A/N - Sorry feels like ages since I wrote. Things have been slightly crazy here. Working like a mad woman.
Thank you for the reviews. Someone asked if it was gonna be a lit-friendship. And as far as I have this planned out in my head, yes, friendship is all that's in the cards for Rory and Jess. I almost prefer their friendship in season2 over their relationship in season3. Although I think they were better together than any of her other boyfriends. She should have dated Marty, you know before he was a jerk.
Oh, and I don't own the Gilmore Girls. I wish. Well if I'm wishing for stuff, it would just be Milo. Can't be greedy. Who knows when you'll need to call in a favour!
Chapter Three: As Things Collide
"And finally, Aerosmith's 'Love in an Elevator'." Lane checked notepad containing the song list for the party. "I think we've got a pretty good set here." She smiled over at Rory.
"Yeah, mom's gonna love it. Not to sure about Luke though!" Rory grinned back.
Lane stood up from her kitchen table and walked to the fridge, "You want anything to drink?" she asked pulling open the door. "Water? Juice box?"
"Yeah, juice please." Rory replied.
Lane grabbed two juice boxes and handed one to Rory.
"Thanks."
"So," Lane started as she sat back down opposite her best friend. "Did you hear from Jess? Is he coming tomorrow?"
"No." Rory shook her head and smiled. "He didn't call, thank God. I don't think I could handle him being here. At least this way I have four months to prepare before I have to see them at the wedding."
"Right." Lane nodded her head, "But you know, I'm kinda bummed I don't get to meet the girl that got Jess Mariano to settle down."
"Well they got married in Vegas, so it might have been a drunken mistake, rather than him actually wanting to settle down." Rory replied, pulling her hair into a ponytail, twisting it around her hand before letting go and allowing it to fall back around her face.
"You think they'd celebrate a three month anniversary if it were a drunken mistake?"
"Not helping Lane!"
"Sorry Rory!" Lane replied, matching Rory's inflections.
"Oh shoot! I'm late!" Rory said checking her watch. "I was supposed to meet Sookie ten minutes ago at the inn for a rundown of tomorrow's proceedings." She continued as she grabbed her bag and headed out the door. "I'll talk to you later!"
"So, you'll be keeping Luke and Lorelai in the house for..."
"A movie day, yes." Rory interrupted Sookie. "Then at seven ten exactly I'll usher them out the door for the fancy meal I taking them to in Hartford and we'll be in the town square by seven fifteen, where they will both be surprised."
"And while you're movie-ing it up, we'll be setting up. Perfect!" Sookie giggled. "I've got all the food good to go at my place, Patti's got all the tables and decorations sorted and Lane has the favours! And Jackson's pickingup April from the airport at five. We're all set!"
"Sookie! Is there any coff- Rory! What are you doing here?" Lorelai asked as she entered the kitchen of the Dragonfly.
"I just came by to see Sookie. I haven't seen her all week." Rory replied quickly.
"Oh, okay." Lorelai poured herself a cup of coffee and turned to face her daughter and best friend. "So, what were you two talking about?"
"Nothing of importance." Rory answered, with Sookie nodding her head in agreement. "Just telling Sookie about our day tomorrow." Rory continued.
"Oh I know! It's great of Liz to take Charlie for the day, he's gonna love the zoo. And even Luke is looking forward to our movie day now!"
"Really?"
"Well he was looking forward to the fancy meal, but he's gotten more into the movie-ness portion of the day, when I implied he might have some sort of veto power over the movie choices." Lorelai grinned at her daughter.
"Mean!" Rory replied, trying not to laugh.
"But fun! Oh and I've worked out our theme."
"Hit me."
"Ultimate love stories. I've even picked out the movies."
"Which are...?" Rory enquired.
"'Casablanca', 'Pretty Woman', 'Two for the Road', 'True Romance' and 'Footloose'." Lorelai counted off the films on her fingers.
"Footloose?" Sookie questioned, as she lifted a fresh tray of brownies out of the oven.
"Sure," Rory answered, "For the undeniable love between Kevin Bacon and Chris Penn!"
