A Future Foretold
Rating: Pg-13
Chapter 3
AN: Thank you for taking the time to check this out, I appreciate it.
Summary: A look into the everyday life of a future Jess and Rory.
Sitting here in the coffee shop I ponder on what has happened to us in the last week. Sipping the last of my coffee, I pick up my purse and start my trek back to the office. Brushing by the dozens New Yorkers on a Wednesday afternoon I briefly wonder what Jess is up to. Sighing softly to myself on the subway I think about what he plans to do now. I step into the light again and slip into my office where another cup of coffee is already waiting for me. Sitting there in my big comfy leather chair I just take the time to relax from all the craziness of life. Closing my eyes the sudden beep of the intercom jerks me out of my thoughts. As Roger tells me that I have a call on line three, I pick up the receiver and wait for the call to click over.
"Rory Gilmore."
"Hey there offspring, how's my famous reporter who's going to tear down governments with a single news report?"
Smiling as the familiar comforting voice fills the line I'm grateful for the chance to catch up with mom. "Hey Mom, what's going on?"
"Just checking up on you." I can tell that the motherly side of her has crept in and I can detect a hint of concern in her voice. "How's everything up there, Rory?"
The floodgates finally open as I spill out the feelings that I was too worried to show in front of Jess. "We're hanging in there; well actually, he's hanging in there. I think it's a much bigger deal then he lets people think. I'm just so frustrated now; I mean what can I do? I feel so helpless; it's like I'm a kid all over again and I can't do anything to change the situation."
"Oh honey, I'm sure that you're doing all that you can. What else can you do? The man just lost his job; he's bound to be a little depressed."
Listening to Mom's last statement, memories of last week comes rushing back to me. Due to cutbacks that the company had to make, Jess was one of the employees that had lost their source of employment. As much as Jess wouldn't admit it, that job defined his future. He had planned on making his life out of the words he penned into articles that the magazine would publish. Though he had assured me that it wasn't a big thing; and that he would get another job I knew that his confidence was shattered for the time being.
"Mom? I've got to go, I have an article to turn in by the end of the day and if I don't finish my editor will be all over me about late work. Love you."
"Okay, sure thing honey. Talk to you later; call if you need anything."
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Clicking the lock on the door I remove my coat and glance around the apartment for Jess. Hearing the showering running, I drop my keys on top of the side table and stalk over to the kitchen. I get a whiff the familiar comforting smell of take out from our favorite Chinese place down the street. Opening up the containers to see what he ordered I reach up into the cabinet to get us our plates and forks. Spooning the delicious food onto my plate I stretch to flip on the coffee machine; as it gurgles to life I sit down at the petite table and begin shoveling food in.
Jess comes out in old pajama bottoms and smiles as he sees me. "I had a feeling that you were home; I could smell the coffee brewing from inside the bathroom."
With my mouth half full of chow mien I ask, "How was your day?"
"I started to send out résumés to several companies that have tried to contact me before to work for them. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll still have an opening for me." Sitting down across from me, he also begins to fill his plate.
I take a minute to fill my favorite cup with the wonderful ambrosia and as I turn around to sit back down I notice that Jess looks different today. At this particular moment, he doesn't look like the teenager that's hidden behind the face of a man. Today, he looks like a person who has weathered many difficult circumstances and has overcame them to become the man that is sitting in front of me. Feeling a bit remorseful, I briefly wonder what Jess was like when he actually held onto the façade of innocence. I smile inwardly thinking of a little boy who believed in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy while an air of naivety still surrounded him. Sadly I realize that the innocence he had long tossed aside will no longer grace his thoughts, actions, or words. I don't even realize that I've been staring for the last minute until his voice jolts me back into reality.
"Rory? Hey Ror, didn't Lorelai tell you that it's impolite to stare? I mean, I know I'm good looking but a man can only take so much staring." He smirks at me as he tries to lighten the mood. Mistaking my silence for something else he remarks, "It's okay Rory; it's only a job and this is only temporary, you know I've been through worse. Don't worry, okay?"
"Yeah, I know. Anyways, so tell me about the companies that you've sent out résumés for." Launching him into a conversation I listen carefully and I also drift back into my musing of Jess's childhood. Finally realizing that he's done talking about his job opportunities we both start on the dishes in the sink that we've left for the last couple of days.
