A/N: This was my first fic and I've changed the formatting and a few things
about the story. No new chapters. Check out the sequel.
Pairings: Rory and Jess, Luke and Lorelai, Dave and Lane. Mostly Lit.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls.
November 2008-
Lying in bed, Rory began to think about what she left behind in Connecticut. Chase was a man who protected her and who could have supported her for the rest of their lives.
He was similar to the other men she had dated during her time at Yale. They were wonderful, but she was never fell in love. They were too close to her Grandparents and they live in their world. Rory does not mind visiting the upper-class world of coming out parties and crystal candlesticks, but she cannot live there and most definitely cannot raise children in a world such as this.
Her desire to be a journalist has brought her to California for the amazing job she now holds.
She hopes she can find something more in a boyfriend.
Chase and Rory split amicably before she left, blaming the long distance as the reason for the breakup. Chase had no desire to have children ever, he wanted to work and travel; children would just slow him down.
They split five months ago, in June after they graduated.
Now here Rory is in a bed at the doctor's office looking at an ultrasound of the baby she has been pregnant with for five months. She knows it is for the best not to get Chase involved. She knows he would support her financially, but she does not want him to have a say in how this child is raised. Lorelai raised Rory alone, and Rory is confident that she can do the same.
March 17, 2009-
St. Patrick's Day. Rory feels as if she should name her baby Patrick just because of the date that his birth falls on. After the contractions, the dilation, the pain, the breathing and the screaming, Rory is finally handed her baby boy.
"Mason" she whispers to him through her tears of joy. She looks down at this 7 pound 4 ounce baby boy; she strokes his cheek with her index finger. She is going to like being a mom. Lorelai and Luke are standing in the room, leaning on the wall holding hands and beaming.
"That's my girl," Lorelai says almost to herself.
"Are you happy Grandma?" Luke smirks.
Lorelai hits him playfully and then makes a disgusted face. She is a grandma.
"Rory, your son is not calling me Grandma"
"Whatever you want. Can I still call you mom?" Rory and Lorelai smile.
Later, Rory is walking around the hospital and immediately strolls over to see her son. She sees the sign, "Mason Christopher Gilmore" sitting right next to "Madison."
She hears crying.
Not unusual around a group of babies, but it is the sound of a man crying. She glances over and assumes he is located around the corner. She resumes admiring her baby boy and finishes reading the name of the baby next to him.
"Madison Taylor Mariano." She says out loud. Mariano, she thinks.
Jess Mariano, she thinks again.
So many feelings come rushing back to her, the kisses they shared, the immature way he left and how he had broken her heart. She always thought that if he had been able to talk with her, to work things out, they would still be together.
Ok, she needs to just calm down, it's probably not his baby. It's not his baby. He is not the only Mariano in the world, it is just a coincidence; she needs to stop stressing about this.
Her son starts to cry and she snaps back into the real world. She notices a figure coming up beside her and looking through the same window. Rory watches the nurse consol her baby and cannot wait until she can take him home.
She hears the body next to her gasp, and whisper "Rory" in a shaky voice as if he had just been crying.
"Yeah?" she replies in a nervous whisper. They look at each other.
"Oh my God." Rory and Jess say almost in unison.
There is an awkward silence.
Jess's eyes are puffy and red; he was most definitely the crier.
"Hey" Jess breaks the silence.
"Hey yourself"
"Your son?" Jess asks.
"Yeah. Your daughter?"
"Yeah."
More silence.
"So, do you want to maybe grab a cup of coffee, and you know, catch up?" Jess asks, his voice almost returning to normal.
"No thank you"
"Oh," his head drops.
"It's not that I don't want to" she gives him a slight smile. "It's just that it's time for me to take my son home, and he is what is most important to me right now."
He returns the smile and says, "ok, I think it's that time for me and my daughter too."
They both feel a connection with one another, a connection they have always had, only strengthened now because they share parenthood as well.
"Let's not let this be the last time we talk. I might need some help with this whole daddy thing." Jess says to Rory, and this makes her smile.
"Promise. Won't Madison's mother be a help with the parenting?"
