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 had been sitting outside Erin's apartment for twenty minutes. He had a key, but felt it was probably not smart to scare the hell out of her when she was most likely pissed at him already. He sat, his black bag that he always brought over to her house sitting next to him. He couldn't bring himself to read; instead he just tried to avoid eye contact with nosy neighbors that were wondering what he was doing and if they should call the cops.
She finally showed up, looking down into her purse, fumbling for her keys. She stopped just short of him, seeing legs sticking out into the hall. She jumped back again, until she realized it was just Jess.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Here or in general?"
"Both! Why didn't you use your key?"
"Why aren't you at our place?"
He stayed seated, looking up at her get frustrated and exasperated at him. She shook her head and turned the lock with her key.
"What's with the bag?"
"I always bring it to stay over."
"I don't think that's a good idea. Go home, Jess."
"Nope, can't do that." He stood up, following her inside.
"Jess, now isn't the time."
"I'm sorry, when did we start this fight? Cause I don't remember you being pissed at me this morning."
"Are you honestly going to tell me that you haven't been preoccupied, distant and unusually busy the last few weeks?"
"I'll agree with you. You're pissed because I'm busy?"
"I'm pissed because you aren't talking with me, about whatever is going on with you!"
"I couldn't!" he raised his voice to match hers.
"Why not? God, Jess, I thought we were in a relationship!"
"We are! I couldn't tell you what was going on, because it was going to be a surprise."
"What are you talking about? You were going to surprise me by breaking up with me?"
"NO! I was going to surprise you with this!" He opened up the bag and tossed a small box at her.
She barely caught the box, and immediately looked at it like it might bite her. Her mouth gaped open, and she tried to get words out, but only small squeaks came out. He smiled and got down on one knee.
"I knew I wanted to do this a while ago, but I didn't want to screw it up. So I guess I should do it before that happens. Erin, I love you." He looked up into her eyes, which had shifted from confusion to what he hoped was happiness. There were definitely tears in them. He had a hold of her hand and took the box back out of her other hand. He opened it slowly and took the ring out of the box. She wiped some tears out of her eyes with the hand he wasn't holding and smiled.
"I love you, too."
"Ever since you moved into my place, I've just felt like it was perfect. We're both getting busier, and if we weren't at the same apartment, we'd barely get to see each other. And the best parts of my days are always getting to see you. Will you marry me?"
"Yeah, I will. I'll marry you," she said over and pulled him up to her, throwing her arms around him. He kissed her sweetly, feeling more complete and whole than he had in his entire life. He pulled back and laughed a little.
"Don't you want this?" He waved the ring at her for a second.
"I could honestly care less about a ring, as long as I get to be with you for the rest of my life," she said honestly, "But yeah, give it here."
He took her left hand and slid it onto her third finger. It fit beautifully and they smiled at each other.
"So, what now?" she asked.
"Well, first, we go home. Then I guess we tell people."
"Let's go!"
Luke had come home early for the evening. The diner had been completely dead and he left Caesar in charge, telling him to close as soon as he liked. The last few months had been completely exhausting, but Luke felt exhilarated. All the kids were doing great. Will was growing everyday, Rory was too, with the arrival of her first child on the way, and Jess was really making a good life for himself. He couldn't be happier, or prouder. Though, if anyone asked, it would probably be Lorelai's name that came to his lips if he asked why he was so happy these days. He was sitting in the living room, enjoying the quiet time between the time he put Will down for the evening and when Lorelai would get home. It was nearly 9:30, and she worked late on Thursdays, so she could be home anytime.
The phone rang and he hurried to get it, so as not to wake Will up. It'd taken quite a bit to get him down tonight. He'd pulled every excuse out to stay up to wait for Lorelai.
"Hello?"
"Luke?"
"Hey, Jess. What can I do for you?"
"I just have some news. I-I'm getting married!"
"You're serious?"
"Yeah, I am. Can you believe it, I am!"
"Wow, congratulations. When did you ...,"
"Just now, tonight. It was a little spontaneous, but I'd been planning it sort of the last month or so. I just wanted you to be the first to know."
Luke smiled at the rare sentiment. "Thanks."
"I should call Rory and Tristan. Tell Lorelai for me?"
"I will."
"Oh, and thank Will."
"For what?"
"He helped me ring shop."
Luke shook his head. "I'll be damned. You're really getting married."
"I am. Night, Luke."
"Night, Jess."
Luke replaced the receiver and wondered if Jess would tell his mom. Or how long it would take for that to happen. He was in shock, good shock, but still shock. He sat back down on the couch in a daze. Lorelai came through the door moments later, babbling about Sookie and what he thought her to say was birthday peach cobbler. He shook his head, trying to make her words stick in his brain, but it didn't work.
