AN: So I got some motivation for writing this. I don't know how or when but this site has definitely changed from the community it was in 2002 when I started writing as a preteen and now. It's not that I don't want to update all my fics but I need to have control over it. I see so many entitled readers and this is not meant to be offensive to anyone but I don't think the readers should have control over the story unless they are monetarily funding it. It's not as if writers can magically just have fanfic chapters update and being demanding and disrespectful will only increase the writers block. I can't promise when I'll update certain stories but as long as I feel that I have more control than the readers then I'll try to update when I can. I just need to feel I have control so that writing doesn't make me feel terrible and as if I'm forced to do it.
Chapter Forty Three – A Father Figure
43.1
Emily turned towards Rory as they continue to eat their meal. She cleared her throat again and then saw the young, pregnant woman look up to see her. "I would make sure to get the name and qualifications of all of the doctors and nurses at that hospital," she said before eating another forkful of her meal. Rory stared at her.
"I don't thi-" she said and Richard nodded in agreement.
"Oh yes, that would be the best idea. I don't know how many of these doctors are faking their degrees but you need to make sure that you are seen by one of the correct ones. One of the ones that can actually produce their medical degree," Richard said before humming. "And it should be your right to know about where they will be when you are giving birth in advance."
Lorelai scoffed at that, "You should both know you can't predict things such as pregnancy and labor," she said before gesturing in Christopher's direction. "I mean, no offense but didn't Sherry try to pin everything down to the precise minute and she couldn't predict that and had to give birth naturally."
"Yes, that i-" Christopher nodded but Emily cleared her throat.
"Why should we ruin our dinner by talking about such an unpleasant subject as that woman," she said and Christopher looked at Lorelai before turning his attention to the plate of food in front of him.
"I mean, no offense to Christopher, all of us men have made our fair share of mistakes but aside from that child that resulted from that time of his life, I'm sure that he would take back his time with her," Richard said and Lorelai stared at Christopher before looking back at her parents.
"I'm sure that Chris –" she said before hearing Christopher laughing at that.
"No. I do. I don't feel entirely bad about saying it. I love Gigi but I can't forgive Sherry for what she did to us and it stopped me getting together with you sooner and I almost lost you, Lor," he told her. "I love Gigi and I regret nothing regarding her but I should have always been with you, Lor."
"Chris," Lorelai said before looking down. "Thank you but I think we should change topics," she said and Rory smiled. She had once had the dream of her parents getting back together and then she had tried to rationally think about it when older and she had wanted for her father to leave her mother alone so that she could continue her independent life but now that they were together once again, she was happy. Selfishly, she was much happier to see Christopher in her life than Luke but that made her feel cruel and self-involved. What was most important was that her mother was happy.
"Well, I'll go down to the hospital if need be and start interviewing those nurses," Emily stated and Rory turned to her wide eyed. She actually was thinking that Emily might do it. She had always done everything with such precision and boldness that she really might try to get all of the information."
"Everyone is trained well at the hospital," Rory said quickly as her grandparents looked at her. "Logan wouldn't take me to a hospital where there was any chance of the baby not being taken care of. I've seen Logan in action and he cares deeply for the two of us. I don't think that there's anything to worry about with him being so cautious and careful."
"Men don't really know what they are doing," Emily said. "No offense to Logan but hat boy must be as blind as any man. It's only his upbringing that makes him speak confidently. Why it isn't natural for men to know exactly what to do. I mean, take your birth Rory, your father wasn't even there."
Christopher stared at his plate of food and continued to eat it but everyone had noticed the shift of energy in the air. Truth was that he hadn't known about the birth until much later than it had occurred and he had been willing to be told what he needed to do for his future but he had been shoved aside and maybe that had led to his rebellious nature. As much as he loved Lorelai, he hadn't been wanted and that made him feel useless.
"Mom, please don't say such things. I know that it's not in your nature but as Dad just said, mistakes are made from all of us and it was my fault that Chris wasn't involved, not his," she said and Emily shook her head and refused to give an answer. Rory shot a look at her father who was trying to divert his attention. Her parents had been so young at the time and if that had happened with her and Dean then she didn't know what would have happened. It was even hard to relate and she had grown up with her mother.
"I think instead of talking to the nurses and doctors, I should have a chat with that young man and impart on him the challenges of being a new father," he said and Rory took a deep breath in. At least that was better than them going around the hospital and challenging nurses and doctors. Logan was at least used to this kind of behavior.
"As if you were around. I think that you had several members of the household staff take care of me in your absence," she said and this was met with sharp glares from both of her parents.
