A/N: Apologies for the delay in updating. Business trips and grown-up responsibilities, blah blah blah. Please keep reviewing. It fills my cold, cynical heart with something resembling happiness. Seriously though, thank you for taking the time to read!
Eight
"Happy half-birthday, Trixie." Jess said to the little girl as he picked her up and hugged her. She immediately latched her hands into his dark hair and tugged, making him wince and chuckle at the same time. Luke and Lorelai's house was filled with people celebrating that Trix was now 6 months old. She was wearing a bright pink onesie with a glittery gold '6' on it to celebrate.
"I hate it when you call her that." Lorelai said, reaching over to tickle Trix's foot while Jess held her.
"I know, why do you think I do it?" Jess retorted. "Besides, she likes it, don't you, Trixie?" He snuggled the baby and she laughed.
"I like it too." Rory said, coming up to them. "It's got a His Girl Friday kind of vibe."
"See?" Jess said, making a face at Lorelai.
"You're insufferable." Lorelai said good-naturedly. "Give me my granddaughter."
Lorelai took Trix from Jess, and walked over to Sookie and Jackson so they could coo over her.
"Thanks for coming." Rory said to Jess, lightly touching his arm. He looked down at her hand and then smirked at her.
"If I didn't come, who would've brought the traditional '6-month-old baby' gift?" He asked. He picked up a small, plain brown paper gift bag and handed it to Rory.
"You didn't have to get her anything. You've brought her plenty of stuff already." Rory smiled affectionately and looked in the bag, laughing at what was in there.
"This is the traditional gift for a 6-month-old baby?" She asked, pulling out What Matters Most Is How You Walk Through the Fire. "Bukowski?"
"Very traditional." Jess said seriously. "It's all in the famous baby book: How To Raise a Kid Who Doesn't Suck."
"You know, I don't think I read that one." Rory said, laughing and putting the book back in the bag. "Thank you. I'm sure she'll love it. But if you keep buying her books, there's not going to be any more room on her bookshelves."
Jess waved that off. "Luke will build her more."
"Don't give him any ideas!" Rory mock-whispered. "I don't have space for any more furniture in her room!"
"You look great, by the way." Jess said approvingly, successfully changing the subject.
Rory blushed and looked down at her jeans and button-down blue and white flannel shirt. The button-down shirt was practical for breastfeeding, just like Lorelai had said it would be. She had deliberately bought it a size too big because she was self-conscious about her body. It didn't look or feel the same to her since she'd had Trix. Her hips were wider than they'd ever been, and she had curves for pretty much the first time in her life. She couldn't even think about the stretch marks on her stomach without getting upset.
"Yeah? I feel like I'm dressed like Luke." She said dismissively.
"Maybe a little, but it works for you. Do me a favor and said 'no cellphones in here!'" Jess joked.
Rory swatted his arm. "I will not. Hey, your mom and sisters are in the kitchen if you want to say hi."
Jess nodded and picked up a few more bags he'd brought with him. "I've got books for them too. I got Catcher in the Rye for Rainbow not too long ago and they all fought over it, so I just picked up Nine Stories and got them each their own copy."
Rory laughed as Jess went off to find his family. She couldn't believe how things had turned around with him since Trix was born. It was a complete 180 from his awkward, distant behavior when Rory was pregnant. It wasn't immediate, but after that first night he'd met her he started asking about Trix. Then he started bringing her an occasional gift, and now he made time to stop by and see the two of them whenever he was in Stars Hollow. Rory couldn't explain the change in his attitude, and she refused to ask him about it in case it would break whatever spell Trix had over him. It just made her happy to see.
Rory walked up to where her mom, Luke, and Sookie were talking. Trix was beginning to squirm and Rory took her from Lorelai's arms. "Someone needs a new diaper."
"Don't talk about my husband that way!" Lorelai exclaimed, earning her a 'jeez' from Luke.
Rory took Trix upstairs to her mom's bedroom and changed her diaper. She started talking to Trix, like she usually did when they were alone together.
"There's so many people here to see you, Trix. I know you don't appreciate it yet, but you're so lucky to have so many people who love you. Grandma and Grandpa Luke would do absolutely anything for you, and Sookie and Jackson and Lane and Zach, and Liz and TJ. And next week you'll get to meet Paris and Doyle. If they're still back together, that is. They're crazy but they're good people, I swear. You'll get used to crazy people, we've got plenty in our lives. And Grammy Emily is nuts about you, so is Grandpa Chris and your Aunt Gigi. I can hardly count all the people who love you to pieces."
Trix made a little sound as Rory fastened her new diaper.
"Yes, and Jess. I think he likes you too." Rory sat Trix up on her lap and kissed her head. "You know, it's funny because when you were still in mommy's tummy, I thought he hated you."
"Is that what you thought?" Jess asked. Rory's head snapped up; she hadn't even heard him come upstairs. He walked in and sat down next to Rory on the bed. Trix immediately reached out for him, and he smiled as he took her from Rory's arms.
"What was I supposed to think?" Rory asked, watching with a smile as Trix grabbed at the collar of Jess's shirt. "You were always so cold and awkward about her."
Jess sighed. "It was never that I hated her. I just...look, I'm sorry I made you think that."
"What changed?" Rory asked, reaching out to touch her daughter's blonde head. His answer was completely unsatisfying, but she knew him well enough to know it was the best she'd get from him right now.
