Title: Always You
Lucky Chapter 13: Let's Dance!!
Oh, I am soooo fast-forwarding! Okay, what you need to know:
1. Okay, I'm setting this during the dance marathon, so that makes it...November 2-10, I believe. (the marathon episode was on the second Tuesday of November and the closest weekend is the ninth and tenth. So that's when it is)
2. Lorelai is 22 weeks (5 1/2 months) pregnant, and Chris and Lor have decided they don't want to know the sex.
3. Jess and Rory are definitely a couple. Both Chris and Lor are worried about their relationship, although Chris is the more worried of the two.
4. Rory and Dean are not friends.
5. Luke's kind of distant towards Lorelai.
6. The title of the chapter's a line from the movie Footloose, the fabulous dancing movie from the eighties starring Kevin Bacon with the adorably Sarah Jessica Parker in a small co-starring role, fresh off the set of Square Pegs.
7. There's a thinly veiled reference to Lauren Graham's TV show from, like, '96 or something like that, that she starred in with Molly Ringwald and Jenna Elfman.
Yeah, that's enough to bore you with right now, I'm sure.
~~~~
Rory woke up at nine-thirty, which was fairly normal for her on a Saturday. She walked into the kitchen for her preliminary cup of coffee when she noticed her mother sitting at the kitchen table--dressed, even--which was slightly out of the ordinary for Lorelai.
"Please, Chris. Please please please." Lorelai was pouting to Christopher.
"Morning," Rory greeted as she walked to the coffee maker.
"Morning, Rory," Christopher smiled before Lorelai pulled his arm to direct his attention towards her again.
"You have to. We do it well, you know."
"I know," Chris sighed.
"So, come on!"
"What's she trying to get you to do?" Rory asked, leaning against the counter and drinking her coffee.
"Be my dance partner for the marathon." Lorelai answered. "I just might be able to beat Kirk this time around. And you know, I was thinking, that if a certain someone I know did it, too, then a Gilmore would definitely be guaranteed to win."
"No." Rory stated simply.
"Oh, come on! You've got a boyfriend, I've got a boyfriend; I went through stupid dancing lessons, you went through stupid dancing lessons. It's perfect!"
"Mom--my boyfriend is Jess. He'll never dance."
"Oh, just throw some of the Gilmore charm his way."
"But not too much," Chris said.
"Not too much. And hey, if that doesn't work, Dean went to dancing lessons with you. You could use him to win and get Jess jealous at the same time."
"You know, you're very evil," Rory told her mother.
"Yes, well, come next Sunday, I want to be evil with Kirk's trophy."
"I'll do it," Chris suddenly said.
"And I'll ask Jess," Rory sighed and agreed with her father.
"Ooh, yay! Well, no matter what, we need cool retro clothes, so come on, Rory. We're going shopping." Lorelai stood up and started pulling Rory to the door.
"Wait, Mom, hold on a second!" Rory, still in her pajamas, protested. She took a last sip of her coffee and handed the empty cup to Chris. "Okay, ready." The girls giggled and left the house.
~~~~
"Please?"
"No," Jess shook his head once again, keeping his eyes on the book in his hands. Rory stood next to Luke's kitchen table, her arms crossed across her chest. She threw a pouting look to her boyfriend, sitting on his uncle's couch, but he stubbornly refused to look up. Suddenly she got an idea and walked over to the couch. She sat down close to Jess, as close as she could without being in his lap.
"Hey," he looked up in surprise.
"Hey," she responded. After a second Jess just nodded and returned to his book. Rory laid her head on his shoulder and pretended to read. Jess wrapped one arm around her, and she turned to face him and started kissing his chin. When he didn't protest (and why would he?), she trailed her kisses down to his neck. He finally looked up from his book and she kissed him on the lips, a long, deep, slow kiss filled with fire. After a minute they broke apart.
"Okay," Jess said breathlessly. "I'll do it."
"Yes!" Rory grabbed his book, smiled at him, and started reading.
~~~~
"Jess!" Luke banged on the bathroom door for what had to have been the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes. "We gotta go, I gotta set up the damn coffee!"
"Calm down, I'm coming!" Jess took a deep breath and exited the bathroom. Luke took one look at his old-timey outfit and immediately burst out laughing.
"That's it, I'm not going." Jess walked past his uncle to his room.
"No, wait, wait. Let me see again." Luke looked him over again. "Yeah, it's still funny."
Jess groaned in disgust and started walking away from his uncle.
"Are you wearing suspenders?"
"Stupid girlfriend." Jess muttered as he grabbed his jacket and started downstairs. "Stupid girlfriend's kisses."
~~~~
"It's too early," Rory groaned into her mother's shoulder as they were walking to the high school for the marathon.
"I agree," Chris groaned, walking behind them.
"You're just big babies. Meanwhile, don't I look cute?" Lorelai gestured to her fabulous forties-style outfit, down to the hair.
"You look pregnant," Rory said, looking at her mother through slits instead of eyelids.
"Yes, I agree that the dress is a bit show-off-y when it comes to that area, but hey--I'm three and a half months from dropping this little sucker and proud of it!"
"You're too happy." Rory settled her head into her mother's shoulder again.
"Even I need coffee this early." Chris said, trying to rub some of the sleep from his eyes.
"Wimps. Hey, Babette!" Lorelai smiled at the older woman as she signed herself and Chris in. "Hmm, can I sign the kid in even though her partner's not here yet?"
