Title: Rory Gilmore Goes to Harvard: The Lunch at the Hayden's
Author: Ice
Summary: Ok this is taking a life of it's own so I'm not even sure what's gonna happen yet.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to some big whigs in the world of television.
AN: Some of the stuff in this I don't know if it actually happens at Harvard or not. I'm making it up. Ok? Ok. J
Jess and Rory showed up at Christopher's a little after 6. They looked at each other and smiled. Rory was still a little shaky but she was better than before Jess had come. Jess was just about to lean in to kiss Rory when the door opened. Isaac was standing there with a huge grin on his face.
"Rory! Jess! Hi!" Jess picked up the 3 year old and walked in the door followed by Rory. Chris came into the front foyer.
"Hi guys. How ya doing?" Chris asked them, hugging Rory and shaking Jess' free hand.
"Great Dad. How are you?" Rory replied sort of tiredly. Christopher noticed. He gave a look to Jess who gave a look back while putting Isaac down. Isaac grabbed Rory and Jess's hands and dragged them to the den. They sat down on the couch, with Christopher in an armchair and Isaac on the floor.
"So Rory, how's school?" Christopher asked. The look he got from Jess told him this was a sore subject. Rory put on a smile before replying.
"It's going great Dad. I mean, it's a little different then what I'm used to but I'm getting adjusted." Rory looked at Isaac who was playing with his trucks. He looked at her and smiled. Chris sighed.
"Hey Isaac, did you want to show Rory your new poster before dinner?" Chris asked. Isaac nodded eagerly and grabbed Rory's hand pulling her off the couch. Chris and Jess also got up and walked into the kitchen. Jess sat at the island on a bar stool, and Chris started chopping up vegetables . Jess grabbed a carrot and started chomping.
"So how's it really going with her?" Christopher looked at Jess, who shrugged.
"She's having a hard time adjusting. It's harder work, harder than she figured, I'm guessing." Jess had turned more serious since he and Rory started going out. He still had his moments, especially around Luke, but for the most part especially around Rory's family, he was a just an easygoing guy.
"Oh. But she's such a hard worker. She's done so well before." Jess nodded.
"Yeah, and I think it's gonna be harder for her coming home this year because everyone in Stars' Hollow is so proud of her going to Harvard. And the party at her grandparent's isn't going to help."
"Ah…yes the annual Christmas party. It's the 22nd this year right?"
"I don't know I'm gonna have to check my planner," he said sarcastically, "Rory keeps track of that stuff," He said as an afterthought. Chris nodded.
"I think I'm gonna go this year. Lorelai adores Zach and as much as she'd like to deny it, so does Emily. But she's having a hard time huh?"
"That's why I came up now. To give her some support. Plus it'll be interesting to see what happens when she blows." Jess laughed. Chris smiled.
"And Daddy said that this year I'm coming to Christmas with you and Lorelai and Jess and Luke cuz Mommy has to be out of town." Isaac said to Rory, coming into the kitchen. Rory looked at her father who shook his head sadly. As much as Sherri wanted children, she had given Christopher almost full custody of Isaac, except for a few choice holidays. Rory figured out that the look meant that Sherri was off with a boyfriend or just didn't feel like taking care her son over Christmas.
"Isaac sit at the table ok?" Rory sat next to Jess on the stool and he put an arm around her. She looked at him thankfully and figured Jess had told her Dad what was going on. She could read him like a book. She knew that her Dad was not the type to make a big deal out of this and that Jess could tell him. Lorelai on the other hand, if he told her he'd be dead.
Jess looked over to where Isaac was fidgeting. "Looks like Rory didn't get all her energy from Lorelai." Chris looked over and laughed. "I guess not."
They said down at the table and served the sandwiches. Isaac and Jess were joking and Issac had sauce all over his face. Rory was quieter than usual and Chris just sort of oversaw everything.
"So Rory, when's Emily's Christmas party this year?" Rory looked up at her father.
"Uh. The 22nd I think. I'm just wondering how Mom's gonna try get out of it this year." The table laughed.
"I'm guessing, sickness? No she did that last year. Maybe she'll convince Luke to take her out. A date is always a good excuse." Jess guessed. Chris kind of became uncomfortable. Rory looked at Jess.
