Shira Huntzberger strolled through the dining room, looking for Logan. His car was parked out front, but there was no sign of him throughout the house. Honestly, she was surprised that he was there at all, especially after his ludicrous reaction to her suggestion a few weeks ago. It was laughable really, him practically throwing a temper tantrum, when they were the ones that had just received news that he had accidentally impregnated . . . Rory Gilmore. She peered into the kitchen through the small circular window on the swinging door that led into the kitchen. Sure enough there were her children. Logan was perched up on the marble countertop, his tie loose around his neck. Honor was standing next to him, drinking a La Croix. Shira turned her nose up. From the time they were little, her children had always loved to stow away in the lowly realms of the kitchen, even though she had told them repeatedly not to. Kitchens were for lowly cooks and maids, not a hangout for multimillionaire heirs. She opened the door ready to barge in and chastise them both, when Logan's words stopped her.
". . . and then I kissed her."
Honor nearly choked on her drink. "Are you saying. . .Are you. . . Rory. . . you and Rory are back together?"
A streak of rage shot through Shira. Rory Gilmore? What ever on God's green earth did Logan see in that basic, small town brat? Logan wasn't good enough for her to marry, but she had no problem parading their little indiscretion around town for everyone to see. Like mother, like daughter she supposed.
"I don't know that we're back together, but we're . . . something. I feel really bad too, because I haven't told her that I'm working for the devil again."
Honor giggled. "You're not working for the devil, you're working for the devil's apprentice. We all know that dad's married to the real devil."
Shira burst into the kitchen, startling them both. Logan reflexively jumped down from the counter. "M. . m. . mom?"
Shira smiled. "Logan, I didn't know you were stopping by."
Logan nodded. "I had to drop off some paperwork from the office, I was actually just on my way out."
Shira shrugged him off. "No, no, I'm happy you're here, I was going to call you later anyways."
Honor and Logan exchanged worried glances.
"Your father and I are having a party next Friday in your honor."
Logan arched his eyebrow, confused. "My honor?"
Shira sauntered into the kitchen looking more out of place than a nun at a strip club. "Yes, since you want to be so chatty with Minnie and Eloise Vanderbilt and announce Rory's . . . condition. we need to do a little damage control."
"Damage control? It's a child not a DUI mother." Honor retorted.
Logan rolled his eyes. "I am not going to any party of yours, and I am definitely not bringing Rory. You made it very clear about how you feel about her and our child." He shoved open the door, exiting the kitchen.
Shira chased after him, her heels clicking rhythmically against the marble floor. "Logan Elias, you stop right now."
Logan kept walking, ignoring his mother's demand.
"Logan I mean it. It would be a shame for you to lose your job. How on earth will you support your little illegitimate bundle of joy if neither of you are working?"
Logan stopped dead in his tracks. He slowly turned his head to glance at Shira. "I work for my father, not for you."
Shira let out an evil chuckle. "Yes, you work for your father,but I control him."
"Hardly." Logan scoffed.
Shira's smile widened. "Your father was just as stupid as you. Let a pretty smile waltz right in and erase all his common sense."
"What are you talking about?"
"Your father was in such a hurry to marry me, he never signed a prenup. He knows if he doesn't do as I say, I'll take him to the cleaners. You could say he made a deal with. . . the devil." Shira said coyly, winking at Logan.
Logan just stared at her disbelief. "You wouldn't."
Shira smirked. "See you Friday at seven. Black tie."
…
"LORELAI VICTORIA GILMORE LET'S GO!" Rory yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
Lorelai appeared at the top of the stairs. "Wow, full name huh?"
Rory rubbed her stomach impatiently. "Your grandchild is hungry."
"And her mother is hangry."
Rory rolled her eyes. "We don't know the sex! Stop calling it a she! Also, I'm starving. Can we please go? I've been dreaming of Luke's grilled cheese since, since. . ."
"Since you finished the grilled cheese he made you special at breakfast? You know how many times Luke has made a lunch item for someone during breakfast? Never! Like Never ever. It's like that baby of yours has super powers over him or something."
Rory sighed. "If the baby had super powers over him I'd be able to convince him to give me more than that nasty bean water he calls decaf coffee."
Lorelai slipped on her shoes. "Hey I still sneak you through the Coffee Cart line after your doctor appointments."
"It's not Luke's coffee" Rory whined.
"Oh sweetie, I promise I'll bring you a big, huge thermos of Luke's coffee to the hospital in February." Lorelai said, slipping on her coat. She opened the door and barreled right into Emily.
"M. . . mmm. . . mom? Dad?"
Emily forced a smile on her face. "Hello Lorelai. We were just in town and thought we'd stop by."
