PDA: Public Displays of Affection
Epilogue: Have I Told You Lately
Two Years Later......
[Dean]
Dean waited outside Rory's house in his car. Today was their two- year anniversary and he had an idea he wanted to share with her. He just hoped that she was up to it. After a few minutes, she came out of the house and slammed the door behind her. She did not look happy. But, she still looks beautiful, Dean thought.
"How was your day?" Dean asked.
"Bad," Rory responded.
"You want to talk about it?"
"It's nothing. Let's just go."
They went to Andoloro's, the restaurant they went to on their anniversaries since the three-month anniversary. Rory didn't say anything. She kept moving her food around with her fork.
"It'll help to talk about it," Dean said.
"It's little things basically," Rory said. "Michel wouldn't answer the phone, as usual, and he wouldn't do anything else so I had a lot to do. I had to fire someone, who I actually became friendly with and now that person hates me. And to top it all off, I checked the newspaper for apartment listings in Stars Hollow and there were none. Oh, sure, there were ones for Hartford and Danbury, but NONE FOR STARS HOLLOW! I'M GOING TO LIVE WITH MY MOM FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!"
"I'm sorry you had a bad day," Dean said.
"What are you going to do?" Rory said. "These things happen."
They chatted for a while and Rory seemed to cheer up a little bit, but not so much. Later, they went back to Dean's house for coffee. Rory sat on his couch. Dean stood up ready to propose his idea to her.
"Hey, I was thinking," Dean said. "Why don't you move in with me?"
Rory spit her coffee into her mug. "I'd like to say my 'huh?'" she said.
"You have a set of my keys," Dean said, walking around behind the couch. "And we've been dating for two years."
"You're not doing this just because I can't find an apartment, are you?" Rory asked.
"No," Dean said. "I've been thinking about this for a while now. I want you to move in with me. What do you say?"
Rory's face was hard to read. She put her coffee down on Dean's coffee table and then sat with her hands in her lap and sighed. That wasn't a good sign to Dean. It meant she was going to say no.
"I'll do it," Rory said.
"Really?" Dean asked.
"Yes," Rory said. "Let's do it!"
She ran over to Dean and gave him a huge kiss.
"You sure you want this?" Dean asked.
"More than anything!" Rory exclaimed, giving him another kiss. "I'm moving in with my boyfriend! This is the best day ever!"
Another two years later...
[Rory]
Rory and Dean were lying out on a blanket at the back of Dean's truck. He had finished his classes and graduated that day and his professor had already recommended him to a Special Ed public school in Hartford. Rory planned out a whole evening for him and now they just sat under the stars.
"I'm so proud of you," Rory said.
"Thanks," Dean said. "I'm really glad you came to graduation."
"I wouldn't have missed it no matter how much grief Michel gave me," Rory said. "You looked really cute in that graduation gown."
"Stop it," Dean said, turning red. "That's not one of my shining moments."
"My mom told me that when someone graduates that you take them to a bar and get them drunk," Rory said. "Of course that was a joke, but I didn't want to do that."
"It's okay," Dean said. "You do not want to be around me when I'm drunk. I become a big idiot and I say stuff like, 'guess what? Beer rocks.'"
Rory laughed and stared up at the stars some more. It was a nice night.
"Rory, I have to ask you something," Dean said, sitting up.
"Sure," Rory said, sitting up with him.
Dean jumped off the back of the truck and stood at the edge. Rory scooted over to where he was so her legs were hanging off the edge of the truck. What was going on?
"Just to let you know," Dean said. "I'm not good with this stuff."
"What stuff?" Rory asked.
Dean slowly got down on one knee. Tears filled Rory's eyes. She knew what he was doing.
"Rory," Dean said. "We've been through some tough times, but we've always overcame them together. You always make me happy and if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way."
Rory felt like she was in a romance movie except in her head, this dialogue was too good to be in a script.
"Lorelai Gilmore," Dean said. "Will you marry me?"
"Y-you didn't use this speech with Lindsay, did you?" Rory asked.
Dean shook his head. Rory stared at him. She wanted this more than anything, but what if this was Noah all over again? What if he cheated on her? What if he used her to pay the bills?
But, she took one look in his eyes and all her worries vanished. This was Dean, not Noah. Dean had already gotten a job. He loved her. He never used her. He treated her right. He was different. Rory stood up on the edge of the truck.
"YES!" Rory screamed, jumping into his arms and kicking her legs around his waist and kissing him passionately.
"You sure?" Dean asked.
"Yes, I'm sure," Rory said. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, I'm sure," Dean said, slipping the diamond ring on his finger.
