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Rory left after lunch. She and Lane ate peanut butter sandwiches, as though they were in Kindergarten, with a glass of grape juice besides. It seemed impossible to Rory that it had been practically twenty years since they had met on that warm fall afternoon on the first day of school.
After lunch Mrs Kim had come back with Lane's noisy twin boys and, after they had attached themselves like limpets to Rory's legs and woken up Nico, Rory decided it was time to go, certified by Mrs Kim asking her if she was a good wife and not scaring her husband away with her independence. Rory promised to see them all again soon and left the house with cries of, "Bye Aunt Rory!" from Steve and Kwan.
Rory released a sigh as she turned the corner of the street. Lane's house was small and stifling and she walked to the lake where she closed her eyes and took in deep breaths, glad to be outside. Then she opened her eyes, feeling guilty, and turned to walk back home.
Lorelai was home when she got back and she had brought Sookie, who had come with the kids and a large basket of food. There was high excitement and lots of tears and by the time Sookie left it was late afternoon. Rory sat down on the couch, feeling heavy, and Lorelai mused,
"Logan's taking an awfully long time."
Rory hadn't even realised but she nodded.
"He must have got hold up."
"How was your afternoon?" Lorelai asked, making coffee. "Did you see Lane?"
"Yeah, and the baby."
"Cool, how was she?"
"Fine. Tired."
"She'll be fine," Lorelai said confidently. Rory opened her mouth to answer but found she had nothing to say. A glance at the clock showed they would be going to Emily and Richard's in an hour and she silently groaned and closed her eyes.
Logan got back just as they finished their cups. His face was red with excitement and he exclaimed,
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"I bought a car!" Logan shouted, pulling Rory up and dragging her outside. "Look! And there's one for you too, I left it at the shop so you can see it when we move."
"I – you what?"
Rory slowly walked down the steps to see a shiny black car parked in the drive, impossibly sleek.
"A car?" she said, turning to face her husband. "I thought we were going to pick one out together."
"You didn't want to come to Hartford," Logan said accusingly. "I figured I'd kill two birds with one stone."
Rory was silent and he said,
"What, don't you like it?"
"It's fine, I just thought we'd be picking it out together. I was looking forward to it."
"I didn't think you'd mind," Logan said, beginning to sound slightly sour. "It's my car anyway – it's the one I'll take to work. You don't have to like it."
Rory looked at him and he said hastily,
"I mean, if you hate it, you don't have to ride in it."
"You said you chose one for me too," Rory said, trying not to feel aggravated. "Shouldn't I get a say in that?"
"Jesus, Rory, I didn't buy it! I just set aside one I thought you would like!"
Rory looked away and Logan sighed. He gave her a boyish smile and said,
"I'm pretty confident with your taste, Ace."
Rory knew he hadn't meant any harm, that she should smile back, but all she could say was,
"I wanted to be there to see it."
Logan's smile faded and he said angrily,
"Then you should have come to Hartford with me."
Lorelai's steps sounded on the porch and, before Rory could reply, she called,
"Guys, we need to start getting ready. Hey, that's some cool car, Logan! Can I drive it?"
"Sure," Logan said, glaring at Rory. "I'm glad someone appreciates it, at least!"
He turned and marched up the steps to the house.
Rory changed for dinner. She knew she didn't have to, that what she was wearing was suitable, but she chose a dress all the same, feeling, as she stepped out of her pants and took off her blouse, that she was going to Friday Night Dinner all over again and calculating what time she should start her homework when she got back. She had just lifted her arms to slide on the dress when Logan was suddenly behind her, cupping her breasts in his hands and kissing her neck. Rory jumped and dropped the dress.
"Jesus, Logan!"
"Someone's jumpy," Logan teased. "Relax, it's just me."
She let him nuzzle her neck for a while but as he squeezed her breast she pushed him away and said,
"Logan, my mother is upstairs."
"Yeah, upstairs, not down here," Logan grinned. Rory shook her head.
"We have to leave for dinner in fifteen minutes."
"There's a lot which can be done in fifteen minutes," Logan teased. "Or even five."
"Logan!"
"Rory, relax!" Logan exclaimed, stepping away from her. "We're married, remember? Even if your mom walked in – so what?"
"You want Mom to see it? I thought that time at the wedding would have put you off."
