Thanks for the feedback! A chapter with Jess and baby Annie

Jess is dragged out of sleep. A sound had started and, although Jess tried to ignore it, he was wrenched from his dream. Rubbing his eyes, Jess begrudgingly wakes up as the noise becomes louder. Now that he's awake Jess knows it's Annie, crying plaintively, and unsteadily Jess sits up. Rory is fast asleep, an exhausted frown still on her face, and Jess gently gets out of bed, hoping not to disturb her. Rory mumbles, Jess holds his breath, but his wife lets out a sigh and stays dreaming.

Annie is in her bassinet by the bed. A glance at the clock shows it's two in the morning and Jess silently groans before going to his daughter and lifting her up. Annie's one month old and tiny, light in her father's arms. She settles into the crook of his elbow but still howls and hastily, Jess tiptoes out of the bedroom and downstairs to the kitchen, moving as quickly as he can past the bedrooms where Charlotte and Richie sleep.

"What's up, Annie-girl?" Jess asks gently. "You weren't fed that long ago. I know you're a Gilmore but you can't be hungry yet."

Annie howls indignantly and Jess chuckles, walking around in a circle and patting her back.

"You don't need a fresh diaper, so thank you for that. What's the deal, kiddo?"

Jess looks curiously at his daughter but Annie simply sobs, forming a wet patch on Jess's shoulder. For the most part Annie has been an easier baby than Charlotte or Richie, but every now and then she likes to give them a run for their money. Smiling at her, Jess remarks, "Guess you just can't sleep, huh? Know the feeling."

Carrying her around the kitchen a few more times, Jess finally sinks into a chair, letting out a loud yawn before commenting, "Come on, Annie. You've got to let your old man get some rest and you're a little young for coffee."

His plea is pointless and Jess sighs. "I knew a third kid would be trouble," he teases. "Your big sister's already running circles around me and your brother's already inherited the prank gene….guess Luke'd say I deserve it. It's not so fun when you're the dad. What are you going to be like, huh? I know the coffee addiction will be a given."

Annie hiccups into silence, her blue eyes wide, and Jess laughs out loud.

"So you just wanted some conversation. Well, I get that. You've got the fast-talking gene from Lorelai and Rory and now they've got you to contend with. I just didn't figure it'd kick in so early. You've got to be patient with your dad, Annie-girl. I've still got the monosyllabic thing going on."

Jess gently wipes away some of the tears from Annie's cheeks, giving her a quick kiss.

"You've got Rory's eyes," he tells her. "A few people have said all babies have those eyes but they're Gilmore eyes. Charlotte and Richie have them too. I think you look more like your mom already, but there's some of me in there. I had nights where I didn't sleep either. Jeez, I hope you don't have the prank gene. Maybe you and Richie are going to trade off making my life hell. Something tells me you'll get the sarcasm….just don't give me too much of it when you're a teenager, okay Annie-girl? I'll be dealing with teenagers for a third time by then and I don't know if my heart can handle it. You're pretty exhausting already and you're still so small. You know, I never thought I'd have kids when I was younger."

Annie emits a small sigh and Jess smiles.

"That's right. It wasn't easy, growing up, and even when I figured some stuff out and grew up I still didn't expect to have kids. Never saw myself going for the picket fence deal, you know? But then your mom came back into my life and she was having your big sister, and I loved her so much, and Charlotte so much, that I wanted to give it a shot after all. I mean, there was no question. I was your sister's dad since they put her in my arms. There's a learning curve but I think I'm doing okay. You were a surprise but I'm happy you're here. I've got two daughters. Jess Mariano has a son and two daughters and it's crazy but it's perfect."

Jess looks gently at Annie, her eyes locking on his, and says, "I want you to know I don't expect you to be a certain way. I gave you a hard time about pranks and sarcasm but I'm teasing – you'll get used to that. You be you, Annie, and I'll be there every step of the way. If you love school, if you hate school, if you love it and then you hate it, I'm there. I'm there when your brother and sister give you a hard time or when you're left out and even when you hate me and Rory and I'm not an idiot, I know you'll hate us sometimes. But it's okay. We're never going to stop loving you. It's a scary world sometimes but I'm right here."

Jess brushes his thumb over Annie's tiny hand before saying, "Jeez, who ever thought I'd get this sappy? There's something else I never figured I'd wind up being. Must be getting softhearted in my old age."

Getting up, Jess kisses his daughter's head and suggests, "Okay, kiddo. How about some beauty sleep?"

Jess is answered by a loud wail and, laughing wryly, remarks, "And there's my answer. No to beauty sleep. Okay, okay, we can stay up a little longer but don't wake your mom, okay? She needs her rest and we've got two other kids. Give us a break, huh?"

Annie cries a few more times before snuffling into silence but Jess is strangely awake. Seeing a book on the table, he gingerly lifts it up before setting back into the chair and turning on the light. With Annie resting in his arm, Jess uses his spare hand to turn the pages. It's a little awkward but it works. Some time later Jess jumps as the door opens and Rory comes in, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey," Jess whispers as she walks over. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"No," Rory yawns. "I needed the bathroom and saw you guys were up. Is Annie okay?"

"She exercised her lungs but she's fine now."

"Good," Rory grins. "Trying out her voice already."

"I'm blaming you for that."

Rory laughs and Jess takes her hand, saying, "Hey, why don't you go and get more rest? I know you're tired."

"Understatement, but I'm okay." Rory smiles at them, saying, "Talk about a Kodak moment."

"Go to bed, Gilmore," Jess jokes but he can't stop the happy grin on his face. "We're good. I'll take her up in a minute."

"Okay," Rory agrees, bending over to kiss Jess's cheek and then Annie's. "Goodnight, angel."

"Goodnight," Jess says, making Rory laugh and stick out her tongue. "Goodnight, Dodger."

Annie's eyes flutter open as Rory retreats upstairs but she doesn't cry. Her fingers tighten around Jess's thumb, making Jess smile again.

"I'll tell you all about that too. How I met your mom, made friends with her and fell in love. I was a total goner, Annie. No surprise, huh?"

Jess lies back against the chair cushion. Comfortable, he decides to sit a moment longer, and lifts the book up.

"How about a bedtime story?" he suggests. "Something other than an alphabet book for a change. Here we go." Finding his place, he reads quietly to Annie, her eyes drifting shut to the sound of his voice. Jess is starting to feel a little sleepy himself when a flash lights his eyes, startling him awake.

"Hey!"

Rory is standing there with a camera and a grin and Jess points at her.

"You said you were going back to bed."

"And I said it was a picture spot. Too cute not to add to the album."

Rory puts the camera down as Jess remarks, "I'm falling asleep."

"So it's all the more accurate. Did Annie wake up?"

"Nah. You ran a risk, Gilmore."

"Worth it. You coming up?"

"Just a sec."

"Okay." Rory smiles at them, heading back out and leaving father and daughter alone. Jess looks down at his girl. She's too small to read, to write but Jess knows Annie has all the words.