Hold Me Close Young Tiny Dancer This Isn't You 7
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls
This is the official first chapter that isn't about the ballet. So fingers crossed! And here we go And Doula is 2 ½ so now here we go….
Jess entered the apartment with Rory trailing closely behind him.
"I told you I'm not upset." Jess said exasperatedly
"You sound upset." Rory said taking off Jess' jacket and handed it to him.
"Well I'm not." Jess said and tossed the jacket onto one of the kitchen chairs, but ended up knocking it over. "Damn it!" he bent down to pick up the jacket and chair
"You were saying?" Rory said as she watched him pick the things off the floor in a frustrated manner.
Jess stood the chair back up, leaned over the back of it, and sighed. "There were looking to me to give 'em a good book, and I thought I did. Turns out I didn't, but I guess I shouldn't of expected anything, it's in my genetic code to be a disappointment."
"Jess." she walked over to him. "You are not a disappointment."
"Oh come on Rory, I bailed on you twice, I didn't finish high school, I didn't go to college and I have a minimum wage job. Sounds like a disappointment to me.": He walked around her
"Jess, you really think I'm that superficial?" Jess didn't make eye contact with her. "I don't care about any of that stuff. Look at what you've accomplished! Look how many people were doubting you, look how many were against you. My family, the town, the school. And you proved them all wrong, you opened your own bookstore, you wrote a book that my mother couldn't even put down." Jess looked at her "Even after she found out it was yours." she joked lightly " And a good portion of the town isn't chasing you with tar and feathers anymore, except for the part that still listens to Taylor."
"Your grandparents hate me. Your grandfather looked at me like I was about to pull a John Wilkes-booth. Your grandmother sensed I was a loser. And you know, she wasn't that far off."
"Jess this isn't about them, it doesn't matter what they think. This isn't you. Caring about what some critics think. This isn't you. You know it isn't. What's going on?"
Jess sighed "I just..I wanted you to be proud of me."
Rory took his face in her hands. "I am. You wrote a book that everyone likes, that everyone's impressed with. And that is one of my personal favorites, and not because it's yours either, but because it's good." she shook his head lightly for emphasis. "Now do I have to put on a jean jacket and spike up my hair or do you sense the irony?" Jess smiled "Because if you don't I'll go get the gel." Rory joked
"Well I don't think this is irony. It's how it's always been." Jess stared into her eyes then lunged and kissed her. Rory was taken aback by the kiss and stumbled back a bit. Jess wrapped his arms around her before she stumble anymore, all while still kissing her. She laid her arms around his neck. He kept kissing her while peeking out of one eye so could lead her to the bed without crashing into anything. Jess allowed both of them to fall onto the bed. He broke the kiss to loosen his tie and take it off over his head, while Rory kicked off her shoes. Jess laid over top of her and she helped him unbutton his shirt then hastily threw it on the floor. (you can deduce what happened next )
WITH LORELAI AND LUKE
"What do you think they're doing?" Luke asked with toothpaste in his mouth as he stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth.
"What?" Lorelai said as she tossed her high heels in the closet.
Luke spit out the toothpaste. "Rory and Jess what do you think they're doing?" Luke said in between gargles
"Talking." Lorelai said simply while she grabbed a brush and sat on the edge of the bed and started brushing her hair.
"Really?" Luke said before wiping his mouth on a towel, and came into the bedroom.
"Would that make you feel better?" Lorelai asked
"Yes." Luke said
"Then yes. They're engaged in deep conversation."
"Ok." Luke sat up on the bed "So what do you think they're actually doing?"
Lorelai put the brush down on the nightstand. "Luke. Rory and Jess are adults, adults who are in a relationship. What do you think they're doing?"
Luke grimaced "I liked it better when they were talking."
"Well if it helps I'm sure they talked before."
"Ugh." Luke said and deepened his grimace
"And on that note, sweet dreams we have a big day tomorrow."
"Yeah. Wait what big day?"
"Don't tell me you forgot. Liz and T.J. are coming over for Father's Day tomorrow."
"Oh. I didn't forget I just didn't know if that was b-I forgot."
Lorelai chuckled "I swear if it wasn't screwed on." she teased
"Goodnight." Luke gave her a peck on the lips and turned the lights off.
"Goodnight." Lorelai said and waited until she heard the sound of Luke's indolent snores then she crept out of bed and pulled something out of the drawer from the nightstand and went to the bathroom, careful to make sure the sound of the door closing didn't wake Luke.
