Thank you for reviewing. It means so much that people are reading this and NOT hating it.
Okay, so this chapter starts off the same day as the last chapter, then after Lyds/Jess/Jamie interaction it jumps ahead a few weeks.
The Gillys are not mine. If they were I would not allow E4 to cut out half the episode when they show them- What is offensive about 'He's helping me with a shelf thing' anyway? Was very confused when I watched 'Nick&Nora/Sid&Nancy' yesterday morning!
Chapter Five – It's the Little Things We Do
"So how weird was it?" Lorelai and Rory sat at the kitchen table, while Lorelai fed Charlie mashed bananas and honey.
"Not that weird." Rory shrugged and took a sip of her coffee.
"Hun, you said less than a week ago you were still in love with him."
"I was wrong."
Lorelai stopped feeding Charlie, spoon mid air, and looked at her daughter. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it quickly and continued to feed her son.
"What?" Rory questioned, "I've been wrong before."
"I know, I just didn't know that you were aware of it."
"Sleeping with Dean, dropping out of Yale, joining the DAR." Rory listed off on her fingers, "I'm aware."
"So, not in love with Jess?"
"No, in love with the idea of him. Or the memory, I guess. You know, that guy who gets you completely? I just haven't really had that since Jess. But talking to him made me realise that it's not him that I love."
"You talked to Jess? When? You were playing the avoidance game all night."
"After everyone went to bed. I found him outside smoking. We talked. About us, the past, about Lydia. He really loves her."
"Yeah, well, I mean, that's 'cause he's stupid." Lorelai pointed at Rory with the spoon she was holding.
"Mom, it's fine. I like her."
"Really? Thank God! I thought she was a sweetheart! I swear, I tried to hate her, for your sake, but I couldn't!"
"I know, I tried to hate her too. But I couldn't. She wants us to be friends. So does Jess."
"Were you wearing your 'I have no friends' sandwich board again?"
"Yes, and ringing a very large bell." Rory rolled her eyes at her mom. "But, what do you think?"
"About being friends? With Lydia and Jess?"
"Yeah," Rory sighed, "I know you were never Jess' biggest fan. Or even a fan, period, but-"
"I think it's a good idea. Jess isn't that messed up kid anymore. He's all grown up. He calls, once a month, to check in, and he never grunts at me. And Lydia seems like she's a big part of that change. And you don't really have many friends in DC."
"They live two and half hours away."
"It's a lot closer than here. And you'll always have me and Lane in the Hollow, but maybe branch out. Give them a call sometime. Go to dinner. Catch up properly."
"Maybe. Well I gotta go. Long drive ahead of me, and I'm starting six tomorrow morning." Rory stood up and placed her empty coffee cup in the sink.
"Ouch. That's sucks! Drive safe babe."
"I will." Rory leant down and kissed her mom on the cheek, and then kissed her brother, "Bye Charlie, don't grow so much this time! Tell Luke I said bye?"
"Will do. Call when you get there."
"Always do." Rory smiled, and headed out the back door to her car.
"You told her you wanted to be friends?"
"Yeah. So?" Lydia stared at her brother, Jamie, who was four years her junior and her polar opposite. Where she was short and pale with flame red hair, taking after their Irish father's family, Jamie was tall, standing at six foot one, tan and blonde, taking after their mother, a California native. Growing up on the west coast had been easy for Jamie, while Lydia hated every minute of it.
"Your husband's ex girlfriend?" Jamie said, gesturing to Jess.
"Again, so? She seemed nice. And I need a girl to talk to once in while who doesn't want to read my aura. And I bet she has really good dirt on Jess."
"Jeez, Lyds, trying to watch a movie. And you have way more dirt on me than Rory."
"Okay Jess, first of all, you lost the toss. This isn't even the movie you wanted to watch." Lydia pointed towards the TV screen. "Secondly, if you're concerned that I'm missing the movie, it's 'Pretty Woman', and I could act a part in it. And not just a random 'what's your dream', or 'it's not a buffet, Kit' kinda part. I could be both Vivian and Edward, all at once. And thirdly, Rory knew you when you were messed up and seventeen, and while I love the grown up Jess I got, there's no way I have more- ohh ohh," Lydia snapped her fingers as she remembered something, "she doesn't know about the swan!"
