Ok it's been way too long. So terribly sorry but between a monster of a
semester and a lack of motivation I just could not write another chapter of
this story. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it—I'm now on summer break so
we'll see what happens—I'll be skipping around time wise with this chapter
so please bear with me. Oh thanks for all the reviews and words of
encouragement it meant a lot and is the reason I'm sitting here writing
another chapter. Thanks everybody.
"So Jess," Lorelai addresses her son in law cheerfully, "Come up with any good names for the baby?"
"Huh?" Jess asks looking up from his plate of macaroni salad.
"Names for the baby?" Lorelai raises an eyebrow at him.
Jess shakes his head, twirling his fork through the macaroni, "Nothing yet, but its still early we've got plenty of time to come up with a name to suit the kid."
"Time, you don't have time." Lorelai spits.
Jess looks up at her again as Rory enters the back yard, "We have enough time right babe?" Jess says sweetly as Rory rests an arm across his shoulders.
"Sure we do, we have plenty of ti—"Rory sways. "Oh my god."
Jess jerks around, "Rory?"
"Time its time!" She moans.
Jess scrambles to his feet, "What? T-that's impossible."
Rory grips his shoulder, "No, it's fine just go get my bag and meet me in the car."
"Your bag?" Jess repeats with panic.
"You know the bag that's packed months ahead of time just in case." Lorelai says sternly.
"Right."
"You don't have a bag do you jess?" Lorelai asks.
"I-I thought we had more time."
"No baby names, no overnight bag, and now you're going to say you haven't done Lamaze training."
Jess slaps his hand against his cheek, "I didn't think---"
"You never think." Rory says, gripping her side.
Jess steps forward, taking her hand, "I'm sorry."
"You leave everything until the last minute." Rory continues, swatting his hand away.
"I told you it was a mistake to marry him." Lorelai replies crossing her arms.
"He's a screw up, always has been." Luke barks. "He'll never change."
"I can I will, I just I don't know what I'm doing?"
"Do you ever." Rory pants, "I want a divorce."
"What?" Jess squeaks, his surroundings becoming fuzzy."
"You're a screw up"
"Never should have married him."
"Divorce!"
Rory, Lorelai, and Luke encircle Jess, chanting insults.
"Stop, I'm Not......I I I I CAN CHANGE!" Jess screams, as he tumbles out of bed.
Jess hits the wood floor with a loud bang. He remains there for a moment rubbing his shoulder. Covered in sweat Jess stands up carefully, looking over at the bed he sees Rory sound asleep, unaffected by his vivid nightmare.
Taking a deep breath, Jess runs a finger through his hair, "Shit," he mutters to himself.
5 minutes later
Jess enters the living room, taking a book of the coffee table he collapses onto the couch.
8am:
"Jess?"
"Shchgfk" Jess replies, rolling over.
"Jess!" Rory exclaims.
"Hu-what?" Jess abruptly sits up.
Rory leans down, looking him over, "Are you ok?"
Looking into her concerned eyes, Jess sighs, "Yeah I'm fine."
"What are you doing out here?"
"I must have dozed off, sorry."
"What time did you get up?"
"Oh I don't know, I didn't look at the clock, probably about 3."
"Did you have another bad dream."
Jess shrugs."
"Want to talk about it?" Rory asks, taking a seat on the edge of the couch.
Jess moves his legs to the floor to give Rory some more room, "No that's ok, I'm fine."
Rory leans her head back, "I wish you'd tell me what your nightmares are about."
"Just stupid stuff, babe. I think I have to stop eating before I go to bed"
"Rory sighs, "Ok, well the showers yours. I'm just going to eat something and run, I'm meeting mom and Grandma for lunch in Hartford."
Jess nods.
"What are you going to do today?"
"Writing."
"But you're books already at the editors."
"Yeah, but just because the books almost finished, doesn't mean I should stop writing."
"Touché"
Jess kisses Rory on the cheek before heading towards the shower.
"You know you could always come with me today."
Jess scoffs, "No thank you. You're mom will make fun of me the whole time and your grandmother will take everything she says seriously and have more reason to hate me."
"She doesn't hate you!"
"Preaching to the wrong choir Ror. I'll be out in a minute."
