A/N: Let's bounce back to the early days of baby Jack's life, and something a little bit traditional with the Gilmore elders ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see 1.)

12. The Gilmore Heir - 6th August 2005

"Tell me again why we're doing this?" asked Jess, adjusting the tie that felt as if it was choking him.

Rory rolled her eyes, passing him the car seat that held their son as she fixed the mess her fiancé just made of his collar. She knew he wasn't looking forward to this day, largely because it involved a lot of being amongst people, with one of the major players being Emily Gilmore. Rory wasn't exactly thrilled about having to try to keep the peace all day either, but the event itself ought to be a nice affair, overdone but nice.

In the same way that Rory had chosen to go ahead and attend a coming out ball when she was sixteen for the sake of her grandparents wishes, so too she and Jess had agreed to the fancy christening that Emily and Richard felt very much necessary for their first and only great grandchild. It wasn't very much to ask, and they had been as supportive as they could be this past year. Sure, when Rory first returned from NYC with a baby bump and an ex in tow, Emily had not reacted at all well, but things were better now, most of the time.

"I mean, your grandpa I can handle. Richard actually likes me, and despite being two generations apart, we can find things to talk about," Jess explained. "But Emily is just... Well, let's be honest, she flat out hates me. Nobody could possibly disappoint her more than the trash that knocked up her precious granddaughter."

"Oh, no!" exclaimed Lorelai from behind them, making both Rory and Jess jump since they hadn't known she was there. "No way, mister. You do not get to come cruising in here all dark and moody and steal my hard-earned title!" she said definitely, even as Luke rolled his eyes. "I am Emily Gilmore's biggest disappointment, and don't you forget it," she said, hand dramatically placed over her heart.

Jess smirked at her performance.

"Pardon me for forgetting," he apologised. "I think I rank a pretty close second though."

"Ironic, isn't it?" she smiled at him then. "When I got pregnant at sixteen, it was all my fault. Christopher was practically an angel in comparison, despite the part he played. Then when it's our Rory who does the deed and makes the out-of-wedlock baby, the guy is to blame," she sighed, peering down at her adorable grandson as she spoke of him. "God knows where the blame lands if this whole cycle goes around a third time with you, kid," she said to the sleepy baby.

Rory's eyes widened just a little.

"Mom, he's five months old," she reminded her. "I really don't think we have to worry about teen pregnancy issues right now."

"Agreed," said Luke with a nod. "Probably best to concentrate on getting through this day first. It's going to be enough to deal with, without contemplating any future Emily Gilmore explosions."

Jess let out a heavy sigh, knowing his uncle was right. He really was not looking forward to any of this. It was the middle of August, a sweltering hot day, and he was trapped in a suit, forced to spend time with Emily and a bunch of other Gilmores that would no doubt dote on Rory and Jack whilst looking down their collective noses at Jess himself.

They still didn't come to Friday Night Dinner every week, but had attended around once a month since Jack was born. It seemed to work for everybody, and Jess found he could just about grin and bear it through this minimal number of meals. After all, with Jack and Rory getting almost all of the attention, Jess was left alone to eat and not be bothered by the Gilmore elders too much.

When they suggested the christening however, all eyes fell upon Jess. He had to assume they were expecting a fight. It was worth agreeing with the idea just to see the shock on Emily's face, which was pretty comical. Honestly, Jess didn't mind his son being christened. After all, though he wouldn't call himself denominational at all, he did believe there was a God. Even Rory had looked surprised when he said so, but he wasn't sure why. If anything proved the existence of a higher being, it was the way Jess had been saved from a life of ultimate destruction. Luke and Rory had been his salvation in so many ways and that just couldn't be a coincidence. Though he had no idea how or why he came to deserve it, somebody had to be watching out for Jess, at least that's what he thought at this point in his life.

Shaking himself from too much deep thought, Jess realised Lorelai was now ringing the doorbell and a maid swiftly came to let them in. Emily and Richard were two steps behind the help, quick to welcome everybody in before Emily went into full panic mode over things Jess cared nothing about - catering mishaps, the wrong flowers in the church, stuff that just didn't matter at all as far as he could tell, at least not unless you were Emily Gilmore.

"Seriously, Mom. Jack is not even five months old yet. He doesn't care if everything isn't full on perfect," Lorelai told her. "Hell, I'll be happy if we get through the ceremony without him peeing or puking."

"Amen," agreed Rory as they went through to the living room.

"Lorelai, don't say hell!" Emily admonished her loudly. "And Amen is to be reserved for prayers, young lady," she reminded Rory.

