Gilmore Girls

Wu Feng Qi Lang

A/N: As the summary says the title means 'creating waves without wind.' It's Chinese. Rory does tell Logan her news in this chapter. I guess last chapter was more confusing then I meant it to be. I re-read it and there are a few things I'd like to change but I just don't have time. I will explore how Rory let herself become a trophy in the next few chapters. Hope you like. Gen. xx

Summary: Rory doesn't want to do this anymore. (Creating Waves Without Wind.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls nor am I affiliated with it in anyway. I have taken the title from 'Falling Leaves' by Adeline Yen Mah.

Chapter Two: Ripping off the Band-aid

'You can't steal a bell while covering your ears.' Adeline Yen Mah.

Rory strolled into the quaint tea-room her grandmother was holding the DAR meeting at. She pressed her lips together and realised she had left her lipgloss in the car. Her mouth, her lips were so dry that she could almost feel them sticking together, unable to pull apart. She turned to quickly run out to her black convertible (to flee the meeting or just get her lipgloss, who knew?) but was stopped by her grandmother.

"Rory! I am so glad you're here. I could use your opinion on the table settings," Emily twittered. Rory pasted a smile onto her face and let Emily drag her inside the room.

"I think the place looks great, Grandma," Rory said. "The table settings are fantastic. Really."

"They're not too much?" Emily asked, wringing her hands.

"No, Grandma," she said. She leaned over and kissed her grandmother on the cheek (Emily was not going to take Rory's news very well). Emily flinched momentarily, not used to the contact but recovered quickly and squeezed Rory's hand.

"Is everything okay, dear?" she asked. She narrowed her eyes and appraised Rory all over. (Saw her, really saw her). "What's wrong, Rory? Is it Logan or something else?"

"Something else entirely, Grandma," Rory said. She smiled softly. "Not here and now, okay?"

"Okay," Emily said, uneasily. She still looked uncertain. "You will make sure to tell me, wont you?"

"Of course. It's something I have to discuss with Logan first but," she replied. Emily's face immediately brightened and a smile appeared on her face.

"You're not?" she gasped. Rory looked at her confused. "Pregnant?"

"Oh. No, Grandma, I'm not," Rory replied, a small laugh. She thought she saw Emily's eyes dim a little (not thought, did) but they both kept on smiling anyway. They were blessed to be interrupted.

-

"Rory, is everything okay?" Honor asked. She shook the girl who had become her friend by default (and not an unpleasant one at that). Rory took in a deep breath and glanced at her friend.

"If I tell you something, do you promise not to freak out?" Rory asked.

"I can't promise anything," Honor said, airily. "After all, this is the country club. People come here to freak out. Saves a fortune in newspaper fees and the like."

"This is serious," Rory whispered fiercely. Immediately Honor's eyes widen and she grins.

"Rory Hayden, you are pregnant, aren't you?" she asked. "Oh, I am so excited. Jeffrey and Lucinda need a cousin."

"I'm not pregnant," Rory answered quickly. "I'm not even sure I want to have kids."

"What? Of course you do," Honor replied. She shook her head. "If you're not pregnant, then what is going on?"

"I'm just not happy," she whispered. A small, lone tear worked its way down her face and fell down her chin. She looked up from the table and into Honor's eyes. "Your brother is going to kill me."

Honor's reaction was exactly what she was looking for, exactly what she thought.

This was crazy but for some reason, she wanted to do it anyway.

-

She didn't want to tell him. she didn't want to do it. she didn't want to break his heart. If only there was another way. Maybe if she leaked it to enough people, it would get back to him. Maybe…

She was a coward.

-

"So, what's the big news?" Logan asked with a big grin on her face. He sat across from Rory and reached for her hand. She let him take it and watched as their fingers lay intertwined. She inhaled and then blew out the breath, causing the hairs that were currently in her eyes to blow around.

"Are you sure you want to do this here, not at home?" she asked. "Or possibly somewhere you hate and won't be worried about never returning too?"

"Is it that bad?" he asked, his face dimming a bit. He went to pull his hand away but Rory grabbed harder and pulled his arm so hard that he knocked a glass of red wine onto the pristine white tablecloth. (Could she let him go? Could she? Could he let her go?)

"Sorry," she said, closing her eyes. She opened them again and looked up nervously at the waitress who seemed to appear out of thin air beside her. She bit her lip and let go of Logan's hand as the girl expertly cleaned the tablecloth. "I bet it happens all the time."

"It rarely happens at all," the girl practically growled. She glared at Rory who shot her another apologetic look. Logan looked like he was going to laugh but at them same time he was concerned about what Rory could have to say.

"I'm really sorry," Rory shrugged. "It was an accident. I'm happy to pay to get it cleaned or for a new tablecloth."

"That won't be necessary but thank you," the girl replied. Rory offered her a smile again and she skulked off.