"No, I don't want her to, God. I'm just saying that we're married and we're not two horny kids anymore. Well," he said, jerking his head slightly with a smirk. "Half true."
Rory rolled her eyes and turned back to the mirror. She slid the dress on, hastily zipping it up, and turned back to face her husband.
"I could have helped with that," Logan said. Rory shrugged and they fell silent. Logan sat on the bed.
"I went to see Lane today," she told him, sliding her stockings up. "It's been way too long."
"How is she?"
"Tired. The baby's still so little."
"What does Lane do, sit around all day?"
"Lane's managing three kids under the age of four," Rory snapped. "I think she's amazing."
"I'm sure she is," Logan commented. "But rather her than me."
Rory had thought the exact same thing earlier but didn't want to admit it. She felt her cheeks go red and searched for her shoes.
"Come on, Rory," Logan said, his mind back to a more pressing matter. "Couldn't we do one thing before dinner?"
She was kneeling in front of him and suddenly caught sight of his burgeoning erection. She sat back on her heels, unsure of what to say, when suddenly there was a knock on the door and Lorelai came in.
"Hey guys," she said as Rory quickly got to her feet. "Have you finished with the bathroom?"
"Logan still needs to go," Rory said, making her husband glare. "But he'll be quick."
"Hey, it's fine by me if he wants to make us late," Lorelai joked. "This dinner will go for hours."
"I won't be long, Lorelai," Logan said. She nodded, closed the door and Logan snapped,
"I can answer for myself, thanks."
"You hadn't been," Rory said defensively. "And Mom came in - that's exactly why I didn't want to have sex."
He shot her a look, left the room and Rory heaved a sigh, wondering, as she did the buckles up on her shoes, why she was thinking saved by the bell.
The road was clear to Hartford. Rory could tell Logan was still annoyed but she tried to cover it up in front of her mother by asking brightly,
"How was the apartment?"
"Ours," Logan said briefly. "All signed."
His words were pleasant but Rory was sure he was silently asking if she cared. Lorelai didn't notice and instead pondered out loud if Satan arranged it for clear traffic whenever she had a dinner with her mother.
They pulled up to Emily and Richard's house, which seemed more imposing than ever, and knocked on the door. A frightened maid answered, almost dropping their coats, and scampering away as Emily marched up to them and said gleefully,
"Come in, come in!"
They came in and Emily hugged Rory tightly.
"It has been far too long," she said affectionately. "Though I certainly forgive you and this young man for taking you away."
"Couldn't resist her," Logan grinned and they both started laughing. Rory managed a weak smile.
"Come on," Emily said. "We're all in the living room."
"We're?" Lorelai echoed and they stopped in surprise at the sight of Christopher and Gigi sitting on the sofa, Christopher in a suit and Gigi in a blue velvet dress.
"Dad?" Rory exclaimed, going to hug him. "What are you doing here?"
"I wouldn't miss a chance to see my favourite daughter!" Christopher laughed and, turning back to Gigi adding, "my other favourite daughter!"
"I didn't know you were coming?"
"Why, are you mad at me?" Christopher teased and Rory hugged him, shaking her head. She broke away and went to hug her sister, who seemed to have doubled in size since they had last seen each other.
"Sit down, everyone!" Emily announced. "Drinks all round? Logan, a brandy? Lorelai, Rory, would you like a martini?"
They nodded but, as Richard started to mix the drinks, Emily asked pointedly,
"Unless you would rather have a Coke, Rory?"
"No," Rory said, confused and then, "Oh, no, Grandma. A martini is fine."
She felt her cheeks go red and, as she sat down, Gigi leaned over and whispered,
"Is it because martinis taste better?"
"Yeah," Rory said dully. "Something like that."
Dinner was braised lamb shank with potatoes and peas. They ate heartily and Richard asked,
"So, Rory, tell me all your news! Are you still a budding journalist?"
"Well," Rory said awkwardly. "I'm trying."
She bent over her plate again and Richard asked,
"Trying?" Rory looked up to see him frown. "Who isn't taking you on? They must be crazy."
"Everyone must be," Rory tried to joke. "It's hard finding work."
"Oh, Rory, you don't need to work," Emily said comfortingly. "You're married, that's work enough!"
