"she's inviting us to her freaking C-section?"

--☆--☆--☆--

"We're late," Cassie announced as she and Rory sped walked down the street.

"I know."

"Grandma hates it when we're late," Cassie reminded her.

"I know."

"She's gonna be mad because we're late."

"I know."

"And because we're late- woah," Cassie came to an abrupt stop and Rory moved to stand right in front of her. A shy smile appeared on Cassie's face when she noticed the annoyance spreading across her sister's face. "Sorry."

"If you say we're late one more time..." Rory turned back around as they continued down the street and onto the Gilmore family property. Rory knocked on the door and the maid opened it for them. "Thank you."

"Thanks," the girls rushed past her and into the living room. "We're late," Cassie announced, causing Rory to look back at her with a glare. "Oops."

"And we're so sorry we're late," Rory added as they both took their seats. "Hi Grandma, Hi grandpa."

"Hello girls."

"Oh and now he closes the paper," Lorelai shook her head but Cassie and Rory looked confused.

"Mom, we stopped by the bookstore on the way here."

Cassie nodded, "That's why we're-" Rory gave her another look, "we got books."

"Oh yay."

"You got what?" Emily asked them.

Lorelai smiled, "The girls and I are starting to plan our Europe trip."

Cassie nodded with a smile as big as her mom's, "Day after graduation. We are gone."

"Well, that sounds very exciting," Richard smiled.

Emily reached forward wanting to see the books the girls had picked up. She read the titles, a concerned look appearing on her face. "Lorelai, what are these?"

"Those are guidebooks."

"'Europe through the backdoor.' 'The Rough Guide to Europe.' What kind of guidebooks are these?" Emily asked in a concerned tone as she read the titles of their new books aloud.

Lorelai smiled, "The cheap kind."

"They have all the good information about backpacking," Rory informed them, hoping to make Emily feel better.

"And hostel recommendations," Cassie nodded.

"Backpacking and staying in hostels?" Emily repeated back to them.

"Who's backpacking and staying in hostels?"

Once again Lorelai smiled, "We are."

Then it happened. Something Cassie had only heard one or two other times. Emily and Richard bursted out into laughter. They were having a fit, and for god knows what reason.

"No, you're not."

"What a ridiculous thought," Richard laughed.

Rory looked at them with the same confused look they had on only moments ago, "We are. We're going to backpack around Europe."

"Yes, I know, it's fun to tease your grandmother. They're going to backpack across Europe, Richard," Emily smiled at her husband, neither of them actually believing the truth.

"I heard. Sounds absolutely delightful. Perhaps we should join them," Richard laughed.

"That sounds wonderful. Tomorrow I'll go out and buy some cutoffs."

"Uh guys," Lorelai spoke up, "We're not kidding."

The laughter stopped. "You're telling me you're seriously going to traipse across Europe with your possessions strapped to your back and sleep in a room with thirty other people."

The younger Gilmores smiled, "Yes."

"No," Richard shook his head.

Cassie frowned, "Grandpa."

"It's not safe. I forbid it. Call our travel agent," He suggested.

"But we want to be spontaneous. Just a train to Paris, head off to Spain."

"Oh no, it's raining in Spain. But since the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain..."

Cassie smiled as she finished off their little speech, "Looks like Italy for us!"

"Mamma Mia!"

Richard shook his head for probably the millionth time, "You can still travel around aimlessly and stay in a decent hotel."

"We wanna do it cheap."

Emily smiled as she suggested, "We'll pay."

"No," Lorelai shot down the idea immediately.

"Grandma, it's going to be fun, really," Rory spoke softly.

Cassie nodded in agreement, "Kids do this all the time. We'll be in good company."

"Lorelai, I hate to remind you of this but you're not a kid, you're a grown woman. What are people going to think when they see a grown woman bunking down with a bunch of twenty year olds?"

"Well, if the twenty years olds are cute, they'll probably think, 'Lucky!'" Lorelai answered with a smile.

"Don't be upset, Grandma. Really, it's going to be great."

Emily picked up the book, flipping to a random page. "What's so traumatic about a night without a bed anyway? My survey shows that those who have had the opportunity to be a refugee for a night have their perspectives broadened and actually quite enjoy the experience," She read aloud, sounding more and more horrified with each sentence. "Richard, this book is encouraging them to sleep in the park like a squirrel."

