A/N: With two more chapters to go after this one (and a potential sequel in mind) I hope y'all aren't getting bored of this story? Now, please brace accordingly for much pregnancy talk and Paris being as blunt as ever ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see Prologue)

Chapter 43

Jess walked into the diner and all eyes turned to him. He was used to that by now, it had been happening in a big way every time he showed up any place in Stars Hollow for the past week. The townies had been all over him for news since he and Rory had been back in the Hollow, ever more so since the baby shower a couple of weeks ago. It had gotten even worse lately. Rory's due date had come and gone and here they were on March 16th with no sign of labour pains and everybody just hanging on the edge of their seats for news. Nobody was more anxious for things to happen than Jess himself, and he could use not having to deal with the crazy townsfolk asking their questions.

"No news, sugar?" asked Babette anyway, and Jess shook his head.

"Nope, not yet," he said with a forced smile and walked quickly to join his uncle behind the counter.

"That kid is really comfy just exactly where he is, huh?" Luke sighed.

"Tell me about it," his nephew nodded, losing his jacket and washing up ready to begin work. "I just wish Rory was as comfortable. She's really going through it, Luke, and there's pretty much nothing I can do to help her."

"I know, it's tough on both of you in different ways," he agreed with a nod of his head. "But it can't be long now. Could even happen today," he suggested.

"We can hope," Jess agreed, moving to clear some tables.

They worked just as hard as ever, uncle and nephew together, but it was much more of a partnership these days than before, and not just in writing. Luke had meant what he said about getting Jess as involved as he wanted to be, or keeping him out of anything he wasn't interested in. The kid had really stepped up with the business, as he had with Rory and the baby. Luke was genuinely impressed. He always knew Jess was no dunce, but he got to grips with the ordering system and the books pretty easily and was determined to pull his weight. He said he wasn't happy just taking half the profits of a business Luke had spent so long building, he wanted to earn the share that he and Rory now owned. Luke really couldn't be more proud.

"You're doing it again," said Jess after he dumped off dirty dishes in the kitchen and then grabbed the coffee pot from behind the counter.

"Doing what?" his uncle frowned, arms folded across his chest.

"That misty-eyed, wistful staring thing," said Jess, making some vague gesture in front of his face as if that aided the explanation. "Either you're getting gooey over my kid that hasn't even been born yet or you're thinking how much I've grown and matured into a fine upstanding citizen of this crazy town. Whichever it is, could you not do it near me please? It's weird."

He went off to fill cups then and Luke let out a chuckle he couldn't hold in. Yeah, the kid was smart, and just as smart-mouthed as he'd always been, but that was okay. Luke only ever wanted Jess to settle down and that he had done. A fiancée he had worked hard to deserve, a baby on the way, a home of their own, and a business he was determined to help run well. He might be a million miles away from the sulky teen that had been forced into small town life less than three years ago now in so many ways, but he was still Jess. Still whip-smart and quick to tell you if he didn't like a thing, but Luke at least had to admire the honesty. It sure did make him suitable for this town, and life with the Gilmore girls around.

"I swear to God, I hear one more labour inducing theory, I'm gonna cause actual physical damage," Jess was growling as he brought the coffee pot back a few minutes later.

"I'm just sayin', sugar!" said Babette as she came hurrying over, continuing where she must have left off just seconds before. "I read somewhere that it works!"

"What works, Babette?" asked Luke, sure he was going to regret it, but Jess was still facing the coffee machine and just this side of exploding, so he had to say something.

"Blowin' up balloons," she said matter of factly. "I read somewhere that if a pregnant lady blows up a whole bunch of balloons, she goes into labour," she explained, her hands going to her stomach. "Somethin' about buildin' up pressure and..."

"That's great, Babette, thanks," said Luke politely, his hand going to Jess' shoulder as his nephew fought not to yell at the poor woman who was only trying to be helpful. "We'll be sure to let Rory know, okay?"

"Could work," she nodded her confirmation before finally leaving.

"Just breathe" Luke advised Jess in a quiet voice.

"I'm fine," he sighed, letting out a long breath. "I just can't deal with all of the people, all of the time," he explained. "I know, I know they're trying to help, I get that, but you know me and people bugging me. I can't deal."

"I know, but you're doing great," his uncle assured him. "You didn't throw anything, you didn't yell, and I'm hoping we've grown past the gnome stealing, so I think Babette is safe, right?"

