Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: This chapter is dedicated to LoVe23, who hasbeen my consistent lone reviewer. I myself am liking the Jess/Veronica pairing, this chapter is a reflection of that.As for theLogan Echolls and Rory pairing, that would require more thought.So anyway, on with the story...
Jess has been up since five in the morning. He can't help but feel that today was considerably better than yesterday already.
Jess decided to spend his nights in the room in the library rather than the other rooms that his house offered. Of course he would really rather sleep in his and Veronica's bedroom, but he actually prefers to be alive for the wedding so he opted to keep up appearances.
He actually asked Veronica why Keith was sleeping over, especially since her father owned his own house five miles away from their home. Veronica just tilted her head and smiled at him and Jess knew he had no choice but to sleep on the couch, metaphorically anyway.
After the group disbanded last night he headed for the library, where his single bed was waiting. At midnight he felt someone fall on top of him and it was none other than his favorite Mars, soon to be Mariano. He jokingly suggested that Veronica check the room for bugs, just in case her father planted one. Veronica apparently thought that her father would indeed plant a bug in the library to spy on his daughter and her soon to be husband. Jess was relieved when Veronica came up with nothing.
He and Veronica ended up fitting snugly in the single bed, but Jess always slept better with her by his side anyway.
Five in the morning and he was up. He usually went running with Addy whenever she was in town, but when he brought it up before she left last night she just told him that she did not feel up to it. But his body was used to waking up so early and so he tried to get up from the bed without waking Veronica up.
He went straight to their room to change and then to the kitchen. He figured that he might as well prepare a breakfast surprise for Veronica. Considering the stress that she had all day yesterday it was the least he could do.
When he asked her if Rory Gilmore, his first love, could come to their wedding he knew that despite answering in the positive, a wall started to build behind those beguiling blue eyes of hers. A wall that he has been trying to demolish before it became a permanent fixture in their relationship.
Her coming to him that night despite her father's warnings was a good sign. Jess knew Veronica well enough to know that she actually understands why he allowed Rory to be there in the first place, but it did not mean that she likes it.
It may have been selfish of him to do that but he really wanted Luke to be there. And if Luke comes, Lorelai had to be there as well, with Lorelai comes Rory. Jess released a heavy sigh. He loved Rory; he had to admit that he really loved her in the truest sense of the word.
But Veronica was the best surprise that he had in his life. From the first time they've met to the moment she said yes to his marriage proposal. And he can't help but be amazed with the fact that she seemed to feel the same way for him.
So he set about preparing her favorite breakfast: chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee. They usually do these things for each other, especially of one had a crappy day. That was why they worked; in a sense Addy and Wallace were accurate in describing their relationship, normal, weird but it made complete and total sense.
While he was putting all the food on a tray Luke picked that exact moment to walk into the kitchen. It was already six in the morning and Jess was going to Los Angeles for a meeting at one of the main office.
"Hey." Luke greeted him.
"And good morning to you too." He grinned at his uncle and was about to pick up the tray and bring it to Veronica. But Luke cleared his throat and Jess stopped his movements. He knew when Luke had something in his mind and without Jess' prompting it would take even longer and he really wanted this alone time with Veronica.
"Go on say it." Jess finally focused on Luke.
"I think you have to talk to Rory."
"Huh. Why?"
"Come on, don't be dense. You saw her last night, she was staring at you the entire meal." Luke seemed frustrated by Jess' monosyllabic response.
"Isn't she still with that blond, dick from Yale?" Jess asked back.
"Yes but-"
"No buts Luke. She's in love with him, she told me so herself. End of story. I'm marrying Veronica Mars. I'm in love with Veronica Mars. Rory is in the past, whether she likes it or not. Talking to her would not solve anything, if she has her issues with me those are her problem." Jess spoke like it was the end of that discussion.
"Did you actually think that Rory's looks last night went unnoticed? For gods sakes' Veronica used to be a detective, she's not stupid enough to believe that everything between you and Rory is resolved. You have to talk to Rory, before you marry Veronica." Luke insisted.
"I know that Veronica noticed. I'm not stupid. That's why I'm making her breakfast. I'm trying to make up for springing Rory on her."
"Look all I'm saying is that you have to tell Rory about Veronica, how you love her and stuff. Maybe if she hears it she will finally get it."
"I'll think about it."
"Don't think about it. Do it."
"God you're annoying."
"No you're annoying. Just do as I say."
"Luke, I'll talk it over with Veronica. If she's not comfortable with it I won't do it. If she says yes, then and only then will I have a heart to heart with Rory."
"Good enough for me." Luke nodded agreeably
'For a second there I felt like we were back in Stars Hollow and I was seventeen again." Jess shook his head at their exchange.
"I know! I was just about to say the same thing." Luke smiled at him.
"Well, I'm off to wake up my woman. Feel free to explore the kitchen. I'm sure Lorelai much rather eat something that you made. The maid starts breakfast at seven so you have half an hour to yourself." Jess picked up the tray and walked back to the library.
He walked across the library and into the room behind the curtain. He placed the tray on the desk beside the bed and sat down at the edge of the bed. He smiled at his sleeping girlfriend, turned fiancée and future wife.
"Stop it." His not so sleeping fiancée uttered sleepily.
"I think we just pulled a Bridget Jones' moment." Jess tenderly caressed Veronica's cheek.
Veronica opened her eyes and smiled at Jess as she yawned. "Am I dreaming or did you make a pop culture reference involving Bridget Jones' Diary?"