WITH RORY AND JESS
Jess laid in bed with his arm tucked cozily behind Rory's head while she laid next to him sleeping soundly wearing his black t-shirt that he had been wearing underneath his suit. He twirled the end of her hair around his finger as he watched her sleep, her chest rising and falling with every inhale, and exhale. He smiled to himself at the sound of a congested snore. He slipped his arm out from under her head and reached for his laptop, He opened up a blank word document and began to type. Five solid hours later, minus the occasional glance at Rory, Jess closed the laptop set it back down on the table and laid back down as the sun started to seep through the window shades.
That Morning
"Luke come on. We have to start cleaning, this place is a sty." Lorelai called up the stairs to Luke who still getting dressed.
"I'm coming." Luke grumbled as he walked down the stairs adjusting the baseball cap on his head. "I still don't what the big deal is. Liz isn't a neat freak, and T.J. thinks dust is fascinating."
"Well it's for Doula's sake too. She's mobile, and this place is filled with hazards." She said and started stacking the magazines on the coffee table. "Can you run to the store and get some of those clear grip door knob covers?"
"They're only gonna be here for a few hours." Luke rationalized
"Well it only takes a few seconds to get hit by a truck." Lorelai countered
"It'd take a few years in Stars Hollow, a truck rarely passes through here."
"You drive a truck."
"Well yeah but, I-I'm not going to-" He sighed trying to gather his thoughts then gave up "Bye." he grabbed his keys and left. Lorelai went to the window and watched his car drive away, then grabbed her own car keys and left.
WITH RORY
Rory stood at Zach and Lane's door. She knocked once just out of courtesy then opened the door but announced herself with an "Anybody home?"
"Hi friend." Lane greeted and hugged Rory
"Hi. Where are the boys?" Rory scanned the apartment.
"Zach and Brian took them out for some 'male bonding.'" Lane put air quotes around the words. "Where's Jess?"
"He said he had something to take care of." Rory shrugged in a dismissive and confused manner.
"Cryptic." Lane stated
" Michael Curl." Rory nodded
"You think he's up to something?" Lane questioned
"Nah, he's been really great lately. Oh but you know who is up to something?" Rory waited for Lane to respond but she didn't so she continued. "Michelle. He's a closet ballet dancer."
"Start at the beginning." Lane smiled clearly intrigued as she sat down.
WITH LORELAI AND LUKE
Lorelai shut the back door, and walked to the living room with her car keys still in her hand and her purse clutched closely to her chest. She was going to look out the window and see if Luke was back, when she noticed him sitting silently on the couch.
"Ah! Oh Luke you scared me." Lorelai jumped.
"Sorry." Luke said a little confused as to how him just sitting there startled her, but decided to leave it alone. "Where'd you go?"
"Huh?" Lorelai said nervously, and Luke pointed to the car keys in her hand "Oh I um went to g-get a spice. Just incase you needed it since you'll be cooking later. Cause that's what you do. You cook."
"What spice?" Luke asked
"Uh.. Arugula." Lorelai fiddled with the keys in her hands
"Arugula isn't a spice." He blinked bemusedly
"Oh. That's probably why I couldn't find it in one of those tiny chairs." Lorelai tittered and slapped a hand on forehead. "So did you get the door knob covers?" she changed the subject
"Right here." Luke held a plastic bag
"Great can you start putting those on? I'm gonna go take a shower."
"You just took one. Three hours ago." Luke said with a look that showed he feared for his wife's sanity
"I-I know, but the store I went to was really dirty. It's Woodridge you know, so I'm just gonna…" Lorelai said and started going up the stairs.
"You went all the way to Woodridge for a spice?" Luke asked
"What is with the third degree, can't I just take a shower?"
"Ok sorry go ahead." Luke said
"Thank you." Lorelai said snappily and went upstairs.
Luke took the bag of door knob covers, and pulled one out as he knelt down in front of the front door and started putting it on the door knob, but he paused to look up the staircase that Lorelai had just walked up and he sighed and shook his head.
WITH RORY AND LANE
Rory and Lane sat on Lane's bed laughing as Rory finished telling her the story. "And the best part is, one of Grandma's friends propositioned him."
"Oh my God how do I miss all the good stuff?"
"Because, you have two bouncin baby boys to take care of." Rory said as she picked as she picked up a folded 'my dad rocks' t-shirt up off of the floor.
