A/N: I'd really appreciate any and all feedback you guys could give me. Even if it's grammatical or just "I liked it." I want to improve my writing skills and make sure that what I write seems true to the heart of the original ASP characters. :)

Rory picked up the phone and called Christopher to thank him. She knew this was an effort on his part not to be the bad guy in her novel. He genuinely was sorry but Christopher only knew how to apologize with money. After making plans to have dinner the following week when Gigi was in town on break, she hung up. She then proceeded to call her grandmother, Sookie, Lane and Michel to thank them all for their help. Each and every person was happy to do it. She was glad not to be alone. But then, there was one more number she knew she needed to dial.

She sat in the rocking chair in the corner of her new nursery with a blanket her mom had embroidered with 'Emily' on her lap and she dialed the familiar number that only a few months ago she would dial without a second thought in any stressful situation.

She and Logan had talked a few times and he knew she was pregnant. They made a plan for him to visit monthly and see the child. He also insisted on setting up a trust fund and paying child support. Rory didn't want to accept it but if they got Lawyers involved, she feared Logan's would be better since his father's influence and American Express Black Card could probably get Mt. Everest renamed Mt. Huntzberger.

Her greatest fear was that they would try to take her child away from her. If Rory could skip the courts and manage the situation by making Logan feel he was involved, she would. She was also relieved that Paris told her she was having a girl because Mitchum would never have let a Huntzberger heir be raised on her terms- an heiress however was not as important. But she hadn't spoken to them since she found out. That's why she was anxious of the call.

Logan had chosen to follow the dynastic plan and had recently wed Odette. In a way, though she was relieved to have a girl, she also feared her daughter being as dejected as she was by her own father. She had always wondered if she were a boy, would Christopher have been around more? Would Straub and Francine have wanted her to live up to the expectations that Christopher failed just as the Gilmores had done for her being their second chance at a Lorelai? She didn't want those what-ifs for her daughter. And though Logan wasn't Christopher and was older, they came from much the same world. He had chosen to go back into the family biz even after finding out about this new development.

But she wasn't mad; she wasn't in a position to choose Logan.

She loved him; he was her safety net- a wonderful possibility in her mind.

But she didn't want to do as her mother and keep that wonderful possibility in her head while her daughter was growing up. She had let him go because as great of a mother as Lorelai was, she always knew that her father was Kryptonite to her mother's happiness. It always made her feel like second fiddle when Chris would roll through. He never felt there really for Rory but for comfort of a possibility Lorelai left open and she didn't want that.

The phone rang. She didn't expect an answer as it was 5AM in London. Truth be told, she wanted it to go to voicemail so her voice wouldn't waiver. But Logan had just gotten out of the shower and picked up the phone immediately. "hey Ace. Is everything okay with the, uh, the-"

"The baby's fine Logan," she answered knowing what he was trying to put into words without sounding like an ass. "Actually SHE is wonderful. Paris says she's perfect in every way except that hers is better. She even offered me to be a surrogate after I'm properly healed from this… again. I declined because the morning sickness for the first few weeks alone was enough to tell me I would never elect to be a walking baby mill for someone else."

"I'm sorry you were sick… I know it comes with the territory, but it's partially my fault."

"Logan, it's ok. I like having something to provide as a guilt trip for 18 years at least. If anything, my mother taught me to capitalize on that."

"Wait, did you say… she?" Logan finally registered the first part of the rant Rory stated.

"Yes. She. It's a girl, Logan. That's why I wanted to talk to you. I know things are awkward between us. I've been afraid of getting into court.."

"I wouldn't do that to you, Rory."

"I know you don't think so, but this little baby that you don't know yet… I've bonded with her in my womb already and I know once you see her, you'll fall in love. I'm already in love. When you do, there's nothing you wouldn't want to do. Well that's beside the point anyway. I've been afraid to make assertions because of the court thing, but I already have a name: Lorelai Emily Gilmore. I'd like to call her Emily though."

