A/N: For CharmedOpal, because this is her favourite of my lit fics, so I was determined it would be the next one updated, just 'cause she's awesome ;) With thanks to all the lovely reviewers!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see Prologue)

Chapter 23

Rory made her decision to call her grandmother and did it immediately, knowing she might change her mind or think about it too much if she didn't just do it. Emily seemed surprised but pleased by the sudden call and was only to happy to hear Rory say she would like to come to Friday night dinner this week.

"You realise I'm going to bring Jess," said Rory, unwavering in her tone.

"Well, of course you will," replied Emily, perhaps through gritted teeth though on the phone Rory couldn't be sure. "Perhaps your mother would like to bring her boyfriend also," she offered. "It's Luke, isn't it?"

"Er, yeah," Rory replied vaguely, a little thrown by the whole thing.

She really hadn't meant to accept the invitation on behalf of her Mom and Luke, it was never her intention at all. The 'yeah' seemed to come out all by itself and if anything it was a confirmation that Luke was the correct name, nothing more. Still, it seemed too late as her grandmother said she would make arrangements for dinner for the five of them, and politely said she would send a message to the pool house so Richard would know to expect them for drinks too.

Rory had been in a state of shock about the way the whole conversation ran for fully ten minutes after she got off the phone. She went straight to the diner to tell Jess what occurred and when Luke heard he had been fast-shuffled into attending also he dropped a glass that shattered spectacularly across the floor. A round of applause went around the diner and Jess rolled his eyes as he fetched the brush and dustpan to clean up the mess.

"Does your mother know about this?" Luke had asked her, at which point Rory admitted she didn't but that she planned to tell her just as soon as she got home from the inn.

It was clear Luke was trying to find a way out of this whole thing before it was too late. Rory felt sorry for him, but moreover for herself. She kind of wanted both her mom and Luke at dinner, even if that did seem selfish. It must have shown on her face because just as soon as Jess returned to the scene and realised what was happening he fixed his uncle with a look.

"Y'know you guys coming to dinner would really help out a lot," he told Luke. "Extra support for Rory against the judgmental Mrs Gilmore, plus if she's focusing a little wrath on Lorelai's dating choices, that gets me off the hook some."

It wasn't much of an argument since Jess was pretty much telling Luke he was likely to be sharing the load when it came to Emily's venomous tongue. Nobody would willingly take that on, but after casting a look at his nephew, Luke was forced to glance at Rory and then he knew he just had to suck it up. That innocent face had been melting his heart since the woman was only a little girl. The pout and doe eyes combo was all but deadly. Luke had rolled his eyes and given in with minimal grumbling after that.

"Fine!" he said, practically snatching the brush from Jess' hands and cleaning up the smashed glass himself. "God knows what I'm gonna wear, and I'll probably get judged for my truck and my hair and not raising you to get married before you make babies..." he continued on, even as he headed out back with the remains of the glass.

Jess leaned over the counter towards Rory, grabbing her hands up in his own and planting a kiss on her lips.

"Good work, blue eyes," he told her. "I wasn't so sure I could make him cave on my own."

"That's why we're a team," she replied, returning his kiss.

Lorelai had no choice but to be okay about dinner after encouraging Rory to attend anyway. Once she knew Luke was willing (if willing was really the correct word) the deal was made.

So it was that the foursome arrived at the Gilmore mansion at six o'clock for drinks with Richard before heading in to dinner with Emily for seven. Rory was glad enough to be seeing Grandpa and her smile was genuine as they went straight to the pool house, her fingers entwined with Jess' own. Lorelai copied the act, grabbing Luke's hand in hers and pulling him around the side of the house.

Richard Gilmore was pleased as punch to see his granddaughter and his daughter too, truth be told. He welcomed them with literally open arms and shook hands with both Jess and Luke. Though he obviously felt somewhat awkward about entertaining four in a small space that was barely adequate, things soon settled into something akin to pleasant comfortable conversation.

There was talk of books with Jess, the inn with Lorelai, and a brief moment of business advice for Luke that he took in relative good humour. All focus was soon on Rory, of course, as she produced sonogram pictures for her grandfather's perusal. Lorelai felt strange about the whole thing, truth be known. When she herself fell pregnant at sixteen, things had got so screwed up, it brought it all home seeing her own baby girl show off her sonogram pictures, far happier tears coming to Richard's eyes on this particular occasion. Luke squeezed Lorelai's hand and gave her a smile when she looked his way. He had to know she was uncomfortable, but was determined to bring any comfort he could. She leaned his way, her head on his shoulder a moment as she whispered a quiet 'thanks'.

"We're having a boy, Grandpa," Rory told him happily.

"Really? A son and heir," he smiled at Jess who shifted awkwardly at the phrasing.

It was all a little too blue blood for his taste, but he didn't say a word.

"Have you considered names yet?" asked Richard and suddenly Lorelai knew exactly where this was going.

"Oh no, not yet," said Rory definitely. "That's something me and Jess really need to discuss soon, but we only found out for sure that he was a he a few days ago," she said, her hand resting on the curve of her pregnant belly. "When we decide, you'll be one of the first to know."

