A/N: Okay, so Rory & Jess have faced Lorelai & Luke and things aren't so bad, but what about the denizens of Stars Hollow? How will they take the news that Rory is back with the hoodlum and carrying his child? Read on to find out! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 14

Rory didn't want to go out. She had been back in Stars Hollow for almost a week and so far she had refused to leave the Gilmore House for even a second. When Jess offered to go to the store for her, or to go with her to see Lane, she made excuses. She kept him inside with her, afraid as she was to face the denizens of her hometown, apparently. Lorelai had noticed, it was impossible for her not to do so. Luke had too, and Jess overhead a conversation between the older couple about it. He pretended that he didn't know what they were talking about and he never mentioned it to Rory, but after days of not stirring out of the house he was starting to get cabin fever.

Jess had no particular love for anyone in this crazy town, except for his uncle and Rory, of course. He could happily avoid all the weirdoes and gossip in the whole place, but he knew it was impossible. Living with Lorelai was fine for now, but hand outs from her and Luke for the rest of their lives was not an option for Jess and Rory. He needed a job, and to find them an apartment if he could. That part might take a little longer and a lot of savings, but the job had to be sooner rather than later. What they had left over from New York wasn't going to last long, not with a baby to think of on top of everything else.

"So, I'm headed out to the town meeting," said Lorelai as she appeared in the living room. "You guys okay?" she asked Rory and Jess who were curled up together on the couch.

"Hey, maybe we could go with your Mom," he suggested to her.

"What?" his girlfriend reacted with evident surprise. "You? You want to go to a town meeting? You hate everybody in town!" she declared.

"I don't hate them," he insisted, but even Jess knew he was fighting a losing battle on this one.

Town meetings always sucked, but anything was better than staying in every day and every night. He promised to play this whole thing Rory's way, concerned as he was about upsetting her, especially now she was pregnant. He kept on biting his tongue, only pushing the point about going out when she seemed to be considering it anyway, or when Lorelai brought it up. So far, no good.

"Okay, well, I'm gonna go," Lorelai repeated. "If you wanna swing by later, that'd be cool," she smiled and then left.

"Not gonna happen," Rory muttered, curling further into Jess' embrace.

The moment didn't last long as he all but leapt up from the couch and stalked off into the kitchen.

"Jess?" she called after him, truly confused apparently.

Rory rushed after her boyfriend and found him staring into the mostly empty refrigerator as if hoping to find the answer to life, the universe and everything in there. Unlikely since it hardly even contained edible food most of the time.

"What's going on?"

"Shouldn't I be asking that question?" he asked, swinging around fast and slamming the fridge door as he did so. "What is going on, Rory? We needed to come back here, we both knew it, and I actually thought a larger part of you would be pleased. I mean you made things up with Lorelai, you and me are supposed to be solid as a rock, everything is good."

"It is good," she agreed too softly. "It's not going to be easy, but we're good, aren't we?"

"I don't know," shrugged Jess, throwing his hands up in the air for good measure. "I just, I don't get this whole self-imposed house arrest thing," he told her. "You don't want to leave the house, and every time I try, you make some excuse for me to stay. It's been days, Rory. Five to be exact, and I'm going a little crazy here. What is going on?"

"I don't want to face them, okay?" she said suddenly and more loudly than Jess had quite expected.

Rory could yell with the best of them when she got angry or upset, but she had been muttering and mumbling up to this point so it came as quite a shock. Jess practically jumped with the surprise of her tone, though the words were understandable enough, they just required a little further explanation.

"I figured," he nodded once, "but who exactly? And why? I mean, is it me?" he checked. "Is it too embarrassing or shameful to admit we're back together?"

"No! Don't be ridiculous!" she yelled at him for being so dumb. "I love you and I am not ashamed of that. I just... Don't you understand how hard it's going to be? To have everybody stare at us and judge us? They all expected so much from me, Jess. I was supposed to be this great example and... and now..."

