Disclaimer: Life is so cruel.
Summary: Jess, the best man, is back in town for Luke and Lorelai's wedding...with his 6 month old son. How will the town react? How will Rory react? RJ. Post Season 5. R&R!
AN: Ah, yes. The last chapter was short. Really Short. But it didn't feel right putting anything else with that little scene. This one will definitely satisfy your GG cravings, and definitely leave your jaws dropping. In a good way. I hope. So here goes the last chapter. Enjoy.
The chairs had been set up behind the Dragon Fly. The leaves that had fallen so far were cleared away, leaving a grassy pathway in the middle of the hordes of people waiting in anticipation.
All were silent as Lorelai made her way down the aisle. Most of the guests, Lorelai noted, were either taken aback by her appearance, or too busy crying. Morey patted Babette's back as she sniffed. Sookie was fanning her eyes, determined not to cry, which, Jackson reminded her, led to blubbering. Michel, too, looked uncomfortable, biting his lip in an attempt to hide his emotions.
Out of her peripheral view, Lorelai saw Emily and Richard sitting a few rows from the front. She pushed thoughts of them out of her mind, smiling at Luke and fighting back tears of her own. She stepped under the ornately carved huppah that had been draped in white lace.
Rory and Jess took two empty seats in the front row, leaving Lorelai and Luke alone with Reverend Skinner, who began the ceremony.
"We're gathered here today to celebrate the love and union of Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes…"
The reception, held in the town square, had come into full swing. Luke and Lorelai had already shared their first dance as husband and wife. Mrs. Kim had successfully talked them into hiring Hep Alien to play at wedding. Everyone danced as the band played on.
Rory laughed and Jess groaned when the band began the first riffs of "White Wedding" and Zach began singing in a deep, moody voice.
Lorelai and Luke sat themselves at a large table placed off to the side of the dance floor. It had been steadily filling up with wedding gifts for the past hour and it was a wonder that it held up with all the weight. A sudden clamor of squealing occurred after Lorelai opened her gift from Rory.
"I'm so happy you're going back to Yale!" Lorelai said, giving Rory a giant bear hug.
"Air." Rory said. Lorelai released her death grip and showed Luke the papers.
Jess casually slipped his arm around Rory. She looked at him, confused, as he led her away from the table, but smiled when she realized he was taking her onto the dance floor. She let Jess lead as a slow song played.
"Where's Jacob?" She asked.
"Oh, being admired by all the ladies. I think he gets it from me." He pointed over to a table, where Jacob was surrounded by Miss Patty, Babette, and Sookie.
"Along with a cowlick and morning crankiness." Rory added.
"Everyone is cranky in the morning." He noted.
"How many alarm clocks have you gone through this month?" Rory asked.
Jess was silent. "Two or three." He muttered.
Rory raised her eyebrows.
"They had it comin'. Waking me up like that." Jess said.
"Damn dirty clocks." She said, and laughed as Jess dipped her back.
Lorelai smiled as she watched Rory and Jess dance until she saw Luke's face.
"What's wrong?" He only nodded his head to the right. Lorelai turned and saw Emily approach the table, gift in hand. Lorelai took a sharp intake of air and prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation.
"Mom." Lorelai's voice was neutral and steady.
"Congratulations. It was a beautiful ceremony." Emily stated, looking almost nervous.
"Thank You."
Emily seemed to realize why she was there and handed Lorelai the box in her hand.
"What's this?" Lorelai asked.
"In occasions such as these, it's customary for guests to-" Lorelai cut her off.
"I know that, Mom. I'm just asking what the gift is."
"Three years ago, you called off your wedding to Max. And when you found out that I had gotten you a wedding gift, you asked me what it was."
"And you never did tell me." Lorelai complained.
"That's right. I told you I would give it to you the day you did get married."
Lorelai was silent. She looked down at the neatly wrapped present and began tearing the paper away.
"Y-you…You got me a Hello Kitty blender?" Lorelai looked up at her mother with glassy eyes. Every gift Emily had ever gotten Lorelai was practical. Useful. But never Lorelai. She was awed at the fact that her mother had finally grasped a small piece of her personality. Be it Hello Kitty or whatever. It was a giant leap for the Emily Gilmore that Lorelai knew.
"I was looking through a catalogue and found it. It matched that ridiculous waffle iron of yours. You are so difficult to shop for, so I compromised."
"It's wonderful, Mom. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Emily revealed a small, tight, smile, and quietly left the two newlyweds to the remainder of the reception.
"Jess, sweetheart. I think the little guy needs his diaper changed." Miss Patty walked over, handing Jacob to him.
"I'll be right back.Rory nodded.
Jess made his way across the street to Luke's. He stood for a moment, fumbling with the keys, and had just managed to open the door when a man appeared beside him.
"Jess Mariano?" The man asked. He had an air of formality, dressed in a dark business suit.
"Do I know you?" Jess was very apprehensive. Even more so when the strange man handed him a large manila envelope.
"The hearing is in March," he responded. "I suggest you hire a good lawyer."
Jess stared, confused, as the man walked to a black Mercedes and drove away. He waited until he had gotten inside Luke's old apartment and had changed Jacob's diaper before opening the envelope. A million things were running through his mind. Jess assumed that someone was suing him. He couldn't think of anyone he worked with, as he saw them very rarely. There would be little reason for a client to file suit for anything.
He pulled the small stack of papers and skimmed the front page, looking for an answer. Instead, Jess received a shock to his system. In small type under a New York State Courts letterhead read:
Plaintiff: Mann, Haylie
Defendant: Mariano, Jess
Reason for suit: Custody of minor
Minor: Mariano, Jacob
Hearing: 03/23/2006, Family Courts
That was all that Jess could read. He set the papers down with a shaking hand. Why? He thought. Why would she do this now? How could she? Jess had been the only parent in Jacob's life. Haylie had wanted nothing to do with such a huge responsibility. The only thing that had stopped her from getting an abortion was the fact that she had was too far along in the pregnancy by the time she found out about it. The thought of Jacob never existing scared the living hell out of Jess and he removed such thoughts from his mind.
He found it hard, though, to stop thinking about what would happen if he did lose custody of his son. Jess didn't think he could live with that. Jacob was his life, he was the reason for Jess getting his act together.
Jess scarcely noticed Rory enter the room. She looked at him with concern. His breathe was as shaky as his hands. The color had drained from his skin.
"Jess? What's the matter? Are you sick?" She questioned. Jess said nothing. After a moment he stood up and picked Jacob up from the playpen, rocking him gently as the infant gave way to sleep.
Rory had noticed the official looking papers on the table. She let out a small gasp and her hand covered her mouth.
"Oh my god." She said. "When did you-?
"Just now." Rory looked back at the papers. Her appearance almost mirrored Jess'.
"I suggest you hire a good lawyer."
That was what the man had said. As long as he was Jacob's father, there was no way in hell that Haylie would take his son away from him. Jess silently vowed to find the best goddamn lawyer there was. Jacob was his life.
And he was going to fight for it.
A/N: Shocked? Outraged? Aghast! I would be too, if I hadn't been planning it since the beginning of the story. This is the end of WOTC. But, no fear, there will be a sequel. I already have a working title, summary, and main idea of the storyline, so rest assured you will not be left hanging. REVIEW! Let me know what you think of this final, nail biting chapter.