A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting this chapter but...well, Christmas. So it goes. :) Thank you for the reviews, I hope you're having a great time and thank you so much for reading this.

Get the cane and shotgun ready

Saturday around noon, Rory and Jess walked into the coffee shop where they were supposed to meet Chris. Sitting down at a table, they ordered their coffees, waiting for the other man to show up.

"Is it stupid that I'm nervous about this?" She asked, biting her lip and he leaned over, kissing her quickly.

"Do I need to remind you of the whole 'now they're going to know' moment you had when we told your grandparents? Nervous is fine."

"Are you ok?"

"He won't run the risk of killing me in public. I think I'm fine for now."

"He's not exactly the overprotective kind, anyway. If Luke didn't kill you, dad definitely won't."

"Hey, Luke likes me, ok? I don't care about your whole 'we're sharing him' thing, he's my uncle. He won't kill me."

"Did you ask him to be your best man?"

"This morning when you were still in bed."

"How'd it go?"

"Oh, it was glorious. We hugged and cried. You missed quite a show, really." Jess chuckled, making her shake her head and laugh.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is who I'm marrying. Mister 'it would kill me to be serious for a second'." Sticking out her tongue, she chuckled, then leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"You like it." Jess pointed out.

"I'm not going to answer that. You have enough of an ego as it is."

Before he had a chance to answer, Chris walked to their table, smiling.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey, dad!" Rory jumped up from her chair, hugging the man quickly while Jess stood up as well, awkwardly watching the two.

"Hi." He looked at the man and Christopher smiled back, waving. Letting go of him, Rory sat back down, hiding her left hand under the table.

"So, what brings you to Boston?" Chris smiled, looking at his daughter.

"We have news. Really big news. Good, exciting news." Rory smiled, squeezing Jess hand but before she could say anything else a new wave of nausea hit her and she stood up quickly, mumbling "I'll be back." before hurrying to the bathroom. Looking from her to Jess, Chris trying to understand what was happening.

"She's fine." Jess reassured him, picking up his coffee cup.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"How sure?"

"Very sure. Don't worry about it."

After a couple of minutes of uncomfortable silence at the table, Rory came back, sitting down in her chair again and burying her face in Jess' shoulder while he put his arms around her, kissing her forehead.

"You ok?"

"I hate, hate, hate this." She grumbled, making him smile.

"Need some water?"

"No." She shook her head, biting her lip.

"Ok, can someone clue me in on what's happening here?" Chris chimed in, looking at them and she finally looked up, remembering that he was at the table.

"Sorry, dad." Rory smiled, taking Jess' hand again. "Yeah, so I probably should find a nice, cute way of putting this because it's massive and life changing for everyone and all that, but I'm tired and sick so just saying with have to do. I'm pregnant. And we're getting married. In 6 weeks. The two aren't in any way connected, it's just the only time that makes sense, considering everything. That's all." She finished her rant and hugged Jess again, making him chuckle.

"Wait, so you're having a baby?" Christopher asked and Jess nodded, his hand rubbing Rory's back slowly. "And getting married?"

Lifting her left hand and putting it on the table to show him the ring, Rory nodded.

"We have an invitation for you." She straightened up again, taking a deep breath and starting to dig through her purse. "Here." She handed him the envelope. "We haven't mailed them yet, but since this is really fast, we're hand delivering the ones that go to people outside of Stars Hollow. Not that there are that many people coming any way."

"Wow…" Chris leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "I…don't know what to say."

"Congratulations would be a good start." She smiled, making him smile as well.

"Didn't I already…?"

"No." She shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I still haven't recovered, I think. Congratulations. On everything. I'm very happy for both of you. This is just…amazing news."

"We think so too." Rory smiled, squeezing Jess' hand.

"Can I give you a hug or are you still too sick for that?"

"I think I can brave it." She grinned, standing up and hugging her father. "You're coming, right? Even though it's short notice and close to New Year's Eve and everything?"

"Kid, I wouldn't miss your wedding for the world."

"Promise?"

"I swear." He reassured her, hugging her. "And if you need anything, money or something, just give me a call and I'll make sure you get it, ok?"

"Thanks." She smiled, finally letting go of him and sitting down in her chair again.

"When did this happen?" Christopher asked and she started telling him the story, smiling. As soon as she finished, she took a sip from her mug.

"Sorry we didn't tell you sooner, but we wanted to do it in person."

"No, it's fine. I'm just…still overwhelmed. I'm going to be a grandfather. Oh, wow." He laughed, not knowing what to say. "Suppose I have to go buy myself a walker or something."

"Get a cane. It will be easier to wave around at those annoying brats who won't stay off your lawn." Jess chuckled, his hand holding Rory's.

"Or a shotgun?" Christopher looked at the younger man.

"You can stand by the altar, holding it, looking threatening." Rory smiled again.

"I think I can do that. So how long are you in town for? Can I take you to dinner to celebrate?"

"We were actually going to drive back tonight after telling Paris, but if we can borrow your guest room for the night, we can stay the night." Rory offered, looking at Jess who nodded quickly.

