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.
"Will you just go?" he sounded exasperated. It was the fifteenth time he'd asked, but she stood there in front of him, looking guilty.
"I feel bad though."
"I get that, but I'm telling you, it's fine. Believe it or not, Ella and I get along really well. She can take the bottle now, and she and I will both be fine."
"What if I didn't--," she started.
"Go. Seriously. You'll be late."
Relenting, she smiled at the frustrated man in front of her. She stepped up to him and kissed him with all the passion in her being. He returned her affections before pulling back and whispering into her ear.
"Procrastinator."
"I was just trying to thank you," she informed him.
"You can thank me later. Right now you're just starting things you can't finish."
Flashing what was akin to one of his cocky smirks at him, she kissed him quickly before gathering her coat and purse. She smoothed her dress with one hand and waved to him with the other before disappearing out the door.
Tristan smiled and went upstairs to check on Ella. She was just two months old, but already had begun forming her own personality. She was as coy and smart as her mother, but definitely had his stubborn streak. Usually Rory's sweet and even-tempered nature shone through, however.
He came into the nursery just after he heard her stir on the baby monitor. Her arms and legs flailing about in anticipation, she was ready for attention. No doubt a trait passed down from Lorelai.
"Hey, Ella. It's just you and me tonight," he explained as she cooed and gurgled at him. He placed her on the changing table and proceeded to chat with her as he changed her diaper. It had become second nature to him at this point, nothing really fazed him anymore.
"Your mom had to go to your Uncle Jess' wedding rehearsal. You'll get to see it all tomorrow at the wedding."
She looked up at him, her big blue eyes staring at him in wonder.
"So, how about junk food and an all night movie marathon?"
In response he got a yawn and a stretch.
"So, milk and bedtime story it is," he said, picking her up. They went downstairs to get her bottle and warm it up.
Rory got to the rehearsal on time, to find Erin being whisked about by what she assumed to be her mother, who was gesticulating wildly, unaware that Erin wasn't paying any attention to her. Rather, she was sneaking looks at Jess, who playfully stuck his tongue out at her. Rory heard her giggle, followed by a "Yes, mother," before she disappeared out back.
"You made it!"
Rory smiled as Lorelai approached her with open arms.
"Why is everyone so surprised now when I'm on time?"
"Oh, honey, it's not you, it's the little bundle of joy you produced. They're hard to tote around and even harder to leave. Especially one as cute as yours," she winked.
"Aw, I don't know why, but something tells me you might be biased," she smiled.
"Never. I calls 'em as I sees 'em."
"Nice. It's amazing I can interact with the real world."
"Oh, now be nice. So, I have to warn you," she said with a serious tone.
"What?"
"I've met the other bridesmaids," she said conspiratorially. "And it isn't pretty."
"Erin said they were like her mom," Rory laughed.
"She wasn't kidding. I don't know how she got out so ... tolerable."
"So, where is the ceremony going to be?"
"There was quite the controversy. Her mom insisted on a church wedding, with the reception here, but Jess made some comment about the building bursting into flames. I don't think Mrs. Davis got that. Anyway, they pleaded their case and Erin finally put her foot down. We decorated the huppah with gardenias, to match any snow we might get, and brought it over here. I hope it snows, though, wouldn't that be perfect?"
"Perfectly cold," Rory sighed.
"Oh, pish tosh," she dismissed her.
"So, we're waiting on what?"
"The minister. Are you staying tonight?"
"Yeah. Tristan is bringing Ella up tomorrow morning."
"Those can't be here, that's not right," a voice lilted with Boston aristocracy rang out.
"Looks like time for me to step in again. We'll announce when we're ready for everyone."
Rory nodded and watched as her mom ran off to calm Erin's mom. She walked over to the front desk and sat down behind it. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her house. After three rings, finally he picked up.
"Hello?" came his whisper.
"Tristan?"
"Hey, how's the rehearsal?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"I just put her down. She stirred when the phone rang, but she seems to have settled down again."
"Did you feed her?"
"Damn, I knew I was forgetting something," he mocked her.
