A/N: I apologize in advance if this chapter is especially stupidly angsty-
I've been watching a lo of the Ben stiller show where they parody 90210 w/a
lot of stupid angst and I've been finding myself writing like that
recently. So hope its ok.
*It's now midnight; Dave follows Jess into his and Rory's apartment. Lane and Rory are passed out on opposite sides of the couch, the TV is on, but muted there is uneaten popcorn and candy bar wrappers scattered across the coffee table.
Dave eyes Lane warmly, as he approaches the couch. Crouching down he touch her arm carefully, whispering her name, "Lane."
She makes a small moaning noise but remains unaffected.
Dave and Jess exchange amused glances.
"Lane."
"Too early, go back to your side." Lane croaks, draping a hand over her eye.
Jess stifles a laugh.
Dave gives Jess a stern look and then turns back to his wife, "Lane." He says louder.
"Dave." Lane mumbles.
A sudden idea crosses Dave's mind, and he grins, "Brian's gone."
There is a moment of silence before Lane processes Dave's words. "He is?" She says brightly, coming out of her stupor.
Dave nods.
Lane shakes the sleep out of her eyes, "What time is it."
"12ish."
"Why are you so late, I thought you were coming back at 10."
"Weren't you listening, Brian and the band are gone."
"You're Right." Lane answer sleepily. "That's all that matters..now can I go back to sleep?"
"When we get home you can." Dave replies.
Lane looks at him with confusion, grogginess setting back in, "We're not home?"
"You're on Jess and Rory's couch." Dave coos.
Lane sighs, "you mean I have to go all the way down the stairs and 3 blocks over.I can't make it, too sleepy."
"But."
Jess stops Dave, "You know you could just crash here.it is mostly my fault that we're late anyway and they've fallen asleep on us."
"Thanks, but it's our first night of freedom and I want to enjoy it, in our own bed."
Jess nods, "Want some help."
Dave shakes his head, "No, I got this one."
Lane moans groggily as Dave places one arm across her back and the other around her knees.
Lane mutters incoherently into Dave's shirt.
"Give me your arms." Dave says softly, placing Lane's arms around his neck.
With a quick heave Lane is in Dave's arms, and they are headed towards the door.
Jess gives Dave a quick wave.
"Night man." Dave replies.
Jess nods as the apartment door closes behind them.
Rory stirs at the sound of the door closing.
"Jess?"
"Hey." Jess replies, taking a seat next to her.
Rory looks left and then right, adjusting her eyes to the dark, "Lane went home?"
"Just now." Jess croaks.
"Oh. It's late isn't it?"
"A little. Sorry I got caught up..but I got rid of the freeloaders for Dave and Lane"
That's not why you were late though was it?"
Jess shakes his head
"Been doing that a lot lately, getting caught up." Rory says frankly, standing up on her knees.
"No more, I promise." Jess replies as Rory crawls in next to him.
Rory looks up at him seriously, "What's been going on?"
"Tomorrow." Jess says plainly, patting her on the back.
Rory sits up, "Now."
Jess sighs, "Writers block."
"You lie."
"What?"
"I see you typing all the time, you have no writers block. Try again."
Jess relents, "I've just been thinking about things."
"And?"
"Backtracking I guess....thinking about California."
"Oh." Rory replies knowingly.
"The other day I was moving some boxes out of the office and found some old pictures and stuff from when I was there, when I was-"
"With her." Rory finishes, looking down at her hands.
"And I just starting thinking about her, and how I missed her."
Rory slides onto the edge of the couch, her eyes on the floor, "You miss her?"
"Her friendship."
Rory nods bitterly, her hand traveling to her stomach.
Jess places his hand over hers but she brushes him off.
"It's not like that Rory, I swear."
"If it's not like that why do you have to swear?" Rory spits back.
"Shit." Jess stomps his foot.
"Watch your mouth." Rory says quietly, standing up and turning her back to Jess
"Sorry." Jess mutters. "I just, I needed to know she was ok."
Rory sighs angrily.
"But I guess you know nothing about that." Jess replies sarcastically.
Rory swings around, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like you don't know. I mean how many times did you go running after Dean trying to repair the damage you did when you broke up with him."
"He broke up with me."
"But you broke him. And I broke her." Jess says simply.
"It's not the same thing."
