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.
Jess has Will strapped securely in the passenger side of his car. Will was talking nonstop to Jess, which caused him to smile at the boy. He couldn't tell you exactly what all Will had been rambling about the entire time, but the last thing Will said snapped Jess to attention.
"When is Rory's baby coming?"
"In a few months from now."
"How will it get here?"
Hmm. 'Wasn't this Lorelai's department?' If anything, this was the exact conversation he didn't want to have with Will. Not that he didn't think Will wasn't a great kid, but he didn't even want to have this conversation with a kid that was his own. He had to think quickly. Could he just change the topic? He looked at Will, who was looking intently at Jess as he drove. 'Damn.'
"Well, it sort of already is here, Will."
"Huh?"
"See, the baby, it's growing inside of Rory. That's why her stomach is getting bigger."
Will seemed to accept this, and Jess felt relief.
"But, how did it get there?"
'Oh, shit. What the hell was going on here, some sort of conspiracy?' He could hear Lorelai planting this entire conversation in his head. It was awfully convenient that this occurred while Jess was trapped in a moving car. No, surely she wouldn't risk Jess' inability to drive while attempting the birds and bees talk with a three year old. Surely he can get out of this. 'Think, think.' God, he had a comeback for everything, what was wrong with him? The kid was besting him. He looked at Will, who was still looking at him in earnest.
"Well, Will, what happened was, Rory and Tristan decided they wanted to have a baby, so they made one."
"They made it?"
"Yep."
"Did they make a boy or girl?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Do they know?"
"Nope, it's still inside of Rory."
"But they made it. How come they don't know?"
"That's a very good question, Will. You should ask Rory next time you see her."
No more questions. Jess breathed a true sigh of relief; he didn't care if Rory tried to kill him later. This was easily one of the most uncomfortable conversations he'd ever had. He continued to drive, and Will was quiet for a few moments.
"So, what are we doing?"
"This weekend?"
Will nodded. He loved the weekends with Jess. Not that his parents were strict, but Jess let him do a lot more cool stuff. They listened to cool music, ate hotdogs for breakfast and watched people in the park.
"Well, first I was hoping you'd come shopping with me."
"For CD's?"
"Well, we can do that, too."
"Okay."
"Then what?"
"Well, then Erin is going to come over. You like her, right?"
"She's pretty. And she's nice. She reads to me like you and Rory do."
Jess smiled. He loved the fact that Will liked Erin. He hadn't yet taken Will for a weekend since they got serious. He wanted to wait until he was completely comfortable with her himself, so Will wouldn't feel weird having her there too. He was astounded how little kids pick up on how grown-ups are reacting to situations. But ever since the 'incident' as Jess refers to it as, they'd gotten even closer. He thought more and more about their future, which didn't daunt him anymore. That fact scared him more than anything.
"Doesn't Tristan read to you?"
"He plays outside with me."
"What do you play?"
"Football."
Jess inwardly groaned. As much as he got along with Tristan, the jock thing wasn't something he got. You could stay in plenty good shape without running or playing mindless contact sports. Although Jess realized it was good someone taught him these things, as Luke had been into sports in high school so Will probably would too. At least he'd know rare punk bands, too.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Better than anyone I know."
"Huh?"
"Yes, ask me a question."
"I'm going to be an uncle, right?"
"Of Rory's kid, yes, that's right."
"What are you going to be?"
"A cousin, I suppose."
"Like with me?"
"Yeah, sort of."
"But you're older."
"That's okay."
Will seemed to be grabbling with that notion as they pulled into the parking garage for the apartment building Jess lived in. He had warned Erin that they'd be staying at Jess' apartment all weekend. She was welcome to come stay, but he didn't want to take Will somewhere he wasn't comfortable. She told him she'd probably be over after class. They dropped Will's bag off and immediately left again, this time on foot.
"Why can't we drive?"
"It's faster this way."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"Can we get a hotdog?"
"Sure, there's a vendor on the way."
Will smiled and took Jess' hand as they walked along the city streets.