"Oh, sure. Just as long as he's here for the physicals."
"Hmm, Jess getting a physical. That's a mental image I didn't need."
"Mom!"
"Hey, I haven't had any coffee either."
"Yeah, but still." Rory finally lifted her head from her mother's shoulder and looked around. Suddenly something caught her eye. "Oh, my God!" she screamed happily and ran off.
"Hey, go chase her," Lorelai nudged Chris.
"Me? What about you?"
"Hey, I'm dropping this sucker in three and a half months. Go run after your daughter." Lorelai pointed and they both looked to see Rory run up to Jess. "Or never mind, cause her boyfriend's being decent and sweet, actually."
"Ooh, that Jess is turning into an old sweetheart, ain't he?" Babette spoke up. "Okay, now you two go get your physicals, bring your release forms inside, and they'll get you a number."
"Thanks, Babette."
"You're welcome, sugar."
~~~~
"I can't believe you did this!" Rory exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Jess' neck.
"Yeah, me either."
"Mmm, you're wonderful." Rory kissed Jess softly.
"Hey, I remember why I decided to do this in the first place."
"Yeah," Rory kissed him again. "Hey, where's Luke?"
"Coming."
"With coffee?"
"I brought your coffee." Jess handed her a thermos.
"Oh, you are the greatest!" Rory grabbed the thermos and downed half of it. "And now I'm awake."
~~~~
"Any couple without a number will be disqualified." Taylor started announcing a half-hour later. "All couples must be touching at all times. All couples must remain moving at all times. The only time you may stop moving or stop touching is when you hear this horn." Taylor blew an air horn. "That sound means you have ten minutes. Ten minutes to get a drink, to eat a snack, take a rest, or whatever it is you can do in ten minutes. And in addition to the ten-minute rest periods, every person participating has been issued a yellow emergency card. In case of emergency, a contestant may hold up the card and leave the floor for ten minutes. If your partner remains on the floor and moving the entire time, then the owner of the yellow card may rejoin them and the contest. First aid is available in Miss Patty's. Please, remember, that if you feel yourself getting lightheaded or having shooting pains or any other stroke-like symptoms, please move off to the side so that your collapse will not get in the way of the other dancers. All right, people, lace your shoes, pin those curls, because we only have three minutes left until we start."
"Is he gonna talk the whole time?" Jess asked.
"No. Although he'll get really talkative around hour fifteen and start moaning about how he should have been a magician."
"Why I never have a tape-recorder when you say these things, I'll never know."
Rory just smiled and kissed him.
~~~~
Six hours into the marathon
"Kirk's going down." Lorelai intoned, watching him dance around with his partner.
"Glad to see you're not taking this that seriously."
"Me? No, never. Flip me."
"What?"
"Come on, flip me."
"Lorelai--you're five months pregnant."
"What, are you saying I'm fat?"
"Uh-n-no...I, uh--"
"I'm taking a ten minute break. Yellow card! It's an emergency!" Lorelai held her yellow card up to Taylor; he nodded, and she walked off the dance floor.
Chris just stood there, shocked for a second, but Taylor lifted his megaphone and yelled, "Everyone on the dance floor must remain moving at all times."
Chris started swaying slowly.
"Oh, Dad, what happened?" Rory asked as she and Jess danced over.
"Mood swings."
"She's already moved on," Jess pointed to Lorelai, who was standing at Luke's coffee table, holding out a cup, begging for coffee.
"That's Lorelai." Chris shook his head and half-laughed.
"I'm becoming rapidly convinced that everyone you've ever met is crazy." Jess murmured to Rory as they danced away.
"Well, actually--No, that sounds about right. Now all I have to do is convert you."
"Never."
"Hello? I've already got you dancing and wearing old clothes. Next thing you know you'll be a Christmas Tree in the Town Square."
"I'll be a Christmas Tree?"
"Good, because I've already signed you up." Rory smiled and kissed Jess, who just sighed.
"Hey. I'm back," Lorelai said to Chris, walking over with a large cup of coffee.
"Are you sure? You've still got seven minutes left."
"Sure, I'm sure! And besides, Andrew's about to start his argument, and then we'll be down one more couple."
"Oh, of course."
"Dance with me!" Lorelai struck a dramatic pose and held out a hand to Chris.
"Uh, Lor?"
"Yes, Christopher?" Lorelai asked, her head still turned away.
"You're holding a cup of coffee."
"Oh," Lor fell out of her pose and giggled. "I'll be right back."
"Bye."
Lorelai blew a kiss in his direction and walked back to Luke's table, handing him her cup. He started arguing with her about something or other; Chris couldn't tell. All he could see was that they were definitely arguing.
"You went out with Liam Neeson! Are you kidding me?" Andrew started his own argument with his partner, only his argument was incredibly loud. "Why would you ever tell me that you went out with Liam Neeson? Why would you do that?"
"Because I was trying to be honest." Andrew's partner said.
"I don't believe that A, you actually went out with Liam Neeson, and B, that you would choose to tell me now at this moment that you went out with Liam Neeson!"
"Andrew!"
"No!" Andrew threw his partner's hands down.
"Andrew!"
"I can't stand Liam Neeson!" Andrew announced as he stormed off of the dance floor, his partner running after him.
"See, fun!" Rory said giddily to Jess, who half-laughed and tried to twirl her.