Dean carried Rory up the porch, kissing her with every step.
"I'M GETTING MARRIED TO DEAN FORESTER!" Rory yelled, before they went inside. "I'M ENGAGED! I'M GOING TO BE A BRIDE! AND THIS GUY WHO'S CARRYING ME IS MY FIANCE!"
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP?" a voice yelled from the next house over.
"NO, I WILL NOT SHUT UP!" Rory yelled back. "I'M GETTING MARRIED!"
"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!" the voice yelled back. "SHUT UP OR I'LL CALL THE POLICE!"
"Okay, let's go inside," Rory said.
"Yeah," Dean said, pushing the door open and kicking it closed while continuing to kiss her.
Six months later.......
Rory smoothed down the front of her white dress as she stood at the top of the steps. She and Dean decided to have the wedding at the Dragon Fly Inn. Dean and the priest were waiting by the door.
First the bridesmaids went downstairs; Sookie, Paris, Louise, Madeline, Janet, Tauna, and Lane. All that was left was Rory with Luke and Lorelai (who were married three years ago).
"Okay, kiddo," Lorelai said. "You ready?"
"No," Rory said. "I'm nervous."
"Rory, this won't end in divorce," Luke said. "Dean loves you. He'll take good care of you."
"Thanks, Luke," Rory said.
"You're making one of the best choices of your life doing this," Lorelai said. "You know how you always wanted to marry Prince Charming from Sleeping Beauty? This is him."
"Dean is not an animated cartoon character," Rory said.
"But, he does bear a slight resemblance," Lorelai said.
"Yes, he does," Rory said. "Thanks Mom. Thanks Luke. Okay, let's go."
Rory, Luke, and Lorelai made their way down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, Rory joined hands with Dean. As she looked at him, she knew she would be okay.
"You look beautiful," Dean whispered.
"Thanks," Rory whispered. "So, do you.......wait. No, that didn't come out right."
"I knew what you meant," Dean said, chuckling.
"Dearly beloved," the priest said. "We are gathered here today for the joyous union of Rory Gilmore and Dean Forester. Dean, repeat after me. I, Dean Forester...."
"I, Dean Forester," Dean repeated.
"Take thee, Rory Gilmore," The priest continued.
"Take thee, Rory Gilmore," Dean repeated.
"As my lawfully wedded wife for richer or poor and in sickness and in health until death parts us."
"As my lawfully wedded wife for richer or poor and in sickness and in health until death parts us."
"Now, Rory," the priest said. "Repeat after me. I, Rory Gilmore......"
"I, Rory Gilmore," Rory repeated.
"Take thee, Dean Forester......."
"Take thee, Dean Forester......."
"As my lawfully wedded husband for richer or poor and in sickness and in health until death parts us."
"As my lawfully wedded husband for richer or poor and in sickness and in health until death parts us."
"Now, the rings," the priest said.
Lorelai handed Rory the gold wedding band that she was supposed to put on Dean's finger and Dean's father gave him Rory's silver band. Rory placed Dean's ring on his finger and then he placed Rory's on her finger. When he did, he laced his fingers through hers like he did when he gave her the bracelet on her sixteenth birthday, which she still wore.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest said.
Rory and Dean kissed and then made their way upstairs. This time, Rory had a good feeling about this compared to the sinking feeling she had at her other wedding with Noah.
One year Later.......
[Dean]
Dean was now a Special Ed Teacher at Rose Cliff High School. Along with being a teacher, he also ran the program. There was a math teacher, Mrs. Fenton, to assist him and a guidance counselor, Ms. DeAngelo.
He sat at his desk having a friendly banter with his ninth and eleventh grade class, when the door banged open and one of his students, Jeremiah nickname Jed, stormed in followed by Mrs. Fenton.
"That kind of behavior was unacceptable," Mrs. Fenton said.
"I didn't even touch the damn kid!" Jed said, sitting down at a desk in front of Dean.
"It doesn't matter," Mrs. Fenton said. "You were chasing him."
"He pulled the chair out from under me!" Jed yelled.
"You are not supposed to run in the hall," Mrs. Fenton said, sharply. "And you are not to lay a hand on anyone. If I didn't catch you-"
"SHUT UP!" Jed yelled.
"Don't tell me to shut up!" Mrs. Fenton exclaimed.
"Shut up!" Jed repeated. "Be the bigger person and leave me alone."
"Jed, can I talk to you outside for a sec?" Dean asked.
"But, I didn't do anything!" Jed yelled.
"I know," Dean said. "I just want to talk to you outside."
Jed grumbled as he walked out of the classroom and waited for him outside. In the back of the room, Alicia, a ninth grader, was trying really hard not to laugh.
