NOTE: I really wish these Gilmore Girls people belong to me but, sadly, they don't. I will have the power one day, though.
A/N: Well, here it is. The sequel to Play Ball. Some of you might not know of that story so you'll just have to go read it and enjoy. Now on with this oh, so lovely sequel.
CHAPTER 4
Rory lay stretched out on the living room couch, a book propped up on her chest. She had come in to stay in Stars Hollow for vacation from graduate school and had quickly slipped into her old habits of sitting around and reading.
Lorelai entered the house then, resting her purse on the coffee table. As she entered the living room she glanced at the book Rory held.
"A Little Princess?" Lorelai said, reading the cover. "You'd think the Ivy League world would give you big girl books."
"Hey, it's one of my favorites," Rory looked up at her, a smile on her face.
"Yeah, like when you were seven." Lorelai sat down on the coffee table with a deep sigh.
Rory continued to look at her as she asked, "Something not right?"
"Hmm?" Lorelai looked up at her.
"Well, it's just that you just got back from Luke's." Rory flipped her legs over and sat on the couch. "Usually you have a weird yet happy coffee buzz thing going on."
"It's just that..." Lorelai sighed again, trying to think of the best way to explain the situation. "I saw Luke today and I found out that Jess is in town."
"Oh?" Rory quickly became curious. "H-he didn't tell me he was coming back. We haven't talked in a couple of weeks. I guess that..." Rory caught on to Lorelai's apprehensive look. "Wait. That's not what's wrong, is it?"
"You... I...." Lorelai stammered over her words, not knowing how to put it. "You need to go see Jess, all right?"
"Why?" Rory shrugged, trying to sound together. "I mean we broke up. If he didn't want to tell me he was coming home then—"
"Rory," he mother cut her off. "Just... go see him. OK?"
Rory sighed as she stood up. "Fine," she groaned. The brown haired girl grabbed her jacket and left out the front door.
Breakfast had ended and Luke, who had calmed down a little, was busily taking the lunch orders. When the bell sounded above his door, he looked up from a table to see that Rory had just walked in.
"Rory?" Luke made his way over to her. "Hey. Did you see your mother?" She nodded her reply. "Did she tell you... about Jess?"
Rory nodded again. "Yeah."
"Well... I guess you want to see them then," Luke trailed off.
Rory looked at him strangely. "Them?"
"Yeah. You know, Jess and Rosa."
"Oh," Rory realized. That's why Jess was back. He was just there to show off his new little girlfriend and rub it in her face. "Yes, sure. I'd love to see Jess and Rosa." She muttered under her breath, "What kind of name is Rosa, anyway?"
"Great," Luke said, not catching her last sentence.
Upstairs, Rosa still had not awakened. Her eyes finally peeked open and she sat up with a small yawn. She glanced at Jess, who sat at the table reading. Jess's eyes floated over to his daughter.
"Hey, sleepy head," he said.
"Hi," Rosa yawned. She got down from the bed and went over to him.
Jess started to play with her hair. "You slept awhile last night." He sighed. "I heard you moaning again. Did you have another dream?"
Rosa nodded with a pout. "I don't know why." She touched her head, feeling a slight ache.
"What is it?" Jess asked with alarm. Rosa moaned slightly. Jess scooped her up, making her sit in his lap. "Easy. Just relax, OK?"
"OK," Rosa agreed as the headache went away. She thought about something. "I'm really hungry." She glanced up into Jess's brown eyes. "What's to eat?"
Jess smiled softly. "Why don't you go get changed? I'll get you something."
Rosa climbed down from her father's lap and went over to her suitcase, which was still loaded down with the child's clothes. She selected a red sweater and a pair of jeans with red butterflies going down the front to wear. Rosa slipped into the bathroom to change clothes as a knock came at the door.
"Who is it?" Jess called.
"It's me," Rory's familiar voice called back.
"Rory," Jess whispered excitedly. He practically raced for the door but stopped in his tracks and opened it casually. "Oh, hey, Rory."
"Hey, Rory?" the twenty-four-year-old woman repeated, entering the apartment. "Hey, Rory! Is that all you have to say to me?"
"Hold on. What's wrong with—?"
