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.
AN: to the reviewer that pointed out Tristan's middle name—I have no recollection of Tristan's middle name ever being mentioned in the show—I may very well be wrong. So, I established in this universe, which I admit is mine and fictional, his middle name is Michael. But thanks for the info, all comments and reviews are always welcome. OH, also, the person that wrote in about New York and snowfall/closures. I'm sure New York wouldn't fully shut down. All I remember is that on Conan they showed a pretty scarce looking city last year, when they got all that snow. Again, it's fiction, and I can manipulate the weather to control my characters. I'm evil like that. (smiles maniacally). Enough about me, on with the story.
A few more weeks went by. Rory was wearing maternity clothes all the time now, save for the pair of Tristan's pajama pants she'd nabbed to wear at night. When he protested at first, she told him it was the only thing that was comfortable and not constricting on her at night. He suggested she sleep in the nude, to which she stuck out her tongue and informed him that was how she got into this position of needing his clothes in the first place. Since her last doctor visit, Rory had officially cut back her hours at work to part time hours. Her doctor was erring on the safe side; to make sure Rory wouldn't over do it. Rory saw this as a conspiracy, convinced Tristan had inferred to the doctor that Rory was a workaholic. Which was sort of true. She had taken to going into the city to have lunch with Tristan, or Erin and Jess some of her days off. The rest of the free time she spent in the nursery, getting everything ready. This was one of those days. She looked around the room. They were still missing a few vital things, namely a crib, and she finally relented. She picked up the phone and dialed her mother's cell phone.
"Hey, babe! Can you hang on a sec?"
"Sure," Rory said, not expecting to be put on hold by her mother.
Lorelai turned her face away from the phone and began speaking loudly at Michel who was at the front desk, on the phone himself.
"No, Michel, you can't put them in two separate rooms that far from each other. No. No. Michel, behave!"
He gave her a face and stuck out his tongue before narrowing his eyes and nodding at her. Satisfied that he was behaving himself, she turned back to her cell phone.
"Sorry, hon, what's up?"
"Having fun?"
"Well, as fun as arguing with Michel ever is," Lorelai giggled.
"I see. So, I've called to tell you something."
"What?"
"I'm ready for a baby shower."
"Don't toy with me," she warned.
"No, seriously. Let's do it."
"Why now? I thought you made me swear to wait 'til month five!"
"Well, it's three and a half. At least I look pregnant now," Rory explained.
"You're bored."
"No. Well, sort of."
"I see. Well, whatever the reason, I don't care. Yea!" Lorelai exclaimed happily.
"Well, plan away. I'll be there with bells on."
"You'll be wearing more than bells, trust me."
"Nothing too hokey."
"A Stars Hollow's event, hokey? Never!" Lorelai admonished.
"So, when do you anticipate having time to pull this off?"
"Let me check with Sookie and a few other people. I'll get back to you, soonish."
"Okay. How's everything else going?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Let's see. Will's very excited about being an uncle. Luke has been trying to explain the duties that lie within that distinction. Oh, Luke almost hit Taylor last week at the town meeting!"
"Again?"
"Well, Bootsy stepped between them and Luke sort of got him instead. It was ugly."
"What was all this about?"
"Taylor put it to a vote about expanding the ice cream shoppe."
"But Luke owns that whole building."
"Hence the fight."
"Wow. I thought Luke mellowed since Will was born."
"Not when it comes to Taylor's insanity."
"So, Will's excited?"
"Yep. He's not here right now, or I'd let you talk to him about it. He has a lot of very specific questions for you."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah."
"Where is he now?"
"Jess took him for the weekend."
"Nice, you two have some alone time, then."
"Yep," she could hear her mother smiling. "Actually, he just picked him up."
"So, any other news I should hear?"
"Why don't you come visit soon, see everything for yourself?"
"Well, I guess I could, maybe next week?"
"Perfect. Bring that husband of yours along, too," Lorelai added.
"I will. Have fun with Luke. Tell him violence is never the answer," Rory laughed.
"Right. Bye sweets."
"Bye."