"Swan?" Jamie asked, while Jess groaned.
"Yeah, when Jess dated Rory, he showed up to meet her grandmother with a black eye." Lydia told her brother.
"Right. Fist fight?" he asked Jess, who shook his head, but continued watching the screen.
"No," Lydia continued, "But he told Rory he got it playing football."
"Jess plays football? And what has this got to do with a swan?"
"No, Jess doesn't play football, and that's what's so unbelievable. That Rory believed it. The swan did it." Lydia made a beak shape with her right hand and motioned to her eye with it. "Got him right in the eye."
"Dude, that's so lame!" Jamie laughed, "You should have told her it was a fight. Way cooler."
"Nope, you don't know Rory." Jess sighed. "And see, you do have more dirt than Rory." Jess tapped Lydia's thigh.
"Oh, please, the swan is a bargaining chip. For all I know, you did musicals in high school."
"I barely went to high school Lyds."
"'Cause you were off doing am dram musicals?"
"There are no musicals in my past."
"Well there's something. And Rory Gilmore knows it." Lydia pointed at Jess, grinning.
"Lyds, everything about my past is in 'Malice', which you have read cover to cover. Four times. You know everything."
"No I can't! There must be something you were to embarrassed to let me and the world know about, and Rory Gilmore is my key to finding out what!"
"Fine." Jess sighed and let the subject drop. "Can we finish watching the movie?"
"Sure." Lydia snuggled into Jess' side and kissed his chest. "I liked it so much I almost peed my pants." She spoke along with the movie and Jess grinned down at her.
"Listen guys," Jamie spoke up, "It's been great hanging with you, Lyds you now I love the banter, but it's after midnight, and I start at the clinic tomorrow at six thirty."
"Oh, petal, go to bed. We'll clear this up." she gestured to the empty plates and opened snack food sitting on the table. "I'll get up to say bye tomorrow morning."
"Okay. Night guys."
"Night." Both Lydia and Jess told the younger guy.
"I can't believe he's twenty one. Nearly twenty two. I feel so old." Lydia told Jess, "He'll be graduating soon, and off to med school, and then a bonified doctor. It all went so quickly. I wish mom and dad could see him. He turned out so good."
"So did you." Jess countered.
Lydia smiled at him and then yawned. "I'm tired, we should hit the hay."
"You don't wanna see the end?" Jess pointed to the movie.
"I know how it ends." Lydia shrugged, standing up. "She rescues him right back."
"Hello?" The phone answered after two rings, surprising Rory.
"Hi, Lydia?"
"Yeah. Who is this?"
"It's Rory." She paced nervously around her living room. "Rory Gilmore."
"Hey Rory. It's good to hear from you. How's everything?"
"I'm good. Everything's good. I was just wondering, I mean, I have the weekend off, and was thinking we could have dinner? Me, you, Jess? Saturday evening?"
"Oh, well that sounds...great, but-"
"It's okay if you don't want to," Rory interrupted her.
"No, I do want to, it's just that Saturday's Mathew's birthday."
"Mathew?"
"Yeah, I don't know if you met him at the open house, he works with Jess."
"Oh Mathew," Rory switched the phone to her other ear and sat down, "The guy with the poet?"
"Poet? Oh, yes, Math books the poets for Truncheon. Well it's his twenty seventh, and we're all going out. You should come, I'd love having a girl there."
"You sure?"
"Wouldn't ask if I wasn't. We're convening here, eight thirty, at the apartment, I'm making cocktails, all you need to do is show up and bring your party."
"Great, then I'll see you Saturday."
"Great. Oh and bring an overnight bag with you. You'll be in no state to drive afterwards. You can stay with me and Jess."
"That's okay. I can book a hotel."
"No! Not happening. You're staying with us. I'm hanging up before you can say no! See you Saturday! Bye!"
"Bye." Rory smiled and hung up the phone. Partying with Lydia and Jess wasn't the catch up she was after, but maybe it was a less awkward way to be introduced into their lives. More people to concentrate on and talk to. This would be perfect.