"Grandma. It's going to be fun and spontaneous," Cassie insisted.

"My first trip to Europe I went to Paris and stayed at the Ritz," She informed them.

"Well, I tell you what, if it'll make you happy, we'll go to Paris and eat out of their dumpster," Lorelai joked but Emily looked like she was going to be sick.

"Dinner is ready," Their maid announced and they all quietly filed into the dining room.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

Rory wasn't good at hiding things from her sister. Cassie had this ability to know when Rory was keeping something from her. Some weird twin telepathy she had but Rory has yet to master.

So Cassie already knew there was something Rory wanted to tell her. And Rory knew that Cassie knew, she just didn't know how to say it. Cassie knew that's why Rory asked for her help on picking up golf flags, something Rory easily could've done on her own. But Cassie didn't say anything, not yet anyway.

"If this guy changes his theme one more time," Cassie cursed as she and Rory walked back to the inn.

"It's his retirement."

"It's his third time switching the theme," Cassie pointed out.

Rory nodded, "Yeah you're right."

Cassie sighed as she set down the flag and looked at her sister, "Ok, I give. What's up?" Rory pretended to look confused but Cassie saw right through it. "You said I was right. You never admit it, even when I clearly am."

"That's not..." Rory tried to say but they both knew she'd be lying. "Fine. I just didn't know how to show you," She finally admitted as she reached into her pocket, pulling out an envelope. "It got here this morning."

Cassie reached forward, taking the card from her sister and opened it. The confusion on her face quickly turned into a frown as she realized who the card was from. "Sherry," Cassie let out a sigh, "she's inviting us to her freaking C-section?"

"Yeah..."

Cassie laughed as she read part of the invitation aloud, "Join the girls for a toast, a hug, a wave to the mommy as they wheel her off. What a joke," She shook her head wishing she could crumple the invitation and throw it into the nearest body of water.

It was safe to say Cassie wasn't behind the whole baby sister thing yet. She tried her best not to think about it. Rory, who wasn't exactly pleased either, seemed to be trying harder though. There was nothing to stop this baby from coming, Rory could admit that, Cassie couldn't. She still saw it as the thing that took her father from her.

"You want to go, don't you?" Cassie asked her sister.

"I guess... Georgia will be our sister, it might be kinda cool to see her the night she's born," Rory answered with a shrug of her shoulders.

Cassie rolled her eyes, "As far as I'm concerned you're my only sister. I don't exactly wanna celebrate her being born with Sherry's annoying friends."

"I know, it's weird," Rory acknowledged that at least. "Might be nice though, we'll get to see dad."

"Mhm," Cassie hummed as she handed the card back to her sister. She looked down, feeling tears wanting to form, this has been happening more and more. Every time she thinks about Chris, she could cue the waterworks. "I'll think about it."

A surprised look appeared on Rory's face, she expected an immediate no. "Sure."

"I think... I'm gonna head to the diner, see if Luke needs help."

"I can come with you," Rory offered, noticing the sad expression on her sister's face. She really didn't want to leave Cassie alone, not right now.

Cassie shook her head, "You have to take these to the inn. We can meet later."

"I'm dropping these off and then immediately coming to the diner, okay?" Rory hoped to reassure her sister but Cassie just shrugged her shoulders.

"Sure," She began walking away and Rory wished there was something she could say to help.

Rory knew how her sister felt, she felt it too. Except Rory's need to keep people happy and do the right thing, makes it seem like this didn't hurt her. But it does. She too silently wishes Sherry never got pregnant, not that she'd ever admit outloud. Cassie's pain was a lot more visible, and oftentimes it felt like it hurt ten times more.

Cassie wasn't sure how long it took her to get to the diner. Her head was down most of the time, as she hoped to convince herself to be excited about the baby. She just couldn't do it. All she's ever wanted was for her dad to be here with her, this baby is just another thing keeping him away.

"Excuse me?" Dean's voice was Cassie's cue that she'd entered the diner.

"What are the extra pickles on?" Jess asked him, not yet noticing Cassie walk into the diner.

"On the side."

"On the side of what? On the side of the burgers, on the side of the sandwiches, or on the side of the road where the ditch I'm gonna dump your body into is?" Jess snapped at him.

