Sorry about the delay in this story! I got a bit of writer's block, plus I've been really busy as well. But I'm back now so here's the next chapter. :)
Chapter 9
A few months had passed and several things had happened in Stars Hollow in that time. Rory and Tristan were going strong and Luke had started, albeit grudgingly, to accept Tristan. He had to admit that he was a decent guy and Rory really seemed to like him. Rory had also surprisingly become friends with Paris. Ever since they'd gone to the Bangles concert with Madeline and Louise, they'd bonded and Paris had even offered to share the debating time with her in a school presentation they had to do. Although Rory knew there could still be a bit of hostility there, she was happy to accept any sort of friendship with Paris. It definitely made school a lot easier. Sookie and Jackson had also started dating. Sookie had begged Lorelai and Luke to go on a double date with them the first time as she was nervous she would make a fool of herself. However, everything went smoothly and they had been dating ever since and couldn't be happier. However, something that had happened during the few months since Christmas was the deterioration of Katherine's health. She had become much weaker and didn't leave the apartment much. She had insisted on staying at home as she wanted to be around family. Jess had been staying in the apartment as well a lot more. The deterioration of her health had really put a dampener on the atmosphere in the Danes household as they knew she wouldn't be getting better.
One Saturday, Rory headed up to the apartment. "Hi Grandma." She smiled as she saw her sat on the couch with a blanket over her, watching some tv.
"Morning sweetheart." Katherine smiled warmly at her granddaughter.
"Is it ok if I borrow Jess?" She asked.
Jess looked up from his bed where he had been lying reading a book.
"Of course." Katherine said.
"Come on. We're going to have a cousin day!" Rory said to Jess.
"A cousin day?" He asked.
"Yeah! I figured we could go to the bookstore in town and then go grab something to eat." Rory said.
"Why?" Jess asked confused.
"Do I need a reason to hang out with my cousin?" She asked.
Jess glanced over at Katherine. "I can't leave." He said quietly.
"Oh nonsense." Katherine interrupted him. "Go. Go have fun." She insisted.
"But..." Jess started protest.
"Jess, I'm not an invalid." Katherine said softly. "I really appreciate you staying here more frequently but I promise I will be fine for a few hours."
"Plus mom said she might bring Katie and LJ over at some point." Rory added. "Please Jess?" She said.
Jess sighed but got off his bed. "Are you sure you'll be ok?" He asked his Grandma.
"I'll be fine." Katherine assured him.
"Ok." Jess said. He glanced at Rory. "Let's go."
Rory smiled and went to give Katherine a kiss. "Bye. We'll come back here afterwards."
"Have fun." Katherine smiled. She looked at Jess. "And I mean it. If I've heard you've not had fun, you'll have me to answer to." She joked.
Jess smirked slightly. "Ok. I'll see you later."
"See you later." Katherine smiled as she watched them leave. She let out a sigh when they'd gone. She knew that her family had all been finding it hard. She didn't want them to be sad. She just wanted to enjoy the time she had left.
Jess and Rory were walking side by side down the main shopping street after taking the bus into Hartford to go to a bookstore. Rory glanced at him. "I know this is the last thing you want to do. I just feel like we should have a fun day." She said quietly.
"Don't really feel in the mood to have a fun day." Jess grumbled.
"I know! I don't particularly feel like it either but this is what Grandma would want. You know she doesn't want us being sad." Rory said. She saw Jess open his mouth to say something but she interrupted him. "I know it sucks. Everything that's happening with Grandma sucks but you're not the only one suffering with it, Jess." She exclaimed. "I just wanted one happy day." She said quietly. "Home isn't exactly the happiest place right now."
Jess glanced at her and saw the emotion in her face. "Sorry." He said quietly.
Rory sighed. "I just want one day where I can forget all the crap happening right now. We used to have fun, remember? Before we found out about Grandma. We used to come to this bookstore once a month and then go and get a pretzel from the kiosk across the road afterwards." She said smiling slightly at the memory. "I miss that. I miss hanging with you."
Jess sighed. "I miss it too." He admitted. He glanced at her. "I'm sorry. I know it's hard for all of us. I just...I guess I just don't react well to these things."
"None of us do." Rory said softly. "But we need to stick together. Grandma would want that."
"Yeah." Jess said quietly.
"I'm worried about dad." Rory admitted. "I can see him withdrawing already. I'm worried this will really break him."
Jess glanced at her as they walked into the bookstore. "It's really that bad at home?" He asked.
Rory sighed. "He acts all normal infront of me, Katie and LJ but I can tell he's forcing it. I remember back when Grandpa...when Grandpa died. I know I was young but I noticed a change in dad. He acted like everything was fine infront of me but I could tell everything was far from fine. He wasn't talking as much and he stopped coming to the cabin with me and Grandma. I know that was because of Grandpa. I'm just...I'm worried he will be even worse." She said quietly.