"Yeah." Lane took the shirt and smiled
Just then Zach opened the bedroom door. "Lane, Steve smells." Zach said as he stood in the doorway with the door opened just enough that you could see Brian in the living room holding Steve at arms length trying to alleviate his intake of the putrid odor.
"Make that three baby boys." Lane sighed with a half smile
"Hi Rory." Zach greeted
"Hi Zach happy fathers day."
"Thanks. The boys painted me a picture."
Rory looked at Lane for confirmation
"They stepped in a plate of ketchup that Zach left on the floor, then stomped on some paper." Lane smiled and Rory chuckled.
"It was still cool." Zach shook his head
"It was pretty impressive." Lane said with a solemn nod.
"Uh guys?" Brian said with panic in his voice
Lane sighed "Sorry duty calls. No pun intended"
Rory laughed "No it's ok, I have to go anyway Jess' mom and T.J. are coming over. And I said I'd help clean."
"Ok Fill me in later." Lane hugged her
"Bye." Rory said and left
Rory walked up to her house and found Luke unloading groceries from his truck. "Hey Luke." Rory greeted
"Hi Rory." Luke said briefly looking up then back down at the bags
"Need a hand?" Rory offered
"Yeah that'd be great." Luke stopped unloading the bags and stared at the house with his hand on his hip.
"Something wrong?" Rory inquired as she tried to see what he was looking at.
"It's just…I-is your mom I mean is she on her like time of the mon- um never mind." Luke stared at the ground
Rory held back a laugh "Are you asking me about mom's menstrual cycle?" Luke continued to stare. "Cause if you are, I wouldn't know. But I'll go and see what I can find out." Rory picked up a few bags of groceries.
"Thank you." Luke said abashedly Rory patted Luke on the back and walked inside.
"Hi." Rory said as she saw Lorelai sitting at the kitchen table looking straight ahead.
"Hi." Lorelai greeted back without looking at her
"Are you ok?" Rory questioned
"Yes. why?" Lorelai looked at her
"You just seem…distracted."
"Oh. Well.." Lorelai stood up "Where's Luke?"
"He's outside bringing in groceries." Rory said as she put the bags down on the table and started taking things out.
Lorelai went out to the front yard. " Luke."
"Yeah?" Luke said as he picked up six grocery bags at once, leaving the other two on the ground
Lorelai picked up the other two and picked at the blue plastic handles. "I um I-"
"Big brother!" Liz called with a smile on her face as T.J. trailed behind carrying Doula.
"-can't wait for Liz and T.J. to get here." Lorelai finished half-heartedly as Liz ran up gave her a hug then moved onto Luke.
Rory came outside and greeted Liz and T.J.
"So where's that boy of mine?" Liz said and looked around
"He said he had something to do but he'll be here soon." Rory reassured
"Can we move this inside cause these are heavy." Luke shook the bags he was holding.
Liz and Rory each grabbed one from Luke.
"I do it! I do it!" Doula squirmed out of T.J.'s arms and ran to Luke and took a grocery bag with a single loaf of bread inside, then started to venture up the front steps dragging the bag behind her. As she struggled to get up the second step she slung the bag over her shoulder and grunted with effort as she reached the porch and pushed open the front door. The rest of them smiled at her tenacity, then followed her inside.
They unpacked the rest of the groceries, and Luke started cooking while it cooled, they talked to pass the time.
"So Doula decided she didn't want to wear the pink bathing suit. So I leave her alone for a second to get the blue one, and when I come back she's buck naked in the middle of the living room grinning at me." Liz looked down at Doula as she talked. Luke and Lorelai smiled. "Just like her daddy." Liz rubbed T.J.'s arm.
" Liz, too much information." Luke recoiled and Lorelai nodded
The front shut and in walked Jess. "Sorry I'm late."
"Hey Read's here." T.J. said
"T.J." Jess nodded at him.
"Hey baby." Liz kissed his cheek and hugged him
"Mo-om." Jess whined and tried to swat her away, while Rory jokingly snickered, to even the score Lorelai came up and gave Rory an equally embarrassing kiss and pinched her cheek for good measure.
"Mo-om." Rory whined and rubbed her cheek, while Jess laughed.
"So where were ya Read?" T.J. said as he finished drinking his beer
" Oh here and there." Jess said vaguely
"Wow I am just reeling from all that information." Lorelai said sarcastically
Jess grabbed a spoon from the drawer and went to the pot of chili of the stove next to the hotdogs and hamburgers, and stuck the spoon in.
