Title: Always You
Chapter 16: Disappearances
A/N: I'm back.
Sigh.
I seriously want this story to be over, but I'd feel really bad if I just left you guys hangin', so here's the low-down.
(Yes, I have been watching too much TV, including the commercials for "Bringing Down the House" which is so ridiculous, it should be named "Bringin' Down Da Hiz-ouse!")
Anyway. Fast-forwarding. Graduation. Next chapter wedding. Baby's in both chapters. Little baby James. OOH! James Taylor might also be in a chapter at some point, singin' 'bout Sweet Baby James. Or maybe just Chris.
~~~~~~~~
"I'm coming!" Rory called as someone knocked on the door. Lorelai and Christopher were out on one of their first dates since the birth of James, and Rory was home alone watching him. She scooped him up in her arms and walked from her room to the door. As she turned the corner into the foyer, the person knocked again.
"Hang on!" Rory shouted.
"Geez, sorry," the person--guy--said defensively through the door. Rory stopped inches from the door.
"Jess?" she asked.
"Rory," he said back. She smiled.
"Come on in. I have no hands."
Jess obliged, pushing the door open softly and peeking in. He smiled as he noticed Rory and--more specifically--James in Rory's arms.
"Hey," he cooed, immediately transferring the infant from Rory's arms to his own. "How's the little man doing? How's my little man James?"
Rory laughed. "Did you just come over here to spend time with James or your girlfriend?"
"Oh. Hey," Jess leaned over and kissed Rory on the lips. "How's your studying going?"
"Ugh," Rory groaned and led Jess and James over to the couch. "I hate finals so much."
"I understand. But hey--these are the last finals you'll ever have at Chilton."
"Ugh. That's weird."
"Yeah. Next year this time, you'll be at Yale freaking over finals."
"I'm not freaking," Rory said defensively as she collapsed onto the couch next to Jess.
"Okay, you're not freaking. Sorry I said anything."
"Yeah. Speaking of Yale, where are you going to college again?"
Jess sighed. "Rory."
"I'm sorry, it's just...you're smart enough for any college. Yale, Harvard, anything."
"I'm not going."
"Okay."
There was silence for a second, and then Jess sighed, laid the sleeping baby into his playpen and turned to Rory.
"My dad showed up."
"What?"
"My dad showed up."
"Well, that's...good?"
"He, uh, asked me to go back to California with him."
"California?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Okay."
Rory silently thought over this news. Jess stared at her. After a second, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her. She looked up, kissed him softly, and leaned into his shoulder.
~~~~~~~~
"You should never try dancing again," Lorelai laughed as she and Christopher walked up the steps of their house.
"Hey, I can do some dancing."
"Key word: some. As in, none at all."
"What about the Viennese Waltz?"
"Yeah, the Viennese Waltz. That's the kind of dancing you need to do at a party."
"I wouldn't call that a party," Chris pointed out.
"Sookie and Jackson called it a 'we're pregnant!' party--it's a party."
"Okay, whatever you say."
"Mmm, are you just humoring me?"
"Yes."
"Good." Lorelai smiled and leaned in. Chris put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as the kiss deepened. After a few minutes Lorelai slowly placed her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away.
"We need to relieve Rory of baby duty," she reminded.
"Oh, do we have to?" he groaned, in between placing a trail of kisses along her chin.
"Yes," she said, gently pushing him farther away. He groaned again and she grabbed his hand and led him inside.
"Rory?" she called--softly, in case the baby was asleep. Still attached to Chris, she edged into the living room and stopped.
Rory and Jess were sprawled out on the couch. Rory was on the inside, James lying on her chest. One of Jess' arms was under Rory's head and the other was thrown across her stomach, holding one of her hands, while her other hand was on James' back. All three were sleeping peacefully.
"Should we wake them up?" Chris asked, staring suspiciously at Jess, who looked a little too right with his arm slung across Rory's stomach, so close to the baby.
"No, they look too sweet just lying there. But we should probably move James upstairs."
Chris nodded and walked completely into the living room. Lorelai slid Rory's arm away from the baby, and Chris picked him up. James shifted a little, but settled into his dad's shoulder. As Lorelai let go of Rory's arm, she shifted a little too, but then settled into Jess more completely, whose arm unconsciously pulled Rory to him. Lorelai smiled at the couple and pushed slightly on Chris' back to get him to start up the stairs, forcing him to break the evil glare he was shooting at Jess.
~~~~~~~~
Rory woke up in a very interesting and unexpected place: Jess' arms. It was nice, so she snuggled in closer, but after a few minutes, realized she was completely awake, so she grabbed Jess' arm and glanced at the time. Half past six. She sat up, slowly, which caused Jess' arms to fall away from her. She mourned the loss of his arms around her for just a second, but then climbed over his legs and almost fell on the floor.
