A/N: And so we reach the end of this adventure, and what an adventure it has been. I'm not sure I even remember half of the stuff that's happened at this point, and I was the one writing it! lol Okay then, let's get this baby born!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see Prologue)

Chapter 45

"I don't know how to do this," Rory moaned. "Jess, I can't. I just can't."

It hurt him to see her in so much pain with nothing he could really do to help. In spite of the speed with which the labour seemed to start, it was now beginning to drag some. A little over three hours since they arrived at the hospital, the doctor had Rory start pushing and she was doing her best but this kid just wasn't being born. It felt like an eternity filled with agony and screaming. As much as Jess had appreciated Lorelai letting him be here rather than her, he was now starting to wonder if she really made the right decision. He didn't know how to do this any more than Rory did.

"Hey, Daddy? Maybe a little encouragement for Mommy?" said Nurse Carrie with a look.

Jess gripped onto Rory's fingers with one hand and used the other to push her hair back off her forehead that was slick with sweat.

"Hey, you got this, Rory," he said, making her look at him. "I know it's tough, I know I can't ever really understand how much you're hurting right now, but I know you can do this," he promised her. "We have come through so much this past year, there is nothing we can't do together. You know this."

"I know," she nodded, breathless and struggling still. "I know, it's just hard."

"I know, but you're not alone, okay?" he reminded her. "We're all here for you. Lorelai and Luke are just down the hall, and I'm right here, Rory. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

She believed him, of course she did, and the encouragement and faith in her was what Rory needed right now. It didn't ease the physical pain but it seemed to give her more strength to cope with it somehow. When the next contraction came and the doctor instructed her to push just as hard as she could, Rory went for it with all the power she possessed. She squeezed onto Jess' hand so hard he was amazed she didn't break bones. Right now, he wouldn't much care if she did. He just wanted this to be over for her, for their son to be born. It took a little while, two or three more immense efforts from his fiancée and then suddenly it was over. A tiny squalling infant was in the doctor's hands, all red and wrinkly, screaming like the world was ending when in fact his life was only just now beginning.

"You did it!" Jess told Rory as she collapsed against the pillows, exhausted and crying tears of relief and joy combined. "Rory, that's our son."

"Oh my God!" she gasped, feeling far too many things and all at once as she watched the nurse check the baby over and wrap him up in a blanket.

When finally their child was handed over, Jess realised Rory wasn't the only one crying. Rory held the tiny baby in her arms, and it was as if they were the only three people in the world.

"Hi there," she said softly, almost afraid to touch the fragile little boy that she had just brought into the world. "I'm your mommy, and this is your daddy," she said with an almost delirious giggle.

Jess laughed too. Despite all the months they had to get used to the idea, it still seemed very strange to be called anybody's 'Daddy', but this was the moment, this was his son. He and Rory were actual parents to this tiny little bundle. It was incredible.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing Rory's hair as he sat close on the edge of the bed, just staring in wonderment at their son. "Both of you."

"We love you too," Rory assured him with a tired smile. "So much."

Lorelai had been pacing the waiting room the whole time they had been in it, despite the fact Luke had tried to get her to sit down and relax on several occasions. He could understand why that was so tough for her. This was a big deal. Their Rory was having a baby, giving birth to a child of her very own. It didn't get bigger than this, and Luke knew that Lorelai was worried about complications. Such things might happen less in the modern world, but dangers still existed.

When the door burst open, Luke leapt to his feet and Lorelai stopped moving, eyes almost wild and breath firmly held when she saw Jess framed in the doorway.

"Well?" she prompted when he didn't speak immediately.

"She was amazing," he said then, a grin breaking out across his face as he pushed his hair back off his face. "We have our son."

"Congratulations!" Luke enthused, rushing to hug his nephew.

"Thanks," he replied as they held on tight to each other a few seconds.

