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Over the next few weeks Rory began to plan her trip. She printed out maps, outlined an itinerary and decided to leave the day after her birthday. Jess returned to Philadelphia and he and Rory did not speak once. It was the longest time they'd avoided each other in a while and it hurt, but Rory concentrated on her trip. There was a lot to prepare.

"Where are you going to go?" Doctor Moran asked. Rory smiled.

"I think I might go to Fez."

One day, as summer turned to autumn and the leaves began to yellow and fall, Rory got a phonecall. It was Honor, calling to say she'd given birth.

"Congratulations," Rory said warmly. She was sitting on the bed, clothes strewn around her, but she sat up as Honor said,

"Will you come see us? Me and the baby?"

"I..."

Rory bit her lip. She'd always liked Honor but they hadn't spoken much since the divorce. Still, it seemed rude to decline and her mind was made up as Honor said,

"Please come. I'd like you to meet her."

"Her? It's a girl?"

"It's a girl!"

Rory drove directly to the hospital in Hartford along, with some hesitation, the pink teddy bear she'd bought so many months ago. Rory stopped outside to get some flowers and awkwardly made her way into Honor's room after getting directions at the desk.

"Hi," Rory said softly. Honor was lying against the pillows, a tiny pink bundle in her arms, but she looked up and smiled as Rory came in.

"Hey. What are these?"

"For you," Rory said shyly, holding out the flowers. Honor put on the table beside her, along with several other bunches, and then laughed.

"Is that for me as well?"

Rory looked down at the bear in her hand and blushed.

"No, this is for – does she have a name?"

"Ellie," Honor told her, rocking the baby and taking the bear with her spare hand. "Dad hates it, he thinks it's too common, but he wasn't the one in labour for twenty-two hours."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. Totally worth it though. Just look at her," Honor demanded. "Isn't she the most beautiful baby you've ever seen?"

She lifted the bundle up and Rory looked down to see a tiny, pink face. Her eyes were screwed up tightly but she had a few strands of gossamer hair and her fingernails were like shells. Rory smiled.

"She's gorgeous," she agreed. Honor laughed.

"I think all moms think their kids are more beautiful than anyone else's," she said sagely. "But she is, isn't she?"

"She really is."

"Would you like to hold her?" Honor asked. Rory looked up in surprise.

"Oh...okay."

"Is it weird?" Honor asked, noticing her hesitation. "Me calling you like this?"

"No," Rory said unconvincingly. Honor gave her a knowing look.

"It is. I just really wanted you to meet Ellie, and I liked hanging out with you. I could curse Logan for what he did."

"Is he coming?" Rory asked, trying to keep her voice casual. Honor shook her head.

"He's in Japan on a business trip. He'll come when he gets back but he said he's in Asia for a while."

"Oh." Rory was relieved and then frustrated for being so. "How does he feel being an uncle?"

"Happy, I think," Honor laughed. "I don't know, it was the middle of the night where he was when I called. He sounded kind of dazed."

Rory laughed too and Honor held her arms out. Rory carefully took the baby, ensuring she was supporting the head, before looking down at her properly. The baby stirred, settled and opened her eyelids to reveal a pair of bright blue eyes. She gazed at Rory for a moment before shutting them again, her rosebud mouth in a pout. Rory swallowed.

"She looks like you."

"Her baby hair might fall out," Honor said. "And her eyes will probably go brown, though I hope they don't. They're so pretty. She might wind up looking like Josh."

"I think she'll stay looking like you," Rory said. The baby was a delicate weight in her arms. She looked just like Honor, just like Logan, and Rory felt peculiar suddenly, standing there in the hospital room with a new addition to the Huntzberger family.

"Rory," Honor said shyly, "I know you're not – you aren't married to Logan anymore, but I'd love it if you were still Ellie's aunt. If you wanted to be."

Rory smiled and Honor said,

"You're welcome to hang out with us anytime. I wouldn't, you know, invite you to a family dinner but if you ever wanted to see her...I think you'd be an awesome aunt."

"I'd love to," Rory said genuinely. "Thank you."

The baby spluttered slightly and Rory quickly handed her back to Honor.

"I think she wants her mommy."

Honor retrieved Ellie and she quieted in her arms. Rory folded and unfolded hers, exhaling with relief.

"What are you doing now?" Honor asked, carefully placing Ellie in the cot next to her. "I heard you were working in a bookstore?"

"Right," Rory agreed, her mouth strangely dry. "Actually...I'm going away. I'm going travelling for a few months."

Honor looked startled.

"Really? Where?"

"Kind of everywhere."

Honor nodded and Rory added,

"It was a little sudden."

"Sounds it," Honor agreed. "Who are you going with?"

"No one."

