Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls is the creation of Amy Sherman-Palladino.
Chapter 21: The Baby Daddy
Hartford, Connecticut, St. Joseph's Hospital, Saturday, May 20, 2017, 9:00 am EST
Logan returned to his hotel Friday night feeling immensely satisfied with how things were going with both Rory and Lucas. He knew ultimately the devil would be in the details but he knew he couldn't sweat the details just then. He was making progress with Rory. He had a son he couldn't be more over the moon about. Yes, his parents would soon be arriving stateside but, as he kept reminding himself, it would be better for him to keep an eye on them in real-time than for him to wait and react to London-based activities.
Finally Saturday, it was the day Rory would be released from the hospital. While he'd been delighted with how much time they'd been able to spend together in just two days, her being in the hospital - often surrounded by Gilmores- did present some challenges. He was looking forward to being able to spend quiet time alone with Rory in a non-sterile environment. To that end, he'd hooked up with Honor's interior designer to work magic on the two apartments. When the designer asked Logan to define magic, he'd replied "Harry Potter" for his unit and "Penn and Teller" for the Gilmores. He wanted his apartment to feel like home. Literally. He was considering buying it and keeping it as his place in Hartford. He figured it couldn't hurt if it was inviting. The Gilmore apartment would be functional but decidedly less tempting.
Pulling out his cell phone as he strode from the sixth floor elevator bank, he sent a quick text to the designer requesting status photos. Pausing before Rory's door, he dropped his phone back in his jacket pocket. He realized Rory was not alone as voices filtered out through the cracked door.
"It's never stopped you before. Shoot."
"Rory, you have to cut that boy loose." Logan felt his heart jettison up to his chest. Was Lorelai referring to him? "I can't believe we're having this conversation. Again. Maybe I should just record a sound clip you can use as a ringtone."
"Funny. And it's not the same thing. Jess and I aren't dating. He's just been giving me feedback on the book."
"Call it what you want. Does he know that's all it is? Luke and I ran into him last night. He seemed more than a little wigged out finding out Logan was Lucas's daddy. And that you have an open door policy when it comes to him."
I wish.
"I don't have an open door policy with Logan. And I thought we were just friends. If Jess thinks - or wants - something more, that's news to me."
"Yeah, well. Call me 1010 Wins. All news, all the time."
"Is Luke mad?"
"No. Luke's not mad. He says Jess assured him months ago he was over you. But you're pretty unforgettable, kid."
"Ha! Hardly! I mean...Yeah, we spent some time together. While I'm pregnant with someone else's baby and have zero interest in dating."
"Maybe to Jess you're the one that got away. He looks back and realizes he messed up."
"Logan wasn't too thrilled with him coming by yesterday. Or with him helping me with the book."
"Looking at it from his perspective, I can't say that I blame him. But this is all up to you. You need to figure out the boundaries. For Jess. And for Logan."
"Hi there! I'm Ashley Harris." Suddenly Logan found himself under attack by a smurf. "I'm the social worker assigned to Rory and Lucas Gilmore."
"Ah. Hi. Logan Huntzberger, Lucas's father." Smiling, he offered the woman his free hand.
"Oh! The baby daddy! That's great! You're right on time." The young woman accepted his hand and returned his smile.
"On time for what?"
"Since Rory's being released, today's the day we drill down on all the paperwork."
"Paperwork?" Logan smiled. Between the exchange he overheard and this, it was shaping up to be another good day.
"Yes! Like the birth certificate! Then, of course, since you two aren't married, there's a paternity statement. Everything needs to be signed and sent to the State Department of Health Office of Vital Records."
"Ah. Then I am right on time, aren't I?"
"Yeah! Did you knock yet?"
"No. Why -"
"Oh, I'll do it. I can see you're holding a coffee. Wouldn't want it to spill. I've seen how Rory is about her coffee."
Ashley knocked on the door. At Rory's "come in," the social worker pushed the door open all the way.
Rory, obviously dressed in anticipation of her release, sat on the edge of her bed. Logan was amused to note she wore the mis-matched red/green combo of lucky outfit accessorized with the emerald necklace. Lorelai, sitting across from Rory on the vacant bed, glanced over her shoulder to see who was at the door.
"Good morning, Rory!" The social worker called out in her sing-song voice. "How are you this beautiful day?"
"Good. I'm good, Ashley."
"Looking good, Ace. Your coffee."
Logan dodged past Ashley to make his way over to Rory and hand her her coffee.