The ran the few errands Jess needed to run, and even stopped for a pre- dinner treat of ice cream on the way back. He was attempting to eat his cone and hold Will's hand when he heard his phone ringing. He figured if it was that important, they'd call back. They walked the short distance to the apartment and got inside. Jess put the items he'd purchased away and turned to look at Will. There was ice cream all over his face, and his hands were sticky.
"Come on, kid, let's get you cleaned up."
"My hands are sticky," Will informed him.
"I know, we'll wash those too."
"Daddy hates sticky hands."
Jess laughed. He remembered a story Lorelai had told him about how Luke freaked out about sticky jam handed children when Jess was coming to live with him years before. It was nice to know Luke hadn't changed too much after everything that had happened in the last few years.
Jess wiped all the remains of ice cream off of Will, who then pointed out that Jess had some on his face too. He handed Will the towel, and he smeared it across Jess' whole face, hopefully taking the ice cream with it. Jess had to laugh, as Will dissolved into giggles. He chased Will out into the front room, threatening him jokingly with the offending towel. Erin stepped into the apartment as Jess came into view. She watched as they continued their chase scene, unaware of her presence. Jess easily caught up to the small boy and picked him up, tickling him.
"Having fun, are we?"
Jess' head shot up, and Will continued to giggle. Jess smiled at her, and nodded.
"What's all this about?" she asked as she plopped onto the chair next to where they were on the couch.
"Post-ice cream burn off."
"He'll throw up if you just stuffed him with ice cream and tickle him relentlessly," she laughed as she warned him.
"Naw, he's tough, right Will?"
Will nodded vigorously. Erin laughed at the two, but shook her head.
"That's what my sister used to say. I finally stopped tickling her after she puked on me."
Jess paused and looked at her. "Really?"
"Projectile."
"Huh."
"Yeah."
Jess kneeled up away from Will, who sat up too. "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah. What's for dinner?"
Erin's eyes got wide, hearing the response.
Jess laughed. "What? He's a Gilmore. I could feed him all day long, and he'd eat. We had hot dogs, then ice cream, not an hour ago, and he wants dinner."
"We eat a lot," Will tried to explain. What he didn't know was there was no explanation for the abilities his family had when it came to eating. It was as if that was their superpower.
Erin smiled at Will, and extended her hand to him as she stood up. "Let's go see what there is in the kitchen."
"If there's nothing, can we order pizza?"
"You'll have to ask Jess," she told him. He turned to look at Jess who smiled at him. Jess' phone rang again and he remembered that he didn't check his messages from before. He looked at the caller id to see Lorelai's cell number.
"Hey."
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Calm down. Did you call earlier?"
"YES!"
"Lorelai, I couldn't get the phone, I had ice cream in one hand and Will with the other."
"Well, grow a third arm, then," she offered lamely.
"I'll work on that."
"So, you're both alive?"
"Yes."
"And he's been fed?"
"Yes."
"Just ice cream?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Well, no not really. Just wondering what I'm competing with."
"Competing?"
"For favorites, he's three, he plays favorites."
"Don't we all."
"Touché. Can I talk to the rugrat?"
"Hang on."
Jess got up and walked into the kitchen. Erin was pointing at items in the fridge and Will was shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders in response. Jess handed Will the phone.
"It's your mom."
Will took the phone and began talking to his mom. He finally handed Jess back the phone. "She wants you again."
Jess rolled his eyes and wandered back into the living room.
"So, Erin's there?"
"Yep."
"How's that going?"
"What does that have to do with your child?"
"Nothing, why?"
"Then you're prying and I'm hanging up."
"Come on, Jess! I'll keep calling every half hour."
"Why do I take him if you two aren't going to relax?"
"Nothing?"
"Bye!"
Jess thought he heard her mutter something like, 'Just like Luke,' as he hit the end button. Convincing himself he must be hearing things, he joined the others in the kitchen, who'd decided it was definitely a pizza night.
A half hour later, his phone rang again. He groaned and flipped it open.