"Excuse me?" Lorelai asked, putting her fork down. "Rory shouldn't lose her ambition just because she's married."
"I'm not saying that, Lorelai! I just meant that it wouldn't hurt anyone to take some time," Emily retorted. "They can afford to, there's nothing wrong with it. I never worked."
"Did you ever want to be a journalist?"
"That's not the point. If Rory wants to take a break, that's fine. Maybe she'll have a reason to soon," Emily added, her eyes sparkling and Rory, tired, said,
"I'm not pregnant, Grandma."
There was a sudden, embarrassed silence. Rory picked up her fork and started eating again, to avoid having to talk, but Gigi asked curiously,
"Do you want to get pregnant?"
"Gigi!" Christopher exclaimed. "You can't ask that!"
"Why not?" his daughter asked belligerently. "Rory just told Grandma she wasn't!"
"That's different," Christopher said, though the uncomfortable looks of everyone showed that it wasn't very. "It's not polite. Now eat your lamb."
"But –"
"Gigi!"
Gigi bent down and began to eat grudgingly. Rory resumed eating as well - it appeared that Sookie's feast had not destroyed her appetite. Richard coughed and said,
"Have you thought about getting a membership at the club?"
"The club?" Rory asked, confused, and Richard said,
"The club, Rory! My club! You'll be living in Hartford soon and the timing is perfect."
"Oh," Rory said shyly. "I don't know, Grandpa."
"Why on earth not?" Richard demanded. "I remember the time I took you there clear as day, you adored it."
"I was sixteen."
"What difference does that make? If anything, I'd say you'd appreciate it even more now. You can get a wonderful discount for being married - a family discount."
Rory took another large bite of food. She remembered that day too – she'd dreaded it and then had a wonderful time, disastrous golfing aside. The grounds had been beautiful and she'd enjoyed lunching with her grandfather's friends, taking a steam and reporting back gossip. Her mother had been shocked and she felt herself blush again as Richard said firmly,
"You slotted right in. Everyone will be thrilled to see you come back, a graduate from Yale and marred straight after – well, those who are still alive, at least."
"Richard!"
"I'll think about it, Grandpa," Rory said and Lorelai said loudly,
"So did I tell you about the guest at the Dragonfly who had a fetish for linen?"
They left a few hours later. Gigi was falling asleep but as she hugged her sister goodbye she said,
"I'd think it would be cool if you got pregnant. I'd like to be an aunt."
"Aren't you a little young to be an aunt?" Rory joked uneasily. Her sister was seven years old but secretly she was thinking that she was rather young to be a mother. Gigi shook her head.
"Katie at school is already an aunt. Why don't you want to have a baby?"
"Gigi, let's go!" Christopher called and she hugged Rory one last time before running to join her father.
Rory looked over to see Logan shaking her father's hand goodbye. He and Christopher had always got along, during the few times they had met, and Rory wondered if it was something to do about both causing trouble at school. Christopher groaned enviously as Logan described his car.
"Sounds sweet," he said, sounding as though he was sixteen. "Can I drive it?"
"Sure," Logan said. "Rory's getting one too."
"Yeah? Is it at as cool as yours?"
"I don't know," Logan said icily, glancing at Rory. "She hasn't chosen it yet."
Rory bit her lip and a small voice said,
"Daddy, can I get in the car?"
Gig had been waiting patiently and Christopher laughed, picking her up. She was seven years old but he still treated her several years younger.
"Sorry, kid," he said, eyes twinkling. "Got carried away with guy stuff."
"Yuck," Gigi said loudly as he buckled her up. "Bye, Rory."
"Bye," Rory said, waving goodbye as they drove away. Gigi had always felt more of a cousin than a sister. She could never settle on what her father was to her and smiled in relief to see Lorelai drive the car round, freeing her from her guilty thoughts.
Lorelai drove back in near silence. There was a uncomfortable silence in the car, frosty as ice, and Lorelai quickly said she was going to bed as soon as they got in rather than staying up to talk. Rory kissed her goodnight and went into her bedroom, slipping her dress off, Logan right behind.
"Couldn't wait to correct your grandmother, could you?"
"What are you talking about?" Rory asked. The dress was now a pool of pink material at her feet and she stepped out of it, gathering it up and putting it on the desk.
