Thanks for the feedback! A chapter from Jess's POV!
Jess looks around the room with a sigh. He's just brought all the boxes of Christmas decorations down from the attic. The original plan was to decorate next week but Charlotte and Richie are coming home in a few days and begged to do it then. Annie, who has inherited her mother's lack of patience, pleaded her father to bring the boxes down now so she can pick out the best decorations and Jess obliged her. Annie got a few out, including the streamers Jess always has to hang up. Rory always wobbles on the ladder and their children seem to have inherited her clumsiness. Christmas isn't for a few more weeks but Charlotte, Richie and Annie love decorating as soon as possible and honestly, he and Rory do too. Rory teases him for that, saying Jess Mariano's cool persona was all an act. I've got you figured out, Dodger. She always has. Jess goes over to the mantel, tucking some tinsel wrapped around the pictures of his kids. His kids! Jess stares at the framed pictures of his babies. Charlotte is going to graduate college next year, Richie has started his sophomore year and Annie is a freshman in high school. They aren't little kids anymore. Who allowed them to grow up?
Jess's phone lets out a beep, making him jump. Taking it out, he opens the screen to see a message from Liz, reading Hey, baby. TJ and I are in New York all week seeing your sister and I wanted to see my darling son too. Come hang out with your mom xxx
Typical Liz. Not for the first time, Jess curses the day he cracked and bought a cellphone. Some days he still wishes he never had one. Sure, Jess guesses it was useful when he wanted to talk to people and wasn't staying anywhere with a phone, but he hates that anyone can contact him so easily. When he goes out he often leaves it at home, a fact that makes his kids' eyes boggle. They still can't get over the fact that he never had one when he was their age.
Jess rubs a knuckled hand over his brow, taking himself back into the moment. His hands hover over the keys for a moment and then he slips the phone back into his pocket, not trusting himself to reply.
Rory is sitting up in bed reading, wearing that little frown she gets on certain passages. Jess smiles at it and then she looks up, smiling back.
"Hey," she says, patting the bed. "I was just starting to wonder if you were coming up."
"No way, you were too into your book."
"Maybe," Rory admits, making Jess laugh. "But I thought that before this chapter."
Jess strips to his boxers, tossing the phone onto the bed before getting under the covers. Rory eyes the phone with interest. Jess usually leaves it downstairs overnight.
"Liz texted me," Jess answers before she asks. "Saying she wants to see me in New York."
"Wow," Rory says and Jess nods.
"Yeah."
She looks at him, her blue eyes shining with concern. They are both older now, silver streaking their dark hair, but Rory's eyes are still as bright blue as when they met. Honestly, Jess never thinks about their getting older until he glances in a mirror, and then he momentarily wonders why an old guy is staring at him. Rory puts her hand on his, shaking Jess's thoughts away.
"Are you going to go see her?"
"I don't know yet."
Rory nods, and Jess can see the thoughts turning in her eyes. He loves that she lets there be a silence, awkward though it might be, without insisting on him voicing his mind.
"I don't know what to say back," Jess says eventually and Rory looks over.
"Do you want to go see her?"
"Wouldn't say it was top of my list."
"Remind me where Liz is right now," Rory says. "I can never keep up."
Jess snorts. "Yeah, same. She was in Stars Hollow but then she and TJ decided to travel, God knows where. Luke made them rent out the house so they'd get some money, rather than just abandon the place. And now I guess she's in New York. She said she's seeing Doula."
"So Doula's in New York?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
Doula is a spinning top, never settling. She works as an experimental artist, constantly changing medium and never finding a home. Jess sees her maybe three times a year. He feels bad, like he should be doing more for her, but he's never known his sister well. Doula was born long after he left whatever kind of life he had with Liz. When he goes for coffee with her she is antsy, twisting on the chair and twirling the cup around her hands, yet monosyllabic in an ironic kind of way. Their disdain for smalltalk is the one thing they seem to have in common, aside from their crazy hair. Jess tried to have a serious conversation with her once, asked her if she'd thought about finding an apartment and staying somewhere for good, or at least longer than six months. Doula had flared back at him, her long black hair wild around her face. What do you know about me? You have your wife and kids and the whole damn picturebook, along with all the other books you write! I am not your project!