Jess smirked at that.

"Pierrepont has nothing to fear from me," he promised. "But these people are seriously starting to damage my calm, Luke. Have you even heard some of the whacked out ideas they've been trying to give me for Rory?" he asked.

"I'm guessing mostly the usual. Spicy food, brisk walking..." he paused and looked awkward. "Er, the activity that made the baby in the first place?"

"Please! That was just for starters," he explained. "I've had herbal remedies thrust at me, names of plants I can't even spell, a referral for an acupuncturist. Taylor even handed me a pineapple yesterday."

"A pineapple?" Luke frowned hard. "How does that even work?"

"How the hell should I know? All I know is Rory is pretty much grumpy and in pain all the time. Her back aches, her ankles are swollen, she can't eat anything and then she wants to eat everything. Most of all she just wants this kid out of her, and... and I feel useless," he admitted at last, muttering out of embarrassment and so nobody else heard either, Luke was sure.

With a sigh he gestured for his nephew to follow him into the storeroom away from listening ears. It wasn't as if they were busy, and nobody was adverse to yelling if they needed assistance anyway.

"Jess, you gotta take a breath here," Luke advised, sitting him down on a crate. "You're no use to Rory is you're even more stressed out than she is. The people around here, I know they're annoying. Trust me, I do know, but they mean well and getting mad at them won't stop them wanting to help you out anyway."

"Apparently not," Jess sighed, running his hands over his face and back through his hair. "I don't know what bothers me more, the waiting for this kid to be born, or the thought of how things are gonna be once he's here," he admitted. "I'm gonna be a father, Luke. Maybe today, tomorrow, a few days max, I'm gonna be somebody's dad."

"That's true," his uncle nodded, finding a smile. "It's an incredible gift, Jess. Not everybody is so blessed."

He felt bad then as he looked up at the man who had been more of a dad to him than anybody else. Jess had a biological father, more step-fathers than he could count, but it was his uncle that had made the difference, that had helped him out and been the one to support him when he really needed it.

"Yeah, well. If I'm half the father you are, I'll be okay," he said seriously, as he got up from the crate and swiftly left the room.

Luke stood in stunned silence for a moment just staring after him. Whether Jess meant that he had been a good father in Chris' stead or in Jimmy's, he couldn't say, and hadn't a mind to ask. Regardless, it was an incredible compliment that touched him deep in his heart.

"Thank you, son."

"Hey, Mrs R," said Paris, barging in just as soon as the apartment door opened. "How goes the house hunting?"

"Very good, thank you, Paris," she smiled.

Mrs Rossini had been warned about this girl weeks before she ever met her for the first time when they switched shifts sitting with Rory. Paris was supposed to be abrasive, forthright to the point of offensive, but ultimately a good person. Mrs R found all this and more to be true. Honestly, she liked Paris a lot, having a great respect for the straight-talking kind of woman, much as Mrs R was herself. They had a long chat at Rory's baby shower and seemed to be firm friends by the end of it. They saw each other semi-regularly over the days and weeks that followed, as they each took turns watching over Rory and her pregnancy went on and on, already two days past her due date.

"I am actually going to sign papers today," Mrs R explained as she pulled on her coat and head scarf. "I will be an official Stars Hollow resident before the day is through."

"Congratulations," Paris smiled. "Though honestly, I can't imagine anyone being satisfied with a backwater town like that when the bright lights of New York City are on offer. I mean, the culture, the experiences, the city that never sleeps. Of course, I'm looking at this from a young person's perspective with a whole life to live. Stars Hollow is probably perfect for a person of your years."

"That it is, Paris," Mrs R smiled, more amused than offended by the younger woman's words - she meant no harm, of that Mrs Rossini was sure. "Now, I must go. Rory is in the bedroom. I'm afraid she suffers badly still."

"Well, of course she does," Paris rolled her eyes. "It must be pretty boring for her just waiting and waiting for that baby to decide today's the day. There's actually a lot to be said for what the celebrities do these days, the rich and famous just booking in a C-section and getting the job done to a schedule. It's something I'd certainly think about."

Mrs R shook her head and tried not to smile too much as she bid Paris farewell and finally left. Paris was still thinking about her theory when she got to Rory's bedroom door, tapped lightly on it, and then barged right in before she even got an answer. She sort of wished she hadn't when she realised Rory was crying.