"Bingo!" Lorelai said laughing as she pointed her index finger at Rory.
"Oh, gottcha!" Sookie replied, winking, "But you have to go. I have a dinner to prep for. Here have a brownie!" she said, pushing the two Gilmore's out of her kitchen, handing them both a brownie at the same time.
"Okay, that was weird." Lorelai said looking over her shoulder.
"Sookie's always weird." Rory reasoned, taking a bit of her brownie. "Oh my word! This is incredible, her best ever!" she smiled at her mother.
"Yeah, she perfected that recipe a few months ago." Lorelai took a bit of her own treat.
"The things you miss when you leave the Hollow are astounding."
"I know. So, you got anythingon right now. You wanna stay, talk? About anything?" Lorelai asked, since she and Rory hadn't discussed the 'Jess Situation' any further than 'It was a lapse in judgement, but I'm better now' over coffee the day after Rory got home.
"I can't. I have stuff for work I need to read before I go back on Monday."
"But you have the week off!"
"Yes, but I don't think anyone told the President that. He still working away and I haven't read anything bar 'People' Magazine and The Stars Hollow Gazette since I got here. And I want to get it out of the way so I can enjoy tomorrow and then have Sunday free." Rory told her mom.
"Free...to talk?" Lorelai questioned.
"Sure." Rory confirmed and kissed Lorelai on the cheek before heading back into town.
"Is this colour okay?" Lydia held out her hand, showing off her fingernails, freshly painted a shade of steely grey. Simon, Chris' boyfriend of two years, put down his book and took hold of her hand for a closer inspection.
"Yeah, they're fine. It's just weird not seeing your usual shade of red." He said as he continued reading.
"I know, but the dress is green. And red and green should never be seen! I just want them to like me."
Simon raised one eyebrow, but didn't look up from his novel, "And matching your nails to your outfit is gonna do that?"
"It can't hurt. And you didn't see her, Si. All doe eyed and glossy hair. Plus I'm meeting Jess' mom. I'm really nervous about that. I don't want her to hate me.
"Sweetie, they'll all love you. There's nothing to hate. I promise!"
"Liar." She replied coolly, just as Jess opened the door to the apartment over Truncheon.
"Hey Murphy, you about ready to go?" Jess headed to the kitchen and lifted two water bottles from the fridge.
"Yeah, you get everything finished down there? It's only one, and half four is way too early to get there."
"I know, but I figured we could stop for lunch, and get there about half five, giving you plenty of time to get ready. I know you're worr-"
"I'm not worried!" Lydia cut him off. He simply raised an eyebrow in response, which forced her to concede. "Fine, I was worried. But just a little. And we'll leave now. Can you grab the overnight bags and my dress? "
Jess gave her a look to say, 'You know God gave you arms for a reason', but Lydia simply shrugged one shoulder as she slipped on her ballet pumps, telling him "What? My nails are still tacky."
"It must be hard to be a girl." Jess mused as he lifted down the garment bag that held Lydia's dress, from the top of the door frame of his old room.
"You have no idea." Simon deadpanned. "Well have fun you two. Don't drink too much."
"Can't promise anything Si, see you Monday." Lydia said as she gave him a quick, chaste kiss.
"Yeah, see you, Simon." Jess told him as he opened the door to the apartment. "Lyds, out!"
"Bye!" Simon called out as Lydia grabbed her handbag and followed Jess down the stairs.
Jess glanced at the clock in his car. Twenty past three. They'd been driving for nearly an hour and a half, having gone for lunch before they left Philadelphia. Lydia had been listening to a radio quiz, and answering every question correctly, pumping her fist or clapping herself in celebration every time.
"Who had a hit with 'Baby don't forget my number'?"
"Milli Vanilli." Lydia said at the same time as the contestant, and gave a small "woo!" and clapped when the host said that was correct.
"Which movie had the tagline 'Who's who behind the do'?"
"Hairspray!" Lydia said quickly and the waited impatiently for the contestant to answer. "Hurry up..It's 'Hairspray'!!" The contestant ran out of time and the host once again confirmed that Lydia was right.