Jess wonders if his sister will be there and, selfishly, hopes not. He worries, all the same. Not for the first time, he thinks about how the universe is having a good laugh at him now. For all the crap Jess gave Luke he's certainly gotten it back threefold in some form or another. He has a vivid memory of snarling at Luke for trying to fix everyone.
"You don't have to see Liz," Rory says gently. She squeezes Jess's hand and he swallows.
"I know. But if I don't, I'll wish I had."
Jess doesn't see his mother much more than Doula. She calls without warning, gushing down the phone and saying how she wants to come over and see those grandchildren of hers. Jess is grateful that she at least didn't call this time. He loves his mother, despite all his conflicted emotions about her. He probably won't hear from her until Easter after this.
"I'll see her," Jess says, picking up the phone. Sighing, he sends a confirmation and Liz instantly replies, asking if he can meet her tomorrow. Jess can't help laughing at that. It's insanely short notice, but what the hell? He says sure, turns off the phone and the light and tosses and turns until morning.
"I can't find my backpack!"
Jess thought maybe the craziness of the morning routine would slow down with two of their kids having moved out but that hasn't proved to be the case. Annie is a whirlwind, her hair whipping around as she runs through the kitchen.
"It's not in your bedroom?"
"Of course I looked there!"
"Where's the last place you remember having it?" Rory asks and Annie groans, "If I remembered that I wouldn't have lost it!"
Rory puts her hands up and Annie exclaims, "Daddy, can you help me look?"
"Sure." Jess can't help grinning slightly. Annie is young for her age and while she mostly stopped calling him Daddy last year, she slips back into the old habit sometimes. Jess was almost as emotional as Rory when she started high school in September. He couldn't believe his little girl was old enough and, when he said so to Rory, she nudged him and reminded Jess that he'd said the same thing when she started Kindergarten. They'd both cried then too, although Jess had just managed to hold it in until she was through the door. He'd been a real mess in a car and as he'd wiped his tears away Jess had wondered what his eighteen-year-old self would have said to it. Probably that he was being pathetic. Jess had laughed at that thought, but it had been a close call not crying when he dropped her off at the high school a few months back. Jess hopes she doesn't turn around and tell him she's too old to be called Annie-girl someday.
Father and daughter rummage through the living room until Rory calls, "Found it!" and they look up to see her holding the backpack. "It was in the bathroom."
"What was it doing in there?" Jess exclaims and shakes his head. "Never mind."
"Thanks, Mom!"
Annie throws it over her shoulder and Rory calls, "Hey, you need breakfast missy!"
"Mom, I'm going to be late!"
"At least have some toast," Rory says and, reluctantly, Annie surrenders and goes to sit at the table. "And a glass of juice."
Annie eats impatiently, splattering crumbs and almost spilling her juice. She swallows a small cup of coffee afterwards and hops foot to foot, waiting for Rory to finish her cup.
"I'm going to drive you today," Jess announces and his wife and daughter look at him in surprise.
"You are?" Rory asks, puzzled and Jess nods.
"Kind of spontaneous - is that okay? On my way to New York."
"It's fine with me," Rory says cautiously and Annie asks curiously, "What's in New York?"
"I'll tell you in the car," Jess says, giving Rory a quick kiss goodbye. "Come on, Annie-girl."
"Wait," Rory says and she gives Jess a real kiss and hug before whispering, "Love you."
"I love you too," Jess says gently. "I'll call you later."
Rory nods and then Annie is already at the door, turning the handle ahead of her father.
Jess has hardly turned the ignition on in the car before Annie asks, "Why are you going to New York?"
"To see my mom. Is your seatbelt on?"
Annie sighs, showing him, and asks, "Why are you seeing your mom?"
"Because she asked to see me."
"Does she live in New York now?"
"No. I don't think so...it's just where she is."
Annie nods, looking out of the window for a moment. "Is she going to come back here?"
"No, Annie-girl. I'm just seeing her today."
"What's she like?" Annie asks curiously. She has only seen Liz a handful of times over her life and most of them were when she was small.
"She's...Liz," Jess exhales, staring at the road. "She's in her own world, doing her own thing. She's always trying something new."
"Was she a good mom?" Annie asks and without thinking Jess says, "No," and then winces slightly. "I mean...no, she wasn't great at being a mom, but she loved me. She wanted the best for me."
"What did she do wrong?" Annie asks quietly and Jess closes his eyes for a second. He can hear the sadness in his daughter's voice and Jess hates bringing up those memories.
