A/N: I've already written a chapter after this but I'm going try to post 1 daily or every other day until I feel I've finished the story I want to tell. I'd love any comments as always.

On February 18th, Rory was officially 20 weeks and she and Lorelai resolved to try not to get too fat. Now that Lorelai was 12 weeks, her appetite had returned and there was no way that they were going to give up eating. So they took a stroll through town every afternoon for the past 2 weeks. Rory walked into the Dragonfly as Michel was training a new guy at the front desk now that he had responsibilities of building the new inn. He'd just gotten back from paternity leave after adopting his little girl with Frederick so Rory hadn't seen him to thank him yet.

"Hey Michel! I never got to thank you for helping Luke with painting the nursery for me. I really do appreciate it."

"I did no such thing," Michel scoffed in his French accent, jokingly without looking away from the new guy he knew he would call an imbecile at least 3 more times before lunch. "And if I did, it was only to spare that poor child having a plaid flannel nursery. And also, you should be thankful because I nearly fell off the ladder."

"Thank you Michel," Rory came around the counter and hugged him and Michel begrudgingly accepted. Then she headed into her mom's office. Lorelai perked right up. Even though she heard rory and was getting her coat as her daughter walked in, those blue eyes and that bump made her so joyful and proud. Also, she loved the bonding time with Rory because she knew this was the beginning of a huge shift in their ever-too-close dynamic.

"So give me the latest," Rory said as if she was about to interview her for the gazette.

"The babies are receptive to the idea of me drinking coffee again! I think it's because I threatened to ground them until they were 30," Lorelai proclaimed.

"Wonderful."

"And while not happy about it, Luke has conceded to one to two cups of regular in the morning and decaf for the afternoon. I sneak over to Weston's for a third on truly busy days but I'm trying to be good because doctor's orders."

"Yeah, the whole low caffeine thing is worse than the no drinking thing for me," Rory concurred.

"Yes, but you don't have a 'geriatric womb,'" Lorelai used air quotes and pouted. "Can you believe they dare say geriatric about me?! I'm not Betty White. I'm still young enough. I hope I'm young enough… I mean there are two of them… what if I'm not young enough?" Lorelai mused and mildly started to panic herself.

Now that they had Rory settled, Lorelai was starting to realize the gravity of the fact that she was pregnant at 48… with twins. She remained calm around Luke so as not to end up being forced into bed rest for the next 28 weeks by an overly concerned husband. She was extremely tired already. And though 8 weeks behind Rory, her bump was growing faster so walking, general mobility of putting on her shoes, and picking up stuff on the floor was a serious task.

"You ARE young enough mom." Rory comforted and rubbed her back.

"Thanks, kid. You know just how to appease mommy."

Rory giggled but didn't bother to protest kid because Lorelai made it clear she'd always call her kid. In a way, it was comforting too.

"Oh," Lorelai said shifting gears, "we're going to enlarge the kitchen so we can enlarge the upstairs to fit another bedroom/nursery for the babies. When they're older one of them can sleep in your old room, but for now, having them both upstairs would be easier on Luke and I after the babies are born. Tom is making a killing off of our procreation I swear. I've actually set up my direct deposit to go just directly to him," she joked.

Rory nodded, she'd been feeling guilty about the work Tom had done in her new pad, but she'd come up with a way to assuage her guilt. But now wasn't the time to say it.

They reached the gazebo and waddled up the steps. Though it was chilly outside, they removed their coats and called over the nearest kid over the age of 6 to come take their picture. This too, was part of their daily routine. Rory had started a column in the gazette about pregnancy to fill the pages since she was reading every book under the sun and when it started to seem to narcissistic for a local newspaper, she made it into a blog about her pregnancy.

Every day Lorelai and Rory would con someone into snapping the duo shot of them and then they'd each take one of the other woman solo. Rory only posted her solo pics, agreeing to give Lorelai her privacy, but even the fact that they took the duo picture made Lorelai feel included. She planned to make a scrapbook or have it done for her online or at Walgreens someday; but it was one of those projects she might never follow through on.

oOo

They finished up and donned their jackets once more as they walked towards Luke's for lunch. Now that they were pregnant, he was finally able to force a side salad on each of them with their burgers but Lorelai would still mock protest and make a face. "But I take my Flinstones vitamin every night babe! Why must I eat this leafy green grass? I am not a rabbit."

