A/N: Thank you for the reviews. You guys all rock. Really, you're awesome.

Playing house

A week or so later, Jess and Rory were in their living room, sitting on the couch. Flipping her computer towards him, she pointed at the screen.

"This one?"

"The description says charming. That means tiny."

"We don't need a big house."

"Do you want me to remind you of your closet rant? Or the bathroom rant? Or any of the rants I've had to sit through in the past week because you hated every single place we've seen?"

"You didn't like any of them either."

"So that means we have to go see every house we can find, just in case?"

"Jess, this is impossible. We need to find a place."

"Really? I don't remember you mentioning that before."

"I don't remember you moaning about me mentioning it before either." She grinned, ruffling his hair. "So, not calling this place?"

"Screw it, give them a call. Might as well try it."

"Our phone bills are going to be huge."

"Yours. I don't think I've been allowed to talk to any of them."

"Well, you're not nice to anyone but me on the phone."

"I am nice if I have to be. And I am not complaining about you dealing with them. Just figured I'd make a general observation."

"Ok, I'll give them a call tomorrow. I also have a meeting with some other agent and she's going to bring some enormous folder for me to look through. I'll call you if I find anything nice and tell you when and where."

"I can take off work and come join you."

"The guys wouldn't mind?"

"I'll put in extra hours on Friday."

"We have dinner with the grandparents on Friday."

"I'll skip dinner?" He smirked, leaning over and kissing her quickly.

"In your dreams, punk." Rory laughed, moving closer to him. "Plus, I kind of want to tell them about the baby's name. And you have to be there for that."

"What, you're anxious to hear Emily going crazy?"

"I was thinking about the other name. That will appease her when she hates Brett."

"So, what's the alien supposed to be today?"

"You're mocking me." Rory stuck out her tongue, rubbing her bump. "Your dad's being mean."

"Hey, no turning our unborn child against me." Tackling her down to the couch, he rested a hand on her stomach before placing a soft kiss on it. "Your mom's crazy."

"Don't say that like it's a bad thing." She ran her fingers through his hair, looking down at him. "And I think it's back to being a girl."

"It's just great that you change your mind daily."

"It keeps you on your toes."

"I'll get some ballet shoes." He smirked, moving up and kissing her. "I'll skip lunch, leave early tomorrow if there's nothing requiring my attention to meet you and look at houses, then go back and put in overtime. Last offer."

"See, this is why you need an office. You could work from home."

"I thought we agreed we were going to share the office. You put in as much overtime as I do."

"No, I don't. You're always writing and editing and fixing whatever disaster's happening with the magazine."

"We're sharing the office." Jess smiled, kissing her again.

"We'll put in an extra desk that I will never use and call it a day. Just as soon as we find a house that has an office."

"We will."

"What if we don't?"

"Then we'll stick the child in a drawer."

"Sounds like a plan. Adding that to the list of reasons why we'll pay for therapy?"

"It's getting very long."

"Dirty!" Rory giggled, making him shake his head.

"You're your mother."

"Thank you."

"I'm not convinced I meant that as a compliment."

"I'm choosing to take it as one. So, you're ok with telling grandma and grandpa this Friday?"

"Sure. Your family, your choice."

"Hey, they're now your extended family as well."

"Please don't bring that up, I am trying very hard to ignore that aspect. And can we go to bed now? I'm tired. Long day."

"Why can't you go by yourself?"

"Because if you stay awake for much longer, you'll be tired and grumpy tomorrow, which you'll take out on me. Plus, I like sleeping next to my wife."

"What did you do before you had a wife?" She smiled, her fingers running through his hair.

"Slept next to my fiancée. And before that girlfriend."

"And before that?"

"Whatever random girl was generous enough…"

"Stop there."

"So?" He smirked, placing a small kiss on her collarbone.

"I'll go take a shower and then come facilitate the sleeping process."

"How about I come facilitate the showering process?"

"I thought you were tired."

"Never that tired."

"Come on then, Mister." Standing up, she grabbed his hand, walking towards their bedroom.

Friday evening, they were all gathered in the Gilmore's living room. Sitting down and handing Richard a glass, Emily smiled.

"I loved the paper on your thank you notes, Rory."

"You recommended the place, grandma. I assumed you would."

Ignoring the comment, she sipped from her drink. "And very prompt. Unlike your mother."

"5 years later I am still hearing about this."

"It took two whole months for the note to arrive. You shouldn't keep your guests waiting that long."

"If I ever get married again, I'll send them on the wedding night, ok? You know, stop the fun and just get down to writing."

"Don't be irrational, Lorelai."

"Mom, even Emily Post says I have three months. I should know, I checked. I got them done in plenty of time."

"I still say it was too long."

Sighing exasperated, Lorelai turned to her daughter. "So, how's the house search going?"