He looks down at his feet and is on the verge of tears again. She notices that this subject makes him uncomfortable and she changes the subject, "Jess, would you and your daughter like to maybe, come over, for some coffee, we can catch up."
"Won't your husband care?"
"I don't have a husband. Or a boyfriend."
He wants to smile but does everything in his power to keep it to himself.
"Yeah. I'd like that."
"Ok, I'll be right back"
Rory goes and finds her mother and tells her that she is tired and just needs to go home and sleep. Lorelai understands and gives her a big hug and a kiss. They decide on 9 o'clock the next morning for breakfast at Rory's place.
Lorelai takes Luke's hand and they make their way to their hotel.
Rory walks over to find Jess. He is standing in the same spot.
"Ok, I'm ready" Rory says.
They both very gently pick up their babies and walk them to their cars. Jess follows Rory to her condo and parks next to her when they arrive. They, in unison, take their babies from the car seats and make their way inside.
They reach her place, and she opens the door. It is not much, just a one- bedroom condo with a living room attached to a little kitchen and one bathroom. She has not been there long, but all of her boxes are unpacked and it is a cozy little space.
She notices that both the kids are asleep. She motions for him to follow him into her bedroom where the crib is. She lays Mason down on one side of the crib and then moves aside and gives Jess room to lay Madison down. They exit the room, but leave the door ajar so they can hear if any sound is coming from the babies.
"So, is it just you living here?" Jess starts the conversation.
"Just Mason and I." Rory contributes.
"Where is his father?"
Rory explains her situation with Chase and that she has chosen to be a single mother over being joined with him for the rest of her life. He seems satisfied by her answer, and is glad that it was more her choice and that she was not hurt.
"Your turn" Rory nods at Jess over her third cup of coffee.
"Ok, I'll talk. I had been dating Ashley for almost a year when she told me she was pregnant. I don't really think I was in love, but since it was my child, I decided to stay with her and support her. I know she wanted, and expected me to either propose or leave her. I did not feel that these were the right circumstances to become engaged, and I couldn't just pick up and leave. She was unsure at first, but when she found out that I was going to stick with her, even if I did not propose, she warmed up to the idea and eventually became excited about this baby. Even if we never got married, I knew I wanted to be active in this child's life."
For the first time, he looks into her eyes and continues,
"I actually thought about the relationship you have with your dad. He doesn't live with you, but you love him, and you know him. I at least wanted to be something like that. Her pregnancy had a few complications, she kept them to herself so as not to worry me."
He was holding his forehead in his hands to hide his tears. "Ashley's labor was incredibly painful and complicated the whole way through. In the end, she died during childbirth."
"Oh my God Jess, I'm so sorry." She places her hand on his arm and rubs it. He moves his hand off his face and grabs hers and squeezes it tightly.
"Jess, if you ever need anything, give me a call. I want to help you."
"Thanks. I may take you up on that. I don't know anything about babies"
"Huh, babies. Cry, eat, poop, sleep."
"Thanks for the summary." They both smile.
"Does Luke know any of this?" Rory returns to the previously serious tone. There are still so many unanswered questions.
"I talk to him sometimes. He knows as far as me dating Ashley, and nothing beyond that."
"Well, he and mom are here and if you want to tell them, I'll help."
They hear cries from the bedroom. One of them is awake. They both sprint in there, being the good parents they would like to be. It's Mason. Rory takes him and sits in a rocking chair in the bedroom across from another rocking chair, where Jess takes a seat.
Rory looks at her son and looks at Jess, "Would you mind if I."
"Oh, yeah, do whatever you need to do," Jess said, blushing, "would you like me to leave?"
"Only if you're uncomfortable." She smirks at how uneasy he is.
Rory begins feeding her son. Jess cannot help but stare. He knows he shouldn't, but he cannot move his eyes away from her. Madison starts to cry. He picks her up and rocks her gently. "Maddie, everything is going to be okay." Rory lays her son back in the crib and he wiggles his arms and legs around happily. When she knows he is comfortable, she walks over to Jess who seems to be having trouble calming the child down.
