Disclaimer: I own nothing
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews and encouragement, it makes writing all the more fun. Today Charlotte makes some steps forward and she is a kid, so she's open to new people and new things...but that also means that she can get overwhelmed and overstimulated easily, so we'll see another side of her in the next chapter. I also know that Mitchum and Shira weren't always delightful but I refuse to write mean Grandparents. It just feels wrong
Chapter Six
Rory hadn't been this nervous since before she had Charlotte and she had been bouncing between different publications with meetings after her piece in the New Yorker had been a hit. She was sitting in the lobby outside of Logan's office with their four year old daughter anxiously sitting beside her, colouring in a Frozen themed colouring book.
"Mommy can we go in now?" Charlotte sighed, they had only been waiting for ten minutes, and it was Rory's fault, they were early.
"Not yet honey." Rory gently rubbed Charlotte's back, "Just a few more minutes."
"Where are we going?" Charlotte asked.
"We are going to the Hamptons, Logan has a house there, and we are going to see Honor and her kids, you remember we met Honor, right?" Charlotte nodded her head in agreement, "So there will be lots of kids and you can play in the pool and there will be a barbecue and fireworks. It's a mini vacation before we go see Grandma in Stars Hollow, and then you are spending two whole weeks with Grandma, one week in Stars Hollow and then a week with Great Grandma Emily in Nantucket."
"I like swimming." Charlotte smiled.
"I know you do honey." Rory kissed her head and then went back to glancing around the waiting area.
"I'm just going to go in and check." the secretary, Matilda smiled at Rory and stood up before she walked into his office. "Logan, your guests are here."
"My guests...Rory and Charlotte?"
"Yes, Rory Gilmore and I presume her daughter? And that daughter has a striking resemblance to you..."
"I probably should have told you before." Logan sighed, "Rory and I have a daughter, and I just found out about her a couple weeks ago," before Matilda could interrupt him he continued, "Rory e-mailed me, to tell me, and Odette somehow managed to intercept the e-mail, she never told me. So Rory assumed that I was making a choice, and now, here we are, trying to figure it out."
"I'm sorry." was all Matilda could manage. She had known about the agreement with Rory all the years prior and she had always liked Rory, she had never asked any questions when the agreement seemed to come to an end all those years earlier, "Well, they are both waiting outside, so if you are ready, I believe they are too."
"Send them in please." Logan nodded, "We'll take my elevator to the roof, save the gawking." Matilda smiled as she left his office and then returned a moment later guiding Rory and Charlotte in. "Sorry for the wait." Logan told them.
"No trouble at all, we were early."
"It was just a conference call with my lawyer, about the...D-I-V-O-R-C-E." he spelled it out, "All the paperwork has been put together and filed, so we just need to wait for it to be granted and we are all good."
"I saw the announcement." Rory admitted, the formal announcement of Odette and Logan's divorce had been issued earlier in the week, she hadn't mentioned it when Logan had come to Charlotte's soccer game two days prior, "Are you alright?"
"I'm happy." Logan assured her, "And I have this little kid to deal with," he laughed as he hugged Charlotte gently, "I got you a present."
"It's not my birthday." Charlotte looked at him quizzically as he handed her the neatly wrapped box.
"I know," Logan laughed, "but you remember how Honor told you that she had two little boys?" Charlotte shrugged her shoulders, "Well this is so you three can all match at the pool."
Charlotte unwrapped the gift and opened up a red Burberry one-piece bathing suit, "I like to swim."
"That is what your Mommy told me." Logan smiled, glad that she seemed to like her gift, "There might be some more presents when we get there, is that alright?"
"I love presents!"
xxx
"This is...wow." Rory exclaimed as Logan drove them up the driveway to his house, Charlotte was asleep in the backseat of his Escalade.
"It was a gift." Logan admitted, he was somewhat embarrassed by it, "From my Grandfather when I agreed to come back to New York to run the business, at the time it felt awful, but since he passed away, I just...I don't want to get rid of it."
