WHAT IT IS: A sequel, to my other Trory, What Happens When. Now, I had no
intentions at all to do a sequel. However, you're getting one, because of
all the Jess/Dean/Rory angst currently on the show—it's stressing me out.
So, since I had decided that fluff was probably all I'd get out of a sequel
and fluff is what I need right now (it's either fluff or unbearable angst
coming out of me right now)—here's a sequel.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
Tristan walked up to his mother, and hugged her. She hugged him back, surprised for a moment. She hadn't seen him walking up to her.
"Thanks for coming, Mom," he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Well, I had to see this house you'd bought. This house, so far away from Hartford, I might add."
"Mom, we both work in the city. Hartford wouldn't be a convenient place for us to buy a house."
"Find jobs in Hartford."
"Last I checked, they only have the New York Times in New York. Rory might have issues with your request."
"What about when you have kids?"
Tristan sighed. "What about it?"
"Well, then she won't be working," Elizabeth started.
"Mom, she will be working. Now stop this and enjoy the day."
"I just wish you two were closer. I so rarely get to see you."
"So come visit."
"I was just going to say the same thing to you."
"Touché."
"So, I spoke with your lovely wife."
"I heard. No more Bill."
"Well, these things happen. Please try to contain your glee, dear."
"Sorry, Mom, but he was too much. He wasn't right for you."
"Yeah, well, I'll give you that. He was a bit much." She grew silent for a moment, and looked at her son. He was looking around at all the people carrying things, his things, Rory's things, into their new home. It was a lovely home. Rory had showed her around excitedly when Elizabeth arrived. "Your father called me."
Tristan's attention snapped back to his mother. His brow furrowed immediately and he frowned. "What did he want?"
"He apologized. Said he would be in town soon, asked if he could take me to dinner, to catch up."
"Tell me you said no."
"I told him I'd think about it."
"Mom, you can't be serious."
"Tristan, this is your father. My ex-husband. I've known him my whole life. I can't just shut him out."
"Why not? He did the same thing to you and me, for years!"
"It's not as simple as all that. He'll always be your father. We'll always be connected to him."
"Well, see him if you must, just leave me out of it."
"As you wish, just please, don't do anything you can't take back."
"You mean, like he did my entire life?"
Elizabeth sighed. She rubbed Tristan's back like she used to when he was little and sick or hurt. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I need to go help unloading. Luke and I have to finish on the other end, and turn in the keys."
"Alright."
"Will you be here when I get back?"
"Yes. I'm staying tonight at a hotel here."
"Stay with us," he offered.
"On the floor? No thank you. Call me when you get a guest bed," she laughed. He rolled his eyes and walked off to help everyone else. When they finally got everything off the two trucks, he got behind the wheel of the rental truck, as Luke climbed into his truck. Rory came up to the driver's side of the rental and tapped on the window. He opened the door, and she jumped up on the little step, and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, wanting to tell her about his dad, but knowing it would have to wait.
"Got the keys?"
"Yep, and the lease agreement, all that stuff."
"Good. Hurry home." She gave him a kiss, and stepped down off the truck, allowing him to close the door again. She walked away from the truck, into the yard, watching the two men drive onto the street, and back towards the city. She turned towards the house, and felt dizzy all of a sudden. Lorelai had been walking over towards her to ask about where to put a bookcase, when she noticed Rory's face paling, and her look like she was losing her balance. She ran the short distance to grab her as she continued to faint.
Rory woke up in a hospital bed. She still had her own clothes on, but her jacket was missing. She focused her eyes to see her mom and Jess sitting by her bedside.
"Mom?"
Lorelai and Jess both stood and moved to her side. Both looked concerned, and Lorelai grabbed her hand.
"I'm here, sweets."
"What happened?"
"You passed out. Of course the only vehicle I had just left, so I swiped Sookie's SUV to drive you to the hospital."
"Yeah, and it wasn't pretty, believe me. Those things are deathtraps in the hands of certain people," Jess commented.
"My driving was fine, some people are just horrible backseat drivers," Lorelai said pointedly at Jess.
"Hello, in a hospital bed here," Rory reminded them.
"The doctor did some tests, and he should be in any time now."
"Where's Tristan?"
"He and Luke are on their way. I told them you were okay as far as we knew and to get all the stuff done in the city, but they just called and said they were almost here. He told me to stand in for him 'til he got here."
