What's Next?

Unexpected Expectations

Rory stared down at the pink strip that was shown on the pregnancy test in front of her. "Oh my gosh." She said out loud. When she heard Jess's footsteps, she quickly threw the test away and wiped at the impending tears willing to spill down her cheeks at any moment. She opened the door and while walking out, ran into Jess who was pacing by.

"Sorry." Rory brushed him off quickly and rushed downstairs.

Jess had a quizzical look but went back to what he was doing.

Rory gasped as she reached the bottom of the stairs and sat on the couch and tried not to cry. This is not the time. She thought. I can't be pregnant now, I have to much to do. I'm so busy. These thoughts overwhelmed her and the tears came but she was able to stop them before Jess came back.

"Hey, hon." Jess came up behind her and kissed her neck. "You okay?"

Rory almost laughed. Okay? What a joke. "I'm great." She lied. "Why don't we have my mom and Luke watch Haeven tonight?"

"Sure. Why? You gave something big planned for me tonight?" Jess winked.

Rory forced a smile. Sure do. She breathed in deeply and got up from the couch. "I'll call."

*****

"Thanks again, mom." Rory waved her mother off.

Haeven, seeing her mother close the door, began wailing at a very increasingly loud volume.

"No, Haeven. It's okay." Lorelai desperately tried to calm the crying child. She rocked her and kissed her head. When that didn't work, she began singing. "Rock-a-by baby in the tree top..." Finally, the crying ceased and Lorelai buckled her into the car seat.

*****

When Rory closed the door, she immediately felt her eyes swelling up with proliferating tears. When she couldn't consolidate them any longer, she gave up. She fell to her knees sobbing and covered her face with her hands. She tried to cover this up as Jess came walking by, but there was no way she could hide how upset she was.

"Rory." Was all he said as he grabbed her up off the floor. She clung to him, never loosing grip as if her life depended on it. Her head was pressed against his shoulder as the sobs sprung wildly out of her. The worst ideas came to her head, Murphy's Law bounced back and forth. She had lost hope. Did Jess even want another baby? He has so much on his plate to begin with. She began heaving, her back jolting up and down and she tried to regain control of her breathing. Jess realized she was trying to hold it in. Rory was fighting the urges that rushed through her. "Honey." Jess rubbed circles on her lifted back and held her closer. He didn't speak much or question her. That would make the situation worse. He would wait in till she stopped crying to further his interest in why she was so upset. Her blatant heaving turning into fast breathing and finally to normal. Rory looked up at Jess, her eyes a putiful, swollen, pink mess. "I'm so sorry." She managed to speak out of a broken voice.

"Why?" Jess cupped her face in his hands, tenderly. He did it so gently, it almost make Rory break down again.

"Jess," Rory regained some composure. She didn't know how to say the next two words. "I'm pregnant."

Jess immediately smiled. "You are?"

Rory didn't expect this reaction. "Yeah..I took the test this morning."

"This is amazing." He spun her around gently. "I love you." He began kissing her.

"Oh, Jess!" Rory was now smiling. "I love you too!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and they just enjoyed each other's presence.