"I understand." Rory nodded, she had plenty of items she just couldn't part with since Richard had died, "Jesus, Logan I swear I have seen this place."
Logan sighed, "It was in Architectural Digest last year. They didn't use my name."
"Didn't it cost like...fourty million dollars?" Rory gasped, "Your Grandpa spent fourty million dollars on you?"
"Yeah, it's...I don't know." Logan was feeling more and more uncomfortable. "So it is just us here tonight, Finn and Robert will be staying here tomorrow night and for the rest of the week. My sister arrives tomorrow with Josh and the kids, same with Colin, Steph and the boys. My parents are here, and they were hoping to stop by for cocktails to meet her?" he began fumbling a bit over his words, he was nervous and wasn't sure how to act or what to say, "If that's alright."
"They're her Grandparents." Rory smiled warmly to try to reassure him as they finally pulled up to the garage and Logan pulled the SUV in, "Of course they can meet her."
"I'll grab the bags?" he asked as they both quietly got out of the car.
"Why don't you grab her." Rory suggested, "I don't know where I'm going and I think that if we put her into a bed, she will sleep for a couple of hours."
"Alright," Logan walked towards the other side of the car, "how do I..."
"Just unclip her and put her on your shoulder." Rory smiled, "She'll probably snuggle right up and then just lay her on a bed gently. I will grab a couple of bags and wheel them into whatever place is on the other side of the door." she whispered as he picked Charlotte up.
"She's really asleep." he grinned as he put his hand carefully on the back of her head and walked into the house, Rory was unloading bags behind him as he made his way up the back staircase and into one of the many bedrooms. He carefully set her down and kissed the top of her head, "I love you." he whispered as he pulled the blankets over her and she snuggled into the pillow. He understood it now, what Colin had meant about the love you feel for your child, he didn't have room to be angry with Odette for what she did because it wouldn't be beneficial, but he loved Charlotte more than he could ever imagine loving anything. As he walked back downstairs he couldn't help but smile and quickly went to the garage to help Rory. "Does she need a monitor on?"
"She's not an infant anymore." Rory smiled at his suggestion as he helped her with the final two bags, "Do you even have a baby monitor?"
"I have a security system that I can pull up in each room. I don't use it all that often." he explained, "So, do you want to stay in the pool house, or the main house? It's completely up to you and whatever you are comfortable with. I don't want to intrude."
Rory laughed, "First of all, the fact that you have a pool house and a main house is insane, second of all, you aren't intruding, we are literally intruding on your week with your friends and family, and lastly, I think we can stay in the main house, if that is alright with you? It would let you and Charlotte get a bit more of a feel for each other and I think that is important. I mean, I assume that one day you will want to spend time together one on one and so you'll need to figure that out."
Logan smiled widely, he was glad, he had wanted them to stay in the main house, but he hadn't wanted to be presumptuous about their situation, "Well then, why don't I get you a drink, and we can relax, and when Charlotte wakes up I can give you a tour beyond that of the kitchen and living rooms."
"Sounds perfect."
xxx
"My parents are on their way." Logan put his glass of wine down and glanced at his phone. "They'll be about twenty minutes."
"So I should go wake her up." Rory smiled, they had spent the last hour and a half catching up, Logan had given Rory a tour once they both acknowledged that Charlotte would just explore on her own, and Rory had put their bags in the bedroom beside where Charlotte was sleeping, it was a few doors down from the master. "And put her in something other than sweatpants."
"You both look fine." Logan promised her, "My parents aren't mad, my Dad will be ... himself, my Mom will have a few too many glasses of wine, they'll give Charlotte gifts, and they'll be on their way until we see them for the big party at Honor and Josh's house."
"You make it sound like your parents are warm and cuddly."
"They've lightened up a bit." he assured her, "Now go! I will make Charlotte a snack and meet you on the patio."