Jess looked down at Trix with a soft smile. "She has your eyes."
Again, it wasn't an answer, but the look on Jess's face as he looked at Trix was so sweet that Rory didn't push the subject any more.
"You're great with her." Rory gushed. "She adores you."
"The feeling is mutual." Jess said, but he wasn't looking at Trix. His eyes were trained on Rory's face and she could feel her skin getting warm.
"We should get back down to the party." Rory said, clearing her throat.
"Yeah." Jess said, standing and holding Trix. "C'mon, kid. Your public awaits."
"Thanks for walking us home." Rory said as she and Jess stepped onto the porch of her house. Jess held a sleeping Trix in his arms.
"Hey, Jess Mariano is a gentleman above all else. Make sure you tell everyone that." He joked in a quiet voice to avoid waking up the baby.
"I would, but no one would believe me." Rory joked back. "Come on in."
She led the way into her house and Jess followed. Once inside, he immediately took Trix into her room, where he gently laid her in her crib and delicately ran his hand over her head. Rory smiled at the gesture and put the diaper bag down on the changing table. She walked over to stand next to Jess and look at her daughter while she slept.
"I can't believe I made that." Rory said reverently.
"You do good work." Jess said approvingly.
"Do you want some tea?" Rory asked, looking up at him.
"Sure."
They sat on the couch with their tea, laughing and talking. There was nothing in her life that Rory was afraid to share with him at this point. She told him about Logan and how his response to finding out Rory was pregnant was to start sending checks, just as she'd known it would be. He was already married to Odette by the time Rory had told him she was pregnant. She'd gone from the 'love of his life' to a mere inconvenience. She wasn't upset or even particularly surprised, but she did hope he'd make time for Trix eventually. She wanted her to know her father better than Rory had known Christopher as a kid.
"Well, if he doesn't then it's his loss." Jess responded after a long, thoughtful silence. "Trixie is going to grow up to be an awesome person. Hell, she already likes hearing me read Hemingway."
Rory narrowed her eyes. "When have you been reading Hemingway to her?"
"Did I say Hemingway? I meant Ayn Rand." Jess smiled, and Rory wrinkled her nose at him, which only made him smile more. Sometimes it still surprised Rory to see Jess smile so easily, but it was becoming more frequent as they spent more time together.
"I can't believe how fast these 6 months have gone." Rory said, leaning her head back and closing her eyes. "I feel like I haven't written anything."
"As always, you're too hard on yourself. You just sent me two more chapters last week. And there's, what? Three more left? You're in the home stretch."
"It's just so hard. By the time she's asleep, all I want to do is sleep too." Rory stretched her legs out, and Jess grabbed her feet and laid them in his lap. Rory smiled at the gesture. This was probably the most comfortable position she could imagine.
"It'll get easier." Jess said. "You're kicking ass at this motherhood thing so far."
"Thanks." Rory murmured. She opened her eyes and saw that Jess was looking at her intently, with affection in his eyes.
"What's that look for?" Rory asked, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
Jess shrugged and turned his gaze away, looking instead at where his hand rested on Rory's ankles in his lap.
"So serious." Rory said with a little frown, scooting down so she was closer to him. "What's with the brooding face?"
"This is just how my face looks." Jess retorted, turning to look at her again. Rory realized how close she had moved herself to him. Their faces were inches apart.
"It wasn't an insult." Rory reached out tentatively and touched Jess's cheek. "I like how your brooding face looks."
Jess's mouth quirked up and his eyes got darker as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you have any life-changing news to tell me?"
Rory tilted her head in confusion, inadvertently leaning into Jess's touch. "No, I don't think so."
"Not getting back together with Logan? Not pregnant again?" Jess asked seriously as he caressed her cheek.
"No, definitely not." Rory said with a nervous laugh. "Why would you ask that?"
"Because I'm going to kiss you in a second, and I really don't want you drop a bombshell on me after."
Rory didn't get a chance to respond because Jess was true to his word. He gently brushed his lips against hers. Rory was the one who deepened the kiss. She brought both hands to his face and pulled him closer. He moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck and Rory leaned into him, electricity humming through her body as he nipped gently on her lower lip.
Jess pulled away and looked at Rory warily, as if still waiting for her to tell him something.
"I do have something important to tell you, actually." She said seriously. She looked at Jess, then swung her body around so she was straddling his lap.
"I want you to kiss me again." Rory said, running her hands through Jess's hair as she brought her mouth down to his.
Jess responded by gripping her hips and kissing her fiercely. Rory let out a little moan as he tightened his grip. He slowly began to slide his hands up her shirt, and Rory stiffened with panic when she thought about him seeing or feeling her stretch marks. She brought her hands down to stop his and hesitantly pulled away, breathless.
Jess smirked and rested his hands back on her hips. Rory pressed her forehead against his and whispered, "That part still works."
Jess laughed lightly and said, "That part was never the problem."
Rory smiled and shifted herself back so she was sitting next to him. Jess immediately wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. She responded by resting her head on his chest, closing her eyes and listening to the gentle thud of his heart.
"I guess I should go." Jess said quietly, trailing his fingers up and down Rory's arm.
Rory quietly contemplated his words, and knew that wasn't what she wanted at all. "You could stay."
"Are you sure?" Jess asked.
"Positive." Rory whispered before falling asleep with her head on Jess's chest.
