DISCLAIMER:

I own NOTHING!

~ Thank you to everyone who has been reading and leaving me reviews! I love reading what you have to say. :-)

~ I hope you all are enjoying this story, and I would love to hear your thoughts. Drop me some reviews! :-)

~~~ Still Quarantined ~~~

Sorry it's taken me a few days to get a new chapter out. I've been in a funk lately, so I've taken a little bit of me time. I FINALLY got around to reading Lauren Graham's book Talking As Fast As I Can. I've only had it for like two years. LOL I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours, and I was really sad to be done. I have Amy Sherman Palladino's book to finish next. I got it about a month or so ago, and I started reading it, but didn't get more than a couple chapters in before getting busy, and completely forgetting about it. We'll see how long it takes me to actually read it.

I hope all of you are remaining safe and healthy. The covid numbers where I live are spiking like crazy! Please, if you weren't taking this virus serious before, I urge you to do so now. Please follow the health dept guidelines, and practice social distancing, and for the love of all that is good, please PLEASE WEAR A MASK when you go out in public!

Thank you everyone who has posted a review for me to read! I absolutely LOVE reading them! I am so glad you guys are loving this story! Your kind words mean a lot to me, and help keep me going. Thank you so much!

Friday, February 3, 2017

5:00pm

Huntzberger Residence

"I thought you were taking a nap?" Logan asked as he walked into the bedroom he shared with Rory, to see her sitting in bed, working on her computer, with papers and notebooks spread out around her.

"I was." Rory answered without looking up from what she was doing.

"But? I thought we agreed not to do any work for the rest of the weekend?"

"I'm not doing work."

"Alright?"

"I'm researching baby gear."

"Why?"

"Because it needs to get done."

"You know that there are professionals who's entire job it is, to do all of that research for you, right?"

"I'm trying to pick out which car seat is best. What seat has the highest safety ratings, and the most features. How big is it? Is it too big? Does it have too many features? Is it too complicated to use? Did you know that car seats have specific height and weight limits that you need to follow? And there are expiration dates! Car seats have expiration dates! They're a hunk of plastic with Styrofoam in it, and yet the thing has an expiration date! And that you aren't supposed to add anything to them? If the accessory doesn't come with the seat, you shouldn't be using it. Did you know that all those toys and things that you see hanging on people's baby carriers can become projectiles in a car accident? And if you add a comfort head centering pillow, or soft strap covers, they can actually both suffocate your baby, and make it so that the seat belt doesn't fit properly, causing your baby to slip out and get badly hurt in an accident? Did you know the importance of rear facing your child? Even if they're 5 years old, that rear facing is safer? It doesn't even matter if their legs are all squished up because they don't have any leg room because of the seat being in their face. They can sit with their legs crossed, and still be safer than they would be if they were front facing."

"I actually did know all that. They teach you all of that in medical school, and then again in training to work in the emergency room." Logan said as he moved some of Rory's notes, and took a seat on the bed next to her. "Would you like to know what else I know?"

"That you think I'm going down a crazy rabbit hole, and I need to mellow out?"

"No . . . Well, maybe a little. Let me see your computer for a second . . ." Logan said as he reached for Rory's laptop. "You see, there is this great website that has everything that you need to know about car seats, all on one page. They tell you exactly what seat is best, what kind of cars the different seats fit in, how big they are, the features, the safety ratings, the price, how much leg room each seat offers, the government accident statistics, everything that you've been researching, it's all in one place."

"What are you talking about? I've been at this for two hours, and not once have I seen anything about any website."

"Car Seats For The Littles; All you have to do is click on recommended seats, select your country, then click on the type of seat you need. You've got infant seats, convertible seats, multi-mode, combination seats, high back boosters, no back boosters. This website even has the price of each seat, and gives you the link to where you can buy it. People literally have the job of doing all of this research that you are stressing yourself out with. Look at this, each seat even has a list of pros and cons. I know how much you love your pro/con list, and it's all right here, already done for you."

"That's genius!"

"Isn't it?! All of this baby gear that you think you need to kill yourself to research, all of it is already done for you."

"Does Paris know about this?"

