Alrighty! Here's the next chapter! Hope you liked. Still taking in ideas for baby names and whether it should be a boy or a girl. Please leave comments on it!! I would greatly appreciate it!

Chapter 10

"You ready for this?" Rory asked as they pulled up to the Diner.

"I, uh, think so." Jess slowly answered.

"Ok, I'll be right here." She grabbed his hand and looked up at him.

"Alright. Let's get this over with." Jess sighed and opened his door. He walked around and opened Rory's door, gently lifting her.

"Jess, you don't have to carry me you know." Rory quietly told him.

"Yes I do. Take it easy remember?" Jess's voice was almost a whisper. He skillfully closed the car door and managed to keep Rory in his arms. He slowed when he reached the door and hesitated, not wanting to go in.

"It's alright Jess. I love you. Let's go." Rory encouraged.

Jess opened the door and heard Lorelai arguing with Luke about needing more coffee now.

"LUKE! PLEASE!" Lorelai pleaded.

"No, you have already had enough for today." Luke refused.

"Come on, just one more! One more, one more." Lorelai acted like a little kid and Luke was amused by it.

"Fine." Luke finally caved. He heard the bell ring and turned around.

"Hey Je-" Luke stared at the stitches on Jess and his swollen lip. His eye was starting to turn a dark blue. "What happened?!"

"Um, well it's kind of a long story." Jess looked down.

"I have time." Luke yelled irritably.

"Luke, it's ok really." Rory tried to lighten things up and get a happy mood, but anger was radiating off of Luke.

"No Rory, I want to hear it from him." Luke glared at Jess.

"Ok, well let me either put Rory in bed or set her down in a booth or something first." Jess sighed with defeat.

"Why do you have to do that? She can walk." Lorelai questioned standing up.

"Well, the doctor told her she has to take it easy." Jess reluctantly informed them.

"What happened now?!" Lorelai shrieked rushing to their side.

"Alright, we'll tell you. Close up and come upstairs Luke." Rory calmly said.

"Fine."

Jess carried Rory upstairs and laid her on the bed. He sat down next to her and put his head in his hands. Rory sat up and rubbed his back.

"It's going to be fine Jess." Rory assured him, leaning forward and kissing him.

"I know. I just can't believe I screwed up again." Jess sighed shaking his head.

"Jess, you made a mistake. It's going to be ok. Just because you got in a fight because you were protecting me, doesn't mean it's wrong." Rory felt bad for Jess. She knew he had changed a lot, but that old Jess was still in there.

Jess turned to Rory with sad eyes. "I'm sorry. I said I changed, but I haven't completely changed."

"And I'm glad you didn't. That's what attracted me to you. You're rebellious, mysterious side. I mean, I love this caring side of you too, but that part of you that was protective was something I always loved about you. You just need to work on your anger." Rory wrapped her arms around him and leaned on him.

"I didn't want it to turn into a big fight. I just wanted to get it through his head that you're off limits." Jess whispered.

"I know. And Logan just doesn't know when to stop."

Luke and Lorelai didn't bother with knocking. They just came in and demanded an explanation.

"Mom, calm down." Rory calmly said.

"Well then start explaining!" Lorelai impatiently tapped her foot.

"Sit down." Jess whispered.

Luke looked at Jess. He was disappointed with him, but he felt bad now. He saw how much Jess had disappointed himself. He sat down and looked at the young couple.

"Luke, mom, Jess was only protecting me. After school I was waiting for Jess. I heard someone call my name so I turned around. It was Logan. He tried to kiss me and I pushed him away telling him that I'm married, but he didn't care. He just kept kissing me. I dialed Jess's number and dropped my phone. Jess must have been on his way cuz before I knew it, he was there. He stopped Logan from getting to me and Logan just laughed at Jess. Jess punched him and took me to the car." Rory started the story leaving out no details.

"After I took her to the car I went back to where he was. He had just gotten up from where he was laying and he started mocking me. I completely lost it and punched him again, but this time he swung back and hit me. We probably wrestled and fought a mile on the campus when two security guards came and broke up the fight. He was trying to make it look like I was the one who started the fight and make me seem like a liar. Just then Rory ran up. When she ran up to me, the guards took him away. After he left, she just blacked out and passed out." Jess had not made eye contact with any of them and finally looked at Rory.

"Jess took me to the hospital and apparently the stress of the whole situation wasn't good for me. The doctor said I need to take it easy, and they stitched him up." Rory took Jess's hand and smiled at him.

"And now you're up to date." Jess finally looked at Luke and Lorelai. Their expressions softened when they heard the story.

"Oh Jess. We didn't know. We're so sorry for getting angry." Lorelai got up and hugged Jess. It was an awkward hug. They weren't used to showing affection to each other.

"Thanks." Jess rubbed the back of his neck.

"We'll leave you alone now. You look exhausted." Luke said pulling Lorelai with him.

"Thanks mom." Rory stood up and hugged her before she walked out.

"Hey, you get to bed." Lorelai playfully yelled at her.

"Aye captian!" Rory saluted and giggled getting back on the bed.

Jess and Luke rolled their eyes at each other and Luke patted Jess on the shoulder.

"Take care of her." Luke ordered, smiling.

"Will do." Jess smiled and closed and locked the door.

"So that wasn't so bad, was it?" Rory yawned and waved him over.

"Nah, I just feel bad that I had to mess up again. I'm sorry. I really am. I want to make you proud." Jess laid back on the bed next to her.

"I am proud of you. You're writing another book. You are being the best husband that you can be." Rory snuggled next to Jess and smiled.