"Fine. You don't need me, I get it."
"Well, you are good for some things."
"Thanks. So, you'll be here by what time tomorrow?"
"As soon as I get both of us ready. Probably around noon."
"As long as you're here by two, you're good," she assured him.
"I can get her and me ready in two hours. Just enjoy your sleep and all the room in that bed."
"Ah, it will be nice," she sighed happily.
"Don't enjoy it too much. It's just one night."
"Right. Ooh, I better go. It looks like the minister is here."
"Alright. Love you."
"Love you too."
She hung up just in time to see the minister being dragged into some debate between the mother of the bride, the bride and Lorelai. Jess, a bottle of beer in his hands, snuck past them and towards the stairs.
"Think you're being swift, eh?" she teased as he took his first step.
"Come join me if you have any sense at all."
"I can't drink," she reminded him.
"Just get up here," he urged.
Following his lead, she climbed to the top step and sat down. She clasped her hands and leaned against the railing to her side.
"So, how's it going?" the laughter that she was holding back laced her voice.
"You're funny. But you knew that," he said scathingly as he took a long swig of beer.
"Don't get drunk," she chastised him.
"I'm not drunk. This is my first beer. This is just to get her mother's comments to appear amusing to me," he informed her with a raised eyebrow.
"So, wedding day bliss. I remember it well," came her sarcastic remark to his excuses.
"You didn't have that as a mother-in-law."
"Well, it could be worse," she pointed out.
"How?"
"Well. No one's head is on fire," she quoted a wise woman from her past.
"I could change that, you know."
"Erin's putting up a very good fight. It'll be perfect tomorrow."
"I know. Do me a favor though?"
"What?" she laughed.
"Slip a horse tranquilizer in her mom's soup tonight?"
She smacked his shoulder. "You're horrible."
"Hey, you named me godfather to your daughter."
"True. I stand by my decision."
"Hey, it's your kid," he smiled.
They sat there, watching the drama unfold below. They watched as Mrs. Davis attempted to show Will the proper way to hold the ring bearer pillow. They watched Luke rescue Will and Lorelai mouth a thank you to him. They watched as Erin flipped off her sister that was acting as her maid of honor when she began ranting about how she didn't have something borrowed, blue, old and new. Then, all hell broke loose.
"JESS?"
"No, can't be," he muttered under his breath.
"Isn't that," Rory started.
"WHERE'S MY BABY?"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he whispered, then finished off his beer.
"There you are!" Liz said, looking up the stairs at the pair.
"I'll be needing another one of these," he leaned into Rory before standing up to go down the stairs to meet his fate.
"Liz, I didn't realize you were coming," he said quietly.
"I wouldn't miss my boy getting hitched!"
Hearing his sister's voice, Luke handed Will off to Lorelai and went to help Jess out. TJ came into the Inn after Liz, holding their bags.
"Where do we put these?" he asked Luke.
"Uh, you'll have to sleep at the diner, Lorelai didn't know you guys were coming, and all the rooms here are full."
"That's fine, bro, we can sleep anywhere. As long as I get to see my boy get married tomorrow! Are you excited?" she turned back to Jess.
"Oh, I'm just as happy as a clam," he muttered, looking over at Luke.
"They need you out there, they're going to start."
"Right." Jess exited, leaving Luke to sort out his mother and her weirdo of a husband.
"Liz, just come out in the back, and hang out quietly until the rehearsal is over. I have to be in it, so just, stay out of trouble, okay?"
"Of course. Say, where's that beautiful wife of yours?"
"She's running the wedding," he replied, looking around a bit. "Hey, Rory, come on, it's starting."
She smiled and ran down the stairs, giving Liz and TJ a small smile as she moved through the Inn out towards the rest of the wedding party. Luke shook his head, and followed Rory.
"Alright everyone. We need Jess and Luke up here next to the minister. In the back, we need Mr. Davis, Erin and Will, along with Melissa and Heather. Wait, who's going to walk up the mothers?"
Lorelai looked around and Jess glared at her. He motioned for her to come to him.
"What are you doing?"
