"Look at you!  You're all excited to see a baby!"  Logan laughed.

"Well, it's been a few days!  Since the day Keiko was born, I haven't gone more than two days without seeing her!"  Rory said defensive of her desire to see her goddaughter.  "We've been so busy picking paint colors and area rugs that I have gone five days without my Keiko fix!"

"I know, I know!  Just joking with you!"  Logan said putting his hands in the air.  "I still can't believe you ended up coaching Lane through it all like that.  I am the one that could have used the practice for when you have our baby!"

Rory was still a month away from her due date, but no longer terrified.  She wasn't exactly looking forward to being in the pain she witnessed with Lane, but she wasn't frozen with fear anymore. She laughed and said, "There wasn't much choice.  Keiko came so fast!  We were all shocked!"  Then she sighed, "But she is so perfect.  Lane and Zack picked the best name, so pretty.  Lane said it's a family name."

"It is a very unique and pretty name.  She is really growing into it too,"  Logan said.

"I know!  Can you believe she is five weeks old already?  They, whoever they are, aren't kidding.  It does go by really fast!"  Rory said.

"Alright, don't get all weepy on me.  Keiko is still pretty little!  She's not heading off to prom quite yet,"  Logan laughed.  "But I really should get you over there.  The fundraising benefit and official opening of Hep Alien's charity is only two weeks away.  You and Mrs. Kim need to coordinate with Claudia.  You are covering it for HPG, remember?  And I need to get over to the house.  Tom is waiting on me."

"Still scared of Mrs. Kim, aren't you?"  Rory teased.  At Logan's exaggerated shudder, she giggled.  Then switching topics, she said, "You still have all the paint samples, right?  Since I have been banned from the house since they started painting, I need you to make sure they are using all the colors we picked in the right spots."

"Paint fumes are not good for you and the baby,"  Logan said.  "And I will check on every single room personally after I drop you off at Lane's house."

Rory gathered her purse and a large water bottle as they made their way to the door.  She said, "I can't believe we are moving into the house in just a couple weeks!  I really wasn't sure Tom would be able to pull it off.  But he is really doing it!"

"I am sure the endless stream of bribery money from Mitchum is prodding him along," Logan said dryly. 

"Usually I would disapprove of that sort of thing, but I don't care right now.  I am too excited to get in our own house!"  Rory said excitedly as they got into the minivan.

Logan had pulled up in a deep blue minivan the week before causing Lorelai and Rory to collapse in unstoppable laughter for nearly an hour.  Logan had simmered down in his overprotective tendencies, but he had increased strangeness in other areas.  He was convinced they needed the minivan for the safety of the baby.  Apparently, they also needed cameras, monitors, and an intercom system in every room of the new house as well.   And he already had a supply of outlet covers, cabinet door closers, and bumpers for corners of furniture they didn't even have yet.

Rory went along with his preparations.  She figured men needed to "nest" like women did.  While she obsessed about nursery schemes and colors, Logan concentrated on safety features. This baby would be the safest and most stylish newborn in all of Connecticut at the rate they were going.

"Ok, so I will just be at the house with Tom.  I have my phone.  Call me if you get tired or don't feel well.  I can be back in five minutes,"  Logan said.

"Maybe in your old sports car you could have. It will take the mini van at least ten or fifteen,"  Rory teased.  At Logan's look, she smiled and said, "I'll be fine, Logan!  All we are doing is going over the last minute details.  Claudia has taken care of everything!  She really made this all come together beautifully.  Lane and I have been so wrapped up in Keiko and our baby that we never would have pulled this off.  I have to hand it to you, Claudia really came through.  She was the perfect person for the job."

"Don't tell her that until it's over!"  Logan laughed.  "Yeah, I'm looking forward to this.  It should be a great show.  Lane's come-back show!"

"She is so nervous.  It hasn't been that long since she's played, but she is practicing like a possessed woman!"  Rory said.

"I'm sure she'll be great.  Tell everyone I said hello,"  Logan said after Rory got out of the mini van.

"Will do!"  Rory said and then waddled toward the house.

"Oh my God!  Look at you!  You look adorable, like you swallowed a beach ball!"  Claudia shrieked as Rory walked into the house.  "Who knew maternity clothes could be so cute?" Claudia said pawing Rory's flowing top.

"Hush!  You will wake the baby!" Mrs. Kim barked.

"Sorry, Mrs. Kim.  I was just excited to see Rory.  It's been months,"  Claudia said apologetically to Mrs. Kim.  Like Logan, she was a bit fearful of the older woman.

"That's nice, but we have work to do.  Lane must practice before she feeds the baby again," Mrs. Kim said.

"I'll go practice in a few minutes, Mama.  I have been practicing nonstop for two weeks now.  I still got it.  I'm good,"  Lane assured her.

Mrs. Kim grumbled, but stopped arguing.  Instead, she said, "We need seating chart.  Most of the benefit will be open, but important people need reserved seats."

With the attention focused back on her, Claudia got serious.  She said, "Yes, absolutely, Mrs. Kim.  I have a diagram here of the hall.  As you can see, there are several tables roped off for VIP guests. We don't want them to feel secluded.  But we want them to know we value their presence.  So I was going to arrange a few discreet ferns to section off the area a bit while still keeping it open."

"Very good," Mrs. Kim approved. "Now we discuss menu..."

For the next hour the women discussed all details of the charity fundraiser.  Order of speeches, menu, the band's playlist, and floral arrangements were all finalized.

Lane leaned back as Mrs. Kim left to check on the baby.  She said, "Whew, this is a lot more involved than I imagined.  Claudia, you have put a lot of work into this."

