A/N: It's exam week, folks, be nice to me. Thank you for reading and the reviews, keep 'em coming.

Families and freaks

Thursday around noon, Rory and Jess walked into the kitchen of Lorelai and Luke's house, finding Lorelai there, flicking through a magazine. Seeing them, she stood up, excited.

"Pictures! Pictures, pictures, pictures!"

"We're fine too, Lorelai, thanks for asking." Jess smirked as Rory sat down, grumbling.

"Make it go away, mommy."

"Honey, I think it's a bit mean to refer to your fiancé as it when he's in the room." Lorelai smiled, rubbing her daughter's arm. "How bad?"

"Bad." She grimaced as Jess sat down on the chair next to hers, his hand rubbing her lower back gently.

"Want to go lie down, Ror?"

"I'm fine. Can I get some water, please?"

Nodding, Jess stood up and filled a glass, then put it next to her, sitting down again. After taking a drink from the glass, Rory started digging through her purse and pulled out the now worn out envelope, smiling as she opened it and saw the pictures again. "Here's your grandchild." Her smile grew even bigger as she handed the pictures to her mother, holding Jess' hand. "Isn't it pretty?"

"Aw, kid…" Standing up, she walked to Rory, waiting for her to stand up before hugging her tightly. "It's beautiful."

"It's barely a shape!" Jess sighed, frustrated, making Rory glare at him.

"That's our baby. Be nice to her or I swear I'll go full on crazy on you."

"It's gorgeous. Really. There has never been a more beautiful gray blob in the history of gray blobs." He chuckled, making them laugh as well. Sitting down, Rory slapped his back, still smiling.

"Why am I marrying him again?" She looked at her mother but Jess smirked before she could reply, kissing her shoulder quickly.

"Because I got you pregnant, wasn't that the idea?"

"Oh, the town's gone mad with gossip!" Lorelai announced, still looking at the pictures. "You're either dying and that's your last wish-they're all a bit fuzzy on which one of you is actually dying, but most of them seem to think it's Rory-I don't know, maybe it's more dramatic that way or you're pregnant or Jess has decided to join the French Foreign Legion. Or all of the above."

"Let me guess…Patty came up with the Foreign Legion thing?"

"Of course." Lorelai nodded, grinning.

"Your town is crazy." Jess smirked.

"Jess, you are so one of us." Lorelai laughed. "You're marrying her, your kid is going to be this town's new bright hope…you're one of us. The sooner you face it, the sooner you get your official Stars Hollow name."

"When do I get my official Stars Hollow straight jacket?"

"You're very lucky I want my grandchild to get to know his dad." Lorelai pointed her finger at him, making him shake his head. "Where's the one you should be marrying instead?" She looked at Rory again, grinning.

"Matt? Trying to find a porcelain unicorn for Jane. He's coming over as soon as that's done."

Before anyone could say anything else, Sookie barged in the kitchen.

"I need to borrow Luke's tongs!"

"Well, this certainly calls for a dirty!" Lorelai laughed. "As far as I know, he doesn't have a pair, but maybe he wears mine. At night. When I'm sleeping. I need to stop thinking about this."

"I don't have time, Lorelai, do not make jokes."

"Sookie, calm down. What happened?"

Opening drawers and looking through them, Sookie started rambling. "The kids were playing with one set and of course the other one had to break and I have no idea where Jackson put the third one, I swear, why does that man think he can do whatever he wants in my kitchen I'll never know and I am trying to make Thanksgiving dinner and I better find those things soon!"

"Sink."

"What?"

"They're next to the sink." Jess pointed out and Sookie smiled victoriously, grabbing the utensil.

"Thank you! At least someone is useful here."

"Hey!" Lorelai tried to protest but quickly changed her mind. "Ok, you may have a point. We have ultrasound pictures!"

"What?"

"Come meet my grandkid!"

Forgetting about her rush, Sookie sat down, anxious. "Show me!"

"Here you go!" Lorelai handed her the pictures while Rory watched them, the giant smile back on her face.

"Cupcake, it's beautiful."

"Don't say anything!" Lorelai pointed her finger at Jess and he just lifted his hands in the air, leaning back in his chair.