"Damn it, Lorelai, your son is fine and I'm not telling you anything else about my private life!"
"Well, my name is Lorelai, but I'm really hoping you got me confused with my mother."
"Rory?"
"Bingo."
"Sorry. You're mom's being," he began, but she cut him off.
"Herself?" she offered politely.
"You say potato, ..." he trailed off.
"I didn't call to talk to you, anyway."
"Did you call for Will, cause he has some things he wants to ask you," he teased.
"Actually, I need Erin's number. I lost it."
"She's here, if you want."
"Great!"
He handed the phone to Erin, and picked Will up to get stuff to eat on from the kitchen. The pizza would be arriving any minute, so they set the table. Will looked up at him in confusion.
"Aren't we eating on the couch?"
"Not enough room. There are three of us."
"What about the television?"
"We can watch it after we eat. You can pick the movie."
"Can we watch Finding Nemo?"
Jess stifled a groan and managed half a smile. Instead of asking why, for the fifteen millionth time they needed to watch fish swim, he simply replied, "Sure."
Erin took the phone, a little unsure, and answered.
"Hello?"
"Erin, oh good, it's Rory."
"Hey, Rory."
"I wanted to call to invite you to Stars Hollow next weekend. My mom is throwing a baby shower for me."
"You have to invite the people?"
"No, she's doing most of them, but she's a little, well, strange, as I'm sure you've gathered. I'm calling my close friends that don't know her as well, and those that are harder to track down. My best friend is on tour, she's a drummer for a band."
"Oh, Lane? Jess told me about her. I've heard some of their stuff, they're great."
"Lane'll be thrilled! She still mixes with us little people, so the fame hasn't gotten to her head yet! Can you come? I have no idea of the insanity that will occur, but it should be fun."
"I'd love to come."
"Great! You can stay at the Inn, if you'd like, and if Jess doesn't come up, then you can ride with us."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Oh, and hopefully I'll see you for lunch sometime this week. I'll be in the city a couple of times next week." Her voice was a little melancholy.
"You want to work more, don't you?"
"Well, part of me is enjoying the time off, but yeah, I miss it. But it's for a good cause," she reiterated mainly for herself.
"Yeah, it is."
"Have fun with Will. Tell Jess bye for me, will you?"
"Sure, see you later."
Rory hung up the phone and called Paris and Lane. Both said they'd try their hardest to get there by Saturday. Paris had to book a flight from LA, and Lane was coming from whatever city they were going to be in on Friday night. Luckily, they weren't playing on Saturday. Rory thought she said they were somewhere in Arizona, but the commotion behind Lane was so loud, she could have said anything. She finished up her calls and wandered back down into the kitchen.
"We're going to eat in like an hour."
"But I'm hungry now," Rory informed Tristan, who'd come in the kitchen to find her staring into the refrigerator.
"Fine. But save room, I'm taking you out, remember?"
"I know!" Rory said excitedly as she grabbed a banana.
"Did you make your calls?"
"Yep, did you?"
"Yeah. Mom knows about the shower and that we're coming. Dad and I are going to play golf."
"A friendly game," she assured him.
"Gramps is coming, too," he informed her.
"Uh-oh."
"It'll be fine, right?"
"Right. Or the cops will come, either way," she teased.
"Did you make all your calls?" he looked at her knowingly.
"I just don't know what to say, we so rarely talk anymore."
"How about, 'Dad, you're going to be a grandpa'?"
"Can't I just wait until the kid is old enough to use the phone, then he can tell him?"
"He?"
"Or she. Don't worry, I'll mix up the pronoun use. You didn't like 'it'," she reminded him.
"Right. Call your dad."
"But, it's going to be weird."
"I'm sorry, and the golf excursion from hell will be a cake walk?"
"Tristan, it's different."
"Call him, or I will. And I'll be explicit about how the kid got there."
