It was the week before Christmas and there was a festival going on… again. Whitley had grown accustomed to these quirks of the small town but this particular festival made her nervous because Ms. Patty and Babette had roped her into participation. She was singing and dancing with Jazz in the square as the ladies were walking by and the dance teacher decided she simply had to have her.

"Darling. You have an exquisite voice. How would you like to sing in the Nativity pageant?"

"Oh, Ms. Patty. Thank you but I only sing to myself really. And besides, I'm not exactly fit to be the Vrigin Mary or an angel. I'd consider being Camel number 5 if I had no lines."

"Nonsense dear. Mary was a pregnant teenager just like yourself. Anyway, I want you to sing 'Away in a Manger' and Jazz could be one of the farm animals. She'd look adorable in a pig or chicken costume."

The conversation went on for several minutes but none of her excuses made it through the enthusiastic women so Whitley caved. Now she was standing on a platform having Lorelai adjust her angel costume. Meanwhile Jazz ran around Lorelai's living room like a chicken with her head cutoff while dressed as an actual chicken.

"You'll be fine sweetie. You're always singing at the Dragonfly. I almost installed a tip jar at the reception desk so guests could tip you for the entertainment."

"I guess so. I just am not much of an attention seeker and so being up there on stage- it just makes me uncomfortable."

"It's just Stars Hollow. Everyone here already loves you. Even Taylor likes that you keep your apartment clean."

"You're right. Do Lane and her friends usually show to these things?" she asked trying to sound casual.

"You mean does Bryan go?" Lorelai looked up and noticed Whit looked embarrassed. "I see the way you two look at each other… and that dance at my wedding. He really likes you, you should go for it."

"Lorelai… I-" she started but Lorelai interrupted to put her at ease.

"I don't mean to call you out. Sorry kid. He might show up with his parents and aunt although he's not that religious. But Lane and the boys will definitely be there because of Mrs. Kim."

"It's okay. I don't mind talking to you. It's just… well the only guy I've been with is Jazz's dad. I've never even been on a date or liked someone like this before. I'm probably too much for him anyway. Dating a girl with a kid isn't exactly a challenge most guys want at my age."

Lorelai inhaled and really considered her next words. "You're right. Most guys don't want a kid in that situation. Don't worry about those guys, worry about the ones who show up for you and your daughter. Pay attention to the guys who like you for you and just see Jazz as another reason to love you. That's what I have with Luke. Yeah, we just got married, but he's always been there for Rory. Seeing him love her even when we had fights made me fall deeper in love with him. Watching him do everything in his power to bring her happiness and just be there for both of us- that's the mark of a good man. You don't want anything less than a good man. I've seen the way Bryan looks at Jazz. He dotes on her and I know he's weird about germs and likes poppy seed muffins but he's a good guy. Don't worry about what your flaws are when dating, worry about finding a guy who compliments you and shows up for you."

"Thanks Lorelai." What she said made a lot of sense to Jazz and she had some things to consider.

"Any time kid."

"Jazz, get off that couch like that," Whitley scolded realizing she hadn't noticed the girl pull of half the couch cushions and jump off the couch onto them repeatedly. Jazz just laughed at her until she saw the stern look in her mother's eye. "You make life interesting kid."

"That they do." Lorelai agreed.


oOo

The next morning, Lorelai woke up extremely tired, even more than usual without her first cup of coffee. She'd been sleepy the past couple of weeks but today it felt like the sandman had personally chose her to burry in his sandbox last night. Luke was long past gone to open the diner but she found it comforting to grab his pillow and hug it; it smelled like him. This morning, she hugged it a little tighter. Her stomach wasn't feeling well so she clutched it tightly and closed her eyes breathing in the scent of her husband.

30 minutes or so later, she finally talked herself into getting out of bed because the urge to pee was really strong now. As she sat up, the upset stomach she had was worse than before when she was laying down. She rushed to the bathroom and began throwing up. Great… the flu. Luke's going to have a field day lecturing me on my eating habits this week, she thought. She called Sookie to tell her she wasn't coming in and then went back to sleep.


oOo

It was lunch time and usually Lorelai would have come in twice by now- once for coffee and once more for coffee and lunch. Luke had grown accustomed to the boisterous woman coming in to banter with him and not having seen his wife made him a little sad. It also worried him so he called the Inn when there was a Lull. Whitley picked up.

"Dragonfly Inn, this is Whitley Speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hey Whitley, This is Luke. Is Lorelai there? She hasn't come by and I just wanted to check on her."

"Oh, Sookie told me she called in sick. It's actually my day off but I got called in to cover. Sookie's on her way bringing her some soup."

"Oh, alright. Thanks. I'll just call her at the house later. Bye Whit."

"Bye, Luke."


oOo

Sookie made it over to Lorelai's to find her sitting in sweat pants on her couch, hair in a messy bun watching Funny Face and holding tissue. Sookie knew Lorelai loved the movie but it was hardly something to cry at.

