The Maine Event

Chapter 1

Rory had a bad feeling. It was the slight nausea at the smell of cooking and the peculiar thirst for apple juice, which was very much unlike her, on top of her period being late - it seemed like too much of a coincidence. After trying to convince herself it was nothing for days, she eventually relent and drove to Hartford one evening to get a pregnancy test. 

She could've gotten it from Stars Hollow, but then ten minutes later everyone would be talking about her, and she certainly preferred to avoid that course of events. There was no doubt when and with whom this could've happened, and that was a scary thought. They had said their goodbyes and the dynastic plan was in motion, and even the slightest possibility of her pregnancy felt like a faith punching her in the face.

She had been feeling a little off that evening, more tired than usual and she had a slight backache. She was hoping to get this little evening venture to the Hartford 24 h drugstore over with as quickly as possible and sneak back under the covers to wallow. 

She was just about to step out of her car, grabbing her phone from the storage compartment to place it in her purse, when she dropped the phone to the floor. She'd always been clumsy.

"Shoot," she muttered.

As she bent down she noticed it. 

She was bleeding, her light brown needlecord trousers were noticeably stained at the crotch and the inner thighs. 

For a moment she felt lightheaded. She was never too good with blood, especially when there was a lot of it. She tried to take a deep breath and gather herself. Surely this was just her late period. It wouldn't have been the first time.

But it had been nearly two decades since she'd last been surprised by her period like that, usually getting some light spotting as a warning sign first. But this was heavier. A lot heavier.

She hastily browsed through her purse in search of a pad that Lorelai had once taught her to always carry with her as one of the most universal items - works for unexpected coffee spills, puffy eye coolers and for periods - she recalled her mother's words. For once she was glad she had listened to her mother and a little proud of herself for having brought her longer coat, which now enable to temporarily hide her stains. She hastily got out of the car, pulled on the coat and headed towards the gas station next door to the pharmacy to use their bathroom. 

The place smelled of paint, chlorine and despite the latter also stale urine, but it would have to do. She attached the pad to her blood-soaked panties, her hands slightly shaking. It was a lot of blood.

She wasn't sure why, but she felt embarrassed by this course of events - whatever it was.  

Rory quickly buttoned her coat again and returned to her car. She wiped down the dark leather seat of her car with a paper towel, thinking practically. She carefully sat back behind the wheel making sure her coat wouldn't get stained. She could sense her body shiver slightly. For a moment she didn't know what to do next. Should she breathe easier? Had it been just a scare? Was it her period, just a little late, or was this something else, something worse? 

The thought that she might actually have liked the idea of a baby, Logan's baby - the last little piece of him - hadn't really registered with her until that moment, having subconsciously avoided thinking about it, and now, she really didn't know what to think. 

She did the only thing she could think of.

"Rory, this better be important, I am in the middle of putting the kids to bed," Paris answered her call.

"Sorry, Paris. I just have a quick question, I didn't know who else to call," she said apologetically, her voice trembling a little.

"Let's hear it," Paris replied bluntly, and sighed.