A/N This fic is a birthday gift for my best friend for 26 years and favorite beta, Stellaluna.3! I own nothing except this alternate universe. This fic is going to touch on some serious issues; I'll try to include trigger warnings. I'm retroactively adding them in the previously published chapters. Also, my own experience with CPS is limited. I have only second hand knowledge through a few family members and friends who have been on various sides of the coin; feel free to let me know if I get something wrong. Trigger warning for this chapter: unplanned pregnancy

Late July, 1992, Stars Hollow, Connecticut

"What about high chairs?" Anna Nardini asked.

"What about 'em?" her on-again-off-again boyfriend replied, looking confused.

"Don't you need to order some? You know, for when customers bring small children?"

Luke Danes groaned. "Is there any way to prevent that? Can't I make a rule that nobody under 18 comes in?"

"No! Why?" Anna nervously glanced at her purse on the brand new counter.

"Kids will just make everything such a mess. They're always sticky like they've got jam on their hands. Even if there's no jam in the house, somehow, they've always got jam on their hands! And being a diner, there will always be jam for them to get sticky with! Not to mention all the crumbs, and the screaming...and the…" Luke lowered his voice to a whisper, "...breastfeeding. Seriously, nobody needs to see that."

Anna's eyes sparkled with unshed tears and she hugged her purse to her abdomen. "You're going to have to deal with all of that if you actually want to open this diner. I...I have to go."

"Okay, well, I'll pick you up tomorrow night at…"

"No! I...I have to cancel our date tomorrow. I...I've actually been thinking and...my life is about to get...very busy. I need to focus on my goals, and you need to focus on yours with the diner. I think it's best if we take some time apart."

"Time apart?"

"Yeah...don't call me, Luke. I'll call you, if I ever have the time for a relationship again."

Anna kissed his cheek and ran out the front door of the hardware-store-turned-diner. She jumped into her VW and drove away. As soon as she was out of sight of the diner, she pulled over, reached into her purse to grasp a small plastic stick with two pink lines, and wept.