Thank you for your continued support! :) Here's the next chapter! Now I haven't got any personal experience with what happens at the beginning but I have researched it and I hope I do it justice.

Chapter 24

Charlotte felt tears falling down her face as she squeezed Jess' hand for support as they stood in Cedar Hill Cemetery close to the hospital. The hospital had provided a chaplain to do a small service for them before the burial. Charlotte and Jess had decided on a burial so that they could visit the grave. Charlotte felt her mom's arm go round her as well and pull her close. She glanced around at the small group of people they had invited. Lorelai and Luke were there as were Rory and Sam. Chris had come as did Emily and Richard which she really appreciated. She glanced at Jess who had his arm round Jack. They had really debated about whether to bring him as Lorelai and Luke had decided against bringing Mia but they had decided that Jack deserved to be able to say goodbye to his sister so they brought him.

"Now, Charlotte, Jess, I was told you'd like to say a few words before the burial..." The hospital chaplain said.

Charlotte nodded slowly and reached for Jess' hand again who squeezed it. She shakily brought out a piece of paper. "Olivia, I'm so sorry you never got to meet us and we never got to meet you..." She said tremulously. "You will always be in our heart and we will always love you...I...I..." She tried to say but she felt herself breaking down.

Jess glanced at her, fighting back tears himself, but he knew he had to step up. "It really breaks our heart that your life was cut short, that it never really started. But that doesn't mean we will forget about you. We will never forget about you. We...we hope you're at peace." He said, his voice cracking slightly. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he glanced up to see Luke giving him a supportive nod.

"We love you, Olivia. Rest in peace, sweetheart." Charlotte said tremulously.

"Thank you, Charlotte and Jess." The hospital chaplain said softly.

The burial then took place and soil replaced when their daughter had been buried and they were left looking at the small headstone they had got made.

"Would you two like a moment?" Lorelai asked softly.

"Yeah...please." Charlotte said quietly. "Can you take Jack with you?"

"Of course." Lorelai said. "How about we head back to Stars Hollow and you meet us there when you're ready? No rush."

Charlotte just nodded, staring at the headstone.

"Thanks." Jess said quietly. He glanced at their son. "You go with Grandma Lorelai and Grandpa Luke ok? We'll see you in a bit." He said softly.

"Can I give Olivia my picture first?" Jack asked quietly.

"Of course. You can put it by the headstone." Jess said. "Mommy and I will make sure it's protected."

Jack bent down and put his picture down by the grave. "I'll look after your sister." He whispered.

Charlotte blinked back more tears and then gave her son a hug and a kiss. "We won't be long, I promise." She said softly.

Everyone then left leaving Charlotte and Jess standing infront of the grave. "I never thought I'd be standing infront one of our kid's graves." Charlotte sniffed.

"I don't think anyone thinks that will happen." Jess said quietly. He glanced at her and put his arm round her, pulling her close. "We'll get through this together."

Charlotte blinked away tears, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I don't know how I would have got through today and the last few days without you." She said. "You've been amazing."

"You don't need to thank me." Jess said. "You've helped me too."

"Yeah but it's been worse for you. Your mom...her funeral is next week..." Charlotte sniffed.

Jess swallowed a lump in his throat. "We both lost our daughter..." He said quietly. He let out a shaky breath. "I love you. You know that right?"

Charlotte gave him a tremulous smile. "I know." She said her voice cracking. "I love you too." She glanced back at Olivia's grave. "Do you wonder what she might have been like?" She asked softly.

"Every day." Jess said honestly. "I reckon she would have been as beautiful as you."

"Flatterer." Charlotte smiled slightly.

"It's the truth. And Lizzie will be the same." Jess said.

"Will be." Charlotte smiled softly. "I like that."

"Lizzie's going to get through this, I just know it. She's a mix between a Mariano and Gilmore. She's got strong genes." He said.

"Yeah." Charlotte said softly. "Yeah you're right." She let out a slightly shaky breath before placing down some flowers on the grave. "We love you, angel." She said quietly.

Jess then placed down some other flowers. "Rest in peace." He said quietly. He sighed and glanced at Charlotte. "Come on, we should get going."

"Yeah..." She said quietly, still staring at the headstone.

Jess glanced at her and then at the grave. "Two more minutes." He said softly.

"Two more minutes." Charlotte nodded.

Back at the Crap Shack, there was a sombre mood following the morning events. Chris was helping Luke cook in the kitchen while Lorelai, Rory and Sam were trying to entertain Jack and Mia in the living room. Chris glanced over at Luke. "Tough day..." He said.

"Wouldn't want to repeat it." Luke said gruffly before sighing. "But I guess we'll have to next week." He said quietly.

"I'm sorry about your sister." Chris said sincerely. "If you need anything..."

"I don't." Luke said. He sighed before glancing at him. "But thanks." He said gruffly.

Chris nodded. "So I hear we'll be both giving Rory away..." He said changing the subject.

Luke glanced at him. "I didn't know she would ask me. I assumed she would just ask you..." He said hesitantly.