"She didn't know how to be a mother. She was young and lonely and wanted every new guy to be the guy, and he was usually a jerk. He'd get her into drinking or smoking and she was usually out of it..." Jess's voice trails off as he looks over at his daughter who's staring.
"But it was okay," he says firmly. "I went to live with Grandpa Luke and then I met your mom and then you guys came along."
"But you didn't stay with Mom after high school," Annie points out and Jess bites his lip, forgetting that Annie is old enough to notice the gaps now.
"No, that's right. I had a few years of figuring things out."
"Did you figure things out with your mom?"
"Kind of," Jess says. They have reached the school and Jess lets the half-truth complete the conversation. "Get your stuff, you don't want to be late."
"Dad -"
"Go on, you'll be late. Have a great day, Annie-girl."
Annie gives him a kiss goodbye but still looks perturbed as she exits the car and joins the blur of other students. Jess can't help feeling that he was lying to her and yet, he knows, if he had more time he wouldn't tell her all of how conflicted he still feels. He doesn't want to worry her. Is he being dishonest or just being a father? Jess waits until he sees Annie go in the school before starting the car back up and turning onto the road.
The drive to New York is easy. Most of the commuter traffic has cleared and Jess whistles some Bowie as he goes. Liz has sent the address of some coffeeshop not too far from where they once lived and Jess is able to park in a side road he was able to remember. Good to know that at least hasn't been taken over. Jess stares in the rearview mirror, running a hand through his hair, not that Liz will care either way, before checking he has his phone and wallet and getting out of the car. There aren't many people out and those who are seem to be babbling without the aid of a cellphone, in their own universe. That hasn't changed either. Jess sees the coffeeshop ahead and smiles wryly. When he lived there, the concept of a coffeeshop would be cause for hilarity. Approaching it, Jess nervously swallows before pushing open the door.
"Hi baby!"
Liz stands up from a table opposite and heads turn to her and then swivel to Jess.
"Hi Liz," Jess mumbles, going over and giving his mother a kiss. "Sit, I'll get us some coffee."
"Thanks, sweetie!"
Liz is in her seventies but that hasn't slowed her down. She chatters before Jess has even brought the cups over, stopping only when she burns her mouth on the coffee.
"Jeez, that's hot!"
"Hence the steam," Jess remarks. "How's it going, Liz? TJ and Doula around?"
"TJ's at an umbrella market and who knows what Doula's doing!"
"An umbrella market?- forget it," Jess says. "I thought you might know what Doula's doing, seeing as you just saw her."
"You know your sister, Jess! She's always off somewhere new. When I saw her she said she was going to do a tour of pottery on the East coast."
"Sounds like Doula."
"Some new boyfriend got her into it. Or was it girlfriend? One of those."
"Right." That sounds like Doula too. She wants a new partner before the current relationship has even started. Jess drinks his coffee rather than voice that, burning his mouth too.
"It's hot," Liz teases him and Jess laughs. "I knew my sweet son was nearby at least and had to try and see you! So tell me, Jess! How are you and Rory and those beautiful kids of yours?"
"Rory's fine, I'm fine, the kids are fine."
"One thing hasn't changed," Liz comments. "You're as short on words as Luke, but you're a writer! Tell me something about your life, Jess!"
"I'm working on a new novel," Jess says, scratching the back of his neck for something to do. "Rory's thinking about writing a new book but she's still busy with the paper. The kids are great...Charlotte and Richie are in college and Annie's just started high school."
He gets out his wallet to show his mother the pictures he carries of Rory and the kids. Seeing as Annie is a toddler in it Jess should really update the pictures, but he misses his kids being tiny.
"That's so great, Jess," Liz says proudly and Jess can't disagree. He's proud of himself too. "I was so worried about you as a kid but I knew you'd turn out fine, and here you are! Got kids of your own and you raised that other one of Rory's too, no question, just like she was your own!"
"Charlotte is my own," Jess says, putting the cup down. "I didn't raise her like my own."
"But you didn't have to, is all I'm saying."
"She's my daughter," Jess says angrily. "There was no question that I'd be her dad."