"No and yes I did, it must have been something I ate. Or it could be my beloved bride insists that Colin Firth is hot and had to subject her guy to constant marathons of said movie." Jess nudged Veronica to make room for him in the tiny bed. Veronica happily obliged, until of course she saw the tray full of food.
"You made me breakfast, awwww how sweet. What do you want?" Veronica stated as she pinched his cheeks and moved towards the food.
"Can't a man just make breakfast in bed for the love of his life?" Jess rolled his eyes at her words.
"Yes, but history dictates that Jess Mariano only makes breakfast in bed for said love of his life when he did something or is about to do something, she wouldn't really like." Veronica answered archly as she picked a piece of bacon from one of the plates.
"I just wanted to make your day better, at least better than yesterday." Jess stood from the bed and sat on the chair.
"Really, Jess? That's it. Trying to make up for the crappy day that was yesterday? Nothing to do at all with the fact that your old girlfriend seemed to find staring at you incredibly fascinating?" Veronica shot back.
"Luke told me you'd notice. Okay, he wants me to talk to Rory. Clear the air so to speak." Jess looked at her waiting for her to explode.
Veronica was quietly munching on the bacon and took her time to answer. "I think it's a good idea."
"What! You want me to talk to an old girlfriend of mine, my first love, who I've pinned for five years?" Jess burst out.
"When you say it like that it doesn't seem like a good idea." Veronica pouted, adorably in Jess' opinion.
"All I'm saying is that I don't want you to feel more uncomfortable with the situation. The idea is to have fun these last two weeks before the wedding. I don't want to taint the days with issues that Rory has with me."
Veronica grabbed a napkin from the tray, wiped her hands and got up from the bed and unceremoniously sat on his lap. Jess encircled her waist, securing her body to his. Veronica smiled at his gesture and lowered her head so their lips would meet. But then she stopped when their lips were inches away.
"All I'm saying is that you need to do this. Just so when the wedding day comes, you can say your I do with a clear conscience"
Jess ignored her words and kissed her. Veronica slipped her arms on his shoulders in attempt to bring them closer. One kiss led to another and somehow they ended up on the bed again, side by side.
"Works every time." Jess muttered into her neck.
Veronica pushed him away, smiling as she did, "What does?"
"Kissing you is one of the most effective ways to shut you up." Jess smugly replied.
"What's another way?" Veronica asked as she pulled Jess closer.
"I wouldn't know. I never needed another way." He charmingly replied.
Veronica laughed and pushed him away, once again focusing on her breakfast, she stared at Jess thoughtfully. Jess lounged at her and pulled her to his lap again. Veronica squirmed helplessly and Jess muttered her name warningly, she just giggled in reply.
"So…" Veronica began after a quiet settled over them as they ate their breakfast.
"So what"
"Will you talk to her then?" Veronica asked as she fed him some of the scrambled eggs.
Jess ate quietly and looked at his fiancée thoughtfully, "You know I will. With you and Luke in complete agreement I don't exactly have a choice. But just to be clear, I will only do it in my own terms; I won't have you or Luke breathing down my neck, okay?"
"But you like it when I breathe on your neck." Veronica teased. "Fine, agreed. Shake on it." Veronica held out her hand for Jess to shake.
Jess ignored her hand and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. Veronica rolled her eyes and the two of them continued their meal.
With breakfast done Jess started to make the bed while Veronica changed out of her pajamas.
"So it's seven now, I'm going to the office and then I'm heading to LA. You're going to Rodeo Drive right?" Jess asked as he cleared the desk as well.
"Yup. My appointment is at one. How many more fittings am I supposed to endure?" Veronica muffledas she put on a sweater.
"Till the big day I think. So I was thinking, maybe we could meet afterwards. My meetings would be over by three, you and I could hook up." Jess casually suggested.
"Hook up in a hotel somewhere in LA?" Veronica asked as she put on her earrings.
"Maybe a late lunch and then a hotel." Jessraised his eyebrows at her suggestively.
"So you want me to bring Mac and quite possibly Lorelai and Rory to the hotel with me so we could all hook up." Veronica looked like she was desperately trying to hold back a laugh.
"Man, good way to put a man down." Jess grumbled.
"Maybe we can still hook up, minus the hotel anyway. Lunch?" she handed Jess the bag where she put all of her things, so he could put it somewhere it could remain unseen.
Jess groaned, "Lunch with four women? I'll be hopelessly outnumbered."
"And you are also hopelessly in love, so you know you would do it anyway."
"Okay, fine. But there better be compensation for me."
"Of course there will be. Thirteen days from now there will be tons of compensation."
Jess grinned happily as he held out his hand for Veronica to take, which she took without second thought.
"Jess, I- when you talk to Rory, can I get at least a warning." Veronica pulled at his hand, effectively stopping him from moving forward. Jess nodded as the two looked each other in the eye.
"And also, I love you Jess Mariano." Veronica added, at her words Jess enveloped her in a huge bear hug, she sighed in relief.
'I love you too, Veronica Mars soon to be Mariano." Jess whispered into her hair. Veronica looked up at him with a wane smile on her face. He repeatedly proclaimed his love for her until she couldn't help but laugh and do the same as well. The two left the room and started walking across the library.
"So is it going to be just Veronica Mariano or are you going to hyphenate?" the only response that Jess got was a startled laugh and an elbow to the stomach.
AN: Hope you enjoyed reading.