"What did I say something wrong?" Chris looked at Jess.
"No. It's ok. And besides Emily would never let her out because of a date. She would make Lore bring him. I'm gonna get more sauce." He got up and went into the kitchen.
"Jess!" she smacked him on the arm.
"What?" he looked at her clueless.
"Don't talk about my mom and Luke in front of him!"
"Why it's not like their involved." Rory looked from Jess to Issac who was looking on in interest.
"I'll talk to you later about it." Chris came back into the room.
The rest of the dinner was mostly silent except for Isaac's jokes, Lorelai sent him a joke book for his last birthday.
"So the pig said…I'm a ham!" He laughed hysterically at his joke while the others smiled politely.
"Dad? Are you guys staying at Mom's for Christmas?" Chris nodded.
"Probably." Rory nodded. When everyone had finished their meals, Rory and Chris brought the dishes into the kitchen while Jess entertained Isaac.
Rory and Jess got back to the dorm about 4:30. Paris was in the room having a heated discussion with, Rory guessed was, the teacher's assistant.
"No Brad! It's…" She trailed off when she saw Jess and Rory enter the room, "Oh. Hi Rory. Jess. This is Brad Kensington, the TA I was telling you about."
"You were talking about me Paris?" Brad said closing one of the books on Paris' bed.
"Only to complain." Jess answered closing the door behind him. Paris glared at him.
"Oh. Rory I forgot to tell you. I'm staying up here for Christmas with Brad and his family. So I don't need a ride back to Hartford."
Rory gave Paris a look that said, Oh really? Paris turned away. Jess wrapped his arms around Rory's waist and she nuzzled his neck. Paris looked between them.
"Get a room."
"You're one to talk." Jess retorted. He had been around enough to know about Paris and her escapades. Rory hit him playfully as the phone rang. Paris leaned over her books and answered it.
"Hello?" Pause. "Ok hold on she's right her. Rory it's your mom." Paris held the phone out to her.
"Hi Mom. What's up?" Rory sat on her bed and Jess sat on a desk chair.
"Hi Babe. So how was dinner at Chris's?"
"It was great. Isaac entertained us with that joke book you gave him. Dad thanks you for that by the way."
"Oh you know he loves it. Anyway, when are you guys coming home? Luke's being irritable cuz all the help he has is Caesar."
"That's all the help he has during the school year."
"Yeah but Taylor and the reenactment people are bugging him again." Rory laughed and Jess looked at her trying to figure out what she was talking about.
"Ahh…he most be going crazy with Taylor bugging him like that." Jess nodded, understanding.
"Yeah, and I don't think it helps I kept bugging him to play bagel hockey with me. I'm bored Rory. Sookie is busy with our first Christmas at the inn with Aly running around. And Luke won't play bagel hockey. Can't you guys come back early?"
"No Mom. We can't. I got class and Jess is keeping me company. Oh and Paris isn't coming, but Dad and Zach are. They can stay with us right?"
"If you don't mind having Zakkie as a roommate."
"I don't know…Jess might get jealous at me having a male roommate." Jess looked at Rory amused.
"I won't mind if it's your brother." He retorted. Rory stuck her tongue out at him.
"So anyway….we have to have a movie night when you come back. I'm thinking The Shining, Life as a House cuz Kevin Kline is just that hot."
"Ah Mom! Hayden is so much cuter!"
"No. Kevin has the maturity factor in him."
"Gah. Mom. Still…anyway we gotta get kid friendly movies remember? Isaac?"
"Oh. Well we'll get one movie for him and watch that. And then when he falls asleep we'll watch the others. Me, you, Jess, Chris, maybe Luke. Or just me, you, and Chris and Jess can spend time with Luke." She was babbling.
"Mom, shh. We'll figure it out when we get there. I'll be home on the 18th and Dad and Isaac will are coming on the 21st for Grandma's party. Have you convinced Luke he wants to go yet?" By this time Jess had come over to the bed and wrapped his arms around her again and he had started kissing her neck. She was trying to bat him away and still enjoy it at the same time.
"Good luck with that." Jess said to Rory's question.