Rory watches Jess disappear into the bathroom.
With a sigh she follows him.
Jess turns around with smirk, "Going to shower with me?"
Rory tries to stifle a grin, "Jess."
Jess crosses his arms, "Yeah."
Rory looks at him seriously, "I'm worried about you."
Jess looks down at his bare feet, "Why?"
With an uncertain voice she replies, "I don't know, you just don't seem yourself lately."
"Gees, Ror."
"Jess I'm not trying to get on your case."
"U-huh"
"I'm not, I just hate to see you like this—not able to sleep through the night, dark circles under your eyes...."
Jess looks at his wife tenderly, "Rory, I promise you I'm fine. I'm just nervous about the book coming back from the editor, I'm trying to get everything done before November, It's already July---and once the book comes back, I got rewrites, final drafts, final editing, meetings with the publisher. Its all jut coming up so fast."
Rory knits her eyebrows, "You sure, its just book stress?"
"Yeah."
Rory approaches Jess as he opens his arms to her.
"I'm sorry, I just worry about you." She says in a low voice, resting her head on Jess' shoulder.
"Don't. I'm fine." Jess replies patting her back. "I don't want you to worry about anything."
"But—"
Jess places a hand on Rory's stomach, "Just don't. Relax."
"Ok." Rory replies, covering Jess' hand with her own. "But you calm down too, there's plenty of time. Everything will get done." Rory continues, exiting the bathroom.
"Yeah plenty of time." Jess sighs.
A half hour later: Jess is watching Rory leave.
"I'll be back by 4."
"I'll be here." Jess waves down the hall before closing the door.
Jess leans his head against the closed door, closing his eyes.
"I am so screwed he mutters." Making up his mind to pick up the phone.
5 minutes later.
"Yeah." Luke Dane's barks into the phone.
"Hey."
"Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"Is Rory ok?"
"Fine, out to lunch with her mother."
"Oh.....so why are you calling?"
"I, uh."
"Look if you're just screwing around, I have customers waiting."
"What. Yeah that's fine. Ok talk to you later." Jess says in a daze.
"Hey Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing right now?"
"Nothing."
"Why don't you stop by for a burger?"
An Hour and a Half later:
"You sure this is ok? I didn't want you to shut the whole place down for me."
"Don't worry about it, you did me a favor. Usually until 3 this is the slow period, just Kirk in here switching tables and changing his order, this gives me a break from him."
Jess nods, with a smile.
"So what's going on?"
Jess shrugs, "Nothing"
"Nothing. Who are you kidding? You picked up the phone and called me—without Rory standing their dialing the number. Something is up." Luke narrows his eyes at Jess.
Jess groans, "It's nothing. I just haven't slept through the night in over a month."
"Probably from all the caffeine you and Rory consume."
"No. no actually I've been having really bad nightmares."
"How bad?"
"I wake up every night drenched in sweat, usually sprawled out on the floor." Jess replies, lifting his arm to show Luke the bruise from his latest fall."
"Wow."
Jess runs a hand through his hair, "Yeah."
"So what are these dreams about?"
Jess shrugs, "Everything. They change a bit every time but the end basically remains the same."
"Uh-huh."
"I dream about my book not getting finished, time just flying by, not being prepared, Rory going into labor, the kid not liking me..." Jess trails off, tucking his head into his chest.
"Stressed?"
Jess makes a strangled growling sound.
Luke pats Jess on the shoulder, "You're just nervous."
Jess shakes his head violently, "No, no I'm not nervous. I'm just completely screwed. It's already July. Last month it was March and now its July and November is like tomorrow. And I have accomplished nothing—I am so unprepared."
"Come on that's not true."
"Of course it is."
"Rory told Lorelai you guys finished the nursery weeks ago."
"Well yeah because otherwise we'd be doing it in August when its too hot to do anything—but still big deal, the nursery—so we have a place to put the baby that I'm ultimately going to mess up, we haven't taken any classes, Rory God she's read every baby book known to man, me I can't get through the first chapter of one."
Luke laughs, "Jess that stuff not THAT important, just calm down."
"I'm still going to screw up, I know I am. You said it yourself—I'm a screwup."
