*Fast Forward To Christmas Eve-11pm.
*Gilmore House---Lorelai Luke Rory and Jess have opted to leave Babette's party early to spend some "quality time" together.
*Living room:
"Ok! Time for presents!" Lorelai announces happily, slightly buzzed on eggnog.
Luke takes hold of her arm before she has the chance to fall.
Rory laughs, "Everyone gets one present tonight....and the rest tomorrow."
"We've been doing this for 6 years now, I think we all know how it works." Jess says gruffly.
"Ok..sorry, Mr. grinch." Rory replies, making a face at Jess.
Lorelai pulls away from Luke and heads for the tree. Examining the presents underneath she gingerly picks up a thin green package and hands it to Jess, then she takes a silver bowed present and tosses it to Luke, finally she picks up a tiny red box and gives it to Rory. Lorelai takes a seat next to Luke, who places a long gold package on her lap.
"What's this?" She asks grinning.
"Just open it."
"Ok!" Lorelai replies before ripping the paper off. Lorelai opens the box and looks expectantly down at its contents. Suddenly she makes a small noise, giving Luke a confused look before she manages to plaster on a smile, "A hat....and gloves....just what I wanted."
"Oh, well if you don't like them I have the receipt." Luke says quietly, "I just figured you'd need them, you know it gets very cold on the ice."
"What?"
"Honestly, do you not open cards anymore?" Luke replies rustling the wrapping paper at Lorelai's feet, a moment later holding up a small white envelope.
Lorelai grabs it and opens it, she watches as 2 small pieces of paper fall to the ground. Lorelai picks them up. "Train tickets?"
"Well, I know you're always talking about heading down to the city to skate and I was planning on taking a few days off from the diner anyway...."
"You mean we're going to Rockefeller center?!" Lorelai exclaims wrapping her arms around Luke.
Luke attempts to hide his enjoyment but fails.
Lorelai pulls away, "Oh! But you can't use your vacation for that....I bought you two tickets to the baseball hall of fame!"
Luke shakes his present, "Thanks for telling me." He says unenthusiastically.
"Sorry.....it's jus, I feel ba-" Lorelai is cut of by a kiss from Luke.
"We can do both."
Lorelai grins kissing Luke again.
"I thought you were anti-sports?" Luke says raising an eyebrow at her.
"I thought you were against and I quote, "Freaks going around in circles just asking for head wounds?"
Luke and Lorelai grin at each other.
"Ok you two your turn!" Lorelai says excitedly turning to Jess and Rory.
"Uhhhh.." Jess says looking his present over.
"Go ahead Jess." Rory smiles at him.
Jess opens his present carefully, revealing a fly swatter.
"Um...thank you."
"That's for keeping all the 12 year olds away from your hinnie." Lorelai grins as Jess roles his eyes.
"I think it's your turn, Jess says tapping Rory's knee.
Rory, like her mother tears furiously at the paper. Flinging the box open her smile fades away.
"What is it?" Jess asks.
Rory holds up a small tree ornament...a teddy bear with a protruding stomach with the words baby on board written across it.
"I saw it at the mall the other day and thought of you." Lorelai grins again.
Rory plasters on a smile, "Thanks mom!"
"Come on, let's hang it on the tree!"
Lorelai stands up leading Rory over to the tree.
*10 minutes later:
Luke stands up and stretches, "I'm beat."
"Yeah, we should all head up, other wise Santa may never come." Lorelai says in a small child-like voice.
Jess laughs, Rory smiles shyly.
"Ok kids see you in the morning." Lorelai says happily bouncing up the stairs.
"Do you have to do that?" Luke barks.
"Yes, I'm making my exit known." Lorelai says is an smug voice.
Luke rolls his eyes following her into the bedroom.
Jess yawns, "You coming?"
"Huh, oh yeah I just want to, uh pee first." Rory says quietly.
"Ok, see you in a few." Jess says, approaching th steps.
Rory walks to the bathroom and stands in the doorway waiting for Jess to disappear into the bedroom.
*1 hour later
All the lights are off downstairs except for the ones on the Christmas tree. Rory is sitting Indian style in front of it fingering the ornament Lorelai bought her.
The door to Rory's bedroom creaks open, Rory doesn't stir.