When they parted, Lorelai was crying hard, her hand over her mouth. It was relief, joy, so many things all coming out at once. Jess wasn't sure whether it was her emotional state or his own that prompted him to hug her, but he did it anyway. They both loved Rory so much, they both worried so much when she was in pain that way. Now they could only be happy that everything turned out well, that there was another member of their family to love.

"They're okay?" Lorelai checked pointlessly.

"They're great," he promised. "They just need a few minutes, clean up and stuff, then you can come see them."

"Oh my God," she cried, wiping at both eyes with her hands. "My baby has a baby. A son, Luke. I have a grandson. That's crazy!"

"I know," he laughed as she did the same, albeit through a veil of tears, as he reached to hug her close.

Jess sunk into a chair without anyone really noticing, and Lorelai was soon rushing off to find her daughter and meet her grandchild. Luke hung back, turning to find Jess with his face in his hands. This had been a very big day for him too, and it wasn't over yet.

"Hey," he said, his hand on Jess' shoulder. "How you doin' there, kid?"

His nephew laughed as he showed his face.

"Still calling me kid?" he checked. "I just had one of my own."

Luke shrugged his broad shoulders.

"You're always gonna be my kid, you and Rory both," he said easily. "And yes, I realise if that were actually true, you and Rory being together would be all kinds of wrong..." he frowned then.

Jess shook his head.

"I get it," he assured him. "And thanks, Luke, for everything. You've been great these past few months, way better than I deserved..."

"Hey, this isn't the end, Jess, it's only the beginning," his uncle assured him. "You thought it was tough working your two jobs? You still have two, even now. Wal Mart was a crappy second job, but this one is going to be tougher. Being a father... I mean, I can't tell you exactly what it's like, but y'know, I helped Liz out with you enough in the beginning. It's not going to be an easy ride," he told him definitely. "But, I know you can handle it, you and Rory both. You're going to be great parents, Jess, I really believe that."

His nephew nodded, confirmation that he was at least going to try to live up to the standards Luke believed him capable of, and perhaps thanks for having that much faith in him.

"You should come see Rory, meet our son," he said with a smile that just wouldn't quit.

Luke smiled too, because it was just beautiful to see his nephew look so happy.

"Let's go."

They headed out of the waiting area and down the hall, and Jess let out a breath he hardly knew he was holding. They got to the door of Rory's room and he encouraged his uncle to go first. Jess hung back in the doorway, peering in at the woman he loved with their son in her arms, plus Lorelai and Luke standing by. Here was the moment, his last chance if he was going to bolt. Jess shook his head and stepped forward into the room. This was his family, his life now. The only place he wanted to run was toward it and he never wanted to look back.

Rory's room at the hospital ended up nicknamed Grand Central all too easily. Everybody wanted to come and see how she was doing and meet the son she and Jess had created. The proud new parents were pleased to let everybody know that they were calling the baby Jack, though they didn't really explain why, at least not to most people since they wouldn't understand or care anyway. It meant something to Rory and Jess, that was all that mattered.

Late in the day, Rory was getting seriously tired, in spite of the fact she had been napping every few minutes. She had seen Mrs Rossini, and Lane and Zach, with Paris promising to be over in the morning. Jess was sat in the chair by the bed whilst Rory dozed some more, and he watched over Jack whilst they waited for the next round of visitors. Emily and Richard were on their way, and though Jess wasn't exactly thrilled by the idea of their presence, he knew it was necessary. Besides, he and Rory hadn't wanted to announce the baby's full name until they had the Gilmore elders present as well as Luke and Lorelai.

Jack stirred in his crib and Jess leaned over the edge to look in on him.

"Hey, buddy," he greeted him with a smile, reaching out a finger to Jack's chubby little hands. "Big day, huh? First time out in the big wide world. Gotta be pretty scary for you. Honestly? Little scary for me too. Seeing your mom hurt like that... it's not something I ever want to do again. Well, maybe it'd be worth it one more time. We'll see how we get along with you first," he said with a grin, as Jack's tiny fingers grabbed at him. "I don't know why it ever bothered me, how I ever thought I'd want to run away from you. You and Rory... I can't imagine ever loving anybody as much as I love you. Of course, I'm only telling you this because I know you can't repeat it and make me look stupid later."

