Lisa sighed and threw open the door to the Dragonfly Inn.

"Hey, Leese," Lorelai greeted and logged off the reception desk computer. "Where's Rory?"

"She went back to the dorm," Lisa answered, tossing her purse on the counter. "Said she was fine, but needed a little alone time and will call you later."

Lorelai looked a bit concerned but nodded. "Okay. What about you? You okay?"

"I don't know," Lisa replied miserably. "Its hard to tell anymore."

Lorelai led her friend to a seat in the lobby, away from the conversational guests.

"What did he say to you?" she asked quietly.

"He..." Lisa trailed off, uncertain of what to say. On one hand, it would be great to get this off her chest. On the other, she didn't want Lorelai to worry. "Nothing."

"You're lying to me, Leese," Lorelai said, though not unkindly. "Come on. Just tell me."

"Fine," Lisa broke. "Just don't tell Rory. Please. I don't want her to worry."

"Sure," Lorelai nodded and Lisa launched into her story and her suspicions of Jackson's return.

"I don't think it really concerns Rory," Lorelai admitted honestly when Lisa was finished. "He insinuated coming back for you, but not Jess for Rory. I don't think it matters if we tell Rory or not, however, I do think you need to tell Max."

"See, though, I can't," Lisa argued. "Because I didn't tell him I was going."

"Don't see the problem," Lorelai replied stubbornly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He didn't want me to go see Jackson," Lisa replied guiltily, meekly shrinking back.

"Oh, I get it," Lorelai nodded, then shrugged. "Well, you still need to tell him about both things. If both of your lives are in danger, he certainly has a right to know. He's your fiancee, Leese."

"I know, I know," Lisa sighed, feeling more guilty by the minute. But as she fiddled with the ring on her finger, her heart lifted slightly.

Max had proposed to her a couple of weeks after he was released from the hospital. They'd admittedly had a very short courtship but both agreed they didn't want to wait. Plus, with the recent news she'd received from her doctor, she wanted to marry before she started to show. She hadn't told Max yet, either.

Lisa felt guilty about hiding her prison visit to Jackson from Max, but she didn't want him to worry. Plus, how would it look, going up to Max and saying, "Hey, Max, I went to see Jackson and oh, yeah, by the way, now I'm pregnant?"

Yeah. Not looking so good.

But Lisa could always tell Lorelai.

Lorelai, apart from Max, had become Lisa's greatest friend and confidante, and Sookie was also a great person to be with. Sookie and her husband had even allowed Lisa to babysit Davie once or twice (though they left at least 300 emergency numbers).

Luke was a sweetheart as well, and with the announcement of his and Lorelai's marriage, Lisa and Max had decided to have a double wedding. Since neither couple were exactly interested in huge nuptials it seemed to be effective and it would be beautiful. Needless to say, Emily wasn't too thrilled and insisted on a dinner with both couples in a few days time. This time, Lorelai was the angry one and apologized to Lisa multiple times.

"Lore, don't worry about it," Lisa had laughed. "I really want to meet your mom and dad! They seem sweet!"

"Oh, you wait," Lorelai grimaced. "Just wait."

The ceremony was scheduled for two weeks from now, in the evening and with the reception in the square. Lisa and Lorelai even dress-shopped together.

"Isn't it a little soon?" Rory had frowned at the news of both marriages.

"It is," Lorelai had admitted and Lisa had nodded. "But none of us four want to wait another minute."

After the wedding, Max planned to move into a house he and Lisa had bought in Stars Hollow. They were postponing the honeymoon a few days after the wedding so that they could rest a little and tie up loose ends before hopping on a plane. Lorelai and Luke had decided they no longer trusted planes and were just going to stay in Stars Hollow and "bond" for a while.

Joe Reisert was flying up from Miami, along with some of Lisa's closer relatives for her marriage and was, needless to say, thrilled at the news but a little cautious since he didn't know Max, Lorelai, or Luke. After a brief explanation of how Lorelai, Luke, Max, and Dean had saved her and Rory from Jackson's second threat had him wholly trusting.

So here Lisa sat, almost two months pregnant and a wreck over what to say to Max.

"Well, he's back from work at Chilton at five," Lorelai mused. "So I propose you run to Doose's, cook a beautiful dinner, and tell him over something warm and yummy. Toolbox dirty," she added, grinning. Lisa smiled.

"Except one thing," Lisa realized sadly. "I have to work at six. There's not enough time."

"Don't sweat it," Lorelai offered. "I'll stay until eight and you can just work a little later into the morning."

"I couldn't," Lisa said sheepishly. "I mean, I don't want to put you through any hassle."

"Stop trying to chicken out," Lorlelai replied mischievously. "You know I don't mind."

"Okay, okay," Lisa stood and smoothed her skirt. "So I'll see you at eight?"

"You got it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Rory felt hollow as she tossed her purse on her dorm bed. Paris looked up from her studies.

"Hey," she greeted softly, something uncharacteristic for her person. "What's up?"

"Nothing." Rory quickly grabbed her phone and notebook and left her room.

Home didn't provide silence to think, nor did her dorm. But her study tree did.

When she'd finally found peace, her cell phone rang. She screamed in frustration, drawing looks from walkers on the path nearby, but answered it.

"Hey, Rory, its Dean!"

"Oh," she sighed. She'd almost hoped it was Lisa. "Hey."

"What's wrong?" he seemed disappointed in her disappointment.

"Oh, its not you," she moaned. "I just had a rough day."

"Oh, the Jess meeting. How's the prick?"

Rory winced. "Prick...y...as always."

He noticed the lilt in her voice. "What did he say to you?"

"Nothing." Rory hated lying, especially to Dean, but it was only necessary.

"Rory..."

"Nothing!"

"You can tell me. Please. Remember how Lisa lied to us and it just made thinks worse?"

"Yes..." she felt like a toddler being scolded after being caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"I'm waiting." Rory groaned, and quietly told Dean her story. After, he seemed shaken but offered a bit of advice.

"Tell your mom," he shrugged. "And Lisa. They really want, and need, to know. Lisa especially. If Jackson's in on this thing, she'd better watch herself."

"Yeah, I know," Rory muttered. "Just...Lisa is so nervous sometimes. I don't want to cause a breakdown when it may be over nothing. The trial is in a couple days. For all we know, they could be convicted and sent to a higher security."

"I thought Jess was meeting bail."

"Yeah, but if he's convicted, he's convicted," Rory argued. "I'll just wait, at least until after."

"Fine. But don't wait too long, okay?"

She smiled. She already felt better. "'Kay."