Chapter 3

Thankfully some things seemed to never really change as Celeste woke to the sensation of Jess' body flush up against her, breathing hot hair against the back of her neck. Whether that had been intentional or not, didn't even really matter, but the excitement that it still created in her clearly deserved attention. There may not have been a lot of deep discussion between the two these days, but physically they'd never really stopped craving each other. Even when Celeste had still been recovering, they'd barely made it until the doctor's 'green light', having had to hold back on more than a few occasions where a few simple touches or a kiss had taken their minds too far, almost to the point of no return, their mouth's and hands not seeming enough to quench their thirst.

Instead of pretending to continue to sleep which could also lead to many exciting ways for this to continue, Celeste turned and observed Jess' face for a few seconds, feeling like she hadn't really had a chance to do that these past few weeks, not properly at least. His stubble was at least a few days old, his hair outgrown - again, his eyes looking noticably more tired than they had a few years ago. He too had grown older, the stress getting to him.

Knowing that it was just a matter of time when she was pulled away into the nursery, she didn't waste any time. She let her hand trail down his stomach, getting a coy smile in return while his eyes stayed closed. Obviously he wasn't asleep. Celeste laid a few gentle kisses on his chest, her palm reached his boxers, gently stroking him over the fabric. It was then she caught sight of his eyes peeking down at her, the smug smile lingering on his lips.

"Good morning," he murmured as he buried his lips to the side of her neck, inhaling her scent, his fingers pulling her hips against him again, leaving her hand that continued to caress his member between them. She pulled her head back a little, craving a real kiss. Their kisses were magic - taking just a few seconds to reach that other plane - the warm glow of anticipation in her gut awakening in an instant.

Jess' hands wandered up her camisole, her smooth and soft hips feeling like perfection under his touch, as he reached around to her ass, grabbing it with an ounce of possessiveness. God, how he loved that she still slept without underwear most nights!

Her nipples protruded through her laced nightdress, its straps struggling to stay in place, exposing her breast. He gripped it firmly, landing his lips onto her nipple to tease, while his other hand pushed down his boxers, eager to release his erection. She pushed apart her knees, placing one leg over his hip to allow him better access. His tip on her lower lips was the perfect foreplay, sliding back and forth, him feeling her readiness form, while neither was left without attention. She felt warm and inviting, his yearning for her growing just at the thought.

His lips trailed her neck and clavicle pushing her shoulder length hair aside. Celeste would've gladly continued that tease for a while, but young parents were not given such luxuries, and she hastily rolled over him, settling on top of him.

His hands held onto her hips as she positioned herself, pulling down before she had a chance to fully lower herself, Celeste letting out a low squeal in surprise as he hit her cervix. She began to ride him, every thrust only confirming that she'd needed it as much as he had, maybe even more - for her that acting as a replacement for some of that emotional connection that sometimes seemed to be slipping. She heard him let out a low groan each time she tightened herself around him, feeling his pulsing thickness inside her. It was like a well-rehearsed act, knowing exactly which angle to take, where to touch and when to tighten, their mornings being all about comfort, not about new and exciting. It wasn't long until her breathing quickened, as they continued to move, each of his upwards thrust adding to her pleasure.

Jess could feel her contract around him, gripping her hips even tighter, moving her up and down rapidly to get that as far himself, steadying her for his finale. All it really took were her waves of climax, a tremor running through her body, erupting his release into her.

She had barely time to hit the pillow, both still panting heavily, until the baby monitor alerted that Evie was awake, her babble becoming louder by the second. That was the part of parenthood she hated the most - their time never quite being theirs, but borrowed.

With a groan Celeste pulled herself up from the bed, quickly cleaning herself up.

"Hey," Jess pulled her close once more for a kiss, adding, "I'll go make breakfast." It just didn't seem fair to him that he should get to linger when she couldn't. And while he adored Evie to pieces and would never regret having her, they both knew that Evie was going to be it for them, their decision for him to have a vasectomy nine months ago proving only the right thing to do with neither ever wanting her to risk going through what had happened while having Evie, Celeste's reluctance towards hormonal contraceptives and him never wanting to feel her through a condom again, had made it an easy decision.


When Jess had texted to meet up with Logan, he hadn't really expected his choise in locations or him to bring Finny, knowing himself how he struggled to concentrate with Evie around. But so be it - his Saturday - his choice. Now they stood on the sidelines of the Hippo Playground, a thin layer of snow covering the ground while the sun was almost beginning to feel like spring, though still months away.

"Thanks for meeting me," Jess said. It was funny how he would've expected that coming to Logan for advice would feel embarrassing or somehow admitting his superiority, but it didn't. They were clearly past those levels of insecurities - him being Jess' only real friend in the business world who was more experienced and he knew he would never bullshit him - telling it how it was. In that sense he was more like a mentor, an advisory, to him, and for that he was nothing but thankful.

"Hey," he replied, his eyes observing the 'too brave for his own good' toddler in a Patagonia snowsuit, chasing a girl that was a little older than him around the toddler's activity tower that only was a few feet off the ground.

"I'm sorry for making you discuss work on a Saturday," Jess apologized, tucking his hands into his pockets, having forgotten his gloves in his car.

"It's fine, it's not like I never work weekends," Logan chuckled. Weekend and night time working had become somewhat of a customary thing by now, as it allowed him to stay home with Finny some days during the week.

"There might be an opportunity to merge with the Iron Circle, I'm not sure if you've heard of them," Jess explained.

