Celeste and Jess spent the evening in Penn's landing and Spruce Street Harbour park - walking, grabbing something casual to eat and just talking. Besides their evenings that they had to themselves at home, there really hadn't been such time in ages. It reminded them of the time they'd spent in Paris a few years back, despite the less than pleasant reason for the trip itself - mostly dealing with Celeste's legal matters - the time they'd spent killing time there had been just that - just hanging out, getting even more acquainted and only really confirming how good they were together.
"You know, what you said the other day - about me not seeming very happy at work - it got me thinking," Jess began, as they laid in the net hammocks above the water, snacking on some chips with salsa. They briefly considering going out for a fancier dinner, but somehow that seemed too formal, too controlled, both of them just wanting to be around each other without the constant interrpution of waiters or etiquette.
"So, what, you're thinking about quitting?" Celeste asked, somewhat surprisedly.
"I don't know. I don't want to just drop everything. But the book is something, and I just got to thinking that I actually liked simply editing quite a lot more than the managing part of this. I mean I haven't read anything exciting in months, and I'm supposed to know these things - I want to feel that excitement," he said. "And I don't know, just being the author is too insecure to my liking, but maybe I should speak to Logan," he pondered.
"You could," she replied, as she bit on some edamame. Having Logan as good friend meant a lot of flexibility when it came ot his work - not everything had to be offically documented, he had the opportunity just to pick his brain.
"You wouldn't mind?" Jess inquired, feeling a little bad, as giving up the manager job felt like a step back somehow. There would've been a loss of income, and while they would've been in no way struggling even with that loss, it would limit some flexibility they'd grown accustomed to.
"I'd be a hypocrite if I did," Celeste stated plainly.
"You have a right to your opinion - I know it's not as prestigious, it's less flexible on taking time off..." he began listing some of the reasons he'd considered.
Celeste knew all this.
"Since when do you care about prestige? I would've figured you'd jump at the chance to avoid the HPG meetings and cocktail parties, the gala even," Celeste raised her eyebrows at him.
"Well, I don't," he chuckled. He worried rather if she would mind it. There was so little left of her former lifestyle, and this would mean ripping apart a lot of that what was left as well.
"You think I do?" she exclaimed, as if reading his mind. "Well I don't," she replied without waiting for a reply, seeing he was looking doubtful, adding, "I really don't," almost scoldingly, realizing he wasn't quite believing her. "I mean sure, it's nice to get dressed up, but I'm sure we can find reasons for that without having to be invited to something like that," she tried to convince him.
"I haven't decided anything, I'm just putting it out there. Just think about it, okay?" Jess added. He had had a few beers, and with the high the company and freedom was on its own, he really didn't think this was the time to make life-altering decisions.
"Jess, really… whatever you want to do, I have your back. You've had mine, it's the least I can do," she confirmed, settling even more comfortably into his side. Her therapy had really been working, while not everything was fixed - her life lackin still some of that aim, the meds and the sessions were helping.
"And what about you? I hate to push it - but any ideas what you want to do?" he asked, apologetically. He couldn't deny that what he chose to do, depended a little on what she wanted to do as well.
"Hey, you can ask all you want," Celeste said, hating to see him worry about her, to hesitate to ask. The fact that he did came as no surprise, but still it made her feel a little guilty for still not having figured out her goals. "I'm not sure, I just want to get the book done. I want to see how that feels," she explained her preliminary goal. "Sometimes I just think that maybe my expectations are too high, that there really is very little that can live up to what I once had, and just by that I'm destined to fail in finding that something," she shared.
"Then try something less grand, volunteering or something," he suggested with a shurg, saying the first thing that popped into his mind.
"Yeah, but it's seem all so anonymous you know, volunteers are treated like something expendable in New York - I'm not sure if that's quite what I want. But you're probably right about trying simpler things," she admitted.
They'd talked well into the night, recalling all the books they'd read about people changing their life around in search for happiness - and there truly were many and it gave them both some inspiration that perhaps something that was so universal, wasn't really reason for either of them to feel discouraged that they hadn't found that yet. They'd found each other, which was more than many people could say.
Rory woke reluctantly - it was far too early to wake, no more than 5.30 AM, but her bladder was demanding it, and she kept having this strange ache by her ribs each time she moved. It seemed that the babies were intending on training her for the sleepless nights from early on.
