Father's Day oneshot set between my Appreciation and Flux fics!
"Daddy!"
Jess groans as a toddler weight thumps onto his chest. "Hey, Charlotte. You're up bright and early, huh?"
Rory's laughter as is cut short as her daughter notices her and, leaning forward, bellows, "Mommy!"
"Wow, hi," Rory says, ears ringing from Charlotte's greeting. "And this is without coffee. You sure you're my daughter?"
Charlotte frowns at her and Rory chuckles, giving her a cuddle. "Good morning, angel."
"I bet it's all the coffee you drank when you were pregnant," Jess remarks. "Hardwired in her genes."
"You say it like it's a bad thing," Rory retorts, pulling herself up onto her elbows. "Speaking of coffee, I need some."
"Really?" Jess says in mock-surprise. "I guess I should go put a pot on, right?"
"Make it a vat," Rory says seriously. Jess laughs and laughs again as Charlotte yells, "Breakfast!"
"Such a one-track mind," Jess says, kissing Charlotte's cheek. "Wonder where you get it from."
Charlotte response is to yell, "Breakfast!" again. Jess carries Charlotte into the kitchen and Rory forces herself to sit up, groaning. It's a Saturday morning and she was hoping to lie in. Charlotte had a hard time getting to sleep last night so Rory had hoped, rather fruitlessly, that her daughter would wake up a little later. Charlotte is two years old with curly brown hair and big blue eyes. She is already insatiable with curiosity, pulling books of the shelves in the apartment Rory and Jess share. The fact that she can't read doesn't seem to stop Charlotte. Jess boasts that she's a bookworm already.
Rory quickly checks her phone before getting up. There's nothing new on there apart from a reminder to take Charlotte into town. Father's Day is tomorrow and Rory has a gift to collect. Putting the phone back on the bedside table, Rory gets up with a yawn and pads into the kitchen where Charlotte is perched on the counter, giggling at Jess making French toast.
"Careful on there, missy," Rory says as Charlotte claps her hands and Jess says, "Hey, she's fine, I'm watching her. Coffee's coming right up too."
"Juice!" Charlotte shouts and Jess nods, sounding weary as he says, "And your juice. Very important order, I know, kiddo."
"I'll get it," Rory says, going to the fridge. "And it's juice please, Charlotte."
"JUICE PEES!"" Charlotte shouts and Jess starts laughing. Rory tries to keep a straight face but can't help giggling.
"Here you go," she says, pouring orange juice into a brightly coloured cup and handing it to Charlotte who drinks it in one gulp. Jess turns the toast over in the pan, whistling under his breath and Rory kisses his shoulder, making him smile. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, Rory sips it and gradually wakes up, a content happiness flowing through her. She's lived in Philadelphia for two years now and worked at the local paper for almost the same amount of time. Jess is still at Truncheon and Charlotte divides her time either at home with Rory, where she mostly writes her articles, the newspaper office or the bookstore with Jess. After new books are unpacked Charlotte gets to play with the empty boxes. One day Jess pretended not to know where she was, lifting the box with her inside and saying where's my girl gone? Charlotte had giggled so hard it was difficult to act surprised when she stuck her head out. Rory still can't believe her tiny baby is a little girl now, almost out of diapers and holding conversation. Granted, most of her topics centre on bellowing nursery rhymes or demanding juice, but still. Charlotte turned two a few weeks ago. Rory had thought she wanted those milestones but had wept when they occurred. She doesn't even want to think about Charlotte starting Kindergarten.
Sliding toast onto plates, Jess carries breakfast over to the table and slips his hands under Charlotte's armpits. She lets out a indignant squawk but is happy once she's at the table, tucking into toast and getting a good deal of food in her hair. Rory wrinkles her nose in a sigh.
"She'll need a bath," she whispers to Jess, already dreading it. Charlotte can't stand bathtime. Rory was already feeling tired at the trip to the store, but shakes her head as Jess offers, "You sure you don't want me to come to the store?"
"I told you it's for a surprise!"
"Right, right," Jess says, smiling into his cup of coffee. "I can't imagine what it's for."
"No more questions, Dodger."
Jess lifts his hands up and turns to Charlotte. "Do you know what this is about?"
"Hey, no questioning the kid!"
"I think your secret's safe," Jess says, wincing as Charlotte shouts, "JUICE! JUICE PEES!" into his ear. "Okay, okay. One more cup of juice and then it's bathtime."
"NOOO!"
Charlotte continues to scream all through her bath and Jess wipes a haggard hand across his brow. "I thought girls were supposed to like showers."
"A bath is a whole different vibe," Rory teases, pouring water over Charlotte's back. "We're almost done, sweetie."
"Thanks," Jess jokes, sticking his tongue out and Rory laughs.
"You've got soap on your face."
"It's a new look I'm trying. See Charlotte, it's not so bad!"
Charlotte continues to cry until after she's dry and dressed in a blue dress. She sucks her thumb, glaring at her parents who try not to laugh.
"Come on cutie," Rory says. "Let's have some girltime!"