"Who was Norm's never seen on screen wife in 'Cheers'?"
"Ohhh... " Lydia put her hand to her head and rubbed her temple, "I know this.." then she snapped her fingers, "Vera!" she declared just as the host told the on air contestant that she had once again ran out of time and the answer was 'Vera'.
"I'm good!" Lydia smiled over at Jess. "I should so enter one of these things one day."
On the radio, the host asked the contestant if she would like to gamble the money she won so far for the grand prize of $1500.
"Gamble!" both Lydia and the girl said at once.
"And this week's jackpot question is - Danny Carey is the drummer for which Californian rock band?"
There was silence. Both from the radio, and from Lydia. She glanced at Jess and shrugged. "I have no idea. Never heard of him."
"Seriously?" Jess glanced at his wife, and smiled. "Tool." he said quietly.
"I'm not a tool!" Lydia said as she hit his upper arm.
"No the answer, you crackpot, is Tool. He's the drummer in Tool."
"Oh. Okay." Lydia said as she reached into the backseat and grabbed her purse.
"You know, you would have lost all that money if you were on the show." Jess told her.
"Yeah, well so did she!" Lydia gestured to the radio, where the host was telling his listeners to tune in next week. Lydia pulled a CD out her bag and popped it into the car's CD player.
"What are we listening to?"
"Just a little mix I made for the trip." Lydia grinned as the opening of The Libertines 'Time for Heroes' blasted from the speakers.
"Did you see the stylish kids in the riot.." Lydia sang along with the British band.
"I'm not watching 'Two for the Road'!" Luke complained as he took a sip of beer.
"But it's a classic!" Rory exclaimed from her spot on the floor with Paul Anka, while Lorelai said "But it's Audrey!" from her spot curled up by Luke at the same time.
"I thought I had a veto power?"
"Well, yeah, you did sweetie. But you used it."
"When?"
"When I offered you the milk duds and you said no." Lorelai smiled at him.
"Lorelai."
"What? You vetoed the milk duds! And our theme is 'Ultimate Love Stories'. And we are getting married Luke. That's one big old love story. If there was a movie about us, trust me, we'd be watching that too!"
"Okay." Rory interjected, "How about we skip 'Two for the Road' and move swiftly on to 'True Romance'? You like it Luke. It has guns, and drugs, and gangsters and Christopher Walken."
"Okay. You okay with that Lor?"
"I guess I'll have to be. God, I know they say marriage is about compromise, but I didn't think it started this soon. Put the movie in Rory."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the one that made us skip Audrey and Albert, and because you're the closest."
"Fine." Rory switched the DVD's and returned to her seat. "But you're doing the next one!" She told her mother.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say. Now quieten down. I love Christian Slater."
They were half an hour from Stars Hollow, and twenty three songs into Lydia's mix CD, which Jess discovered was actually a mix mp3, and contained nearly fifty songs, that Simon had helped her make.
Though Jess couldn't complain. Her taste in music wasn't terrible, despite not knowing the drummer in Tool. She had included in the selection some Blondie, The Clash, Ramones, Metallica and The Jam for Jess, which Lydia also enjoyed listening to.
The rest were her own personal favourites, including The Strokes, INXS, Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon, The Police, Ryan Adams and Belle & Sebastian, that Jess didn't actually mind listeningto. The rest he had learnt to live with over the three years he'd known her; John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Heart, Pat Benatar and an endless list of random hits from the eighties.
She even included some Coldplay for Jess, which she hated and mocked him mercilessly throughout.
An upbeat pop song then started to play, which Jess vaguely recognised from the radio started to play. "What is this?" he questioned.
"It's our song." Lydia shrugged.
"Our song? Who even sings this?"
"Katy Perry." Lydia grinned as she started to quietly sing along. "Remember what you told me; Shut up and put your money where your mouth is, that's what you get for waking up in Vegas. Get up and shake the glitter of your clothes now, that's what you get for waking in up in Vegas!"
