Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anything.
A/N: Although it may end up being entirely redundant, I really, really, really, really, really love reviews! Thanks to everyone that reviewed- and continue! : P
Anyway, the good news is I've finished all of my exams so hopefully I'll be updating more often! Don't get mad if I don't, but I'll certainly try! Oh- and to clarify a little, I know on the show Chris and Sherri are having a girl, but I got the idea for this story and started to write it before we knew that. But back to the story, Rory and Jess just arrived in Boston- here we go!
Chapter 10
Moving In
Rory and Jess entered the lobby of the posh apartment complex. Jess glanced over at Rory, smiling at the way her eyes danced with excitement. They walked to their new landlord's office and noticed he was on the phone, so they quietly took seats in the chairs in front of the desk.
"I'm sorry about that," the man said when he hung up, "I'm Ted Johnson. How can I help you?"
"We're just here to get our keys. We were going to move in today?" Jess spoke up.
"Okay," the landlord said, beginning a search on his computer, "Name?"
"Oh. Jess Mariano."
A puzzled gaze fell upon Mr. Johnson's face, "I'm sorry I don't have a record of you renting an apartment." He said apologetically.
"Oh! It'll be under Richard or Emily Gilmore." Rory remembered.
"Ah, there we are. You're Rory?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well here are your keys," he said handing Jess two identical keys, "You're in 228."
"Thanks," Jess said, standing.
The phone rang again and Mr. Johnson answered. Rory and Jess left the office.
Rory started walking in one direction, and Jess in the other.
"Where are you going?" Jess asked.
"228. Weren't you listening?"
"Ror did you not see the massive amounts of stuff we have to bring upstairs? We might as well take a few boxes now."
Rory sighed, "Fine…"
Several moments later, Rory and Jess are standing outside of apartment 228, each of them holding a box. Rory, out of excitement, fumbled for her keys.
"How did you already have time to put it on the ring with your other keys?" Jess asked surprised.
"I dunno." Rory finally found the newest, shiny key, "Ready?"
"Nah let's just stand out here holding the world's heaviest cardboard boxes of books." Jess suggested with sarcasm.
"Ha, ha. Very funny." Rory replied with a smile as she unlocked the door and pushed it open, "Oooh!" she gushed, "Pretty!"
And it was, but nothing short of spectacular would be acceptable for the granddaughter of the Richard and Emily Gilmore, and her boyfriend. There were high, vaulted ceilings, and hardwood floors. The living room (that they had just entered) connected to the kitchen, with a bar-type countertop adjoining the two rooms. What they hadn't seen yet, was the rest of the apartment- down a hallway, were the two spacious bedrooms, and a bathroom in between.
Rory's cell phone suddenly rang, causing her to drop the box she was holding. It landed on her foot.
"OWWWWW!" Rory screamed, and began to hop on her good foot, cradling the hurt one in her hands.
Jess carefully put down his box and helped Rory to the floor. She motioned for the phone. Jess handed it to her.
"Hello?" Rory greeted, exasperated.
"Rory?"
"Dad! Hi!"
"Are you okay?"
"I dropped a box on my foot."
"Oh. You get there yet?"
"Yep, it's really pretty."
"I bet. You want some help unpacking?"
"Ooh, yeah, please."
"Okay I'll be right over."
Rory pushed the end button on her phone and placed it by her side on the floor.
"You okay?" Jess asked, holding her foot.
"Yeah I'm fine."
"You sure?"
Rory nodded and stood up, "See? All better!"
Satisfied, Jess picked up her phone and stood as well. He went to the counter and set it down.
"My dad's on his way over to help us bring stuff up."
"Cool."
A few minutes later, Rory and Jess heard a doorbell chime.
"Do we have a doorbell?" Rory asked puzzled.
"I didn't think so." Jess started to look around. He soon spotted an intercom on the wall by the door. He pressed the button to answer.
"Uh, hello?"
"Mr. Mariano?"
"Um, yeah?"
"This is James, downstairs with security."
"Uh huh."
"I have a Christopher Hayden to see you."