"Just make sure there's enough for everyone," Dean answered.

"Fine."

They both stopped bickering as Cassie moved around the counter, getting herself a mug and the coffee pot without saying a word. Despite Jess and Dean hating each other, they were both sane enough to notice this weird behavior. Cassidy Gilmore is an extrovert, she could insert herself into most conversations especially one of their bickering matches. But no, nothing.

"Make it snappy," Dean told Jess.

"Uh huh," Jess nodded, his eyes not leaving Cassie as he put the order ticket down for Caesar to pick up. "Cassie?"

"Yeah," She looked up as she finished pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Are you okay?"

Even though all Cassie wanted to do was tell him exactly what happened, she didn't. Every Time she saw him she had their last conversation ringing in the back of her head. Something was off between them and she knew it. He had pulled away and Cassie didn't want to force a friendship when it felt like Jess couldn't stand to be around her.

"Yeah. Tired, is all," She answered with a seemingly honest tone as she took a sip from her coffee. "There's a client from the inn, who's changed his retirement party theme three times. We got decorations and then returned them, Sookie made a menu and then made a new one. You get where I'm going."

Jess nodded slowly, "Right. Cass, you can tell me if it's something else. I mean-"

"Right so I'm supposed to trust you when you don't trust me? Makes sense." Cassie cut him off, using a tone that was harsher than necessary. She shook her head, "Sorry. Tired."

Jess wasn't able to say anything to her since she walked away from him. She took her coffee over to an empty table and sat down, needing a moment to collect her thoughts. Jess watched her, hating himself for putting a wedge between them.

He wanted to help her but she wasn't going to come to him. Not anymore. In a way, that's what he'd be hoping for, that she'd stop wanting him to be around. Except now that it was actually happening Jess was realizing just how much he needed to be around Cassie.

A good fifteen minutes passed before the door to the diner opened. Jess turned seeing Rory walk in, she looked around until she found her sister, a sigh of relief escaping her. Rory started walking over to Cassie's table but was stopped when she noticed Jess gesturing her over.

Rory obliged, walking over to the counter, "Hey."

"Hi. What's going with Cassie?" He asked her, getting right to the point.

A confused look appeared on Rory's face. She believed that the reason Cassie came here was partly to talk to Jess, she was surprised to hear that Jess didn't know what was going on. "She didn't tell you?"

"We're kind of... no, she didn't tell me."

"Our dad," Rory began and immediately Jess was pissed. He'd only seen Chris once but Jess hated the man. "His, uh, daughter," the word seemed to get caught in Rory's throat, a reaction she hadn't expected. "We're invited to the C-section."

"What?"

"Sherry, his girlfriend, invited us," Rory answered quickly. "Sorry, I'm gonna sit with her."

Jess nodded, "Yeah. Sorry."

He watched as Rory went and sat with Cassie. The two of them didn't say much but anyone could tell that they found comfort just being in each other's company. Rory needed her sister just as much as Cassie needed hers.

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

It was safe to say that the news of Sherry's C-section party had put Cassie into quite a funk. For the last couple of her days her mood has fluctuated between fine and pissed off. Everyone has tried their best to cheer her up, even though no one actually knew what was going on.

Cassie hadn't told anyone about the baby. To her knowledge only Lorelai and Rory knew about it, and she liked it that way. Having the 'my dad got another woman pregnant and decided to be with her instead of me' conversation wasn't very high on Cassie's to do list. So she did her best to act like all was well, she went to class, work, and hung out with friends like she always would.

"I called last night and I asked her to talk me through the Korean war and she said she was busy," Madeline said to Cassie and Louise, except Cassie was struggling to pay attention.

"Oh, she's definitely got a boyfriend."

"I know."

Louise smiled, "I for one think it's about time."

The three girls were standing in the corner of the newsroom. Rory was sitting at a computer trying to work, but the three best friends behind her were making it a little harder to concentrate. Especially when their topic of conversation was her current enemy #1.

"I agree."

"It wasn't healthy, all that non-dating," Louise said.

"It definitely didn't help that whole skin thing she was going through," Madeline agreed.

Louise thought to herself for a moment, "How come she didn't tell us?"

"Probably because she knew we'd talk about it," Cassie guessed but Louise and Madeline shook their heads.