Jess attempts to make his way down the stairs quietly, but fails stumbling near the bottom.
Rory looks up at him, but says nothing.
"Hey." Jess whispers.
"Hi."
"What's going on?" He asks tilting his head sideways.
"Nothing, just sitting here....enjoying the tree."
"Uh huh." Jess says, clearly not believing her. "It's that bear isn't it, I knew it freaked you out."
Rory looks back at him sadly.
"Your mom just meant it to be cute." Jess says sitting down next to Rory, draping his arm over her shoulder.
Rory nods solemnly.
"If it makes you feel any better, I got something way cooler."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Rory smiles at him before turning back to the tree.
"I'm going to start to look like that soon." She states.
"Really? You're going to grow fur and sport a snout?"
"No." Rory laughs a little. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah I do." Jess replies rubbing her back in a comforting way.
"I'm already having trouble getting into some of my clothes."
Jess looks Rory over "Oh come on, these pants you are wearing are hanging off you, you have nothing to worry about."
"These are your pajama pants." Rory replies flatly.
"Oh.." Jess trails off.
"And its not just that.....this past week has been a nightmare, I've been crying at the drop of a hat.....I'm happy one minute the next I'm a puddle on the floor."
"Nobody even noticed."
"It's just going to get worse." Rory replies, crossing her arms. "Pretty soon I'll look like the girl from willy wonka....except for the being blue part."
"Rory you're beautiful and you're going stay that way extended tummy or not." Jess replies sweetly.
Rory leans back, "Thanks Jess."
"For what?"
"Always knowing what to say."
"Some on now, you know that's not true."
"Ok, but you know what I mean, you're being so calm about this which calms me down, which is very important considering that I've been majorly wigging lately."
Jess takes Rory's hand, pulling her up, "Hey, don't forget we're in this together."
Rory wraps her arms around Jess neck kissing him softly on the lips, "Love you."
"I love you, now do you think we could go to sleep.....I'm exhausted, being supportive is hard work."
Rory smacks him tenderly.
"Hey!" Jess moans playfully making Rory giggle.
"Lets go, you heard mom Santa won't come if we're awake." Rory says imitating her mother.
*Christmas morning: 8am
Lorelai and Rory are sitting on the couch opening presents, Jess and Luke are on the floor, Duke has curled up in the discarded wrapping paper.
"Oh wow Luke, I can't believe you did this." Rory says holding up over a dozen dvds.
"Don't mention it." Luke smiles.
"Look Jess, now we have our own copy of willy wonka...oh and look Titanic!"
Jess gives Luke a stern glance.
"Hey if I have to have that satanic movie in my house so do you."
"See if you ever get another Christmas present." Jess mumbles.
"Well that's the last of it, I guess it's time to clean up." Lorelai pouts.
Rory nods her head at Jess.
"Uh, not yet." Jess says holding his hand up to Lorelai.
"What? There are no more presents under the tree." Lorelai whines.
"Well there's one more." Rory grins.
"Oh! Is it for me?!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Actually it's for Luke." Jess says strangely.
"For me?"
"What does he need another present for, I bought him a new toaster...that way he doesn't have to go all the way down to the diner to make me pop tarts anymore."
Jess walks over to coat rack and pulls a small package out of his coat pocket, "Here Luke."
Luke takes the gift, and opens it revealing a baby names book, "What's this for."
"Here." Rory say approaching Luke. She fingers through the book until she reaches a page that has a post it stuck in it. "Look."
Luke explores the page, in the corner left it reads Dana. "I don't get it."
"Read the damn post it." Jess says, fed up with his uncle's obliviousness
Luke looks down at the tiny piece of paper that reads: insert Danes here, with an arrow point below the name Dana. There's a tiny asterisk next to Danes: *MN
"What's MN?
"Middle name." Rory replies, tears gathering in her eyes.
"We want the baby's middle name to be Danes." Jess says quietly, looking his uncle square in the eyes.
"Y-you don't have to do this."
"We know, but it seems fitting."
"Why?" Luke asks, trying to maintain his composure.
Rory moves closer to Luke, "You were our first real supporter, nobody thought we'd make it this far....some people even planned on us breaking up." Rory says turning towards her mother.