"You were a screwup at 17, you're not 17 anymore."
"I might as well be. Luke, I'm going to do something stupid and she's going to leave me." Jess says gravely.
Luke gives Jess a serious glance, "Are you kidding me? After everything, you think Rory's going to walk away from your marriage?"
Jess sighs, "She always does—in my dreams she always runs out on me—well waddles out on me—but she leaves and gives good reason to."
"God, you're having a mental breakdown."
"I know. I'm out of my mind."
"Ok. Look at me." Luke says calmly. "You know that Rory loves you. She's not going to leave you. You guys, for whatever reason work. You're just nervous about your book and you're freaking about being a father."
Jess takes a deep breath, "You're right."
"Surprised?" Luke replies sarcastically.
Jess shakes his head, "I just don't want to mess this up. I love Rory. I love what we have. And this baby, she's not even here yet and I love her--- I just don't want to screw it up, I don't want to be like---"
"Jimmy."
"Yeah. What if it's genetic? What if Rory has the baby and I just get up and leave---I have a history of running."
"You won't." Luke says sternly.
"How do you know?"
"Because you're sitting here talking about it."
"It's that simple?"
Luke nods, "If you were just going to leave, you wouldn't be going against the image you fight to project, admitting that you're scared. You'd just keep it all inside and let yourself stew."
"I don't know....."
"I do. Listen to me Jess. You're not the same guy you were at 17, hell you're not the person you were two years ago. Feeling this way is normal. But you are going to make a good, maybe even great father. Ok so you had a crappy one. You'll know what not to do right from the start. Plus you'll have Rory—who's nowhere near as crazy as Liz. You're in it together; Everything is going to be fine. Now stop freaking out."
Jess scoffs, "I'll try."
"Ok." Luke replies, "Now have some pie and get the hell out of hear."
Jess laughs, "Thanks Luke."
"Don't mention it. REALLY don't mention it---I'll never hear the end of it from Lorelai."
"Ok." Jess replies heading for the door.
"Oh and Jess."
"Yeah?"
"Talk to Rory, she'll understand."
"No, she'll just worry and she doesn't need that kind of stress."
"It's not stress. You'll be causing more problems if you don't talk to her. She can handle it."
"We'll see." Jess replies with a final wave to his uncle
5pm: Jess enters the apartment.
Rory is sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, watching tv.
"Hey." Jess says, announcing his presence.
"Oh hey." Rory looks up at him with a grin.
"How was lunch?" Jess asks, smiling gingerly.
Rory shrugs, "Ok. Fancy sandwiches and salads....I came home starving. And now I feel like a whale."
"Ah. Don't worry. You're gorgeous."
"I knew there was a reason I kept you around—shameless flattery."
"It's the truth. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known." Jess replies seriously, sitting down in front of Rory.
Rory eyes him suspiciously, "What's going on?"
"God you and Luke—you just don't trust me to be nice do you?"
"What?"
"Forget it." Jess shakes his head, "I'm going out of my mind."
"So where were you?"
"Huh?"
"You said you were going to be here all day, and I've been home for an hour and you just walked in the door."
Jess sighs, "I had to get out, sorry."
Rory watches Jess' eyes wander, "Are you ok, really tell me."
"I went to see Luke today."
"Really?"
Jess stifles a laugh, "Yeah, surprisingly he's really knows what he's talking about."
"And why did you go see Luke?"
"I, I needed to talk to someone about my dreams."
"You couldn't talk to me?"
"No. I was too freaked out to, they're really bad Ror."
"How bad?"
"You leave me in every single one."
"Oh Jess. I wouldn't." Rory replies, gripping his arm.
"I know, its just everything is getting to me---November is 4 months away and we haven't even discussed names."
"4 months is plenty of time."
"Don't say that. Look I'm just freaking out. I mean everything is piling up, you're getting bigger everyday. Everything I do just reminds me of how unprepared we are—unprepared I am."
"Jess that's understandable."
"It is?" Jess looks up at Rory as she place a hand on his cheek.
"Of course. I'm freaking out too. Everyday I'm on the verge of tears just thinking about all the stuff we still have to do."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But you're always so calm, you sleep through the night, how do not freak out like me?"