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Groaning as I roll over to turn the alarm off I think about calling in sick today to stay home, heaven knows that I need the rest. However while these thoughts are mulling in my head the rational side of me kicks in and reminds my conscience that I shouldn't lie about being sick because one day it'll come back and bite me on the ass. I peer over to the clock and realize that I've been lying there for twenty minutes already and that I should probably get out of bed to take a shower and get dressed.
"Morning Sleeping Beauty." Jess's morning voice is heavy laden with sleep as he rolls over to take a good look at me. For a minute his voice is so gruff that I thought I mistook him for Luke. Finally coming to terms that it would be the most ridiculous situation, I think about how out of it I actually am.
Smiling lazily I ask him, "Does that make you my Prince Charming?"
"Not if I have to slay a dragon or get up at this early in the morning." Chuckling he scoots back to his side as he pulls the covers up to his chin, relishing in the fact that he doesn't have to leave the warm comforter, while knowing that I would have to brave the freezing cold wood floor to get to the bathroom.
With a twinge of jealously I mumble, "I wish I didn't have to go to work today." Heroically I dart out of bed and make a mad dash across the floor to the bathroom. Vaguely hearing Jess's low laughter I dismiss it as I turn on the hot water to start my day.
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It's pouring rain and I'm running as fast as I can from the subway to the apartment building. I can't believe that I've forgotten my umbrella again for the fourth time in the last two months, the worst thing about it all, is that I had left my coat on the hook behind my office door. Rushing past all the other commuters with their fancy, custom made wind blockers, I feel like a tourist with my black knee length skirt and blouse. With my hair sopping wet against my back I can't wait to step into my warm house and start a hot bath to soak in for at least a half an hour. Bumping into my neighbors on my block I'm almost to the entrance as I run into a man with his arms full of grocery bags. Quickly, we both apologize and he helps me gather up my things and vice versa. Finally reaching the door I fish for my key as I come up empty-handed. Realizing that today is the single worst day that I've had for the last year I almost start to cry but then remember that Jess will probably be home so I buzz the apartment.
His voice booms through the intercom as he asks, "Who is it?"
With my voice shaking and chattering from the cold I barely get out, "It's me, open the door I forgot my key."
It immediately buzzes open and I slip in through the gate as I hear a thundering of footsteps rushing down towards me. I see Jess's concerned expression as he is clad only in sweat pants and a Clash tee shirt. Taking in my weary appearance he says, "Jesus Rory, what happened? How come you're walking around out in the rain without a coat or anything?"
Reaching the front door to our home I reply, "I forgot my coat and by the time I realized it I was already on the subway and it had started to rain. I'm so cold; could you turn up the heat please?"
"Oh geez, yeah hold on a second." He rushes to go crank up the thermostat as I'm dripping across the floor as I make my way to the bathroom as I grab some spare clothes on lying on the clothes rack. Shrugging on a tee shirt I grab Jess's old sweater and slip it on; I peel off the soaked skirt and jump into some warm and comfy pajama bottoms. Grabbing a towel on the way out I almost collide with Jess.
"Whoa, careful Rory. How are you doing; warmer?" He pulls me into a familiar hug as he rubs his arms across my back and arms creating heat from the friction of his hands against my skin. "How about some hot soup?" Knowing that soup is my favorite remedy on a rainy day I nod and head towards the couch so I can start to unwind from my hectic day.
As the creamy, hot, clam chowder runs down my throat I begin to feel so much better. Polishing off the last drop that remains in my bowl, I grab my used dishes and set them in the sink to wash later. I walk by thanking Jess with a kiss on his forehead as he reads his novel of the week. I begin to head towards the bathroom to take that bath that I was fantasizing about earlier on the subway. Grabbing a bottle of my favorite bath salts and bubbles I start the water at hot and let it run until it fills to that perfect spot. Removing my sweatshirt and pants I slip into the bubbly bath of hot water that immediately begins to loosen my tight muscles.
With my hair tied back in a ponytail and my favorite cheesy romance novel in my hands, I begin to pick up where I left the last time I visited my favorite heroine as she struggles with the love of her life. Becoming absorbed in the book, I remember vaguely hearing the phone ring about a couple of minutes ago. Dismissing it as I go back to my fantasy world I almost fall asleep because it is incredibly comfortable in the tub.
Without warning a burst of cold air come rushing into my safe haven as Jess whips open the door with a huge grin on his face. Shocked I ask, "Jess, it's freezing, don't you ever knock?"
