A/N: New chapter! So..I realized that I had completely dropped the Lane/Dave storyline, therefore there is some Kim family fun in this chapter. I hope you like it!

Chapter Sixteen: I Don't Get It

"Letters come this week, babe," Lorelai said enthusiastically, giving her daughter's shoulder a hearty squeeze. "Can you believe it?"

"I think I need more coffee," Rory admitted, smiling gratefully when Luke refilled her cup. "Thanks Luke."

"You're not worried, are you?" Lorelai asked. "You're gonna do great, kid." She looked to Luke. "Hey Luke, tell her how great she is going to do."

"They'd be stupid to not take you," he said as he placed a burger in front of Kirk.

"I ordered a Greek salad," Kirk said.

"No, you didn't," Luke answered. "We don't have a Greek salad."

"Why not? It's just a regular salad with a different dressing."

"Yeah, and Greek olives and feta cheese."

"Those are just extras," Kirk said.

"No, Kirk, those are what make it a Greek salad."

"But-"

"Just eat your damn burger."

"I'm not nervous about college," Rory said after a moment. "Well, not really. I just wish it wasn't this week. I mean, I'm going with Logan to see his son tomorrow and I just don't think I can handle anymore drama this week."

"So, you're really doing it?" Lorelai asked.

Rory nodded. "Yes, after making up an entire story to Paris as to why I was doing so much research on Santa Barbara, I am doing it."

"What did you tell her?"

"That you wanted to get married there," Rory said innocently.

"Excuse me?" Lorelai gasped. "I don't even have a groom."

"Minor detail," Rory said. "And besides, Paris doesn't know that."

"It's Paris, Rory. She will find out."

"Well, as long as she doesn't find out until after tomorrow. It really doesn't matter."

"How is Logan doing?"

Rory flinched.

"He's, um, a bit nervous."

She thought of the day before when he had nearly stopped the entire thing.

"I don't want to do it," he said, pacing quickly in his apartment. "I can't do it."

"Logan, you can do this," Rory had said, putting a placating hand on his shoulder.

"It's not that simple, Rory." She flinched at the usage of her real name. He only did that when he was groveling or upset.

"Maybe it is," she offered.

"Dammit, it's not!" She stepped away from him, surprised by his outburst. "This is my life, Rory. It isn't a walk in Stars Hollow. I have no idea what to expect. What if the kid hates me?"

"He's three," she reminded him.

"His mother probably made him biased. She didn't want to be found. We shouldn't have found her."

"You need this, Logan."

"No, I need to forget this," he said, beginning to pace again.

"Logan, you can't just run away from this. You have a child."

"My dad was right. It was better that way."

"I can't believe you're saying this," Rory argued. "You're better than this, Logan."

"No, Rory, this is who I am," he told her soberly. "Whether you like it or not, this is who I am. I wasn't raised away from this life like you. All of this is who I am and there is nothing I can do about it."

"Do you really believe that?" She asked, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself in check. "Do you honestly believe that?"

He paused and she found her answer.

"This is your chance, Logan," she said softly, moving closer. "This is your chance."

He shook his head and gathered her into his arms, holding her tight. "You're right," he murmured. "You're right."

"It'll be difficult," Rory told her mother. "But he'll get through it."

"Well, it's a good thing that you'll be with him. Make sure he doesn't bail."

"He won't," Rory said uncertainly. "It's just a good thing that I'll be there for him."

Lorelai caught her daughter's uncertainty and said, "Sure, hon."

RLRLRLRLRLRLRL

"I feel like I'm going to vomit," Logan said. They were sitting on the plane to Santa Barbara and Rory reached over and took his hand.

"Everything will be okay."

"I wonder if he looks like me."

"There's a good chance of that."

Logan looked around him and lamented, "Why did we choose to fly commercial?"

"So that your father would not know you were going," she reminded him. "We could hardly take his jet without him noticing."

He nodded. "Good point."

"Oh, I brought something," Rory said, going into her purse. She pulled out a Bob The Builder book and said, "I thought maybe you'd want to give it to your son."