She reached forward and turned the music up before continuing to sing the second verse. "Why are these lights so bright? Did we get hitched last night? - See why it's our song?" She grinned at Jess.
Jess rolled his eyes before conceding. "Fine. You win. It's our song."
"I know! Don't call your mother, 'cause now we're partners in crime!" She sang at him, using her hand as a makeshift microphone.
Jess reached over to grab her hand and sighed, "You're a crazy woman."
"Yeah, but I'm your crazy woman." she replied squeezing his hand. "So, what did Rory say?"
"I told you, that we're invited to a surprise party for Luke and Lorelai."
"Yeah, I know that. But what did she say when you told her we were going?"
"I didn't."
"Jess!" Lydia exclaimed. "You didn't call her?"
"Didn't think I had to. She told us to come." Jess scratched the back of his neck.
"But you still have to call and say that you're definitely coming."
"Why?"
Lydia scrunched her face up in concentration, and after a minute confessed that she didn't know. "But Martha Stewart says you have to do it, so-"
"So I'm goingto Bad Manners Hell?" Jess cut her off, grinning.
"Yes!" Lydia said trying not to laugh, "But since you were going there anyway, I guess it's no harm, no foul! But I bet you ten bucks at least one person mentions the fact we should have called!" She smiled and reached over and ran her hand through Jess' hair as the song changed on the stereo. "Ohh- Lionel! All night looooooooooooong! All night!"
"Why is Kirk touching my drums?" Lane ran towards the stage were the band's intruments were set up and shouted, "Kirk, back away from the drums, and get off the stage before I ram my drum sticks where the sun don't shine!"
"I was just going to show Lulu my Ringo Starr impression."
"Not on my drum kit buster. Now move!" Lane walked over to Sookie was putting the finishing touches to her five tier chocolate cake at the gazebo. "Can you believe that guy? Trying to mess with my drums?"
"Well, pumpkin, it's Kirk." Sookie said as a black car drove past and parked outside the dinner. "I think anything is believable when it comes to Kirk. Do you know who that is? The car looks vaguely familiar." Sookie nodded in the direction of the diner.
"No." Lane replied, also trying to catch a glimpse of the newcomer.
"That's a Dodge Charger." Kirk told them, appearing suddenly at their sides, drumsticks still in hand. "The most famous Charger is, of course, The General Lee from 'The Dukes of Hazzard'. But, one Jess Mariano used to drive one. Though his was a piece of rust, and this one's a total babe."
"Oh yeah, that's right." Sookie placed an oero cookie on top of her cake.
"Jess drove one?" Lane looked panicked. "Well, I'll go and see who this is, see if they're here for the party. Carry on working, we still need those banners hung. And yeah. That's it. Stay away from my drums!" She pulled the drumsticks off Kirk and ran towards the diner.
"Get out of the car Jess."
"I'm working up to it."
"God, you're such a woman. We've been fully sitting here for like five minutes. Get out of the car!"
"Fine!" Jess opened his door and got out. "Are you hap- Lane?"
"Jess, hi." Lane said, stopping at the car just as Jess got out.
"Hey."
"What are you doing here?" She questioned her best friends ex.
"Rory invited us."
"Us?" Lane questioned, as Lydia got out of the car and walked around it to stand beside Jess. "Oh, there's the 'us'. Hi."
"Lyds, this is Rory's best friend Lane. Lane, this is Lydia, my wife."
"It's great to meet you Lane." Lydia offered her hand, which Lane shook quickly while addressing Jess. "We didn't know you were coming. You should have called."
"Ha! Ten bucks Mariano! Pay up!" Lydia poked Jess in the side, but then caught Lane's look of distaste, that would have rivalled Mrs Kim's, and she quickly apologised.
"Listen Lane, we need to get ready. I'm guessing you do too. We're just here for Luke. So, we're gonna head up to the apartment. We'll see you later."
"Yeah, later. April's already up there getting dressed." Lane headed back over to Sookie, looking over her shoulder at the couple who were lifting there bags out of the their trunk.
"So, she seems...intense." Lydia looked up at her husband, as she closed the trunk and followed him into the diner.
