Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: T
Summary: Sequel to 'Life and Times of a Socialite' it takes place six years after the first story ends. Rory and Logan have children, they're friends and family surround them, and they still have a jam-packed social calendar. How do socialites deal with being married, having kids and still attend the social gatherings of the year?
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN: Thank you to all my reviewers for their wonderful support. I really hope you guys like this chapter since it will give you a hint of things to come. Please continue to review.
Chapter 4: The Unexpected Encounter
"Jamie, honey, I'm so proud of you," said Rory to her one-year-old son.
Rory and Jamie had just left the offices of Dr. Kensington, in the upper west side of Manhattan. Jamie had just had his routine doctor's check-up and for the first time in his young life Rory had not heard a peep out of him. The boy had been on his best behaviour.
Jamie smiled at his mom and looked up at her with Rory's identical blue eyes. He didn't seem to understand that feat he had just accomplished by not screaming his head off during a doctor's appointment.
Rory had brought Jamie into the city since that was where the family's doctor resided instead of Hartford. Shira Huntzberger had been adamant that her grandchildren get the best medical care around and that meant Dr. Kensington. Rory and Logan had not bothered fighting Shira on this matter since when it came to Nicky, Lottie, and Jamie, Shira, Emily, Francine, and Lorelai were a united front. So instead of arguing that the family doctor was so far away, they simply brought their children into the city for check ups and took them to the hospital if there was an emergency.
"I think you deserve a treat. What would you like Jamie?" asked Rory.
"Ike creem" yelled Jamie.
Rory chuckled at her adorable son. "Ice cream it is."
The mother and son got into the awaiting car that whisked them away to a local ice cream shop. Rory didn't find it odd that her son who had every flavour of ice cream awaiting him at home wanted ice as a reward for his good behaviour at the current time. She knew Jamie loved ice cream, just like she loved coffee and the more he had it the hyper he got. She decided that his nap for today would have to be rescheduled.
Jamie was in his car seat watching the sights as they passed many shops and advertisements. Rory loved spending time with her children and she loved how each of them had their own little personality. She thought that Jamie was most like her grandfather Richard since he always kept to himself, yet he had his father's knack of causing mischief at times. Rory loved this one-on-one time she had with Jamie.
When the car pulled up at an ice cream shop Rory unbuckled her son and let him jump out of the car. She held his hand and went into the store. Rory picked Jamie up so he could point to what flavour he wanted and she put him down so she could pay the person behind the counter. Rory and Jamie found a booth and sat down to eat.
"So Jamie what would you like to do today?" asked Rory. She and Jamie had the whole day to themselves since she had dropped off Nicky and Lottie at her mother's house where they would be spending the night. There was some festival going on in Stars Hollow that the kids did not want to miss. She, Logan, and Jamie were going to go back to Hartford together after Logan was finished work. In the meantime she and her youngest had the entire day to themselves.
"Toys," said Jamie.
"Don't you think you have enough toys already, baby?" asked Rory.
"No mama," he said with an impish grin.
Rory and her son were still talking when more customers entered the store and a girl with jet black hair and brown eyes came to stand near their booth, she looked to be about six or seven years old. Rory looked at her curiously and said, "Hello there, are you lost?"
"No I'm not, you're sitting in our booth," she said vaguely.
"I beg your pardon?" said Rory.
Then a voice yelled at the little girl. "Teeny, what did I tell you about being rude to people. That booth does not belong to you."
Rory assumed the voice belonged to the rude child's parent. She was about to give him a piece of her mind when the man approached her. Rory looked up at the child's father and froze. She had the breath knocked out of her and just sat there stock-still. Why did he always have to appear in her life?
"Jess?"
Jess whipped his head around when he heard her voice. It was a voice he had not heard for a many number of years and he assumed he would never hear her utter his name as long as he would live. But there she was, right in front of him, looking like the perfect society wife and career woman in her fashionable attire. "Rory?"
"Wow, fancy meeting you here. So, how have you been?" asked Rory putting her hostess face on. She had been shocked for a few seconds before she recovered like the pro she was.
Jess cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, I've never seen you here before. And I'm doing fine, how are you?"
"I'm doing well," said Rory without giving away too much information. "Would you and your young companion like to join us?" asked Rory politely.
It was then that Jess noticed the young boy sitting in the booth with Rory. He hadn't noticed him because he was sitting there quietly looking at him intently, but the minute he made contact with those sapphire eyes he knew the boy was Rory's son. Jess also noticed the child had Logan's blond hair and it made a perfect combination; the child would be outrageously handsome when he got older.
"Yes, we would love to join the two of you," said Jess impulsively.
Jamie, who didn't bode well with strangers, moved so he sat right beside his mother and wouldn't be near the strange man and the mean looking girl. He was taught manners and even though he was only a year old he sat politely and waited for everyone to get settled before he started eating his ice cream.
Rory looked at Jess expectantly and he realized he hadn't introduced Rory to his daughter yet.
"Rory I'd like you to meet my daughter Athena Mariano who is known as Teeny. Teeny I'd like you to meet Rory Huntzberger who is the daughter of Lorelai, you remember Lorelai don't you, she's Uncle Luke's wife?" asked Jess.
"Yeah I do daddy," said Teeny, then turning to Rory she said, "Hi, I didn't know Lorelai had an another daughter. I only met Joey."
"How do you do Teeny, its very nice to meet you. Jess, Teeny this is my son, Jamie Huntzberger. Jamie this is Jess Mariano who is Grandpa Luke's nephew," said Rory.
Jamie looked at his mother with keen intelligence. "Gram papa Luke? Wiz?" asked Jamie.
