A/N: Just wanted to say thanks for all of the reviews, especially jntvfreak24 who reviews every chapter not long after it is posted.

When Rory heard knocking on her door on Monday morning she raced to answer it. She excitedly hugged her mother, who nearly knocked her over in her excitement. There was none of the anger that plagued them the last time they had met at her door. When they had finally untangled themselves Rory hugged Luke almost as excitedly and he awkwardly hugged her back. They spent a few minutes catching up.

"Your bookcases are in the truck." Luke said.

"And all of your books, we almost needed to make a second trip to fit all of them, but Luke made them fit somehow." Lorelai added.

"Jim said he'd help you carry the bookcases in."

"He might need to help with the books too. Your mother insisted on packing your books into big boxes so they're quite heavy."

Lorelai just shrugged in response to this and whispered to Rory, "That way we don't have to carry them." Causing Rory to giggle.

They went down into the diner and Rory called Jim over. "Jim, this is Luke, Luke, Jim." Then men shook hands awkwardly, both saying "Hey." Lorelai gave Jim a brief hug in greeting and they told each other it was nice to see the other again. The townspeople were all watching intently, of course, although the four of them didn't seem to notice.

Jim and Luke started heading out to the truck to get the first of the bookcases while Lorelai and Rory sat at the counter and ordered coffee. "Kudos for using the big heavy boxes, Mom. This is nice."

"It sure is. The coffee's not as good as Luke's though."

"I know, but it's pretty close."

"You shouldn't really be drinking coffee."

"Like you didn't drink it when you were pregnant with me. Besides I'm only having 1 cup a day. I didn't have one earlier so I could have a cup with you."

"Awww, you're such a wonderful daughter."

Rory and Lorelai were finished their coffee by the time the men came in. Rory gave them both a hug in thanks before rushing excitedly up to see her books and bookcases.

"Well, I think you've both secured a place in Rory's heart forever." Lorelai joked to the pair of them. Both of them brushed her off.

"More coffee?" Jim asked.

"Of course, you don't need to ask." Lorelai said.

Jim grinned and poured her another coffee.

"So, has Rory been good? She's okay here, right?" Lorelai said, still somewhat concerned about her daughter's welfare being so far away.

Before Jim could reassure Lorelai they heard shouting coming from upstairs. This confused them, as Rory was up there alone. As they got closer they heard a male voice in the room. Jim and Luke raced to the door. Jim reached the door a moment sooner, bursting through to find a boy about Rory's age pulling her to him by her arm. Before anyone else had a chance to react he had the boy pinned to the wall shouting, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Luke started striding over there looking like he was going to punch him in the face, but Lorelai got between them before he had a chance. "Luke, no. You can't he's just a kid. He's not worth the trouble you'll get into."

Rory went over to where Jim held a now terrified looking Dean. "Jim, it's okay. He wasn't hurting me. He's, uh, the baby's father."

"You're okay?" Jim asked her, still holding Dean.

"Yeah, he didn't hurt me."

Jim reluctantly released Dean and Dean relaxed slightly. He went to step closer to Rory, but as he did Luke and Jim stepped closer to him so he went back to standing against the wall.

"What the hell is going on?" Lorelai asked.

"I found out where Rory lives and that she's having an ultrasound today so I wanted to come with her."

"How did you even find out?" Rory asked.

"My parents still live in Stars Hollow, they hear things. My dad called and told me." Dean said.

"Are you sure he didn't hurt you at all?" Luke asked, looking for any marks he may have caused but not finding anything.

"I promise he didn't. We were just verbally fighting, when we stopped he was pulling me in to hug him."

"I should have you charged." Dean muttered at Jim.

Rory glared at him and said angrily, "For being concerned about me? It would be nice if you were concerned about the mother of your child, who you claim to love."

"I am concerned, that's why I'm here. I wanted to come with you and make sure you and the baby are okay. I want to see her."

"Okay." Rory said.

"Okay?" Lorelai asked in disbelief. "After the way he treated you?"

"Mom, this is none of your business. Yes, okay. If he wants to be part of his daughter's life I'm not going to stop him."

"He'll leave as soon as she's born."

"He's not Dad, Mom. I'm going to give him a chance."

"He's already had a chance. He told you to get rid of her."

"Fine, he gets a second chance. How many chances did Dad get? I think Dean deserves a second chance."

"Fine." Lorelai said sulkily.

"Can I have more time alone with Rory?" Dean asked.

Three sets of eyes glared at him angrily. Dean put his hands up in surrender "Okay, okay. I just thought I'd ask."

When Rory opened the door to head back down to the diner they found Lizzy, a middle aged town gossip, on the other side.

"What are you doing, Lizzy?" Jim asked angrily.

"Oh. I, uh, I was just wondering if you have any jobs available."

"Get out of here, Lizzy." He shouted.

When the five of them got downstairs they saw Lizzy talking quietly to a group of people.

