And Then There Were Four

by Keiko_Noriko

Summary:

Set Post-AYITL. Continuation to my "What Makes Up a Family" story. Jess and Rory navigate adulthood and parenting challenges while trying to expand their family.

Chapter 1: The First Month

It had been exactly twenty days since Jess and Rory began trying for another baby. Rory had thrown herself into the process with unwavering determination, immersing herself in research, inundating Jess with articles about the best practices, and meticulously tracking her cycle with the precision of a scientist. She had even started a journal, diligently documenting every symptom, no matter how minor, as if it might hold the key to their success. Her period wasn’t late yet, but the anticipation had become unbearable. She couldn’t wait any longer to take the test. Jess, on the surface, played the role of the patient one, hoping to keep her calm, but deep down, he was just as anxious—maybe even more. The thought of expanding their family filled him with a quiet, hopeful excitement that he struggled to contain.

That morning, they woke before the sun, the room still cloaked in the soft, gray light of dawn. Rory had read that the best time to take a pregnancy test was first thing in the morning, when the concentration of the pregnancy hormone hCG would be at its highest. By six o’clock, they were both sitting up in bed, the faint glow of early morning seeping through the gaps in the curtains. Rory reached for one of the pregnancy tests from the small stash she had accumulated from before this had become a goal. Jess took it from her, his fingers brushing against hers, and examined it with exaggerated care, reading the expiration date and the instructions as if they might have changed overnight.

"Basically, you just pee on this stick and wait three minutes," Jess said, his tone light but his hands trembling slightly as he handed her the test. "Seems simple enough."

Rory nodded, holding the test with the kind of reverence usually reserved for something fragile and precious. She stared at it for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of the packaging as if it held the answer to everything they had been hoping for. The weight of the moment settled over her, heavy and palpable, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

“So, go ahead,” Jess said encouragingly once she hadn’t moved for a while. “Do what you have to do.”

She looked up, her eyes meeting his with uneasiness "Before I do this," she began, her voice soft and shaky, "I just want to remind you that this is only our first month trying. Statistically, the chances of getting pregnant right away are pretty low, so if it comes out negative, it doesn’t mean anything’s wrong with either of us. It just means we keep trying."

"Rory, where’s the skip intro button?" Jess chuckled, his hands gently settling on her shoulders, grounding her. His touch was warm and steady, and she leaned into it for a moment, letting his presence calm her frayed nerves.

"I’m nervous," she confessed quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I’m nervous too," he admitted, his tone softening. His heart was racing, though he tried to hide it. He thought about how much he loved being a dad to Ricky, how much he wanted to give Rory this dream, and how much he wanted to go through this journey together. "But it’s just a test. I love you, and whether it says we have to keep trying or it’s time to start saving for diapers, we’ve got so much ahead of us." He smirked, leaning in for a brief kiss. She kissed him back, and for a moment, they allowed the warmth of the embrace to soothe their nerves.

"I’ll be right back," she said, pulling away, her face flushed but resolute.

"Just let me know when I should set the timer," he nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.

She disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. A moment later, her faint "Now" drifted through the door. Jess pressed the timer on his phone and sat on the edge of the bed, his hands folded in his lap, trying to keep his breathing even.

Rory returned, perching beside him. They both stared at the screen, watching the numbers tick down. The air between them felt fragile, stretched too thin. The seconds dragged, their meaning far heavier than they should have been.

The alarm beeped. Rory silenced it instantly but made no move toward the test. Jess glanced at her, then at the open bathroom door, as the answer itself was still lingering inside. She finally stood, walked in, and came back moments later with the test in her hand. She looked at it for a long time, saying nothing.

Jess swallowed hard. "So?"

"Negative," she said, her voice quiet but steady.

She held the test out to him, as if she needed him to see it too, to confirm what she already knew. Jess took it, sighing as he read the single line. A strange tightness settled in his chest, but he pushed it aside.

Instead of speaking, he reached for her hand and pulled her closer. He rested his forehead against her stomach, his arms wrapping around her waist. She stroked his hair absently, both of them absorbing the quiet disappointment together.

He took a deep breath and looked up at her. "We’ll get there, Rory. Next month, maybe. Or the one after that. We’ve got time." Rory nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears but also with hope. She sat on his lap, Jess pressing a kiss to her forehead before cradling her tenderly in his arms. "And no matter what, we’ve got each other—and Ricky. That’s already more than I ever thought I’d have."

Rory rested her head against his shoulder, her hand finding his. "Yeah," she said softly. "It is."

After a moment of quiet, Jess glanced at the clock and then back at Rory. "How about we wake Ricky up and we all have breakfast together?"

Rory’s smile widened, her eyes lighting up at the thought. "That sounds perfect. Let’s do it."

They both stood up, Jess offering her his hand. She took it, and together, they walked down the hallway to Ricky’s room, their fingers intertwined. Jess pushed the door open gently, revealing Ricky curled up in his bed, his stuffed dinosaur tucked under one arm. Rory leaned down, brushing his hair back and whispering, "Hey, sleepyhead. Time to wake up. We're having a special breakfast today."

Ricky stirred, blinking sleepily before breaking into a grin. "Pancakes?" he mumbled, already sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"Yep," Jess said, scooping him up into his arms. "We can even add chocolate chips if you want to."

Ricky cheered, his earlier grogginess replaced by excitement. Rory watched them, her heart swelling with love. As Jess carried Ricky to the kitchen, she followed behind, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. They might not have gotten the result they hoped for today, but they had this—their little family, their love, and the promise of more mornings like this to come.

Chapter 2: The Second Month

For the second month, Jess and Rory had decided on a slightly less contrived approach. He had agreed to hide her notebook from her and the cycle app in her phone after she was past the ovulation period—this way, they would only take the test once she realized her period was late.

What they hadn’t accounted for was that anxiety made time drag slowly, with days that felt like weeks and weeks that felt like years.

Rory immersed herself in work, even accepting a few short work trips and spending time enjoying the locations rather than rushing back home. She convinced herself that keeping busy would help, that if she wasn’t watching the calendar, she wouldn’t feel the weight of it.

Jess, on the other hand, focused on being as present as ever in Ricky’s upbringing, spending every moment he wasn’t at work catering to him, building things together, reading, or just watching as the little boy honed his own skills. Ricky was in a phase of constant discovery, always running up to Jess with wide eyes and some new, fascinating thing he had learned. He was growing, changing right before their eyes, and Jess made a point to savor it.

Still, the waiting pressed on them in quiet ways. Some nights, Rory would look up from her book and catch Jess watching her, like he was trying to read her body for any signs before she even noticed them herself. Some mornings, Jess would wake up earlier than usual, staring at the ceiling as if willing time to move faster. And Rory, while deliberately not checking her app, had made a mental note of when her next period would start and count it down, hoping to eventually spring this information on Jess.

One evening, after a long day of work and a series of back-to-back Zoom calls, Rory sat on the couch with a cup of coffee in her hands, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. Jess had just finished playing with Ricky in the other room, and now, the apartment was quiet. Too quiet.

Rory’s eyes flicked over to Jess, who stood in the kitchen, half his attention on doing the dishes, but there was a quiet tension about him, too. The same tension she felt. It had been days since they’d talked about anything other than work or Ricky, and she knew, without a word being spoken, that the weight of the situation was there for both of them.

He caught her eye across the room, and a soft, unspoken understanding passed between them.

“You okay?” he asked, wiping his hands on a dish towel and walking over.

Rory set her cup down and looked up at him, a small smile on her lips. “I’m fine,” she said, but her voice betrayed her, just a little.

Jess sat down beside her, glancing over at the phone in her hand. “You’ve been staring at that thing for the past hour,” he observed. “Are you checking the calendar again?”

Rory bit her lip, then nodded. “I know I said I wouldn’t, but... I can’t help it. It’s just there, you know?”

“I get it,” Jess said softly, leaning back against the couch. His arm brushed against hers, and for a moment, they were both just there, letting the silence settle between them.

“If I don’t start my period today, it will be one day late...” she said, hesitantly but meaningfully.

Jess nodded in quiet understanding.

“So, tomorrow morning?” He asked tentatively and she nodded and smiled, relieved.

The next day, there they were again, waking up early and staring at the timer that would determine where their lives would go from there. Jess convinced himself that if the result came back negative again the disappointment would be smaller while Rory felt that she wasn’t sure how long she would be able to endure the wait if they didn’t get the answer they wanted this time.

They were only a little past thirty seconds when a sound came from the hallway, announcing Ricky’s arrival—a soft, hesitant sniffle. Rory and Jess looked up from the phone and at each other, their shared anxiety momentarily interrupted by concern.

Ricky stood in the doorway, his pajama pants damp and his face flushed with embarrassment. He clutched his favorite stuffed bear tightly to his chest, his wide eyes darting between his parents.

“Hey, buddy,” Jess said gently, handing the phone to Rory and standing up. “What’s going on?”

Ricky’s lower lip trembled. “I... I had an accident,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Rory’s heart ached as she immediately stood and crossed the room, kneeling in front of him. “Oh, honey, it’s okay,” she said softly, brushing his hair back from his forehead. “These things happen. Let’s get you cleaned up, okay?”

Ricky nodded, his eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, burying his face in her shoulder.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” Rory said, holding him close. “It’s just an accident. We’ll take care of it.”

Jess grabbed a towel from the bathroom and handed it to Rory, who wrapped it around Ricky’s shoulders.

“Let’s get you cleaned up, buddy,” Jess said, his voice calm and steady. “Then we’ll grab some cereal. Sound good?”

Ricky nodded, his tears starting to dry. Jess scooped him up, casting a quick glance at Rory as he carried Ricky to the bathroom. She gave him a small, grateful smile before turning her attention back to the timer on her phone, her heart pounding in her chest.

She walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, her footsteps soft, as though she didn’t want to disturb the calm that had settled over Jess and Ricky. The two of them were sitting at the table, sharing a bowl of cereal while Ricky excitedly told Jess about some new game he’d played at school the day before. It was a small moment, but in the silence that followed, Rory could feel the weight of the test result pressing down on her.

She poured herself a cup of coffee before leaning against the kitchen counter, watching the quiet exchange between father and son, trying to steady her breath. Jess looked up at her then, offering a soft smile, but it faltered when he noticed the distant look in her eyes. She looked at him and shook her head with a soft pout. Jess looked down, nodding in quiet disappointed understanding. She moved closer to them, her hand landing on Jess’s shoulders while he instinctively reached for her hand, pressing it lightly.

They silently watched Ricky, who kept babbling excitedly, apparently completely oblivious to the tension between the adults.

At the end of the day, after Rory put Ricky to sleep she started thinking about their current situation and decided to voice her concerns to Jess.

“Do you think we should tell Ricky what’s going on?” She asked, rubbing her hands together as she spread on her night cream.

“I don’t think he’s old enough to understand this,” he said honestly. “I mean, he can sense something is different, but telling him exactly what’s going on might be confusing to him.”

“Yes...” Rory said, after pondering for a while. “But he knows something is up. Right now, as I was reading for him he asked me why adults think it’s okay to keep secrets from him while we always tell him to be open and honest with us.”

“He’s asked something like this to me too,” Jess nodded, both of them reflecting on how to deal with the situation.

“Maybe I should ask Paris,” Rory said while joining him in bed. “I mean, she’s a mother of two, a doctor, and she has a surrogate and fertility clinic. She might be able to offer some insight into how we handle this with Ricky.”

Jess shifted uncomfortably in bed, his brows raised. “Do you really want to discuss our sex life with Paris?”

Rory chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Well, it’s not our sex life. It’s more about how we navigate this with our three-year-old son. But it’s just an idea. I won’t if you’re not comfortable with it.”

Jess was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Rory watched him, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her sleeve. Finally, he sighed and turned to her, a small smirk playing on his lips. “We clearly have no idea what we’re doing. Better ask an expert, right?”

Rory smiled, relief washing over her. “I’ll call her tomorrow,” she said with a resolute nod.

Jess leaned over and kissed her, his hand brushing against hers. “Good call,” he murmured before turning off the lights. As they settled into the darkness, Rory felt a quiet sense of hope, her hand still resting in his.

x

Rory sat cross-legged on the couch, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. She had been staring at Paris’s contact information for the past ten minutes, debating whether to call or text. Finally, she took a deep breath and hit the call button.

Paris picked up on the second ring. “Rory Gilmore. To what do I owe the pleasure of this unscheduled interruption to my day?”

Rory smiled despite herself. “Hey, Paris. I, uh, need some advice. Professional advice.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Professional advice? Are you writing an exposé on the surrogacy industry? Because if you are, I’m not giving you insider information without a signed NDA.”

“No, no, it’s not for an article,” Rory said quickly. “It’s... personal.”

“Personal?” Paris’s tone shifted from businesslike to intrigued. “Okay, now you have my attention. What’s going on? Did Jess finally snap and decide to become a lumberjack in the woods of Vermont?”

Rory laughed, though it came out more nervous than she intended. “No, Jess is fine. We’re fine. It’s just... we’ve been trying to have another baby, and it’s not happening as quickly as we thought it would. And now we’re in this weird limbo, waiting to see if the next cycle worked, and I don’t know how to handle it. Or how to explain it to Ricky.”

There was a beat of silence. Then Paris said, “Wait. You’re calling me for parenting advice? Rory, I’m an OB-GYN, not a therapist. But fine, I’ll bite. How long have you been trying?”

“Two months,” Rory admitted. “I know it’s not that long in the grand scheme of things, but it feels like forever. And every time we get a negative test, it’s... hard.”

“Welcome to the club,” Paris said dryly. “You’re not alone, you know. Statistically, it takes the average couple six months to a year to conceive. And that’s assuming everything’s functioning optimally, which, let’s be honest, isn’t always the case.”

“I know,” Rory said, sighing. “But it’s not just the waiting. It’s the not knowing. And Ricky’s starting to notice that something’s up. He asked me why adults keep secrets from him, and I didn’t know what to say.”

“Ah, the existential musings of a child,” Paris said. “Look, kids are more perceptive than we give them credit for, but they’re also resilient. You don’t need to start talking about the birds and the bees yet and you definitely don’t have to give him a detailed breakdown of your reproductive system. Just ask him how he feels about maybe becoming an older brother, or tell him you’re hoping to give him a sibling someday, and leave it at that.”

“That’s... actually not a bad idea,” Rory said, feeling a small weight lift off her shoulders. “But what if it doesn’t happen? What if we keep trying and it never works?”

“Then you cross that bridge when you come to it,” Paris said matter-of-factly. “There are plenty of options—fertility treatments, surrogacy, adoption. But right now, you’re borrowing trouble. Focus on what you can control, like not driving yourself crazy with Google searches at 2 a.m.”

Rory laughed again, this time more genuinely. “How did you know about the Google searches?”

“Because I’ve been there,” Paris said, her tone softening slightly. “Doyle and I went through the same thing when we were trying for our second. It’s frustrating and exhausting, but it’s also normal. You’re not broken, Rory. You’re just human.”

Rory felt a lump form in her throat. “Thanks, Paris. I needed to hear that.”

“Don’t mention it,” Paris said briskly. “Oh, and once it does happen, wait a little... A lot of times parents get eager to start telling everyone the news, but the first trimester is particularly tricky. Just make sure everything is in order before you let Ricky and others in.”

“Okay,” Rory said, smiling. “And, Paris? Thanks for not making this weird.”

“Oh, it’s definitely weird,” Paris said. “But you’re my friend, so I’ll allow it. And next time you call me about parenting advice I’ll point you to my therapist. Now go do something productive instead of obsessing over your uterus. Call me when you have news—good or bad.”

“I will,” Rory promised. “Talk to you soon.”

She hung up the phone and leaned back against the couch, feeling a little lighter. Paris’s no-nonsense advice had given her some much-needed perspective. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time in weeks, she felt like she could handle it.

In the days that followed, they became less secretive with Ricky, and the change had a noticeable effect on their dynamic. The little boy was intrigued by their sudden discussions about possibly growing their family—and frustrated when he realized that didn’t mean getting a pet. He also became more curious about what expanding the family entailed, prompting an endless string of questions that ranged from hilarious to downright uncomfortable. Jess and Rory found themselves both entertained and challenged as they navigated this new aspect of parenthood.

Chapter 3: Third Time is the Charm?

The third month passed quickly. Rory was still juggling deadlines, meetings, and short work trips while raising Ricky, trying to get pregnant again, and nurturing her relationship with Jess. But for the first time in a while, she felt a little more confident in balancing it all. She even forgot to check what point of her cycle she was at times, which helped take the edge off.

Or so she thought.

She woke abruptly in the middle of the night, her body stirring her awake for reasons she already suspected. She made her way to the bathroom, her movements quiet, almost hesitant, as if delaying the inevitable could change the outcome.

And then she saw it—the red spot in her underwear.

She exhaled slowly, her fingers tightening around the fabric as disappointment settled deep in her chest. Without thinking, she reached for her phone, thumb hovering over the app before tapping it open. Right on time. Her period had arrived exactly when it was supposed to.

She should have known better than to hope.

Swallowing against the sudden lump in her throat, she flushed the toilet, washed her hands, and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back, tired and quiet, as if bracing for the weight of this familiar ache.

The bedroom was dim when she returned, the glow of the moon slipping through the curtains. Jess was sprawled across the bed, half-buried under the blankets, his breathing slow and even. She sat down on the edge of the mattress, the dip in the bed rousing him just enough to stir.

“Hey,” he murmured sleepily, blinking at her. Then, noticing the tension in her shoulders, his voice sharpened with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Rory let out a soft breath, her fingers idly tracing the hem of her pajama shorts. No dramatics, no preamble—just the truth.

“Got my period.”

Jess blinked, processing, before reaching for her hand. His fingers curled around hers, a gentle squeeze. “Damn,” he said, voice thick with understanding. “I’m sorry.”

She nodded, pressing her lips together, willing herself to hold it together. “Me too,” she whispered.

She turned away then, tugging the blanket higher around her body, signaling the conversation was over. Jess didn’t push. He didn’t offer false reassurance or promises about next time. Instead, he simply scooted closer, wrapped an arm around her, and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her cheek, where a stray tear had slipped down.

Rory woke up a few hours later to the distant sound of Ricky’s laughter and the low murmur of Jess’s voice. She blinked against the morning light, momentarily disoriented. Then, the events of last night came rushing back, and the weight settled in again.

She dragged herself out of bed and into the kitchen, where Ricky greeted her with a beaming smile. She tried to match his energy, but it felt like an act—like she was moving through molasses, detached from the moment. Jess stood at the counter, his back to Rory as he poured her coffee. His movements were deliberate, his grip on the mug tighter than usual, as if the simple act of holding it steady required all his focus. He glanced over his shoulder at her, his eyes lingering for a moment on the way she stared blankly at the steam rising from her cup. The dark circles under her eyes were deeper today, and the way she absently picked at the edge of her sleeve made his chest ache.

He set the mug down in front of her, his fingers brushing against hers for just a second—a small, silent attempt to connect. She didn’t seem to notice.

“Want me to take Ricky to preschool on my way to work?” he asked, his voice careful, measured. He kept his tone light, but his jaw tightened as he waited for her response. She nodded, barely looking at him, and he felt the familiar knot of frustration and helplessness twist in his stomach.

Jess turned to Ricky, who was happily swinging his legs on the stool, oblivious to the tension in the room. He scooped him up, holding him a little tighter than usual, as if the weight of his son in his arms could ground him. “Alright, buddy. Let’s go,” he said, forcing a smile. “Say bye to Mommy.”

Ricky threw his little arms around Rory, and Jess watched as she hugged him back—her arms loose, her gaze distant. It wasn’t much of a hug at all, and the sight made his chest tighten. He shifted Ricky to one hip, his free hand reaching out to brush Rory’s shoulder. “You okay?” he asked, his voice low, almost tentative.

She nodded, but it was barely there, like she was already miles away. Jess exhaled slowly, his hand lingering for a moment before he pulled away. He pressed a kiss to the side of her head, his lips lingering just a second longer than usual, as if he could somehow transfer some of his strength to her through the gesture.

As he stepped out the door, Ricky chattering happily in his arms, Jess glanced back at Rory one last time. She was still sitting at the table, her coffee untouched, her shoulders slumped under an invisible weight. He swallowed hard, the image of her like that searing into his mind as he closed the door behind him.

As the door clicked shut, Rory released a slow breath, her gaze lost in the steam curling from her coffee. She had no idea how long her mind had wandered—until her phone’s buzz yanked her back to the present. She ignored it.

Then it buzzed again.

With a frown, she glanced at the screen—and her stomach dropped.

Meeting: 15 minutes ago.

Shit.

She snatched up the phone, her boss’s name flashing as an incoming call.

“Hey,” she answered, already scrambling for an excuse.

“Oh, thank God,” her boss exhaled. “Are you okay? We’re waiting for you to start the meeting.”

Rory swallowed hard, heat creeping up her neck. “Yeah, sorry—I had a rough morning getting Ricky ready,” she lied, hating how easy the excuse was to believe. “I’ll log in now.”

“Alright, just give us a heads-up next time, okay?”

The call ended. Rory let out a shaky breath and dropped her phone onto the table. The sound echoed in the quiet kitchen.

She clenched her jaw. This wasn’t like her. She didn’t forget meetings. She didn’t slip up at work. She was Rory Gilmore—organized, efficient, always on top of things.

Or at least, she used to be.

Her chest tightened as the thoughts came rushing in, unbidden and unrelenting. She was failing as a woman, her body refusing to do what seemed so easy for others. She was failing as a mother, barely mustering the energy to hug Ricky back as he left for preschool. She was failing as a partner, too wrapped up in her own head to be present for Jess. And now, she was failing as a professional, missing meetings and deadlines like some scatterbrained rookie.

“Great job, Rory,” she muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Consistency is key, right? At least you’re failing at everything equally.”

She sank into a chair, her fingers gripping the edge of the table as if it could anchor her. The weight of it all pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating. For a moment, she thought about calling her mom. Lorelai would know what to say, how to make her laugh, how to remind her that this wasn’t the end of the world. But the thought of admitting how far she’d fallen—how much she was struggling—made her stomach churn.

Instead, she stood up and went to her bedroom to get dressed and join the meeting which she was already late to.

X

She had convinced herself that day was just an exception. She had just found out she wasn’t able to conceive again this month, and it took a toll on her emotional health. But it was temporary, she told herself. As the days passed and her frustration settled, things would go back to normal.

But instead, they only got worse. Her mood swung between numbness and irritation. When her boss requested minor adjustments to her piece, it sent her over the edge. She had barely held it together at work, forcing a tight smile as she nodded along. By the time she got home, her mind was still racing with everything that had gone wrong that day, making it hard to focus on even the simplest tasks.

One evening, she decided to grill a sandwich for Ricky, but she forgot it on the stove, burning it completely. The sight of the charred bread sent her into uncontrollable sobs.

“Rory, it’s just a sandwich. We can make him another one...” Jess said softly, his voice steady even as his chest tightened. He hated seeing her like this, hated feeling like he couldn’t fix it. He reached out to touch her arm, but she pulled away, and he let his hand drop, swallowing the lump in his throat. He did everything he could to keep it together, to be strong for both of them.

“You mean you can make him another one, because I’m clearly not cut out for it,” she snapped.

Jess didn’t respond. He never did. Usually, he just sighed and did whatever he felt necessary to avert the crisis. She resented him for it. How could he stay so calm while she treated him like trash? She kept apologizing for her harsh words, and he kept forgiving her—but how much longer could he take it?

At night, when they were alone, he would ask her to talk to him. Or to someone. To see a doctor. He would ask, over and over, how he could help her feel better. And if maybe, just maybe, they should take a break from trying—since it seemed to be causing her more stress than excitement.

Ten days later, they reached a breaking point.

Jess had stayed later at work than usual—end-of-month calculations, a successful quarter, a small celebration with his partners.

When he arrived home, eager to share the good news, he was greeted with a cold shoulder.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, his voice cautious but tinged with exhaustion. He’d been looking forward to sharing his good news with her, but the coldness in her tone made his stomach sink.

“No. Nothing.” She shrugged, avoiding his gaze. “Waiting for hours for you was really fun, you know. We should do this more often.”

“I told you I’d be late. You didn’t have to wait for me,” he said carefully, his hands shoved into his pockets to keep from reaching out to her. He hated this distance between them, hated feeling like he was constantly disappointing her.

“Well, I did. I thought you’d want to spend time with me after hanging out with your friends.” Her voice dripped with contempt, and he flinched, the words cutting deeper than she probably intended.

“You sound jealous,” he replied, confused but trying to keep his tone light. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing. Just... go back to your friends. Maybe when you go out, you’ll meet someone who can actually give you what you want. That is, if you haven’t yet.”
Jess froze, her words hitting him like a punch to the gut. He wanted to argue, to tell her that she was all he wanted, but the doubt in her voice mirrored his own fears.

Jess blinked. “Rory, what the hell are you talking about?”

“We both know this isn’t working,” she said, arms crossed, avoiding his gaze.

He let out a breath, rubbing his temples. “Rory, we had a meeting. The results were good. We went out to celebrate. I came home. I wanted to tell you all about it, but then, I came here to find you glaring at me as if I have just said billionaires deserve tax breaks.”

“That’s not funny,” she said bitterly as she tried to keep a straight face—but she bit back a smile. He breathed slightly relieved.

“C’mon, it’s a little bit funny,” he said gently with a smirk. He took a step closer and she let her arms down. “I really think you should talk to someone, Rory,” he said gently, his voice steady but his eyes betraying his worry. “It’s been days. You’re stressed, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to help.” He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration seeping through despite his best efforts to stay calm. “I just want you to relax,” he added, his voice softening.

These last words broke the fragile connection they had just made.

She let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. “Easy for you to say. You only have to think about conceiving, what? Eight days a month? And then I’m the one who has to spend the rest of the month wondering if this will finally happen or not.”

Jess stiffened. “Wow. Not fair.” His patience finally cracked.

Rory saw the shift in his expression, regretting her words instantly, but it was too late.

“You think I don’t worry about it 24/7?” His voice was quieter now, but raw. “You think I don’t get frustrated every time we fail? You had a baby with Logan, Rory. Without planning. It was easy.” His voice broke slightly, but he kept going. “And I can’t seem to give you that. You think I don’t wonder, every single day, if I’m the problem? You think I don’t catch myself wondering if you’d be happier if you went back to him? And that if that’s what it takes for you to be happy… I’d let you go?”

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I’m falling apart, Rory.”

The room fell silent, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Rory stared at him, her chest tightening as the reality of what she’d said sank in. She realized now why he’d been so patient—he’d been carrying his own guilt, his own fear of not being enough. And instead of letting it out, he’d bottled it up, trying to shield her from even more pain. It hit her like a punch to the chest: all this time, he’d been quietly falling apart too, and she’d been too wrapped up in her own struggles to notice. The thought made her heart ache, and she vowed to do better, to be there for him the way he’d always been there for her.

“Jess…” Her voice cracked, and she took a step toward him, her hand reaching out instinctively. But she stopped herself, unsure if he would welcome her touch.

He looked at her, his expression a mix of exhaustion and vulnerability. “I don’t know what else to do,” he admitted quietly. “I’m trying, Rory. I’m really trying. But I can’t keep doing this if you won’t let me in.”

Her throat tightened, and she nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “I know I haven’t been myself. And I know I’ve been taking it out on you.” She hesitated, then admitted, “I think you’re right. I need to talk to someone.”

Jess exhaled slowly, like he had been holding his breath. “Okay,” he said, nodding. “Okay.”

She took a shaky breath. “And I’m sorry I have been so self-absorbed that I didn’t realize how difficult this whole process was on you as well.” Jess looked at her, his eyes still clouded with heartbreak, but something had shifted—a little glimmer of hope. “I chose you, Jess, and I never once looked back. With all the problems we have, with all the mistakes we make. With all the possibilities that lie ahead.”

He reached for her hand, his touch warm and steady, and she let out a sigh of relief, welcoming his touch. His thumb brushed against the back of her hand, the movement small and tentative, like he was testing the waters. For a moment, he just stood there, his eyes searching hers, waiting for some sign that she was still with him, that she hadn’t already retreated back into herself. When she didn’t pull away, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease, just a little, and he gave her hand a soft squeeze.

“I’m sorry I’ve been bottling it all up inside instead of just telling you how I’m feeling, too,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “I guess I thought if I stayed strong, it would make things easier for you. But I can’t do this alone, Rory. We’re supposed to be in this together.”

She nodded, tears spilling over as she squeezed his hand. “We are,” she whispered. “And we will be. I promise.”

X

Rory sat impatiently in the waiting room, her leg bouncing uncontrollably. She kept biting at the skin around her nails—she knew it would only make things worse, but somehow, it was soothing. It felt strange to be at the doctor’s office without a physical illness, injury, or even just a routine check-up. Saying I’m just tired, stressed, annoyed felt ridiculous.

She glanced around the room, half-expecting someone to call her out for being there. What was she even supposed to say? Hi, I’m Rory Gilmore, and I’m failing at life? It sounded absurd, even in her head. The waiting room smelled faintly of antiseptic and old magazines, and the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow that made her feel even more exposed.

A voice called her name from down the hall. Rory hesitated, her stomach twisting as she stood. She forced herself to take a deep breath and followed the woman, her footsteps echoing on the linoleum floor.

Inside the office, the doctor walked around the desk, settling into her chair with her back to the wall. She motioned for Rory to sit, her smile warm but professional, her eyes kind behind her glasses.

“Hello, Ms. Gilmore,” she said once Rory was seated. “What brings you here today?”

Rory hesitated. “Well,” she looked around, as if the answer could be hiding somewhere on those walls. “I’ve been feeling a little off lately.”

The doctor looked at her, patiently waiting for her to continue.

“It started a few months ago, actually. I had a pregnancy scare,” she said as she remembered that the last time she had been to a doctor was because her period was late and the doctor then had already told her it was probably due to stress.

“Were you stressed about possibly being pregnant?” The doctor asked, taking notes on her clipboard.

“No,” Rory corrected her quickly. “I was working and traveling a lot. I mean, I was surprised when I realized my period was late and I was panicking for a while, but when I found out the result was negative I actually felt sad...” she trailed off.

“Huh, what happened after that?” The doctor asked, giving her a meaningful look.

“I realized I wanted to have another child, so I worried first, kept overthinking, but eventually I talked to my partner and he said he would like that too, so lately we’ve been trying to get pregnant.”

“You already have one child, is that right?”

“Yes, his name is Richard, after my grandfather,” Rory said, smiling proudly as she said his name. The woman smiled back at her. “He’s a very energetic three-year-old.”

“And was Richard planned as well?”

“No, not at all. I found out I was pregnant after I had broken up with his father, it didn’t make sense to get back together with him. I didn’t love him anymore and he was getting married to someone else. I told him about the pregnancy, he provides for Ricky but he’s not really present.”

“Okay, so your current partner is not Richard’s father?”

“No,” Rory shook her head. “We met when we were teens, we dated very briefly, but then, while I was pregnant with Ricky we reconnected. He already knew I was pregnant and he didn’t seem bothered by it. He’s always taken care of Ricky as his own,” she continued, another subtle smile showing up at the corner of her lips.

“I’m glad,” the doctor replied, with a reassuring smile. “You mentioned you’ve been trying to get pregnant again, then?”

“Yes, we have been trying for three months now.” She confirmed with a nod.

“How is it going?”

Rory dropped her head. “Well, so far we only got negative results. We know it’s still too soon, that these things take time, but it’s been really hard.”

“I can imagine,” the doctor answered sympathetically. “Most times we think that planning a pregnancy will be like planning any other activity. You set a goal, work toward it and get the result. If you fail, you can look back at what you did wrong and learn from it. But pregnancy is a little more out of our control...”

Rory nodded lightly, the doctor’s words resonating deeply within her.

“How have you been coping with the frustration of the negative results?”

“Not well,” she admitted. “I’m over-analyzing everything, I took more work than I could handle. I started tracking my cycle obsessively. I started to feel constantly exhausted and instead of slowing down or finding a healthy way to deal with the stress I took it out on myself and Jess...” she said, a sudden pang of guilt overwhelming her.

“Jess? Is that your partner’s name?” She asked as she scribbled some more notes. Rory nodded quietly.

“In what ways did you take it out on yourself?”

“I just... I kept punishing myself for failing. I missed deadlines at work, I was late for meetings, I cried over little things... I would lash out on Jess anytime something went slightly out of my control...” Rory swallowed.

“This must have been hard, how did he react?”

“He was patient. Most times he just tried to defuse the ticking time bomb I was, and when he thought I was feeling better he would tell me I should look for help,” Rory stared deeply at her hands.

“Sounds like he cares a lot about you,” the doctor said. Rory couldn’t see her face, but she could feel the woman was giving her an encouraging smile.

“Would you say you are usually the type of person who pushes herself too hard? Maybe a bit perfectionist?”