"You bought him something?" He asked.

She nodded.

"You bought my son with another woman something?"

She nodded again, beginning to feel nervous. He calmed her nerves by pressing his lips to hers. "You are the best thing that could have happened to me, Ace."

She grinned and answered, "Back at you."

"I actually got him something, though."

"You did?"

He went into his backpack and pulled out a bundle of Sesame Street DVDs.

"I looked online and it said that kids his age liked Sesame Street a lot," he explained. She grinned and told him, "It's perfect, Logan."

"We can give him your gift, too, though."

"No," she said shaking her head. "Yours is better. I'll give it to one of Sookie's."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," she said nodding. "I'm sure."

The pilot announced that they were going to begin the landing and she took Logan's hand.

"It's almost time," she whispered.

RLRLRLRLRLLRLRLRLRLRL

"I want to tell my mom that we are dating," Lane said. Dave looked at her for a moment before he spoke, waiting for the punch line of her cruel joke.

"You want to tell Mrs. Kim?"

"Yes."

"You do know which Mrs. Kim I am referring to, right?"

"Yes, Dave, we only know on Mrs. Kim."

"Wow," Dave said. "So, we're telling your mom."

"Well, I figure it's about time," Lane reasoned. "We love each other."

"True."

"It's the logical next step."

Dave nodded.

"And she likes you."

"Yes, as the guitarist in your Christian band. Not your boyfriend."

"That is a small technicality," Lane assured him. "She'll like you."

He didn't look convinced and she added, "I'll be here, too. You know, for moral support."

"When are we telling her?"

"Lane, I'm home!" Mrs. Kim called out. "I'm going to make wheat sprout bread. Very good for health."

"How about now?" Lane said.

"What?"

"She's baking and Mrs. Kim is never happier than when she is baking."

He sighed. "Fine, let's get it over with."

Lane led Dave into the kitchen and said, "Hello Mama."

"Hello Lane," she noticed Dave next to her and nodded her head in greeting. "Dave."

"Hello Mrs. Kim," Dave said politely.

"Mama, we have something to tell you," Lane began. "I'd ask you to please not interrupt until I'm finished."

Mrs. Kim turned and nodded.

"Dave and I are together."

Mrs. Kim paused for a moment and then nodded. "Okay."

She turned back to her baking and Lane added, "We are together as in romantically together, Mama. We are a couple."

"I understood, Lane."

Lane looked at Dave in confusion and asked, "So, you approve, Mama?"

"Dave is good boy," Mrs. Kim said.

"Yes, he is," Lane said slowly.

"You stay for dinner," Mrs. Kim said to Dave. "I make kimchee dumplings, very good when dipped in tea."

"Alright," Dave said with a smile. "That sounds delicious."

Mrs. Kim nodded firmly to show that the conversation had ended and Lane and Dave left the kitchen. While Dave was ecstatic, Lane was unsettled.

"That was too easy," she said.

"Lane, your mom approves of me."

"But you're not Korean," Lane said, not understanding. "How could she approve of you?"

"Lane, this is a good thing," he said, pulling her into a hug.

"I don't get it."

He chuckled and said, "Come on, let's grab some food at Luke's."

As they left Lane repeated, "I don't get it."

RLRLLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL

"She's done well for herself," Logan noted as they stand in front of the infamous Amy's house.

"Your dad's hefty check probably helped," Rory said softly.

A pained grin filled his face as he answered, "Good point. Well, the landscaping looks good. Do you see those trees? What are they, oak?"

"Your stalling is not getting past me," she told him. "My mom does it every Friday in front of my grandparent's house."

"I'm scared," he admitted.

"It's time to jump," she said softly, taking his hand firmly in her own. He nodded and took a deep breath before giving the door a few succinct knocks. Moments later an attractive blonde opened the door.

"Logan," she said after a beat.

"Hi Amy."

