Just Another Lorelai Gilmore

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of the affiliated characters/references.

Chapter 9.

—One Week Later—

"Are you sure you want to come? I think they're just drawing blood this time because they did an ultrasound last time, mom." I called out from my mom's bathroom, I looked in the mirror, smoothing out my hair. Seriously, this bathroom was our favorite room in the whole house.

"You really underestimate my skills of persuading people, I will have that doctor doing a little fetus photo shoot by the end of your visit." She appeared in the door frame, giving an evil smile. "So did Jess say if he was going to make it? Are you guys there yet, is it too early? I don't know how dating while pregnant works. It may have upgraded in the last 24 years, anyway."

I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at my phone, which didn't have any new notifications. "I had told him about it, but I also mentioned it wasn't a big deal. It's just a check up, nothing big going on like knowing the gender or anything. Yesterday he said he would see what he could do, but couldn't make any promises. Pretty much the agreement we had settled on before he left town as it is. He lives so far, it would be unrealistic for him to be here every time." I looked at my mom, and gave a smile. "Is it not completely insane how we're here talking about my being with Jess. I mean after all this time… and you're not even rolling your eyes every time I say his name." I laughed, thinking of my teenage years around Jess and my mother.

"Well for one, I've learned since you started college, you're going to be with whoever you want. Second, Jess has grown on me. It's like him and Luke took the same class in being normal people with feelings and words." She suddenly laughed out loud and I gave her a puzzled look. "It's just, at Liz's wedding, I now remember when I found this like self help, how to love book, in Jess' backpack. Oh god, and Luke got so defensive about it when I mentioned it in a joke."

My eyes widened and I let out a laugh. "You think they like, studied it together?! I mean, good for them, but seriously, knowing the two of them. That thought is absolutely hilarious."

"What are you two being so loud about?" Luke grumbled as he walked into the bedroom.

We shared a look, and burst out laughing. "Nothing." We said in unison.

"April just called, she'll be here in a week and a half for her christmas vacation. We really need to figure out another bedroom situation in this house. Might give Tom a call for some estimates."

My mom gave him a kiss on the cheek and nodded. "Whatever you want, babe. We're about to head out to Rory's appointment, and we will be back for a late lunch. Don't forget that we are going to Hartford tonight for dinner, all of us." She gave him a look and he rolled his eyes.

"It's not that I would forget, its that I purposefully push it to the back of my mind until the painful time comes. Anyways, I'm heading back to the diner until I have to get ready. I'll see you guys later. Have fun… or whatever at your appointment Ror." He waved bye and headed out.

I sat on my moms bed and checked my phone again. "Still nothing from Jess?" I shook my head and dropped the phone into my purse. "Well, we have to get going in case there's traffic on the way up there, sweets."

"Mom, you and I both know there's only ever 'traffic' on Friday nights." I used air quotes to emphasize my sarcastic remark, we both knew it was our go to excuse for Emily Gilmore.

A while later, we sat in the doctor's waiting room. Mom was gushing over some nursery ideas in a magazine from one of their tables. "I really need a better paying job so I can start looking for a place. I'm going to be cramped in that room with a baby." Giving my phone one last glance, I decided to give up and turn it off before going into the the exam room.

"We can always do some expanding, you heard Luke, we're probably hiring Tom soon anyways for some work on the house for April."

I nodded, but felt weird having mom and Luke doing so much for me. My mom looked up and had a huge grin on her face, and I was confused as to why. "Did you just find some ridiculous nursery décor again?" I asked, but then noticed her gaze wasn't directed towards me.

"Sorry I'm late, I didn't even know I could get away til early this morning." I jumped up from my chair as Jess spoke.

"Oh my god, you really didn't have to come all this way." I hugged him tight, and released him from my grip for a small kiss on the cheek.

"I told you I would try. Now sit down before they kick us out for being loud or something." Just then, the nurse came out and called my name, letting us know we could go back into my room.

I sat on the table awkwardly, the room was silent. Jess and I had shared some texts since our big talk a week ago, but there was no protocol on how to act while waiting at your prenatal appointment with your boyfriend who was not the father of your child. We had both agreed to put my mistake of not telling him about the pregnancy behind us, and that we would move forward slowly. As much as I wanted him here, I honestly didn't expect him to show. I told him he didn't have to jump right into the pregnancy thing, and that he could take all the time he needed to adjust. But I stared at him across from me, thankful he had jumped quickly.

"Alright Ms. Gilmore, let's get this started." The doctor walked in, and set my chart on the counter. "We're going to take some blood this time around. I'll do a quick feel on your abdomen to make sure I can feel the growth of the uterus."

"Hi, I'm Rory's mom, Lorelai. You see, against my request and endless begging, she scheduled her last appointment while I was out of town and I completely missed seeing my beautiful grandchild on that screen you have over there in the corner. So, I'm here to offer any amount of bribe, to hopefully, maybe get you to do a quick peek at baby." I put my head down in embarrassment. She actually went there.

The doctor laughed and shook my moms hand, which was extended for a greeting. "Well hello grandma, I'm Dr. Garcia. Though we don't offer a regular schedule of ultrasounds unless the pregnancy is high risk, I suppose we can do you a tiny favor today. No bribe necessary, one grandma to another." She shared a quick wink and my mom squealed.

Dr. Garcia did her exam and felt around my abdomen, mentioning everything was looking good. She brought over the ultrasound machine, and I felt very nervous. Jess was shifting in his seat, seemingly uncomfortable. Was he regretting coming? Was this becoming too real for him? I tried to knock the thoughts out. The cold gel for the ultrasound spread over my stomach as she moved the Doppler around. My eyes were glued to the screen, but I heard my mom come closer to me.

