Another update! Shorter chapters I know, but I really need to wrap this story up. So yeah, hope you enjoy! R&R!

You Can't Separate True Love

Chapter 18

"It's just that…I don't know. You holding Doula was adorable, and I don't have a little brother or sister to hold to get the hang of this thing." Rory motioned to her stomach.

"Ror. We've been over this. You'll do great."

"You looked great with her Jess." Rory whispered.

Jess didn't know what to say. He actually enjoyed holding Doula. His little baby sister, who seemed to be extremely fond of him already.

Rory sighed and stood up, but there was a knock at the door. Rory looked curiously at Jess, who shrugged.

"Come in!" Jess called, not breaking eye contact with Rory.

"Jess!" Liz loudly exclaimed upon entrance.

"Ah jeez Liz. Do you have to be loud?"

"Sorry. But Jess, I forgot, Rory never got to hold Doula. She's awake now. Do you want to hold her?" Liz turned to Rory who was looking down shyly. She looked up and turned to Jess.

"Uh sure." Rory slightly smiled and sat down.

"Great!" Liz clapped her hands and called for TJ.

Jess cringed, more loud noises and a creepy step dad. TJ entered the apartment with Doula cooing and making small noises.

"Ah, Jess' wife is gonna hold her huh?" TJ asked teasingly.

Rory nodded and Jess pulled Rory closer to him, squeezing her for support. Rory smiled at him as Liz walked up to her with Doula.

"Here sweetie." She handed Doula to her and watched admiringly. "Suits you well it does."

Rory smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"Oh Jess hon, do you think you can do me a favor?" Liz asked, seeing it as her opportunity to get him to say yes.

"What?" Jess sighed and stood up to walk over to her and see what she wanted.

"Do you think you can watch Doula for a while? Just long enough for TJ and I had have dinner and you know…have some time alone." Liz pouted.

"Ah jeez! Just say dinner or something. I don't need that image in my head. As for watching her, I'll have to talk to Rory about it." Jess sighed, knowing he was trapped.

"Great!" Liz smiled. "Rory hon! Can I ask a favor of you?"

Rory looked up from the cooing baby. "Sure."

"Do you think Jess and you could watch Doula for a few hours?" TJ nodded in agreement, wanting to spend some time with Liz.

"Uh, if Jess is up to it, then sure." Rory looked at Jess and he nodded.

"Thank you so much!" Liz ran to TJ and hugged him. "All of her stuff is in the bag, and we'll leave the stroller downstairs."

"What time will you pick her up?" Jess called after them, but it was too late, the door slammed and Doula began crying.

"Jeez." Jess grumbled to himself. Rory looked at Jess panicking.

"Jess!" Rory called and began rocking Doula, causing her to slowly stop crying. Jess came and sat next to her and watched the baby.

"I like you like this." Jess whispered.

Rory blushed and smiled, looking shyly at him. "Thanks. You want to hold her?"

Jess shook his head. "I like watching you with her."

"Ok." Rory continued to rock Doula until she fell asleep. Jess took her from Rory carefully and put her in her baby carriage. Rory yawned and stretched.

"You should go to bed." Jess eyed Rory carefully.

"I'm ok." Rory insisted. She leaned into Jess and closed her eyes. Not long after that Rory was asleep. Jess smiled and kissed the top of her head and turned on the TV.

- - -

Both Jess and Rory woke up on the couch, Rory with an aching back and Jess with a strained neck.

"Maybe sleeping here wasn't a good idea after all." Rory moaned and rubbed her back. Jess massaged his neck and nodded. "Oh! How's Doula!? Aren't Liz and TJ supposed to be here by now?"

Jess got up and checked on his sister and smiled when he saw her big brown eyes staring at him. "Hey Doula." He reached into the carriage and picked her up.

Rory's eyes twinkled as she saw this interaction between Jess and his sister. Jess came and sat by Rory entertained by Doula. Rory sighed and stood up stiffly.

"Oh!" Rory quickly put her hand on her back and rubbed. Jess' eyes shot up and he stood up.

"What?"

"My back is killing me." Rory whimpered.

"I told you to go to bed."

"Ow!" Rory said surprised.

"What?!" Jess set Doula down on the couch and walked to Rory.

"Nothing, I'm just really sensitive to every little pain right now." Rory cringed.

"Don't scare me like that." Jess sighed nervously. Doula began crying and Rory looked at Jess.

"I'll get her." Rory smiled and walked to the crying baby. "Hey Doula. It's ok, brother hasn't forgotten about you."

Jess smiled and decided to go make some breakfast. Rory got Doula to fall asleep and put her back in her carriage. On her way back to the couch she tripped. Jess heard a loud thump in the living room and ran out of the kitchen.

"Rory!" He ran to her and helped her up. "Are you ok?"

"Uh huh." Rory got up, with Jess' help, and walked to the couch.

"What happened?"

"I tripped on something. Probably my own feet." Rory sighed. "I'm fine, really." She sat down on the couch and closed her eyes, her breathing slightly ragged.

"You sure you're ok?" Jess asked urgently.

"Yeah I am. Just sit with me for a while." Rory held onto Jess' arm. He nodded and sat down next to her.

Rory smiled and looked down at her stomach. She put her hand on her stomach and rubbed it. Jess noticed this and also put his hand on her stomach.

"Soon we'll have our own little Doula's." Rory joked.

"Yeah, except they won't be named Doula." Jess smirked and set his gaze back at Rory's stomach and their hands. Just then they both felt a kick. Rory giggled.

"It feels so much different from inside than from outside."

Jess gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, it feels different to feel them kicking inside of me, than to feel them kicking me from the outside. Like this." Rory moved her hand and looked at Jess.

"You're going to do great." Jess looked lovingly into Rory's eyes and moved his hand gently in circles on her stomach.

"You too." Rory whispered and leaned in to kiss Jess. Their hands still resting on Rory's protuberant belly.

- - -

Around noon Liz and TJ came to pick up Doula. "Sorry we're late. Long night if you know what I mean." TJ raised his eyebrows.

"Ah! No, I don't. And I don't want to know either." Jess snapped.

"How was my baby?" Liz asked Jess and Rory.

"She was great." Rory smiled.

"Yeah, not much crying." Jess agreed.

"Really? That's a first. Well thanks kiddo." Liz kissed Jess on the cheek and pinched his cheeks. Jess grunted and Rory stifled a laugh.

"We will be house hunting soon, but we won't be back in town for a few more weeks." Liz sadly informed Jess.

Rory sat down, feeling fatigued. "That's too bad."

"I know." Liz frowned and picked Doula's carriage up. "We'll see you when we come ok?"

Jess nodded and waved. Rory smiled. "Bye."

TJ and Liz walked out and Jess sat down next to Rory letting out a loud sigh. "Finally."

"Jess." Rory scorned.

"What? They are crazy. Plus I need to relax. So do you." Jess wrapped his arm around Rory and kissed her.

"Well what did you think?"

"About what?"

"About babysitting. I think you're ready. You'll be a great dad." Rory quietly said.

"And I think you're going to be an amazing mom." Jess stroked Rory's cheek.

"I love you."

"I know." Jess smirked and Rory pouted. "And I love you too." Rory smiled and laid her head on Jess' shoulder.

"Good."

There you have it! I know, it's kind of a cute chapter, cheesy too, but I think it's a little necessary. It helps them realize that they are ready for this...next chapter will be skipping ahead, graduation time baby! And...surprises! Uh oh! Hehehe! Something for you to look forward to...

Review pretty pretty please with a cherry on top...

Beth