What's Next?

The Phone Call

Ring! Ring! Ring! Rory's cell phone was going off. She startled and fell out of bed. "Damn it." She picked herself up and reached for her phone. Wrong one. She reached further on the desk and picked the right one, and answering it just in time.

"Hello?" Her tired voice spilled through the phone.

"Rory? Where are you?" Lorelai asked.

Rory checked the clock; 6:30 a.m. "I was in bed. Sleeping, like any normal person would be at six thirty in the freakin' morning."

"Well, I thought you'd be at home?" Lorelai knew by the tone of her voice she was hiding something.

The queasiness in her stomach rose. "Sorry, mom. I'm uhh..at Luke's."

"Why would you be there? Luke is here at home and the only one there is Jess- oh." Lorelai immediately knew.

"Yeah.." Rory felt awkward.

"Hey, who's that?" Lorelai heard Jess in the background.

"My mom."

"Rory, I'll talk to you later." Lorelai hung up the phone.

****

"Can you believe it?" Lorelai yelled.

"What?" Luke sat right next to an angry Lorelai.

"She's with Jess!"

Luke looked confused. "Why is that a bad thing?"

"Because she's pregnant with Logan's kid! Jess has no business-" She stopped herself when she noticed Luke's unsatisfied frown.

"Jess has no business what? Talking care of Rory? Comforting her? Caring for her more than Logan ever has?" He felt his temper rising. "You know that Jess has done more good in her life than that rich brat Logan has."

"Not when he wrecked her car, or tried to force her into sex." Lorelai knew they were teenager mistakes, and shouldn't have been brought up.

"Really, Lorelai?! That was so long ago! He apologized for both of those things! Damn it, Lorelai why do you always have to bring up the past?" Luke was past angry, he was furious. "I thought we cleared this up years ago..."

"Well I'm still mad about it! It was my daughter who was hurt."

"And you think Jess was okay with it? He was worried sick about Rory like I was! We were terrified for what could have happened to her."

Lorelai felt her eyes welling with tears. "I was worried to." She cracked. "I was worried..too."

"Lorelai, stop. This is the same fight we had years ago. I hate when we fight. I love you too much to fight with you." He got closer to her and hugged her. "I'm sorry."

"Oh, Luke." She squeezed him harder. "I'm so sorry, Jess is the best guy. I just want Rory totally safe."

"I do to. If he ever hurts her, you know for sure I'd beat his ass." Luke laughed.

Lorelai smiled.

****

"Ugh, she's so mad!" Rory complained at Jess tried calming her.

"She's not mad. She just wasn't expecting it."

"No, she's pissed like always. She never likes the guys I go with." Rory shrugged.

"I can see why, they last few haven't been too great.." Jess laughed.

"That's true."

"You should talk to her. You know things always get better once y'all talk."

Rory shrugged. "You're right. Plus, I have to go up to Nantucket to see my grandma."

"That's tonight?" Jess looked disappointed. "I wanted you all to myself tonight."

"I know, me too." Rory clung over to Jess who was stroking her hair.

"I guess I should get up, too. I have to go to work."

Rory pouted.

"Aww, what's that pout for?" Jess touched her puckered bottom lip.

"We have 20 minutes." Rory smiled a devious smile. "Just enough time for..."

Jess knew exactly where she was going with that. "Now you're speakin' my language." He grabbed her and she squealed with delight.

****

After getting ready, Rory headed out to Emily's Nantucket house. She arrived and saw her mom sitting in the car. When Lorelai noticed Rory's car, she jumped out and ran up to her.

"Fruit of my loins, oh how I've missed you!"

"It's been two days." Rory laughed and hugged her mom.

"Sorry, hon. Jess is a great guy, make sure he treats you well." Lorelai gave a soft smile.

"I will. Thank you, mom."

"So are you two just going to stand there or come in?" Emily stood at the door, gesturing the two girls in.

"I think we're going to wait out here in the cold. Maybe remake World War One trench warfare." Lorelai joked.

"Lorelai, get in here."

The three Gilmore Girls sat and waited for the food. For the first time in maybe 7 years, did they all have true fun together and enjoyed each other's presence.

"How are you, Rory? Since the hospital?" Emily asked.

"I've gotten a lot better but I'm still pretty tired, especially with the baby."

"I am so excited for this baby to come! My first great-grandchild."

Rory put a hand over her stomach. The news was still surprising to her. Was she really going to be a mother?