You would think the muse would let me update GE a little more often, especially since deciding this would be the last installement of my Rory/Jess series. I don't know, maybe it's my muse's way of protesting--who knows. But can't argue with her now for letting me update. Even a whole week in advance before Christmas.

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Ten minutes however, their plates were cleared of any food, that and William was fast asleep in Rory's arms. After his debut of a handful of fries--a start to being a true Gilmore--William's head lolled to the side, his cheek rested against her arm and his eyes slowly shut closed. A sign that it was past his nap time, or rather that he hadn't gotten much sleep the last few days and hadn't let anyone else either, but now he was the one taking the nap.

Leaning back against her chair, Lorelai gave a sigh of envy. "What it would be like to explore the leisurely life of a little kid who eats, sleeps and plays."

"I don't know, but I would like to think of William just as capable of giving Kirk a run for his money in the near future." Rory added in, shifting William to her other arm with ease.

Leaning forward with a smirk on her face, Lorelai stated. "You clearly missed the part where William peed on Kirk with a smile on his face. Or not to mention the the time where he made Kirk fall over a chair while Kirk proceeded to chase William around the room.

"I think you left that little detail out of the loop."

"Clearly we need to talk more if you want me to give you all the juicy details. And that is why my dear, Kirk's ideas for starting a daycare have been shot down. He was practically chasing William because he deemed it necessary to watch him in the first place. Not to mention that he was talking to him through a stuffed animal in a weird creepy voice."

Rory visibly shuddered with the visual and noted this to memory for future use. Kirk was never going to watch her kid. Glancing over as Luke worked, Rory inquired. "What do you think Luke would do if I told him he was about to become a grandpa?"

Lorelai took one glance over at him, "If you're asking if he would freak out like Jess did, I would tell you that the difference between telling the father of your kid that you were pregnant over telling somebody say, Luke. It would be quite a different reaction. Luke would never admit this but at first he was the freaked out over the idea of being a father. Especially when I told him that it wasn't a girl."

"Luke actually wanted the baby to be a girl?"

Lorelai nodded, a smile creeping onto her face. "I think secretly he wanted our love child to be a junk food loving Gilmore."

"No I don't." Luke called out of the blue, making both women sharply look in the direction of his voice. He popped up behind the counter. "Of course I never said that I never wanted a girl."

"Why Lukie, have you been eavesdropping?" Lorelai called back teasingly, clearly enjoying this moment.

"No, I was not eavesdropping. I was grabbing a roll of paper towels to put back in the kitchen. We're out." Verifying that he had been doing so, he held up a roll of paper towels in his hand. His clear expression detailed that he smelled suspicion. "And I see my only line of sane defense is out like a light." He waved the roll over in William's direction.

"I'll go ahead and take that first part as a compliment." Lorelai quipped eagerly as Luke exchanged a glance with Rory who looked uncomfortable and was leaning back in her chair. All this light baby business talk was catching up with her and making her dizzy. In fact she had barely gotten settled with finding out; she just wondered if Luke had been nearby enough to hear the word "grandpa" pop out of her mouth. In fact she wasn't quite sure why it felt so awkward to just open her mouth and tell him, "I'm pregnant." The look he was giving her was confused and unsettled, somewhere deep beneath the unsound recognition of where his thoughts were taking him.

That same look of unsound recognition reminded her of Jess. Like him, the thought only needed a few minutes to boot up and kick in.

Rory sat up abruptly, efficiently jostling William in the process. Of course she had been so caught up in her thoughts and forgotten that her half brother was still lying asleep comfortably in her lap. Rocking him back and forth she saw his little eyelids shoot open, his eyes lazily rolling sleepily as they closed again--all in a moment's glance. Both Luke and Lorelai were gazing in her direction. Luke looked concerned at her jumpy, secretive nature. Lorelai took on more of an expression of understanding as she already knew of the situation.