"Isn't it? You loved him, but ended up loving someone else more than that. I loved her on more than one level as a friend and as a girlfriend, but I couldn't get somebody else out of my mind." Jess smirks.
Rory hesitates, "I'm not going to back down just because of that last comment you know."
"I don't expect you to, but you asked me what's been bothering me, and I'm telling you...trust me it ends good, just come sit down, please."
Rory sways slightly, considering jess' offer.
"If you don't want to be near me fine, I'll stand, but it's late and you're tired and should be sitting....and I know I have no right to say or demand anything, but as you brought to my attention earlier its exhausting for you to be standing for more than a few minutes these days." Jess' words rush together in a sincere and concerned manner.
Rory makes her way back onto the couch, leaving a good 12 inches between her and her husband. "Go on.... you missed her friendship." Rory rolls her eyes.
"And I just kept running all the horrible possible scenarios in my head, her being with some creep that represses her, her addicted to drugs, getting the shit kicked out of her by her sisters husband."
Rory looks at Jess with shock.
Jess swallows hard, "He's hit her before."
"I didn't know."
Jess puts a hand to her lips, to stop her from continuing into a long apologetic-type rant.
"And then I was thinking about the last couple months with us, how I treated her, and I felt so horrible, and I couldn't take it. I mean its bad enough some of the stuff I said to her, but then here I am in a nice comfortable apartment married to the, the most incredible person I've ever known, with a dream job and a baby on the way and she's God knows where, and maybe cause of me she's that much worse off."
Jess lets his head fall into his hands.
Rory puts an arm around him.
"Just like you needed to know that Dean was ok, I needed to know that I didn't break her permanently.....and I just became consumed by it, Ror I didn't realize that it was so noticeable, I'm sorry."
"It's ok, well it's not really but I understand. Maybe you could call your dad tomorrow and see if he has her number I mean if she moved or you could call her old one first.."
"I don't have to."
"No, if you're really upset you should."
"Rory I ran into her today, that's why we were late."
"She's in Connecticut?"
Jess nods, "She has a job here."
Rory eyes him skeptically, "Is that the only reason she's here?"
"No, she wanted to get out of California and start over, and Sasha told her that of Connecticut worked for one lost mutt, it might for another."
Rory smiles faintly.
"So Dave and I were shopping, for someone's birthday present," Jess smirks, "and she was at the checkout counter, so I stopped her, and I was right she hated me....but I used my charm and sweet talked her into having coffee with me."
Rory nods.
"She's doing great, she has a secure job, she's practically living with this restaurateur guy, she's severed all ties with her father and her sister, which is definitely fantastic news, she's keeping in touch with Jim and Sasha, in fact I'm all they talk about apparently."
Rory pats Jess on the back, "They're proud of you, and they have a lot to be proud of."
Jess smiles at Rory, "So we settled everything, and I told her all about us, and November and she wished us luck and then we said goodbye."
"And that was it?"
"Yeah, except we promised to get together all of us for dinner sometime, but I don't think it'll ever happen, I don't know if its meant to, just an empty polite promise type thing."
"Oh."
"But I feel better now."
"Good."
"And I don't have to worry about her anymore."
Rory nods.
"But, you need to know that I'm always going to care about her, I know things between the two of you were never good, but she was an important part of my life..and if it weren't for her and the time we spent "together." I would never have realized how much you meant to me."
Rory sighs, resting her head against Jess' shoulder, "Can we go to sleep now."
"Anything you want. I live for you."
"Ok, now you're making me ill."
"Which again these days is not hard to do." Jess smirks at her.
Rory swats his arm, but looks at him with concern, "You're really ok?"
"Yeah, I just needed to know and now I do."
"Ok." Rory replies taking Jess' hand in hers.
"So." Jess says Helping Rory off the couch, "What'd you ladies talk about tonight."
"Do you really want to know?"
"You, Dave, Luke."
"Lorelai called." Jess grins.
Rory nods, "And then we shared horror stories.."
Jess' face contorts, "Do you have to share them with me?"
"I should, you deserve to be grossed out, but I won't."
"And that's why I love you."
"Uh huh, you're walking too slow, I want sleep, now."
Jess grins.
"What?"
Jess swoops down, taking Rory in his arms.
"Whoa." Rory says, taken by surprise.
"Jess adjusts his arms accordingly, "You ok?"
Rory grasps his arm, "Yeah.hmm this is new."
