Chapter 93
December 25th, 2021
There was quite a significant benefit to having Lorelai at the Sandcastle with them. This way Em had another warm bed to slip into in the morning, though her eventual choice always held some degree of surprise. This morning definitely was one in which Logan and Rory had been given their space.
It was still early. Early enough for Em not to be banging on their door to go open the presents. Late enough for adults who found better uses for their bodies than sleeping, one gentle touch, another gentle tug, a dreamy brush of one's lips against the other's skin having led to other things.
His lips were still on hers, lingering, the post-orgasmic bliss having just minutes ago carried through their bodies, which were now hot and glowing from the exertion.
"Definitely a good morning," Rory sight, not wanting to slip out of Logan's arms if she could help it. Logan really was her drug of choice, the chemical composition of whatever made up his scent, taste and feel did wonders for her own brain chemistry, making her feel young, sexy and invincible.
Suddenly Rory's phone pinged, and Rory let out a low, disappointed groan. But it was inevitable. She untangled herself, reluctantly, turning to her other side and reached out for her phone. Logan's hands still caressed her, wrapping around her hips, still hungry for seconds.
"Will be there in 10," said Jess' message, definitely jolting Rory's thoughts onto another wavelength compared to Logan's. But Logan sensed her body tense too, and slowly released his grip.
"Jess just landed," Rory said. She knew that it was time to get her panties back on. And not just. Em would want her to wake her too.
"Ah…, and the morning just got less enticing," Logan commented, knowing well that Rory couldn't expect him to like this addition to their morning. He understood the benefit of it, but Jess would never become his favorite person either. And Rory really didn't mind, she got it.
"Did I tell you I love you recently?" Rory replied, turning around and kissed him as a final promise to resume this later. The fact that he was being this accepting of Jess' place in their life, was worth her gratitude. Not once had he been difficult about any of it.
"You can never say that enough," Logan replied, huskily.
Rory smiled and rose, and flirtily pulled on her underwear, and continued to take off her top that had remained on through the night, and put on her bra and a fresh t-shirt instead, not wanting to appear on the door in her robe this time. It was definitely not an unattractive sight, and Logan knew he was better off starting the morning off with a cool shower to get his head straight.
As Rory emerged from the bedroom, she continued onwards to find Em still in her own bed instead of having snuk to Lorelai's room. It was a little unnerving even, it being so unlike her to actually risk the chance of her daughter finding Logan and her mid-act. She scolded herself for mild recklessness, but didn't regret it, simply feeling relieved that she'd gotten away with it. Maybe Em was even growing out of that habit, little by little.
"Em, honey, time to wake," Rory said, pushing a strand of brown hair behind Em's hair, that was on her face. She continued to rub her back gently.
"Uh..," Em mumbled, still deeply asleep.
"Your dad is going to be here any minute," Rory said, and that certainly did the trick. The girl, still struggling to fully wake, functioned as on automatic and climbed out of her bed, her step still wobbly way she tottered down the stairs ahead of Rory carefully, as if being pulled by some mystic, magnetic, force, made Rory muse to herself about how adorably in love with Jess Em was. Rory could only hope that'd make up for the way she herself had hurt Jess.
They made it downstairs just as his car pulled up, Em peeking through the foyer window by the door as he ot out of the car. Rory could tell how Jess was hiding a present behind his back as he approached.
"Hey," Rory said, actually quite happy to see him, as she opened the door for him.
The deafening cheer Em let escape her lips, likely woke Lorelai along with it, as Em wrapped her arms around her father, stepping on his shoes as she did, almost as if attempting to climb the man. Jess heaved the girl, barely weighing anything to someone like him, forward to the room, out of the cold, so Rory could close the door behind them. With Em distracted by hugging him and already telling him everything she'd been doing, Rory took the present from his hand, hiding it behind her own back and snuck the box under the Christmas tree without Em noticing.
Finally as Em released her grip, Jess hugged Rory too, just a simple half hug - the friendly kind, which probably for the first time came completely naturally, adding, "Merry Christmas."
"You too. I'm glad you're here," Rory replied.
"Daddy! Can we open the presents now?" Em inquired, enthusiastically.
"Hm… I don't know. Have you had breakfast yet?" Jess inquired, assuming she hadn't based on her pajamas and her messy hair.
"No, but..," Em began, breakfast being furthest thing from her mind.
"Come on, just a quick breakfast and then we'll open them, okay?" Rory encouraged, assuming that both Lorelai and Logan wanted to be there too for this part.
"How about oatmeal?" Jess teased, knowing it would normally take a lot of convincing to get Em to eat that. He wasn't really suggesting it, just toying with her.
Rory poured Em a quick bowl of cereal, which she ate eagerly, Rory even having to slow her down a little. By then Lorelai made it downstairs, her presence coming to Jess as a bit of a surprise as well, and he cast Rory a questioning look. He hadn't known Lorelai would be there and it made him wonder about Luke's whereabouts.
After Logan had arrived too, everyone who wanted grabbed a coffee and followed Em towards the Christmas tree. This was definitely one of the most exciting days in the little girl's life.
Em went head first for the biggest present, unwrapping the mint-colored wrapper with snowmen on it. Inside was a big box of Magnificent Magnets, which was one of the gifts from Rory. She continued onwards to the next box a charade game which was also from Rory, then a large plush teddy bear from Lorelai along with some smaller action figures. Jess' present appeared to be her favorite though - a few books she'd been asking for and Jess had had to search far to get for her, along with a gift certificate to take her to a Trampoline park, since the girl had gotten a taste for adrenaline that one time they'd been to climbing together.