"Can you blame me?" Lorelai says, batting her eyelashes.
"Well thank you."
*That night: 1:30am
Everyone has gone to sleep. Rory's snuck downstairs to get a glass of water.
"What are you doing up?" Luke's gruff voice causes Rory to jump.
"Luke!?"
"Sorry." He says sheepishly through the darkness.
"I was thirsty....what about you, what are you doing down here in the dark?"
"Thinking."
"Oh ok....." Rory says uncomfortably. Not knowing how to respond, she starts for the kitchen again.
"Hey can I ask you something?" Luke says seriously.
"Sure."
"Why do you want to name this kid after me....I thought you' want to name it after your dad."
Rory laughs under her breath, "Luke, I love my dad I really do......but you've done so much more for me, been there for me so many times, you've been more of a father to me than my dad ever has been......and forget about it, you're the only positive role model Jess ever had, without you there'd be no us."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything....just smile." Rory replies turning towards the kitchen again.
"When was the last time you talked to him." Luke calls to her.
"Huh?" Rory replies.
"You're dad I mean."
"Oh, uh...." Rory trails off.
"I know your mom hasn't spoken to him since---"
"6 months, ok." Rory says sadly.
"What happened?"
"I just couldn't take it anymore," Rory replies walking over to the couch and sitting down next to Luke. "T-that woman, putting on a fake smile pretending to like me and then talking about what a screw up my mom is right to my face."
"She's a jerk." Luke grumbles, putting a fatherly arm around Rory.
"She thinks she has so it great, she delights in the fact that mom still not married and lives with the "diner guy." As if that's all you are. Yet, what she doesn't realize is that it doesn't matter that you and mom aren't married you're still together and you love each other....and all she can brag about is how "my mother" needs to get her act together because the novelty of a live in girlfriend wears off."
"It's not worth getting angry over, she has no idea what she's talking about."
"She doesn't even see what you and mom have, she must be blind.....she's been married for 6 years to man who doesn't truly love her and here she is gloating because mom doesn't have a ring on her finger." Rory continues.
"That's sherry though, not your Dad."
Rory shakes her head, "He stopped being my dad years ago right about the time he stopped sticking up for mom....he gave everything to that woman he didn't even think about how it would affect us. Luke he turned his back on us."
Luke sighs, pulling Rory into a tight embrace, "I don't think he did it willingly."
Rory scoffs, "don't tell me you're sympathizing with him."
Luke laughs, "I never said that, all I'm saying is having met Sherri on several occasion I could see his decision not being 100% his own."
"Maybe you're right."
"Let me ask you one more thing."
"Ok."
"Do you really want your kid going15 years without knowing their grandfather." Luke gives Rory a knowing look. "Do you want your kid having regrets later on because they never played catch with him, never knew him when he was younger?"
Rory sniffles.
"Oh, God don't cry, please I'm not good with the crying."
"H-he doesn't even know that I'm pregnant."
"I thought Jess said you called him."
"Jess doesn't know I didn't."
"Rory!"
"I didn't want to do it over the phone and I didn't want to go by myself, not with her there."
"Why didn't you ask Jess to go with you?"
"Luke, you know dad hates him....even now he rarely calls Jess by his name, and the last three times we visited he and jess ended up getting into arguments."
"Oh right."
"Luke what am I going to do?"
"I think we should all pat "the Hayden's" a visit." Luke says warmly.
"Really?"
"We all want to be there for you, and that way I can run security between your mom and Sherri and Jess is a big boy he can handle himself, besides your dad's not going pull anything with Lorelai around."
Through the darkness Rory smiles feeling Luke's love for his family radiating through the room.
"Thanks Luke."
"Anytime."
"Well I'll let you get back to thinking...I'm just going to get my water."
"Actually I think I'm done here." Luke says, walking towards the stairs.
"Ok, goodnight."
"Goodnight Rory, and hey let me talk to your mom....you just worry about Jess, we'll go on Friday....with or without them."
A/n Ok Sorry for you people who like Chris, but in my opinion I feel that over the years he will turn into a jerk due to an unhappy home life, and I figure that he sees himself in jess and therefore projects all his hatred for himself onto jess. Please r&r.