"You were just in town?" Lorelai replied, the disbelief ever present on her face. "What are you trying to pull?"
"Lorelai really." Emily sneered.
"You just blew into town for what? the scenic nightlife? I know Cisco and Ebhert gave Kirk's short film rave reviews. Oh wait, maybe some fine dining? I hear it's sloppy joe day at Al's Pancake World, you better hurry! Seriously don't you have anything better to do than harass us?"
"Emily stop with this nonsense." Richard said, stepping up from behind Emily. He turned to Lorelai. "We'd like to offer a formal apology."
Lorelai grimaced. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
Richard nodded. "Yes, of course. Is Rory home?"
"I'm here." Rory said, appearing in the doorway.
Richard's eyes widened as he took in Rory's growing stomach. The severity of what he'd almost lost hit him, the reality that his granddaughter was no longer a child, but was in fact about to have a child of her own weighing heavily on him. He glanced at Lorelai and then at Rory. "Rory, a very wise woman, pointed out that we missed a lot of your childhood, because of our own stubbornness. You and this baby are far too important to push away because of our quite antiquated views. I will admit I don't understand the whole independent parenting agenda, but Rory, if you decide that's what you want, we will stand by you."
Emily stepped forward, her voice shockingly small and timid. "I lost you when you were a baby, I don't want to lose you when you have a baby. Will you forgive us?"
"You can't just waltz back in here and smooth it over with some words." Rory replied, shocking everybody.
Lorelai raised an eyebrow, silently applauding Rory in her head.
Rory crossed her arms in front of her, gathering all the courage she could muster. "This isn't your baby. This isn't your life. Logan and I are not you and grandpa. You can't control us, nor can you decide what's 'best' for our baby. You don't have to agree with what we do, but we're going to do what we want to do."
Emily nodded, a little shaken by Rory's brash reply. " I'll admit I do think you and Logan should be together, and I do think raising this baby single is crazy. However, if anyone could do it, you can. I'm not asking for an all forgiven, free pass, but can we at least try?"
Rory nodded. "We can try."
Emily enveloped her in a hug, Richard nearly toppeling them both as he wrapped his arms around them. Emily placed her hands on Rory's bump. "Oh Richard, would you just look at her!"
Rory blushed, thankful that she had chosen to wear the nicer top that Logan had bought for her. "Almost halfway."
"Oh you'll be finding out the sex soon! The sooner the better, so that we can start planning your baby shower!"
Rory shook her head. "We had our ultrasound last week. We've decided that we're not going to find out until the baby is born."
Emily opened her mouth to speak, but quickly stopped. "Aw yes, if that's what you want. it's your baby. . ."
Lorelai smiled. "There you go, now you're getting it."
"But a baby shower is still ok?" Emily asked.
Rory nodded glancing at Lorelai. "I guess the baby will need stuff."
Emily's eyes lit up. "Great! I saw these lovely lace linens the other day and I thought. . ." She caught a glimpse of Richard's disapproving glance and stopped. "I mean. . . would you like to come over sometime next week and tell us your ideas for your baby shower."
"Of course." Rory replied.
"Well we won't keep you any longer." Richard said, placing his hand on Emily's back.
"Yes of course. Rory call me next week, and we will set up a time!" Emily called as she started off the porch.
"Just smile and wave and they'll leave faster." Lorelai whispered through her clenched smile.
Rory and Lorelai waved until the couple was out of the driveway.
Rory immediately waddled into the living room, and eased herself down onto the couch, sighing loudly. She rubbed her stomach absentmindedly , staring off into space.
Lorelai placed her hands on her hips. "Ummm what are you doing?"
Rory furrowed her brow. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm sitting!"
"Umm about a half an hour ago you were ready to bite my head off, you used my full legal name and everything."
Rory rubbed her stomach again. "Oh, yeah. . . food."
"Oh, yeah food? Did you just forget that you were hungry? What is going on?"
"I guess I just have a lot going on. . . All that with grandma and grandpa, everything with Logan and that kiss, and these weird fluttery feelings that keep. .. ."
"YOU KISSED LOGAN?!"
Rory blushed. "When we went shopping. It doesn't mean anything. . ."
Lorelai sat down next to Rory. "It means everything! Are you and Logan getting back together?"
Rory threw her hands up. "Who knows?! I mean, I think that's what it means, but It's so hard to read Logan. . . It's always been so hard to read him. Why is it so hard to read him?! I mean, he said he wanted me, but does he want me because of the baby, or does he want me for me? You know? I think we're getting back together, but I. .."
Lorelai held up a finger. "Ok first let's put a pin in this downward spiral for a minute because MAN is that a lot of emotional baggage to unpack, but did you say something about a weird fluttery feeling?"