"Badly. We saw close to a million places this week and they all stink." Rory looked at Jess, smiling. "I'm hoping we can find something in the next few weeks so we can move before I get ridiculously huge."

"You're not going to lift a finger during the entire move." Luke threatened from his seat, looking at her.

"Are you related to your nephew by any chance?" Laughing, Rory shook her head.

"Rory, you have to take these things seriously." Richard looked at his granddaughter.

"I am, don't worry. I'll ask my doctor next time I see her what I can or cannot do in the move."

"Nothing. Easy answer." Jess smirked, looking at his wife.

"Stubborn." She smiled back at him, shaking her head.

"When is your next appointment?" Emily chimed in.

"Two weeks from Thursday. We get to find out the sex of the baby." Clapping her hands excitedly, she looked at her mother.

"Still think it's a girl?"

"Most of the time."

"Have you decided on any names you like?" Emily asked, looking at her granddaughter.

"Right now we've mostly settled on Brett for a girl. We have a long list of middle names, but we haven't picked one yet. I think Emma and Ava are at the top of our very long list today."

"That's…" Emily looked at them.

"Unusual, yes, we know." Taking Jess' hand, Rory smiled, cutting the woman off before she could finish her sentence. "For a boy, I think we keep discussing Jack and Henry but we've kind of had a middle name picked for a couple months now, so that's not a problem."

"Are you going to tell us or keep it a secret? Tracy Gunderson's daughter walked around for the entire 9 months she was pregnant going on and on about how she had a name all planned but wasn't going to tell anyone, even though no one was asking her about…"

"Grandma, it's not a secret." Squeezing Jess' hand tighter, she looked at her grandfather, grinning. "It's Richard."

"Richard?" Emily whispered, looking at Rory.

"Yeah."

"Rory, that's…" Richard looked at his granddaughter, smiling. Getting up from the couch, she walked to the man, wrapping her arms around him.

"I love you, grandpa."

"I love you too, Rory."

"That's very sweet of you. Both of you." Emily smiled as soon as Rory sat back down. "I can ask my agent to recommend someone in Philadelphia."

"What?" Rory asked, confused, looking at her grandmother.

"To help you find a house."

"Oh, sorry, I thought…"

"I saw some lovely places when I was looking for something to get you as a wedding present. I'm sure with the right person helping you, you'll be able to find something soon."

"Dinner's ready, Mrs. Gilmore." The maid announced, walking into the room.

"I'll talk to her and give you a phone number." Emily announced before standing up and walking in the dining room.

The next day, they were in the diner with Lorelai and Will in a high chair, having breakfast.

"So, last night? Was it just me or was grandma odd?" Rory looked at her mother. "The way she just went back to talking houses…?"

"Rory, mom is…well, mom. Showing emotion is just now done in her world."

"At least grandpa seemed happy."

"Actually, dare I say it, they both seemed happy."

"Next thing you know, grandma will like you." Rory smiled, kissing Jess' shoulder quickly.

"I wouldn't go that far, I don't think she's capable of liking me."

"I think she's warming up to you. You guys are married now, there's not much she can do."

"Maybe someday she'll warm up to me enough that I can stop drinking that disgusting scotch." Jess chuckled.

"Just ask for something else." Rory tried to reassure him but he just shook his head.

"No way. I remember the way that went last time I tried it. She looked at me like I was scum the entire night."

"Your drink choice is probably the only thing keeping you from having to use the servants' entrance so you better get used to drinking that for the rest of your life." Lorelai grinned, looking from him to Rory. "What are your plans for today?"

"Going to hang out with Lane and then drop by the inn to see Sookie and Michel and everyone else. Basically enjoy my first official visit to Stars Hollow as a married woman."

"Should I ask Sookie to make you anything?"

"Bacon. Covered in chocolate, preferably."

"Ha! The cravings have begun." Lorelai gloated victoriously.

"A few days ago. It's pretty much been bacon central in our house this week."

"Why did I not know about this? And is he taking good care of you?"

"Yes." Rory nodded, squeezing Jess' hand under the table. "He's incredible."

"I'm far too scared to not comply with everything she asks of me." Jess smirked, running his thumb over her hand.

"Nice!" Grinning, Lorelai sipped from her cup. "He's so very well trained."

"Oh, stop whining. You're not that tortured."

"I refuse to answer that comment." He chuckled, kissing her quickly.

"Innocent baby eyes here, people."

"It's not like we were preparing our audition for an X rated movie, mom." Rory laughed, smoothing the Will's hair down.

"Dirry!" The boy grinned, banging with a spoon on his tray.

"Lorelai, what is our son saying?" Luke dropped a plate of pancakes on the table, looking at his wife.

"I had nothing to do with it!" Picking up William, she placed a small kiss on the top of his head, smiling sweetly at her husband. "You love me, really."

"Just keep him away from coffee."

"10!"

"18!"