"May I?" She asks.
"Please" Jess says standing up and handing her the child. He is thankful this is not some kind of a race to see who can stop their kid from crying first. Rory props Maddie up on her shoulder, holding her bottom with one hand and patting her back with the other hand. She begins swaying and the baby is immediately at ease. She walks over to her original seat and sits down and repeats the feeding process. She does this almost unconsciously as if these are both hers. He is a bit surprised, but realizes how wonderful it would be for Maddie to have a mother from Day 1. And Rory for a mother? Even a mother for this one instance, she must be the luckiest baby alive. She returns the second baby to the crib and they stand in the dark bedroom silently.
Rory takes a seat on her bed and turns on the television, she motions to Jess to come sit down. In a few minutes, they are both leaned up against the headboard with their kids on their laps. They watch an old episode of "Gilligan's Island" and the sound of the television fills any potential awkward silences. They look and smile at one another.
"Jess," Rory says in almost a whisper to not stir the babies, "do you want join us for breakfast tomorrow. It'll be mom and Luke, Lane and Dave, me and Mason. and you and Madison if you want. It's just a really casual thing, here, mom will bring the food, and you can always leave if you're uncomfortable. It's just a chance to get to know the baby and everything."
"what time?"
"Eight"
"that's early"
"I know it's getting late, but I would really like it if you could come." Rory blushes. "I don't really see any reason for you to go home and sleep for just a few hours. You could stay here tonight if you would like."
Jess smiles, "ok. I'll have breakfast with you."
"Great, I'll be right back"
She lays Mason down to sleep and goes into the bathroom to wash her face and change into her pajamas, a light pink tank top and pink striped cotton pants.
When she enters into her bedroom, she sees Madison sleeping soundly and Jess under the covers with his pants, and shirt on the floor next to the bed, leaving him in just his boxers.
She stands next to the spot where she should be laying down. His smile makes her feel at ease, and she slips under the sheets. They lay next to one another, Jess pulls Rory close and pecks her on her forehead, she rests her head on his chest and within seconds, they both fall asleep.
Pairings: Rory and Jess, Luke and Lorelai, Dave and Lane. Mostly Lit.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls.
November 2008-
Lying in bed, Rory began to think about what she left behind in Connecticut. Chase was a man who protected her and who could have supported her for the rest of their lives.
He was similar to the other men she had dated during her time at Yale. They were wonderful, but she was never fell in love. They were too close to her Grandparents and they live in their world. Rory does not mind visiting the upper-class world of coming out parties and crystal candlesticks, but she cannot live there and most definitely cannot raise children in a world such as this.
Her desire to be a journalist has brought her to California for the amazing job she now holds.
She hopes she can find something more in a boyfriend.
Chase and Rory split amicably before she left, blaming the long distance as the reason for the breakup. Chase had no desire to have children ever, he wanted to work and travel; children would just slow him down.
They split five months ago, in June after they graduated.
Now here Rory is in a bed at the doctor's office looking at an ultrasound of the baby she has been pregnant with for five months. She knows it is for the best not to get Chase involved. She knows he would support her financially, but she does not want him to have a say in how this child is raised. Lorelai raised Rory alone, and Rory is confident that she can do the same.
March 17, 2009-
St. Patrick's Day. Rory feels as if she should name her baby Patrick just because of the date that his birth falls on. After the contractions, the dilation, the pain, the breathing and the screaming, Rory is finally handed her baby boy.
"Mason" she whispers to him through her tears of joy. She looks down at this 7 pound 4 ounce baby boy; she strokes his cheek with her index finger. She is going to like being a mom. Lorelai and Luke are standing in the room, leaning on the wall holding hands and beaming.
"That's my girl," Lorelai says almost to herself.
"Are you happy Grandma?" Luke smirks.
Lorelai hits him playfully and then makes a disgusted face. She is a grandma.
"Rory, your son is not calling me Grandma"
"Whatever you want. Can I still call you mom?" Rory and Lorelai smile.
