Title: What You Get
Disclaimer: Not mine, why do the fates hate me?
Chapter 4: Aunties
Author's note: Ok. So a bit more happens in this chapter. I'm still setting things up, so have patience with me. Oh, also, I've been having personal issues with my jumping from past to present tense. It would take way to long to write out those weeks that I skip in the first paragraph...but somehow the switch from past to present seems disconserting. Please tell me if you have any advice on that situation. And, as always, critisism and complements are welcome.
As the weeks passed Lorelai found herself and Rory spending more and more nights at the Danes house. They just never managed to leave early enough, and by the time she and Luke were done gabbing, it was too late to wake Rory. So they'd started bringing things with them, like toothbrushes and Rory's favorite stuffed animals on many nights. Rory loved being tucked in by both Luke and her mother. She'd never gotten to have a daddy tuck her in at night, and Luke was the closest thing she'd ever had to a father. She would beg on occasion for Luke to read her a bed-time story in place of Lorelai, "for a little variety." Lorelai completely understood. She had stopped being jealous of Rory's love for Luke a long time ago. She treasured the relationship that he and her daughter shared, and was ever grateful for his presence in both of their lives.
Tonight is one of those nights. Lorelai walks into the kitchen as she begins to hear the story about the little princess and her mother who come to live in a quiet town and bring joy into the lives of the towns people there. She marvels at Luke's ability to build a fairytale out of their lives, creating castles and jesters out of the homes and people of the Hollow.
She makes herself a cup of tea and leaves the pot on for Luke incase he wants to make himself a cup later. The kitchen is small and covered in pictures. The face of the refrigerator isn't even visible beneath the miles of Rory's artwork that are stuck to it with magnets. One of the walls is lined with photos of Luke and Liz as children, another with pictures of Luke and Liz as adults (more Luke than Liz) and the third is covered to the bursting point with pictures of Lorelai, Rory and Luke. Rory and Luke making cookies, Rory and Lorelai reading a book, Luke and Lorelai having a snowball fight and many more are strewn about the collection along with a few rare pictures of William. He's always taking pictures instead of being captured in them she reflects sadly. She'd love to have more pictures of him, but he's wily. If she so much as mentions her camera, he's suddenly got something else he needs to do.
Luke walks into the kitchen smiling. Tucking Rory in is always such fun. She joins in enthusiastically in the telling of her bedtime story and continues to tell the story with him until she passes out from exhaustion. He notices Lorelai staring at a picture of himself, Liz and Jess in her hospital room the day she gave birth. That was one of the few times he had actually seen his nephew. Liz had taken off about three days after she was released from the Hospital, and he's seen them maybe twice since. But, that will all change when Liz, Jimmy and Jess come to the Hollow tomorrow to prepare for their wedding.
Lorelai turns as she hears Luke enter the kitchen. "There's water in the kettle if you'd like some tea." "Thanks" Luke responds and begins to steep a cup of tea. Lorelai sits down at the table and Luke follows her, stealing a glance at the photo before he sits down as well. This doesn't go unnoticed by Lorelai. "You can't wait to see her can you?" Luke smiles embarrassedly. "Couldn't be more excited actually. I haven't seen her in years. And I'd like to get to know my nephew. He's a reader like Rory Liz says, so they should get along just fine." Lorelai smiles at this. Try as they might, there doesn't seem to be another child in Stars Hollow who shares Rory's enthusiasm for books. Jess will be welcomed with open arms by the literature loving little girl.
"I've never gotten a chance to ask him. How's your dad dealing with Liz getting married?" Luke sighs. "I don't even know myself. He seems happy, but whenever he talks about it I can hear the doubt in his voice. I think he just doesn't want to see her hurt again. She was such a wreck after he left the first time, and I don't think that she'd be able to cope if it happened again. And then what happens to Jess? What if this doesn't work. Has she even thought about how this will effect Jess?" Lorelai puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she's got it covered Luke. She's a smart girl, she's got a good job, and from what we know, Jess is a happy and very intelligent little boy. I'm sure it will all be ok." Luke nods but doesn't respond. They sit quietly for a moment. Lorelai feels her eyelids beginning to droop as she stifles a yawn. "I think it's time to hit the hey for the evening." Luke doesn't move. Lorelai gets up and puts her hands on his shoulders, giving him a half hug. "It'll all be ok. Try and get some sleep alright? You can't be tired tomorrow, Liz and Jess are coming tomorrow and that means two little kids instead of one. An that, my friend, requires a large amount of energy." Luke chuckles and stands up, allowing Lorelai to guide him up the stairs to the bathroom. "Take a long shower, relax, and get some sleep ok? It'll all be fine." Luke smiles at her and pulls her into a hug. He kisses her temple and gives her one last squeeze before entering the bathroom and closing the door. Lorelai sighs. It's bound to be a long week.