"Jess, the mothers are to be sat in the front rows. I gave her that one, okay?"
"But, Lorelai, my mom is--,"
"Really proud of you and will be watched by me. I promise."
"Fine," he consented, begrudgingly.
"So, who can walk the mothers down the aisle?"
"I can do it," Luke spoke up.
"Great idea. So, first Will comes down the aisle after the mothers. The bridesmaids are then coming down one at a time, first Heather, then Rory, then Melissa." She instructed, as they got that far.
"Okay, then Mr. Davis," she said.
"Please, call me Drew."
"Drew, take Erin's arm and lead her down to Jess."
He smiled at his daughter, and she gave her first genuine smile of the evening. They walked slowly to the music until they approached Jess. He kissed her cheek, shook his hand and sat down with his wife. Rory smiled, realizing this wasn't weird for her. She was so happy to see them this way. She noticed how she whispered something in his ear and he gave a small laugh, and nodded.
As they got through the basics of the ceremony, they finally got out of the chilly weather. It wasn't too bad; due to the heaters Lorelai had the staff set up for them. But everyone was still glad to get inside and eat. By the end of the night, the toasts had been given, the pleasantries exchanged, and the mothers' officially meeting, everyone went off to their respective places to sleep. Lorelai giggled with Rory before she left, showing her the digital picture of Mrs. Davis' face when she heard TJ suggest tights for the best support for Jess' package on the wedding day, so he'd be 'good and ready' for the wedding night.
Liz caught Jess as he was getting his things together for the next day. She and TJ were off to the diner to sleep, while Jess was staying at the Dragonfly with the rest of the wedding party.
"Hey, honey, I just wanted to thank you for inviting us. I know you didn't have to," she said.
"I invited you and Jimmy, you're my parents."
"You invited Jimmy?"
"Yeah."
"He coming?"
"Do you see him?"
"I can't believe him! How often does your only kid get married?"
"Mom, he's in California, he can't get away. He called and wished me luck today. He sent a toaster."
"A toaster?"
"It's Jimmy's sense of humor. You get married, you get a toaster," Jess shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad to be here anyway."
"Me too," he said, looking down at his hands. She gave him a hug, which he let her do, and then she left to go to bed. He sighed and headed up the stairs, the last of the group to do so.
"Wanna see a funny picture?"
Rory was sticking her head out her door, dressed in flannel pajamas with frogs on them. She held out her mom's digital camera, and he smiled.
"Sure, I won't sleep tonight anyway," he smirked, going into her room.
They went through the pictures, some quite humorous, and had some good laughs. She recounted the package story, and he cringed in horror at first, but ended up laughing when he saw the picture of the woman's face. After a while, Rory leaned back against her headboard and yawned.
"You're tired, I'll get going."
"I'm sort of excited to have a night in a bed alone. Is that wrong of me?"
"I think you earned it. It's my last night in bed alone, I guess, huh?" he smiled.
"Yeah. Good luck tomorrow."
"Thanks."
He left her room and went down the hall to his room. He found a note on his book that he had put on the nightstand. He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight, so he'd brought a book to pass the time. He unfolded the note as he kicked off his shoes and immediately recognized Erin's neat handwriting. He read her words, and smiled. He folded it and put it inside the cover of the book, and flipped to his marked page and read until he lulled himself to sleep.
Rory woke up like clockwork at 3am. Smiling, knowing full well she could just roll over and return to sleep, she picked up the phone and dialed. It was answered on the first ring by a very coherent sounding voice.
"Hey," came the knowing voice.
"Hi."
"We miss you."
"Good to know. Is she eating?"
"Yep. Like a pro."
"I miss her so much."
"Thanks."
"I miss you too. A lot," she added.
"She misses you too. As do I."
"Give her a kiss for me?"
"Done. So, tell me about the rehearsal," he said, leaning back in the rocking chair, Ella eating happily in his arms, holding the phone with his shoulder to his ear. Rory put the other pillow behind her, and settled in to tell Tristan of the antics that ensued at the Dragonfly.
WHAT I OWN: Nada.