"What's up, Gilmore?" she asked sceptically.

"Nothing really," Rory shook her head and blew her nose one more time. "I'm fine, I just... I heard that having a really good cry could help bring on the labour. I just sat here thinking about every sad thing I could but still nothing," she sighed heavily.

Paris wandered over and sat down in the chair left purposefully close to the bed.

"Well, there are plenty of other ways to induce labour. I actually brought you a list," she explained, rifling in her purse for the paper she had printed out just yesterday. "First off, pineapple," she read aloud. "It contains an enzyme named bromelain, which is thought to help soften your cervix and bring on labour."

"I'm not sure I could eat pineapple right now," Rory grimaced. "And also eeeww!" she declared at the description.

Paris frowned.

"Now is not the time to be a prude, Rory," she said firmly. "You were fast enough to get this bun in your oven, so don't turn all coy on me now it's time to get it out. Now, sex is obviously an option, basically anything that triggers the release of oxytocin, that's the hormone you need plenty of to get those contractions happening. Is Jess comfortable with bringing you to orgasm whilst you're in this state?"

"Paris!" Rory yelled loudly, covering her face with her hands. "My God, can we please not... Can you just... I can't talk to you about Jess that way, okay? Not right now," she declared. "Probably not ever."

She didn't get it, but then Paris rarely did. She just couldn't understand that there were some things Rory really didn't want to hear from her, and the word orgasm was one of those things, especially if her boyfriend's name was in the mix. Rory knew she was blushing bright as a tomato, but honestly, she just couldn't help it.

"All I'm saying is, if he can't help you out, you can try to do it yourself. Basic nipple stimulation could work by itself..."

"Paris!"

"Okay, okay, fine!" she relented when she found herself being admonished by an angry, bright red, very pregnant woman all over again. "Well, your other options come down to castor oil, which is probably going to have some obvious and pretty unpleasant side effects, or a bumpy car ride," she explained, checking down her list. "Or you go with the Murphy's Law theory."

Rory looked curiously at her friend then, not understanding what she meant.

"Well, put on your best panties that you really wouldn't want to ruin," Paris explained with a smile. "Murphy's Law says your waters will break all over them."

That at least got a laugh out of Rory, though she soon regretted it as it caused her pain. Her hand went to her pregnant belly and she winced some. Paris immediately felt bad.

"I can't imagine what you're going through," she said, as sympathetic as a person like her could manage it seemed.

"Trust me, it's not a laugh a minute right now," sighed Rory. "But it'll be worth it, I know it will."

Paris nodded dumbly. This wasn't a life she wanted for herself, not at all, at least not yet. Babies were an option one day, but way, way into the future, when she had already had a successful career and found the perfect partner, if such a thing should exist. Of course, Paris knew that Rory could never find a person more perfect for her than Jess. He was far from perfect in and of himself, but he was perfect for Rory, there was just no arguing with that at all.

"It is odd, thinking about this time last year," she said thoughtfully. "I mean, I sure didn't see this coming, did you?"

"Not at all," Rory admitted with a chuckle. "But I'm not sorry. Jess makes me happy, we have things all figured out, the baby is healthy and hopefully he'll be here very, very soon," she said, rubbing her stomach. "In the Fall, I'll be back at Yale..."

She trailed off then and Paris wondered why. She really wanted Rory back with her in school and she was sure she could cope if she really wanted to, but it was a big undertaking and Paris wondered several times if it would ever really happen. It wasn't that she didn't think Rory could handle it as much as she thought maybe she wouldn't want to when it came right down to it. For someone like Rory, family was always going to come up higher in her priorities than anything else. Paris was almost a little jealous about that. Her own family never cared enough for her to ensure her affection for them outweighed her ambitions for a successful education and career.

"So, what's going on with you?" asked Rory then, snapping Paris out of a moment's thoughtful contemplation. "I want to know everything that's going on at Yale, all about you and Doyle, everything."

Paris smiled a little and took a breath before starting to tell Rory all the latest news. Times like these it was almost possible to pretend they were still at Yale together, being room-mates, just normal teenage girls. Of course, the big bump under the bedclothes gave away that wasn't true at all. A few days from now, maybe less, and Rory would be a mother. There was no way to say that wasn't a very big deal indeed.

To Be Continued...