"Now you're back with me, pregnant, and a drop out," he said succinctly, not even meaning to sound cruel, just factual.

The pain crossing Rory's face made his heart ache too. Sometimes Jess opened his mouth without engaging brain, mostly when he felt cornered or injured in some way. Now, like so many times before, he regretted thoughtless words just as soon as they were spoken.

"Look, Rory, I'm sorry," he apologised, leaning towards her across the kitchen table that stood between them. "I know it's different for you. Me? I'm used to people, especially people in this town, looking at me like I'm something they stepped in. They don't expect anything from me, so I can't be a disappointment, y'know? But anybody who cares about you, really cares, they're gonna be supportive and understanding. Anybody who's not? Well, between me and your Mom, plus Luke besides, I think we can deal," he promised her with a half a smile that he couldn't help.

He was right and Rory knew it. They were family now, all four of them. Jess would stand up for her, as well as her mother and Luke. Plus, Rory could stand up for herself if she had a mind to, and she should, she knew. No matter what anyone in town thought of her, whatever their judgemental thoughts might be, she had made her choices. Getting pregnant hadn't been planned, but she was dealing with it, she and Jess were standing strong together, and it was dumb to hide away after everything they had already been through. Jess was right, anybody who cared would stand by them, and those that didn't could just go to hell. Within a moment, Rory suddenly felt empowered.

"Okay," she said, turning towards the bedroom.

"Okay? Okay, what?" checked Jess, only mildly surprised to see her return to his sight with her coat over one arm and his leather jacket in her other hand.

"Okay, let's go," she replied firmly, tossing his jacket in his general direction then shoving her arms into her own sleeves. "Tonight, we face the town. Tomorrow, we go to Friday Night Dinner with my grandparents. People need to know the truth, and I'd rather be the one to tell them than have the gossips spread lies around."

Jess was floored enough by the town meeting attendance, he was doubly shocked by Rory's resolution to face her grandparents too. She had sworn Lorelai to secrecy about their return, even from Emily and Richard. Jess was sure she had only agreed because she was afraid of Rory deciding to run again or just causing another rift. Right now it wasn't worth adding more drama to the existing pile.

"Come on!" Rory pressed when Jess just stood staring at her for a long moment, leather jacket still clasped in his hands where she had thrown it.

She was the most incredible woman. Every time he thought he had her figured, she surprised him, even now after everything. Pulling on his jacket he walked around the table and took a hold of her around the waist, pulling her close.

"You're a freak, Rory Gilmore," he smirked, every word affectionate in spite of what they could mean in other circumstances. "You know that, don't you?"

"Of course," she shrugged. "I wouldn't be with you if I weren't," she smiled back at him, happy enough when he leaned in for a kiss.

Next minute they were headed out the front door hand in hand, ready to face their public. The cool night air hit Rory and she looked down at her stomach protruding quite obviously from her skinny frame through her too-tight T-shirt. Everyone was going to know without any kind of announcement being made. She had Jess' hand in hers and her bump on display. They were headed for a town meeting, it didn't get more obvious than this.

"You okay?" her boyfriend asked her as they crossed the street and headed for Miss Patty's studio that doubled as the town hall on meeting nights.

"Sure," Rory nodded and smiled. "More than okay," she promised, squeezing his hand and glad to feel Jess squeeze back.

It was all going to be fine. If Rory could just convince her jangling nerves and shaking body of that, that'd be great.

"Why'd I let you drag me here?" asked Luke, squirming in his seat next to Lorelai. "And why do you keep looking back at the door like that?" he added when she did so one more time.

"You let me drag you here because you love me," she said matter of factly. "And I'm looking for the kids," she whispered the last part. "I was hoping maybe Rory would finally leave the house tonight, but..."