*Gilmore House---Lorelai Luke Rory and Jess have opted to leave Babette's party early to spend some "quality time" together.
*Living room:
"Ok! Time for presents!" Lorelai announces happily, slightly buzzed on eggnog.
Luke takes hold of her arm before she has the chance to fall.
Rory laughs, "Everyone gets one present tonight....and the rest tomorrow."
"We've been doing this for 6 years now, I think we all know how it works." Jess says gruffly.
"Ok..sorry, Mr. grinch." Rory replies, making a face at Jess.
Lorelai pulls away from Luke and heads for the tree. Examining the presents underneath she gingerly picks up a thin green package and hands it to Jess, then she takes a silver bowed present and tosses it to Luke, finally she picks up a tiny red box and gives it to Rory. Lorelai takes a seat next to Luke, who places a long gold package on her lap.
"What's this?" She asks grinning.
"Just open it."
"Ok!" Lorelai replies before ripping the paper off. Lorelai opens the box and looks expectantly down at its contents. Suddenly she makes a small noise, giving Luke a confused look before she manages to plaster on a smile, "A hat....and gloves....just what I wanted."
"Oh, well if you don't like them I have the receipt." Luke says quietly, "I just figured you'd need them, you know it gets very cold on the ice."
"What?"
"Honestly, do you not open cards anymore?" Luke replies rustling the wrapping paper at Lorelai's feet, a moment later holding up a small white envelope.
Lorelai grabs it and opens it, she watches as 2 small pieces of paper fall to the ground. Lorelai picks them up. "Train tickets?"
"Well, I know you're always talking about heading down to the city to skate and I was planning on taking a few days off from the diner anyway...."
"You mean we're going to Rockefeller center?!" Lorelai exclaims wrapping her arms around Luke.
Luke attempts to hide his enjoyment but fails.
Lorelai pulls away, "Oh! But you can't use your vacation for that....I bought you two tickets to the baseball hall of fame!"
Luke shakes his present, "Thanks for telling me." He says unenthusiastically.
"Sorry.....it's jus, I feel ba-" Lorelai is cut of by a kiss from Luke.
"We can do both."
Lorelai grins kissing Luke again.
"I thought you were anti-sports?" Luke says raising an eyebrow at her.
"I thought you were against and I quote, "Freaks going around in circles just asking for head wounds?"
Luke and Lorelai grin at each other.
"Ok you two your turn!" Lorelai says excitedly turning to Jess and Rory.
"Uhhhh.." Jess says looking his present over.
"Go ahead Jess." Rory smiles at him.
Jess opens his present carefully, revealing a fly swatter.
"Um...thank you."
"That's for keeping all the 12 year olds away from your hinnie." Lorelai grins as Jess roles his eyes.
"I think it's your turn, Jess says tapping Rory's knee.
Rory, like her mother tears furiously at the paper. Flinging the box open her smile fades away.
"What is it?" Jess asks.
Rory holds up a small tree ornament...a teddy bear with a protruding stomach with the words baby on board written across it.
"I saw it at the mall the other day and thought of you." Lorelai grins again.
Rory plasters on a smile, "Thanks mom!"
"Come on, let's hang it on the tree!"
Lorelai stands up leading Rory over to the tree.
*10 minutes later:
Luke stands up and stretches, "I'm beat."
"Yeah, we should all head up, other wise Santa may never come." Lorelai says in a small child-like voice.
Jess laughs, Rory smiles shyly.
"Ok kids see you in the morning." Lorelai says happily bouncing up the stairs.
"Do you have to do that?" Luke barks.
"Yes, I'm making my exit known." Lorelai says is an smug voice.
Luke rolls his eyes following her into the bedroom.
Jess yawns, "You coming?"
"Huh, oh yeah I just want to, uh pee first." Rory says quietly.
"Ok, see you in a few." Jess says, approaching th steps.
Rory walks to the bathroom and stands in the doorway waiting for Jess to disappear into the bedroom.
*1 hour later
All the lights are off downstairs except for the ones on the Christmas tree. Rory is sitting Indian style in front of it fingering the ornament Lorelai bought her.
The door to Rory's bedroom creaks open, Rory doesn't stir.
