A/N: Questions guys:

1. Lorelai's opening a new Inn post AYITL. As hard as I think, I don't know what she would name it. Any suggestions? I just keep calling it the new Inn but I think a name would help bring closure that ASP never really gave us.

2. Also, since in my story Lorelai's having twins, feel free to give suggestions on names and genders of both babies. I have a few ideas but we're in the middle and I'd like to know what would make the story most satisfying for you?

Lorelai woke groggily and noticed the time on her phone along with two missed calls from Rory and 7 from Michel. It was already 9:15am. She'd been so groggy without any caffeine for the past 8 days. She was sleeping more than usual and the people in her life had come to expect her to be Speedy Gonzalez or the Energizer Bunny… yeah the bunny because it was pink and wore sunglasses. Luke had been great about it though- too great. His greatness was beginning to irritate her.

She stretched, tossed the covers and pushed herself out of bed into her slippers to go pee. Even though she'd been coffee free, the added circus in her belly made her always have to pee. "You're very demanding kiddos. I guess you do have Gilmore traits," she talked to her belly.

She took a deep breath and returned Michel's call, ignoring his voicemails. "Oh, so you have not forgotten that I exist," he said in his thick French accent.

"I'm sorry Michel, I overslept. This no coffee thing is difficult for me. But it was you who said you needed a challenge- so surprise! You got it dude," She said in her best Michelle from Full House impression.

"Whatever," he scoffed. "Anyway, the electrician for the new Inn says he needs to meet with us about the new Inn this afternoon. I think Taylor is blocking the permits again."

"Okay. Set it up for 2. I'm on my way to see Rory so I'll stop by Taylor's and see what form of blackmail he's up to. And Michel-"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being there." She really meant it. She knew she was putting a lot on him and last time with Sookie as her partner, she felt so alone. She needed her angry friend.

"You're welcome. I have to because if this fails it will look bad on my résumé," he goaded her.

"Byyeee Michel," She hung up and then proceeded to get ready and headed out the door.

Lorelai had taken to walking to Luke's daily to see Rory and take their walk because Dr. Levitt had warned her about the pregnancy and she was afraid. She couldn't do anything about baby B's heart condition, but she was determined to have the healthiest pregnancy possible and walk as much as she could to hopefully avoid being on bedrest.

She even went to Emily's old water aerobics class at her mother's referral. She wore an intentionally ugly suit that happened to match one of the old ladies there which made it hilarious to Rory who she dragged along, but prompted her to pick a solid black one for the class they'd be heading to today. She sauntered into the diner with her oversized bag containing her swimsuit and spotted Luke, who she actually wanted to avoid, but she caught his gaze as well and he stopped her before she headed upstairs to Rory.

He kissed her softly and said, "Hey beautiful. Have you eaten breakfast? I left you a note on the table that breakfast was in the microwave."

"Yes, and turkey bacon is NOT bacon. I ate the whole wheat toast even though that tastes as much like cardboard as it looks and I had the eggs and the mixed fruit in the fridge. But I refuse, under any circumstance to eat low-fat cottage cheese with it. Cheese should not be both lumpy and creamy." She made a face.

"How do you know what cardboard tastes like?" he smirked. She rolled her eyes at him. He'd become too much like her and knew just how to push her buttons back.

"I'm going up to see Rory, we have class soon." She was already turning around and heading up the stairs as he called back to her.

"Alright, have fun but be careful." His overprotectiveness was cute and she knew just like her walking, him trying to take care of her was him doing what he could while they were both helpless about baby B's condition.

She hadn't told Rory yet because she couldn't handle any more china doll treatment than Luke was already handing out but she could tell her daughter was suspicious when she gave up coffee completely without even looking back. Lorelai Gilmore just wouldn't do that unless something was up.

She knocked on the door at the top of the stairs and waited for Rory to answer, trying to put Luke's annoying behavior out of her mind.

"Hey mom," a frazzled Rory opened the door and let her in. "sorry, I was just looking for a book. Jess sent it to me."

Lorelai stepped in and closed the door behind her. "Well isn't that nice of Jess. I'm a little hurt that I'm his aunt now and he doesn't bother sending me gifts." Lorelai teased with her 'there's something more to this relationship' voice and look.

"Oh, stop it. Jess and I are just friends. Besides, if you haven't noticed, I happen to be 23 weeks pregnant with a Huntzberger baby."

"Having a baby isn't a deal breaker like it was in olden times, Rory."

"Well, it doesn't matter. Jess and I are in a good place. He's been a great friend to talk to and get advice on my writing from. Maybe in a different timeline like in all of those space movies, we could have been. But right now, dating is the last thing I need. And In a way, Jess has become like a brother to me. I mean, he's a son to Luke basically…" Then a sly smile came across Rory's face as she contrived a way to turn it back on Lorelai "So that makes you more his Step-mother than his aunt."

"Alright, I call truce on this matter." Lorelai deflected. "Find the book?"

"Yep. Let's go. And if you could use your magic to get the towel boys to give us backrubs afterwards again, I'd really appreciate it."

Rory and Lorelai got lunch in Hartford after their class. Rory had been waiting for her mother to disclose where this total 180 health streak had come from, but she felt it was time to pry. She could tell it was weighing on her best friend and she wanted to be there for support. She was happy to join in on the healthy things to do while pregnant. It was giving her great material for her blog and book while also giving her time to spend with her mom before they both had screaming babies. Yet, she knew there was more.

"Mom, I have to ask you something and I think you know it's been coming." Rory saw it in Lorelai's eyes that she did know. She could see her mom's body language change and tense up. "What's going on? I know something's up."

"Well you are a journalist."

"Mom"

"Rory, I- I uh"

"Mom," she repeated more softly to put her mom more at ease.

"It's the babies. Well one of the babies. Baby B has a heart defect. They said there's a chance that since it's still early it'll repair itself. Also, both babies are perfectly healthy otherwise so even if surgery is required after birth, they have really high hopes for an easy and speedy recovery. She talked a lot but I'm going to have an ultrasound pretty much at every appointment to monitor the situation. And with my advanced maternal age they said I need to be as healthy as possible. That's why I've increased the exercise and why Luke's been a total dictator over my diet. He doesn't have to though because I'm so scared, Rory. I'm so scared that I've been following all of the instructions to a 'T' despite my stubbornness."

"Oh, mom-" Rory began

"No. Please don't look at me like that. That's how Luke keeps looking at me. That's why I haven't told you or anyone else. I don't want to be treated as helpless- even though I am."

"Fine. I won't; but you have to tell me this stuff. I can be supportive without pity. We're already doing everything healthy we can so now it's up to my little brother or sister to get strong like Gilmores do."

Lorelai hugged her first pancake and a few tears came out. So she held the hug until she could wipe them away. "Thanks, babe."

"Is there anything else I can do."

"Can you talk to Luke? Maybe if you talk to him, he'll ease up. I don't want to put you in the middle but whenever I tell him I'm ok, he doesn't believe me. I think he just needs someone to give him permission to be scared. He doesn't want me to see him scared because he wants to be strong with me."

"I'm not the best person to talk to Luke, but I know who is."

"Who?"

"Your son Jess," Rory smirked as Lorelai cringed and they both laughed. It felt good to laugh. Lorelai felt like she'd been holding her breath for 8 days.