"Are you sure we bought enough ice?" Lydia asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Positive." Jess replied, adding strawberries to the blender he was using, just as the doorbell rang. "Can you get the door, Lyds?"
"Why don't you get the door?" Lydia popped a strawberry in her mouth and grinned.
"You declared yourself the hostess, which means you have to open the door."
"If I'm the hostess that makes you the host, meaning you have to open the door sometimes too." Lydia poked Jess in the side each time she said 'you'.
"You told me to make the cocktails!" Jess sighed.
"I know, but you're too easy to make crazy!" Lydia laughed and kissed his shoulder. "Oh, and those daiquiris need way more rum!" she smiled and left the kitchen.
"Cocktails are almost done people! Simon? What's with the tunes? It's a party, or pre-party, something a bit better than Coldplay, please!" Lydia told the room as she answered the door. "Rory! You made it! Come in!" Lydia ushered Rory into the living room, where around ten people were chatting and took her bag and handed her drink.
"What is this?" Rory asked, looking at the drink in her hand.
"It's a sloe comfortable screw, Mathew's signature drink." Lydia smiled.
"Signature drink?"
"Yeah, I gave all the boys signature drinks, Mathew's is because he enjoys the other sloe comfortable screw. Jess' drink is a mojitio because he is a fan of Hemingway and Hemingway was a fan of the mojitio. Simon got a Long Island iced tea, because that's where he's from, and Chris got a pina colada, 'cause he loves the rain!"
"Do you have one?" Rory asked taking a sip of her drink.
"Yeah, a Red Irish. Took the guys ages to come up with it. It's whiskey, brandy and cranberry juice. Oh and I made one for you. A Blue Lagoon."
"Blue lagoon?"
"Yeah, vodka, Blue curacao and pineapple juice. I figured blue was your colour. Your eyes are blue, and Yale's colour is blue, and Jess told me the uniform of your fancy scmancy prep school was also blue. So I figured..." She trailed off and shrugged one shoulder and smiled at Rory. "I'll make it for you one day!" She promised.
"Looking forward to it."
"Oh, Rory, this is Mathew, the birthday boy. Math, this is Rory."
"Happy birthday!" Rory smiled.
"Thank you. Where's Jess?"
"Kitchen. Making the daiquiris. And don't worry I fudged the instructions to make it look like they need more rum than they actually do." Lydia told him.
"Good, I'll need to be drunk. Melissa, my date, completely insipid. Amm, Teach? Why are they here?" Mathew nodded towards a blonde couple in the corner.
"She overheard me in the teacher's lounge. And you know I can't say no to her. She scares me Math!"
"Me too. And it's my birthday, I shouldn't be scared on my birthday."
"Here." Rory handed him a cocktail. "Drink enough of these and nothing will frighten you."
"I like her." Mathew smiled and then headed into the kitchen.
"Wow, Matt seems on edge. For it to be his party."
"Yeah, well he really hates her. You'll see why. And don't call him Matt, he hates it." Lydia linked Rory's arm and lead her into the room, leaving Rory's overnight bag under the table by the door.
"But, didn't you just call him...?"
"I called him Math. I tutored him when I was ten. He called me teach and I called him Math. The names stuck. And now I'm the only one who's allowed to call him by a nickname." Lydia explained.
"When you were ten?"
"We grew up together. We met when I was six, and his family moved next door."
"Cool he's your Lane." Rory smiled as the stopped in front of the blonde couple.
"Rory," Lydia smiled, "this is Lisa and Ben. Lisa works with me. She teaches art."
"Nice to meet you." Rory stuck her hand out to shake Lisa's, but Lisa made no movement, and stared at Rory for a few moments before letting about a long sigh.
"Your aura is very blue." She told Rory with a small smile.
"Um, thanks."
"Well, that's great, Lisa, but we should move on. The hostess must mingle!"
"Okay. Bye." The blonde smiled and turned back to her boyfriend.
"Wow, so my aura's blue?" Rory laughed.
"No, sweetie, your eyes are blue. Lisa tells everyone their aura is the same colour as their eyes. Mine was green, Mathew's grey, Simon had a blue aura like you, and Chris' was brown."