She wasn't even done with her sentence when Taylor banged the gavel, making her jump. He called the meeting to order at the same moment the doors opened again. Lorelai turned around on instinct to see who was there. Lo and behold, Rory and Jess walked in together, hand in hand. An audible gasp went around the room.

Lorelai felt a smile curve her lips, even though she knew the entire town was currently discussing her daughter. It didn't matter, she was here, Jess too, and they were facing everybody. It was about time.

"Hey, you two," she said, standing up. "Right over here," she gestured for them to come join her and Luke.

"What is the meaning of this?" asked Taylor loudly before Rory and Jess ever made it to their seats.

Though Luke stood to answer, and angrily, it was Jess that got there first.

"What's the matter, Taylor? Been missing me?" he asked smartly, letting go of Rory's hand as he walked down the aisle towards the selectman. "Well, now I'm back, planning to stay actually. That okay with you?"

"You and Rory back together, sugar?" asked Babette from the side.

"Yes, we are," he replied, though his angry gaze remained on a floundering Taylor. "So if there are any more questions, objections, or comments, let's get 'em out of the way, right now," he said definitely.

"Jess," said Rory, suddenly behind him and pulling on his sleeve. "It's okay, you don't have to protect me."

"I know," he said, his arm going around her shoulders as he pulled her to his side and finally let his gaze leave Taylor's own. "But I'm not having anybody here make you feel bad, nobody," he said definitely, turning to face the assembled crowd. "So, any questions? Comments? C'mon, Taylor has a schedule to follow, we're already holding him up."

"Rory is pregnant?" Gypsy checked, sure she was right and yet since she was being asked to get all questions done now, she may as well ask.

"I am," the young woman herself confirmed.

It was only then she noticed Dean in the far corner. He got up very suddenly and stared intently at Rory. She felt Jess move at her side, ready to lunge at her ex, but she put a hand to his chest to hold him back.

"Jess and I are back together, we're having a baby together, and we'll be staying in Stars Hollow, at least for now," she explained with as much volume and confidence as she could muster. "I'm sorry if anybody thinks I let them down or that we did something wrong, but we don't feel that way. This baby wasn't planned, but we're happy about it. We're going to live our lives here for the forseeable future and I want them to be happy. I guess it's up to all of you if you're supportive or not, but we're going to be happy no matter what you all think or say."

Jess had never been more proud of her and proved it by the way he squeezed her to him and kissed her temple then. This was a lot for her, to stand up in front of all these people that looked at her with such adoration for so many years, and admit she wasn't quite perfect. She was ruining her angelic reputation. Dating him before hadn't done her much good, but being pregnant and dropping out of college, at least temporarily, it wouldn't sit well with those who put her on a pedestal for years.

"Congratulations, honey," said Miss Patty from behind them, the couple wheeling around as one to acknowledge her kindness. "You two always made such a cute couple," she winked.

"Thanks, Patty," Rory replied gratefully.

"Yeah, congrats, sugar," Babette chimed in,

Rory was surprised but pleasantly so, by how many people wanted to congratulate her and Jess, to tell them they were happy to have them back together and all. Some of it was probably lies, Jess thought so, but he'd take it for now. Rory was smiling rather than crying, that was all that mattered to him.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jess noticed Forester hurry from the room. A blond went after him, who he had to assume was Lindsay, though she moved so fast it was hard to tell. They were somebody else's problem for another day.

"Okay, okay, can we all please retake our seats now and discuss some actual town business?" Taylor insisted, making Rory laugh.

All the drama and confusion, all the worry about how it would be when she and Jess faced the town, but things weren't so different to before. Taylor was banging his gavel and everyone was compaining about how anal he could be, as Rory and Jess finally sat down beside Lorelai and Luke. It was kind of like old times as Rory leaned into her boyfriend's embrace and smiled across at her Mom. The worst was over, or rather half of the worst. There was still the grandparents to face, and that was not going to be pretty. Rory tried to put that out of her mind for now and concentrate on the meeting.

To Be Continued...