Honor seemed surprised but she asked,

"But you'll stay in hotels, right?"

"It's more of a backpacking thing."

Honor made no pretence of nonchalance.

"Why?" she exclaimed. "You're really going to stay in those gross hostels? Can't you –"

"I have enough money," Rory interrupted. "But I want to do it that way."

Her once sister-in-law stared, non-plussed, and said,

"Why would you want to stay in a room with a bunch of strangers when you could have your own private room?"

"Because..." Rory tried to explain. "I want to do this the way I wanted to, when I was a kid. I want it to be easy and relaxed and it won't feel that way if I stay in a five star hotel with other rich Americans."

The look on Honor's face showed she didn't understand but she nodded anyway.

"Well, I hope you have a good time. How long are you going for?"

"Four months."

Honor nodded again and Rory asked,

"Did you ever go away?"

"On my own, you mean? I went to Europe with some of my girlfriends in college but that was it. And we certainly didn't stay in hostels!"

Rory smiled weakly. She was trying to think of a way to change the subject when Honor asked,

"Hey, what was in that parcel Logan sent you?"

Rory's smile faded.

"Nothing important," she said blankly. "I don't need it anymore."

"Try telling Logan that," Honor remarked. "He seemed to think it was."

Rory was saved from answering by Ellie letting out a wail.

"I think she needs a feed," Honor said nervously. "I'm still not used to that yet. Could you get the doctor?"

"Sure," Rory said gladly. "I'll be right back."

Rory left the room, realising she didn't know who Honor's doctor was. Luckily, the first nurse she saw knew who she wanted and went to fetch her. Rory turned around, deciding to get some coffee, when she nearly collided with someone. Rory found herself face to face with Shira Huntzberger.

"You," Shira said breathlessly. "What are you doing here?"

"Honor asked me."

Rory wished there was some kind space-time continuum to take her back two minutes. Instead, she stood her ground, waiting for the onslaught. It didn't take long.

"I can't think why Honor invited you," Shira said. "You're not part of this family anymore."

Rory didn't answer. She made to move away but Shira stepped in front of her.

"You little bitch."

Rory didn't try to answer that either and Shira went on,

"You left my son. You married him, took his money and left him!"

"I did not marry Logan for money!" Rory said angrily. She almost added that would be you, right? but bit her tongue.

"You didn't love him," Shira said. "You were never good enough for him. I knew it, I saw it the very first time he brought you over for dinner. You were never right for this family, how could you be? I thought Logan saw sense when he split up with you but then he had to propose and you were selfish enough to accept!"

"I loved Logan," Rory said fiercely, determined not to let her voice break in front of this woman. "I wanted to marry him."

"If you wanted to marry him you should have stayed with him!"

"Logan had an affair!" Rory said furiously, unable to hold it back. "He was the one who broke our vows!"

"I don't care," Shira said cruelly. "It's marriage and Logan's a man. It's what men do, it's in their genes. They need to cut loose, they work so hard, you have to forget these things and move on. If you were any kind of wife you would have waited."

Rory couldn't listen to this any longer. She tried to move past Shira and was thwarted as Shira snapped,

"You wouldn't even have children! Logan told me at the wedding it was a sure thing but –"

"He what?"

"You wouldn't even do that," Shira steamed on. "You were wrong for this family, wrong for my son and I wish you'd never met him. You're nothing but a scheming whore!"

"You know, you're right!" Rory said furiously, making her stop in surprise. "I am wrong for your family. I'm glad to be. I'm glad I don't fit into a world where your spoiled, rich son cheats on me and lies to me and I'm supposed to forget it!"

Shira looked like she'd been slapped and Rory went on,

"I did stop loving him and I'm glad about that too. If I hadn't, I might still be with him, and if acting like nothing's happened while he sleeps with other women makes me a whore, then I'm happy to be one. I'm sorry for you. Isn't that what you try to forget every night?"

Shira stared at her. She opened her mouth, ready to retaliate, when Honor's doctor came out of her room.

"Everything okay out here?"

Shira regained her composure, standing up straight and smiling.

"Everything's fine, doctor."

Honor appeared behind her, frowning.

"What's going on? You'll make Ellie cry again."

"Nothing, honey," Shira said and Rory turned round.

"Honor, I have to go," she said calmly. "I'm sorry. Thank you for inviting me."

"Okay," Honor said in surprise. "Well – when are you leaving?"

"Two weeks."

"Have a safe trip."

Rory smiled at her. She wanted to hug her in farewell but instead simply said,

"Thanks. I'll call when I'm back."

Honor nodded, Rory turned and walked down the hallway. She expected some call from Shira, a flow of venom about literally abandoning Logan but none came. Rory left the hospital with her head held high.

