Title: The Way To Atlantis
Chapter: Seven
Chapter Title: The Baby Shower From Hell
Rating: R
Coupling: Paris/Jess, Lane/Dave, and half Rory/Tristan.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls, it belongs to Amy Sherman-Palladino, The WB, and Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions. I also do not own Gorilla Biscuits "Time Flies"
Author's Note: To my buddies at the FF fanfic thread for being patient with me. I'll see you guys shortly I hope!!
*
And I'm trying my hardest to make the most out of every minute.
Not getting any younger, getting older. It's scary.
Swept out from under your feet
Your youth's gone and you wonder why...
Because time flies.
The party was in full swing when Rory and Paris decided to seek out Lorelai and Emily and thank them for throwing this bash. And what a bash it was, the guest list was impeccable, and while the invitations were formal, the party was anything but. Lorelai had greeted each guest with a not quite traditional lei greeting using a pacifier necklace. Inside the room Lorelai had reserved for the event many different themed mobiles were hanging from the ceiling, the walls were adorned with diapers, and giant paper mache safety pins. Perhaps though, the piece de resistance was the garland strung around the room. It truly was a fantastic sight, made of wooden and plastic baby blocks, rattles, the large plastic keys, small stuffed animals, and various other baby memorabilia. Lane told Rory that she'd done it, with the help of Luke and his drill.
Now there was two tables overflowing with presents for the two expectant mothers. That's where Rory and Paris found Emily. She was helping guests sort out their presents onto the correct tables.
"Rory," Emily called, smiling, upon spying her granddaughter's approach, "there you are."
Rory smiled and hugged her, "Hi Grandma. Paris and I just wanted to thank you for helping throw this lovely party."
"Yes," Paris chimed in, "Thank you Mrs. Gilmore."
"Well, you're welcome, and don't you worry no more about it. It's your party, you have fun."
Rory smiled and nodded at her as she and Paris moved away to find Lorelai. She was just coming out of the kitchen.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Lorelai said. "Sorry, no admittance to the guests of honor."
"We were looking for you," Rory clarified.
"Oh."
"Shouldn't you be at the door?" Paris asked. "You know, lei-ing some poor, innocent bystander."
Lorelai and Rory gave Paris a look. "Normally I would glare," Lorelai began, "But I'm just too proud of you for saying that to do so."
*
Georgia Hayden sighed and looked around the room again. If it weren't her half sister's baby shower she probably wouldn't even be there. As it was she was sitting by herself at a table in the corner stirring a glass of lemonade with a straw. She was just grateful Paris had left Aggie and Devon at home with a sitter otherwise she was sure Aggie would be sitting right at her side asking her questions. Just then someone did pull out a chair and sit at her side. Georgia looked up, Lorelai.
"Hey kiddo, how's it going?"
"Okay," Georgia said eyeing the woman suspiciously. She knew, she had to know. Her father had to have told her about the fight. "You know don't you?"
"Know what?"
"About the fight."
"Oh yeah."
"I figured as much," Georgia said with a sigh.
"Don't look so glum chum, that's not what I'm here about."
"It isn't?"
"No, you're going home soon right? That's what your dad said."
"Yeah," Georgia said cautiously.
"Well I just wanted to let you know if you need to talk, I'm here for you."
"Um thanks." Georgia was quiet a moment, and Lorelai stayed sitting, looking around the room. "You know, Dad isn't going home." Now why did she go and say that?
"Yeah I know," Lorelai thought a moment. Her brow creased, "Wait, how are you getting back then?"
"I'm not sure yet, but dad mentioned the word 'bus.'"
"Oh."
"Yeah. He wants to have a little talk with me before I go. Probably about not disrespecting mom."
"You disrespect your mother?" Lorelai arched an eyebrow.
"Only to her face when she's not paying attention."
"So pretty much all the time?"
"Right."
"Can I ask why?"
Georgia looked at the older woman. Why? She thought about it, she couldn't even begin to explain. She had to try though. "Because, she doesn't understand me. She doesn't listen to me. She's such a control freak and if something doesn't fit in her perfect cookie cutter mold then it simply isn't there." Lorelai nodded and Georgia looked at her. "You know when I was about 4, she enrolled me in this ballet class. I hated it so much, but she wouldn't let me get out of it. So dad made an arrangement with Sherry and the teacher. He would pay for my lessons when he dropped me off. The teacher would cover for me, and I would take karate at the studio next door."
