A/N: Okay, I just need to say something here…if you don't like this story or find too many things wrong with it then why even read? I mean if it is not satisfying your reading needs then why on earth would you keep reading? It just bugs me, but whatever. I know the last chapter was pretty sucky and I'll try and write a better one. sighs Okay, let's get this over with…

Disclaimer: Don't own…

On with the story…

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Chapter 20: New Beginnings

"Thanks," Steve told Rory when she dropped him off at his house and walked inside to the waiting arms of his mother.

"Poor guy," Rory relented as she drove off towards the diner.

"Yeah, it has to be tough on him," Hailey agreed.

Molly sat silently in the back seat looking out the window thinking about Steve and if he was going to be okay. About 10 minutes after they left Steve's house Rory's cell phone rang.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Hey Ror!" Lane exclaimed.

"Lane! How are you? When are you coming home? I miss you!" Rory spit out all at once.

"That's why I called…," Lane trailed off at the end of her sentence.

"What?" Rory asked confused.

"Well, the tour has been extended, so we won't be home for another 2 weeks. But don't worry, I'll be home in time for school," Lane explained.

"Oh my God, Lane I am never going to survive another 2 weeks without my best friend," Rory whined.

"I know it sucks Rory, but think of it this way; the band and I are getting major exposure and someday when we become rich and famous, you will be in the thank-you section and I can introduce you to famous rock stars and you're mad aren't you?" Lane rambled.

"Of course I'm not mad Lane, I just miss you. Have a safe trip and call me everyday, do you hear me? Everyday!" Rory demanded.

"Yes ma'am!" Lane said.

"Alright, love you, bye," Rory said.

"Love you too, bye Ror," Lane replied and they each hung up their phones with a sigh. The rest of the car ride was a silent one.

--

Diner Apartment

"Shhh…come on Shell, stop crying for daddy. Please," Jess desperately pleaded with the almost 9 month old baby in his arms.

"Come on baby, settle done for daddy, please baby, I know you want your mommy but she had to pick up your sister and she'll be here soon," Shelby simply kept crying, very loudly as Jess tried, and failed, to quiet her my rocking her and patting her butt; trying endless times to give her a bottle or her ninny.

"Shh, baby I know you're sick, just try and sleep," she still didn't stop. Maybe if I read to her she'll fall asleep Jess thought.

Jess pulled out Oliver Twist and sat down on the couch to start reading to Shelby. After about 20 minutes she fell asleep. Jess looked down at the bundle of joy, his bundle of joy, and sighed, content, and soon fell asleep also.

--

"I'm home!" Hailey exclaimed as she walked through the diner door and walked up to the counter, "COFFEE! LUKE! COFFE NOW!"

"Alright, jeez, give me a second will ya!" Luke growled.

"Gee, don't I feel welcomed home," Hailey pouted.

"Hailey! Oh I'm sorry Hun; I didn't know it was you! Come 'ere!" Luke cracked a smile and swept Hailey up in a hug.

"Good to be home Luke," Hailey said, though it was muffled by Luke's flannel.

"Lorelai will be here any minute," Luke replied.

"Hey dad, where's Jess?" Rory asked.

"Upstairs with Shelby; she was being really fussy," Luke explained.

"Aw, poor baby, she must feel horrible. And Jess, oh God, he must be dying. I'm going to go up there. I'll be down for dinner okay Angel?" Rory directed the question towards Hailey.

"Sure," she answered idly as she gulped down her coffee.

"That's my girl!" you heard Rory say, referring to the coffee, before she made her way behind the curtain and up the stairs.

When she opened the door to the apartment she was touched by what she saw: Jess sleeping, holding Shelby tightly against his chest while she also slept. She didn't want to wake them so she simply crawled on the couch next to Jess, placed her head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

--

After an hour of sitting and catching up with Lorelai and Luke, Hailey was sitting, silently sipping her coffee, while listening to Kirk rambling about something or other. Suddenly, she felt two arms encircled waist from behind and a light kiss on the back of her neck. She shivered. She turned around and came face to face with Nick Clutch, from the party.

"Who's that?' Luke asked Lorelai as they watched the interaction from the other end of the counter.

Lorelai tried to read from their actions exactly how Hailey was feeling about the situation when she saw Hailey's face light up with excitement, but nervousness as well.

