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 5
Lorelai stood with her arms crossed in Rory's doorway. Her daughter stood up in the closet tossing random blouses out, more as a way of relieving stress than deciding on one. She finally grabbed a pink top and quickly put it one, which matched her light blue jeans. Rory grabbed a shoe and started hopping around, trying to put it on, much to Lorelai's amusement.
"I don't believe this," Rory said, still hopping around. "I mean Jess, my Jess, or, at least, my former Jess is back."
"I know," Lorelai agreed.
"Plus he's not only back but he has a little girl; the most beautiful little girl that I have ever seen," Rory continued, finally deciding to sit down on the bed to do the shoe.
"I know," Lorelai said again.
"So now I am getting ready to go out with Jess, who has a beautiful little, w-who teaches kids, and that is really—" Rory grunted as she pulled the shoe on and tied it. "Did you see how good he looked? It's not fair."
"Rory, honey, I love a rant fest as much as the next girl, but could you take it down a notch?"
"I'm sorry," Rory sighed deeply, trying to compose herself. "It's just... how did this happen? I was here to visit you and to gag out on Luke's coffee. I didn't know my ex-boyfriend would be here, bearing child!" Lorelai gave her a funny look. "Yes, that came out so wrong."
"Rory, listen." Lorelai sat next to her daughter, hugging a nearby pillow. "I know this whole thing with Jess is hard to take in but you can't let it consume you."
"I'm trying," Rory replied softly. "It's just really hard."
"Why don't you just enjoy tonight with Jess?"
"You're being help-y," Rory smiled at her.
"Well, I'm the secret fairy lady who hands out candy at Halloween to small, tooth decaying children," Lorelai smiled back.
Rory kept smiling as she stood up. "Well, I guess things will be fine tonight. It just seemed to work out. I mean Jess did get Luke to baby-sit for Rosa—"
"Hold on a second." Rory faced Lorelai. "Luke is baby-sitting a kid tonight?"
Rory nodded, "Yeah, hard to believe isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah," Lorelai agreed, a mischievous smile creeping across her face.
Jess was putting away the last of his and Rosa's clothes back at the diner's apartment. His uncle stood above him, ranting.
"Why did I agree to this again?" Luke asked, more to himself than to Jess.
"Because you love me more than bunnies at Easter?" Jess suggested dryly.
"OK, little tip, Jess. When someone is so nicely doing you a favor, insulting them, not the way to go."
"I can't find it," Rosa's voice sounded from under the cot Luke had set up for her.
"Find what?" Jess asked.
"My book." Rosa stuck her brown haired head out from under the bed. "I can't find A Little Princess."
"It should be around here somewhere," Jess told her dismissively. He turned his attention back to Luke. "She's kind of a reading geek."
"Only one guess where she gets that from," Luke commented.
Jess turned serious as he said lowly, "Look, sometimes she has these dreams at night. They're really weird and they freak her out."
"Dream?" Luke repeated. "Define dreams."
Jess sighed as he explained. "OK. Sometimes at night she'll start moaning and groaning in her sleep. We've been to a whole bunch of doctors and as far as they can tell, with everything that's happened, something is going on with her mind."
"Hold on," Luke hissed all too loudly. "Are you saying that she—?"
"Shush," Jess returned the hiss, tilting his head towards his daughter, who stared right at them. Jess gave her a big, goofy grin.
"Grown-ups are so weird," Rosa muttered, going to look under Luke's bed for her lost book.
Jess turned his attention back to his uncle. "Look, Luke, it's really no big deal."
"No big deal?" Luke echoed angrily. "It's one thing to leave me with the kid but now I have to deal with her losing her mind?"
"Luke!" Jess snapped then calmed. "Everything's cool. If she starts to lose it just pop in a Disney movie or something."
"Disney movie?" Luke nodded his head. "Yeah, I own a million of them."
Jess rolled his eyes, only slightly amused. "I brought a few with us."
"You watch Disney movies?" Luke asked him, all too humored by the idea.