"She probably wanted to make sure it was gonna take."

Louise then turned to Rory, knowing she knew more about the boyfriend than any of them. She looked over at the focused Gilmore, "So, tell us, what's this Jamie like?"

Rory looked up at the blonde, "You know, I really don't feel like talking about Paris right now. Or ever."

"Oh come on, you know him, we don't," Madeline reminded her.

"Is he sexy?"

"Does he have a good car?"

"How's the trust fund?"

"How's the profile?"

"Will the prom pictures work?"

"How are his friends?"

Louise perked up at that question, "Yes. Is there spin-off potential?" She asked but Rory didn't answer any of their questions, especially since Paris walked into the newsroom. "Whoops."

"Bye," Madeline said quietly before she and Louise walked away from Rory.

"Okay, everyone, gather around," Paris spoke loudly as she walked into the room. "I have in my hand the 2002 Franklin Yearbook photos. I got copies for everyone, so let's leave the Barney's clearance sale reenactment for another day, shall we?"

Cassie reached forward to get a copy of the photo. She smiled, pleased with how she looked in the photo. Then it happened, for the first time in two days Cassie laughed. Rory looked over at her sister, happy yet confused.

"What?" Rory asked, wanting to know what finally seemed to get her sister into better spirits.

"Your face," Cassie pointed to the picture where she might've looked great but Rory's head was turned and mid sneezed. "Oh Paris really hates you."

"Are you kidding me?" Rory shook her head as she took the picture from Cassie and walked over to Paris.

Louise looked over at Cassie, "Look at you smiling again."

"It's hard not to laugh when your sister looks ridiculous," Cassie admitted.

"Can't argue with that logic," Louise shrugged her shoulders. "So any word from Soph?"

Ah yes, one of the other issues on Cassie's mind. Sophie Dugray has for some reason fallen off the face of the earth in the last week. After her and Cassie's fencing argument, Sophie went MIA. Well, she went to all her classes but no longer seemed to be speaking to her best friends.

"Nothing," Cassie shook her head, a confused expression appearing on her face as she watched Rory take a phone call outside. "She won't take my calls or answer my pages."

"Bizarre," Louise shook her head.

"Maybe she has a secret boyfriend," Madeline shrugged.

Cassie's eyes widened but luckily Louise shaking her head, stopped anyone from noticing. "No. Sophie would tell us. Unless she's really slumming, like with an ugly guy."

"Jeez," Cassie cringed.

"Hey, if your boyfriend was ugly you wouldn't be showing him off."

"Cassie's never had an ugly boyfriend," Madeline pointed out and Cassie couldn't help but agree with her.

"Or ugly friends," Cassie smiled at two of her best friends.

"Amen to that," Louise smiled back.

"Uh, Cass," Rory walked back into the room with a sheepish look on her face. Cassie excused herself before walking over to her sister, "I got a call from Maureen... Sherry's friend."

"Rory."

"Sherry's in labor, like now. Maureen asked if we could go to the hospital in Boston," Rory continued explaining before Cassie could cut her off. "I'm gonna go. I want to. But I understand if you don't want to, and I'm not gonna force you."

Cassie looked surprised. She'd expected Rory to drag her to Boston kicking and screaming. Cassie could almost hear her, "It's the right thing to do. You'll regret it if you don't." Blah, blah, blah.

"You aren't?" Cassie asked her.

"It's your choice Cass. I'm gonna call mom and tell her I'm going," Rory started to walk away, like she expected Cassie to stay right here and not go with her. For some reason that made Cassie want to go. Freaking reverse psychology.

"Rory."

Rory turned around, trying not to smile. "Yeah?"

"Can I atleast make fun of her friends? I won't survive this if I can't," Cassie requested.

A smile appeared on Rory's face as she nodded, "Of course you can."

"Okay then. Let's go."

--☆--☆--☆--☆--☆--

Despite Cassie coming with her own free will, she wasn't exactly excited about being in the labor and delivery wing of the hospital. Her nerves were on high and she couldn't believe she was here. At least she had Rory, she'd be curled up in the corner without her.

"There she is," Rory pointed over to a woman on the phone and walked over, Cassie following behind her. "Maureen?"

"Yes?" Maureen looked down at the two girls in uniforms with confusion.