"Do you think that Paris really trusts anyone else's opinion?"

"Paris probably attacks this website with her own opinions."

"I wouldn't put it past her." Logan chuckled as he closed the computer. "But, right now, we have something else that needs our attention."

"What's that?"

"Dinner!"

"It's only 5."

"My parents have apparently decided to take everyone out tonight. Your parents, sisters, and grandparents included."

"What?!"

"I know, it sounds dangerous."

"Are your parents on drugs or something? I thought we were all having dinner at Honor's house tonight? I thought that was the plan. A nice mellow birthday, at home."

"Honor told me to come wake you up, get you dressed, and then meet them at the restaurant at 6:30."

"Do my parents and grandparents know about this?"

"They're already getting ready."

"So much for a nice quiet night. They probably made reservations at somewhere super fancy."

"I wouldn't put it past them."

"This is all because your Mom is in town. Honor wouldn't have changed our plans unless she was forced."

"You know my sister. Now come on, let's get you dressed."

"I'm not wearing heels again today." Rory said as Logan set her computer down, then reached his hand out to help her up from the bed.

"I would never ask you to."

"I have no idea what to wear."

"Why don't you go worry about your hair and makeup, and I'll go through your closet."

"If you were anyone else, I would have a major problem with that."

"Have I ever failed to pick out the perfect outfit for you?"

"Oddly, no, you haven't. And you are way more fashionable than I am, which is completely odd for the male species."

"I get that a lot."

"You realize how odd you are, right?"

"I've been called much worse things, and had my masculinity questioned many times."

"It's definitely not your masculinity that I've ever questioned. I obviously ended up pregnant, so we know that all works right." Rory said as she followed Logan into their bathroom, then watched as he headed into the closet.

"I honestly don't see what is so wrong about me actually being fashionable. I think that I look really good."

"You DO look good! Again with the ending up pregnant thing."

"Do you have a problem with the way I dress?"

"Have I ever given you any inclination that I have a problem?"

"So what is the big deal then?"

"You dress better than anyone we know, including your sister. You look like you just stepped off the cover of GQ."

"Well, that's not out of the realm of possibility. I've been given the option before."

"Are you serious right now?!"

"You know how it is over at Condé Naste. You've met Bob Sauerberg."

"He's friends with your Dad from what he told me today."

"Exactly! They've been friends for years. He's offered me a place there should I ever want it. As a writer, or a model."

"That's crazy! Five months ago, I would have killed to work for him."

"You and all the other writers and editors in the world." Logan agreed as he pushed hangers around the closet. "What would you feel more comfortable wearing, something more flashy, more subdued, or would you be ok with the sexy look? Because we've got a lot to choose from here. We've got floral, we've got business, we've got bright colors, we've got flashy glitter, we've got understated . . ."

"It's your birthday."

"Sexy it is!" Logan said as he picked out a short purple dress, and walked out of the closet to hand it to his wife.

"Logan, you realize that dress isn't a maternity dress, right?"

"So?"

"I doubt I can even get into it right now."

"And if you can, it'll be pretty tight. I don't see a problem."

"It's pretty short, which means with the baby bump, it's going to be even shorter in the front."

"Easy access is ok with me. Plus, the sequined lace looks amazing on you."

"And the super low V cut in the front?"

"Isn't that what double stick tape is for?"

"Who are you?!"

"I think it will look amazing on you!"

"To wear out to dinner with your parents. And my grandparents?"

"I don't have a problem with that."

"Logan, this is a party dress."

"Just put it on. We can make it work. I'll go ask your Mom to come help you."

"I don't even remember buying this dress. I have no idea where it came from."

"That's because I bought it. Months ago."

"And why would you have bought this?"

"Because I saw it in the store and thought it would look incredible on you."

"You really want me to wear this to dinner with your parents?"

"I'm sure we can pin it in the front, so it's not so revealing, if that's what you want to do."

"This V goes down to about the bottom of my rib cage."

"Please just put it on."

"I don't even think that I have a bra that will work with this."

"Again, you won't see me complaining."

