DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Except for any extra names that you don't recognize from the show. . . those I 'created'. Read WHW and JOF to get back-story.
Arm securely around his oldest child, Tristan walked slowly up the drive from the car to the main entrance to the Dragonfly Inn. With the expansion of the families, Lorelai kept enough rooms open for both the Dugrey and Mariano families to come and stay comfortably for a few days over the holiday season. With Will off on his own, they could take on a few extra bodies, but everyone was happy staying at the Dragonfly. Tristan told Lorelai long ago that staying at her house seriously cramped his style with Rory, and they needed to have plenty of unsupervised time with no kids. Rory had never seen Luke look more uncomfortable as he did in that moment.
However, at the current moment his thoughts were not of the unspeakable things he would like to do once he got Rory alone in their room. He was thinking instead of how Billy Melville had made a beeline to say goodnight to Ella. Her smile as she bid him a goodnight wasn't something he was ready for. He knew she dated, and Rory had told him he would just have to get over the fact that she was a young woman now. She reminded him that her mother didn't chain her up and let her go out with the likes of Jess and himself when she was Ella's age. He informed her those things didn't make him feel any better about the situation.
"Now, you know what to do if a boy tries something, right?"
"Daddy, stop," she sighed, her attempts to wriggle out of his hold on her waist unsuccessful.
"I'm serious. If a guy came up to you and tried--," he started but she interrupted him.
"Dad, I took self-defense at school. It was my gym requirement, remember?"
"So, if any unwanted attention comes your way," he started again.
"I'd stick my nails in his eye then knee him in the groin," she replied automatically.
"So, you were paying attention in self-defense class?"
"Actually, I did my nails during self-defense."
"So the knowledge comes from?"
"Uncle Jess."
"Huh," he nodded, mentally noting to himself to thank Jess later.
Anna threw more pillows on the couch, knowing that her back was going to be sore for days after sleeping on the dilapidated excuse for furniture. Her bed was sounding more and more inviting, but being around her parents, happy and oblivious to her pain, didn't sound so comforting. Telling them just wasn't an option, so instead, she began unfolding some blankets and trying to make the couch as comfortable as possible.
"You can have my bed. I'm sure my floor will be more comfortable than that thing," came Will's voice from behind her.
"I feel like staying awake anyway. How are you doing?"
"Oh, you know, nothing like an ex showing up to brighten the holiday spirit," he joked, sitting down next to her on the couch.
"I've never seen Aunt Lorelai that mad," she commented.
Will snorted. "Did you not see Rory?"
"She has quite a mouth on her, too," she nodded, smiling.
"I just can't believe she thought I'd be dumb enough to want to take her back. I've told her no a jillion times, and it's not going to change. Especially now—really seeing her pregnant just makes it worse, you know?"
"I can't believe she cheated on you—I'll never understand what she was thinking. She can't do better than you," she said like it should be common knowledge.
Will glanced in Anna's direction without turning his head. She caught him looking at her and blushed. A small smile formed on his lips, and her cheeks flamed redder.
"I mean, it's just that you were so good to her, you know," she stammered, trying to make it clear in his mind what she had meant.
"Right, I know," he said softly, still not looking directly at her.
"I wasn't trying to sound like you were the best thing out there, I just meant that you are a great guy. Any girl would be lucky to find someone like you, and she's obviously realized that."
He looked at her after the 'any girl' comment, and he noticed that her blush increased with his gaze fixed on her. He tried to remember the last time he saw her blush, but no instance came to his mind. He smiled as he noticed that the tips of her ears darkened to match her cheeks.
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh, it's nothing."
"You want me to stop talking about her?"
"No, it's not that."
"Okay," she nodded, wondering what was going through his head. The evening had been truly interrupted when Bree had shown up. As soon as his defensive tone filled the air, Lorelai and Rory had rushed into the kitchen and stepped in front of him, thus creating a Gilmore barrier between Will and Bree. She told them this was none of their business and that she only wanted to talk to Will. By the time Anna had come back into the kitchen to see what the ruckus was about, Lorelai and Rory were tag-teaming the girl, reeling on about how Will was their business, though he was no longer her business. Words got heated and finally Jess (as Luke and Tristan were busying holding their wives at bay) stepped up and suggested she leave now and go ruin someone else's Thanksgiving. Lorelai led Will into the living room, away from the scene of the crime and let him choose what to watch next. Much to Luke's dismay, he chose A Christmas Story. Again.
"I'll let you get some sleep," he said, standing up from the lumpy couch.
"Oh, right. Night."
She stood up as well and they stood almost awkwardly in front of each other. He reached out and pulled her towards him, hugging her to him briefly. She returned the gesture and they quickly let go. She slumped back down on the couch as he retreated back down the hall to his room.
