Chapter Eleven
We pulled into the Dragonfly's parking lot and parked the car. Jess popped the trunk and took out mine and Oliver's bag, as well as his own. After he slung both bags over his shoulder, I took Oliver out and placed him on my hip, his head falling onto my shoulder as he continued to sleep. I kissed his forehead as we walked in and got our key from Michel, then made our way up to the room.
"I miss it here," I smiled as we walked in, Jess sliding the bags down near the dressers.
He flopped down on the queen size bed in the middle of the room and turned his head to the cot that was set up for Oliver; Mom placed the blanket that he uses at her house on the cot with a stuff animal.
"I could do without it," Jess mumbled, ran a hand down his tired looking face.
I rolled my eyes and walked over to the cot to put Oliver down, "He passed out so quickly."
"He always sleeps during car rides," Jess shrugged still using that tone of voice, sitting up and watching me as I tucked Oliver in, "Plus, it's passed his bedtime."
I shrugged, "Okay, I'm going to take a quick shower and call Mom to tell her we got here, can you go down to the kitchen and get some snacks?"
Jess nodded while yawning, "Sure."
I smiled at him and walked into the bathroom while dialing my mother's number. After announcing we were in Stars Hallow and making plans to meet at Luke's in the morning, I got off the phone with her and took a shower. I got out and dried myself off, taking my time brushing my teeth and brushing out my hair. I wrapped the towel around myself and ventured out into the room, picking up my bag and placing it on the bed; I grabbed some pajamas and heard the door click open.
"Hey, I got some ice cream and cook-" Jess stopped short as I turned around, "Oh sorry," He covered his eyes, smirking, "Didn't know you wouldn't be dressed yet."
I breathed in and immediately felt embarrassed, "Um… uh it's fine, Jess. Here just let me get into the bathroom…"
His arm dropped from his face and he stared at me letting out a light chuckle, "Ror, it's nothing I haven't seen before; I was just joking."
"Uh excuse me?" I scoffed, standing in the bathroom doorway with my arms cross over my chest, holding my pajamas, "You haven't seen me since I gave birth to your kin. So yes, it is something you haven't seen before."
He rolled his eyes and popped a cookie into his mouth. He glanced at me from the corner of his eyes and smirked while he chewed and walked to the small desk, placing the food on its surface, "Get over it, Ror."
I rolled my eyes at his amused look and stepped backwards into the bathroom and closed the door. I got dressed quickly and hung the towel up on the rack, going out into the main room and seeing the lights turned off with Jess lounging on the bed. He spooned some ice cream into his mouth and looked up from the TV to me; he patted the bed as I made my way over and climbed over the pulled down blankets to sit beside him.
I took the spoon Jess handed me and smiled in thanks. I spooned some of the ice cream into my mouth and turned my attention to the movie that was playing on the TV, "What are we watching?"
He shrugged, "I don't know, it was on the TV when I turned it on."
I nodded and glanced over at Oliver who was curled up away from us and was sleeping soundly, "We're meeting Mom and Luke at the diner tomorrow morning."
"I'm not waking up early."
"I never said you had to," I shot back and took a bite of a cookie, "It'll be around 11:30- and if you're still sleeping when we leave, you can stay here."
"Whoa," Jess raised an eyebrow at me, "What's with you?"
"Nothing," I finished my cookie and glanced at him; he gave me a look and I rolled my eyes, "It's just if you're going to be so negative this weekend, you should've just stayed in New York."
Jess stayed silent for a moment and looked over the seriousness in my face, "Ror…"
"No, Jess seriously- I'm not going to deal with it this weekend. We're in Stars Hallow and I want to enjoy myself."
"I didn't mean anything," Jess shrugged and looked down; he hated confrontation, "Rory, I'm sorry. I'm just… it's this place…"
I shrugged, "It's home."
"Yours, maybe."
"It's yours too," I shook my head, "And hey, it's where we met so later on down the line we could have that wonderful baby of ours."
He shrugged again, "Whatever."
I shrugged and mocked him, "Whatever."