Rory walked up the stairs, she had to admit, there was something about the entire situation that felt comfortable. She and Logan had enjoyed a cocktail and some snacks, evidently prepared by the cook who seemed to be invisible as far as Rory could tell. She was nervous to see Mitchum and Shira, but she believed Logan when he assured them that the pair had lightened up over the years. "Hey sweetheart." Rory went into the room and found Charlotte still asleep. She didn't nap daily anymore, but it had been a long day, they had flown from Philly to New York on Logan's helicopter (at his insistence) and then took the same chopper to the Hamptons and then the drive over to the house.
"Mommy?"
"Yes baby, it's time to wake up." Rory rubbed her back, "Logan's Mommy and Daddy are coming over to meet you."
"They like Gramma Grampa?"
Rory nodded, "They are, and they are very excited to meet you."
"I get dressed." Charlotte got out of bed and looked around for where her clothes would be.
"In my room honey." Rory smiled as she led Charlotte into the other room, "Mommy is going to change too."
"Mommy looks beautiful." Charlotte smiled as Rory pointed her to her suitcase and then let her pick what she wanted to wear. Rory was relieved when Charlotte picked out a pair of blue gingham leggings and a white linen top.
Rory grabbed a pair of light wash jeans with holes in the knees and a grey t-shirt, she wasn't exactly sure who she was trying to impress and so she opted for comfort. "Come on babe." she extended a hand to Charlotte once they were both dressed, "do you need a snack?"
Charlotte shook her head as they made their way down the hallway and to the winding stairs at the front of the house, "It's big." Charlotte commented as they walked down the white stairs and into the huge foyer.
"It is big." Rory agreed, "We are going to stay here with Logan and a couple of his friends for the week."
"You know them Mommy?"
Rory nodded as they walked hand in hand to the patio where Logan was waiting for them. Rory smiled as Charlotte dropped her hand and ran to Logan, she could hear her telling him how cool it was that his house was so big and then her eyes settled on the pool and she told him how much she loved to swim, he promised her they could go swimming if it was ok with Rory who joined them at the table. "Of course we can go swimming tomorrow." she agreed, it was nearly 5 and Rory had a feeling it would be an early night for Charlotte and probably for her as well.
"For me?" Charlotte looked at the plate of crackers, cheese and grapes in front of her, Rory nodded her head to confirm that it was in fact for Charlotte and the little girl got down to eating.
"Here." Logan handed Rory her second glass of wine of the day, "They will let themselves in." he explained, and as if on cue, they could both hear the sound of footsteps and voices making their way outside. "Mom, Dad, good to see you." Logan stood up, followed by Rory. "How was the flight?"
"Oh you know how the flight is Logan, much better than the drive though." Shira Huntzberger greeted her son, Rory wouldn't go so far as to say it was a warm greeting, but it certainly was warmer than some of the receptions she had seen in the past. "Rory, it's lovely to see you." Shira turned to Rory and took her by the hands, "You look wonderful."
"Thank you." Rory had to admit, even though Logan had warned her of a kinder Mitchum and Shira, this hadn't been what she expected, "How are you doing?"
"Very well thank you. We are so looking forward to a week to relax." Shira smiled and then turned her attention to the little girl who was eating her snack, "And you must be Miss Charlotte?"
"Honey, come over." Rory smiled and Charlotte walked over to Mitchum and Shira with a big smile on her face, "This is Logan's Mom and Dad."
"Hi sweetheart." Shira smiled, "My other Grandchildren call me Nana." she began before being interrupted by Logan.
"Mom." he warned. "Her name is Shira, Charlotte."
"But you can call me whatever you would like."
"Hi Nana." Charlotte smiled warmly at the woman, "I like your necklace." she pointed to the small diamond anchor that Shira was wearing.
"Why thank you darling." Shira smiled, "This is my husband, Mitchum." she tried to consider Logan's previous warning.
"What call you?" Charlotte looked cautiously at the man, eventually reaching her arm out to shake his hand.
"Well pretty lady," Mitchum bent down to her level and shook her hand with a wink, "my name is Mitchum, and there are lots of other names people call me, but my Grandkids call me Pops."