"Thanks." Rory's eyes settled on Logan. He braced himself for the question he knew was coming. "Is this regular?"
"Decaf."
Rory scowled. "Logan! I can have a little caffeine you know."
"Just thinking of Lucas. You're gonna have him stress tapping, Ace."
Rory and Lorelai had obviously spent some time that morning packing and consolidating Rory's things. Only one chair was not being used for organizational purposes. Logan left it for Ashley and instead opted to lean against the wall at the front of the room. From that vantage point, he could easily see Rory's face. Lorelai's too he realized. That could be helpful as well.
"Just so you know, I'm having a small regular today." Rory glanced back towards the woman standing in the doorway. "Ashley, I don't know if you met my mother, Lorelai Gilmore?"
"I don't think so. Hi Lorelai. What a pleasure it is to meet you! I'm so sorry Lucas is in the NICU! Usually I get to meet the babies! You're all so beautiful -Dad included - I can only imagine how gorgeous little Lucas is!"
"Yes, he is a looker. Thank you." Lorelai responded for all of them. Logan smothered a laugh.
"Is he your first grandchild?"
"Yes, he is," nodded Lorelai, smiling. "As far as I know. Hey, speaking of unknown children, you don't happen to have a long-lost twin named Lulu, do you? Short light brown hair? Third grade teacher? Pig child? Dilettante husband?"
"Nooooo." Ashley shook her head, eyes wide. "That would've been so cool! But I only have a brother. People do say we look alike but we're not twins. He's a little over a year older than me. They say we're Irish twins. We're not Irish though. Or twins. Like I said."
Rory sipped her coffee. As Logan watched, he saw Rory's eyes close and her lips stretch into a smile. Suddenly she reopened her eyes. Catching him staring at her, she gave him a curious look before turning her attention back to the social worker.
"So Ashley. I have to do paperwork before I get out of here?"
"Yes. Just the regular stuff. Birth certificate. Paternity form. I have it on this clipboard. We can just fill it out and you guys sign. Do you want the full spiel? You're only my third unmarried parents. Not that it's unusual or there's anything wrong with it. I've only been doing this a couple of months. Oh my God, I didn't offend you did I?"
"No, no. Not at all." Logan watched as Rory smiled at the girl attempting to put her at ease. "You're fine."
"Hey, this is a first time for us." Logan made eye contact with Rory. She gave a subtle half shrug/half nod. He was pleased. He wanted the spiel. "If you wanna practice the spiel, Ashley, please go right ahead."
"Okay. Good. Thanks." Ashley stepped fully into the room and carefully shut the door behind her. She made her way over to the open seat.
"So paternity is the legal identification of the father of a child. Once paternity is established, the acknowledged father will gain legal rights to his child, as well as responsibilities for supporting the child."
Ashley paused for breath looking back and forth between the two parents.
"Okay," encouraged Rory.
"If a mother is not married at the time a child is born and has not been married at any time between conception and the birth of the child..?" Ashley dangled the sentence as though it were a question.
"Nope. Not married as far as I can remember."
"Oh?" Ashley looked a little rattled.
"I'm kidding, Ashley. No marriages."
"I didn't mean to imply anything. I'm still getting used to saying all this stuff. It's a bit invasive. I feel so awkward. I'm sorry."
"You're doing fine," Rory reassured her.
"So if the mother, like you, doesn't have a husband, no father will be named on the birth certificate unless both parents complete an Acknowledgement of Paternity form." Ashley lifted the clipboard. "Which I have here. Or unless ordered by the court. But you two seem to get along so I don't see a judge needing to be involved."
"No, no judge..." agreed Logan.
"The Acknowledgement of Paternity form is a sworn statement affirming that the named father is the child's biological father. You can complete the form now or you could do it later but if you do it later, there's a fee. If you complete it in the hospital, it's free!" Ashley looked back and forth between Rory and Logan. "I stuck my foot in my mouth again, didn't I?! I didn't mean to imply that you seem concerned about saving money. I know you're related to the woman who originally funded the maternity wing!"
"She was my great-grandmother."
"Oh, that's so interesting! And you were named for her?"
"Actually Rory's named for me," offered Lorelai. "Remember me? The other Lorelai you met a minute ago?"
"Oh, that's right!" Ashley giggled. "I'm sorry! I did forget. I think that's so cool. I've only ever seen juniors with boys, not girls. Anyway, once the form is completed and processed, the father's name will be included on the child's birth certificate. And that's the spiel. Any questions?"