"I can't believe that you are serious about this right now?! Emily Gilmore is going to completely flip out! Why did you buy this? Where did you think I would wear it?"

"Honestly? I thought it would be perfect for an LDB event."

"What LDB event? I thought you were done with those when you graduated from Yale?"

"There are a couple annual events that past members are invited to."

"And when are those?"

"There should be a spring event coming up, and then one probably over the summer, or in the fall."

"We'll have Ayribella for at least one of those, and I'll be really pregnant for the other one. Can we just play it by ear?"

"Yeah, of course. I'm not saying that we have to go, I just thought that it might be fun."

"Will you yell downstairs or something and ask my mom to come help me?"

"She should actually be up here any minute, I asked her to come help you when she was done getting ready, before I came up." Logan said as he watched Rory stare blankly at herself in the mirror. "What's wrong?"

"I just feel . . . I don't know . . . Kind of gross right now."

"Rory . . ."

"I'm too fat to get into any of my clothes, you want me to look all hot and sexy for your birthday, and I just feel disgusting." Rory said as frustrated tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Knock knock." Lorelai said as she walked into the room. "Ok, why are there tears?"

"Logan wants me to wear this dress!" Rory said pointing to the dress hanging on the towel rack across the room.

"Would you like Grandma to have a coronary today, or tomorrow?" Lorelai chuckled. "Logan, I love you kid, but you know that she can't wear that dress."

"Why not?" Logan asked innocently.

"Well, because of your daughter for one. And two, can you not see how upset she is?"

"Ace . . ."

"I can't even get into that dress!" Rory told him.

"You haven't tried it on."

"Logan, I can tell by looking at it. There is no way that Rory can get into that dress right now. Plus, do you see how short it is? Add a baby belly, and that dress becomes a shirt. She's not wearing that. And don't even get me started on how low the front of it is. Your parents have never really liked my daughter anyway, but you put her in that dress, and they're going to be making call girl jokes all night."

"They will not."

"Your right, your parents don't know what sarcasm is. They'll just say it to her face. I'm sorry, but Rory can't possibly wear that dress. It's a very pretty color, and I do really like it, but why don't we save it for when she's not pregnant, ok?" Lorelai told him. "Come on Rory, let's go find you something else." Lorelai said as she put her arm around her daughter, and walked her into the closet.

"Hey, it's April, can I come in?" April called from the bedroom door

"It's open, isn't it?" Logan called back.

"Hey, I thought I would come up to help." April said as she walked into the bathroom to see Logan sitting on the edge of the Jacuzzi tub.

"They're in the closet."

"Who's dress is that? It's really pretty!"

"That would be Rory's."

"She's wearing that? Tonight?"

"Apparently not."

"Hey Rory, can I borrow this dress?" April asked, grabbing the dress and heading into the closet.

"You're not wearing this dress tonight either." Lorelai told her, reaching to take the dress and hang it back up in the closet.

"Really? Because I really like it! That color is amazing!"

"Would you like my mother to have the next massive heart attack?"

"That's true! Emily would definitely flip if she saw that."

"I'm pretty sure your Dad wouldn't approve of it either."

"Yeah, you're probably right." April agreed

"Here we go!" Lorelai said as she pulled a black sparkly sheath dress out. "It's black, which makes it slimming, it's sparkly which is pretty and celebratory, it's short but not too short, and it's stretchy for baby."

"I like it!" April agreed.

"And it'll go great with either my wedges, or your shiny ballerina flats."

"No heels tonight?"

"My feet are killing me from this morning." Rory answered.

"What about boots? You could totally pull off uggs because you're pregnant."

"Don't tempt me." Rory said as Lorelai grabbed the shiny ballerina flats off the shelf, and headed out of the closet carrying the dress she had picked out. "Logan, what do you think about this dress?"

"Yeah, that works." Logan agreed.

"You don't like it?"

"No, I do like it. I just really liked the purple one."

"The purple dress is amazing!" April told him.

"But not for a pregnant woman." Lorelai added. "And definitely not for going out with either of our parents. "April, grab that chair over that. Rory, come sit down. What do you want to do with your hair?"