She knew very well he was gong to put his own name forward as a suggestion, and it wasn't as if Rory hadn't thought about it, but as she said it was a decision for and Jess to make, no-one else. Much easier not to talk about it here and now, she thought. Jess seemed to agree as he put his arm around her and gave her a grateful look.

The hour together passed too quickly and suddenly the clock on the mantle gave a chime for seven o'clock. Technically that meant they were already late getting to the main house for dinner with Emily and there was a flurry and a rush when they realised they really had to leave. Nobody was overly keen, and yet this had to be done, for Rory's sake if nothing else. Air had to be cleared and bridges built, whether they liked it or not.

Outside the front door of the house, Luke straightened himself out as Jess stared at him like he had two heads.

"Seriously?" he checked.

"What? The amount of time you've been known to spend on your hair and you're giving me crap for not wanting to meet my girlfriend's mother with my shirt hanging out of my pants?"

"Now, now, boys," said Lorelai, stepping between them to ring the doorbell. "Save the game faces for the actual enemy."

"Not helping," said Rory with a look right before the door opened and a maid ushered them all inside.

Their coats were being taken before Emily ever put in an appearance. Rory turned around and suddenly found her grandmother facing her, something resembling a smile on her face though it didn't seem entirely genuine.

"Hello, grandma," said Rory stiffly, unsure how to proceed.

"Rory," she smiled, eyes softening as she looked only at her granddaughter for the moment. "It's wonderful to see you. Better late than never, I suppose," she added, unable to help tossing at least one barb.

"We're sorry, we lost track of time," Rory apologised. "I seem to lose track of a lot of things these days. Side effect, I guess," she said, her hand going absently to her stomach as Jess stepped up beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Mrs Gilmore," he nodded once, knowing he had to be polite for Rory's sake, determined to be so more than anything to piss Emily off and not give her the chance she really wanted to put him down.

"Jess," she nodded back. "I hope you've been taking good care of my granddaughter in this difficult time."

"Some people think it's a joyful time," he countered. "But yes, of course I have."

"He really has," Lorelai chimed in. "Damn, knew I should've brought a knife for all the tension," she muttered before stepping in closer with boyfriend at her side. "Mom, you remember Luke."

"Indeed," Emily answered coldly, allowing Luke to take her hand and shake it gently. "Now, let's all go through to the dining room since dinner is already beyond ready," she said pointedly, leading everybody through.

Lorelai shared a look with Rory. So far, so polite apparently, though where the night would go from here was anybody's guess.

Dinner at the Gilmore house went almost too smoothly. Emily wasn't exactly warm and cuddly in her demeanour, but then nobody had really expected that. To begin with, everybody stuck to neutral topics so as not to cause any trouble. The weather, old acquaintances, and the inn were all mentioned until finally Emily fixed her gaze on Luke. Lorelai winced, scared to death of what her mother might say to her boyfriend, and yet she was surprisingly unscathing. She asked about his life and family, and his business too. She didn't look overly impressed with what he told her, but she made very few comments as she ate her dinner alongside everybody else. Lorelai let out a breath she barely knew she had been holding when the 'interrogation' was over, and Jess tried not to smile when he heard her large expelling of breath.

Attention next turned to Rory as Emily asked how she was coping worth her pregnancy. She didn't glance at Jess, not once, and that suited him just fine. He was happy enough to be ignored if that was how Emily wanted to play this, so long as Rory didn't mind being the centre of attention. She looked a little awkward, embarrassed, Jess would guess, because no matter how many times she mentioned his name and even gestured across the table towards him, Emily's gaze didn't waver from Rory herself. It was as if looking at the guy that knocked up her precious angel of a granddaughter would cause her physical pain. Maybe it would, but Jess supposed they would never know for sure.

"So yeah, things are going pretty well," Rory finished explaining to her grandma as they all moved from the table and through to the living room again.

Jess hung back on purpose and Luke slapped him on the back in a kindly uncle type of a way. Lorelai was giving him a kind of comforting smile that made Jess want to roll his eyes. He was fine, just so long as Rory was happy. He really didn't care about having Emily's good opinion, just a little civility to get them through the night, that was all.

"This is the latest picture," Rory was saying as everybody else took a seat, Jess next to her on one sofa as Lorelai and Luke took the other.

In her chair at the head of the room, Emily inspected the sonogram picture and immediately tears sprung to her eyes.

"Isn't it wonderful, the technology these days," she said, trying to blink back her tears and failing miserably.

"Here you go, Mrs Gilmore," said Luke, getting up to hand her the clean handkercheif from his pocket.

Emily looked startled but accepted the offer, and dabbed at her eyes, thanking Luke politely for his thoughtful gesture. Lorelai grinned at him as he rejoined her on the sofa. Mouthing to him that he did good. Luke rolled his eyes at that.

"Rory, I can already see that your son is going to be beautiful, just like his mother," her grandmother told her, handing back to photograph. "A real Gilmore baby."