Rory's confidence ebbed as she sat in the car and she leaned against the steering wheel, breathing heavily. She didn't cry but she felt horrible, humiliated, worse than the time she'd been told she wasn't good enough at the Huntzberger house. Maybe Shira had been right. She should have cut and run then. She was never right for their family.

Rory took some deep breaths, drank some water and felt less shaken. She'd planned on just driving home but, seeing as how she was already in Hartford, she turned the car round and drove to her grandmother's house. Emily stared as she opened the door.

"Rory. This is a surprise!"

"Hey, Grandma."

Emily went inside, motioning for Rory to follow. She poured her a cup of coffee, which Rory took gratefully, and asked directly,

"What brings you here?"

"I was in the neighbourhood."

"I would have thought you'd be busy packing," Emily commented. "You're leaving in a couple of weeks."

Emily and Richard had been told about Rory's plans three dinners ago. After some initial shock they surprisingly applauded the plan, though regretted the fact that Rory was forgoing the Ritz.

"I had some time."

"I thought your doctor's appointment was on Monday."

"It is. Logan's sister called, she's had a baby. I went to see her – Honor, I mean, though the baby's a girl too."

Emily nodded and sipped her coffee, making no remark. Rory looked around and asked,

"Where's Grandpa?"

"He's taken an afternoon at the Club," Emily told her, going slightly pink at the use of word. Rory looked away, pretending not to have noticed.

"I'm surprised Logan's sister called you," Emily said suddenly. "Seeing how you aren't married to Logan anymore."

"Honor and I got on really well. We weren't close friends or anything but I always liked seeing her. We hung out sometimes."

This seemed to satisfy Emily. She sipped more coffee and Rory found herself saying,

"I ran into Shira Huntzberger."

"Really? What did she have to say for herself?"

Rory blushed.

"Called me some names. Said I was awful for leaving Logan."

Emily's eyes arched dangerously but she merely said,

"Shira's still white trash."

"She said I wasn't good enough for her family," Rory said. "I think she's right."

Emily put her cup down on the saucer with a clatter.

"Don't you listen to a word that foul creature says," she said furiously. "You are more than good enough for their family. Shira Huntzberger! Why, that woman was a cocktail waitress!"

"I don't want to be right for their family," Rory said. "I'm glad I'm not."

"You don't mean that."

"No, I don't mean not good enough," Rory told her. "Just not right. I didn't fit in."

Emily looked at her.

"You fitted in pretty well to me," she said. "But what do I know? I'm foolish."

Rory put her cup down too and said gently,

"Grandma, no one thinks you're a fool, especially me."

"You don't think I'm a fool," Emily agreed. "But you think I'm clueless."

"No, I don't!"

"Oh, I know you and Lorelai," Emily said bitterly. "Laugh at how stupid I am with my silly idea, imagining you both back here. Back where you belong."

"Grandma, we –" Rory stopped, struggling to explain. "We don't always think we belong here," she said carefully, "but we don't think you're stupid. Not for a second. Someone would have lack serious brain cells to think that about you."

Emily smiled faintly and Rory went on,

"I was upset and confused when I yelled. I'm still mixed up. I'm going through all this stuff with Logan and I was – I was sort of seeing someone else."

Emily looked up.

"Sort of seeing someone else? Please explain what that means."

"Do you remember Jess Mariano?" Rory asked uncomfortably. "I brought him over for dinner once, after Dean and I split up. My senior year of Chilton."

Emily's look of amusement was replaced with a look of horror and she exclaimed,

"You cannot mean that ghastly thug! You can't be serious!"

"Grandma!"

"Rory, I understood it when you were eighteen," Emily said, sounding distressed. "You wanted someone dangerous, someone rebellious – heaven help me, I remember that with your mother – but you're a grown woman! You cannot find that monosyllabic mouth and utter lack of respect attractive!"

"Grandma, he's grown up a lot now," Rory pleaded. "I think you might even like him."

"Oh, please!"

"He's written a book and he runs a publishing house and –" Rory stopped herself. "It doesn't matter," she said sadly. "It's over."

Emily frowned.

"Why is it over?"

"It was never anything," Rory said, hating herself as she said it. "It was a mistake."

"We at least agree on that," Emily said fervently. "You don't need a new relationship and certainly not with him."

Rory stayed silent and Emily said,

"Would you like some more coffee?"

"No," Rory said quietly. "I should head back."

Emily walked her to the door. Rory was about to step out when she stopped and said,

"Grandma, you're nowhere near foolish. You're one of the smartest people I know."

Emily looked touched. For a moment Rory thought she would kiss her cheek but she simply said,

"Thank you, Rory. I hope to take some credit for you."