I decided to make this a little series of family moments for Rory and Jess! More domestic fluff.

Rory looks down at the bundle in her arms and beams. "I didn't know I could even make boys."

"You know the guy supplies that side of things," Jess says and Rory says seriously, "Yes, I know, but I'm a Gilmore. Guess there's an exception to every rule."

The baby squirms, waving an arm, and Rory wriggles her nose against his. "That's right, that's you. And you need a name."

"You still want to use Richard, right?" Jess asks. Rory had had that name lined up in case Charlotte had been a boy and she nods.

"Richard sounds a little stuffy though. Maybe we could call him Richie for short?"

"Sounds good. And if he's being a jerk we can call him Dick."

"Jess!" Rory exclaims, putting her hands over her son's ears as her husband laughs. "Not funny!"

She giggles though, in spite of herself, and settles down. "Okay, okay. We still need a middle name."

"I've been thinking," Jess says, sounding slightly nervous, "How about Lucas?"

Rory smiles, nodding and Jess relaxes into a smile too. "I love that, Jess."

"You think Luke would like it?"

"I think he'd love it. I mean, I think he'll get kind of gruff and awkward -"

"Like usual, then."

"But Luke's an old softy. I think it'd mean a lot to him."

"Good," Jess says, nodding. "Our son's named. Wow, that was easy."

Rory nods in agreement. Everything has been remarkably easy so far. Even the birth wasn't too bad. Rory wouldn't go so far as to say that was an easy job, but it was definitely better than Charlotte's had been. She went into labour at eight that morning and Richie was born at midday. Rory didn't vomit this time either, which was an improvement on every level. She's pretty sore though, and leans back against the pillows. Richie snuffles slightly and Jess says, "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine. Well, fine for someone who just had a baby. I'm tired."

"Here," Jess says, lifting Richie from Rory's arms. "I'll hold him, you get some rest."

"Thanks." Rory closes her eyes but they flutter back open as she sees Jess walk around the room, saying gently, "There's my boy. It's Daddy. We're okay, Richie. We're fine."

Rory smiles, watching them. She's thinking of remarking on how Jess is a softy just like Luke, but then sleep takes over and Rory doesn't open her eyes again for another three hours. When she wakes up Jess is napping in the chair beside her but Richie is gone.

"Where's Richie?" Rory asks, her voice distorted with sleep and Jess assures her, "He's fine. He's just being checked over by the nurse."

"Okay," Rory says but she doesn't relax until the baby is brought back in, his crying echoing around the room.

"I think someone's hungry," says the nurse but she frowns at Rory's joke of, "Do you mean me or him?"

"Here you go," the nurse says, as Rory reaches out for Richie. "He's a very healthy little boy."

"And a healthy appetite already," Rory remarks, rolling her eyes as Jess comments, "Wonder where he gets that from." He checks his phone quickly and says, "Your mom wants to know if she can come by yet."

"Sure she can. She must be going crazy waiting."

"Her and Charlotte," Jess says, typing back a reply. "They'll come over with Luke."

"Good," Rory says happily. She winds Richie and, as he settles down in her arms, says to him, "You're going to meet your big sister!"

Richie stares back with big blue eyes which flutter into sleep. Rory laughs and says, "I think he's pretty underwhelmed."

"Give the kid a chance. He's only three hours old."

"I guess," Rory says, grinning. "Do you think Charlotte will be excited to meet Richie?"

"I don't think she understands there's going to be a baby."

"You sure about that?" Rory grimaces, remembering an afternoon on a bus where Charlotte had pointed at her mother's stomach and said proudly, "She's got a baby in her belly!"

"We'll find out," Jess says. "You should rest before they get here."

"I'd kill for a shower first."

"No need to go to those lengths. Not yet, anyway."

After a shower and slow progress back to bed, Rory feels a little more refreshed when Lorelai arrives. Charlotte is riding on Luke's shoulders but when Rory excitedly asks, "Hey. Charlotte, look he's here!" she gets shy, hugging her face into her grandfather's neck.

"She's not very sure," Lorelai says and Luke says, "How about I take this one to a vending machine and we get a candy bar first?"

"Sugar always helps," Rory agrees. "Thanks, Luke."

