.Lily sat in her dining room, along with Rufus, Dan, Serena, Eric, Chuck and Jenny. She had prepared (with much help from Rufus) an extraordinary dinner for them all to enjoy as a family. They were all gathered around the table and suspicious of why they were all sitting there...together.
"Mom, what's with the family dinner?" asked Serena. She kept seeing Rufus and her mother eyeing eachother and just wanted them to tell the bad news already.
"What? Is it so unusual for me to have dinner with my family?" Lily asked innocently.
"Yes," declared Eric and Serena in unison.
"Mom, you never cook. I was under the impression you didn't know how to,"continued Eric.
"I think it taste divine, Mrs. Van de--Bass," stated Jenny.
"Thank you, Jenny. Please, call me Lily."
"Okay," laughed Jenny.
"I guess I must thrust some of the credit of such a fabulous meal to Rufus. He helped somewhat."
"Somewhat? I think I deserve a little bit more credit for slaving over the stove for a few hours," Rufus replied indignantly.
"Okay, he helped a little more than somewhat," Lily said as she smirked.
"Well, whoever made it, it's tastes very good," said Chuck.
"Thank you," Rufus and Lily both replied.
"Anyway, back to the point of the conversation, what is with the random family dinner?" Serena insisted.
"Yeah, Lily. It is odd for you to have dinner," Chuck backed up.
Rufus and Lily exchanged a look.
"Okay, well, Rufus and I have some news," Lily sighed.
"Yeah, uhmm...Lily and I...." he looked towards Lily.
"We're having a baby."
Dead silence.
"You can't be serious?" Dan erupted.
"We are," declared Rufus, " Lily is pregnant."
"Congratsulations, Lily, Rufus," offered Chuck.
"Yeah, congrats," Eric greeted.
"Wow, that's unexpected. Are you sure, Mom?" Serena questioned.
"Positive," replied Lily instantly.
Serena took a deep breath, "Congratulations."
Lily looked at Jenny.
"You've been quiet Jenny. What do you have to say?"
Jenny looked up from her plate, there was no mistaking the tears in her eyes.
"How could you, Dad? You and Mom just broke up. Didn't you realize the effect this would have on your kids?!"
"Jenny, it wasn't planned and I think it's a miracle," Rufus said looking straight in her eyes, slightly hurt.
Lily sat, observing the room. She had thought that Serena would have the biggest problem. She had never expected Jenny to care so much. She hadn't thought about Allison at all, but of course JEnny was upset. Dan was too.
"A miracle? Dad, Jenny and I barely are over Mom leaving. We don't want another mother. Not to mention, I'm dating the women you got knocked up's daughter. That's seriously just wrong."
"Dan, come on. Calm down," said Serena.
"Serena, no. How can you tell me to calm down? You should be flipping out. Do you realize what this could do to us?!"
"Yes, I do, but, Dan. Who cares? Your dad makes my mom a lot happier than she's been in a long time. We can work through this. "
"Whatever. Ugh, I need to take a walk..." He got up and pushed his chair in, "Don't follow me."
"See? Did you even consider what you guys would do to Dan and Serena?!" Screamed Jenny. She was going insane. Nobody ever stopped to consider her feelings towards things. She had been pretty okay with her dad dating, but gettting someone pregnant...she hadn't been prepared for that at all.
"Jenny, we didn't plan this," Rufus yelled back.
"May Eric and I be excused?" Chuck asked. Lily gave him a brief nod and then returned to the matter at hand.
"Guys, I get you didn't plan it, but didn't you think to like...use protection?" Questioned Serena.
What an embarrassing question, thought Lily.
"We have been...; it was just once, we didn't," Lily's voice trailed off quietely, "Don't hate me, Serena. I didn't mean to hurt you," she pleaded.
"I don't hate you, Mom. It just complicates things, but I'm happy you're happy with it. May I be excused though?"
"Of course," replied Lily.
"What about Mom, Dad?!" Jenny yelled, reentering the conversation.
"What about her? It's not like I cheated on your mother, Jenny. I know it's hard for you to except that she's gone, but she is."
"Yeah, well, she's my mother. Lily isn't going to replace her."
"I'm not trying to, Jenny," stated Lily quietely.
"I need to breathe. I can't---take this!" Jenny exclaimed as she lept up to leave.
"Jenny, we didn't plan for this to happen," Lily said quietly, "but we're thrilled that it did. We'd hoped you guys would understand.
Jenny didn't so much as glance back.
Lily and Rufus sat in the dining room alone.