RATING: PG-13, just to be safe. It is fluff after all.
"Will you just go?" he sounded exasperated. It was the fifteenth time he'd asked, but she stood there in front of him, looking guilty.
"I feel bad though."
"I get that, but I'm telling you, it's fine. Believe it or not, Ella and I get along really well. She can take the bottle now, and she and I will both be fine."
"What if I didn't--," she started.
"Go. Seriously. You'll be late."
Relenting, she smiled at the frustrated man in front of her. She stepped up to him and kissed him with all the passion in her being. He returned her affections before pulling back and whispering into her ear.
"Procrastinator."
"I was just trying to thank you," she informed him.
"You can thank me later. Right now you're just starting things you can't finish."
Flashing what was akin to one of his cocky smirks at him, she kissed him quickly before gathering her coat and purse. She smoothed her dress with one hand and waved to him with the other before disappearing out the door.
Tristan smiled and went upstairs to check on Ella. She was just two months old, but already had begun forming her own personality. She was as coy and smart as her mother, but definitely had his stubborn streak. Usually Rory's sweet and even-tempered nature shone through, however.
He came into the nursery just after he heard her stir on the baby monitor. Her arms and legs flailing about in anticipation, she was ready for attention. No doubt a trait passed down from Lorelai.
"Hey, Ella. It's just you and me tonight," he explained as she cooed and gurgled at him. He placed her on the changing table and proceeded to chat with her as he changed her diaper. It had become second nature to him at this point, nothing really fazed him anymore.
"Your mom had to go to your Uncle Jess' wedding rehearsal. You'll get to see it all tomorrow at the wedding."
She looked up at him, her big blue eyes staring at him in wonder.
"So, how about junk food and an all night movie marathon?"
In response he got a yawn and a stretch.
"So, milk and bedtime story it is," he said, picking her up. They went downstairs to get her bottle and warm it up.
Rory got to the rehearsal on time, to find Erin being whisked about by what she assumed to be her mother, who was gesticulating wildly, unaware that Erin wasn't paying any attention to her. Rather, she was sneaking looks at Jess, who playfully stuck his tongue out at her. Rory heard her giggle, followed by a "Yes, mother," before she disappeared out back.
"You made it!"
Rory smiled as Lorelai approached her with open arms.
"Why is everyone so surprised now when I'm on time?"
"Oh, honey, it's not you, it's the little bundle of joy you produced. They're hard to tote around and even harder to leave. Especially one as cute as yours," she winked.
"Aw, I don't know why, but something tells me you might be biased," she smiled.
"Never. I calls 'em as I sees 'em."
"Nice. It's amazing I can interact with the real world."
"Oh, now be nice. So, I have to warn you," she said with a serious tone.
"What?"
"I've met the other bridesmaids," she said conspiratorially. "And it isn't pretty."
"Erin said they were like her mom," Rory laughed.
"She wasn't kidding. I don't know how she got out so ... tolerable."
"So, where is the ceremony going to be?"
"There was quite the controversy. Her mom insisted on a church wedding, with the reception here, but Jess made some comment about the building bursting into flames. I don't think Mrs. Davis got that. Anyway, they pleaded their case and Erin finally put her foot down. We decorated the huppah with gardenias, to match any snow we might get, and brought it over here. I hope it snows, though, wouldn't that be perfect?"
"Perfectly cold," Rory sighed.
"Oh, pish tosh," she dismissed her.
"So, we're waiting on what?"
"The minister. Are you staying tonight?"
"Yeah. Tristan is bringing Ella up tomorrow morning."
"Those can't be here, that's not right," a voice lilted with Boston aristocracy rang out.
"Looks like time for me to step in again. We'll announce when we're ready for everyone."
Rory nodded and watched as her mom ran off to calm Erin's mom. She walked over to the front desk and sat down behind it. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed her house. After three rings, finally he picked up.
"Hello?" came his whisper.
"Tristan?"
"Hey, how's the rehearsal?"
"Why are you whispering?"
"I just put her down. She stirred when the phone rang, but she seems to have settled down again."
"Did you feed her?"