"Eat it." Luke rolled his eyes but smirked as he turned away. Now that there weren't regular Friday night dinners, Luke was even more adamant about sneaking veggies into her food. He even enlisted Sookie's help as Jackson had mentioned in passing that Sookie had made a bunch of unhealthy looking healthy stuff when Richard had his first heart attack. He'd become a master of tricking her. Although it was juvenile, he figured it would also be good practice for the babies if they took at all after his gorgeous blue-eyed, Raven-haired wife.

As they finished their food, Rory called Luke over and asked him to stay so she could talk to both of them.

"What is it sweets?" Lorelai asked. Hoping it wasn't something serious to do with the baby. Luke looked nervous too.

To allow them to let out the breaths they didn't know they were holding, Rory began, "It's nothing bad. In fact, it's good. It's really good." They did look a little less worried but Lorelai wasn't fully sure because Rory had said that before when it wasn't good news to her, only Rory.

Rory pulled out a manila folder with papers in it and sat it on the table. Realizing his standing position wasn't ideal, Luke sat in the red chair beside Lorelai. "I haven't been offered a deal on my book yet, but my blog has actually been doing well. I publicize it in the Gazette website that I set up and so that got some foot traffic from the locals, as well as sending in a few articles based from the blog to Sandy from Sandy Says. I had to apologize profusely to her using vine, send her a picture of me with her as a cardboard cutout and well… I won't bore you with the details but she forgave me because she liked my articles and it was a new direction that her fresh out of high school writers couldn't fathom."

"Grab an anchor 'cause you're drifting, kid." Lorelai interjected.

"Sorry… Anyway, the point is, I was able to make a splash with my blog and get sponsorship from ads and stuff. I also have been feeling guilty about the finances you put into renovating the apartment for me, so I pulled this rental agreement from the library and I want us all to sign it."

"Rory, you don't have to. We WANT to help." Luke said.

"I know you do, but I have to do this right. I need to be the provider for my own baby. You and mom have two on the way, plus April's grad school, then the new inn you're building, and mom says you're renovating again. That's not cheap."

"We know our financial situation Rory. We're okay…"

"I know, but I'm an adult now. You've already done so much and if I'm going to get back on my feet. I have to do this. I am closing a chapter of drifting and I need to make a plan. This is the start of that. Just look at it. I've already signed it and I came up with the numbers based on comparable apartments that Taylor's renting out."

Luke and Lorelai looked at each other. They knew it would be futile to object to Rory's plan. Plus even though neither would say it, the money would be helpful with the upcoming baby renovations. They were buying two of everything. And this time, Lorelai wanted new things because she wasn't able to do that for Rory like she wanted to. They both sighed and in unison looked back at Rory and said "Okay."

"Freaky. You're already becoming Yoko and John Lennon. Soon you'll have the same face. Oh god Luke, were your eyes always blue? Or are they changing that color because mom's are?" Rory teased and they all laughed.

"You sure you got this Rory?" Lorelai asked as she looked at the fairly large monthly payment.

"Yes. Logan's paying any hospital bills and doctor's visits my insurance doesn't cover and as soon as the baby's born, child support will start. The entire town has already hooked up my apartment, so other than food, I have no expenses right now really."

"Great, you can start paying for your 3rd and 4th refills on French Fries" Luke jabbed with a grin.

"If Logan's paying for the hospital and delivery, ask for the Beyoncé room. Or maybe even Duchess Kate. They can afford it," Lorelai advised.

"Will do Luke," Rory ignored her mother and rolled her eyes.

This is going to work, Rory thought. She was still not thrilled about the idea of giving birth. Sherry and Sookie had thoroughly scarred her along with her mother's annual 4:03am reminder of her own birth. But she knew it was inevitable and she was just trying not to think about that part. But she had a plan, a good plan. She was starting to feel like herself again. She could tell her mom and Luke could see it too because they were both beaming at her but not mentioning it. She felt good to be able to give back to the two people sitting in front of her. Lorelai was her best friend and they were her parents, her rocks. Signing the lease made it easier to negotiate child support with Logan instead of allowing him to overpay as well. She didn't want or need guilt money.

"So I was thinking since Easter's coming up, we can paint eggs on our bellies and take pics!"

"Mooommm…"

"Rory, it's my grandchild and we will never be pregnant together again. You know you're going to cave just like gingerbread babies, the New Year's babies, and Valentine's Day heart emojis."

"Fine," she conceded with a giggle. She was happy. They were all happy.