Ch.2

After Rory hung up from her phone call with Logan she pulled the covers off of her body and quickly got out of her bed. She made her way to her full length mirror near her bedroom door and ran a hand through her hair. She looked at the black mess on her face reflecting back at her. Her mascara had drawn watery black lines straight down her cheeks. Her face was blotchy red and her eyes were swollen from crying. Leftover tears clung to her cheeks and her lips were puffy and bright red. Sighing, Rory plucked a tissue from her nightstand and began to clean her face. When her face was rid of her teary make up; and new make up had been applied, Rory began to pace her room. She was nervous but also…excited and…uncertain of exactly how to tell him.

She made her way into the kitchen where she poured her self a fresh cup a tea from the kettle sitting on the stove, and looked outside to see a fresh blanket of snow covering the ground. The excitement rising up in her, she bounced the front door just to see if Logan's car was there yet-though she knew it wouldn't be there. She was getting impatient. When she confirmed that he hadn't arrived yet, Rory made herself comfortable in the living room where she found an arm chair by the fire. She grabbed a magazine from the nearby coffee table and quickly flipped through it only to put it down a minute later. It was very hard for her to do anything when all she could focus on were Logan and the baby. Glancing at her watch she realized that Logan still had hours of travel ahead of him, but when he finally got to her house, her secret could become their secret.

A lot had changed in the week and a half since she'd seen him last. Her mom and Luke figured out how to make things work between them and got back together; Rory's dad, Christopher, and his wife, Sherry, had their baby- a girl named Gigi; and of course, she found out she was going to have a baby- Logan's baby to be exact.

'I guess there would be no better time to tell him then tonight. I mean, he's coming up specifically to hear what I couldn't tell him over the phone.'

At least she knew they would have privacy when he arrived, they would be alone and had the house for the night to talk, to figure things out.

Rory lifted her shirt and felt her flat stomach. She had yet to show; while there was no outward evidence, there was a life growing inside her. It felt weird…and totally amazing to think that she was completely responsible for someone else's life. She, Rory Gilmore, was responsible for keeping the tiny life inside of her safe and well, protecting it with her own body. And she would, for she was a mother and she loved her baby.

On the other hand, she realized she was too young. Rory just turned eighteen a few months before, and she had a general plan for her life that didn't include being pregnant at eighteen. She was going to graduate Chilton in the spring and, after much debate over Harvard and Yale, she'd decided on Yale for the fall...

However, due to recent events those plans had changed; and she found herself following into her mother's footsteps- and there was nothing she could do about it. There were a few differences, like the fact that Rory and Logan were a couple of years older then Lorelai and Chris were when Lorelai got pregnant, and Rory and Logan have been dating longer than Lorelai and Chris had been; but really, the differences were negligible. She really hoped her mom would understand her situation and would be there to support Rory in front her grandparents, and in front of Christopher and the Huntzbergers. Sure all of these people loved her, but that didn't mean they couldn't be disappointed in her too.

When the news came out there would be a lot of yelling, of that she was sure. Most of the blame would fall on her mother for not setting a 'good example'; but Rory knew better than that.

Lorelai and Stephanie were her best friends in the world; and Rory knew her mother had set a good example for her. Not many girls could be so close with her mother; other girls didn't have a mom who worked as hard as Lorelai had to be able to buy their home and then go on to attend college in her thirties so she and her best friend could open their own inn. Sure, it had taken them a few years, but Lorelai and Sookie found the site of their future inn and had plans to start remodeling the following year.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She got out of the chair and hurried to the front door where she saw Logan through the glass. "Here goes nothing." She whispered to no one in particular. Rory opened the door and ushered her boyfriend inside.

"Hey Ace." He smiled as he pulled her into his arms.

Rory hugged him back tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. Logan rubbed her back, and for the first time that night, she let out a smile.

"Hey Logan." She moved out of his arms far enough to greet him with a kiss on the lips. He stroked her cheek to wipe away the tear in her eye that she hadn't felt falling.

"What's wrong, Honey?" He took her hand and led her to the couch where they both took a seat. Rory glanced over at his eyes and saw that his whole expression was wrought with concern for her.

"I- I just don't know how to tell you." Rory admitted quietly as she looked down at their fingers laced together and resting on her lap. Logan touched his finger to her chin and gently lifted so she would look into his eyes.