"Yeah, sure. Gigi's away at school, so she won't bother you guys."

"How is she?"

"Growing. Pesky kids, you do that. Make a guy feel old."

"I apologize profusely."

"Oh, well, you'll see how it is. One day, you're looking at this tiny baby in a crib and next thing you know, you're sitting in a café, across from said baby and she's telling you she's going to have a baby of her own."

"It does not seem that way right now. I'm just doing it one day at a time." Kissing Jess' shoulder quickly, she smiled at her fiancé. "Couldn't do it without him."

"Yeah, when you're not hating me." He pointed out, rubbing her leg under the table. "Half the time I'm a miserable bastard that has to die." He laughed, making Chris chuckle as well.

"I remember that one. Sherry was very busy going from hating me to loving me again to being weepy to wanting to end the human race."

"Hey, as the pregnant one at the table, I'm telling you both to shut up!" Rory laughed. "You have no idea what it's like and don't get to complain."

"See? I'm only good for bringing the ice cream."

"Shut up." She snickered again, kissing his shoulder quickly. "You're only alive because I need someone to stand there when I wear my pretty white dress."

"You already have a dress?" Chris chimed in.

"Bought it yesterday. We had a very productive and crazy week. Got the invitations sorted on Monday and picked them up Thursday, rings on Wednesday, dress yesterday. Grandma helped with that one."

"So Emily's taking this well?"

"You could say that."

"Ok, so I need to go make a couple of phone calls, tell the maid she had to get your room ready and maybe make reservations for some place tonight. Anything you have in mind?" He directed his question at Rory.

"No Chinese or Indian or Thai. Or Italian now that I think of it, garlic is freaking awful. What does that leave us with?"

"French food?"

"Sure." She shrugged, not entirely convinced. "I'm sure I can find something to eat."

"I'll be right back. And if you change your mind let me know and I'll find some other place." Christopher smiled at his daughter before standing up, leaving the two alone.

"Are you ok with us staying here tonight? I can make something up if you don't want to."

"It's fine." Jess nodded, leaning in and kissing her cheek. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Not really. But I've gotten much better at pretending I am, haven't I?"

"No one can tell a thing." He smiled softly, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder.

A while later, they were standing in Paris' living room, with the other young woman in an armchair, looking at them.

"Doyle's not home this weekend." She announced.

"Sorry, we should have given you more notice."

"Well, too late to do anything about that now. Why are you here?" Realizing she might have come off as too brash, she tried to smile. "I mean you're not the surprise visit kind or person. Impulsive is not your main trait."

"Well, we have really big news and something to ask."

"You're getting married."

"How did you…?" Rory asked confused but Paris pointed to her ring.

"I can see."

"Yeah, we are. And I want you to be my bridesmaid. We've known each other for years and I just…" Rory took a deep breath before continuing. "…It wouldn't be the same without you."

"I'm not wearing some awful dress."

"You can pick your own dress, as long as it's dark red. Oh, and it's in 6 weeks. I'm not sure if you can take the time off work but I would love it if you came. The weekend after Christmas to be more precise."

"Why so soon? Are you pregnant?" The other young woman asked again.

"Yeah." Rory exhaled loudly. "But that's not the reason we're…"

"Of course it's not, you've been dating for 5 years, everyone knew you were going to get married. But this way you can get married before you're fat and you don't have to wait for freaking ever."

"Yeah, that's pretty much it." Rory laughed at her friend's bluntness. "Can you do it?"

"Sure. I have the week off anyway and my mother's getting a new chin and my father's in Europe with his latest squeeze. And Doyle's family is annoying."

Taking the invitation out of her purse, Rory handed it to her. "Here you go. This is for you and Doyle."

Looking over the invitation quickly, Paris put it on the table. "At least the directions don't include the rooster this time."

"Monty's been taken down. We don't talk about it."

"You have anything to do with that?" Paris looked at Jess and he shook his head.

"Nope."

"Some guys got drunk and…poor Monty." Rory sighed, squeezing Jess' hand.

"You're not going to start crying, are you?" She pulled back, slightly scared of the prospect.

"No, I'm fine. Almost fine, anyway."

"Do you have a good doctor or do you want me to ask around the hospital and see if someone can recommend someone else?"

"I have someone, thanks."

"Give me his or her name, I want to check this person out."

"Paris, thank you, but that really isn't necessary. She's highly…"

"Name." Paris snapped again, making Rory roll her eyes.

"Laura Jones."

"I'll call you and tell you what I found out."

"Thanks. We should get back, dad's waiting for us. Thank you so much for doing this, it means…"

"Oh, spare me." Paris sighed, standing up. Walking to her, Rory hugged her friend quickly.

"Thank you."

"I'll see you at the wedding." Glaring at Jess who was standing behind Rory, she snapped. "I'll kill you if you hurt her, got it?"

"I know." He chuckled uncomfortably, wrapping his arm around Rory's waist again.

"Say 'hi' to Doyle for us, ok?"

"I will." Paris smiled, leading them to the front door. "Congratulations, by the way."