Jess loved Charlotte before he and Rory even got involved again. He remembers it as clearly as if it were last week. Rory crying to him on Christmas Eve night, saying she didn't want to be alone. You're not alone, Jess had thought silently. He would love her baby too - he already did. And he was starting to love Rory again, already knowing he'd be there as much as she needed. Jess had to resist flying to London to punch Logan in the mouth. You don't want to know your kid? he'd demand. You don't deserve to have one. And then Rory was giving birth and Jess was holding her hand and Charlotte was born and Jess had never, once in his whole life, felt such a strong surge of love and protection before. She was his daughter, he was her father. Nothing could take that from him. There was nothing to think about. Charlotte is his girl.
"You stepped up," Liz declares, looking at her son over the steam in her mug. "That's all I'm saying, Jess. You're just like Luke."
Jess shrugs slightly, embarrassed and says, "Yeah, well. How is Luke? Have you seen him?"
"I talked to him on the phone but I might see him at Christmas - or not, I don't know yet. But he's so busy, my brother. You should tell me - you see Luke all the time!"
This is true. Jess sees Luke at least once a month and talks to him on the phone most weeks. Here's another thing his younger self wouldn't fathom, willingly talking to his uncle all the time, let alone having kids of his own. Let alone getting married! Jess had got choked up when Rory walked down the aisle, wearing a simple lace dress and holding Charlotte's hand. She had never looked so beautiful and they'd danced, their daughter in their arms and then just the two of them. Whenever Jess dances with Rory he hopes it makes up for missing prom. He'd danced with Rory until long after the last guests had gone and that night, when they finally went to bed, Rory had grinned and said let's make a baby. And they had. And then they unexpectedly made another one a few years later. Jess loves his kids more than anything but is glad they finished at three. One surprise baby girl was enough.
"You remind me so much of him," Liz says, breaking Jess from his thoughts. She looks a little misty-eyed and adds, "Luke and my dad. Makes me emotional, looking back on those times when it was you and me."
That annoys Jess and he snaps, "It makes you emotional, huh? What part exactly makes you emotional? Was it all the times the electricity got shut off, or the time your boyfriend stole the furniture or the time you got depressed and cut off all your hair?"
"Jess!"
"Did you want to see me just to walk down memory lane?"
"I wanted to see you," Liz protests. "Tell you how good you're doing. And sometimes I like to remember."
"I'm glad one of us does."
"Hey!"
"Liz, do you really believe we had a good time when I was a kid?" Jess asks in frustration. "You could hardly look after me. You couldn't look after yourself!"
"I tried. I loved you."
"And we know how it turned out."
"I sent you to Luke because I knew I was messing it up," Liz says, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "I figured he'd do a better job than me - and he did. Jess, look at your life now! When you were a kid I knew you'd do something great. And now you're a writer, you're married and you've got your own kids, and I bet you're doing so well with them. I know you are!"
Hearing the words Jess said to Annie barely two hours before is suddenly unbearable. If anyone put Annie, Charlotte or Richie what Jess went through he'd kill them. Jess pushes his cup away.
"I wanted you to be happy," he tells her. "Sometimes we did have fun, when I was a kid, but you couldn't stay happy. And then you made me move to Stars Hollow and I screwed that up and I went to see Jimmy and that was a real treat and now Doula's a mess -"
"Doula? She's just doing her own thing."
"I worry about her, Liz."
Liz exhales and says, "I know she'll be okay because you were."
"We're different people! And Liz, it was hard! I am happy now, I'm good now, but it wasn't good when I was younger. And I don't love seeing you and pretending we were in some damn Rockwell painting!"
Liz stares down at her cup and finally says, "I know, Jess. I'm sorry - I wish I did a better job. But I was so young and clueless and I loved you, but I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I was scared that if I didn't send you to my brother you'd get hurt worse than you were. Luke always does things better than me. Did you really hate it so much?"
Jess pauses for a moment.
"I hated the town," he says eventually, "but I'm not sorry I went there. It was good, living with Luke, though I didn't always get it. And it's how I met Rory. She..."
Jess's voice trails off. How she pushed Jess to save himself is private. Liz nods, all the same, and says, "I love you, my son. I wish I could be different for you."
"You don't have to be," Jess says honestly. "Just...just look out for Doula, okay?"
"I do, Jess. But she's all grown up now. She says she's living the artist life."
Jess lets out a dry chuckle at that. He vividly remembers drifting across the states, telling himself it was a writer's journey. Maybe it was, but he had to end it sometime. Then he gets a rush of guilt. Liz isn't the only one who should be looking out for Doula.
