Summary: What if Lorelai got pregnant with Chris's child again? A response to Caroline's challenge.

Timeline: Three and a half months after Sookie's wedding.

Author's Notes: My third story, my first Java Junkie. Thank you so much for the sweet reviews for True To My Heart. This is a JJ sequel of sorts to it. And I know it's sounding a depressed BB, but Luke and Lorelai will get closer, especially when Emily and Richard make their appearance next chapter...

Shipper: Java Junkie, Trory.

Challenge Requirements: Right after Chris leaves to go to Sherry, Lorelai realizes she is pregnant with his baby, one more time. So, she runs to Luke. You must include a boyfriend to Rory (Tristan, Jess, Dean), Chris being back for the third time and a lot of JJ fluffy moments.

Baby of Mine by Lady Elle Gilmore Dugray

Chapter II – The Meeting At The Baby Shop

Two weeks after Chris' cell phone conversation with Rory, Lorelai took a Saturday morning as day-off and decided to go with Rory and Tristan to Hartford Mall. The inn's manager was very excited with her surprise-baby, and had decided to start shopping for her daughter. Even seventeen years later, Lorelai still was against bringing boys to the world.

Rory would be godmother and Tristan, godfather. The young couple did not leave Lorelai's side unless they had to, and that happened only when they had to go to school or wanted some private time. And, even then, they made sure she was never alone. Sometimes, Sookie was with her, but, most of times, it was Luke who kept Lorelai company.

Tristan had already noticed the way Luke looked at his mother-in-law. It was the same way he looked at Rory before they got together, and Tristan wondered if not noticing that they had men in love with them was a pattern between the Gilmore ladies. After all, Rory had only noticed that they were in love with each other when he almost left the state.

The former King of Chilton just hoped the same didn't happen with Lorelai and Luke. He was a good man, who loved her deeply. He had to, Tristan considered, because dealing with pregnant Lorelai Gilmore was not easy. She could be beamingly happy at one second then blind by fury in the other. Her mood swings were driving everyone crazy, but not Luke.

When she was angry, he was nice and gentle. When she was a mess of tears, he held her and listened her babble about how much she hated Christopher and loved him at the same time. Because he had given her Rory, she loved him. But he had promised forever for her when he came for Sookie's wedding, and broken that promise, he could rot in Hell.

"Rory to planet Tristan", Rory whispered in Tristan's ear, making him jump in startle.She laughed a little, "What were you thinking? Thank the coffee Gods that mom didn't notice it".

"I was wondering when Lorelai will notice that Luke's in love with her", Tristan whispered. Rory smiled a little. She had already noticed that Luke was playing the role thatwas supposed to be Christopher's. She knew how much her mother was hurting over the fact that she was again a single mother, and didn't want her sadder than she already was.

"Mom's too wrapped up around the baby. But she'll notice when Luke get the guts to ask her out", Rory answered. Tristan wrapped one arm around her shoulder and brought her closer:

"Maybe I could give Luke some lessons..." He teased. She giggled.

"Mom likes Bangles, old movies and..." She began, but then Lorelai interrupted them by yelling:

"Come on, love birds, hurry!"

The teenagers laughed and followed the demanding pregnant woman.

That same time, at Hartford Mall, Sherri had just found out she was having a little girl. She was happy but also a little sad, reminding the beautiful girl that Rory was. No matter what, her little girl would always be compared to Rory: in beauty, in intelligence. Anyway, she was happy she finally could buy other clothes than yellow and white and light green.

Christopher had gone with her to her appointment and now was accompanying her in her baby shopping. He was weird since he had spoken to Rory a few weeks ago, and he was growing more and more distant. That got Sherri worried. She knew Chris had been with Lorelai when she told him about the baby, also knew he was planning on finally building a family with her and Rory.

As if called by her thoughts, a tall slim brunette got in the same baby store she was with Christopher, followed by a smaller brunette girl, a tall blond boy and a tall man with a baseball cap. The woman suddenly let out a shriek. Sherri widened her eyes, recognizing the voice, and nearly growled in jealousy when she heard Christopher whisper:

"Lor".

Rory, knowing how unhappy her mother was, prepared a little surprise for Lorelai. Right before they left to the Hartford Mall, Tristan had called him and 'politely' convoked him to join Lorelai, Rory and himself at Lorelai's baby shopping and, after making sure Jess was going to look after the diner while he was out, Luke finally built the nerve and drove to Hartford.

So, Luke found his secret beloved getting into one baby store, looking fine. He knew however that it was a façade she put up for Rory's sake. The teenager couple waved at him and stepped behind so Luke could surprise Lorelai the way they knew he wanted to. So, the diner's owner slowly tiptoed behind the inn's manager and whispered in her ear:

"Isn't too early to buy baby clothes?" Taken by surprise, Lorelai let out a surprised shriek and turn around, smiling as she recognized her friend. She held him tightly and laughed at something he whispered. Rory smiled at Tristan, but she paled and her smile faded away as she recognized a couple that was watching her mom and Luke with deep interest.

"Oh, God", the Gilmore girl whispered, and leaned heavily against Tristan. Her boyfriend noticed her shock and paleness, and followed the direction she was looking at. Paling himself, he swore silently. "Father", Rory added quietly, her voice cold. Then her gaze heated as she recognized the young woman next to him. "Doing baby shop with Sherri".

"Everything will be okay, love, I promise you", Tristan whispered. He coughed discretely and got Luke's attention. The diner's owner looked questioningly at him and the former King of Chilton pointed with his head towards Christopher and Sherri. "That's our cue, baby. Let's go. Luke will handle everything", Tristan whispered and then he and his girlfriend made a discrete exit.