Later, Rory is walking around the hospital and immediately strolls over to see her son. She sees the sign, "Mason Christopher Gilmore" sitting right next to "Madison."
She hears crying.
Not unusual around a group of babies, but it is the sound of a man crying. She glances over and assumes he is located around the corner. She resumes admiring her baby boy and finishes reading the name of the baby next to him.
"Madison Taylor Mariano." She says out loud. Mariano, she thinks.
Jess Mariano, she thinks again.
So many feelings come rushing back to her, the kisses they shared, the immature way he left and how he had broken her heart. She always thought that if he had been able to talk with her, to work things out, they would still be together.
Ok, she needs to just calm down, it's probably not his baby. It's not his baby. He is not the only Mariano in the world, it is just a coincidence; she needs to stop stressing about this.
Her son starts to cry and she snaps back into the real world. She notices a figure coming up beside her and looking through the same window. Rory watches the nurse consol her baby and cannot wait until she can take him home.
She hears the body next to her gasp, and whisper "Rory" in a shaky voice as if he had just been crying.
"Yeah?" she replies in a nervous whisper. They look at each other.
"Oh my God." Rory and Jess say almost in unison.
There is an awkward silence.
Jess's eyes are puffy and red; he was most definitely the crier.
"Hey" Jess breaks the silence.
"Hey yourself"
"Your son?" Jess asks.
"Yeah. Your daughter?"
"Yeah."
More silence.
"So, do you want to maybe grab a cup of coffee, and you know, catch up?" Jess asks, his voice almost returning to normal.
"No thank you"
"Oh," his head drops.
"It's not that I don't want to" she gives him a slight smile. "It's just that it's time for me to take my son home, and he is what is most important to me right now."
He returns the smile and says, "ok, I think it's that time for me and my daughter too."
They both feel a connection with one another, a connection they have always had, only strengthened now because they share parenthood as well.
"Let's not let this be the last time we talk. I might need some help with this whole daddy thing." Jess says to Rory, and this makes her smile.
"Promise. Won't Madison's mother be a help with the parenting?"
He looks down at his feet and is on the verge of tears again. She notices that this subject makes him uncomfortable and she changes the subject, "Jess, would you and your daughter like to maybe, come over, for some coffee, we can catch up."
"Won't your husband care?"
"I don't have a husband. Or a boyfriend."
He wants to smile but does everything in his power to keep it to himself.
"Yeah. I'd like that."
"Ok, I'll be right back"
Rory goes and finds her mother and tells her that she is tired and just needs to go home and sleep. Lorelai understands and gives her a big hug and a kiss. They decide on 9 o'clock the next morning for breakfast at Rory's place.
Lorelai takes Luke's hand and they make their way to their hotel.
Rory walks over to find Jess. He is standing in the same spot.
"Ok, I'm ready" Rory says.
They both very gently pick up their babies and walk them to their cars. Jess follows Rory to her condo and parks next to her when they arrive. They, in unison, take their babies from the car seats and make their way inside.
They reach her place, and she opens the door. It is not much, just a one- bedroom condo with a living room attached to a little kitchen and one bathroom. She has not been there long, but all of her boxes are unpacked and it is a cozy little space.
She notices that both the kids are asleep. She motions for him to follow him into her bedroom where the crib is. She lays Mason down on one side of the crib and then moves aside and gives Jess room to lay Madison down. They exit the room, but leave the door ajar so they can hear if any sound is coming from the babies.
"So, is it just you living here?" Jess starts the conversation.
"Just Mason and I." Rory contributes.
"Where is his father?"
Rory explains her situation with Chase and that she has chosen to be a single mother over being joined with him for the rest of her life. He seems satisfied by her answer, and is glad that it was more her choice and that she was not hurt.
"Your turn" Rory nods at Jess over her third cup of coffee.
"Ok, I'll talk. I had been dating Ashley for almost a year when she told me she was pregnant. I don't really think I was in love, but since it was my child, I decided to stay with her and support her. I know she wanted, and expected me to either propose or leave her. I did not feel that these were the right circumstances to become engaged, and I couldn't just pick up and leave. She was unsure at first, but when she found out that I was going to stick with her, even if I did not propose, she warmed up to the idea and eventually became excited about this baby. Even if we never got married, I knew I wanted to be active in this child's life."
