Hi guys,
I didn't post for such a long time but this story is very dear to me. It's like my personal After-AYITL and as a little Santa's treat, I 'll give you a small glance what Jess, Rory and Emma are doing on Christmas Eve 2018. Enjoy!

Winter (Christmas) 2018

"It's so good to have you here, fruit of my loins... and adding your personal fruit of the loins makes it even better!" Lorelai was smiling widely.
"You know what they say... coming home for Christmas." Rory exhaled and smiled as well. It's been a rough drive with Emma, she wasn't so content with driving longer distances and wanted to be entertained during the whole time.
"So... Jess isn't coming?"
"Oh, he is. But he wanted to go first to the apartment, bringing all his stuff. I'll give him the time."
"Luke told him several times that he could sleep here as well. There's enough space."
"Yeah like... on the couch?", Rory grinned, "no actually, I think he likes the apartment above Luke's. He'd never admit it, but I guess it feels a bit like home for him. And he likes being alone, so all the family stuff around Christmas is already enough socializing."
"You know him very well, aren't you?" Lorelai asked, crossing her arms.
"Oh yeah, because this is brandnew information about the Danes/Mariano men, right?", her daughter said and stuck out her tongue.

"Sookie, the food is a-ma-zing, I'm forever thankful to be your best friend, because otherwise we'd be starving or broke, because we'd have to hire someone for all the cooking... and yes", Lorelai looked at her husband who was murmuring something, "I know you can cook as well, babe, but on occasions like this, I'd like you to be by my side. I am such a romantic, right?"
"Hear, hear!", her daughter yelled, already being a bit tipsy from her prosecco.
"I'm glad you're all here, this year was wonderful and you all added to that. I'm still waiting for my granddaughter to be old enough to read beautiful selfmade poems or to sing wonderful songs with her clear as a bell voice, but unfortunately she's already napping - maybe next year, Rory start practising! The dessert is in the making..."
"It's a gingerbread trifle with plums and cinnamon!", Sookie interrupted.
"...and you all have some time to digest", Lorelai ended her speech.

Rory grabbed her glass and made her way out to the back porch. She needed some fresh air and was secretly smiling to herself because she was enjoying being Rory again and not a Mom.
She heard the door opening behind her. A familiar voice appeared: "Oh, sorry. Do you mind?"
"No, no. Of course not. I guess you're craving a small roll of tobacco?" She grinned at him.
Jess ran his fingers through his hair. " I am", he admitted, "but I behave."
"At least one us", she clinked her glass, "to be honest, I was just thinking that I'm happy that Emma's asleep and I can have some me-time and a drink. I mean, not actually me-time, but ya know, being with adults and acting like one. It sounds cruel and I love her to death, but it's not always easy."
"That's normal, I guess. Don't feel bad about it", he simply stated, "you're doing a great job with everything."
"Thanks, Jess." She smiled at him. Jess. She liked the sound of his name, she liked that he was the only Jess she knew. He was so special. Oh god, did she say that out loud?
Apparently not. She felt blood rushing through her veins, coloring her cheeks in pink shades. She liked him, she did. But she wasn't ready to admit it openly, to tell him, to take the consequences. And because he was that steady facette of her life and he became one of her anchors since Emma's birth, she didn't want to ruin it. And cards on the table, they both were good at ruining things. But of course she saw how he cared for her and Emma, how he tried to help, how he checked up on them on a regular basis, bringing them leftovers to their apartment in Queens, taking the last train to go back to Brooklyn. Texting her book recommendations, giving advice in writing, locking eyes with her when they hear something funny and giving her his signature smile (that still makes her a little weak). And she definitely saw his outer appearance, not being the lanky boy anymore, but having arms and legs who could easily crack nuts and more.
He was standing next to her, watching silently the garden of Lorelai and Luke. Another thing she liked: enjoying the silence together. It was never awkward or boring. Just soothing.
"It was nice that you came with us here", she said under breath, not wanting to upset him and his silence.
"It was nice that you've asked", he responded.
"Please, I'm pretty sure your Mom also asked you. Or Doula. Or Luke! Luke's a secret softie, you know that."
Jess uttered a small laughter. "He is. But actually, they gave up asking me. I've rejected them too often."
"And you listened to my plea? I'm honored."
"Oh, it's a plea already? You're desperate, I knew it."
"Yeah, I've asked all my telephone and online contacts, but nobody had time. Then there was you."
"Your fill-in?", he looked up, brown met blue.
"Never. You're my best catch." She fluttered her eyelids and smiled. Alcohol made her brave.
"You're cute. And you still can't flirt properly", he grinned slightly and put his arm around her, making her follow him. ""Let's enter the belly of the beast again".
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."

No, she didn't.

Merry Christmas!