A/N: Who's ready for Ultra's Runaways rewrite of the Richard & Emily vow renewal? Hold onto your fancy hats! ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see prologue)

Chapter 39

"This is ridiculous!" said Rory helplessly as she turned left and right in front of the full-length mirror.

Today was the day of her grandparents vow renewal, a second wedding day in essence, And Rory was to be a bridesmaid. She had on a dress the same colour and material as her mother's own, and yet Rory knew damn well she did not look anywhere near as good in her maternity version. No matter how she tried, she just looked, for lack of a more appropriate descriptor, big.

"Look at me!" she demanded of Jess as he wandered back into the bedroom from the bathroom. "I should have Goodyear written on me!" she declared, looking more angry than sad right now.

Jess shook his head.

"Rory, stop," he told her sternly as he walked over and put his arms around her from behind, hands resting on top of her enormous bump as she leaned back into his embrace. "You look beautiful," he promised, making her look sideways into the mirror the same way he was.

"Seriously?" she asked incredulously.

"Seriously," he confirmed, kissing her cheek. "You have never, ever been anything but beautiful to me, and you never will," he swore faithfully as he turned her around to face him, then addressed her stomach as if he were actually talking to the baby inside. "And you, you be a good boy and don't kick Mommy too much when she's walking down the aisle and stuff, okay?" he ordered.

Rory giggled at how silly that was, but she appreciated it none the less. Jess was just glad enough to see her smile and spared her one more kiss on the lips before he wandered over to the nightstand and grabbed his tie. He wasn't thrilled about having to wear it, or any other part of this monkey suit, but he would do it just this once, for Rory way more than her grandparents.

"How's Daddy feeling?" she asked, one arm around her bump as she carefully lowered herself down onto the end of the bed. "Nervous?"

"About what?" he asked, fastening the tie around his neck and folding down the collar on his crisp white shirt.

"Hello? You're best man at my grandparents' wedding-redux," Rory reminded him, as if Jess could have forgotten at all. "Kind of a big deal."

"Yeah, well, your grandpa didn't ask me for me, he asked me for you," he told her. "I just have to stand there, it's not a big deal. I've done tougher things in my life."

Rory knew that was true. All the things Jess had gone through in his life, all the things they had gone through together recently, and those still to come. Rory supposed nobody's life was perfectly happy and easy all of the time, but Jess had sure had his fair share of troubles. A father who left, a mother that didn't care enough, shipped off to a new place at seventeen, angry and confused with no-one to care. Now there was the unexpected baby and everything. There had been a barrel full of drama in the life of Jess Mariano and he was only nineteen yet. Rory couldn't exactly say this whole surprise pregnancy thing was a joyous ride for her, but she was happy, and her life had never exactly been hard in the way a lot of other people's had.

Looking across at Jess now, getting ready for her grandparents vow renewal, and even managing to find a smile about the whole thing, Rory wondered how she ever thought there was a problem, that maybe Jess was having second thoughts about their future. He seemed to be acting strangely for a little while there, too quiet and thoughtful, but just a few days later, he seemed normal again and Rory had to think maybe it was just her pregnant lady hormones making her paranoid. She mentioned it to her mom and Lorelai agreed that was probably all it was, or maybe Jess was just tired from working so hard or whatever. Either way, he definitely seemed fine now, so Rory just went with it for as long as it lasted.

It was easy to smile now as she watched Jess pull on his jacket and straighten himself out. He went back to the mirror and checked his often unruly hair. Rory levered herself up from the bed and stood close, gazing into the mirror at him.

"Look at you," she grinned, pulling on his arm until he turned into her. "If I could get close enough right now..." she said with a look in her eyes that Jess knew very well and never really objected to either.

"Oh, yeah?" he smirked, wishing not for the first time that her having a baby didn't have to involve her being two feet or more away from him at all times at this point. "Well, maybe I'll keep the suit for after the baby and everything, then you can finish that thought," he offered, leaning in some to whisper in her ear that way that always made her shiver in the best way.

"Sounds like a plan," she replied softly, her hand turning his head so she could kiss his lips.

They were lost in the moment for a while, and it felt good, just like always. For once, it wasn't Rory who realised this wasn't how they should really spend their time today. The alarm on Jess' watch went off and he pulled away from her, however reluctantly.

"We should go," he said with a sigh, tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear.

She nodded her agreement, even though she kind of didn't want to have to. It wasn't that Rory didn't want to see her grandparents get married again, but honestly, staying here alone with Jess appealed too, especially in that suit... or out of it.

"My pants are all wrinkled from the ride. It looks like I slept in them," Luke complained.

Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"Hey, stop being such a Nancy-boy about the pants. Think Hemingway ever gave a crap what his pants looked like?" she asked him.

Luke took his turn at the eye-roll.

"Hemingway blew his brains out, also. How much of a role model do you want me to make this guy?"

"Am I hearing libellous things about dear old Ernest?" asked Jess with a smirk as he and Rory arrived into the scene in the lobby of the Windsor Club.

Neither Luke nor Lorelai got a chance to answer as Rory looked around and asked why Mrs Rossini wasn't with them.