Lorelai stirs in her bed. There's something bouncing on it, two somethings actually. Lorelai opens a bleary eye, and the shapes of Rory and Jess come into view, as does their shrieking. "Mommy, Mommy!" "Auntie Lorelai, Auntie Lorelai!" Lorelai smiles sleepily and sits up to hug the bouncing kids. "You must be Jess," She says smiling down at the little boy. "Yep. That's me. I hope you don't mind. Rory and Luke said that I could call you Auntie." Lorelai just beams at him and gives him a squeeze. "That's just fine with me." Liz enters the room quickly followed by Luke, who comes bearing coffee. Lorelai smiles at the both of them, and extends her hand for the coffee. "Thought you may need more of a jolt this morning." Lorelai laughs as the kids start energetically bouncing again. "More of a jolt than them on my bed?" Liz and Luke chuckle. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Lorelai, you must be Liz." Lorelai offers her hand to Liz. "Yep, that's me. And you must be Lorelai. I've heard a lot about you, and Rory for that matter." Lorelai giggles. "I've heard the same about you and Jess." They exchange smiles. Lorelai realizes for the first time that she's still in her pajamas. Luke seems to be on the same wave-length. "Hey you guys, why don't you run downstairs and watch some TV? Your moms and I will be down in a few. "Uncle Luke, can we read instead?" The three adults shake their heads. "Sure. Go ahead, be nerds." Lorelai replies. Rory and Jess stick their tongues out at her and run out of the room.
"I've never met two little kids who love to read so much." Lorelai and Liz nod. "She didn't get it from me, I'll tell you that." Liz chuckles. "Me neither. Jess developed his strange attraction to the written word all on his own." Lorelai glances down at her pajama clad body once more. "Hey you guys, as lovely as this moment is, I think it'd be better if I was dressed for the day. Do you mind if I meet you downstairs in a few?" Luke and Liz nod and leave the room. Lorelai smiles to herself. Things seem to be going quite nicely, just as she'd hoped they would.
When Lorelai enters the kitchen it's a flurry of activity. Liz is setting the table, Luke is cooking breakfast and William is assisting Luke. Rory and Jess are sitting on the floor, the third Harry Potter book spread across their laps, reading silently. Every so often they both stop, look at each other and call to one of the adults. "Hey mom, what does scandalized mean?" Liz turns around and smiles at the kids. "Shocked and kind of angered." Rory and Jess nod. "Thanks Auntie Liz." The adults go back to their cooking and Rory and Jess continue to read. Lorelai walks over to Liz. "Anything I can do to help?" Liz smiles gratefully. "Pour drinks?" Lorelai nods and begins to take tumblers out of the cabinet.
Suddenly there's a knock at the door. Jess jumps up knocking the Harry Potter book astray. Rory quickly scampers after it. Jess shoots her an apologetic look and turns his attention back to the knocking. "I'll get it!" He runs out of the room and opens the door. "Daddy!" A few seconds later Jimmy enters the room, Jess swung over his shoulder giggling madly. He sets Jess down, who runs back to Rory. "I lost our page." Jess grabs the book and opens it, quickly flipping through the pages. "Page 179." They begin to read once more.
Jimmy gives Liz a quick kiss and then turns himself to the rest of the room, introducing himself to them in turn. He and Luke grasp hands. Luke pulls Jimmy into a "Man-Hug." "Good to have you back Jim." Jimmy grins. "It's good to be back.." He turns to William. "William." William clasps his hand and pulls him into a less masculine hug. "Welcome to the family son." Jimmy smiles at him, and shoots a relieved looking glance to Liz. Liz realizes that he's left Lorelai out. "And this is Lorelai." She and Jimmy shake hands. "And that little girl, sharing nose space in that book with your son is my daughter Rory." Jimmy nods and smiles at the two kids. "Daddy? What does surreptitious mean?" Jimmy walks over and squats down next to the two kids. "It means hidden. Very hush-hush you know?" The kids giggle. Rory extends her hand to Jimmy. "I'm Rory. You must be Jess' daddy." Jimmy smiles and takes her hand in his, kissing it. Rory giggles. "Yep, I'm Jess' daddy. It's very nice to meet you." He stands up and walks back over to the adults. "Anything I can do to help?" The four exchange a glance. "Here, why don't you pour the drinks, and I'll go get the bookworms ready for breakfast?" Jimmy nods. Lorelai walks over to Rory and Jess. "Ok you two. You can read as much as you'd like later, but right now, I need to you put the book down and come wash your hands." Rory and Jess sigh dejectedly and close the book, taking special care to mark the page. Everyone laughs as they sulk out of the room.