"No. He's being a party pooper. I think he would have fun…but no. I mean, Jess is gonna be there so he'll be at the diner all alone. He's figuring that I'll have you and Chris, and he made a stupid joke about me finally having someone my own age around because Isaac would be there. So he's giving me some kind of bull about wanting to stay home and watch a basketball game."
"What about Christmas dinner? Are we having Chinese again?"
"If we're having Chinese, Luke and I will cook." Jess said.
"Tell Jess I heard that and no we're not having Chinese, Sookie's cooking…"
"Mom says Sookie's cooking." Rory told Jess. He nodded.
"So she, Jackson, and Aly will all be at the inn for Christmas dinner. We've already closed it that night for us. It'll be you, me, Jackson, Sookie, Alison, Chris, Isaac, Luke, Jess, and maybe a friend for Luke." Lorelai said slyly.
"A friend for Luke? Mom…" Jess stopped kissing Rory at hearing this and now even Paris and Brad were paying attention.
"Bad idea Lorelai." Jess said under his breath. He leaned against the headboard.
"I know. I know. But come on. You'll have Jess, I'll most likely have your dad, Sookie'll have Jackson, and even Aly will have Isaac. So I was kinda thinking of inviting someone for Luke."
"Who Mom?"
"No one. Yet." Rory shook her head.
"Mom don't ok? Luke'll be okay. Just don't look at Dad like you'd jump him at the first moment of weakness."
"As long as Jess doesn't look at you that way."
Rory was quiet. "Yeah that's what I thought." Rory could tell that her mother was smiling.
"I gotta go Mom. Homework."
"Yeah sure. I'll talk to you later sweetie. Bye."
"Bye Mom." Rory hung up. She leaned up against Jess.
"So did you talk her out of it?"
"I think so. We're having dinner at the inn. You, me, Mom, Dad, Sookie, Aly, Jackson, Isaac, and Luke."
"Ah. Yes the nineth wheel. Always uncomfortable." He started kissing her neck again. She smiled. Paris and Brad turned back to their work. Rory turned her head towards Jess's mouth and met his lips.
They pulled apart after a few minutes, basically just for air. They were both breathing heavily. The phone Rory looked around the room but saw that Paris and Brad had left. Rory reached for the phone.
"Let the machine get it." Jess begged giving Rory a puppy-dog look She smiled and looked at the clock and realized it was 10:00 in the morning. She grabbed the phone anyway.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Gilmore?" the voice on the other end said. Rory started to panic. Was her Mom or Dad in the hospital? Was it Isaac? Her Grandparents? Luke?
"Hello?"
"Uh. Sorry, yes this is Ms. Gilmore."
"This is Professor Landon." Her journalism professor, Rory sighed with relief.
"Hello Professor." Jess looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"Ms. Gilmore, Rory. I just finished your article and I must say, I'm impressed with it. I don't know how anyone could, but you made the new building project seem interesting." Rory smiled proudly.
"Thank you Professor."
"Anyway I'm calling to congratulate you and see if you up to writing over vacation. I need an article on drug abuse on campus if possible."
"Umm…I was planning on going home for Christmas. Spend time with my boyfriend, my family, my friends, I haven't seen since I left…plus I have tons of work to do for yours, as well as other classes. "
"I can understand that. Is Paris Gellar there? She is your roommate right?"
"Yes, but she's not here right now."
"Oh. Could you tell me if she's going home for the holidays?"
"No she isn't going home." Jess could hear the disappointment in her voice.
"Alright. Could you tell her I called? I'll call back another time then. I'll see you in class."
"Thank you again. Good Bye."
"Good Bye." Rory put the phone down and leaned back into Jess, sniffling.
"I just turned down a front page story because I was going home and I have to much work to do." She said.
"Rory, shh…It's ok. It's not the only story that'll come your way. It'll be ok." Jess soothed her, stroking her hair.
"I hate this. I really wanted to do this. It would've been a great story. Now Paris is gonna get it." She said.
"Hey you wanna watch Willy Wonka?" Jess asked. She nodded, a smile creeping onto her face, "Ok and I won't even point out all of the drug references.
"Thank you." He got up and put the tape in the VCR.
Paris walked in at the very end. She flopped on her bed and said, " I might be falling for this guy." Rory smiled at Jess.