"I love you." Jess kissed the top of her head.

"Mhmm." Rory mumbled.

"Goodnight."

- - -

The next day Jess woke up sore and tired. He didn't feel like working at the Diner today, but he knew he had to. He sat up and looked at Rory, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and smiled. He got out of bed and took a long warm shower. Every inch of his body ached from the fight he had and he instantly regretted it when he could only move certain ways without wincing.

Jess got dressed and walked back into the bedroom to see if Rory had woken up yet. A still sleeping Rory laid there and Jess couldn't help but chuckle. She looked so beautiful and he loved her so much. He walked over to the bed and kissed her.

"Good morning. I love you." He whispered, before locking up and heading downstairs.

"Good morning James Dean." Lorelai teased.

"Good morning mother." Jess smirked.

"Ooh, never call me mother. It makes me feel like my mom." She shuddered at the thought. Jess laughed as Luke walked out.

"Hey Jess. You don't look too good this morning." Luke looked Jess up and down, frowning.

"Gee thanks." Jess sarcastically remarked.

"No, it's just that I think you should take today off. Be with Rory, take care of her." Luke replied.

Jess smiled. He did want to take it easy today and he was hurting, but he would never admit that to Luke or Lorelai. Especially her, she would give him a hard time for weeks, even months. Jess unconsciously shook his head.

"What's with the head shake?" Lorelai curiously asked.

"Huh? Oh nothing. Thanks for the day off Luke." Jess called as he trudged up the stairs. He was exhausted and he knew it.

"Rory?" Jess quietly called. There was no reply, so he figured she was still asleep. He walked to the bedroom and saw her still asleep. He decided to write another chapter in his book and turned on his laptop, carrying it to bed.

"Jess." Rory mumbled in her sleep.

"What hon?" Jess inquired, smiling a little.

"Pie." Rory answered.

"Pie?"

"Mhmm." Rory rolled over and stopped talking. Jess laughed quietly. He began typing but started thinking of other things.

What are we going to name the baby? Should I get another job? Who's going to watch the baby while Rory is at work and I'm at work? Should I go to work, or just continue my writing. My books are doing pretty well, we should be fine. Will we keep living here?

Jess stopped typing all together and looked at Rory. She began to stir and he watched her. She rolled over and sighed. "Jess?"

"Yeah Ror?" Jess grinned at her.

"You're not at work?"

"No, Luke gave me the day off. Besides, I need it." Jess rubbed her arm.

"Oh. What are you doing?"

"I was trying to write another chapter, but I just started to think about things."

"What kind of things?" Rory sat up and looked at him.

"Just what we're going to name the baby and where we're going to live. What will we do with the baby when we're at work. Should I get another job?" Jess was exasperated.

"Jess, we can take these one step at a time. The baby's name doesn't need to be decided now. We don't even know if it's going to be a boy or a girl. You're doing great with your books, we should be fine there. I'm sure that my boss will give me a few months off at the most. I mean I do get maternity leave remember? And as for where we will live, we should discuss that with my mom and Luke." Rory tried calming Jess down.

Jess sighed trying to relax. "I'm just stressed. I haven't had any new ideas for a book and I'm really sore and tired."

"Sore? From the fight? Jess, let me get something for you." Rory began to sit up but Jess stopped her.

"Hey, I'm supposed to be taking care of you remember?" Jess smirked getting up.

"Fine." Rory crossed her arms, but then perked up. "Food?"

"Alright. I'll get you something. You do know that you're going to eat some kind of healthy food right?" Jess asked as he opened the door.

"Yes." Rory looked down and pouted. Jess laughed and went downstairs to get some food. He came back up with some fruit, some pancakes, and some orange juice.

"Yay!" Rory exclaimed and clapped her hands.

"Calm down there." Jess teased, handing her some food and juice.

"Thank you!" Rory said stuffing her mouth.

"Now let me get back to my writing." Jess smiled opening his laptop.

"Jess, maybe we should start brainstorming some names now." Rory thoughtfully brought up their discussed situation.

"That's not a bad idea. Maybe later." Jess absentmindedly replied.

Rory finished her breakfast in no time and sat staring at Jess. Jess looked up and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Are you done yet? I'm bored." Rory whined.

"Almost."

"Fine." Rory laid back and stared at the ceiling. Jess sighed and finished up his chapter.

"Ok. What do you want to do?" Jess questioned turning off his laptop.

"Read?" Rory asked.

"Sure." Jess got up and pulled out Oliver Twist. He sat down and Rory smiled.

"Do you want to brainstorm baby names now or later?" Rory shyly asked, looking away.

Jess looked at her confused. She was embarrassed by this and he didn't know why. She looked up to see him staring at her and she blushed. "Or not." She looked down, tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, let's do it." Jess quickly walked over her and took her hand in his. "I didn't mean to make you cry. It just took me by surprised. That was just so random." Jess wiped away a few stray tears and looked into her eyes.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to." Rory's voice was wavering.

"I want to." Jess grabbed a notebook and pen and sat next to Rory.

"Where should we start?" Rory asked.

"Girls names or boys names?" Jess asked making two columns on the paper.

So what did you think? Did you like? Alright, now here is where i need lots of reviews and name ideas. I was planning on having them find out the sex of the baby soon, so i need names and votes on boy or girl!! Please!! Sorry about deleting this and putting it back up...I was told about a mistake I made. Yes, Rory does have a job. She doesnt work too much right now since she is in school, I completely forgot about that. Sorry!!

~Beth~