"Graphic novels?" Logan recalled hearing something about them.

"Yep," he replied. "And I mean their style is very much 'us', from that side I think it's a no brainer," he added.

"So what's the hold up? Money?" he asked.

"Noah," Jess replied.

"You still don't trust him," Logan said, not really needing to ask, stepping a little closer to Finny, seeing him struggle with a climb and helped him.

"He hasn't done anything new, but it hasn't improved. This would clearly be his thing to run with, but I feel it's like he's holding this power over me, you know - sure, he may simply walk if he gets bored, but it's just...," Jess added not really knowing how to define the issue, lacking the facts himself.

"And let me guess, you're in a hurry with the decision, right?" Logan added.

He didn't really need to reply, other than with a slight nod.

"You want me to talk to him?" Logan asked.

"I'm not sure what it would do, but maybe you could? He sort of implied that if we weren't going to go for it, he might take it to you himself, and I guess that alone would be a good way to see where his loyalties lie," Jess explained.

"Okay," he agreed.

"I think Este wants to have a PI run a check-up on him as well. I mean she can see too that if he is solid, she could benefit from his knowledge too, but right now - it's just so uncertain," Jess added.

"She's got the contacts of that guy Colin recommended, right?" Logan asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

"Good. I mean, if done well, it can't hurt," Logan added, following Finny around the playground to see what he was up to, Jess trailing after him.

Jess hoped he was right. He never really felt certain with things like this - he wouldn't have wanted anyone to check his background, knowing that more than unexamplary things could probably be discovered as well. But in this case he had to believe that information was power, and it went both ways.

"Finny, what have I told you about eating snow?!" Logan said, sounding more amused than stern, as he hurried his step towards his son.

"Alright, I better go. Este wanted to go somewhere in an hour," he added, beginning to wave him off.

"Hey, any special wishes for Evie's birthday?" Logan called after him.

"I'm not sure, I'll have Este text you," he turned and replied, having been reminded that he needed to go get a present himself, the gift having slipped his mind.

Jess couldn't help but feel like he was failing - failing at being everything he wanted to be - a manager, an editor, a husband, a father, a writer, not to mention a friend or an exemplary son. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be everything after all?


Rory and Logan had just been finishing their late lunch consisting of a hearty taco salad on a Sunday, enjoying the quiet while Finny was taking his nap. With him sleeping, the penthouse seemed almost eerily quiet sometimes, reminding Rory how excessive it really was most of the time - that until they were entertaining guests, which only really happened three-four times a year.

"So when are you going to Portland?" Logan asked, after a lengthy silence that had followed their discussion on next week's plans. It had been going around his mind for days now and brought back a lot of things that he'd almost completely pushed off his radar.

"27th of February, after the school holiday," Rory replied.

"I think I should come with you," he added, surprising Rory with his proposition.

Rory eyed at him sceptically.

"It's just for a few days," she replied. She honestly had tried to avoid thinking about the bigger picture of what Maine meant, hoping to be in and out quickly, hopefully not even so much as speaking to anyone other than Mike. She had too much going on to dwell on the past.

"Yeah, but I want to," he replied decidedly. He wasn't sure what he was going to do there exactly, but at the very least he didn't want Rory up there alone in the winter in her condition and having to face whatever ghosts that lingered there for her. She'd gone there being emotionally in pieces last time, and it couldn't be easy for her to face those memories.

"You want to go back to the house?" she sighed, placing her fork down and looked at him closely. The statement was a conclusion and a question in one.

"You weren't planning to?" Logan asked, raising his eyebrow.

"I wasn't planning on driving up there, so I figured staying somewhere close to the school would be easier," she replied. The house was a whole other story when it came to dwelling up the past and she honestly wasn't sure how she felt about it. It contained both the good and the bad, one of the worst times in her life that had led to the best, her insecurities, her confusion, her search for herself and them, the grief, the regret and the recognition of what she needed to do to be happy again.

"But we could - drop Finny off at Lorelai's, make a road trip out of it," he added, sounding almost excited.

It was a month from now, and she wasn't quite sure how she would feel about the road trip part by then, recalling from her last pregnancy how sitting in place for extended periods of time had not exactly been the most comfortable experience. But then again - it was still early, and surely - if they wanted some time for themselves while she was still not enormous, this might just be the good opportunity. And maybe after two years - the place only seemed scarier than it really was?

"And I just think that we both need some resolution, otherwise it's just like this black spot on a map that we never talk about, never visit," he added, explaining himself.

She knew there were several places on the map that he didn't particularily like to visit, and returning to them just for the resolution was not his thing. But Maine was about more than just them, and she knew it.

"And Owen?" Rory asked, knowing him better than that.

"And that…," Logan sighed.

"You want to talk to him?" she asked. Owen had not expressed any interest in finding out about his father or brother, that he didn't knew exsisted. But it was just as much Logan's right to pursuit as his.

"I don't know. Maybe? Or maybe talk to Catherine?" Logan pondered. He wasn't sure. He wasn't sure what that would mean or what it would result in, but somehow with the topic of Finny getting siblings, he'd began to ponder whether his life was infact better off without knowing that part of his family. After all, with Mitchum divorced from Shira, Elias dead, and Mitchum no longer directly associated with the HPG - there really was no more threath to the company or family repuation that had once been an issue.

"Okay," Rory exhaled, beginning to wonder which one of them needed the support more this time.