"Mr. Forester, come here," Mrs. Fenton said.
They had to address each other by last name, but sometimes Mrs. Fenton acted like she ran the program.
"If, I hadn't have caught him he would've beaten the shit out of that innocent kid," Mrs. Fenton said.
Dean saw the other students snicker because they had never heard Mrs. Fenton curse like that before.
"Let me talk to him and I'll see what happened," Dean said. "And for future reference, let me handle these situations."
Dean walked outside to join Jed who automatically started talking as soon as Dean opened the door.
"Mr. Forester, I wasn't even-"Jed began.
"Listen," Dean said, cutting him off. "Just tell me what happened."
"I'm sitting in the library," Jed said. "And this freshman walks up to me and pulls the chair out from under me and I end up on the floor. I didn't even lay a hand on him."
"But, were you chasing him?" Dean asked.
"Yeah, but-"
"You're not supposed to run in the halls."
"I know, but-"
"We will find that kid and talk to him. In the mean time, don't run in the halls anymore."
Jed nodded.
"You can go back inside," Dean said.
Jed walked back inside and then Mrs. Fenton came out.
"He was chasing a kid down the hall," Mrs. Fenton said.
"I know," Dean said. "But, he didn't hurt anyone."
"But, he would've," Mrs. Fenton said. "And he told me to shut up. He needs to be taught a lesson. I think we should give him a detention."
"Mrs. Fenton," Dean said. "I'm not giving him a detention. He didn't hurt anyone and-"
"Hi," said a voice.
Dean turned around. It was Rory. She looked like she needed to talk to him. Mrs. Fenton went back inside the room to give him some privacy.
"Hey," Dean said.
He would've given her a kiss, but the school had PDA rules that applied to both teachers and students.
"Is this a bad time?" Rory asked.
"No," Dean said. "It's a typical behavior problem. What's wrong?"
"I went to the doctor today," Rory said.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked.
"I'm pregnant," Rory said.
Dean was so happy he thought he would burst. The PDA rules left his brain as he picked up Rory and spun her around.
Three months later.......
Rory sat on the table of the OBGYM for their annual check up (or Rory's annual check up for the baby) and Dean sat besides her holding her hand.
"Okay, it's got a heartbeat," the doctor said.
Rory smiled a smile of relief at Dean and he returned the smile.
"But, I'm picking up two heartbeats," the doctor said.
Rory sat up.
"What!" Rory and Dean exclaimed in unison.
"Are you saying that she's having twins?" Dean asked.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying," the doctor said.
A panic alarm went off inside of Dean's, but at the same time he felt a rush of excitement. Rory, however, was feeling all panic.
"T-two babies?" Rory stuttered. "I'm h-having t-twins? T-two births?"
"Yes," the doctor said.
"I can't have two babies!" Rory was freaking out. "I haven't even nailed down the wife part yet! Now, I have to sit in labor for two babies? Why couldn't the other one wait a few more years?"
"Rory," Dean said, grabbing her hand. "Calm down. Everything will be fine. We can raise these kids. I will take a couple days off work to help you take care of them. You won't have to go through this alone. We'll do this together. I promise."
Dean was speaking from honesty. He knew the crappy marriage she had with Noah and he didn't want her to go through that again. That seemed to have a calming affect on Rory.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Dean said.
"I'll leave you two alone to look at the sonogram," the doctor said, leaving the room.
Rory and Dean stared at the sonogram. The little fetuses were their kids. It was very surreal to look at.
"Those are our kids," Rory said, squeezing Dean's hand.
"Yeah," Dean said.
Rory looked at him. "Aren't you a little scared?" Rory asked.
"I'm just as scared as you are," Dean said.
"It's like we're the same woman," Rory said, jokingly.
"I never put on lipstick," Dean said.
Rory giggled and stared at the sonogram. Dean looked down at Rory and then back at the sonogram. Those were his kids. Their kids.
Six months Later.......
[Rory]
"Just keep breathing," Dean coached Rory as she sat on the bed in labor.
Rory let out a scream. A large pain grabbed her stomach and it wasn't the first one. She hated this. It was terrible.
"OW!" Rory yelled. "I'M GOING TO DIE! THESE KIDS ARE GOING TO KILL ME AND I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE TO SEE THEM!"
"Rory, stop talking like that," Dean said. "Everything's going to be fine."
"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" Rory yelled. "YOU DON'T HAVE TWO KIDS SWIMMING IN YOUR STOMACH! YOU DON'T HAVE TWO AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR UTERUS WAITING TO COME OUT! YOU DON'T HAVE A UTERUS BECAUSE YOU'RE A GUY AND YOU'LL NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS!"
