A/N: Thanks heaps guys for your reviews - keep 'em coming, they really boost me into writing more! I am seriously loving these characters, even though things have taken on a more serious tone… Not to worry, the humour will rise - I can barely hold it in as it is. But, as this is a massive change for me (you've seen my previous works, no? all humour and inner monologue? Things change…) I am pretty excited and hope I can keep it up - hope to hear from you all soon. And I hope you like this chapter. Any questions, comments, or requests - please feel free to post them in your review or email me on the shown address. Love, emjai!
Chapter Seven:
Do you ever get those moments where you're totally at peace with the world?
Where you sit still, let the air brush against your skin, and just feel completely content with your life and the way you lived it?
When all you can do is bite the corners of your lips to stop yourself grinning at the sheer blissfulness of a moment?
Rory sighed.
Heaven will seem boring after this.
Opening her eyes, she gazes out over the balcony at the midnight blue waves that are lapping gently at the sand. She shifts unconsciously in her seat, disturbing the heavy warmth that lies against her. She feels soft hair tickle her bare shoulder as the sounds of stretching fill the air.
True happiness can be achieved. This being has lit up my life. This being has a part of my soul.
"Mommy, when is dinner?"
And a part of my DNA.
"Shouldn't be too long now, Jake," she says softly before raising her voice, "Daddy should have had it ready fifteen minutes ago, but nooooooooooooooo! Daddy had to watch the MTV special on HIMSELF!"
A laugh reverberates across the balcony of her beach house before a tall, grinning, shaggy-haired man walks out from the patio with a steaming tray in his hands.
He never was able to tame his hair…
Placing the food on the table he moves over to Rory, scooping up his boy, "Well, if Mommy hadn't forced Daddy to read every…"
He pecked a kiss on the 4 year-olds chocolate mane, "single…"
He pecked again, "article…"
Once more, "about her winning the most prestigious writing prize in the WORLD -Daddy would have been able to start dinner earlier! Then my little boy wouldn't be starving and my darling girl wouldn't be blaming ME!"
He tickled their son to emphasise his point before swooping his partner into a rampaging tickle-fight. Their raucous sounds of laughter and excited squeals cast themselves across the sea to a lonely fisherman who smiled fondly at a memory of what once was.
Take a step back.
This isn't the future. This isn't the past. This is the present… of sorts. We see two lovers curled into each other in Rory's bed. Both are asleep. This is where this moment has its origin. The brain cells of Rory Gilmore have concocted an image. An image, -not of what will be, but an image of what could be. Fortunately for us we can see this image and form our own opinions. But when Rory Gilmore opens her eyes to the reality of the world before her, this dreamland will be gone. Their life together will be questionable. Their happiness may never be. Their beautiful child may never come to live. Only the consequences of the night before will be considered during the moments when Rory opens her eyes and realises that the arms wrapped so tightly around her waist are not those of her ex-husband. The hairs on those arms are brown, not blonde. Turning over, she will see that the body next to her is not sculpted rock, but toned flesh. Running her hands through his hair, she will note that it is soft and curled, not fuelled by products. And when his eyes open to meet hers, a dashing icy cobalt blue will not be seen, but liquid pools of hazelnut will warm her from the pit of her stomach. Their lips will meet again, in the thought that one last time would be the end. That one last time would be enough. Would satisfy. Would quench the thirst they both feel. Little do they know it would merely further fuel the passion ignited the night before.
Rory let out a deep breath as she repositioned herself. Once more surprised to feel soft skin as her pillow she jerked out of her daze and propped herself up with one hand. The sudden rush of cold air to Dave's skin made him groan softly and reach for her.
With wide eyes, she swatted away his hand as it started to draw lazy circles on her back, gently pushing her back towards him.
"Dave," she whined softly, "We can't. I can't. You have to go – It's morning and…" she trailed off.
Frowning, but not opening his eyes, he mumbled huskily, "Lane'll be expecting me? Is that what you were going to say?"
Slightly distracted by his enticing fingers she breathed a quiet, "yes."
He opened his eyes slowly to see her frowning slightly but biting at her smiling bottom lip – her face showing her ambiguous feelings at that moment. Raising his hand to the base of her neck, he sat up and kissed her.
Breaking apart after a moment he muttered breathlessly, "I don't care."
Capturing her mouth in his once more, he eased them back down onto the bed again. His free hand skimmed across her belly and down until he was tracing tiny patterns on her inner thigh. Rory gasped with pleasure, all the while caressing his chest with her lips.
A small vibration passed across the bed.
Both froze.
Both looked at each other.
"Was that?"
"Did you?"
They felt it again, this time an all too familiar bleat rang across the room.
Rory scrambled across the bed to the small table where her home phone attempted sabotage on her social life. Guessing all telephonic objects had her pain as their main target, she glared at the offensive phone before reaching to pick it up. Grabbing her hand, Dave pouted,
"Rory, just leave it!"
She shook her head desperately, "It could be an emergency!" And with that she grabbed the receiver and lifted it to her ear.