Lorelai checked a few things at the Inn before leaving for lunch. She walked over to the diner and sat at her regular place at the counter. Luke was nowhere to be seen. She placed her order, and continued to look around in confusion. After she got her food, Luke came in the front door and headed around the counter. He noticed Lorelai and smiled.
"What are you doing here already?"
"Luke, it's like 12:40."
"What? OH, it is."
"Where were you?"
"Oh, nowhere."
"Uh, try again?"
"Fine. I was at the bank."
"The bank?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"I can't go to the bank?"
"Of course you can go to the bank."
A beat of silence passed. He almost thought she had dropped this.
"Why were you at the bank?"
No such luck.
"If you must know, Taylor's lease is about to be up next door, and the title to the building is at the bank."
"So?"
"So, I went to the bank to let someone else sign the lease."
"Who?"
"Jackson."
"Jackson, Jackson? Sookie's Jackson?"
"Yep."
"Why would Jackson need to sign a lease with you?"
"Because I'm ousting Taylor. Jackson's going to open a fresh produce store next door."
Lorelai burst out laughing, half in shock.
"You're telling me not only are you booting out Taylor without his knowledge, but you're letting a store that will be in direct competition with Doose's go in its place?"
"Yep."
"Luke," she started, not knowing whether to kiss him or scold him.
"What? It's my building. I think fresh produce is much healthier than ice cream."
"All the kids will be devastated! They'll have to go to Woodbury to get ice cream cones."
"So, I'll stock cones. You can get ice cream here. Or at Doose's," he pointed out.
"So not the same."
"Tough."
"Luke, I--,"
"What?"
"Nothing. I just can't believe how much you remind me of Jess sometimes."
"Take that back!"
"I won't. He got his rebellious ways from you!"
"Hardly."
"You're a bad-ass!" She delighted, taking another bite of her burger.
"Shut up!"
Lorelai giggled as Luke went back into the storeroom. He came back out to see her finishing up her coffee. He smiled at her, despite wanting to look sternly at her. She smiled back as he leaned over the counter in front of her to give her a light kiss on the lips.
"So, did Jess pick Will up earlier?"
"Nah, but I tied a twenty to his collar, he should be in good hands by now. Well, if Patty didn't get to him first."
"You're very funny."
"And you're a bad-ass."
"Stop saying it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I just got out of the pokey."
More giggling. "Now what?"
"You just said 'pokey'."
"Oh, geez."
"Sorry, you were asking about Will?" She attempted a more serious looking face.
"Yes."
"Jess picked him up about an hour ago."
"Was Erin with him?"
"No. Was she supposed to be?"
"No, it's just, Jess has been at her place, or she's been at his place almost all the time lately. I just wondered."
"Hmm. Yeah, they are getting close."
"So, we have the whole weekend alone together?"
"Whatever shall we do?"
"I'm sure we'll think of something," he said softly, leaning over to kiss her again.
"Luke, I'm trying to eat here," Kirk announced, causing them to turn their heads to look at him.
"So?"
"So, you two are making me nauseous."
"Oh, get over it Kirk. We're married."
"Well, you don't have to rub it in my face!"
Luke rolled his eyes, as Lorelai tried to stifle her laughter. She looked back at Luke and the look on his face caused a cackle of sorts to seep through. Luke leaned closer to her to whisper something in her ear.
"Be dressed and ready to go at 7."
"Where are we going?"
"Just be dressed."
"I'm dressed right now. Are you wearing those anti-clothing contacts again?"
"Wear a dress. A nice one."
"Ooh, intrigue! I'll see you at seven." She smiled at him as she turned to leave. Luke couldn't help but smile back as he watched her go. His joy was interrupted by the nagging voice again.
"Luke, do you have any Pepto Bismal?"
"Shut up, Kirk!"
"Luke!" Taylor stormed into the diner, already yelling.
"Ah, geez, Taylor, can we do this later?"
"No, we'll do it right now. I went to go sign my new lease at the bank, and they wouldn't let me! What do you have to say about that?"
"You know I have to be there, it's my lease!"
"They told me you'd already been in there, and signed the lease over to someone else."
"That's right. Someone else got there first."
"Luke, I have been renting the space for years. Therefore, I got there first."
"I got a better offer." Luke stood with his arms crossed, staring down Taylor.