Logan sighed, "but she's not a Gilmore, she's a Huntzberger."

"She's a Gilmore Girl. And we're not married. I know you have accepted your name and your birthright, but you also always wanted to forge your own path. As a Gilmore, she can do that. She will do that."

"Well, you always were a good debater, Ace. You're right. Okay, Lorelai Emily Gilmore it is. I'm sure she'll still have the Huntzberger chin to contend with, but I hope she gets your eyes along with the name."

"Logan," Rory whispered softly. It was still hard to hear his compliments, to move on. It wasn't easy. She really did love him. She just wasn't IN love with him. Those two letters made all the difference. He wasn't her happily ever after even though he'd given her the start of one.

Even if there was never another man, this little girl already was enough for the rest of her life. Instead of addressing the feelings she continued, "Thank you. I'll talk to you later. We still have 22 weeks until the more exciting stuff happens but I promise to continue my biweekly emails to keep you updated as agreed upon."

"Bye Rory."

"Good-bye, Logan."

Logan wouldn't say it, but he was glad it was a girl too. It would keep his father out of it for the most part, except making sure that the family fortune was safe. And he really did hope she would have Rory's eyes.

oOo

Rory was at the Gazette that following afternoon when Kirk ran in with 'breaking news' for Stars Hollow. He said Miss Patty's had a small fire (that he may have accidentally set when trying to teach the boy scouts how to start a fire with 2 sticks) and that she should come quickly.

Rory hobbled behind Kirk and Pedal the pig at her most brisk penguin pace. He led her inside and then the lights came on. "Surprise!"

Lane had thrown her a surprise baby shower. She could, as always, see the loving and vivacious touches her mother helped with in the decorations. "We know this is usually done in the third trimester but we all know how much of a planner you are and we already know she's a girl so we did it now to give you time to organize the nursery," Lane explained.

Rory was grateful for that. She had already been making lists. She didn't even realize it, but she was crying with her hands cupped over her mouth and nose. Lane wiped the tears and hugged her best friend. Then Steve and Kwon dragged Rory to a makeshift throne where the Podium usually sat. It reminded her of the one for Lorelai's surprise wedding shower to Max. that seemed like a different life to her now.

There were games and cake, her favorite chocolate raspberry one from Weston's with a pink whipped frosting. Her favorite gift was a tiny onesie that said "Yale" because it made her think about the future of this child. It was another moment in a series of small moments that made it feel real again. As the party wrapped up, she sat with Lane, who reassured her and they just caught up on the ins and outs of her lives.

"You have much knowledge," she said.

"You'll get there too. Parenting is mostly just making sure they eat, sleep, and breathe. Making it through a day without any injuries is a small miracle- for the kids too," Lane giggled.

oOo

Rory walked back home into Luke's. Even before she lived in the apartment, this place was a second home to her. It was where she stole Luke's heart as a daughter and where her own daughter would also celebrate milestones. She loved it.

Luke was at the shower for an obligatory 30 minutes before finding an excuse to run back to the diner. Rory understood it wasn't his scene. As the door rang he looked up from the elderly couple he was serving and waved. She sat and the counter and waited.

"More french fries?" He asked and she nodded. It was her favorite thing now that she was pregnant.

"I'm sorry I left, I-"

"Luke, It's ok. I know that sniffing candy bars smashed in baby diapers to look like poop isn't your thing. I'm glad you came though Grandpa." She smiled.

He handed her the fries with a side of carrots that he insisted she eat- for the baby. She obliged him with 2 of the 5 carrots then went upstairs and went to write another chapter

"All my life, I thought that my mother was all I needed. I loved the quirky town I grew up in and I didn't take it for granted, but I never realized the helping hand it lent my mother… until now. Now that I find myself in need of them, I realize just how lucky I am and how lucky the next Gilmore Girl will be," it began.