Chapter 8- Facing Forward

Author's Note- Wow, it's been a while…but recent reviews have prompted me to continue this. So I hope you like it! Keep reviewing!

Disclaimer- Still not mine.

"Lucas, now here! How can you pretend to not care about the Stars Hollow Bagel Festival? It's an annual tradition that has been passed down through the generations since Grandma Baker baked her first bagel right here on Peach Street during the 1920's. Your diner is the only establishment in town that does not have a flyer announcing it. As a town member, Lucas, you have a responsibility to inform other members about town happenings."

"Taylor! I'm not condoning a bagel festival! Again, I will repeat, 'bagel festival'! Now get out, you're scaring the customers away," Luke pounded a coffee mug on the counter to emphasize his point.

Taylor gave Luke an "I'll get you one of these days" look and walked out the diner door. Luke sighed and continued to take Kirk's order. Jess came down from upstairs, still in his clothes from the day before he looked as if he had been through a tornado. Luke looked up and started to snicker.

"Don't."

"I didn't say anything."

"But you were gonna"

"I was so taken aback by your lovely fashion statement that I couldn't form any words."

"Ha ha. Very funny Luke. I didn't feel like changing last night, so I slept in my clothes."

"I can see that. Your hair is extra bouncy today too."

Jess ran his hand through his hair and sighed. He wasn't sure if he should tell Luke about his plan or not. Heck he didn't even know if Luke knew already or not. Lorelai might have told him by now. He looked at Luke suspiciously, trying to figure it out.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You're looking at me like I'm nuts."

"You are."

Luke glared. Jess smirked.

"I'm gonna go get changed, then I'm going out."

"Out where?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

"Out out."

"Jess!"

"I have some errands to run. I think I'll go back to my place to put away my bag and clean up a bit."

"Jess, what about Rory?" Luke was concerned for her, he knew that Jess had come back for a reason, but he didn't know what it was or what he had needed talk to Lorelai about. He did know that Rory needed him and that Jess had better do something about their situation, "You should…"

"Luke, I'm going to take care of it. Trust me," he said as he walked out the diner door.

"Rise and shine pretty girl!" Lorelai jumped on Rory's bed balancing a cup of coffee in one hand while eating a blueberry muffin with the other. Rory groaned and rolled over, "Come on! I want to go to Luke's for pancakes! Nice big fluffy ones! With lots of syrup and snow!! Come on, come on! Get dressed!!"

After several minutes of begging, Rory finally agreed to get up. She quickly showered and dressed and soon they were out the door. Miss Patty cornered them on the way past her dance studio.

"Lorelai! Rory! Sweeties! How are you two? You've been a stranger around here lately Rory!"

"Oh, well…" she was visibly nervous. This was why she had sought refuge at Jess's apartment, facing the town was too hard. Too many questions, not enough answers.

"How's the play going Patty?" Lorelai quickly changed the subject and threw her arm around Rory who was shaking.

"Oh my goodness! It's a nightmare! Some of the girls don't fit into their costumes, and others simply don't know the dance. Who would've thought a Bagel Festival would cause so many problems!?"

"Well, it looks like one of them has taken a spill there" Lorelai and Rory watched in amusement as Patty ran back into the studio to help a small girl who was rolling across the floor dressed as a giant bagel.

They continued on their way and Lorelai noticed the shaking in Rory had started up again. She put her arm around her and led her to the diner where she could rest.

"Lukey!"

Luke ignored her.

"Lukey! Coffee!"

He didn't look up.

"Lucas Danes! Coffee now," Lorelai pounded on the table.

Luke looked up with a smirk, grabbed the pot of coffee and headed over to the girls.

"You were purposely ignoring me!"

"No I wasn't."

"Yes! I said your name twice before you looked up! You're depriving me of my coffee!"

"I don't respond to 'Lukey'."

"Fine, just give me the coffee. And pancakes. Lots of pancakes."

"What would you like Rory?"

"Um, I think I'll just have eggs and toast Luke, thanks."

"Okay." Luke went back to the kitchen to give Caesar the order.

"Hey babe. What's up? Why are you shaking?"

"I can't take it," she whispered.

"Can't take what?" Lorelai was worried, Rory was very depressed.

"This. The town. They all know."

"No one knows sweetie."

"No, they all stare at me. They all know I'm pregnant. They all know its Dean's," Rory broke down in tears.

"Oh, Ror. No one knows except you, me, Luke and Jess. Sweetie, no one's staring at you."

"Yes they are! They all know what a whore I am! They know mom! They know!"