A little boy waddled his way to the door and Logan grasped her hand so tightly that she feared she would lose circulation. A little boy with eyes that undoubtedly mirrored Logan's looked up at them and offered a hearty greeting. Amy scooped him up and asked, "What do you want?"

"I wanted to talk to you," he said. When she glanced at Rory he quickly said, "This is my girlfriend, Rory."

"Nice to meet you," Amy said without much emotion. "Logan, there is nothing to talk about."

"Please," Logan pleaded.

"You haven't come in three years," she reminded him pointedly. "Why now?"

"I realized that I made a mistake. Please, just let me talk to you."

Amy sighed and stepped to the side. "Fine, come in."

"You have a nice place here," he told her.

"Yes, compliments of Mitchum Huntzberger," Amy said bitterly. "He informed me that he didn't want his grandson living in a slum, bastard or not."

"My father is an ass," Logan told her.

"And you're not?" She asked.

"That's what I'm hoping to prove today."

She motioned for them to sit down in a wonderfully furnished sitting room. Rory looked around, taking note of the large number of toys lying around. The little boy flew from his mother's arms the second she put him down and began playing with a toy truck.

"What's his name?" Logan asked after a moment, watching his son push the truck back and forth.

"Aiden."

"Aiden," Logan repeated. "It's a nice name."

"What are you doing here, Logan? We're doing fine without you."

"I never should have cut you off," Logan told her. "Aiden deserves a father.
"

The little boy looked up at the sound of his name and beat his chest as he proudly announced, "I'm Aiden."

"Yes, sweetie, your name is Aiden," Amy said sweetly, eliciting a toothy grin from her son.

"He looks just like you," Logan said softly.

"He has your eyes," Amy answered.

"I want to be a part of his life," Logan told her, watching Aiden play with his toys.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Amy said carefully, her eyes following her son. "He gets very attached. I don't want him to grow attached to you and then be hurt when you leave."

"I won't leave."

"Yes, you will," she said firmly. "You left the first time."

"I was seventeen."

"That's no excuse," she said harshly. "I was seventeen, too, and I dealt with it. This isn't spring break anymore, Logan. This isn't something that you can enjoy for a few days and then decide you've had enough. This is a little boy, a precious little boy."

"I know," Logan told her, his voice breaking with emotion. "I know. I want to be there for him."

"You're in college now, aren't you?"

He nodded.

"How do you expect to be a father here and a student?"

"I would make it work."

"You're not superhuman, Logan. Things don't just work because you say they will."

Rory felt him tense beside her and took his hand in hers.

"He's my son," Logan said.

"That ended the minute your father sent me the check."

"And I have regretted that every day since."

He went to say more but stopped when Aiden walked up to him, holding a Bob The Builder doll. Aiden looked up at him and asked, "Do you like Bob The Builder?"

Logan didn't answer for a moment and Rory said, "Logan loves Bob The Builder. Look, he even brought a book for you."

She went in her purse and pulled out the Bob The Builder book. Aiden took it in his small hands and gazed up at Logan with a large grin. "For me?"

Logan nodded, forcing himself to talk around the lump in his throat. "Yeah, buddy, that's for you."

Aiden lowered himself into a squat as he placed the doll on the floor and grabbed onto Logan's knees as he stood up straight, taking the book from Rory. Amy watched the entire exchange in silence, tears streaming down her tanned cheeks.

"Aiden, what did I teach you?" She asked in a motherly tone. Aiden looked at Amy and then back to Logan, mumbling a soft, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Logan answered.

Aiden padded towards the kitchen and Amy moved swiftly, picking him up and murmuring, "Where do you think you're going, mister?"

"I want a snack," he said.

"Alright, well, you stay with Logan and Rory and I will get you a juice box. Okay?"

He nodded heartily and she set him down. She eyed Logan warily for a moment but he assured her, "I won't do anything."

"I'll be right in the next room," she warned him.

"Get him his juice box."

She hesitated and then went into the kitchen.