"Yeah, a little, but you get used to her."
"Okay, then. Oh and I love that her name in the book is 'Daria'."
"I have no idea what you are babbling on about."
"Just that, you know, Rory's best friend is Lane. And in your book, Holly's best friend is Daria. And in 'Daria' her best friend was Jane Lane!"
"And your point..?" Jess asked, getting defensive.
"Okay, calm, I'm not mocking. I think it's genius. I loved 'Daria', I felt a connection with her." she said as she headed up the stairs.
Jess followed his wife asking, "What connection?"
"Well I too fancied the pants of Trent Lane! Do I knock?" she asked coming to a stop at the apartment door.
"I think it's wise, April could be changing. And before we go in, remember, you can't mention 'Malice' to anyone."
"I know! I came up with your pen name to get you to publish it! No one will know that 'A Town Called Malice' by J.D. Murphy, is actually a town called Stars Hollow by Jess Mariano. Relax! And, by the way, who is April?"
"Luke's seventeen year old daughter." Jess said as he knocked on the door.
The door swung open, and there stood April in a bathrobe, her hair piled of top of her head, a make up brush in hand. "Jess?"
"Hey, April. Mind if we come in?"
"No phone calls during the movie. It's a cardinal rule Rory!" Lorelai called after her daughter, as Rory left her spot on the floor.
"I know, but it might be work, and this is a slow part of the movie."
"Jump back! There are no slow parts in 'Footloose'!"
"It's just her mom telling her she looks pretty." Rory said as she walked into the kitchen and picked up her phone. "Lane? What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, per say, it's just that Jess showed up."
"What?"
"Yeah. With the wife."
"Well, where are they now?" Rory asked, lifting a bottle of water from the fridge.
"In the diner apartment. I forgot you were staying there until after they were already up the stairs. You can stay at my place tonight if you want."
"It's fine. I'll deal with it when I get there. Luke will be pleased he's here. Thanks for letting me know."
"No problem. It's kinda my job. See you in an hour and half."
"Yeah, see you." Rory walked back into join Luke and Lorelai.
"Was it work?" Lorelai asked as Rory sat down on the arm of the sofa.
"No. Lane. Steve has mastered the open lick of 'London Calling' on guitar. She's very proud."
"Cool. I'll have to hear that soon."
"Yeah, we should start getting ready soon. We can't be late leaving." Rory stood up just as Kevin Bacon announced that he thought 'this was supposed to be a party!'. "I'm gonna go shower. "
"Okay, see you in a bit babe." Lorelai said before turning to Luke, trying to get him to dance with her.
"Rory! You were the one who said we can't be late!"
"I know. But, I can't find my car keys!"Rory glanced at the clock. Seven ten. Perfect. "I found them!" She fished her car keys out of her purse and headed to meet her mom and Luke at the front door.
"God, you have not had your head screwed on today. You forgot your curling iron, eyeliner, and you lost a shoe and your keys. And your car apparently. Where'd you park?" Lorelai asked looking around the street.
"Outside the diner. I walked here with you earlier. We gotta walk and get the car."
"Walking?"
"Come on Lorelai. It's five minutes away." Luke said, placing his hand on the small of her back.
"Yeah, five minutes to you. But to me, in these heels? It'll feel like an hour!" Lorelai grumbled. She turned back to look at Rory who was trailing behind them, "Why did you walk over? You couldn't have taken two minutes to pollute up the planet a bit and drive?"
"Uhh, Lorelai?"
"What Luke?" Lorelai asked, as she looked up at him.
Luke simply pointed in the direction of the square and when Lorelai turned she saw a giant banner that read 'Congratulations Luke and Lorelai! Again! (we hope this one sticks!)'
"Surprise!" Rory said coming to a stop at her mom's side.
"You did all this?"
"Everybody helped out! Now come on, they've been waiting for you."
Jess and Lydia stood with April by the gazebo, and watched as Lorelai hugged Lane, Sookie, Miss Patti and Babette in turn.
"You ready to meet them yet?" Jess glanced down at Lydia, who was nervously sipping on her cocktail.