"It's good to see you," Liz says and Jess goes over to hug her unprompted.
"Good to see you too, Liz. Say hey to TJ from me."
"I will. And I know you're tired of me saying it, but you look so good. I'm so proud of you, Jess."
"Thanks, Liz."
"You know, you've inspired me. I'm going to go see Luke right now!"
"Do you know he'll be there?"
"Oh please, he lives behind that counter!" Liz exclaims and Jess laughs. He can't deny that. "Want to come along?"
"No," Jess says, not unkindly. "I've got to go to work."
"Okay then. I'll say hello from the other guy I love best in the world."
They hug goodbye and Jess goes out, letting out a long breath. He pauses at the car, looking around him. He can see the route he took to the subway, which carried him to the library and into countless other worlds. Jess almost considers going to see it, and the apartment he once lived in, but swiftly changes his mind, getting into the car and driving home.
Jess is wiped. He decides not to go into Truncheon, maybe work at home or maybe just take the day. Probably the latter - he can afford to. He'll call Rory too but right now all Jess can think about is sitting down and closing his eyes, maybe ordering a pizza for dinner. The thought of cooking a meal drains him. Jess closes the front door, closes his eyes and then jumps as a voice says, "What kind of welcome home is that?"
"Charlotte!" Jess exclaims, snapping his eyes open to see his daughter beaming at him. "I thought you were back tomorrow!"
"Got out early - is that a problem?"
Jess answers her by pulling her into a tight hug and kissing the top of her head. Charlotte has been in college for a few years now and took a year to travel before that, but Jess feels the same rush of relief at seeing her whenever she comes home.
"There's my girl. I missed you."
"I missed you too, Dad." Charlotte looks up, smiling, and Jess cups her face for a moment. "It's so good to have you home."
"It's good to be home." Charlotte starts talking about college and her workload and the hideous journey back and Jess makes coffee as he listens, unable to stop smiling. His exhaustion from before has been replaced with the happy surprise of seeing his oldest daughter. Charlotte is doing so well these days. Jess remembers too well that time when she was struggling in high school, dating that jerk and pushing him and Rory away. He was so scared, though he didn't want to admit it. Jess knew this was the deal with raising kids, letting them figure things out and make mistakes, but he didn't know how hard it would be until he was a dad. Sometimes Jess wishes he could do things with Charlotte differently, avoid certain mistakes, but he knows that's not the deal either. And now his daughter seems happy, taking writing as her major and tolerating the teasing of being a nerd like her parents. She takes the cup of coffee Jess hands her and sobers as he tells her about going to see Liz.
"Was it hard?"
"A little."
Charlotte nods. Jess hasn't told her much more than Annie or Richie, but Charlotte seems to understand more. Of course she is older, but even as a kid Jess got the the sense that Charlotte knew more of how it was to grow up with Liz, even if they didn't discuss it much.
"I'm going to call your Aunt Doula," Jess tells Charlotte and she frowns.
"You are? What, right now?"
"Maybe. I want to talk to her soon."
"I thought you were fighting."
"Not fighting...just frustrated. I think she might need some help."
"But Aunt Doula's like thirty-five, right?"
"You don't grow out of needing help," Jess says, cupping Charlotte's cheek again. "She might not want it, but I'm just going to tell her I'm here."
"Okay, Dad."
Charlotte heads upstairs to unpack and Jess gets out his cellphone to dial Doula's number. He waits and is just about to leave a voicemail when his sister says snappishly, "Yeah?"
"It's Jess."
"I know, genius, your name is saved on my phone."
"Great. Won't bother with an introduction next time."
Jess waits and then says, "I wondered if you wanted to go for coffee, if you're around. I saw Liz earlier."
"Oh yeah? What did Mom say about me?"
"Not much...but I felt bad that I'm not seeing you."
"Because you feel sorry for me," Doula says. "Like I said, I'm not a charity case. I'm fine."
"No, you're my sister. I just want a cup of coffee and us to catch up - come on Doula, why not? It's nearly Christmas."
"I hear so much about you...my saintly big brother Jess. But you were never even around when I was a kid."
"I know. I'm sorry."
There's another pause and Jess says, "I'm not going to try and make up for missing your whole life with one cup of coffee. I just thought we could hang out, while you're still in New York. What do you say?"