Rory looked at her, her eyes wide with surprise that the doctor seemed to be able to read her so easily. She nodded, not saying a word and her mouth slightly open.

“When was the last time you took a vacation?” The doctor asked raising her eyebrows.

Notes:

Thank you for reading my story until here. If you like it, please consider showing your appreciation, it means a lot to us and it helps us build a relationship with our readers. See you again soon!

Chapter 4: Weekend Getaway

Rory entered their apartment still baffled. The doctor’s words kept going around her head, and she didn’t know what to make of it. It seemed slightly absurd, to say the least. She placed her keys in the bowl they had by the door and walked aimlessly into the apartment, still processing everything. She found Jess sitting at the kitchen table, having a heated discussion with Matthew over publishing an author. He waved at her distractedly, and she responded with a quick smile.

“I’m not saying no,” Jess corrected. “I’m just saying that she needs to decide which way she wants her story to go before it’s ready for the public. There’s no clear goal for her main character.”

Matthew replied with something that Rory couldn’t hear over Jess’s headset. She lay on the couch and listened to his part of the conversation, always finding it entertaining how he would discuss business decisions with Chris and Matthew.

“She can’t have her character say she’s finally happy by herself in one paragraph and then have her getting married in the next,” Jess shook his head. “Because I’m a big mean editor who just wants my writers to suffer, is that what you want me to say?”

“I don’t hate love. Or marriage,” Jess said defensively. “I just hate when authors rush things and don’t make it realistic. That’s lazy writing. She can do better than that. And she needs to choose a path. Her story has potential, but it needs lots of editing.”

“Ask Chris, I bet he will back me up on that.” He concluded. “Rory is here, I gotta go now. Talk to you later.”

Jess sighed deeply as he removed his headset. Rory sat back up, looking at him with an amused grin.

“Matthew is being overly nice to the authors again?” she asked with a soft laugh. Jess smirked as he walked up to her and greeted her with a kiss.

“I think he sometimes just does this to piss me off,” he chuckled, walking around the couch to join her. She lifted her legs for him to sit down and placed her legs on his lap. “You look happier. How was the doctor’s?” he asked, changing the subject, his hands on her legs, caressing them absentmindedly.

“Oh, it went okay,” she replied, looking down. “She said I push myself too hard and that I’m exhibiting symptoms of burnout.”

He stilled, glancing at her with a meaningful look. “Huh, who could have seen that coming,” he quipped. She tilted her head, looking at him with mock disagreement.

“Anyway... get this, she said I should take a vacation.”

“Okay,” Jess nodded. “I think this sounds like a good idea.”

“Jess, I can’t go on a vacation now,” she said in disbelief.

“Why not?”

“What do you mean, why not? I have Ricky, I have work, I can’t just decide something like that on a whim,” she justified. Jess raised an eyebrow, clearly challenging her arguments. “Also, I don’t want to just go someplace alone.”

“Well, you don’t have to go alone,” Jess argued. “You could invite your mom, or Lane, or Paris. Or we could go together, as a family.” He shrugged.

“Jess, we can’t afford a family vacation right now.”

“I mean, I’m not suggesting we go to Athens, Greece for a month. But maybe Athens, Ohio just for four days or so.”

Rory chuckled. “And what’s there in Athens, Ohio that’s so appealing for a four-day vacation?”

“That’s for us to figure out when we get there,” he shrugged again, giving her a short smirk. “But I’ve got the perfect place in mind. It’s quiet, cozy, and there’s a bookstore that’s supposed to be amazing.”

Rory raised an eyebrow. “A bookstore, huh? Now you’re speaking my language.”

Jess grinned. “Thought that might get your attention.”

“Okay, how about your work?” she tried.

“You know, being one of the partners gives me a few perks which I hardly ever use,” he replied.

“What about Ricky’s school?”

“Rory, he’s in preschool. We just inform them he’s going to be away for a few days. I’m sure they won’t keep him behind just because he missed his finger-painting finals.”

Rory rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. She was running out of excuses, and if she had to be completely honest, Jess was able to make the thought of going away for a few days sound less and less absurd.

“You don’t have to decide right now,” he said, a little softer this time. “But think about it. It’s not such a crazy idea after all.”

For once, Rory didn’t want to overthink it. She didn’t want to weigh the pros and cons or plan every detail. She just wanted to trust Jess—and herself—to figure it out as they went.

“You know what, I’m sold. Let’s do it,” she said, throwing her hands in the air.

“Are you serious?” he asked, happily surprised at her sudden decision.

“As a heart attack,” she nodded. “Let’s be spontaneous for once. I trust you. It will be good for us.”

“Aren’t you going to make a pro-con list first?” he asked provocatively.

“Don’t make me change my mind, Mariano,” she replied, nudging him on the shoulder.

“Alright,” he agreed, leaning over to kiss her. “You won’t regret it.”

She laughed lightly at his excitement. She looked at her watch and then looked back at him suggestively.

“Since we’re on the topic of being spontaneous, we have about an hour before it’s time to pick Ricky up,” she said, her fingers gently tracing the collar of his shirt. “Now, what do you suggest we do to pass the time?”

He smirked again, biting his lower lip. “I can think of one thing or two,” he nodded, kissing her again, this time more slowly.

X

Their short vacation quickly became only a weekend getaway and a promise that Rory would continue going to the doctor if she still felt stressed out. Jess had only been able to convince her to get one day off, but he was going to see it through.

When they shared their plans with their son, Ricky couldn’t contain his excitement. He kept bouncing up and down, asking all sorts of questions about where they were going, how long they were going to stay. He asked if he could pack his own bag, how many toys he could bring, and whether there was room for all his favorite books. Rory had accepted that Jess made all the planning, and he took it to heart, giving nothing away to either of them.

In the evening before the trip, the boy could barely sleep. He kept tossing and turning in bed, waking up every hour to check the time and if everything was okay. Jess had made the critical mistake of mentioning they’d leave around 9. From then on, any time the clock showed a 9—whether morning or night—Ricky would pop up, asking if it was time to go. It was both endearing and exhausting.

Rory, on the other hand, was quietly anxious about it. She trusted Jess. She knew he would choose a place she would enjoy, and she knew he wasn’t the type of person to splurge. He would make sensible decisions, but her controlling side kept getting the best of her. The day before the trip, she even asked her mom whether Jess had shared anything with Luke that might be a tip, but to no avail.

“Can we go now?” Ricky asked impatiently, watching Jess quietly eat his breakfast across the table. Rory shared his sentiment but didn’t say anything, only sipping at her coffee. Jess chuckled lightly.

“In a few minutes. I need to finish my breakfast, and you’re still in your pajamas.”

“I’m going to go change, then,” the little boy said resolutely, standing up and darting to his room.

“Do you need help?” Rory called, watching him as he disappeared into the short hallway. He didn’t answer, just closed the door behind him.

“I can’t believe he’s so excited about it,” Jess mentioned casually, unable to hide his own satisfaction.

“Yeah, me too. When did we ever travel with him?” she wondered. “Stars Hollow doesn’t count.”

“Well, he loves when we go there. And you took him to Nantucket once,” he remembered.

Are we bad parents for not traveling with him more?’ Rory mused, only half-joking.

“How often did you travel with your mom when you were a kid?”

“Hm... not at all. She didn’t make much money back then, and the little that was left, she saved to buy our house.”

“Yeah, we didn’t have much money when I was a child either. And when we did, traveling would be pretty low on our list,” he admitted. “So I think this wasn’t a priority for us until now. But we have a chance to make different choices... We have a pretty comfortable life, very different from the life we had growing up.”

Rory looked at him. “When did you get so wise?” she said with admiration. He smirked, but before they could continue talking, Ricky came trotting back.

“It’s 9:05 now. We’re late. Let’s go!” he said with a sense of desperation. Without arguing or trying to buy any more time, the trio left for the car.

Once Jess started driving, Ricky finally settled in the backseat. He had a toy truck and a stuffed bunny in his arms and chattered excitedly about all the things he was going to do on their vacation. Rory watched the road quietly, looking for clues to where they were heading. Eventually, she started making wild guesses, trying to piece it together.

"Are we going skydiving?" she asked.

Jess snorted. "Sure. Nothing screams Jess Mariano and Rory Gilmore more than extreme sports."

"I don’t want to go skydiving. I’m scared," Ricky said from the back.

Rory chuckled lightly. "Are we going to a spa?"

"That’s not a place for a kid," Jess said simply.

"What’s a spa?" Ricky asked.

"It’s a place grown-ups go. It’s very boring if you’re a kid. There’s not much to do there, just enjoy the quiet."

"I don’t like the quiet," Ricky declared, shaking his head. "I want to do something exciting. Like running. Oh. Oh! Or maybe swimming!"

“Maybe ice-skating, buddy. The water is frozen now,” Jess corrected with amusement.

Rory narrowed her eyes, watching the road signs as they sped past. “Okay... are we going to a lake?”

Jess didn’t answer, just kept his eyes on the road.

“Aha! I knew it!” she grinned in triumph. “A lake and... mountains?”

Still nothing.

She gasped dramatically. “Oh, come on! I’m right, aren’t I? Just admit it.”

Jess exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Alright, Nancy Drew. If you keep trying to ruin the surprise, I’m going to have to blindfold you.”

Rory tilted her head, watching him for a moment. A slow, mischievous smile spread across her lips as she leaned in to whisper, “Kinky.”

Jess blinked, momentarily thrown off. His hands tightened slightly on the wheel before he shot her a sidelong glance. A mix of surprise and something darker flickered in his expression before he smirked. “I like where your head's at,” he murmured back, biting his lower lip to keep from grinning too much.

Rory just glanced at him suggestively, making the rest of the ride a little more interesting.

“What’s happening?” Ricky asked, noticing the sudden silence in the car. The couple chuckled.

“Nothing,” Jess said. “We’re almost there.” He announced, pointing to the road ahead. Ricky and Rory looked in awe.

“Whoa! Is that the ocean?” Ricky gasped, his eyes wide as he took in the view.

“No, that’s a lake. A very big lake,” Jess replied, smiling with a sense of pride as he noticed they seemed to approve of his choice.

“We’re going to Lake George?” Rory asked, turning her head to look at Jess.

“Do you like it?”

A wave of emotion crashed over her, catching her off guard. She turned to Jess, her eyes brimming with happy tears. “I love it, Jess,” she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude.

X

The cabin was everything Rory had hoped for and more. Nestled in the woods with a view of the frozen lake, it was cozy and rustic, with a stone fireplace and a porch that overlooked the water. Ricky had immediately claimed the loft bedroom, declaring it his “adventure fort,” while Jess and Rory settled into the master bedroom downstairs.

The first day was a blur of snowball fights, hot chocolate, and laughter. Rory watched Jess and Ricky build a snow fort, her heart swelling with affection as Jess patiently explained the best way to pack snow. For the first time in months, she felt herself relax, the weight of her stress and anxiety lifting, if only for a little while.

That night, after Ricky had fallen asleep, exhausted from the day’s adventures, Rory and Jess went to the bedroom, hoping to continue the night with a wine in hand and the fireplace lit up.

Jess placed the bottle and glasses on the nightstand and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it onto the chair in the corner before climbing into bed. The mattress dipped as Rory slid in beside him, her fingers cold when they brushed his arm. He shivered dramatically. “You could at least pretend to warm up before touching me.”

She smirked, pulling the blankets higher. “You’re warm. I’m just taking advantage of your superior body heat.” Jess sighed but didn’t move away. If anything, he shifted closer, letting her rest her head against his shoulder. They lay there for a few moments, the room dimly lit by the bedside lamp, her breathing even against his skin.

“So, when do we open this thing?” She asked, pointing to the bottle of wine.

Jess smirked, quickly getting the message. He served her first before helping himself. She clinked their glasses.

“To Lake George,” she said playfully, before taking a sip. Jess nodded and joined her.

“How do you like it so far?” He asked.

“It’s incredible. I’m just sorry we had never done it before,” she replied simply. “How did you even come up with this idea?”

“Well, I came here once when I was a kid,” he started. “I was around seven. Liz had just married this guy. I mean, of all the guys she dated this one wasn’t half bad. He decided to take us on this trip, I guess to feel more like a family...” Jess stared at his glass. “I think it worked. It’s one of the few good childhood memories I have.”

Rory looked at him surprised. It wasn’t often he shared anything related to his life before he moved to Stars Hollow. And, in the rare occasions he did, it was usually something concerning or upsetting. This was the first time she remembered him saying something nice about his past.

“When you said you needed a vacation I thought this was a place you and Ricky would enjoy. I’m glad I was right,” he smirked, still looking at his own glass.

He seemed vulnerable and she was happy he was willing to share so much with her. They continued drinking their wine in a comfortable silence.

“What happened to him? Your mom’s husband?” She asked.

Jess shrugged. “I guess he got tired of cleaning up her mess.”

Rory stared at the ceiling, her fingers tracing patterns on Jess’s chest. She knew she should let the moment stay light, should just enjoy the way he felt beside her, warm and steady. But the thought had been pressing against the edges of her mind all day, refusing to be ignored. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but deliberate.

“I’m ovulating.”

Jess blinked, turning his head slightly to look at her. “Oh...”

She hesitated. “I know this trip was supposed to be a break from… all of that. From the stress of it. And I don’t want to bring it up if you’d rather just not think about it right now.”

He studied her face—the way she bit her lip, the uncertainty in her eyes. Rory was always the one who had everything planned, who weighed every decision before making it. But this wasn’t something they could control, not really, and he knew that not knowing when or if it would happen was driving her a little insane.

Jess exhaled slowly. “Do you want to try?”

Rory looked down. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I just… I didn’t want to keep it to myself. In case you did.”

He nodded, letting the words settle. They’d agreed to take the pressure off, to stop letting every month feel like a countdown to disappointment. But hearing it now—knowing that this could be a moment, this could be the time—it made something stir in his chest.

Jess reached for her hand, threading their fingers together. “We’re here. We’re relaxed.” He ran his thumb over her knuckles. “Maybe this is the best time to try.”

Rory met his gaze, something in her expression softening. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

For the first time in a while, there wasn’t any weight to it. No overthinking, no worrying about what if it doesn’t work? Just them, together, in the quiet of a snowed-in cabin, letting things happen as they would.

Rory smiled, and this time, when her fingers brushed his skin, Jess didn’t complain about the cold.

X

The second day of their vacation began not with the soft glow of sunlight or the peaceful chirping of birds, but with the sound of little feet thundering the wooden floors. Rory groaned, burying her face deeper into Jess’s chest as the noise grew louder.

“Mom! Dad! Wake up! It’s snowing!” Ricky’s voice was impossibly loud for someone so small, and Rory felt Jess stir beside her, his arm tightening around her waist.

Much like Lorelai, or probably because of her, Ricky was a huge fan of snow and could smell it even before it started to fall. Jess and Rory did not share this enthusiasm.

“What time is it?” Jess mumbled, his eyes still closed and not daring to move.

Rory squinted at her phone on the nightstand. “8:02,” she groaned. “Why is he like this?”

Before Jess could respond, Ricky burst into their room already fully dressed to go outside, winter hat and gloves included even though the cabin was relatively warm. He climbed onto the bed, bouncing unceremoniously between them.

“It’s vacation time! We have to do stuff!” he declared, his energy levels already at maximum capacity.

Jess groaned again, pulling a pillow over his face. “Kid, vacation also means sleeping in.”

“But the sun is up!” Ricky argued, as if this were an irrefutable law of nature. “And there’s snow, look.” Ricky got out of bed and pushed the drapes open, the light invading the bedroom, he turned around to see Jess and Rory making faces as their eyes adjusted to the new brightness.

“I guess it’s on us for staying up so late last night,” Jess said, rubbing his eyes and throwing the blanket to the side.

Rory groaned again, reluctantly sitting up and running a hand through her disheveled hair. “Okay, kid.” She sighed, Ricky looking at her, his smile unwavering. “You win this round. Let’s go.”

He cheered once he noticed both parents standing up from bed, still unable to match his enthusiasm.

“What are we going to do today?” He asked. “Can we go ice-skating?”

“Sure, but first we need breakfast,” Jess agreed.

“With lots and lots of coffee,” Rory added.

Ricky clapped his hands excitedly, already racing out of the bedroom, his little footsteps echoing through the cabin. Rory and Jess exchanged a tired but amused glance before following him at a much slower pace.

In the kitchen, Rory started the coffee maker while Jess rummaged through the cabinets for pancake mix. Ricky sat at the table, swinging his legs and chattering nonstop about all the things he wanted to do in the snow.

“And after ice-skating, can we have a snowball fight? Oh, and can we make snow angels? And—”

“Whoa, whoa,” Jess interrupted, holding up a hand. “One thing at a time, kid. Let’s start with breakfast. Snow adventures require energy.”

“Fine,” he sighed defeated, looking at his mom as she poured batter onto the hot griddle.

Once breakfast was ready, they sat down to eat, Ricky happily devouring his stack of pancakes and humming a made up song for his food while Rory and Jess sipped their coffee in relative silence. The snow outside continued to fall, blanketing the cabin in a soft, white glow.

After breakfast, they bundled up in layers and headed outside. The air was crisp and cold, and the snow crunched under their boots as they made their way to the frozen lake. Ricky ran ahead, his laughter echoing through the quiet morning.

The little boy sat on the bench, his legs swinging as he waited for Rory to help him put on his skates. Jess sat back and watched as the two struggled to skate through the rink, what they lack in grace they made up for in excitement. They both glanced and waved at Jess from time to time, usually prompting them to lose their balance.

After a while, they took a break, sitting on a nearby bench to warm up with hot chocolate from a thermos Rory had packed. Ricky was still buzzing with energy, his cheeks pink from the cold.

The rest of the day was spent mostly in the winter carnival, where Ricky decided to go to every single attraction and try every single food and interact with every single kid there, his outgoing personality was definitely something he had gotten from Logan. Ricky’s energy seemed endless, and by the time they returned to the cabin in the late afternoon, even he was starting to wind down. They lit a fire in the fireplace, and Rory dug out the board games she’d packed. Ricky insisted on playing Outfoxed, and Jess pretended to be devastated when he lost for the third time in a row.

By ten, Ricky attempted to protest bedtime, but his tiny body betrayed him. Before he could finish a full argument, his eyelids drooped, and he was asleep within minutes, finally granting his parents a well-earned moment of quiet once more.

X

The last day dawned gray and quiet, the kind of morning that seemed to hold its breath. Ricky lay curled under the blankets, his small frame a stubborn lump in the middle of the bed. He clutched the edge of the comforter, his knuckles white, as though the blankets could shield him from the inevitable.

“But we just got here,” he protested, his voice muffled by the pillow. It wavered—not quite crying, but close. The kind of voice that made Rory’s chest ache.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hand resting gently on his back. “Honey, you knew this trip wouldn’t last forever,” she said softly. “We’re so happy you had fun, but that’s what makes vacations special. If we stayed here forever, it wouldn’t feel the same.”

Ricky lifted his head just enough to peek over the pillow, his blond hair sticking up in all directions. “How do you know?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for an answer she couldn’t quite give.

Jess leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his voice calm but firm. “Because then it wouldn’t be a vacation anymore. It’d just be… normal.”

“Yeah,” Rory added, brushing a strand of hair from Ricky’s forehead. “We’d have to enroll you in school here, your dad and I would still have to work, and we wouldn’t get to spend all this time together. Plus, you wouldn’t see your grandparents as much. And do you really want to leave all your books and toys behind?”

Ricky sat up slowly, the blankets pooling around him. He stared at the covers, his small hands tracing the patterns in the fabric as though they held the answers.

“But I still feel sad,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not ready to go.”

Jess stepped forward, his boots scuffing against the wooden floor. He crouched beside the bed, his hand reaching out to squeeze Ricky’s. “I know, buddy. And we don’t have to leave right this second. Remember? I promised your mom we’d stop by the bookstore.”

The mention of the bookstore sparked a flicker of light in Ricky’s eyes. Rory caught it and leaned in, her voice warm and coaxing. “How about this—we go out for breakfast, you pick a book to remember this trip by, and before we go, we can build a snowman. A little souvenir for the town, so it knows we had fun here. What do you think?”

Ricky hesitated, his gaze drifting to the window. Outside, the world was blanketed in white, the snow untouched and glittering under the pale morning light. He imagined the snowman they’d build—round and lopsided, with a scarf and a carrot nose. Something that would stay behind, a piece of him in this place he didn’t want to leave.

Finally, he gave a small, determined nod and pushed the covers aside. “Okay,” he said, already swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

Jess and Rory exchanged a glance, the kind that carried a thousand unspoken words. It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to a place you loved—but maybe, just maybe, they’d made it a little bit easier.

 

Notes:

I feel we have earned a fluffy chapter after the tension of the first three. I hope you enjoy it, and if possible, please show your support, it means a lot.

Chapter 5: A New Kind of Expectation

The days after their vacation slipped by in a quiet rhythm, the kind of ordinary moments that felt comforting after the excitement of their trip. Rory found herself settling back into her routine, though something felt... different. At first, she brushed it off as the lingering fatigue from traveling or the adjustment to being home. But as the days passed, the little things began to add up.

She noticed it in the mornings, when the smell of Jess’s coffee—usually so inviting—made her stomach turn. She even checked if they had accidentally bought the wrong brand and tried to make it herself, to see if maybe he had started doing something wrong. Then there was the inexplicable exhaustion that hit her mid-afternoon, so heavy that she found herself dozing off on the couch while Ricky played with his toys.

One evening, Jess got up to go to the bathroom and noticed she wasn’t in bed. He came to find her in the kitchen, her face stuffed in a sandwich she had improvised with the leftovers they had in the fridge.

“Hey,” he greeted her lightly. She looked up like a kid caught in the middle of doing something wrong. “Are you okay?” He asked, looking at her with amusement.

She nodded as she chewed and swallowed. “Yeah, just the munchies,” she said taking another bite. They looked at each other, neither of them willing to say anything, but both thinking the same thing. It was too soon to be thinking of taking a test, and it felt dangerous to even entertain the possibility of her being pregnant, only to have their hopes crushed again.

But, eventually, they realized the signs were too strong to continue being ignored and it didn’t make sense to delay it any further. Ricky was happily munching on a piece of toast, his little legs swinging under the table as he pretended to feed his stuffed animals. Rory, however, was pushing her scrambled eggs around her plate, her face pale and her stomach churning at the smell. She’d managed a few bites, but the nausea was getting harder to ignore.

Jess watched her closely, his concern growing. He’d noticed how she’d been avoiding certain foods lately, how she’d been more tired than usual, and how the smell of his coffee—something she usually loved—seemed to make her queasy. He glanced at Ricky, who was now smearing jam on his toast with the kind of focus only a toddler could muster, and then back at Rory.

“You okay?” Jess asked quietly, reaching across the table to touch her hand.

Rory forced a smile, nodding. “Yeah, just... not feeling great this morning,” she said, her voice strained. She took a sip of water, hoping it would settle her stomach, but the smell of the eggs was too much. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “I’ll be right back,” she muttered, hurrying out of the kitchen.

Ricky looked up, his big blue eyes wide with curiosity. “What’s wrong with Mom?” he asked, his voice sweet and innocent.

Jess hesitated, then smiled at his son. “I think she just ate something that didn’t sit right, buddy. She’ll be back in a minute.” He reached over to wipe a bit of jam off Ricky’s cheek. “You finish your toast, okay?”

A few minutes later, Rory returned, her face still pale but composed. She forced a smile as she sat back down, avoiding Jess’s gaze. Ricky, oblivious to the tension, held up his toast triumphantly. “Look, Mom! I made a smiley face!”

Rory’s smiled softned as she sat again next to him. “You’re a natural artist.” She said encouragingly. The little boy grinned proudly.

“Are you feeling better, Mom?” He asked worried.

“I am,” she nodded. “Thank you for being such a sweet kid,” she leaned in to give him a peck on his cheek. She glanced at Jess, who watched the scene carefully. “Now, finish this up so I can take you to school, we have a busy day ahead.”

He nodded with determination and took a big bite of his toast before standing up and going to his room. They watched him as he disappeared into his room. Rory kept looking at the hallway, but she could feel Jess’s eyes piercing her.

“I know what you’re thinking,” she said quietly, still not daring to look at him.

“Is it late yet?” He asked.

“Five days...” she said carefully and sighed. “I’m just afraid, you know. This time isn’t like the others.”

“I understand.” He agreed. “We can do it today, or wait a little longer, whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“I just don’t want to be disappointed,” she continued to justify.

“I know, me neither.” He sighed, and she finally turned to look at him. He was biting his lower lip, his eyes fixed on their coffee table.

“But it’s better to know now than later, right?” She completed, he glanced at her and nodded lightly. “I’m going to take Ricky to school now, we’ll do it when I get back.”

Their son came back a few minutes later, his huge backpack on his shoulder and his bullet train in hand, ready to conquer the world. He gave Jess a hug and they walked out of the apartment, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He did the dishes and tried to answer his emails, but it was hard to focus and he found himself reading the same line again and again with no record of what the authors or his partners were even saying.

Jess sighed, setting his laptop aside and running a hand through his hair. The apartment felt too quiet without Rory and Ricky there, the silence amplifying the whirlwind of thoughts in his head. He stood up, pacing the living room as he tried to distract himself. He straightened the couch cushions, picked up Ricky’s toys, and even wiped down the kitchen counters again, but nothing helped. His mind kept circling back to the same question: What if this is it?

He glanced at the time. Rory had only been gone for twenty minutes, but it felt like hours. He couldn’t shake the nervous energy buzzing under his skin. Finally, he grabbed his phone and sent her a quick text: How’s it going?

A moment later, his phone buzzed with her reply: Dropping him off now. Be home soon.

Jess exhaled, trying to steady his nerves. He knew Rory was just as anxious as he was, if not more. They’d been through this before—the hope, the waiting, the crushing disappointment. But this time felt different. He just had to keep his expectations low to avoid further disappointment.

His gaze flicked to the time again. She’d been gone for twenty-two minutes. He decided to grab a book, he opened it at a random page and skimmed through it, smiling to himself as he read the notes he and Rory had written in the margins. He wasn’t sure when or how, but at some point in their relationship they had started having conversations through their notes, one complementing what the other person had written before and reading through them again reminded him of everything they were building together.

Then, the door opened, and Rory stepped inside, her cheeks flushed from the crisp morning air. Jess was immediately on his feet, his book forgotten on the couch. He searched her face for any clues, but she gave nothing away, her expression calm but guarded.

“Hey,” she said softly, closing the door behind her. “I’m back.”

Jess nodded, his throat suddenly dry. “How was drop-off?”

“Fine,” she said, setting her bag down. “Ricky was excited to show his teacher the drawing he made. He’s such a sweet kid.”

“Yeah, he is,” Jess agreed, his voice tight with nerves. He shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to steady himself. “So... are we doing this?”

Rory hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. Let’s just get it over with.”

They walked to the bathroom together, the pregnancy test sitting on the edge of the sink like a silent judge. Rory picked it up, her hands trembling slightly as she read the instructions. Jess stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.

“Okay, I’m going to do it,” she announced exhaling sharply.

“I’m going to set the timer. Three minutes, isn’t it?” He confirmed, letting go of her and stepping out of the bathroom to sit on their bed. She nodded, looking at him as he walked away before she closed the door.

A few seconds later Jess heard her saying “Now” and pressed the timer on his phone, watching it intensely, sensing that if he looked away something might happen. She joined him shortly after that and for the longest three minutes neither of them said anything.

The timer rang and Rory stopped it immediately. Her eyes widened and her breath got uneven.

“Jess, I can’t do it.” She said, looking at him.

“Do you want me to go there check it?” He asked, holding her hand to steady her. She nodded silently and he immediately stood up and walked to the bathroom.

Silence. He walked out of the bathroom, test in his hand, his expression unreadable.

Rory swallowed hard. “What is it?” She asked, looking at the test in his hands.

“I think you should see it for yourself,” he said cryptically, handing it to her. She picked it up, her hands trembling.

And then she saw it. Her brows immediately furrowed as she tried to process what it was showing. Slowly, her expression softened, and her mouth parted slightly as she realized—there were two lines instead of the single, lonely one they had grown so accustomed to seeing. “We’re having a baby,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

She looked up, her vision blurred from unshed tears, but she could see his smirk.

“We’re having a baby,” she repeated, standing up and walking closer to him, her grin wide. “I love you,” she said softly, her hands touching both his arms.

Jess let out a breathless laugh, pressing his forehead against hers. “We’re having a baby,” he whispered again, like he was still trying to believe it.

Rory let out a soft, disbelieving chuckle, shaking her head. “We really are.” Her voice cracked, and a tear slipped down her cheek, though she wasn’t sure if it was from relief, happiness, or sheer overwhelm. Maybe all three.

Jess caught the tear with his thumb, brushing it away gently. “Hey,” he murmured. “We did it.”

She exhaled sharply, nodding. “Yeah. We did.”

He responded by placing his hands around her waist and pulling her closer. His lips found hers and she kissed him back with a passion that seemed to have been bottled up for a really long time.

“What happens now?” He asked under his breath as their lips parted, grinning widely.

“I guess I have to go to a doctor and we need to schedule an ultrasound, make sure everything is in order,” she said, trying to remember how it was when she got pregnant with Ricky but her minding drawing a complete blank. He nodded in understanding and pulled her again, this time kissing her forehead and hugging her.

X

They had agreed not to tell anyone before the first doctor’s appointment. The idea of not sharing the news at least with Lorelai and Luke was agonizing for Rory, so she did everything she could to schedule it as soon as possible.

The next day, after dropping Ricky off at preschool, she made her way to the doctor’s office. The waiting room was a blur, her thoughts racing, her heart thudding in her chest. After what felt like an eternity, she was called back. The doctor was kind, gentle, and gave her the reassurance she needed. She prescribed some vitamins to ensure the pregnancy progressed well, then explained that the ultrasound wasn’t necessary yet. At only three weeks along, there wouldn’t be a heartbeat to detect. The best time for an ultrasound would be in about five weeks, when she was at least eight weeks along.

Rory had decided that it was confirmation enough to break the news to her mom and Luke. So, when Saturday came they drove to Stars Hollow. Ricky stayed with Lane to play with Steve and Kwan while Jess told the news to Luke and Rory went to talk to Lorelai.

Jess pushed the diner door open. He found his uncle taking Babette’s order and walked up to him.

“Oh, hey, you’re here already,” Luke said slightly surprised to see him.

“Hey, Jess, how’s everything? Babette greeted him with a smile.

“Just peachy,” Jess answered shortly.

“Are Rory and Ricky here with you as well?” She asked, already prying. Jess simply nodded.

“Can we talk for a second?” He asked Luke.

“Sure, what do you want?” He replied, oblivious to his nephew’s sense of urgency and secrecy.

“Are you guys staying at Luke and Lorelai’s? I’ll make sure to come by in the evening, I miss that little boy so much. And Rory. How is Rory?” Babette continued.

“Everyone is great. We’ll see you tonight, okay?” He said to Babette, slightly impatient. Then, he turned again to Luke.

“Can we talk in private for a second?” Jess emphasized, giving a meaningful look.

“Are you in trouble?” Luke asked raising his eyebrows.

“Luke,” he called. “Now, or I swear I’ll invite Taylor to our little reunion tonight.”

“You wouldn’t,” Luke scoffed, walking away from Babette’s table.

“Try me,” Jess shot back, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I miss this town’s chaos. It’ll be entertaining.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Ceasar, I’ll be back in a minute,” he called out before heading to the storage room, Jess close behind.

Once inside, Luke closed the door and turned to face Jess, arms crossed. “Alright, what’s going on? You’re acting weirder than usual, and that’s saying something.”

Jess shoved his hands into his pockets, his usual cool facade cracking just enough to reveal a flicker of nerves. “I’m not in trouble, if that’s what you’re worried about. But I’ve got some news. Big news.”

Luke’s brow furrowed. “Okay... so what is it?”

Jess took a deep breath. “Rory’s pregnant,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, though a small, proud smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Luke’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“Rory’s—” Jess started to repeat, but Luke cut him off.

“I heard you,” Luke said, hands on his hips. “Is this recent?”

“Yeah, we just found out this week,” Jess confirmed, nodding. “She went to the doctor. Everything seems to be fine.”

“Wow,” Luke exhaled, pacing the small storage room. “I remember the last time we talked, this was something you wanted. You really went for it, huh?”

Jess shrugged, his expression a mix of pride and vulnerability. “Yeah, we did.”

Luke stopped pacing and looked at him.

“How are you feeling?” He asked after they were silent for a few uncomfortable seconds.

“How am I feeling? Shouldn’t I be asking you that? This is huge. How are you feeling?” Luke countered, his voice softer now.

Jess looked down, his hands still buried in his pockets. “I’m happy,” he admitted after a moment. “I’m terrified, but I’m happy.”