"Hey, you look, weird."
"You look lovely, too, dear," he kissed her as she sat down next to him on the couch.
"What's up? Did something happen with Rory?" she sounded a little concerned at the look on his face. But it didn't look bad, just, well ... weird.
"Nope, Jess."
"Is he okay?"
"Well, I hope so. He's engaged."
"What? Oh my God, this is huge!"
"I know. He sounds really happy."
"That's so exciting!"
"I know. He just called. I feel, proud. Is that weird?"
"No, I mean, you basically raised him. Not that he wasn't fully grown by the time he got to you, but you did a lot of the emotional stuff."
"Wow. That sounds wrong."
"You're a man of few words, Luke Danes, but the ones you say, they're important."
"Can I get you to say that into a tape recorder?"
"Wow. Way to ruin a moment," she giggled.
"I try. Come here," he kissed her, and she got into the kiss.
"Mmm. I like how you just sort of melt all the bad away from my day like that," she said between kisses.
"Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, you need to go see Will. I'll be upstairs waiting."
"Why?"
"He was unusually insistent on seeing you tonight before bed."
"I'll be up, as soon as I can. I promise. You fall asleep on me, you'll pay!" she called after him as he ascended the stairs. She crept up to Will's door, which was slightly ajar. He seemed to be asleep, so she leaned over him and smoothed some hair on his forehead. He moved slightly, and she cringed, not wanting to wake him.
"Mommy?"
"I'm here, kid."
"I wanted to see you."
"I'm here now. You alright, squirt?"
"I missed you. You weren't here for dinner."
"Tonight was my late night, babe."
"Oh."
"Maybe it's time we thought you to tell time. Then you'd know when Mommy was coming home?"
Will nodded. She smiled and told him they'd start on that tomorrow. She promised that even though she didn't wear one, they'd go get him a watch the next day so he could learn on it.
Tristan was turning lights off, getting ready to head upstairs to sleep when the phone rang. Rory had gotten tired early and gone to bed shortly after finishing her disgusting snack. She came up and tried to kiss him, which he insisted he would only do after she brushed her teeth, or gargled with peroxide, whatever would get that out of her mouth. He'd come down to watch the news
"Dugrey residence."
"Wow, that sounds ominous."
"Jess?"
"You know, Rory just says 'hey'," Jess teased, "there must be a happy medium. Maybe some cute little rehearsed line you both say."
"Jess, either you have a point or I'm hanging up."
"Put Rory on the line, too."
"She's in bed."
"Don't care. I have news."
"Fine. But you can suffer her wrath tomorrow if she's tired. I'll deliver her to you, don't think I won't," Tristan threatened.
"Wow, she can be that moody?"
"You have no idea," he assured Jess, finally reaching the bedroom. "Hang on," he instructed as he stooped down to Rory.
"Hey, Rory," he said softly. She murmured and rolled over a little towards him.
"Ror, come on, wake up. I need you to wake up."
"Tristan? What's going on, let me sleep!"
"Jess wants to tell us something. He insisted you get on the line."
"Fine. But this better be good," she said, groaning as she opened her eyes and reaching for the phone next to her side of the bed.
"This had better be good," she reiterated as she picked up the line.
Jess laughed. "Only if you think Erin and I getting married is good."
"You and, REALLY?" Rory exclaimed.
"Congratulations," Tristan offered.
"I asked her tonight. We wanted to tell people, so I called Luke and you guys."
"We'll have to go celebrate, soon!"
"That sounds great. I'll let you guys get back to sleep."
"Tell Erin congratulations for me!" Rory added.
"And me."
"I will. Night."
"Night," they said in unison. Tristan laid the cordless next to the phone on Rory's nightstand, and climbed into bed next to her.
"Wow."
"I know."
"Jess is getting married."
"I know. I told you he'd fix it."
"You don't think he did this to fix it, do you?"
"I think he's been planning this."
"Did he tell you?"
"No, just the way they've been together. They seem to fit."
"Yeah, they do. I just, can't believe Jess is willingly getting married. He must really love her a lot."
"It does happen."
"I know. This is a much bigger year than I had been expecting."
"It happens."
"We should sleep. We have dinner with Dad tomorrow."
"I know. I'd fit you for a chastity belt, for effect, but I don't think they make those in maternity sizes."
"Hah. I think he knows we have sex, now."
"He's known for years, Rory."
"Mom feels genuinely bad for that."
"Sure she does," Tristan snorted.
"It'll be fine."