"Lorelai? Are you alright?" she queried. "I brought chicken noodle soup. I even refrained from adding carrots because I know you don't like them."

"Aw, Sook, thank you. You're the best friend and chef a gal could have. But I actually wouldn't mind a carrot right now."

"Lorelai, the last time I tried to feed you a carrot you took it out to the herb garden Jackson planted for us and looked for a rabbit saying 'Here Bugs! Bugs Bunny, I have a carrot for you!' and when you couldn't find one, you went to the barn and fed it to Cledus," Sookie reminded her.

"I know Sookie. This has been a twilight-zoney week for me. I'm so tired and this morning I was throwing up now I'm crying and wanting carrots and… Oh my God I'm pregnant!" Lorelai exclaimed as though a lightbulb had just come on.

"You're pregnant? Are you sure? Did you take a test?"

"No Sookie. It was the last thing on my mind this week. I haven't tested but I'm pretty sure. I only eat healthy when pregnant and all of the other stuff fits. I think I'm pregnant. Luke and I have been sort of trying, sort of not preventing since we got married. I need to take a test to be sure but I'm going to have to hit up another town, or another state to keep the town folk from talkin 'bout it."

"Go! Go! Get dressed and go!" Sookie was excited as she rushed Lorelai up the stairs. "and Lorelai-"

"Yeah Sook?"

"I'm so damn happy for you. You and Luke deserve this."

"Thanks Sookie. Let's hold off on popping out the sparkling cider just yet. I'm not sure, yet."


oOo

"Lorelai Danes" a pretty woman in purple scrubs called to her and she followed her behind the door to a patient room.

"I see you're here to take a pregnancy test."

"Yeah. I would go to a grocery store but I live in Stars Hollow and they're nosey and the garbage guy or my neighbors could see the box so I figured I'd come to the clinic."

"Understood. Well It's pretty simple, I have a cup for you to pee in. You just write your name on it here in pen and then put it in the metal box in the wall of the bathroom. We'll collect it from the other side and then let you know the test results. It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. Today's a slow day since everyone's on holiday mode." The woman handed her the cup and pen to write on. She then guided her to the patient bathroom where Lorelai did as told.

"Ms. Danes?" The woman in scrubs came back.

"Mrs. Danes. I'm married. But you can just call me Lorelai. I prefer that," Lorelai said nervously awaiting the results.

"Sorry, Lorelai. How pregnant do you want to be?"

"Um well, I love my husband and we each have one of our own, but we both want one together. We weren't avoiding it."

"Well then, congratulations. Not avoiding pregnancy worked for you. The test is positive. You'll get to give your husband a great Christmas gift."

Lorelai was stunned. She didn't think it would be this easy to get pregnant again. Then again, with Rory it only took her and Christopher some tequila and 5 minutes of bad judgment when she was 16.

A baby- they were having a baby.

"Thank you." Lorelai told the woman. They went through the standard discharge stuff; she was also given some samples of prenatal vitamins, referrals for doctors and was out the door. She hardly remembered any of it though because she was so damn happy. She was excited to tell her husband the news. She decided to wait until Christmas though so she could do it really cutesy.


oOo

The pageant went well. Bryan had heard from Lane that Whitley was performing and he went and watched the show. When she saw him out there in the second row before she was about to make her entrance, she nearly froze. But then she remembered Lorelai's speech about a guy who loves you for you and this was her. She liked to sing and she had been practicing so if he didn't like it then oh well.

Bryan did like it. He came up to her after the show with flowers- a dozen purple carnations and one pink rose. He first handed the rose to the most rambunctious chicken of the manger scene who was being held by her mother. Then he looked the curly haired woman in the eyes but still with complete nervousness and said "I got these for you. You were beautiful out there." They both blushed.

"Thank you. They're prefect. I love carnations. They're my favorite flower." She smelled them.

"Awesome. I got them because I know purple's one of your favorite colors. You always seem to have something purple on Jazz or yourself."

"You notice what we wear?"

"Yeah. Um, not in a creepy way. It's just, I spend a lot of time at Lane's and I see you around and you're really pretty… you both are."

"Bryan-"

He interrupted her not wanting to lose his nerve. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling. A little nervous here. I just, well I was wondering… would you like to go out with me sometime? Like on a date? I mean of course you wouldn't. You're way too-"

It was now her turn to cut him off. "I'd love to. Go on a date with you that is. I'd really like that."

Bryan involuntarily smiled. "Really?"

"Do you really want to risk asking me again?"

"Good point. I'll take the win. So I'll call you? Maybe we can do something for New Year's?"

"Sounds Good."


A/N: Hey guys- this one's a little more snapshot like because there were two stories I really wanted to tell. It also makes it on the longer side. Please feel free to comment :)