Taylor, now turning red, huffed again at Luke.
"Well, who is leasing from you?"
"That's business, Taylor. Mine, not yours."
"Luke, you know very well I can make a few phone calls and know who and what is going in that space."
"Go ahead, Taylor, be my guest."
Taylor huffed a few more times and turned on his heel out of the diner. Luke watched as he took out his cell phone, and dialed. Seconds later, Patty's cell phone rang in the diner. Luke glared at her, and she smiled sheepishly as she departed the diner and caught up with Taylor. Luke shook his head and went back to his work.
Tristan came home to find Rory reading a book on the couch. She looked up and smiled at him, but didn't get up. He sat down next to her and kissed her shoulder. He looked over her shoulder to find her reading a pregnancy book.
"Did you know our baby has fingerprints already?"
"I did. It's in my book, too."
"Sookie sent this, with some treats."
"That's nice."
"Yeah. So, I called mom."
"Okay," he sounded hesitant.
"You sound funny."
"Well, you sound like you two have been conspiring."
"Not really. I told her I'm ready to have a baby shower. And she asked if we could come next week," she continued.
"So, I don't have to go to this thing, right?"
"I have no idea. But you're coming with me, right?"
"Can't I beg off, say I have to work?"
"Why?"
"Rory, think about it. Your mom will invite my mom. My mom will know I'm in town, and my Dad will somehow corner me into talking to him."
"I thought you were going to anyway," she reminded him.
"I wasn't going to do it next weekend," he sighed.
"Well, maybe it's better this way."
Tristan gave her a look, and she patted his hand. He reached out and put his hand over her stomach, which was definitely starting to round out now. He rubbed it lightly, going in circles with his hand. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation. When she looked back at him, he had a sad look on his face.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just, I hope this kid never hates us."
"Well, probably when it's a teenager, it'll not like us all the time. But I can't imagine our kid ever hating us."
"You hate your dad, and I hate mine. What if this kid hates me?"
"Tristan, first of all, you're married to me, so automatically that rules out one of the main reasons I have problems with my dad. And I don't hate him, for the record. And unless you have been cheating on me in all your free time, I don't think you have any reason to worry."
"You're right. You know, I know we want to wait to know the sex of the baby, but honestly, we should stop calling our child 'it'," he insisted.
"Well, I'm starting to get a feeling I know what 'it' is."
"Really?"
"Mother's intuition, you know," she giggled.
"Care to share with me?"
"Nope. I think you should be surprised."
"Rory, you can't know."
"I could be wrong, but I bet I won't be."
"If you won't tell me, then you'll just lie afterwards and say you knew, either way."
"Fine, I'll write it down and put it in the safe. Then we'll pull it out after we bring the baby home."
"Deal." They shook hands, as if sealing the deal.
"We should come up with names soon, though. So we can start the great debate," she smiled.
"What? I just don't want to name it anything dippy."
"Dippy?"
"You know, like after a car, or a food, or Moonbeam, or something like that."
"So, Fairlane Pear is out?"
"Funny."
"It is," Rory agreed.
They started naming off wildly outrageous names, ones that made them cry and double over with laughter. At long last, they stopped when they started debating over whether the name Ion Mango would be a boy's name or a girl's name. Tristan looked at Rory, who was wiping away tears from her eyes.
"So, no dippy names."
"Right, I can see your point. You know, we have a strong family tradition of using familial names."
"Another Lorelai?"
"What about for a boy?"
"I don't know. My maternal grandfather's name is Hiram. You know all the rest."
"Hmm. Maybe we should get a baby name book."
"I'm sure you'll get one at the shower."
"You're probably right. So, you'll come?"
"Do I have a choice?" he smiled and kissed her.