Logan's gift was humbler in its size, and truthfully, Em didn't look all that impressed.
The marine-themed gift wrap, which Rory recalled having seen at the ferry's gift shop, held a coloring book, and a small snow globe. These were clearly souvenirs, and Rory didn't really know what Logan had been thinking. It was only as Rory noticed Logan and Jess exchange a look, Jess' actually looking thankful, it hit her. This had been intentional. She wasn't sure she understood the whole logic behind it, but Em's mild reaction and a luke-warm thank you certainly made it clear whose present she valued most, as Em snuggled into the armchair with one of the books Jess had given her a minute later.
The others began to open presents too, Rory having gotten Jess a book too, a cruise gift card to her mother and a plus one, as a half joke but now feeling like it might actually feel a little adding salt to her wound. Her mother, however, being a tough cookie, didn't show it at least, seeing the joke behind it above everything else. Hell, Lorelai would take Michel or Sookie if it came to it or just get a refund, but she appreciated the gesture.
While Jess and Em were hanging out, looking at Em's gifts together across the room, Logan also gave Rory her present. It was a set of salt and pepper diamond stud earrings, nothing huge or very flashy, saying how he thought they'd match her ring. Rory loved the gift, despite worrying a little of the cost. But this was Logan - even now.
"What was up with you and Jess, before?" she inquired, after thanking him with a kiss. She's gotten him a study desk, very similar to that of his grandfather's in its grandeur but less massive. She hadn't brought it, naturally, just putting it in storage until they got a place of their own. It was a gift towards building their future together, and Logan had been pretty impressed of her thoughtfulness.
"Nothing you need to worry about," Logan chuckled quietly, tucking his hands into his pockets. "He just asked, half jokingly - I might add, that I'd try to not outstage him in front of Em with money, so this was me getting her a gift that was just a little underwhelming," Logan added and continued to explain how it wasn't even about the gift so much as simply Jess asking him to win Em's friendship over by other, less materialistic, means. Jess had even explained to him that while he believed Em to be a good judge of character, he also didn't want this to become a competition on who buys her a flashier gift and how treats and spoling should be done by the parents first and foremost. It really had sounded like Jess was well-meaning, not even insecrue, when he had asked something like that, and Logan, having perhaps even taken it a step further than Jess had meant, had complied as a show of good faith. It was just a present, it wouldn't be the last thing she got her, if he could help it, and besides - Logan really did feel like perhaps he didn't know Em enough yet to get her something as personal as he would knew to get Linus and Conrad, that she'd love. He still had a lot to learn.
"What am I going to do to you," Rory wailed her head and pulled Logan behind a corner to kiss him more intensely. This was more than she'd expected of him, and especially to do something like this for Jess. "Just know that you didn't really need to, right? You can just be yourself. You don't need to try so hard," Rory assured as the kiss broke, his arms still wrapped around her.
"I know...," Logan agreed.
It was several hours later, the day having consisted of trying out all of Em's gifts, watching a movie and making a large mid-afternoon feast, Jess and Logan struggling a bit at working together in the kitchen. Neither was really used to giving up the reins and Rory was really just being in the way in this odd dynamic. Hence they'd finally agreed to let Logan handle it, him having gotten a hang of this particular kitchen, while they took Em outside for some fresh air.
Em was flying a kite in the backyard, and it truly was the perfect place for it, despite the coldness of the wind. After a while as Em was getting the hang of it and Lorelai stayed behind to aid her, Jess, having forgotten his gloves, came to sit next to Rory on the edge of the back porch, tucking his hands into his pockets to warm up.
"I'm glad you came, she's so glad you did too," Rory decided to say, truly appreciating the way he'd stayed neutral throughout the day. It must've not been easy, she understood that.
"Anything for her," Jess replied, observing Em as he spoke.
"Logan told me about your little agreement with the gift," Rory reveled.
Jess chuckled. "Ah well, got to test his obedience somehow, don't I?" he laughed in a low tone, half jokingly. "But yeah, I get it - he's co-operative, he means well," he explained with a light shrug.
"Are you sure? Because of this whole Luke thing... Mom said he'd been trying to talk you into fighting for more custody," Rory said, admitting her worry.
"He did, but I am sure," Jess replied. "I don't know what's gotten into him. He'd been strange lately. And, no, I'm not taking his advice. I promise. I know my first reactions weren't the best, but I don't want Em seeing us like that… I think I can handle it. I don't want no nasty lawyers involved," he explained.
"Good," Rory sighed.
"You look happier, I can't deny that," Jess admitted, having missed seeing her like this. It took the contrast for him to really see it and admit defeat.
"Thanks," Rory replied. "You look more chipper too," she added.
There was a moment of silence, Jess never being too good at accepting a compliment.
"I started a new job," Jess decided to share. "I'm teaching a class at the community center. Creative writing. Not really for the money even, but just to do something different," he added.
He'd missed just talking to Rory, truthfully, the two of them having been each-other's good, if not best, friends for a long time, despite not always disclosing what they thought fully.
This explained in part where he went on Sunday evenings, but there was more to it. But the details of the 'more' were more personal, and he wanted to have more tact than perhaps Rory had when she'd told him she was seeing Logan again. It wasn't that serious yet, and it wasn't completely uncomplicated and hence something he wasn't ready to bring to her attention, or Em's for the matter, just yet. Jess didn't think he owed her anything at this point.
But either way, they seemed to have found a common middle-ground, which enabled Rory to relax a great deal, trusting Jess not to lie to her. She felt she owed him this much.