Jess tried to hide the smirk that was forming and glanced back to the TV, "Watch the damn movie, crazy."
"You love me," I stuck my tongue out and turned my attention to the TV as well.
**
"My babies!" My mother chimed as we walked into the diner.
She stood up quickly and ran over to me, hugging tightly and squishing Oliver who was placed on my hip, "Hey Mom!"
"I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," She hugged even tighter and kissed my forehead, then Oliver's, "Oh I missed you two."
"Missed you too, Grandma!" Oliver mumbled into her hair, "But you're squishing me!"
She laughed and pulled back, taking Oliver from me and placing him on her hip, "Well that's just too bad!" Oliver giggled when my mother hugged him to her and then looked up at me, "I got us a table over here."
I nodded and looked over to Jess who was in the middle of yawning. I narrowed my eyes at him and hit his stomach, making him let out a 'ouf' sound and glare playfully at me. I smiled brightly at him and then made my way over to the table in the corner. I sat in a chair across from my mother and Jess sat beside me and across from Oliver.
"Hey Jess," My mother smiled at him, "How's the new store?"
"It's coming along," He nodded and smiled back at her; Jess glanced between the two of us, "Coffee?"
"Please," My mother and I said in unison.
Jess stood up and went behind the counter to grab us mugs and poured the black liquid in. Luke came out of the kitchen and looked surprised to see Jess there; he gave the younger one a hug and they talked, briefly glancing over at the table. Jess saw I was glancing at him and smirked at me.
"Can you not undress him with your eyes with your child right in front of you?" My mother mock gasped.
I snapped my attention to her, "What are you talking about?"
She rolled her eyes at me and smiled innocently, "Nothing…" She stroked Oliver's hair as he coloured on some paper Mom had laid out for him, "So Jess decided to come?"
I nodded, "Yeah, it's a small family vacation from New York."
"Sounds nice."
"It is- it's really nice," I nodded and smiled at her.
"You're beaming," My mother noticed, her face turning to surprised as she leaned forward and whispered, "Did you and Jess have sex?"
"Mom!" I squeaked out, "Oliver is right there!"
"Well I know you guys have before," She rolled her eyes, "I meant recently… You're too happy."
"I can't be happy?" I raised an eyebrow.
"No you can… It just seems to me that it's over the top."
"No."
"No…?"
"No, we didn't have s-e-x," I informed her, feeling the blush rising up my cheeks and I glanced at Oliver, "I'm just happy; is that so bad?"
My mother shrugged and was about to say something when Jess walked back over with our coffee. I smiled at him and took a big gulp, staring at my mother with stern eyes, silently telling her not to say anything more.
After breakfast was done we all set out to enjoy some of the festivities that were lining the town square. Jess walked along side of me with Oliver up on his shoulders and my mother walked in the other side, arm-in-arm with Luke. Mom and Luke waved at us as they walked to the character sketches and we made our way to the cotton candy booth.
"Well hello there sugar!" Babette greeted us as we walked up, "It's nice to see you!" She leaned forward over the table and hugged me.
I hugged her back and glared at Jess who had an amused look on his face, "Oh… it's nice to see you too, Babette!"
"How've you been?"
"Oh good," I nodded, "Just taking some down time to come for the fair."
"Great!" She squeaked out and then looked at Jess and Oliver, "Hey Jess!" Jess mumbled 'hello' and lifted Oliver from his shoulders, resting him on the ground, "Hey babe! Want some blue candy floss?"
Oliver nodded excitedly and looked up at me, "Can I, Momma?"
"Sure," I nodded, handing some money to Babette as she started swirling the paper cone around the metal wheel.
"Here you go, Sugar!" She handed him the cotton candy and waved the money off, "Don't worry about it, hun! This one's on the house."
"Are you sure?" I asked, still holding out the bill. Babette nodded again and shook her hand at me; I smiled and thanked her.
"Lane's band is playing in the gazebo," Jess noted to me, nodding to the right.
I followed his movement and saw the four of them playing. I waved to Babette and started walking off, holding Oliver's hand as he shoved his mouth full of the brightly coloured floss. Jess walked on the other side of our son, both hands in his jacket.