"You won't ever get kicked in the Gomez," Rory heard Dean whisper under his breath.
"WHAT?" Rory yelled.
"Nothing," Dean said. "Just take a deep breath."
"Okay," the doctor said. "Time to start pushing."
Rory sat up and started to push, but then collapsed on to the pillow and started crying. She couldn't do it. If she did, she was sure would die.
"I can't do it, Dean," she sobbed. "I can't do it."
"Yes you can," Dean said. "You can squeeze my hand as much as you want so you can inflict pain on me."
Rory grabbed Dean's hand and started pushing. A few minutes later, she heard crying.
"Okay, she's here," the doctor said, holding up the baby girl.
"She's beautiful," Rory said.
"Yeah, she is," Dean said.
The doctor took the baby away to get cleaned.
"Wait!" Dean said. "Where are you taking her?"
"Relax," Rory said. "They're taking her to be cleaned."
Rory didn't know why she lashed out at Dean. She felt bad about it. However, her mother was right. Giving birth was like doing splits on a crate of dynamite.
"How do you feel?" Dean asked.
"Tired," Rory said.
"Well, you don't have much time," the doctor said. "The other baby is coming."
Rory couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't bear it.
"I already had a baby," Rory said. "Leave me alone."
"You can do it, Rory," Dean said. "You got the first one out. You can get the other one out."
Rory pushed and pushed and pushed until the familiar sound of crying filled the room.
"It's a boy," the doctor said.
Rory looked at the baby boy and then collapsed into the pillows and fell asleep. When she woke up she was in a totally different room and Dean was sitting on the bed with her holding the two babies.
"Where am I?" Rory asked.
"You're in recovery," Dean said. "Do you want to see one of our kids?"
Rory nodded. Dean handed her a baby in the blue cap. It was the boy.
"Hi," Rory cooed. "Hi, little boy. I'm your mommy. Yes, I am. My name is Lorelai, but I go by Rory."
"Rory, the baby talk is making me nauseous," Dean said.
"Oh, I bet you baby-talked, too," Rory said.
"A little," Dean admitted. "Okay, a lot."
Rory chuckled. "We need a name for these little people," Rory said.
"Well, we're definitely naming the girl Lorelai," Dean said
"Good boy," Rory said. "Except I think we have to call her Lorelai IV because I can't think of a nickname."
"How about Loral?" Dean asked.
"Loral," Rory said, staring at the baby girl. "I like it. How much though have you given this?"
"A lot," Dean said. "So, what about our son?"
"We should start a Dean dynasty."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because Dean is a one syllable name. You can't make a nickname out of it."
"Sure you can. We can call him Dean Jr. But, we just call him Junior."
"I'm not calling him Junior. I'd feel like I was in that Arnold Swchazenager movie where he gets pregnant."
"What about little D?"
"Rory, we can't start a Dean dynasty."
Rory really wanted to start a Dean dynasty.
"You know," Rory said. "If he was a girl we could just call him Dina."
Dean sighed. "Why don't we have Dean be his first name," Dean said. "But, we address him by his middle name."
"Good idea," Rory said. "So, how about Luke."
"Luke Dean Gilmore Forester," Dean said. "Sounds weird."
"Okay, Kirk," Rory said.
"Kirk?" Dean said. "You must be desperate."
"Okay," Rory said. "This is going nowhere."
Dean sighed. "You know," he said. "My middle name is Lucas. We could try that out."
"Dean Lucas Gilmore Forester," Rory said to the baby.
The baby reached up at Rory with his tiny fists.
"I think that's our answer," Rory said. "Dean, say hello to your son, Dean Lucas the second."
Dean but a pillow on Rory's lap and placed Loral next to Lucas in Rory's arms. Rory stared down at her children. She could see herself and Dean in both of them. They were beautiful.
"We have kids," Rory said, softly.
"We have kids," Dean repeated.
Rory and Dean kissed softly and then looked back down at their new family and the adventures they were going to embark on (or basically raising twins).
Sixteen years later.........
Rory, Dean, and the twins walked into the supermarket shopping for junk food because they had rented Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. They had movie nights every Friday night and Lorelai and Luke came over.
Loral and Lucas attended Chilton (like their mother) and were now quizzing each other for tests they had on Monday,
"Okay," Lucas said, holding a pile of flashcards. "Catherine the Great."
"Empress of Russia from 1762-96," Loral said, automatically. "Lived 1729-96."
"What was her original name?" Lucas asked.
"Sophie Friedericke Augustine Van Anhalt-Zerbst," Loral answered.