For the first time, he looks into her eyes and continues,
"I actually thought about the relationship you have with your dad. He doesn't live with you, but you love him, and you know him. I at least wanted to be something like that. Her pregnancy had a few complications, she kept them to herself so as not to worry me."
He was holding his forehead in his hands to hide his tears. "Ashley's labor was incredibly painful and complicated the whole way through. In the end, she died during childbirth."
"Oh my God Jess, I'm so sorry." She places her hand on his arm and rubs it. He moves his hand off his face and grabs hers and squeezes it tightly.
"Jess, if you ever need anything, give me a call. I want to help you."
"Thanks. I may take you up on that. I don't know anything about babies"
"Huh, babies. Cry, eat, poop, sleep."
"Thanks for the summary." They both smile.
"Does Luke know any of this?" Rory returns to the previously serious tone. There are still so many unanswered questions.
"I talk to him sometimes. He knows as far as me dating Ashley, and nothing beyond that."
"Well, he and mom are here and if you want to tell them, I'll help."
They hear cries from the bedroom. One of them is awake. They both sprint in there, being the good parents they would like to be. It's Mason. Rory takes him and sits in a rocking chair in the bedroom across from another rocking chair, where Jess takes a seat.
Rory looks at her son and looks at Jess, "Would you mind if I."
"Oh, yeah, do whatever you need to do," Jess said, blushing, "would you like me to leave?"
"Only if you're uncomfortable." She smirks at how uneasy he is.
Rory begins feeding her son. Jess cannot help but stare. He knows he shouldn't, but he cannot move his eyes away from her. Madison starts to cry. He picks her up and rocks her gently. "Maddie, everything is going to be okay." Rory lays her son back in the crib and he wiggles his arms and legs around happily. When she knows he is comfortable, she walks over to Jess who seems to be having trouble calming the child down.
"May I?" She asks.
"Please" Jess says standing up and handing her the child. He is thankful this is not some kind of a race to see who can stop their kid from crying first. Rory props Maddie up on her shoulder, holding her bottom with one hand and patting her back with the other hand. She begins swaying and the baby is immediately at ease. She walks over to her original seat and sits down and repeats the feeding process. She does this almost unconsciously as if these are both hers. He is a bit surprised, but realizes how wonderful it would be for Maddie to have a mother from Day 1. And Rory for a mother? Even a mother for this one instance, she must be the luckiest baby alive. She returns the second baby to the crib and they stand in the dark bedroom silently.
Rory takes a seat on her bed and turns on the television, she motions to Jess to come sit down. In a few minutes, they are both leaned up against the headboard with their kids on their laps. They watch an old episode of "Gilligan's Island" and the sound of the television fills any potential awkward silences. They look and smile at one another.
"Jess," Rory says in almost a whisper to not stir the babies, "do you want join us for breakfast tomorrow. It'll be mom and Luke, Lane and Dave, me and Mason. and you and Madison if you want. It's just a really casual thing, here, mom will bring the food, and you can always leave if you're uncomfortable. It's just a chance to get to know the baby and everything."
"what time?"
"Eight"
"that's early"
"I know it's getting late, but I would really like it if you could come." Rory blushes. "I don't really see any reason for you to go home and sleep for just a few hours. You could stay here tonight if you would like."
Jess smiles, "ok. I'll have breakfast with you."
"Great, I'll be right back"
She lays Mason down to sleep and goes into the bathroom to wash her face and change into her pajamas, a light pink tank top and pink striped cotton pants.
When she enters into her bedroom, she sees Madison sleeping soundly and Jess under the covers with his pants, and shirt on the floor next to the bed, leaving him in just his boxers.
She stands next to the spot where she should be laying down. His smile makes her feel at ease, and she slips under the sheets. They lay next to one another, Jess pulls Rory close and pecks her on her forehead, she rests her head on his chest and within seconds, they both fall asleep.