"Jess had a brown one too?"
"No," Lydia shook her head, "he was the only one that got an actual colour. Purple! His aura was purple!" She laughed, waving her hand in a circle.
"No way! Like in 'Almost Famous'?"
"Yes!" Lydia exclaimed. "Did Jess make you watch that movie too?"
"More times than I care to remember." Rory laughed as Jess and Mathew exited the kitchen, Jess carrying two pitchers of daiquiris and Mathew with a tray of glasses which he placed on the table.
"Cocktails up!" Jess announced as he placed the pitchers on the table beside the glasses.
"Daiquiri?" Lydia smiled at Rory, taking the drink she holding out of her hand, "These are way better." She promised, leading Rory over to Jess, who poured them both a glass.
"Whoa, that's strong!" Lydia coughed and held the glass at arms length, "Good job!" She laughed at Jess and picked up another glass before heading over to Simon.
"Let me guess," Jess glanced at Rory as he opened a bottle of beer, "You called your mom, debated coming here, and then made a pro/con list."
Rory rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink, "Ha ha. Very funny. And I didn't call my mom. We already discussed this before I left the Hollow, and she thinks it's a good idea to, you know, try the friends thing."
"Wow. Lorelai has changed." Jess smirked, "But the Rory Gilmore decision making pro/con list-"
"Don't mock my pro/con lists!" Rory interrupted him.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Jess held his hands up in mock surrender. "I'm pretty sure they're the reason we even dated in high school. Pros; I'm cute as hell," he flashed her a grin, "I read a lot, I was smarter than Dean, not as tall, either, so that avoided that whole creak in your neck, I'm funn-"
"Urgh! Con!" Rory interrupted him ,"Big Fat Leaver! The only thing I should have paid attention to, but I was young and naive and I disregarded it."
"Well, the cute thing's hard to overlook."
"Oh my God, you're infuriating!" Rory glared at him, as he glanced across the room to Lydia. Suddenly, he stuck his hand out towards her.
"What's this?" She asked, narrowing her eyes and looking down at his hand.
"Truce?"
"Truce? You're asking for a truce?"
"Yeah." Jess nodded. "Lydia threatened castration if I screwed up any chance for her to be friends with you. She really, really likes you, and it's nothing to do with your working in the White House. And," he sighed, "I guess I meant what I said about us trying to be friends."
"Okay, truce." Rory agreed shaking his hand, just as Lydia joined them again.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
"Fine." Jess smirked at Rory.
"Yeah, everything's great." Rory nodded.
"Drink up!" Chris announced, "We're leaving for The Empire in fifteen."
"The Empire?" Rory asked Lydia as Jess left to talk to Mathew.
"Yeah, it's a bar. Used to be a church actually. But it's a cool place, good music." Lydia smiled, "The DJ totally loves me and plays all my requests, so we are dancing tonight."
"Oh, are we?" Rory laughed.
"Yes!" Lydia raised her glass, "Here's to an amazing night! Cheers!"
"Cheers!" Rory lifted her own glass and clinked it against Lydia's.
"Happy birthday!" The group chorused, raising their glasses towards Mathew.
"Thank you!" Mathew laughed, his arm draped over Lydia's shoulder, "And I want a song out of this one tonight." He tapped Lydia's shoulder, and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head.
"We'll see." She grinned up at him, and then ducked out from under his arm. "Rory, come to the bar with me?" She linked arms with the brunette and they turned and headed to the bar. The stopped in front of it waiting to be served, Lydia rooting through her purse.
"I'm really glad you came." She smiled, pulling out a camera, "Photo time!" She yelled, putting her arm around Rory's shoulder and holding the camera at arms length. Both girls smiled as the flash went off, and the bartender stood in front of them.
"Finished trying to be America's Next Top Model?"
"Hey!" Lydia turned to face the bartender, "Whatever happened to service with a smi- wait. Dan? Is that you? What happened?"
"Just, wanted a change." Dan, the bartender smiled. "You like?"
"I love!" Lydia reached forward and ran her hand through his short brown hair. "You look older, but in a hotter way." she laughed, and then noticed Rory looking at her with one eyebrow raised. "Oh, Dan used to have really long hair." Lydia explained to her, gesturing to her shoulder to indicate the length his hair had been.
