A Year In The Life: a new beginning

Miracle of freaky

Rory found herself outside a vintage bookstore Logan had told her about earlier. She opened the door as a bell chimed and the scent of old books comforted her

a lady approached her "can I help you with anything Miss?" Rory nodded

"Do you have any first edition Sylvia Plath books, I know it's a stretch but" she nodded at Rory showing her to the area

"This is great thank you" she left Rory some to the books as she sorted through them

"A Sylvia Plath fan?" She looked up to the man with the charming British accent

"Yes but it's not for me" she dusted off the vintage Bell Jar book

"Great gift" he said smiling at her "excellent choice in authors, she's a classic"

"She is" Rory replied "very talented"

"You got a name miss" she looked up at him

"Who wants to know?" She stood up book in hand

"Mysterious woman I see... and an impeccable taste in books" it then hit her as to how naive she was being and chuckle softly

"Are you flirting with me?" And then she realized that she also wasn't visibly pregnant

"Was it that obvious" he said clenching his teeth

"Well though not wrong... impeccable taste in books? Yeah that kind of gave it away"

"I'm sorry you are a beautiful young woman who I don't see any wedding bands of some sort on. You also have a fun personality and a great choice of books"

"I am very flattered" she said but was cut off

"Great so join me for dinner"

He was standing in the other isle of books having followed her there listening in

She laughed softly "you are very forward"

"It's not a crime to be forward...." He was waiting for her to state her name

"Oh I think it's fun to be mysterious don't you think?" She said and he rolled his eyes

"So is that a yes?" He questioned and laughed to herself thinking if he only knew

"I'm sorry, I'm taken" she said gracefully with a smile

"But you're not officially taken with no ring on that hand darling" she rolled her eyes, she was officially taken by motherhood

"The fact that, that's the way you view things makes me know that I would never want to go out with you" she laughed softly "I chose to not have a ring on my finger many years ago, and I have my regrets. You seem like a kind man but I am not interested"

"One day miss" he said "one day" and she laughed he handed her his card

"Yeah okay buddy" he exited the store and Rory started to laugh and ripped the card into two

"Miss Gilmore now I do not think it's appropriate to laugh at a man's failures" she looked over to see Logan standing there and she looked shocked and then rolled her eyes

"You followed me" she accused

"Ace, you went out alone in a foreign city... pregnant non the less I'm not going to be an idiot and let you go out here alone"

"Because you don't think I can handle myself?" She retorted

"Because I care about you"

"You are never going to leave me alone now are you?" She quizzed and he chuckled

"Well with guys named" he looked at the half of the card that had been ripped "Brad out here.. maybe not" she chuckled

"Were you jealous of Brad" she mocked

"No I was not jealous of Brad" she raised her eyebrows and nodded "Mhmm sure you weren't" she teased and held the book to her chest

"You're hugging that book like someone may steal it from you" Rory rolled her eyes

"It's for Emily for a Christmas gift, I was going to give it to her on thanksgiving but then she'd question why not on Christmas and then you are coming to Christmas right! I only get to see you so much Rory!" Rory sighed and then looked solemn

"You okay?" Rory shook her head

"She's selling the Hartford house, it's not even my home but it's just frustrating"

"You spent every Friday evening there for years, it's like home in a way" her face looked lost

"It's like she's just throwing everything behind her and buildings new life you know. She's got a new boyfriend and I'm happy for her but she's selling the Hartford estate I mean" her face looked hurt

"I don't know, I asked for my grandpa's office furniture. I know she's not throwing away everything, but it's weird to see her"

"Moving on" Logan said and she nodded

"My late grandfather never moved on after my Grammy died. He was an old cranky and miserable man, so obsessed with my future because his was gone. So maybe it's a good thing" Rory shrugged and took him in for a hug which comforted her

"It's just that house holds so many memories, it's weird to see it go" he rubbed her back holding her close taking in the scent of her vanilla shampoo that she still used all these years

They felt at home in each other's arms. It was weird but comforting. They broke a part and she held the book "I'm gonna go buy this, meet me out front?" He nodded

She went to the checkout and the lady wrapped the book up for her in a special way with white string. The wrapping reminded her of the books her grandfather would bring her back from his trips.

She thanked the lady and took the bag from her exiting the store "how you holding up?"

"My mind is quite spacey" he took her hand

"May I give you the London tour once more before you leave tomorrow morning?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way Mr.Huntzberger" they began to walk down the street hand in hand admiring the afternoon

"Do the boys know?" She questioned "like have you told anyone?"

"If I told the boys they'd be on the first flight out" she chuckled

"Good call, they may try and toss me around like a football" she joked

"When should we tell them, about the baby" she wrapped her arm around his

"Past the twelve week mark is okay, maybe for Christmas" she joked

"Oh and you'd be their Christmas gift" she nodded

"Exactly, but they're probably not welcomed at Emily Gilmore's" Rory laughed slightly

"You think you'll have a bump around Christmas?"

"I'll be 14 weeks exactly on Christmas Eve so maybe, honestly freaky" she laughed softly

"Freaky?" He questioned

"You know I have a fear of pregnancy and birth and  something moving and growing in my body" she said cringing at the thought

"You do?" He questioned

"Oh yes I do, when Paris was pregnant I was afraid to go near her... Well her being pregnant but just in general, pregnant woman scare me. I wouldn't go near Sookie for 3 hours"

"Really?" She nodded

"Miracle of freaky" she said and the rain started to come down "Wouldn't be a London trip without the rain now would it?" She smiled

"No it would not" he used his jacket to shield them as they made their way through the rain