Luke’s expression softened. “What are you terrified of? You’ve already got Ricky. You’re a great dad.”

Jess swallowed hard, his voice barely steady. “I don’t know. I’ve never wanted something more in my life. I just... I don’t want to screw this up.”

Luke stepped closer, his tone gentle but firm. “Jess, we all screw up. It’s part of being human. But you learn from it, and you keep going. For what it’s worth, I’m not worried. I think you’ve got this.”

Jess looked up, his guard down for once, his eyes searching Luke’s for reassurance. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Luke said, his voice steady. Then, without another word, he pulled Jess into a tight hug. It was unexpected but warm, the kind of hug that said everything words couldn’t. Jess stiffened for a moment, caught off guard, but then relaxed, his hands finding their way out of his pockets to return the embrace.

“Congratulations,” Luke said, his voice thick with emotion as he pulled back, clapping Jess on the shoulder. “You’re gonna be great.”

Jess nodded, a small, grateful smile breaking through. “Thanks, Luke.”

“Just... don’t tell anyone yet,” Jess added quickly. “We’re waiting until the second trimester. Even Ricky doesn’t know.”

“Don’t worry,” Luke assured him. “Your secret’s safe with me. Now, let’s get out of here before Babette starts interrogating me.”

Jess chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Do you need some help at the diner?” he offered, one hand scratching the back of his head.

Luke glanced at him, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yeah, I could use a hand. Thanks.” He watched as Jess headed upstairs ahead of him, and for a moment, Luke paused, taking in the sight of the young man he’d once helped raise. Pride swelled in his chest, warm and undeniable. This was the same kid who had shown up on his doorstep years ago, angry and lost, and now here he was—building a life, stepping into fatherhood again, and sharing his biggest news with Luke first. It wasn’t lost on him that Jess had chosen to come to him, to trust him with this.

And Rory—Rory, the bright-eyed teenage girl Jess had fallen for all those years ago, the one who had somehow seen through his tough exterior and stuck by him even when he didn’t deserve it. Now they were here, together, creating a family. Luke shook his head slightly, a quiet laugh escaping him. Life had a funny way of coming full circle.

He followed Jess upstairs, the weight of the moment settling in his chest—not heavy, but grounding. This was what family was. This was what it meant to watch someone grow, stumble, and rise. And Luke couldn’t have been prouder.

X

Rory took a deep breath, her right hand instinctively resting on her stomach, as if the gentle pressure could steady her nerves. She raised her hand and knocked on her mom’s door, the sound echoing in the quiet street. Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Lorelai, her face lighting up with delight.

“How’s my favorite child?” Lorelai exclaimed, pulling Rory into a tight hug before she could even respond.

Rory smiled, though her hands trembled slightly at her sides. “Quick, bring out the best robe—the prodigal daughter returns,” she joked, her voice warm but laced with a faint tremor. She wrapped her arms around her mother, holding on a little tighter than usual.

“You came just in time,” Lorelai quipped as they pulled apart. “I was about to print your ‘Have you seen this child?’ posters and plaster them all over the country.”

Rory chuckled, though her laughter was tinged with nervous energy. “Glad to know you haven’t resorted to extreme measures yet.”

They stepped inside, Lorelai closing the door behind them. Rory shrugged off her coat and sank into the sofa, her mother settling beside her. The familiar comfort of the living room—the mismatched pillows, the faint scent of coffee lingering in the air—helped ease some of the tension in her chest.

“So, how’s everything?” Lorelai asked, her tone casual but her eyes sharp with curiosity.

“Everything’s great,” Rory replied, her fingers absently picking at the hem of her shirt. “Work is going well. Ricky’s growing up way too fast. The trip was amazing. Jess and I are... we’re really good. It almost feels too good to be true,” she said, her smile bright but slightly shaky.

Lorelai tilted her head, studying her daughter with a knowing look. “I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming...” she teased, her voice playful.

Rory dropped her gaze, her voice softening. “It’s not really a ‘but,’” she corrected. “I just... I have some news to share. Big news. Good news.”

Lorelai leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees, her eyes narrowing with intrigue. “Okay, now you’ve got my full attention. Spill.”

Rory took another deep breath, her hand drifting back to her stomach almost unconsciously. “I’m pregnant, Mom,” she announced, her voice trembling but clear. “Jess and I are having a baby.”

For a moment, Lorelai just stared at her, her mouth hanging open in shock. Then, like the sun breaking through clouds, a wide, radiant smile spread across her face. “Oh my God, Rory! That’s amazing!” she exclaimed, her voice rising with excitement. “So, it finally happened! How far along are you?”

“Only three weeks,” Rory said quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush. “We’re not telling anyone else yet—just you and Luke. Not even Ricky. Not until we’re further along and know everything’s okay.”

Lorelai held up three fingers, her expression turning mock-serious. “Mum’s the word,” she vowed, though her eyes sparkled with barely contained joy. “I’m so happy for you, kid. My baby is having another baby.” She pulled Rory into another tight hug, her hand gently rubbing her daughter’s back.

When they pulled apart, Lorelai’s grin turned mischievous. “So, when did this happen? Was it in Lake George?” she asked, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

Rory let out an uncomfortable laugh, her cheeks flushing. “I’m glad you’re excited, Mom, but that’s a little TMI. But... yeah, it was probably there.”

Lorelai’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Hey, are you going to name the kid George if it’s a boy? I mean, it makes sense. And if it’s a girl, you could name her Lake,” she suggested, her tone dripping with mock seriousness.

Rory groaned, though a smile tugged at her lips. “Oh yeah, because nothing says ‘great parenting’ like naming your kid after the place they were conceived. That’s a surefire way to traumatize them during family dinners.”

“Fine, fine,” Lorelai said, waving her hand dismissively. “We’ll keep brainstorming. We’ve got time.” Her expression softened as she studied Rory, her voice gentler now. “But seriously, kid, how are you feeling about all of this?”

Rory’s grin returned, her excitement breaking through. “I’m ecstatic,” she admitted, her voice filled with joy. “We’ve been trying for months, and we both wanted this so much. I mean, part of me is freaking out a little—there’s so much to do, and it’s going to change everything. But I’m trying to focus on the positive. Jess and I are a good team, and we have you and Luke. We’ve done this before. We can handle it.”

She paused, her smile faltering for just a moment as her hand drifted back to her stomach. “I’m just... I’m so happy, Mom. But you know how it is—when something feels this good, it’s almost like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. Like, what if something goes wrong? What if I—” She cut herself off, shaking her head as if to dispel the thought. “I don’t know. I’m probably overthinking it.”

Lorelai’s expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze Rory’s hand. “Hey, it’s normal to feel that way. You’re allowed to be happy and scared at the same time. But you’ve got this, Rory. You’re strong, and you’ve got an amazing support system. Whatever happens, we’ll handle it together.”

Rory nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Thanks, Mom. That means a lot.”

Lorelai smiled, pulling Rory into another hug. “Now, let’s celebrate. Coffee? Oh wait, no coffee for you. Decaf? Tea? I’ll make you something special.”

Rory laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Tea sounds perfect.”

Lorelai stood up and wandered toward the kitchen, her mind drifting through the years like flipping through an old photo album. She paused by the counter, her fingers absently tracing the edge as memories washed over her.

First, she thought of herself at sixteen—scared, uncertain, and utterly alone—standing in the potting shed at the inn, a little crying baby in her arms. The fear had been paralyzing, but so had the determination to make it work, no matter what. She remembered the weight of that decision, the way it had shaped her entire life. And then, of course, there was Rory—her Rory—who had made every sleepless night and every sacrifice worth it.

Her thoughts shifted to another moment, years later, when she’d walked in on Rory and Jess in Luke’s old apartment. They’d been eighteen, tangled up on the couch, and Lorelai had felt a surge of panic so sharp it had stolen her breath. She’d worried about history repeating itself, about Rory making the same mistakes she had. And then, when Rory had confessed she was thinking about losing her virginity to Jess, Lorelai had felt that same unease creeping in, though she’d tried to hide it. She hadn’t wanted to project her own fears onto Rory, but the parallels had been hard to ignore.

The memories kept coming, one after another. She thought of her wedding day with Luke, the joy and chaos of it all, and then Rory’s bombshell announcement: she was pregnant at thirty-two, with an engaged man, and planning to raise the baby alone. Lorelai had been stunned, her mind racing with questions and concerns, but she’d pushed them aside to be there for Rory. And then, just a few months later, Rory had started mentioning Jess again—casually at first, like it was no big deal. She’d said he was helping her with her book, that they were just discussing editing and publishing opportunities. But Lorelai had noticed the way Rory’s voice lifted ever so slightly when she said his name, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about their conversations. It hadn’t taken long for Lorelai to realize there was more to it.

She remembered the night Rory had finally confessed, her voice hesitant but hopeful, that she’d fallen back in love with Jess. Lorelai had been wary at first—Jess had always been a complicated figure in their lives—but she’d seen the way Rory smiled when she talked about him, the way she seemed lighter, happier. And when Rory had told her they were giving their relationship another chance, Lorelai had decided to trust her daughter’s judgment. After all, Rory had always been the one person who could surprise her in the best ways.

And now, there they were. Jess and Rory had been together for four years, living together, raising Ricky, and now with another baby on the way. Lorelai couldn’t help but marvel at how far they’d come. Jess, the brooding boy from her past, had grown into a steady, devoted partner and father. And Rory—her Rory—had built a life that was so different from her own, yet just as full of love and purpose. It wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs, and Lorelai couldn’t be prouder.

Chapter 6: But Then...

Notes:

*Reader discretion is advised.*
Before you continue with this chapter, I want to provide some trigger warnings. If you prefer to avoid spoilers, feel free to skip this note and proceed to the chapter. However, if certain topics are sensitive for you, I strongly recommend reading this first.

**Trigger Warning:** Miscarriage and grief.

This chapter and the next two will explore themes of miscarriage and grief in depth. While there will be nothing graphic or violent, the emotional weight of these topics will be central to the narrative. From Chapter 9 onwards, the story will begin to take a more positive turn.

As the days passed, it became harder and harder to keep the secret and hide their excitement. There were so many moments when they almost let it slip in front of Ricky, only to quickly cover it up. Jess nearly mentioned it to Matthew and Chris during a casual conversation about family life when Chris started bragging about his daughter’s first words. Rory almost revealed it when her coworkers invited her to a bar to celebrate an award her article had won.

But their favorite moments were the quiet ones, the ones they shared alone. Late at night, in the stillness of their bedroom, they could finally speak freely. Jess, ever the pragmatist, focused on the practicalities: baby gear, apartment adjustments, even the possibility of moving to a bigger place—a house, maybe, in a quieter city. Rory, on the other hand, dreamed of the near future: how to announce the news, whether to have a baby shower, what names they might choose, and how to manage her workload during her leave.

Five weeks passed in a blur of anticipation and whispered plans. Finally, the day arrived. Jess had cleared his calendar weeks in advance, telling his partners he was taking Ricky for a check-up. Together, they walked into the clinic, their hands clasped tightly. The receptionist took their information with a polite smile, and soon they were ushered into the doctor’s office.

The room was dimly lit and clinical, adorned with posters illustrating fetal development and a plastic model of a uterus on the desk. Jess studied it quietly, absorbing the reality of the moment. This was his first time experiencing this. When Rory was pregnant with Ricky, he had offered to go to appointments, but Logan had insisted on being involved. Three adults would have been a crowd.

Not that Jess believed Logan had truly cared. He just wanted to assert his presence, to make things complicated. But that was ancient history. There was no one in their way anymore. Their lives had settled, and now it was Jess’s turn to be as involved as he wanted to be. And he was determined to go all in.

The technician entered the room with a gentle smile.

“Hello, how are you feeling?” She greeted.

“We’re nervous,” Rory replied, taking Jess’s hand. “But we’re excited. We’re going to meet our baby for the first time.”

Jess nodded, unable to say anything.

“How are your symptoms so far? Anything different?” The technician looked at the file with Rory’s information. “You are now eight weeks along, is that it?”

They both nodded in confirmation.

“I’m feeling a little nauseous in the morning. The smell of coffee makes my stomach churn. I’ve been taking naps in the afternoon, but that’s all I think.” Rory recounted, looking up, trying to remember if there was anything else.

“Okay, no sense in prolonging this. Let’s do it.” She smiled encouragingly. Then, she picked a gown and handed it to Rory. “Mommy, I’m going to ask you please to take your clothes off and put on this gown.”

She grabbed it with determination, stood up and disappeared into the restroom to change, leaving Jess in an uncomfortable silence. Quickly, she came back feeling slightly self-conscious in the unflattering outfit.

The technician then walked her to the bed where she lay down, Jess following her closely behing. The technician pointed to the chair for him to sit down. Rory glanced at Jess, and he placed his hand on her shoulder, pressing it lightly. She shivered slightly as the cold equipment touched her skin.

Jess chuckled. “You’d think they would have figured out a way to make it more comfortable by now.”

The technician smiled and turned to Rory. “I see you got yourself one of those overprotective ones,” she quipped. Rory smiled, turning to Jess with an affectionate smile.

“I got lucky,” she replied, reaching for his hand and squeezing it.

The technician moved the wand with practiced ease, her eyes fixed on the screen. Jess watched too, though he wasn’t entirely sure what he was looking for. He just knew that, any second now, they were supposed to hear something—see something. A tiny heartbeat flickering on the monitor, proof of the little life growing inside Rory.

But the seconds stretched too long. The technician’s smile faltered. She adjusted the probe, pressing a little harder, moving it slowly.

Jess felt Rory’s grip on his hand tighten.

The technician’s expression softened into something hesitant, careful. She glanced at them before looking back at the screen.

“I’ll be right back, okay? I’m going to call the doctor.” she said gently.

“Is something wrong?” Jess asked, his voice dry.

“It’s standard procedure. Wait a second,” she left the room. The couple glanced at each other, both of them terrified of saying anything, and only tightening their grip.

The doctor came in, greeted them with a gentle expression, but distant.

“Alright, let’s take a look,” she said, taking the probe and moving it, the same way as before. The silence seemed to drag for hours, each second just increasing the pressure on their chest. She sighed, placing the equipment on its support.

“I understand this was a deeply wanted pregnancy,” the doctor started. Rory nodded. Jess could feel the shift in her body, her shoulders tensing, her chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. He didn’t know what was wrong yet, but he knew enough to recognize when someone was stalling.

“I’m so sorry,” the doctor began, her voice soft but heavy with the weight of the news she was delivering. She paused, her eyes flickering between Rory and Jess, as if gauging how much they could bear. “This pregnancy is not viable. There’s no heartbeat.” Her words hung in the air, sharp and unyielding. “It appears the baby stopped developing about a week ago.”

Rory’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as if the room had suddenly run out of oxygen. She shook her head, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper. “But I haven’t had any bleeding. No pain. I still feel pregnant.” 

The doctor’s expression softened, but her words offered no comfort, only cold, clinical truth. “It’s called a missed miscarriage,” she explained gently. “Sometimes, the body doesn’t recognize the loss right away. You may still feel pregnant because your hormones haven’t adjusted yet. I know this is incredibly difficult to process, but it’s important to understand that this isn’t your fault. These things… they just happen.”

Jess felt the room tilt. His vision blurred as he buried his face in his arm, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Rory turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears. “This can’t be true,” she whispered.

She looked at Jess. His breathing heavy. His hand was still holding hers, but even with him right by her side, it suddenly felt like they were miles apart.

The doctor stood up. “I’ll give you two some time alone. When you’re ready, we can discuss the next steps.”

She left the room, the door clicking shut behind her, and the silence that followed was deafening. Rory’s mind raced, replaying the last few weeks—the excitement, the plans, the dreams they’d woven together. It felt like a cruel joke, like the universe had dangled happiness in front of them only to snatch it away.

Rory sat up. She turned again to Jess, who didn’t move. The room felt unbearably quiet now, like the walls had absorbed all the air, leaving her lightheaded.

This wasn’t how today was supposed to go. They were supposed to walk out of here with blurry black-and-white images to tuck into their wallets, to show Ricky and tell him he was going to be a big brother. They were supposed to joke about how the baby already had Jess’s stubbornness, refusing to cooperate for a clear picture.

Instead, there was nothing. No flickering heartbeat. No signs of life. Just an empty, aching silence.

Her hands trembled as she reached for Jess, but she hesitated. What was she supposed to say? That everything would be okay? That they would get through this? Right now, she wasn’t even sure she believed it herself.

 “Jess, please talk to me.” Her voice cracked. “I really need you right now.”

He pressed her hand, a silent reassurance that he was still there, that he wasn’t leaving. But when he finally looked up, his face was streaked with tears. He pulled her hand to his cheek, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Rory had never seen him like this—so raw, so broken. He was always the steady one, the anchor in their storms. But now, he was adrift, and she realized, with a pang, that he needed her as much as she needed him.

She pulled him closer, his head resting against her shoulder as they clung to each other, mourning the loss of the future they had dreamed of.

X

They walked into the empty apartment, which suddenly seemed much smaller, much colder. Somehow, it didn’t seem like a home anymore. Jess dropped the keys in the bowl, the soft metal clang breaking the silence and guided Rory to their bedroom. He helped her get undressed as she got ready to take a shower, hoping the hot running water would help her calm her nerves a little.

She disappeared into the bathroom, the door clicking softly and he sighed deeply, shoving his hands into his pockets as he paced the bedroom. He picked up his phone. There were five missed calls. The first one was Matthew’s, then there were two from Chris, a mysterious number, probably spam, and another one from Lorelai. So, he checked his messages, if it were something important they would have sent him a text to let him know what it was about, wouldn’t they?

His phone rang in his hand. Lorelai’s name popping on the screen, he watched it for a few seconds, unsure whether to answer it or not. He glanced at the bathroom door, he could hear the shower on, maybe it was better if he dealt with this instead of her, so he decided to pick it up.

“Hey, Lorelai,” he answered.

“Jess, hi,” Lorelai answered, sounding a little flustered. “I’m sorry, I’ve been trying to call Rory, but she’s not picking it up.”

“She’s taking a shower,” he said. He knew why she was calling. He knew he should give her the news, but it was difficult to just say the words.

“Oh,” she was quiet, waiting for him to say something. But there was only silence. “She said she would call me when you left the doctor’s. I know I should just wait, but I’m anxious. How did it go?”

“We’ve been busy... She would call you eventually,” he was stalling. He knew it was driving her crazy, and for once, he wasn’t playing with her on purpose, he was just trying to control the lump on his throat.

“Jess,” Lorelai pressed, her voice firmer now. “Is everything okay?”

“No,” he said, the word slipping out before he could stop it. His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard, trying to keep the emotion at bay. “Lorelai…”

He could hear her breath catch on the other end of the line. “Jess,” she said quietly, her voice trembling now. “What are you saying?”

“There was no heartbeat,” he said, the words tumbling out in a rush, like if he didn’t say them fast enough, he wouldn’t be able to say them at all. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “The baby’s gone.”

There was a sharp intake of breath, followed by a long, heavy silence. “Oh, Jess,” Lorelai finally whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks,” he replied awkwardly, his throat tight. He didn’t know what else to say.

“I shouldn’t have called,” Lorelai said, her voice thick with guilt. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine,” Jess interrupted, his tone sharper than he intended. He softened his voice, trying to ease the tension. “We would’ve had to tell you eventually. Better to just… rip the band-aid off.”

“That’s one hell of a band-aid,” Lorelai murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. There was another pause, and then she asked, “How are you feeling?”

Jess clenched his jaw, his eyes burning. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice tight. “It’s Rory we should be worried about. The next few days… they’re going to be hard.”

“Jess,” Lorelai said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. “It does matter. You’re both going through this together. You’re allowed to be as hurt by this as she is.”

Jess breathed heavily, biting his lips, trying to fight the tears from coming up again.

“Lorelai,” he called, trying to steady his voice. “Could you... uh...” he struggled to let the words out, he struggled to say what he needed to say without emotion taking over. “Could you...”

She sighed, guessing what he was trying to say and willing to help. “Do you want me to talk to Luke?” She could hear him breathing a little harder and she took it as a confirmation. “You got it. Take care, both of you.”

“Thanks. I should go,” he said, hanging up. His hands trembled as he lowered the phone, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. He stared at the screen until it went dark, Lorelai’s voice still echoing in his mind.

He was furious. Furious for not being able to keep it together. Furious for not being able to do anything to fix this. Furious because he couldn’t take the pain away from Rory. They were robbed. Nobody wanted this more than them. It was not fair.

His chest heaved as he paced the room, his movements sharp and erratic. He needed to do something, anything, to quiet the storm raging inside him. His eyes landed on the drawer across the room, and before he could think, he was storming toward it, yanking it open with such force that it rattled the desk. He rummaged through the contents, his hands shaking, until his fingers closed around the familiar shape of a cigarette pack. He hadn’t touched it in almost a year—not since Ricky had been hospitalized with an ear infection. But now, the urge was overwhelming. He grabbed the pack and a lighter, shoving them into his pocket before heading outside.

The street was alive with noise and movement, a stark contrast to the numbness settling over him. He lit the cigarette, the flame flickering in the dim light, and took a long drag, the smoke burning his lungs. He leaned against the wall, watching people pass by, their laughter and chatter feeling like a distant echo.

Rory found him there a few minutes later, just as he was finishing the cigarette. She touched his shoulder, and he immediately stubbed it out, the ember dying with a faint hiss.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said softly. “I knew you’d be here. I knew you’d be smoking. It’s okay.”

“Force of habit,” he muttered, offering a half-smirk.

They stood in silence, staring at the pavement.

“Your mom called,” he said eventually.

She looked up. “Oh. Did you…”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She nodded, her gaze dropping back to the ground. A pause. Then—

“Can I have one?” she asked, motioning to the pack in his hand.

Jess turned to her, startled. “Rory—”

“Just give it to me.” Her voice was quiet but firm. She held out her hand, palm open, waiting. “It’s not like it’s going to harm the baby.”

Jess inhaled sharply. His fingers clenched around the pack. He wanted to say something—anything—but what was there to say? For a second, he just stood there, frozen. Then, slowly, he handed her the cigarette.

She placed it between her lips. He flicked the lighter on, and she leaned in. The flame flickered between them.

She took a drag, coughing almost immediately, her face contorting as the bitterness hit her throat. “God, this is awful,” she rasped, her voice trembling.

Jess let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “Yeah,” he said, his voice low. “It is.”

But they both knew they weren’t talking about the cigarette.

Without a word, Jess wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. She leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder as they stood there, silent and still, the world moving on around them.

Chapter 7: Aftermath

Notes:

**Trigger Warning**
As I said in the previous chapter, this one will deal a lot with the emotional impact of their loss, so reader discretion is advised.

It didn’t take long for Ricky to pick up on his parents sudden shift in mood.

At first, he couldn’t quite place what had changed, only that something had. The house felt different – quieter, heavier. Jess and Rory still smiled at him, still tucked him in at night and read his favorite books, but something about their smiles didn’t feel the same. Those family moments felt sparse, too. It was always one of them with him now. He missed the moments of the three of them together. Sometimes, when they thought he wasn’t looking, their faces got serious, he wondered if they were angry at him with something they didn’t want to talk about.

So, he started testing things.

He refused to put his toys away after playing, waiting to see if Rory would insist on it as she usually did. Instead, she just let out a tired sigh and picked it up herself. That made his stomach feel weird.

At dinnertime, Jess came up to him once and asked if he wanted to help him set the table. He agreed initially, but once he noticed his dad wasn't interacting with him as much as usual, he knocked over his water cup, water splashing all over the floor. He watched Jess’s reaction. He just picked it up and cleaned it, barely looking at the little boy, just enough to make sure his clothes weren’t wet.

Bedtime had turned into a nightmare. He resisted putting on his pajamas. He started screaming in the middle of his favorite stories. Many nights he refused to sleep alone in his bed, so Rory and Jess started taking turns into sleeping on an improvised bed on the floor of his bedroom.

Drop-off had also become harder. He cried every time. He hugged them tightly and begged not to be left there. He was terrified they wouldn’t come back, even though they always did. This broke Rory’s heart. This made Jess feel helpless. Some days things eventually settled, but others, the school would call them to say he hadn’t had his nap or that he was refusing to socialize with the other kids.

Finally, the school settled a meeting with them to talk about the changes in his behavior. When they received the call it made them feel terrible.

“We’re messing this up, aren’t we?” Rory asked quietly as soon as she turned off the phone.

Jess sighed. “We can’t be too hard on ourselves. We have never been through this, we don’t know how to handle this. They do.”

She nodded, bracing herself for what was to come.

The next morning, Jess and Rory walked into the school’s meeting room, their nerves palpable.

“Thank you for coming," the woman in a suit who seemed to be the principal started, sitting in front of them.

"It’s really a relief when both parents are involved when a child starts acting out,” the other woman, who they recognized as Ricky's teacher completed. “If you’re working as a team the chances of succeeding increase significantly.”

“Thank you for having us, and we’re sorry he’s been giving you such a hard time,” Rory said quietly, staring at her hands, guilt heavy in her voice.

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about, Ms. Gilmore.” The teacher corrected, her voice gentle. “As they say, it’s not you versus us, it’s all of us versus the problem.”

Rory nodded quietly, Jess instinctively reached for her hand, their fingers intertwined in mutual support.

“Has anything happened in your home recently that would explain this change in behavior? Feel free to share anything you’re comfortable with and that might help us get to the bottom of this.”

Jess and Rory exchanged a glance, the weight of the moment settling over them again. Rory took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her throat tightened. She wasn’t sure how much they were ready to share, but she knew it was important. Ricky’s behavior wasn’t just a random phase. Something had happened, and it was time to face it.

Jess spoke first, his voice soft but steady. “A few weeks ago, we had a miscarriage.” He paused, glancing at Rory, who nodded encouragingly. “We didn’t tell Ricky about the pregnancy or about it. We thought he wouldn’t understand. But… we’ve been struggling with the loss ourselves, and we think he’s been picking up on the tension.”

There was a long pause, and the teacher gave them a compassionate, understanding look. “First, I would like to say we’re deeply sorry for your loss. We cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you. And everything that has started happening now makes a lot of sense. Children can sense a shift in the emotional atmosphere, even if they don’t understand the specifics of what’s happening. The changes at home could be making Ricky feel insecure, confused, and anxious.”

Rory wiped her eyes, her heart aching. “We didn’t know how to talk to him about it. We’re still processing everything, and we didn’t want to overwhelm him with something he wouldn’t understand.”

“That’s completely understandable,” Miss Garcia said softly. “You’re both going through your own grief, and it’s hard to balance that with trying to help Ricky. But it’s also true that children often feel the emotional weight of what’s happening around them, even if they can’t express it. What Ricky is going through might be his own way of expressing that uncertainty.”

They glaced at each other again. Neither of them sure of what to say, but glad for the support they were getting.

The teacher leaned forward slightly, her voice kind but firm. “The best thing you can do right now is to reassure Ricky as much as possible. He needs to feel that despite all the changes, both of you still love him, and that nothing will change about how you care for him. It might help to give him simple, age-appropriate explanations about what’s happening—letting him know that sometimes grown-ups go through difficult things, and that it’s okay to feel sad or confused. But most importantly, that he’s safe and loved.”

The teacher and principal then gave them a list of strategies. How they could talk to their son about how they were feeling without giving away information that would be too heavy or complex for him. They also came up with some small changes to incorporate in their routine that would help him feel more comfortable.

X

After that visit to the school, Rory decided to go back to the therapist. It had helped her once, when she was on the verge of burnout, and she figured now was more important than ever to have someone to talk to—someone who knew what they were doing. She needed a safe space to untangle the mess of emotions she’d been carrying since the miscarriage.

When the doctor called her name, she looked at Rory with curiosity, a vague memory of her flickering in her mind. “Oh, hello, Ms. Gilmore. Let’s get inside so we can talk about what brings you here today,” she said gently, gesturing toward the hallway. They walked the short distance in silence, Rory’s hands clenched tightly around the strap of her bag.

Rory sat down first, while the doctor walked around the desk and picked up her file, flipping through it carefully before taking her seat. “I see here that the last time you came, you were dealing with a lot of stress with work and trying to conceive,” she began, her tone warm but professional. “How is it going?”

Rory looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. “Well, I talked to Jess—that’s my partner—and we took your advice. We had a short vacation. A weekend getaway to Lake George.”

“I’ve never been there, but I hear it’s lovely.”

Rory smiled faintly. “It was perfect. He planned it as a surprise. Ricky was over the moon. It made us realize we need more moments like that as a family.”

“That sounds like a positive step,” the doctor said, nodding encouragingly.

Rory’s smile faltered, and she looked away, her throat tightening. “And... I got pregnant,” she added, her voice barely above a whisper. There was no joy in her tone, and the doctor picked up on it immediately.

“This was something you wanted, wasn’t it?” she asked gently.

Rory nodded, her lips trembling as she fought back tears. “More than anything,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “But... we lost the baby.” She took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady herself, but the tears came anyway, spilling down her cheeks.

The doctor’s expression softened with empathy. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Gilmore. That’s incredibly difficult.”

“It shouldn’t hurt this much, should it?” Rory asked, her voice cracking. “We never even got to meet the baby. Never heard the heartbeat. It feels so... surreal, like it never even happened.”

The doctor leaned forward slightly, her tone kind but firm. “There’s no right or wrong way to feel after a loss like this. Your grief is valid, no matter how early it was.”

Her words only made Rory cry harder. She reached for a tissue, dabbing at her eyes as she tried to compose herself. “I just... I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to move forward. Ricky’s been having a hard time, too. He’s noticed we’re sad all the time, and he’s started to feel anxious. The school even called a meeting.”

The doctor nodded thoughtfully. “It might feel like a bad sign, but it’s actually a good thing. It means they’re picking up on his cues and trying to help. How did the meeting go?”

“They were kind,” Rory said, her voice steadier now. “We told them what happened, and they’ve been supportive.”

“That’s good to hear,” the doctor said, offering a small smile. “It sounds like you have a strong support system. That’s important.”

Rory was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on her hands as she twisted the tissue between her fingers. “I’m worried about Jess,” she finally admitted.

“How has he been taking it?”

Rory sighed, her shoulders slumping. “He’s trying to be strong. He went to the meeting, he’s been doing everything the school suggested, and he’s been so attentive to how I’m feeling. But... he’s also so distant. I miss him. I miss us. He won’t talk about it. He just shuts down. He’s been working from home, which is normally okay, but I know he's doing it just to avoid his coworkers. I see his uncle calling him, he just stares at the screen and doesn't pick up. It’s not like him.” She let out a frustrated laugh, shaking her head. “He’s one tough nut to crack.”

The doctor nodded, her expression thoughtful. “How is your relationship with his uncle?”

“It’s really good,” Rory said, a small smile tugging at her lips despite everything. “I’ve known him since I was a kid, he's married to my mom now. He’s always been like family to me.”

“Ms. Gilmore,” the doctor said gently, “you’re not responsible for Jess’s healing. He’s a grown man, and he needs to process this in his own way. But if you’re worried about him, have you considered reaching out to his uncle? It sounds like they have a strong bond.”

Rory hesitated, her mind racing. “I hadn’t thought of that. But... Jess might see it as a betrayal if I go behind his back.”

“It’s not about going behind his back,” the doctor clarified. “It’s about creating a support system for him, just like you have for yourself. If his uncle is someone he trusts, you and him might be able to figure out together something that could help Jess process his feelings too.”

Rory nodded slowly, the idea taking root. “You’re right. Luke’s always been there for him, even when Jess didn’t want to admit it.”

The doctor smiled warmly. “It’s worth a try. And remember, you’re not alone in this. You have people who care about you, and it’s okay to lean on them.”

She left the office determined to reach out for Luke. Later that day, though, Luke actually reached out to her before, calling her instead of insisting on contacting Jess.

“Hey, kid. How are you holding up?” He asked, awkwardly but empathetically.

“Hey, Luke," she started, feeling a little wave of relief. "I’m taking it one day at a time. Some days are harder than others, but we’re pushing through. Ricky has been acting out a little and the school has been really helpful on how to manage the situation.” She said, her voice exhausted.

“I thought so...” he replied. “And how’s Jess? I can’t seem to get a hold of him. How is he feeling?”

She hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the phone. She glanced toward the living room, where Jess was sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the TV, though it was clear he wasn’t really watching it. His shoulders were slumped, his face unreadable, but Rory could see the tension in the way he held himself. They hadn’t been sleeping well, and the dark circles under his eyes were becoming more pronounced. She lowered her voice, stepping into the kitchen for some privacy.

“He’s… not great, Luke,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s been there for me and Ricky, but I can tell he’s not dealing with it himself. He’s shutting down. He won’t talk about it, not really. And he’s been avoiding everyone—even you.”

Luke sighed, the sound heavy with frustration. "I figured... I wish I could do more for you. I hate feeling useless."