I looked over to give a smile, and noticed both her and Jess were standing by my side. "Not about to take the cheap seats for the show." Jess smirked as he stood next to my mom. "Is it alright?" He asked, motioning at his position so close.

I nodded, happily. "Absolutely." The doctor let the heartbeat play loudly and pointed out the little nubs of legs and arms that had begun to show since the last ultrasound. We got a few print outs, and afterwards a nurse had come in to do my blood draw.

"How did you get here?" I asked Jess as we approached my car.

"Grabbed a cab once I got in at the train station here in Hartford. I can stay a couple days, if you don't mind giving me a lift to Stars Hollow?" His hand was holding mine lightly as we walked.

"Uh duh, hop on in." My mom answered for me, and I nodded, reassuring her answer.

—Later that evening—

"You don't have to go, they're only expecting mom, Luke and me." I eyed Jess as buttoned up my cardigan over my dress.

"Do they know about the pregnancy, yet?" He questioned.

"No, I havent even seen them since the wedding. They went on a trip to France, and we're going there now since they were gone for Thanksgiving. At least, that was the excuse Grandma made to get us to go over there without mom making up reasons as to why she couldn't. I don't know how they will take it. We've all been getting along pretty well since Grandpa's heart attack, it made him appreciate things more I guess. And he's been dragging my Grandma along that path with him. But I doubt that new lifestyle will still help them accept their young, unmarried granddaughter is pregnant." I sat on the bed to strap on my heels, next to Jess.

"Not a big fan of your grandmother, and I'm sure the feeling is still mutual. Look, if you want me to go, I will. Down the road, they'll find out about us being together anyways. And this time, I don't even have a black eye as a conversation piece, so we might even have an ok time." I laughed at the memory of that awful Friday night, years ago.

"Hey you, we're getting ready to head out. I'm going with Luke in his truck. Are you almost ready?" My mom poked her head through the door. "Are you staying behind Jess?" She asked, noticing he was dressed nicely.

"I've told her I'll go, but she says I don't have to." He shrugged and watched me, waiting for a final answer.

"Well if you really don't mind, then let's go." Grabbing my purse, we all headed towards the door. With hesitation, I also grabbed my newest ultrasound picture. "Might as well rip all the bandaids off tonight." I muttered to myself, then quickly caught up with everyone outside.

There was a moment of silence, in every way, as we waited for the door to be answered. Emily finally ripped it open, "Of all nights you forget you have your own keys, you wait the whole five minutes for someone to come to the door. Honestly, Lorelai." She looked slightly irritated, but not anything out of the usual. We all hurried inside and handed our coats to the maid who finally showed face. "Well, hello Jess. I didn't know we were expecting you as well." Her voice was calm, but with a bit of attitude dripping off her words.

"Grandma, Jess came into town to visit for a couple days, and we asked him to join us. I hope that's ok." I quickly spoke up, and stood next to Jess who didn't seem to be bothered by her… yet.

"Of course that's fine Rory, come on in everyone! Let's get the drinks started, shall we?" My grandpa's voice carried throughout the entryway. We followed him into the the sitting room, I sat at the chair next to Jess', my mom and Luke on one of the couches. "Now, what drinks will everyone be having?"

After getting our drinks, we sat while grandma asked all about mom's honeymoon, and grandpa grilling Luke about his business and still trying to convince him to become a chain restaurant. I was especially thankful they hadn't turned their attention towards Jess and I yet, and then the maid announced that dinner was served.

We took our seats at the table, I obviously decided to stick near Jess on one side. I got nervous, thinking of the ultrasound picture I had slid into my pocket before hanging my purse up. "So young man, I know I saw you at the wedding briefly, but tell me a little about yourself." Grandpa had turned his attention towards Jess.

"Well I'm a writer. I have one published novel, and I'm currently writing another. For steady income though, I work at a publishing house in Philadelphia. We bring on new authors, the books that are printed, we run in small quantities. Just offering a start for people who can't really get an agent or into a more well known publisher." I grabbed Jess' hand under the table and squeezed. "Also, I am currently dating your granddaughter." He said, matter-of-factly.

Mom and I both nearly choked on our dinner as he said the words. I stared at him with wide eyes and then settled on Grandma, who was fidgeting in her seat. "Well! A published author, with a respectable job. I think that's wonderful, congratulations you two." Grandpa was happy, but Emily wasn't about to hold her tongue anymore.

"Richard Gilmore! How can you congratulate them? This boy, is the one who showed up years ago, LATE and with a horrible black eye! He is definitely not a person we should be encouraging our granddaughter to be dating!" Her outburst was not surprising, but still hurtful and I felt bad that Jess had to listen to it.

"Emily, please. You are being rude to our guests. Besides, he was here on time tonight. And unless he has gotten into the girls' makeup, I don't see a black eye he is covering up. One might say, he has changed." I smiled appreciatively at my grandfather as he stuck up for Jess.

"This is ridiculous! Rory Gilmore, when will you start taking your life more seriously?" I was taken back by her accusation and stood up from the table.

"Grandma, I am taking life seriously! You don't know the half of what I've been doing or going through, so you couldn't possibly know if this was a good choice for me!" I took the ultrasound picture out and held it out to her. "I know you both will be disappointed to know I'm pregnant, but I am. And here Jess is, braving this dinner with me, accepting me and this child and it's not even his! The person you would like me to be with, is the same person who has abandoned me in this situation. And honestly, Logan is a person I could never have in my life, anyways. So don't attack Jess, when he's been more of a man than anyone I've been with!" Tears rolled down my face, more from anger than sadness. I left the picture on the table, and walked away. Jess, mom and Luke following right behind me.

-Thanks for reading and reviewing! I hope you are enjoying this story! I am certainly enjoying writing it!!—