"I feel like a convict," Logan muttered, rubbing Rory's arm as he watched Aiden go through the book. "Thanks for giving him the book, by the way. I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it," she told him. "Look how happy he looks."

Aiden was giggling at a picture and Logan felt a pull in his chest that he hadn't felt before. Amy walked back into the room and her face relaxed the moment she saw them all sitting. She handed Aiden his juice box and then sat down by Logan again.

"So, you want to be a part of his life?"

Logan nodded.

"I don't want him to know you're his father."

"What?"

"I don't trust you enough, yet."

"We'll only hurt him by not telling the truth," Logan argued. "It will destroy him to suddenly find out one day that I'm his father."

"We will tell him," she said. "You need to prove that you're serious about this first."

"Amy-"

"You are to call every day. I don't care how long the phone call is or when you call, granted it has to be when he is awake, but I want contact every single day."

"Okay, I can do that."

"You are to visit every month. You will come here. I don't want him around your college friends."

"Understandable," Logan answered. "He would be safe, though. I wouldn't let anything happen to him."

"One step at a time," she told him wearily. "You should be happy I am even letting you call him."

"I wish you would trust me," Logan said. "I want to be a constant in his life. I'm not here because I thought it would be fun to have a son for a day."

"I know," she said. "But I need to be sure that you won't bolt one day."

He nodded. "So, daily calls and monthly visits?"

"Yes."

"Is that it?"

"For now," she said with a sigh. "If you prove to be reliable, well, then we will take it from there."

"I want to be a part of his life, Amy," he said softly, and in a voice as gentle as his she answered, "I know."

"So, where do we go from here?" He asked.

She glanced at Aiden who was sucking absentmindedly on his juice box and asked, "Would you like to spend some time with him?"

RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL

"Dinner went well," Dave said outside the Kim's front door. Lane nodded, crossing her arms over her chest for warmth. "That's a good thing, Lane."

"I just don't get it," Lane said for nearly the tenth time that night.

"Your mom likes me," he said. "What is there to get?"

"She never likes anyone who is not Korean. May I remind you of Henry?"

"Who's Henry?"

"My first boyfriend."

"I am not aware of this Henry."

"He was my boyfriend and my mom hated him because he wasn't Korean. And he was at least Asian."

"But, she likes me," Dave said. "I don't see where the problem is."

"She's up to something," Lane said suddenly. "That's it."

Dave sighed and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "I love you, Lane, but you are being ridiculous."

Lane gave in and told him, "I love you, too, and I'm sorry."

"Dave, you forget left-overs," Mrs. Kim said upon opening the door, handing them to Dave. She went back in immediately and Lane stared at the closed door for a moment and then back at Dave. He pursed his lips into a frown and said, "Let me guess, you don't get it?"

RLRLRLRLRLRLRLRLRL

"That went well," Rory noted on the flight back to Hartford.

"It did," he agreed.

"He seemed to like you a lot," Rory said with a grin. "I still can't believe you did puppets."

"And he loved it," Logan answered with a similar grin. "My cookie monster is spot on, admit it."

"You're good. I can't deny that. So, are you calling him tonight?"

He nodded. "Amy said that the whole arrangement officially starts tomorrow, but to be honest I can't wait to call him when I get back."

"Are you going to tell your dad?"

He nodded.

"What are you going to tell him?"

"The truth. If I really want to do this, I can't keep it a secret."

"I'm proud of you," she said, squeezing his hand. "I'm really proud of you."

"I'm proud of myself. I'm doing the right thing for once."

"You are," she agreed.

RLRLRLRLRLRLRL

"Mom, I'm home!" Rory called out, walking into the house.

"Rory!" Lorelai called out, running to meet her in the living room. "Sit down!"

"What?"

"Trust me, sit down."

Rory sat down on the couch, eyeing her mom warily. "What's going on? I think I've had more than enough excitement for one day."

"Well, babe, you're about to get more. They're here."

"What are?"

Lorelai pulled a few letters out from behind her back and said, "The letters, hon, the letters are here."

A/N: Let me know what you thought!!