"Give me a second." She downed her drink and placed the empty glass on the tray of a passing 'Yummy Bartender'.
"You've never met them?" April asked watching as Rory left the group with Lane.
"No, I mean, I've met Luke before. Rory, once, briefly, last Monday. And I'm not sure if Lorelai knew of my existence until Rory got home on Monday."
"Well, come on." April grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her in the direction of Luke and the Gilmores. "The sooner you do it, the better."
"That's what my first boyfriend said." Lydia muttered to a smirking Jess.
"Dad!" April called out before she reached the group.
"April?" Luke and Lorelai turned around to greet her, their faces dropping when the noticed her company.
"Look who I found!"
"Jess." Luke greeted his nephew.
"Luke. Congratulations." Jess returned the greeting and shook his uncle's hand.
"Luke. You look good." Lydia told her uncle in law, pulling him into a quick hug. "I almost didn't recognise you with so much face on show."
"Hey Lorelai." Jess nodded at the brunette.
"Jess." Lorelai smiled in return. "You must be Lydia." She turned to the redhead who had just hugged her fiancée.
"Yeah. It's nice to finally meet you." Lydia beamed at Lorelai. "God, you look so much like Rory. I'm nothing like my mum. She was tall and blonde. And tan. And good at sport. And she didn't ramble when she was nervous." Lydia finished, scratching behind her ear and biting down on her lower lip.
"That's fine, I ramble when I'm nervous too."
Lorelai noticed Lydia ball her fist and then flex her fingers a few times, before watching, with a keen fascination, as Jess grabbed his wife's hand, and brushing his lips past her ear whispering to her, "Just relax!"
"Sorry." Lydia smiled nervously at the group.
"It's okay." Lorelaismiled, glancing over Lydia's shoulder. "Oh, I just spotted my parents. I better go say hello. Wanna join me April? They like you!"
"I'll be over in a minute." Luke called out to the two brunettes as they headed towards the Gilmores, before turning to face Lydia and Jess again. "What are you two doing here?"
"Rory invited us." Lydia smiled up at him.
"And you came?" Luke raised his eyebrows at Jess.
"Well, she wanted to come." Jess smirked and inclined his head towards Lydia. "And, she's kinda hard to say no to."
"I know that feeling." Luke laughed and glanced at Lorelai.
"Surprise big brother!" Liz bounded over and hugged Luke from behind. "Sorry we're late, the babysit-" she trailed off as she noticed Jess standing beside her brother.
"Jess? Baby, what are you doing here?" She hugged her son, and Jess cautiously hugged her back. "Hey, mom."
"Don't you 'hey mom' me. You couldn't have phoned and let me know you were coming into town?"
"It was a last minute thing," Jess explained, "No one knew we were coming."
"We?" Liz questioned, finally noticing Lydia behind her son. "Oh, is this her? Is this my beautiful daughter in law?" She asked pulling Lydia into a hug.
"Yeah, mom this is Lydia. Lyds, my mom."
"It's great to meet you Mrs..." Lydia shot a look at Jess "Mariano?" she asked.
"Oh God, no, honey. I'm a Danes. When you've been married as many times as I have, you tend to stick to your maiden name." Liz laughed, "And please, call me Liz."
"Well, thanks for the tip, Liz." Lydia smiled at Liz, "But I liked changing my name to 'Mariano'. I kinda want this one to stick." She grinned, elbowing Jess in the ribs.
"Oh, you know, I have a perfect amber necklace for you, it would totally match your eyes." Liz told Lydia.
"I only met you two minutes ago, and I'm already getting jewellery?" Lydia smiled, "I like her." she added to Jess just as Rory joined the group.
"Hey Luke, the band's starting. Mom wants you to go mosh with her."
"Mosh?" Luke shook his head and went to find his fiancée.
"That's what she said. Hey guys." Rory said to the out of towners, but left before they could return the greeting.
"Brrr. Chilly." Lydia smiled up at Jess. "I have a feeling we're going to be braiding each others hair in no time!"
"You want a drink?"
