A/N: Hey, so I know right? I'm a total slacker! My lack of help is getting ridiculous. Anyway, I will write the next chapter, but this chapter was too good for me to mess with. Anyway, fantastic job, Elle, as usual!
Disclaimer: Yes, we own people—Tabitha and Madison and Tom and Bob and Kyle…
On with the story…
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Chapter 18: Life Goes On
Nobody's POV
Rory lifted her stiff neck. Disorientation hit first. The room was dark. To her left there was a huge window covered by a big thick curtain. The smell of bleach and cleansing products sifted into her nose. Putting both her feet on the floor she realized that she was sitting in a plastic chair, which conveniently had arms. Her legs sent shooting pains up her body and she stretched, much like a cat in a cast. Rory lifted her hands to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Behind the dusty old curtain she could see that the morning light was just coming through.
She scanned the room and found her mother sleeping on a couch and Jess sitting next to the door on the floor. But Tabitha and Tom were missing, she decided as she stood. She stretched towards the ceiling this time and felt relief in her joints as they cracked. Coffee, she thought and tip toed towards the door. Stepping over Jess' outstretched left leg she opened the door and slipped out. The hall was empty save for the lonely plastic chairs—without arms.
She put her right hand on the smooth cold wall and just closed her eyes slightly letting the coolness calm her racing heart. The images wouldn't stop playing peek-ah-boo with her dreams. She started down the hallway still relaxed. A nurse was popping her gum behind the counter, laying her red head lazily in her arm that was bent at her elbow to hold her head up. Like that's not what a necks for, Rory thought as she rounded the right corner. Pink and blue elephants were painted on this wall. The nursery, she guessed.
Surely enough with a left turn Mary Poppins popped at Rory. There was a mural of first a cloud with none other than Miss. Mary Poppins herself. Rory lifted her hand and traced the cloud. Like a dream, she thought. Next to the nanny of the century was a cute white stork carrying a blue blanket. Out of the blue blanket stuck just the smallest peek of a brown-headed boy. Rory smiled touching the stork. Such a regal creature. More followed that stork delivering a newborn boy. There were pink and blue ones ranging from small to large.
The wall cut in and Rory saw a man pacing the floor. The chairs, she noted, were cushioned and meant for comfort. But the man with the habit of running his fingers through his hair didn't seem to seek such things. Rory was about to turn away and walk out when a cry was heard. The cry had such a definite distinction about that Rory stopped. She turned her head as a man with green scrubs walked to the pacing man who had also stopped.
"It's a girl," the man in the scrubs said as the proud papa grinned ear to ear.
"How's Maryann?" He questioned the doctor as Rory lent against the wall—enjoying the happiness.
"Beautiful, she can't wait to hold her," the doctor said and turned on his heel to leave.
"Wait," the new dad said and pulled out pink lollipops, they had strings on them. He handed the doctor one as the doctor left. Rory smiled as the man jumped and turned to her.
"Here," he said thrusting one in her hand as he started down the hall, towards the pay phone. Rory chuckled watching him. The paper crinkled in her hand and she opened her hand to reveal a pink lollipop with a white stick and pink strings hanging from it. One of the strings was written in loopy dainty handwriting, 'Leigh Victoria Parks'. Rory smiled, irony. She turned and walked back down the elephant hallway. Looking to the nurse, she noticed that the window behind the nurses' station was beckoning new light. Looking towards the big 'swish' doors—as Rory liked to call them—she decided to watch the light break herself. She walked to the doors and they opened. The crisp Connecticut air smacked Rory in her face and made her take a deep breath.
She walked to the same bench where she had sat yesterday. The light was a brisk orange. At the very tips pink was emerging, signaling the love in the air. Rory brought her knees to her chin and hugged her legs close to her. An almost blindingly lovely light peeped out from behind the trees. The orange deepened and became a nice bright yellow. Smiling, Rory watched the rest of the sun come up. A smooth but demanding breeze whizzed by Rory, leaving her with a small chill. She stood and walked back in—feeling rejuvenated.
She strolled towards the elevator and hit the up button. Waiting for the elevator she looked towards the door where Luke's room lay behind. Not a even a stirring yet. The bell dinged and Rory smiled and stepped in. Today was a new day, she decided as she hit the button for the second floor, a new day indeed.
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Jess felt something hot on his neck. Smiling his dream turned naughty.
Rory rolled over and smiled. Jess grinned at the small flimsy sheet between them. Rory lifted herself slightly and nibbled on his ear.
Groaning Jess opened his eyes. Turning to his left he saw Rory's smile. She squatted and sat Indian style in front of him. Jess looked around and noticed everyone still sleeping. Behind the heavy curtain there was a bright morning glow. He turned his attention back to Rory. She extended her arm. In her grasp was a white Styrofoam cup.
"It's herbal tea," she said at Jess's questioning look. He nodded and pulled himself to an upright position.
"Thanks," he said taking the cup. Rory grinned and stood. Jess followed her long lean legs to her shapely hips then up her body to her eyes.