That afternoon Rory, her mother and Dean were going to the doctor's appointment. Luke was staying back at the apartment to secure the bookcases and Jim was helping. They were taking Dean's car rather than Luke's truck and Lorelai had informed Dean that she would be driving. He protested slightly but Rory backed up her mother and Dean reluctantly gave in. Lorelai had been doing such a good job of ignoring Dean that she had almost forgotten he was there, in the backseat, because of course Rory needed to be in the front in her delicate state. Of course, Dean wouldn't have sat in the front seat next to Lorelai anyway.

"Rory, I want you to come home after you have her."

"Mom, we've been through this, why are you bringing this up again?"

"I don't mean permanently. You all decided you will take 3 months off after she's born, right? I want you to come home for those 3 months."

"Mom, I've already told you, I'm staying here. I'm doing this on my own. You think that if I come home for a few months, I'll just stay?"

"Rory, calm down. I'm not trying to make you angry, can we just talk about this calmly, please?"

"Okay."

"Okay. I promise I just mean those 3 months. That's all. I lived with my parents for about a year after you were born. I will still be working so I won't be interfering. You can do things your way."

"Mom, I…"

"Will you just let me talk, please?" Rory sighed, but she didn't say anything, so Lorelai continued, "you're still going to have expenses while you're not working, there's rent, bills…"

"I don't have to pay rent or bills for those 3 months, we talked about it…"

"Food, diapers, clothes, you still need to buy her a cot and stroller and things…"

"I have some money saved up…"

"For 3 months of not working? Enough to buy everything you will need before she's born and to support the two of you for the three months you're not working?"

"Yes, maybe."

"Maybe?"

"I don't know."

"I promise I won't interfere with your parenting, Rory. You can move back here after 3months and work like you were going to, Luke and I will help you. I want to spend as much time with my granddaughter as I can. When you're back at work you'll never be able to visit. The people of Stars Hollow will want to meet her. They miss you too. I'll help you any time I can, but only if you want it. If you tell me to back off I will."

"Okay." Rory said quietly, what Kelly had said the other night and the points her mother were making were convincing her.

"Okay?"

"Okay. But I'm moving back here as soon as those three months are up."

"Deal."

Dean stood awkwardly near the examination table that Rory was lying on, Lorelai was standing next to Rory holding her hand. Dr. Matthews was applying the gel to Rory's stomach. She then placed the wand on Rory's stomach and started moving it around. When they heard the sound of a heartbeat and the view of the baby on the screen, Lorelai squealed with delight.

"That's my daughter." Dean said in awe, taking Rory's other hand in his.

"Mine too." Rory added, eyes glued to the screen.

"My granddaughter." Lorelai said, tearing up and squeezing Rory's hand.

"So how are Rory and the baby doing?" Dean asked in concern. "Are they both healthy? Is the baby developing okay? There aren't any problems, are there?"

"As far as I can tell they're both fine. We'll test the samples the nurse took earlier, but they both seem to be perfectly healthy and she seems to be developing beautifully."

Dean let out a relieved breath. The three of them were still watching the screen intently and Dr. Matthews couldn't bring herself to ask them to leave yet. "I have to get ready for my next patient, do you want to hold this so you can see her for a few more minutes?" She asked, offering the wand to Lorelai.

Lorelai took it from her, thanking her, and Dr. Matthews left the room. Lorelai had been watching Dean. His genuine concern about Rory and the baby's well-being, the way he watched the screen. "Do you want a turn?" Lorelai managed to ask, offering the wand to Dean as a peace offering.

Dean gratefully took the wand from Lorelai, "Thank you." He said, doing his best to smile at her, though she made him very uncomfortable.

When they got back the men had finished securing the bookcases and had even put her books on them. "Thank you" Rory said excitedly, hugging them both, both hugged her awkwardly in return.

"They're all out of order." Lorelai whispered to Rory. Rory rolled her eyes at her mother.

They all started to head towards the diner but after Luke, Lorelai and Jim had left the apartment, Dean held Rory, shutting and locking the door between her apartment and the diner.

"Rory, we need to talk."

"About what?"

"About us."

"Dean, I already told you there is no us."

"But there can be."

"I don't know if I want there to be."

"I want to be there for her, for both of you."

"You can be there for her if we're not together."

"I'll get a job, I'll move here, we can do this together. We can be a family, Rory. I want to be a family. I love you, Rory."

"I need more time to decide, Dean." She had to admit, being a family appealed to her. She still loved Dean, she just still wasn't able to forgive him for telling her to get rid of the baby. She didn't know if she ever could.

Dean saw her face soften and took the opportunity to pull her into a hug. She hugged him briefly and pulled away. He leaned down to kiss her softly on the lips and Rory quickly left the apartment, even more confused about whether or not she wanted to be with Dean.

"Are you okay?" Her mom asked when she entered the diner.

"I'm fine. I just need coffee."

"You already had coffee today."

"Just for today I need another one. It's been a long day."

Lorelai nodded and Jim poured Rory a cup of coffee.

"I have to go. Bye." Dean said as he came down from the apartment, waved to everyone, and headed towards the door.