~~~~
Fourteen hours into the marathon
"Must stay awake," Rory said, her head on Jess' shoulder. She and Jess were leaning against each other and swaying slightly, completely wiped out from fourteen hours of dancing.
"Kiss," Jess implored. Rory lifted her head and kissed him softly. He stood up straighter. "Okay, I'm good for another half-hour."
"How do you have so much energy?" Chris asked Lorelai.
"It's the coffee. And the fact that Kirk is going down!" Lorelai shot the last phrase in Kirk's direction, who just shot her a look.
"God, ten more hours of this," Chris groaned, looking at the clock.
"Ooh, sweet retro girl! Let's dance over to her!"
"Of course," Chris said as they danced over to Rory and Jess.
"Wake up, Rory! We want Kirk to know that all of us Gilmores are ready to go go go!"
"Hit her for me, Jess," Rory said, her head still in his shoulder.
"Okay, but I'm using your hand." Jess lifted her hand and started to move it towards Lorelai.
"Uh-uh! Don't you dare!!"
"Okay." Jess dropped Rory's hand.
An air horn sounded.
"Is that the break?" Rory asked hopefully, lifting her head from Jess' shoulder.
"No...it's the runaround," Lorelai explained.
"The runaround? That does not sound good."
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so, so sorry." Lorelai apoligized.
"What about us?" Chris asked gesturing to him and Jess.
"Let me just say right now--Jess, if you have any of Luke's track genes, now would be a good time to use them."
"God, no," Jess groaned.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, on your marks...get set...and go!" Taylor yelled. All the dancers started running around the gym in a huge circle. "Round and round they go, but when the song stops, nobody knows! But the last five couples that finish behind the red line are automatically out, so hold onto your partner and move, move, move!"
"I sincerely hate you, Mom!" Rory yelled as they were running, running as fast as they could.
"Hey, at least there's only one of you. Jess, are those track genes gonna kick in anytime soon?"
"If they do, it's only to get away from you."
"Why do we have to make it, too?" Rory asked her mother.
"So at least one Gilmore wins!"
"So when can we collapse?"
"Try closer to hour twenty-four. Or after Kirk falls down. Ooh! Or, we can trip him."
"Still not taking it too seriously, huh, Lor?"
"Oh, no, of course not."
"I think I'm going to die." Rory gasped.
"Me first," Jess said.
"How much longer?" Chris asked.
"I don't know. I just know that every year I block this part out." Lorelai answered.
"From now on I'm going to remind you of it." Rory said.
"Kirk, what are you doing?" Chris asked, noticing Kirk right on their heels.
"I'm drafting you."
"Well, stop it!" Lorelai yelled.
"You can't tell me where to run!"
"Kirk, I swear to God, don't make me come back there!" Lorelai yelled just as an air horn blew.
"Ten minute break everyone, ten minute break. Well run. Ten minute break, everyone. Ten minute break." Taylor said. Jess, Lorelai, Chris, and Rory all collapsed on the gym floor, amongst a crowd of many. Rory, lying next to her mother, started moving her leg around.
"What are you doing?" Lorelai asked.
"I'm trying to kick you but I can't reach."
"I would help you but I can't move." Chris said.
"Can I owe you one?" Rory asked her mother.
"Yeah, no problem."
"Let's get up," Rory suggested. Jess nodded and they helped each other up.
"What about you?" Lorelai asked, looking at Chris. He sighed, stood up, and then held out both hands to her. She happily put her hands in his and he pulled her up.
"Let's go get sandwiches. I haven't eaten for forever!" Rory pulled Jess towards Miss Patty's, where Lane and her mother were dishing out eggless egg salad sandwiches.
"Uh, Ror, you're not gonna want to eat for forever if you eat that," Jess said, refusing to walk closer to the food. If it could be called that.
"I've been eating at the Kims' for years. Trust me, this is not the worst."
The couple walked up to Lane, who dished out four sandwiches--two for them and two for Lor and Chris.
"Good luck," Lane whispered as they walked off.
"See? Even Lane won't eat them."
"She'll eat them, she just knows that certain people can't."
"Hmm, I have a feeling I'm one of the certain people." Jess took a bite. "Oh, and I am."
Rory laughed as they started walking back to the gym, but stopped when she noticed someone standing in their path.
"Dean."
"Rory. Jess." Dean greeted.
"Man, what are you doing here?" Jess asked.
"I'm walking through town. I think I'm allowed to do that."
"It's eight o'clock--everything's closed." Jess pointed out.
"Except for the dance marathon, which apparently you two are headed towards."
"Yeah, we're about to be late," Rory pulled Jess' arm, trying to get him to move.
"You have nothing better to do than to sit around inside a gymnasium all day staring at a dance marathon?" Jess asked.
"Well--"
"Jess! We're going to be late! Leave the jerk alone!" Rory pulled on Jess' arm harder, and with the last phrase she finally managed to move him. Dean remained where he was, glaring after them. Jess showed his affection by waving with a certain finger, but Rory just pulled harder, and the next thing they knew they were back on the dance floor, handing disgusting sandwiches to Lorelai and Christopher. They reluctantly accepted them and began dancing as Taylor yelled.
~~~~
Twenty-three hours into the marathon
All six of the remaining couples were incredibly worn out. Taylor was sitting at the podium, babbling to Miss Patty about his failed magic career. Jess and Rory, dancing next to Lorelai and Chris, were barely holding each other up, and Lorelai was trying to keep Chris from collapsing.
"So Jackson blamed you?" Rory asked her mother.
