Rory slowly regained her strength and some of her motor skills. She could walk holding onto someone a week after waking up. The doctors were still a little worried about her arm strength so she was still unable to hold Owen.

"Bye Owen. I love you." Rory whispered to her son. Lorelai put him in his stroller then Luke took him out of the room.

Rory sighed heavily. "I just really wish I could hold him. He's going to be two months old soon…"

"Don't worry, you're recovering pretty fast and I bet you'll be cuddling Owen by Saturday." It was currently Wednesday.

"But I just feel so useless. I'm his mother; I should be able to take care of him." Rory didn't make eye contact with Lorelai.

"And you will. I know it's frustrating waiting like this, but you can't blame yourself. The other driver put you in this situation and… you should just be grateful you're still alive." Lorelai said the last part quietly.

Rory glared at her. "Of course I'm thankful I'm alive. I just want to get out of this hospital. I'm going stir-crazy."

Lorelai pouted. "I don't know what to say to encourage you but I know you'll be able to hold Owen soon. You're not deteriorating. You're getting better. I feel for you, Rory but this could have been a lot worse. You could have been in a coma for years… or worse." Lorelai couldn't say the d word.

Rory looked down, still unable to meet her mother's eyes. "I know it could be a lot worse. At least my kid is only a baby. Luke didn't meet April until she was twelve."

Lorelai gave a sad smile. "That's right."

A minute of silence passed.

"I'm sorry." Rory finally looked at Lorelai.

"I'm sorry too hon. This is still a tough time for all of us."

Lorelai stepped closer to Rory's bed and bent down to embrace her.

"I think Logan wants to see you, but I'll tell him not to stay long. You should get some more rest." Lorelai said gently.

Rory just nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Lorelai gave Rory a soft smile before she left the room.


Logan came into the room a few minutes later.

"Hey Ace, how are you feeling?" He had taken a day off work. He felt bad about pretending to be ill but he really wanted to see Owen and Rory.

"I don't know why you still call me that." Rory muttered. "I'm no ace reporter."

Logan furrowed his brow. "Maybe not now, but you were a great reporter. What about that memoir you were writing about you and your mom?"

"I only wrote a little more than half of it before I lost my motivation. I was about five months pregnant when I stopped writing. I wanted to keep going, but I also needed to start preparing for Owen. Then I kind of just gave up." Rory shrugged.

Logan stepped closer to the bed. "Well you should keep writing when you get out of here."

Rory shook her head. "I need to take care of Owen. I need to bond with him."

"You deserve some time off once in a while. I'll be here on weekends and Luke and your mom and grandma will continue to help I'm sure."

"Grandma lives in Nantucket now. I'm sure she'll be going back once I'm discharged. Mom and Luke have done enough. I need to be a responsible parent once I'm able to go home."

"I know but Ac- Rory, you can't just give up on your dreams."

"Who are you to tell me that when you went crawling back to your dad's business after you were so insistent on getting away and staying away?" Rory became angry.

"That was different." Logan said bitterly.

"What are you doing here anyway? I thought you had a job in New York?! Are you playing hooky?"

Logan gaped at her in astonishment . "Why are being like this?"

"Like what?"

"Why are you so angry? I'm here for Owen and you. I just want to be here for my son and his mother. Are you trying to tell me you won't let me see my son?"

Rory made a 'tsk' sound. "No. I just think you should maybe visit Owen without visiting me."

"Where is this coming from?" Logan asked.

"I just…" Rory sighed. "I'm not myself right now and I need some time to learn how to be a mother. Once I'm out of here I need to spend as much time with Owen as possible. I can't think about you… or us right now. I won't stop you from seeing Owen but I just need some time."

Logan looked away and thought about what she just said. He understood how she felt but he didn't want to let her think she would be a bad mother. He couldn't.

"Rory, listen." He stepped a little closer.

Rory reluctantly looked at him.

"I was so scared when I saw Owen for the first time and I had to learn how to care for him. I had never even held a newborn before. Thankfully your Mom and Luke helped me out a lot. I know they'll help you a lot too. You're not in this alone, Rory. We're here for you. I understand that you need time alone with Owen, but you can't do everything by yourself either."

Rory took a minute to reply.

"I know Logan… I just meant that I don't want to discuss anything that has to with us, our relationship. I can't focus on my feelings for you right now. Owen is my number one priority. Of course you can still see him but maybe you can stay in Stars Hollow instead of taking him to New York every weekend?" She said slowly.

Logan wanted to object to that then he thought twice. It was a reasonable request. Of course Owen should stay in Stars Hollow with his mother that he hadn't known in his first six weeks of life. Logan could manage a trip to Stars Hollow every weekend or maybe every other weekend so he could give Rory space. He didn't know why he was in such a rush to talk to her about their relationship. It could wait. They had time now.

"Yeah. Of course. That's fine." Logan smiled. "I understand."