"What?"
"I want you to see something," she said holding her good arm out. Jess nodded. He stood and grabbed her hand.
Bringing their hands to his lips, he grazed her knuckled with a feather light kiss, "As much as I love you, and you being the first thing I wake up to, why this early?" He questioned as Rory giggled. The light—he noticed—was, for the first time since Dean, back. Not caring if she threw him overboard, he followed. She was happy and for that he'd jump off the Empire State Building if need be.
She pulled him steadily down the hallway filled with pink and blue elephants. Jess amused himself by making small stories about each of them. Then Mary Poppins came into view and Jess smiled, a nursery. It hadn't hit before, but now, as they passed the storks, it hit. She pulled him pass a small waiting room then to a placed plastered with windows.
Rory stood in front of a clear sided bassinet. It had a small pink bundle that slept in it. Jess smiled. He snaked an arm around Rory, he realized why she brought him here. This baby, Parks, Jess noticed, symbolized that life does carry on. Something bad happened to them yes, but, Jess thought looking Rory in the eye, they'd make it through. If it was they last thing they'd do. He chuckled and pulled Rory close, kissing her forehead.
"Yeah, you're right," he said as Rory smiled. Words hadn't been exchanged, but they understood each other completely.
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Rory and Jess walked towards Luke's room holding hands and laughing as Tabitha came out. She put her hands on her hips at the sight of those two.
"Lorelai Leigh and Jesse where the hell have you been? You've had us worried sick," she mocked a mother as Rory laughed and pulled Tabitha in for a hug.
"You need to see something," Rory concluded. Jess and Rory led a hesitant Tabitha towards their symbol. But once she saw, Tabitha understood. The three united friends stood outside the glass smiling.
Rory fingered the lollipop in her pocket; she pulled it out and smiled. "This is from her father this morning. Her name is Leigh Victoria Parks," Rory said as Tabitha snorted and took the lollipop.
"Nuh uh—oh," she said as she read the small ribbon. Jess smiled and looked over Rory's shoulder at the lollipop.
"That's ironic," he said as the friends looked at the baby. As they did, she opened her green eyes and stuck out her tongue. The three laughed as she wriggled slightly.
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Luke looked at Lorelai. She was stretched on the couch, sleeping peacefully. Suddenly, frightening Luke slightly, she moved and stretched. Her eyes fluttered three times before her blue orbs were available for viewing. Luke smiled and went to open his mouth as Lorelai sat up, but laughing was heard.
The three adolescents walked in—each arm linked together. They stopped at the tension in the room and Rory's eyes flashed between her mother and Luke.
"You guys are bums," Jess said oblivious to the tension. Rory giggled as Lorelai laughed, but her eyes lingered with Luke's a couple minutes longer before Rory told her about the new baby.
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"So," Rory said laying her head on Jess's lap as they sat on that same familiar bench. Jess nodded holding the paper.
"Okay, how about a four letter word for a strong like," he said. Rory whipped her eyes to her left as Tabitha handed her a Snickers bar and Jess a Hershey's bar. Tabitha sat crossed legged in front of the bench.
"What are we doing?" She asked and Rory smiled.
"Love," she said and Jess chuckled, choking on his candy bar slightly.
"W-What?" He asked as Rory felt his blood race under her ear.
"Love is a four letter word for a strong like," Rory said winking at Tabitha. Tabitha bit back a laugh. Jess nodded as he tried to calm his heart. He wrote with a shaky hand the word, 'L-O-V-E'.
"Tabs, it's Madi," Tom said coming out. Tabitha smiled and grabbed his cell.
"Mads!" She screeched as she walked away from the group.
"Hey sis," she said back. Instantly recognizing the sorrow in her voice Tabitha sighed.
"Honey, what's wrong?" Tabitha asked propping her left arm up with her right by wrapping her right arm around her waist.
"Henry's got a girlfriend," she said her voice quivering. Tabitha felt her heart swell three times its size.
"Aw babe, that's okay," she said. Henry had been her first huge crush. Madison has been working up the courage to ask him out. But the 'what ifs' had killed her. She wouldn't do it being afraid of rejection.
"I know, but I thought I'd tell you. Listen, mom's home so I'm going to go, talk later babe," Madi said as she and Tabitha hung up. Tabitha leant her hand that was clasped around the phone, against her chin. She turned with a smile; she gave Tom back the phone, and sat.
"What next?" Tabitha asked as Rory laughed.
"A three letter word for a household pet with four legs," Rory said laughing. Tabitha grinned.
"Would that also be a word to describe a man, right?" Tabitha asked.
Rory howled with laughter as Jess' cheeks flared, "Yeah," Rory gasped between laughs.
"Then that'd be—" Tabitha hooted, "dog," she said meeting Jess' eyes.
"Okay, enough," he said as a chuckle escaped his lips. Rory playfully smacked his chest as Tabitha grinned. Life still went on…
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A/N: Good? Let me know what you think?
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