"You can tell me anything, Rory."

"I know. It's just that I'm scared. I don't want you to hate me."

"Rory, I can never hate you; never in a million years." His words were true and he hoped that he could soothe her.

She finally got up the courage. She would just tell him, she had to just let it all out. Rory looked him in the eyes, grabbed his free hand and spilled her news. "Logan, I'm pregnant." She sighed when she saw Logan's jaw drop.

A few moments passed and he still hadn't responded when, again, tears come to her eyes and she rose from the couch, needing to get away. On top of everything else she was feeling, she couldn't face an upset Logan.

He didn't let her get far. He took her hand before she was out of his reach and pulled her back to the couch. "Rory wait. I'm sorry I zoned out like that; I just… wasn't… expecting that... It's a total shock."

"You're telling me." Rory agreed and relaxed back onto the couch. Several minutes passed and it was Logan who finally broke the silence.

"So… have you been to the doctor yet?"

"I wanted to wait until I told you so you could come with me… I mean if you want to. I wouldn't want-"

He cut her off. "No. I want to be with you every step of the way, Rory." he smiled as he stroked gentle circles on her hand.

"You really mean that?" Rory asked smiling through the tears that, once again, glistened in her eyes.

"Of course I do Rory I would never leave you or this baby behind. I love you too much… and this baby is already having an effect on me. I think my paternal instincts are kicking in." He smiled and placed his hand on Rory's stomach for emphasis. Rory smiled back and covered his hand with hers.

"So, what now?"

"We take it one step of a time." Logan reassured her as he pulled Rory onto his lap and gave her a kiss on the lips. Both their hands still rested on Rory's stomach.

………………………………...

Rory woke up with a smile as she remembered the events that took place the night before. She was glad -and very relieved- that Logan took the news so well; and his promise to be there for her and their baby made her feel like this was actually doable. Sure, they didn't really discuss the important things like when and how to tell their families- but that could wait. At that moment she was content with lying in his arms. She gave Logan a peck on the lips and leaned against his chest while she listened to his heart beating in time with hers.

"Hey Ace?" Logan mumbled, still tired from the late night before. He started to rub tiny circles on her back as he gave her a kiss on her head.

"Yeah?" Rory responded also only half awake. She let out a smile as Logan began to massage her back.

"I hate to ruin our moment, but when are we going to tell them?" He asked, obviously referring to their families.

"After the baby is born?" She joked, trying to lighten the mood. She put her arms under her head and looked back at Logan.

"As much as I love that idea, I think they will find out when you start to show." he smirked as he stroked her hair away from her eyes.

"I know. It's just hard you know? We're barely eighteen and not even out of high school yet, and we have these things we wanted to do; but now plans have changed."

He understood where she was coming from. "I guess we can wait to tell them. There is no need to rush to tell them or anybody else for that matter. It can be our little secret, for a while." Logan smiled as he sat up pulling Rory up with him.

"I like that idea." She smiled and leaned back against his chest as Logan put his arm around her. Logan stroked her hair and closed his eyes all with a smile on his face.

He had to admit to himself, if not to Rory, that he was scared to think of what the future would bring, but before he could fully explore his thoughts, the phone rang and the shrill noise made both Rory and Logan jump.

"Hello?" Rory answered.

"Hey Hun. Just wondering if you want to meet me at Luke's."

Rory looked at Logan who nodded his head. "Sure mom we would love to," she answered as she got up from Logan's lap.

"We?"

"Yeah Logan and I, unless you just wanted it to be the two of us,"

"No Hun, it's fine. I'm just a little confused. Isn't Logan supposed to be in New York with his family?"

"He was, but managed to get back early. Hey, Mom I'll explain later when we get there."

"Okay. See you in a few." Lorelai replied, confused at Rory's strange behavior.

"Bye Mom." Rory hung up the phone and turned her attention to Logan.

"So I guess were going to Luke's?" He moved across the room to where Rory was standing.

"I guess so. I didn't want to say anything that would make her ask all kinds of questions, but I think the questions will come anyway."

"Lets just go an enjoy ourselves; we can talk about the baby later." Logan pulled Rory into his arms and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"Deal." she smiled looking into Logan's eyes as he gave her a smile. Hand in hand the couple walked out the door making their way toward Luke's.