Chapter Six: If you can't sleep.

It's dark out when Anna starts crying, Rory wakes instantly from her light sleep and rolls over, the numbers on her clock read 3.24am. Slowly she sits up and leans over to the crib that holds her daughter, picking Anna up she soothes her, feeds her and tries to get her back to sleep, but although Anna no longer cries she still won't sleep. Rory rocks Anna back and forth for a few minutes before resting her in her crib, and laying down herself. Just as she's about to fall asleep Anna starts crying again.

'Good morning sweets, and baby sweets.' Lorelai comes into the room holding out a cup of decaf coffee. It's now 8.30 and Lorelai is about to leave for work, she scans the room and see's her daughter has fallen asleep in a chair near the crib, which has been moved next to the window. Rory stirs as she hears her mothers voice, and opens her eyes.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I thought you'd be up. I seriously need to remember what it's like to have a newborn.' Lorelai apologised.

'That's ok.' Rory smiled weakly. 'Though I am surprised you didn't hear Anna last night, she was crying for hours, eventually I managed to get her to fall asleep, but only if she was near an open window.'

'Ah yeah, my mother once told me that was the only way she could ever get me to sleep.' Lorelai nods her head. 'Well at least you know what works now.'

'Oh sure, until it gets too cold to keep the windows open, oh wait too late.' Rory moaned.

'Having very little sleep really doesn't suit you.' Lorelai laughed. 'Right you get some sleep while Anna's still sleeping, I am going to the inn but I'll drop by at lunch and see the two of you.'

'Sounds good.' Rory said. 'Bye'

'Bye.' Lorelai called running out the door and starting her car. The sound of the door closing woke Anna, who started screaming again.

'Oh no!' Rory sighed getting to her feet.

Two hours later Rory was struggling, Anna was still fussy, Rory was tired and had spit and baby drool in her hair. Her pyjama's were sweaty and her hair was messy. Cradling Anna in the crook of her arm she picked up the phone and dialled.

'Hello?' Jess' voice floated through the phone and Rory sighed in relief. 'Rory?'

'How'd you guess?' Rory asked, her voice strained and agitated.

'I don't know many people with babies, and since I can hear Anna crying I just figured. Everything ok?' Jess asked, slightly concerned. He dropped his book he'd been reading and picked up his jacket, already pulling it on.

'No…Anna's been crying all night and she finally got to sleep and then my mum left and the door closing woke her up and now she's screaming and when she's not screaming she's fussy and I'm tired and I need a shower, but I can't leave her and I just…' Rory cried into the phone, sinking down onto the floor carefully so she didn't hurt Anna who she was holding carefully. She wanted to be able to handle this, she loved Anna so much and she wanted to be able to deal with it all, but at this moment she felt herself falling apart.

'Hang on I'll be right there.' Jess said walking past Luke in the diner and walking fast through the town.

'You don't have to come.' Rory cried.

'I'm on my way.' Jess said firmly, hanging up the phone. Less than five minutes later he knocked the door quietly.

'It's open.' Rory called above Anna's crying. Jess pushed the door open and found Rory sitting on the floor cradling Anna, tear stains running down her face.

'Hey it's ok.' Jess dropped to his knees and pulled her into a hug.

'I'm supposed to be able to do this. I want to be a good mum and I can't even get her to stop crying.' Rory sobbed against his shoulder.

'Here, give her to me. I'll watch her for a while, you go shower and then get some sleep.' Jess instructed, taking Anna from her arms.

'You don't mind?' Rory asked.

'Did I not just offer.' Jess smirked, helping her up from the floor, she smiled gratefully the disappeared into the bathroom.

'Hey Anna.' Jess smiled down at the little girl. 'Have you been giving your mum a hard time?' He settled down on the couch and pulled out a notebook that he'd started a book in, reading it softly to Anna. Slowly she calmed down and just lay in his arms looking up at him with big blue eyes.

'You got her to stop crying.' Rory smiled, coming out of the bathroom, clean and smiling, in a new pair pyjama shorts and a t-shirt. Her hair pulled back from her face.

'I think she likes my new book.' Jess said holding up the notebook.

