Thanks for the feedback! Happy New Year!

Rory wakes up the next morning, forgetting at first that Jess is there. Stretching, she hears Jess's cough, and puts a robe on over her shirt and sweatpants before going into the living room.

"Hey."

"Hey," Jess says, looking up from his book. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

Rory goes into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water and her heart catches at the picture on the refrigerator.

"Happy New Year, kid," she says quietly. Sipping the water, she goes back into the living room and laughs. Jess is reading her pregnancy book and Rory asks,

"Learn anything interesting?"

"It definitely paints a picture," Jess remarks. "Hope you don't mind me reading it."

"Not at all. Do you want some coffee?"

"I'll make it."

Jess gets up, leaving the book on the couch and Rory flicks through. She hasn't managed to finish it yet. Each chapter leaves her with a new kind of nervousness, and that was before Rory had even looked at the photos of childbirth.

"Here," Jess says, coming back with a cup, and Rory takes it gratefully.

"Thanks," she says. "And thanks for coming over, last night."

"I wanted to."

"I know. But it means a lot."

Jess smiles and asks carefully,

"Do you feel better?"

"Better than I did," Rory says honestly. "But as for the stuff with Grandma - I don't know. I don't know how to start with her."

"You'll figure it out," Jess says and Rory shrugs. "You will, I know you."

"Yeah. Well."

They finish their coffee in silence and Jess points at something on the desk, in the corner.

"Are those the chapters you've written?"

"Same ones I showed you," Rory says, putting her cup down. She feels a little awkward but nods when Jess asks,

"Can I read them? Is that okay?"

"Go ahead."

Jess takes a seat, opening the pages and his eyes frown with concentration. Rory folds and unfolds her hands, suddenly self-conscious, and announces,

"I'm going to take a shower."

"Sure."

Rory locks herself in the bathroom, stepping under the steamy water. There's something very strange about her friend reading her words, and Rory wonders if Jess felt the same giving his book to her. She thought he was crazy, telling her he'd do it over, but now she has a mad urge to race outside and snatch the pages from him. Rory is positive they're terrible. Shaking herself, she concentrates on soaping her body and looks down. She's sure it's her imagination, but her stomach seems a little bigger and Rory wonders if this is the start of a bump. Carefully, she puts a hand over it but it feels just the same. It's probably her imagination, as it's the new year. Either way, she reasons, it'll start soon. It's January, and her second trimester. It's January, and Logan's getting married. Swallowing, Rory washes the soap off and steps out. She takes her time getting dressed but when she comes out Jess is still reading, smiling as he looks up.

"It's great."

"It's awful."

"No, it's not."

"Yes, it is. It's terrible, isn't it?"

"Rory, it's great," Jess says seriously. "I mean it, you have to finish it."

Rory shrugs and Jess exclaims,

"Come on, you have to. I want to know how it ends."

"What?" Rory laughs. "You know how it ends!"

"I want to read it in your words."

Rory can't help smiling. Jess grins back and Rory adds,

"You know, that black eye chapter is going to be a lot funnier now."

"Ah, jeez," Jess groans. "I should never have told you."

"Everyone loves a funny story!"

"Funnier to some than others," Jess remarks, but he chuckles. His eyes meet Rory's and her retort stops as he smiles. She smiles back, forgetting what she was going to say, and instead awkwardly states,

"There's still hot water in the shower."

"Oh. Great."

"If you want one."

"Sure."

"I'll get a towel."

Turning on her heel, Rory hastens to the closet, feeling as hamfisted as a sixteen-year-old. What kind of a way is that to end a conversation? Still, Jess smiles as he takes the towel and Rory picks up the pregnancy book, concentrating on reading the chapter about what to expect this month. Supposedly morning sickness is going down, which is a plus, but the trade is fat ankles and 'feeling pregnant'. Rory looks nervously down at her stomach, as though it'll suddenly triple in size, and jumps when Jess comes in, shaking the water from his hair.

"Thanks. I left the towel in the bathroom."

"Oh. Thanks."

Rory puts the book down and Jess asks,

"Any plans for today?"

"Not really," Rory says. "I might call Mom, but that's it. What about you?"

"Nothing big. I said I might go for lunch with some of the guys from the Truncheon, but -"

"That should be fun."

"It's not definite," Jess says. "I mean, if you'd rather - I could hang out here longer."

"What? No, you go, Jess. I've got a ton of stuff to do anyway, and this book to finish - I'm just learning about how much water retention I'm going to get."

"Are you sure?"

"Go," Rory says firmly. "I said I might call Lane anyway. You'd better hit the road, Jess. There might be traffic."

"Okay," Jess says. He stops, hesitates, and then smiles.

"I had fun last night."

"Me too," Rory says seriously. "It was the best fun I've had a long time."

Jess nods, picks up his bag and smiles. Slinging his bag over his shoulder, he nods at Rory before going to the door.

"See you, Rory."

"See you, Jess."

"And I mean it about those chapters," Jess says. "Don't give up."

"Right."