Girltime doesn't seem to thrill Charlotte. She grumbles in her carseat, on the edge of a tantrum which threatens to break when they reach the store. Keeping a firm grip on her hand Rory starts to lead her inside, already regretting not choosing online delivery. Charlotte pulls at her mother's hand, stamping her feet and Rory takes a deep breath, stopping and bending down.
"We have to pick up Daddy's gift," she says evenly. "Then we can do something fun, okay? Come on."
"NO!" Charlotte screams, spittle spattering her mother's face. Rory closes her eyes, trying to compose herself, and they snap open as a man's voice says, "Rory?"
"Logan?" Rory says in disbelief. This can't be happening. Logan lives in London. He is an ocean away. He last saw Charlotte six months ago when he came over for Christmas and Rory hasn't heard any hint of a visit. Slowly, she straightens up, holding tightly onto Charlotte's hand. Logan smiles at her.
"Hey, Ace."
"What are you doing here?" Rory asks faintly. Logan is dressed in a smart white shirt and black pants and he says, "Flew out to New York for some work yesterday. I was going to call but I thought I'd surprise you."
"Surprise me," Rory echoes faintly. She seems to have lost power of thought and Logan adds, "I was going to call today, I mean. Not just show up - I didn't know you'd be in town today."
"We're getting a Father's Day gift," Rory says and then inwardly winces. Logan looks a little surprised but simply nods. Rory bends down, lifting Charlotte up and Logan breaks into a smile.
"Hey Charlotte. Remember me?"
Charlotte doesn't. She buries her face in Rory's shoulder and Rory says gently, "It's okay, honey," and to Logan, "It's been a long time since she saw you. For her, I mean."
"I know," Logan says quietly. "Hey, you want to get some coffee?"
Rory bites her lip but nods. Somewhat in shock, she follows Logan into a cafe and makes an excuse to use the bathroom. Carrying Charlotte inside, Rory stares at herself in the mirror and tries to steady herself. She looks like a mess. There are splatters of juice and crumbs on her shirt from the snack Charlotte had before they left and, of course, the spit from her daughter screaming as Logan approached. Impeccable timing. Rory washes her face, Charlotte watching curiously, and quickly calls Jess.
"Hey," he says fondly. "How's girltime going?"
"Not so great," Rory says honestly. "Logan showed up."
There's a pause and then Jess says, "What?"
"He's here, he's just here," Rory babbles. "He's working in New York and he's here and wants to have coffee. What do I do?"
"I don't know, Rory. Do you want to have coffee with him?"
"No - but I'm curioius to talk to him, I guess."
"Then maybe you should have coffee."
"I'm nervous, I don't know - this feels so weird."
"It is weird," Jess says honestly. "But he's just that rich guy with a porsche. You don't need to feel nervous."
Rory smiles at that. "I'll see you later, okay? I love you."
"I love you too. Kiss Charlotte for me."
"I will." Rory hangs up, kissing Charlotte's cheek and taking her back into the cafe. Logan is sitting in a corner and Rory tries to smile as she goes over.
"Hey," she says again and Logan says, "I went ahead and ordered coffee for you."
"Oh - thanks." Rory feels mildly affronted, though she can't place why, and Logan asks, "I'm guessing she's still too young for coffee, right?" and nods at Charlotte. Rory laughs, settling Charlotte onto the chair next to her and says, "Yup. Maybe a few more years."
"She's two," Logan says in wonder. "How can she be two?"
"I don't know," Rory says quietly. It only seems like yesterday that Charlotte was born, that Rory found out she was pregnant, yet that time she shared with Logan feels like a different life. Rory can't believe that was just a few years ago in reality. Her daughter stares up at them and Logan remarks, "She looks just like you."
"She does," Rory says fondly. She doesn't add that Charlotte looks nothing like Logan. With her wild curls, people often assume Jess is her biological father. In every other way he is her father. He held Rory's hand when she gave birth, loved Charlotte as fiercely as if she had always been his. Really, Rory thinks, she has been. Jess loved Charlotte as soon as Rory told him she was pregnant. The waitress comes over with their drinks and Logan says, "I wasn't sure if Charlotte would want anything."
"She'll have a cup of juice," Rory says and is tired as Charlotte shouts, "JUICE PEES!"
"Yes, sweets," Rory says, stroking her hair. "You're having some juice."
Logan chuckles and asks, "So how was her birthday?"
"Good. Big."
It had been a Stars Hollow extravaganza. Lorelai had turned the house into an explosion of pink streamers and fairy lights and the cake was almost as big as Charlotte herself. Charlotte idea of eating cake was to bury her whole face in it and Rory was finding buttercream in her hair for a good two days afterwards.
"Did you get my gift?" Logan asks and Rory nods. Logan had sent over a rocking horse several sizes too big and when Rory lifted Charlotte onto it she'd screamed in terror. Lorelai commented that Charlotte got Rory's knack for horseriding, but had shut up when Rory reminded her the pony she'd ridden had died. Rory sips her coffee and says delicately, "She's a little small for it," when Logan asks if she liked her present.
"Oh," he says, shoulders sagging and Rory feels bad.
"Hey, she's only two. Still refining her taste."