"He can't, but I could."

Jess turned sharply at the sound of Rory's voice, sleepy as it was. He really thought she was out for the count, now he felt just a little dumb.

"How are you feeling?" he asked her gently.

"Better," she told him, trying to sit up a little, wincing some as she did so. "I think I'm gonna hurt for a while, but that's probably normal."

"Probably," he agreed. "Your grandparents are going to be here any minute."

"Good," Rory yawned loudly. "I really want them to meet him."

Jess smiled, lifted the baby out of his crib and handed him carefully over to Rory then he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Rory cradled Jack against her chest and sighed.

"This is so amazing," she said then. "I'm still a little stunned. I mean, all those months carrying him around, and now he's here... I'm not sure I should feel this surprised... Not surprised," she amended. "Just... over-awed maybe?"

"I know what you mean," Jess assured her. "Right there with you, actually," he admitted, hugging her and the baby close.

The door opened in that moment, and in walked Lorelai with her parents on her heels, and Luke hovering in the back. They piled into the room, Emily gasping at the sight of her granddaughter cradling her great-grandson in her arms. She came rushing over to meet the child and congratulate Rory, as Richard wandered over to do the same.

"He's a fine looking boy, Rory," said her grandpa, his voice very quiet and shaky. "A fine boy."

"Thank you, sir," said Jess politely, accepting the handshake Richard offered him.

"He is going to be so handsome," said Emily, nodding her head. "But then I suppose that's inevitable," she smiled, looking from Rory to Jess and back.

"I think so," her granddaughter agreed. "I'm glad you're all here now, so we can properly tell you his name," she smiled at Jess.

"You told us his name, hon," said Lorelai as she came to the other side of the bed with Luke. "Jack, right?"

"That's just his first name," Rory shook her head, adjusting the baby in her arms and leaning further into Jess' embrace. "Everybody, we would like to formerly introduce to you, Jack Lucas Richard Mariano," she said then.

All eyes went first to Luke and then to Richard as the significance of the baby's name really sunk in. It was well-known that Grandpa had been angling to get his name on the table for months now, but nothing had been said about Luke, and certainly no agreement had been made to select any particular name for the baby. It hadn't taken that much persuading for Rory to convince Jess that Richard should be included in the mix in the end, and the both of them had wanted to involve the name of the man that had meant so much to the both of them.

"It just made sense," Jess shrugged, looking more at Lorelai than the others now. "Great Grandpa and Grandpa both had to get a look in, right?"

"That is a beautiful idea," she told him and Rory both. "Right, Luke? Luke?" she prompted when he didn't answer.

Never before had anyone seen the guy so close to tears.

"Thank you," he told Jess and Rory then, clearing his throat when his voice almost failed him.

"No, thank you," said Rory definitely as Jess smiled.

They both owed a lot to Luke, to Lorelai, even to the grandparents actually. Mrs Rossini, Lane, Paris, everybody in town who had pitched in to help when Rory and Jess really needed it. As they sat here now, their baby cradled in Rory's arms, their family around them, both Rory and Jess wondered why they ever ran out on those that cared about them. Still, they couldn't regret how things had happened. Rory ran to Jess, and eventually they both found their way home together. This was where they belonged now, the two of them that had just become three. Life wasn't going to be happily ever after from here on out, nobody was so lucky as to never have any troubles, but they had each other, and they were where they ought to be; that was enough.

The End

A/N2: And that's that... for now. I have sequel ideas, one direct sequel, one in the future of this 'verse. I don't know yet, but there will be some more of this world in some form or other. Plus I have new ideas I want to write that are completely unconnected to anything that has gone before. Anywho, in the inbetween time, thanks for all the reviews, and if you want to send one final comment, I'd be happy to receive it ;)