"I tell you what's wrong with me," Rory cut him off with a snap. "You!" Jess looked bewildered. "That's right. It's you. Ever since you got to Stars Hollow I've tried to be there for you, be your friend, and I even broke up with a great guy for you but that still wasn't enough. You still want to hurt me."
"Rory, have you gone mental?" Jess asked her seriously.
"It's just like the first time," Rory continued her rant. "You live to hurt me. First you went all around town making out with Shane just to get to me and now you're going around with this Rosa girl. Oh, and, by the way, Rosa, not a cute name."
"Wait. You think Rosa is—?" Jess started.
"Save it, Jess," Rory cut him off again. "I heard about her from Luke."
"Oh." Jess nodded, sticking his hands into his pockets. "You're right, Rory. There is a Rosa. She's here now."
Rory sighed deeply. "Let me guess. Blonde, right?"
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Jess went over to the bathroom door and knocked on it. "Rosa, could you hurry up in there? There's somebody you should meet."
"OK," Rosa replied.
"God, that girl's voice is as squeaky as a six-year-old's," Rory commented.
Rosa stepped out of the bathroom, wearing the outfit she had chosen. "Here I am," she announced herself.
Rory starred down at the girl, amazed. "Th-this is Rosa?"
"That's Rosa," Jess replied.
Rory shook her head, confusion written over her pretty face. "But how is she...?"
"Rosa's my daughter, Rory," Jess explained softly.
Rory's eyes widened quickly. "What?"
Rosa eyed Rory. "Who's that?" she asked her dad.
"Rosa, this is my friend, Rory Gilmore," Jess said.
Rosa looked at her again. "You're really pretty," she told Rory.
"Thank you," Rory said, a little delighted by the compliment. "But, Jess, how is she... I mean... what... when... no! Who?"
"Who?" Jess sighed. "That would be Shane."
"You and Shane?" Jess nodded. "You and Shane!" He nodded again. "I don't believe this. You and Shane... you..." Rory sat down at the table, unable to take it all in at once. "Oh, my God."
"Why does everybody keep saying that?" Rosa asked.
Jess gave her a quick smile before going over to Rosa. "Look, Rory, I know this looks bad. But Shane and I didn't---" Jess stopped himself, realizing his kid was still in the room. "We didn't do it while we were dating. We did it before you and I got together."
"Oh, God," Rory kept saying, her right hand pressed against her face.
Rosa walked up to Rory. "You know my mommy?" she questioned.
Rory looked at her. "Um, yeah, I knew her," she replied awkwardly.
"Do you think... she'll ever get better?" Rosa asked, a spark of hope in the girl's brown eyes.
"Better?" Rory looked confused.
"Oh, I..." Jess gently pulled Rory up from the table and whispered the situation with Shane into her ear.
"Oh, my God!" Rory exclaimed, unable to believe it.
"Shush," Jess hissed then nodded his head towards Rosa.
"Oh, right." Rory knelt down to Rosa, not really knowing what to say. "Well, I-I hope she'll get better," was the best answer she could come up with.
Jess felt completely out of place, as he hated the woman known as Rosa's mother with every ounce of his being. How could Shane, the woman who had given birth to their daughter, be such a cold hearted woman? Jess had never seen it coming, no way.
"Jess," Rory's voice called out to him, getting his away from his thoughts. "Do you think we could..." She stood up. "You think we could maybe go somewhere and talk about this?"
"Well... sure. I'll just—"
"No," Rory interrupted him. "Not today. I need some time to think about this. I meant tonight, around seven?"
Jess nodded, "Sure."
"Where are we going?" Rosa asked curiously.
Jess glanced down at her. "Um, Rosa, this is a me and Rory thing, OK?" Rosa instantly looked sad. "But it'll be fine," Jess assured her. "I'll be back and then we'll talk about everything."
Rosa nodded, still looking a little miserable.
Rory's heart went out for the little girl as she asked, "Hey, Rosa, you like donuts, right?"
Rosa shrugged, "Only the kinds with sprinkles."
"Well, how about I treat you to one?" Rory smiled at her.
Rosa returned the smile and followed Rory downstairs.
Jess sighed deeply and decided to follow them. Getting the chance to be alone with Rory, even for a little while, was good. Persuading Luke to play baby-sitter that night, not so good.
A/N: Am I the only one getting a Luke baby-sitting image? Muahahahaha! Go, plot bunnies! Please review!