"I know. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
AN: Yes, it's shorter, yes, it's filler, but I wanted to put Jess' thing in there, and the family finding out. Fluff needs more fluff! Thanks to everyone reviewing, if I don't say it enough.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
Jess had been sitting outside Erin's apartment for twenty minutes. He had a key, but felt it was probably not smart to scare the hell out of her when she was most likely pissed at him already. He sat, his black bag that he always brought over to her house sitting next to him. He couldn't bring himself to read; instead he just tried to avoid eye contact with nosy neighbors that were wondering what he was doing and if they should call the cops.
She finally showed up, looking down into her purse, fumbling for her keys. She stopped just short of him, seeing legs sticking out into the hall. She jumped back again, until she realized it was just Jess.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Here or in general?"
"Both! Why didn't you use your key?"
"Why aren't you at our place?"
He stayed seated, looking up at her get frustrated and exasperated at him. She shook her head and turned the lock with her key.
"What's with the bag?"
"I always bring it to stay over."
"I don't think that's a good idea. Go home, Jess."
"Nope, can't do that." He stood up, following her inside.
"Jess, now isn't the time."
"I'm sorry, when did we start this fight? Cause I don't remember you being pissed at me this morning."
"Are you honestly going to tell me that you haven't been preoccupied, distant and unusually busy the last few weeks?"
"I'll agree with you. You're pissed because I'm busy?"
"I'm pissed because you aren't talking with me, about whatever is going on with you!"
"I couldn't!" he raised his voice to match hers.
"Why not? God, Jess, I thought we were in a relationship!"
"We are! I couldn't tell you what was going on, because it was going to be a surprise."
"What are you talking about? You were going to surprise me by breaking up with me?"
"NO! I was going to surprise you with this!" He opened up the bag and tossed a small box at her.
She barely caught the box, and immediately looked at it like it might bite her. Her mouth gaped open, and she tried to get words out, but only small squeaks came out. He smiled and got down on one knee.
"I knew I wanted to do this a while ago, but I didn't want to screw it up. So I guess I should do it before that happens. Erin, I love you." He looked up into her eyes, which had shifted from confusion to what he hoped was happiness. There were definitely tears in them. He had a hold of her hand and took the box back out of her other hand. He opened it slowly and took the ring out of the box. She wiped some tears out of her eyes with the hand he wasn't holding and smiled.
"I love you, too."
"Ever since you moved into my place, I've just felt like it was perfect. We're both getting busier, and if we weren't at the same apartment, we'd barely get to see each other. And the best parts of my days are always getting to see you. Will you marry me?"
"Yeah, I will. I'll marry you," she said over and pulled him up to her, throwing her arms around him. He kissed her sweetly, feeling more complete and whole than he had in his entire life. He pulled back and laughed a little.
"Don't you want this?" He waved the ring at her for a second.
"I could honestly care less about a ring, as long as I get to be with you for the rest of my life," she said honestly, "But yeah, give it here."
He took her left hand and slid it onto her third finger. It fit beautifully and they smiled at each other.
"So, what now?" she asked.
"Well, first, we go home. Then I guess we tell people."
"Let's go!"
Luke had come home early for the evening. The diner had been completely dead and he left Caesar in charge, telling him to close as soon as he liked. The last few months had been completely exhausting, but Luke felt exhilarated. All the kids were doing great. Will was growing everyday, Rory was too, with the arrival of her first child on the way, and Jess was really making a good life for himself. He couldn't be happier, or prouder. Though, if anyone asked, it would probably be Lorelai's name that came to his lips if he asked why he was so happy these days. He was sitting in the living room, enjoying the quiet time between the time he put Will down for the evening and when Lorelai would get home. It was nearly 9:30, and she worked late on Thursdays, so she could be home anytime.
The phone rang and he hurried to get it, so as not to wake Will up. It'd taken quite a bit to get him down tonight. He'd pulled every excuse out to stay up to wait for Lorelai.
"Hello?"
"Luke?"
"Hey, Jess. What can I do for you?"
"I just have some news. I-I'm getting married!"
"You're serious?"
"Yeah, I am. Can you believe it, I am!"
"Wow, congratulations. When did you ...,"
"Just now, tonight. It was a little spontaneous, but I'd been planning it sort of the last month or so. I just wanted you to be the first to know."
Luke smiled at the rare sentiment. "Thanks."
"I should call Rory and Tristan. Tell Lorelai for me?"
"I will."
"Oh, and thank Will."
"For what?"
"He helped me ring shop."
Luke shook his head. "I'll be damned. You're really getting married."
"I am. Night, Luke."
"Night, Jess."
Luke replaced the receiver and wondered if Jess would tell his mom. Or how long it would take for that to happen. He was in shock, good shock, but still shock. He sat back down on the couch in a daze. Lorelai came through the door moments later, babbling about Sookie and what he thought her to say was birthday peach cobbler. He shook his head, trying to make her words stick in his brain, but it didn't work.
