A Second Chance

Chapter 11

In January Rory and Logan found themselves getting ready to go to the same conference they been at the year before. Not only did Rory have to pack for herself for a week in Washington, but she had to pack for Matthew to spend a week in Stars Hollow. She was really nervous to be leaving him. She couldn't even leave him at daycare for a few hours without him crying so she wasn't sure how a week was gonna go.

Rory brought Matthew to Luke and Lorelai's house on Monday morning and stayed for a little while before she had to go meet Logan so they could go to the airport.

"Alright, baby, you're gonna be good for grandma and grandpa, right?"

"Mommy, stay"

"You're gonna have so much fun and I'll be back before you know it. I promise"

"No"

"Come here" Rory said. She wrapped her arms around Matthew and held him tight. She could tell from the way he was breathing that he was crying. "I love you so much, and I'm gonna miss you so much, but I promise that you'll have fun with grandma and grandpa"

"No, mommy, don't go"

"I have to. I'm sorry"

"No!"

Rory looked at Lorelai who was standing a few feet behind Matthew.

"Matthew, I have to go"

"No!"

"Ok, you have to go to grandma now" Rory said and kissed the top of Matthew's head.

"I wanna go with you"

"Come on" Lorelai said. She picked Matthew up so that Rory could leave. Once Rory was gone, Lorelai was left with a very upset and crying 3 year old.

"Mommy!"

"Shhh, it's ok"

"I want mommy!"

"I know"

——

From Stars Hollow Rory drove to Logan's place.

"Hey" Logan said and kissed Rory when he opened the door. "How'd it go?"

"You ever have to leave your child while they're screaming, and crying, and begging you not to go?"

"You mean the child that I don't have?"

"Right. Well, it's awful"

"I'm sorry" Logan said and hugged her

"That's the downside of growing a person inside of you" Rory sighed. "They always wanna be with you"

"He feels safe with you. Protected. Of course he doesn't want you to leave"

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Put a positive spin on everything"

"I'm just saying, there's a reason he doesn't like when you leave and if you think about it, it's a really sweet reason"

Rory smiled. "I love you"

"I love you too, Ace"

——

On Tuesday morning, Lane walked into the mostly empty Luke's diner to see Matthew sitting by himself at the counter. "Hey Matthew" she said. "Where's your mommy?"

"She went" Matthew said without looking up from what he was doing. Luke had given him a sticker book, a box of crayons, and some paper.

"What? Where did she go? Who's watching you?"