"It's been fun.  And I am just so appreciative that you guys gave me a shot!  My father is finally taking me seriously since you won't talk to anyone but me.  He gave me an office and an assistant!"  Claudia said beaming.  "He told me if this is a success, I will be the new event coordinator for our main hotel and banquet hall!"

"Claudia, that's amazing!  Congratulations!"  Rory said.

"Seriously, you guys have no idea how huge of an opportunity this is for me. I cannot thank you enough for having so much faith in me!"  Claudia said.

Rory and Lane got misty eyed and hugged Claudia.  Rory joked, "Not fair!  I have all these pregnancy hormones racing through me!"

"Mine haven't completely gone away either!"  Lane laughed.

Mrs. Kim reentered the room with Keiko.  She said, "Enough of this.  Lane, you feed Keiko again.  Then you take Rory to Luke's.  She needs food for the baby.  I will stay with Keiko and the boys."

Lane discreetly opened her top and allowed Keiko to have her lunch.  Rory and Claudia watched, only seeing the top of Keiko's head.  Rory knew her time was coming very soon.  She couldn't wait.

A short time later, Rory, Lane, and Claudia made their way to Luke's.  It was early August, but a pleasant day.  The past week had been oppressively hot, but temperatures were down with a nice breeze that day.

"So, I finally get to see the infamous Luke's.  I have heard rave reviews from Logan.  Is Luke really as grouchy as he claims?"  Claudia asked.

Rory and Lane laughed.  Lane said, "Well, he can be.  Rory's mom is married to him now.  And I worked for him for years.  So we are kind of used to his mood swings.  He'll be nice to you, don't worry."

"I wasn't worried.  I was kind of hoping for a show-down with that Taylor guy,"  Claudia said with a smile.

"You may get lucky.  You just never know when the gloves will go on between them,"  Rory said as she pulled open the door to the diner.

Rory froze in the doorway as she was met with a chorus of "Surprise!" from all the townspeople.  She looked around the diner.  Everyone was there.  The diner was decorated in pink and blue balloons and streamers.  There were pink and blue paper tablecloths on all the tables.  A huge diaper cake sat on the counter.

"W-what?  Oh wow!  Thanks everyone!"  Rory said stunned.

"Come here, sugar!  Sit down!"  Babette said leading Rory to a decorated chair.

"Now, we know you already had a fancy-smancy shower in Hartford with your grandmothers, but we just had to throw you a little Stars Hollow party,"  Patty said.

"You are the beloved daughter of Stars Hollow,"  Taylor said.  "Although, Luke, I am pretty sure you are exceeding capacity right now.  I would have to check, but I believe you are zoned for..."

"Zip it, Taylor.  What are you going to do?  Shut down a baby shower for too many guests? Is someone going to start a riot over baby bottles?"  Luke asked.

"Well, now, we don't necessarily have to shut it down.  I was thinking of suggesting more of a shift-type party.  Perhaps we could have half the party with half the guests, then do a second part," Taylor suggested.

Claudia was grinning watching the exchange.  Luke whirled around and went back to cooking.  Taylor followed him.  He nearly made it to the kitchen before Luke backed him up with a spatula.  He waved it in Taylor's face and said, "Taylor, for the last time, do not come behind my counter."

"Now, Luke..." Taylor began.

"I can get the big frying pan if you want to throw it at him,"  Lorelai piped up.

"Alright, alright, enough of this.  This is a party! I am the only one drawing on a onesie here!" Gyspy shouted from across the room.

"Oh, that's nice.  What is it?"  Babette asked wandering over to see Gypsy's onesie.

"A truck.  I make trucks,"  Gypsy said.

"You could branch out, dear.  Maybe do a train or airplane,"  Patty said. 

Sitting back in her chair, Rory grinned.  The shower she had in Hartford had been very nice, but this was home.  These people and all their quirks made this place home.  She loved that they arranged a shower for her.  Rory looked around the room at all the familiar faces.  She was shocked to see Logan in the corner with Tom.  She caught his eye and smiled.

Logan made his way over to Rory.  He bent and kissed her softly.  Rory asked, "Did you know about this?"

"Of course.  The painting has been done for two days.  I came over here to help Luke and Lorelai set up!"  he said.

"You sneak!"  she giggled.

Lorelai appeared at her side with a heaping plate of food.  She said, "Eat up, Mommy.  After food, it's present time!  I doubt you will get any sterling silver rattles here.  But there should be some fun gifts!"

A short time later, Rory discovered what Lorelai meant by "fun gifts".  She opened a handmade rocking horse from Luke.  Babette had knitted a hat and booties in blue and pink so that she was set for a boy or girl.  Patty had performed a song for the baby.  Rory thought it was sweet but a little awkward having Patty sing to her stomach.  She also gave the baby a huge multicolor stuffed unicorn that was raining glitter everywhere.  Taylor had a tree planted in the square in honor of the baby.  A plaque was to be placed when the baby was born and named.  Kirk gave the baby his old Gumby doll.  It was old and tattered with a strange smell, but Rory thanked him since it was obviously difficult for him to part with. Gypsy built the baby a go-kart.  Logan thought that was the most awesome gift even though the baby couldn't possibly use it for many years. 

The party wound down around dinner time.  Rory was exhausted.  Logan made her wait in the diner while he loaded up all the gifts.  When he came back to retrieve her, he said, "So, the mini van seems much more practical now, huh?  Where would we have put the five foot unicorn in the sports car?"

A/N:  My sincerest apologies for not updating this past Thursday, error on my part.  I honestly thought I did update in the morning, but I guess I didn't.  So I am making sure I get this part out very early on Sunday.