"That sounds like him."
"You feeling okay, can I get you anything?" Lorelai asked.
"Coffee. Good coffee."
"I'll see what I can do," she promised, leaving Jess and Rory alone.
"So, you scared us all."
"I try."
"I've never seen anyone pass out like that before."
"Glad to oblige."
"Rory, seriously, do you feel okay?"
"Yeah, just tired. Thanks for coming, you didn't have to," she insisted.
"Well, your mom needed someone to go with her, so she could drive. I stayed in the backseat with you."
"Where's Erin?"
"She's at the house, helping with the kids. Most everyone is still there, waiting to finish helping and now to see if you're okay."
"I think I've just been over doing it. Work, moving, I've only gotten like six hours of sleep in the last four days."
"Smart girl," Jess mocked.
"Hence, the coffee."
"Ahh, how silly of me. I just thought you liked coffee." Jess rolled his eyes.
"So, tell me. You and Erin, you seem cozy."
"Yeah."
"I want details."
"Geez."
"Come on!"
"We're dating."
"Exclusively?"
"If you must know, yes."
"Anything else?"
"I'm not going into the details of my love life with you."
Rory pouted for a moment. "It's not like we have anything else to do, here," she pointed out.
"No."
"Damn. Just a little?"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes. He wasn't budging.
"Is she a good kisser, at least?"
"Why, you want to kiss her?"
"Jess,"
"Rory, I don't want to know this stuff about you and Tristan. Why on earth would you care about the intimate details of Erin and I?"
"So there ARE intimate details!"
"ARGH! You are your mother's daughter!"
Rory's voice shifted from triumphant to soft and caring. "Jess, I just want you to be happy."
He smiled at her and nodded. "I am. And I just want you to stop passing out."
She nodded, leaning back against her pillow, wondering where her mother was with that coffee. Just then, the doctor came in. Jess motioned that he would go in the hall, and let her talk to the doctor. He sat in the chairs outside the door to Rory's room, hoping she was okay. He cringed, remembering Erin was left at the house with the kids. He hoped she was fine with him rushing to the hospital with Rory like that, and that the kids weren't being too rambunctious with her. He couldn't believe the events of the day, especially with her. They were officially dating now. Which sounded cheesy to him of all people, but he didn't care. He was smiling to himself, when he saw Tristan come running around the corner. Jess stood, to get Tristan's attention.
"Where is she?"
"In there. The doctor just went in, though."
"Should I go in?"
"I don't know."
"What happened, exactly?"
"I told you, you guys left, she turned around and just, passed out. Lorelai caught her, just in time. I helped Lorelai get her here, and she woke up about ten minutes ago, in the hospital bed."
"Damn. How does she feel?"
"She says she's tired."
Tristan nodded. Neither of them had been getting any sleep lately, with work and the move. He'd been pleading with her every night to go to bed, and let him worry about the packing, but she wouldn't hear of it. Tristan and Jess slumped back into the chairs and waited.
Jess cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say. Something, anything to take the tension away. He really hated moments like this. Times when you should have something positive to say, something clever and supportive to make the other person's mood better. To make them look at you and say, 'Thanks, I needed that'. But that wasn't Jess' forte.
"So, we had the talk."
Tristan looked at Jess, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"
That was usually what people said to Jess when he tried the supportive thing. He cocked his head to the side, sighing in disgust. Now he had to explain himself.
"You know, the talk, the talk you kept badgering me about."
"With Erin?"
"Yes," Jess relented.
"When?"
"Before the pass out."
"Oh. What was the consensus?"
"We're dating."
"Cool. I like her."
"Glad to hear it."
Silence.
"Can we stop talking now?" came Jess' plea.
"Please."
Just then, Lorelai and Luke walked up, as the doctor opened the door. He pointed to the coffee. "Who's that for?"
"The patient."
The doctor shook his head disapprovingly. "Drink it yourself. She wants to see a Tristan."
"That would be me."
"Everyone else can go in, in a minute."
"Is she okay?" Lorelai began to hound the doctor with questions as Tristan made his way into the little room Rory was in. She was sitting up on the bed, pulling on her jacket.
"Hey, are you supposed to be moving around?"
"Hey, you're here!"
"Well, my wife's in the hospital, you think I wouldn't come?"
"You must have lead feet," Rory commented.
"Actually, that was Luke. He wouldn't let me drive."