"Pops." Charlotte repeated, the smile growing on her face. "I like to swim. Do you like to swim?"
"Well as a matter of fact, I do." Mitchum smiled, Charlotte simply nodded her head in approval and then walked back to her chair where her snack was. "Rory, good to see you."
"You too Mitchum." Rory nodded her head and accepted his handshake. "So, how is...business?"
"Oh come on Rory, we're all here for a vacation, let's not talk business and work. How long are you two thinking you'll stay here?"
"The plan is the whole week." Rory explained, "Unless something unexpected goes on. We are going to Stars Hollow to see my Mom next week, and then I will go back to Philly, Charlotte will spend a week in Stars Hollow with my Mom and Step-Dad and then they will spend a week in Nantucket with my Grandma."
"How is Emily doing?" Shira smiled as Logan handed her a white wine spritzer, "I heard all those years ago about her dramatic exit from a DAR meeting, and if I am being honest, I was quite impressed."
Rory smiled at the memory, "Grandma is well, she misses Grandpa, but she has a handle on her new life."
"Great Grandma Emily kills whales!"
Shira and Mitchum both looked horrified at the suggestion before Rory spoke up, "No, Grandma Emily gives tours of a whaling museum and there is a brief discussion about spearing whales." she clarified.
"Oh well thank goodness, that is so lovely that she is giving back to the community with her volunteering. She bought the house that she and Richard had been renting for all those summers, right?"
Rory nodded her head, "They had tried to buy it a few times before he passed away but the timing never quite worked."
Shira smiled as she watched Charlotte enjoy her snack, "So Rory, do you have anyone special in your life?"
"Mom!" Logan was mortified by his mother, he couldn't believe she would pry like that, "That is certainly none of your business."
"Just Dah has sleepovers sometimes." Charlotte looked up from her crackers and cheese and smiled.
"He's just a friend." Rory clarified, "He has been helping me a lot since Charlotte was born, and sometimes he spends the night so that he can see her in the morning." she wasn't sure why, but somehow this situation reminded her about the time her Grandparents had arranged dinner with their pastor about her virginity. She knew that she didn't owe the Huntzberger's an explanation of her sex life, but for some reason she found herself feeling like she was a teenager.
"Mom, Dad." Logan gritted his teeth as he spoke to his parents, "Charlotte is really excited to meet Hunter and Liam, we got her a bathing suit to match them."
"I like to swim." Charlotte smiled as she popped a grape in her mouth.
"Do you have a swimming pool at home?" Shira asked as Logan passed her a glass of white wine that he had poured.
Charlotte shook her head, "Great Grandma Emily has one, and Papa has one and there is one near Gramma and Grampa."
"Well it sounds like you have pools covered now that you've got on here too."
"This is 'Ogan's pool." Charlotte corrected her. "Not mine."
xxx
"Do you want Logan to read you a story, or Mommy to read you a story?" Rory asked her daughter after she had put on her pajama pants.
"Mommy." Charlotte told her.
"Alright, you pick a story and get in bed, I will be right back." Rory assured her and then walked quickly down the stairs to tell Logan, "She wants me to read tonight, but maybe you can try again for tomorrow?"
"I'm not in a rush." Logan assured her, "I'm going to tidy up from dinner and probably settle in to watch a baseball game, read some work e-mails and have another drink."
"How grown up." Rory laughed, she had to admit, the day they spent together, she couldn't help but wonder if she had said yes any of the time he had asked her to be with him before Charlotte, if this is what their life would've been like. "Can you pour me another glass of wine? Whatever we had earlier?" she asked, Logan nodded as she went back up the stairs to read the book, "What did you pick?" she asked as she hopped into the bed beside Charlotte.
"I don't want a book." Charlotte put her copy of Paddington down on her legs, "What about Dah?"
Rory sighed, "What do you mean honey?"
"You say 'Ogan is my Dad." she stated, "What about Dah?"
