So this chapter is fairly short. I'm powering through writer's block. I know the flow of this is off, I've rewritten it 5 different times. So I'm going to leave it, sorry if it sucks.

Everyone Is Always Fighting

Mom, Dean, and I sit in the car quietly for a few minutes, panicking. Dad doesn't know about the baby. Or does he? He's going to be mad. Crap. He saw us. He's coming this way. He doesn't look mad.

Shakily, I pull myself out of the car, hoping Dad doesn't notice the baby bump right away. But when his eyes go directly to my stomach, I know that he's noticed. I go forward and hug him anyway. "Hi dad, what brings you to Stars Hollow?"

"Well, I was passin' through and just thought I'd stop and say hi. I stopped by your grandparents house when I got in Friday night because I knew you guys ate with them every Friday, but you weren't there. They said they hadn't seen you in months. I guess now I know why." He pulls back from my hug and studies me from head to toe. "Rory, what were you thinking? You're too young for this, you can't be a mother yet. And who's the father? He probably took off on you, didn't he?"

Something in me snaps and I see red. "You know what? I haven't seen you in YEARS, and all I've gotten from you have been short phone calls and the occasional postcard. Now you want to show up and be a father? It doesn't work that way. And for the record, Dean isn't you. He promised he would be there for me and the baby, even if we don't stay together. Because he understands that it takes two to make a baby, there should be two around to raise it!"

I feel Dean wrap his arms around my shoulders and I lean into his touch. Mom tells Dad that he should leave and that I need to cool off before he comes around again. The whole town is staring at us, and my cheeks heat up. Dean takes my hand, gives my father a curt nod, and leads me home.

We make it to the house, and I barely notice until I'm sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of hot chocolate in front of me. Dean sits across from me with his own mug, and I try for a smile. "Well, that was fun."

Dean smiles at my attempt at a joke, and slides his hand across the table to meet mine. "I don't plan on taking off like your dad did, Rory. Even if you and I don't work out, I promise you that I will be an active part of our daughter's life." His vow warms my heart, and I stand up to wrap my arms around him.

***********************One week later**********************

News of my dad suddenly showing up has spread around town like wildfire, and the people of Stars Hollow have rallied around me like never before. I love my town.

Dean and I walk hand in hand toward the lake after our latest doctor's appointment. Our baby girl is perfectly healthy, but she's measuring slightly on the smaller side. Dr. Malley said it's probably nothing to worry about, but we have another ultrasound scheduled in 5 weeks to check on growth.

We sit down, and Dean clears his throat. "So um.. I've been thinking."

Something about the tone of his voice and the look on his face makes me nervous. "Um. Okay. What's up?"

"Well, just that maybe... We should get married?"

I stand up quickly, shock filling me. "What? We're 16! We can't get married!"

"Well, why not? We're having a baby. She's going to have my last name. Don't you want it too?" He says defensively.

I can't even look at him right now. "We'll talk about this later. I have to go."

I run home, not caring about the people who stop and stare at me. I'm just focused on getting to my house, and maybe talking my mom into going shopping. I need a distraction.

There's an unfamiliar car in the driveway, and as I approach the front door I can hear fighting.

"No! Go away and mind your own business! You had no right to shove your ideas down Dean's throat! HE IS NOT YOU!"

"I'm just trying to help! Rory deserves a man who can step up and marry her, like I should have done for you! I want him to be there, I don't want them to make the same mistakes we did!" Dad? What is he doing here?

"I didn't want to get married at 16! And if Rory does, then it needs to be her and Dean's decision. They don't need to be forced into a marriage at 16 because you screwed up. I didn't marry you because I wanted you to have a life. I didn't know at the time that you would take off and never come around for your daughter. And even if I had, I still wouldn't have married you at 16!"

At this point, I need to say something. I burst through the front door to see my mom and dad standing in the middle of the living room, both with red faces and clenched fists.

"Does no one care what I want? I want to have this baby, I want to go to school and college and get a good job. I don't want to get married right now." With that, I glare at my dad. "And I certainly don't need you to confront my boyfriend and tell him he needs to marry me. Yes, I'm 16. But I'm going to be a mother, and I want what's best for my daughter just like Mom wanted for me. I don't need to be married to her father to give her the life she deserves. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going shopping for baby stuff. Mom, you want to come with?"

*************Dean's POV***********

I sit at our spot by the lake, trying to process what just happened. Christopher told me that Rory would want to marry me. Now she's mad at me and I don't know how to fix it.

Sighing, I stand up and gather up the blanket we had been sitting on. I slowly make my way home, wondering how I can possibly make Rory forgive me.

When I get home, I let myself in and find my mom sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. "Hi, Mom. Can I join you?"

"Hi, Dean. Of course, get some coffee. I want to talk."

I pour myself a cup and sit across from mom, watching her collect her thoughts.

"Dean... Are you sure about keeping this baby? You could convince Rory to give it up, I'm sure you would be better off. So would it."

"Mom, first of all, I want my baby. I want my daughter. Rory does too. I won't ask her to give her up." I'm fiercely protective of my girls, and mom backs off a little.

"I'm just saying, it will be hard. Where will the baby live? I know the Gilmore's house isn't very big, and I don't want a baby and a teenage mother in my house. Will you ever get to see the baby? What if Rory decides she doesn't want to be with you? Will she take your daughter away? Just... think about it. Please? Don't throw your life away over a girl."
I stand angrily, towering over my mother. "Don't talk about my girlfriend like that. We'll find a place that the baby will fit into at Rory's house. And if Rory wants to break up, she will still let me see the baby. We've talked about this. She's the daughter of teenage parents, and her dad was never around. She wants different for her daughter. I will be there to support them both. And I'm not throwing my life away. My life is Rory and our daughter."