"Can you make me look like April?"

"Like me?" April asked, looking at herself in the mirror.

"You look amazing!" Rory told her, admiring the Grecian style red dress April was wearing with her naturally curly hair, only pulled back from around her face, and pinned perfectly at the back of her head.

"You do look amazing April. Red is definitely your color." Lorelai agreed. "Those rhinestones give it the perfect amount of sparkle.

"Thank you! My mom actually picked it out. She thought it was the perfect party dress. Classy, kind of sexy, but not at all trashy, and a fun festive color."

"I totally agree with her. It looks great on you! And your hair looks incredible!"

"Thank you! My roommates got me using some new products made specifically for curly hair. All those years of the unruly puffy frizz is now a thing of the past. I've never been one to care much about my looks, but my roommates are really into hair and makeup, so they've been teaching me a few things. They even got me to start wearing contacts, which I have to admit, I actually really do like."

"Contacts are amazing!" Lorelai agreed. "And now you can wear all the cute sunglasses you want, and actually be able to see through them."

"True that!" April agreed.

"Logan, are you going to sit here and watch, or are you going to go get yourself ready?" Lorelai asked as she opened the drawer with Rory's curling irons, and proceeded to turn them on.

"It will only take me about a minute to change my shirt." Logan told them.

"Well why don't you go do that, and then go see if everyone else is ready."

"You want me out."

"Pretty much."

"I'll go find something to do then. Let me know when you are done, and I'll come change then." Logan said as he got up and left the room.

"Alright, what's really going on?" Lorelai asked as she picked up Rory's hair brush. "I know that you aren't actually crying over that dress."

"I don't know." Rory told her. "I feel stupid, and fat and ugly."

"Well every single person in this house knows that none of those things are true. Are you mad at Logan?"

"No. I don't think so."

"You've had a really big, crazy day today. And it's not even close to being over yet."

"How could Mitchum and Shira do this? We are supposed to be going to Logan's party, not dinner with them! They're ruining everything! As usual!"

"It's all going to work out just fine. Luke, April and I are going to ride to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa under the ruse that we don't want to deal with the media circus outside. You and Logan will be alone with Frank, and meet everyone at the restaurant. Then Grandma is going to be tired, and excuse herself to go to bed, and we are all going to head to the party. I'm not sure how Honor and Josh are going to get away from their parents, but that is for them to figure out. Honor already has it all figured out. We are going to dinner at Mirabellos's. You love Mirabello's."

"What's Mirabello's?" April asked.

"This amazing Italian place in the city with the best food you've ever had. They have the most incredible breakfast! Rory's Dad convinced them to deliver to her whenever she wants it. The portions are huge, and the food is the best thing you've ever had."

"Better than Dad's?"

"Don't you dare tell him I said that."

"My lips are sealed." April said, making a zipping motion in front of her mouth.

"So we'll go eat some amazing food for dinner, then we will all sneak out with Grandma. Josh and Honor will somehow bail on Mitchum, Shira and the shrink, and then Frank has instructions to somehow get stuck in traffic for twenty minutes or so on his way to drop you guys off at the party." Lorelai finished explaining as she brushed her daughter's hair.

"I'm pretty sure Logan knows about the party." Rory told her

"What?! How?!"

"I'm not sure, but judging by the way he was acting, I'm pretty sure he knows."

"He was trying to get you to crack with that dress. He knew there was no way that you would ever wear that in front of his parents."

"Exactly! Logan knows about the party. He obviously doesn't know details, but he knows about the party."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * Meanwhile downstairs * ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Hey, why aren't you ready yet? Where's Rory?" Honor asked as she walked in the front door to see her brother following Rocky through the house.

"She's upstairs with getting ready with Lorelai and April. I just need to change my shirt, so I'll get ready when they're done."

"Are you ok? What's going on?"

"Rory is upset."

"What did you do?"

"I may have purposely picked out a bad outfit, trying to get information out of her about what is REALLY going on tonight. I know Rory, and a quiet family birthday dinner is not something that any Gilmore has ever heard of."