"Yeah, and then they ran out."
"That's weird."
"It's Jackson. He sings and dances with his fruit."
"Hmm, that's true."
Another couple fell down a few feet away, and were immediately disqualified. Kirk caught Lorelai's eye and did that whole "I'm watching you" hand gesture that Robert DeNiro did to Ben Stiller in Meet The Parents
"Tell me a joke." Lorelai commanded of Chris.
"Knock knock," he said sleepily.
"That was a good one." Lorelai giggled. "Ow!"
"You okay, Mom?"
"Oh, no! My heel broke."
"What?" Chris asked.
"My heel just broke off. Damn, these are brand new shoes, too."
"They were made in 1943." Rory reminded her mother.
"Well, I just bought them Tuesday."
"I told you not to wear vintage shoes."
"But the lady at the store said that they hadn't been worn a lot."
"Yeah, but not a lot in sixty years is still a lot." Chris said.
"Oh, shush, you. I gotta fix 'em. I'll use my emergency card. I'll be right back."
"No, if you leave, there's no way I'll be able to stand up on my own." Chris said into Lorelai's shoulder.
"Ten minutes."
"Good-bye."
"Sookie!" Lorelai called as she noticed her friend walk into the gymnasium.
"What's up, sweetie?" Sookie walked over.
"My heel broke, and Chris is a big baby and needs someone to hold him up."
"O..kay. Sure, I guess."
"Good." Lorelai let Chris lean up against Sookie.
"Get some glue," Chris muttered.
"Thank you, sweetie." Lorelai kissed him on the cheek and walked away.
"So, Sookie, how'd things go with Jackson?"
"I need so much coffee," Rory murmured.
"I'll go get you some," Jess said.
"No, you can't, cause it would be the same problem Dad had. You gone, me floor."
"I think I know how to solve that, but first--" Jess pressed his lips lightly to Rory's, and then he danced her over to Sookie and Chris.
"I just have to figure out what I want. I think I'll ask Lorelai," Sookie was saying.
"Excuse me, Sookie?" Jess tapped her on the shoulder. "Can Rory cut in? I'm going to get her some coffee."
"Oh, sure. I need to talk to Lorelai, anyway."
"Good." Sookie stepped back, and Jess placed Rory's arms around her father's neck.
"Bye, Jess," she murmured. He smiled, held up his yellow card, and walked off the floor with Sookie.
"You're being really sweet," Sookie commented to Jess.
"It's hard not to. She's got killer kisses."
"Oh." Sookie giggled.
"Jess, what are you doing here?" Lorelai asked as the teenager walked up to Luke's coffee table.
"Getting coffee for my partner. Where's Luke?"
"Getting glue for my shoe."
"Ah." Jess poured two cups of coffee, and handed one to Lorelai.
"Why aren't you going back?"
"Because if I go back Christopher will fall down."
"Oh. Just waiting for me, huh?"
"Yep."
Another couple walked slowly off the dance floor, and Lorelai counted the remaining dancers.
"Oh, we're cutting it close. Just you guys, me and Chris, Kirk, and those new people. I'm hoping that lady collapses soon."
"Huh." Jess refilled Lorelai's now-empty coffee cup. "You know, Luke would yell at me if he knew I was giving you coffee."
"Not his kid, not his problem."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Your shoe," Luke said, walking up to them, "is fixed."
"You are such a life-saver! You totally rock!" Lorelai set her coffee cup down and took her shoe from Luke.
"See you back out there," Jess said, taking the coffee cup back to Rory. Lorelai slipped her shoe on and ran out after him.
"Coffee is a wonderful thing," Rory said after downing the entire cup in seconds.
"Feel better?"
"Oh, a Gilmore is so gonna win this!"
"Chris, stand up," Lorelai said urgently. "Stand up better than that!"
"I can't," he moaned, slipping through Lorelai's arms to the ground.
"Oh, you are so sleeping on the couch tonight."
"I don't think that's gonna be a problem, Mom, cause he's already snoring." Rory pointed out. The woman of the other couple fell to the ground too, and Kirk threw daggers to Rory and Jess, who were both dancing more peppily since the kiss and the coffee.
"You're gonna win, you're gonna win!" Lorelai said giddily to her daughter, watching as two helpful townies helped Christopher off of the dance floor.
"Donna, I love you!" some weird guy yelled from the top of the bleachers.
"Justin! Oh, my God! I love you too!" Donna, Kirk's partner, dropped his hands and ran as fast as she could to Justin. Kirk stood forlornly on the dance floor as Lorelai ran over to Rory and Jess.
"You won! They won! Taylor! Miss Patty! They won!"
"Taylor. Taylor!" Miss Patty poked the sleeping Taylor, but he remained sleeping, so Miss Patty pulled the air horn from in his hands and blew it. "Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!" Miss Patty said into the microphone.
"You won, you won, you won, you won!" Lorelai jumped up and down in front of Jess and Rory.
"The marathon winner is Rory Gilmore and...is that Jess?"
"That's Jess?" Taylor jerked awake.
"Jess entered the marathon?" someone asked.
"Yes, I entered the marathon!" Jess yelled.
"Okay, the winners are Rory Gilmore and Jess Mariano!"
"You got a trophy! You got a trophy! A Gilmore got the trophy!" Lorelai jumped up and down as Rory and Jess took their trophy from Patty.
"A Gilmore got the trophy!" Rory said, jumping up and down beside her mother.