"That's right darling he's Liz's son," said Rory happy that her son was showing signs of understanding things even at his tender age.
Jess stared at the little boy as he ate his ice cream and couldn't believe anyone could figure stuff like that out at such an age. "How old is he?"
"Oh, he just turned one last month," said Rory.
"He sure is a smart cookie isn't he?"
"Yeah."
"Dad, can I have my ice cream," asked an annoyed looking Teeny, who didn't like that her dad's attention was elsewhere.
"Sure Teen, let me go get it and you hang out with Rory and Jamie," said Jess.
Rory was left alone with Teeny and didn't know what to say. She didn't even know Jess had a child and her mother seemed to have met the child at some point or else how did she know who Lorelai was. She didn't want to ask Jess who the mother was since it seemed like Jess assumed she knew about Teeny.
"How old are you Teeny?" asked Rory.
"I'll be turning seven soon. Do you have any kids my age?" asked Teeny.
"I have a son, Nicky, whose three, and my daughter, Lottie, is two," said Rory.
"Huh, I like your mom," said Teeny.
"Thank you."
Teeny stared at the pretty lady as she looked tenderly at the little boy who was her son. Teeny didn't know who her real mom was and her daddy wouldn't answer the questions she had about her. She knew that she was her dad's number one girl, but she prayed to god everyday that her mommy would show up and spend some time with her.
Teeny had met Uncle Luke and Aunt Lorelai a few months ago for the first time and she had also met her cousins Sebastian and Joey. This beautiful lady was they're sister and Teeny felt envious that the twins had such a great mother and it seemed a great sister as well. Teeny wished her mother could be like the lady sitting across from her.
Jess came back to see his daughter staring intently at Rory like she was a rare type of art that she couldn't get her fill of. Jess knew that his daughter wanted a mother and he wished he could provide her one, but with his dating record he wouldn't hold his breath. There was no way that he would tell his daughter the identity of her biological mother, he didn't think she would survive the heartbreak.
Jess and Rory talked companionably for a few minutes while Teeny watched their interaction. Jess knew that Rory had a few kids, but this the first time he had seen one close up since he didn't read the newspapers, mostly because he couldn't afford to waste money on them.
There was comfortable silence where the four of them were eating their ice cream. Jess kept glancing at the little boy that had Rory's blue eyes and seemed to be ignoring his gaze. The boy probably had many people trying to look at him and talk to him and he was only a year old.
Teeny tried to get Jamie in a conversation and while she was doing that Rory turned to Jess and asked him the most important question of all. "I didn't know you were married? Is your wife going meet you here?"
"I'm not married and Teeny's mother left right after she gave birth to her and I've been raising her ever since," was Jess' response. Jess answered honestly since he knew what Rory was getting at by asking about a wife.
"I'm sorry to hear that. She's a lovely girl who reminds me of you when you first came to Stars Hollow," said Rory.
"Yeah, she's exactly like me. Your son is exactly like you," said Jess.
"I don't think Jamie's like me at all."
"Oh no, he's smart, good-looking, and seems mature beyond his years."
"Thank you. I think each of my kids have some part of me and Logan."
At the mention of Logan's name Jess' mood turned sour. He knew that Rory was happy with the blond, but he had wished, a long time ago, that Rory would want him. He thought about her a lot and he would catch glimpses of her face when he passed newsstands. She was still the most breath-taking woman he had ever had the privilege of knowing. He knew she was happily married and in love with her husband, but a guy could dream.
"So how many kids do you have?"
"I have three kids Nicky who's three, Lottie who's two, and Jamie is my baby at one."
"Wow, they're pretty close in age aren't they?" asked Jess.
"Yes, they're wonderful kids. My friends have got kids around the same age so there are many friends for them to play with."
"I would assume, from your questioning, that Lorelai didn't tell you about me having a daughter?" asked Jess.
"No, I didn't know you had a child or the location in which you resided," said Rory.
"So how has life…" before he did not continue since at that precise moment Rory's cell phone rang and she looked apologetically at him. She answered and Jess could only hear her end of the conversation.
"Hello"
"Steph, is everything alright?"
"No I'm in the city. I brought Jamie for his doctor's appointment."
"Of course I can come watch the kids."
"Is everything alright?"
"Was it a serious accident?"
"Leave the kids with the nanny and I'm on my way."
"I'm ten minutes away and I'll take the kids to Hartford with me."
"You don't have to worry about them Steph I promise."
"Be safe and tell me how her condition is when you get to the hospital."
Rory hung up with a worried look on her face. She immediately started wiping off Jamie's face and grabbing her things. She looked at Jess and said, "I'm sorry, but I must be on my way. It was nice running in to you Jess and you too, Teeny."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, everything is under control. Jamie come darling were going to get Alex and Gabe," said Rory.
"Col," said Jamie.
"Uncle Colin is away on business Jamie and Aunt Stephanie has to go do something important so Alex and Gabe are going to stay at our house for a few day," said Rory to her son.
"Otay mama," said Jamie.
Jess could only watch as Rory rushed out of the ice cream parlour like a chicken with its head cut off. She waved to him and Teeny from the fancy car and then she was gone. He whispered a goodbye and turned back to his daughter.
"I guess it's just you and me Teeny," said Jess.
"Yeah, just you and mean Dad," said Teeny.
Jess kept on reliving the unexpected encounter in his head and Teeny watched her father's reaction to the pretty lady that had just left in such a rush. Teeny liked the pretty lady and she thought her dad did as well. Hmm…
AN: Please, Please, Please Review.