"Impressive, sounds like your father," Lorelai said with a smile.
"She calls me Gigi."
"Excuse me?"
"Mom, she calls me.."
"Oh, yeah I know." Georgia caught the sympathetic look Lorelai gave her.
"It's not a nickname for a girl. It's a name for a french poodle."
"Oy with the poodles already." Georgia looked at her curiously. "Long story," Lorelai said.
"Right. Anyway, I hate the nickname, but what else can it be, besides George, which is too close to Georgie."
"Why not Georgie?"
"Because that's what Dad calls me."
Lorelai nodded, understanding the girl's want to keep the name between them, "Well how about Gia?"
"Gia?" Georgia half questioned, letting it roll around in her mouth as though it were candy. "Gia. That's pretty, what's it from?"
"There was a supermodel named that, and it's the name of an older Angelina Jolie movie."
Georgia nodded. "I like it, and the fact that it will tick mom off is just an added bonus."
*
Rory slipped away from the crowded room and into the hallway needed a momentary break from the craziness. She spotted Jess's familiar form sitting against the wall a little ways down. "I should have figured you'd be here."
"Did you come looking for me?"
"No, not really, just needed a break." She looked down as he stood up. "Why aren't you out there celebrating with Paris?"
He shrugged, "You go through it twice, the third just seems overly redundant."
She looked at him in disbelief, "You haven't gone through it twice. You weren't there."
"I was there enough."
"No you weren't Jess! Do you have any idea what it was like seeing Paris like that?"
"Well at least you'll be prepared for your birth."
"That is so not the point Jess. You're never around for her. You weren't at any of the births, and if you aren't at this one I don't know if she'll ever forgive you." Rory's voice was raising precariously. "You're acting like you're still 18. You have a family now, you have responsibilities."
"I have a responsibility to take care of my family," He yelled at her. "To earn an income and provide them with a home, and an adequate amount of food. I'm doing what I have to do to give them the best."
"And you're alienating them in the process," Rory hissed.
"Rory!" Paris' shocked and angry voice came. Jess and Rory looked at her. "Will you stop it? Leave him alone. This is not the place nor is it any of your business." She huffed and stamped her foot then turned and left. Jess glanced at Rory and walked after her.
*
Tristan looked around the party, not really looking for anyone, just looking for something to do. Groups of women were gathered around tables enjoying themselves. That's when Tristan saw her, sitting by herself, for a reason known to him. He walked over and sat in the chair next to her. She looked over at him and gave him a small smile. He smiled back, "Hello, Lorelai."
"Hello, Tristan."
"So what are you doing over here all by yourself? Shouldn't you be gossiping with the other girls?"
"I'm just thinking."
"Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted."
"No that's okay." They were quiet a moment before she looked at him, "So are you excited?"
"Excited?"
"For the baby."
"I guess so," he shrugged. "Mostly I'm nervous."
"It is a pretty scary thing." Lorelai said watching as Rory reappeared in the room and looked around. She spotted them and began to come over but was stopped by Chris.
"It is scary. I mean, I'm a father, I'm going to have a child to take care of, and I'll be expected to do right by her."
"You're also expected to make mistakes Tristan. Don't worry so much about it, no one expects you to be a great father the second the kid is born." She looked at him, "If you were I'd be suspicious."
He grinned at her, "I just don't like the idea of being responsible for this tiny little person. I can barely take care of myself right."
"You'll do fine," Lorelai reassured him, "Don't worry so much." Just then Rory appeared in front of them. "Hi honey, enjoying the party?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, um, I need some advice." Rory took a seat across from them and leaned closer.
"About?" Lorelai questioned looking interested.
"I think I just alienated two of my best friends," Rory said.
"Which two?" Tristan inquired looking worried.
"Jess and Paris."
Tristan and Lorelai exchanged startled glances. "What did you do?" They asked simultaneously.
"I may have been lecturing Jess on his absenteeism."
Lorelai clucked her tongue. "That's bad."
"I know, what do I do?"
*
Rory approached them from behind. They were sitting at a table watching everyone else. Not even talking. So Rory crept up behind them silently. Standing a foot behind them she spoke, softly, "I'm sorry." Paris stiffened as Jess turned around, curious. "I'm sorry, and you were right. It's none of my business. I hope that you can forgive me."