"Daddy!" Charlotte whimpers, looking up at her father, and Jess says, "I'll go along too. I could use some candy."

Once they've gone Lorelai squeals, pulling a chair over to the bed. "He's here!"

"I know!"

"He's a he!"

"I know! I didn't think that was possible!"

"We don't make boys!"

"I know, that's what I told Jess!"

The baby stirs slightly and Lorelai says quickly, "Hey, nothing against you, kid. You can be our exception."

"Exactly."

"And you're okay?" Lorelai asks Rory. "As okay as you can be."

"I'm fine - super sore, but fine. And tired."

"But you're okay?"

"I am, I promise. You want to hold him?"

"You have to ask?" Lorelai takes the baby eagerly, rocking him slightly. Richie stirs, frowning at his grandmother, and calms back down.

"What a cool dude!" Lorelai exclaims. "He's totally relaxed about everything."

"He's only a few hours old, Mom. It might be different once we take him home."

"No way," Lorelai says firmly. "I can tell. He's going to be chilled out about stuff."

"Well, I'm glad one of us is."

They laugh a little and Rory says, "Mom, I've named him after Grandpa. I'm going to call him Richie."

"That's perfect," Lorelai says softly and laughs as Rory adds, "Good thing he was a boy because I'm tapped on girl names."

"You said you didn't think he'd be a boy!"

"I was surprised but happy I didn't have to think about a new name! It all worked out. I'm not having any more kids."

"You didn't waste time with this one," Lorelai remarks, making Rory blush. She'd found out she was pregnant as soon as she got back from her honeymoon.

"Yeah, well. It felt like a good time."

"You might be changing your story when you have a baby and toddler at home. Not that I've done that, but so I hear."

"Charlotte's three, she's bigger than a toddler. We'll be fine."

Lorelai looks doubtful but she nods, making a face at Richie.

"He's got the Gilmore eyes."

"Well, of course!"

The baby falls back asleep and Rory resists the wave of sleepiness that breaks over her. She's glad this is the last time she'll do this. They are interrupted by the door slowly opening, Charlotte walking between her father and grandfather and having a hand held by each.

"There's my girl!" Rory exclaims. "Come here, sweetie!"

Charlotte looks cautious, a streak of chocolate around her mouth and Rory says, "I missed you, angel. Look who's here!"

Charlotte hangs back and Rory tells her, "It's your new brother. We've called him Richie."

"And his middle name's Lucas," Jess adds, smiling at Luke. His uncle coughs, smiling and says, "You didn't have to -"

"I wanted to. We wanted to."

"It's perfect," Lorelai says again. "He's perfect."

"You want to meet your brother?" Luke asks Charlotte but she won't go over to the bed.

"It's a little crowded in here, huh?" Lorelai says. "We'll give you guys some room."

"Right," Luke agrees. "I think there's something in my eye anyway."

He rubs at his eyes, smiling sheepishly as he goes out, and Jess picks up Charlotte.

"Come on, big sister. Go see your mom and brother."

He gently places Charlotte on the bed next to Rory, who gives her a kiss.

"I missed you, sweets. Hey, look who's here! It's Richie!"

She carefully lifts Richie out of the crib beside her and leans over with him show Charlotte. "There's your brother! Do you want to say hi?"

"NO!" Charlotte shouts, making Rory jump. "I don't like him!"

"Hey," Jess says, going over to the bed. "It's okay, Charlotte. Give the kid a chance."

"I don't want him," Charlotte says again and she starts crying. "I want Mommy." Rory looks nervously at Jess who lifts Charlotte off the bed.

"Come on, kiddo. Let's go for a walk."

Rory bites her lip, looking nervously at Charlotte and back at Richie who, miraculously, hasn't woken up. Jess smiles and says reassuringly, "It's just new to her. Charlotte's only three. She's scared, that's all, plus we're in hospital. Once we're home it'll be okay."

"You're probably right," Rory says, trying to relax. It's only the first day, after all.

Unfortunately, Jess's prediction turns out to be far too optimistic. Charlotte doesn't seem happy about Richie at all. She gave him one kiss which seemed to be an anomaly and has otherwise had a negative opinion, crying more than usual and wanting attention. One afternoon, when Jess is at work, Rory is walking around the room with Richie. He's just been fed and is settling back down. Rory set Charlotte up in the corner with some toys and books but she isn't playing with them and instead crawls around the room, puffing out her cheeks.