Rory nodded. “I know, Luke. Thank you. I wish I could do something, too. If only there was someone he could talk to, someone he loves who could support him even though they don’t know what’s going on, so he doesn’t feel pressured to talk about it...”

And with that, something in Luke just clicked. “Uh, Rory. I’m going to have to call you back. I think I’ve just had an idea.”

Her brow furrowed in a mix of curiosity and surprise, but she let him go. Rory hung up with Luke, frowning slightly as she stared at her phone. She shook off that thought and took a deep breath before stepping into the living room.

Jess sat slouched on the couch, eyes flicking toward Ricky, who was absorbed in his drawing. The tension in Jess’s posture was unmistakable. Rory hesitated before sitting down beside him, glancing at him carefully. His hand immediately reached for hers, their fingers intertwined.

“Luke called,” Rory announced quietly. She noticed Jess’s jaw tighten almost imperceptibly, his hand gripping hers a little tighter. He swallowed hard, his eyes flickering away as if the mention of Luke’s name had physically struck him.

“Is he okay?” Jess asked, his voice low and strained. Rory looked at him, her heart tightening at the way he avoided her gaze.

“He is,” she started, her voice soft but steady. She reached out, brushing her thumb over the back of his hand. “He asked about you.”

Jess looked down, his free hand clenching into a fist on his knee. He took a deep breath, but the words wouldn’t come. Ricky, sensing the tension, looked over his shoulder, but decided to go back to his drawing.

“He’s worried,” Rory continued, studying him carefully. “And you’re avoiding him.”

Jess exhaled sharply, his fingers tapping an uneven rhythm on his knee. “Not avoiding,” he muttered, his voice rough. “Just… not in the mood.”

Rory didn’t press immediately. Instead, she let the silence stretch between them, watching the way Jess’s jaw tightened and his shoulders hunched slightly, as if bracing himself against an invisible weight. There was more to it than just not being in the mood. She could see it—the way he shut himself off, the way he seemed to retreat further into himself with every passing day.

Jess looked at her then, something flickering behind his eyes—conflict, hesitation, maybe even a faint longing for the connection he was resisting. But just as quickly, he looked away, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Ricky, sensing the heaviness in the room, rolled over from the floor and stood up, stepping closer to Jess. His small hands rested on Jess’s knees, his wide eyes filled with concern. “Are you sad again?” he asked, his voice soft and tentative. His drawing clutched in his hand.

Jess’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. He reached out, ruffling Ricky’s hair in an attempt to reassure him. “I am, buddy,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But it’s okay. It’s not about you. You’re a great kid.”

Ricky then, offered his drawing to him. Jess picked it up and looked at it with intensity, smirking despite himself. His eyes traced the stick figures and bright, uneven lines. There were three of them—him, Rory, and Ricky—holding hands under a smiling sun and some flowers around them. His throat tightened, and he had to look away for a moment. "Thanks, Ricky."

Rory’s heart ached at the sight. She could see the way Jess was struggling to hold himself together, the way he was trying so hard to shield Ricky from his pain. She reached out, brushing a hand over Ricky’s back before turning her attention to Jess.

“Hey, it’s still early,” she said, glancing at the clock. “Why don’t we all go to the park? We could use a little bit of fresh air.”

Ricky’s face lit up at the mention of the park, his earlier concern momentarily forgotten. He looked at Jess, his eyes wide with excitement. “Can we, Dad? Please?”

Jess hesitated, his gaze flickering between Ricky and Rory. For a moment, it seemed like he might say no, like he might retreat back into himself. But then, something in his expression softened, and he gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. “Okay,” he said quietly. “The park sounds good.”

Ricky let out a cheer, his little hands shooting into the air in celebration. Rory wrapped her arms around Jess, her smile tinged with relief. For the first time in weeks, she felt a flicker of hope.

X

The next day, Jess was just finishing work when his phone rang. He looked at it, half-expecting it to be Luke again, but was surprised to see Doula’s name on the screen. She never called. He didn’t even know teens these days knew how. Immediately he picked up.

“Doula? Is everything okay?” He asked, his voice thick with concern.

“Hey, big bro,” she replied casually. “I need you to do me a big favor and come pick me up.”

Jess frowned. “Pick you up? Doula, I’m in New York, it will take hours to get to Stars Hollow. Where the hell are you?”

“Port Authority...”

He opened his mouth to say something, but then shut it as he connected the dots. He closed his eyes and sighed.

“Did Luke put you up to this?” He asked exhaling.

“Who?” She asked feigning innocence.

“You’re a terrible liar,” he replied, smirking despite himself.

She let out a soft laugh. “So, are you coming to pick me up or should I make friends with this nice creepy 50 year old dude who’s been staring at me since I got off the bus?”

He froze, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive. He knew Doula was just messing with him, but the thought of her alone at the Port Authority, even for a second, made his chest tighten. “Don’t move and don’t talk to anyone, I’m on my way.”

“Thank you, bro. Love you, bro,” Doula said, her grin practically audible through the phone.

Jess rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile as he grabbed his jacket and keys.

When they came back from the bus terminal Rory had already returned home with Ricky. They both looked up when they heard the door opening. Rory’s mouth opened as she caught sight of Doula standing there, by Jess’s side while Ricky immediately darted to her.

Rory looked at Jess, who just shrugged.

“Doula, you’re here,” Ricky said excitedly, his little arms trying to hold her legs.

The teenager laughed, kneeling down to give him a proper hug.

“Hey, little man,” she said affectionally, picking him up from the floor. “I might not be able to pick you up soon if you keep growing so fast.”

Rory stood up and walked to them. She greeted Jess with a kiss and looked at Doula with a smile.

“Luke talked to me last night, he said you guys could use some cheering up, so I though, why not?” The teenager explained. “Plus, I really missed this little guy,” she concluded, her hand ruffling Ricky’s hair.

“Thank you for coming,” Rory replied, her voice filled with gratitude and relief.

Jess watched her carefully. “You knew about this,” he accused her.

Rory shook her head. “I didn’t, but I had a feeling,” she corrected. “You’re always welcome, Doula. Are you going to stay the night?”

Doula glanced at Jess, who nodded in confirmation. “I guess I am,” she replied.

Ricky’s eyes widened and he started jumping up and down in excitement. “Can we watch a movie? Can you stay in my room? Can we play and talk all night long?”

“So, let’s get you settled in Ricky’s room,” Rory said with a laughter, motioning for Doula to follow her. “Then, we can order a bunch of junk food to eat with the movie, what do you say?”

The teenage girl smiled in confirmation, Ricky grabbed her hand and started pulling her to his room. She said goodbye as she disappeared into his bedroom, leaving the two adults alone.

“I’m sorry about that,” Jess said once they were out of earshot. “I’ll talk to Luke.”

Rory looked at him. “Please, do. But not because of this. He did a good thing.”

Jess sighed, running a hand through his hair as he leaned against the kitchen counter. “I know he’s trying to help. But asking Doula to come here without even giving me a heads-up? That’s… a lot.”

Rory stepped closer, her expression softening. “Jess, he’s worried about you. We all are. And Doula… she’s good for you. For all of us. She’s like a breath of fresh air, and maybe that’s exactly what we need right now.”

Jess looked at her, his defenses wavering. “I just… I don’t know how to talk to her about any of this. About what’s been going on. She’s just a kid.”

Rory reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “She’s not just a kid, Jess. She’s family. And she’s here because she cares about you. You don’t have to have all the answers or explain anything, really. Just… let her in. Let her be here for us.”

Jess was quiet for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. He let out a long breath, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. Rory’s hand slid down to take his, her grip firm but gentle.

They stood there for a moment, the silence between them comfortable and grounding. From down the hall, they could hear Ricky’s excited chatter and Doula’s laughter, the sound filling the house with a warmth that had been missing for weeks. Jess took a deep breath, letting himself sink into the moment.

Later that evening, after they’d ordered pizza and settled in for a movie, Jess found himself sitting on the couch with Ricky curled up on one side and Doula on the other. Rory was perched on the armrest, her hand resting lightly on Jess’s shoulder. The movie played in the background, but Jess wasn’t really paying attention. Instead, he found himself watching Ricky and Doula, their laughter and easy banter a stark contrast to the heaviness he’d been carrying.

At one point, Ricky leaned over to Doula, his voice small but hopeful, as if he was searching for something or someone to anchor him in the storm he didn’t fully understand. “Doula, can you stay forever?”

Doula laughed, ruffling his hair. “I wish, kiddo. But I’ve got school and stuff. Besides, I think your dad might get sick of me if I stayed too long.”

Jess smirked, shaking his head. “Nah, you’re not that bad.”

Doula raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “Not that bad? Wow, high praise coming from you.”

Rory chuckled, squeezing Jess’s shoulder. “I think what Jess is trying to say is that we love having you here. And you’re always welcome, no matter how long you stay.”

Doula’s grin softened, her eyes flicking to Jess. “Thanks, Rory. That means a lot.”

Jess looked at her, his expression serious for a moment. “She’s right, you know. You’re always welcome here. Anytime.”

Doula’s smile widened, and for a moment, the room felt lighter, the weight of everything lifting just a little. They settled back into the movie, the easy camaraderie between them a reminder of the strength of their bond.

Later that evening, Doula went out of the bedroom to get some water and found Jess reading in the living room.

“Hey,” she greeted, trying to announce herself so as not to startle him. He looked up from his book. “Can’t sleep?” She asked, stepping closer to him.

“I guess,” he shrugged. “What about you?”

She smiled. “Ricky said he wanted to be up all night, but he fell asleep while he was trying to tell me the story of his new book.”

Jess smirked. “Sounds like him. Which one?”

“The Story of Ferdinand,” she replied.

He froze. This was the book Ricky had picked up when they went to Lake George and remembering this now made his stomach churn. She quickly noticed his change in mood. She came a little closer to him, sitting on the armrest.

“What are you reading?”

Jess held up the cover. “Blindness,” he said simply.

Doula tilted her head, studying him. “Is it good?”

“It’s… probably not for your age,” Jess admitted, setting the book aside. “But yeah, it’s good.”

“We’re here, at the heart of New York with some breaking news. The once rebel without a cause, troublemaker, defier of authority of a small town in Connecticut has revelead himself to become conservative and in favor of book censorship since he’s become a father,” she mocked, holding one hand up like she was holding a microphone and the other on her ear as if she had an earpiece. “Mariano, our viewers want to know, do you think this generation is being led astray by woke culture?”

He looked at her, trying to fight back the wish to chuckle at her little scene. He simply shook his head and she was happy enough with his reaction.

“I’d much rather read graphic novels anyway, you know that,” she shrugged, dropping her act.

“Yeah, I should have been more present in your life when you were younger.”

“I don’t think you could have saved my soul, I have a father with an Etch a Sketch and who likes coloring books, and not the ones for adults that are all the rage now.”

He laughed. “I guess I went as far I could."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken hanging between them. Finally, Doula spoke, her voice gentle but firm. “You know, you don’t need to tell me what happened. Luke hasn’t told me anything, and I don’t want to know unless you want me to. I’m just here to remind you that whatever it is, we love you a lot, Jess.”

Jess pressed his lips together, his throat tightening. He looked away, his fingers tapping idly on the cover of the book.

Doula continued, her tone softening. “But you have to talk to someone, at some point. I know you have this tendency to shut people out. I know Mom made you feel like you couldn’t count on her or anyone when you were my age. And I know you probably think you’re a burden when you let yourself open up.”

Jess looked at her, his defenses wavering. He wanted to argue, to tell her she didn’t understand, but the words wouldn’t come.

“You’re not a burden, Jess,” Doula said, her voice steady. “You’re allowed to need help, too. And whoever you choose to open up to will be glad you trusted them.”

Jess let out a long breath, his shoulders sagging. “Aren’t you a pain in the ass?” he said, his voice rough but fond.

Doula grinned. “What’s the fun of being the little sister if I don’t get to be annoying sometimes?”

Jess chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m going to bed,” he announced, marking his place in the book before standing up.

Doula nodded, watching as he started toward the hallway. “Jess,” she called, making him pause. He looked over his shoulder, her face lit up, as if she had just realized something. “You’ve always been better with words than anyone I know. Maybe instead of talking you should write about it. Isn’t that what you do—turn pain into something meaningful?”

Jess’s expression softened, and for a moment, the walls he’d built around himself seemed to crack just a little. Writing had always been his escape, his way of making sense of the world. Maybe she was right. “Goodnight, Doula,” he said quietly before disappearing down the hall.

The next day, Doula went together with Jess to drop Ricky off at preschool before he took her back to the bus station to send her back to Stars Hollow. On his way home, he finally got the strength to call Luke.

“Luke’s Diner,” he said, picking up in the first ring.

“Hey,” Jess greeted. His uncle immediately recognized his voice and held his breath.

“Jess, hi. It’s so good to hear from you,” Luke replied relieved.

“I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk,” he said quietly.

“You weren’t a jerk,” his uncle corrected. “You’re hurting, I just don’t want you to think you need to deal with this alone. I’m here, Jess. Rory is here. Doula is here. We care about you.”

“I know... thanks,” Jess nodded.

“Is that all?” Luke asked, sensing Jess’s hesitation.

Jess opened his notebook, the words he’d scrawled the night before staring back at him. They were raw, unfiltered, but for the first time in weeks, they felt real. Luke could hear Jess breathing through the phone, trying to steady his nerves, but he still couldn’t bring himself to it.

“For now, yes,” He said finally.

“Whenever you’re ready. Thanks for calling. Take care, Jess.” He said, understandingly.

“Yeah, you too.” Jess said before hanging up.

Chapter 8: One Day at a Time

Notes:

**Trigger Warning**
This chapter still deals with the emotional weight of their loss, but they're finally moving forward. I hope you enjoy it.

A week later, Jess stood on the platform, his bag slung over one shoulder, the weight of it nothing compared to the heaviness in his chest. Philadelphia. He didn’t want to go, but Rory had insisted that it would be good for them to try to get back to their normal routine.

Doula’s visit had already eased some of the tension and they were already following the school plan for a while now. It hadn’t worked like a miracle but things were settling slowly and Rory thought that making Ricky understand that their lives were moving forward was also important. While Jess agreed, it was still hard to pretend everything was back to normal, and Chris and Matthew knew him well enough to already know that something was up.

The walk to the office was a blur. He barely registered the sounds of the city around him—the honking cars, the chatter of pedestrians, the distant hum of construction. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the last few days in fragments.

They were at the shop for a couple of hours now, going through a new shipment of books while Matthew and Chris waited patiently for Jess to give any explanation for his absence and silence in the last few days.

Finally, Matthew decided to take the lead. “You seem different,” he stated, not looking up from the box he was unpacking.

Jess shot him a quick glance but didn’t answer, focusing instead on peeling the shipping label off a hardback.

Chris sighed, setting down a stack of paperbacks. “You’re quieter. And that’s saying something, considering you’re already a ‘man of few words’ type.”

Jess rolled his eyes. “Maybe I just don’t have anything to say.”

Chris gave him a pointed look. “Bullshit.”

Jess exhaled through his nose, tapping the book against his palm. He didn’t want to do this here. He didn’t want to do this at all.

Matthew pressed. “Just tell us what’s going on, Jess. We’re your friends, we care about you.”

“You’re my partners,” Jess corrected.

“Same difference,” Chris replied. “We’ve known you for years, our relationship is longer than with our spouses. We’ve been through ups and downs, with the company and personal lives. Do you think I forgot how you and Matthew supported me when my mom was in the hospital? When my daughter was born? Do you think Matthew forgot about how we helped him when he had that bike accident? Or through his divorce?”

Jess clenched his jaw. He knew they weren’t going to let this go.

“Jess, is everything okay between you and Rory?” Matthew asked as if struck by sudden realization, his brows pulling together in concern.

Jess looked up, shaking his head. “We’re fine.” He walked up to one of the closed boxes and opened it with his penknife with ease, almost too abruptly and unafraid of damaging what was inside.

“You see, when you say that, but then proceed to attack this box like it owes you money we find that a little hard to believe,” Chris quipped. “Shoot.”

Jess rolled his eyes again. He knew they wouldn’t let it go. So, his friends just waited, the silence stretching between them, patient but unrelenting.

Jess swallowed hard. He could feel the words sticking in his throat, heavy and unfamiliar. Finally, he forced them out.

“Rory was pregnant,” he said quietly.

Chris and Matthew exchanged a glance, realization dawning on their faces.

“Oh, Jess. This is—Wait, did you say was?” Chris froze, his hand hovering over the stack of books he’d been unpacking.

Jess exhaled sharply, the book in his hands a poor substitute for the weight he couldn’t put into words. His fingers dug into the cover, the edges biting into his palms. He nodded once, the motion jerky, like a puppet on frayed strings. “She lost it,” he said, the words scraping his throat raw. He hated how small his voice sounded, how it betrayed the storm raging inside him.

Silence settled between them, thick and unmoving.

Chris was the first to move, rubbing a hand over his face. “Jesus, man. I’m so sorry.”

Matthew let out a breath, looking like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure where to start. His voice was careful when he finally spoke. “How’s Rory?”

Jess’s throat tightened. He opened his mouth, but no words came.

Chris caught it immediately. “Hey, you don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready,” he said quickly. “But just… don’t shut us out, okay?”

Jess gave a small nod, though he wasn’t sure if he meant it. He cleared his throat, the sound harsh in the quiet room. “We should get back to work,” he said, the words hollow even to his own ears. He turned back to the boxes, his hands moving on autopilot, but his mind was elsewhere, tangled in the mess of emotions he couldn’t untangle.

Matthew hesitated, but then gave him a small nod, respecting the boundary for now. Chris clapped him on the shoulder once, firm but brief.

X

Jess arrived home late that night. The apartment was dark, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator. He moved quietly through the house, his feet brushing against the cool floors as he made his way to Ricky's room. He pushed the door open gently, not wanting to wake him, and stood in the doorway for a moment, watching. The boy was sound asleep, sprawled across the bed, his stuffed dinosaur clutched in his arms. Jess smiled, a brief sense of relief washing over him. Ricky seemed peaceful, and Rory had been able to sleep in their own bed. Maybe things were slowly getting better.

He went quietly into their bedroom to find Rory sitting up, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm halo around her as she read a book, he immediately recognized the cover of Insignificance and smirked. She looked up once he entered, her face softening into a small smile.

She closed her book slowly, setting it on the nightstand.

“You hate it,” he shook his head and chuckled lightly, his eyes landing on the book.

“I’m... powering through it,” she replied, not fully ready to give in. “I’m just waiting for the story to start.”

He rolled his eyes but there was no heat to it. “Hey,” he greeted her. “It’s late. I thought you’d be asleep by now.”

Her voice was soft but carried a quiet weight. “I wanted to see you. I missed you.”

He walked over to the bed and leaned in to kiss her, but as their lips met, Rory pulled him closer, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Jess responded without hesitation, climbing onto the bed and deepening the kiss. Her hands moved to his jacket, fumbling with the buttons, urgency evident in her touch.

“I smell like a train station and a full day of work,” Jess murmured against her lips, pulling back slightly to catch his breath.

“I don’t mind,” Rory replied, her voice low and breathless. Her fingers trailed across his chest, sending a shiver down his spine. “You’re here now.”

The words hung in the air for a moment. Jess chuckled softly. “Maybe I should go to Philadelphia more often.”

“Don’t you dare go away again,” Rory teased, her eyes glinting with playful desire. She bit her lower lip, her hand sliding down his stomach as she unzipped his pants. Jess watched her, curiosity mixed with affection in his gaze.

“I’m not complaining,” he said, gently pressing into her thighs, drawing a soft moan from her lips. “But what’s going on tonight? You’re... different.”

Rory paused, her breath catching as she met his eyes. “Like I said, I missed you,” she explained, her hands now moving to the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one. “We haven’t been this intimate in over a month now.” She paused, her hands stilling for a moment. “Also... I went to the doctor today.” Her voice was hesitant, her eyes avoiding his.

Jess froze, the playful mood evaporating instantly. His heart skipped a beat. “What did she say?”

Rory took a deep breath, her voice quiet but firm. “She said we can try again if we want to.”

Jess sat back on the bed, his body tense as he processed her words. The weight of her admission hung in the air. He swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. “Rory, I... I don’t know if I’m ready to think about this yet.”

Her heart sank at his words, a sharp pang of disappointment striking her chest. She sat up slowly, her hands finding their way to his, though her touch was now tentative. “I know. I know it’s scary. I’m afraid too. But what if we stop now and never try again?”

Jess sighed, running a hand through his hair. “What if it happens again? What if it keeps happening?”

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their fears hanging heavy in the air. Jess reached for her thigh again, this time gently, offering her comfort. “Maybe... maybe we just let things happen naturally for a while. We stop planning, stop testing every month. We just... see what happens.”

Rory pondered his words, her hand resting on his. “But what if it never happens?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Jess turned to face her, his expression a mixture of love and pain. “I’m not saying we stop trying forever. Just for now. Let’s just... take a break from trying so hard. I just... I can’t go through all of this again right now.”

Rory’s chest tightened, the frustration and disappointment rising up inside her, but she saw the pain in his eyes. She knew it wasn’t about her—it was about the fear of reliving their past heartbreak. She nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. “Okay.”

Jess leaned in and kissed her cheek, his touch soft and lingering. He pulled away, standing up from the bed. “I’m going to take a shower,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “I just need a minute.”

He needed space, a moment to clear his head. The intimacy they’d shared just moments ago felt distant now, overshadowed by the weight of their conversation. He couldn’t bring himself to continue, not when he knew her desire had been tied to the hope of trying again. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her—he did, more than anything—but the thought of sex as a means to an end, rather than an expression of their connection, left him feeling hollow.

Rory watched him walk toward the bathroom, her eyes following his every movement, but she couldn’t stop the sinking feeling in her chest. She lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling as the silence stretched between them. The quiet felt suffocating now, like a barrier that had suddenly grown between them. The bathroom door clicked shut, and the sound seemed to echo in the stillness of the room. She stared at the ceiling, feeling the distance between them grow as the minutes passed.

X

The next day, Rory found herself back in her therapist’s office. Their next session wasn’t scheduled for another three days, but after the events of the night before, she felt an urgent need to talk to someone. The therapist, understanding the gravity of the situation, had made room for her.

Rory was called into the office and took her usual seat, her hands fidgeting in her lap. The therapist greeted her with a warm smile, her tone gentle but probing. “Hey, Ms Gilmore. It’s good to see you, even under these circumstances. What’s brought you in today?”

Rory managed a small smile, but it quickly faded as she looked down at her hands. “I’m really sorry for messing up your schedule. I know it’s last minute.”

The therapist shook her head, her expression kind but firm. “Don’t apologize. I’m here to support you, and if you need to talk, we’ll make it work. Let’s focus on what’s going on. What happened?”

Rory hesitated, her fingers picking at the loose skin around her nails. “I went to the OB-GYN yesterday. She told me to come in for a check-up... you know, after... after everything that happened.” Her voice wavered, and she swallowed hard. “She said everything’s okay. That we could try again if we wanted to.”

The therapist nodded slowly, her gaze steady. “And how did that feel for you?”

“Weird,” Rory admitted, her eyes flickering up briefly before darting away again. “I mean, I was relieved to hear everything was fine, but I wasn’t expecting her to bring up trying again. I hadn’t even thought about it until she said it.”

“And now that you’ve had time to think about it?” the therapist prompted.

Rory’s voice softened, almost to a whisper. “I did think about it. And I realized... I want to try again. It’s scary, but I want it so badly.” She paused, her hands stilling for a moment. “Jess has been... distant. We haven’t been intimate since it happened. I thought this might help us reconnect. So, when he got back from Philly last night, I told him.”

The therapist leaned forward slightly, her tone careful. “How did he react?”

Rory sighed, her shoulders slumping. “He said he’s not ready. That he can’t risk going through it again. He suggested we don’t track it closely, just let it happen naturally if it’s meant to.”

“That’s a valid perspective,” the therapist acknowledged. “How do you feel about that?”

“I’m scared,” Rory admitted, her voice breaking. “I’m scared that if we don’t try, it’ll never happen. That we’ll just... give up on having another child.” She looked up, her eyes glistening. “I thought this would bring us closer, but now it feels like it’s pulling us further apart.”

The therapist nodded, her expression thoughtful. “You mentioned that your relationship hasn’t been the same since the loss. Do you think that trying again—focusing on a new pregnancy—might be a way for you to move forward from the pain?”

“Maybe,” Rory said quietly. “I thought if we could focus on something positive, something hopeful, it would help us heal. Instead of just... staying stuck in what we lost.”

The therapist’s voice was gentle but probing. “Do you think Jess feels the same way? That he’s ready to move forward? Or do you think he might still be holding onto the pain because it’s the only connection he has left to the pregnancy?”

Rory’s breath hitched, and she looked at the therapist, her eyes widening as the realization began to dawn. “I... I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

The therapist leaned back slightly, giving Rory space to process. “And what about you? Do you think part of why you’re so eager to try again is because you want the pain to go away?”

Rory’s voice was barely audible. “Are you saying I’m being selfish?”

“Not at all,” the therapist replied quickly, her tone firm but kind. “I’m saying that you and Jess are grieving in different ways. He’s set a boundary because he’s not ready to risk that pain again. But he’s also willing to compromise by not actively preventing a pregnancy. That suggests he’s open to the possibility, just not ready to pursue it.”

Rory winced, her hands clenching into fists. “Do you think I’m a terrible person for pushing this?”

The therapist shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “No, Rory. I don’t think either of you are terrible. I think you’re two people who care deeply about each other and are trying to navigate a really difficult situation. You’re just coming at it from different places.”

Rory let out a shaky breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “That’s... a fair way to put it.”

The therapist’s smile widened. “And you know, his suggestion might not be such a bad thing. It gives you both time to reflect and heal without the pressure of trying to control the outcome. It might even give you the opportunity to reconnect as a couple before revisiting the conversation.”

Rory nodded slowly, a flicker of hope breaking through the heaviness in her chest. “Maybe you’re right.”

It was only four days later when they finally found their way back to each other. She had made up her mind not to push, not to say a word—to let him breathe, to let him take the lead. She wanted to see where things would go if she gave him the space to come to her. And then, one quiet evening, as they scrolled through movies, he paused on Donnie Darko. His eyes flicked to hers, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Remember the first time we watched this together?” he asked, his voice soft, almost nostalgic.

She bit her lower lip, a small laugh escaping her. “I remember there wasn’t much watching going on.” She corrected. “We were in Luke’s apartment, back when his infamous interruptions were still a solid 30 minutes.”

He agreed, nodding. “I think that night is what finally convinced him to cut it down to ten.”

Rory laughed again, the sound light and easy. “That’s probably true. He was so scandalized.”

“I think what really got him,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eye, “was seeing you on top of me. He always thought of you as this innocent angel I was trying to lead astray.”

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed. “If only he knew how badly I wanted you back then.”

“Only back then?” he asked, his voice dropping, low and teasing.

She held his gaze, her eyes softening as she shifted closer, settling onto his lap. Her hands rested on his shoulders, her face inches from his. “Back then,” she murmured, “I didn’t know what I was missing.” Her lips brushed his, tentative at first, then with a growing urgency that made his breath hitch.

He pulled back just enough to speak, his voice rough. “How set are you on watching a movie right now?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she shifted in his lap, slow and deliberate, until she felt his grip tighten. “I think something more interesting has come up,” she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

His smirk deepened, but there was something more in his eyes now—something raw and unguarded. The air between them crackled with a tension that had been building for days, weeks, maybe even longer. And in that moment, as their bodies pressed together and their breaths mingled, it felt like they were reclaiming something they’d both feared was lost forever.

Chapter 9: Turning the Page

Notes:

**Trigger warning**
There are still some small mentions of their loss, but this chapter is very light and happy.

Ricky’s birthday was approaching quickly. Rory and Jess had originally planned a small, intimate gathering at Lorelai and Luke’s house—just close friends and family, a few balloons, and maybe a homemade cake. But when Rory decided to invite her grandmother, she should have known better. Emily Gilmore didn’t do “small” or “intimate.” She did grand, elaborate, and, more often than not, over-the-top.

It started with a few tweaks. First, Emily moved the location from Lorelai’s cozy home to the Dragonfly Inn, insisting it was more “appropriate” for a child’s birthday party. Then came the caterer, the magician, and, much to Rory’s horror, a brief mention of ice sculptures and pony rides. Rory managed to veto those last two, but the guest list was another story. It ballooned to include distant members of the Gilmore clan Rory had never met, coworkers from both her and Jess’s jobs, and a handful of people Rory didn’t even recognize—though Emily insisted they were “important.” Setting boundaries with her grandmother was like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a broom. Emily had a way of playing the “widow” and “I-never-get-to-spend-time-with-my-great-grandson” cards so well that Rory often found herself giving in just to avoid the guilt trips.

Rory was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of lukewarm coffee in one hand and the latest version of the guest list in the other when her heart sank. Her eyes stopped on a name she hadn’t expected to see: The Huntzbergers. She let out a loud breath, dropping the paper onto her lap and staring at it in disbelief. Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and dialed Logan’s number.

He answered on the second ring. “Hey, Ace.”

“Hi,” Rory said abruptly, her voice tense. “Is this a good time?”

“I’ve been feeling really well, yes. Thanks for asking,” he said playfully, his tone light and teasing.

“Sorry,” Rory replied, slightly embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay,” Logan interrupted, his voice softening. “You seem flustered. What’s going on? Is Ricky okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine,” Rory said quickly. “I’m actually calling about his birthday...”

Logan furrowed his brow. “That’s not for another three months, right? Or did I write the date down wrong?”

“No, you wrote it down correctly,” Rory said, her voice tight. “But Emily Gilmore has decided to step in...”

“Ah,” Logan said, nodding in understanding. “What has she done now?”

“She wants to invite your family,” Rory explained, her tone clipped.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Rory could hear Logan breathing, but he didn’t say anything.

“Logan?” she prompted, her voice rising slightly. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” he said finally, his voice quiet. “I’m here.”

“Well?” Rory pressed, her frustration bubbling over. “What do you think?”

Logan sighed. “If it makes you feel any better, there’s literally no chance any of them are going to show up.”

Rory let out a bitter laugh. “Sure, I should have thought so. Because Ricky and I have brought disgrace to your family,” she said, only half-jokingly.

Logan hesitated. “Uh... sure, there’s that...” he started, his voice trailing off. “But also...”

“What?” Rory asked, genuinely curious as she couldn’t think of another reason.

“It’s in the same day of Odette’s baby shower,” Logan said quietly.

Rory froze, her grip tightening on the phone. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. The words echoed in her mind, sharp and unrelenting. Odette’s baby shower.

“Ace?” Logan’s voice broke through the silence. “Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” Rory said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “I guess congratulations are in order...”

Logan hesitated again, his tone cautious. “Thanks. I know I should have told you before.”

“It’s okay,” Rory said, her voice hollow. “It was bound to happen at some point.”

“I guess...” Logan said, his voice trailing off.

Rory took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “So, I take this means you’re not coming either.”

“Ace...” his voice was tinged with guilt.

Rory felt a surge of frustration—not just because Logan was once again putting Ricky in the background, but because the news of Odette’s pregnancy felt like a cruel cosmic joke. She thought about her own journey, the months of trying to conceive, the heartbreak of the miscarriage, and the fear that it might never happen for her again. And now, here was Logan, casually announcing that Odette was pregnant, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Logan,” Rory said, her voice trembling with emotion, “I get that you have your own life now. I do. But Ricky is your son. He deserves to have you there on his birthday. He deserves to know that he’s a priority to you.”

“I know, I’ll see what I can do... Maybe I can come one day before, or I could get him over the other weekend.” He suggested.

Rory exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Logan, you either come to his birthday, or you don’t. Showing up a day before or after isn’t the same thing. It’s one day, and it’s important."

"I get that," Logan said, his voice laced with frustration. "But you have to understand, Odette is expecting me to be there. It’s—"

"Her baby shower," Rory finished for him, bitterness creeping into her tone. "Right. Of course. Because you being there to celebrate your unborn child is more important than being there for the one who already exists."

Logan sighed heavily. "That’s not fair, Rory."

"Isn’t it?" she shot back. "Logan, I have spent the last three years watching Ricky get excited for your calls, for your visits, and then watching the disappointment settle in when you cancel or cut things short. And every time, I tell myself that it’s okay because you’re trying. But are you? Are you really trying? Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it from where I’m standing."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Rory could hear Logan breathing, but he wasn’t saying anything.

"I know I’ve screwed up," he admitted finally. "I never wanted to hurt him. I never wanted to hurt you."

"I’m fine, Logan. I’m a grown woman and we both have moved on. But Ricky is your son, he will always be your son and intentions don’t mean much for a child when actions tell a different story," Rory replied, her voice softer now, but still firm. "I’m not asking you to drop everything. I’m asking you to show up. To be there for your son, on his birthday, because that’s what a father does."