"Jess don't, it's hot." Luke warned
"No it's not." Jess said while trying to keep the food in his mouth as he speak.
"Let's eat." Lorelai said and grabbed a stack of bowls
They all ate, and enjoyed casual conversation with the brief pauses of Lorelai getting up for seconds, then thirds, then fourths. As Luke watched wondering how she could go from not having an appetite to having 4 helpings. But his thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Doula tugging on his pant leg waiting to be picked up. He put her on his lap, and she immediately took it upon herself to get more food. She reached across the table and pulled her plate over and started eating chili…with a fork. Barely any of it went in her mouth, a lot of it went on her shirt, and partly on Luke's pants.
Lorelai smiled as she watched Doula laugh as Luke bounced her on his knee in a covert attempt to get the chunks of meat off of his pants.
"Here. Go see your mom." Luke set Doula down and ushered towards Liz as he started wiping off his pants
"Come here." Liz picked her up. " You are a mess." she said and took off her chili covered shirt and put on one she pulled out of the diaper bag.
"She's not the only one." Jess said and smirked at Luke
"Hey Doula why don't you go play with your big brother?" Luke smirked back
"K." Doula said and jumped off of Liz lap " 'Mon Jess." she wrapped her hand around Jess' finger
Jess groaned as he allowed himself to be pulled. He noticed Rory trying to hide a smile.
" 'Mon Rory." He mimicked Doula and took Rory by the hand as Doula pulled both of them into the living room.
"So you two finally got it together huh?" T.J. said finishing his beer
"T.J.!" Liz elbowed him
"What?" T.J. rubbed where Liz elbowed him
"He just means we're happy you two worked things out." Liz clarified
"Yeah, with all the break ups and make ups you two were like…uh." T.J. snapped his fingers trying to think of a good couple.
"Ross and Rachel!" Liz finished
"Yeah yeah yeah." T.J. rapidly agreed
"Well, 'I got off the plane.'" Lorelai quoted and smiled
"Yeah." Liz smiled thoughtfully "Well it's getting late we should probably get going."
"Yeah and give Jess and Rory a break in there."
They all got up and went to the living room where Rory and Jess sat on the couch with Doula in between them as Rory read her a book.
" 'And chance are, that if asks for a glass of milk he's going to want a cookie to go with it.' " Rory finished reading and closed the book
Doula clapped "Again."
"Sorry Doula, but we have to go home now." Liz said
"Aww." Doula whined and clung to Rory's arm.
"Hey Read, can we get another copy of your book? Doula really liked the other one so she kinda hit it somewhere."
Jess' cellphone beeped with a text message he opened it and read it as he spoke. "Yeah sure. There's one back at the apartment I'll go get it, there's something I have to get anyway." Jess closed his cell phone and stood up. "I'll be right back." He said to Rory and left.
Rory shifted Doula onto her lap. "You know if you ever need someone to baby-sit I'd be happy to do it."
"Really?" Liz asked Rory nodded
"Next week?" T.J. said anxiously "Because it's our anniversary and you know…" T.J looked at Liz lustfully
"Yeah uh sure." Rory said a little uncomfortably
"Ok kiddo come on." Liz picked up Doula. "Thanks for havin us." Liz hugged Lorelai careful not to smush Doula.
"Thanks for coming." Lorelai said
"Big brother." Liz said and hugged Luke. "Keep her this time around." Liz whispered in Luke's ear and Luke nodded and smiled
"Ok let's go." T.J. said
Doula grunted then pointed to Rory
"Want me to say goodbye to you?" Doula nodded and Rory chuckled and followed them
"Bye happy father's day." Lorelai and Luke called after them.
Rory followed them out to their car, as Jess walked up
"Here ya go." Jess tossed the book to his mom as T.J. put Dula in the car seat.
"Is it signed?" Liz inspected the book
"Thinking about putting it on eBay?" Jess asked sarcastically
"No, I'm gonna put it on the mantle next to your 4th grade picture, the last picture he ever smiled in." she momentarily addressed Rory "So years from now I can say I had the only signed copy in the world."
"Cue the violins." Jess said
Liz smiled "C'mere." Liz hugged him tightly "stick around this time." Liz whispered in his ear, and Jess nodded
"It's signed." he whispered back and smiled.