Lucky Chapter 13: Let's Dance!!
Oh, I am soooo fast-forwarding! Okay, what you need to know:
1. Okay, I'm setting this during the dance marathon, so that makes it...November 2-10, I believe. (the marathon episode was on the second Tuesday of November and the closest weekend is the ninth and tenth. So that's when it is)
2. Lorelai is 22 weeks (5 1/2 months) pregnant, and Chris and Lor have decided they don't want to know the sex.
3. Jess and Rory are definitely a couple. Both Chris and Lor are worried about their relationship, although Chris is the more worried of the two.
4. Rory and Dean are not friends.
5. Luke's kind of distant towards Lorelai.
6. The title of the chapter's a line from the movie Footloose, the fabulous dancing movie from the eighties starring Kevin Bacon with the adorably Sarah Jessica Parker in a small co-starring role, fresh off the set of Square Pegs.
7. There's a thinly veiled reference to Lauren Graham's TV show from, like, '96 or something like that, that she starred in with Molly Ringwald and Jenna Elfman.
Yeah, that's enough to bore you with right now, I'm sure.
~~~~
Rory woke up at nine-thirty, which was fairly normal for her on a Saturday. She walked into the kitchen for her preliminary cup of coffee when she noticed her mother sitting at the kitchen table--dressed, even--which was slightly out of the ordinary for Lorelai.
"Please, Chris. Please please please." Lorelai was pouting to Christopher.
"Morning," Rory greeted as she walked to the coffee maker.
"Morning, Rory," Christopher smiled before Lorelai pulled his arm to direct his attention towards her again.
"You have to. We do it well, you know."
"I know," Chris sighed.
"So, come on!"
"What's she trying to get you to do?" Rory asked, leaning against the counter and drinking her coffee.
"Be my dance partner for the marathon." Lorelai answered. "I just might be able to beat Kirk this time around. And you know, I was thinking, that if a certain someone I know did it, too, then a Gilmore would definitely be guaranteed to win."
"No." Rory stated simply.
"Oh, come on! You've got a boyfriend, I've got a boyfriend; I went through stupid dancing lessons, you went through stupid dancing lessons. It's perfect!"
"Mom--my boyfriend is Jess. He'll never dance."
"Oh, just throw some of the Gilmore charm his way."
"But not too much," Chris said.
"Not too much. And hey, if that doesn't work, Dean went to dancing lessons with you. You could use him to win and get Jess jealous at the same time."
"You know, you're very evil," Rory told her mother.
"Yes, well, come next Sunday, I want to be evil with Kirk's trophy."
"I'll do it," Chris suddenly said.
"And I'll ask Jess," Rory sighed and agreed with her father.
"Ooh, yay! Well, no matter what, we need cool retro clothes, so come on, Rory. We're going shopping." Lorelai stood up and started pulling Rory to the door.
"Wait, Mom, hold on a second!" Rory, still in her pajamas, protested. She took a last sip of her coffee and handed the empty cup to Chris. "Okay, ready." The girls giggled and left the house.
~~~~
"Please?"
"No," Jess shook his head once again, keeping his eyes on the book in his hands. Rory stood next to Luke's kitchen table, her arms crossed across her chest. She threw a pouting look to her boyfriend, sitting on his uncle's couch, but he stubbornly refused to look up. Suddenly she got an idea and walked over to the couch. She sat down close to Jess, as close as she could without being in his lap.
"Hey," he looked up in surprise.
"Hey," she responded. After a second Jess just nodded and returned to his book. Rory laid her head on his shoulder and pretended to read. Jess wrapped one arm around her, and she turned to face him and started kissing his chin. When he didn't protest (and why would he?), she trailed her kisses down to his neck. He finally looked up from his book and she kissed him on the lips, a long, deep, slow kiss filled with fire. After a minute they broke apart.
"Okay," Jess said breathlessly. "I'll do it."
"Yes!" Rory grabbed his book, smiled at him, and started reading.
~~~~
"Jess!" Luke banged on the bathroom door for what had to have been the fiftieth time in the last ten minutes. "We gotta go, I gotta set up the damn coffee!"
"Calm down, I'm coming!" Jess took a deep breath and exited the bathroom. Luke took one look at his old-timey outfit and immediately burst out laughing.
"That's it, I'm not going." Jess walked past his uncle to his room.
"No, wait, wait. Let me see again." Luke looked him over again. "Yeah, it's still funny."
Jess groaned in disgust and started walking away from his uncle.
"Are you wearing suspenders?"
"Stupid girlfriend." Jess muttered as he grabbed his jacket and started downstairs. "Stupid girlfriend's kisses."
~~~~
"It's too early," Rory groaned into her mother's shoulder as they were walking to the high school for the marathon.
"I agree," Chris groaned, walking behind them.
"You're just big babies. Meanwhile, don't I look cute?" Lorelai gestured to her fabulous forties-style outfit, down to the hair.
"You look pregnant," Rory said, looking at her mother through slits instead of eyelids.
"Yes, I agree that the dress is a bit show-off-y when it comes to that area, but hey--I'm three and a half months from dropping this little sucker and proud of it!"
"You're too happy." Rory settled her head into her mother's shoulder again.
"Even I need coffee this early." Chris said, trying to rub some of the sleep from his eyes.
"Wimps. Hey, Babette!" Lorelai smiled at the older woman as she signed herself and Chris in. "Hmm, can I sign the kid in even though her partner's not here yet?"
