"Really?  Lane's pregnant?  That's great.  Is Zack happy?"  Logan asked as he and Rory snuggled in bed that evening. 

Rory laughed, "Yes, he is taking it much better than last time.  He is hoping for a girl this time.  After Lane's fitting, we stopped in a little baby boutique down the block from the bridal store.  Lane wanted to look at at all the frilly, little pink things.  I think she really likes the idea of a little girl too." 

Rory got quiet for a minute.  Logan held her tighter knowing what she was thinking.  "It will be us shopping for frilly pink things soon. Or maybe it will be blue, a manly blue.  We can get your mom's advice on what is manly,"  Logan said lightening the mood and making her giggle. 

"Oh God, with her idea of 'manly' she would have the whole nursery done in plaid with a stuffed grizzly bear in the corner,"  Rory said.

Logan laughed, "See?  It's a good thing we have a little more time.  If we were preparing for a baby while we were staying her, she would have a say.  Once our house is done, we can decorate any way we want."

"Well, that's a way to put a positive spin on it,"  Rory said lifting her head to look at him.

"Gotta find the positive, right?" Logan asked. Then he said, " Are you sure you won't come with me to California?  Tom has everything under control here.  The gazebo he built is beautiful.  You're going to love it.  It looks very similar to the one in town.  He told me your grandmothers are all over him to set up a generator to power little white lights.  But the generator has to be far enough away that the noise won't interrupt the ceremony.  And it must be camouflaged so it doesn't show in photos!" Logan laughed. "AND he has to get some landscapers out there to mow and pretty up the area."

"I am sure those tasks were direct Emily orders.  It wouldn't surprise me if she had someone polishing the rocks around the pond!"  Rory joked.  "I can't wait to see it.  And, no, I need to be here.  Grandma Francine wants to meet me at the club to finalize the decorations and room layout there.  I'm not sure, but I think they divided the duties, seems like they are each bothering me about different aspects."  She paused and hesitantly said, "Plus I want to arrange a lunch with Claudia and Lane."

"Claudia, my ex, Claudia?"  Logan asked surprised.

"Yes.  Remember the idea I had a while ago about her running a fundraiser dinner or foundation for Gil?  The idea has grown into to a full band venture.  Lane asked me to run it today.  But I thought Claudia would be more suited to the job.  I called her this afternoon and left a message.  Hopefully we can meet up tomorrow or the next day,"  Rory explained.

"That's a great idea.  She will jump all over the opportunity.  I think she's back in New York...or at least I think I heard she was,"  he said.

"You haven't talked to her recently?"  Rory asked.

Logan turned away and yawned, "Uh, no, haven't talked to her in a while."

"Well, I'll tell her you say hello.  Hopefully, we'll get to do a lot of talking soon," Rory said.

 He squinted his eyes, "I'm not sure how I feel about my wife and my ex-girlfriend, albeit a fake girlfriend, being friends."

Rory propped herself on one elbow and looked looked at Logan, "Oh stop it.  Wasn't it you that told me she was really a very nice woman with a ton of untapped potential?  I happen to agree now.  I'll admit, I wasn't her biggest fan in the beginning, but she grew on me.  She did buy me a peacock ring holder."

Logan grinned, "A little jealous, were you?"

Rory poked him in the chest and said, "You know damn well I was!" At his smug look, she said, "I won, so I can admit it now."

Logan laced his hands behind his head and smiled satisfied,"I like you jealous."  Then he said smugly, "I really am a prize, aren't I?"

Rory rolled her eyes and laid her head back on his chest, "You sure are."

The next morning, Rory was helping Logan pack for his quick trip to California.  He threw clothes into a bag knowing his car to the airport would be there shortly.  Rory had woken up to an excited, bubbly text from Claudia.  After a few messages exchanged back and forth, Rory and Lane had plans to meet Claudia at a hotel in Stamford, a semi halfway point.

"Yes, I'll call you as soon as I land," Logan said.  "I'll be back in two days.  Have fun with the girls today," Logan said with a wink.

