AN: Started this chapter, but had some block earlier—wrapping it up is hard! I don't want it to end, but sadly, it will and soon. Oh, and before I forget, I need a volunteer to beta a new Trory I'll be writing for an exchange. It will get racy, so if that bothers you, don't volunteer. It also means I probably won't be able to post it here, but I'll have the link up on my website when it's all finished (sometime in March). Anyone interested in beta-ing for me, just email me. Back to the story!
The whole town had gathered in the square. The tree seemed to be overloaded with homemade ornaments, mainly from decades of elementary school students' handiwork, and thousands of lights. The skies were overcast, and there was snow forecasted for this evening. People milled about, drinking hot cider, coffee, and hot chocolate, visiting with others, and enjoying the carolers and bell ringers on the gazebo.
The whole family had gotten all their last minute shopping done early this morning, and met up with Jess, Luke, and Jackson (the latter two who never attend the annual mall trip) at the diner for lunch. Each year, since all the kids were very small, the parents swapped children, in order to give the kids and opportunity to buy for their parents. Sookie and Lorelai took Jules, Ambrose, Jake, and Ella, leaving Rory and Tristan with just Lia and Billy this year. In years past, Jess and Erin had joined them, and they'd also had Will, Anna, and Davey in tow. Lorelai, who had insisted they continue the tradition this year to provide the stability to help even out all the upheaval the families were feeling, declared this year's trip a success.
Will came up to Lorelai and Luke, who were warming themselves by the bonfire. He hugged his mom and warmed his hands at the fire as well.
"Am I still welcome over tonight?"
"Hey, I haven't turned your bedroom into a sewing room, yet," Lorelai said. "Though that is an idea—I could make your dad some shirts that aren't flannel."
"Or you could just work with flannel," Luke suggested.
"So, you want to sleep at home tonight?" Lorelai asked, ignoring Luke's comment.
"It is Christmas," Will said.
"True, but I thought you might want to spend it with a special someone."
"She's staying at Sookie's," he blushed.
"Aw, you look happy," she nudged him.
"Lorelai, stop embarrassing him," Luke shook his head.
"I'm not, I'm his mother, and I'm allowed to say he looks happy."
"I am happy. And I want to thank you both, for not making a huge deal out of this."
"But, it is," she urged half asking.
"Lorelai," Luke warned.
"It's okay, Dad. It is sort of a big deal."
Lorelai squealed happily, but said nothing.
&&&&
Ella stood in line to get coffee, and tried to warm her hands up that had grown cold even through her warm gloves. She was hoping the coffee would do the trick. She felt someone come up behind her and wrap their arms around her waist, and her back nestled into something warm and solid.
"Hey, make that two," he said to the person behind the table. "How are you?"
"Cold. How much longer 'til the tree lighting?"
He checked his watch as they grabbed their coffees. "An hour."
"Man, I love the tree lighting, but seriously, we could be waiting in Luke's, couldn't we?"
"Don't worry. If the coffee doesn't do the trick, I'll keep you warm."
"Hmm. I like that," she smiled, looking up into his eyes. "So, was my Dad too evil earlier?"
"Well, I was pretty nervous before we left."
"You don't say, you know, the comment about how it was good that you would be in a crowded mall with witnesses didn't give that away," she teased.
"Actually, we had a chat today."
"Uh-oh," she winced.
"Your mom and Lia went into some make-up store," he started, and she smiled, "So, we hit one of those knife stores. He asked me if I got you jewelry for Christmas."
"Ooh, did you?"
"You'll find out tomorrow."
"You told my dad, but not me?"
"He asked, and he still scares me a little, okay?"
She nodded and giggled. "Go on."
"Anyway, he asked me basically what my intentions were with you, and I told him that we were just dating, but that I loved you, and that it was going well."
"And he said?"
"That he and your mom have known me all my life, and they like me. Oh, and that he'd kill me if I ever did anything to make you cry."
"Nice touch, he has."
"Very. And the effect is magnified in a knife store."
"At least it wasn't a gun shop."
"Don't need a permit for a knife," he reminded.
"My dad is good," she nodded, realizing the true genius at work here.
Billy nodded and put his arm around her as they tried to get warmer by the large fire.
&&&&
Lia, Jules, Ambrose, and Jake were working on the 'Build your own Snow Castle' on the other side of the town square from the fire. They were determined to win this year, as they'd come in a close second last year.
"It's still missing something," Ambrose said, stepping back and looking over their nearly finished castle.
"A mote?"
"There's no water."
"It'll be precautionary, incase of warmer weather," Jake joked.
"We could buff it," Jules suggested.
"With what and why?"
"To make it shiny?"
"How many shiny castles have you seen?" he asked, rolling his eyes.
"The one at Disney World is pretty shiny," Lia offered.
"We could add another tower on that end, to sort of give it more balance," Jake suggested.
Ambrose looked at it with scrutiny. "Yeah, that might help."
They went back to work, packing down snow, and lumping it up to form another base. The work was getting their knees a little wet, despite the mats that were provided, but it was keeping them busy and warm.
"So, is Jess really going on another date with that woman from the diner?" Lia asked.
"He called her last night. I heard him talk to Mom about it," Jake nodded.
Jules and Ambrose shared a look.
"Oh, hey, sorry. Should we not. . .?" Jake began, looking at the two.
"No, it's okay. Dad told us after lunch that he planned on being in contact with this woman, and that if it got serious, we'd meet her."