"I'm Rory, that's Cassie. We're Christopher's daughters. You called me to come down," Rory reminded her.

Maureen's eyes lit up as she remembered who the girls were. "Ah, yes, thank God you two are here. Sherry's gonna be so happy to see you both. She's a basketcase. Well, who wouldn't be, right?"

"Where's everyone else?" Rory asked her.

"Oh, they're working."

"What?" Cassie asked, a horrified look appearing on her face.

"Well, we had all planned on next week, but Sherry screwed up. So what can you do? Thank God you're here. She'll be thrilled. She's feeling a little abandoned," Maureen told them but the twins looked more and more scared with each passing second. "She's right in there. Do not mention how fat she is. For some reason, she's extremely sensitive today."

"Probably because she's having a baby," Cassie guessed but Maureen just nodded quickly before continuing.

"Okay, kisses. I'll call you later to find out how everything's going."

"Wait, where are you going?" Rory asked, unable to hide the panic in her voice.

"I've gotta get back to work. I'm swamped today."

Cassie shook her head, this is not what she had agreed upon, "You're leaving us here, alone?"

"Believe me, I would love to stay, hon, impossible. What can I say? Sherry screwed up. Anyhow, you'll be fine. If you need anything, call,"Maureen told them as she already started walking away.

"We don't have your number," Rory called out.

"Sherry's got it!" Maureen called back from halfway down the hall.

Rory turned to look at the door to Sherry's room but Cassie was already shaking her head. "No, no. We can still go. She hasn't seen us yet."

"Cass."

"It's just us and pregnant Sherry, Rory."

"I don't like this anymore than you do."

A panicked Cassie continued shaking her head, "We can't do this. We're not the people you want when you're having a baby," Cassie reminded her. "Pregnancy freaks me out, it's terrifying. And you... you once threw up from the blood when I got a piece of glass in my hand."

"Hey, whoa, you aren't good in a crisis either."

"Exactly!"

"We made it this far. We can do this," Rory said in her pep talk voice. "Take a breath." Cassie inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself down. "I've got you. You got me."

Cassie nodded, "Okay, if I throw up."

"Food poisoning from the cafeteria, not your fear of pregnancy."

"Okay. Let's do this."

"Right," Rory turned around and knocked softly on the door before opening it. "Sherry? It's Rory and Cassie."

"Rory? Cassie," Sherry turned as the girls stepped into her room. Cassie felt a chill go down her spine, seeing Sherry sitting there all pregnant. "Oh my god, I'm so glad you're here."

"How are you?"

"This wasn't supposed to happen," Sherry told them, sounding just as panicked as they were.

"We know."

"Christopher's out of town. I think Maureen called him and left a message but it doesn't matter because he's not here. Where's Maureen?"

The twins shared a look, like neither of them wanted to break the news to her. Rory sighed looking back at Sherry, "Well, she had to go back to work."

"But she said she'd call later," Cassie added, hoping to be helpful.

Sherry's face dropped, "She's at work."

"Yes."

"Kinda," Cassie nodded.

"I'm lying in a bed. God knows what's gonna happen and she goes back to work. I would love to go back to work, but I can't because I have to stay here."

"Well, yeah, because you're going to have a baby," Rory added some enthusiasm to her voice but Sherry didn't seem as excited as some mothers might be in her situation.

"She's not here. None of my friends are here. Christopher isn't here. No one is here. No one but the two of you. Thank God you two are here," Sherry smiled at the twins but they just awkwardly smiled back at her. "I don't think I could do this by myself because this wasn't supposed to happen until next week. I wrote it down," Sherry told them. "I wrote it down. I wrote it down!"

As Sherry broke down in tears the twins knew they were in over their heads. Cassie stepped behind her sister, not knowing what to do. All three of them were in fight or flight. Panic was the primary emotion in that room and all Rory could say was, "Boy, do you look thin."

It took Sherry a while to calm down but once she did the three of them got straight to work. Rory was making phone calls and Cassie was helping organize some of Sherry's work. It was a good distraction for all of them.

"So, we'll see you next Friday at three," Rory said to one of Sherry's clients over the phone. "And once again, sorry for the short notice. Okay, bye."

"Great," Sherry nodded, "Who's next."

Cassie looked down at the list, "Sheldon Harnick."