"Thank you." Rory smiled at Sookie.

"Looks like a boy to me, doesn't it, Lorelai?"

Biting his lip, Jess smirked again.

"Definitely a boy." Sookie nodded, convinced.

"Leather jacket buying, here I come!" Lorelai grinned, making Rory smile.

"Well, I'm crossing my fingers for a boy. One that looks like this jerk." She kissed Jess' shoulder quickly.

"Jess, what do you want it to be?"

"Oh, no, I'm not playing this." He shook his head, standing up and picking a mug, filling it with coffee then leaned against the counter. "I don't care."

"You have to care." Lorelai tilted her head, trying to look serious.

"Nope. I am not going to say anything. If I say the one that it's not, 6 months from now she'll go on a crazy crying session because I wanted the other one and I'm not happy and do I hate her and the child even though I couldn't care less what it is. So, no, I'm not saying anything."

"He says that like I'm some kind of lunatic that starts crying every other second."

"I am so not answering that." Jess shook his head, making Rory snicker.

"You have to know you're going to pay for this."

"I'm well aware." He smirked, kissing the top of her head before sitting back down. "Sookie, your dinner?" He reminded the woman and she stood back up, frantically picking up the tongs.

"I'll see you later!" She announced before leaving the house through the back door.

"You're all crazy." Jess shook his head again, trying not to laugh.

"How did we get out of Thanksgiving dinner with the grandparents?" Rory looked at her mother, ignoring Jess' comment.

"You're not feeling well, I have a small kid. They are coming over today, joy."

"Grandma and grandpa are coming here?"

"Oh, yeah. Wouldn't want them to miss Will's first Thanksgiving, would you? What kind of a person would deny a grandmother the chance to spend time with her grandson on such an important holiday? Especially since she's getting old..." Lorelai grimaced, remembering the conversation she had had with her mother.

"So you got guilt tripped?"

"Big time."

"Where is Will, by the way?"

"Nap time. Blessing, let me tell you."

"Lorelai? Lorelai, where are you?" Matt's voice boomed from the front door.

"Kitchen!"

Walking in the room, Matt sat down, a huge grin on his face. "Porcelain unicorn acquired."

"Oh, let me see!" Lorelai extended her hands and he pulled the small unicorn out of his bag, placing it victoriously on the table.

"Jane will think you're insane." Jess shook his head.

"Shush, you heathen. You left this town, you get to make no comments."

"See? So much better." Lorelai grinned, ruffling the Matt's hair. "Why did you not bring this girl? I need to see if she's good enough for you."

"She went away. I might drag her over for Christmas, if I'm invited."

"Did I not make it clear enough that you're always invited? I've already saved your room at the inn for Christmas. And Chris' room, in case he decides to not ditch us for his family again, the ingrate. Not that we're doing anything big this year, seeing how we're all going to be busy with their wedding."

"Shotgun wedding." Matt grinned, walking to the coffee machine and pouring himself a cup. "I enjoy pointing that out, it makes Jess' head almost explode."

"I am so proud of you sometimes. Did you see my grandchild yet?" Lorelai looked at him, waving the ultrasound pictures in the air while Rory and Jess watched them.

"In the car. This jerk didn't bring the pictures over to work."

"Like I could pry them out of her hands." Jess smirked, rubbing Rory's back gently.

"Excuse me for wanting to look at our child. What a terrible thing." Rory grinned, kissing his shoulder quickly.

"It's a gray…"

"Shut up." Rory shook her head, trying not to laugh. "Mom, I'm going to go look at my wedding dress for a while. I missed it."

"Oh, can I see, can I see?" Matt chimed in, excited.

"Only if you promise you won't tell him anything about it."

"Cross my heart." He nodded solemnly and Rory stood up, jerking her head in the direction of the living room.

"Let's go."

"Oh, I'm coming!" Lorelai stood up as well. "Jess, hold down the fort."

"All by myself? I don't think I can." He smirked and Rory leaned over, kissing his cheek.

"I can stay with you and go upstairs later."

"Go, look at it, gush, cry with joy, whatever. I'm very good at entertaining myself." He reassured her, putting his hand over hers and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I was kidding."

"You sure?"