"She's like a machine," Dean said to Rory.
"And she was married to?" Lucas asked.
Loral paused for a second, but couldn't answer.
"You stumped me," Loral said.
"Looks like the machine broke down," Rory said.
"Married to Grand Duke Peter of Holstein in 1754," Lucas answered.
"Oh, my god!" Loral whined. "I'm never going to remember that."
"You remembered everything else that Lucas asked," Dean said. "You'll do fine."
"Lucas, don't you have a test in English Lit?" Rory asked.
"Yeah," Lucas said.
"Why doesn't Loral?" Rory asked.
"Because I'm not in Mr. Medina's class," Loral answered.
"How is Mr. Medina?" Rory asked Lucas.
"He's a nice guy," Lucas said. "I think I'm the favorite because he's always calling on me and giving me As and stuff."
"That's cool," Rory said.
"He's old and wrinkly," Loral said.
"But, he's nice," Lucas said.
Rory, Dean and the twins filled up the supermarket basket with the usual amount of junk food.
"All this plus pizza," Lucas said. "We are going to be so sick. It's amazing we still function."
"You sound like me with a deep voice," Rory said. "But, you know the rule. You need a massive amount of food to watch Willy Wonka. But, next week we're renting Die Hard 1 and 2."
"DIE HARD!" Dean and Lucas yelled in unison.
"Now, you've done it," Loral said to Rory. "They're going to yell 'Die Hard' for a week and Lucas going to get worked up and start calling everyone 'bitch.'"
"I don't do that, bitch," Lucas said.
"You see what I mean?" Loral said.
The four laughed at, but when they reached the check-out line, they bumped into another family of four. Rory and Dean knew the couple, but not the kids. Loral and Lucas didn't know any of them.
"Lindsay," Dean said.
"Noah," Rory said.
"Rory," Noah answered.
"Dean," Lindsay answered Dean.
"Hi," the four said in unison.
"Do you know any of these people?" Rory heard Loral whisper to Lucas.
"No," Lucas answered Lora.
"So, are you two married?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, we are," Lindsay answered. "Nineteen years. Are you two married?"
"Yeah," Dean answered. "Seventeen years. So, you two are living in Stars Hollow?"
"We just moved here," Noah answered. "Are those your kids?"
"Yeah," Rory said. "Twins. Their names are Lorelai and Dean. Their nicknames are Loral and Lucas. Lucas is Dean's middle name."
"They look just like you two," Noah said, moving behind the two kids, who were identical twins. "This is Taylor and Monica."
"Hi," Rory said.
"Sweetie, we should get going," Lindsay said, to Noah.
"Right," Noah said. "Bye."
"Bye," Rory said.
That was the weirdest thing she'd ever seen. She was glad that Noah moved on, but she didn't expect him to marry anyone. For nineteen years no less and to Lindsay!
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Dean asked Rory.
"That the Adams Family has finally reunited?" Rory asked.
"Uh, Mom? Dad?" Loral said. "Who were those people?"
"We'll explain when we get home," Dean said.
They left the grocery store and started walking home. Dean slung his arm around Rory's shoulder and she wrapped her arm around his waste. They walked the whole way home like that. Loral and Lucas kept turning around to make fun of them, but Rory didn't care. She could always use their little tauntings against them when they started dating.
"Um, Lucas," Dean said, once they got on the porch. "Can you and Loral set up for when Grandma and Grandpa come over? I want to talk to Mom about something."
"Sure," Lucas said, as he and Loral went inside. "Just keep it PG."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Dean muttered when they went inside.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Rory asked.
"This," Dean said, leaning in and kissing her.
It was totally random, but Rory liked it. She smiled when he pulled away.
"What was that about?" Rory asked.
"I just wanted to kiss you," Dean said. "And tell you that I love you."
"I love you, too, Van Morrison," Rory said.
Dean chuckled and kissed her again. Then they went inside where Loral and Lucas were probably waiting to tease them about what they were doing on the porch."Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one above you?
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do" – Van Morrison
The End
A/N: Okay, I had to make the epilogue somewhat funny. The story was too dramatic. I hope the ending wasn't too corny. All flames are welcome. Dean's special ed program is based on the special ed program that I'm in. I have the bitchy teacher and the guy who runs it is a sports maniac (we don't really like him, but I want to make Dean liked). The situation with Jed was actually a real situation with this kid named Jeremy. He took the kid's soul the next day. You had to be there. And the girl who was trying desperately not to laugh was me because that day I was trying so hard not to laugh, I had to go outside. I won't be writing another for another two months because I'll be away at camp (not my choice). So, happy summer!