"I got her this," Logan says, delving into his pocket and emerges with a small bracelet. It's beautiful but all Rory can think is that it's a complete choking hazard. Logan lifts it to the light and says, "See, Charlotte? That's for you!"
Charlotte stares at him and Logan asks, "Can I hold her?"
"Okay," Rory says after hesitating. She takes the bracelet and passes Charlotte over to Logan. He holds her awkwardly but his expression is gentle.
"Hey, Charlotte. I missed you."
Charlotte starts whimpering, reaching for Rory and Logan says, "Hey, it's okay. It's me."
Charlotte starts howling in earnest and just as Rory gets up to take her back the waitress comes over with the juice.
"JUICE PEES!"
Charlotte seems to mean this in the literal sense. Rory picks her up and Charlotte wets herself. Pee trickles down onto the floor, leaking from her diaper onto Rory and Logan's arms, and Logan can't hide his expression of revulsion.
"I'm sorry," Rory says. "She's not there with potty training yet and..."
"Right," Logan says, wiping at himself with a napkin. "No big deal."
He tries to smile and Rory is sure he's remembering the time Charlotte got puke and poop on him as a baby.
"Sorry," Rory says awkwardly and Logan says, "It's fine. Guess it was dumb, seeing you here like this. Charlotte can't even remember me."
"She's so little," Rory says and Logan's voice fades as he says, "But I'm her - forget it."
"Logan. You live an entire country away. Sending her gifts and showing up at Christmas isn't being a father."
"I know. I just - I'm sorry it turned out like this."
Rory doesn't know what to say. She isn't sorry things turned out this way, not for her and Jess at least. But she is sorry Logan doesn't seem to care more.
"I hope she likes the bracelet. Maybe someday I'll know her better," he says and Rory nods.
"Maybe. I'd better get her changed."
"Juice pees!" Charlotte says again and, as Rory and Logan look at her, she takes one sip of juice before pouring the rest over her head. Logan smiles but makes a hasty retreat. Dazed, Rory focuses on cleaning Charlotte as best she can before taking her home and, it's only when Charlotte is screaming in her second bath of the day that Rory remembers she forgot to pick up the gift.
Rory cries a little in the shower herself and is still upset when she tells Jess about it.
"It was so awkward," she sniffles. "And sort of sad, and I forgot to pick up your gift."
"I'll get it."
"You can't - it's your gift."
"Rory, it's no big deal."
"Yes it is. And Charlotte peed on Logan and -"
"She what?" Jess asks, starting to laugh and Rory smiles. It is kind of funny now she thinks about it. Logan had looked so startled.
"Charlotte had an accident and dumped juice over her head."
"Big day, huh, kid?" Jess asks. Charlotte is playing with some bricks and breaks into giggles as Jess picks her up. "Daddy!" she shouts happily and Rory laughs out loud.
"I'm going to go get your gift."
Rory drives to the store without mishap and, when she gets back, Jess has already made dinner. After eating Rory wraps his gift, shooing Jess out of the room and gets up early the next morning to retrieve it. Charlotte is already awake and squeals happily at the sight of her mother.
"Come on, angel," Rory says. She picks up the gift, gives it to Charlotte and plops her onto the bed. Jess opens his eyes just as she shouts, "DADDY!"
"That's Charlotte's way of saying Happy Father's Day," Rory tells him and Jess creases his eyes with laughter.
"Thank you," he says, kissing her and opens his gift. It's a photobook of him, Rory and Charlotte and Jess's voice is a little misty as he repeats, "Thank you. It's perfect."
"Thank you for being her dad," Rory says seriously and Jess pulls her to him.
"I'm the luckiest guy alive."
Rory kisses him and then, to her bemusement, Jess gets out of bed and picks up Charlotte.
"Wait right there."
"Okay," Rory says, confused. "What's going on?"
"Just wait!"
Jess disappears and re-emerges with a book tied in ribbon.
"What's this?" Rory demands, taking it. "I don't get gifts today!"
"Yes you do. Just open it."
"Okay," Rory says quizzically. She unties the ribbon to see a copy of Howl and, as she opens it, a ring falls out. Rory's mouth hangs open and Jess says, "Rory, will you marry me? I've known you since I was seventeen and I knew it then."
It's not just any copy of Howl. It's Rory's copy, with Jess's notes in the margins and Rory traces her fingers over them.
"You knew we'd wind up here?" Rory asks, her voice catching on a sob, and Jess says firmly, "I knew I wanted to be with you - love you. I didn't know I'd wind up raising a daughter with you but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love Charlotte, I love our family. I love our life. And I love you so much, Rory."
"Marry Daddy!" Charlotte shouts. "Marry Daddy!"
"I taught her to say that but I don't think she knows what it means," Jess admits and Rory starts laughing.
"It doesn't matter," she says, pulling Jess into her arms. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you. I love you, Jess Mariano."
"I love you too, Rory Gilmore."
They kiss and kiss, laughing as they break apart and finally Rory turns to Charlotte.
"I'm marrying Daddy," she tells her. "What do you think about that?"
Charlotte unpops her thumb for her mouth and says happily, "JUICE PEES!"