"Smart."
"So, what's up?"
"Well, I have some news."
"Of which nature?"
"Both."
"What's the bad news?"
"You have to live with a woman going through caffeine withdrawal."
Tristan let out a low whistle. Her without caffeine could be dangerous. He became curious at this point, at the reasoning behind it. His hopes got high for a moment, but he tried to push them down in case he was wrong.
"Rory," he started, questioningly.
"We did it. I'm pregnant!" She exclaimed, barely above a whisper.
He pulled her to him, and breathed her in. He held her for the longest time, happier than he'd ever been in his whole life. He kissed her head, and then continued kissing her face, all over, then finally landing on her lips. She was now laughing and crying, all at the same time.
"So, that's why you passed out?"
She nodded. "Over exertion, blood busy going other places than my head."
"You need to sleep more. I tried to tell you," he persisted.
"I know, I'm stubborn. I'll sleep more."
"Are you going to be this agreeable the entire time you're pregnant?"
"Well, I give you a good 6 hours before the caffeine withdrawal and/or mood swing hits."
"Fun."
"Wait 'til I go into labor."
"We're really going to have a baby."
She nodded again. "Looks like we need to paint one of those other bedrooms soon."
"And get a crib."
"Some diapers."
"Wow."
"I know."
They sat in amazement for a moment, still holding onto one another. They broke out of their baby-induced stupor when they heard a light knocking on the door. Luke stuck his head in, and whispered.
"Everything okay in here?"
"Yeah, Luke, I'm fine."
"You're mom's being obstinate. I'm trying to hold her back, but," he said, as Lorelai pushed past him, sticking her head in too.
"Come on in. We have some news."
"You're pregnant! I KNEW you were hiding something from me!"
"How did you know?" Rory asked, a little crestfallen.
"You acted funny while you were home—no one has that much sex!"
Rory blushed madly and looked at her mom. "How on earth did you know that?"
"You two were always sleeping late, clinging to each other, glowy all the time," Lorelai explained.
"I'm never glowy," Tristan interjected.
"And you were all weird when I said we might have another baby."
"Can I talk to mom alone, please?"
Luke and Tristan nodded, and went to rejoin Jess in the hall and tell him the news.
"Mom, I'm sorry about that. It's just, I've always had it in my head that when I was pregnant, you'd be there for me, giving me advice, coaching me through the rough times, running around while I was giving birth, helping me pelt the nurses with ice chips. Not across the hall with your feet in stirrups. It's a little too Father of the Bride Part II."
Lorelai smiled at her daughter's little rant. "Well, I promise not to hire any annoying Eastern European men to cater our joint baby shower," she joked.
"Mom," Rory sighed.
"Seriously, I always imagined it how you did, too. And it's not like I'm pregnant. If it means that much to you, we can wait, at least until your bun's out of the oven."
"Really? Because I feel really bad about asking that of you."
"Nonsense. What are mothers for? Well, I do have one condition." Lorelai smiled manically at Rory.
"Oh lord. What?" Rory grimaced.
"Just don't name your child after fruit."
Rory giggled. "I promise."
"Think I can get them to give you enough drugs to name her Lorelai?"
"We'll see," Rory patted her mother's hand.
"Let's get you and baby Dugrey home."
"Sounds good."
They made their way back to the house, where Rory was instructed to sit in the kitchen and eat. Her only other option was to take a nap. No exceptions, Tristan had been adamant. Everyone was told the good news when the group arrived back, by a very happy Rory and Tristan. Everyone was elated, and people took turns keeping Rory company. At long last, everyone slowly left, wishing them congratulations, begging them to come visit soon. Lorelai and Luke finally took Will and left, leaving them alone for their first night in their house. They fell into bed, exhausted, and Rory reached to set her alarm clock.
"You so aren't going to work tomorrow."
"You're not serious."
"Does this face look filled with levity?"
"I have to work."
"You never take a day off. You can afford one," Tristan reminded.
"But--,"
"Look, Rory, I know you love work. I'm not asking you to quit. But you are carrying a person that is half mine, and I'm begging you to take good care of both you and it. Please. Just stay home one day and rest. We've had a big week."
Rory looked at the love and concern on his face. She smiled as she sank into the pillows, and nodded.
"One condition."
"Name it."
"Play hooky with me. We'll sleep in and organize the house!"