"I got it Ror. I start next week."
Sitting up in the tub I quickly grab a towel and wrap it around myself as I hurriedly stumble out of the bath and launch myself into his arms. "Oh my god! I'm so proud of you. I can't believe that you're going to work for ABC news!"
"I know; I can't believe it either!"
Quickly throwing on clothes, I grab his hand and pull him out of the apartment to celebrate the exciting news of another prospect opening up for him.
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I'm waiting for Jess at our favorite coffeehouse that also serves as a bookstore as he is running about twenty minutes late. Just for fun I randomly picked up a book talking about when you know that you're ready for a family. As I'm reading this book, I wonder if Jess would be open to the idea of starting our own family. I mean, we both have very steady jobs now and we're financially able to support us and another addition. Even though I know that we would probably be ready for a family of our own, I still don't know if Jess would be very excited about having his own kids. I remember him telling me years ago that he didn't want to put his own kids through the kind of crap that he went through as a kid; but that was many years ago, before Jess thought that he was the 'husband-type' and before he felt like he could settle. Maybe after all this time he might change his mind; I know for sure that I'd like a family. I think I'll ease it carefully into a conversation later on and see how he reacts to the idea of family.
Rushing into the café, Jess hurriedly apologizes for his tardy. I try to quickly hide the book that I've been reading for the last half hour, but apparently I'm not as slick as I would like to be. So much for easing it in carefully.
Cocking an eyebrow, he furrows his forehead and asks, "Whatcha reading there Rory?" With amusement obvious in his voice, I know that I've got to come clean with the book.
"It's a family planning book." Embarrassment creeps into my voice and cheeks as I lower my eyes, afraid of what might come of this conversation.
"Oh well, I guess we've never really discussed that openly. We should probably talk about it if you're thinking of it."
Jess seems much more open and supportive then I thought he would be when I accidentally brought up the topic. Surprised, I agree to talk about it.
With an even tone and a soft voice he asserts his concerns. "Well, I always knew that you'd want kids when we got married; I just never thought it would come this soon. You know how I feel about parenthood, Ror. I just don't want my kids to grow up with the kind of hatred and angst that I had towards my parents. I don't want my kids to hate me like that. I just always felt that if I didn't have kids, then I wouldn't have to relive my childhood."
His words are deeply saddening to think that he believes that he would screw up our child. Quickly adding my point of view I include, "Jess, you don't seriously think that I believe that you would mess up this kid, do you? Despite the feelings that you had back when you were younger, I still think that you've changed. Sometimes, you're still that James Dean, smart ass if you want to be; but basically, you've grown up. Don't you want to experience parenthood Jess?"
He's quiet for a couple of minutes which scares me a little because I don't know how he'll react to this whole thing. Maybe he doesn't want to change his mind about kids or maybe he just doesn't feel like he's ready. I'm somewhat disappointed but I remember that I knew that Jess didn't particularly enjoyed kids back when we were dating, and I knew that for a fact. I guess I shouldn't be too upset because I knew what I was getting into when I accepted his proposal to spend the rest of my life with him. Thinking about how I had agreed to marry Jess, I accepted him as a package and not just the parts of what I liked. If he doesn't want to have kids then I should probably accept that as a part of him. As I finally reach the conclusion that I should be happy with what I have and that I shouldn't pressure him into anything, he breaks my train of thoughts by finally speaking up.
Whispering he says, "Okay, let's try."
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Sitting here I think about how much we've grown up together; at first we started as a typical 'bad-boy, good-girl' relationship; but as we got older we stuck together and we've made it through all the transition years of our lives together. I think about that young, naïve girl that he first met when he was transported from the big city to the little town. I was the poster child of innocence and it was that simplicity that drew Jess in; conversely, it was his rebellious, multifaceted character that drew me to him. He was so complicated and he had so many different emotions driving inside of him; I remember the day that we sat on the bridge when he finally confessed that he wanted more out of his life then what he was getting. He had wanted to make something out of himself; I was so proud of him at that moment as he made the decision to attend college. From that point on, he transformed his persona of one that didn't care, into one that strove to reach his goals.
The kitchen timer buzzes, signifying that the time is up. With that small amount of time, I have pondered the future that might or might not come of this moment; that one little buzz might make our family of two into one that is of three. Reaching for his hand we both open the door and walk in to see the result that would define our future.
---End---