"We'll debate this again when he's 12." Lorelai laughed as the little boy extended his arms towards her cup. "See, he wants it."

"He was also trying to eat his plate this morning. I don't think you can base any decisions on what he does."

"Luke, can I get so bacon with these?" Rory pointed at the plate with her fork, chewing on a piece of pancake.

"Hey, those were mine!" Lorelai grumbled but her daughter shrugged.

"Too late. You snooze, you lose."

"I'll bring out more pancakes and bacon." Luke smiled, leaning down and kissing his wife quickly. "No coffee! Jess?"

"I'll pretend to attempt to stop her if she tries anything."

"Great help you are."

"Luke, bacon!" Rory grumbled again, pouring some maple syrup on the pancakes.

"What are you going to do all day, Jess?" Lorelai looked at the young man, picking up a toy from her bag and waving it in front of her child to keep him occupied.

"I need to edit."

"Anything fun?" Rory mumbled between bites.

"Not really. Some of Chris' stuff that he passed on to me since he's out this weekend."

"Oh, what's he doing?"

"Visiting his family."

"Annual visit time already? Man, times go by fast." Lorelai smiled, picking up a fork and trying to poke the pancakes, but Rory pulled the plate closer to her.

"Touch them and lose a hand."

"Wow."

"You should see how she is with bacon." Jess smirked.

"Mom and I are going to have a movie night. Want to join us?" Rory announced, walking back in the diner apartment.

"Work." He pointed at the papers in front of him, shaking his head.

"You work too hard." Walking to him, she placed a soft kiss on the top of his head. "Teenage Jess would be mocking you right now."

"Teenage Jess would be asking me what the fuck I'm doing with a wife and kid on the way." He smirked, pulling her down to sit in his lap. "You're getting fat."

"Hey!" Rory protested, trying to look angry. "This is your fault, mister, and if you ever refer to me as fat again I will cause you so much physical pain you'll never be able to walk again."

"And the bacon had nothing to do with it?" He chuckled, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"Sookie's convinced it's a boy because of the bacon thing."

"She has met you and your mother before, right?"

"Apparently it's a manly thing to crave."

"You'd be ok with it being a boy?"

"I'm ok with either. I just want it to be healthy. And have your hair." She added, running her fingers through his hair. "Would you be ok with it being a boy?"

"Less to worry about." Jess smirked, hugging her closer to him. "Although I suppose he could always get some girl pregnant and send my theory to hell."

"Like you did?"

"You were involved in that."

"I'd like a boy." She smiled, tracing his bottom lip. "You'd be really good with a son. Or a daughter. You'd be great with either."

"You give me a bit too much credit."

"We're newlyweds, I have to think you're the greatest man on Earth." Rory laughed, leaning in and kissing him.

"Someone has to. We're going to be the greatest idiots that ever lived in a few short years." He rubbed her belly, smiling.

"It's fine, we can just abuse our grounding powers if it annoys us."

"I like that."

"Oh, please, like you were ever grounded a day in your life."

"Liz tried once."

"And you snuck out in…?"

"About 3 seconds after she turned her back on me."

"As much as I love you, I am going to hope baby does not have your vanishing skills. I don't think I could deal with that."

"Don't worry, I still know all my old tricks. It doesn't stand a chance."

"What do you want it to be?" Rory asked, smiling.

"We've been through this before. I don't care."

"Jess…"

"If you Jess me again for saying I don't care, I'm going to start saying a puppy."

"I'll get you one, you can walk it every time I get angry at you and want you out of the house."

"That would be a much walked dog."

Kissing him again, Rory stood up, her arms resting on her stomach. "Ok, last offer on movie night."

"Sorry. I really have to work. And it's not like you and Lorelai pay any attention to me anyway."

"That's because you never say anything."

"That's because both of you always explain the rules of movie night to me every damned time we try to watch a movie, even though I am pretty sure I can recite them in my sleep by now, shushing me if I as much as ask for the pizza but then proceed to completely ignore them and talk throughout the entire thing."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

"I give up." He smirked, looking at her. "Have fun, don't spend the entire night cooing over Will."

"But he's so small and cute and his cheeks! Have you seen his cheeks?"

"You've pointed them out. As well as his toes and fingers and legs, I think. And that was only today."

"Grinch." She walked to him, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "I love you."

"Love you too."

Grabbing her bag, she zipped her jacket, smiling. "You were right, I am fat. Baby, please postpone growing too much until I can get a nice winter coat."

"Didn't your mom…?"

"Will was born in January. The only winter coat she had is far too big at the moment."

"Why don't you take Lorelai and go shopping tomorrow?"

"Luke has to work. There's no one to watch Will."

"I'll do it. God knows I need the practice."

"Your dad's amazing, baby." She rubbed her bump, walking to Jess again. "You really are."

"Have fun."

"I'll see you later."