"You have strange pleasures," he shook his head, turning off the light. She snuggled into his arms, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his hand on her stomach as they fell into a well-deserved slumber.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
Tristan walked up to his mother, and hugged her. She hugged him back, surprised for a moment. She hadn't seen him walking up to her.
"Thanks for coming, Mom," he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"Well, I had to see this house you'd bought. This house, so far away from Hartford, I might add."
"Mom, we both work in the city. Hartford wouldn't be a convenient place for us to buy a house."
"Find jobs in Hartford."
"Last I checked, they only have the New York Times in New York. Rory might have issues with your request."
"What about when you have kids?"
Tristan sighed. "What about it?"
"Well, then she won't be working," Elizabeth started.
"Mom, she will be working. Now stop this and enjoy the day."
"I just wish you two were closer. I so rarely get to see you."
"So come visit."
"I was just going to say the same thing to you."
"Touché."
"So, I spoke with your lovely wife."
"I heard. No more Bill."
"Well, these things happen. Please try to contain your glee, dear."
"Sorry, Mom, but he was too much. He wasn't right for you."
"Yeah, well, I'll give you that. He was a bit much." She grew silent for a moment, and looked at her son. He was looking around at all the people carrying things, his things, Rory's things, into their new home. It was a lovely home. Rory had showed her around excitedly when Elizabeth arrived. "Your father called me."
Tristan's attention snapped back to his mother. His brow furrowed immediately and he frowned. "What did he want?"
"He apologized. Said he would be in town soon, asked if he could take me to dinner, to catch up."
"Tell me you said no."
"I told him I'd think about it."
"Mom, you can't be serious."
"Tristan, this is your father. My ex-husband. I've known him my whole life. I can't just shut him out."
"Why not? He did the same thing to you and me, for years!"
"It's not as simple as all that. He'll always be your father. We'll always be connected to him."
"Well, see him if you must, just leave me out of it."
"As you wish, just please, don't do anything you can't take back."
"You mean, like he did my entire life?"
Elizabeth sighed. She rubbed Tristan's back like she used to when he was little and sick or hurt. She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I need to go help unloading. Luke and I have to finish on the other end, and turn in the keys."
"Alright."
"Will you be here when I get back?"
"Yes. I'm staying tonight at a hotel here."
"Stay with us," he offered.
"On the floor? No thank you. Call me when you get a guest bed," she laughed. He rolled his eyes and walked off to help everyone else. When they finally got everything off the two trucks, he got behind the wheel of the rental truck, as Luke climbed into his truck. Rory came up to the driver's side of the rental and tapped on the window. He opened the door, and she jumped up on the little step, and threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, wanting to tell her about his dad, but knowing it would have to wait.
"Got the keys?"
"Yep, and the lease agreement, all that stuff."
"Good. Hurry home." She gave him a kiss, and stepped down off the truck, allowing him to close the door again. She walked away from the truck, into the yard, watching the two men drive onto the street, and back towards the city. She turned towards the house, and felt dizzy all of a sudden. Lorelai had been walking over towards her to ask about where to put a bookcase, when she noticed Rory's face paling, and her look like she was losing her balance. She ran the short distance to grab her as she continued to faint.
Rory woke up in a hospital bed. She still had her own clothes on, but her jacket was missing. She focused her eyes to see her mom and Jess sitting by her bedside.
"Mom?"
Lorelai and Jess both stood and moved to her side. Both looked concerned, and Lorelai grabbed her hand.
"I'm here, sweets."
"What happened?"
"You passed out. Of course the only vehicle I had just left, so I swiped Sookie's SUV to drive you to the hospital."
"Yeah, and it wasn't pretty, believe me. Those things are deathtraps in the hands of certain people," Jess commented.
"My driving was fine, some people are just horrible backseat drivers," Lorelai said pointedly at Jess.
"Hello, in a hospital bed here," Rory reminded them.
"The doctor did some tests, and he should be in any time now."
"Where's Tristan?"
"He and Luke are on their way. I told them you were okay as far as we knew and to get all the stuff done in the city, but they just called and said they were almost here. He told me to stand in for him 'til he got here."
"That sounds like him."
"You feeling okay, can I get you anything?" Lorelai asked.
"Coffee. Good coffee."
"I'll see what I can do," she promised, leaving Jess and Rory alone.
"So, you scared us all."