"Probably not much of one," she admitted. She stood up and went to the bathroom, 'again,' as she informed him. He felt bad; he knew she was going to the bathroom all the time with the baby pressing on her bladder as it was. She left his sight and he was alone to contemplate next weekend's plans, especially what his father would say. He couldn't imagine it would go well, but Rory's ever-present optimism was starting to rub off on him. He wanted his father to have seen the error of his ways. He just couldn't bring himself to fully believe it was possible.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
AN: to the reviewer that pointed out Tristan's middle name—I have no recollection of Tristan's middle name ever being mentioned in the show—I may very well be wrong. So, I established in this universe, which I admit is mine and fictional, his middle name is Michael. But thanks for the info, all comments and reviews are always welcome. OH, also, the person that wrote in about New York and snowfall/closures. I'm sure New York wouldn't fully shut down. All I remember is that on Conan they showed a pretty scarce looking city last year, when they got all that snow. Again, it's fiction, and I can manipulate the weather to control my characters. I'm evil like that. (smiles maniacally). Enough about me, on with the story.
A few more weeks went by. Rory was wearing maternity clothes all the time now, save for the pair of Tristan's pajama pants she'd nabbed to wear at night. When he protested at first, she told him it was the only thing that was comfortable and not constricting on her at night. He suggested she sleep in the nude, to which she stuck out her tongue and informed him that was how she got into this position of needing his clothes in the first place. Since her last doctor visit, Rory had officially cut back her hours at work to part time hours. Her doctor was erring on the safe side; to make sure Rory wouldn't over do it. Rory saw this as a conspiracy, convinced Tristan had inferred to the doctor that Rory was a workaholic. Which was sort of true. She had taken to going into the city to have lunch with Tristan, or Erin and Jess some of her days off. The rest of the free time she spent in the nursery, getting everything ready. This was one of those days. She looked around the room. They were still missing a few vital things, namely a crib, and she finally relented. She picked up the phone and dialed her mother's cell phone.
"Hey, babe! Can you hang on a sec?"
"Sure," Rory said, not expecting to be put on hold by her mother.
Lorelai turned her face away from the phone and began speaking loudly at Michel who was at the front desk, on the phone himself.
"No, Michel, you can't put them in two separate rooms that far from each other. No. No. Michel, behave!"
He gave her a face and stuck out his tongue before narrowing his eyes and nodding at her. Satisfied that he was behaving himself, she turned back to her cell phone.
"Sorry, hon, what's up?"
"Having fun?"
"Well, as fun as arguing with Michel ever is," Lorelai giggled.
"I see. So, I've called to tell you something."
"What?"
"I'm ready for a baby shower."
"Don't toy with me," she warned.
"No, seriously. Let's do it."
"Why now? I thought you made me swear to wait 'til month five!"
"Well, it's three and a half. At least I look pregnant now," Rory explained.
"You're bored."
"No. Well, sort of."
"I see. Well, whatever the reason, I don't care. Yea!" Lorelai exclaimed happily.
"Well, plan away. I'll be there with bells on."
"You'll be wearing more than bells, trust me."
"Nothing too hokey."
"A Stars Hollow's event, hokey? Never!" Lorelai admonished.
"So, when do you anticipate having time to pull this off?"
"Let me check with Sookie and a few other people. I'll get back to you, soonish."
"Okay. How's everything else going?"
"Oh, you know, the usual. Let's see. Will's very excited about being an uncle. Luke has been trying to explain the duties that lie within that distinction. Oh, Luke almost hit Taylor last week at the town meeting!"
"Again?"
"Well, Bootsy stepped between them and Luke sort of got him instead. It was ugly."
"What was all this about?"
"Taylor put it to a vote about expanding the ice cream shoppe."
"But Luke owns that whole building."
"Hence the fight."
"Wow. I thought Luke mellowed since Will was born."
"Not when it comes to Taylor's insanity."
"So, Will's excited?"
"Yep. He's not here right now, or I'd let you talk to him about it. He has a lot of very specific questions for you."
"Uh-oh."
"Yeah."
"Where is he now?"
"Jess took him for the weekend."
"Nice, you two have some alone time, then."
"Yep," she could hear her mother smiling. "Actually, he just picked him up."
"So, any other news I should hear?"
"Why don't you come visit soon, see everything for yourself?"
"Well, I guess I could, maybe next week?"
"Perfect. Bring that husband of yours along, too," Lorelai added.
"I will. Have fun with Luke. Tell him violence is never the answer," Rory laughed.
"Right. Bye sweets."
"Bye."