"You know for the nerd that he is, Dave's got some smooth moves." Jess replies with a grin.
Rory laughs, "He is quite an operator isn't he?, you should take notes."
"I'll get right on that."
"Hey jess, be honest" Rory asks as they approach the bedroom door.
"Yeah?"
"How's your back doing right now?"
Jess groans, "It's fine, you're fine, you're gorgeous, you're-"
"4 pounds heavier than I was two days ago."
"Oh 4 pounds, breaking the bank on that one." Jess cuts back, placing Rory delicately on the bed.
"Shut up. It's a lot."
Jess flops, face first onto the bed, "Are you ever going to let up on this weight thing and just realize that I don't care....I'd carry you around all day long even if you gained 100 pounds in three days." Jess says exaggeratedly.
"Well it may just come to that."
"With all the junk food you've eaten on a regular basis for the past 23 years without being pregnant, I'd have to agree with you." Jess replies with a smile as a kamikaze pillow flies past his ear missing him but less than an inch.
"Hey!"
Jess grins at Rory, "Come on I was going to be in trouble no matter what I said."
"That is so not true!"
"Whose the liar now?" Jess smirks at Rory, crawling towards her.
"Stay away from me." Rory feigns aggravation.
"Fine." Jess replies settling in next to his wife, staring straight at the wall.
Rory's eyes twinkle at him.
"Stop it." Jess says hoarsely.
"What?'
"Stop looking at me, you said stay away from you, so I'm telling you to stop looking at me."
Rory leans across Jess, forcing him to look at her.
He stares at her coldly for a moment, before breaking out into a grin, grabbing her by the waist and forcing her onto her back.
In between giggles Rory declares, "No fair! You tricked me."
"I did not, you're just gullible."
"You play dirty."
Jess leans down and kisses Rory square on the mouth. Pulling away, a smirk emanating Jess replies, "Why yes, I do."
A/N I will end this chapter here. I don't know if this really fits, but I really wanted to bring the story back to its origins and I thought that Rory would be kind of upset about the cadence thing but would as always get over things. This chapters been sitting around a good 2 weeks, I just wasn't sure if I was going to send it out into the void, but due to lack of inspiration to anything else I think I shall and the next few chapters will be more exciting good day everybody. Reviews are appreciated.
*It's now midnight; Dave follows Jess into his and Rory's apartment. Lane and Rory are passed out on opposite sides of the couch, the TV is on, but muted there is uneaten popcorn and candy bar wrappers scattered across the coffee table.
Dave eyes Lane warmly, as he approaches the couch. Crouching down he touch her arm carefully, whispering her name, "Lane."
She makes a small moaning noise but remains unaffected.
Dave and Jess exchange amused glances.
"Lane."
"Too early, go back to your side." Lane croaks, draping a hand over her eye.
Jess stifles a laugh.
Dave gives Jess a stern look and then turns back to his wife, "Lane." He says louder.
"Dave." Lane mumbles.
A sudden idea crosses Dave's mind, and he grins, "Brian's gone."
There is a moment of silence before Lane processes Dave's words. "He is?" She says brightly, coming out of her stupor.
Dave nods.
Lane shakes the sleep out of her eyes, "What time is it."
"12ish."
"Why are you so late, I thought you were coming back at 10."
"Weren't you listening, Brian and the band are gone."
"You're Right." Lane answer sleepily. "That's all that matters..now can I go back to sleep?"
"When we get home you can." Dave replies.
Lane looks at him with confusion, grogginess setting back in, "We're not home?"
"You're on Jess and Rory's couch." Dave coos.
Lane sighs, "you mean I have to go all the way down the stairs and 3 blocks over.I can't make it, too sleepy."
"But."
Jess stops Dave, "You know you could just crash here.it is mostly my fault that we're late anyway and they've fallen asleep on us."
"Thanks, but it's our first night of freedom and I want to enjoy it, in our own bed."
Jess nods, "Want some help."
Dave shakes his head, "No, I got this one."
Lane moans groggily as Dave places one arm across her back and the other around her knees.
Lane mutters incoherently into Dave's shirt.
"Give me your arms." Dave says softly, placing Lane's arms around his neck.
With a quick heave Lane is in Dave's arms, and they are headed towards the door.
Jess gives Dave a quick wave.
"Night man." Dave replies.