"Oh, well, you suit it short." Rory smiled at Dan.
"Thank you. Now what can I get you?"
"I'll have a Red Irish, and Rory here," Lydia pointed to her, "will have a Blue Lagoon."
"Coming up." Dan turned his back to the two to start making their drinks, and Lydia turned to Rory, "I know I said I would make you a Blue Lagoon, but seriously, Danny Boy makes the best cocktails ever. I practically had to beg Jess to hire him."
"Jess to hi-? Why did Jess hire him?"
"Oh." Lydia's face scrunched in confusion, "The guys own this bar. Did we not mention that? Oh well, they bought it about two years ago, renovated and we opened for business about fourteen months ago."
"Wow." Rory looked around her, taking it all in. The bar ran the entire length of the west wall, and there were tables scattered all about the floor. Along the north wall, with a few steps leading up to it, was a small dance floor, with a DJ booth in the corner. Above the entrance, a wooden double door, there was second floor seating, in what had once been the choir gallery. In this seating area, there was a large stained glass circular window. "This is impressive." Rory told Lydia.
"Yeah. They like it!" Lydia laughed, handing Rory her drink. "Do you like it?" She smiled, pointing at Rory's glass.
Rory took a sip and then smiled. "Incredible!"
"Good!" Lydia grinned as Jeff Beck's version 'Superstition' began to play. "Oh come dance with me!" And the two girls headed off towards the dance floor, grabbing Mathew and Simon on their way.
Jess glanced at his watch. It was just before one am, and the bar was still open for another hour, but he was ready to go soon. He, Lydia and Rory were stood at the bar, talking, when Mathew joined them, throwing his arms around Lydia and Jess' shoulders. Most of the group had already left, leaving only the three owners plus Lydia, Simon and Rory. Simon and Chris were sitting down at a table to the left of the group at the bar.
"Birthday boy!" Lydia smiled up at him, once again ducking under his arm, "I'm too little to support your drunken weight."
He looked down at her and smiled, "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so, Brain," Lydia grinned back, "but don't I have to be taller," she lifted her hand above her head, "to be a Laker?"
Rory and Jess started to laugh as Mathew looked down at his best friend, his face etched with confusion.
"I mean let's do shots!" Lydia yelled, forming a fist with the hand above her head and fully extending her arm. "Woo! Barkeep! A round of Apple Sourz!"
"I hate that crap Lyds." Jess put his arm around Lydia's waist.
"Don't care! Math, where's Melissa?"
"Who?"
"Your date!" Lydia laughed at her friend.
"Oh she left." Mathew glanced around the bar. "This wasn't her scene. She's more into foam parties apparently."
"Bummer." Jess deadpanned causing Mathew to punch his shoulder lightly.
"Here Rory, one for you. One for Math, one for me and one for picklepuss!" Lydia handed out the drinks. "Cheers!" She smiled and they knocked back the shots. When Mathew went to put his empty shot glass back on the bar, he stumbled and fell into Rory.
"Oh, God. I'm sorry. I think I've over did it."
"Hey it's fine." Rory held on to him, to keep him upright, "I've seen people worse. And besides, your birthday is the one time you have a valid excuse."
"Jess, babe, I think we need to get Math home." Lydia rubbed her knuckles up and down her husbands arm.
"Right." Jess put Mathew's arm over his shoulder and carried most of his weight. "Chris!" He called over his shoulder, "Can you help me out. We need to get him home."
Chris jumped up and took Rory place at Mathew's side, and both he and Jess helped him outside. Lydia scooped up Jess and Mathew's coats, as well as her own jacket and bag and followed Rory and Simon out of the bar. "Bye Danny!" She called out to the bartender as she passed him, and he waved.
"I've phoned a couple of cabs. They'll be here soon." Jess told her when she got outside, putting his arms around her.
"Thanks. Is he okay? He never gets this drunk." She nodded towards Mathew, now sitting on the side of the road.
"He'll be fine. Oh here's the first car. You three get it." He told Chris, Simon and Mathew. "We wait on the second."