"Don't stress, hon, we brought Mrs R," Lorelai assured her. "She went to go get a good seat in the hall, that's all," she smiled.

"Rory, look at you!" said Emily suddenly rushing towards her with the biggest grin on her face. "You look wonderful. So big and glowing."

"Like a lighthouse beacon," she sighed heavily.

"Oh, nonsense! You look beautiful" her grandma insisted. "Why don't you tell her she looks beautiful, Jess?" she asked him accusatorily.

"I do, I did," he said definitely. "Rory?" he implored her to get him out of this mess and of course she did.

"Grandma, Jess tells me all the time that I'm beautiful," she confirmed. "But honestly? I don't believe him any more than I believe anybody else right now. I feel like a blue whale in this dress."

"Well, I think you look gorgeous," said Lorelai definitely. "And since I'm your mother and gave you those stunning good looks, you can't argue with me. Now, I think it's time us girls went and did the rest of the getting ready thing. Mom, which way to the bride's boudoir?" she asked with a grin.

"Lorelai!" her mother scolded her with her name alone. "The bridal room," she corrected her, "is right this way."

"Lead on, MacDuff!" her daughter exclaimed, if only to make Rory laugh, and follow on behind.

"See you later," said Jess, kissing Rory's cheek before she was quite literally dragged away by the arm.

He and Luke watched the women leave, over-hearing Lorelai exclaim loudly about suddenly realising that she was the maid of honour and Jess was the best man. If tradition were to be upheld, that was, in her words, just the squickiest thing.

"I'm not going to argue with that," said Luke with a shudder.

"Seconded," his nephew agreed.

"Well, gentlemen," said Richard then, clapping his hands together. "I don't know about you, but I could use a stiff drink before this ceremony begins," he told them, leading them out of the foyer. "I don't mind telling you, I think I'm as nervous about this as I was the first time around."

"Well, that's okay, Richard," said Luke, patting him on the shoulder. "I mean, if you get cold feet, Jess is right here to step in," he smirked as wickedly as his nephew sometimes did.

It was hilarious to watch Jess' eyes go wide as saucers at the obvious joke that made both Richard and Luke himself chuckle. As if the idea of being partnered with Lorelai wasn't enough to freak the kid out, suggesting he might have to marry Emily in Richard's stead was down-right terrifying to him, as it should be!

The ceremony went off without incident and everyone was glad to see Richard and Emily reunited and 'remarried' in such a beautiful way. Rory got teary-eyed by how beautiful it was all was, but didn't feel all that silly about it since the same thing happened to her mom. Jess looked so handsome stood up next to Richard and managed not to look awkward about it all, even when he had to escort Lorelai back down the aisle instead of Rory who was escorted by one of Richard's groomsmen. Still, it was nice to get back to their significant others for the reception. Lorelai felt much more comfortable on Luke's arm, and Rory was more than happy to be at Jess' side again, right where she belonged.

"Wow. Look at those flower arrangements," exclaimed Luke, perhaps a little too loudly as the four of them walked into the Rose Room. "This thing must've cost a fortune! They're real orchids."

"A little gayer, please," Lorelai teased him.

"Took the words right out of my mouth," Jess agreed as Rory laughed.

Luke sighed; "Hey, I'm just saying,"

They had barely gotten in the door when Lorelai's cousin Marilyn came over and started rambling about how beautiful everything was and how wonderful the ceremony had been. Just when she looked about done going on and on, she turned to Luke and tipped him a wink.

"You're saving a dance for me," she told him rather than asked, and then she walked away.

"There's dancing?" Jess checked, suddenly feeling even more sick than he had when the older woman came on to Luke like that.

"Yeah, but me and Luke called dibs on Pulp Fiction," said Lorelai too seriously. "I'd say you could do Dirty Dancing but the lift might be tough when you're throwing the weight of two over your head," she smiled slightly.

Rory poked out her tongue, but then laughed anyway.

"I need to sit," she said, shifting awkwardly even in her virtually flat shoes. "We'll see you guys at the table," she told her mom and Luke.

"Table five, hon," Lorelai directed.

Jess nodded in answer when Rory failed to do so, and supported his fiancé as best as he could all the way to their table. She sat down with a bit of a bump, one hand going to the small of her back. Rory was sure she had never ached so much as she had this past month or so. Every day she felt like she expanded a little more, putting more pressure on her spine and her ankles. Standing around during the ceremony sure hadn't helped any and now it was just a beautiful thing to be sitting.

It didn't bother her too much when the other guests started asking questions about her pregnancy before they even checked who she was. A lot of the extended family knew Lorelai, even though they hadn't seen her since she was a kid. Less knew Rory by anything but name, and for the fact that she was the illegitimate Gilmore-Hayden baby. Now she and Jess were making family history all over again by having a child out of wedlock themselves. Nobody made any comments about that, but there were looks and awkward pauses that Rory knew made Jess mad. Her hand closed around his under the table and squeezed. She really didn't want a scene here today and he knew it, so he held his tongue, no matter how tough it was to do so sometimes.