Logan exhaled sharply. "I’ll see what I can do..."

Rory swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "Fine. Think about it. But don’t take too long, Logan. Ricky’s not going to wait around forever."

She ended the call before he could say anything else. Staring at the phone in her hand, Rory felt the weight of disappointment settle deep in her chest. She had hoped—maybe foolishly—that Logan would step up this time. That he would prove, for once, that Ricky mattered to him just as much as anything else in his life.

But hoping and reality rarely aligned when it came to Logan Huntzberger.

Rory took a deep breath and pushed herself up from the kitchen chair. She wouldn’t let this ruin Ricky’s birthday. No matter what Logan decided, she would make sure her son felt loved and celebrated. Because at the end of the day, that’s what mattered most.

She left her phone on the counter and walked toward Ricky’s bedroom, where he and Jess were playing with his trains. As she stepped inside, Ricky looked up, his face lighting up with a wide, carefree smile.

“Mom, do you want to play with us?” he asked, holding up one of his trains for her to take.

Rory hesitated for only a second before settling down on the floor beside him. “Of course I do,” she said, accepting the toy.

Jess shot her a knowing glance but said nothing. He didn’t have to. He had been there through every missed phone call, every broken promise, every night Rory stayed up worrying about how to shield Ricky from disappointment. He had helped her come up with backup plans just in case Logan didn’t show up or decided he had to leave after only a couple of hours.

As Ricky happily narrated an elaborate story about the train’s journey through mountains and tunnels, Rory let herself get lost in the moment. This—this was what mattered. Not Logan’s indecision. Not Emily’s extravagant plans. Not the weight of the past.

Her son was here, in front of her, joyful and innocent, and she refused to let disappointment overshadow the happiness he deserved.

Maybe Logan would show up. Maybe he wouldn’t. But as Ricky laughed, eyes bright with excitement, Rory knew one thing for certain—he would never lack love.

X

They were now only one month away from the party. Logan’s presence was still a big unknown, though he had already sent an extravagant, ridiculously expensive present to make up for it. First, it was a child-sized electric car big enough for Ricky to ride in—Rory, unsurprisingly, sent it back, as it didn’t even fit in their living room. Then, he tried a smartwatch, which she also considered inappropriate, she was doing everything she could to mimize his access to electronic devices. Finally, he settled on a Lego set, which Rory deemed appropriate and allowed Ricky to keep.

As the days passed, Rory started feeling unwell. It began with relentless sneezing, a stuffy nose, and a cough, but soon nausea crept in, unsettling her stomach. She slowed down, taking more time to rest, while Jess stepped in to handle Emily—something he was naturally better at than Rory herself. She hoped she’d feel better before the party, but as the date crept closer, her symptoms lingered. With only five days left, she and Jess started to worry. This didn’t feel like a simple cold. Reluctantly, she decided to see a doctor, hoping for a prescription or at least some clarity on what was making her feel so run-down.

Rory sat in the doctor’s office, clutching a tissue in one hand and her phone in the other. She had been scrolling through the ever-growing list of party details Emily had sent her, but her mind kept drifting back to how awful she felt. The sneezing, the congestion, the nausea—it had lasted too long. She was beginning to suspect it wasn’t just a passing virus.

When the doctor finally walked in, Rory mustered a tired smile, though she knew she looked exhausted.

“Hi, Ms Gilmore,” the doctor greeted her warmly, flipping open her chart. “I hear you’ve been feeling under the weather for a while now. Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of this.”

Rory nodded, recounting her symptoms. The doctor listened attentively, asking a few follow-up questions before suggesting they run some tests to be thorough. Rory agreed, though a nagging sense of unease settled in her stomach. She regretted her WebMD search earlier that morning—every symptom had pointed to some rare, fatal disease.

After a blood draw and a quick examination, the doctor returned, her expression thoughtful.

“Well, Rory,” she began, “your symptoms could be due to a lingering viral infection, but there’s another possibility we should consider.”

Rory’s stomach twisted. “Another possibility?” she echoed, her mind racing. “Like what?”

The doctor smiled gently. “When was your last period?”

Rory blinked. She had deleted her cycle-tracking app months ago, right after she and Jess decided to stop actively trying for a baby. Between the party planning and daily life, she hadn’t even noticed the absence of her period. But now that she thought about it…

“Well, your bloodwork just came back,” the doctor continued. “Your hCG levels are high. You’re pregnant.”

Rory stared at her, the words taking a moment to register. “But… what about the sneezing? The runny nose?”

The doctor chuckled knowingly. “As I said, this could be due to lingering effects of a virus, but some women also experience pregnancy rhinitis. It’s not uncommon.”

Rory’s head spun.

“This isn’t dangerous,” the doctor reassured her. “Just mildly discomforting. We’ll manage your symptoms to make sure you can rest and that the baby gets enough oxygen. Based on your hCG levels, you’re likely at least six weeks along. I’d recommend scheduling an ultrasound to confirm everything and check on your health and the baby’s. When are you available?”

Rory was still trying to process everything. “It’s my son’s birthday this weekend,” she said vaguely, the weight of the news pressing down on her.

The doctor nodded. “That must be a busy time. How about next week?”

Rory agreed, and the doctor handed her an appointment slip. She tucked it into her purse, still in a daze.

The doctor observed her carefully. “Rory, you haven’t said much. How are you feeling about this? Is this something you want?”

Rory looked up. The doctor’s concern was genuine.

“Yes,” she said finally. “I just… I’m in shock. And scared, I guess. A few months ago, I had a miscarriage. My partner and I decided to stop tracking everything, to just wait and see. I guess I never thought it would actually happen.”

The doctor’s expression softened. “I’m very sorry for your loss. I understand why this news might bring mixed emotions. But we’ll be here for you every step of the way. We’ll do everything we can to ensure a safe, healthy pregnancy.”

Rory exhaled slowly. “Thank you.”

As she left the doctor’s office, Rory felt a strange mix of emotions—joy, fear, disbelief, and a flicker of hope. She climbed into her car and sat there for a moment, her hands resting on the steering wheel. She thought about Jess, about Ricky, about the little life growing inside her. It was overwhelming, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of clarity. This was happening. And no matter what, she would face it head-on.

When she got home, Jess and Ricky were in the living room, putting on their shoes. Ricky was bouncing on his toes, clutching a soccer ball, while Jess tied his laces with practiced ease.

“Hey,” Jess said, looking up as Rory walked in. “We were just about to head to the park. You wanna come?”

Rory hesitated, her heart pounding. She had planned to tell Jess about the pregnancy as soon as she got home, but now, seeing the two of them so carefree and happy, she wasn’t sure she could disrupt the moment. What if he wasn’t ready for this? What if he was still afraid, like he had been after the miscarriage? She swallowed hard, forcing a smile.

“Yeah,” she said, her voice a little too bright. “The park sounds great.”

Jess raised an eyebrow, clearly picking up on her tone, but he didn’t press. “Alright, let’s go,” he said, ruffling Ricky’s hair. “You ready, buddy?”

“Yeah!” Ricky shouted, already halfway out the door.

As they reached the park, Ricky immediately ran off to join a group of kids playing soccer. Rory and Jess settled onto a nearby bench, the late afternoon sun casting a golden hue over the scene. The park was lively—children laughing, joggers passing by, couples strolling hand in hand.

A few feet away, a young family sat under the shade of a large tree, a picnic blanket spread out beneath them. The mother was adjusting a sunhat on her baby’s head, a chubby-cheeked girl who couldn’t be more than a year old. The baby gurgled happily, grabbing at her father’s fingers as he made silly faces. Rory found herself watching them, a familiar ache stirring in her chest.

Jess’s voice pulled her back. “How was the doctor?” he asked, turning to look at her.

Instead of answering right away, she nodded toward the family. “Look at them,” she said softly. “I miss when Ricky was that little.”

They fell silent again.

"Jess, do you ever think about trying again?" she asked shyly, staring down at her shoes.

He exhaled, his breath slow and measured. "Sometimes... I know I was scared at first, but lately, I've been thinking—I don’t want fear to be the thing that makes all my decisions."

He glanced at her. She was fidgeting with the hem of her blouse, her fingers tracing invisible patterns against the fabric. He hesitated, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, well-worn notebook. She noticed the movement, her gaze flickering to his hand, curiosity shining in her eyes.

"I want you to see this," he said, holding it out to her.

She took it carefully, as if it were something fragile, something that might shatter if handled too roughly. Flipping to the first page, she scanned the words, her eyes widening. It wasn’t just a collection of thoughts—it was pieces of him. Scattered sentences, raw and unpolished. Metaphors tangled with emotions he hadn’t spoken aloud. Lyrics scribbled in the margins, resonating with an ache she hadn’t realized he carried. A draft—half a story, half a confession.

She looked up at him, her lips parted in quiet surprise.

"I started it when Doula came to visit," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck. "She suggested writing instead of talking. It felt awkward at first, but now... I think I actually like it."

Gently, he took the notebook from her hands and flipped to the last filled page.

"Here. I wrote this yesterday."

Trauma is like an old friend.

It shields you from pain, never straying too far.

Sometimes, it's the friend that speaks the loudest, demanding all your attention.

I used to think I couldn't live without it.

But now, it feels like someone I once knew—

Someone I needed once, but we've grown apart.

She lingered on the words, tracing them lightly with her fingertips. Then, lifting her eyes to meet his, she smiled—not out of pity, but understanding.

"It's beautiful," she murmured.

He dropped his gaze. “You can read the rest if you want to.”

She held the notebook against her chest, hugging it. Grateful to see him finally opening up to her.

“Anyway... Do you want to start trying again?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

Jess studied her for a moment. There was something different about the way she held herself—an anxious energy just beneath the surface. She placed his notebook on her lap and reached for her purse, her breathing shallower than before. Then, she opened it and took out a piece of paper.

“We don’t have to try,” she murmured, slowly unfolding the paper and handing it to him. He took it without moving his eyes from her. “It’s already happening.”

He furrowed his brow, finally looking at the paper, but unsure of what information he was supposed to find there. “You’re pregnant?” He asked carefully, almost afraid to believe it.

She nodded. “The doctor said probably six weeks,” she couldn’t help but smile. “I scheduled the ultrasound for next week.”

Jess continued staring at the paper, breathing heavily. He let her words settle, sifting through the weight of them, searching for how he truly felt.

“What do you think?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “How are you feeling?”

For a moment, he didn’t respond. Then, the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“We’re doing this again,” he said, his voice carrying something between certainty and wonder.

She nodded, her shoulders relaxing as if she’d been holding her breath.

“Are you ready?” she asked.

Jess exhaled, nodding. “I am.” His smirk slowly turning into a grin. “I’m just surprised. But yes. I’m ready.”

Her smile matched his. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He cupped her face to kiss her. The paper crumpled in his other hand as he leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that felt like a promise.

Notes:

As usual, if you enjoy the story and you can, please show your appreciation and support, it really means a lot. Thank you for reading and see you soon.

Chapter 10: Richard Turns 4

The Dragonfly Inn was transformed into a child’s wonderland, complete with a bouncy castle, a magician in a sequined suit, and a table piled high with presents that Ricky was eyeing with barely contained excitement. Emily had outdone herself, as usual, and Rory couldn’t decide whether to be grateful or horrified. The guest list had somehow expanded to include half of Stars Hollow, a few of Rory’s old Yale classmates, some distant relatives who probably had no idea what kind of event it was before they arrived and, much to her dismay, a handful of people she was pretty sure she’d never met.

“Is that a life-sized cutout of Ricky?” Jess asked, nodding toward a cardboard standee near the entrance. It featured a grinning photo of Ricky from his last school picture, complete with a speech bubble that read, “Welcome to my party!”

Rory groaned. “I told her no personalized decorations. I specifically said no.”

Jess smirked, leaning against the wall beside her. “You really thought that would stop her?”

Rory sighed, glancing around the room. “I just wanted a small party. Cake, balloons, maybe a piñata. Not… this.”

“Hey,” Jess said, nudging her shoulder gently. “Ricky’s having the time of his life. That’s what matters, right?”

Rory followed his gaze to where Ricky was running around with Doula and Paris’s kids, his face lit up with joy as he was tackled by Doula and they both fell rolling on the grass. She smiled despite herself. “Yeah. You’re right.”

“Of course I am,” Jess said dryly, earning an eye roll from Rory. “You feeling okay?”

She nodded, though her stomach had been churning all morning. She’d managed to keep her nausea at bay so far, but the smell of the catered food—lobster rolls, mini quiches, and an alarming amount of truffle oil—wasn’t helping. “I’m fine. Just… trying not to think about how much this party probably cost.”

Jess chuckled. “Good luck with that.”

Before they could continue talking, Jess noticed Luke waving awkwardly at him. Smirking, he excused himself and went to greet his uncle. She watched as uncle and nephew greeted each other, a warmth spreading across her chest.

“Hey, Ace.” A voice said softly on Rory’s back, causing her to freeze in place.

She turned to see Logan standing there, holding a gift bag and looking as polished as ever. Her stomach twisted, though whether from nerves or morning sickness, she wasn’t sure.

“Logan,” she said, forcing a smile. “You made it.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he said, though the way he avoided her eyes told her otherwise. She wanted to ask him how he had managed that, but decided against it. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t her problem. He was there and Ricky would be happy. Logan held out the gift bag. “For the birthday boy.”

Rory took it, peeking inside to find yet another Lego set. “Thanks. He’ll love it.”

Logan nodded, glancing around the room. “This is quite the party. Emily’s work, I assume?”

“Of course,” Rory said, her tone drier than she intended.

Logan chuckled. “Some things never change.”

There was an awkward pause before Rory gestured toward the bouncy castle. “Ricky’s over there if you want to say hi.”

Logan hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. I’ll do that.”

As he walked away, Rory exhaled slowly, trying to steady her nerves. She felt a hand on her back and turned to see Jess standing beside her.

“You okay?” he asked quietly.

Rory nodded. “Yeah. Just… a lot to process.”

Jess glanced toward Logan, who was now crouched beside Ricky, handing him the gift bag. “He’s here. That’s something, right?”

“I guess,” Rory said, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Your mom’s here too,” he informed her. She looked around, trying to find her mother and eventually spotting her at the buffet. Rory grinned as she walked in her direction.

She made her way over to the buffet table where Lorelai was standing, holding a plate piled high with mini quiches and lobster rolls. Lorelai’s eyes lit up when she saw her daughter approaching, but there was a flicker of something else in her expression—curiosity, maybe even concern.

“Hey, kid,” Lorelai said, popping a mini quiche into her mouth. “You look like you’ve been running around all day. You okay?”

Rory forced a smile, though she could feel the weight of Lorelai’s gaze. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… you know, party stuff. Emily’s been… Emily.”

Lorelai chuckled, nodding toward the life-sized cutout of Ricky. “I see that. I mean, who doesn’t want a cardboard version of themselves at their birthday party? Very Willy Wonka.”

Rory groaned, rubbing her temples. “I told her no personalized decorations. I specifically said no.”

“And yet, here we are,” Lorelai said, gesturing to the cutout with her fork. “But hey, Ricky seems to be loving it. That’s what matters, right?”

It always amused her how Jess and her mother would sometimes mimic each other without either of them having any idea. Rory glanced over to where Ricky was now bouncing in the bouncy castle. She smiled despite herself. “Yeah. He’s having a great time.”

Lorelai studied her for a moment, her sharp eyes missing nothing. “You sure you’re okay? You look a little… off.”

Rory hesitated, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach before she caught herself and quickly dropped it. “I’m fine, Mom. Just tired. It’s been a long day.”

Lorelai raised an eyebrow, her tone teasing but with an edge of suspicion. “Tired? You? That’s a first. You’re usually the Energizer Bunny at these things.”

Rory shrugged, avoiding Lorelai’s gaze. “I guess I’m just not used to Emily-level party planning. It’s exhausting.”

Lorelai nodded slowly, though her expression was still skeptical. “Uh-huh. Well, if you need a break, just say the word. I’m happy to take over for a bit.”

“Thanks,” Rory said, her smile genuine this time. “I might take you up on that.”

Lorelai watched her for a moment longer, her curiosity piqued. There was something Rory wasn’t telling her—she could feel it. But before she could press further, Emily appeared, looking immaculate as always in a tailored dress and pearls.

“Rory, darling, isn’t this party a hoot?” Emily asked, her arm wrapping around her granddaughter.

“You really outdid yourself this time, Mom.” Lorelai replied. “Can’t wait to see Ricky’s wedding.”

“Why must you always ruin things, Lorelai?” Emily asked with a stern face. Lorelai looked at her with mock bafflement.

Rory stepped in. “It’s great, grandma. Thank you. Ricky is ecstatic.”

“That he is,” she smiled proud. “And you, honey? Are you okay? You seem a little tired.” Emily watched her carefully.

“I am, as you said, I’m just tired. It’s a huge party and I think I had too much food,” she said apologetically. Emily glanced at Lorelai who just shrugged.

“Oh, look.” The elder Gilmore said suddenly, pointing at some place in a distance with excitement. “The magician is setting up his table. He’s the finest in the entire East Coast—only the best for my great-grandson.”

Rory and Lorelai turned to where she was pointing and Rory was quick to notice that Jess was already there, talking to the man. She smiled as she remembered how he liked magic tricks and he was always making them for Ricky, she wondered whether he was trying to snatch the man’s show.

Jess approached the magician’s table with casual interest, watching as the man shuffled a deck of cards with impressive dexterity. The guy was good—sleight of hand smooth as butter, each card moving effortlessly from one place to another. He had that air of a seasoned performer, someone who’d spent years perfecting tricks that were supposed to look easy.

“You’re not bad,” Jess remarked, hands in his pockets.

The magician, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a top hat, looked up with a knowing smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He fanned out the cards and waggled his eyebrows. “Wanna pick one?”

Jess smirked but didn’t reach for a card. “I do some of this stuff for my kid.” He nodded toward Ricky, who was now playing hide-and-seek with other kids. “Mostly coins and disappearing acts. He thinks I have supernatural abilities.”

The magician chuckled. “That’s the best part, isn’t it? When they actually believe in the magic?”

Jess hesitated for half a second before nodding. “Yeah. It is.”

Before the conversation could go any further, a familiar voice cut in. “Jess.”

Luke.

Jess turned to see his uncle standing there, arms crossed, already looking skeptical.

“What are you doing?” Luke asked, eyeing the magician like he was selling snake oil.

Jess shrugged. “Talking. Watching a man work.”

Luke gave him a long, measured look. “You’re up to something.”

Jess rolled his eyes. “I’m literally just standing here.”

“That’s what’s suspicious,” Luke countered. He turned to the magician. “You should check your pockets. He might’ve lifted your watch.”

The magician grinned, clearly enjoying this. “Should I be worried?”

Jess huffed. “I haven’t stolen anything since I was a teenager, thanks.”

“Uh-huh.” Luke wasn’t convinced. He tilted his head, studying Jess the same way he had when he’d first shown up in Stars Hollow all those years ago—like he could see straight through whatever front Jess thought he was putting up.

“Alright,” Luke said, dropping his voice. “Spill it. You’re acting weird. First, you were hovering around Rory like she might pass out at any second, and now you’re standing here, avoiding everyone.”

Jess tensed slightly. “I know your spider senses are tingling, but nothing is going on.”

The magician looked at the two of them and decided to interrupt, turning to Jess. “Hey, since it’s your kid’s party, do you want to open my show? I’m sure he’s going to love seeing you do magic tricks for all his friends.”

He smirked and nodded, accepting the man’s offer. Luke continued to look at Jess with suspicion, but chose not to say anything.

The party was in full swing, and Jess had just finished his impromptu magic show, much to the delight of the kids and adults alike. He walked away from the improvised stage and leaned against a tree, looking at the magician from a distance, but his mind elsewhere.

“You know, you look like you’re plotting an escape,” a voice cut through his thoughts. He turned his head to see Doula standing next to him, a cotton candy as pink as her hair in one hand, picking up pieces of it casually, her smirk a carbon copy of his own.

“Nah, I just don’t want to steal that man’s thunder,” he shrugged, smirking back at her.

“It’s adorable how much my little nephew is obsessed with you,” she chuckled. “His eyes were sparkling with pride and pointing at you saying ‘this is my Dad’ every time you finished a trick.”

He nodded and they both fell into an akward silence. She heard him breathing deeply.

“So, I had my first kiss last Wednesday,” she started, glacing at him to catch his reaction.

“What? Why would you tell me that?” He frowned.

She smiled. “I thought maybe if I shared what’s on my mind you’d tell me what’s on yours.”

He bit back a smirk, but remained in silence.

“Her name is Aurora, we have some classes together. I was drawing some kids playing in the townsquare when she approached me and asked if I had ever kissed someone before.”

He looked at her and waited for her to continue.

“I told her I hadn’t, and she asked if I wanted to. I said maybe, if it were the right person. She then asked me if she could be the right person and I said maybe again and before I knew it she was closing her eyes and leaning in just a little, waiting for me to kiss her.”

Jess nodded. “That’s a good first kiss.”

“I thought so too.” She said, taking another piece of cotton candy and shoving it into her mouth. She watched as Jess glanced at Ricky again. “Jess, I’m sorry Mom and TJ decided not to come.”

He pressed his lips and she realized she had hit the nail in the head to the reason for his quiet, serious look.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t expecting them to come. I’m happy you’re here. Rory and Ricky too.” He shook his head and stared at his feet.

“It’s their loss, you know that. Right?”

“Hey, you don’t need to worry about me,” he glanced at her. “I’m used to it, I just didn’t want you to be so smart and figure out how her and I work.”

She pouted, her heart aching, her mind full of things she wanted to say, but deciding to change the subject a little. “Did you do what I suggested? Start writing about what’s bothering you?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“And did it work?”

“It’s... helping...” he replied, glancing at Rory with a smirk, who was chatting happily with Emily, Lorelai and Luke.

She beamed with pride. “I’m glad, Jess.” Then, she got closer to him and gave him a hug. He froze initially but slowly relaxed his shoulder and hugged her back. “I’m glad I was able to help you even if just a little after everything you’ve done for me.”

He couldn’t say anything, she let him go and they stayed there for a moment, watching as the magician finished his show. When he was over they walked their separate ways. Doula went after Steve and Kwan while Jess got a little closer to the magician’s stage, watching him as he was packing his stuff to leave.

Ricky, noticing him approaching the magician and still buzzing with excitement, ran up to Jess, his face lit up with joy.

“Dad! Dad!” Ricky shouted, tugging on Jess’s sleeve. “Can you do the coin trick again? Please?”

Jess froze for a split second, his eyes darting to Rory, who was standing nearby. Before he could respond, Logan, who had been chatting with a group of guests a few feet away, turned sharply at the sound of Ricky’s voice.

“Dad?” Logan repeated, his brows furrowing, his tone caught somewhere between confusion and something rawer.

Rory’s heart sank as she realized what had just happened. She stepped forward, trying to diffuse the situation. “Ricky, sweetie, why don’t you go find Grandma? She’s got a surprise for you.”

Ricky, oblivious to the tension, pouted. “But I want to see the coin trick again!”

Jess crouched down to Ricky’s level, his voice calm but firm. “We’ll do it later, okay? Go find Grandma.”

Ricky hesitated, sensing the shift in the atmosphere but not fully understanding it. “Okay…” he said reluctantly, running off toward the buffet table where Lorelai and Luke chatted with Babette and Miss Patty.

As soon as Ricky was out of earshot, Logan turned to Jess, his expression darkening. “Wait—what? Ricky calls you that?”

Jess exhaled slowly, keeping his voice even. “It’s not a competition, Logan.”

Logan scoffed. “Really? Because it sure looks like you won.”

Jess’s jaw tightened, and when he spoke again, his voice carried an edge. “Where have you been, Logan? Because from where I’m standing, it doesn’t look like you’ve been around much.”

Logan’s eyes flicked to Rory, his expression a mix of hurt and accusation. “You’re okay with this? Letting him call Jess ‘Dad’?”

Rory stepped forward, her voice firm but calm. “Logan, we never encouraged Ricky to call Jess ‘Dad.’ It just… happened. One day, he started saying it, and it felt natural. We didn’t see the point in correcting him when it’s how he feels.”

Logan shook his head, his frustration evident. “So you’re just going to let him think Jess is his father?”

“No,” Rory said, her tone softening. “We’ve always been honest with Ricky about who you are. But Jess has been a constant presence in his life, and Ricky sees him as a father figure. I’m not going to apologize for that.”

Logan looked between Rory and Jess, his anger giving way to something more vulnerable. “I’m trying, Rory. I am.”

“I know,” Rory said quietly. “But trying isn’t enough. Ricky needs you to be there.”

There was a long, tense silence before Logan finally spoke again, his tone sharper now. “And what about you, Jess? Don’t you want your own kids someday? Or are you just content playing house with mine?”

Jess and Rory exchanged a fleeting glance as his words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Rory’s breath caught, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. While Jess’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his composure.

“That’s not what this is about,” Jess said, his voice low and steady. “This is about Ricky. About giving him the stability and love he deserves.”

Logan scoffed, bitterness spilling over. “Right. Because you’re so perfect. You’ve got it all figured out, don’t you? Well, newsflash, Jess—you’re not his father. And you never will be.”

Rory stepped forward, her voice sharp now. “Logan, that’s enough.”

Logan turned to her, his expression a mix of anger and hurt. “What, Rory? You’re just going to let him take over? Let him pretend he’s something he’s not?”

“He’s not pretending,” Rory said, her voice trembling with emotion. “He’s been there for Ricky in ways you haven’t. And if you can’t see that, then maybe you need to take a long, hard look at yourself.”

Logan stared at her, his anger giving way to something more vulnerable. For a moment, it seemed like he might say something more, but instead, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Rory exhaled slowly, her shoulders relaxing. She glanced at Jess, who was still standing stiffly, his expression unreadable. “You okay?” she asked quietly.

Jess nodded, though his jaw was still tight. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

Rory reached out, placing a hand on his arm. “He’s wrong, you know. About everything.”

“Don’t worry,” he said, turning to her. “I’m not going to let him ruin this.” He said, looking around. “Any of this.” He complemented, discreetly placing his hand on her waist, his thumb rubbing her stomach as he leaned in to give her a kiss.

She grinned, squeezing his hand as they made their way toward the buffet, where a few late-arriving guests were gathering. Jess’s gaze drifted, quickly landing on a familiar face.

“There’s Chris,” he murmured, steering them toward a tall man waving lazily from across the room. Beside him stood his wife, Janette, with their daughter clinging shyly to her leg.

“Hey,” Jess greeted, pulling Chris into a quick hug. “Thanks for making the trip—it’s kinda out of the way.”

Chris grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it. Honestly, we don’t have many friends with kids, so it’s good for Serena to meet some tiny humans.”

Janette bent down, coaxing their daughter forward. “Do you remember Uncle Jess, honey?”

Serena peeked out, wide-eyed, and immediately buried her face in Chris’s legs. Rory couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Sorry—she takes a while to warm up,” Janette apologized.

“It’s fine,” Rory offered, kind and easy. “She’ll loosen up once she sees the other kids running wild.”

Janette smiled, relaxing a little, and then lifted the gift bag she’d been carrying. “Where should I put this?”

“Oh, come with me,” Rory gestured, giving Jess’s arm a light squeeze before leading Janette toward the gift table.

Left alone, Chris sighed, picking his daughter up. “Cute kid,” Jess offered, a small grin tugging at his lips.

“Thanks,” Chris chuckled. “Fortunately, she’s all Janette... and my last name.”

Jess huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. “You guys staying the night?”

“Yeah. Booked a room. This place is nicer than I expected.”

“It is,” Jess agreed. There was a pause—comfortable, but laced with something unspoken.

“So… did he show?” Chris asked, voice low.

Jess nodded once. “Yep. Got our first round over with already.”

“Damn, I can’t believe I missed that. How bad?”

Jess scratched the back of his neck. “Found out Ricky calls me ‘Dad’ now.”

Chris winced. “Shit. Bet that went over great.”

Jess shrugged. “Could’ve been worse, honestly. I mean… if I were him, I don’t know how I’d handle it either.”

Chris gave him a look—half surprise, half respect. “Would you listen to yourself? Showing the guy sympathy.”

Jess let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “I just… I don’t want it to turn into a thing, you know? Ricky shouldn’t feel like he has to pick sides. He deserves better than that.”

Chris’s expression softened. “You’re a good man, Mariano. But, Jess... that’s not on you. Logan’s making his own choices. And Ricky? He’s already figuring out who shows up and who doesn’t.”

Jess didn’t answer right away. He just nodded, jaw tightening for a beat. “We’re staying the night, too. We’ll catch up later.”

“Yeah,” Chris agreed, watching him go.

Jess turned, spotting Rory now deep in conversation with Lane, smiling in that way she always did when she felt at home. He exhaled slowly, then made his way toward her.

“Speak of the devil,” she said with a smirk. “We were just talking about you.”

Jess raised an eyebrow, his hand automatically finding the small of Rory's back. "Should I be worried?"

"Always," Rory quipped, but the way she leaned into his touch betrayed her casual tone. Her fingers brushed against his wrist - a silent check-in after the Logan confrontation.

Lane's eyes darted between them with the precision of a woman who'd been decoding their chemistry since high school. "Relax, we were just talking about your side hustle as magician’s assistant. You totally stole that man’s show. Steve and Kwan came to me right after this and asked for a magic set.”

“Glad to be an inspiration for young minds,” he replied.

As the party wound down, the guests started coming up to Rory and Jess to tell them goodbye. They were near the cake when Ricky ran up to Rory breathless and flushed from all the excitement, who was saying goodbye to Paris and her children.

“Mom, this was the best party ever!” he declared, his eyes shining.

Rory let out a relieved laugh, brushing his hair back from his sweaty forehead. “I’m glad you had fun, kiddo.”

Emily, standing nearby, looked smugly satisfied. “Of course it was the best. I organized it.”

Rory shot her grandmother a look but couldn’t argue. The chaos had been worth it.

Lorelai approached the two of them a bit tipsy, followed by a concerned Luke who seemed to be ready to catch her if she fell. “Mom, had I known you would order champagne for a kid’s party I would have asked you to organize all of Rory’s birthday party when she was a kid,” she quipped, her arm resting around her daughter’s shoulder. “Here, this one is for you,” she handed Rory a glass, who took it with wide eyes.

“Rory would have been five when you were legally allowed to drink, Lorelai,” Emily replied calmly, though her lips had disappeared into a thin line. Luke shook his head.

In the distance, Logan watched them, waiting for the best moment to approach Ricky. He noticed Luke taking Lorelai away and came closer, crouching to his son’s level. “Hey, buddy. I have to go, but I’m really glad I got to celebrate with you.”

Ricky beamed. “Thanks for coming! And thanks for the Legos! I’m gonna build something awesome.”

“I bet you will.” Logan ruffled Ricky’s hair, then stood, looking at Rory. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Rory nodded. “Of course. Thank you for coming. It means a lot to Ricky. Take care, Logan.”

He hesitated, as if debating saying more, but instead just gave Emily a quick goodbye and gave Rory a small, unreadable smile before turning to leave.

Jess, who had been watching from a few feet away, finally exhaled. “Well, that was... something.”

Rory rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. “You’re impossible.”

Jess smirked, subtly picking up the glass of champagne from her hand and drinking it. She whispered a quiet ‘thank you’ in his ear.

He then looked at Ricky, who was now tackling a slice of cake. “Alright, kid, what’s the verdict? Turning 4 was worth it?”

Ricky nodded enthusiastically, his mouth full of frosting.

“Then I’d say it was a success.” Jess looked at Rory meaningfully.

She let out a long breath, finally allowing herself to relax. “Yeah. It really was.”

Chapter 11: We're Telling People

There they were again, back in the ultrasound room. Fingers intertwined, their hands spoke of quiet affliction, of breaths held too long and hearts braced for impact. The dim lighting of the room felt both comforting and oppressive—a cocoon of anticipation and dread. The rhythmic hum of the ultrasound machine filled the silence, amplifying Rory’s heartbeat, which thundered erratically in her chest. Jess’s grip tightened around her hand, his thumb brushing her knuckles in a silent, instinctive reassurance.

The technician asked them the usual questions before she handed Rory a hospital gown and gestured toward the restroom. She took it with trembling hands, swallowing hard before standing. Jess watched her go, his expression unreadable, his body coiled with unspoken thoughts. They had spent the last few days skirting the weight of this moment, as if avoiding each other’s nervousness might somehow make it vanish.

A few minutes later, Rory emerged, arms crossed over her chest. The thin fabric of the gown hung loosely, making her feel strangely small, exposed.

"Rate my outfit," she joked, her voice light but strained.

Jess looked up, their eyes meeting. A slow smirk tugged at his lips. "If I knew how stunning you’d look in a hospital gown, I’d have knocked you up sooner."

Rory let out a breathy laugh, rolling her eyes as she walked back toward him. "Charming."