"Maybe," Doula says grudgingly. "Okay. But no promises, okay?"
"Sure. See you, Doula."
Jess hangs up, holding the phone tightly for a moment. He hopes that's a start.
After Charlotte comes back downstairs they make some lunch and more coffee.
"Do you have any plans for when you're here?" Jess asks and Charlotte shrugs.
"Not really. I'll hang out with Ivy...I might see Logan, if he's in the states."
Jess nods. He doesn't love Charlotte seeing him but respects her wish to. It's always going to be a little complicated, the whole thing, but they seem to have found a sort of peace with it.
"Otherwise, no real plans," Charlotte finishes. "Hang out with you guys...maybe some father-daughter bookshopping?"
Jess smiles. He wants to tell Charlotte it's not her job to make him feel better about Logan, that he's okay, but settles on, "That sounds great. And I hope you have fun with Logan if you see him."
"Thanks," Charlotte says quietly, smiling as Jess gives her a quick kiss. He wishes he'd adopted her sooner, but he's always been her dad. Charlotte's birth was the moment Jess became a father.
"How about we go pick up your mom and sister?" Jess asks Charlotte who nods.
"Sure. How's Annie finding high school?"
"Okay, I think. I'm sure she tells you more than she does me."
"Maybe," Charlotte says. She swallows some coffee and asks knowingly, "How are you doing with her being in high school? Has she brought home any guys?"
"What? No!" Jess exclaims, panicked. "Has she said anything to you about a guy?"
"Relax, I'm teasing," Charlotte laughs. "I take it you're not wild about that idea."
Jess grumbles a little. He's not wild about his youngest daughter growing up in general. Is it unreasonable to want to lock her up and throw away the key? Probably.
"You can vet whoever Annie decides to date," Jess says, making his daughter laugh again. "Tell me if they seem like a jerk."
"I bet you're going to decide they are because they like Annie."
Jess makes a face, laughing at himself along with Charlotte.
"Never mind. Come on, let's go."
They drive over to surprise Rory, Charlotte going into the office first. Rory shrieks happily, enveloping her daughter in a hug and Jess smiles as they talk over each other, finishing each other's sentences. Charlotte is a true Gilmore. It's time to pick up Annie and Charlotte opts to get out of the car to surprise her sister too. Annie throws herself into Charlotte's arms on sight, who says fondly, "Hey, kiddo." The girls are so much closer these days than when Charlotte was a kid. Annie gets tearful whenever she returns to college.
As soon as they get back Annie wants to decorate the house and pouts when they say they have to wait for Richie to come home tomorrow. She cheers up when Rory reminds her they'll be going to Lorelai's after that and settles down to watch a movie before the pizza arrives. Charlotte sits beside her, helping her pick, and Rory quietly gets up and goes over to Jess.
"Was it okay with Liz?" she asks softly.
"It was okay," Jess promises. "Hard, but good."
Rory nods, kissing him, and goes over to the couch. Jess smiles at them all for a moment, the women that make his life, before they call him to sit down so they can start watching the movie. They are only twenty minutes in when there's a knock on the door.
"Is that the pizza?" Rory asks in surprise. "That's early. Jess, get the door, would you? You're closest."
Jess is actually furthest but gets up without complaint. It's easier not to let Rory explain how it's easier for him to get it with some convoluted logic. He opens the door, stares and exclaims, "Richie?"
"Hey Dad!"
Before Jess can ask further his son is muffled by his mother and sisters smothering him in a hug.
"What are you doing back?" Charlotte cries and Richie laughs. "I could ask you the same thing!"
"Got out early."
"Me too. Hope that's okay."
"More than okay," Jess says, hugging his son tightly. "Welcome home."
"We can decorate the Christmas tree," Annie says happily, bouncing up and down, and the rest of her family burst into laughter.
"The most important thing," Richie says, tousling her hair. "Let's start right now."
"Coffee first," Rory says firmly and Richie nods.
"Coffee first."
"I'll put on a pot," Jess says. He goes into the kitchen, a wide smile spreading across his face. He thinks back to that young, angry and scared boy he'd been and how, in all the random paths he imagined his future would take him, being married with kids was never on the list. He'd always rolled his eyes at the concept. He didn't need anyone. Jess never listened if anyone told him otherwise, but here he is, with the first person to think maybe he was mistaken. Jess has never been so glad to be wrong.