"Oh, sure. Just as long as he's here for the physicals."
"Hmm, Jess getting a physical. That's a mental image I didn't need."
"Mom!"
"Hey, I haven't had any coffee either."
"Yeah, but still." Rory finally lifted her head from her mother's shoulder and looked around. Suddenly something caught her eye. "Oh, my God!" she screamed happily and ran off.
"Hey, go chase her," Lorelai nudged Chris.
"Me? What about you?"
"Hey, I'm dropping this sucker in three and a half months. Go run after your daughter." Lorelai pointed and they both looked to see Rory run up to Jess. "Or never mind, cause her boyfriend's being decent and sweet, actually."
"Ooh, that Jess is turning into an old sweetheart, ain't he?" Babette spoke up. "Okay, now you two go get your physicals, bring your release forms inside, and they'll get you a number."
"Thanks, Babette."
"You're welcome, sugar."
~~~~
"I can't believe you did this!" Rory exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Jess' neck.
"Yeah, me either."
"Mmm, you're wonderful." Rory kissed Jess softly.
"Hey, I remember why I decided to do this in the first place."
"Yeah," Rory kissed him again. "Hey, where's Luke?"
"Coming."
"With coffee?"
"I brought your coffee." Jess handed her a thermos.
"Oh, you are the greatest!" Rory grabbed the thermos and downed half of it. "And now I'm awake."
~~~~
"Any couple without a number will be disqualified." Taylor started announcing a half-hour later. "All couples must be touching at all times. All couples must remain moving at all times. The only time you may stop moving or stop touching is when you hear this horn." Taylor blew an air horn. "That sound means you have ten minutes. Ten minutes to get a drink, to eat a snack, take a rest, or whatever it is you can do in ten minutes. And in addition to the ten-minute rest periods, every person participating has been issued a yellow emergency card. In case of emergency, a contestant may hold up the card and leave the floor for ten minutes. If your partner remains on the floor and moving the entire time, then the owner of the yellow card may rejoin them and the contest. First aid is available in Miss Patty's. Please, remember, that if you feel yourself getting lightheaded or having shooting pains or any other stroke-like symptoms, please move off to the side so that your collapse will not get in the way of the other dancers. All right, people, lace your shoes, pin those curls, because we only have three minutes left until we start."
"Is he gonna talk the whole time?" Jess asked.
"No. Although he'll get really talkative around hour fifteen and start moaning about how he should have been a magician."
"Why I never have a tape-recorder when you say these things, I'll never know."
Rory just smiled and kissed him.
~~~~
Six hours into the marathon
"Kirk's going down." Lorelai intoned, watching him dance around with his partner.
"Glad to see you're not taking this that seriously."
"Me? No, never. Flip me."
"What?"
"Come on, flip me."
"Lorelai--you're five months pregnant."
"What, are you saying I'm fat?"
"Uh-n-no...I, uh--"
"I'm taking a ten minute break. Yellow card! It's an emergency!" Lorelai held her yellow card up to Taylor; he nodded, and she walked off the dance floor.
Chris just stood there, shocked for a second, but Taylor lifted his megaphone and yelled, "Everyone on the dance floor must remain moving at all times."
Chris started swaying slowly.
"Oh, Dad, what happened?" Rory asked as she and Jess danced over.
"Mood swings."
"She's already moved on," Jess pointed to Lorelai, who was standing at Luke's coffee table, holding out a cup, begging for coffee.
"That's Lorelai." Chris shook his head and half-laughed.
"I'm becoming rapidly convinced that everyone you've ever met is crazy." Jess murmured to Rory as they danced away.
"Well, actually--No, that sounds about right. Now all I have to do is convert you."
"Never."
"Hello? I've already got you dancing and wearing old clothes. Next thing you know you'll be a Christmas Tree in the Town Square."
"I'll be a Christmas Tree?"
"Good, because I've already signed you up." Rory smiled and kissed Jess, who just sighed.
"Hey. I'm back," Lorelai said to Chris, walking over with a large cup of coffee.
"Are you sure? You've still got seven minutes left."
"Sure, I'm sure! And besides, Andrew's about to start his argument, and then we'll be down one more couple."
"Oh, of course."
"Dance with me!" Lorelai struck a dramatic pose and held out a hand to Chris.
"Uh, Lor?"
"Yes, Christopher?" Lorelai asked, her head still turned away.
"You're holding a cup of coffee."
"Oh," Lor fell out of her pose and giggled. "I'll be right back."
"Bye."
Lorelai blew a kiss in his direction and walked back to Luke's table, handing him her cup. He started arguing with her about something or other; Chris couldn't tell. All he could see was that they were definitely arguing.
"You went out with Liam Neeson! Are you kidding me?" Andrew started his own argument with his partner, only his argument was incredibly loud. "Why would you ever tell me that you went out with Liam Neeson? Why would you do that?"
"Because I was trying to be honest." Andrew's partner said.
"I don't believe that A, you actually went out with Liam Neeson, and B, that you would choose to tell me now at this moment that you went out with Liam Neeson!"
"Andrew!"
"No!" Andrew threw his partner's hands down.
"Andrew!"
"I can't stand Liam Neeson!" Andrew announced as he stormed off of the dance floor, his partner running after him.
"See, fun!" Rory said giddily to Jess, who half-laughed and tried to twirl her.