"Oh my gosh, Rory, you are not a whore! Who told you that?"

"No one, I know it. I am one."

"No, no you're not. You're far from it. No one knows Rory, they don't have to know."

"But…now that Jess is gone, I have to tell them something!"

Lorelai had forgotten that Rory didn't know that Jess was back. Great. How was she supposed to tell her that he was back? 'Hey honey! Guess what? Jess came to me last night and told me that he wants to marry you!' That definitely wouldn't work. What was she going to say…

Luke came over with more coffee. "Your food should be ready any second. Caesar dropped the batter on the floor and had to start over."

"Oh, that's okay," Lorelai said sipping her coffee. Luke walked away and stood at the counter, sorting out receipts. Lorelai quietly got up and walked over to him.

"Luke," she whispered, "I don't know how to tell Rory that Jess is back."

"He's at his apartment," he whispered back, looking up at her.

"You talked to him this morning?"

"Yeah, he crashed upstairs. Said he had some errands to run and then he was going clean."

"Huh. Maybe I could just send her over there. Or take her over there myself…that would probably be better."

"This is going to work out isn't Lor?"

"I sure hope so. For all of our sakes," she said with a sigh. Luke leaned over the counter and kissed her. Lorelai smirked.

"Thanks," she whispered and walked back to the table.

"Sweets, what do you say we go to the apartment to get some of your stuff?"

"What?" Rory looked up from a book, with a tear stained face.

"I think we should go get some of your clothes and stuff."

"Oh, why don't you just go? I think I'm going to stay here and read."

"I think it'd be fun if we went together, we could poke fun of Jess's stuff!"

"No, I don't want to. You just go."

"I don't know what stuff you want to get."

"All of it. Take it all out of there."

"Rory, I can't do that by myself."

"Take Luke with."

"Rory, you're coming with me."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Rory, there are very few times when I pull this card, but I'mpulling it now. I'm the mother, you're the daughter. And I really feel that it's in your best interest to go with me."

"Why? So I can be tortured by being there around all of his stuff? No thank you."

"Rory."

"No mom, I'm not going."

"Yes you are."

Rory stopped arguing, she knew that she couldn't win. After eating in silence, they got into the car and started driving to Harford. They didn't speak the entire way there. Lorelai asked Rory how to get to the building and Rory quietly gave her directions. Upon arrival, Rory started to shake. But Lorelai knew that she had to face her fears. She also knew that Jess was there. His car was parked just a few cars down from them in the parking garage. She prayed that this went well. Rory lagged behind as they walked up the stairs.

"You lead the way. I don't know where I'm going." Lorelai stepped aside to let her past. Rory avoided looking at her mother as she clomped up the stairs to the top floor.

"This is it." She said as she reached the door.

Lorelai reached out and tried the knob. It was unlocked. Opening it, she let Rory into the apartment in front of her. Rory went slowly inside, closing her eyes, not wanting to see it. Not wanting to be reminded of him. Realizing that she would probably trip if she kept her eyes closed, she opened them slowly. Taking in her surroundings, she scanned the room. Table. Couch. TV. Books. Refrigerator. Chair. Jess. There he was, standing in front of her, a look of awe on his face. He was still here. He hadn't run away. Wait, this was his apartment. He lived here. No one made a move. They stood staring at each other. Rory was afraid he'd be angry. She had been horrible to him.

"I'm sorry." They both said it at the same time. Smiling they tried again, this time Jess going first.

"I'm sorry Ror. I didn't mean to run out on you. I just…I was in shock."

"I'm sorry Jess. I was rotten. I…"

She didn't have to continue. He walked toward her and put his arm around her waste.

"Shhh. Don't speak. I love you. I've always loved you and I always will. I want to help raise the baby. I don't care if it's Deans. It's yours too. You deserve everything Rory. And I want to give you everything. I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else in the entire world. You are my world. I love you more than anything Rory. Don't ever forget that. I went out today and I bought something. Probably one of the most important things I've ever bought, or ever will buy. This is a symbol of my love, our love," He got down on one knee and pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket, "Rory Gilmore, will you marry me?"

She stood in front of him for a moment, completely taken aback. Slowly a smile crept onto her face, tears formed in her eyes and she slowly nodded her head.

"Yes, yes I'll marry you Jess," she whispered.

He stood up, placed the ring on her finger and kissed her. The kiss was one that was compassionate and full of love; one that melted away all the pain that had been felt in the past. Lorelai was still standing in the doorway, tears in her eyes, but the biggest smile on her face in the world. Her baby was getting married.