Chapter 21: "So how soon can you have a copy of that picture for us to hang up?"

A few days after she told Rory and Riley about the baby, Lorelai had informed April who was just as excited to be getting a younger sibling and they set up a time for Rory and Riley to come to Stars Hollow so they could take their family photo. Lorelai was using the excuse to Luke of wanting a photo of all of them to hang in the house now that they had completely moved into their new home.

"So where are we taking this ridiculous picture?" Luke asked as he poured a cup of coffee for Lorelai.

"In the living room and it's not ridiculous," she told him, drinking the coffee with a slight smile, "I thought it would be nice with that painting on the wall behind the couch. We can have the kids sit on the couch and we'll stand behind them."

"I guess that's okay," he said, "I still don't get why we need a picture. I hate pictures."

"Because it's fun and because I don't want our wedding to be the first time we take a family photo," Lorelai said.

"I guess that makes sense," Luke said, "And I suppose a picture of all of us to hang above the fireplace or something would be pretty cool."

"See, now you're getting the idea," Lorelai told him.

"When are we doing this?" Luke asked.

"Soon. Rory called a little while ago and said they were on the way so as soon as they get here we can do it," she said, "April is up already, she's just working on homework."

"Okay, good. Well, I'm going to go check on things at the diner before they get here," Luke said.

"Sure, I'll call you when they get here and we can have everything all set up so all you have to do is stand where we tell you and smile," Lorelai told him.

"Perfect," Luke said, giving her a kiss, "I'll see you in a bit."

Not long after Luke left did Rory and Riley arrive along with Tristan and Stephanie. Lorelai gave Rory and Riley their shirts she made to change into while she went upstairs to put on her and to tell April to get hers on as well. Once they all had their shirts on Rory, Riley, and April sat down on the couch to wait for Luke to arrive. Sitting on the couch their back was to the front door so all Luke would have to do is walk in and stand behind the couch as Stephanie took the picture. Lorelai put a light jacket on over hers and planned to unzip it after Luke was in position for the photo.

"Hey, Tristan," Luke said walking into the house after Lorelai called him to say they were ready for the picture.

"Luke. So everything's already to go," Tristan told him, "Steph just needs you to get in place and she can take the picture."

"Sounds good," Luke said, "Hey kids."

"Hey," they all responded, turning their heads to the side just slightly to acknowledge Luke without him seeing their shirt.

"Okay, so we're all set," Stephanie said standing in front of them with her camera ready. She couldn't help but smile as she looked at them in their shirts ready to announce to Luke he was going to be a father again. Lorelai had printed 'Luke,' on hers and going across the kid's' shirts as they sat on the couch was the sentence, 'You're going to be a daddy, again!', "I'll just count to three and then I'll take the picture. Is everybody ready?"

"We're good," Lorelai told her with a smile.

"Alright then. One - two - three," Stephanie said, snapping a few photos in quick succession, "Great, give me a minute and I'll put the memory card in my computer so you can see it."

"Perfect," Lorelai said, zipping her jacket back up.

"We'll be back in a second. April wanted to show us something upstairs," Riley said, leaving the living room with Rory and April following him quickly before Luke had the chance to see their shirts.

"Are we ready to look?" Rory asked after her, Riley, April came back downstairs a few minutes laters after changing their shirts.

"Yep we're all set," Stephanie said turning her computer towards Luke, "You want to take a look, Luke?"

"Oh, I'm sure it's fine, but if you want me to," he said, grabbing the computer and pulling it towards him.

"Luke?"

"Dad?"

"Luke, honey are you alright?" Lorelai asked him after a few seconds as he sat there staring at the screen.

"Is this for real?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, it's real," Lorelai told him, placing a hand on her stomach and smiling.

"You're having a baby?" he questioned.

"We're having a baby," she said, moving towards him so she could place his hand on her stomach and covered it with hers, "You're going to be a daddy again."

"Wow, I. Wow, this is, wow," Luke said.

"Are you happy?" Lorelai asked.

"Extremely happy," he told her, kissing her lips then bending down to kiss her stomach, "So how soon can you have a copy of that picture for us to hang up?"

For the rest of the afternoon Lorelai told Luke everything that was going on so far with her and the baby. She had only had one doctor's appointment where she was informed that she was six weeks pregnant and had another scheduled for the following week that Luke told her he would be there for and for all the one's after.

"Hey, wait, you've known for a week that you were pregnant and you've still been drinking coffee," Luke said.

"Oh ye of little faith," Lorelai told him, grabbing the canister of coffee from the counter and a bag of coffee from the cabinet, handing him the bag.

"It's decaf," he said.