"Ahh!" she screamed, and then giggled. Jess sat straight up.
"What happened? What happened?"
Rory just shook her head, continued giggling, and stood up. "Nothing," she smiled, leaning to kiss him. "I'm gonna go get dressed for school."
"I should do that too," Jess said. Rory nodded.
"Meet me at Luke's in half an hour?"
"Of course," Jess stood and kissed Rory again. "See ya."
Rory smiled as the door closed and headed into her room to change.
~~~~~~~~
"So, since I have enough time, I figured I'd ride with you into Hartford." Chris overheard Jess saying to Rory and Chris, Lorelai, and James walked into Luke's, James strapped to Lor's chest.
"Are you sure you have enough time?" Rory asked.
"Plenty." Jess kissed Rory quickly on the lips and then walked off to take someone's order. She watched him walk away and noticed her family.
"Hey!" she smiled.
"Hey, sweetie," Lorelai greeted. James gurgled.
"What was Jess talking about?" Chris asked, suspicious.
"Oh, he's gonna ride on the bus with me to Hartford."
"Why?"
Rory shrugged. "He's got time before school."
"Okay," Chris accepted grudgingly, still suspicious of the teenage boy.
"Ready to go?" Jess asked, coming over. Rory nodded, and then kissed James goodbye.
"Bye!" she waved to her parents as Jess herded her out of the door. Jess waved goodbye too, and then caught Luke's eye. After a prolonged glance, Luke nodded sadly and Jess broke the glance and walked out of the diner. Chris noticed the exchange, but he seemed to be the only one who did. He didn't understand it...but he would, and sooner than he expected.
~~~~~~~~
"Boy, Kirk's got a huge bag," Rory observed as the man stepped onto the bus, struggling to carry a large green bag. Jess just nodded and looked out the window.
"Hey...you okay?" Rory asked, placing a hand on his arm. Jess just nodded and then turned to her.
"You're really sweet, and beautiful, and smart," he said suddenly.
"Oh. Thank you," Rory said, confused.
"Yeah." Jess nodded and then kissed her.
Thirty minutes later, Rory and Jess climbed down from the bus, Rory to head to school and Jess to catch the return bus.
"Oh, I gotta go," Rory said, glancing at her watch.
"See ya," Jess said, completely devoid of emotion. Rory nodded, pecked him on the cheek, and ran away. Jess waited a second and then turned to head back onto the bus he'd just returned from. Kirk ran directly into him and shoved the large green bag at him.
"Thanks," Jess said, handing Kirk a twenty. Kirk nodded, mumbled something about needing "only fourty more to get Mother out of the house," and headed to the return bus. Jess walked back up the steps and sat in his same seat, headed away from Hartford, Stars Hollow, and Connecticut....
And into the future.
~~~~~~~~
Graduation was two weeks later, and James, Lorelai, Emily, Rory, Sookie, and even Richard shed tears at some point during the ceremony. Lorelai continued bawling about her baby growing older, Rory cried about leaving her mother, Emily cried about growing old, Sookie cried because of the extra hormones, James cried because he was a baby, and Richard cried because his granddaugter was the valedictorian and would soon be attending Yale. Christopher just looked proud.
At the party that Lorelai threw afterwards, Lane and Rory cried about going to different colleges and rejoiced over the fact that they still could live near home. Richard and Emily put in a slight appearance, handing Rory a check for college supplies. Sookie rejoiced over everyone enjoying her food, while Jackson rejoiced over everyone enjoying the produce. Christopher remained proud. James stopped crying and gurgled happy noises while smiling at Rory.
At one point during the party, Rory was being congratulated by Babette and Morey when she noticed that Luke was cleaning the counter in the diner, all alone. She excused herself and walked into the diner.
"Hi," she said, walking up to the counter. Luke stopped scrubbing and looked up.
"What are you doing in here? There's a whole party for you going on out there."
"I know. I just...thought I'd come and see how you're doing."
"Oh."
"So how're you doing?"
Luke shrugged. "I'm doing okay."
"He called me," Rory said softly. "I mean, he didn't say anything, but I know it was him."
"I know. He told me."
"Really? Did he say why?"
"He said he misses you, but it was just something he had to do."
"Well, if you talk to him again, tell him I don't hate him. I mean, I don't understand him, but I certainly don't hate him."
"Sure."
"Okay. Thank you, Luke."
"No problem."
Rory nodded and started to leave, but then she walked behind the counter and threw her arms around Luke.
"Thank you...for everything."
"You're...welcome." Luke forced out, awkwardly hugging her back. Rory smiled up at him and then left, almost skipping from the diner. In that minute, Luke felt more like a father than he'd ever felt in the entire two years with Jess. Luke smiled and continued wiping the counter down.
