So this started of as a one-shot set in nine different pieces, but it kind of got away from me. Instead of being cute 500 word bits (like this one), we were looking at 12K+ for the whole story. So I've decided to put it up as a nine-parter. It's still part of my series of one-shots, and I hope you enjoy it!
One Month
As the presenter waffled on about the integrity and elegance of the night's award recipient, Rory Gilmore-Mariano found herself failing spectacularly at paying attention. She was a little restless, and a whole lot tired. The last week had been particularly exhausting, though it was no different in workload. No, the afternoon naps and early nights were a direct result of the early stages of pregnancy. Adjusting her dark purple cocktail dress, her fidgeting was stilled for the moment by a large male hand on her own.
"It's past your bedtime, isn't it?" Jess whispered into her ear.
"I really can't handle these things sober either," she added, gesturing at the scotch in front of him and Chris' martini.
"You could've just stayed home."
"Wanted to come. Missed you." That much was true. With Rory's hours at the Times combined with her falling asleep at eight, the two had barely seen each other. Wrapping an arm around her, Jess just rolled his eyes at his wife's enthusiastic clapping as the speech ended.
"Okay, time to network," Chris said as he noticed his friends getting especially coupley, "That publisher we wanted to talk to is here tonight, I reckon if we hit him with enough booze he'll take a look at Ryan's work."
"Booze sounds like a plan. Same again, gang?" At Chris and Rory's nods Jess made his way to the bar. Ordering the drinks didn't take long, and soon enough he was back at the table. Rory looked like she was minutes away from falling asleep, and he hoped the Coke might wake her up a little. He was trying to get her to avoid caffeine altogether, but after an extensive trip down a Google search page it was decided that the occasional cup of coffee or soda wasn't doing any harm.
"I love martinis, they make me feel so James Bond," Chris sighed happily as he sipped. Rory's head was now on Jess' shoulder, her eyes closed momentarily. The entire thing was setting off alarm bells in his head though he wasn't sure why, "what's your poison tonight anyway, Gilmore?"
"Oh, uh… just a regular rum and coke. Was hoping the caffeine would keep me awake."
"No such luck," Jess teased.
"I guess not," Chris agreed, then suddenly made a lunge for her drink. Sipping it he realised his suspicions were correct, "There's no rum in here! Rory Gilmore, you're pregnant!"
"Please say that louder, I'm not sure the journalist in the corner heard you," Jess growled.
"Sorry man. But you are, aren't you?" Chris looked from the pair, waiting to see who would crack first. He wasn't surprised when Rory nodded. "I knew it! Oh my god, I'm going to be an uncle! Why didn't you say anything?"
"You would've found out in a few weeks when we told your girlfriend. It's just… really early," Jess explained, and Chris nodded.
"Wait, does that mean I can't tell April?"
"That's exactly what it means." At Jess' words Chris couldn't stop a scoff.
"You've met me before, right? I couldn't even keep you proposing a secret, and I didn't even technically know!"
"Please, Chris," Rory pleaded, her wide blue eyes in full-on 'Bambi mode'.
"Maybe if I get drunk enough tonight I'll forget about it completely," he conceded, making his friends smile.
