Luke's Apartment- Night

Jess begins to tolerate his tiny little sibling. For the first time in his life, he can truly see himself being a father.

Although being a father in the day is somewhat more appealing than in the night.

He looks at the clock. 3:27 A.M.

He throws his covers off of his legs and steps out of bed. He picks Jacquelyn up and almost falls into the rocking chair and plops the baby on his lap.

Luke hands him a bottle and he silently takes it, and offers it to the baby.

Jess slowly rocks her and kisses her forehead and whispers, "Shhh, Lyn, it's okay."

She nuzzles into his chest and sucks on her bottle. Eventually slumber takes over Luke's entire apartment.

Jacquelyn begins to kick Jess's legs to wake him up. He looks down at her and feels the drool spot she has left on his chest. He picks her up and holds her out in front of him. He is done with her. Maybe he could handle being a father part-time.

He places her on the ground. She sits. That's pretty much all she can do. He watches her. She's still sitting.

Jess hears a knock at the door.

"Jess, it's me."

"Come in."

Rory steps into the apartment with Lorelai at her heels.

"Jackie!" Lorelai yells and speeds over to the small child.

She lifts her arms inviting Lorelai to pick her up and bounces on her diapered bottom while smiling and showing off her few teeth.

Lorelai whisks her up off the ground and spins her around, eliciting giggling from the child.

Lorelai keeps herself occupied with Jackie, and Rory sits down next to Jess on his bed.

"Hey," Rory greets Jess with a large smile and a kiss.

"Hey," he returns both gestures.

"I'll be right back," Jess says as he disappears into the bathroom to get ready.

By the time he comes back out, Lorelai has handed the child over to Rory.

He walks towards Rory. "Breakfast?" He asks.

"Yes, please."

Stars Hollow Streets- Afternoon

Rory gently pushes the stroller as Jess walks next to her.

"Where do you want to go?" Rory asks.

"I don't need to have a destination."

Babette walks past Jess and gets a good look at Jacquelyn. "Hey Sugar! Aw, she's adorable."

Miss. Patty walks over, "well, what else would you expect? Anybody with half of the genes of our little Jesse here wouldn't be anything less." She gives Jess a wink and a light slap on the bottom. Jess jumps.

Babette moves over to talk to Rory, "Honey, I see the way you look at him, but just make sure that you wait a few years for kids. He still has some growing up to do. But honey, if I get an invitation to the weddin', I'll be there and don't you worry, I'll be the entertainment."

"Thanks Babette." Rory says hesitantly.

"Do you think he's the one?" Babette asks without faltering.

"Oh, well I think it's time for us to be going. We have to get to the Inn to meet my mom. We will talk to you guys later," Rory explains and starts to walk away.

"Oh, darlings, when you have children, send them over my way. They are going to be just adorable! I bet they could make a fortune in show business." Patty yells after them.

Jess and Rory smile at each other, pick up their pace, and head over to the Inn.

They arrive and take a seat in the lobby. Jacquelyn begins to cry.

Rory picks her up and reaches for her bottle.

"No, she's not hungry," Jess informs her.

R: "Yes she is. She always eats at this time."

J: "Yeah but she ate later today, her whole schedule is off."

R: "It doesn't matter, she's still crying, and she's dry, so that must means she's hungry."

J: "Rory, really, she's crying with no tears, that's not a hunger cry, that's a cry of discomfort."

R: "Can't we just see if she's hungry?"

J: "Rory, she's my sister. We're going to do what I say."

R: "Jess! That's unfair!"

Lorelai walks over. "Do you two need a referee to settle this? Or can you figure it out on your own?"

They glare at her and she slowly backs away.

R: "You know what? Whatever. Do what you want. I guess I'll talk to you later."

Jess takes a breath; he begins gently, "Rory. Sit down. I don't want to fight with you. Especially over this. Come here."

Rory sees the genuine look on his face; she sits down and rests on his chest.

R: "I'm sorry, but I'm totally wigging."

J: "Why?"

R: "All the talk about marriage today, and then we're walking around with a child, and then we're fighting like a married couple, it's just freaking me out."

J: "Rory, I'm not planning on popping the question any time soon. You don't need to worry."

Rory starts to cry.

J: "Rory… are you okay?… should I be planning on it?…"

R: "Jess, in a couple of months we're going to be choosing which college to go to, then a few months later we may be going our separate ways."

J: "We've never discussed going to the same college. I mean, we did apply to colleges before we were together. Now we're waiting for our acceptance letters when we are. It's kind of difficult. I don't know where I'm going to get in, and I don't want to hold you back. I want you to go to Harvard."

R: "I don't know if I want Harvard if I can't have you."

J: "Rory, that's insane. You're not giving up your dream because of me. If anything, I can just go to a school nearby."

R: "I don't like that everything's changing."

J: "Let's just hope that everything changes for the best."

Gilmore House- Afternoon

Jess, Rory, and Jacquelyn sit watching television on the Gilmore's couch. Rory hears a car drive by outside. It pauses in front of her house and starts up again. Rory glances at Jess, he takes the baby from her and nods towards the door. Rory smiles and rushes out to the mailbox. She comes back in with tears in her eyes.

"Rory, is everything okay?" Jess asks.

"Yeah everything is fine." Jess doesn't believe her.

"Rory, come here. What happened? What did you get?"

"I know that Harvard has been my dream as long as I can remember, but that's what it is, it's a dream. They don't want me. Yale rejected me, and Harvard rejected me. What am I going to do?" Rory drops the pile of mail on the coffee table, and starts to cry. She rests her head on Jess's shoulder. He comforts her as best as he can.

He rubs her arms and her side and sees the rejection letter. "Dear Lorelai Gilmore, After careful review of your application, we sincerely regret to tell you that we are unable to admit you to Harvard for the fall quarter of 2003. Due to the large number of qualified applicants…"

She was rejected from Harvard.

A/N: Thanks so much for reading. Please review. That would be the best!