"Beer. I'll come with. It was nice to meet you Liz."
"You too, and we'll have lunch before you go home tomorrow."
"Definitely." Lydia confirmed and grabbed her husband's hand and they headed to the open bar, just as Hep Alien began to play 'Fell in Love with a Girl'.
Rory was standing with her mom and Luke, as well as her grandparents, watching the band. Well, somewhat distractedly watching the band as she kept throwing glances behind her, towards Jess and Lydia. They were standing to the side of the crowd, Jess standing behind Lydia, his arms around her waist, while she danced and sang along with Hep Alien, who were currently playing 'I'm Sticking with You' by The Velvet Underground. But a lot louder, and faster, than the original.
"Rory, do you know when they will be done?" Emily asked her granddaughter, however Rory, continued to watch the couple behind her, unaware her grandmother had addressed her.
"Rory!" Emily shouted, which resulted in Luke and Lorelai turning to look at Emily, but did nothing to snap Rory out of her trance. Lorelai, following her daughter's gaze, saw what she was staring at and elbowed her.
"Ow. That hurt." Rory turned to her mom and glared. Lorelaisimply responded by smiling and pointing at Emily.
"Grandma?" she asked, as the band finished the song.
"I was wondering if you knew when they would be over." Emily enquired, just as Zach announced that the nest would be bands last.
"Oh thank heavens!" Emily sighed, "They are very loud."
"Yeah, but very good mom."
"I'll have to take your word for it Lorelai." Emily smiled as 'Love in an Elevator' started, and Rory resumed her watch over Jess and Lydia. When the band had begun to play the song, Lydia had turned around in Jess' arms and put her hands on his shoulders. They were both laughing and then Lydia bend backwards, dancing in time to the music, with Jess supporting her back. Rory could see she was singing along as well.
"Hun? You're lucky she's not Medusa, or you'd be stone by now." Lorelai whispered to Rory.
"What are you talking about?"
"You've been staring at Jess and Lydia the whole time the band had been on." Lorelai explained, as Rory watched Lydia stand on her tiptoes and whisper in Jess' ear.
"No I have-Oh my God! Is Jess blushing?"
"Umm..." Lorelai glanced at the couple and then turned back to Rory. "Yeah, I think so."
"How? The entire time we were together he could make me blush by just looking at me. But I couldn't even get him to tinge a light pink. And there she is, making him-" Rory gestured with her hands, unable to find the right words. "How'd she do it?"
"She has Bette Davis eyes? I dunno. But sweets, they're married. She's allowed to make him blush. And hun, why are you so obsessed, you knew they were coming, you invited them, right."
"Yes, I invited them, but Jess never confirmed he was coming. I thought I had until December to prepare. To get my head around the idea of his wife. But I-"
"Got shanghaied?"
"A little."
"Well how about we forget about them, and concentrate on me. The Queen of this evening's festivities."
"Sounds good to me." Rory smiled as Lorelai grabbed her hand and turned her in time to the music.
They continued to dance until the end of the song, after which Zach told the crowd that they would be taking an hour break, but be back for a live karaoke set, "So, just sign up at the side of the stage and pick your song!"
"Wow!" Lorelai looked excited, "Did you know about this?"
"No," Rory grinned, "This is a special Hep Alien Surprise!"
"I think I'm gonna sing 'Like a Virgin'" Lorerlai winked at Luke, before going to sign her name.
Rory watched as Lorelai and Sookie butchered Queen's 'You're my Best Friend', both of the friends having consumed a lot of cocktails in the band's hour break.
She started to wander, taking in the activities of the various townies. Miss Patti was gossiping with Babbette, Taylor was telling off the Banyon boys for trying to spike the non alcoholic punch and Luke was talking to Jess, April and Liz.
Rory instinctively found herself avoiding Luke, not wanting to talk to Jess, but paid no real attention to where she was actually going, until she looked up and found herself at the old bridge. The one where she'd had the picnic with Jess, where he told her Dean was a jerk, and where he had left her to break up with another girl.
She also found that she wasn't alone.