"Thanks." Waving again, they walked outside as she closed the door behind them.

"God, she's…unique."

"She was so much mellower in college. Apparently working as a doctor is bringing high school Paris back. Maybe she needs her life coach back."

"Her what?"

"Didn't I tell you about Terrence?"

"You omitted that part."

"This is a good one." Rory laughed, starting to reminisce about her first year at Yale.

Much later that night, they were lying in bed, in Chris' guest room, her head resting on his chest, trying to fall asleep.

"Jess?"

"Hm?" He mumbled, kissing the top of her head.

"I need you to promise me something."

"That I'm never going to let you try to eat that much by yourself?"

"No." She snickered, moving to the other pillow, her arm still wrapped around him. "This is a serious promise."

"Anything." He leaned over, kissing her.

"Promise me that no matter what happens between us, no matter how we end up, what we do, even if we manage to go from this amazing thing we have to completely hating each other's guts, promise me that you're going to be in this kid's life. That you'll never say you'll call and then forget to do it, say you'll visit and never show up, that you're never going to break his or her heart like he used to do to me when I was growing up."

"Ror…" Jess sighed, his hand cupping her face as his fingers played in her hair slowly.

"Promise me. And this kid." She put her hand on her stomach, running her fingers over it. "Tell both of us that he or she will never have to know this life."

"I promise." He kissed her until they were both out of breath. "Just you though. I already have a deal with the kid." He ducked down, smiling as he lifted the bottom of her shirt and kissed the spot below her navel quickly.

"What deal?" Rory smiled, her hand running through his hair.

"It knows." He kissed her stomach again before moving back up. "What, I'm not allowed to have secrets with our child?"

"Maybe. I'm just not sure how I feel about you already conspiring with him." She laughed, her serious mood gone. "I have no hope left, I'm going to have to constantly ground both of you. Well, ground him and make sure you don't get to have any fun with me." She kissed him, smiling through the kiss.

"What if I have nothing to do with it, but was just too busy to stop it?"

"Oh, please, I have a feeling that if I ever come home to see all our walls covered in crayon, you'll be just as guilty."

"I'm more of a pillow fort, fight with a toy army type of guy." He chuckled, putting his hand on her waist and pulling her closer to him. "But, for what it's worth, I wouldn't do that and you know it. Or should know it, anyway." He turned serious again and Rory nodded, biting her lip.

"I know it. But everything came back to me today and I really do not want this for our child. It's just…dad missed so much of my childhood and I can't stand the thought of you missing the same of this baby's life and of him spending so much time wondering what the hell was wrong with him that his dad didn't love him."

Pulling her to him, Jess hugged her as close to him as he could, kissing the top of her head. "There's nothing wrong with you. There never was. He's just a fucking idiot that couldn't think of anyone but himself."

"Jess…"

"No. I'll be nice to him because I have to and because it's easier on all of us but that does not mean that I like him or don't completely despise him for what he did. This is the one completely non-negotiable thing here."

"I love you." She smiled, burying her face in his chest and he kissed her head again. "But you have to give him a chance."

"Do you want to hear the definition of non-negotiable now or later?" Jess smirked, his arms wrapped tightly around her.

"I already know it."

"Then? I'm giving him a chance. I'm not punching the fucking lights out of him every time I see him. That's all you'll get out of me when it comes to that bastard."

Shaking her head, she kissed him softly, trying to calm him down. "I don't want our baby to know about any of this until it's old enough to understand it. Until then, dad can just be the nice granddad he sees once in a while."

"Fine." He nodded, knowing it was her decision. Pulling back, Rory kissed him then took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"What about Jimmy? What will tell the baby about him? Actually, are you ever going to tell Jimmy about this? He should know. I think. I know you two don't have much of a relationship, but he's going to be a grandfather as well. I think he might like to know."

"I highly doubt the once in a blue moon phone calls constitute anything even resembling a relationship. I'll mention it next time he calls, ok?"

"You can call him too, you know?"

"What's with you lately? Why are you trying to fix everything?" Jess looked at her, his fingers tracing her lip.

"I think it's the pregnancy thing. I need to make a world as perfect as I can for this baby. I can't make all the bad things go away, but I'm trying. And you have to ignore me when I butt in somewhere I shouldn't."

"It's fine. Just…you can't fix me and Jimmy. It's too late and too much shit has happened for that one to ever work."

"I know." Rory nodded, kissing him. "You deal with Jimmy any way you want. I just think he should know."

"I'll tell him when we talk."

"Thank you." She smiled, kissing him again.

"It won't change anything."

"Probably not. But we should at least give it a try."

Lying on his back, Jess waited for her to curl up next to him then wrapped his arm around her, rubbing her arm.

"I love you. Because you try to fix everything."

"I thought it was going to be despite that." Rory smiled, kissing his chest.

"No, it's because. In high school it was despite." He kissed the top of her head, pulling her even closer to him. "Get some sleep, it's getting late."

Nodding and kissing him one more time, she moved back to her pillow and closed her eyes, smiling. "I love you too."