"Thanks Mom for lunch. Luke, the coffee and food was great as usual--but I should really get going. The house looks like a complete disaster zone and I really want to get it all cleaned up before Jess gets home from work." Handing over William to her mother, he didn't stir.

"Hey. Just guessing here, but you and Jess didn't happen to have one of your big fights, did you?" Reaching over he took their plates, stacking them and placing them on the counter.

"I'm not sure that we could even call it a fight. With Jess hitting the best seller with me working like crazy with the newspaper, we haven't really had a lot of time just to talk about anything. Important things." Rory nodded, shoving on her jacket.

"Important things, right." Repeating those words, Luke sighed. "You're a married woman now. Not to mention that life takes important turns." He hinted while gathering the rest of their dishes into hand. And then he stopped. "Did you just say best seller?"

Rory shrugged, nodding her head. "That's what Jess seems to think. He's been spending a lot of time on this one, so I don't see why it couldn't be possible."

Lorelai smiled. "That's great hun. So when you go off on a famous world tour together, please don't forget to write or send us a postcard telling us of all things that would make anyone-- mainly meaning me and anyone in Stars Hollow--jealous."

Sputtering, the side of Luke's mouth lifted into a smile. Not an obvious one as not to gain attention; there would always be time for a private celebration later. "When did he find out?... I mean about this whole book thing. So it's really a go?"

"It's definitely a go. I haven't heard about all the juicy details yet." Rory turned directly to her mother, her tone implying that they would talk about the pregnancy, somewhere safer than the gossip town of Stars Hollow. "But when I do you guys should definitely come over."

"Ah well, you know that we wouldn't miss it for the world. Right, Luke?" One subtle almost nod that could have been easily overlooked, Lorelai gave her daughter as she glanced towards the door and back.

"Nope, wouldn't miss it. Just tell us a date and a time and we'll be there." Rocking from his heels to his toes, he looked around the diner and saw a couple of customers enter the diner. "And that's my cue for getting back to work.". Nodding towards the customers that had chosen their seat near the window on the other side of the diner, he took their dishes and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Bye Luke." Waving before he had disappeared, Luke nodded back with his arms full of dishes.

Lorelai smiled expectantly, "Well hun, just remember this is the day..."

"That you almost caught Jack Sparrow."

"Well no, that's not exactly what I was going to say, but good comeback. Now I know what to quote you on the next time that I see you and want to watch an action packed movie. Nothing like swashbuckling pirates to rule the night. Argh! " Lorelai imitated a pirate call while pretending to hold an invisible sword in her hand. Luke looked over her but continued to serve the customers their preferred drinks as they looked over the menu.

"Well then come on pirate, you and your captive can walk me to the plank door." Rory acted more in mock defeat as they walked her to the door. As soon as they were out of the obvious reach of curious ears, Rory added. "I promise to fill you in as soon as I know every detail. I just really need time to think about all this. It's really just a lot to take in."

"It is a lot to take in. But just remember we're here for you when you decide you want to talk." Lorelai let her know that there was support on her side, that she wasn't alone on this. "Besides, this is both mine and Luke's grandson or granddaughter's future we're talking about here."

"I know." Rory sighed. "Bye Mom."

"Oh bye hun." Lorelai sighed as well, hugging her daughter. "I love you so much. You know that don't you?"

"Yes, I know that. Only because you've reminded me of that every day since I was born."

"That's because I meant it. And still do, very much." Lorelai pointed out, shifting a still sleeping William in her arms.

"I know you do...and I love you too; more than you know."

"No, I love you more. And that my dear, is a fact. I love you more than anything in this world, and I wouldn't have changed anything in my future for you not to know that."

"Not even for coffee?"

"Not even for coffee." Lorelai shook her head, with a smile. Rory sighed and figured that it was time to leave. "Rory?" Catching her attention, she turned back towards her mother. The sun beating on the back of her jacket. "Deep breath, hun. I promise it only gets better."

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Like usual, please review. It doesn't have to be long, but I do appreciate any reviews that I get. I promise that on the Christmas carols that I keep listening to.