"It's fine. Really." Chris assured him. "You were there for her when I wasn't. You have every right to be doing it as well. You deserve it." He said.

Luke glanced at him before nodding. "Thanks." He said sincerely.

Chris couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "Weird huh?"

"What?"

"How far we've come. Who would have thought we'd be ok at jointly giving Rory away?" Chris chuckled.

Luke smirked slightly. "Yeah I guess you're right."

"I'm glad though, that we've managed to get here. I'm not exactly the sort of person who makes friends easily. Lor was the only one who really stuck with me." He admitted, glancing at him. "So I really value our friendship." He said sincerely.

Luke glanced at him and gave him a nod. "Likewise." He said.

Chris nodded. He then smirked. "Should we stop talking about our emotions now and get a couple of beers out?"

Luke smirked slightly. "Sounds like a good idea."

Later that day, Jess was sat at the kitchen table with Luke and TJ going through some plans for Liz's funeral. They'd been going through details of the day when they came to eulogies.

"Well I've started writing mine..." TJ said. "I'm assuming you want to say something?" He asked Luke.

"Yeah." Luke nodded.

"Well then it's me and you then." TJ said.

"What, so I don't get a say?" Jess said.

"Jess..." Luke said.

"No! She was my mom! I know we didn't have the best relationship but she was still my mom! Don't I have the right to say something?" He said angrily.

"Jess, we didn't mean anything by it..." TJ started.

"No, you did! You both still think I'm just that screwed up kid! That I'm still a kid so won't care if you two just take over the preparations. It's crap!" He exclaimed.

"Jess!" Luke said.

"No, forget this! Screw it!" He said getting up.

"Where are you going?" Luke exclaimed.

"Out!" Jess said storming out of the kitchen.

"Jess?" Charlotte said concerned.

"I'm just getting some air." Jess mumbled before leaving the house.

By the time, he was walking down the street in the square he had calmed down a bit. He went and sat down in the gazebo for a bit and took a breather.

"Hey..." A familiar voice said.

"Oh, hey..." Jess said looking up to see Lane sitting down next to him. He hadn't noticed her coming.

"How are you doing?" She asked. Jess just shrugged. "I heard what you were doing this morning. I can't even start to imagine what that must have been like for you and Charlotte." She said softly. "I mean, I can't imagine having to bury my kid..." She said before gasping and stopping talking.

"Wait, what?" Jess said glancing at her in surprise.

"We weren't going to tell anyone until the scan..." Lane said quietly.

Jess smiled softly. "You're pregnant?" He asked.

"We found out last week." She nodded. "I'm so sorry. You're going through hell and..."

"No. Lane, this is great. Really! Congratulations!" Jess said softly. "Zach's excited right?"

Lane smiled. "Yeah, we both are." She said softly.

"I'm happy for you both." Jess said sincerely.

"Thanks, Jess." Lane said softly. She glanced at him. "So how are you doing? Honestly." She said.

He sighed. "Well considering I just gave Luke and TJ a mouthful over preparations for my mom's funeral, I think this morning may have got to me."

"I'm sure they won't take it personally." She assured him.

"Probably not. But I shouldn't have mouthed off at them." He sighed. "I just...Charlotte's hurting so much. And Luke's hurting because he's lost his sister and TJ's hurting because he's lost his wife. I just feel...I don't know...overwhelmed, I guess." He admitted.

"Well...you don't have to be strong infront of me." Lane said softly. "You ever need to talk, I'm here. So's Zach. And so's Brian and Gil. You're not alone, Jess."

"Thanks." Jess said quietly.

"You should talk to Charlotte though. She'd understand." She encouraged.

"She's struggling enough as it is. I don't want to burden her with my feelings." He said.

"But she's your wife." Lane said softly. "She would want to know."

Jess sighed. "I'll be fine." He said.

"Jess..."

He glanced at her. "I'll think about it." He said.

Lane nodded. "Ok." She said, dropping it. "You know we're all here for you right?" She said. "The band...we're all thinking of you. You're one of us, Jess. So you need anything, we're here ok?"

Jess felt some tears prick his eyes but he blinked them away, embarrassed. "Thanks." He said, his voice cracking slightly as he swallowed a lump in his throat.

"I need to get going. I'm helping at the diner today." She said reluctantly.

"It's fine, you go." Jess said.

Lane glanced at him and then hugged him. "I'm so sorry, Jess."

"Thanks." Jess said quietly, accepting her hug gratefully.

"I'm only a call away, remember that ok?" She smiled softly, getting up to go causing Jess to nod. She turned to leave when she heard Jess speak.

"Lane?"

"Yeah?" She said turning back round.

"Thanks." He said sincerely. "You're a really good friend."

"You'd do the same for me." She said. "You'll be ok." She said softly.

"Thanks Lane." Jess said softly. He watched her leave before slowly getting up himself. He let out a big breath before slowly heading back to the Crap Shack.

So I hope you liked it! Please keep the reviews coming as I love reading what you think! :) Thanks again for all your support, it really does mean so much to me. :)