Across the room Tristan and Lorelai watched the scene unfold, not being able to tell much, as they couldn't hear. However they did see when Rory looked sadly at Paris and turned away. Jess watched as Rory walked away and turned back to Paris. "She is sorry."
"I know."
"Are you still mad?"
Paris sighed, "I don't know."
"You should forgive her."
"Jess."
"Fine, I'll be quiet."
They sat there in silence a moment before Paris stood up and followed Rory. She caught up with her in the doorway to the room. "Rory."
Rory turned, surprised, "Paris."
"I accept your apology, and I forgive you."
Rory smiled and hugged Paris. "I'm so glad, I never meant to hurt you, or anger you. You're one of my very best friends and I would hate to ruin that."
Paris smiled back, "Me too."
*
"All right, it's time for the best part of the party," Lorelai yelled out to the crowd, "It's time for the gifts! Rory, Paris, get your buns up here." She patted two makeshift thrones. Rory and Paris came up and sat in them. Lorelai and Sookie quickly placed small tables in front of them, then Lorelai stood up, "Now let's get Tristan and Jess up here." Tristan and Jess knew better by now than to try and get out of it so they joined the women at one end of the room. "Here's how this will work. Tristan and Jess will take turns bringing their wives one gift at a time. Rory and Paris will tell us who it's from, unwrap it, and hold it up so we can all see. Now let's begin." Lorelai and Sookie moved to join the rest of the spectators in the loose semi-circle they had formed around Paris and Rory. "Jess, you go first."
Jess grabbed a gift off of Paris' table and turned to give it to her when suddenly he was interrupted by the door opening. Everyone looked to the door and Georgia turned red, feeling a plethora of emotions. "Mom," she hissed, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," Sherry said, her nice tone providing a thin veil for the underlying insincerity, "Am I too early? I've come to take you home Gigi."
Georgia exchanged a glance with Lorelai before turning her attention back to her mother. "It's Gia," Georgia said, "and I'm not ready."
"Excuse me? It's what?"
Gia gritted her teeth, "Gia. Gee-Uh."
"Oh," Sherry clasped her hands and cast a snide look around the room, "Well then, hurry and get your things. We'll discuss the reasons why it is NOT Gia in the car on the way home"
"Great," Gia smiled falsely, "Another conversation I so look forward to."
Rory and Lorelai exchanged a quick glance as they watched the mother daughter interaction. "Actually Sherry," Rory spoke up, "We were just beginning gifts, and then there will be cake. Why don't you have a seat with the girls and join in the festivities."
Sherry looked at Rory apprehensively, gauging the threat, she forced a smile. "Of course Rory," Sherry moved among the women to an empty seat near Babette, "That would be lovely I'm sure."
Sookie came up to the now seated woman quickly and began tugging a pacifier necklace over her head, "There you go, now you'll fit right in."
Sherry glanced around and gave Sookie a tight smile, "Thank you."
"No problem, we had more than enough for party crashers," Sookie said cheerfully. Chris smirked at Sookie's blissful naiveté.
"If we're done with interruptions, on with the show!" Lorelai exclaimed.
*
As soon as the gift giving was done Sherry made Gia say goodbye to Rory and dragged her away from the celebration. Now they were in the car on their way back to Boston. Gia was beginning to wonder if her mother had forgotten about the nickname conversation. However her mother surprised her by speaking up. "Why do you wish to be called Gia? Don't you like Gigi?"
Gia sighed, "No mom, I've never liked Gigi."
"Why not?"
"It sounds like something you'd name a french poodle."
"I think it's cute."
"You would," Gia mumbled.
"What was that dear? Don't mumble."
"Nothing mom, I would prefer you either call me Gia or Georgia from now on however."
"Okay." There was a long pause. "Why Gia?"
"I like it. I think it's pretty"
"I suppose it could be," Sherry mused. "What's it from?"
"It's the name of an old supermodel."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, Angelina Jolie made a movie about her."
Sherry pursed her lips, "I remember that one. You do realize she was a drug addicted bisexual who died right?"
"No, but I do realize I'm not her."
"Who put this idea into your head?"
"Lorelai."
Sherry looked at Gia and shook her head sadly. "I'm going to have to talk with your father."
"Don't you mean your lawyer is going to have to talk to my father's lawyer?"
To be continued....