"Damn, I knew I was forgetting something," he mocked her.
"Fine. You don't need me, I get it."
"Well, you are good for some things."
"Thanks. So, you'll be here by what time tomorrow?"
"As soon as I get both of us ready. Probably around noon."
"As long as you're here by two, you're good," she assured him.
"I can get her and me ready in two hours. Just enjoy your sleep and all the room in that bed."
"Ah, it will be nice," she sighed happily.
"Don't enjoy it too much. It's just one night."
"Right. Ooh, I better go. It looks like the minister is here."
"Alright. Love you."
"Love you too."
She hung up just in time to see the minister being dragged into some debate between the mother of the bride, the bride and Lorelai. Jess, a bottle of beer in his hands, snuck past them and towards the stairs.
"Think you're being swift, eh?" she teased as he took his first step.
"Come join me if you have any sense at all."
"I can't drink," she reminded him.
"Just get up here," he urged.
Following his lead, she climbed to the top step and sat down. She clasped her hands and leaned against the railing to her side.
"So, how's it going?" the laughter that she was holding back laced her voice.
"You're funny. But you knew that," he said scathingly as he took a long swig of beer.
"Don't get drunk," she chastised him.
"I'm not drunk. This is my first beer. This is just to get her mother's comments to appear amusing to me," he informed her with a raised eyebrow.
"So, wedding day bliss. I remember it well," came her sarcastic remark to his excuses.
"You didn't have that as a mother-in-law."
"Well, it could be worse," she pointed out.
"How?"
"Well. No one's head is on fire," she quoted a wise woman from her past.
"I could change that, you know."
"Erin's putting up a very good fight. It'll be perfect tomorrow."
"I know. Do me a favor though?"
"What?" she laughed.
"Slip a horse tranquilizer in her mom's soup tonight?"
She smacked his shoulder. "You're horrible."
"Hey, you named me godfather to your daughter."
"True. I stand by my decision."
"Hey, it's your kid," he smiled.
They sat there, watching the drama unfold below. They watched as Mrs. Davis attempted to show Will the proper way to hold the ring bearer pillow. They watched Luke rescue Will and Lorelai mouth a thank you to him. They watched as Erin flipped off her sister that was acting as her maid of honor when she began ranting about how she didn't have something borrowed, blue, old and new. Then, all hell broke loose.
"JESS?"
"No, can't be," he muttered under his breath.
"Isn't that," Rory started.
"WHERE'S MY BABY?"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," he whispered, then finished off his beer.
"There you are!" Liz said, looking up the stairs at the pair.
"I'll be needing another one of these," he leaned into Rory before standing up to go down the stairs to meet his fate.
"Liz, I didn't realize you were coming," he said quietly.
"I wouldn't miss my boy getting hitched!"
Hearing his sister's voice, Luke handed Will off to Lorelai and went to help Jess out. TJ came into the Inn after Liz, holding their bags.
"Where do we put these?" he asked Luke.
"Uh, you'll have to sleep at the diner, Lorelai didn't know you guys were coming, and all the rooms here are full."
"That's fine, bro, we can sleep anywhere. As long as I get to see my boy get married tomorrow! Are you excited?" she turned back to Jess.
"Oh, I'm just as happy as a clam," he muttered, looking over at Luke.
"They need you out there, they're going to start."
"Right." Jess exited, leaving Luke to sort out his mother and her weirdo of a husband.
"Liz, just come out in the back, and hang out quietly until the rehearsal is over. I have to be in it, so just, stay out of trouble, okay?"
"Of course. Say, where's that beautiful wife of yours?"
"She's running the wedding," he replied, looking around a bit. "Hey, Rory, come on, it's starting."
She smiled and ran down the stairs, giving Liz and TJ a small smile as she moved through the Inn out towards the rest of the wedding party. Luke shook his head, and followed Rory.
"Alright everyone. We need Jess and Luke up here next to the minister. In the back, we need Mr. Davis, Erin and Will, along with Melissa and Heather. Wait, who's going to walk up the mothers?"
Lorelai looked around and Jess glared at her. He motioned for her to come to him.
