The Dragon Fly Inn was bustling with activity. Michel began assaulting a server who spilt oatmeal on his new suit, until Sookie fended him off with a spatula and went back into the kitchen with the server. Lorelai was showing a couple to the honeymoon suite.
"So it's right out here and if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to call me or Michel." She smiled, went to the front desk and checked them off in the books. She noticed the name next to Room 7: Jess Mariano. He would be there any minute now. She wondered how much the kid had changed. Her thoughts were interrupted however, when Michelle once again ran into another server, David. His loud, french accent pierced the air, causing a baby nearby to cry.
"You imbecile, this is brand new." Michel yelled and preceded to pout.
She quickly ran to control the situation but froze in her tracks when she came to the scene. Jess, she thought. Jess is holding a baby. Why is Jess holding a baby?
Jess was gently bouncing Jacob up and down, trying to calm him down. Two small duffel bags stood by his feet, reminding Lorelai of why he was there.
"Michel, it's just water. It'll dry off." Michel began another rant, mostly to himself, about how the water would ruin the fabric.
"David, could you take Jess' things to Room 7?" The bellhop nodded and swept the bags away. Lorelai smiled. Dark hair was just beginning to grow on the baby's head. She would put good money on that kid looking like the spitting image of Jess very soon.
"Silly me, I thought you were bringing a girlfriend." Lorelai remarked, trying to break the tension. "I'm assuming he's yours?"
Jess nodded. He opened his mouth to begin to explain, but it took him a few tries to find the right words.
"I didn't know how to tell you guys, I just..." Jess shrugged his shoulders in defeat. Lorelai wanted to laugh, but knew Jess might take it the wrong way. He just reminded her so much of herself when she first had Rory.
"And what's this guy's name?" She leaned down towards Jacob and began to make baby faces.
"Jacob." He ignored the faces. He was used to it by now. He got it daily from Mrs. Grier, his elderly neighbor. He knew she could spend hours making the exact same faces, so he always made an effort to check the mail until after she left for bingo.
"And Jacob's mother?" Lorelai wasn't sure if she should ask. Jess looked uncomfortable and his hand drifted to the back of his head the same way Luke did when he felt awkward. He let out a sigh.
"Wasn't for her." That was all Jess offered. Lorelai nodded, knowing too much about how it felt to have someone bail on you when it counted the most.
A new group of guests came in but before Lorelai could greet them, Michel was guiding them to the front desk.
"Well, Jacob," She began baby talking,"You can stay with me while your dad goes to his fitting in-" She paused to look at her watch, "-20 minutes, so if he's late I'll make sure he never has children again!" Jacob cooed and giggled, only hearing her happy voice with no idea what she was saying.
"Are you sure? I mean, he can be fussy"
"Jess, I'm sure. Plus, I doubt you'll be able to feed him when Frank is measuring your in-seam. And believe it or not, I've been around a few babies in my time." Jess stared and then sighed in defeat. He handed Jacob over to Lorelai.
"Okay. He's got a few toy's in his bag, there's a few bottles already made in there too. And if he-"
"You don't get spend much time away from him, do you?" Lorelai smiled and Jess sighed. "Jess Jr. here will be fine."
"If you attempt to give him coffee-" He warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it!" A mischievous smile spread across her face. "Go, now. Luke is meeting you there. And Jess"
"Yeah." he turned around to face Lorelai.
"Please tell Luke before he sees, you know? He'll have a heart attack if you suprise him like me. And I want all the details when you get back." Lorelai pleaded.
Jess nodded and made his way to his car.
After Jess left, Lorelai made her way to the kitchen to find Sookie, who had finally returned from maternity leave a month before. She found the lower half of the woman with the other half in the freezer.
"Sook? What'cha looking for?"
"I swear there was a bundle of carrots in here!" The woman continued her search while Lorelai spotted them on the counter behind Sookie. She tapped her on the shoulder and pointed them out.
"I knew I saw them somewhere! Oh, who is this?" Sookie made a few baby faces and started chopping the carrots.
"This," Lorelai answered," is Jacob."
"Did you have a baby when I wasn't looking?" Sookie joked.
"No, but Jess did."
"What!" Sookie completely missed the carrot she was cutting and missed her finger by an inch.
Fifteen minutes after leaving the Dragon Fly Inn, Jess pulled up to a bridal shop, next to Luke's truck. 'Cane and Co.' the sign read. The windows were filled with mannequins dressed in wedding gowns and tuxedos. A bell rang as Jess walked into the shop and he spotted Luke, standing uncomfortably on a raised platform, an older man stood beside him, measuring Luke's right arm.
"Frank, don't you think the pins are a little close?"
"Nonsense!" Frank yelled, partly to be stern and partly because the old man was practically deaf. "The only tux I know is a well fitted one."
Luke rolled his eyes and spotted Jess.
"Hey Jess! Just in time, it's your turn"
"Oh joy." Jess grimaced and made his way to the back of the shop towards Luke. He tried to build up some courage to bring up the topic, but any bit of bravery he felt slipped away before he could get the words out.
Neither Luke or Jess could get a word in about anything as it was. Every time they tried Frank would yell at them to 'shut up and stand still'. An hour later, the two were glad to leave the shop. Luke had just gotten off the phone with Lorelai.
"She wants us to go to the Dragon Fly for dinner." Luke informed Jess.
"Sounds good to me, but before we leave there's something I need to tell you." Luke had never seen Jess look so serious before.
"I have a son."
