Rory responded enthusiastically to Logan's kiss. She had been waiting for a sign, a step forward from Logan and she knew now that he felt about her the same way she did about him. Her confidence in her happy ending rose exponentially. They were going to get there, she was sure of it now.
Logan finally broke off the kiss and rocked backwards, breathing raggedly. He was overwhelmed with the emotions of the day. He wanted to grab on the Rory and never let her go, he wanted to yell from the rooftops that she was having his child. He also was scared to death that she would break his heart again and he realized that if she did, he would never recover.
"Logan?" Rory asked quietly. "Are you okay? You have had about a dozen different emotions playing out on your face in the last ten minutes."
Logan sat down in the chair next to the examination table with a thud. He shook his head gently. "Honestly, that's how I feel. It's just wave after wave of emotions. I've never felt like this before."
Rory nodded. "Yeah. That's pretty much how I felt for the first few weeks. It's scary and exciting and overwhelming."
Logan looked suddenly chagrined. "I'm sorry. I was so angry that you had known for weeks before telling me. I had no idea what you were feeling. If it's anything like this ... you are so strong to be able to get through this by yourself."
"Oh, Logan. You don't have to apologize." Rory reached out and grabbed his hand. "There are no rules, no instructions for a situation like this. We are making them up as we go along."
Logan looked intensely at their joined hands. "I don't know what came over me. Rory, I'm still not sure what is going to happen between us. I don't want to give you the wrong impression. We need to focus on the baby. I won't risk being able to parent with you for anything, not even..."
Rory tightened her grip. "You don't have to be sure. I'm sure enough for both of us. We will get there. No matter what happens between us, we are parenting this child together." She reassured him.
The doctor returned to the room and advised them that every thing was checking out fine and that she would see Rory again in a month, unless she had any questions. They thanked the doctor and made their way out to the receptionist.
"So, next appointment in a month from now? We can schedule an ultrasound for that appointment as well." the receptionist said brightly.
Rory looked to Logan and waited for his response. "Well, I'm wide open. What works for your schedule?"
"Let's just set it and I will make it work. I'm hoping to have moved back to Connecticut by then." Logan shrugged.
"So, a month from today. I have an appointment available on December 16th at 1 pm. How does that sound?" The receptionist asked and at Rory's nod, wrote out a appointment card and handed it to Rory.
Rory and Logan began walking out of the building in an awkward silence. As they exited the building to the street, Logan cleared his throat. "Would you like to get some lunch? I'd like to bring you up to date on a few things, if you have time."
"Sure. There is a nice cafe around the corner that does soup and sandwiches that are really good, if you want." Rory gestured as she spoke indicating the direction of the cafe.
"Sounds great. I'll text the boys and ask them to join us, if that's okay with you? I know that they are dying to check up on you"
Rory smiled and nodded. Logan sent a quick text and they and began to walk down the block. He opened the cafe door for Rory and they settled in to a table for six. He looked around at the cafe and recognized the place but couldn't remember when he had been there before.
"So, what's on your mind?" Rory asked as the waitress walked away after leaving some menus and taking their drink orders.
"I won't be telling Mitchum and Shira about the baby until tomorrow. I thought that you should know." Logan began.
"Oh? Well, I'm still planning to tell Grandma today. She's heading back to Nantucket and I want to tell her in person." Rory responded. "I'll ask her to keep it to herself. I can't promise anything, but I doubt a day will make a difference."
"Do you want me to come with you to tell Emily?" Logan immediately offered.
Rory was surprised. "Yeah? You'd go with me?"
"Sure. I was actually going to ask if you would be willing to stay in Hartford tonight. Odette is flying in tonight and I'd like to tell her as well." Logan elaborated.
Rory took a deep breath. "Odette is flying in tonight. Um. Ok. You want me with you when you tell her?" Rory's mind was racing. Odette. She wasn't sure she was prepared to meet Logan's ex fiancée.
"Yes. We have to put our heads together and figure out what happens next. Odette is just as impacted by this as we are." Logan went on.
Rory felt her heart rate rise. Logan was talking like Odette was *still* his fiancée. Did she misjudge his whole reaction to the baby this morning?
"Logan, I'm confused. I thought that you and Odette had broken things off when you flew over here?" Rory asked.
Logan suddenly realized what Rory was thinking. "Rory, Odette and I are old friends. If she had gone to Yale, she would have been one of the gang. It's like... if I told you Stephanie was coming over tonight, you wouldn't be concerned, right?"
"I would be if you were engaged to Steph!" Rory retorted.
Logan ran his hand over his face. "I'm making a mess of this. Seriously, she's just ... its Odette. I don't know how to explain it. We've known each other since grade school."
Rory was feeling overwhelmed. "Just... I need to run to the ladies room. Hold on." She got up and walked into the restroom and was trying to keep her emotions in check, but the pregnancy hormones were not helping. She pulled her cell out of her pocket and sent a quick text to Finn.
<Did you know that Odette is flying in to Hartford tonight?>
<Relax, love. Odette is a great girl. You have nothing to be stressed about.>
<Some inside man you are! It didn't occur to you to tell me she is coming?> Rory fired back.
<Logan said he was going to tell you today.> Finn replied.
<Where are you? I need backup!> Rory asked
<Moments away. Order me a gin and tonic!> Finn sent back.
Rory took a deep breath and headed back to the table. As she approached she saw Logan check his cell and then pushed back to get up. He turned towards Rory and asked if she was ok.
"I just got a text from Robert telling me to check on you. What's wrong?" Logan asked.
"I'm fine. Odette coming kind of threw me for a loop. Pregnancy hormones are the real deal, my friend." Rory joked.
Logan gave Rory a hard look before pulling her chair out for her. "Ok. Let me try to explain it again."