Jess attempts to make his way down the stairs quietly, but fails stumbling near the bottom.
Rory looks up at him, but says nothing.
"Hey." Jess whispers.
"Hi."
"What's going on?" He asks tilting his head sideways.
"Nothing, just sitting here....enjoying the tree."
"Uh huh." Jess says, clearly not believing her. "It's that bear isn't it, I knew it freaked you out."
Rory looks back at him sadly.
"Your mom just meant it to be cute." Jess says sitting down next to Rory, draping his arm over her shoulder.
Rory nods solemnly.
"If it makes you feel any better, I got something way cooler."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Rory smiles at him before turning back to the tree.
"I'm going to start to look like that soon." She states.
"Really? You're going to grow fur and sport a snout?"
"No." Rory laughs a little. "You know what I mean."
"Yeah I do." Jess replies rubbing her back in a comforting way.
"I'm already having trouble getting into some of my clothes."
Jess looks Rory over "Oh come on, these pants you are wearing are hanging off you, you have nothing to worry about."
"These are your pajama pants." Rory replies flatly.
"Oh.." Jess trails off.
"And its not just that.....this past week has been a nightmare, I've been crying at the drop of a hat.....I'm happy one minute the next I'm a puddle on the floor."
"Nobody even noticed."
"It's just going to get worse." Rory replies, crossing her arms. "Pretty soon I'll look like the girl from willy wonka....except for the being blue part."
"Rory you're beautiful and you're going stay that way extended tummy or not." Jess replies sweetly.
Rory leans back, "Thanks Jess."
"For what?"
"Always knowing what to say."
"Some on now, you know that's not true."
"Ok, but you know what I mean, you're being so calm about this which calms me down, which is very important considering that I've been majorly wigging lately."
Jess takes Rory's hand, pulling her up, "Hey, don't forget we're in this together."
Rory wraps her arms around Jess neck kissing him softly on the lips, "Love you."
"I love you, now do you think we could go to sleep.....I'm exhausted, being supportive is hard work."
Rory smacks him tenderly.
"Hey!" Jess moans playfully making Rory giggle.
"Lets go, you heard mom Santa won't come if we're awake." Rory says imitating her mother.
*Christmas morning: 8am
Lorelai and Rory are sitting on the couch opening presents, Jess and Luke are on the floor, Duke has curled up in the discarded wrapping paper.
"Oh wow Luke, I can't believe you did this." Rory says holding up over a dozen dvds.
"Don't mention it." Luke smiles.
"Look Jess, now we have our own copy of willy wonka...oh and look Titanic!"
Jess gives Luke a stern glance.
"Hey if I have to have that satanic movie in my house so do you."
"See if you ever get another Christmas present." Jess mumbles.
"Well that's the last of it, I guess it's time to clean up." Lorelai pouts.
Rory nods her head at Jess.
"Uh, not yet." Jess says holding his hand up to Lorelai.
"What? There are no more presents under the tree." Lorelai whines.
"Well there's one more." Rory grins.
"Oh! Is it for me?!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Actually it's for Luke." Jess says strangely.
"For me?"
"What does he need another present for, I bought him a new toaster...that way he doesn't have to go all the way down to the diner to make me pop tarts anymore."
Jess walks over to coat rack and pulls a small package out of his coat pocket, "Here Luke."
Luke takes the gift, and opens it revealing a baby names book, "What's this for."
"Here." Rory say approaching Luke. She fingers through the book until she reaches a page that has a post it stuck in it. "Look."
Luke explores the page, in the corner left it reads Dana. "I don't get it."
"Read the damn post it." Jess says, fed up with his uncle's obliviousness
Luke looks down at the tiny piece of paper that reads: insert Danes here, with an arrow point below the name Dana. There's a tiny asterisk next to Danes: *MN
"What's MN?
"Middle name." Rory replies, tears gathering in her eyes.
"We want the baby's middle name to be Danes." Jess says quietly, looking his uncle square in the eyes.
"Y-you don't have to do this."
"We know, but it seems fitting."
"Why?" Luke asks, trying to maintain his composure.
Rory moves closer to Luke, "You were our first real supporter, nobody thought we'd make it this far....some people even planned on us breaking up." Rory says turning towards her mother.