Jess nods as the apartment door closes behind them.
Rory stirs at the sound of the door closing.
"Jess?"
"Hey." Jess replies, taking a seat next to her.
Rory looks left and then right, adjusting her eyes to the dark, "Lane went home?"
"Just now." Jess croaks.
"Oh. It's late isn't it?"
"A little. Sorry I got caught up..but I got rid of the freeloaders for Dave and Lane"
That's not why you were late though was it?"
Jess shakes his head
"Been doing that a lot lately, getting caught up." Rory says frankly, standing up on her knees.
"No more, I promise." Jess replies as Rory crawls in next to him.
Rory looks up at him seriously, "What's been going on?"
"Tomorrow." Jess says plainly, patting her on the back.
Rory sits up, "Now."
Jess sighs, "Writers block."
"You lie."
"What?"
"I see you typing all the time, you have no writers block. Try again."
Jess relents, "I've just been thinking about things."
"And?"
"Backtracking I guess....thinking about California."
"Oh." Rory replies knowingly.
"The other day I was moving some boxes out of the office and found some old pictures and stuff from when I was there, when I was-"
"With her." Rory finishes, looking down at her hands.
"And I just starting thinking about her, and how I missed her."
Rory slides onto the edge of the couch, her eyes on the floor, "You miss her?"
"Her friendship."
Rory nods bitterly, her hand traveling to her stomach.
Jess places his hand over hers but she brushes him off.
"It's not like that Rory, I swear."
"If it's not like that why do you have to swear?" Rory spits back.
"Shit." Jess stomps his foot.
"Watch your mouth." Rory says quietly, standing up and turning her back to Jess
"Sorry." Jess mutters. "I just, I needed to know she was ok."
Rory sighs angrily.
"But I guess you know nothing about that." Jess replies sarcastically.
Rory swings around, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Like you don't know. I mean how many times did you go running after Dean trying to repair the damage you did when you broke up with him."
"He broke up with me."
"But you broke him. And I broke her." Jess says simply.
"It's not the same thing."
"Isn't it? You loved him, but ended up loving someone else more than that. I loved her on more than one level as a friend and as a girlfriend, but I couldn't get somebody else out of my mind." Jess smirks.
Rory hesitates, "I'm not going to back down just because of that last comment you know."
"I don't expect you to, but you asked me what's been bothering me, and I'm telling you...trust me it ends good, just come sit down, please."
Rory sways slightly, considering jess' offer.
"If you don't want to be near me fine, I'll stand, but it's late and you're tired and should be sitting....and I know I have no right to say or demand anything, but as you brought to my attention earlier its exhausting for you to be standing for more than a few minutes these days." Jess' words rush together in a sincere and concerned manner.
Rory makes her way back onto the couch, leaving a good 12 inches between her and her husband. "Go on.... you missed her friendship." Rory rolls her eyes.
"And I just kept running all the horrible possible scenarios in my head, her being with some creep that represses her, her addicted to drugs, getting the shit kicked out of her by her sisters husband."
Rory looks at Jess with shock.
Jess swallows hard, "He's hit her before."
"I didn't know."
Jess puts a hand to her lips, to stop her from continuing into a long apologetic-type rant.
"And then I was thinking about the last couple months with us, how I treated her, and I felt so horrible, and I couldn't take it. I mean its bad enough some of the stuff I said to her, but then here I am in a nice comfortable apartment married to the, the most incredible person I've ever known, with a dream job and a baby on the way and she's God knows where, and maybe cause of me she's that much worse off."
Jess lets his head fall into his hands.
Rory puts an arm around him.
"Just like you needed to know that Dean was ok, I needed to know that I didn't break her permanently.....and I just became consumed by it, Ror I didn't realize that it was so noticeable, I'm sorry."
"It's ok, well it's not really but I understand. Maybe you could call your dad tomorrow and see if he has her number I mean if she moved or you could call her old one first.."
"I don't have to."
"No, if you're really upset you should."
"Rory I ran into her today, that's why we were late."
"She's in Connecticut?"
Jess nods, "She has a job here."
Rory eyes him skeptically, "Is that the only reason she's here?"
"No, she wanted to get out of California and start over, and Sasha told her that of Connecticut worked for one lost mutt, it might for another."
Rory smiles faintly.
