2019 - Summer

"Let's do that." He breathed out.
"Yes." She squeezed his left hand.

"Oh, there you are! Come in, come in!" Lorelai opened the door and waved with an inviting gesture.
"Hi", Rory squeaked shyly.
"Hey", Jess agreed with a raspy voice.
"Um, hi!" Lorelai looked at them quite a bit confused. "As I've already said, come in." Her gaze became suspicious.
"Nana!", Emma squeeled and released Jess' hand to run to her Grandmother.
"Hey Sweets, I've missed ya! Why is your Mummy paler than usual and that cocky nephew of mine seems like only two feet tall? What did they do, dear?"
"Geez, stop calling me that or I insist to call you Auntie Lorelai", Jess snapped in return.
"And you're back. Missed you already, grumpy cat. Luke, the kids are here!"

"So. We had dinner, we've talked about the foundation, Rory, I'm so proud of you, Jess, you're publishing some short stories, wonderful, Emma is doing fine and she's napping in the guest room. Everything's fine. We're fine. And I still have the impression there is some more."
Luke crossed his arms and watched his wife. "Did I miss something?"
"You always miss something, hun, but I guess this time I'm not updated either."
Rory blushed and felt Jess' hand grabbing for hers under the table. His facial expression didn't change.
She swallowed hard and was searching for the right words, although she practised them a hundred times in front of her mirror. "Well, Mum, umm, Luke, it's.. well..."
"Let me speak, Ror." Jess interfered and gave her one of his crooked smiles. Lorelai frowned.
"Well, Lorelai's not exactly a foretune teller, but there's something we want you to know. Some weeks ago Rory and I decided to, umm, build up a relationship again. Not simply as in a friendship, but umm, as in a couple. Equal partners. And I didn't use the term 'we try again" or something blurry like this, no, I'm dead serious. I'm there for her and for Em, f'course. I won't leave them."
Rory bit her lip. His words had such an healing effect on her. Nervously she watched the reactions of her Mum and Luke.
Lorelai first seemed startled but then a smile was plastered on her face. "Geez, finally! I'd say praise the Lord, but I don't wanna offend him."
"Finally?", Rory asked. "What do you mean?"
"Oh babe. You were playing cat and mouse for like... what is it now, almost 18 years? I think you just needed time to be both at the same place. And the last two years, come on?! A lotta tension was going on here! I mean, no offense, but you're what, hulk?", she looked at Jess, "how can you not have inappropriate thoughts when you're looking at him?"
"Okay, well I guess it's now my time to step in, first of all, please, Lorelai, he's still my nephew and even though I have to admit he's a handsome fellow, please keep it in a right place." Lorelai pouted at Luke's words. "And then, well, I can only say I'm happy for ya. Even though some of you think I'm not getting subtle hints", he glazed at his wife who stuck out her tongue, "...I'm not mentally ill. And I never believed you when you said you're over her." He winked at Jess who kind of blushed.
"Thank you, Luke!" Rory gave him a warm smile. "If he'll be my Luke to Emma, she's a happy girl."
He answered her smile with shining eyes. "I think he'll be so much more to her."
"Okay, enough guys. I'll have to live up to my badass image and my eyes are starting to sweat if you'll continue", Jess smirked. Truth was, Rory and Luke were almost the only ones who could make him feel like this. Although Emma and Doula were right behind.
"Yeah, stop it. Let's get serious. So... you sealed the deal? Licked the envelope and..."
"Mum! Stop it!", Rory groaned and felt heat everywhere.
Jess couldn't stop himself from laughing but was immediately quiet when he exchanged glances with his uncle.
"Sorry", he muttered.
"Don't be embarrassed! We're like four grown-up people in here and honey, I remember that we once talked about your glowing desire to have sex with that former hoodlum."
"Well yeah Mum, thank you very much for mentioning this, but you may remember that he wasn't with us in this room back then. The same is true with Luke. And I'd prefer to not talk about anything of this right now."
"Right now! You said right now! That means you definetely will tell me later!", Lorelai shrieked.
"I'm so happy that you already know my family and this quirky town, so you cannot run away", Rory whispered to Jess and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Well, I'm kinda part of it", he simply said.

"Hey."
"Hey." Jess turned around when he heard Luke's voice. He was in the living room checking his mails because he waited for a response from his partner Matt. Emma was sleeping and Rory and Lorelai went out to get icecream, but everyone knew it was just an excuse for Lorelai to check out on Rory.
"So... Rory and Jess. Jess and Rory. I've said this once, many years ago."
"Well, then, get used to it again."
"And you're sure about it? It's not only Rory and Lorelai and Emily like it was before, there's also a child. And this is serious, Jess."
"There's a child? Huh. I've never seen one."
"Jess, please."
"Listen. I know. I well know. I'm taking care of Em since she was born. First I thought it's strange and I wasn't sure how I'd handle it. But there she was and my worries were gone. My life was okay before, I was happy. I love my job, my friends are cool. Things with Liz got better with the years and hey, you cannot resist Doula. But now I have a real purpose. Em and Rory are my family. I'm grounded, Luke. No reasons to run away."
"Okay."
"Funny story somehow. We've been lone wolves. Now we've got families... April, Emma..."
"I've always got you as well, Jess." Their eyes met.
"Thanks. I know. Geez, that's so strange. Our family's strange. So many half/step/whatever vibes, it's scary. You know April met Lily on her latest trip to the West Coast?"
"She told me. Keeps me updated. Lily took her to a gay bar and now she told me she's uncertain about herself. I tell ya, having a daughter is never boring."
Jess laughed. "I'd prefer girls for Emma anytime."
Luke smiled in return. "She's a good kid. And... you're um, okay with.. you know?"
"Rockefeller? Yup. He's her father, can't change the fact."
A heartbreaking cry came out of the guest room. "Duty calls." Jess winked at his uncle and went after Emma.

"Shh, pumpkin, s'alright. We're not home, but at your Nana's place. I know how Stars Hollow can be shocking, but we're here with ya." Her face was hidden between his shoulder and his neck and she still was sobbing.
Lorelai watched them from the door. They just arrived with a massive amount of icecream and maraschino cherries.
Emma calmed down and Jess put her back in her crib. "Sleep well, little monster."
He turned and stopped when he saw Lorelai. "Whoa. Since when are you so quiet?"
"Oh, I'm a pro when it comes to moving around without making a noise. I was raised at the Gilmore mansion, remember?"
"Vaguely." He smirked.
"So.. today you stay here officially with my daughter in the guest room slash her former bedroom?"
"I'm not sure if I should answer that."
"Oh, I know many answers after my short walk with Rory... tiger."
"Okay, that's my cue to start running. Ror?", he went into the living room, "never leave me alone again with your mother."