Rory smiles at him, "Because I just add all the stuff I'm nervous about to all the things I'm sure of, and it evens out."
"What are you sure of?"
"Us." Rory replies without thought, "Together we are so amazing. I have no doubts that things are going to work out. And if things don't turn out exactly as planned its ok because we're in it together. Even though I may get worked up over that other stuff. I know it will all work out. And as for actually being parents—yeah that's the scariest thought ever."
"Tell me about it."
Rory laughs, "But its going to be great, an adventure. One you and I will take together, and we'll have great back up—mom and Luke grandma and grandpa, Jimmy and Sasha even. And then of course there's going to be everyone in Stars Hollow. We, we can't go wrong Jess. We can't."
Jess sighs heavily, "I guess I'm just being stupid."
"No you're not. And I'm glad you talked to Luke instead of holding it in, you've been driving me crazy lately."
Jess smiles at his wife, "I should have talked to you first."
"No. As great as we are—sometimes you need to talk to somebody else."
"I just didn't want you to get all stressed out."
"I know, but lets face it I'm carrying around a bowling ball everywhere I go—there's no avoiding stress."
Jess wraps his arms around Rory, "I love you."
"Love you too." Rory says sweetly, leaning back on the couch. "Man all this sentimental rambling has worn me out."
"Naptime?" Jess smirks at her.
"Oh god yes."
"Here," Jess offers his hand to Rory. "I think I'll join you."
"Ok but I'm really going to sleep. "
"Fine. So am I---I have weeks of sleep to catch up on."
Rory laughs, leading Jess to the bedroom.
"IHOP for dinner? We'll get it delivered."
"Oo breakfast food for dinner, you're really getting the hang of this cravings thing."
"I don't know about that, I just want some chocolate chip pancakes."
"Mmm that sounds so good."
Jess pushes lightly on Rory's back, "Ok concentrate, we're napping now, eating later."
"Ok I'm ready."
"Hey Rory?"
"Yeah?" Rory looks back at Jess
"I know we're really going to sleep. But uh, naptime is followed by playtime, right?" Jess smirks.
Rory grins, "We'll see."
A/N that's it for this chapter. I feel so bad I always seem to end chapters with innuendos. I swear I have a relatively clean mind. Anyway reviews are appreciate—I know this was basically all dialogue but I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things.
"So Jess," Lorelai addresses her son in law cheerfully, "Come up with any good names for the baby?"
"Huh?" Jess asks looking up from his plate of macaroni salad.
"Names for the baby?" Lorelai raises an eyebrow at him.
Jess shakes his head, twirling his fork through the macaroni, "Nothing yet, but its still early we've got plenty of time to come up with a name to suit the kid."
"Time, you don't have time." Lorelai spits.
Jess looks up at her again as Rory enters the back yard, "We have enough time right babe?" Jess says sweetly as Rory rests an arm across his shoulders.
"Sure we do, we have plenty of ti—"Rory sways. "Oh my god."
Jess jerks around, "Rory?"
"Time its time!" She moans.
Jess scrambles to his feet, "What? T-that's impossible."
Rory grips his shoulder, "No, it's fine just go get my bag and meet me in the car."
"Your bag?" Jess repeats with panic.
"You know the bag that's packed months ahead of time just in case." Lorelai says sternly.
"Right."
"You don't have a bag do you jess?" Lorelai asks.
"I-I thought we had more time."
"No baby names, no overnight bag, and now you're going to say you haven't done Lamaze training."
Jess slaps his hand against his cheek, "I didn't think---"
"You never think." Rory says, gripping her side.
Jess steps forward, taking her hand, "I'm sorry."
"You leave everything until the last minute." Rory continues, swatting his hand away.
"I told you it was a mistake to marry him." Lorelai replies crossing her arms.
"He's a screw up, always has been." Luke barks. "He'll never change."
"I can I will, I just I don't know what I'm doing?"
"Do you ever." Rory pants, "I want a divorce."
"What?" Jess squeaks, his surroundings becoming fuzzy."
"You're a screw up"
"Never should have married him."
"Divorce!"
Rory, Lorelai, and Luke encircle Jess, chanting insults.
"Stop, I'm Not......I I I I CAN CHANGE!" Jess screams, as he tumbles out of bed.