"Yes it is. Now, smell the bag and then smell the canister," she said.

"They're exactly the same. You switched the coffee in the canister," Luke said, "You've actually been drinking decaf?"

"Yep, I knew you wouldn't like it if I stuck to the regular stuff so I switched it and only went to the diner when April was there so she could pour me the decaf without anyone knowing," Lorelai said.

"So, you've willingly given up your coffee," Luke said.

"Well, I wouldn't say willingly. Again, I knew you would ask me to, but also the doctor said it was best for the baby. I'm not too old to have a kid, but I'm a lot older than I was with Rory and Riley," Lorelai said.

"Is everything alright though, with you and the baby?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, but since I'm older and it's been awhile since I was pregnant the doctor said I shouldn't expect this pregnancy to be exactly the same," Lorelai said.

"Well, you only carrying one baby so of course it's different," Luke said, "It is only one, right?"

"Yes, it's just one. I had her double and triple check that," Lorelai said, "But mostly what she meant was I shouldn't expect my body to react to the changes that are happening to it the way they did when I was a teenager."

"That makes sense," Luke said.

"But that doesn't mean that this won't be a completely normal pregnancy," Lorelai said.

"Good, so does anyone else know?" Luke asked.

"Besides my doctor the only people that know are in this house," Lorelai said.

"Do you know when you'll tell your parents?" he asked.

"I'd love to wait until the twelve week mark, but there's no way Mom won't question me if I go to Friday Night Dinner and decline alcohol," Lorelai said.

"That's true, so you're going to tell her next Friday then," Luke said.

"That's the plan and then after I tell them I'll tell Christopher and you can tell Anna," Lorelai said, "I'd like to wait to tell the rest of the town, but I'll probably tell Sookie and you can tell Liz and Jess if you want."

"Yeah, sounds good," Luke said.

"Are you excited to be the big sister?" Rory asked April as the two of them and Stephanie sat in April's room listening to music and looking through magazines.

"Yeah, it will be nice to have someone that looks up to me like I do with you and Riley," April said, "And it will be nice for Dad to have the chance to be there like he wasn't for me."

"Yeah, and if it's a boy it will be nice for Mom, too. She'll have a chance to raise a boy since she didn't raise Riley," Rory said.

"I find it amazing that you three aren't jealous," Stephanie said, "Especially you April. You just met Luke and now he's having another kid."

"I did have that thought at first. This kid is going to get to grow up knowing both of its parents," April said, "And that made me jealous at first."

"Like Riley was when Dad and Sherry had Gigi," Rory said.

"Exactly, but then I realized that even though it sucked for me growing up without a Dad, it to have sucked even more for Luke when we met because he missed out on even knowing I existed," April said, "I at least knew I had a Dad out there somewhere."

"Very true," Stephanie said.

"So how's things going with Jay?" Rory asked.

"Really good. We've gone out a few more times since you last saw him, we talk all the time, and of course we see each other at school." April said.

"Good, so you really like him don't you?" Rory asked.

"Yeah, a lot. I never saw myself getting serious about a guy so young, but I really like him, Rory," April said, "And I know we've only been going out a few weeks, but I can see myself falling for him."

"Aww, that's so sweet," Stephanie said.

"I agree, but just remember not to move too fast too soon, okay," Rory said, "You're only sixteen, you've got a lot of years ahead of you to get serious about a guy."

"I know. I have no plans to go any further than making out and I'm not in love with him or at least not yet," April said, "But I feel like I could love him someday. "

While the girls were talking in April's room, Riley and Tristan were in Riley's room doing the same.

"Luke seems pretty excited," Tristan said.

"Very. I'm happy for them. Mom and Luke were made for each other and now Luke will get the chance to be there for his kid," Riley said.

"And of course you're hoping for a boy to even things out," Tristan said.

"Sort of. It would be nice to have a little brother," Riley said.

"But?" Tristan asked.

"But, I can't help but feel a little jealous of the baby being a boy," Riley said.

"Jealous of the baby, why?"

"Because he'll get to grow up being raised by Mom."

"Ah, so it's the Gigi situation again."

"Yeah and I know it's stupid."

"Incredibly stupid. You know Lorelai would have raised you if she could."

"I know. I know they did the best they could with the situation they were given, but there are still times when I'm reminded of what I didn't have growing up and it gets to me."

"Yeah, Rory has those moments, too, but you just have to remember how lucky you are. That in spite of growing up with only one parent, that one parent loved you more than anything."

"You're right, and Mom deserves the chance to raise a baby with someone rather then all alone."

"Very true," Tristan said.

"So should we see what the girls are up to?" Riley asked.

"Why not," Tristan said.