Her phone was screaming at her, "Mother calling, Mother calling."

Rory Gilmore groaned and sat up in bed and answered, "Mom it's 8am, is someone dead?"

"I'm pregnant."

Rory dropped the phone, and then picked it up, "What- I mean congratulations, I mean are you sure?"

"I was pretty sure when I ate an entire apple pie on Monday, and then on Wednesday when I realized I didn't remember my last period. Then there was that short period I was convinced I was going through early menopause by your grandmother, I took a pregnancy test. I was pretty sure when five of those were positive."

"Oh my god Mom, what are you going to do? Is it safe to have a baby at your age?"

"Hey kid, I'm not exactly elderly. If Halle Berry and Kelly Preston can still pop them out, why can't I?"

Rory paused and rubbed her eyes. Her mom was actually pregnant. She was going to have a little brother or sister. Who was 28 years younger then her...

"Still with me Rory?"

"Yes, just wrapping my head around a having a sibling who would be over twenty years younger then me."

"Tell me about it, I'll be 60 when this kid is 15."

"Are you freaking out?"

"A little bit. I just haven't done this in a while."

"You always like to do the unexpected," Rory smiled.

"How is Luke taking it?"

"I thought he would freak out, I mean you and April are adults,we just got married a year ago, and you know how he gets around Sookie and Jackson's bunch. But he was beaming when I told him. Although he is worried about me dealing with the pregnancy. But he's a worrier. We went to see the doctor, and confirmed it. It'll be fine. I feel so much better having told you. I'm telling mom and dad at lunch."

"I'm sure they will be excited."

"Here is hoping, I'll let you get back to sleep. But I'll text you a play by play of the lunch, if you like, or maybe the replay in my mind on the way home while Luke drives."

"Sure Mom, I'll talk to you later."

As soon as Rory put down her phone, she tried to stretch herself into awakeness. She reached out her arm and turned on the coffee maker on her nightstand.

The benefit of having a one bedroom apartment in Washington was that everything was an arms reach away. She stumbled out of bed and bashed her foot in the small fridge. There were also negatives of course, but it was all she could afford freelancing around Washington. The Post had printed some of her articles, but they weren't hiring anyone on lately. Nobody was.

Rory Gilmore paid her bills writing anything she could, from society write ups, to blogs about landscaping to dry wall. It wasn't the hard hitting journalism she thought she would be doing, especially after she was one of the first reporters on the campaign bus with President Obama.

She loved the thrill of speeches and being with all the different reporters, but it was also one of the most uncomfortable and exhausting experiences of her life. She would still do it again in a minute. It was like being on go mode 24/7.

When she was a writing a story she would pitch, it was usually politics, but she was starting to think she wouldn't get something published unless it was epic. She needed her Watergate or if all the senior reporters to finally retire.

Her phone rang it's usual ring tone, and she picked it up again. It was the Dinner.

"Rory, it's Luke."

"Good morning, both you and Mom calling early, I'm the luckiest big sister to be in the world,"

It probably came out grumpier then she meant, but it was early. Luke would understand pre-coffee mode. He had married a Gilmore.

"I'm glad your mother told you, I just wanted to tell you- I think your mom won't- But I think you should know."

"Luke you're scaring me," Rory sat back on the bed.

"Ah geez, it's- I'm really happy that your mom is pregnant. I am. Over the moon. But the doctor also told us that given some early tests and given your Mom's age that it's a risky pregnancy. They said she'll need to take it easy after her first trimester, no work at all, and staying home."

Rory frowned. It was just like her mom to joke and avoid the serious.

"She'll need help at home. You're mom wouldn't ask, but I am going to, she's going to need help around the house and I'm going to handle the diner and part of the inn, but your mom is a bundle of energy and she's stubborn. We could use you, for at least 6 months."

"Wow, Luke. I don't know what to say. Give me a few days to see what I can manage,"

"I know it's a lot Rory, and you have your life in Washington and are an ace reporter. We are so proud of you. Your mom would hate to ask you to leave, even temporarily, but I'm afraid she's going to push herself to far. I know Emily will volunteer to stay with her or hire a maid to help both of them. But I can't imagine that going well."

"That would be bad."

"Let me know whenever you can, I need to go, big Mommy and me group just walked into the dinner. Sorry to drop this on you."

"It's fine Luke, we're family. I'll let you know soon."

She heard the worry in Luke's voice. She knew her mom well, and Lorelai was usually a blur of activity on a bad day. She knew she had to go for her family, but she didn't know if she could leave or for how long. This was her life, she had built here.

She opened her laptop and checked her e-mail, three new e-mails asking to trying to scam her, and one from the Post.

Dear Ms Gilmore,

Unfortunately, again we didn't have room in the weekend edition for your piece...

Rory stopped reading, they didn't bury the lead, it had been a dry month. She had spent most of her savings paying for rent and utilities and food. She knew she was a good writer, she just wasn't sure anyone else was sure lately.

She listened to the police siren buzz by her window. She lived over a bar, and was used to loud noises. It wasn't the best neighborhood, but it was what she could afford.

She sipped her coffee and curled up in her bed, which on most days was her makeshift desk. Maybe it was time to go home for a while, for her and for her mom.

She looked out the window and took a deep breathe in and out. It wasn't giving up, it was just a break. Just could use the time to regroup, and reconnect with family and friends, and then hit the the ground running when she got back.

She smiled. Rory Gilmore for going home.