Jess hits the wood floor with a loud bang. He remains there for a moment rubbing his shoulder. Covered in sweat Jess stands up carefully, looking over at the bed he sees Rory sound asleep, unaffected by his vivid nightmare.
Taking a deep breath, Jess runs a finger through his hair, "Shit," he mutters to himself.
5 minutes later
Jess enters the living room, taking a book of the coffee table he collapses onto the couch.
8am:
"Jess?"
"Shchgfk" Jess replies, rolling over.
"Jess!" Rory exclaims.
"Hu-what?" Jess abruptly sits up.
Rory leans down, looking him over, "Are you ok?"
Looking into her concerned eyes, Jess sighs, "Yeah I'm fine."
"What are you doing out here?"
"I must have dozed off, sorry."
"What time did you get up?"
"Oh I don't know, I didn't look at the clock, probably about 3."
"Did you have another bad dream."
Jess shrugs."
"Want to talk about it?" Rory asks, taking a seat on the edge of the couch.
Jess moves his legs to the floor to give Rory some more room, "No that's ok, I'm fine."
Rory leans her head back, "I wish you'd tell me what your nightmares are about."
"Just stupid stuff, babe. I think I have to stop eating before I go to bed"
"Rory sighs, "Ok, well the showers yours. I'm just going to eat something and run, I'm meeting mom and Grandma for lunch in Hartford."
Jess nods.
"What are you going to do today?"
"Writing."
"But you're books already at the editors."
"Yeah, but just because the books almost finished, doesn't mean I should stop writing."
"Touché"
Jess kisses Rory on the cheek before heading towards the shower.
"You know you could always come with me today."
Jess scoffs, "No thank you. You're mom will make fun of me the whole time and your grandmother will take everything she says seriously and have more reason to hate me."
"She doesn't hate you!"
"Preaching to the wrong choir Ror. I'll be out in a minute."
Rory watches Jess disappear into the bathroom.
With a sigh she follows him.
Jess turns around with smirk, "Going to shower with me?"
Rory tries to stifle a grin, "Jess."
Jess crosses his arms, "Yeah."
Rory looks at him seriously, "I'm worried about you."
Jess looks down at his bare feet, "Why?"
With an uncertain voice she replies, "I don't know, you just don't seem yourself lately."
"Gees, Ror."
"Jess I'm not trying to get on your case."
"U-huh"
"I'm not, I just hate to see you like this—not able to sleep through the night, dark circles under your eyes...."
Jess looks at his wife tenderly, "Rory, I promise you I'm fine. I'm just nervous about the book coming back from the editor, I'm trying to get everything done before November, It's already July---and once the book comes back, I got rewrites, final drafts, final editing, meetings with the publisher. Its all jut coming up so fast."
Rory knits her eyebrows, "You sure, its just book stress?"
"Yeah."
Rory approaches Jess as he opens his arms to her.
"I'm sorry, I just worry about you." She says in a low voice, resting her head on Jess' shoulder.
"Don't. I'm fine." Jess replies patting her back. "I don't want you to worry about anything."
"But—"
Jess places a hand on Rory's stomach, "Just don't. Relax."
"Ok." Rory replies, covering Jess' hand with her own. "But you calm down too, there's plenty of time. Everything will get done." Rory continues, exiting the bathroom.
"Yeah plenty of time." Jess sighs.
A half hour later: Jess is watching Rory leave.
"I'll be back by 4."
"I'll be here." Jess waves down the hall before closing the door.
Jess leans his head against the closed door, closing his eyes.
"I am so screwed he mutters." Making up his mind to pick up the phone.
5 minutes later.
"Yeah." Luke Dane's barks into the phone.
"Hey."
"Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"Is Rory ok?"
"Fine, out to lunch with her mother."
"Oh.....so why are you calling?"
"I, uh."
"Look if you're just screwing around, I have customers waiting."
"What. Yeah that's fine. Ok talk to you later." Jess says in a daze.
"Hey Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing right now?"
"Nothing."
"Why don't you stop by for a burger?"
An Hour and a Half later:
"You sure this is ok? I didn't want you to shut the whole place down for me."