"Well for one, tonight's plans are none of your business, so you need to just stop with that nonsense. Secondly, Rory doesn't even know, so trying to get information out of her is just pointless. What outfit did you pick out that pissed her off?"

"The short purple sparkly lace one."

"That one that would have our parents screaming hooker?"

"It would look amazing on her!"

"Which is why I let you buy it. But why would you go and do something stupid like that?!"

"Obviously because I'm an idiot, and thought that she would laugh and tell me that she would never be caught dead in that dress in front of our parents. But instead, she's upset because can't get into it right now."

"Well, I can definitely agree with the idiot part."

"Gee, thanks!"

"You need to go apologize."

"Lorelai kicked me out."

"Obviously for good reason. I'll go up there. You go take your dog out, and figure out a way to make it up to your wife."

"Where are we going for dinner?"

"Mirabello's."

"That's Rory's favorite."

"I know!"

"It's my birthday, shouldn't we be going to my favorite place?"

"You love Mirabello's."

"But again, it's my birthday. Shouldn't I get a say?"

"Is there somewhere else that you'd like to go?"

"Mirabello's is fine."

"Then why are you complaining?"

"Because it's my birthday, and I should have been consulted."

"Do you really think that Dad cares enough to ask you where you want to go?"

"So Dad picked it?"

"He did. And I didn't dare tell him that it's Rory's favorite and risk him choosing somewhere else, so don't you dare tell him either. That's actually what I came to tell her."

"They're upstairs."

"Go take your dog out, and quit sulking. I expect to see an excited smile on your face for the rest of the night."

"I'll do my best."

"I'm sure she's not actually mad at you. It's probably just pregnancy hormones. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just apologize and make sure you tell her how beautiful she looks. You've at least always been good at that."

"It's not very hard with her. Rory always looks amazing, no matter what she wears."

"Which is exactly why that purple dress would look completely incredible on her."

"Go take your dog out. Rocky, tell your Daddy that you need a treat." Honor said as she pet the dog, then headed upstairs to find the girls. "So I hear my brother is an idiot." Honor said as she walked into Rory's bathroom a couple minutes later.

"He told you that?" Lorelai asked.

"Logan is usually good about admitting when he's wrong." Rory told her.

"You doing ok?" Honor asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just feeling a little whaleish."

"At least you're halfway through already. I'm bigger than you are, and I'm not due until a few weeks after you."

"Everybody carries different. And you're having a boy. Boys tend to be bigger and you carry them more like a basketball." Lorelai commented.

"This is true. So what are you going to wear?"

"Mom picked out a stretchy black dress."

"It's behind me." Lorelai said, pointing over her shoulder.

"I like it! I have no idea what to wear. I've been debating leggings and a sweater dress with boots, but my parents might keel over if I do."

"Help yourself to my closet." Rory told her.

"We have identical closets, silly!" Honor chuckled.

"For the most part. I guess that's what happens when we go shopping together."

"And when you buy two of everything because I'm not there."

"This is true. I just wanted to come make sure that you're ok, and let you know that I've got everything ready to go for the party."

"Your brother knows."

"He suspects we're up to something, but he doesn't know anything. We actually just had that conversation. He says that a quiet family birthday dinner is something that no Gilmore has ever heard of."

"He knows us well!" Lorelai agreed.

"I told him that you don't know anything. Oh, and I need to tell you, don't let my Dad find out that Mirabello's is your favorite. I don't want him going out of his way to avoid the place just because he doesn't want to care about anyone other than himself."

"Good idea!" Rory agreed.

"I'm gonna run back home, and get myself dressed. We're meeting at the restaurant at 6:30. Gayle and Dad's nurse are in charge of getting the parents to bed after dinner. I have an extra car meeting us at the restaurant so we can ditch them for the party without it looking too suspicious."

"Logan already knows. You might as well just ride with us."

"Logan thinks he knows something, but he doesn't really know jack. I would ride with you, but I need to get there before you do, so I can give Frank the ok to drop you guys off."

"Good luck!"

"Yeah. Good luck with my brother! I'll see you guys shortly." Honor said, then turned and left just as quickly as she came.