"Well then I guess the sticking together really does matter." Jess said. "We'll all be here for each other."
"I know." Rory said. "But I know this is going to hit him hard. I mean I can't even imagine losing either mom or dad, let alone both of them. I mean I know the first 7 years weren't exactly the most normal for me but it was different. I knew mom was around and dad kept telling me she would come."
Jess nodded. "Yeah." He said quietly. "I guess this has got me appreciating my relationship with my mom a bit more. It's made me glad that it's improved."
Rory nodded. She sighed. "Anyway, sorry, this is meant to be a happy day and I'm the one bringing the mood down."
"It's fine." Jess said. "You know you can always talk to me right? I know I haven't exactly been around lately but I'm here if you need to talk."
"Thanks." Rory said giving him a small smile.
"How are Katie and LJ?" Jess asked.
"LJ's oblivious. He's too young to really understand. I kind of envy that. But I know Katie's noticed the mood change. She knows Grandma's not well." She sighed.
"Maybe she needs a happy day as well." Jess suggested.
Rory smiled at that. "I think she'd like that."
They skimmed the shelves for a bit and found a couple of books each that they bought.
"Now I seem to remember you mentioning pretzels." Jess smirked.
Rory laughed. "I love how your secret junk food addiction comes out when you're with me!"
Jess chuckled. "Well those pretzels are pretty good."
"Pretty good?" Rory exclaimed. "Pretty good?! They're amazing!" She exclaimed dramatically.
Jess smirked. "Well lead the way then, cuz."
Rory grinned and they headed off to get their pretzels.
A few hours later after hanging around town and trying to forget what was happening at home, Jess and Rory finally headed to the bus station to get the bus back. They found some seats and sat down.
"Thanks. Today's been nice." Rory smiled at Jess.
Jess smiled. "Yeah it has been." He admitted.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while as the bus pulled off and headed back towards Stars Hollow.
"So everything's going well with you and Tristan?" Jess asked casually.
Rory smiled. "Yeah it's good."
Jess nodded. "He's treating you well?"
Rory smiled at that. "He's been great. Really."
"Good." Jess said.
"You're just like dad." Rory teased him. "Am I going to get the promise that you'll go and hunt him down if he hurts me speech?"
Jess smirked. "Well if he's treating you well then I won't have to, will I?"
Rory grinned and leant her head on his shoulder. "I love that you care. Thank you." She said. "But Tristan's been great with everything. Honestly."
"Good." Jess smiled.
Just then Rory's cell rang and she smiled as she saw the caller id. "Hi mom!" She answered.
"Hey sweets." Lorelai said quietly.
"What's wrong?" Rory asked immediately sensing the tone.
"Are you and Jess on your way back?" She asked.
"Yeah, we're about 10 minutes away." Rory said.
"Ok, when you get here, could you call a cab and get yourselves to the hospital?" Lorelai said softly.
"The hospital?" Rory said worried, glancing at Jess who was looking worried as well. "Mom, what's happened?" She exclaimed.
"It's your Grandma, hon. She's collapsed. We've had to take her to hospital." She said softly.
"Oh my god..." Rory said her heart sinking. "Is she ok? What happened?"
"Hon, I think you should come. I'll explain everything when you get here." Lorelai said.
"Mom..." Rory said quietly.
"Please. Just come. I promise I'll explain everything when you get here. But I really think you should come." Lorelai said softly.
"Ok. Uh...we'll get a cab straight away." Rory said quietly.
"Ok. Good. We'll see you soon." Lorelai said.
Rory hung up and realised her hands were shaking. "Grandma's in hospital." She told Jess. "Oh my god, you were right. We shouldn't have gone out today. I should have listened to you!" She exclaimed.
Jess saw the tears well up in her eyes and took hold of her hands. "Rory calm down." He said softly.
"What if this is it? And I dragged you out to town when we could have been spending the day with her!" Rory exclaimed.
"Grandma's had these bad spells before. It could just be that. We should wait until we get to the hospital before we come to any conclusions." Jess said.
"I know but...I don't know Jess. Mom's sounded different. I don't know how but I could tell." Rory said blinking back tears.
Jess swallowed a lump in her throat but knew he had to stay strong for Rory. She was right. It was different. Normally when their Grandma had experienced bad spells before and if they weren't around, Lorelai and Luke would make sure to call them after it had all happened to assure them everything was ok. "Come on." He said quietly. "We're back."
Rory followed Jess numbly off the bus and watched as he rang for a cab. "Jess, I'm so sorry..." She said quietly after he had hung up.
Jess just went over and hugged her. "We have to stay positive. She could be fine." He said.
"Yeah. She could be fine." Rory said quietly, reciprocating his hug but both of them couldn't help but have that dreaded feeling that it wasn't.
I know it's a sad chapter but I hoped you liked it! Sorry again for the delay! Please keep your reviews coming! Thanks! :)