She staggered into the bathroom, her eyes still barely open, feeling odd - like the heaviness on her stomach was off somehow. It was has she finally sat there, her eyes beginning to make sense of her surroundings she properly looked down on her bump.
It looked uneven, miss-shaped - nothing like the even roundness she'd gotten used to seeing. It felt strange too, influencing her balance slightly and making it uncomfortable to sit, as if pressing something against her ribs.
"Logan," she nudged her sleeping husband, as she returned to the bedroom.
"What?" Logan mumbled without opening his eyes.
"Something's up with the bump," she added worriedly. With Finny she'd never felt like this and since her last appointment had been nearly a month ago, she was feeling a little concerned.
"What?!" he reacted, pulling himself up to sit, while Rory switched on the bedside lamp.
"Why's my bump this shape!?" she exclaimed.
Logan was still squinting his eyes, trying to make sense of everything, as Rory pulled up the tank top she'd been wearing that night, exposing her large, smooth bump with a few stretch marks around her belly button.
"I'm not a doctor, Rory - maybe they just...moved?" Logan made the only logical assumption he could think of.
"It feels weird, high and low at the same time, like I shouldn't be sitting down, I feel like my ribs are up against something, it hurts too," Rory worried.
"Want me to get your mom?" Logan suggested. Lorelai had slept over in the guest bed they'd kept in the nursery for now, their number of guest bedrooms having diminished to zero with Maya living in one of them. So much for a large penthouse!
"Are you suicidal?" Rory scolded, noting the time.
"Should I call Paris? Or the doctor's office? They do have that 24/7 number," Logan proposed.
"I think it might be wise," Rory replied, rubbing the side of her bump that seemed to be under most tension.
"Alright, I'll call," he rose from the bed, and dialled the number he'd saved under emergency contacts.
Rory settled back to the bed, propping her body pillow between her legs and under her bump - it literally felt like the only position where she didn't feel something against her ribs, realizing that if she tried to turn at all, she'd be hit with a nasty pain under her ribs.
"Hi, this is Logan Huntzberger, calling on behalf of Lorelai Huntzberger," he said as he heard someone pick up. "She's 26 weeks yesterday, she's expecting twins. She said she feels like there's something off with the bump - it looks a little uneven and said her ribs are hurting badly," he explained.
Logan nodded as he listened to the person on the other side.
"Any back pain or Braxton-Hicks?" he asked Rory.
Rory shook her head.
"No, doesn't seem to have any of those," he explained.
"But I really think she would feel more comfortable if someone did," he insisted.
"Good," he added after a while, and disconnected the call.
"They're sending someone to check on you," Logan said. "But they seemed to think it was just that that they might have moved so one it pushed up," he added.
"I just hope they're okay," Rory said, worrying she might be somehow crusing one of them with her ribs.
"Any kicks?" he asked.
"There were a few hours ago, but not now," she noted.
"Alright, I'll get dressed, they said the doctor shouldn't be very long. Want something to eat?" he replied practically.
It was barely twenty minutes later when Logan's phone was altered by someone at the elevator coming up and he up to meet them.
"Hey, Logan," Paris greeted as she stepped out of the elevator, surprising him.
"Paris, I wasn't expecting you," he replied.
"Oh, I was on call, and not that far, made sense that I came," she explained, eyeing questionably around the place to look for Rory. Paris lived in Hartford these days, having chosen a place closer to Chilton, but she still had a place in Upper-East Side and on occassion as some of her other doctors were on holiday or sick, she too took up some shifts here in New York as well.
"In the bedroom," he replied, gesturing to Paris who was carrying a large technical briefcase downstairs, refusing his help in carrying it.
It must've been something about the Paris' pitch that had awaken Lorelai and by the time Paris had greeted Rory and began to unpack her things Lorelai came to see what the commotion was about.
"What's going on?" Lorelai asked, with a wide yawn.
"She was just experiencing some discomfort, we'll just make sure everything is okay," Paris explained.
"Paris, hi," Lorelai replied, only then really registering that Rory was in bed while Paris was looking her over, the blood pressure cuff placed on her arm.
"So you're saying it hurts by your ribs?" Paris asked as she'd finished taking her vitals.
