Author's Note: I know, I know, I'm starting a new story without even halfway finishing my old fics. So, sue me? I love to write and I've had this written for a while only I never felt up to typing it, but today is the day. Whoever guess' and reviews first with where I got the child's name gets a dedication in the next chapter. Flashbacks in Italics.

Summary: Future Fic. Set in 2011, Jess and Rory married and had a son named Parker. It takes you back through their life before and after marriage, and Rory's will to carry on after a life-changing event.

Disclaimer: So you think I own Gilmore Girls? Ha! I laugh in your face! Me? Own the best television show on TV today? Yeah, I wish. ASP owns it, and I'm only borrowing it. However, the idea of this story, while it may have been done before, is totally mine.

Missing

Night turned into day and day turned into night. Rain lashed down against the windows, thunder rumbling, lightning flashing.

The screech of the door and another roar of thunder woke her. Groggily, she looked around and found what she was looking for. The small head of mousy brown hair, that barely reached the top of the bed frame.

Twenty-seven-year-old Rory Gilmore-Mariano smiled through her sadness at the boy as she helped him into the bed next to her. She pulled her four-year-old son, Parker Lucas Mariano close, and held him tight in the midst of the storm.

He hated thunderstorms, always did, and she had a suspicion, he always would. It was just the way it worked when small boys' and Mariano's got mixed together.

----

It had been a slow delivery, slow and painful. Somehow, she got over the pain though. It could have been the lovely epidermal that the nice doctor lady gave her, or the fact that her family was there, pushing her to do it.

There had been some complications with the pregnancy, and the doctors assured them with bed rest and healthy eating (no coffee!) she would be fine and their son would be fine.

Finally, at three forty-seven am Parker Lucas was born. She couldn't control her tears as she stared down at the wailing baby, a smile on her face. He was her son; she had made him out of love with her husband. Afterward, Rory and Jess sat in the private room they had and held him†Lorelai then announced that the first snowflakes of the season fell right around three forty-five are.

----

She sighed as she stared down at the sleeping child. He was so young, and so innocent. Too young to understand the circumstances.

Their apartment was small, cozy enough for four, even though there had only been three.

She tried not to think, to push her thoughts away but she failed. A wave of sadness crept over her and she felt the warm tears fall down her cold, pale face as she closed her eyes, trying to push the memory away, trying to forget about it, but it was there. Wanting to be left out and relived again.

----

The sun had set long ago as she searched for her keys. She had spent the day in Stars Hollow with Lorelai, Luke, and Parker. Living in Hartford, she visited often while Jess was at work.

Jess worked with a publishing company and was slowly but surely working his way up. He had as much free time as they needed and his hours were flexible. They didn't care where he did the work, as long as he did do it. They owned a small used book and music store, a wedding gift from the Grandparents. Emily and Richard knew Rory had her eye on the small store and bought it, surprising her greatly. Rory was working on a new novel idea she had, but it was currently going no where, Life in a Small Town.

Suddenly she realized the door was open. Alarmed, she pushed it open and gasped. Things were everywhere. Books, papers, chairs, glass. Furniture flipped over, windows smashed.

Parker bounced in happily and abruptly stopped. He knew something was wrong. This wasn't how they had left their apartment. And he knew something was missing. Then he remembered, and Rory listened as he dropped his bag and started shouting for Daddy! But didn't receive a response.

----

She awoke with a start, and realized she had fallen asleep, and Parker had woken up and left. The storm was still in full swing but it was day and not so scary to him anymore. Hearing voices, she tensed up, but relaxed as she heard whom they were. Parker's giggles at Saturday morning cartoons, and the whispers of Luke and Lorelai, Stars Hollow's newest 'it' couple. Yes, they had been dating for a while, and she knew Luke was going to propose when she didn't want to think about it.

Feeling sick all of a sudden, she clutched her stomach and ran for the bathroom. It was the fourth time that week and she didn't think it a coincidence anymore.

TBC

A/N: So, let me know what you think! I'll try to update again soon, when I get more written. I have study halls so it shouldn't be a problem.