still. | a gilmore story

Chapter Two

Rory's words tumbled out of her mouth like word vomit. She then braced herself for what was to come.

But it didn't. Paris didn't freak, she didn't start asking millions of questions. She just paused and stared at Rory.

"It's his isn't it," Paris responded.

The only thing Rory could do was nod her head as she stared a hole into the menu on the table.

"What did he say when you told him?"

Rory shook her head, her curls bouncing as she did, "I haven't."

"How far along are you?"

"About nine weeks."

"Rory, you're almost done with your first trimester, a third of your pregnancy, gone. When are you telling him?" Paris questioned.

"I'm not sure I am," she finally got the nerve to meet her friend's eyes.

"And why the hell not?" Paris was baffled.

"I just- I don't know. He's engaged to another woman, Paris! How am I supposed to drop this on him after we said goodbye for good?" Tears were threatening to spill from Rory's eyes.

"Hey, don't cry, you know I get uncomfortable when people cry."

"I know," she briefly laughed.

"I can't help but think that I'll ruin his life if he knows," she reasoned, "he is in good graces with his parents for the first time in years, and I know how much that means to him. I can't be the one who disrupts that."

"Look, I know this is hard, but just imagine that in 18 years, this kid wants to find out about their father. They go snooping, causing trouble for you, him. By that point he may have children of his own, you would be disrupting more if you didn't tell him." Paris countered.

This was not an argument that Rory had encountered. Sure, she knew that there could be a possibility of the child wanting to know more, but she hadn't thought about other children that could be involved.

"I mean, what advice do you give to women at the clinic who have children on their own?"

"That situation is entirely different and you know it," Paris said, "those women aren't in love with their sperm donor. Those women are choosing their own right to have a family since they can't do it themselves. Besides, all of our information is confidential, they couldn't open those records even if they pried them from my cold, dead hands."

--

Paris had given Rory a lot to think about.

As she headed back to Paris' home, Rory had a knot in her stomach everytime she thought of him having children that weren't also hers.

She could hardly breathe for the better half of her drive, her thoughts swirling in her head.

Paris was definitely the only one that had made her consider getting her phone out and calling the father right then.

And she almost did. Until her own thoughts crept in, he won't love you back and this won't change anything, he is still going to marry her.

Her mind was a cruel place at the moment and she just wanted to get her mind off of it.

As she pulled up to the house, Rory knew that relieving the nanny of Paris' kids was the perfect distraction. She could keep them occupied, while doing the same with her thoughts.

"Aunt Rory!" They yelled in unison.

Gabriela was tottering around in a little blue jean jacket and floral dress, no shoes on her feet. She was the spitting image of Paris, but had her father's personality.