Kiss the Bride
Chapter Two: Nervous
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Dani for helping me smile again.
A thick cloud of steam drifted out the bathroom door as Jess pulled it open and stepped into the bedroom. He paused as his eyes fell on Rory. He watched as she gracefully fastened the tiny buckle on her black Mary Jane before letting his gaze drift up her long legs and over the flowing lines of her dress until it came to rest, at last, on her face.
"You look nice," he said simply.
She glanced over at him and smiled, blushing a little. "Thank you." She rose from the end of the bed, her shoulder-length curls shifting to frame her face. "You look wet," she stated, walking towards him.
He ran a hand through his hair, sending small drops of water onto his shoulders. "Yeah, guess I better get moving."
She closed the gap between them and placed a small kiss on his lips. "You smell nice," she whispered, breathing in his soapy, clean scent.
He smirked. "Good to know the shower worked."
She grinned and rested her forehead against his. He shivered, her cool skin a marked contrast to the overheated warmth the shower had just rained down on him. She smiled, proud to make him shiver for once. It was usually the other way around.
He made a motion to pull her closer, but she backed away, well aware that he was dripping wet.
His lips shifted into an exaggerated frown, which only caused her to smile more. "Get dressed," she ordered as she headed over to her dresser.
"Despot," he called after her.
She turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling at the memory. "I loved pushing you down those stairs."
"Yeah, I know," he retorted, grabbing his pants from the closet. "It was your version of pulling my hair. Very kindergarten."
She rolled her eyes and grabbed a bottle of perfume, spritzing it on the pulse points of her wrist and neck.
"No argument, huh?" he asked, turning to face her. He pulled on his shirt and started fastening its buttons.
She shrugged noncommitally and ran a brush through her hair.
"Very interesting," he remarked. "So you did like me then? I always wondered."
The corners of Rory's mouth turned up into a tiny smile.
"And again, no denial. Huh." He rolled up his cuffs as he walked across the room. Reaching her, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He kissed the slope of her shoulder and smiled at her in the mirror's reflection.
She sighed happily and leaned back against him. "What is much?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"I think that was the exact moment."
He smirked. "That early? If I'd known that, I wouldn't have tried so hard."
She nudged his stomach gently with her elbow. "What about you?"
"I'm still waiting," he teased.
Her mouth fell open. He smiled and pulled away, so he could put on his shoes.
She turned to look at him, waiting for him to give her an answer. He didn't.
"You're really not gonna tell me?" she asked, slightly irritated.
"Nope."
"Jess…"
"Nope."
"Fine," she said tersely, marching to the table to retrieve her purse. Sliding it over her shoulder, she looked at him. "Are you going to dry your hair?"
He ran his fingers through it, fluffing it up a little. It was drying quickly, and he knew she liked it natural these days. "Nope."
"My grandmother is gonna hate it."
"Darn," Jess said sarcastically.
It usually amused her that he pretended not to care but not today. Her lips formed a straight line. "Fine, we better go."
She had to walk by him to get to the door, and as she did, he reached out and stopped her.
"Hey, when did this become a fight?" he asked, confused.
"It isn't," she said unconvincingly. "You're ready, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Great." She tried to pull out of his grasp so they could leave, but he tightened his hold just enough to keep her in place.
She sighed. "Jess, we're gonna be late."
"It's our party. Who cares?"
"I do."
"This is a fight," he stated.
"No, it isn't."
"Yeah, it is."
"Then it's a good thing you already have a suitcase packed," she quipped angrily.
He released his grip, and her arm fell limply to her side. He nodded, his jaw tightening. "Right," he mumbled, his eyes darting to the ground.
"Jess," she said softly.
He looked up. "What are we thinking?"
"What do you mean?"
"We're getting married, Rory. Tomorrow."
"I know."
"And you still think I'm gonna leave?"
"No."
"You must."
"I don't," she disagreed.
"I've been here for four years," he defended.
"I don't think you're going to leave," she said honestly.
"Then why did you say it?"
She frowned. "I knew it would hurt you."
"Great," he said flatly.
"When did you fall in love with me?" she asked again, not sure why she was so desperate for an answer.
"Why does it matter?"
"It just does."
He sighed. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
He shook his head in frustration. "No."
Rory felt a dull pain behind her eyes. "How can you not know?"
"Because I don't, Rory," he shouted. Then, after a long beat of silence, he added gently, "It just happened."
"Okay," she said softly.
He looked away, recognizing the familiar quiver in her voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her fold her arms protectively over her chest. He took a deep breath and turned back to her. "Rory…"
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
He nodded and walked over to her, taking her hands in his and unfolding them. "Don't cry."
She sniffled and nodded, fighting back her tears. He bent his knees a little, searching for her eyes. When they finally connected with his, he explained softly, "It's just – I," he sighed, searching for the words that would make her understand. "I didn't know what love was until I met you. I have no idea how long it was there before I knew what it was."
"Well, when did you realize what it was?" she asked.
He hesitated, trying to pinpoint the moment. "When I came back from California, and you took off running."
She bit her bottom lip gently, a nervous habit.
He smiled a little. "If it helps, as soon as I realized, I told you."
She nodded, remembering. "And then you left."
His smile faded. "I had to. Everything was a mess."
She guided his arms around her waist and drew him close. "I know," she mouthed silently. Then, as a single, uncontrolled tear rolled down her cheek, she found his lips with hers. He squeezed her hands gently and returned the kiss.
After several long moments, they drew apart, and Rory dropped her head into the crook of his shoulder. They stood still, arms entwined around one another.
Slowly, Rory loosened her grip and pulled back. Searching his brown eyes for any sign of doubt, she said carefully, "I know you're not going to leave."
He nodded. "I'm not."
"I'm sorry."
"Okay," he accepted.
She looked at him desperately. "Please say you still want to marry me."
"You still want to marry me," he teased.
She smiled. "I do."
He kissed the tip of her nose. "Just tell me this fight that isn't really a fight is over."
She grinned and glanced up. "I like your hair like that."
"Emily doesn't," he reminded her.
She shrugged. "I don't care."
He smirked. "We better go."
She took his arm and wrapped it more tightly around her waist. "Let's go."
- - -
They pulled up outside the restaurant, and Jess turned off the engine. Neither of them moved. After a long pause, he reached over and softly massaged Rory's knee. She leaned against the headrest and turned her head to look at him.
"Let's elope."
He chuckled. "I really wish you meant that."
"Maybe I do."
He smiled. "No, you don't. You want your mom there, and your dad, and Luke and Taylor and Miss Patty."
"And even Kirk," she added.
"We invited Kirk?"
"We invited Kirk," she said matter-of-factly.
"That'll make things interesting."
Rory reached down and took his hand in hers. "That was the nerves talking back there."
He ran his thumb across her hand. "I know that."
"I ruined our last moment alone as singles."
He smirked. "We were never very good at that anyway."
She sighed. "The next time we're alone together, we'll be married."
"Lorelai Leigh Mariano," he drawled.
"It sounds nice."
"We better get in there," Jess said, looking at the restaurant with dread.
Rory grinned. "Deep breath."
Together, they inhaled, held the breath, and exhaled loudly.
"Ready?" she asked.
"As I'll ever be."
Releasing her hand, he got out of the car and walked around to open her door. Her hand slid comfortably into his as she got out, and they headed into the restaurant.
Moments later, the expected din greeted them, and they were pulled in opposite directions.