"Hey, Rory." Lydia, her legs swinging over the side of the bridge, turned her head when she heard someone approaching. "I just came for a bit of quiet, clear my head before I sing, and it's so pretty here." She gestured towards the hanging lights on the bridge before taking a draw of her lit cigarette. "Does this bother you?" she held it up.
"No, it's fine." Rory told her, the smell reminding her of Jess when he first arrived in town. "You're singing?"
"Yeah, Jess signed me up."
"What are you singing?"
"It's a," Lydia inhaled again, "surprise."
"Okay, well if you don't want to tell me." Rory snapped.
"No, it's not like that." Lydia explained, "I don't know what I'm singing. And now I can't back down. Hence the smoking!"
"Hence?" Rory asked, sitting down beside Lydia.
"Yeah, it's a game I play at home. At karaoke. They boys pick out songs and I won''t know what they are until I get up there, and I'm fine when it's the machine, but a live band? I'm totally freaked and I only smoke when I'm stressed. What if I screw up, and with all those people watching..." Lydia inhaled deeply again.
"You'll be great. I can't even carry a tune." Rory admitted.
"I'm still scared. I could kill Jess for doing this. He'd never let me live it down if I backed away from a challenge. He still thinks I'm gonna choke. We've twenty bucks on it." Lydia stubbed her cigarette out on the bridge and went to throw the butt in the lake, "I'd get in trouble if I threw this in there, right?"
"Taylor would probably hunt you down."
"Right." Lydia grinned slipping the butt into her clutch. "Oh, and can you not mention to Jess that you saw me smoking? I don't want him to know I was freaking. It would violate the cool wife thing I promised him. Plus if I freak, it ruins the bet and he gets an automatic ten dollars off me!"
"Sure." Rory promised and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Did you like Lane's band?"
"Yeah, they were really good, they played some awesome cover songs. I was so excited when they played 'Love in an Elevator'. It's our wedding song!"
"Really?"
"Wait, no-" Lydia closed her eyes in concentration, "your wedding song is the first song you dance to after you get married right?"
"Yeah."
"Then yes, it's our wedding song!" Lydia smiled, and then catching Rory's look of disbelief continued to say, "A lot of alcohol went into the decision. In fact, a lot of alcohol went into the decision to get married."
"Oh yeah, that's right, Jess mentioned you got married in Las Vegas."
"Well, he proposed over dinner, and then after a lot of complimentary champagne, we decided that five hours was a long enough engagement!"
"Wow!"
"Yeah, that's most people reaction. But we're happy. And that's what counts. And I better get back, before Jess sends out a search party."
Both girl stood up and walked back to the town square together, arriving in time to hear Zach tell the party goers that this would be the last song of the evening. "And it's going to be a good one. Can I get Lydia Mariano on stage. Now Lydia has no idea what she's going to be singing so give her some encouragement please."
"Good luck!" Rory wished Lydia as she moved to join her mom and Luke, who were standing with Jess.
As Lydia passed by she called out "Get ready to pay up Mariano. You still owe me ten from earlier!"
"We'll see Murphy!" Jess called back.
As Lydia got on stage, the town square fell quiet. Everyone had seen Lydia with Jess for most of the evening, and now hearing that she was his wife had peaked their interest. This could be quite a show.
Hep Alien began to play the intro music to the song and Lydia face broke into a wide grin. "Oh you are so going down Jessica!"
And she began to sing, "Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you. Caught up in circles confusion is nothing new."
"That girl has some pipes." Lorelai whispered to Rory.
"Yeah, she's really...good." Rory sighed glancing at Jess, who couldn't take his eyes of his wife. Nor could the whole town. They had all seeming fallen for the out of towner, with the voice of an angel, who had married the former town hoodlum. And not five minutes before hand, so had Rory. This was the kind of girl who you became friends with instantly. And Rory didn't like that feeling.
"If you fall I will catch you--I'll be waiting, time after time."
Phew. That was long. Please be aware, I know where all this is going, eventually, and I know their backstory, so if you don't get everything, you're not supposed to. Like a West Wing episode. Everything will become clear. At some point. Please review.