"Go." He nodded, smiling and she kissed his cheek again before heading to the other room, trying to catch up with Lorelai and Matt.

A few hours later, everyone was gathered in the living room, with the furniture pushed to the side, leaving room for just one big table in the middle of the room and a smaller one for the kids to the side. Holding a bowl, Jess looked at Rory, a desperate look in his eyes.

"Help." He pointed down with his head and she smiled, seeing Doula hugging him, not letting go while he tried to walk to the table.

"Hey, Doula!" She smiled, walking to the little girl. "When did you get here?"

"Now. Mom and dad are outside!"

"Well, Kwan is over there with the other kids. Why don't you go say hello?" She pointed to the kids' table, knowing of the little girl's crush on him.

"But…" Hiding her face in Jess' leg, she blushed and Rory offered her hand.

"I'll come with you."

"Thank you!" She let go of Jess and hugged Rory instead, making her smile and ruffle her hair. Smiling gratefully, Jess put the bowl on the table, giving Rory a quick peck on the lips.

"Thank you." He whispered, picking up his beer bottle again.

"Come on, Rory!" Doula grabbed her hand, dragging her towards the table.

"Duty calls."

Walking in the room, Liz spotted her son and walked to him, hugging him. "Hey."

"Hi." He mumbled, hugging her back quickly.

"I hear you have pictures of my grandkid."

"Rory has them." Looking around the room, he saw his fiancée at the kids table, trying to get Doula to stop hiding behind her. "I think it might take a while."

"Kwan?"

"Yeah." Jess nodded, smirking. "If she ever actually talked to him…"

"You don't understand girls, Jess." Lorelai pointed out, walking up to them. "You don't talk to the boy you like, it's against the rules, right, Liz?"

"Right." Liz nodded as TJ joined them. "Hey, Lorelai. Where do I drop this?"

"I'll take it." Jess picked up the plate from the man's hands, grateful for the excuse to leave the room. A few minutes later, Rory walked in the kitchen, finding him leaning against a counter. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she kissed him quickly, smiling.

"Sorry to interrupt your cloistering, but grandma and grandpa are here."

"Can I come hide again after I say hello?" He smirked, cupping her face in his hand and kissing her.

"Don't think so. Dinner should get started any minute, everyone is here."

"At least when Chris is here, I have someone to mock the madness with. Matt fits right in."

"Sorry." She smiled, resting her head on his shoulder. "Drink. That should work."

"I feel bad drinking when you can't." Jess admitted, kissing her temple.

"Don't worry about me. I'm good." Smiling, she lifted her head again. "You realize next year our kid will be here?"

"It will just add to the madness." He smirked, placing his hand on her stomach, caressing it softly with his thumb.

"Is it really that bad? I can make something up while you go to Luke's old apartment or something. You don't have to be here."

"Ror, I've known all along what I was signing up for. I'm ok, I promise." He smiled softly, placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Wouldn't want to miss the last Thanksgiving when it's just the two of us. And when we're still not married."

"Hey, we'll be married before the New Year comes." She realized, her smile growing bigger.

"I know. Go on, Liz wants to see the pictures."

"Promise you won't mock them again." She pointed her finger at him, placing a quick kiss on his lips.

"How about if you let me mock because you know I am actually happy about this and I'm only doing it to annoy you?"

"Are you still happy?" She looked down, avoiding his eyes.

"About having a kid with you?" Crouching down, he smiled, looking up at her. "I hate that it's making you sick and if I could fix that, I would in a heartbeat, but other than that…yeah, I am happy. Unnaturally, abnormally happy." He crushed his mouth to hers while she hugged him closer to her, smiling through their kiss.

"If that changes…?"

"As long as you and the kid are ok and with me, that won't change."

"I love you." Rory managed to whisper, biting her lip, tears shining in her eyes.

"Love you too."

"Guys, you do realize that everyone is in the other room, right?" Lorelai smiled, walking in the room and Rory turned around, wiping her cheeks quickly.

"Sorry. We're coming."

"Something wrong?"

"Nothing. Crazy hormones." She shook her head, taking Jess' hand before walking to the living room. Sitting down next to Liz, Rory pulled out the envelope as Jess grabbed another beer before sitting down as well.