"Are you sure? I mean I wouldn't want to take away any of your time with him.

"Rory, you need to bond with him. I've already had time to that. And I need to work. I'll come on weekends. And uh…" Logan looked away then back at Rory. "I'm fine not talking… about us I mean. I'm in no rush. We've got time."

Rory just smiled and nodded.

Logan coughed awkwardly. "Well, I'll let you get some rest. Call me when you're discharged. I'll come to Stars Hollow next weekend."

"Okay." Rory whispered.

She sighed as soon as Logan was out of the room. She didn't know how she felt about him. She was so sure that he was actually going to stay with Odette and marry her. The plan was to get over him, never see him again. The positive pregnancy test last year changed that of course. She thought Owen was a sign that meant Logan was supposed to be in her life forever. Maybe he was the guy for her. She just wasn't sure.

Logan said a brief goodbye to Owen. He held him and kissed his forehead. "I'll see you soon buddy." He placed him back in the stroller.

Then he smiled at Luke and Lorelai and he walked away.

"Did something seem… off about him?" Luke asked.

"I don't know." Lorelai shrugged. "But if there is something off, it's between him and Rory."

Luke nodded in agreement. He bent down and picked up Owen out of his stroller.

"He needs to be changed. I can do it and meet you in the parking lot."

Lorelai raised an eyebrow. "You want to change Owen's diaper?"

"I can do it."

"I mean you're volunteering?" Lorelai was clearly amused.

"Yeah. It needs to be done before the drive home and I can do it. You can start the car. I'll meet you out there."

"Okay." Lorelai smiled then leaned in and kissed Luke's cheek.


Rory was released a few days later. She was finally able to hold Owen when she got home.

"Aww he's smiling." Lorelai gushed as she watched her daughter and grandson.

A tear rolled down Rory's cheek. "I feel so… peaceful."

Lorelai grinned. "That's how I felt when I held you. I felt like as long as you were okay, nothing could ever be bad."

Rory looked up at Lorelai and pressed her lips together. She didn't know what to say so she just smiled.

"Alright. I'm going to go get us some lunch from Luke's. I bet he'll want to see Owen since he didn't see him all day but it's nap time so he'll have to wait until he gets home tonight." Lorelai said.

"Okay." Rory whispered, not taking her eyes off Owen who was starting to drift off.

"I love you sweets." Lorelai called out as she walked out of the room.

"I love you too!" Rory called back.


Luke practically ran over to Lorelai the moment she walked in the diner.

"How's Rory?"

"Woah there." Lorelai held up a hand, wanting a little breathing room. "Didn't you get my text?"

"I didn't have time to check my phone. It's been crazy here. Tourists came from God knows where. Why do they want to see Stars Hollow anyway? You can finish a whole tour of the town in less than an hour."

"Well Rory's fine." Lorelai told him.

Luke opened his mouth to say something but Lorelai spoke again.

"And Owen's fine too. I left them alone for nap time."

Luke nodded. Lorelai put a hand on his arm and he calmed down a little.

She glanced around the diner. "I was going to get lunch for Rory and me, but it looks like you're still busy."

"Nah. It's slowed down a little. Sit." Luke pointed to an empty stool.

Lorelai walked over to the stool and Luke went behind the counter.

"What'd want? Burgers and fries?"

"Yeah, and a chocolate milkshake for me please," Lorelai fluttered her eyelashes.

"All right," Luke deadpanned. He knew that trying to get the girls to eat healthy was pretty much impossible after all of these years. He turned around to give Caesar the order.

Lorelai sat and waited for the food. She watched Luke work and offered to help him but he declined.

The food was ready twenty minutes later and Lorelai thanked Luke and said goodbye. She leaned across the counter.

"Love you, hon." She whispered so only he could hear.

Luke just smiled softly. He knew he didn't have to say it back.


Once Rory had put Owen down for a nap, she called Logan.

He picked up on the first ring. She knew it was his lunch hour.

"Hey."

"Hi. How are you?"

"I'm fine. So you're home?"

"Yep. Didn't I text you?'

"Nope,"

"Oops sorry I must have forgotten." Rory cursed herself.

"So you're fine?"

"Yeah. I held Owen for the first time."

"How is Owen?" Logan questioned.

"He's great. Sleeping."

"That's good."

They were silent for almost a full minute.

"Logan?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you coming to see u- … Owen this weekend?"

"Yes."

"Okay um good. I look forward to your visit."

Logan chuckled a little. "I look forward to it too."

Rory smiled to herself. "Mom just got home with lunch so I have to go."

"Okay. I'll see you soon then. Take care." Logan said gently.

"Bye." Rory ended the call.


Author's note: Sorry of this is a strange place to end the chapter. I kind of rushed this chapter so it's not the best. I won't be able to update this story for a while as I'm moving. Thank you for the support. Reviews are always appreciated.