"Yeah, like this very intense pressure, it's sharper if I try to turn. It's worse when I'm sitting," she explained.
"Let's do an ultrasound and see what's going on," Paris suggested, opening her portable ultrasound machine and asking Logan to kill the lights.
"Wow, I didn't know they made these things in portable versions," Rory noted.
"Yup, that's what I thought," Paris commented confidently, having spent a few minutes rolling around her stomach. "Baby A is taking up most of the space here in the middle, making the stomach a little uneven like this, but as she seems to be a little bigger, so they've moved a bit so that baby B is now pushed up, almost past your ribs. The good news is baby B is head down already, we can just hope she decides to stay that way. Baby B in transverse position," Paris explained.
"But is that normal? Am I hurting her if I sit?" Rory asked.
"Well, normal is an overstatement, but it happens. There's only so much room in there so they move where they feel there's room," Paris added. "You're obviously going to have to sit a little, but I do recommend you avoid it if possible, the stress from the pain to yourself isn't helping anyone either," she said.
"The babies are doing okay, heartbeats okay?" Logan asked, sounding concerned.
Lorelai observed the three from the sidelines.
"Yeah, heartbeats are steady. You should have an appointment next week, right?" Paris asked.
"Yeah, Friday," she replied. "Ugh, that was just a painful kick. I was getting a little worried, they must've been asleep for a few hours," Rory noted.
"Just take it easy, lie down as much as possible, if you feel up to it, go for a swim or walk. Some say breast strokes help. Just don't sit for extended periods of time if you can help it, try lifting the seat back up in the car if you can, keep your back straight, try sitting on an exercise ball - minimize the pain. They usually won't stay like that for long, but there's no telling really," Paris explained.
"Great, so not quite bedrest but voluntary bedrest," Rory grumbled, not liking the outlook.
Jess watched his wife was packing up her small overnight bag, having just showered, and was now cooling off just in her underwear, while he was still reluctant to move from the comfortable King-size bed with a dark green tufted velvet headboard supporting his back, a bed sheet loosely pulled across his lap. He'd been reading a random excerpt of the book Celeste had packed, while she had showered but his mind kept thinking about everything they'd talked about last night. He wondered whether there were actually psychological methods for figuring out what made one happy - as if hoping there was a simple solution, a step-by-step guide that was foolproof and guaranteed results - naturally there were theories, suggestions - the internet was full of them, but he didn't particularly believe in him. Yet again - with a baby and wife, a home, trial and error seemed like too dangerous of a step.
Somewhere along those thoughts his eyes rested on the figure in front of him again, appreciating the sight.
"I can feel you looking, you know," Celeste commented, not looking at him, as she rolled up the black pink-dotted asymmetric ruffle dress, she'd worn last night.
"I can't help that I like what I see," Jess murmured, not feeling the slightest bit or remorse for appreciating her sensual figure.
"I look gross. Don't," she replied abruptly. She was exaggerating of course but her confidence wasn't quite the same since she started her meds, her post Evie body seeming to be working against her these days. She'd tried to raise above it, it was almost easy when they were intimate, her knowing that it clearly wasn't influencing his libido, but in a situation like this it did bug her a little. Sure she could've just gotten dressed or used a robe, but the warm and humid weather that smelled of ozone, there having been a thunderstorm at night, was making her feel sticky.
"Come here," Jess insisted in a low tone, shifting himself towards the edge of the bed.
Celeste rolled her eyes, feeling a little disinclined to comply, almost anticipating what he would say.
"I love it that you take good care of yourself, but you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I love the way you look," Jess began, making sure his voice was deep and assuring. "And feel," he added, running his hands over her waist down her hips, squeezing her buttocks as he kissed her slightly soft abdomen. This was the body of a woman who had given him a child, a child he hadn't had the slightest idea how much he'd really wanted until he'd had her, and was now getting help so they could be together - there was nothing he hated about that body.
Celeste exhaled deeply, almost beginning to dismiss the attempt, yet his fingers felt tantalizing on her body.
"You're luscious," he said, laying another kiss on her hip. "Curvaceous," he added, repeating the kiss on the other side. "Feminine," he murmured, kissing the edge of her panties. "And incredibly sexy," he hummed, looking up at her while his fingers were beginning to draw down her panties with his fingertips.