"I forgot how excitable Claudia can be.  My head started spinning just from her texts!  This is going to be a tiring meeting!"  Rory said.

"Yeah, but she will do a good job," Logan said carrying his bags to the door just as his car pulled into the drive. "I'll miss you."

"Have a good trip.  I'll miss you," Rory said kissing him goodbye.

A short time later, Rory and Lane were entering the hotel flanked by Lane's security personnel.  Rather than chance fans recognizing her and causing a mob scene, they arranged for a lunch to be served in one of the suites of the discreet hotel.  The bodyguards stayed close to Lane and Rory as they crossed the lobby to the elevators.  Once safely behind the closed doors, Lane giggled.  She said, "I'm still not used to all this.  It feels like yesterday we could wander wherever we wanted.  Now I need my buddies and secret arrangements to go anywhere!"

"It is strange.  Stars Hollow seems to be the only place you are safe to roam,"  Rory agreed.

"It was my dream, but getting what you wish for can sure be an inconvenience sometimes,"  Lane said as they stepped off the elevator to a private floor. 

"Miss, please wait here,"  one of the security men said as he unlocked the suite door and did a quick check of the room as Lane rolled her eyes.  Rory and Lane waited in the hallway with the other security guard until the first returned to give the all clear.  He said, "We'll be out here if you need us, Lane."

Politely Lane said, "Thanks guys."  Then she and Rory entered the suite.

The suite was massive.   The biggest television Rory had ever seen took up a full wall.  It hung above a funky, retro sunken living room area flanked with soft leather couches.  The whole room was decorated in a chic 1960s motif.  In the middle section of the couches a huge buffet of food was already set up.  Sternos kept the lavish spread warm while ice chilled wine and other beverages.  Rory and Lane grinned at each other before sprawling out on the couches and peeking into the various tin trays.

Before they could sample anything, the door opened and one of the guards announced Claudia's arrival.  As usual, Claudia made her entrance.  She was wearing skin tight designer jeans with a cowl neck jade colored sweater.  On her feet were what Rory considered to be her trademark black leather boots.  The black leather jacket she wore over the sweater was open revealing a shiny silver necklace. 

Claudia flew into the room as the bodyguard silently closed the door. "Rory!  Lane!" she screeched as she ate up the ground between them.  Before either could answer, Claudia crushed them together in a tight hug.  "I'm so happy to see you!  How are you both?  How's Logan?  And I can't thank you enough for even considering me for this!  If you hire me, I will do an awesome job!  I have so many ideas.  We can make this such a success, everything you want it to be!"  she excitedly said in her whirlwind manner.

Pulling free of Claudia, Rory and Lane sat together on one of the couches.  Claudia plopped down on the other couch.  Lane said, "Well, before we get to talking about all this, I have to try some of this chicken.  Nowadays my world revolves around food!  Until I get some of this, I won't be able to concentrate on anything!"

Rory laughed, "Thank God that baby is hungry.  Smelling all this any longer without digging in was going to kill me!"

"Baby?  What baby?"  Claudia demanded.

Rory and Lane looked at each other.  Lane wasn't really planning on announcing the pregnancy for a bit yet, but since they had already pretty much told Claudia, she said, "I'm pregnant, Claudia."

Claudia started bouncing up and down on the couch.  She yelled, "Congratulations!  That is so awesome!  I hadn't heard anything.  I would have brought you a baby present!"

Rory jumped in, "No one really knows, Claudia.  We aren't really announcing it yet.  We figured since we would be trusting you with so much with the band, we could trust you with this little secret too."

"Of course!  I won't tell anyone!  Oh, this is so exciting!  I am, like, in the band now!"  Claudia said clapping her hands like an excited child.

"Well, if you are going to run our charity and fundraisers, yes, I suppose you will be kind of part of the band," Lane said with a mouthful of the spicy chicken.  "Oh wow, this is really good!"