We stood in front of the gazebo and watched as they played along to a soft tempo song. To the right of the gazebo, there was a shoveled wooden dance floor with obnoxious plastic red hearts lining it, icicle lights hanging from string above it for when it gets dark. The other side of the gazebo was two tables that were serving hot chocolate, coffee and biscotti from Fran's Bakery.
Jess walked to stand beside me and bumped hips with me, "You know, I think this is the first time in a long while I've seen you actually calm."
I rolled my eyes playfully at him, "Oh hush you!"
"I'm being serious!" Jess chuckled, "You look serene."
I shrugged, "It's good to be home." He smirked at me and threw an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. I smiled at him and glanced down to Oliver who was grinning ear to ear, "What's going on, buddy?"
He looked up at me and pointed to Lane, "Aunt Lane is right there!"
I smiled at looked up to the musicians playing in the gazebo, waiting to see if she noticed us yet. Her eyes locked with mine and she grinned, matching Oliver's look and finished the song.
She got up and quickly ran over to us, "Rory!"
I let go of Oliver's hand and slipped out from Jess' arm to meet Lane; we both embraced and laughed at ourselves, "Hey, I missed you!"
"I missed you too!" She giggled, pulling back and glancing me over, "How are you? Good? Bad? Do I have to beat up Jess?" Her eyes flickered to behind me. I shook my head and laughed, "Good, 'cause you look happy and I wouldn't want to ruin that!"
I grinned at her and hugged her again. I pulled away, "I'm good and happy," I laughed, "How are you? Zach and the boys?"
"They're good!" She beamed, "I can't believe they're going to be three this year!" She shook her head, "Getting too old for them, but Oliver! Geez he looks big!" She looked around me and waved, her face never falling, "Hey buddy!"
Oliver let go of Jess' hand and ran up to his Aunt. Lane picked him up and held him close to her, "Aunt Lane! I saw you playing!"
"Yeah?" She questioned, pulling away, "Was I good?"
Oliver nodded quickly, "Where's Uncle Zach?"
"He's cleaning some stuff up and then going to go check on Kwon and Steve, but I'm sure you'll see him tonight!"
I felt someone place their hand on the small of my back and I moved my head to see who it was. Jess smirked down at me and lifted his hand up to Lane, "Hey."
"Hey Jess," Lane nodded, "Treating these two well, I hope?"
"Always," Jess smirked at her, "How are you?"
"I'm good," She smiled, "You?"
He shrugged, "Not bleeding or anything."
"Well…" Lane nodded to him and then turned to me as Oliver slid down her leg, "I should go with Zach to see our boys!" She beamed again, "But I'll see you guys later on tonight right?"
We all nodded. I hugged her again, "See you tonight."
"Momma, what's happening tonight?" Oliver questioned, finishing his cotton candy and looking up at me.
"Something for the adults," I shrugged, "I think you're going to be with Grandma Lorelai, Grandpa Luke and Aunt Lane's kids."
He nodded, "Okay. But you'll tuck me into bed?"
"Sure buddy," Jess answered, "But it might be a little early."
"But it's Saturday!" Oliver complained.
"Well, how about we tuck you in, but you can stay up with the other kids?"
Oliver nodded in agreement and we started walking towards another booth. Oliver grabbed onto my hand and a few seconds later, Jess wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close. I smiled up at him and wrapped my free arm around his waist. I sighed in contentment as I felt Jess brush his lips lightly to my temple and breathe out.
Yeah, this is nice.
--
A/N: Hey guys, so here's the next chappppy! lemme know what you think? did it seem a bit rushed? i dunno. but how about you let me know what should happen at the "adults part" of the night only! it'll be greatly appreciated, so lemme know! :) ohh &i'm working on some new stuff but i don't know if i should do it for One Tree Hill or Gilmore Girls. so thoughts on that too? - not going to give the plot away that much, but it'll have to deal with a male character having an... unusual job haha (i think). so let me know guys! thanks for reading, commenting &fav/alerting! it makes me smile everytime! :)