What's Next?

Married Life

"How are you two beautiful girls?" Jess greeted Rory and Haeven, a now 6 month old.

"Not so good." Rory grabbed a tissue and blew her nose. "I think I'm sick." She began coughing.

"Aww, honey." Jess leaned down to hug her but Rory pushed away.

"Be careful, I'm sick!"

"I don't care, I want to hug my wife."

"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you." Rory laughed.

"Noted." Jess leaned down and wrapped Rory in a hug. "Mmm. I love you so much. Do you need anything?"

"I love you, too. And maybe soup?" Rory began coughing again.

"Sure thing." He rubbed her shoulder. "Get better soon."

"I'm trying."

*****

"Luke!" Lorelai called from her bedroom. "I need soup, please."

Luke was taking care of a sick Lorelai. "You feeling any better?"

"A little. I just feel bad for Rory, she's sick too." Lorelai grabbed Luke's hand and brought it to her forehead. "Do I feel warm?"

"A little. A lot less than yesterday though." Luke kissed her cheek. "Feel better okay?"

"Working on it."

*****

Ring ring

"Hello?" Rory picked up her phone.

"Hey, kid." Lorelai sounded cheery.

"What's up?"

"Not much, just recovering from this cold. You feeling any better?"

"Yes! Lots, thank you. What about you?"

"Same. So what's ne-"

Rory saw that another call was coming in. "Hold on, I'm getting another call."

"Okay, hun. Talk to you later."

"Bye."

Rory saw that it was a number she wasn't familiar with. "Hello?"

"Rory? Hey it's Logan."

"Logan? I didn't recognize this number."

"Yeah, sorry. Got a new phone last week." Logan's voice sounded....different.

"What's going on?"

"I was calling to say I want a relationship with my daughter. I'm sorry for barging in on your life, but I want to get to know Haeven. I can't have her growing up and having a relationship like you and your-" Logan cut himself off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that."

Rory felt her cheeks burning. "No, you're right." She quietly replied. "I don't want you guys ending up like that either."

"I can come to Stars Hollow. You don't have to come here." Logan offered.

"Logan, I don't know. This is all too crazy right now. Maybe you shouldn't-"

Logan felt a twinge of anger. "What? You mean I can't see my daughter. Don't I get a choice in this?"

"Yes, but listen...it's not really a good time. I don't know with Jess here and the baby being so young-"

Logan cut her off again, his voice growing in demanding intensity. "Jess?! What does he have to do with anything? He's not the father!"

"Lo...Logan please calm down." Rory felt her eyes stinging.

"Why should I be the one to calm down, when you won't let me do anything? Why do you make all the decisions? For years, I provided you with an apartment, money, food, etcetera. How dare you not let me see my daughter?!"

Rory held the phone away from her so she could regain her energy. "You never had to give me that apartment. I could've done well on my own." Rory retaliated.

"That's not how you acted 10 years ago. Always binged off me." Logan felt his words festering.

"I never binged off you!"

"You only care about yourself, don't you? As long as Rory's happy the world can be happy."

Rory was tempted to hang up the phone. "Call me back when you have a better attitude." With that, she hung up. Her hands were shaking as she put her phone away and sat down.

In about 5 minutes, Jess came through the door, carrying bags of groceries. "I'm back!" He announced. "With gifts for the queen!"

"Hey, Jess." Said a depleted Rory.

"Rory, what's wrong?" Jess put the bags down and sat beside her.

"Logan called." She sighed. "He wants to see the baby, but I told him now isn't a good time. He got all mad..."

"Forget him." Jess reassured. "He's a rich jerk, he has no right to be near you or the baby."

Haeven let out a cry and Rory tended to her.

"See, she doesn't want to see him either." Jess joked.

Rory laughed. "I think Logan needs to see her, but in time. Not so fast."

"I think you're right." Jess kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you upstairs." Jess winked.