Creeping downstairs to make himself some tea now that the house was again empty and Lorelai happily asleep, Luke jumped suddenly when he flipped the light switch on to reveal someone already making tea. Jess' head jerked up, as he too was surprised to find someone else up at this hour.
"Jeez," Luke muttered under his breath.
"Sorry," Jess mumbled.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I said sorry," Jess reminded him, going over to the table and resting his hands on the back of a kitchen chair.
"It's fine, just—why are you here instead of the Inn?"
Jess shrugged. "Couldn't sleep."
"They have tea at the Inn."
"Needed a walk."
"I see," Luke nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.
Jess sighed. Over the years, he's learned to come to Luke for advice. He rarely sought out advice, but when he really needed to talk, it was Luke he went to, for two reasons. Firstly, he would always tell him how it was without all the schmaltzy crap that most people doled out. Secondly, Luke was going to share his thoughts whether or not Jess asked, so it was easier to come to him. Of course, he usually didn't just show up at 2 in the morning.
"I needed some time alone," Jess said, trying to sound unconcerned.
Luke raised an eyebrow, not in the mood for this stuff at this hour. He normally got up early, had for the last few decades, but never had to be articulate at this hour.
"I think Erin and I are in trouble," he sighed, giving up the ghost.
"Sit," Luke commanded, pointing to the table.
"Luke," Jess protested, as if he really didn't want to talk about it. Which part of him didn't. The other part knew better, and he sat down after one sterner look from Luke.
"Talk," came another command.
Jess leaned back in his chair and sighed again. It seemed all he could do at this point. He wasn't quite sure where to start, as it had begun a while ago. He'd wanted to talk to Luke about it the last time he'd come up to visit, but couldn't find the words then.
"I don't know. We're just fighting a lot lately. And not the fight and make up kind, that you guys do," he shot a knowing look at his uncle, "I mean the yell and stay pissed until the next topic for fighting comes along."
"Wow. What are you fighting about?"
"Everything. Money, kids, jobs—it all started a while ago. She got this job offer in California about five months ago."
"California," Luke nodded.
"Yeah. She told me about it, and I probably should have been more open-minded about it, but did she really think we could just drop our lives and move 3000 miles? Ambrose and Jules are in a good school, the kind I never got to go to, you know? They're doing so well, and California—I just can't go back there. She knows all this, but since then we're fighting. We weren't doing it in front of the kids at first, but now we fight all the time, anywhere we are. Jules has gotten pretty quiet, and Ambrose has started getting in trouble at school," he threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "I'm screwing it all up, Luke."
Luke felt for his nephew, knowing he was in a hard situation. He sat down next to Jess and put a hand on his shoulder. "What do you want, Jess?"
"I want to stop fighting," he said plaintively.
"But, with Erin. I mean, is it all about her wanting to move for the job, or are you two. . . ?" he trailed off, insinuating his meaning.
"I don't know. We're not even nice to each other anymore. We're civil, at best."
Luke blew out a held in breath and sat back. "Wow."
"You said that."
"You haven't talked to anyone about this?"
"Tristan. Earlier, a little. I mean, not the whole extent of it."
"You guys should see a counselor, someone unbiased."
"She won't go."
"What?"
Jess rubbed his temples, trying to stay focused and awake. It'd been a long time since he'd gotten a good night's sleep.
"I brought the idea up. She said there's no point."
"No point? This is your marriage. You have kids," he said angrily.
"Luke, shh. You'll wake Lorelai. Just what I need."
"Jess, you guys have to try."
"I'm not sure it's worth it anymore," he said as the whistle blew on the teapot. Luke looked at him one last time before standing to remove the pot before it did wake up Lorelai. He poured two mugs of tea and sat them down on the table, unsure of what to say.
"You look like hell," he finally offered, to which Jess rolled his eyes. "Want to crash in Will's old room?"
Jess nodded, happy for the offer. The two men finished off their tea and retired to bed. Luke wondered how he would explain Jess' presence to Lorelai. He couldn't imagine his marriage falling to pieces as Jess' had—he couldn't imagine staying angry at Lorelai. They'd gotten into their share of fights—even before they'd started dating, and more after they were together. He knew she was the love of his life, and they'd always put their relationship and their family above everything else. For years, he thought that Jess and Erin had done the same thing. The fact that it could fall apart now was heartbreaking, and he hoped they could find some way to be happy together again.
AN: Okay. I think (stops to think about this) that I'm done setting up the introduction to this story. It only took six chapters. Geez, these series of stories get so complicated. For the reviewer who asked about Paris and all, they might make an appearance, but I'm really focused on the Stars Hollow crew and related families. Anyhow, we got our internet (yells happily and claps) so as long as I stay inspired, the story can flow freely from here and onto the net ï