~~~~
Fourteen hours into the marathon
"Must stay awake," Rory said, her head on Jess' shoulder. She and Jess were leaning against each other and swaying slightly, completely wiped out from fourteen hours of dancing.
"Kiss," Jess implored. Rory lifted her head and kissed him softly. He stood up straighter. "Okay, I'm good for another half-hour."
"How do you have so much energy?" Chris asked Lorelai.
"It's the coffee. And the fact that Kirk is going down!" Lorelai shot the last phrase in Kirk's direction, who just shot her a look.
"God, ten more hours of this," Chris groaned, looking at the clock.
"Ooh, sweet retro girl! Let's dance over to her!"
"Of course," Chris said as they danced over to Rory and Jess.
"Wake up, Rory! We want Kirk to know that all of us Gilmores are ready to go go go!"
"Hit her for me, Jess," Rory said, her head still in his shoulder.
"Okay, but I'm using your hand." Jess lifted her hand and started to move it towards Lorelai.
"Uh-uh! Don't you dare!!"
"Okay." Jess dropped Rory's hand.
An air horn sounded.
"Is that the break?" Rory asked hopefully, lifting her head from Jess' shoulder.
"No...it's the runaround," Lorelai explained.
"The runaround? That does not sound good."
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm so, so sorry." Lorelai apoligized.
"What about us?" Chris asked gesturing to him and Jess.
"Let me just say right now--Jess, if you have any of Luke's track genes, now would be a good time to use them."
"God, no," Jess groaned.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, on your marks...get set...and go!" Taylor yelled. All the dancers started running around the gym in a huge circle. "Round and round they go, but when the song stops, nobody knows! But the last five couples that finish behind the red line are automatically out, so hold onto your partner and move, move, move!"
"I sincerely hate you, Mom!" Rory yelled as they were running, running as fast as they could.
"Hey, at least there's only one of you. Jess, are those track genes gonna kick in anytime soon?"
"If they do, it's only to get away from you."
"Why do we have to make it, too?" Rory asked her mother.
"So at least one Gilmore wins!"
"So when can we collapse?"
"Try closer to hour twenty-four. Or after Kirk falls down. Ooh! Or, we can trip him."
"Still not taking it too seriously, huh, Lor?"
"Oh, no, of course not."
"I think I'm going to die." Rory gasped.
"Me first," Jess said.
"How much longer?" Chris asked.
"I don't know. I just know that every year I block this part out." Lorelai answered.
"From now on I'm going to remind you of it." Rory said.
"Kirk, what are you doing?" Chris asked, noticing Kirk right on their heels.
"I'm drafting you."
"Well, stop it!" Lorelai yelled.
"You can't tell me where to run!"
"Kirk, I swear to God, don't make me come back there!" Lorelai yelled just as an air horn blew.
"Ten minute break everyone, ten minute break. Well run. Ten minute break, everyone. Ten minute break." Taylor said. Jess, Lorelai, Chris, and Rory all collapsed on the gym floor, amongst a crowd of many. Rory, lying next to her mother, started moving her leg around.
"What are you doing?" Lorelai asked.
"I'm trying to kick you but I can't reach."
"I would help you but I can't move." Chris said.
"Can I owe you one?" Rory asked her mother.
"Yeah, no problem."
"Let's get up," Rory suggested. Jess nodded and they helped each other up.
"What about you?" Lorelai asked, looking at Chris. He sighed, stood up, and then held out both hands to her. She happily put her hands in his and he pulled her up.
"Let's go get sandwiches. I haven't eaten for forever!" Rory pulled Jess towards Miss Patty's, where Lane and her mother were dishing out eggless egg salad sandwiches.
"Uh, Ror, you're not gonna want to eat for forever if you eat that," Jess said, refusing to walk closer to the food. If it could be called that.
"I've been eating at the Kims' for years. Trust me, this is not the worst."
The couple walked up to Lane, who dished out four sandwiches--two for them and two for Lor and Chris.
"Good luck," Lane whispered as they walked off.
"See? Even Lane won't eat them."
"She'll eat them, she just knows that certain people can't."
"Hmm, I have a feeling I'm one of the certain people." Jess took a bite. "Oh, and I am."
Rory laughed as they started walking back to the gym, but stopped when she noticed someone standing in their path.
"Dean."
"Rory. Jess." Dean greeted.
"Man, what are you doing here?" Jess asked.
"I'm walking through town. I think I'm allowed to do that."
"It's eight o'clock--everything's closed." Jess pointed out.
"Except for the dance marathon, which apparently you two are headed towards."
"Yeah, we're about to be late," Rory pulled Jess' arm, trying to get him to move.
"You have nothing better to do than to sit around inside a gymnasium all day staring at a dance marathon?" Jess asked.
"Well--"
"Jess! We're going to be late! Leave the jerk alone!" Rory pulled on Jess' arm harder, and with the last phrase she finally managed to move him. Dean remained where he was, glaring after them. Jess showed his affection by waving with a certain finger, but Rory just pulled harder, and the next thing they knew they were back on the dance floor, handing disgusting sandwiches to Lorelai and Christopher. They reluctantly accepted them and began dancing as Taylor yelled.
~~~~
Twenty-three hours into the marathon
All six of the remaining couples were incredibly worn out. Taylor was sitting at the podium, babbling to Miss Patty about his failed magic career. Jess and Rory, dancing next to Lorelai and Chris, were barely holding each other up, and Lorelai was trying to keep Chris from collapsing.
"So Jackson blamed you?" Rory asked her mother.