At Ashley's final words, Logan saw a guarded look come over Rory. He braced himself when he realized she was going to speak.
"I have a question."
At Rory's serious tone, Lorelai and Ashley both focused their attention on her.
"The birth certificate will be a public record, right?"
"Well, technically. It'll be maintained by the Office of Vital Records, but it's not like just anyone can request a copy. Well, not until Lucas turns 100. But you won't care then."
"Oh." Rory seemed somewhat relieved. "I thought the information could be requested."
"Well, it can be requested. But it's on a need-to-know basis and usually with your permission. So it would be you, your relatives, your lawyers, your community department of health..."
"Oh."
Logan internally breathed a sigh of relief.
"See Ace? No reason to freak out."
"Incorporated genealogical societies..."
"What? You mean like the Daughters of the American Revolution?"
"Oh, I guess they could qualify. I don't usually get asked that."
"No."
"Rory."
"We didn't talk about this, Logan."
"What's to talk about? Parents' names go on the birth certificate. We're the parents. Our names go on the birth certificate. Both our names."
"You don't know what the implications are. You don't know what it means…"
"No. I know exactly what it means. Thanks to Ashley here who did an excellent job of explaining."
"Thank you!"
"Putting your name on Lucas's birth certificate is as good as taking a full-page ad in the paper. We'll be an expose on TMZ."
"Rory, I'm flattered you've got me up there with George Clooney but I'm a publisher who wrote a couple of books. I'm not trailed by paparazzi. The London papers may catch on and cover it - because of Odette- but who cares? It'll blow over."
"Oh, no! You're fighting now!"
"We're not fighting, Ashley. Logan and I are just having a discussion."
"Sounds like a fight to me, hon."
"Mom!"
"Okay, so...um...you two need to agree on how you're gonna fill out the forms. If you don't agree, then you'll have to go to court and have a judge decide."
"Rory, we already had the DNA test." Logan shrugged. He wasn't angry or surprised. He understood where the freak-out was coming from. "If TMZ wants to know our business, Ace, they'll figure it out, regardless of what's on the birth certificate."
"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt your fight. The State really doesn't like blanks on the form if it can be avoided. Especially for the father's identity. I know it seems all big brother but it's to protect the baby."
Logan heard Rory mumble what sounded like, "I'm trying to protect the baby."
"Ace, this doesn't change anything. Whatever happens between us, you're the custodial parent. It's not like I can breastfeed him."
"Cute." Rory made a face while Lorelai snorted.
Logan swung around to look at Ashley. "I'm setting up a trust fund for him, and adding him to my will and life insurance. All of which will go smoother if I'm listed on the birth certificate."
"Oh, yes! That's all good! But I still need you two to agree on what to put on the form." Ashley smiled nervously.
Rory let out an irritated sigh. "Fine," she gritted the word out. "Logan's name can go on the birth certificate."
"Okay! That's great!" Ashley was back to her chipper smurf self. "So I just need the two of you to sign the paternity form which, like I said, will be filed at the state's Vital Records Office. This, along with the birth certificate, legally confirms that Lucas Richard Gilmore is your son."
"About that. Rory, what about Huntzberger?"
"What about Huntzberger?
"Adding Huntzberger to his name?"
"No! No!"
"Rory."
"No!"
"Rory, come on! Can we at least talk about it?"
Logan caught the social worker glance wistfully? at the door.
"Rory? Logan? I have a few other visits this morning. You do have a couple of hours left to settle this stuff. Why don't I leave you two to talk in private?"
"I don't have to leave, too, do I?"
Rory and Logan both glared at Lorelai.
"Fine," huffed Lorelai. "I'll go see Lucas and ask him which name he prefers. If this discussion is still going on when I come back, I'm bringing Luke and popcorn."
"Mom! Out!"
Rory and Logan remained silent while the two women took their leave. Left alone, Rory stared angrily at Logan while he quickly ran a mental inventory of his options.
"Ace, we know he's my son. Eventually everyone will know, regardless of his last name." Rory's wince was not lost on Logan. "So let's not confuse the kid and just let him be a Huntzberger."
"I can't imagine anything more confusing than being a Huntzberger! Besides, he can't be a Huntzberger because he's a Gilmore."
"Huntzberger."
"Gilmore."
"Huntzberger."
"Gilmore."
"Why am I getting a sense of deja vu?"