Rory nodded, relieved that the conversation was off Logan for a minute. "It comes and it goes. I don't know really how to describe it, It's like a fluttery, bubbly, floaty . . ."
"Like something brushing up against your insides?"
Rory's face instantly lit up. "Exactly! I know it's probably just some gross bodily function like gas but It's been more and more and. . ."
Lorelai was practically bursting at the seams. "Rory, that's the baby kicking!"
"That's the baby kicking!?"
"Yes! That's the baby! She's finally big enough for you to feel movement! Wow, this is so exciting!"
"I can't believe that what I've been feeling is the baby kicking. I thought it would be some big, magical. . ."
"Less gassy moment?"
"Yes exactly." Rory once again rubbed her stomach. "My baby is kicking me! My baby. . . Oh! I need to tell Logan!"
"Aw yes about Logan. . ."
The doorbell rang, interrupting Lorelai. Lorelai sighed standing up. She pointed a finger at Rory. "This conversation isn't over!" Lorelai strolled over to the door, opening it to find Logan standing on her front porch, holding a large white box with a big red ribbon tied around it into a bow. "Logan! Were your ears burning?"
Logan shot Lorelai a perplexed look. "Uh. . . hi Lorelai. Is Rory home? I text her, but she hasn't answered me back. I brought her a present."
"Yes you certainly did, come on in, she's here, we've just had an. . . eventful morning."
"Good eventful or bad eventful?" he asked.
"Logan?" Rory called from the couch "What are you doing here?"
He walked into the living room, a smile instantly spreading across Rory's face. He sat down on the couch next to her. "Hey Ace! I brought you a present."
Rory eyed the large box as he sat it on her lap. "Logan. . . I. . ."
He smiled eagerly. "Just open it Ace."
"It's not even my birthday."
"You'll see when you open it!"
Rory carefully untied the bow, and opened the lid. She lifted out a beautiful cream colored evening gown. The bodice and long sleeves were covered in beautiful french lace. The full chiffon skirt hung gracefully from the satin ribbon at the empire waist, the whole dress a frothy dream. "Logan. . . it's . .. it's beautiful."
"So you like it?"
"I love it. . . I just. . . where would I wear it? I have nowhere to wear it, and it's far too beautiful to just sit in my closet. "
Logan's face downturned abruptly.. "About that. . . you're cordially invited to my parents' gala next weekend."
Lorelai saw the rage cross Rory's face at the mention of Shira and Mitchum Hunzberger. "Logan, do you want coffee? I'm going to make some coffee." She quickly exited the room.
Rory frowned. "I'm not going to a party of your parents' party."
Logan sighed. He knew this was going to be a was not a fan of his parents, and she didn't even know the full extent of what Shira had suggested when he had told them she was pregnant. " They're throwing the party for us."
"For us?"
"To announce that we're having a baby."
"They want to throw a party to announce their illegitimate grandchild that you're having with a girl that they deemed not worthy enough for their son?"
"Any excuse to show off and drink I guess?"
"Logan. . . I don't know. . . "
"C'mon Ace? For me? Please? I don't want to be there anymore than you do, but we'll be there together. . . hating every minute of it. . .together."
Rory sighed. "Ok. . . . but I'm doing this for you, not for them, let that be very clear. I'm doing it for us."
He nodded. "About us."
Rory was suddenly hyper aware that she and Logan were alone again for the first time since they had kissed. "Yes about us."
"Rory, I. . ."
"Let me go first please? If I don't say this soon, I'll never say this. I know you've probably been second guessing yourself since we kissed, and I know you said you wanted me and that's probably changed, but Logan I want you. I said I only wanted you to be involved with the baby, but Logan, the more time I spend with you. . . the more I want you back. I don't want these civil friends having a baby thing, I want my Logan back. The Logan who kisses me goodnight, even if I'm already asleep when I go to bed, the Logan who leaves the New York Times crossword puzzle for me to do, even though he loves to do it just as much. My Logan who watches Twilight Zone Marathons with me, and isn't afraid to do his Rod Serling impersonation even though it's terrible and I make fun of it. I just want you Logan! I know you're probably more level headed now and don't feel the same but I just had to tell you how I feel and. .."
"Can I talk now?" Logan interjected.
Rory swallowed hard, her throat making an awkward "gulp" sound. She nodded.
"What I was trying to tell you is that I still want you. I want this to work. Not for the baby. Not for appearances, or because it's 'the right thing', I want us to work, because I love you."
Logan grabbed her face, unable to contain himself any longer. He grasped her chin gently, pulling his lips to hers. Rory melted into him, her lips welcoming his.
He pulled away breathless. "I've wanted to do that. . . "
Rory smiled. "Since last time?"