"Want to see the ultrasound pictures now or later, when there are less people around?" She smiled at Liz and she nodded excitedly, a massive smile on her face.

"Now! That's my grandkid, I don't want to wait."

Before Jess could say anything, his phone started ringing. Kissing Rory's temple quickly, he stood up, pointing to the door. "I'll be outside, it's too loud in here. Fawn all you want over the alien."

Making a face, Rory looked up, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "We can wait for you."

"I highly doubt you'll be done by the time I'm back." He ran his hand down her hair before heading outside. Opening the envelope, she started showing Liz the pictures, smiling as she flicked through them. After a few minutes, Rory walked outside, pulling her coat tighter around her body.

"What happened?"

"That was Jimmy."

"Oh, wow…" She wrapped her arms around him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. "How did it go?"

"Told him about the kid and the wedding. He asked if he can come."

"And?"

"And I said I'd have to talk to you about it because I didn't know if we have enough room and call him back in a few days." He grimaced at his lame excuse, sighing. "Should have just said no."

"You don't have to. I mean…he's your father. If you want him there, we can find some way to deal with everything."

"I don't know if I want him there."

"Then call him back and tell him there isn't enough room. Or something."

"I don't know…" He sighed, kissing her quickly. "Can I think about it?"

"Sure."

"I mean…Luke probably still wants to kill him and I doubt Liz would take him being there well and…"

"And ignore all that and think about what you want. I'll make everyone behave if you want him to be there."

"I'm not sure what I want."

"Think about it." She shrugged again, kissing him. "Inside though, it's freezing out here. You'll get sick."

"Practicing your mothering skills?" He smirked, wrapping his arm around her waist as they headed for the door.

"Hey, I'm going to be a mother in 31 weeks, if nothing goes wrong. I need to practice." Rory smiled, kissing his cheek.

"You're going to be a great mother." He reassured her, kissing her before they walked inside the house.

"Hey, they're finally back!" Lorelai announced when she saw them, taking Will back from her Lane.

"We were right outside." She pointed out as they took their seats again.

"Yeah, well, now everyone is here and we can cut the turkey. Delays mean that I have to starve to death." She sighed dramatically as Luke walked into the room, holding a tray in his hands before placing it on the table.

"Ok, everyone sit down, gather round, be quiet…" Lorelai looked over at the kids' table and they all stopped talking. "…and let the eating begin!"

"Shouldn't we give thanks first?" Liz chimed in from her seat and Lorelai sighed.

"We're all grateful for family…" She kissed her son's cheek, smiling. "…For friends and all the amazing things that have happened this year. Including no one killing anyone else tonight. Yet, anyway. Oh, and for Rory and Jess finally deciding that they've kept us waiting long enough and getting engaged, making this an even weirder and crazier family unit. Now can we eat?"

"Very moving speech, Lorelai." Emily rolled her eyes.

"It's the same thing every year, only with some fighting. We take ten minutes, realize we can't find anything better, then carve the thing. I'm hungry so if anyone has anything to add, please do so. Fast."

"Football?" TJ asked, making everyone laugh.

"We're all thankful for football as well then. Done now?"

"Yes." Everyone nodded as Luke started carving the turkey, after placing a quick kiss on his wife's cheek. After a few minutes, Rory made a face, leaning over to Jess quickly.

"I need to…"

Before he could say anything, she shot up, rushing up the stairs. Walking to him, Lorelai leaned down.

"What's wrong?"

"I think she's sick again. I'm going to go check up on her." He stood up and Lorelai nodded, rubbing his arm.

"She'll be ok. It ends."

"I know, I just really hate seeing her like this."

"Go, be with her. I'll cover for you guys." She smiled and he walked up the stairs while everyone else watched him.

"Food! Dig in, people!" She pointed to the plates on the table, putting her son in his high chair.

Walking up, Jess saw Rory lying on Lorelai's bed. Walking in the room, he sat down next to her, his hand rubbing her back slowly.

"You ok?"

"This isn't how I wanted to spend Thanksgiving."

"I know." He leaned down, kissing her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. Go back downstairs, I can deal with this by myself. You should be with family, that's what holidays are about."

Smiling, Jess looked at her, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I am with my family."