"Flashback to the last time you acted like a jerk?"
"Let's compromise. We'll hyphenate it. I'll just have to get him a pair of boxing gloves when he starts school."
"Oh, you're being ridiculous! Plenty of people have hyphenated last names! No one's gonna beat him up for having a hyphenated last name!"
Logan smirked. "So hyphenated it is?"
Rory rolled her eyes. "Fine." She let out an abrupt sigh. "You're so annoying when you do that."
"Do what?"
"Win arguments."
"I didn't win, Ace. We compromised."
Rory's face looked more pensive than angry at this point.
"Hey, what're you so worried about, Ace?"
He watched as she forced her lips to curl upward.
"That's the worst fake smile I've ever seen." Logan pushed off from the wall and was soon standing over Rory. "Mind if I sit?" At Rory's non-committal head shake, he sat on the bed next to her. Taking her left hand in his right, he brought it up to his lips and laid a kiss on her knuckles. "Listen, I know Lucas wasn't planned, but he's the best thing that's ever happened to me. Aside, of course, from meeting his mother."
"Your sweet talk skills show a marked improvement, Huntzberger."
"Maybe it's because I'm talking from the heart."
"Logan -"
"Ace. Please. Close your eyes." Logan watched as Rory complied. "Just try to think of it this way. Don't think of him as a Huntzberger. Or the Huntzberger heir. He's just your really cute son who looks a little like his dad whose name is Logan Huntzberger."
Rory's eyes shot open.
"Logan, how can I just forget all the rest of it? I saw what you went through. Being the 'heir.' The chances you took, everything you did to rebel. You could've died! Costa Rica! Sinking the yacht! The drinking! Even the giant cheese wheel! What if he gets run over by the giant cheese wheel?! I can't watch Lucas go through all that. I won't."
"Rory, how many times do I have to say this before you'll believe me? We're the parents. We alone will be responsible for the levels of insanity Lucas will be subjected to. Just us."
Still holding her hand, Logan gently caressed her wrist with his thumb. Rory, he knew, was particularly sensitive to the touch in that spot. He wasn't surprised when her eyes closed again and the frown was replaced by a more peaceful expression.
"Ace, you keep me on my toes. I gotta hand it to you."
Rory smiled. "Yeah, I guess I do."
"At first I was in shock. I'll admit it. But I gotta say I'm happy -no thrilled - to have a son with you."
"You're serious?" He watched as Rory's smile widened.
"You have no idea." Taking advantage of her momentarily letting her guard down, Logan leaned in to lay a kiss on her cheek. Bringing his lips downward, he nuzzled his way along her neck. Sensing her shiver, he smiled to himself. "I love you, Rory Gilmore. I'm pretty sure I've always loved you. Now we have a kid to love. He's gonna be an amazing kid. Hell, he already is. I'm excited. I wanna get to know him. I wanna do the fun dad and family things I only ever saw on tv. I think it's all gonna be great."
"But Logan -" Eyes open she turned to face him. He was forced to pull away from his spot on her neck. Suddenly, their lips, their eyes were separated by a few short inches. This was the closest they'd been since their son's conception. Logan felt a hardwired pulsing just under his skin when this near to Rory. He suspected she felt it as well.
"No buts, Ace. No buts. I know you just want to protect him. I do too. But you don't have to protect him from me. I promise."
AN: Thanks for reading and for humoring me. I believe moms deserve thoughtful gifts. It's just that specific alliterative turn of phrase icks me out. It's the linguistic equivalent of Seinfeld's naked episode. Lucas is a pretty solid little near-term preemie! Note: Whenever Rory's off-screen, she's pumping milk. Birthstones are a "thing." (In the U.S. at least.) AYITL!Emily - I think we're supposed to accept that she's more open-minded. But long-held views are hard to shake. I think she'd be okay with Rory deciding to be a single mom- as long as she knew nothing of the father! But, as Emily knows Logan and has knowledge of L/R relationship and history, I think Emily would react in a more old-school Emily fashion i.e., "they should be together/preferably married!" FTR, Logan's only given Rory chaste kisses on her temple or cheek. I am aiming for canon (even started a rewatch at S1!) except for one character. Guess.
Next Up: We finally get out of the hospital! Rory does anyway! G-force alert!
Special thanks to Kris who solved the Shakespearean piece of the AYITL puzzle on LiveJournal. That was my final remaining "WTF?" Thank you Kris! Your timing could not have been more perfect!
07/07/2017