"Alright."
"I should send him up?"
"Yeah."
"That was soo cool!" Rory said, "Can we call them?"
"Probably."
"I wanna play!" she said running to the intercom.
Jess laughed, "Nah, Ror, let's save the revealing of your insanity for another day huh?"
Rory giggled, "Okay."
KNOCK, KNOCK
Rory opened the door.
"Dad!" she said, hugging him hello.
"Hey Rory, Jess. Need a hand?"
"Do we ever! Come on- all the stuff's in the car."
A long, 3 hours later we see Rory and Jess in the living room, surrounded by boxes and luggage. The two of them are seated on boxes. Chris had just gone home.
"When does the furniture get here?" Rory whined, "This is hands down, the most uncomfortable box I've ever sat on."
"Any minute."
They heard the doorbell ring again, and this time Rory answered.
"Thanks for holding, may I take your order?"
"Excuse me? Miss Gilmore?"
"Yes?"
"Your movers are here."
"Yay! Do they have coffee?"
"What?"
"Never mind, tell them they can come up."
"We should move the boxes, so they can bring the furniture in." Jess suggested.
They both began pushing the boxes to the outer edges of the room. They had just finished and Rory was frantically searching through the boxes when the movers entered.
Jess and Rory delegated where things should go, and several more hours later, the movers left.
"I don't like where they put that." Rory said, pointing to the couch, "Ew, or that!" pointing to the kitchen table.
"You want to move everything around now?"
"Yeah why not?"
"Cause it's after ten."
"Already?"
"Yep."
"Let's do it anyways."
Jess nodded and went to one end of the sofa, "Where?"
Rory thought for a moment and then showed him. Several hours after that, the house was set up the way Rory wanted it. Sure, boxes were still everywhere, but the furniture was set.
Exhausted, Jess collapsed on the couch, and Rory lay down next to him, where they fell asleep.
The Next Morning:
Jess awoke to find Rory tearing open all of the boxes labeled "Kitchen." He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, "Morning beautiful." He greeted, kissing her neck, "What you looking for?"
"Fred." Rory announced, then seeing Jess's confused look, she clarified, "The new coffee-maker."
"You named him already?"
"Of course. Would you not worry about naming a kid until he's 5?"
Jess shrugged, and aided in the search.
Rory triumphantly produced Fred from a box near a door she hadn't noticed before. Placing Fred on the counter, she called to Jess.
"What? You find it?"
"Yeah, but look."
"Huh. What's in there?" Jess asked, seeing the closed door.
"A closet. And the back wall is fake, so when you press on it, it reveals a hidden spiral staircase that brings you down to the basement where they keep all the bodies. Let's GOOO!!"
"What bodies?"
Jess followed Rory when she opened the door and went inside, flipping the light switch on the wall as he entered.
Rory gasped. It was just another room, decent sized, big windows- like all the others. But Rory immediately knew how they'd use it.
"It's a study!"
"What?"
"A library! We'll get a little couch, and a bunch of bookcases and put all our books in here!"
Jess smiled. It was a good idea.
Fast forward to about one week later. The apartment is completely set up. Not a box in sight. The study off of the kitchen in furnished, and it looks, miraculously, like they've been living there for ages.
Rory and Jess are at the kitchen table, doing their respective paperwork to register for school when the phone and the doorbell ring at the same time.
"I'll get the door." Rory said, standing and walking to the intercom.
Jess, knowing that Rory had chosen the door because she had no idea where the phone was, began his search. He found it under a pillow on the couch in the study.
"Hello?"
"What took you so long?"
"I couldn't find the phone Luke."
"Oh. Well, how are you?"
"We're doing good."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"So."
"So."
"Lorelai's mad you guys haven't called her yet."
"Tell her we're sorry."
Instead, Luke handed the phone to Lorelai.
"Why didn't you call? I'm so bored! Hey Jess, wanna play I spy?"
"I can't Lorelai."
"Why not?"
"I'm not there. I can't see what you could possibly be spying."