"Look, Mommy! I'm a baby!"

"Right," Rory says distracted. She carefully kneels down and says, "Want to read a story with me and Richie?"

"No," Charlotte says blankly. "I don't like him."

"Charlotte, that's not nice."

"Give him back!"

"We aren't giving him back," Rory says evenly. "He's your little brother!"

"I don't like him. He smells."

"He's a boy," Rory says, trying to make Charlotte laugh. It doesn't work. Rory wrinkles her nose as she smells what Charlotte is complaining about and says, "He needs a new diaper."

There's a packet by the chair and Rory grabs one and some wipes, settling Richie down on the playmat. Rory takes off Richie's diaper and her heart sinks as she sees she put the wipes down just out of reach.

"Charlotte, can you be a big girl and hand me the wipes?"

"No!" Charlotte shouts. Her voice wakes Richie, who starts crying and lets out a jet of pee which hits Rory directly between the eyes. Gritting her teeth, Rory quickly goes to grab the wipes and looks up to see Charlotte, who has been potty-trained for over six months, pee on the carpet.

"Look Mommy! I need a diaper too!"

How Rory gets through the rest of the afternoon is a mystery to her. Richie bawls, Charlotte whines and as Rory tries to calm both down she wonders who the idiot was that thought it would be cool to have a new baby, whilst already having a three-year-old. That idiot was her. What was she thinking? The books she read on preparing her kid for a sibling have proved useless.

The next few weeks play out in a similar pattern. Richie is a much easier baby than Charlotte was but it's hard to relax when Charlotte's being so demanding. She keeps waking up in the night, wanting to stay awake later and crying when she's told to go to sleep. Rory and Jess are both so tired they don't go to bed much later than their daughter, and between her and their son no one is really sleeping at all. One evening, after dinner, Rory has promised Charlotte they can make icecream sundaes and her daughter ate her vegetables twice as fast as usual.

"Mommy, icecream!"

"One second," Rory says absently. She's feeding Richie and groans when Charlotte pulls at her arm. "Honey, not now."

"Look at me," Charlotte says. Rory doesn't turn her head, focusing on feeding Richie and Charlotte says, "Daddy!"

Jess is clearing the plates and says, "Hold on, Charlotte. We're busy."

Charlotte sticks her thumb in her mouth impatiently, glaring at her parents, and Rory waits for Richie to fall asleep before saying, "Okay, icecream time! I'll just put him down."

Jess has got the bowls and icecream out when she gets back but just as they're about to scoop there's a loud wail from the bedroom.

"Oh boy," Rory says. "Literally. Hang on, guys."

"Icecream!" Charlotte shouts and Rory says, "In a minute, Charlotte."

"Now!" Charlotte shouts and she lifts up a bowl and drops it where it smashes loudly on the floor. Rory stares at her in shock and furiously Jess grabs Charlotte's arm.

"That's enough! Look what you did! You don't get icecream!"

"It's not fair!" Charlotte sobs and Jess says, "You can go to your room right now," Charlotte bursts into tears and shouts, "I hate you and I hate Richie! Give him back!"

She runs into her room, slamming the door and Jess exhales, closing his eyes. Rory hesitates, goes to check on Richie and by the time she comes back Jess is sitting at the table. The shards of china have been cleared up. "What a mess," he remarks and shakes his head when Rory says, "You cleared it up."

"That's not what I mean."

"Yeah, I know," Rory says quietly. She puts her hand on Jess's and her husband says, "Charlotte seems to really hate Richie."

"She's only three. That's what you said, remember?"

"Right," Jess says softly. "Was I too hard on her?"

"She can't go round smashing bowls," Rory says. "But maybe we thought this would be smoother than it is. We didn't stop being only children until we were adults. I almost told Charlotte to stop acting like a three-year-old, and that's what she is."

"I feel like a jerk."

"Jess, don't. She's adjusting - we're all figuring this out. I'm going to go talk to her."