She rolled her eyes at him and smacked his butt as she walked past him. She picked the cordless phone up from the table where she'd left it and began dialing. He smirked, happy with himself, and closed the fridge door.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
Jess has Will strapped securely in the passenger side of his car. Will was talking nonstop to Jess, which caused him to smile at the boy. He couldn't tell you exactly what all Will had been rambling about the entire time, but the last thing Will said snapped Jess to attention.
"When is Rory's baby coming?"
"In a few months from now."
"How will it get here?"
Hmm. 'Wasn't this Lorelai's department?' If anything, this was the exact conversation he didn't want to have with Will. Not that he didn't think Will wasn't a great kid, but he didn't even want to have this conversation with a kid that was his own. He had to think quickly. Could he just change the topic? He looked at Will, who was looking intently at Jess as he drove. 'Damn.'
"Well, it sort of already is here, Will."
"Huh?"
"See, the baby, it's growing inside of Rory. That's why her stomach is getting bigger."
Will seemed to accept this, and Jess felt relief.
"But, how did it get there?"
'Oh, shit. What the hell was going on here, some sort of conspiracy?' He could hear Lorelai planting this entire conversation in his head. It was awfully convenient that this occurred while Jess was trapped in a moving car. No, surely she wouldn't risk Jess' inability to drive while attempting the birds and bees talk with a three year old. Surely he can get out of this. 'Think, think.' God, he had a comeback for everything, what was wrong with him? The kid was besting him. He looked at Will, who was still looking at him in earnest.
"Well, Will, what happened was, Rory and Tristan decided they wanted to have a baby, so they made one."
"They made it?"
"Yep."
"Did they make a boy or girl?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"Do they know?"
"Nope, it's still inside of Rory."
"But they made it. How come they don't know?"
"That's a very good question, Will. You should ask Rory next time you see her."
No more questions. Jess breathed a true sigh of relief; he didn't care if Rory tried to kill him later. This was easily one of the most uncomfortable conversations he'd ever had. He continued to drive, and Will was quiet for a few moments.
"So, what are we doing?"
"This weekend?"
Will nodded. He loved the weekends with Jess. Not that his parents were strict, but Jess let him do a lot more cool stuff. They listened to cool music, ate hotdogs for breakfast and watched people in the park.
"Well, first I was hoping you'd come shopping with me."
"For CD's?"
"Well, we can do that, too."
"Okay."
"Then what?"
"Well, then Erin is going to come over. You like her, right?"
"She's pretty. And she's nice. She reads to me like you and Rory do."
Jess smiled. He loved the fact that Will liked Erin. He hadn't yet taken Will for a weekend since they got serious. He wanted to wait until he was completely comfortable with her himself, so Will wouldn't feel weird having her there too. He was astounded how little kids pick up on how grown-ups are reacting to situations. But ever since the 'incident' as Jess refers to it as, they'd gotten even closer. He thought more and more about their future, which didn't daunt him anymore. That fact scared him more than anything.
"Doesn't Tristan read to you?"
"He plays outside with me."
"What do you play?"
"Football."
Jess inwardly groaned. As much as he got along with Tristan, the jock thing wasn't something he got. You could stay in plenty good shape without running or playing mindless contact sports. Although Jess realized it was good someone taught him these things, as Luke had been into sports in high school so Will probably would too. At least he'd know rare punk bands, too.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Better than anyone I know."
"Huh?"
"Yes, ask me a question."
"I'm going to be an uncle, right?"
"Of Rory's kid, yes, that's right."
"What are you going to be?"
"A cousin, I suppose."
"Like with me?"
"Yeah, sort of."
"But you're older."
"That's okay."
Will seemed to be grabbling with that notion as they pulled into the parking garage for the apartment building Jess lived in. He had warned Erin that they'd be staying at Jess' apartment all weekend. She was welcome to come stay, but he didn't want to take Will somewhere he wasn't comfortable. She told him she'd probably be over after class. They dropped Will's bag off and immediately left again, this time on foot.
"Why can't we drive?"
"It's faster this way."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"Can we get a hotdog?"
"Sure, there's a vendor on the way."
Will smiled and took Jess' hand as they walked along the city streets.