"Don't worry about it, you did me a favor. Usually until 3 this is the slow period, just Kirk in here switching tables and changing his order, this gives me a break from him."
Jess nods, with a smile.
"So what's going on?"
Jess shrugs, "Nothing"
"Nothing. Who are you kidding? You picked up the phone and called me—without Rory standing their dialing the number. Something is up." Luke narrows his eyes at Jess.
Jess groans, "It's nothing. I just haven't slept through the night in over a month."
"Probably from all the caffeine you and Rory consume."
"No. no actually I've been having really bad nightmares."
"How bad?"
"I wake up every night drenched in sweat, usually sprawled out on the floor." Jess replies, lifting his arm to show Luke the bruise from his latest fall."
"Wow."
Jess runs a hand through his hair, "Yeah."
"So what are these dreams about?"
Jess shrugs, "Everything. They change a bit every time but the end basically remains the same."
"Uh-huh."
"I dream about my book not getting finished, time just flying by, not being prepared, Rory going into labor, the kid not liking me..." Jess trails off, tucking his head into his chest.
"Stressed?"
Jess makes a strangled growling sound.
Luke pats Jess on the shoulder, "You're just nervous."
Jess shakes his head violently, "No, no I'm not nervous. I'm just completely screwed. It's already July. Last month it was March and now its July and November is like tomorrow. And I have accomplished nothing—I am so unprepared."
"Come on that's not true."
"Of course it is."
"Rory told Lorelai you guys finished the nursery weeks ago."
"Well yeah because otherwise we'd be doing it in August when its too hot to do anything—but still big deal, the nursery—so we have a place to put the baby that I'm ultimately going to mess up, we haven't taken any classes, Rory God she's read every baby book known to man, me I can't get through the first chapter of one."
Luke laughs, "Jess that stuff not THAT important, just calm down."
"I'm still going to screw up, I know I am. You said it yourself—I'm a screwup."
"You were a screwup at 17, you're not 17 anymore."
"I might as well be. Luke, I'm going to do something stupid and she's going to leave me." Jess says gravely.
Luke gives Jess a serious glance, "Are you kidding me? After everything, you think Rory's going to walk away from your marriage?"
Jess sighs, "She always does—in my dreams she always runs out on me—well waddles out on me—but she leaves and gives good reason to."
"God, you're having a mental breakdown."
"I know. I'm out of my mind."
"Ok. Look at me." Luke says calmly. "You know that Rory loves you. She's not going to leave you. You guys, for whatever reason work. You're just nervous about your book and you're freaking about being a father."
Jess takes a deep breath, "You're right."
"Surprised?" Luke replies sarcastically.
Jess shakes his head, "I just don't want to mess this up. I love Rory. I love what we have. And this baby, she's not even here yet and I love her--- I just don't want to screw it up, I don't want to be like---"
"Jimmy."
"Yeah. What if it's genetic? What if Rory has the baby and I just get up and leave---I have a history of running."
"You won't." Luke says sternly.
"How do you know?"
"Because you're sitting here talking about it."
"It's that simple?"
Luke nods, "If you were just going to leave, you wouldn't be going against the image you fight to project, admitting that you're scared. You'd just keep it all inside and let yourself stew."
"I don't know....."
"I do. Listen to me Jess. You're not the same guy you were at 17, hell you're not the person you were two years ago. Feeling this way is normal. But you are going to make a good, maybe even great father. Ok so you had a crappy one. You'll know what not to do right from the start. Plus you'll have Rory—who's nowhere near as crazy as Liz. You're in it together; Everything is going to be fine. Now stop freaking out."
Jess scoffs, "I'll try."
"Ok." Luke replies, "Now have some pie and get the hell out of hear."
Jess laughs, "Thanks Luke."
"Don't mention it. REALLY don't mention it---I'll never hear the end of it from Lorelai."
"Ok." Jess replies heading for the door.
"Oh and Jess."
"Yeah?"
"Talk to Rory, she'll understand."
"No, she'll just worry and she doesn't need that kind of stress."
"It's not stress. You'll be causing more problems if you don't talk to her. She can handle it."
"We'll see." Jess replies with a final wave to his uncle
5pm: Jess enters the apartment.
