Elise rules
The Orange Soda Will Get You Every Time Part 8
"So...you and Rory... again."
Jess marched through the frozen streets of Stars Hollow. "We're not talking about this," he told her.
"How long have you been seeing her?"
"None of your business."
"Is it serious?" Kathy asked.
Jess stopped walking and turned to her. "Let's talk about something else. Let's talk about you, and where the hell you've been for the past three years."
She stayed silent.
"It's one thing that you left me," he said angrily. "I can take it. I'm used to it."
Jess kept walking, and she followed him.
"I'm sorry," Kathy said after neither had spoken for a while. "I was an idiot... not a day went by that I didn't think about Dan... or you."
Jess kept walking, and she followed him.
"I miss you," she said, catching up to him.
"What about Marcus?" Jess bit.
"I broke up with him," she replied. "I still love you."
"It's been three years," Jess pointed out.
"So what?" Kathy asked incredulously. "It's been eight years for you and Rory... we were together for four of those eight." She rushed in front of him and stopped him, putting her hands gently on his shoulders. "What we have is really strong."
"Not strong enough for you to stay," Jess shook his head. "You cheated on me. You left me. Worst of all, you left Dan."
"Jess..."
"We... what we were was destroyed when you walked out on us," he told her bitterly.
She watched him walk away as the snow fell harder, and didn't follow.
Rory hadn't expected her mother to be awake, let alone bustling around the kitchen making hot chocolate.
Rory also hadn't expected Dan to be sitting in said kitchen.
"Dan?"
"Rory!" He slid out of his chair and rushed over to her.
She knelt down and hugged him tightly. "We were so worried about you!" she cried. "What are you doing here?"
"Dad said if Luke isn't home, go to Lorelai."
Rory sighed as she took out her cell phone and dialed. "Jess? Found him."
Jess bit his lip as he sat down on Rory's bed, where Dan was tucked in. "If your bed time is at eight PM, and it's now three-thirty AM, how late are you for bed?"
Dan gave a guilty look. "Six hours."
"Six and a half," Jess corrected. "Close, though."
They sat in silence for a long moment.
"I know you were scared, Dan..."
"Is that lady gone?" Dan asked suddenly.
Jess shook his head. "We'll talk about her tomorrow."
"Okay."
They sat in more silence.
"Kinda mad, Dan."
"I'm sorry."
"I can't get too mad..." Jess sighed. "I've done that before."
"Really?"
Jess nodded. "New rule: if you need to run, you tell me where you're going first."
Dan nodded back. "Okay."
"But if you can help it, don't run." Jess yawned, causing Dan to yawn as well. "Go to sleep."
Dan yawned again. "G'night, Dad."
"Night," Jess replied. He got to his feet and left, closing the door behind him. He trudged out to the living room and plopped down on the couch.
"He asleep?"
Jess looked up as Rory walked in carrying blankets and a pillow. "Yeah, he's probably out by now... what's with the bedding?"
"They're for you," she replied. "You're not walking back to the diner in that snow... especially since that's where Kathy probably is."
He gave a slow nod. Kathy really wasn't his favorite subject.
"Come on, get up so I can put these on."
Jess got up and watched her set the sheets down. In the time it had taken to get Dan into bed, she'd changed into a pair of old purple, cow print pajamas.
He smirked and gently tugged at the sleeve of her nightshirt. "Nice cows."
She snickered and gave him a blush. "I haven't worn them in years." She frowned suddenly. "You don't have anything to sleep in."
He shrugged, and unzipped his leather jacket, pulling it off, and then set to work unbuttoning his dress shirt. She watched him shrug out of the button-down and then pull his white undershirt over his head.
The blankets were forgotten.
Jess gave her a quizzical look. "What?"
She shook her head. "Nothing." She turned her attention back to the couch. "Almost done."
He nodded. "Where are you sleeping?"
"I figured I'd just crash with my mom," Rory replied, still turned around.
"Huh."
Rory finished making up his bed in silence, and then turned when she was done. "All set."