"Dah is your Dah, and he will always be your Dah. Logan can be whatever you want him to be honey, he can be Logan, or Dad, and you don't have to choose now." Rory assured her, she knew it was confusing for Charlotte to have a new set of Grandparents thrown into the mix and then a new Aunt and Uncle, cousins, it was a whole new family for her. "What do you want Logan to be?"
"He's not going anywhere?"
Rory shook her head, "No baby, he isn't going anywhere, he will always be there for you."
"He be my Dad, and I have a Dah." Charlotte explained.
"You can do whatever you want honey, you decide."
xxx
"So tell me about it." Rory gave Logan a smile, one she knew from experience he wouldn't be able to resist. It was nearly midnight and they had finished another bottle of wine, catching up on what their lives had been like without each other. "It couldn't have been all bad."
"You really want to know about this?"
"I really want to know."
Logan sighed, she was asking about Odette, he knew it was liquid courage that was driving the questioning but he was still hesitant to answer. "O was...she was as good person, and we were in this impossible situation and we tried to make it work. We both knew the other one wasn't madly in love, but we got by."
"Did you cheat on her?"
"Other than with you?" he asked her, she nodded her head in response, "It was only you Rory Gilmore, it was always only you."
Rory felt sad as he said it, like he had simply accepted something comfortable instead of fighting for something magical. "I'm sorry that I was too afraid to try again." she admitted, "That I had wanted Vegas so desperately. The truth is, I didn't want Vegas, but I was afraid of what our life together would've looked like."
"You still wanted to do it on your own." Logan shrugged, he had long since come to terms with why she would always say no when he had asked her for more. "How about you? Was I one of the many?"
"I was dating someone." Rory acknowledged.
"Peter?"
"Paul." Rory sighed, she had actually run into him when she was about 6 months pregnant, she had apologized for how she treated him and he had said something about timing and how it wouldn't have worked out. "There was no one else."
"Let's not do this." Logan shook his head as he finished his own glass of wine and put the glass on the table. He wasn't going to open another bottle without Rory asking for it. "We don't need to talk about the people we dated or didn't date, we weren't together in any official capacity, we don't...owe each other the gory details. Tell me about Charlotte, what was she like as a baby? What was her first word? When did she take her first steps?"
Rory smiled, she had told him bits and pieces and she had sent him videos and photos, but they hadn't really had a lot of time to just sit and talk about her, what she had been like, what it was all like without him, before him. "Why don't I tell you about when she started really crawling." Rory chuckled softly at the memory as Logan nodded his head to encourage her.
"Charlotte, honey, come on," Rory sighed as she chased her daughter down the hall and into the master bedroom, "do not go near that plant!" Rory cautioned as Charlotte pulled herself onto her feet by using the chair Rory liked to read in. "Please honey." Rory almost pled with her, she didn't want to actively dissuade her from moving, and she wouldn't hurt herself, but Rory didn't want Charlotte to tip over the potted plant beside the chair, mainly because Rory didn't want to have to clean up the mess.
"Mmmmmmmmmm MA!" Charlotte giggled as she toddled along the chair using her hands for support and then turned to face the plant, one hand holding her steady on the chair. She slowly and delicately used her other hand to give it a push and as Rory groaned, Charlotte erupted in a fit of giggles.
"You think you're funny, don't you?" Rory laughed as she picked Charlotte up before she could cover herself with potting soil, "It is a good thing you're cute." she added as she began to tickle Charlotte, laughing as the little girl squirmed and laughed uncontrollably.
"Mmmmmmom." Charlotte squealed as Rory finally stopped and pulled her close to her chest for a hug.
"Yes Charlotte, I am your Mom."
"She would really just look at you with pure defiance and tip it over."
"She must've done it ten times before I finally got rid of the plant." Rory admitted.
"She certainly is strong willed." Logan laughed.
"Something like that." Rory nodded as she felt her phone buzz in her pocket, she gave Logan a small smile as she looked at the text message from Jess.
Is she having fun?