"Lorelai", Luke called. How would this meeting affect her already unstable mood? He just hoped she didn't get crushed. "Lorelai, pay attention to me, now!" He whispered hurriedly, as he wrapped one arm around her enlarging waist. Distracted, she turned to him, a happy smile on her face. She had a little pink and white jumper on her hands.

"Isn't this just adorable? My baby princess will look so cute into this", she said, and then noticed his worried gaze and his arm around her. "Luke?" She called. "What's wrong?" She looked around and noticed Tristan and Rory were no longer with them. "Where are Rory and Tristan?" She asked in a hurry. Luke made her look at him.

"Please, don't panic, but... Christopher's here with Sherri. Apparently doing the same you are", he said very calmly. "Since he still has no idea you're carrying his baby, I'll say I'm the father. I need you to play along", he said calmly. He noticed Christopher approaching them, Sherri following him and looking slightly angry.

"Oh... Okay, okay", Lorelai whispered. She took a deep sigh to establish her frantic heart and turned around in Luke's embrace, looking slightly surprised to see Christopher and Sherri standing in front of them. "Sherri, Chris!" She exclaimed, happily smiling at them. Luke was proud of her because he knew seeing Chris was killing her. "How are you guys?"

"You... You..." Chris stuttered, noticing the now visible bulge on her belly.

"You're pregnant!" Sherri shrieked, noticing, a little enviously, that she looked bigger than Lorelai. She was fat and her hair was a mess, while Chris's former girlfriend looked stunning as always. "How far along?"

"Three and a half months", Luke answered before Lorelai did. He smiled politely at Sherri. "Hi. I'm Luke Danes. Nice to see you again".

"You're the diner's owner, right?" Sherri said. She saw the way Lorelai grabbed at his arm and felt relief wash over her. Lorelai had finally moved on. Now it was Chris' turn to do the same.

"Indeed", Luke answered. "How are you going, Christopher?" He asked Chris coldly.

"Fine, thanks", Chris looked at Lorelai. "Where's Rory?"

"She's somewhere out there with Tristan..." Lorelai answered evasively.

"Mom, look what Tristan bought...!" Rory ran into the store, holding hands with Tristan. She saw Chris and Sherri and faked surprise. Lorelai noticed, however, Tristan's supporting, reassuring arm sneaking to wrap itself around her daughter's waist. "Father!" She exclaimed, her gaze cold. Her gaze grew even colder when she turned to Sherri. "Sherri".

"Hi, Rory", Sherri smiled friendly at her stepdaughter. She looked approvingly at Tristan. "I suppose this is your boyfriend?" She asked. Tristan smiled politely at him, but said nothing. Sherri smiled back and gave her attention back to Rory, "You two make a sweet couple. Don't they, Chris?" She said.

Christopher looked at the young man that had gotten his little girl's heart.

"Tristan", Christopher said coldly. He nodded at him, and the boy smiled politely at Chris, nodding at him.

"Mr. Hayden", he said, his voice holding a note of indifference.

"Lor, can I speak with you in private?" Chris asked. Lorelai looked nervously at Luke, who gave her waist a reassuring squeeze. Sherri looked at her fiancé, suddenly jealous, but said nothing. Lorelai took a deep breath then said:

"Fine".

Luke smiled encouragingly at her, then turned to Sherri:

"So, you're carryin' a girl, uh?"

Lorelai and Christopher sat down on some chairs placed around the store. She was snapping her knuckles, something he knew that she made when nervous, and her arm rested protectively over her belly.

"So..." He made.

"So?" She said, her voice holding a note of pain. "What do you want, Chris?"

"I want to know if the baby's mine", he whispered. She sat back, stretching her legs, and took another deep breath.

"What?"

"I want to know if the baby you're carrying is mine too. Like Rory", he repeated, his voice slightly hopeful. She sighed and closed her eyes.

The moment of decision had come for her. Now her life would change forever, and the life of her unborn baby. If she said yes, then she knew --- for sure --- that Chris would ditch Sherri to be with her, Rory and the baby. And she opened her mouth to say yes, when other thought struck her.

She hated Sherri and didn't want her to have Christopher, but by taking Chris away from Sherri she also took him away from the baby Sherri was carrying. And she knew how hard it was to raise a baby on her own. Sherri was young and fragile, something she was not when she got pregnant. Was it right, to say yes and destroy Sherri? In ten seconds she made her decision.

"No. It's not yours. It's Luke", she lied, surprised at how steady her voice sounded. "Right after you left... We went out on a date. And three weeks later I found out I was pregnant", she told him, impressed at how quickly she had made up the lie. Now she just had to tell Luke what she had said to Chris so that their versions matched.

"Are you going to marry him?" He asked, his voice soft. Lorelai got up and said:

"I don't know. We're adjusting with the idea of being parents. We were friends, then we had that one-night-stand, then three weeks later I got in his diner crying my heart out because I found out I was pregnant", she said, then shrugged. "It's not like I'm alone anyway. I have Rory and Tristan".

"Tristan DuGray", Christopher said. "I can't believe that the illegitimate daughter of Christopher Hayden and Lorelai Gilmore is dating the only son of the most powerful man of Hartford", he shook his head. Lorelai looked at him, angry with the way he was treating the young man who was in love with their daughter.

"Chris, do me a favor".

"Sure, what's it, Lor?" He asked. She looked inside his light green eyes and said:

"Forget me. Forget Rory. Forget the two of us. Go and get married and have the little boring Hartford life your parents want you to have so badly. Just go and have the perfect wife, the little baby. Forget you once met a teenager called Lorelai Victoria Gilmore and had a child with her, Lorelai Leigh Gilmore".

With that, she got up and ran to where Luke, Rory and Tristan stood, not looking back once. Chris watched her say goodbye to Sherri and leave in the arms of the man with whom she would have a child.

"I can't, Lor", he whispered. "I just can't".