"You were too happy to say you weren't pregnant."
"She was annoying me," Rory said, turning to take her underwear off and put on her pyjamas. "All those gross hints."
"You said it pretty bluntly."
"Somehow I didn't think a hint would get through."
"Not exactly appropriate for dinner."
"Neither's dropping hints about the state of my uterus!" Rory snapped. "And since when do you, Logan Huntzburger, care about being appropriate?"
Her husband fell silent. Rory put the dress on a hanger and got into bed.
"Why does it bother you so much?"
"Excuse me? Would you like being constantly asked if you're pregnant?"
"Somehow I don't think I'll ever be asked that," Logan remarked. "But why were you so mad at the idea?"
"I wasn't mad at the idea," Rory said, heart thumping. "But it's no one's business."
"Would it be so terrible?"
Rory stopped and stared at her husband.
"What are you saying? You want us to have a baby?"
Logan didn't say anything and Rory said accusingly, her heart racing,
"You were just saying how you were glad you weren't Lane a few hours ago and now you want to knock me up?"
"No! I don't mean right now, but even if it did happen right now, it wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it?"
Rory couldn't breathe. She stared down at the covers and said,
"I'm only twenty-five."
"And that's the prime age to have a kid!"
"Says who?"
"Doctors!"
"Then the doctor can have the baby!" Rory snapped. "I'm not ready to be a mother! Forget it!"
She and Logan stared at each other and then Logan's head drooped. He took off his suit, got into his pyjamas and he crawled into bed with her.
"Rory, I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"Let's forget it," he said, squeezing her hand. "Let's start all over."
"Okay," Rory nodded. He lay silently beside her and then said,
"How about that country club?"
"You want to join? You're not serious."
"Why not? We'd get a discount and it sounds like the place has great benefits."
Rory was silent and he asked,
"Why the hell not? You went, you liked it."
"It's for wealthy people," Rory said eventually. Logan looked at her and laughed.
"Rory, we went to prep schools, then to Yale and I'm co-chairing part of the company. Look at us. Hell, look at the way we dress. We are wealthy people."
Rory couldn't say anything. Her mind was filled with a bizarre image of her and Logan strolling around the grounds, using their family discount. It seemed absurd. The bed was too small for both of them, Logan's body was pressed tightly to her and he kissed her neck again, slipping a hand up her pyjama top. He felt her breast, rolling a finger around her nipple and Rory felt him harden against her leg. She sat up.
"Logan, what did we just talk about?"
"I didn't mean having sex for that," Logan laughed. "You can still take your pill in the morning."
"Well, thanks for your permission!"
"I didn't mean –" Logan groaned and rolled away. "I just want to have sex with you."
Rory looked at her knees and said,
"We're in Mom's house."
"So?" Logan shot back. "That never bothered you before – not the first time."
"Logan, we'll be in our own apartment soon," Rory said cajolingly. "It's just a few days."
"No, Rory, it's not just a few days!" Logan snapped. "You had your period last week and then we were busy with the move and you said you were tired...it's been more than just a few days!"
"Is it all you think about?"
"No, but I'm starting to worry that my wife never wants to sleep with me!"
"Logan, that's not true," Rory said quietly. "I just don't want to in here – this is the bedroom I grew up in. It feels wrong. I'm sorry."
Rory knew what he was thinking and she said,
"The other times were different."
"How?"
"They just were."
"Fine," Logan said, his voice cold. "Let's just go to sleep."
"Logan –"
"We'll never have to worry about conceiving," Logan said irritably and, before Rory could answer, he got up and switched off the light.
He did not get back into bed with her. Rory realised that she hadn't brushed her teeth but didn't care. She spread her arms out, appreciating the space again, and wondered about the new apartment and if she should have gone to Hartord. It was what a dutiful wife would have done, she thought irritably, but she hadn't wanted to and it was a lot better seeing Lane. Logan had taken hours – Rory couldn't believe it had taken so long to sign some papers and buy, she thought angrily, a car without her. She still couldn't dredge up excitement over moving, less than a week away, as was, she remembered suddenly, Jess's arrival. He would be coming the day after and the move suddenly didn't seem so bad after all. Rory felt a warmth between her legs which had nothing to do with her husband's touch, closed her eyes and fell into a contented sleep.