"Thanks," he nodded.
They stood facing each other.
"So... I'm... I'm gonna go upstairs," Rory said.
Jess nodded. "Okay."
"Because... it's time for bed."
He nodded again. "It is."
"And you're..." she blushed. "Ready for bed."
He scratched the back of his head. "For the most part."
"Uh-huh."
More silence.
She awkwardly walked forward and hugged him. "Goodnight."
"'Night," he replied softly, wrapping one arm around her in return.
She pulled away a little and gave him a soft peck on the lips, but he didn't let her go.
He kissed her in return, soft and slow. In all the commotion of Dan's disappearance, he'd forgotten that earlier that evening he'd been out on a date; a really good date.
Instead of parting, and saying their goodnights once more, they became caught up in the kiss. He pulled her closer, and rested his hand gently on her arm, as she let her fingers wander over his back.
He pulled away a little and rested his forehead against hers. "Thanks."
She gave him a glazy, confused look. "For what?"
"For keeping me from going crazy tonight," he smirked.
She smiled and kissed him again. He responded quickly and began to move them over to the couch. They sat slowly, never parting unless to take short breaths, their embrace growing more heated, more urgent.
Until Rory pulled away.
He struggled to catch his breath and then moved toward her again.
She gave in to one more languid kiss, and then got to her feet.
Jess looked up at her in confusion.
"One: We've been on two dates. Two: Dan is in the other room and three: this is my mother's couch," she whispered hurriedly.
He nodded, still staring up at her. He understood. He took her hand. "'Night."
Rory smiled and ran her hand across his cheek, and then made a swift departure up the stairs.
He watched her go, and then lay down, letting sleep claim him.
"Dad."
It was a whisper.
Jess cracked his eyes open to see his son sitting on the floor in front of the couch. "What?" he mumbled.
"Are you still mad at me?" Dan asked, looking worried.
"No," Jess replied. "What time is it?"
"Ten," Dan replied. "Mr. Greggy called your phone, and I told him you were sick."
Jess nodded and sat up, scratching his hair. He really needed a shower, and he was thankful that he'd forgotten to take their weekend clothing out of his car.
And the car was at Luke's.
So was Kathy.
Ugh.
Jess got to his feet. "Come on. I'll make breakfast."
Dan nodded and got up, following Jess.
"What is that smell? Is that the smell of... hot food in this house?
"Fresh, hot food?"
Jess smirked. "Good morning, Lorelais."
Lorelai walked over and picked some eggs out of the pan.
Both Dan and Jess wrinkled their noses in disgust. "Gross," they said in unison.
Lorelai merely ate the egg and nodded. "Mmm. Hot, but good." She turned to Rory. "Hold onto him. He can cook."
Rory rolled her eyes and walked over to Jess, kissing him briefly. "Morning."
"Hi," he replied with a smirk. "Hungry?"
"What kind of question is that?" Rory teased.
Dan looked a little confused. "I thought it was a good question."
Rory smiled and lifted Dan into her arms. "I'm always hungry."
Dan smiled. "You have cows on your pajamas."
Rory nodded. "I do. And what do cows say?"
Dan burped.
Jess chuckled. "People who burp say..."
Dan smiled proudly. "Pardon me for being rude, it was not me it was my food, it just popped up to say hello, but now it's gone back down below."
Rory blinked.
"Liz taught him that," Jess explained.
"Hmm," Lorelai muttered. "I'll have to remember that."
Rory smirked and put Dan back onto his chair. "So, your car is at Luke's."
Jess nodded. "I figured we'd go after breakfast and get our stuff."
Lorelai raised an eyebrow. "And we're not eating at Luke's this morning, because...?"
"It starts with a K," Rory replied darkly.
"Ah, the K word," Lorelai nodded. "You've got to talk to her sometime."
"Huh," Jess quipped. "How long has it been since you've spoken to Rory's father?"
"Not the point! So not the point!"
Jess smirked and served breakfast.