Jess nods and Rory gives him a kiss, walking over to Charlotte's room. She gently opens the door and frowns. For a moment the room seems empty but then Rory notices Charlotte hiding under the bed.

"Hey," Rory says, crouching down. "What are you doing all the way down there?"

"No one loves me," Charlotte says, her lower lip trembling. Sighing, Rory gets down to her knees and winces slightly at the strain.

"Can I talk to you down there?"

"Okay," Charlotte says solemnly and watches as Rory rather ungainly lies down and shuffles so she can fit under the bed.

"Sweetheart, Daddy and I love you very much. We love you more than anything."

"You love Richie."

"We love you too."

"Daddy hates me," Charlotte sniffles and Rory says gently, "No, angel, he doesn't hate you. He was angry because you broke the bowl. You know that was bad."

"I don't care. I hate Richie."

"Why do you hate Richie?"

"He's ugly and he smells and you only like him!"

"Charlotte, he's a baby. He can't help being ugly and smelly."

"You think he's cute!" Charlotte says in disgust and Rory tries not to laugh.

"He's cute but he's smelly, agreed on that. But we don't love your brother more than we love you."

"You don't want to play with me."

"Yes we do, but Richie's too little to be alone yet. Charlotte, you're his big sister! That makes you very special. You can teach him tons of stuff. That's very important."

Charlotte puts her thumb back in her mouth, thinking about this, and Rory goes on, "I need you to help me too, angel. Me and Daddy need you."

"Daddy's mad at me."

"He won't be mad when you say sorry. Are you sorry?"

Charlotte nods, thumb in her mouth again, and Rory says, "Ready to go back in the kitchen?"

Charlotte nods but before Rory can move she says, "I miss you, Mommy. You're my mommy."

"I miss you too," Rory says, managing to give her a kiss. "Come on, sweets."

They walk back out of the bedroom and when Charlotte sees Jess she hugs Rory's hip and says, "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Come here," Jess says, opening his arms, and Charlotte runs over to him where Jess picks her up, hugging her against his chest. "There's my girl. I love you, Charlotte."

The next night, they make sundaes with no hiccups and when Richie starts crying Jess says, "I'll go. You girls enjoy the icecream."

Rory lifts up her icecream bowl and clinks it against Charlotte's.

"Here's to some girltime," she says and, although Rory doesn't think she quite understands, Charlotte giggles happily. It's too early to be sure but Charlotte's been a lot calmer today, and while Rory doesn't imagine it'll be totally fine from now on, Charlotte hasn't demanded once that her brother be given back. Lorelai is going to come over tomorrow and will doubtlessly spoil both her grandchildren, and provide some much needed help to the adults. Rory laughs as her daughter shoves her face in the icecream bowl, getting sauce all over her face and says, "And you told me your brother was yucky."

That night, after Charlotte has been bathed and put to bed Rory is able to take a shower in peace. She's just finished brushing her hair out when she hears a cry and, sighing slightly, goes to check on Richie. The crying stops before she gets there and Rory goes into the bedroom, expecting to see Jess, and stops in surprise. Charlotte is leaning over the bassinet, a bear in her hand, and she says proudly, "I showed Richie my bear and he stopped crying!"

"That's right, he did!" Rory exclaims, going over and giving her a kiss. "What a great big sister!"

Jess comes in and laughs happily when Charlotte repeats the story.

"There's my girl," he says, lifting her up. "What would we do without you, huh?"

"He still smells, but he's okay," Charlotte says matter-of-factly and Rory tries to keep a straight face as she says, "Good enough for me."

"And me," Jess says, giving Charlotte a kiss. "Okay little miss, back to bed."

"I want a story!"

"A story, huh?" Jess says and as Richie stirs Charlotte adds, "And for Richie."

"I can do that," Jess says. He sits on the bed, lifting Richie into one arm and holding Charlotte in the other and starts a story about a brave princess and her little brother. Rory smiles at them all, her heart complete. She's just about to slip away and get some rest when Charlotte says, "Mommy, do the voices!"

"It's the sock puppet show all over again," Rory groans but she complies. Her attempt is terrible but Charlotte giggles happily and finally falls asleep in her father's arms.

"Two kids," Jess says under his breath. "Think we're up for it?"

"You know, I think we might make it after all."