"What are you doing?"
"Jess, the mothers are to be sat in the front rows. I gave her that one, okay?"
"But, Lorelai, my mom is--,"
"Really proud of you and will be watched by me. I promise."
"Fine," he consented, begrudgingly.
"So, who can walk the mothers down the aisle?"
"I can do it," Luke spoke up.
"Great idea. So, first Will comes down the aisle after the mothers. The bridesmaids are then coming down one at a time, first Heather, then Rory, then Melissa." She instructed, as they got that far.
"Okay, then Mr. Davis," she said.
"Please, call me Drew."
"Drew, take Erin's arm and lead her down to Jess."
He smiled at his daughter, and she gave her first genuine smile of the evening. They walked slowly to the music until they approached Jess. He kissed her cheek, shook his hand and sat down with his wife. Rory smiled, realizing this wasn't weird for her. She was so happy to see them this way. She noticed how she whispered something in his ear and he gave a small laugh, and nodded.
As they got through the basics of the ceremony, they finally got out of the chilly weather. It wasn't too bad; due to the heaters Lorelai had the staff set up for them. But everyone was still glad to get inside and eat. By the end of the night, the toasts had been given, the pleasantries exchanged, and the mothers' officially meeting, everyone went off to their respective places to sleep. Lorelai giggled with Rory before she left, showing her the digital picture of Mrs. Davis' face when she heard TJ suggest tights for the best support for Jess' package on the wedding day, so he'd be 'good and ready' for the wedding night.
Liz caught Jess as he was getting his things together for the next day. She and TJ were off to the diner to sleep, while Jess was staying at the Dragonfly with the rest of the wedding party.
"Hey, honey, I just wanted to thank you for inviting us. I know you didn't have to," she said.
"I invited you and Jimmy, you're my parents."
"You invited Jimmy?"
"Yeah."
"He coming?"
"Do you see him?"
"I can't believe him! How often does your only kid get married?"
"Mom, he's in California, he can't get away. He called and wished me luck today. He sent a toaster."
"A toaster?"
"It's Jimmy's sense of humor. You get married, you get a toaster," Jess shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad to be here anyway."
"Me too," he said, looking down at his hands. She gave him a hug, which he let her do, and then she left to go to bed. He sighed and headed up the stairs, the last of the group to do so.
"Wanna see a funny picture?"
Rory was sticking her head out her door, dressed in flannel pajamas with frogs on them. She held out her mom's digital camera, and he smiled.
"Sure, I won't sleep tonight anyway," he smirked, going into her room.
They went through the pictures, some quite humorous, and had some good laughs. She recounted the package story, and he cringed in horror at first, but ended up laughing when he saw the picture of the woman's face. After a while, Rory leaned back against her headboard and yawned.
"You're tired, I'll get going."
"I'm sort of excited to have a night in a bed alone. Is that wrong of me?"
"I think you earned it. It's my last night in bed alone, I guess, huh?" he smiled.
"Yeah. Good luck tomorrow."
"Thanks."
He left her room and went down the hall to his room. He found a note on his book that he had put on the nightstand. He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight, so he'd brought a book to pass the time. He unfolded the note as he kicked off his shoes and immediately recognized Erin's neat handwriting. He read her words, and smiled. He folded it and put it inside the cover of the book, and flipped to his marked page and read until he lulled himself to sleep.
Rory woke up like clockwork at 3am. Smiling, knowing full well she could just roll over and return to sleep, she picked up the phone and dialed. It was answered on the first ring by a very coherent sounding voice.
"Hey," came the knowing voice.
"Hi."
"We miss you."
"Good to know. Is she eating?"
"Yep. Like a pro."
"I miss her so much."
"Thanks."
"I miss you too. A lot," she added.
"She misses you too. As do I."
"Give her a kiss for me?"
"Done. So, tell me about the rehearsal," he said, leaning back in the rocking chair, Ella eating happily in his arms, holding the phone with his shoulder to his ear. Rory put the other pillow behind her, and settled in to tell Tristan of the antics that ensued at the Dragonfly.