"Hey, you look, weird."
"You look lovely, too, dear," he kissed her as she sat down next to him on the couch.
"What's up? Did something happen with Rory?" she sounded a little concerned at the look on his face. But it didn't look bad, just, well ... weird.
"Nope, Jess."
"Is he okay?"
"Well, I hope so. He's engaged."
"What? Oh my God, this is huge!"
"I know. He sounds really happy."
"That's so exciting!"
"I know. He just called. I feel, proud. Is that weird?"
"No, I mean, you basically raised him. Not that he wasn't fully grown by the time he got to you, but you did a lot of the emotional stuff."
"Wow. That sounds wrong."
"You're a man of few words, Luke Danes, but the ones you say, they're important."
"Can I get you to say that into a tape recorder?"
"Wow. Way to ruin a moment," she giggled.
"I try. Come here," he kissed her, and she got into the kiss.
"Mmm. I like how you just sort of melt all the bad away from my day like that," she said between kisses.
"Well, as much as I'd like to continue this, you need to go see Will. I'll be upstairs waiting."
"Why?"
"He was unusually insistent on seeing you tonight before bed."
"I'll be up, as soon as I can. I promise. You fall asleep on me, you'll pay!" she called after him as he ascended the stairs. She crept up to Will's door, which was slightly ajar. He seemed to be asleep, so she leaned over him and smoothed some hair on his forehead. He moved slightly, and she cringed, not wanting to wake him.
"Mommy?"
"I'm here, kid."
"I wanted to see you."
"I'm here now. You alright, squirt?"
"I missed you. You weren't here for dinner."
"Tonight was my late night, babe."
"Oh."
"Maybe it's time we thought you to tell time. Then you'd know when Mommy was coming home?"
Will nodded. She smiled and told him they'd start on that tomorrow. She promised that even though she didn't wear one, they'd go get him a watch the next day so he could learn on it.
Tristan was turning lights off, getting ready to head upstairs to sleep when the phone rang. Rory had gotten tired early and gone to bed shortly after finishing her disgusting snack. She came up and tried to kiss him, which he insisted he would only do after she brushed her teeth, or gargled with peroxide, whatever would get that out of her mouth. He'd come down to watch the news
"Dugrey residence."
"Wow, that sounds ominous."
"Jess?"
"You know, Rory just says 'hey'," Jess teased, "there must be a happy medium. Maybe some cute little rehearsed line you both say."
"Jess, either you have a point or I'm hanging up."
"Put Rory on the line, too."
"She's in bed."
"Don't care. I have news."
"Fine. But you can suffer her wrath tomorrow if she's tired. I'll deliver her to you, don't think I won't," Tristan threatened.
"Wow, she can be that moody?"
"You have no idea," he assured Jess, finally reaching the bedroom. "Hang on," he instructed as he stooped down to Rory.
"Hey, Rory," he said softly. She murmured and rolled over a little towards him.
"Ror, come on, wake up. I need you to wake up."
"Tristan? What's going on, let me sleep!"
"Jess wants to tell us something. He insisted you get on the line."
"Fine. But this better be good," she said, groaning as she opened her eyes and reaching for the phone next to her side of the bed.
"This had better be good," she reiterated as she picked up the line.
Jess laughed. "Only if you think Erin and I getting married is good."
"You and, REALLY?" Rory exclaimed.
"Congratulations," Tristan offered.
"I asked her tonight. We wanted to tell people, so I called Luke and you guys."
"We'll have to go celebrate, soon!"
"That sounds great. I'll let you guys get back to sleep."
"Tell Erin congratulations for me!" Rory added.
"And me."
"I will. Night."
"Night," they said in unison. Tristan laid the cordless next to the phone on Rory's nightstand, and climbed into bed next to her.
"Wow."
"I know."
"Jess is getting married."
"I know. I told you he'd fix it."
"You don't think he did this to fix it, do you?"
"I think he's been planning this."
"Did he tell you?"
"No, just the way they've been together. They seem to fit."
"Yeah, they do. I just, can't believe Jess is willingly getting married. He must really love her a lot."
"It does happen."
"I know. This is a much bigger year than I had been expecting."
"It happens."
"We should sleep. We have dinner with Dad tomorrow."
"I know. I'd fit you for a chastity belt, for effect, but I don't think they make those in maternity sizes."
"Hah. I think he knows we have sex, now."
"He's known for years, Rory."
"Mom feels genuinely bad for that."
"Sure she does," Tristan snorted.
"It'll be fine."
"I know. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
AN: Yes, it's shorter, yes, it's filler, but I wanted to put Jess' thing in there, and the family finding out. Fluff needs more fluff! Thanks to everyone reviewing, if I don't say it enough.