Rory is sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, watching tv.
"Hey." Jess says, announcing his presence.
"Oh hey." Rory looks up at him with a grin.
"How was lunch?" Jess asks, smiling gingerly.
Rory shrugs, "Ok. Fancy sandwiches and salads....I came home starving. And now I feel like a whale."
"Ah. Don't worry. You're gorgeous."
"I knew there was a reason I kept you around—shameless flattery."
"It's the truth. You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known." Jess replies seriously, sitting down in front of Rory.
Rory eyes him suspiciously, "What's going on?"
"God you and Luke—you just don't trust me to be nice do you?"
"What?"
"Forget it." Jess shakes his head, "I'm going out of my mind."
"So where were you?"
"Huh?"
"You said you were going to be here all day, and I've been home for an hour and you just walked in the door."
Jess sighs, "I had to get out, sorry."
Rory watches Jess' eyes wander, "Are you ok, really tell me."
"I went to see Luke today."
"Really?"
Jess stifles a laugh, "Yeah, surprisingly he's really knows what he's talking about."
"And why did you go see Luke?"
"I, I needed to talk to someone about my dreams."
"You couldn't talk to me?"
"No. I was too freaked out to, they're really bad Ror."
"How bad?"
"You leave me in every single one."
"Oh Jess. I wouldn't." Rory replies, gripping his arm.
"I know, its just everything is getting to me---November is 4 months away and we haven't even discussed names."
"4 months is plenty of time."
"Don't say that. Look I'm just freaking out. I mean everything is piling up, you're getting bigger everyday. Everything I do just reminds me of how unprepared we are—unprepared I am."
"Jess that's understandable."
"It is?" Jess looks up at Rory as she place a hand on his cheek.
"Of course. I'm freaking out too. Everyday I'm on the verge of tears just thinking about all the stuff we still have to do."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"But you're always so calm, you sleep through the night, how do not freak out like me?"
Rory smiles at him, "Because I just add all the stuff I'm nervous about to all the things I'm sure of, and it evens out."
"What are you sure of?"
"Us." Rory replies without thought, "Together we are so amazing. I have no doubts that things are going to work out. And if things don't turn out exactly as planned its ok because we're in it together. Even though I may get worked up over that other stuff. I know it will all work out. And as for actually being parents—yeah that's the scariest thought ever."
"Tell me about it."
Rory laughs, "But its going to be great, an adventure. One you and I will take together, and we'll have great back up—mom and Luke grandma and grandpa, Jimmy and Sasha even. And then of course there's going to be everyone in Stars Hollow. We, we can't go wrong Jess. We can't."
Jess sighs heavily, "I guess I'm just being stupid."
"No you're not. And I'm glad you talked to Luke instead of holding it in, you've been driving me crazy lately."
Jess smiles at his wife, "I should have talked to you first."
"No. As great as we are—sometimes you need to talk to somebody else."
"I just didn't want you to get all stressed out."
"I know, but lets face it I'm carrying around a bowling ball everywhere I go—there's no avoiding stress."
Jess wraps his arms around Rory, "I love you."
"Love you too." Rory says sweetly, leaning back on the couch. "Man all this sentimental rambling has worn me out."
"Naptime?" Jess smirks at her.
"Oh god yes."
"Here," Jess offers his hand to Rory. "I think I'll join you."
"Ok but I'm really going to sleep. "
"Fine. So am I---I have weeks of sleep to catch up on."
Rory laughs, leading Jess to the bedroom.
"IHOP for dinner? We'll get it delivered."
"Oo breakfast food for dinner, you're really getting the hang of this cravings thing."
"I don't know about that, I just want some chocolate chip pancakes."
"Mmm that sounds so good."
Jess pushes lightly on Rory's back, "Ok concentrate, we're napping now, eating later."
"Ok I'm ready."
"Hey Rory?"
"Yeah?" Rory looks back at Jess
"I know we're really going to sleep. But uh, naptime is followed by playtime, right?" Jess smirks.
Rory grins, "We'll see."
A/N that's it for this chapter. I feel so bad I always seem to end chapters with innuendos. I swear I have a relatively clean mind. Anyway reviews are appreciate—I know this was basically all dialogue but I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things.