"Jess, I just showered," she complained, rolling her eyes. But her resistance futile, his touch awakening that something in her gut.
"You don't have to do anything," he smirked up at her.
"We'll never make it downstairs for breakfast, will we?" Celeste chuckled, wrapping her fingers into his hair.
"You forget - they have room service here," he hummed between kisses that were already skimming her thighs. Jess knew that making Celeste feel good about herself wasn't just going to be solved with some attention, it was a process, but he certainly aimed to do everything he could to help it.
It was now past noon, and Celeste and Jess were driving across town, heading for the suburbs to see Adrian, Jess' long time friend, feeling pleasantly rested after a lazy morning with breakfast in bed. The time together had been incredibly needed, uninterrupted, focusing on everything that was truly important.
The white timber cladded house still looked the same to Celeste, it having been a little more than two years since she'd last been there. It had been the first time she'd been anywhere as Jess' girlfriend, even if they hadn't really spelled it out like that, but it was assumed. The first visit, during one of Adrian's kids birthday parties, had been a bit of a culture shock for her, never really having been to such a simple party in the States. But despite feeling slightly out of place, it had been the first time she'd truly realized that she needed to start accepting things that were less grand and adapt - wanting to fit in.
They could already hear the sound of Leo, Adrian's youngest, singing 'Five Little Monkeys' on the trampoline by the side of the house.
"Boy, he's grown," Jess muttered as he saw him, and Celeste smiled in response.
"Hey, man!" Adrian came out the front door the screen door slamming shut with some bounche behind him, as he walked down the stairs to greet them. The front yard was still filled with toys - bats, balls, a soccer net, colorful chalk in the driveway.
"Hey!" Jess replied, giving him a half hug.
"Hi!" Celeste added as well, as Adrian already hugged her as well.
"Wow, it's been a while," Adrian sighed. He had the typical dad-body, carrying a bit of a beer belly.
"Too long," Jess patted his shoulder.
"Let's go sit in the back!" he gestured along the driveway to the back of the house.
The backyard wasn't anything fancy - a basketball hoop at the end of the driveway, a barbeque by a long garden table with a few matching chairs. There was a swing set for the kids, a watering hose loosely rounded up in a corner, some tools and old tires, waiting to be piled up in the garage.
"Katie, we're in the back," Adrian called out to his wife after knocking on the window glass.
"So, how have you been?" Adrian asked the two.
Celeste glanced at Jess, wondering how much of her issues he'd mention or had already mentioned, her mental health having been the central topic the entire spring.
"Spring was a little rough, lots of work, stressful, but it's improving," Jess slid right over the things she'd been worried about.
"I guess that's good. I always said, you work too much," Adrian chuckled.
"I'm working on another book," Jess declared, adding, "just went see Lauren yesterday."
"How is she? I haven't seen her in ages," Adrian inquired. Celeste only now realizing that he must've known her too.
"She seemed good, the kids are around the same age as yours now," Jess explained.
"And Evie? I bet she's a little trouble maker by now," Adrian noted, having seen her once when she was a baby.
"She hasn't quite understood the concept of trouble making," Celeste pitched in with a light laugh.
"Evie is walking, talking a little, overall just being adorable," Jess added, showing him a few pictures on his phone.
"There's definitely a little of you both in her," he commented, glancing over the photos of the dark brown-haired girl with Celeste's freckles and Jess' light-brown eyes.
"So you guys are still happy with being in New York? I remember we were still living in Hawthorne when Celeste was born. It was like the minute she started running we couldn't get out there fast enough," Adrian recalled with a chuckle. His oldest daughter, now aged 7, was by coincidence also called Celeste.
"So far so good," Jess replied plainly, adding, "we have a park nearby and a back yard, so it's not that bad." Though in recent months he had been mostly just grateful for having the nanny, so he didn't have to worry about getting form A to B so much. Evie seemed happy enough, and certainly there was no shortage of opportunities to play - playgrounds, playrooms, baby classes and so forth.
"I guess we've had the opportunity to go see Jess' mom and uncle a lot so it's mixes things up a bit," Celeste commented.
"Ah, there's the food," Adrian exclaimed gratefully as he saw his wife carry a bowl of salad and simple pasta casserole to the table, kissing her on the cheek as she placed them down. "Kids! Come eat, food is ready!" he called out.