"Night pets!" Lydia told them, hugging all three in turn. She closed the car door just as the second cab pulled up.
"In you get." Jess held the door open and Rory climbed in first, followed by Lydia and finally Jess. The cab ride home was quiet, Jess' eyes closing every few minutes, and then jerking open again. Lydia hummed along with the radio, and Rory sat in silence, smiling at how much fun, she had had that night.
"Good night Rory." Lydia hugged her as they stood outside the door to the guest room in the apartment. "I'm really glad you came!"
"Me too." Rory grinned, hugging Lydia in return.
"Such a legend!" Lydia kissed her on the cheek, "Sleep well. See you in the morning."
"Yeah. Night Jess!" Rory called out and Jess mumbled a reply from the kitchen.
Rory closed the door behind her and Lydia headed for the kitchen, when Jess emerged holding a mug of milky tea. "For me?" Lydia asked.
"Yes, now off to bed we go."
"Yes, grandpa!" Lydia smiled and pressed herself into Jess side, hugging him around his waist, and walking with him towards their room.
Lydia knocked on the door to the guest room.
"Yeah?" She heard Rory call out and she pushed the door open.
"Morning. Just wanted to see how you were doing?"
"Good, come in. What time is it?" Rory smiled, sitting up in bed.
"Nine thirty." Lydia crossed the room, and sat on the end of the bed, Indian style, facing Rory.
"I haven't postmortemed a night out in ages."
"Postmortemed?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, you know," Lydia brushed her hair of her shoulders, "you dissect the night. Find out stuff you didn't know. Though, I never left your side, so I don't know what use we'll be to each other."
"You remember that girl that hit on Simon?" Rory smirked.
"Oh my God!" Lydia's hand flew her mouth. "And I pretended to be his girlfriend, and threatened to kick her ass!" she laughed. "What about that guy who told you he invented superglue?"
"I forgot about him!" Rory laughed, bringing one of her knees up to her chest.
"I'm really glad you came." Lydia smiled at her, pushing her glasses up her nose.
"You said that last night. Many times."
"I know, but I mean it. You're fun. I like hanging with you. Which I know is weird, given your history with Jess, but-"
"It's forgotten." Rory interrupted her. "I like hanging with you too."
"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Lydia grinned as Jess opened the ajar door with his elbow and walked in carrying two mugs.
"You're like a superhero." Lydia smiled.
"Can he fly?" Rory asked
"No, he hasn't any cool powers like flying, or being invisible, but he can sense when someone needs a caffeine jolt."
"Even if the person only drinks tea." Jess told Lydia as he handed her some tea. "And a coffee for Rory."
"Thanks." She took the mug of him and quickly took a sip. "Still good." She smiled up at him.
"Thanks." Jess said quietly before turning to Lydia. "You need to be ready for eleven thirty if we're meeting Mathew for brunch."
"I'll be ready." Lydia dismissed Jess with her hand, "Now, shoo, we're girl talking."
"As you were." Jess closed the door behind him as he left.
"I have him so well trained." Lydia grinned. "By the way, you're totally invited to brunch. Mathew and I do it after every birthday. Jess tags along now. But it'll be fun. Promise. And the food's good."
"Sure. It'll give me the opportunity to tease Mathew about his dancing to Def Leppard!"
"Oh Lord, I forgot about his 'Pour some sugar on me' routine!" Lydia laughed.
"How?" Rory asked. "It was the highlight of my night. Well that, and you throwing your shoe at the DJ for insulting INXS."
"Well, that's just wrong. Michael Hutchence is dead, he deserves the proper respect."
"Amen, sister friend!" Rory laughed, as Jess stood outside the door, listening as his wife and ex became fast friends.
"Oh what about that guy," he heard Lydia say, "who asked for your number, and you said you didn't own a phone, even though you were-"
"Holding it!" Both girls said at the same time, and then started laughing hysterically.
Okay, so this came out of nowhere. I'd something else, completely different planned for this chapter, but somehow Rory ended up being invited to a party, and becoming friends with Lydia. Which was gonna happen at some point, but the characters clearly have minds of their own.
Please review, it will make my day!