pushy or screamed 'pregnant'. But Rory was embracing her seamless sports bra to the fullest whenever she wasn't at work - now too, the sensitivity in her breast having become even more prominent, making her fairly certain of the test's outcome. Women just knew these things sometimes.

"I think dad's having an affair," Gigi said out of the blue, just as they'd crossed a street, having previously mostly talked about Em, Logan and the wedding preparations.

"He's what!?" Rory exclaimed, not believing her ears, coming to a half, as a group of tourists passed them.

"He's been going away for weekends - it's all very hush-hush," Gigi explained. "He comes all rested - you can just see it in his face… Or I don't know, last weekend he was complaining of sore muscles…," she added.

"And when you ask him where he was, he says what?" Rory inquired, feeling puzzled.

"At a friend's place, somewhere by the coast. Oh and one time I caught him looking at yachts, and when I commented on it he totally just lied, telling me he was helping a 'friend' pick one out," Gigi replied, rolling her eyes, clearly not believing him.

"Huh," Rory pondered, unjudgementally at this point. He could think of his father doing this also really for a friend - who knew, she didn't exactly know a lot about who he hung out with. "And Lana?" she asked.

"Her parents are having some medical issues so she's been spending a lot of time there, or she's just busy with work. I barely see her, though I know she's home at least at nights," Gigi explained.

"Well, I guess they are adults… if this is how they are okay with things then who are we to say anything," Rory shrugged, realizing that they were all adults here, even Gigi.

"Yeah I know, but I just wish he'd just come out and say it, not lie to me like some kid," she replied.

"Mh-mh," Rory hummed, understanding well what she meant. "Maybe he's just not ready to say it?" she suggested, shruggin her shoulders.

"Was it like that with you and Jess?" Gigi asked.

"Kind of," Rory replied, having not realized that Gigi had really been aware of that whole relationship in great detail.

"I mean I've heard you talk about Logan like he's this deep soul mate to you, and I know he was married and you two had issues communicating what you wanted. But once you'd had that - I don't really know - I just find it hard to imagine settling for anyone else. No offense," Gigi explained her, somewhat naive and romanticized, point of view.

"Well… I guess when I said goodbye to him, I just needed someone who'd pick me, who'd be there for me. Someone who'd help me to replace some of that loss I felt," Rory continued, explaining it calmly. "And I really hoped it'd be enough, but as we saw it wasn't. I tried for Em for a while, I went through the motions a couple in love should do but it never felt right," Rory described.

"And now it's different?" Gigi asked.

"That it definitely is," Rory exhaled. "I just wish I hadn't hurt Jess as much - I do care about him, you know," she added.

"Hm-hm," Gigi mused, and they strolled onwards.

"You know I think this is the building where my friend Colin works," Rory commented, wanting to change the subject before she got too emotional, pointing down a street they'd just crossed. "Did you ever get around to giving him a call?" she asked.

"I actually did. We're having a day for excursions and consultations next week, so that's when I'm going," Gigi replied.

"Good," Rory said, approvingly. "Now - have you decided what College you want to move into yet?" she continued, and went on about the benefits of Branford and Berkley and how she could probably put a good word in so she'd get a private room which were a little hard to come by.

They continued down the road, soon finding also a shop that sold party dresses for kids, which had been their plan all along. While originally Rory had aimed to take Em shopping with her, she knew she would've ended up far more stressed about entertaining her and caring for her than needed. Hence she settled on buying Em three different dresses which she could then pick her favorite from. One for the wedding, one for the rehearsal dinner and one as backup. You couldn't go anywhere with a 4-year-old without a backup. She went for what she believed Em would like, not needing everything in her wedding to match or get upset about a shade of buttons being different from Gigi's or her dress. She was level headed, but still very much looking forward to it. She also kept in mind those times when she'd seen kids at weddings, wearing something uncomfortable and having to sit still, legs together, and she didn't want that for Em, so focused on things that wouldn't make her too hot or force her into being uncomfortable. She also felt relieved that her own dress had some flex in the stomach part of the dress, in case she needed to fit a five-month sized bump in that. If needed, she'd have it altered. But somehow - she wasn't stressed at all about this part.