"…Shoes and I walk in, ready for my dinner, but the table was empty – not even cutlery! And then I walked through every single room in the house but he wasn't there and I'm seriously starting to worry – which is a huge deal for me, because I don't usually worry about people or places or things. That was my mother's job, but Rory, I don't know where he is and I can't get him to answer his phone. I've tried religiously – oh, the irony, I know – to call him every 15 minutes so as to not clog the home line in case he was trying to call. I don't want to use the phone here any more than I can just in case he is trying to get through, but what do I do Rory? Rory! Are you listening to me? You haven't said a word! Are you there? RORY!"
Rory winced at the harsh sound now battering at her ear bongos. "Lane. I've been listening for a while – how do you expect me to interrupt your tirades, Kim? I have been privy to such speeches before and I am well aware when you wish me to speak and when not to. What can I do you for?" She said, while shifting in the bed so she covered herself in her sheets.
"Could you maybe call Dave's cell for me? As soon as he picks up can you find out where he is and call me back?"
Stifling back a giggle as a smooth, tanned hand began gently tugging at the sheet to expose her, Rory coughed, "Sure, Lane, Right on it. Calm down, go eat some pancakes!"
"Pancakes? How will they help?"
"My mom always said that pancakes can save the day and I still hold by that belief."
"That's fair."
"I'll call you."
"Okay! Bye – oh, and thanks!"
"Bye," Rory mumbled before guiltily flinching as she put the receiver back on the hook.
Feeling the tenseness pass through Rory's body, Dave frowned, "Rory, what's wrong?"
Rory sighed and sadly shook her head, "She's my best friend, Dave. She always has been. I have just slept with my best friend's husband! Five times!"
Turning his back to her, he sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm sorry, Rory. I never meant to drag you into this or hurt you in any way. I know you probably just think this was a huge mistake," he trailed off for a moment, "and I agree."
"Dave, I –"
"Rory, don't worry. It's ok," he said as he stood up and put on his clothing, "just call Lane. Tell her I'll be home within 15 minutes and that the guys and I rehearsed too late so we decided to crash at Kyan's – give her the whole kit-kat-caboodle about lazy musicians if you must, she'll believe you."
Forgetting her lack of clothing, Rory stood up and reached for him, "But, I –"
Holding up a hand but refusing to face her, he halted her, "Rory. This never happened. I'll let myself out."
And with that, he was gone.
Twelve or so hours later, Rory Gilmore was once again found in her pyjamas eating a dessert from her freezer with her chord-less phone tucked between her shoulder and ear.
"So I asked him whether he had had sex with Annitia and he said yes. Then I said 'and how did you feel about that?' and the little brat said 'well, I started with feeling her boobs…'"
Laughing, Rory nearly choked on her banoffee pie, "He sounds like you did at his age!"
"Yeah, I recommended to the principle that he get expelled and go get a job at Wal-Mart."
"You didn't!"
"Yeah, you're right, I didn't. I kinda like the kid – I want to help him."
Smirking, Rory cooed, "Ooh, who woulda thunk it, huh? The school rebel becoming the school counsellor."
"Funny ole world, innit?"
At those words, Rory's face fell and she deadpanned, "It certainly doesn't amuse me."
A short pause resided on the other side, followed by, "ah… So the fragile doll forced itself out of its cage, got trashed off its face, and has done something now to crack its porcelain… I'm intrigued."
"Believe me," she moaned, "you don't want to know."
A knock came from the door.
"Oh, it's that kind of trouble, huh?" He crowed, "well, come on, who's the lucky guy?"
"Seriously, Jess, It's not worth you getting involved in!" She grumbled as she undid the bolt on the door and swung it open.
"You know I love the juicy stuff, Gilmore! C'mon, can't a guy –" he stopped when he heard her gasp.
Dave was standing at the door, leaning languidly against the frame. He stood upright when he saw her.
She stammered into the phone, "I-I-I've gotta go…"
"Gilmore, he's there isn't he? Who is it? Just tell me, You will eventually anyway. Hell, let me talk to him!"
Dave ignored the soft tinny voice and held Rory's eyes with a penetrating stare. In a soft voice he stated, "Rory… I can't go back to the way it was. I can't lie to you any more than I can lie to myself. It wasn't a mistake. I know it. You know it. I felt something and I know you feel it too. We'll figure out a way to deal with the others… Just… Please. I need you Rory."
Rory placed the phone gently down on the coffee table and reached up to kiss him.
As Dave kicked the door closed behind him and pressed Rory up against the wall, neither of them noticed the now far away gasp of,
"Was that DAVE?"
Take a step back.
One day can change your life. Two can change your destiny. With the pair before us now we can see that those statements are all too applicable. What happened the pervious night could have been resolved as an act of anger. An act of desperation. It could have been dropped and blown aside as a mere incident. But the act was determined and definite now and therein lies the rising explosion of issues. Their secret is now known by one. One that, granted lives across the ocean, but one that holds a great power when it comes to connections with those involved. An emotion is passed between them as we see them climaxing against the hard floorboards in Rory's living room. Whether it is love, it is too soon to tell. But that emotion they have found is one they ne'er found in another. One that is as rare as a precious jewel…and just as fragile. One day for these two caused a problem. Two caused a predicament. The third day is just around the corner…and a plague of problems, predicaments and pain could lie ahead. The secret is out. Can they make it out alive?