He reached for her hand as she sat on the bed. "It’s kind of my thing." He kissed her forehead, lingering a moment as the nervousness crept back between them, unspoken but palpable.

The technician cleared her throat, offering a polite smile. Rory lay back, positioning herself. The room fell into a heavy silence as the probe pressed against her skin. The screen flickered, shifting between static and shadowy shapes. Jess looked at the screen, trying to decipher the blur of movement.

The technician adjusted the wand slightly. "Okay," she murmured. "Let’s find the heartbeat."

Jess stared at the screen, his heart pounding in his chest. The grainy image flickered, and he squinted, trying to make sense of the shapes. His mind raced with unspoken fears—what if something was wrong? What if they lost this baby too? He couldn’t go through that again. He wouldn’t survive it.

Then, the sound filled the room—thump-thump-thump-thump—steady and strong. Jess exhaled sharply, a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. His grip on Rory’s hand tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t speak. All he could do was stare at the screen, at the tiny, flickering heartbeat that belonged to his baby. Their baby.

"There it is," the technician said softly. "Nice and steady. Everything looks great."

“Like a little drum,” Rory whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Jess swallowed hard, nodding. “Yeah. Like a little drum.” He felt a surge of something he couldn’t quite name—awe, relief, love. It was overwhelming, and for the first time in weeks, he let himself hope.

For the first time since their world had flipped upside down, the fear didn’t feel so suffocating. It was still there, lingering at the edges—but so was this. This heartbeat, steady and real, anchoring them to something bigger than the uncertainty.

Before they left, the doctor came in to discuss the progress of the pregnancy, schedule the next ultrasound, and prescribe vitamins to support the baby’s development. Finally, she handed them a printout of the ultrasound.

In the car, Rory kept staring at the picture, her fingers tracing the edge of the paper. Jess watched her, still processing what they had just witnessed.

“Be honest—do you actually see a baby in this, or does it kind of look like a vaguely threatening inkblot?”

Jess took the picture and squinted. “I mean… could be a baby. Could be a tiny, menacing shrimp. Hard to say.”

Rory gasped dramatically. “You take that back! Our shrimp is perfect.”

Jess chuckled, handing it back to her. “I stand corrected. That is, without a doubt, the best blurry shrimp I’ve ever seen.”

She held it up again, her face softening. “I still can’t believe there’s actually a baby in there.”

“Yeah,” Jess said, quieter now. He glanced at the picture again, as if trying to make sense of it.

They sat there for a moment, letting the weight of it settle between them. Then, predictably, Rory broke the spell. “I’m going to name it Bubba for now.”

Jess blinked. “What?”

“Forrest Gump,” she explained.

“Of course,” he nodded, biting back a smirk. “Do you think we should tell Luke and your mom now?”

She looked down, apprehension flickering across her face. “I want to, but I’m scared.”

“I am, too,” he admitted. “Well, the next ultrasound is next month. We can tell them then, or any other time. We don’t need to turn this into an event like last time.”

“Yes, okay.” She took one last look at the ultrasound picture before carefully placing it in her purse. Then, she looked down at her stomach with a soft smile. “Let’s go home, Bubba. We’ve had enough excitement for today.”

X

Keeping the secret for another month, now that it felt more real than ever, proved to be an impossible task. And the first person to find out was Matthew.

Two weeks had passed since Jess had returned to his office in Philadelphia, his mind swirling with the overwhelming flood of new information he had been absorbing. Endless Google searches about pregnancy consumed him—everything from morning sickness to what to expect during the second trimester. With the glow of his laptop screen as his only company, Jess felt an odd mixture of excitement and anxiety. The glow illuminated the dimly lit office, his surroundings eerily quiet—until, without warning, Matthew snuck up behind him.

“By week twelve, you may be able to find out the sex of the baby,” Matthew read aloud, his voice breaking the silence like a sudden thunderclap. Jess jumped out of his chair, heart racing, and in an instant, slammed his laptop shut with a resounding thud.

“Hey, man,” Matthew said nonchalantly, as though he hadn’t noticed the sudden panic flash across Jess's face. “What are you doing there?”

Jess’s throat constricted. He cleared it, desperately trying to regain control of the situation. “Just doing some research,” he said, the words tumbling out awkwardly. He could feel the heat creeping up his neck. His mind raced, scrambling for a believable explanation.

“Research?” Matthew raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with skepticism, but not enough to make him doubt Jess’s story.

“Yes,” Jess nodded rapidly, trying to keep his composure. “For a book.”

“You’re writing a pregnant character, I assume?” Matthew asked, the intrigue in his voice now evident. Jess could see the gears turning in his friend's mind.

“Yes, exactly,” Jess replied, his voice betraying a hint of relief that the conversation had taken a slight turn. “I need to know what happens, you know, for accuracy.”

“Need to know what happens?” Chris’s voice cut through the moment, coming from the doorway as he stepped into the room. Jess groaned inwardly, knowing it would be twice as hard to deceive both of them.

Matthew turned to look at Chris, a wide, mischievous grin spreading across his face. “Guess what? Jess is writing a pregnant character,” he said, voice dripping with amusement.

Chris glanced at both of them, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “A pregnant character, huh?” He moved toward them, the teasing glint in his eyes impossible to miss.

Jess rubbed his temple, already feeling a headache coming on. “Yes, for a book,” he repeated, trying to sound casual but inwardly cringing.

“Is it an autobiography?” Chris joked, his smirk deepening.

Jess sighed heavily, knowing it was a lost battle. “Just, please keep it cool, okay? Rory and I decided not to tell anyone yet. And for what’s worth it, I didn’t tell you about it, you found out on your own.”

“Yes, due to your inability to curb your enthusiasm. It’s kind of adorable,” Matthew teased, but his smile was genuine.

Chris’s smirk faded into something quieter, his eyes softening. “Hey, seriously man. I’m really happy for you.” He said, his voice strained, as if there was a lump on his throat.

Jess blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity.

Matthew nudged Chris, “look at you, getting all sentimental.” Then, he turned to Jess. “But yeah, we’re happy for you. We know how much you wanted this.”

The silence in the room was deafening, none of them completely sure how to continue from there.

“How far along is she?” Chris asked, his voice shifting, now filled with genuine concern. Jess felt the weight of his words sink in.

“Ten weeks,” Jess replied softly, the vulnerability in his voice barely masked. Chris nodded knowingly, his expression softening as he registered the information.

Matthew groaned in frustration, hands on his hips. “Why do parents do this? How am I supposed to know what ten weeks even means?”

Jess and Chris exchanged a knowing glance, both of them smirking as they remembered being in a similar, clueless position themselves years ago.

“It’s two and a half months, genius,” Chris clarified, chuckling under his breath.

“That’s recent. How are you feeling?” Matthew asked, his voice gentle now, remembering what Jess had gone through the last time and suddenly understanding Chris’s concern and Jess’s vulnerability.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” Jess replied, his tone steady but with the underlying uncertainty that they hadn’t been able to shake off. It was a delicate balance of hope and caution.

“You can count on us, man,” Chris said, giving Jess a firm, supportive pat on the shoulder while Matthew nodded lightly. Jess smirked, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. At least it wasn’t a complete secret anymore. They had people they could rely on.

Then, it was Rory’s turn to inadvertently spill the beans. She had been talking on the phone with Lorelai, discussing her latest shopping spree. As Rory mentioned how she had bought a few new sundresses, she casually added, “Well, they’ll probably be short-lived, but okay, hopefully I might be able to use them later.”

“Why will they be short-lived?” Lorelai’s voice, laced with curiosity, came through the phone.

Rory’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had just revealed. In an instant, she scrambled to cover her tracks. “Uh… because… winter is coming?” she stammered, her voice weak in its attempt to deflect.

Lorelai gasped, the realization hitting her like a ton of bricks. “You’re pregnant!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with both surprise and joy.

Rory went quiet, stunned by her mother’s sudden outburst. The words hung between them like a delicate thread. After a beat, Rory sighed, her shoulders slumping as the weight of her secret finally gave way. “Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier and that you found out this way,” she murmured, feeling an immediate rush of guilt.

“Oh, honey. You have nothing to apologize for,” Lorelai reassured her immediately, her voice filled with warmth. “How are you feeling?”

Rory smiled softly, a sense of relief washing over her now that the secret was finally out. “I’m happy. I’m ten weeks along. We had our first ultrasound, and everything seems to be in order. We even got to hear the heartbeat.”

Lorelai beamed, her voice soft and affectionate. “Aw, that’s wonderful. When do I get to meet my new grandchild?”

Rory smiled brightly, a twinkle in her eye. “Well, we already have a printout of Bubba’s ultrasound. I can show you if you want.”

“Bubba?” Lorelai asked, amusement clear in her voice.

“We thought it looked like a shrimp,” Rory explained, a fond smile crossing her lips as she recalled the moment.

Lorelai chuckled. “Forrest Gump, sure. Do you want me to tell Luke?”

Rory’s face tightened slightly, concern flickering in her eyes. “Actually, I think he’s going to feel left out if you spring the news on him,” Rory said, her voice laced with thoughtfulness. “I know he was upset when we didn’t tell him about what happened last time…”

Lorelai’s voice softened as she interrupted gently, “Rory, please, don’t think about that. It’s only going to make you feel more nervous. I won’t tell Luke, but you should. And you need to do it soon—I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep it to myself.”

So, later that day, Jess and Rory finally decided they couldn’t delay telling Luke any longer. Jess held the phone steady, his free hand gripping Rory’s as they sat together on the couch. Ricky was in the other room, engrossed in a cartoon, giving them a rare moment of quiet. The screen flickered for a moment before Luke’s face appeared, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “Hey, you two. This is a nice surprise. What’s up?”

Rory glanced at Jess, her nerves written all over her face. Jess gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before speaking. “Hey, Luke. We, uh… we have some news.”

Luke’s expression shifted immediately, his brow furrowing with concern. “Everything okay? Ricky doing all right?”

“Yeah, Ricky’s fine,” Rory said quickly, her voice trembling slightly. “He’s great, actually. We just… we wanted to tell you first.”

Jess took a deep breath, his heart pounding. “Rory’s pregnant.”

For a moment, Luke just stared at them, his face frozen in shock, they even wondered whether they had lost connection, the image still. Then, slowly, his expression softened, and his eyes began to glisten. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. Instead, he looked away, clearing his throat roughly. “Well, I’ll be…” he muttered, his voice cracking. He wiped at his eyes with the back of his hand, his movements awkward and hurried, like he was embarrassed to be caught showing emotion.

Rory’s face softened, and she leaned closer to the screen. “Luke? You okay?”

Luke nodded quickly, still avoiding their gaze. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just… got something in my eye.” He cleared his throat again, his voice gruff but warm. “That’s… that’s really great news. I’m happy for you two. Really happy.”

Jess felt a lump form in his throat, and he nodded, unable to speak. Rory reached for the phone, holding it closer. “Thank you, Luke. That means a lot.”

Luke finally looked back at them, his eyes still shining. He opened his mouth again, as if he wanted to say more, but all that came out was a quiet, “Yeah.” He nodded once, firmly, like that single word carried everything he couldn’t quite articulate.

Jess smirked, breaking the tension. “You’re not gonna cry on us, are you, Luke?” He asked as he breathed a laugh, masking his own emotion.

Luke shot him a look, his usual gruffness returning. “Don’t push it, kid.” But there was no real bite to his words, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile. “You’re gonna be great, you know. Both of you.”

Rory smiled through her tears, her voice soft but steady. “Thank you.”

Luke nodded again, his awkwardness giving way to a quiet pride. “Alright, I’ll let you two go. But don’t be strangers, okay? And keep me updated. I want to hear everything.”

“We will,” Rory promised, her smile widening. “Bye, Luke.”

“Bye. And… congratulations.” Luke’s face lingered on the screen for a moment longer before the call ended, leaving Jess and Rory sitting in silence, their hands still intertwined.

Jess let out a long breath, leaning back against the couch, his hands holding Rory’s to his chest. “Well, that went better than I expected.”

Rory laughed, leaning in to give him a quick kiss. “Yeah. He’s really happy for us.”

From the other room, Ricky’s voice piped up. “Mom? Dad? I’m hungry. Can I have a snack?”

Rory chuckled, calling back, “In a minute, buddy!” She turned to Jess, her smile softening. “Think he’ll be excited to be a big brother?”

“Well, since we’re on a roll, I guess now it’s as good as ever. Let’s find out.” Jess suggested. She looked at him with surprise at first, but immediately nodded with conviction.

Rory called their son to join them in the living room. He sat down on the couch with Jess’s help, his little legs swinging as he looked up at them with curious eyes. “What’s going on?” he asked, tilting his head.

Rory exchanged a glance with Jess before smiling at Ricky. “We have some exciting news to tell you, buddy.”

Ricky’s eyes narrowed, suspicious. “What is it? Is it about cookies? Did you get cookies?”

Jess chuckled. “Not this time, kiddo. But it’s something just as cool.”

“Well…” Rory smiled, her heart swelling as she watched his reaction. “Remember when we told you that we wanted to make our family bigger?”

He nodded with confidence, then a wide smile spread across his face. “Are we getting a cat? No, a dog? A parrot? Is it a fish?”

Jess and Rory exchanged a quick glance. She bit her lower lip, clearly realizing building up the moment wasn’t a very good strategy to break the news to a four-year-old.

“Mommy is having a baby,” she said finally. “You’re going to have a little brother or sister.”

Ricky blinked, his face scrunching up in thought. “A baby? Where is it?”

Rory laughed softly, placing a hand on her stomach. “It’s right here, inside Mommy’s tummy.”

Ricky’s eyes widened, and he leaned forward, peering at her stomach like he was trying to see through it. “How did it get in there?”

Jess choked back a laugh, glancing at Rory. “Uh… that’s a great question, buddy. But maybe for another time.”

Rory shot Jess a look, her cheeks turning pink, but she kept her tone light. “The baby is growing in there, and it’s going to keep growing until it’s ready to come out.”

Ricky tilted his head, still looking skeptical. “When’s it coming out?”

“Not for a while,” Rory explained. “It’s going to take a few more months. But when it does, you’re going to be a big brother. Isn’t that exciting?”

Ricky considered this for a moment, then shrugged. “Okay. Can I have my snack now?”

Jess snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah, buddy. You can have your snack. I’ll fix you something to eat.”

As Ricky hopped off the couch and scampered toward the kitchen, Rory leaned into Jess, laughing softly. “Well, that went… about as expected.”

Jess smirked, wrapping an arm around her. “At least he didn’t ask how the baby gets out. We dodged that bullet for now.”

Rory groaned, resting her head on his shoulder. “Don’t remind me. I’m not ready for that conversation.”

Jess chuckled, his hand resting on her stomach. “One step at a time. For now, we’ve got a kid who’s more interested in snacks than siblings. I’ll take it.”

Rory smiled, her hand covering his.

“Dad!” Ricky called out impatiently.

“Duty calls,” Jess said, standing up. Things seemed to be moving forward and they were slowly allowing themselves to enjoy it.

X

The next morning, the light filtered softly into the room, but Rory didn’t notice. She jolted awake, feeling a sharp, unfamiliar pain in her lower abdomen. It wasn’t just a dull ache; it was a cramp so intense it took her breath away. She shifted, trying to find a comfortable position, but the pain only worsened as she tried to take a deep breath. Her heart raced, and her thoughts spiraled into panic.

"Jess…" she whispered, barely able to speak through the panic setting in.

Jess, still half asleep, heard the urgency in her voice and immediately sat up. “Rory?” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, his voice still groggy. But the moment he saw her face—pale, panic-stricken, and clearly in pain—he was wide awake.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Jess’s voice cracked with concern as he reached for her hand, his heart pounding.

“It hurts,” Rory gasped, her voice shaky. The pain was sharp, and it felt all-consuming. “It’s bad, Jess… it’s really bad.”

Jess’s stomach twisted, his mind racing. He knew that panic was dangerous, but he couldn’t help it. His mind immediately raced to the thoughts of what had happened last time.

“We need to go to the hospital,” Jess said, his voice trembling with urgency. “We need to go now.”

“I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing,” Rory said, clutching her stomach, her face a mixture of terror and disbelief.

“Rory, we’re not taking chances. No. We’re going,” Jess insisted, his voice firm but filled with fear.

He wasn’t sure what to do, so he grabbed his phone, his hands shaking as he did the only thing he could think of at the moment – he called Paris.

She picked up on the third ring.

“Yes?” She answered, confused.

“Hey, Paris, uh, it’s Jess.” He started. “Did I wake you?”

“Jess? What’s going on? I’m awake, I’m having breakfast”

“I need advice,” Jess said, his voice tight. “Rory’s in a lot of pain. It's pretty bad, and we’re freaking out. I don’t know what to do.”

“Is she pregnant?” She asked.

Jess nodded, not realizing she couldn’t see him over the phone. “Yes, 10 weeks.”

“Is she bleeding?”

He looked at her, crawled in the bed, her hand in her stomach, the sheets spread around her, but there was no sign of blood.

“No, I don’t think so.”

There was a pause on the other end before Paris spoke again, her voice firm but trying to remain calm. “Okay, listen to me. You need to get Rory to the hospital to get her checked out. I know it’s terrifying, but you have to stay calm. It could be nothing, or it could be something serious. But you’re not going to know until you get her looked at.”

“I know, I know,” Jess said, running his hand through his hair, panic rising in his chest. “But, Paris… I don’t want to take Ricky with us. I don’t want him to see her like this. I don’t want him to worry.”

Paris didn’t hesitate. “I get it, Jess. But you can’t leave him alone. Let me take care of that.” There was a slight rustle of movement, and Jess heard Paris’s voice become more authoritative. “I’ll have one of my nannies go over there to stay with Ricky while you two go to the hospital. Get ready and leave as soon as she arrives. I’ll have her there in ten minutes.”

Jess let out a sigh of relief, though his worry for Rory still simmered under the surface. “Thanks, Paris. I... I really don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”

“I think it’s best if you wake Ricky up. Let him know that you are going out for a while and that Paula is staying with him. He knows Paula, he’s been with her a few times when you left him here to play with my kids, he’s going to be okay.”

He nodded, trying to take in all the information Paris was giving while also trying to steady his breath.

“I know you’re scared, Jess,” Paris continued, her tone softening just a little. “But the most important thing right now is to get Rory taken care of. Stay calm for her. I’ll make sure Ricky is fine. He won’t even know anything’s up.”

“Alright,” Jess said, his voice trembling slightly, but he could feel himself steadied by Paris’s no-nonsense support. “Thanks. I’ll hang up now.”

“Good. You two stay strong,” Paris replied before ending the call.

Jess hung up, and without another word, he rushed to Rory’s side. Her face was pale, her body stiff with the intensity of the pain, and she was still clutching her stomach tightly.

“Paris is sending someone over to stay with Ricky,” Jess said quickly, helping Rory sit up. “We’re getting you to the hospital, okay?”

Rory nodded weakly, her voice shaky as she tried to calm herself. “I just don’t want to go through this again, Jess.”

“I know,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Me neither. Now, let’s get dressed so we’re ready to go when the nanny gets here.”

Jess helped Rory into her jacket, then he woke Ricky up to inform him they would be away for a little while, that everything was fine and that Paula would stay here if he woke up and needed anything. He felt he deserved at least an Oscar nomination for his performance, he had never sounded so casual and put together in his whole life.

When the nanny arrived they made their way to the car, his hand firmly holding hers, trying to steady both their nerves as they prepared for whatever was ahead.

Once they arrived at the hospital, Jess practically ran inside with Rory, not caring for the looks they received. He just needed her to be okay. They rushed her to the emergency room, where nurses quickly took charge, pushing Jess aside momentarily to get Rory settled.

He couldn’t sit still. He paced. His hands ran through his hair, his mind not able to settle for a second.

Rory, too, felt the heavy silence between her breaths as she was bombarded with questions about her health and she felt people pressing and poking at her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the fear. Once they were done with the examination, Rory was put into a curtained ER bay and Jess was allowed to stay with her and wait. Neither of them dared to say anything, barely stealing glances at each other from time to time.

The doctor appeared after what felt like an eternity. He was calm, poised, and seemingly unfazed. Jess, however, could hardly breathe. He stared at him like he held the key to their entire future.

The doctor smiled softly, giving a reassuring look to Rory. “Ms. Gilmore, we’ve run a thorough check up and I’m glad to inform you that everything looks fine. What you’re experiencing is likely just gas. It’s a common symptom during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester.”

Rory blinked, her brow furrowing. “Gas? But it hurt so much. I thought… I thought something was really wrong.”

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “I understand why you’d be concerned, and you made the right call by coming here. During pregnancy, your body undergoes a lot of changes. Hormones like progesterone slow down your digestion, which can lead to gas buildup. And because your uterus is expanding, it can put pressure on your intestines, making the discomfort feel more intense than usual.”

Jess, who had been holding his breath, let out a shaky laugh. “So… it’s just gas? That’s it?”

“That’s it,” the doctor confirmed with a warm smile. “It can be uncomfortable, but it’s completely normal. I’d recommend eating smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding foods that tend to cause gas. And of course, stay hydrated. If the pain persists or worsens, don’t hesitate to come back, but for now, you and your baby are perfectly healthy.”

Rory let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing for the first time in hours. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice filled with relief.

Jess slumped into the chair beside her, running a hand through his hair. “Gas. Of all the things to freak out over… I think I need a nap after that.”

Rory smirked, wiping away the remnants of her own nervous tears. “Tell me about it. I think I just aged five years in the last thirty minutes.”

They fell silente for a while. The reality of the moment slowly kicking in.

“Well, I guess we can chalk this up to ‘things no one warned us about during pregnancy,’” Jess said, smirking. “By the way, I might have just told Paris that you’re pregnant.”

And just as he said that, they heard Rory’s cellphone buzzing on the bedside table and Paris’s face showing up. They glanced at each other before Rory decided to pick it up.

“Hey,” she started, clearly flustered. “I’ve been calling Jess but he’s not picking up.”

“Hey, he left his phone back in the apartment. I’m so sorry,” Rory winced.

“Are you deliberately trying to give me a heart attack?”

“No, just accidentally. I’m really really sorry,” she glanced at Jess, her face twisted in pain and embarrassment. “Good news is that everything is okay.”

Paris sighed. “Let me guess. Gas?”

Rory groaned. “I feel so dumb right now, but… yes.”

“You eat too much and too fast,” Paris replied, her voice filled with judgment. “But I’m glad you and the baby are okay.”

“It’s so strange that I didn’t experience any of this with Ricky,” she contemplated. “I really thought I would be more prepared for this.”

“Each pregnancy is unique,” Paris responded.

“Oh, thank you for sending Paula. I don’t know what we would’ve done without your help.”

“Of course. And congratulations, by the way.” Paris’s tone softened slightly. “Now that I know, keep me updated. And call me if you need anything else. You two did good today.”

Rory exchanged a glance with Jess, both of them still slightly shell-shocked. “Thanks, Paris.”

She put her phone down and looked at Jess, sitting in front of her, looking like he had just run a marathon. “We’re doing everything wrong,” she allowed herself a soft chuckle. “I’m just glad we’re at least doing it together.”

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. To be honest, I'm feeling a little bit sad that the story is almost over, I'm very attached to it, but I'm also excited to finish editing the next chapter and sharing with you. I'm so proud of this work and how much I have been able to dedicate myself to writing again. So, if you like my work please consider dropping a line to show your appreciation, it really means a lot.

Chapter 12: Who Doesn't Love Flowers?

Rory stood in the bathroom, brushing her teeth, the door slightly ajar. From where she stood, she could see Jess sitting up in bed, a manuscript resting on his lap, pen in hand as he scribbled notes in the margins. She watched him for a moment—the way his brow furrowed in concentration, the occasional flicker of frustration or amusement crossing his face.

Eventually, as if sensing her gaze, he looked up. His eyes softened the moment they met hers, and a slow smile tugged at his lips.

She spit out her toothpaste, rinsed her mouth, then flipped off the bathroom light before stepping into the room. “Did you remind Chris and Matthew that we have the ultrasound tomorrow?”

Jess froze, pen hovering mid-air. His expression barely changed, but Rory caught the flicker of realization in his eyes.

“You forgot, didn’t you?” she teased, arms crossing as she leaned against the doorframe. There was no accusation in her tone, just quiet amusement.

“I guess I did,” he admitted, already tossing the manuscript aside and reaching for his phone. “But I’m going to fix this right now.”

“Jess, you don’t need to fix anything. It’s fine,” Rory assured him, shaking her head. She didn’t want him to feel like this was some kind of test he had failed.

Jess held up a finger, silencing her as he scrolled through his contacts. The call barely rang twice before Chris picked up.

“Hey, I’m sorry for calling so late,” Jess said quickly.

“That’s okay,” Chris replied. “Is something wrong? Is Rory okay?”

“She’s fine,” Jess assured him. “I just— I was supposed to be in the office tomorrow, but Rory has her ultrasound, and I want to be there. Any chance I can take the day off?”

A sigh crackled through the speaker. Then, after a brief pause, Chris said, “Put Rory on the phone.”

Jess frowned. “What? Why?”

“Just do it.”

Rory raised an eyebrow but took the phone from him. “Hey, Chris,” she greeted.

“Hey, Rory,” Chris said, his tone immediately softening. “How are you? Nervous?”

“A little,” she admitted, settling onto the bed. “But mostly excited.”

“I can imagine,” he said. Then, clearing his throat, he added, “So, I just wanted to inform you that your husband is an idiot.”

Rory blinked, caught off guard. “Not my husband,” she corrected, laughing.

Chris scoffed. “I thought you two eloped when you went traveling a few months ago.”

“Nope, just a short vacation,” she replied, shaking her head as she glanced at Jess, who was straining to catch both sides of the conversation.

“Well, then he’s two kinds of idiot,” Chris said flatly. “First, for thinking he even needed to ask for the day off. And second, for not marrying you already.”

Rory couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Jess groaned. “You know, if I wanted a crappy lecture, I would’ve watched a TED Talk.”

Chris ignored him completely. “Anyway, I’m happy for you guys. Enjoy tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Chris,” Rory said, ending the call before tossing Jess’s phone back to him.

Jess let out a disbelieving huff. “I can’t believe he just called me an idiot.”

“I can’t believe you forgot about Bubba’s ultrasound,” she teased, nudging him playfully.

Jess sighed dramatically. “Walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

She grinned, leaning in to kiss him. “That was way too easy.”

x

The ultrasound room was dimly lit, the quiet hum of the machine filling the space. Rory lay back on the examination table, the paper beneath her crinkling as she shifted slightly. Jess sat beside her, his hand wrapped around hers, his grip warm and steady.

She glanced at him. He looked calm—at least on the surface—but she could feel the tension in his fingers, the way his thumb moved in slow, absentminded circles against her skin.

A cool layer of gel was spread across her stomach, and then the probe pressed lightly against her skin. Jess leaned forward instinctively, eyes locked on the screen as flickering shapes and shifting shadows came into view.

And then—there.

A tiny figure, moving ever so slightly, surrounded by a soft halo of light. Their baby.

Rory let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Jess exhaled too, but his was more of a laugh—breathy, incredulous. His grip on her hand tightened just a fraction.

The doctor smiled. “Everything looks great. Strong heartbeat, good development…” She adjusted the probe slightly, and the image shifted. “And… if you’d like to know, we can already determine the sex.”

Before either of them could answer, Jess squinted at the screen and muttered, “At least it looks less like a shrimp now.”

Rory turned her head toward him, raising an eyebrow. “Was that a concern of yours?”

Jess shrugged, but the corner of his mouth twitched. “I mean, a little. Hard to get attached to a crustacean.”

The doctor chuckled. “I promise it was never actually a shrimp.”

Rory smirked. “Tell that to him.”

Jess was still staring at the screen, his expression soft in a way that made Rory’s heart clench. The doctor’s question hung in the air for a beat before Rory asked, “What do you think?”

Jess hesitated. “I don’t know. Do we want to know?”

Rory let out a soft laugh. “I mean, we will eventually.”

The doctor smiled knowingly. “If you’re unsure, I can write it down and put it in an envelope for you. That way, you can open it whenever you’re ready.”

Rory looked at Jess again. His gaze flickered between her and the screen before he nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “Let’s do that.”

A few minutes later, they left the office with a small, sealed envelope in Rory’s hands. It felt strangely heavy for something so light. Jess eyed it as they walked to the car, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

They reached the sidewalk, and Jess exhaled, glancing up at the sky before looking back at her. “Now that it doesn’t look like a shrimp anymore, Bubba is going to need a real name.”

Rory shot him a knowing look. “You want to open the envelope, don’t you?”

Jess feigned innocence. “What? No. I’m just saying, at some point, we’re going to have to—”

“You’re talking about names now because you want to find out whether it’s a boy or a girl.” She smirked. “Where’s your self-control?”

Jess sighed dramatically. “I think I lost it somewhere between the heartbeat and the tiny hand waving at us.”

She laughed, nudging him playfully. “Let’s wait. Make it a moment.”

Jess glanced at her, then at the envelope again. His lips twitched into a smile as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in as they walked.

“Alright,” he murmured. “A moment it is.”

Back home, Jess had gone out to run an errand, leaving Rory curled up on the couch with a book while Ricky played near her, his toy cars zooming across the rug. For a while, the only sounds in the house were the occasional rustle of Rory turning a page and Ricky’s small murmurs as he narrated his imaginary race. Then, his voice cut through the silence.

“Mom?”

“Hmm?” Rory answered absently.

“I learned how to read.”

That caught her attention. She looked up, smiling.

“Oh yeah? That’s great, honey. What did you read?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, holding up a small piece of paper. “This says girl.”

The word barely registered before something in her brain clicked.

She froze.

Her eyes darted to the paper in his hands. The handwriting. The size of it.

The envelope.

Oh, no.

“Ricky…” She swallowed, trying to stay calm. “Where did you get that?”

“From this envelope,” he answered, holding it up. It was still in one piece—just… opened.

Her heart squeezed.

“Oh,” she breathed. Then, seeing the way Ricky’s face scrunched slightly, she quickly shook her head, placing a hand on his arm. “Sweetheart, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

He looked up at her hesitantly. “I didn’t?”

“No,” she reassured him. “It was my fault. I must’ve put it somewhere you could find. You were just curious.”

Ricky relaxed again, then grinned. “So… does this mean I’m getting a little sister?”

 Before Rory could respond, the front door opened. Jess walked in, tossing his keys onto the counter. He took one look at them—Rory sitting stiffly, Ricky holding the paper like a prize—and frowned slightly.

“What’s going on?”

Rory exhaled and turned to Ricky. “Why don’t you tell him what you just did?”

Ricky, still unaware of the significance of his actions, beamed up at Jess and proudly announced, “I learned to read!”

Jess raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?” He glanced at Rory, clearly sensing there was more to the story. “And what exactly did you read?”

Ricky held up the paper again. “This says girl.”

Jess stilled.

The word hung in the air between them.

Rory saw the exact moment it sank in. His eyes flickered from Ricky to her, his expression unreadable at first. Then, slowly, his lips parted slightly, his throat bobbing as he swallowed.

“A girl?” His voice was quiet, almost disbelieving.

Rory nodded, biting her lip. “A girl.”

Jess blinked a few times, then let out a breath of laughter—soft, disoriented. He ran a hand over his face, exhaling like he’d been holding his breath without realizing it.

Rory let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. “So much for waiting for the right moment.”

Jess looked at her, then at Ricky, who was watching them expectantly, waiting for their reaction. His face softened, and he smiled. “This was the perfect moment.”

Rory felt something in her chest tighten, in the best way. Jess crouched down to Ricky’s level.

“Does this mean I’m getting a sister?” Ricky asked again, trying to make sense of what was happening in the room.

“Yep.” Jess nodded, picking him up. “And you chose the best thing to be the first thing you learned to read, didn’t you?” He smiled. “I’m proud of you, we should celebrate.”

“Can we celebrate it watching Trolls?” The boy asked innocently. Jess nodded, fully aware they would probably watch the movie every day for the next two weeks.

Rory smiled, watching them. Jess turned back to her, something warm and deep in his eyes. He walked closer to her, his free hand immediately resting gently in her little baby bump before he kissed her forehead.

X

It was three days later, Jess was in the living room, replying to some work emails that had been left behind and Rory was unloading the dishwasher when Ricky emerged from his bedroom, a crumbled piece of paper with some scribbles on it in his hand, he stopped in the middle of the hallway, right between Jess and Rory and cleared his throat. They glanced at each other before looking at the child. His posture erect and serious.

“I have an announcement to make.” He declared, pulling the hand with the paper closer to his chest. His parents looked at him with amusement, not daring to interrupt his speech. “I’ve been thinking about the baby and I have suggestions for her name.”

They were surprised. They glanced again at each other. Rory smiled and walked toward the couch to sit next to Jess. “Okay, let’s hear it.” She said with enthusiasm and curiosity.