"We're not in church yet, Mom", her daughter pointed out, but Emily wasn't listening anyway.

Jack had woken up and his great-grandparents were quick to tell him what a special day this was, how important and everything. Strangely, they mentioned nothing of his being welcomed into the family of Christ. All talk seemed to be of the fancy people attending the service, the fact a bishop was performing it, and the long line of Gilmores Jack was following in the footsteps of.

"Can someone follow in footsteps when they can't even walk yet?" Lorelai asked Luke, who shook his head slightly, wearing an expression that asked her to please stop.

"Grandma, you do remember that we're having him christened as a Mariano, right?" said Rory quickly. "I mean, I know Jack is a Gilmore on my side, but he's registered Mariano after Jess. Once we're married, we all want to have the same name."

"Of course we know that, dear," said Richard with a warm smile when it seemed Emily was unwilling to respond or even look away from her precious great-grandson. "We're proud to have both Marianos present included in our family," he said, looking at Jess.

"Thank you," he answered politely, though the way he was fidgeting beside Rory proved he really would rather be anywhere but here.

She put her hand into his and intertwined their fingers, giving him an encouraging smile when he glanced her way.

"Just breathe," she whispered. "You're doing great."

"Yeah? 'Cause I don't feel very Tony the Tiger right now," he countered just as softly.

"Here's my boy!" exclaimed Emily with evident joy as she lifted Jack from his car seat and held him aloft.

Lorelai bit her lip before a The Lion King reference slipped out. As much as she loved to make her mother crazy, today wasn't a good day for it. Jess looked set to bolt already and Rory was clearly not comfortable, caught between her new family and the Gilmore Elders. Lorelai needed to be helping right now, not hindering. Of course when Jack made a grab for Great Grandma Emily's earring and almost yanked it clean out of her ear, it was impossible not to snigger just a little bit.

"Oh, Grandma, I'm sorry!" said Rory quickly, rushing to retrieve her son from Emily's arms. "Jack, no," she reminded her son. "We don't grab."

"Yeah, he sure has reached that grabby hands stage already," said Lorelai. "Which most guys never quite grow out of, thankfully," she winked at Luke who visibly coloured. "Seriously though, Mom, it's lucky he didn't get that thing out of your ear. The kid is all for shoving just about anything in his mouth and I don't think swallowing the family jewels would be a great start to a christening day."

Emily was busy checking herself in the nearest mirror, glad to see no real damage had been done either to her earring or the lobe it was attached to. It had to hurt though, even Jess realised that.

"Hey, no attacking Grandma, bubba," he told his son, a gentle hand to Jack's head as Rory held the little boy in her lap. "When somebody throws you a party, Miss Manners says you gotta be grateful, whether you like it or not."

Rory gave him a look that said he was walking a fine line, and yet she was smiling all the same because she just couldn't help it.

Emily didn't say a word.


"I baptise you, Jack Lucas Richard Mariano, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Rory felt oddly emotional as she watched her son go through the process of being christened. He made no fuss as the water was tipped over his head and even reached for the bishop's hand, presumably wanting another dousing. He behaved impeccably throughout, making no noise or fuss, which was pretty miraculous given how rambunctious he could usually be.

"You okay?" asked Jess in a whisper, his hand finding hers a moment.

"Yeah, I'm good," she smiled across at him, turning to look as Jack was handed back to Lane.

She stood alongside Zach and Jackson as the full set of Godparents. Apparently it was tradition for a boy to have two Godfathers and one Godmother, and though family members could be selected, Rory and Jess decided to go outside of the circle to include their friends. Well, Rory made the suggestion and Jess went with it, since none of this really mattered to him in the first place. He did trust that Lane and Zach would do their best by Jack, particularly the former. No-one was better qualified to look after a kid's spiritual well-being than Mrs Kim's daughter! Jackson was chosen mostly because he was Sookie's husband and a boy was just not allowed two Godmothers, at least Emily said not anyway. Besides, he already had two kids of his own, so there was father experience in place too.

The ceremony ended with a final prayer, and Jess watched his son looking around at the crowd from the safety of Lane's arms, whilst the bishop blessed them all. In his head, Jess said his own prayer, just asking God to look out for his son no matter what.

'I know he wasn't made in a marriage like you'd want, but that's not his fault. One things's for sure, he came out of love, but then I'm pretty sure you already know that'.

"Jess?" said Rory, pulling on his hand. "You okay?" she checked, glad to see him smile.

"Yeah, I'm good," he promised her, squeezing her hand in his own. "I guess today wasn't so bad."

"I guess not," she agreed, grinning as Jack laughed loudly and the joyful noise echoed through the whole church.