Lorelai checked a few things at the Inn before leaving for lunch. She walked over to the diner and sat at her regular place at the counter. Luke was nowhere to be seen. She placed her order, and continued to look around in confusion. After she got her food, Luke came in the front door and headed around the counter. He noticed Lorelai and smiled.
"What are you doing here already?"
"Luke, it's like 12:40."
"What? OH, it is."
"Where were you?"
"Oh, nowhere."
"Uh, try again?"
"Fine. I was at the bank."
"The bank?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"I can't go to the bank?"
"Of course you can go to the bank."
A beat of silence passed. He almost thought she had dropped this.
"Why were you at the bank?"
No such luck.
"If you must know, Taylor's lease is about to be up next door, and the title to the building is at the bank."
"So?"
"So, I went to the bank to let someone else sign the lease."
"Who?"
"Jackson."
"Jackson, Jackson? Sookie's Jackson?"
"Yep."
"Why would Jackson need to sign a lease with you?"
"Because I'm ousting Taylor. Jackson's going to open a fresh produce store next door."
Lorelai burst out laughing, half in shock.
"You're telling me not only are you booting out Taylor without his knowledge, but you're letting a store that will be in direct competition with Doose's go in its place?"
"Yep."
"Luke," she started, not knowing whether to kiss him or scold him.
"What? It's my building. I think fresh produce is much healthier than ice cream."
"All the kids will be devastated! They'll have to go to Woodbury to get ice cream cones."
"So, I'll stock cones. You can get ice cream here. Or at Doose's," he pointed out.
"So not the same."
"Tough."
"Luke, I--,"
"What?"
"Nothing. I just can't believe how much you remind me of Jess sometimes."
"Take that back!"
"I won't. He got his rebellious ways from you!"
"Hardly."
"You're a bad-ass!" She delighted, taking another bite of her burger.
"Shut up!"
Lorelai giggled as Luke went back into the storeroom. He came back out to see her finishing up her coffee. He smiled at her, despite wanting to look sternly at her. She smiled back as he leaned over the counter in front of her to give her a light kiss on the lips.
"So, did Jess pick Will up earlier?"
"Nah, but I tied a twenty to his collar, he should be in good hands by now. Well, if Patty didn't get to him first."
"You're very funny."
"And you're a bad-ass."
"Stop saying it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I just got out of the pokey."
More giggling. "Now what?"
"You just said 'pokey'."
"Oh, geez."
"Sorry, you were asking about Will?" She attempted a more serious looking face.
"Yes."
"Jess picked him up about an hour ago."
"Was Erin with him?"
"No. Was she supposed to be?"
"No, it's just, Jess has been at her place, or she's been at his place almost all the time lately. I just wondered."
"Hmm. Yeah, they are getting close."
"So, we have the whole weekend alone together?"
"Whatever shall we do?"
"I'm sure we'll think of something," he said softly, leaning over to kiss her again.
"Luke, I'm trying to eat here," Kirk announced, causing them to turn their heads to look at him.
"So?"
"So, you two are making me nauseous."
"Oh, get over it Kirk. We're married."
"Well, you don't have to rub it in my face!"
Luke rolled his eyes, as Lorelai tried to stifle her laughter. She looked back at Luke and the look on his face caused a cackle of sorts to seep through. Luke leaned closer to her to whisper something in her ear.
"Be dressed and ready to go at 7."
"Where are we going?"
"Just be dressed."
"I'm dressed right now. Are you wearing those anti-clothing contacts again?"
"Wear a dress. A nice one."
"Ooh, intrigue! I'll see you at seven." She smiled at him as she turned to leave. Luke couldn't help but smile back as he watched her go. His joy was interrupted by the nagging voice again.
"Luke, do you have any Pepto Bismal?"
"Shut up, Kirk!"
"Luke!" Taylor stormed into the diner, already yelling.
"Ah, geez, Taylor, can we do this later?"
"No, we'll do it right now. I went to go sign my new lease at the bank, and they wouldn't let me! What do you have to say about that?"
"You know I have to be there, it's my lease!"
"They told me you'd already been in there, and signed the lease over to someone else."
"That's right. Someone else got there first."
"Luke, I have been renting the space for years. Therefore, I got there first."
"I got a better offer." Luke stood with his arms crossed, staring down Taylor.