The ran the few errands Jess needed to run, and even stopped for a pre- dinner treat of ice cream on the way back. He was attempting to eat his cone and hold Will's hand when he heard his phone ringing. He figured if it was that important, they'd call back. They walked the short distance to the apartment and got inside. Jess put the items he'd purchased away and turned to look at Will. There was ice cream all over his face, and his hands were sticky.
"Come on, kid, let's get you cleaned up."
"My hands are sticky," Will informed him.
"I know, we'll wash those too."
"Daddy hates sticky hands."
Jess laughed. He remembered a story Lorelai had told him about how Luke freaked out about sticky jam handed children when Jess was coming to live with him years before. It was nice to know Luke hadn't changed too much after everything that had happened in the last few years.
Jess wiped all the remains of ice cream off of Will, who then pointed out that Jess had some on his face too. He handed Will the towel, and he smeared it across Jess' whole face, hopefully taking the ice cream with it. Jess had to laugh, as Will dissolved into giggles. He chased Will out into the front room, threatening him jokingly with the offending towel. Erin stepped into the apartment as Jess came into view. She watched as they continued their chase scene, unaware of her presence. Jess easily caught up to the small boy and picked him up, tickling him.
"Having fun, are we?"
Jess' head shot up, and Will continued to giggle. Jess smiled at her, and nodded.
"What's all this about?" she asked as she plopped onto the chair next to where they were on the couch.
"Post-ice cream burn off."
"He'll throw up if you just stuffed him with ice cream and tickle him relentlessly," she laughed as she warned him.
"Naw, he's tough, right Will?"
Will nodded vigorously. Erin laughed at the two, but shook her head.
"That's what my sister used to say. I finally stopped tickling her after she puked on me."
Jess paused and looked at her. "Really?"
"Projectile."
"Huh."
"Yeah."
Jess kneeled up away from Will, who sat up too. "Feeling okay?"
"Yeah. What's for dinner?"
Erin's eyes got wide, hearing the response.
Jess laughed. "What? He's a Gilmore. I could feed him all day long, and he'd eat. We had hot dogs, then ice cream, not an hour ago, and he wants dinner."
"We eat a lot," Will tried to explain. What he didn't know was there was no explanation for the abilities his family had when it came to eating. It was as if that was their superpower.
Erin smiled at Will, and extended her hand to him as she stood up. "Let's go see what there is in the kitchen."
"If there's nothing, can we order pizza?"
"You'll have to ask Jess," she told him. He turned to look at Jess who smiled at him. Jess' phone rang again and he remembered that he didn't check his messages from before. He looked at the caller id to see Lorelai's cell number.
"Hey."
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Calm down. Did you call earlier?"
"YES!"
"Lorelai, I couldn't get the phone, I had ice cream in one hand and Will with the other."
"Well, grow a third arm, then," she offered lamely.
"I'll work on that."
"So, you're both alive?"
"Yes."
"And he's been fed?"
"Yes."
"Just ice cream?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Well, no not really. Just wondering what I'm competing with."
"Competing?"
"For favorites, he's three, he plays favorites."
"Don't we all."
"Touché. Can I talk to the rugrat?"
"Hang on."
Jess got up and walked into the kitchen. Erin was pointing at items in the fridge and Will was shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders in response. Jess handed Will the phone.
"It's your mom."
Will took the phone and began talking to his mom. He finally handed Jess back the phone. "She wants you again."
Jess rolled his eyes and wandered back into the living room.
"So, Erin's there?"
"Yep."
"How's that going?"
"What does that have to do with your child?"
"Nothing, why?"
"Then you're prying and I'm hanging up."
"Come on, Jess! I'll keep calling every half hour."
"Why do I take him if you two aren't going to relax?"
"Nothing?"
"Bye!"
Jess thought he heard her mutter something like, 'Just like Luke,' as he hit the end button. Convincing himself he must be hearing things, he joined the others in the kitchen, who'd decided it was definitely a pizza night.
A half hour later, his phone rang again. He groaned and flipped it open.