Jess bit his tongue so hard he tasted blood, but Rory's hand sliding into his and squeezing was at least some comfort. She had it under control, he just had to trust her, and that he did.

"Well, half Gilmore anyway," she said easily. "Half Mariano."

"Which will make him at least a quarter Danes, right?" said Lorelai, almost uncertain about her math there.

"I guess," Luke shrugged. "You know that Jess is my nephew, right?" he checked with Emily who sniffed, perhaps from the crying, maybe just to be snotty, it was hard to tell which.

"Yes, I'm sure the girls did mention," she said, still managing not to look at Jess even once. "It might be quite confusing for the child you know. I mean, will you be his great uncle or his step-grandfather?" she asked Luke.

"Er, well..." he floundered, looking to Lorelai for help.

"I think he'll probably just be Luke," she confirmed. "Or, y'know, angry diner man, that's a pretty suitable name regardless your connections," she smiled.

Emily didn't smile back.

Conversation seemed to dry up after that. Rory summoned up a couple of over-done yawns, prompting Jess to ask, rather pointlessly, if she was tired. Lorelai suggested they get home already and so everybody moved towards the front door, the guys helping the girls into their coats on the way.

"I am truly glad you decided to come over, Rory," said Emily then, reaching out to her granddaughter. "I... I've missed you," she confessed, emotional all over again.

Since it didn't take much to make Rory cry even on a good day since she fell pregnant, tears streamed from her eyes now as she hugged her grandma.

"I missed you too," she told her, sniffling as they parted.

"So, will I see you again next Friday?

Rory wavered a moment before giving her answer.

"Maybe," she said vaguely. "We'll see how things work out."

They left then without Emily saying another word. Jess couldn't wait to escape and was only truly happy when he had helped Rory into the truck and joined her for the drive home. He watched Lorelai drive herself and Luke out of the front gates in her Jeep and then put the truck in gear to follow. He heard Rory sigh from the passenger side and he smiled.

"Well, that was fun," he dead-panned, making her smile.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought," she confessed. "Grandpa was great, and even Grandma was... well, she didn't really have a lot of time for you," she admitted when Jess cast her a sideways look. "But at least she wasn't yelling abuse in your face or trying to cut anything off."

Jess had to laugh at her phrasing if nothing else, before confessing that he really didn't care if Emily Gilmore never liked him or even if she never looked at him, so long as she wasn't upsetting Rory.

"You're incredibly sweet sometimes," his girlfriend told him happily.

"Hey, not so loud," he mock-complained. "I have a rep to protect."

"Yeah, because it's going to do wonders for that bad boy rep of yours when you're pushing a stroller through town," she giggled.

Jess only smiled and concentrated on driving.

They were half way back to Stars Hollow before either of them felt the need to interrupt the comfortable silence that always seemed to settle between them somehow. Jess did have one question he was compelled to ask, even if it did start a fight, it had to be done.

"So, what Richard was implying about naming the baby after him," he said warily. "There's not going to be an international Gilmore incident if we don't, right?

"Probably not," Rory smiled, "but honestly? I wouldn't mind Richard for a middle name, maybe?" she considered.

Jess looked thoughtful a moment and then nodded.

"Maybe," he acquiesced. "But before you ask, I'm not looking to saddle the kid with my name either," he said definitely.

Rory frowned.

"I like your name."

"You wouldn't if you were teased mercilessly for years about being a girl."

She hadn't thought about that. Rory got a lot of confused looks about her own name, but most people weren't cruel. Sometimes she forgot that it would have been much tougher for Jess. He was raised in New York, with an absent father and a questionable mother, and apparently a name that nasty kids picked on. Rory knew they had their similarities, with her dad not being around so much and the odd contraction of her name, but she never felt she was hard done by. Jess had suffered so much and she hated that.

"I love that Mom named me after her, but even if we were having a girl, I'm not sure I'd go with Lorelai," she admitted then. "I couldn't name my son after Dad either..." she considered, before realising how uncomfortable she was making Jess. "Sorry, bad subject."

"It's fine," he told her, but she couldn't quite believe him. "I brought it up, my fault."

Their parents were definitely not a great topic. Jess still hadn't told Liz about the baby or even that he was back together with Rory actually. She hadn't told Chris either, purely because he hadn't called in quite a while, and Rory hadn't felt ready to call him. To be fair, Jess considered, none of them really deserved any special treatment after everything that had happened in the past.

'Our son is our business and nobody elses,' Rory thought, and then smiled.

"Our son," she said aloud, looking at Jess. "It feels strange saying it, but good strange."

He glanced across at her and caught a hold of her hand.

"Yeah, really good," he agreed with a smile that only grew as Rory put their adjoined hands atop her pregnant belly.

When all was said and done, tonight hadn't really been so bad. No matter what happened, Rory and Jess had each other, and their son on the way that they loved just as much as they loved each other. It wasn't an easy road they were travelling, and it was probably only going to get harder yet, but right in this moment, it seemed pretty damn good, and neither Rory nor Jess could deny it.

To Be Continued...