"Don't worry," Rory said, "although there are many different ways to raise a child, I know that Logan wants to be as hands on as possible. He's even agreed to go to classes with me so that he can learn. He might be busy but he's promised me that he'll do everything he can and he's very excited about meeting our son."
Lorelai smiled before turning to Christopher who was smiling at this. Rory looked down at the plate before continuing to eat. She was already planning on phoning Logan and telling him that she planned to stay in Stars Hollow that night, she could warn him of her grandfather's intentions. How many times Logan had to field questions like this though, she didn't know, and she did feel sorry for him.
43.2
Rory tried not to feel guilty as she walked through the town. She could see people staring at her, pointing at her, and whispering to her and she had had some people come over and talk to her. Miss Patty had given her a long speech about how best to take care of her body and especially her feet when carrying that much weight and saying that the child should learn dance as soon as possible. When Rory had told her that it was a boy, Miss Patty had laughed and said that they definitely needed some strong men to be dancers because who is going to highlight the women if not men.
Rory had even been told by Taylor different things which he felt that she should know. Of course, half of the information she had already not only learned in other ways but had already formed an opinion of. The one person she wanted to see above all others though was Lane. She felt like a bad friend. She had promised Lane that they were going to go through their pregnancies together but she hadn't been in contact that much.
And also, at this time, Lane would be working at Luke's and she wasn't sure how to approach Luke. It wasn't' only the fact that he and Lorelai had broken up and that Lorelai had chosen her father over Luke but the fact that Luke wasn't too keen on Logan. Logan represented the type of person who Luke had little if any tolerance for. Logan might also remind Luke of her father.
Still, she had assured Logan that she wouldn't run away from challenging things any longer. So she took a deep inhale and placed a hand on her belly and walked into the diner. She looked at Luke who was talking to Cesar about something and had his back turned. She saw Lane waiting tables and smiled to her .
"I hope it's okay that I came in," she whispered before seeing Luke turn and took a step backwards. "H-hi," she said as she looked down a little embarrassed and a little scared of what his reaction would be. Would he throw her out of the diner? Would he tell her that he wanted nothing to do with her or her family? Why was it only after she had become pregnant that she had this fear of Luke which she was unfamiliar with. He was such a good guy.
"Rory, yeah," he said before looking around. "You want to grab a table. I can bring you something to eat or is there a reason that you came in. You really shouldn't be standing up, right? I mean I keep telling Lane."
"And I keep assuring you that I'm fine," Lane said as she turned to her friend. "Go and sit, I'll bring you something to eat. Actually, Luke, do you mind if I take a break after these customers."
"Yeah, of course," he nodded before staring at Rory's belly and he nervously looked at her before looking at her belly again. "Wow, you're…I mean, big is healthy, right?" he asked her and Rory nodded. "So, that guy, is he treating you well."
"Logan has been treating me very well," Rory said before looking around. "Are you sure that my being here is okay. I know that it's been awkward with everything that has -"
"I love seeing you,' Luke said as he nodded. "I'd be sad if you weren't coming in here. Regardless of what might have gone on between your mother and I, I still consider you family or at least a close friend and I hope that continues. I think it would torment me until the day I die were I not to ever meet your baby."
"Thanks, Luke," Rory blushed before going to sit down at the table he had gestured to.
43.2
Since Rory wasn't going to be coming back home that night, Logan had decided to do some work and then have an early night. There was a lot he had discussed with his father and he truly wanted to get Rory's opinion on it. It felt good to know how much more important Rory's opinion was to him than anyone else's. As he sat at his computer drafting a few emails, he heard an impatient knock on the door and stood.
Had Rory come back and realized she had forgotten her keys. He stretched before opening the door and was surprised to see an anxious Paris there. He took a step back as she seemed to push inside. "Rory's not here," he said and Paris looked at him.
"Well it's Rory that I really wanted to see but when is she coming back? Did she ru-"
"No. She didn't run away from here," Logan sighed. "She won't be back until the morning."
"You have a guest room. In a place like this, you must do," Paris said and Logan stared at her.
"Yes, but Paris, I am the only person here," he said and Paris sighed before nodding.
"Fine, I guess you'll do."
End of Chapter Forty Three
Thank you for reading
Thank you very much to those who left a review and support in Chapter Forty Two
, bseriel, DecemberJeffries2, GoddessxNyte2, Guest, ImTheNana, KathyMesser, Katilyn Salvator, Kellybras, kfreygng, luchieneedstherapy, PGwonder, roganjalex, sramoi33,
Again, what I need to be able to write is to know that I have the most and pretty much all of the control when it comes to a chapters length, frequency of update, and content and I would prefer no reader to even think they measure up to my importance. Yes that sounds so arrogant but I just need for it to be so. So thank you for giving that to me.