"Try and set him for Wednesday. But don't tell him I'm pregnant. He hates pregnancy."

"How about a plumbing problem?" Rory suggested.

"Sounds good."

All their heads turned as the door opened and a nurse walked into the room. She smiled sweetly, "Okay, how are we doing?"

"I'm not sure," Sherry answered honestly.

"Well, don't be nervous. Everything's going to be just fine," The nurse spoke softly, making them all believe things actually will be fine. "I just wanted to check on you and to see who's going to be with you in the delivery room while it's happening."

"Oh, my fiance's on his way. He's on his way, right?"

Rory nodded, "Yes, he's on his way."

Sherry smiled," So when he gets here, he'll come in with me."

"And if he doesn't get here on time?"

"Then we'll just have to wait."

The nurse smiled at her in an 'oh sweetie' way. "I'm afraid that's gonna be tough to arrange. Once it starts, that's it."

"Okay, well, then I guess it's the girls. Right?"

To say that Cassie and Rory's eyes widened would be a massive understatement. Their eyes widened, their hands went clammy, and their hearts dropped into their stomachs.

"Uh sure."

"Okay, then I'm gonna get you two a gown and some gloves so you'll be all set in case you have to go in."

"Gloves?" Cassie felt like she was gonna puke. She can't go in there. She's already a mess.

"Sounds good," Rory spoke quietly but the look on her face suggested that she might throw up too.

"I have to pee," Cassie announced abruptly before getting up and walking out of the room. She felt like she had the spins. Her body was leaning against the wall but nothing was staying still.

"Cass?" Rory came out of the room, "You left me in there."

"Sorry. I thought I was gonna yak," Cassie held her hand to her chest.

"I'm calling mom."

"Huh?"

Rory stepped away and Cassie kept her back to the wall. She was sure it was the only thing keeping her from collapsing right now. "Mom, they're giving us gloves!" She heard Rory say.

Cassie pulled out her own phone, needing to hear someone tell her everything was going to be ok. Well someone who wasn't panicking as much as she is. She went down the contact list until she found the person she was looking for and hit call.

"Hi, you've reached Sophie Dugray. I can't come to the phone right now but leave me a message and I'll call you back."

Cassie hung up before the beep. She shook her head, hating this. She couldn't talk to Sophie, she couldn't talk to Jess. She felt like she had no one. Completely alone.

"I need you, I need you here, now. We can't do this alone. I need my mommy, and dammit, I don't care who knows it!" Rory said into the phone and a small smile appeared on Cassie's face. She was just glad she wasn't the only one completely breaking down right now.

Just like before the twins carried on with helping Sherry work. It was better than getting fitted for a gown and gloves, which was the absolute last thing they wanted to do.

They were walking down the hallway with stacks of papers in their arms in search of a fax machine. Cassie was glad to be out of Sherry's room and secretly so was Rory. But their joy doubled instantly when they spotted their mom standing at the nurse's station.

"Mom!" Cassie called out first as she swiftly moved to get to her mom.

"Hey," Lorelai smiled at her girls.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Rory hugged her.

"You're welcome and I will be holding this over both of you for the next ten years," Lorelai told them before seeing the stacks of papers they were carrying. "What are you doing?"

"Xeroxing," Rory answered.

"What?"

"Sherry had some status reports she promised to fax to people by tomorrow but she didn't bring enough," Cassie explained to her mom like it was the most normal thing in the world. "We were trying to find a Xerox machine and luckily they had one in the ICU that we used."

"Now we just need to find a fax machine," Rory nodded.

"Okay, come on," Lorelai sighed as she led the girls towards Sherry's room.

"We have to fax these," Rory told her.

"Uh huh, come on."

"But mom there's a deadline," Cassie insisted.

"Mhm," She hummed and opened the door to Sherry's room, ushering her daughters in.

Sherry was sitting in some god awful position with her phone to her ear. She looked over, waving when she saw Lorelai. "Yes, I'm having them faxed over right now. Yes, that's right. Well, I'm not sure if the numbers I have are the numbers that you have," She said, her voice getting higher. "That's right. That's bad. Uh huh. Well, I think you should too." Sherry put her hand over the phone to muffle her voice as she turned to the twins. "Did you get those faxed?"