"Oops," Rory said. Logan had chosen now and sat on the edge of his seat, leaning towards her. (Why oh why did he have this sinking feeling in his gut?)

"I want to know exactly what this new is," he said suddenly. (Did he, did he really?)

"Oh, okay. Umm, sure," Rory replied. "Here? Are you sure?" (Are you, are you really?)

"Yes," he whispered. (No, said his head. You do not want to know.)

"Okay," she said. She leaned forward slightly and cleared her throat. "Umm, Logan, I have been offered a job in Paris."

"Okay," he replied. No emotion showed on his face. (But oh, to see the look in his eyes).

"Lauren from L'Oreal called me and asked if I'd like to go over there for two years to look after their press releases and the like," she said. "And I said I'd talk to you about it but I would really like to say yes. I loved working there before we get married. Why not go back?"

"Sure," he said. Rory was taken aback. (Taken aback? She was floored).

"'Sure?'" she gulped. "What do you mean 'sure'?"

"Well, why not? I mean, you want to go back to work and you love Paris. It's only for two years, right?" he replied nonchalantly. "I didn't think you'd be able to leave your parents but."

"I'm sure they won't notice," Rory replied. She looked at Logan. Looked hard at Logan. "Logan, are you okay?"

"Sure, I'm fine. My wife just told me she wants to go to Paris for two years for work."

"And you're okay with it?" she asked, confused and if she admitted it, hurt. (Hurt? She was devastated).

"So what does this mean for us?" he asked.

"I don't know. It means that we're apart for two years and then I come home and we're together again," she shrugged. "I guess I hadn't really thought about."

"Right. Apart for two years. Like Sherry was only going to be in Paris for two years?" Logan asked. "Sherry is your ex-stepmother, Rory. Heavy emphasis on the ex. I think it's a great idea. But, hey, why don't we skip the whole time thing and get divorced before you go. Or I could come with you. How about it, Ace? You and me in Paris for more than a Valentines Day weekend?"

"Logan, I don't know if that's such a good idea. I mean, I'll be working all the time and what will you do over there? I can't ask you to take two years off," she said.

"You don't want me to go, do you?" he asked. (She didn't have to answer). His voice broke a little but he somehow managed to squeeze out the next few words. "You're serious about this. Are you sure you don't want the divorce?"

(Please say no please say no please say no).

"No," she said adamantly. She shook her head and closed her eyes tight. Her voice seemed to squeak. "I don't want a divorce. I just want to go to Paris. I just want to work again."

"Why in Paris? Why can't you just get a job over here?" he asked.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I don't have to take it. I said I'd wait. That I'd talk to you before I made my decision. I mean, it's a great opportunity."

"But you didn't wait," he said. "You've already made up your mind. Haven't you?"

"Yes," she admitted, rocking ever-so-slightly as she said it.

"Why bother pretending to ask my opinion then? You knew you were going to take the job. Bringing me here and 'asking' my opinion was more of a formality wasn't it?" he asked. She made no move to answer so he leant across the table, further than was polite and hissed into her face. "Wasn't it?"

"Yes. No. I don't know, Logan. Okay? I don't know," she said (or did she shout it?) People were starting to stare and she was starting to feel uncomfortable.

"I have an idea. Let's not think about it anymore. Let's celebrate," he decided. He stood up and tapped the side of his glass with a fork. "Hey! Hey, can I have everybody's attention please? My wife is leaving me to go work in Paris for two years and I think its cause for celebration so please, a toast. To Rory. Good luck in Paris!"

A few people half-heartedly raised their glasses and muttered an agreement, a table full of drunken people joined wholeheartedly in but the majority of the restaurant ignored him or looked at him as if he was crazy, drunk or both.

Rory lowered her head into her hands and sighed. (How did you think he was going to take it, Hayden? How? You thought it would be easy. You've been looking forward to this).

Even she didn't know why.

-

She skulked around the house quietly, taking in deep breaths occasionally. She opened a closet door and ran her fingers over the silky white fabric of her wedding dress. This wasn't like Dad and Sherry. No, not at all. This is worse because she loves Logan and he loves her. (Not together out of circumstance but together out of necessity. Cant bear to be apart).

The more she thought about it, Rory did know why she wanted to go and did know why she had to go alone by herself but it seemed stupid. Her marriage should have meant more to her than a job but her marriage was the only thing people knew about her.

Her marriage and her parents.

She crawled into bed next to Logan and he lay still as she slid an arm around him and placed her head on his chest. (He didn't push her away. Didn't have the strength).

"I don't understand why you have to go to Paris," he said. "I could get you a place on one of our papers."

"Exactly. I got this job offer on my own," she replied. "I didn't need your help."

And then it becomes so abundantly clear. This is a pride thing. And they are silent but they do not move.

(Maybe they can lie there and pretend nothing has changed).

Next chapter will show Luke's reaction and will also explain what happened to Lorelai and Chris.