"So Dave and I were shopping, for someone's birthday present," Jess smirks, "and she was at the checkout counter, so I stopped her, and I was right she hated me....but I used my charm and sweet talked her into having coffee with me."
Rory nods.
"She's doing great, she has a secure job, she's practically living with this restaurateur guy, she's severed all ties with her father and her sister, which is definitely fantastic news, she's keeping in touch with Jim and Sasha, in fact I'm all they talk about apparently."
Rory pats Jess on the back, "They're proud of you, and they have a lot to be proud of."
Jess smiles at Rory, "So we settled everything, and I told her all about us, and November and she wished us luck and then we said goodbye."
"And that was it?"
"Yeah, except we promised to get together all of us for dinner sometime, but I don't think it'll ever happen, I don't know if its meant to, just an empty polite promise type thing."
"Oh."
"But I feel better now."
"Good."
"And I don't have to worry about her anymore."
Rory nods.
"But, you need to know that I'm always going to care about her, I know things between the two of you were never good, but she was an important part of my life..and if it weren't for her and the time we spent "together." I would never have realized how much you meant to me."
Rory sighs, resting her head against Jess' shoulder, "Can we go to sleep now."
"Anything you want. I live for you."
"Ok, now you're making me ill."
"Which again these days is not hard to do." Jess smirks at her.
Rory swats his arm, but looks at him with concern, "You're really ok?"
"Yeah, I just needed to know and now I do."
"Ok." Rory replies taking Jess' hand in hers.
"So." Jess says Helping Rory off the couch, "What'd you ladies talk about tonight."
"Do you really want to know?"
"You, Dave, Luke."
"Lorelai called." Jess grins.
Rory nods, "And then we shared horror stories.."
Jess' face contorts, "Do you have to share them with me?"
"I should, you deserve to be grossed out, but I won't."
"And that's why I love you."
"Uh huh, you're walking too slow, I want sleep, now."
Jess grins.
"What?"
Jess swoops down, taking Rory in his arms.
"Whoa." Rory says, taken by surprise.
"Jess adjusts his arms accordingly, "You ok?"
Rory grasps his arm, "Yeah.hmm this is new."
"You know for the nerd that he is, Dave's got some smooth moves." Jess replies with a grin.
Rory laughs, "He is quite an operator isn't he?, you should take notes."
"I'll get right on that."
"Hey jess, be honest" Rory asks as they approach the bedroom door.
"Yeah?"
"How's your back doing right now?"
Jess groans, "It's fine, you're fine, you're gorgeous, you're-"
"4 pounds heavier than I was two days ago."
"Oh 4 pounds, breaking the bank on that one." Jess cuts back, placing Rory delicately on the bed.
"Shut up. It's a lot."
Jess flops, face first onto the bed, "Are you ever going to let up on this weight thing and just realize that I don't care....I'd carry you around all day long even if you gained 100 pounds in three days." Jess says exaggeratedly.
"Well it may just come to that."
"With all the junk food you've eaten on a regular basis for the past 23 years without being pregnant, I'd have to agree with you." Jess replies with a smile as a kamikaze pillow flies past his ear missing him but less than an inch.
"Hey!"
Jess grins at Rory, "Come on I was going to be in trouble no matter what I said."
"That is so not true!"
"Whose the liar now?" Jess smirks at Rory, crawling towards her.
"Stay away from me." Rory feigns aggravation.
"Fine." Jess replies settling in next to his wife, staring straight at the wall.
Rory's eyes twinkle at him.
"Stop it." Jess says hoarsely.
"What?'
"Stop looking at me, you said stay away from you, so I'm telling you to stop looking at me."
Rory leans across Jess, forcing him to look at her.
He stares at her coldly for a moment, before breaking out into a grin, grabbing her by the waist and forcing her onto her back.
In between giggles Rory declares, "No fair! You tricked me."
"I did not, you're just gullible."
"You play dirty."
Jess leans down and kisses Rory square on the mouth. Pulling away, a smirk emanating Jess replies, "Why yes, I do."
A/N I will end this chapter here. I don't know if this really fits, but I really wanted to bring the story back to its origins and I thought that Rory would be kind of upset about the cadence thing but would as always get over things. This chapters been sitting around a good 2 weeks, I just wasn't sure if I was going to send it out into the void, but due to lack of inspiration to anything else I think I shall and the next few chapters will be more exciting good day everybody. Reviews are appreciated.