Jess gives a small wave and walks out. Hurrying to the window, Rory watches until he turns the corner and has gone. Somewhat morose, she wanders back over to the couch and picks the book back up. She's just wrinkling her nose over sensitive gums and congestion when her phone rings. It's Lane, and Rory happily answers.

"Hey! I was going to call you. Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year! How's it going?"

"I'm reading about what to expect in the latest stage of pregnancy and I've got to tell you, it doesn't sound fun."

"That's because it's not."

"Oh, great!"

"But it's better than the first, and so much better than the third. You'll want to die by the ninth month."

"Fantastic."

"I was carrying twins though," Lane says consolingly. "It'll probably be better for you."

"I hope."

"What are you doing today? Besides me freaking you out?"

"Nothing. Jess just left."

"Excuse me, did you just say Jess left?" Lane asks in disbelief. "Or did Kwan really mess up my hearing by blowing that kazoo in my ear?"

"Your hearing's fine. He came over to keep my company."

"Well, colour me intrigued."

"There's nothing to tell," Rory says hotly. "We just played games and watched a movie."

"What kind of games?"

"A drinking game."

"A drinking game?"

"It wasn't with alcohol!"

"Still, though. Sounds like..."

Lane's voice trails off and Rory insists,

"Sounds like what?"

"Sounds like has a thing for you."

"A thing for me? Lane!" Rory laughs. "Come on. He's an old friend, we haven't been together in years, and besides, I'm pregnant. We were just hanging out."

"Did he stay over?"

"Yeah, but - he slept on the couch. Anyway, I just said I'm pregnant."

"That doesn't mean he's not interested."

"I think it does," Rory contradicts. "And besides, I don't have time to think about that. I'm having a baby in six months. That's all I can focus on."

"I still think it means something," Lane says staunchly. Rory sighs and finally asks,

"So what did you do last night?"

"We all went to the Stars Hollow party. It was fun, but we didn't stay past midnight."

"Steve and Kwan wanted to go to bed?"

"No, I did," Lane says, making Rory laugh. "Zack and I were exhausted! The kids could have stayed up all night."

"I wonder if mine will be like that."

Rory goes silent, biting her lip, and Lane asks,

"Rory? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just thinking about this year. I'm going to be a mom in June."

"Right," Lane says gently and Rory says,

"And I knew that, but it feels more real, suddenly."

"I know."

Rory sniffles, fighting a sudden lump in her throat.

"Logan's getting married this month."

"Oh, Rory."

"It shouldn't upset me so much."

"Why wouldn't it?" Lane asks comfortingly. "I can't imagine how you feel. What do you think he'd say, if you turned up?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Hypothetically."

"I think everyone would be wondering if they were in an episode of General Hospital - the pregnant ex-lover showing up at the guy's wedding. I don't want to think about it."

"Tell you what," Lane says gently, "on that day, come to mine and we'll have a sleepover. I'll get Zack to take the kids somewhere and we'll just hang out. Does that sound good?"

"Sounds great," Rory sniffles.

"I know it's scary," Lane says after a pause, "but it's exciting too. You're going to have a baby! Everyone here is excited."

"They just want to know who the father is."

"About that," Lane says awkwardly. "There's a new theory. They think it might be Jess."

Rory sits up so fast the book falls to the floor.

"What? Why on earth would they think that?"

"Well, they saw you together in the Gazette office, back in summer, and you were drinking and laughing, and dancing at the wedding, and then you were walking around together at Christmas...they think maybe you're more than friends."

"You're kidding."

"You did look very happy."

"Oh, God," Rory groans. "I don't believe this. I'm never going back again."

"Do you think you'll ever tell them?"

"No. I don't know," Rory says, suddenly tired. "Not right now. What did Mom and Luke say?"

"Lorelai laughed and Luke threatened to punch whoever asked about it again. He said you're pregnant and don't need to deal with this right now, and neither does he."

Rory laughs at that and Lane says,

"They all mean well. They just express it in a strange way."

"Plus they love gossip."

"Well, that too."

Rory closes her eyes and jerks them open as Lane asks,

"Do you think you'll move home?"

"Why?"

"No reason. I just thought that you might want help when the baby's born."

"I can have help without moving back."

"I know - people were just asking, that's all."

Lane sounds a little hurt and Rory quickly says,

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap."

"It's okay."

"I'm not mad at you."

"Rory, you're pregnant. When I was pregnant, I was mad at everybody."

Rory laughs and Lane says,

"Listen, I have to go. I'm supposed to go to Zach's parents for lunch and pick up the boys."

"Kiss them for me."

"I will. Bye, Rory."

"Bye, Lane."

Rory hangs up and lays still for a moment. She stares at the bump-or-not and says,

"You haven't been born and they're already making you into a country song. I'm sorry."

Shaking her head, Rory picks the book up but can't focus. It all goes round her head, Jess being there, the town's curiosity and that a new year has begun. A new year where Logan's getting married, will not be a father but Rory will be a mother and, exhausted, Rory closes her eyes. She wants to be enough.