Jess gave him a look. "They're for the kid." He glanced at the watch he wore. "And with that little note, it's time for me to go." Jess went over and gently slid Rosa out from under the bed.
"Hi," she smiled at him.
"Hey. Listen, I gotta get going now."
Rosa sat up, a sad look on her face. "Why can't I go with you? It's not fair."
"Look, Rosa, we've been through this. I told you that it's a me and Rory thing."
Rosa scowled and muttered, "You like her better."
"Rosa," Jess sighed deeply. "Just, please, don't go all whining and pouting on me. I don't feel like it."
"Just go," Rosa said lowly, her voice angry.
Jess sighed again and stood up, turning to Luke. "See you in a few hours." He grabbed his jacket and exited the room.
Luke looked down at Rosa, who looked back at him. They stood in complete silence for nearly a minute, Luke more awkward than the child.
"You, uh, hungry?" Luke finally asked.
Rosa blinked her eyes at him, staying quiet.
Jess and Rory walked through Stars Hollow, the fall leaves crunching underneath their feet. Jess looked all around the town at familiar sights that he had honestly missed. Some parts of Stars Hollow weren't a complete waste of space for him.
"Oh, look," Rory said, heading towards a building, Jess following her. Rory stopped in front of the book store. "Check it out."
Jess glanced into the store's window. A large carved pumpkin had been set up, displayed amongst red, orange, and yellow fall leaves. The large background was orange and black, reading Halloween in jagged letters.
"Nice," Jess commented softly.
"Come on," Rory instructed, pulling him inside the store.
"Haven't been in here in a while," Jess said, looking around.
Rory went over to a Halloween theme stand of books. "I don't believe it. R.L Stein practically owns this store."
Jess picked up one book, reading its cover. "Halloween. So clever." He looked at another called Baseball Curse. "Maybe Rosa' d like this one."
"Isn't that a little advanced for her?" Rory pointed out.
"Nope," Jess replied, holding the book. "She reads at a third grade level."
Rory popped her head up and looked at him seriously. "Are you kidding?" Jess shook his head. "Wow. Isn't she like in kindergarten?"
Jess nodded, grabbing another book. "Yeah."
"She's really sweet you know," Rory said.
"Like sugar," Jess agreed dryly.
"So you guys get along?"
"Pretty well, I guess." Jess went over to the register to pay for the books. "She's a good kid, just shy."
"Maybe we were separated at birth," Rory attempted a laugh. Jess just gave her a look. "Yeah, that came out really wrong."
Jess had to smile softly as he bought the books. "You seem exactly the same. Like you got frozen and never changed."
"I'm hoping that's a good thing."
"It is," Jess assured her. "Really."
"Good," Rory nodded with a smile as they left the store.
Back at the apartment Luke stood over the stove while Rosa sat at the table, kicking her legs back and forth. She was still a little upset because Jess left her. It wasn't fair. He was her dad. Why did he have to go with Rory, anyway? Plus why couldn't Rosa go?
"Here." Rosa was taken from her thoughts by Luke's gruff voice. He had sat a cheeseburger down in front of Rosa, accompanied by a few carrot sticks that sat next to it. "Eat that." Rosa stared up at him. "What?"
"Thank you," was all the girl said. She picked up the burger and took a tiny bite into it. As soon as the taste of it was in her mouth, Rosa took another bite, a huge one, and gulped it down excitedly. "This is the best thing I've ever tasted!" she exclaimed as she continued to eat.
Luke, through his rock hard exterior, had to feel a little honored. "Good," he said, watching her eat the burger. "Eat the sticks, too." Rosa, still eating at the burger, looked down at the carrots with a frown. Luke leaned in over the table, putting a shadow over her. He had a little glare on his face. "Eat the sticks or I'll blend them up and make you drink them."
Rosa managed to return the glare. "No way."
Luke continued his glare, which was deeper. "You wanna try me?"
Rosa whimpered slightly then got an idea. She slipped three of the carrot sticks under the top bun of her burger and started to eat it, giving Luke a smirk.
Luke had to give it to her. The kid was clever.
A/N: This would have been even longer than this but I should really be getting to bed. Please review!