Chapter 16: Disappearances
A/N: I'm back.
Sigh.
I seriously want this story to be over, but I'd feel really bad if I just left you guys hangin', so here's the low-down.
(Yes, I have been watching too much TV, including the commercials for "Bringing Down the House" which is so ridiculous, it should be named "Bringin' Down Da Hiz-ouse!")
Anyway. Fast-forwarding. Graduation. Next chapter wedding. Baby's in both chapters. Little baby James. OOH! James Taylor might also be in a chapter at some point, singin' 'bout Sweet Baby James. Or maybe just Chris.
~~~~~~~~
"I'm coming!" Rory called as someone knocked on the door. Lorelai and Christopher were out on one of their first dates since the birth of James, and Rory was home alone watching him. She scooped him up in her arms and walked from her room to the door. As she turned the corner into the foyer, the person knocked again.
"Hang on!" Rory shouted.
"Geez, sorry," the person--guy--said defensively through the door. Rory stopped inches from the door.
"Jess?" she asked.
"Rory," he said back. She smiled.
"Come on in. I have no hands."
Jess obliged, pushing the door open softly and peeking in. He smiled as he noticed Rory and--more specifically--James in Rory's arms.
"Hey," he cooed, immediately transferring the infant from Rory's arms to his own. "How's the little man doing? How's my little man James?"
Rory laughed. "Did you just come over here to spend time with James or your girlfriend?"
"Oh. Hey," Jess leaned over and kissed Rory on the lips. "How's your studying going?"
"Ugh," Rory groaned and led Jess and James over to the couch. "I hate finals so much."
"I understand. But hey--these are the last finals you'll ever have at Chilton."
"Ugh. That's weird."
"Yeah. Next year this time, you'll be at Yale freaking over finals."
"I'm not freaking," Rory said defensively as she collapsed onto the couch next to Jess.
"Okay, you're not freaking. Sorry I said anything."
"Yeah. Speaking of Yale, where are you going to college again?"
Jess sighed. "Rory."
"I'm sorry, it's just...you're smart enough for any college. Yale, Harvard, anything."
"I'm not going."
"Okay."
There was silence for a second, and then Jess sighed, laid the sleeping baby into his playpen and turned to Rory.
"My dad showed up."
"What?"
"My dad showed up."
"Well, that's...good?"
"He, uh, asked me to go back to California with him."
"California?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Okay."
Rory silently thought over this news. Jess stared at her. After a second, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her. She looked up, kissed him softly, and leaned into his shoulder.
~~~~~~~~
"You should never try dancing again," Lorelai laughed as she and Christopher walked up the steps of their house.
"Hey, I can do some dancing."
"Key word: some. As in, none at all."
"What about the Viennese Waltz?"
"Yeah, the Viennese Waltz. That's the kind of dancing you need to do at a party."
"I wouldn't call that a party," Chris pointed out.
"Sookie and Jackson called it a 'we're pregnant!' party--it's a party."
"Okay, whatever you say."
"Mmm, are you just humoring me?"
"Yes."
"Good." Lorelai smiled and leaned in. Chris put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer as the kiss deepened. After a few minutes Lorelai slowly placed her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away.
"We need to relieve Rory of baby duty," she reminded.
"Oh, do we have to?" he groaned, in between placing a trail of kisses along her chin.
"Yes," she said, gently pushing him farther away. He groaned again and she grabbed his hand and led him inside.
"Rory?" she called--softly, in case the baby was asleep. Still attached to Chris, she edged into the living room and stopped.
Rory and Jess were sprawled out on the couch. Rory was on the inside, James lying on her chest. One of Jess' arms was under Rory's head and the other was thrown across her stomach, holding one of her hands, while her other hand was on James' back. All three were sleeping peacefully.
"Should we wake them up?" Chris asked, staring suspiciously at Jess, who looked a little too right with his arm slung across Rory's stomach, so close to the baby.
"No, they look too sweet just lying there. But we should probably move James upstairs."
Chris nodded and walked completely into the living room. Lorelai slid Rory's arm away from the baby, and Chris picked him up. James shifted a little, but settled into his dad's shoulder. As Lorelai let go of Rory's arm, she shifted a little too, but then settled into Jess more completely, whose arm unconsciously pulled Rory to him. Lorelai smiled at the couple and pushed slightly on Chris' back to get him to start up the stairs, forcing him to break the evil glare he was shooting at Jess.
~~~~~~~~
Rory woke up in a very interesting and unexpected place: Jess' arms. It was nice, so she snuggled in closer, but after a few minutes, realized she was completely awake, so she grabbed Jess' arm and glanced at the time. Half past six. She sat up, slowly, which caused Jess' arms to fall away from her. She mourned the loss of his arms around her for just a second, but then climbed over his legs and almost fell on the floor.