Taylor, now turning red, huffed again at Luke.
"Well, who is leasing from you?"
"That's business, Taylor. Mine, not yours."
"Luke, you know very well I can make a few phone calls and know who and what is going in that space."
"Go ahead, Taylor, be my guest."
Taylor huffed a few more times and turned on his heel out of the diner. Luke watched as he took out his cell phone, and dialed. Seconds later, Patty's cell phone rang in the diner. Luke glared at her, and she smiled sheepishly as she departed the diner and caught up with Taylor. Luke shook his head and went back to his work.
Tristan came home to find Rory reading a book on the couch. She looked up and smiled at him, but didn't get up. He sat down next to her and kissed her shoulder. He looked over her shoulder to find her reading a pregnancy book.
"Did you know our baby has fingerprints already?"
"I did. It's in my book, too."
"Sookie sent this, with some treats."
"That's nice."
"Yeah. So, I called mom."
"Okay," he sounded hesitant.
"You sound funny."
"Well, you sound like you two have been conspiring."
"Not really. I told her I'm ready to have a baby shower. And she asked if we could come next week," she continued.
"So, I don't have to go to this thing, right?"
"I have no idea. But you're coming with me, right?"
"Can't I beg off, say I have to work?"
"Why?"
"Rory, think about it. Your mom will invite my mom. My mom will know I'm in town, and my Dad will somehow corner me into talking to him."
"I thought you were going to anyway," she reminded him.
"I wasn't going to do it next weekend," he sighed.
"Well, maybe it's better this way."
Tristan gave her a look, and she patted his hand. He reached out and put his hand over her stomach, which was definitely starting to round out now. He rubbed it lightly, going in circles with his hand. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation. When she looked back at him, he had a sad look on his face.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just, I hope this kid never hates us."
"Well, probably when it's a teenager, it'll not like us all the time. But I can't imagine our kid ever hating us."
"You hate your dad, and I hate mine. What if this kid hates me?"
"Tristan, first of all, you're married to me, so automatically that rules out one of the main reasons I have problems with my dad. And I don't hate him, for the record. And unless you have been cheating on me in all your free time, I don't think you have any reason to worry."
"You're right. You know, I know we want to wait to know the sex of the baby, but honestly, we should stop calling our child 'it'," he insisted.
"Well, I'm starting to get a feeling I know what 'it' is."
"Really?"
"Mother's intuition, you know," she giggled.
"Care to share with me?"
"Nope. I think you should be surprised."
"Rory, you can't know."
"I could be wrong, but I bet I won't be."
"If you won't tell me, then you'll just lie afterwards and say you knew, either way."
"Fine, I'll write it down and put it in the safe. Then we'll pull it out after we bring the baby home."
"Deal." They shook hands, as if sealing the deal.
"We should come up with names soon, though. So we can start the great debate," she smiled.
"What? I just don't want to name it anything dippy."
"Dippy?"
"You know, like after a car, or a food, or Moonbeam, or something like that."
"So, Fairlane Pear is out?"
"Funny."
"It is," Rory agreed.
They started naming off wildly outrageous names, ones that made them cry and double over with laughter. At long last, they stopped when they started debating over whether the name Ion Mango would be a boy's name or a girl's name. Tristan looked at Rory, who was wiping away tears from her eyes.
"So, no dippy names."
"Right, I can see your point. You know, we have a strong family tradition of using familial names."
"Another Lorelai?"
"What about for a boy?"
"I don't know. My maternal grandfather's name is Hiram. You know all the rest."
"Hmm. Maybe we should get a baby name book."
"I'm sure you'll get one at the shower."
"You're probably right. So, you'll come?"
"Do I have a choice?" he smiled and kissed her.
"Probably not much of one," she admitted. She stood up and went to the bathroom, 'again,' as she informed him. He felt bad; he knew she was going to the bathroom all the time with the baby pressing on her bladder as it was. She left his sight and he was alone to contemplate next weekend's plans, especially what his father would say. He couldn't imagine it would go well, but Rory's ever-present optimism was starting to rub off on him. He wanted his father to have seen the error of his ways. He just couldn't bring himself to fully believe it was possible.