"I try."
"I've never seen anyone pass out like that before."
"Glad to oblige."
"Rory, seriously, do you feel okay?"
"Yeah, just tired. Thanks for coming, you didn't have to," she insisted.
"Well, your mom needed someone to go with her, so she could drive. I stayed in the backseat with you."
"Where's Erin?"
"She's at the house, helping with the kids. Most everyone is still there, waiting to finish helping and now to see if you're okay."
"I think I've just been over doing it. Work, moving, I've only gotten like six hours of sleep in the last four days."
"Smart girl," Jess mocked.
"Hence, the coffee."
"Ahh, how silly of me. I just thought you liked coffee." Jess rolled his eyes.
"So, tell me. You and Erin, you seem cozy."
"Yeah."
"I want details."
"Geez."
"Come on!"
"We're dating."
"Exclusively?"
"If you must know, yes."
"Anything else?"
"I'm not going into the details of my love life with you."
Rory pouted for a moment. "It's not like we have anything else to do, here," she pointed out.
"No."
"Damn. Just a little?"
"No."
She narrowed her eyes. He wasn't budging.
"Is she a good kisser, at least?"
"Why, you want to kiss her?"
"Jess,"
"Rory, I don't want to know this stuff about you and Tristan. Why on earth would you care about the intimate details of Erin and I?"
"So there ARE intimate details!"
"ARGH! You are your mother's daughter!"
Rory's voice shifted from triumphant to soft and caring. "Jess, I just want you to be happy."
He smiled at her and nodded. "I am. And I just want you to stop passing out."
She nodded, leaning back against her pillow, wondering where her mother was with that coffee. Just then, the doctor came in. Jess motioned that he would go in the hall, and let her talk to the doctor. He sat in the chairs outside the door to Rory's room, hoping she was okay. He cringed, remembering Erin was left at the house with the kids. He hoped she was fine with him rushing to the hospital with Rory like that, and that the kids weren't being too rambunctious with her. He couldn't believe the events of the day, especially with her. They were officially dating now. Which sounded cheesy to him of all people, but he didn't care. He was smiling to himself, when he saw Tristan come running around the corner. Jess stood, to get Tristan's attention.
"Where is she?"
"In there. The doctor just went in, though."
"Should I go in?"
"I don't know."
"What happened, exactly?"
"I told you, you guys left, she turned around and just, passed out. Lorelai caught her, just in time. I helped Lorelai get her here, and she woke up about ten minutes ago, in the hospital bed."
"Damn. How does she feel?"
"She says she's tired."
Tristan nodded. Neither of them had been getting any sleep lately, with work and the move. He'd been pleading with her every night to go to bed, and let him worry about the packing, but she wouldn't hear of it. Tristan and Jess slumped back into the chairs and waited.
Jess cleared his throat and tried to think of something to say. Something, anything to take the tension away. He really hated moments like this. Times when you should have something positive to say, something clever and supportive to make the other person's mood better. To make them look at you and say, 'Thanks, I needed that'. But that wasn't Jess' forte.
"So, we had the talk."
Tristan looked at Jess, confused. "What the hell are you talking about?"
That was usually what people said to Jess when he tried the supportive thing. He cocked his head to the side, sighing in disgust. Now he had to explain himself.
"You know, the talk, the talk you kept badgering me about."
"With Erin?"
"Yes," Jess relented.
"When?"
"Before the pass out."
"Oh. What was the consensus?"
"We're dating."
"Cool. I like her."
"Glad to hear it."
Silence.
"Can we stop talking now?" came Jess' plea.
"Please."
Just then, Lorelai and Luke walked up, as the doctor opened the door. He pointed to the coffee. "Who's that for?"
"The patient."
The doctor shook his head disapprovingly. "Drink it yourself. She wants to see a Tristan."
"That would be me."
"Everyone else can go in, in a minute."
"Is she okay?" Lorelai began to hound the doctor with questions as Tristan made his way into the little room Rory was in. She was sitting up on the bed, pulling on her jacket.
"Hey, are you supposed to be moving around?"
"Hey, you're here!"
"Well, my wife's in the hospital, you think I wouldn't come?"
"You must have lead feet," Rory commented.
"Actually, that was Luke. He wouldn't let me drive."
"Smart."
"So, what's up?"
"Well, I have some news."
"Of which nature?"
"Both."
"What's the bad news?"
