It's still early, the sun is starting to peak through the blinds. I have my head propped up on my left arm, watching her breathing evenly. I've been doing a great deal of thinking during the night since I couldn't sleep very well. The mixture of happiness about a new baby and the guilty feelings I have for reacting like an a… kept me awake. I'm pretty sure everything will be easier this time, not as hectic as it was when Lailie was born. Looking forward to enjoying a pregnant Rory without her having to finish some last minute assignment for a class, I smile. There are so many things we need to talk about. But not now, after the holidays.

Her arms are spread above her head. Gently I move the tank top a little up and the bedding a little lower, exposing her tummy. I start tracing a path around her belly button, knowing this will wake her eventually.
Amazing, how we could create another life that is currently growing just an inch underneath my fingertips.
I move to kiss her belly and whisper "Hey there buddy" to my son. I'm convinced I'm going to have a son. I really, really love my daughter, but every man needs a son to pass on his knowledge about women. Although, well, even though that knowledge might have worked for me on quite a number of occasions, it sure got me into a lot of trouble. I make a mental note to keep him away from Finn as soon as he's capable to understand what Uncle Finn is talking about.

After some more kisses on her exposed skin, I feel how Rory stirs.

"Happy Christmas Eve Morning Ace!"

"Too early… Go away, or get me coffee…"
She mumbles, barely audible to me. But since it's old procedure, I know what the sound was about and laugh as she pulls the covers back up and turns away from me.

"Unfortunately, my dear, after last nights confession it's my job as a future daddy to keep you away from all caffeinated beverages in order to protect my son."

I take the growling as a hint that my Ace doesn't at all agree about this very well meant intention.

I'm about to get up when I hear the small sound of the door falling back into the lock. Peeking around the footboard, I see Lailie crawling on the soft carpet towards the bed. She giggles and jumps up to run towards me when she realizes I caught her sneaking in.

"Hey princess! Breaking into other people's bedroom so early in the morning?"
She giggles again and motions for me to lift her up on the bed.

"Good morning Daddy!"
I like it how she kisses my cheek and pulls back to tell me to go and shave. Just like her mom.

"What about Mommy? You forgot all about the woman who gave you life?"

Ah! Ace graces us with her presence!
Lailie starts jumping up and down on the bed and lets herself fall right between Rory and I.

"You're making Mommy seasick!"

"Seasick? But I thought Daddy always makes you seasick when he takes the boat out."

Yes, that's my girl. "Keep on telling, Honey. What else does Mommy say about Daddy?"

"Nothing!" Mean Ace, always interrupting her when it gets interesting.

I watch as mother and daughter share their traditional morning cuddling.
After a couple of sweet kisses, Lailie crawls back into my lap.

"You know Pixie," I start and smile at Rory, "next year at Christmas, there will be another person celebrating with us."

"Really? Who? Is Aunt Paris coming?"
Wow, she looks scared.

I chuckle.
"No, Pixie. Your little brother or sister will join us next year!"

"Oh, him! Yeah, isn't that exciting? – Oh no! I forgot!"

While I look between her and Rory, dumbstruck, she quickly crawls over to Rory, moves the covers, presses a kiss to her belly and says "Good morning little baby brother!"

Whoa! What is this all about?

"Ace, care to explain how my six year old daughter knows about her brother when I just learned last night?"

Rory smirking is rather rare. She usually uses her very cute smirk whenever she's up to something. Since she's the more 'open' one in our relationship, usually telling me things, and I'm the secretive guy, always planning something or having (positive) secrets, she sees my smirk way more often than I hers.

All I can do is shake my head. No male can fight girl power and mother/ daughter secrets. I lean over to kiss her and whisper "I'm very, very happy!" into her ear while Lailie is putting her ear against Rory's tummy to check it for baby sound.

"Does Lorelai know, too?" I still whisper.

"Not yet. I'm planning on telling them when they come over before we have to go to Grandma's house."

I nod and smile, though not about the Grandma part.

"I heard it! I just heard the baby!" Lailie proclaims happily.

I, having a little more experience with baby sounds than her, heard the sound too, but detected it as more of a hunger sound than anything else.
Smiling, I tell Lailie to go find her slippers and her robe and ask Jackie for some breakfast. I glance over at the alarm clock, 8:45, she should be in by now.

Fast as a lightening, well, a pink lightening, she's out the door looking left and right for her bunny slippers.
Just when I'm about to get up, for the second time today, Rory grabs my arm and pulls me back. I like it when she does that.
Hm… If she keeps on doing that I might never make it out of bed today… But I have to. Lailie and I have a mission to accomplish, our secret Christmas tradition, that even Rory doesn't know about.

"Good Morning Mr. Huntzberger."

"Good Morning Mrs. Huntzberger."