"Sherry, hang up," Lorelai told her as she walked over to the bed.

"No, I have to finish this call."

Lorelai shook her head, "Just say goodbye."

"But-"

"You can call them back."

"I-"

Lorelai reached forward, taking the phone out of Sherry's hand and putting it to her ear. "Hi. Sherry's gonna have to call you back. Yeah, I promise. Okay, goodbye," Lorelai hung up the phone with a smile.

"No, that was work."

"Sherry, you really shouldn't be working right now."

Sherry shook her head, "I can't just stop everything because I'm..." the words got caught in her throat. She hadn't been able to admit why she was here since Rory and Cassie arrived. You'd think she was here for a broken wrist not to give birth.

"Having a baby," Lorelai finished the sentence for her. "Admitting it is the first step, honey."

"I'm not ready," Sherry admitted to her. "I had it planned. Christopher was supposed to be here."

Lorelai looked down for a second, "I know."

"I don't know what to do."

"Well, the first thing you have to do is calm down and stop working," Lorelai suggested and Sherry reluctantly agreed. "And the second this is, you need to tell me why you're sitting like that."

"Maureen told me that Howard Stern said that if you squat the baby comes out faster," She replied.

"Okay..." Lorelai let out a breath, "As long as you have a sane reason from a reliable source."

Sherry looked up at Lorelai, "I'm scared."

"I know," Lorelai's voice was soft and caring, "It's scary and it hurts like hell. And remember, when it comes out not to look at it too hard until they give it a good cleaning, or you'll think you gave birth to phlegm," Lorelai advised while her daughters smiled. "But, um, once they give it a good scrub, it's just unbelievably cool."

"Yeah?"

"Well, and look how well they grow up. Not bad, huh?" Lorelai smiled at her daughters, feeling unbelievably proud of both of them.

Sherry smiled at the twins too, "I hope I get that lucky."

"I've got a good feeling."

"Thank you," Sherry nodded, feeling a little bit better. "Lorelai?"

"Yeah?"

"My ankles are starting to hurt."

"Oh," Lorelai stepped forward, taking one of her arms while Rory took her other. The two of them help Sherry back into a normal sitting position.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Well, at this moment, you probably should be."

The twins stepped out of the room to find some snacks. They were both starving and were craving some crappy hospital food. They were just getting some coffee from the machine when Lorelai joined them.

"She's jogging in place."

Cassie cringed, "Do we wanna know why?"

"I think she's hoping to aerobiz the thing right out."

"Ew," Cassie tried to shake that image from her head.

"That can't be good for the baby," Rory guessed.

"Well, it's probably no worse than the guilt trip it's gonna get for showing up a week early."

Rory let out a short breath, catching the use of it instead of she. Cassie had been doing it too, neither her or Lorelai could fully admit that this baby was about to be here. "You do know it's a girl."

"Yes, I should stop calling it 'it'. Her 'it'," Lorelai corrected herself.

"We were just bringing back some snacks and coffee," Cassie told her.

Lorelai smiled as Cassie handed her a coffee cup, "Thanks. Did you try calling your dad again?"

Rory and Cassie both nodded, "His cell's not in service or out of range or something."

A terrified look appeared on Lorelai's face, "You do know if he doesn't get here, I have to go in with her."

"Yes, I do."

"I don't want to go in with her."

"At least you know what's gonna happen. Rory throws up at the sight of blood and just looking at her makes me squeamish."

"I had the cheap seat before. My view was quite a bit different," Lorelai reminded them as they started back towards the room.

Just as they passed the nurses station the elevator stopped at their floor and a distressed Christphoer rushed out. He spotted his girls immediately, and their mother. "Lor! Rory, Cassie!"

"Dad!" Cassie smiled, just happy to see her dad again.

"Oh thank God you're here, Chris," Lorelai hugged him quickly but he was too excited to stand still.

"Has it happened? Did I miss it?"

Rory shook her head, "No."

"You have good timing," Cassie told him but he was still trying to get to Sherry's room, hardly giving his two grown daughters any attention.

"I must've broken fifteen different laws getting here. I don't even remember where I left my car. I thought I wasn't gonna make it," Chris told them.

"Well, take a breath, you did make it, and Sherry's gonna be thrilled."

"Where is she?"