"I don't know, but just let them be. Hailey can handle herself, she did for 15 years," Lorelai replied calmly and sipped her coffee, "Just don't tell Jess," she smirked.

"What are you doing here?" Hailey asked with a smile.

"Well, you left for 3 months and I thought I'd come and say welcome home," he answered, then leaned in and kissed her fully on the lips. He lightly bit her bottom lip, asking for entrance, and she complied by slightly parting her lips. He pulled away a second later and smirked at her, "Welcome home."

He then let go of her waist and tugged on her hand. They then walked out the diner door and over to the gazebo to sit down.

"So, what does this," she waved her hands in between them, "mean?" Hailey asked.

Nick took her left hand in his right and kissed each knuckle once before replying, "I like you Hailey," he said as he looked sincerely into her eyes and smiled.

Hailey blushed immediately and looked down, "I like you too," she replied and brought her face up to look directly at him.

He smirked, "Good," then leaned in, Hailey met him halfway and they brushed their lips together in a soft kiss. He let her set the pace; Hailey cradled his face in her hands as he placed one hand on her hip and the other tangled in her hair. She nibbled on his bottom lip and he parted his lips as she darted her tongue in his mouth and back out again. She pulled away with a gleeful smile on her face that quickly changed to serious.

"Don't hurt me," Hailey whispered almost inaudibly.

"Never," Nick replied honestly while looking her directly in her eyes. He leaned in a gave her a quick kiss, then pulled her up, put an arm protectively around her waist, and tugged her close into his side as they made their way back over to the diner.

--

Macy's House

"I can't believe I'm packing…for college!" Macy exclaimed, "It's all so surreal you know?"

"Yeah, I still can't believe we're all going to Yale together, I'm so psyched!" Tyler agreed.

"I'm going to miss this place though, I don't what I'm going to do without my family and my beloved apartment," Matt relented.

"Well, first of all, you'll actually get some sleep without hearing a crying baby, and second of all they're like an hour, at most, away, you'll be fine," Tyler reasoned.

"Ah, yes a good night of sleep, haven't had one of those in awhile," Matt confessed.

"Oh shut-up! Rory takes Shelby too! Jess does not have her every night you assholes," Macy laughed.

"Maybe, but it's still annoying as hell," Matt said.

"I'm going to miss movie nights with my girls!" Macy ignored Matt's last comment, "What am I going to do without them girlies?"

"There's always us Mac," Tyler smirked.

"Oh, yeah, because you guys just love to watch chick flicks and talk about boys, right?" Macy asked.

"Oh of course babe, we're in touch with our feminine side," Matt gave a smirk of his own.

Macy playfully glared at the two but couldn't help but smile at her two best friends, "Now you two would be great replacements except, we also talk about our sex lives, so unless you can somehow tell me about Rory, Lane, and Paris' sex lives telepathically then you are of no help to me boys," she grinned mischievously at them and winked.

"Oh gross, that is my sister!" Matt exclaimed disgusted as he tried to wipe away the disturbing mental image in his head.

"That's what you get you jackass," Macy stated simply.

"This is going to be an interesting college experience," Tyler relented as Macy and Matt shared a quick kiss and the 3 resumed packing up Macy's stuff.

--

Meanwhile at the Diner

"Hailey, can you go get them upstairs?" Luke asked as he whizzed around the dinner in frenzy: it was the dinner rush.

Molly left after about a half an hour at the diner, she wanted to get home and see her family.

"Sure thing Luke," Hailey replied sweetly and trotted over to the stairs and up to the apartment.

When she opened the door she found the young, but adorable little family sleeping on the couch. Hailey slowly walked over to the couch, being cautious not to disrupt the floorboards, then bent down right in front of her sister, Shelby Francis.

"God," she whispered as a single tear ran down each cheek, "you, Shelby Francis, are so lucky to have these two," she stroked her cheek gently as silent tears ran down her cheeks, leaving her cheeks tear-stained.

"Come 'ere Angel," Rory whispered, her voice laced with sleep as she opened her arms and Hailey crawled in and snuggled into Rory as she silently cried for everything that had happened to her; good and bad.

This was their new beginning and Hailey was grateful; very grateful for this new beginning.

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A/N: That's it folks! The last chapter except for the epilogue! Hope you liked it and I'm sorry if the last chapters have been kinda crappy. Alright, good or bad please press the pretty little button and let me know what you think!