"Can you blame me?" Lorelai says, batting her eyelashes.
"Well thank you."
*That night: 1:30am
Everyone has gone to sleep. Rory's snuck downstairs to get a glass of water.
"What are you doing up?" Luke's gruff voice causes Rory to jump.
"Luke!?"
"Sorry." He says sheepishly through the darkness.
"I was thirsty....what about you, what are you doing down here in the dark?"
"Thinking."
"Oh ok....." Rory says uncomfortably. Not knowing how to respond, she starts for the kitchen again.
"Hey can I ask you something?" Luke says seriously.
"Sure."
"Why do you want to name this kid after me....I thought you' want to name it after your dad."
Rory laughs under her breath, "Luke, I love my dad I really do......but you've done so much more for me, been there for me so many times, you've been more of a father to me than my dad ever has been......and forget about it, you're the only positive role model Jess ever had, without you there'd be no us."
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything....just smile." Rory replies turning towards the kitchen again.
"When was the last time you talked to him." Luke calls to her.
"Huh?" Rory replies.
"You're dad I mean."
"Oh, uh...." Rory trails off.
"I know your mom hasn't spoken to him since---"
"6 months, ok." Rory says sadly.
"What happened?"
"I just couldn't take it anymore," Rory replies walking over to the couch and sitting down next to Luke. "T-that woman, putting on a fake smile pretending to like me and then talking about what a screw up my mom is right to my face."
"She's a jerk." Luke grumbles, putting a fatherly arm around Rory.
"She thinks she has so it great, she delights in the fact that mom still not married and lives with the "diner guy." As if that's all you are. Yet, what she doesn't realize is that it doesn't matter that you and mom aren't married you're still together and you love each other....and all she can brag about is how "my mother" needs to get her act together because the novelty of a live in girlfriend wears off."
"It's not worth getting angry over, she has no idea what she's talking about."
"She doesn't even see what you and mom have, she must be blind.....she's been married for 6 years to man who doesn't truly love her and here she is gloating because mom doesn't have a ring on her finger." Rory continues.
"That's sherry though, not your Dad."
Rory shakes her head, "He stopped being my dad years ago right about the time he stopped sticking up for mom....he gave everything to that woman he didn't even think about how it would affect us. Luke he turned his back on us."
Luke sighs, pulling Rory into a tight embrace, "I don't think he did it willingly."
Rory scoffs, "don't tell me you're sympathizing with him."
Luke laughs, "I never said that, all I'm saying is having met Sherri on several occasion I could see his decision not being 100% his own."
"Maybe you're right."
"Let me ask you one more thing."
"Ok."
"Do you really want your kid going15 years without knowing their grandfather." Luke gives Rory a knowing look. "Do you want your kid having regrets later on because they never played catch with him, never knew him when he was younger?"
Rory sniffles.
"Oh, God don't cry, please I'm not good with the crying."
"H-he doesn't even know that I'm pregnant."
"I thought Jess said you called him."
"Jess doesn't know I didn't."
"Rory!"
"I didn't want to do it over the phone and I didn't want to go by myself, not with her there."
"Why didn't you ask Jess to go with you?"
"Luke, you know dad hates him....even now he rarely calls Jess by his name, and the last three times we visited he and jess ended up getting into arguments."
"Oh right."
"Luke what am I going to do?"
"I think we should all pat "the Hayden's" a visit." Luke says warmly.
"Really?"
"We all want to be there for you, and that way I can run security between your mom and Sherri and Jess is a big boy he can handle himself, besides your dad's not going pull anything with Lorelai around."
Through the darkness Rory smiles feeling Luke's love for his family radiating through the room.
"Thanks Luke."
"Anytime."
"Well I'll let you get back to thinking...I'm just going to get my water."
"Actually I think I'm done here." Luke says, walking towards the stairs.
"Ok, goodnight."
"Goodnight Rory, and hey let me talk to your mom....you just worry about Jess, we'll go on Friday....with or without them."
A/n Ok Sorry for you people who like Chris, but in my opinion I feel that over the years he will turn into a jerk due to an unhappy home life, and I figure that he sees himself in jess and therefore projects all his hatred for himself onto jess. Please r&r.