"So, I have the job?"  Claudia asked nibbling at a stuffed mushroom.

"Why don't we tell you what Lane and the guys have in mind and their goals.  Then you can give your thoughts?"  Rory said.  She reached for a bottle of wine and offered Claudia a glass. 

Claudia smiled and said, "Why not?  I'm flying out this afternoon, but it's not like I am flying the plane!" After she accepted the glass, she said, "Alright, tell me about this charity."

For the next hour, Rory and Lane outlined what the band was thinking and hoped to achieve with this charity.  Claudia listened intently and asked surprisingly well thought out questions.  Lane was impressed that Claudia was thinking of the smaller details and seemed to truly understand the band's intentions in this venture.

By the end of the conversation, Rory and Lane were convinced Claudia was indeed the right choice to chair the charity.  She knew the legal aspects and had the appropriate connections to ensure the monetary end would be well taken care of.  And her ideas for fundraisers and awareness programs shocked them.  Her idea to formally launch the charity at a joint function with the DuPont foundation seemed like a great idea to them.  Since the DuPonts already approached Hep Alien for a private concert for their own charity with very influential people, it seemed like the logical opportunity to present their own charity.  Claudia promised to speak with them soon about the idea, but she felt very strongly that they would love the idea.

"Perhaps I should give them a call too?"  Lane asked.  "I know there was some issue with them not feeling comfortable with you running the whole thing.  Maybe I can make that a non-negotiable part of the deal?  I could say the only way we will pair with them is if you can be in charge of the whole thing."

"Lane, that would be amazing!  But let me speak to them first.  I think after I inform them of this meeting and let them know I was sought out for this position by you guys, their ideas may change.  Plus Logan has been prodding Dad to trust me more.  He really trusts Logan's opinion on things.  Dad has been giving me many more opportunities and responsibilities lately, nothing this big though,"  Claudia said sipping her wine. 

"Ok, fair enough.  Just let me know if you need me to step in.  Otherwise, I'd say you are hired!  I think you have some great ideas and can really make this work for us!"  Lane said.

"Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!  You will not regret this!  I will make this a success for you, I promise!"  Claudia said embracing them both again before flopping back on the couch.  After the official business talk had wound down, Claudia indulged in a second glass of wine and was quickly on her way to a third.

Rory laughed and said, "Well, you did come highly recommended from a very reliable and trusted source."

Claudia looked slightly confused, but then exclaimed, "Logan!"  She giggled. "Oh my God, even though Logan has mentioned this a few times now, I thought it was a dream!  I kept asking him if he was serious, if I could really get the chance to work with you guys on something this big.  I was just so excited by the idea!"  Claudia took a sip of wine and kept going in her excited, rushed voice,  "He got that Logan look.  You know the one, Rory!  The one where it looks like he is about to jump you?"  She giggled again and continued, "The he put his arm around me and said he would do everything he could to make it happen.  And just this morning when I told him we were meeting today, told me to just be myself and tell you my ideas.  And now I am getting the chance of a lifetime!  Really, Lane, this is going to be great!"  Claudia said giggling.

Not catching what Claudia said, Lane said, "I think you deserve it."

But Rory stopped laughing and looked at Claudia.  She asked, "Wait...when did you see Logan?"

"That was strange..." Lane said after Claudia made a hasty departure.

"Very strange,"  Rory agreed.

"Has Logan mentioned talking to her?" Lane asked delicately.

"No!  In fact, he just said this morning that he has NOT talked to her in a while!"  Rory looked at Lane.  Lane could see Rory's panic setting in and heard her voice getting desperate.

"Rory, calm down.  I am sure there is some explanation,"  Lane said logically. "We are talking about the guy that was just on your mom's roof with reindeer the other day!"

"I have to go to California.  I have to go now.  Can I use the band's jet?"  Rory said frantically to Lane.  Before Lane could speak, Rory continued, "Lane, she just said she was flying out this afternoon!  Is she going to California?  Why did he lie to me?  What the hell is going on here?"