At the same time Logan had spent his day taking Loki to dog school that morning and doing some online shopping, hoping it'd be a good means to polish up his parenting skills, and also tentatively reading up on pregnancies. He couldn't exactly go to his mother with any of these things, and he didn't want to ask Rory to reflect on every small thing either. So she went by recommendations and settled for a good handful of books to read.

He'd just finished his order, mostly sticking to e-books, as he sat there on a bench at a local gym he sometimes went to to tie his sneakers on a little more tightly. It was one of the first weekends, when he and Rory had different plans, at least for the Saturday, and didn't feel subconsciously guilty about not spending it together. They were finally really getting used to living together, and knowing that there were the constants of life like snuggling in bed at night or having their coffee and reading the morning paper on most mornings.

"Hey," Tristan said, seeing him. They were both dressed for basketball, having agreed to meet up.

"Hey, man," Logan said, rose and greeted him with a half-hug and a hand shake.

"So, how's family life treating you," Tristan inquired, as they continued down the hall towards the basketball court they'd rented for an hour. Logan had just felt like doing something different and he recalled Tristian being quite good at the game back in the day.

"Ah.. well it's not quite how I imagined it, I have to say," Logan admitted. "But it definitely has its perks," he commented, in passing. "Em is giving me and Rory a little glimpse into what the teenage years might be," he chuckled. While Em had not done any big stunts in the past few days, hopefully having learned her lesson, she was mouthing off a little more than usual - refusing to do something if asked, for example. Rory and Logan weren't sure whether this was due to her actually feeling comfortable enough around Logan now to do that, or was that just a age-specific thing. At least Lane, whom Rory had spoken to the other day, seemed to think the latter, which while assuring was a little frightening too.

Tristan didn't really reply, just nodded to indicate he was listening.

"How's Laura? Liam?" Logan asked.

"Laura's good, I mean I might have jumped the gun a little on introducing her to Liam, but as far as he knows we're just friends really. And Liam - usual school stuff," Tristan commented.

"So I guess Laura's more dating material than step-mom material then?" Logan asked, knowingly, trying to put this lightly.

"Not even that - she gets on with him great, I'm just not sure I can take her in large doses," Tristan chuckled, having realized that relationship likely had a best before date.

Logan wasn't going to judge him for having perhaps been a little premature to introduce his kid to this woman - it was his life, his choices and his kid. Besides, it was not like he himself had any practical experience in things like that.

It had been good to play something that both brought the two guys back to their youth in a way, reminding them how one could get all competitive in something so simple. And they were both still pretty good too. They were both also older, more than a few times overestimating their skills and speed and Tristian had barely escaped injuring his ankle in the process. But nevertheless the game was fun.

"Hey, do you think we could sit down for a business meeting of sorts sometime?" Tristan asked, some minutes after they'd walked out of the court and gulped down a bottle of water each in thirst, their skin glistening with sweat.

"Uh.. sure," Logan replied, having certainly not expected that from Tristian. Frankly, he didn't think they had anything in common that they could do business in.

"I have a couple of ideas," Tristan explained, though not nearly explaining his general idea enough. "I've been thinking about quitting practicing medicine... maye, but I am not sure if it'd be something viable yet," he added.

"Well - honestly I don't know a lot about medicine, but I'm happy to help if I can," Logan offered, feeling quite flattered Tristian had chosen him as someone to advise him. Sure, Logan was a few years older than Tristan, but he had a feeling this meeting wasn't as much about money, unless of course it was a large amount of money, but rather about connections and advice in general. The latter he was more than happy to give, it was the kind of small but significant recognition that he'd missed now that he had been out in the business world on his own again.


AN: An those who have not read my previous stories - I picture Gigi a lot like Nicolette Collier looks these days but maybe a blend with Halston Sage. Blonde, wavy hair, quite notable lips, body more like Sherry's than Rory's. She's definitely very confident, more outgoing.