Liz broke away from their hug then hugged Rory goodbye.
"Bye." Rory said as their truck pulled away and Jess waved
Rory took Jess hand and started walking back towards the house when Jess stopped abruptly. "Rory I wanna talk to you about something."
"Ok." Rory said
"Well first off, it's about that text I got earlier."
"Ok." Rory repeated
"It was a publisher, they wanna publish my book."
"What? Jess that's great!" Rory hugged him "But I thought you said they didn't like it."
"It's a different one, a new one. I wrote it last night."
"You wrote a book last night?" Rory said amazed
"Last night, this morning. And I was in New York most of today pitching it to them and they liked it. They even said something about a book tour."
"Jess that's incredible! I knew it, I knew you could do this. So what's it about? What's it called? I mean I don't mean to like pester you or anything but I'm just..really curious."
"It's called 'Dodger'" Jess looked her in the eyes and watched as they lit up as he said the title.
Flashbacks soared through Rory's head
FLASHBACK
Jess: Hey.
RORY: Hey yourself.
JESS: What are you doing out here?
RORY: I needed something for school. What about you?
JESS: Oh yeah, same thing.
RORY: Uh huh. So, that was quite a disappearing act you pulled the other night.
JESS: Potlucks and Tupperware parties aren't really my thing.
RORY: Too cool for school, huh?
JESS: Yes, that is me.
RORY: What are you doing?
JESS: Oh this? Nothing. [does an illusion with a coin] Just another little disappearing act.
RORY: Little tip?
JESS: Yeah?
RORY: If you ever want to speak to me again, don't pull that out of my ear.
JESS: So I assume the nose is off limits too?
RORY: Any place you wouldn't naturally find a coin, let's leave it that way.
JESS: So what are you doing now?
RORY: I have some homework to finish.
JESS: Okay, then I'll leave you this last little trick. [hands her a book]
RORY: You bought a copy? I told you I'd lend you mine.
JESS: It is yours.
RORY: You stole my book.
JESS: Nope, borrowed it.
RORY: Okay, that's not called a trick, that's called a felony.
JESS: I just wanted to put some notes in the margins for you.
RORY: What? [looks through the book] You've read this before.
JESS: About forty times.
RORY: I thought you said you didn't read much.
JESS: Well, what is much? Goodnight Rory.
RORY: Goodnight Dodger.
JESS: Dodger?
RORY: Figure it out.
JESS: Oliver Twist. [Rory smiles and nods. They both walk away.]
Rory smiled astonished "You, It's called 'Dodger?'"
"Yeah." Jess nodded and smiled "But that isn't all I wanted to talk to you about."
With LORELAI AND LUKE
Luke stood at the sink washing a pot while Lorelai cleared off the table.
Lorelai looked at Luke and took a deep breath. "Hey Luke…" Luke stopped set the pot down and turned around. "Do you remember when the Inn burned down and I had to sleep at your apartment cause I overbooked the house?" She fiddled with the table cloth
"How could I forget that?" Luke said
Lorelai chuckled nervously "And do you remember the dream I told you about?"
"The one with the alarm clocks?"
"Yeah. The one where we're married and I'm.. pregnant. And you said that I shouldn't drink coffee when your pregnant."
"You shouldn't." Luke stated puzzled as to where she was going with this.
"I know. That's why I've been cutting back." Lorelai said hesitantly
Luke's eyebrows shot up in confusion.
WITH RORY AND JESS
" I love you Rory. Marry me." Jess pulled the ring out of his back pocket.
WITH LORELAI AND LUKE
"Luke I'm pregnant." Lorelai pulled the pregnancy test out of her purse.
And that is chapter 7! EDIT: Oh my gosh I'm soooo sorry I actually uploaded this yesterday (when it was actually father's day. ) I just found out it didn't go through. ): My internet has been crazy all week. I promise I will do my best to make sure the next upload is within a day or two. So what'd you guys think? I left it on kind of a cliff hanger huh? Ok well calling all readers: IT IS VITAL THAT YOU GUYS LEAVE SOME REVIEWS ON THIS CHAPTER please. I mean I know you guys already do, but I put a lot into this chapter and I really want to know what you think. So PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! So yeah questions, ideas whatever, just uh leave a review and/or shoot me a message. So please and thank you (: Also the book Rory was reading Doula was "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie." it was one of my favorite book s growing up. Just incase you were wondering (Which you probably weren't)