"In there," Lorelai pointed to the room and Chris rushed past them to get to the door. He opened it seeing the nurses putting Sherry onto a gurney.

"Sherry!"

"Christopher," Sherry's eyes lit up when she saw him, "You're here! I can't believe you're here. I didn't think you'd make it."

"Are you kidding? You think I'd miss this?"

All three Gilmore women took his words as a punch to the stomach. Rory and Cassie were well aware that Chris was not there the day they were born. He showed up after, barely.

"I take it this is your fiance," The nurse smiled at the happy couple.

"Yes, this is him. This is my Christopher."

"Well, Christopher, are you coming in with us?"

Chris smiled at Sherry like she was his world. In a room with Lorelai and his two daughters he looked at Shery like she was the only person that mattered to him. "Try and stop me."

"We'll be right here," Rory spoke up as they wheeled the gurney past them.

"Have fun."

Rory looked up at her mom in confusion, "Have fun?"

"Well..."

"I'm glad he got here," Rory said but the look on her face wasn't a happy one.

Cassie nodded slowly, "Yeah..."

"So I guess now we wait?"

"Yup, now we wait."

Cassie and Rory picked up their backpacks before the three of them walked to the lobby. They all took a seat, but none of them spoke. The twins tried to get some homework done but they were exhausted. Rory fell asleep first but Cassie could get her brain to shut up.

"Honey," Lorelai looked over at her daughter. "I know... it sucks."

"It's unfair," Cassie corrected her, feeling the tears poke at her eyes again. She'd been holding them back since Chris got here. Seeing him like that, for someone else, it struck a nerve that Cassie didn't realize was there. "It's unfair."

"I know. I'm sorry."

Cassie didn't want to talk anymore. She didn't want to think about it. Lorelai watched as Cassie closed her eyes, trying to sleep.

Lorelai looked at her girls, wishing they could've had a dad in the typical fashion. They deserved it. They deserved a dad that would show up for them. A dad that taught them to drive and would threaten their boyfriends. It wasn't right, Lorelai knew that. She was doing absolutely everything in her power to not be pissed at Chris for not being that for them.

A couple hours passed before it was time. Chris stepped into the lobby quietly, seeing his daughters sleeping and Lorelai sitting with a magazine in her lap.

"Lor?"

"Are you a daddy?"

"Come on, come look. We can wake them later," Chris whispered and Lorelai nodded as she stood up to follow Chris.

As soon as they were gone Cassie's eyes opened. She woke up the second he walked into the room. Part of her wanted to get up but she was scared. She wasn't sure if she was ready to meet the baby that took her dad. Cassie shook her head, she really needed to stop thinking of Georgia like that.

Cassie stood up, walking down the same hallway where Chris took Lorelai. She stayed a few steps behind them, not wanting to announce her presence. When she found them they were at the nursery window, looking at the baby.

"Wow," Lorelai said with a half smile.

"That's my daughter," Chris stated proudly, with a tone he's never used when talking about Cassie or Rory.

"I can tell."

"How?"

"I think she conned that one out of his blanket," Lorelai joked.

Chris smiled at the baby, "She's perfect." Cassie turned her head, genuinely feeling like she was going to be sick.

"Rory and Cassie are perfect. She, however, is a solid second."

Having woken up alone Rory walked down the hall, quickly finding her sister. Rory didn't say anything, she just took Cassie's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"Dad?" Rory spoke up and Chris turned his head.

"Hey," He smiled at them. "Come here. Come meet my daughter."

Rory squeezed Cassie's hand again, she didn't like the way he said that. She wanted to say, "we were your daughters first" but she didn't. She didn't say anything. Rory looked at Cassie for some sort of guidance, and frankly Rory would not be mad if they just turned and walked away.

"Come on," Chris urged them.

Cassie stepped forward first, Rory following her lead. They walked over to the window, standing in between Chris and Lorelai.

"There she is. Your sister." Chris put his hand on Cassie's shoulder but she stepped away from him. He turned with a confused look on his face. "Cass?"

"Congratulations, you can finally be a dad," Cassie forced a smile before looking back at her real sister. She gestured for them to go and Rory nodded. "We'll wait outside," Cassie said to her mom before looking back at her dad. "Bye... Chris."

a/n: I swear it's on sight with Chris.