"Ahh!" she screamed, and then giggled. Jess sat straight up.
"What happened? What happened?"
Rory just shook her head, continued giggling, and stood up. "Nothing," she smiled, leaning to kiss him. "I'm gonna go get dressed for school."
"I should do that too," Jess said. Rory nodded.
"Meet me at Luke's in half an hour?"
"Of course," Jess stood and kissed Rory again. "See ya."
Rory smiled as the door closed and headed into her room to change.
~~~~~~~~
"So, since I have enough time, I figured I'd ride with you into Hartford." Chris overheard Jess saying to Rory and Chris, Lorelai, and James walked into Luke's, James strapped to Lor's chest.
"Are you sure you have enough time?" Rory asked.
"Plenty." Jess kissed Rory quickly on the lips and then walked off to take someone's order. She watched him walk away and noticed her family.
"Hey!" she smiled.
"Hey, sweetie," Lorelai greeted. James gurgled.
"What was Jess talking about?" Chris asked, suspicious.
"Oh, he's gonna ride on the bus with me to Hartford."
"Why?"
Rory shrugged. "He's got time before school."
"Okay," Chris accepted grudgingly, still suspicious of the teenage boy.
"Ready to go?" Jess asked, coming over. Rory nodded, and then kissed James goodbye.
"Bye!" she waved to her parents as Jess herded her out of the door. Jess waved goodbye too, and then caught Luke's eye. After a prolonged glance, Luke nodded sadly and Jess broke the glance and walked out of the diner. Chris noticed the exchange, but he seemed to be the only one who did. He didn't understand it...but he would, and sooner than he expected.
~~~~~~~~
"Boy, Kirk's got a huge bag," Rory observed as the man stepped onto the bus, struggling to carry a large green bag. Jess just nodded and looked out the window.
"Hey...you okay?" Rory asked, placing a hand on his arm. Jess just nodded and then turned to her.
"You're really sweet, and beautiful, and smart," he said suddenly.
"Oh. Thank you," Rory said, confused.
"Yeah." Jess nodded and then kissed her.
Thirty minutes later, Rory and Jess climbed down from the bus, Rory to head to school and Jess to catch the return bus.
"Oh, I gotta go," Rory said, glancing at her watch.
"See ya," Jess said, completely devoid of emotion. Rory nodded, pecked him on the cheek, and ran away. Jess waited a second and then turned to head back onto the bus he'd just returned from. Kirk ran directly into him and shoved the large green bag at him.
"Thanks," Jess said, handing Kirk a twenty. Kirk nodded, mumbled something about needing "only fourty more to get Mother out of the house," and headed to the return bus. Jess walked back up the steps and sat in his same seat, headed away from Hartford, Stars Hollow, and Connecticut....
And into the future.
~~~~~~~~
Graduation was two weeks later, and James, Lorelai, Emily, Rory, Sookie, and even Richard shed tears at some point during the ceremony. Lorelai continued bawling about her baby growing older, Rory cried about leaving her mother, Emily cried about growing old, Sookie cried because of the extra hormones, James cried because he was a baby, and Richard cried because his granddaugter was the valedictorian and would soon be attending Yale. Christopher just looked proud.
At the party that Lorelai threw afterwards, Lane and Rory cried about going to different colleges and rejoiced over the fact that they still could live near home. Richard and Emily put in a slight appearance, handing Rory a check for college supplies. Sookie rejoiced over everyone enjoying her food, while Jackson rejoiced over everyone enjoying the produce. Christopher remained proud. James stopped crying and gurgled happy noises while smiling at Rory.
At one point during the party, Rory was being congratulated by Babette and Morey when she noticed that Luke was cleaning the counter in the diner, all alone. She excused herself and walked into the diner.
"Hi," she said, walking up to the counter. Luke stopped scrubbing and looked up.
"What are you doing in here? There's a whole party for you going on out there."
"I know. I just...thought I'd come and see how you're doing."
"Oh."
"So how're you doing?"
Luke shrugged. "I'm doing okay."
"He called me," Rory said softly. "I mean, he didn't say anything, but I know it was him."
"I know. He told me."
"Really? Did he say why?"
"He said he misses you, but it was just something he had to do."
"Well, if you talk to him again, tell him I don't hate him. I mean, I don't understand him, but I certainly don't hate him."
"Sure."
"Okay. Thank you, Luke."
"No problem."
Rory nodded and started to leave, but then she walked behind the counter and threw her arms around Luke.
"Thank you...for everything."
"You're...welcome." Luke forced out, awkwardly hugging her back. Rory smiled up at him and then left, almost skipping from the diner. In that minute, Luke felt more like a father than he'd ever felt in the entire two years with Jess. Luke smiled and continued wiping the counter down.