“Triceratops,” he said, looking at the paper where he pretended to write something.

Jess raised his eyebrows, a smirk playing on his lips. “We’re off to a good start.”

Rory chuckled and rolled her eyes.

“Batman,” he said next, with determination.

Rory covered her mouth when she noticed Ricky giving her a withering stare for thinking she wasn’t taking his suggestions seriously.

“Keep rolling, kid.” Jess said encouragingly, doing a much better job of keeping a straight face than the woman sitting next to him.

“Firetruck,” he continued, giving them a meaningful look.

“Now we’re talking.” Jess smiled, feeling Rory nudge at his ribs as she tried to control her laughter. “Anything else?”

Ricky looked hard at the paper, trying to make sense of the circles, lines, and shapes he had made.

“Daisy,” he said, pointing to one of the scribbles.

Rory and Jess furrowed their brows at the same time. She looked at it carefully and realized what seemed to be a bunch of random things were actually drawings of all the names he was saying.

“Daisy?” Jess repeated, slightly surprised.

“Yes, like the flower,” the boy confirmed, showing him the paper, pointing to what vaguely resembled a flower.

“Honey, why Daisy?” Rory asked with genuine curiosity.

“It’s a pretty flower. I like daisies,” he shrugged.

“I like daisies too, buddy.” Jess nodded.

Ricky smiled proudly. “See? Everybody likes daisies. Everybody will like her”

“That’s actually really good,” Jess replied encouragingly. “Any other suggestions?”

He looked hard again at his paper before deciding “just one more, Moana.”

Rory snorted, unable to say anything.

“Okay, buddy. Thank you. You’ve given us a lot of great names to think about,” Jess smirked, standing up and stretching. “I need to get back to working now.” He picked up his phone and went to the bedroom to make a phone call.

“Do you want to help me load the dishwasher?” Rory asked Ricky, who promptly agreed.

At the end of the day, they were back in their room. Rory was trying to write an article, but she noticed she had been staring at the screen for many minutes without typing anything. Jess sat by her side, reading Just Kids and occasionally stopping to make notes.

“I can’t believe I put off reading this until now,” he muttered, mostly to himself. “My priorities were clearly not in the right place.”

Rory looked at him and smiled. Then, she sighed as she closed her laptop and set it aside.

“Hey, can we talk about what happened earlier today?” she started. He glanced at her and then looked back at his book.

“If you’re talking about me stealing your waffle, I already told you it was a mistake. I apologized profusely and even made you another one.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never steal food from a pregnant woman again.”

Rory chuckled, remembering how angry she got when she put down her horrible decaf coffee and realized her waffle was gone. “It’s not about that. It’s about Ricky.”

“Ah, okay.” He nodded. “I know what you’re thinking.”

“You do?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah. Firetruck is definitely a winner,” he said, a playful smirk on his lips.

She rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. “Jess...”

He chuckled lightly. “I really like Daisy,” he said, this time with a serious tone.

Her grin grew wider. “Me too. So it’s not just my baby brain, right? It is cute, isn’t it?”

He smiled back at her and nodded again. “It’s even more special after he explained why he wanted to name her that.”

“Have we just decided on the name of our little Bubba?”

“I think so.”

“Daisy Lorelai Gilmore-Mariano,” she said out loud. “It does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Jess didn’t respond. He looked at her for a few seconds, holding his breath as he mustered up the courage to say something. His fingers tapped nervously against the edge of his book, and she noticed the way his jaw tightened slightly, like he was steeling himself.

“Rory,” he began, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. “Will you marry me?”

She stilled. Her mouth dropped slightly, her brain processing what was happening.

“What?” was all she could reply.

He cleared his throat nervously, his hands fidgeting with the corner of the book before he set it aside. “It’s not something I’ve just decided, okay?” he clarified, rubbing his palms together like he was trying to steady himself. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while. There’s a reason why Chris said he thought we had eloped when we went to Lake George.”

He stood up, his movements a little stiff, and walked over to his dresser. Rory watched him, her heart pounding as he fumbled with the first drawer, his hands uncharacteristically clumsy. Finally, he pulled out a small box and turned back to her. The way he held it—carefully, like it was something fragile—made her breath catch.

“Here,” he said, opening the box. Inside, nestled in the satin fabric, was an engagement ring. She couldn’t help but notice how it looked like something she would have picked herself. It was discreet and simple, and what caught her attention the most was the way the pear-cut diamonds were arranged to look like a flower.

“I bought it the day you agreed to that vacation,” he admitted, his voice wavering slightly. “But then it never seemed to be the right moment. Until now.”

“Jess...” she started, but he interrupted her, his words tumbling out in a rush.

“We don’t have to get married right away, okay? We can wait until after Daisy is born, we can wait until she goes away for college, or until we realize she’s never moving out and starts living in our basement.”

She chuckled, though her eyes were glistening. “Well, we’d need to have a basement for that first.”

“I can look into that first thing in the morning,” he said, his lips twitching into a nervous smile. He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “So, what do you say?”

For a moment, Rory just looked at him—really looked at him. The man who had once been so guarded, so reluctant to let anyone in, was now standing in front of her, vulnerable and open, offering her everything he had. She thought about how far they’d come, from their rocky beginnings to this moment, where they were building a life together, raising a family. He wasn’t just the boy she’d fallen for all those years ago; he was the man who had grown with her, who had learned to love her in a way that was steady and sure.

“Of course I’ll marry you, you idiot,” she replied, her voice thick with emotion. She leaned closer to him, her lips finding his in a kiss that was soft and lingering, full of all the things they didn’t need to say out loud.

When they broke apart, Jess let out a breath of laughter, his shoulders relaxing for the first time since he’d started speaking. “Well, I guess I’m not an idiot anymore, am I?”

She just smiled and kissed him again, this time a little longer.

Chapter 13: That's a Whole Bunch of News

Notes:

As the story comes to an end it's time to tie some loose ends. I'm really happy with this fic and I feel so proud of it. I hope you appreciate it, and if you do and you can, I'd love to read your thoughts on it.

Rory stared at her phone, her thumb hovering over Logan’s name. She wasn’t entirely sure why she felt the need to call him—maybe it was the lingering sense of fairness, or the quiet voice in her head that insisted he deserved to know. After all, their lives were still intertwined, even if only through Ricky. She took a deep breath, her stomach fluttering with nerves, and pressed the call button.

He picked up almost immediately. “Hello?”

“Hey, Logan. How are you?” she asked, her voice steady despite the knot in her chest. It had been a while since they’d last spoken, and the memory of their previous conversation lingered in the back of her mind.

“Oh, hi, Ace. I’m alright. And you? How’s our son?” His tone was casual, but there was a warmth there that made her smile.

“We're great. Is this a good time to talk?”

“Uh, sure... you sound serious. Should I be worried?” His voice shifted slightly, a hint of concern creeping in.

“No, I’m just nervous. But it’s a good thing, I guess.”

“Okay, just give me a second.” She heard the faint sound of movement, followed by the click of a door closing. “Alright, shoot.”

Rory hesitated, her fingers tightening around the phone. “How’s Odette?”

“Really? You called to talk about her?” He sounded amused, but there was a note of curiosity in his voice.

“No... just, how is she? Is the baby born yet?”

“She’s alright. The baby’s coming any day now, actually. That’s why I picked up so quickly—I didn’t even see who it was. I’m ready to head to the hospital at a moment’s notice.”

Rory smiled, a small, genuine one. “That’s great. I hope it all goes well.”

“Thanks. I hope so too. Is that it?” he asked, his tone softening.

“No. I have some news to share.”

“Okay...” He drew the word out, waiting.

Rory took another breath, her heart pounding. “I’m pregnant.”

There was a beat of silence on the other end, long enough that she wondered if he’d heard her. Then, finally, he spoke. “Uh... congratulations.”

“Thanks,” she said quickly, her voice a little too bright. “I just thought it would be fair to tell you, since this kid is going to be Ricky’s little sister. And I already know you and Odette are giving him a sibling, too.”

“A little sister, huh?” His tone was neutral, but she could hear the faintest hint of something—surprise, maybe.

“Yes, her name is Daisy,” Rory said, her voice softening as she said the name.

“Daisy... okay. Sounds cute, I guess.”

“Ricky picked it,” she added, a small laugh escaping her.

“Sounds like him, yeah.” There was a pause, and then he cleared his throat. “I guess I haven’t told you this, but Odette and I are having a boy.”

“Ah, yes, you haven’t. Does he have a name yet?”

“Étienne,” Logan said, the name rolling off his tongue with practiced ease.

“Important,” Rory quipped, unable to resist.

“That’s the idea,” he replied, a hint of a smirk in his voice.

She hesitated for a moment, then decided to rip off the bandage. “Logan, Jess and I are also getting married. I thought it was also important to share.”

There was another pause, shorter this time. “Well, this doesn’t surprise me, you've been together for quite some time now. Are you happy?”

“I am,” she said, her voice firm. She glanced at the ring on her finger, the delicate band catching the light. It felt like a promise, a symbol of the life she and Jess were building together.

“Then I’m happy for you,” he replied, and she could hear the sincerity in his words. It wasn’t the effusive congratulations she might have gotten from someone else, but it was genuine, and that was enough.

“Thanks,” she said softly. “And... try to make sure Étienne and Ricky get to know each other and spend time together, okay? Ricky’s super excited about Daisy. I’m sure he’s going to love knowing he’s also getting a baby brother.”

“I’ll do my best,” Logan promised. There was a pause, and then he added, “Hey, how did Emily take the news?”

“She hasn’t yet. I’m going to tell her this weekend. I’m afraid she won’t be very thrilled.”

“No matter what happens, it’s already done, right? This is your decision, your choice. I think she’ll be judgmental at first, but eventually, she’ll be happy that she’s going to be a grandmother again.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am,” Logan replied, his tone confident. “Let me know when Étienne is born.”

“I will. Let me know when Daisy is born.”

“I will. Bye, Logan.”

“Bye, Ace.”

The line went silent, and Rory set her phone down, exhaling slowly. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been until the call was over. But as she sat there, her hand resting on her stomach, she felt a sense of relief. It was done. Now she just had to take the next step. Telling Lane, Jess’s family and... her grandmother.

X

Telling Lane would be easy. So, she decided to start there. Rory had always been able to count on Lane for unwavering support, no matter what. Whether it was a late-night rant about her love life or a panicked call about a missed deadline, Lane had been her rock through it all. And now, as Rory stood on Lane’s doorstep, she felt a surge of gratitude for the friend who had been by her side for so many years.

She knocked on the door, shifting nervously from foot to foot. A moment later, Lane swung it open, her face lighting up when she saw Rory.

“Hey! I wasn’t expecting you today,” Lane said, stepping aside to let her in. “What’s up? You look... I don’t know, sparkly. Did something happen?”

Rory laughed, following Lane into the living room. “Sparkly? That’s a new one.”

“Well, you do,” Lane said, plopping down on the couch. “You’ve got that... glow. Like you just won the lottery or something.”

Rory sat down across from her, her hands clasped in her lap. “Not the lottery, exactly. But... I do have some news.”

Lane’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “Alright, what is it? No, wait. Let me guess.” She studied her friend carefully, her gaze narrowing as if she were solving a mystery. Then, her eyes dropped to Rory’s hand, and she gasped. “You and Jess are getting married,” she announced excitedly, grabbing Rory’s hand to inspect the ring.

Rory laughed, her cheeks flushing. “You already got one right.”

“Aw, this looks so beautiful,” Lane said, holding Rory’s hand up to the light. “He has wonderful taste. I mean, I already knew it because he chose you and The Clash is his favorite band, but who could have thought it would also translate to jewelry?” She tilted Rory’s hand slightly, admiring the way the diamonds caught the light. “It kind of looks like a daisy. It’s adorable. When did he propose?”

“Funny you should ask,” Rory said, her smile widening. “He proposed when we were deciding on a name, and Ricky suggested Daisy.”

Lane froze, her eyes widening. “On a name? On a name for wha—” She cut herself off, her mouth dropping open. “You’re pregnant?”

“I am.”

“And it’s a girl?”

“It is.”

“And her name is Daisy?”

“That’s right.”

Lane’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh my God, Rory. I’m so happy for you.” She launched herself off the couch and pulled Rory into a tight hug. “This is the best news ever. Like, ever.”

Rory hugged her back, feeling a lump form in her throat. “Thanks, Lane. I knew you’d be excited.”

Lane pulled back, wiping at her eyes. “Excited? I’m over the moon! A baby girl named Daisy? And you’re marrying Jess? This is like... the ultimate happy ending.”

Rory laughed, her own eyes misty. “It feels like a new beginning, honestly.”

Lane sat back down, still clutching Rory’s hand. “Okay, I need details. How far along are you? How’s Ricky handling it? How’s Jess?”

“I’m 13 weeks along,” Rory said, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. “Ricky’s thrilled. He’s been drawing daisies everywhere nonstop. And Jess... well, he’s already practicing his dad jokes. It’s equal parts adorable and cringey.”

Lane grinned. “I can’t wait to see him in full dad-of-two mode. One kid strapped to his chest, the other holding his hand. He’s going to be amazing.”

“I think so too,” Rory said softly, laughing at the image her friend had just drew. She hesitated for a moment, then added, “But enough about me... how are you? What’s been going on in your life?”

Lane’s expression shifted, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. She held up a hand, signaling Rory to wait, and then rushed out of the room. Rory watched her disappear down the hallway, her curiosity piqued.

A moment later, Lane returned, her hands behind her back. “So, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I wanted to tell you in person. I wanted to see your reaction.”

Rory raised an eyebrow. “Okay, what is it?”

Lane moved her hands forward, revealing her phone. She unlocked it and handed it to Rory.

“You got a new phone?” Rory asked, confused.

“No, silly. Look,” Lane said, pointing at the screen.

Rory’s eyes scanned the screen, and then she saw it. Hep Alien’s music was on streaming, with almost a million plays. Her jaw dropped. “Lane! This is incredible!”

“I know, crazy, right?” Lane said, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Zack suggested we upload our music, just to see how it would turn out. But then, I don’t know how, the numbers just kept increasing. We thought it was a glitch at first. But this... this is really happening.”

Rory looked up at her, her eyes wide. “Are you guys thinking of having concerts and writing songs again?”

“We’re already on it,” Lane said, her grin widening. “We’ve got a few gigs lined up, and we’re working on new material. It’s like... the band is alive again.”

Rory’s face lit up with a sudden thought. “Well, in that case, you’d better save a spot in your world tour schedule for my wedding.”

“Rory Gilmore, I swear on my vinyl collection, we will rock your wedding so hard, you'll even get to see Emily headbanging.”

“I can’t believe I have a rich and famous friend,” Rory said, teasing.

Lane laughed. “You can come by our mansion anytime. We’ll have margaritas by our private beach.”

“Well, I appreciate the invitation,” Rory said, grinning. “When is the next gig? I mean, when is the stadium concert?”

Lane rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. “Do you have time? I can tell you all about it and maybe I’ll even let you hear some of the new stuff.”

Rory nodded with a wide smile, watching Lane's excitement bubble over. It was amazing how their lives kept unfolding - Lane reviving Hep Alien, her own growing family, all these pieces clicking into place after so many years.

X

Next, came Emily. They knew they would have to do it eventually. They couldn’t just wait forever and tell her the news when Rory was already in the delivery room, could they? But it still felt like the hard part, and something they were willing to postpone at any lame excuse. But, then, at last, they gathered up the courage to do it. They both stood by the enormous entrance, holding hands, bracing themselves to what was to come.

“Thank you so much for doing this with us, mom, Luke.” Rory said, looking over her shoulder to her mother and Luke, who stood right behind her and Jess.

“Doesn’t this place look different?” Lorelai pondered, looking at it carefully.

Of course, Emily had sold the place she had lived with Richard many years ago, but as soon as Ricky was born she decided to buy a new one, to have somewhere to stay in Hartford and receive visits from both Rory and Lorelai more often.

The new place was not a mansion, it was much smaller. But Emily Gilmore didn’t do small. She had moved to a villa and justified that it would be good to have all this outdoor space for Ricky since he lived so cramped up in that tiny old New York apartment. That way, he would at least have some contact with nature when he was around. The concept of parks in New York City was apparently completely foreign to her.

“I feel like I’m Grace joining the Le Domas family,” Jess quipped.

“Good news is, you don’t have to survive until dawn. Just for the rest of your life,” Lorelai complemented.

“You get used to it. Like a zombie apocalypse,” Luke finished.

“Oh, jeez,” Jess muttered.

Rory placed her free hand over her belly and took a deep breath before knocking on the door.

Berta opened it quickly, greeting them and inviting them in. Emily was waiting for them in the living room.

“Oh, hello, hello.” She greeted, standing up elegantly. But then, as her eyes moved to all four of them her smile got smaller. “Where’s Richard?” She frowned.

“He’s having a sleepover at Paris’s grandma.” Rory explained quickly.

“Oh, what a shame,” Emily said, visibly disappointed. “You should have told me he wasn’t coming, I really wanted to see that little boy. He’s growing up to look more and more like Logan, don’t you think?”

Rory moved uncomfortably. Jess held her hand tighter and Lorelai placed a hand over her daughter’s shoulder for support.

“How is Logan, by the way? I haven’t seen him since Richard’s birthday,” Emily insisted, either oblivious or indifferent to the tension in the room.

Rory glanced at Jess before she answered. “You know what, Grandma. Funny you should ask. He’s doing very well, living in Europe with his wife Odette and their new baby boy.”

Emily’s perfectly arched eyebrows lifted just slightly, but her lips pressed together in a firm line. For a moment, she said nothing, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of her silence.

“Well,” she began, her voice carefully even. “That is… quite the development. Another boy, you say?” She tilted her head, looking straight at Rory.

Rory’s fingers curled slightly into Jess’s hand, but she kept her voice steady. “Yes, his name is Étienne.”

Emily leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. “Étienne,” she repeated, rolling the name around in her mouth as if testing its weight. “That’s… French. Of course it is. Logan always did have a flair for the dramatic.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. “And you’re sure he’s happy? With Odette, I mean.”

Rory nodded, her voice steady. “Yes, Grandma. He’s happy. He’s moved on, and so have I. We’re both in good places.”

Emily studied Rory for a moment, her sharp eyes softening just a fraction. “Well, I suppose that’s all that matters. As long as everyone is… settled.” She glanced at Jess, then back at Rory.

Jess could feel the tension radiating from Rory and decided to step in. “They seem to be. But, you know, we didn’t come here to talk about Logan.”

Emily turned her sharp gaze on him. “Didn’t you?” she asked, as if daring him to challenge her. But before he could respond, she waved a dismissive hand and turned back to Rory. “Well. It’s certainly interesting news. And I suppose you’ve all come here to share something equally... fascinating with me?”

“Yes,” Rory confirmed, her hand tightening around Jess’s. “And we wanted to tell you in person.”

Emily raised her eyebrows. “Well, I guess I better sit down. Come on, take a seat, place your order for Berta, she can make anything you like.”

She turned around and sat, waiting for them to follow suit.

“I’ll have a martini,” Lorelai started. “Make it strong.”

Berta nodded and looked at Luke.

“Oh, I-I guess I’ll have a beer,” he said shifting in his seat.

“Just water for me, Berta. Thanks,” Rory said.

“I guess I’ll accompany Luke on that beer,” Jess said, not daring to look at Emily, but knowing fully well she was silently judging the two men.

“So, what is it?” Emily asked after a beat of silence.

“Well, grandma. I’m pregnant,” Rory finally let out, after a long breath.

“Oh,” Emily replied, arching her eyebrows. “And I suppose he is the father?” She asked, moving her head to Jess.

“Yes, that’d be me,” he confirmed.

“Oh, Rory,” Emily sighed, shaking her head. “Haven’t we been through this before?”

“Grandma, it wasn’t an accident. Jess and I, we really wanted this to happen,” Rory clarified.

This took her by surprise. “You did? I don’t understand.”

“Well, you see. When a man and a woman love each other very much-” Jess started, his trademark smirk slowly appearing in his lips.

Emily held up a hand. “Stop right there.”

“Sometimes they want to express their love-” he continued, unfazed.

“Please make him stop,” Emily turned to Rory, who was biting her lip, trying not to laugh. “Are you okay with this?” Emily asked, this time turning to Lorelai.

“I’m more than okay, mom. I’m happy for them,” she corrected, smiling.

“There’s more,” Jess said.

“Oh please don’t tell me it’s twins,” Emily said in desperation.

Rory chuckled lightly. “No, I promise. It’s only one. It’s a baby girl.”

Emily’s expression softened. Suddenly she felt a pang of excitement for the news, but she chose not to say anything.

“This is new information for mom and Luke, too. We’ve decided on her name,” Rory continued, motivated by Emily’s sudden shift in her mood.

“Actually, Ricky did.” Jess added.

“Yes, right. He was the one who suggested it and we immediately fell in love with it,” she said, glancing at him.

“What is it?” Luke asked, his eyes shifting from one to the other.

“Daisy,” Rory smiled proudly, causing Jess to smile too as they heard her name being said out loud.

Lorelai’s face lit up the moment Rory shared the news. She had always been Rory’s biggest cheerleader, and this was no exception. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she immediately reached out to squeeze Rory’s hand, her voice warm and supportive.

“Daisy is perfect. It’s sweet, it’s classic, and it’s not something that sounds like it belongs on a perfume bottle in Paris.”

Jess snorted, all eyes turning to him and he tried to disguise it with a cough while Lorelai smiled proud of herself.

“Daisy,” Emily repeated, her tone thoughtful. “It’s… quaint. Not what I would have chosen, but I suppose it has a certain charm.” She paused, then added, “At least it’s not something overly trendy. I can work with Daisy.”

Luke sat there for a moment, the name hanging in the air like a heavy breath. His face softened, and he swallowed hard, his usual tough exterior cracking just a little. He cleared his throat, his voice a bit shaky.

"Daisy," he murmured, as if trying the name on for size. His eyes moved to Rory’s belly, then to Jess, and finally, to Lorelai, his gaze lingering on the people he’d been through so much with. "It... it feels real now, you know? I mean, this whole thing—having a new kid around—it’s... it’s actually happening."

He blinked quickly, trying to regain his composure, but there was no hiding the emotion in his voice. "I’m just... really happy for you both. Really happy."

Jess cleared his throat, taken by surprise by his uncle’s reaction. “There’s just one more thing.”

“Well, don’t keep us hanging, what is it?” Emily asked, slightly impatient.

Rory rubbed her fingers, caressing her ring. She took a breath, glancing briefly at Jess before looking back at them. “We’re engaged.”

Silence.

Lorelai, Luke, and Emily stared at her, their eyes flickering to her hand as if needing confirmation. The engagement ring caught the light, gleaming against her skin. A heartbeat passed. Then another.

And then—

Lorelai’s jaw dropped. Luke’s brow furrowed. Emily’s fingers tightened just slightly in her lap.

“Now, we’re not going to get married right away. We’re going to wait until Daisy is born and old enough to be able to witness it, but it’s definitely happening.”

“Engaged?!” Lorelai practically shouted, jumping up from her seat. “You’re engaged?! Why didn’t you lead with that? That’s huge! Like, huge huge! Like, ‘I-need-another-martini’ huge!” She turned to Berta, who was already halfway to the kitchen. “Berta, make it a double!”

Luke, still processing, looked at Jess with a mix of surprise and something that might have been pride. “Engaged, huh?” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order. Just… don’t expect me to wear a tux to the wedding. I draw the line at suits.”

Jess smirked. “Don’t worry, Luke. We’ll make sure you’re comfortable. Maybe we’ll even let you wear your hat.”

Luke shot him a look, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Smartass.”

Emily, meanwhile, was sitting very still, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her expression was unreadable, but her eyes were sharp, flickering between Rory and Jess. Finally, she spoke, her tone measured but with an undercurrent of something that might have been approval. “Well, this is certainly… unexpected. But I suppose it’s the logical next step, given the circumstances.”

Rory raised an eyebrow. “Logical next step? Grandma, this isn’t just about the baby. Jess and I have been through a lot together. We both want this, all of this. We’re ready.”

Emily leaned back in her chair, her gaze softening just a fraction. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing, Rory. I’m simply… processing. Engagement, a baby—it’s a lot to take in. But if this is what you want, then I can’t argue with that.”

Lorelai, who had been bouncing on the balls of her feet, couldn’t contain herself any longer. “Okay, okay, enough with the serious talk. We need to celebrate! Berta, where’s that martini?”

“Coming right up, Ms. Gilmore,” she said quickly.

“And the champagne, Berta,” Emily added.

The four guests looked at her surprised. “Well, since it all seems to already have been decided we might as well celebrate.”

As Berta hurried off, Lorelai turned to Rory, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Okay, missy, let’s see it. The ring. Don’t think you’re getting out of this without showing it off.”

Rory laughed, holding out her hand. “Alright, alright. Here it is.”

Lorelai grabbed Rory’s hand, pulling it closer to inspect the ring. “Oh, wow. Jess, you did good. Like, really good.”

Jess smirked. “Glad it meets your approval.”

Emily leaned forward, her curiosity piqued despite herself. “Let me see,” she said, extending her hand imperiously.

Rory obliged, holding out her hand for Emily to inspect. Emily put on her glasses, studying the ring with the precision of a jeweler. “Hmm. It’s… tasteful. Simple, but elegant. Not what I would have expected from you, Jess.”

Jess raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Emily shot him a look, but then, her glance moved to Rory. “Your grandfather would have been so proud,” her voice filled with emotion.

Rory felt her chest tighten. Suddenly, she was washed over by the memory of her grandfather—how he'd never met Jess, never held Ricky, never got to know about Daisy. His absence hung in the air like a held breath, but before the weight could settle, Berta returned with the champagne.

Emily raised her glass, her expression softening in a way that reminded Rory so much of Richard. "To Rory and Jess," she began, then paused, her gaze drifting to the family photos on the mantel where Ricky's grinning school portrait took center stage. She cleared her throat. "To your beautiful family—Ricky, Daisy, and all the love you've built together. May they grow up surrounded by that same love..." A beat. "And perhaps with more sense than their parents combined."

Lorelai's grin widened as she clinked her glass. "Now that's a toast worth drinking to."

Luke muttered under his breath, "Kid's gonna need it," earning an elbow from Lorelai and the ghost of a smile from Emily.

The moment felt fuller now—not just a celebration of the future, but an acknowledgment of the family that was already there, and the one they'd lost.

X

The next day, it was Rory’s turn to be swallowed by Jess’s family. He had also postponed this moment as long as he could. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Doula to know about it. It wasn’t that he thought his mother wouldn’t be happy for them. It wasn’t that TJ was... well... TJ. It just felt weird. Their relationship had improved a lot over the years, and Liz was undeniably crazy about Rory, but it always felt like anytime they got in touch, it was for Jess to come to her rescue—and it usually started with Luke’s meddling. But now it was time for him to own up to everything he had accomplished until now, no matter how she would react to it.

Also, he dreaded the idea that Liz and TJ would probably ignore the existence of Ricky and say things like, “I can’t believe I’m finally going to be a grandma,” and “My baby is having a baby.”

“You’ve got this,” Rory whispered in his ear, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “We’ve got this.”

He smirked and nodded at her before letting out a long breath and knocking on the door. They waited for a few minutes before Doula opened it.

“Hey, big bro. Sorry to keep you waiting. Dad hadn’t cleaned the house like he promised Mom he would,” she said with a wide grin.

“I did, too,” TJ replied, joining her by the door. “I was just finishing it. Mostly, anyway. There’s still a little glitter in the corner from Doula’s art project, but I think it adds a festive touch.”

“Step away, I want to see my son,” Liz exclaimed, quickly weaving between them.

“Aw, Jess. Look at you, so handsome,” she said, cupping his face with her hands and making him frown, which she completely ignored. “And you, Rory. You look even more beautiful than I remembered. Is he treating you well?”

“Hi, Liz. Yes, he is,” Rory replied with a shy smile.

Liz spread her arms to give her a hug, then suddenly took a step back, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh wow. You’re pregnant, aren’t you? I can feel it! The energy, the glow—it’s undeniable!”

Doula and TJ exchanged confused looks, then they both stared at Jess and Rory, waiting for them to confirm.

Rory could feel her face burning, feeling cornered by the crowd. She hesitated for a brief moment before finally nodding. “Yes, yes I am,” she said, smiling shyly.

“Aw, I just knew it! Oh, Jess, I’m so proud of you! I can’t believe I’m finally going to get to be a grandma!” Liz cheered, pulling him into a hug, which he reluctantly accepted.

Jess stiffened in her embrace, his jaw tightening as the words settled in. Rory instinctively reached for his hand, giving it a small squeeze, but he didn’t react right away. He just forced a breath through his nose, his lips pressing into a thin line. It was exactly what he had dreaded.

Doula and Rory immediately picked up on the shift in the air.

“You dog,” TJ said with a grin, giving Jess a slap on the shoulder. “Looks like you’ve been doing more than reading lately, huh?”

“Hardly appropriate, TJ,” Jess muttered, forcing himself to loosen up as he stepped back from his mother’s grip.

“I can’t believe I’m going to be an aunt again,” Doula smiled, clapping lightly. “How far along are you? Do you already know if it’s a boy or a girl? How is Ricky feeling about being a big brother?”

Rory mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to her for acknowledging Ricky. She responded with a quick nod and a proud grin.

“13 weeks. It’s a girl and Ricky is over the moon, he even helped us pick out the name for her,” Rory said, looking down at her belly and placing a hand on her small bump.

Liz’s face lit up again, but then, just as quickly, something in her expression shifted. Her smile faltered for half a second, as if she suddenly remembered something important. She swallowed hard before adding, softer this time, “Ricky must be so excited. He’s going to be the best big brother.”

Jess and Rory exchanged a glance, both recognizing the effort she was making. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something.

“Hey, what are we doing standing by the door like a bunch of morons? Come on, let’s get inside.” TJ said excitedly, gesturing for them to enter.

They followed him, gathering together at the dinner table while TJ went to the fridge, looking for something to serve them.

“So, what’s her name?” Doula asked, breaking the silence that had settled among them. “You said Ricky picked it.”

“Ah, it’s Daisy,” Jess said, unable to hold back his smile.

“Aw, that’s perfect!” Liz said, her voice thick with emotion. “Like a little flower blooming in the world. It’s beautiful.”

Doula agreed. “Everybody likes daisies.”

“That seems to be the consensus,” Rory smiled, amused that she had said the same thing their son did when he suggested the name.

“Daisy Mariano,” TJ said out loud, placing a bowl of guacamole and nachos for them to dip. “Sounds like a movie star. Or a very important corporate lady.”

Rory and Jess exchanged a look. Rory’s hand instinctively went to touch her engagement ring, playing with it a little in anticipation. Liz smiled, her eyes still shining. “This is such a big year for you guys.”

“Actually, we have some more news,” Rory started, getting their attention back to her. “We’re getting married.” She placed her hand on the table, showing them the ring. The three of them leaned in, eyes widening as they took in the ring.

“Way to go, bro.” Doula shot, looking at him playfully. “Took you long enough. You’ve been obsessed with this girl literally since before I was born.”

Jess swallowed hard, not sure how to respond. She wasn’t wrong, but hearing it said out loud like that made his stomach twist. He looked away, shifting in his seat.

Liz looked at her son, her eyes watery and her heart filled with pride and love. “Look at you.” Liz reached out, one hand on his shoulder, the other covering her mouth as emotion flickered across her face. “Marrying the love of your life, two kids, a successful career. I’m so proud of you, my sweet baby boy.”

He didn’t respond. He didn’t know how to.

“Not too shabby,” TJ nodded. “So, when’s the wedding? Have you guys picked out a date yet?”

“No, not yet. It’s probably not going to be for a while. We kind of want Daisy to be old enough to participate, you know,” Rory replied. “But we’ll let you know as soon as it’s settled.”

“Oh, and how’s that little bookstore of yours, kid?” TJ asked, changing the subject.

“It’s a publishing house, but I get the sentiment. It’s doing okay, it’s paying the bills,” Jess replied. Suddenly standing up. “I need some air, I’ll be right back.” He excused himself and left.

Doula and Rory exchanged a knowing glance, but decided not to go after him immediately. Liz was the one to stand up and go after him while TJ went back to the kitchen to get more food. As they waited for Jess to return, Rory decided to break the silence.

“So, uh, Doula. How’s school? Jess told me you were having a difficult time with some kids a few months ago and we barely had time to talk the last couple times I saw you.”

Now it was Doula’s turn to seem uncomfortable. She ran a hand through her head, thinking of how to word it. “It’s better, I think.” She shrugged. “People seem to have huge trouble minding their own business, part of the small town charm I guess.” She smirked, a smirk that looked just like her brother’s and looked up at Rory. “It’s not all bad, though. You know Steve and Kwan, your friend’s sons, they’re in my class.”