'You're writing again?' Rory asked excitedly, sitting next to him on the couch.

'Yeah. Last night I just had all these ideas and started writing, it's not very good but it's a start.' Jess said casually.

'I want to hear it.' Rory said settling herself comfortably on the couch, her head resting just next to Jess' shoulder.

'You're meant to be sleeping.' Jess raised his eyebrows at her, she didn't respond so he sighed and started to read. Rory smiled slightly and settled down to listen to the parts of his new book that he was reading. Slowly she started drifting off, until she'd fallen asleep with her head rested on his shoulder, he feet tucked up on the couch. Jess smiled and put his notebook down, pulling a blanket over her, he put his arm round her, and cradled Anna with the other. Both girls sleeping soundly, he carefully reached for the remote and put the TV on, making sure it was on mute, he watched with the subtitles on.

….

The front door opened and Lorelai stepped into the hall, closing it quietly she was about to call out to her daughter, when she spotted Jess on the couch watching the silent TV, Rory curled up asleep next to him and Anna sleeping in his arms. The picture look so perfect that it unsettled Lorelai, but she brushed it aside and quietly made her way to the lounge, sitting in the armchair.

'Hey.' Lorelai whispered with a cautious smile.

'Hey Lorelai.' Jess replied keeping his voice low.

'What are you doing here?'

'Rory called me, she was having a rough time this morning, I just came over to watch Anna so Rory could shower and stuff.' Jess explained quietly. Lorelai nodded her head.

'I brought lunch from Luke's, there's enough for you if you want.' Lorelai offered.

'Uh sure. Should we wake Rory?' Jess asked.

'Um I guess we should, she needs to eat something.' Lorelai nodded. 'She looks so peaceful.' Lorelai added. 'Here I'll take Anna and put her in her crib, you wake Rory.'

Jess nodded and gently handed Anna over, once Lorelai had left the room he turned slightly and shook Rory's arm. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light she sat up and looked at Jess.

'Where's Anna?' Rory said slightly panicked.

'It's ok, your mum's putting her in her crib.' Jess said, watching Rory visibly relax. 'Lorelai brought some lunch.'

'Oh…is it lunchtime already?' Rory asked, Jess nodded and stood up. 'Hey Jess I'm sorry I slept so long, and for the freak out this morning, and thanks for coming over.' Rory said getting to her feet.

'Don't worry about it, I like watching Anna and you needed sleep, I'd be happy to stay for a while longer if you like and you can rest some more, I can work on my book here just as much as I can at the diner, and as for freaking out you're a new mum, you have the right to freak out a little. If you ever need help then call, or if you can't sleep you can call me.' Jess smirked.

'Thanks Jess, I don't know how I'm going to repay you.' Rory said going into the kitchen.

'I had an idea.' Jess said lightly, taking a seat.

'Oh yeah?' Rory raised her eyebrows at him with a smile.

'Well since I'm writing again I figure I'm going to be needing an editor.' Jess said raising his eyes to look at her, Rory's face lit up.

'Really? Are you serious? You want me to edit your book?' Rory said excitedly.

'If you want to, and if you think you can do that while taking care of Anna, but I figure we can fit it in whenever, so we could work around Anna's needs, and you can work from here.' Jess said.

'I'd love to.' Rory smiled, getting up and hugging Jess. 'Thank you.'

'No problem, now I was thinking 50% of the books earnings should go to you for your pay, since you have to be paid somehow.' Jess said, Rory's eyes went wide.

'No! No way I won't let you pay me.' Rory shook her head. 'The author isn't meant to pay the editor.'

'No but since you don't work for a publishing firm you won't get paid and I won't let you do this for free.' Jess said firmly.

'Well how about 10%' Rory suggested.

'40% and that's my final offer.' Jess said.

'Ok 40% it is.' Rory agreed.

'What's 40%?' Lorelai asked coming into the kitchen and sitting at the table that was now covered in food.

'I'm going to edit Jess' new book and for my wages he's going to give me 40% of the royalties when it's published.

'Wow, so you're going to be working with Jess.' Lorelai said sceptically.

'Uh-huh.' Rory smiled brightly, not picking up on her mothers concern.

A/N- Hope you like, please review.