I believe I can fly… She tenderly bites my lip and moves her way down my throat. Wait, the shower is calling. One last peck on the lips and I finally manage my way out of the softness of our bed, heading towards the bathroom, leaving her sighing sweetly.
After switching on the shower I walk back to grab a towel from the linen closet.
Rory is still lying in bed, arms around my pillow, slumbering off again. This is the only time of the day when a Gilmore ignores food. Sleep's victory over food! Well, as I said, only during the early morning hours.
It is amazing how much I still learn about her.

I remember how she said 'You've got a magical life Huntzberger and you don't even know it'. It was a long time ago, back when we were not really dating, the 'lost' days, as I sometimes call them.
If she thought my life was magical then… Well, I think now, my life is close to perfect, maybe even more than perfect. And God, I'm scared, I'm so scared it's not going to last.

Lailie is sitting at the kitchen island, eyes fixed on the TV across the counter, her hand shoveling cereal into her mouth. Nothing is more important that Mickey's White Christmas and food. I open the fridge to get some orange juice only to smile and run my hand through my hair when I see the filled fruit and vegetable container. Usually, there's hardly any healthy food whenever the cook is on a break for holidays or during summer break. Remembering that she got off earlier this week since she had to go to… where again? Right, California. Since she's gone, there shouldn't be any healthy food. Rory and grocery shopping are not friends, she usually buys more junk food than actual edible stuff, in my opinion.
But I remember when she was pregnant with Lailie and we went to the store to get some food. That was the first (and up to now last) time in my life that I saw her buying fruit and vegetables. Just after the first trimester she started eating apples and grapes as if they were out of chocolate. Carrot sticks for breakfast and cucumbers for dinner. With June and July coming around and the due date, 1st week of August, getting closer, I had to go buy a huge watermelon every other day.

Thinking about this, maybe there will be another wave of healthy food hitting our diet. Wonder what my Pixie will say about this since she's just as big a junk food junkie as her mother and her grandmother.

"Hey Pix?" She won't take her eyes off the TV. "Pixie!"

"Huh?" Ah, for an entire third of a second she devotes her attention to me.

"I know Mickey is a really cool guy and they are having a lot of fun, but you know where we have to go, right? You still remember what we do the morning before Christmas Eve, don't you?"

"Ya! Sure! Oh!" Mickey is forgotten and I see the pink whirlwind run out the French doors towards the stairs.
"I'll be really quick Daddy, I promise!"

Chuckling I take the cereal bowl and put it in the sink just when I see Jackie coming through the basement door, carrying a laundry basket.

"Morning Jackie!"
"Sir! Good morning!"

Jackie Green is in her mid fifties, a little shorter than Rory, short dark hair that is turning slightly gray which you are not allowed to mention around her. She's like your favorite aunt: very much loveable but also very determined.

I take the basket from her and set it on the kitchen counter.

"Jackie, I think there isn't a lot more for you today. It's going to be a slow day here. I bet you have tons of stuff to do before your kids get home tonight."

"But Sir, there's so much laun…"

"Don't worry about it! We still have clothes to wear over the holidays, there are plenty of dry towels and Lailie won't need her school uniforms until January. Plus, I actually know how to work the washing machine. At least I think so."

"But I'm sure Mrs. Huntzberger needs some help with the last minute Christmas preparations…"

"Nah, she'll manage. You just go home and enjoy the holidays! I don't want to see you again until the 27th, agreed?"

"But…!"

"No buts!" I start guiding her to the closet, holding her coat for her to put on.

"I want you to go home, send our best wishes for the holidays to Mr. Green and your kids and their families and even to Russell and relax for a couple of days."

She sighs. "Fine. But only if you're positive about this!"

"Yes, I am. Completely sure and absolutely positive! Now! Out!"
I smile at her and she smiles back.

"Merry Christmas Mr Huntzberger!"

"Merry Christmas Jackie!"

The door is almost closed behind her when I remember the gift basket. Checking the hall closet for the right one, I sprint to the door and catch her right before she gets in her car.

"From my wife, my daughter and me."

Her cheeks turn red and she beams. "Thank you so much, Sir! You didn't have to do this. Thank you so much!"

"You are very welcome. Thank you for everything you do for us."
I remember something else.

"Oh, but it's connected to a little favor…"

"A favor?"

"Yes, you see… Rory, my wife, she shouldn't have coffee any more. So whenever she asks you about it, don't give her any or replace it with decaf."

"But Mrs. Huntzberger loves coffee… I don't know… You know what happens when we run out of it."

I chuckle, everybody is 'afraid' of Rory when she's on a caffeine low.
"I know, but just try. She shouldn't be drinking coffee and she knows it. Don't let her talk you into making any. It's bad for her and the ba-"

"Oh my! She's pregnant!"

She drops the basket and hugs me enthusiastically. Realizing what she's doing, she steps back.

"I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean to be disrespectful… It's just…! Congratulations!"

I grin. "No problem. Thank you, Jackie. Happy Holidays!"