Rory looked at her with curiosity and concern. “Are they giving you a hard time?”

Doula shook her head quickly. “What? No, not at all. They’re really nice. Well, you know how Steve is like very quiet and reserved, right? Well, you should have seen how he stood up for me when those ridiculous girls reported me to the principal saying that I was staring at them during gym class.” She smiled as she seemed to be reminiscing about that moment. “And Kwan,” She added, her smile even brighter. “Well, he read all the Heartstopper books just to talk to me about them.”

Rory smiled relieved. Silence settled between them.

“I’m really glad you’re officially becoming part of our family,” Doula said after a while. “My brother is an amazing guy and you two seem to work out well.”

Rory felt her chest tighten, but in a good way. She placed her hand in her stomach, her mind wandering into the future.

“Oh, and I think you having another kid is pretty cool. I love being an aunt, I’m going to spoil her just as much.”

“Thank you, Doula. I think you’re pretty cool, too,” she smiled.

Rory looked at the door where Jess had disappeared into, only to see him come back a few seconds later. He looked better, a little less overwhelmed.

“Hey, ready to go?” He asked. Rory agreed, no questions asked.

They said goodbye to the family and entered the car. Jess was driving in silence for a while, Rory picking up the song for them to listen on the way.

“Want to tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?” She asked, looking at him as he seemed to be miles away from here.

He glanced at her with a subtle smirk. “I’m okay. I am, I promise. It’s just... too much sometimes.” He sighed. “And... uh... sometimes I’m afraid of screwing this up. I don’t want to make the same mistakes as my parents, you know. I don’t want our children to have the childhood I had.” He looked at Rory, who continued to stare at him, not saying anything, only absorbing his words.

She placed her left hand on the back of his head, her fingers gently brushing against his hair, while the other rested on her belly. His shoulders fell, releasing the tension he didn’t even realize he had been holding and they remained silent with the exception of Neutral Milk Hotel playing softly in the background.

Chapter 14: And Then There Were Four

Notes:

Next chapter will be the last one of this story. I'm not sure whether I'll continue this series yet. I have a few ideas, but nothing concrete. Also, I'm focusing on other projects right now. I hope you enjoy what I have for now. The next chapter will be posted in the next few days, so stay tuned and see you soon!

Ever since they had returned from that weekend in Stars Hollow, Rory kept replaying a lot of things in her head. Her relationship with her mother, the conversations with Emily, the way Liz had tearfully embraced Jess, the quiet vulnerability in his voice as they drove home—it all lingered, like the faint hum of a song. And then there was Ricky, who had taken to his role as a big brother with such earnestness that it made her heart ache in the best way. He had started drawing pictures of “Baby Daisy,” his crayon scribbles filled with flowers and stick figures holding hands. He had also started drawing his baby brother Étienne ever since Logan introduced him on a video call. Each time she looked at those drawings, she felt a surge of pride. 

But it wasn’t just the family dynamics that occupied her thoughts. It was the idea of legacy—what it meant to carry forward the best parts of the people who came before you, while learning from their mistakes.

One evening, while Jess was putting Ricky to bed, she found herself sitting at her desk, a blank document open on her laptop. She could hear Jess reading aloud to Ricky from Where the Wild Things Are, his voice low and steady. She could hear the faint murmur of their voices through the door, and it filled her with a sense of calm. She stared at the blinking cursor for a moment, then began to type.

“Legacy is a funny thing. We spend so much of our lives trying to outrun the shadows of our parents, only to realize that those shadows are part of us. They shape us, for better or worse. But what happens when we become the parents? What happens when we’re the ones casting the shadows?”

She paused, her fingers hovering over the keys. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And for the first time in a long time, she felt that familiar spark—the one that had driven her to write all those years ago.

Rory exhaled slowly, watching the words settle on the screen. The cursor blinked at her, as if urging her forward, but before she could type another sentence, she heard soft footsteps padding down the hall.

Jess appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed. His hair was slightly tousled, evidence of Ricky’s habit of running his fingers through it while Jess read to him.

“Kid’s out,” he murmured. “Didn’t even make it past the wild rumpus.”

Rory smiled, closing her laptop halfway. “He’s been so excited lately. I think all the big brother talk is wearing him out.”

Jess’s gaze drifted to the laptop. “What are you working on?”

She hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t ready to share this with him just yet. She wasn’t sure how he would respond to knowing she was thinking about writing his past, his childhood, his insecurities. How he would feel when he saw her perspective on his growth. How he was trying to break generational trauma and how it had shaped him into the man and father he had become.

“I’m thinking of writing another book,” she said vaguely. “I’ll show you when I’m ready. Right now it’s just a very rough draft.”

He looked at her, clearly curious, but respecting her decision. “Another book, huh? What’s this one about?”

She hesitated again, then decided to give him a little more. “It’s about... family. About how we carry the past with us, even when we don’t want to. And how we try to do better for the people we love.”

Jess nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Sounds heavy.”

“It is,” she admitted. “But it’s also... hopeful, I think. Or at least, I want it to be.”

He stepped into the room, crossing the distance between them in a few strides. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “You’ll do it justice. You always do.”

Rory smiled up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Thanks, Jess.”

He straightened, his hand lingering on her shoulder for a moment. “Just don’t stay up too late, okay? We’ve got a wild rumpus of our own to deal with tomorrow.”

She laughed softly. “I won’t. I promise.”

As Jess left the room, Rory turned back to her laptop. She looked at it again, her fingers hovering over the keys. The cursor blinked at her, waiting. She took a deep breath and began to type again.

“Jess once told me that the past doesn’t define us, but it shapes us. I think about that a lot, especially now, as I watch him with our son Richard. He’s not just breaking the cycle—he’s building something new, something stronger. And I want to believe that’s what we’re all doing, in our own ways. Trying to build something better, even when the shadows feel too close.”

She paused, her eyes scanning the words. 

As the days turned into weeks, her story started to come to shape. As she approached the last trimester of her pregnancy, it sometimes felt like an impossible task to balance it all on top of the book she was writing, but eventually she was satisfied with the first three chapters she had put together, so now she finally felt confident to show it to Jess.

She walked up to him, he was sitting at his desk, writing an email to one of the writers with some notes he had made. She stopped by door, watching him work as she patiently waited for him to notice her.

It took him longer than she anticipated, so she cleared her throat. He looked over his shoulder.

“Hey,” he said distracted. “What's up?”

“Not much,” she replied. But then she didn’t say anything.

He turned around completely to look at her, now completely focused on her. “What is it? Are you feeling something?” His voice was worried, and she laughed. It was kind of cute how he was constantly worried about her and the baby lately.

“I’m feeling great.” She said, placing her hand on her stomach. “Daisy is throwing a party in here.”

He furrowed his brow, waiting for her to continue.

“I want to show you what I have written so far,” she explained. “I mean, it’s just the first few chapters, but I would like it for you to take a look.”

His expression softened and he smirked. “I thought you’d never ask.”

She smiled back at him. “I also need help with a name.”

He nodded. “Just email it to me and I’ll have a look.”

“Now, remember. Just because you love me I don’t want you to be all nice about it, okay? Give me that brutal honesty of yours that I always see you have with your other, not-engaged-to writers.”

“I promise I’ll be a bully,” he quipped.

She laughed, approaching him and giving him a kiss. “That’s exactly what I meant, yes.”

Later that evening, Jess sat on the couch, Rory’s manuscript open on his laptop. She watched him from across the room, her heart pounding in her chest. He was quiet, his brow furrowed as he read, his fingers occasionally tapping against the edge of the keyboard. She tried to focus on the book in her hands, but her eyes kept drifting back to him, searching for any hint of what he was thinking.

Finally, he closed the laptop and set it aside. Rory held her breath, waiting.

“Well?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jess looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, he smiled. “It’s good, Rory. Really good.”

She exhaled, the tension leaving her body. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he said, his tone sincere. “It’s honest. Raw. And it’s got that Gilmore wit I’ve always loved.”

She felt a surge of pride, but before she could respond, he added, “But it’s not perfect. It’s not supposed to be, anyway.”

She raised an eyebrow, bracing herself. “Okay. Hit me.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The structure’s a little messy in places. There are a few sections where it feels like you’re holding back, like you’re afraid to dig too deep. And the ending of the third chapter—it’s good, but it could be stronger.”

Rory nodded, taking it all in. “Okay. That’s fair. Anything else?”

He hesitated for a moment, then said, “You write about me a lot.”

She felt her cheeks flush. “I do?”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice soft. “About my past, my childhood, how I’ve changed. It’s... intense. But it’s also... kind of beautiful. I see you use a lot of what I wrote in my journal.”

She looked down at her hands, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “I didn’t know if you’d be okay with it.”

He reached out, taking her hand in his. “I am. It’s part of my story, and it’s part of yours. If you’re ready to share it, then I’m ready to let you.”

She looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Thanks, Jess. That means a lot.”

He squeezed her hand, his expression softening. “Just promise me one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t hold back. If you’re going to tell this story, tell it all. The good, the bad, the messy. That’s what makes it real.”

She nodded, feeling a surge of determination. “I will.”

A beat passed between them, quiet and full. Then Rory asked softly, “What about the name? Do you have any title ideas?”

Jess leaned back, shaking his head. “Not really. But don’t stress about that for now.”

She tilted her head. “It’s just… it feels weird not to have a name for it yet.”

He gave her a knowing look, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. “Remember when you were pregnant with Ricky and we were discussing the new chapter of your book? You were talking about how important your grandfather was to you, how much you missed him and then you just realized you wanted to honor his memory?”

She smiled at the memory. “Yeah.”

“And remember how, just a few months ago, we were just minding our own business when Ricky came to us and gave us a list of absurd baby names, but then he said Daisy and now no other name makes sense for her anymore?”

She nodded, her chest warming at the memory.

“Same thing’ll happen with the book. When it’s ready, when it makes sense, the title will just show up.”

She let out a slow breath, nodding. “Okay. I trust you.”

“You better,” he teased. “I’m your brutally honest editor now.”

She nudged him with her shoulder. “And fiancé.”

“Multi-talented,” he said, grinning.

X

Rory sat at her desk, her laptop open in front of her. The cursor blinked impatiently, as if mocking her inability to find the right words. She was now 38 weeks along, and the impending arrival of Daisy loomed over her like a ticking clock. She wanted to finish the story before her life became consumed by diapers, feedings, and sleepless nights, but it didn’t seem like a feasible possibility. Every time she tried to focus, her mind wandered—to the nursery that still needed organizing, to the hospital bag she hadn’t packed, to the endless list of things she still needed to do.

She sighed, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her temples. Her back ached, her feet were swollen, and Daisy seemed to be particularly agitated in the last few days. She glanced at the clock on her laptop: 9:47 PM. Jess was in the bedroom with Ricky, putting him to sleep. She could hear the faint murmur of their voices, Jess’s low and steady, Ricky’s punctuated by the occasional giggle. It was a comforting sound, one that usually helped her focus, but tonight it only made her feel more restless.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. You can do this, she told herself. Just one more chapter. One more scene. But the words wouldn’t come. Frustrated, she pushed herself away from the desk and stood up, wincing as her back protested. She needed a break.

She wandered into Ricky's bedroom, where Jess was just closing the book. The boy was already asleep, his head resting against Jess’s shoulder.

“Hey,” Jess said, looking up at her. “How’s it going?”

“Not great,” she admitted, sinking onto the couch beside him. “I can’t seem to focus. Every time I try to write, my brain just... shuts down.”

Jess nodded, his expression sympathetic. “Maybe you’re trying too hard. You’ve been pushing yourself nonstop for weeks. I think it’s time to take a break.”

“I can’t,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “Daisy’s going to be here any day now, and I’m so close to finishing. I just... I need to get this done.”

Jess studied her for a moment, then gently shifted Ricky onto the bed, his head resting on the pillow. The boy stirred slightly but didn’t wake up. Jess stood up, holding out his hand to Rory. “Come on. Let’s sit on the fire escape for a bit. Fresh air might help.”

Rory hesitated, glancing at Ricky. “What about him?”

“He’s out cold,” Jess said, brushing a hand over Ricky’s hair. “We’ll leave the door open. He’ll be fine for five minutes.”

Rory nodded, letting Jess help her to her feet. They stepped out onto the fire escape, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stuffiness of the apartment. The city lights stretched out before them, a sea of twinkling stars against the dark sky.

For a while, they didn’t talk, just sat there in comfortable silence, their shoulders touching. Finally, Jess broke the silence. “So, what’s really going on?”

Rory sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t know. I just... I feel like I’m running out of time. Like if I don’t finish this book now, I never will.”

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I think you can finish it before she’s here, but you know, it wouldn’t be the first time life got in the way of our plans, and we’ve always managed to make the best with what we have.”

She sighed again, closing her eyes and taking in the fresh air. “I know. You’re right. And who knows, she might just be the inspiration I need,” she concluded on a more positive note.

Two days later, Rory woke up in the middle of the night, a sharp pain radiating through her abdomen. She sat up, clutching her stomach, and glanced at the clock: 3:14 AM. Jess stirred beside her, his voice groggy with sleep.

“Rory? You okay?”

“I think...” She paused, taking a deep breath as another wave of pain hit. “I think it’s time.”

Jess was out of bed in an instant, his sleepiness replaced by a focused determination. “Okay. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

Jess moved quickly but calmly, grabbing the hospital bag they had packed just the day before and helping Rory to her feet. She winced as another contraction hit, her hands gripping his arm tightly. “Okay, okay, I’m fine,” she said through gritted teeth, though her face betrayed the pain. “Just... let me breathe for a second.”

Jess nodded, his hand resting on her back. “You’ve got this. Just focus on me, okay? Breathe.”

Rory nodded, her eyes locked on his as she took slow, deep breaths. When the contraction passed, she exhaled shakily. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Jess helped her to the door, but Rory stopped suddenly, her eyes widening. “Ricky. We can’t just leave him.”

“I’ll go wake him up and I’ll call Luke and Lorelai, they can stay with him in the hospital.”

Rory nodded. And like a flight attendant, they were able to evacuate the apartment in record time.

By the time they reached the hospital, Rory’s contractions were coming faster and stronger. The nurses whisked her into a room, Jess and Ricky trailing close behind. They stayed there, waiting for the time to take her to the delivery room and for Luke and Lorelai’s arrival. About an hour later they heard a familiar voice.

“We’re here,” they heard Lorelai screaming in the hallway. “Marco?”

“Polo,” Rory shouted, laughing through the pain for her mother to find the room.

“Marco,” she called again, this time closer, and suddenly her head was seen peaking at the door. “Oh, hi Marco, you look awfully pregnant.” She quipped.

“Thanks, Polo.” Rory smiled. “Where’s Luke?”

“He’s freaking out by the entrance,” Lorelai laughed, then she turned to Ricky. “How are you little man? Ready to finally meet your sister?”

“I’m scared,” he said, his voice quiet. “She’s hurting mom.”

“I know it seems scary right now, but it’s okay. It will all be over soon,” Lorelai said sympathetically, picking him up. “You know, you weren’t a breeze when you came to the world either.”

“I’m sorry, mom,” Ricky said, looking at Rory with sad eyes. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“I know you didn’t, buddy. Don’t worry. We’ll be okay. It’s worth it, look how nice you turned up.” She smiled, but soon felt another contraction get the best of her.

“Lorelai, why don’t you and Ricky wait outside? I think it’s better if we spare him of the details,” Jess intervened, worried about how much the little boy seemed traumatized by all this.

Lorelai nodded. “We’ll see you in a few.” She smiled, taking her grandson outside.

A few hours later, Daisy Lorelai Gilmore-Mariano was welcomed to the world. Her tiny cries filled the delivery room, a sound that was both overwhelming and beautiful. Rory held her close, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the perfect little person she and Jess had created. Jess stood beside her, his hand resting on Rory’s shoulder, his own eyes glistening with emotion.

“She’s beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with awe.

Rory nodded, unable to speak.

Once Rory and Daisy were settled in the recovery room, Jess stepped out to meet Luke, Lorelai and Ricky. He found them in the waiting area, Ricky curled up on Lorelai’s lap, half-asleep but still clutching the bag of blue chips he’d gotten earlier. Luke was standing, staring at the floor, looking completely unsettled. Lorelai looked up as Jess approached, her eyes wide with anticipation.

“Well?” she asked. Luke looked up too.

Jess smiled, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “She’s here. Daisy’s here. They're fine”

Luke and Lorelai’s face lit up, and she gently shook Ricky awake. “Hey, buddy. Your sister’s here. Do you want to meet her?”

Ricky rubbed his eyes, his earlier fear replaced by curiosity. “Is Mom okay?”

“She’s perfect,” Jess said, crouching down to Ricky’s level. “And so is your sister. Ready to see them?”

Ricky nodded, his excitement growing as Jess took his hand. Lorelai followed close behind, her own excitement barely contained. Luke stood back a little, finally allowing himself to breathe before following them.

When they entered the room, Rory looked up, her face glowing despite her exhaustion. “Hey, guys. Come meet Daisy.”

Ricky hesitated for a moment, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of his baby sister. She was so tiny, wrapped in a soft pink blanket, her little face scrunched up as she slept. Rory held out her hand to him, her voice gentle. “Come here, buddy. You can sit next to me.”

Jess helped Ricky climb onto the bed, his small hands gripping the edge as he leaned closer to the baby. “Hi, Daisy,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “I’m your big brother. I’m going to teach you everything.”

Rory’s heart swelled, and she looked up at Jess, her eyes filled with tears. He smiled back at her, his hand resting on Ricky’s back. Lorelai stood at the foot of the bed, her own eyes glistening as she watched the scene unfold.

“She’s so little,” Ricky said, his voice soft. “Can I hold her?”

“Not yet, buddy,” Jess said gently. “But you can sit right here and talk to her. She’s going to love hearing your voice.”

Ricky nodded, his face lighting up as Daisy’s tiny hand wrapped around his finger. “Hi, Daisy,” he whispered again, his voice filled with awe. “I’m going to be the best big brother ever.”

Rory looked up at Jess, her heart overflowing with love. “I think he’s already off to a great start.”

Jess smiled, his hand squeezing hers. “Yeah. He is.”

Then, Rory looked up to see Luke, standing by the door, away from the bed. “Hey, Luke. Come here meet your granddaughter or your grandniece I guess.” She laughed. “Well, that’s a weird family dynamic we have, isn’t it?”

Luke swallowed hard, approaching the bed carefully, his eyes softening as he took sight of the little baby in her arms. “She’s beautiful,” he said simply, his voice almost breaking, but he was able to keep it together. “You did good, kid. Both of you,” he said, looking at Jess and Rory.

“Welcome to the world, Daisy.” Ricky said excitedly, causing all the adults to laugh.

“Look at her,” Lorelai said after a while. “She’s like a little piece of both of you. All bundle up into a completely new person.”

Rory looked up. “I think I’ve just come up with the perfect name for my book.” She declared, looking at Jess. He looked at her with curiosity, but she didn’t reveal it just yet.

Chapter 15: Epilogue - September 2023

Rory was able to finish her book around ten months later. And now, two months after Pieces of Us was published and rising in popularity, she was in her room, getting ready to get married to Jess.

She looked at herself in the mirror, breathing slowly as she took in her appearance. It felt surreal to be doing this after all this time, after all these years and after all they had been through, but it also felt meant to be. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard a light knock on the door.

"Come in," Rory called, turning toward the door as it slowly opened.

Lorelai stepped inside, her eyes instantly finding Rory. She froze for a second, her lips parting in quiet awe. "Wow," she finally breathed out, placing a hand over her heart. "You look… absolutely stunning, kid."

Rory smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. "Thanks, Mom."

Lorelai stepped closer, her own reflection appearing beside Rory’s in the mirror. "How are we feeling? Butterflies? Cold feet? Sudden urge to flee and start a new life as a mysterious novelist in Paris?"

Rory let out a soft laugh. "No cold feet. Just… a lot of emotions. It feels like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be."

Lorelai nodded, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Good. Because if there’s anyone who’s ever gotten you—really gotten you—it’s Jess."

Rory turned, searching her mother's face. "You really think so?"

Lorelai sighed dramatically. "I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. He drives me crazy, and I will never forget him breaking your arm, that little punk, but…" She paused, her expression softening. "He’s grown up. He’s good for you, for Ricky, for Daisy. And, most importantly, you’re happy."

"I am," Rory admitted, and the words felt solid, like truth.

Lorelai smirked. "And I’ll admit, the whole ‘mysterious literary power couple’ thing is kinda cool."

Rory rolled her eyes but grinned. "I knew you had a thing for that aesthetic."

"Please, I was made for that aesthetic," Lorelai said, flipping her hair dramatically.

There was a knock at the door, and Ricky’s voice called out, “Mom? Grandma? Can I come in?”

“Of course, buddy,” Rory said, smiling as the door opened and Ricky stepped inside. He was dressed in a tiny suit, his hair neatly combed—though a few strands were already sticking up in the back, thanks to his habit of running his hands through it when he was nervous. In his hands, he held a small bouquet of wildflowers, which he thrust toward Rory with a serious expression.

“These are for you,” he said. “Daisy helped pick them.”

Rory took the flowers, her heart melting at the thought of her kids walking around the garden, plucking flowers for her. “Thank you, Ricky. They’re beautiful.”

“You look like a princess, Mom.” He said, watching her closely.

“Thank you, kid. You look like a fine gentleman.”

He smiled proudly, his hand running through his hair, trying to look even more polished, but accidentally screwing up his hair just a little.

Lorelai laughed. “Why don’t we go fix this up, buddy?” She asked, gently guiding her grandson to the door and leaving Rory alone with her thoughts.

In the other room, Jess was getting ready. Daisy sitting obediently in the bed while Luke helped him with his tie.

Jess let out a frustrated sigh as he fumbled with the knot for the third time. "I don’t know why I even bother. I should just go without it."

Luke swatted his hands away. "Hold still. You’re not getting married looking like a guy who just rolled out of bed."

Jess huffed but didn’t argue. He stood still, watching Daisy in the mirror as she swung her legs back and forth on the bed, humming a song to herself. She was wearing a pale blue dress with tiny flowers stitched along the hem, her dark curls bouncing as she moved.

"You look pretty, kid," Jess told her, grateful for the distraction.

Daisy grinned. "I know. I look like a fairy."

Jess smirked. "Agreed."

Luke tightened the tie with a final tug and took a step back. "There. You don’t look like a disaster anymore."

"High praise," Jess muttered, adjusting his collar.

Luke crossed his arms, his expression shifting to something more serious. "How are you feeling?"

Jess met his uncle’s gaze in the mirror. "Surreal," he admitted after a moment. "But good. Really good."

Luke nodded approvingly. "You should. You and Rory… you two make sense."

Jess turned to look at him directly, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. "You always believed that?"

Luke let out a breath, running a hand over the back of his neck. "I always believed you had to grow up first. And you did. And so did she. And now? Yeah. I believe it."

Jess swallowed hard, not used to this level of open sentiment from Luke. But he appreciated it. More than he could say.

Before the moment could stretch too long, Daisy hopped off the bed, clapping her hands. "Are we ready? Is it time? I think it’s time!"

Jess chuckled, picking her up and giving her a quick kiss on her cheek. "Yeah, kid. It’s time."

As he took one last look in the mirror, a rare sense of peace settled over him. He was exactly where he was supposed to be.

The party was slightly bigger than they had initially intended, but still felt intimate and them, just with more people. Rory took a deep breath as she saw her family and friends there. Lane’s band playing the songs they liked, but in a more wedding-appropriate beat.

When she finally stood in front of Jess, Lorelai held her hand tightly, giving her a kiss on her cheek, while Ricky gave Jess the wedding rings with a serious expression and a small nod, before sitting next to Luke, who was coughing to try to get a hold of himself.

Jess took Rory’s hands in his, his grip firm but gentle. He looked at her, his dark eyes steady, though there was a flicker of vulnerability in them that only she would notice.

“When you’re a writer,” he began, his voice low and measured, “people expect you to always know the right thing to say. They don’t see all the drafts and edits you make. They don’t see the crumpled pages, the crossed-out lines, the moments when you want to give up because the words just won’t come. They just see the final version—the one that’s ready for the world.”

He paused, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “But you, Rory… you welcomed my drafts. You saw the messy, unfinished parts of me, and you didn’t look away. You didn’t demand a perfect version of me. You were patient with the process, even when I wasn’t ready to love you the way you deserved. Even when I wasn’t ready to be the person you knew I could be.”

Rory’s eyes glistened with tears, but she didn’t look away. She squeezed his hands, urging him to continue.

“You’ve always been my editor,” Jess said, a small, wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Not in the way that tries to change the story, but in the way that helps it find its truth. You’ve pushed me, challenged me, and believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. And because of you, I’ve learned how to write a life I’m proud of—a life with you, with our kids, with this family we’ve built.”

He took a deep breath, his voice softening. “So, Rory Gilmore, I promise you this: I’ll keep showing up, draft after draft, as long as you’ll have me. I’ll keep working to be the person you see in me. And I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you with the same steady faith you’ve always had in me.”

Jess’s words hung in the air between them, weighty and full of meaning. There was a hush over the room, as if no one dared to break the moment. Somewhere in the crowd, Lorelai sniffled—loudly—before quickly covering it with an exaggerated cough. Luke shifted beside her, his usual gruff exterior betrayed by the way he cleared his throat and blinked a little too much.

Rory blinked back tears, a soft laugh escaping her—overwhelmed but full of love. She glanced around, catching glimpses of familiar faces: Lane, eyes shining, pressing a hand to her heart; Paris, pretending not to be affected but failing miserably; Doula beaming with a kind of sisterly pride. Liz and TJ with their over-the-top enthusiasm. Even Michel looked vaguely less unimpressed than usual.

She turned her attention back to Jess, squeezing his hands. The room felt smaller now, as if it was just the two of them. She took a steadying breath, tilting her head slightly as if committing this exact version of him to memory.

Rory took another breath, her hands trembling slightly as she held Jess’s. She looked at him, her eyes soft but unwavering, and began.

“All my life, I did everything I could to be the perfect version of myself. I had the best grades, I made the ‘right’ choices, and I tried so hard to keep everyone happy. For a long time, I thought that was what I wanted—what I was supposed to want. I thought if I could just be perfect enough, I’d finally feel like I belonged.”

She paused, her voice catching slightly but growing stronger. “But then I met you. And you never cared about perfection. You didn’t care about following the rules or living up to anyone’s expectations. You saw through all my imperfections, and you didn’t love me despite them—you loved me because of them. You showed me that life isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about embracing the messiness, the complications, and finding beauty in the chaos.”

Jess’s gaze stayed steady, his expression a mix of pride and tenderness as he listened.

“You challenged me,” Rory continued, her voice gaining strength. “You pushed me to question everything I thought I knew about myself and the world. You gently pulled me back every time I felt I was going off track. You made me see that it’s okay to take risks, to make mistakes, to be human. And because of you, I’ve learned to let go of the need to be perfect and to just… be.”

She smiled, tears spilling over as she squeezed his hands. “Jess, you’ve given me so much—our little family, a life full of love and laughter, and a partnership that feels like home. But more than anything, you’ve given me the freedom to be myself. And I promise to spend the rest of my life loving you, not in spite of your imperfections, but because of them. Because they’re what make you, you. And there’s no one else I’d rather walk through this messy, beautiful life with.”

The room held its breath. Rory’s voice lingers in the air like the final, perfect line of a story, settling deep into everyone’s hearts. Jess stared at her, his expression unreadable for a moment—like he was memorizing every word, every tear, every flicker of emotion in her eyes. Then, without thinking, without waiting, he closed the space between them and kissed her.

He pulled back, his forehead resting against Rory’s, a smirk playing at his lips. “Couldn’t wait,” he murmured, low enough for only her to hear.

Rory let out a breathless laugh, her fingers curling into the lapels of his suit. “Good,” she whispered back.

The officiant cleared his throat, shaking his head with amusement. “Well, I suppose I should make this official, though it seems a little redundant now.” He smiled at the couple. “Jess and Rory, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He gestured with an exaggerated wave of his hand. “You may now—well—kiss the bride. Again.”

The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter as Jess didn’t hesitate, pulling Rory into another kiss—this one slower, deeper, full of everything they’d been through to get to this moment.

X

The reception at the Dragonfly Inn was in full swing—music drifting through the cool autumn night, a mix of Lane’s band playing an acoustic set and the hum of happy conversation. Inside, Lorelai was laughing loudly at one of her own jokes, Luke was shaking his head but smiling, and Paris was likely giving an intense speech about statistics on marriage success rates, oblivious to the slowly dwindling attention span of her audience.

But Jess was nowhere in sight.

Rory stepped away from the warmth of the party, knowing exactly where to find him.

Near the edge of the property, just beyond the glow of the lanterns, Ricky and Daisy darted through the grass, their laughter bright against the night. And there, leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets, was her now-husband. He wasn’t watching over them, wasn’t waiting to step in. He was just seeing them, completely absorbed, as if the sight alone was enough to hold him there forever.

Rory stopped beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. “You know, the groom is supposed to run away before the wedding, not after.”

Jess smirked. “It’s not every day I get to watch my kids be completely lost in their own world.” He nodded toward Ricky, who was showing Daisy how to cup her hands just right to catch fireflies. “Look at them.”

Rory did. And for a while, they just watched.

Ricky, with Rory’s thoughtful eyes and curiosity, carefully demonstrated the trick, while Daisy, with Jess’s sharp features and unrestrained energy, mimicked his movements. A tiny, glowing firefly landed in her palms, and she let out a triumphant cheer. Ricky grinned and clapped his hands, his excitement bubbling over as Daisy giggled.

Jess exhaled. “This is the best part.”

Rory watched him, the flickering light catching in his eyes, before slipping her hand into his. “Let’s take a walk. I want to show them something.”

She called out to Ricky and Daisy, and they came running, Daisy still cradling the firefly like it was the greatest treasure she’d ever held.

The path to the bridge was familiar, lined with years of unspoken words and quiet revelations. The wooden planks creaked gently beneath their steps, and the air carried the crisp scent of autumn leaves and distant bonfires. That night, Ricky and Daisy darted ahead, their laughter echoing in the cool night, completely unaware of the weight this place carried for their parents.

When they reached the bridge, Rory stopped.

“This is it.”

Daisy and Ricky exchanged confused glances.

"This is what you wanted to show us?" Ricky asked, skeptical, kicking a loose pebble over the edge.

Jess smirked. “It doesn’t look like much, huh?”

Daisy tilted her head. “Did something happen here?”

Rory shared a look with Jess before turning to their kids. “Your dad and I spent a lot of time here when we were younger.”

Jess nodded. “This is also where I decided I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.”

Rory stilled, squeezing his hand. “You’re talking about the dance marathon, aren’t you?” Her voice was playful, but there was an edge of curiosity—she’d never heard him say this before.

Jess shook his head. “No.” He glanced at her, then back at the water. “I’m talking about when I bid on your basket.”

Rory blinked, caught off guard. “Wait—really?”

Jess shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Didn’t know it at the time, but yeah.”

Daisy scrunched her nose. “You bought her basket?”

Ricky frowned, trying to make sense of it. “What was in the basket?”

Jess chuckled. “Only inedible leftovers.” He lowered his voice, like he was letting them in on a secret. “But it got me lunch with your mom. And that was the best thing I ever spent money on.”

Rory watched him for a long moment, something warm and deep settling in her chest. She knew Jess loved her, knew their life together was something steady and real, but hearing this—this quiet, unexpected confession—hit differently. She squeezed his hand, and for once, she was the one at a loss for words.

Daisy beamed. “That’s so romantic.”

And with that, she carefully uncupped her hands, and the tiny firefly fluttered up, disappearing into the night sky. They all watched it go, then she looked up at her parents. “Are you gonna tell this story every time we come to this bridge?”

Ricky sighed dramatically. “Oh, they definitely are.”

Jess chuckled, pulling Rory a little closer. “Probably.”

 

THE END

Notes:

I hope you enjoyed going on this ride with me. There’s so much I want to say right now, but I’ll try to keep it simple. I've been writing fanfics since I was around 12 years old, and for the longest time, I stopped. Then, one day, I started again — now at 34.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this: keep making your art. Do it for yourself. Do it because it's true and real to you. Don’t worry about how people will react — not everyone will love what you create, but somewhere out there, someone will understand it deeply.

There's a Brazilian author, Ferreira Gullar, who once said — paraphrasing, of course — "Art exists because life is not enough." Never forget that. We have music, we have paintings, we have TV shows, we have fanfics — because we all have stories to tell. And there will always be people who resonate with them.

This story means a lot to me. Being able to write it, publish it, and have people read it is an honor I can’t even describe. Thank you for being here. Maybe there’ll be a part 4 someday — but for now, this is where we leave it. If you enjoyed it, I’d love to hear your kind words. See you around.

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of Pieces of Us