Chapter 29
Luke knew where Jess would go so once he left the house he went directly to the bridge. Sure enough Jess was there, sitting, staring at the frozen pond.
"I knew I'd find you here," Luke commented.
"What gave you that clue?" Jess asked.
"Because this is where you come when you're upset," Luke sighed. "Its also where I used to come and your mother, and your grandfather."
"You should have called him Luke," Jess sighed. "He did try hard while I was in LA. I just…I missed the east coast."
"I should have called him, but Jess, I was so scared we were losing you and once that fear was over and we had a prognosis…I wasn't thinking about anything other than what to do next…I never even thought about calling Jimmy," Luke confessed. "And even if I did, I wasn't sure he would come. I only wanted to protect you."
Jess listened to his uncle's words. He never told Luke about what happened between he and Jimmy so how would Luke know that Jimmy probably would have com. "Luke, you were there for me when no one else was, and I know you would never do something like this on purpose, at least not anymore. I just overreacted because of the last time," Jess sighed, referring to the time Jimmy came to Stars Hollow and Luke kept it quiet.
"Yes," Luke agreed coming up behind Jess' chair. "You did. It unfortunately runs in the family. So let's forget about it, go home and eat some supper before you call you father."
Jess smiled and nodded, "You think the girls are worried or pissed off?" Jess asked.
"Probably a little bit of both," Luke laughed. "Let's go."
A week later, Rory and Jess stood at the arrivals deck of Hartford Airport. Jess was using his crutches instead of his chair as he couldn't get up the nerve to tell Jimmy over the telephone about the accident. He felt the crutches would soften the blow. The plane was delayed though and Jess was getting tired. Rory was hovering nervously at his side.
"Remind me again who's idea this was," Jess sighed as he moved from one end of the gate to the other.
"If you want your wheelchair I can…"
"No, not the crutched idea. The inviting Jimmy and Sasha for Christmas. The attempting to have a holiday with both our fathers and their significant others, along with your grandparents, Luke and Lorelai," Jess laughed.
"Oh, that idea," Rory giggled. "That would be yours."
"Why did you allow me to do that?" Jess asked.
"Because one, you don't need my permission and two, I thought it would be a good idea too," Rory replied.
Jess sighed and shifted, "Are you sure you don't want your chair?"
"I'm good. Don't worry okay?" Jess comforted. "I bet that's their plane," he said as a large plane landed near the window.
About ten minutes later, Jess saw Jimmy and Sasha coming toward him. "That's them," he indicated.
"You look like y our father," Rory observed. "Dark and handsome."
"Thanks, I hope on son looks like me," Jess smirked.
"Why?" Rory asked with mock offense.
"Because I want our daughter to look like you," Jess says with a kiss on her brow.
"Hey, Jess!" Jimmy called as he and Sasha approached.
"Dad," Jess acknowledged. "Sasha, how are you? This is my fiancée, Rory. Rory, my father Jimmy and his girlfriend, Sasha. Where's Lily?" He said all of this in one breath causing Rory and Sasha to giggle.
"We're fine, Jess, but we should be asking you that? What's with the crutches? It's nice to meet you, Rory, and Lily is back in California with her aunt Mazie," Jimmy answered all of Jess' questions in one breath as well. Family trait.
"Um, the crutches are a long story," Jess replied. "Let's get your bags together and I'll explain it all back in Stars Hollow."
Jimmy and Sasha headed for the baggage claim with Rory and Jess coming up behind them. "Just take it easy," Rory coached. "Go slow and remember to lock your elbows."
"I got it, Rory," Jess assured her. "Don't baby me."
"I'm sorry," she apologized.
"Its okay," Jess replied. "I'm still new at this whole walking thing."
By the time, Jimmy and Sasha collected their bags and they headed to the car. Jimmy's curiosity was peaked. He studied his son's steps, very slow, very calculated. The way Rory hovered when the ground was uneven. Something was wrong here, very wrong, but Jess said he would discuss it later.
Sasha sensed Jimmy wanted to push for information so as they drove back to Stars Hollow she kept the conversation focused on the wedding.
"New Years Eve is a very interesting choice of date," Rory she commented.
"Yeah, well usually Stars Hollow has this huge New Years bash that my Mom and Sookie organize, and since it seemed that most of our guest list would be people that usually go to the party…That and I seriously think Mom and Luke were trying to cut down on the amount of my grandparents friends that attend," Rory explained.
"And where is the wedding?" Sasha asked.
"At my Mom's inn," Rory said. "We're getting married under the chuppah Luke made for her when she was engaged before, first Mom and Luke, then Jess and I. The reception will be in the banquet room."
"I think this is so exciting," Sasha gushed. "When Jess arrived in California a year and a half ago he talked about you all the time."
"Sasha…" Jess groaned. "I felt stupid enough then."
"You did miss me," Rory giggled. "I knew it."
"So, how did you do it, Jess? How did you ask Rory? Was it planned out?" Sasha plugged for details.
"Not really. I wanted to plan it out but it wasn't in the cards. I did get to do it on our bridge though, so all's well that ends well," Jess replied, reaching over to gently caress Rory's thigh.
"Did you get a dress?" Jimmy asked, jumping onto the wedding quiz bandwagon.
"Of course she did, Jimmy," Sasha laughed. "They're getting married in eight days."
"Actually, I'm going to wear my grandmother's dress," Rory told him. "My mom bought a great dress though, so all we have to do now is convince Luke and Jess to wears tuxedoes instead of suits."
"Never happen," Jimmy commented. "Luke is a Danes and Jess is too much of a Danes to ever wear a tux. On the outside, all Mariano, on the inside, luckily for you Rory, all Danes."
Jess contemplated that comment and knew there was some truth in it. Jimmy had settled about age forty, but Luke was settled for what seemed like forever. Jess saw similarities between himself and both of these men. He had wanted to roam, to explore, to find out who he was and he had in the year he spend roaming from California to New York, then finally back to Stars Hollow. Once he had Rory back in his arms though, he wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with this beautiful, intelligent woman, who was in truth the other half of his soul. This is where he was grateful for his father's impulsiveness, and his uncle's too, because it was sad to think about how much time Luke and Lorelai wasted.
The feel of the car pulling to a halt outside the diner brought Jess out of his musings. Rory got out of the car working her way around to Jess' side of the car. Jess opened the car door and pulled his crutches out. Getting up and down stairs and curbs took a lot of strength and concentration, but he was getting better at it all the time.
"This place is gorgeous," Sasha smiled looking around at the quaint little town. "Where are we going to stay?"
"At the Dragonfly," Rory replied. "This is Luke's diner, but then…"
"What's with the William's Hardware sign?" she asked.
"Oh, that's just Luke," Rory replied. "It's his way of memorializing his Dad."
"That's sweet," she replied looking at Jimmy whose eyes were fixed on his son and then his son's girlfriend as Rory crossed over to Jess and assisted him in rising from the car seat.
Jimmy watched as Rory put Jess' crutches aside and held her arms out for him to hold onto. Then he watched as, with practiced precision, she held him around the waist until he was once again, standing on his own, with the aid of the crutches. Jimmy waited until Jess was standing on the sidewalk before he in a classic example of Mariano temper moved to stand near the young couple, "Okay," he demanded. "I want to know what's going on here and I want to know now."
A/N: Sorry this update took soooooo long, but I've had some computer problems and a lot of papers for school. It won't be so long until the next one. There are only about five chapters left before the end. I am planning a sequel, what do you think? Any interest?