"So, how far along are you, honey?" asked the nearest busybody cousin or aunt, Rory really wasn't sure of the blood connection, or even if there was one, but the question was harmless enough.

"Thirty five weeks," she confirmed, to a chorus of oohs and ahs, followed by many a tale about pregnancies experienced by both those at the table and others they knew.

Rory mostly zoned out whilst they chattered amongst themselves. She looked across at Jess and he smiled making her forget everything in this moment but how much she loved him.

"Rory?" someone prompted suddenly, bringing her attention back to the conversation around the table. "Is you father not here?" asked another mystery woman.

Rory shook her head.

"Er, no," she confirmed, not elaborating any further.

Jess watched her for some deeper reaction to the question but none came. After Christopher left from his visit, he had promised to be better, to try harder. Jess never really believed he would, and suspected Rory wasn't that naive either. It had been almost a month and they had received only one phone call, all of four days ago, and that was just to say that Chris' own father was sick. He barely even asked how Rory was doing, just waxed lyrical on his own woes.

It was something to realise how genuinely unmoved Rory was by the whole thing now. If she was hiding sadness, Jess would know, he always knew, but she really did seem okay with her dad not being around even after he promised. That had to be a good thing, even if it was kind of sad. Jess squeezed Rory's hand again, determined that if he ever made a promise to Rory or to their son, he would keep it, come hell or high water.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to present to you for the first time this century, Mr and Mrs Richard Gilmore," said the emcee.

Rory craned her neck to see if Jess was coming back into the hall yet. He slipped out to the bathroom five minutes ago and hadn't returned. She really didn't want him to miss the speeches. After all, grandpa might make mention of his being the best man and that would be so embarrassing if he wasn't present.

"Hey, you okay?" asked a voice beside her in a whisper, so as not to interrupt when Richard began his speech.

Rory turned towards the unfamiliar man beside her and shook her head.

"I'm fine, thanks," she assured the stranger. "I was just looking for my fiancé..." she explained, looking towards the far door for Jess but still not seeing him.

"You're Rory, right?" the guy beside her checked. "We met at Yale, just briefly," he explained.

Rory frowned some and then realisation hit.

"Yes, we did. Er..."

"Logan," he prompted when she looked as if trying to recall was hard work. "I guess I am at an advantage with your name given that you're in the wedding party."

"And pretty recognisable," she laughed lightly, her arms around her pregnant belly.

"Well, can't deny that," Logan agreed with a winning smile.

Just at that moment, Jess returned to Rory's side, eyeing the blond hovering around her with some distaste.

"You okay?" he asked Rory, sliding his arms around her.

"Of course," she nodded. "Er, Jess this is Logan. Logan, my fiancé, Jess," she introduced them awkwardly, especially since they were all still speaking in whispers whilst Richard finished his speech and cued the music.

"Ah, the best man," Logan smiled though there was no real warmth in the look.

Rory's expression was far more genuine as she looked at her man.

"Yes," she said definitely. "He really is."

Jess wasn't expecting the compliment but was happy to take it all the same as he also accepted the kiss that came his way. Logan soon wandered off when that happened, and neither Rory nor Jess really noticed the going of him.

"Huh," said Jess when they finally parted.

"Is that all you have to say after a kiss like that?" teased Rory.

"Well, I would ask you to dance, but this music is painfully awful," he winced as the song continued, some woman complaining about wanting to marry a man named Bill.

Rory laughed, her eyes drifting to where her grandparents had taken to the floor, as had Luke and Lorelai, even Mrs Rossini had been asked to dance by some Gilmore friend or relation that Rory couldn't recall a name for. Everybody looked so happy, and in this moment Rory felt happy too. Sure, her back ached and her feet ached, and she would rather not be blown up like a balloon, but she had all kinds of reasons to smile today, and right at the top of that list was her fiancé.

"Dance with me, Jess?" she urged him. "I know the song is lame and I'm a blimp, but I also know I'll regret it if we don't at least dance once today," she complained.

"C'mon," he smirked at her phrasing, pulling her by the hand onto the dance floor.

Pulling Rory into his arms when there was so much of her didn't come easy, but Jess found a way. They swayed gently to the music, movement kept to a minimum because Rory wasn't exactly capable of anything much right now, and Jess wouldn't exactly be willing for a full-on jive even if she were. It didn't really matter that the music sucked, it was just nice to hold onto each other and be close for a while, at least it was until Jess felt his fiancée tense up terribly in his arms.

"Rory?" he checked, pulling back to see her face.

Without his direct support, Rory started to bend double, her arms leaving his body to grasp at her own stomach.

"Argh!" she exclaimed in pain. "Oh, God! Jess, help me!"

"I don't... Is it the baby?"

"It can't be" she cried, sinking to the floor. "It's too early, and it feels wrong, I... argh!"

Jess didn't know what to do for her, and was at least a little relieved to see Lorelai appear at his side with Luke in tow.

"Rory, sweetheart, it's okay," her mother promised as she crouched beside her. "It's gonna be okay," she promised, but her eyes looked panicked as she glanced up at Luke and Jess. "One of you call an ambulance. Now!"

To Be Continued...