"Damn it, Lorelai, your son is fine and I'm not telling you anything else about my private life!"
"Well, my name is Lorelai, but I'm really hoping you got me confused with my mother."
"Rory?"
"Bingo."
"Sorry. You're mom's being," he began, but she cut him off.
"Herself?" she offered politely.
"You say potato, ..." he trailed off.
"I didn't call to talk to you, anyway."
"Did you call for Will, cause he has some things he wants to ask you," he teased.
"Actually, I need Erin's number. I lost it."
"She's here, if you want."
"Great!"
He handed the phone to Erin, and picked Will up to get stuff to eat on from the kitchen. The pizza would be arriving any minute, so they set the table. Will looked up at him in confusion.
"Aren't we eating on the couch?"
"Not enough room. There are three of us."
"What about the television?"
"We can watch it after we eat. You can pick the movie."
"Can we watch Finding Nemo?"
Jess stifled a groan and managed half a smile. Instead of asking why, for the fifteen millionth time they needed to watch fish swim, he simply replied, "Sure."
Erin took the phone, a little unsure, and answered.
"Hello?"
"Erin, oh good, it's Rory."
"Hey, Rory."
"I wanted to call to invite you to Stars Hollow next weekend. My mom is throwing a baby shower for me."
"You have to invite the people?"
"No, she's doing most of them, but she's a little, well, strange, as I'm sure you've gathered. I'm calling my close friends that don't know her as well, and those that are harder to track down. My best friend is on tour, she's a drummer for a band."
"Oh, Lane? Jess told me about her. I've heard some of their stuff, they're great."
"Lane'll be thrilled! She still mixes with us little people, so the fame hasn't gotten to her head yet! Can you come? I have no idea of the insanity that will occur, but it should be fun."
"I'd love to come."
"Great! You can stay at the Inn, if you'd like, and if Jess doesn't come up, then you can ride with us."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Oh, and hopefully I'll see you for lunch sometime this week. I'll be in the city a couple of times next week." Her voice was a little melancholy.
"You want to work more, don't you?"
"Well, part of me is enjoying the time off, but yeah, I miss it. But it's for a good cause," she reiterated mainly for herself.
"Yeah, it is."
"Have fun with Will. Tell Jess bye for me, will you?"
"Sure, see you later."
Rory hung up the phone and called Paris and Lane. Both said they'd try their hardest to get there by Saturday. Paris had to book a flight from LA, and Lane was coming from whatever city they were going to be in on Friday night. Luckily, they weren't playing on Saturday. Rory thought she said they were somewhere in Arizona, but the commotion behind Lane was so loud, she could have said anything. She finished up her calls and wandered back down into the kitchen.
"We're going to eat in like an hour."
"But I'm hungry now," Rory informed Tristan, who'd come in the kitchen to find her staring into the refrigerator.
"Fine. But save room, I'm taking you out, remember?"
"I know!" Rory said excitedly as she grabbed a banana.
"Did you make your calls?"
"Yep, did you?"
"Yeah. Mom knows about the shower and that we're coming. Dad and I are going to play golf."
"A friendly game," she assured him.
"Gramps is coming, too," he informed her.
"Uh-oh."
"It'll be fine, right?"
"Right. Or the cops will come, either way," she teased.
"Did you make all your calls?" he looked at her knowingly.
"I just don't know what to say, we so rarely talk anymore."
"How about, 'Dad, you're going to be a grandpa'?"
"Can't I just wait until the kid is old enough to use the phone, then he can tell him?"
"He?"
"Or she. Don't worry, I'll mix up the pronoun use. You didn't like 'it'," she reminded him.
"Right. Call your dad."
"But, it's going to be weird."
"I'm sorry, and the golf excursion from hell will be a cake walk?"
"Tristan, it's different."
"Call him, or I will. And I'll be explicit about how the kid got there."
She rolled her eyes at him and smacked his butt as she walked past him. She picked the cordless phone up from the table where she'd left it and began dialing. He smirked, happy with himself, and closed the fridge door.