"You have to live with a woman going through caffeine withdrawal."
Tristan let out a low whistle. Her without caffeine could be dangerous. He became curious at this point, at the reasoning behind it. His hopes got high for a moment, but he tried to push them down in case he was wrong.
"Rory," he started, questioningly.
"We did it. I'm pregnant!" She exclaimed, barely above a whisper.
He pulled her to him, and breathed her in. He held her for the longest time, happier than he'd ever been in his whole life. He kissed her head, and then continued kissing her face, all over, then finally landing on her lips. She was now laughing and crying, all at the same time.
"So, that's why you passed out?"
She nodded. "Over exertion, blood busy going other places than my head."
"You need to sleep more. I tried to tell you," he persisted.
"I know, I'm stubborn. I'll sleep more."
"Are you going to be this agreeable the entire time you're pregnant?"
"Well, I give you a good 6 hours before the caffeine withdrawal and/or mood swing hits."
"Fun."
"Wait 'til I go into labor."
"We're really going to have a baby."
She nodded again. "Looks like we need to paint one of those other bedrooms soon."
"And get a crib."
"Some diapers."
"Wow."
"I know."
They sat in amazement for a moment, still holding onto one another. They broke out of their baby-induced stupor when they heard a light knocking on the door. Luke stuck his head in, and whispered.
"Everything okay in here?"
"Yeah, Luke, I'm fine."
"You're mom's being obstinate. I'm trying to hold her back, but," he said, as Lorelai pushed past him, sticking her head in too.
"Come on in. We have some news."
"You're pregnant! I KNEW you were hiding something from me!"
"How did you know?" Rory asked, a little crestfallen.
"You acted funny while you were home—no one has that much sex!"
Rory blushed madly and looked at her mom. "How on earth did you know that?"
"You two were always sleeping late, clinging to each other, glowy all the time," Lorelai explained.
"I'm never glowy," Tristan interjected.
"And you were all weird when I said we might have another baby."
"Can I talk to mom alone, please?"
Luke and Tristan nodded, and went to rejoin Jess in the hall and tell him the news.
"Mom, I'm sorry about that. It's just, I've always had it in my head that when I was pregnant, you'd be there for me, giving me advice, coaching me through the rough times, running around while I was giving birth, helping me pelt the nurses with ice chips. Not across the hall with your feet in stirrups. It's a little too Father of the Bride Part II."
Lorelai smiled at her daughter's little rant. "Well, I promise not to hire any annoying Eastern European men to cater our joint baby shower," she joked.
"Mom," Rory sighed.
"Seriously, I always imagined it how you did, too. And it's not like I'm pregnant. If it means that much to you, we can wait, at least until your bun's out of the oven."
"Really? Because I feel really bad about asking that of you."
"Nonsense. What are mothers for? Well, I do have one condition." Lorelai smiled manically at Rory.
"Oh lord. What?" Rory grimaced.
"Just don't name your child after fruit."
Rory giggled. "I promise."
"Think I can get them to give you enough drugs to name her Lorelai?"
"We'll see," Rory patted her mother's hand.
"Let's get you and baby Dugrey home."
"Sounds good."
They made their way back to the house, where Rory was instructed to sit in the kitchen and eat. Her only other option was to take a nap. No exceptions, Tristan had been adamant. Everyone was told the good news when the group arrived back, by a very happy Rory and Tristan. Everyone was elated, and people took turns keeping Rory company. At long last, everyone slowly left, wishing them congratulations, begging them to come visit soon. Lorelai and Luke finally took Will and left, leaving them alone for their first night in their house. They fell into bed, exhausted, and Rory reached to set her alarm clock.
"You so aren't going to work tomorrow."
"You're not serious."
"Does this face look filled with levity?"
"I have to work."
"You never take a day off. You can afford one," Tristan reminded.
"But--,"
"Look, Rory, I know you love work. I'm not asking you to quit. But you are carrying a person that is half mine, and I'm begging you to take good care of both you and it. Please. Just stay home one day and rest. We've had a big week."
Rory looked at the love and concern on his face. She smiled as she sank into the pillows, and nodded.
"One condition."
"Name it."
"Play hooky with me. We'll sleep in and organize the house!"
"You have strange pleasures," he shook his head, turning off the light. She snuggled into his arms, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his hand on her stomach as they fell into a well-deserved slumber.