"Yeah, and then they ran out."
"That's weird."
"It's Jackson. He sings and dances with his fruit."
"Hmm, that's true."
Another couple fell down a few feet away, and were immediately disqualified. Kirk caught Lorelai's eye and did that whole "I'm watching you" hand gesture that Robert DeNiro did to Ben Stiller in Meet The Parents
"Tell me a joke." Lorelai commanded of Chris.
"Knock knock," he said sleepily.
"That was a good one." Lorelai giggled. "Ow!"
"You okay, Mom?"
"Oh, no! My heel broke."
"What?" Chris asked.
"My heel just broke off. Damn, these are brand new shoes, too."
"They were made in 1943." Rory reminded her mother.
"Well, I just bought them Tuesday."
"I told you not to wear vintage shoes."
"But the lady at the store said that they hadn't been worn a lot."
"Yeah, but not a lot in sixty years is still a lot." Chris said.
"Oh, shush, you. I gotta fix 'em. I'll use my emergency card. I'll be right back."
"No, if you leave, there's no way I'll be able to stand up on my own." Chris said into Lorelai's shoulder.
"Ten minutes."
"Good-bye."
"Sookie!" Lorelai called as she noticed her friend walk into the gymnasium.
"What's up, sweetie?" Sookie walked over.
"My heel broke, and Chris is a big baby and needs someone to hold him up."
"O..kay. Sure, I guess."
"Good." Lorelai let Chris lean up against Sookie.
"Get some glue," Chris muttered.
"Thank you, sweetie." Lorelai kissed him on the cheek and walked away.
"So, Sookie, how'd things go with Jackson?"
"I need so much coffee," Rory murmured.
"I'll go get you some," Jess said.
"No, you can't, cause it would be the same problem Dad had. You gone, me floor."
"I think I know how to solve that, but first--" Jess pressed his lips lightly to Rory's, and then he danced her over to Sookie and Chris.
"I just have to figure out what I want. I think I'll ask Lorelai," Sookie was saying.
"Excuse me, Sookie?" Jess tapped her on the shoulder. "Can Rory cut in? I'm going to get her some coffee."
"Oh, sure. I need to talk to Lorelai, anyway."
"Good." Sookie stepped back, and Jess placed Rory's arms around her father's neck.
"Bye, Jess," she murmured. He smiled, held up his yellow card, and walked off the floor with Sookie.
"You're being really sweet," Sookie commented to Jess.
"It's hard not to. She's got killer kisses."
"Oh." Sookie giggled.
"Jess, what are you doing here?" Lorelai asked as the teenager walked up to Luke's coffee table.
"Getting coffee for my partner. Where's Luke?"
"Getting glue for my shoe."
"Ah." Jess poured two cups of coffee, and handed one to Lorelai.
"Why aren't you going back?"
"Because if I go back Christopher will fall down."
"Oh. Just waiting for me, huh?"
"Yep."
Another couple walked slowly off the dance floor, and Lorelai counted the remaining dancers.
"Oh, we're cutting it close. Just you guys, me and Chris, Kirk, and those new people. I'm hoping that lady collapses soon."
"Huh." Jess refilled Lorelai's now-empty coffee cup. "You know, Luke would yell at me if he knew I was giving you coffee."
"Not his kid, not his problem."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Your shoe," Luke said, walking up to them, "is fixed."
"You are such a life-saver! You totally rock!" Lorelai set her coffee cup down and took her shoe from Luke.
"See you back out there," Jess said, taking the coffee cup back to Rory. Lorelai slipped her shoe on and ran out after him.
"Coffee is a wonderful thing," Rory said after downing the entire cup in seconds.
"Feel better?"
"Oh, a Gilmore is so gonna win this!"
"Chris, stand up," Lorelai said urgently. "Stand up better than that!"
"I can't," he moaned, slipping through Lorelai's arms to the ground.
"Oh, you are so sleeping on the couch tonight."
"I don't think that's gonna be a problem, Mom, cause he's already snoring." Rory pointed out. The woman of the other couple fell to the ground too, and Kirk threw daggers to Rory and Jess, who were both dancing more peppily since the kiss and the coffee.
"You're gonna win, you're gonna win!" Lorelai said giddily to her daughter, watching as two helpful townies helped Christopher off of the dance floor.
"Donna, I love you!" some weird guy yelled from the top of the bleachers.
"Justin! Oh, my God! I love you too!" Donna, Kirk's partner, dropped his hands and ran as fast as she could to Justin. Kirk stood forlornly on the dance floor as Lorelai ran over to Rory and Jess.
"You won! They won! Taylor! Miss Patty! They won!"
"Taylor. Taylor!" Miss Patty poked the sleeping Taylor, but he remained sleeping, so Miss Patty pulled the air horn from in his hands and blew it. "Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!" Miss Patty said into the microphone.
"You won, you won, you won, you won!" Lorelai jumped up and down in front of Jess and Rory.
"The marathon winner is Rory Gilmore and...is that Jess?"
"That's Jess?" Taylor jerked awake.
"Jess entered the marathon?" someone asked.
"Yes, I entered the marathon!" Jess yelled.
"Okay, the winners are Rory Gilmore and Jess Mariano!"
"You got a trophy! You got a trophy! A Gilmore got the trophy!" Lorelai jumped up and down as Rory and Jess took their trophy from Patty.
"A Gilmore got the trophy!" Rory said, jumping up and down beside her mother.