"Oh you've been here before. It's pretty much the same. Here, I'll start! I spy, with my little eye, something BLUE!"
Jess sighed and sat down on the couch.
"Miss Gilmore, there's a rather impatient young woman here to see you. Frankly, she scares me."
"Who is it?"
There was a pause.
"She said if you don't know who would possible be coming to visit you a mere one day before school starts, then you need help. Her words Miss Gilmore, not mine."
Rory sighed, "Blonde hair?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Send her up."
Rory opened the door about halfway and went back to the kitchen table.
"Rory?" Paris yelled as she entered the apartment.
"Kitchen!"
"Nice place." Paris said, looking around.
Rory nodded.
"You didn't tell me you planned to live off-campus. How did you manage to afford this place?"
"My grandparents pay the rent."
"I see." Paris sat down where Jess had been seated. She glanced at the open Coke can near the pile of papers with the Boston College emblem on them. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"Nope. We were just doing some stuff for registration."
"WE?" Paris was shocked; "I'd assume that if you needed a roommate you'd ask me before subjecting yourself to living with someone that goes to another school."
Rory rolled her eyes. "I moved here with my boyfriend, Jess. Remember him?"
"Certainly. Where is he now?"
"Oh," Rory looked around, "He was just here."
"You lost him? This place must be even larger than it appears."
"I didn't loose him Paris. He went to get the phone."
"Ah. Perhaps it's an important call."
"Must be."
"Your coffee cup." Jess guessed.
"No silly- that's yellow."
"Lorelai I don't want to play anymore."
"That's cause you're losing."
"Come on Lorelai! I'm done!"
"It's Luke's hat! How could you not think of Luke's hat?!"
"I have no idea."
"Come on now I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself. Red this time!"
"I'm getting Rory."
"OOOOH! Rory! Yay! Let me talk!"
Jess shook his head and went into the kitchen, surprised to see Paris sitting at the table.
"Hey!" Rory greeted.
"Hey babe. Phone for you." Jess said, handing her the phone.
"Who is it?"
Jess smirked.
"Do I get a hint?"
"I just spent 15 minutes playing I Spy over the phone."
Rory's eyes lit up, and she put the phone to her ear, "MOM!" she squealed, running off into her bedroom.
"I guess I should go." Paris said, suddenly uncomfortable.
"Sure."
"Tell Rory I expect to see her in class tomorrow morning."
"Okay."
Paris quickly left the apartment, closing the door rather loudly behind her.
Around ten that night, Jess went to Rory's room, knocking lightly before continuing into the room. Rory was lying on her bed in her pajamas, still on the phone with Lorelai. Jess sat down next to her on the bed and gently took the phone from her.
"Lorelai?"
"Yeah?"
"Rory starts class in the morning."
"Ooh fun! Can I say goodbye?"
"Yep." He handed the phone back to a sleepy Rory.
"Night Mom, I love you too." Rory paused for a moment, listening, and then handed the phone back to Jess. "She wants to talk to you."
Jess took the phone, "Hello?"
"Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"I wanna say thanks."
"What for?"
"For being good to Rory. For taking care of her. For loving her. Stuff like that."
"Well, you're welcome." Jess said smiling. He'd finally gained Lorelai's approval.
"One more thing?"
"Yeah?"
"I trust you."
"You do?"
"Yeah." Lorelai paused, "Goodnight Jess."
"Night Lorelai."
Jess tucked Rory into bed and stroked her hair.
"What was that about?"
"She likes me."
"Of course she does."
"She said she trusted me."
"She did?"
"Yeah."
Rory's face broke into a wide smile.
"Good sign?" Jess asked.
"Very good."
Pause
"Class in the morning." Rory said.
"Yep."
"I love you Jess."
"I love you too."
Jess leaned down and kissed Rory lightly on the lips, and went to his room to go to bed. Tomorrow would be a big day. His first day of college. He'd made it. Jess felt like he could do anything now. He had Rory and her undying love, he had Lorelai's trust and acceptance, the unspoken, but undeniable approval and pride from Luke. All he ever wanted he had.