"At least maybe it'll help him get through it, to know he can move on," Lia offered.
Jules nodded. "He deserves that."
The continued working until they were satisfied, luckily finishing minutes before the judges blew their whistles, indicating that the time was up. They moved off to the side, collecting their complimentary hot chocolates and awaiting the judges' decisions.
&&&&
"So, you were completely nice to him?" Jess asked, still not quite believing it. He wasn't alone; Rory was looking rather skeptical as well.
"Am I evil, did I miss something?"
"Uh, yes, when it comes to boys that like your daughter," Rory continued to look at him.
"Look, she told you about the whole love thing, I realized that if I continued with the crazy over-protective act, she might rebel and rush into things she wasn't ready for, so I figured if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
"What?" Jess asked, not quite getting what Tristan meant.
"I just figured that if I made it really obvious that I approve, it might take away some of the 'immediacy' of it all."
Rory giggled, and patted her husband on the shoulder.
"What?"
"No, it's smart. Very smart."
He looked at her, bothered by her amusement.
"And very mature."
"What?"
"Look, man, if they're really hot for each other and they think you think it's fine, what's stopping them from having sex?" Jess asked.
Tristan looked to Rory, who nodded. "I certainly felt no qualms when I first had sex, 'cause Mom had been so cool about it. I even called her afterwards, when you fell asleep," she added.
"Damn it," he said, taking his arm out from around Rory's waist, and walking off.
"Where are you going?" she cried out after him.
"To talk to Luke."
"Why?"
"He'll get me back in the scare-the-hell-out of them game."
Rory rolled her eyes and took another drink of coffee as Tristan went off in search of sage words. She watched the fire crackle for a moment, then turned to survey the snow-castle judging. Next to it, they were judging for 'Best Snow Angel'. She loved this time of year, there were so many great things to do with snow.
"Think they'll win this year?"
"Hands down. They've had the most practice," Jess stated assuredly.
"Every year."
He nodded, and shifted his weight a few times, trying to keep moving.
"They doing okay?" she asked, watching as the four were laughing at something Ambrose had said.
"Yeah. I told them about my plans to call Gwen."
"And you took your ring off," she pointed out.
"Yeah, well, it was time."
"Yeah."
"But they seem really supportive. I know they're taking pity on me, trying to hide their anger from me," he said.
"Maybe they should see a counselor or something," Rory suggested.
"Maybe. I don't think Jules has been eating. Look at her," he said.
"She does look thin, but hopefully that's just temporary. I don't eat when I'm stressed."
He nodded. "She doesn't need anymore problems to sort through."
"You've got great kids. They're going to be fine."
"Yeah. I know."
"And so will you."
"Well, I do seem to have elves watching over me," he said, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Oh, yeah, now that sounds like fun!"
"You broke into my room this morning to take care of me, didn't you?"
"I snuck in," she corrected.
He shook his head. Tristan rejoined them at that point, looking happier. Rory looked up at him questioningly.
"I feel much better now."
"Good, now make him feel better."
Tristan smirked. "Well, he could try to walk in on your mom again," he snickered.
"Okay, you two need some alone time," Jess announced, walking towards the castle area, leaving them enjoying his embarrassment.
&&&&
"Hey, where'd Dave go?" Anna asked, running up to Will, who handed her some hot cider.
"He went to pick up Mallory. They're spending tonight at the apartment. Her family went to Vail for Christmas this year, but with her looking for a new place before the semester starts, she stayed behind."
"So, you're at your parents?"
"Yeah, why, planning a late night visit?"
"I don't know, have you been a good boy?" she asked, smiling seductively at him.
"I'll be in a really tiny single bed."
"Oh, fine. You win. I won't come visit."
"I don't call that winning, per say, but I'll come over tomorrow after we do presents with the family," he promised.
"Nah, we're all heading over to you, didn't you hear?"
"Nope. But then again, I don't try to keep up with all of Mom's plans. I just go where instructed."
"It is a full-time job."
"Not even Dad can keep up with it all."
"He seems to do a pretty good job."
"Yeah, well, years of practice," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "So, what are you doing for New Years' Eve?"
"Well, for 21 years, I've spent it at your folks' house. But this year, I was thinking I'd finally tackle Times Square."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, well, you know how I love being a sardine."
"Right. So, persuading you to be my date and kiss me at midnight would take what?"
"Hmm. Something shiny tomorrow?"
He smiled. He couldn't wait to give her the present he'd picked out for her—well, both of them, as he didn't bother taking back the book he'd originally picked out for her. He liked her style, though. He could never blame a girl for trying.
"You should keep that dream alive," he smiled, leaning in to kiss her. He pulled back and held her close to him as he looked into her eyes. She looked so happy, her cheeks pink from the cold, and a knit cap pulled down over her forehead. He continued to study her face, and said nothing for an elongated beat.
When he continued to look at her so seriously, she felt a little uneasy. "Hey, I was just kidding about the something shiny," she said lightly. "You okay?"
"I love you."
She felt her knees give a little, and was very glad he was already wrapped around her. She continued to look into his eyes, and grabbed onto his arm with her free hand.
"I love you, too," her voice came out in a whisper, much as his had. He leaned in to kiss her again, and they heard the voice coming over a loudspeaker, announcing just five minutes left until the tree lighting, and the winners of the snow contests. They both heard the familiar names for the winners of the snow castle contest, and they pulled themselves out of their personal moment to join the growing group of family, as they congregated to watch the tree light up together.