Thanks to those who reviewed. Really, they make we want to write more.
I own nothing, really. Except for all the seasons of the Gilmores on dvd. My season five is in Dutch. How Special.
Chapter Six - Slow Night, So Long
"London calling to the faraway towns,"
Lydia and Jess both jerked awake, but neither made any movement to answer the phone.
"London calling, see we ain't got no swing"
"Lydia, answer it." Jess mumbled.
"Not mine." Lydia answered, closing her eyes and yawning.
"Cause London is drowning and I, live by the river" The phone kept ringing.
"You're closer."
"Yours. Mine plays Blondie." Lydia muttered, sleep taking over her body again, as the phone rang off.
"Thank God." Jess whispered, and draped his arm around Lydia's waist. "Night." He planted a kiss on her shoulder and closed his eyes.
"Colour me your colour, baby." Lydia's phone began to ring.
Jess pressed another kiss to Lydia's shoulder and muttered, "Yours and you're closer."
"Come up off your colour chart, I know where you're coming from"
"Who is ringing at-" Lydia glanced at the clock, "twelve thirty! I'd just fallen asleep." She complained as she reached out and lifted her phone. She flipped it open in front of Jess' face, so the light shone in his eyes, before bringing it to her ear. "Hello?" she mumbled, nuzzling into Jess' chest.
"Speaking." Jess heard her sigh, and then suddenly she bolted upright.
"What happened?" she asked, and Jess sat up beside her.
"Oh my God." She gasped and turned to face Jess. "Are they okay?... Surgery. What about Lil-... Good. We're on the next flight out. Thank you doctor." Lydia hung up the phone, tears forming in her eyes.
"What happened?" Jess asked, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.
"There was an accident." She whispered. "Jimmy and Sasha. They were out driving and an SUV drove head long into them. They're going into surgery now."
"Lily?"
"Was at a friend's house. She's not at the hospital yet though. They'd just phoned her before us."
Jess nodded his head and took the phone out of her hand. "Will you pack some clothes? I'll phone. Book the next flight out."
Lydia stood up off the bed and turned to face Jess, who was staring at the phone.
"Hey," She reached forward and cupped his cheek, "You okay?"
He nodded and gave her a small smile. She leaned forward and kissed him lightly. "It'll all be fine." She whispered, and kissed him again. "You want me to ring them?"
"No. Pack. And get ready." Jess squeezed her arm and flipped open the phone.
Lydia turned to the closest and pulled out the overnight bags they had used when going to Stars Hollow and began to fill them with clothes.
"Hi, I need to book two tickets to LAX. Next available flight, please."
"Lydia, it's one in the morning. What the hell?" Mathew grumbled into the phone.
Lydia and Jess were in the back of a cab, heading towards the airport. "Math, Jess and I are flying to California."
"What? When? Why?"
Lydia balanced her phone between her shoulder and cheek, looking through her bag, checking she had everything. "There was an accident." She glanced at Jess, "Jimmy and Sasha were in the car, they're both in surgery." Lydia kept her eyes on Jess, but he gave no sign he'd been listening to her, keeping his gaze out the window of the car, at the night sky.
"What time does your flight leave?"
"Forty five minutes. We land in California about four."
"Give me a call when you land. And whenever you get any news. Tell Jess, well, tell him we're thinking about him."
"Will do. Bye petal." Lydia closed her phone over just as the cab pulled over at the set down point in the airport. They both got out and followed the driver to the back of the car. Jess took the two bags off him while Lydia pulled out the cash to pay him. Jess took Lydia's hand and they walked into the airport. He hadn't spoken since he'd hung up the phone after booking the plane tickets. She gave his hand a small squeeze, and he looked down at her, giving her a small smile, but still kept quiet.
Lydia opened her eyes, and stretched after her nap. She checked her watch and saw that they still had another hour and a half left of the flight. She looked at Jess who was staring out the plane window, a copy of Hemingway's 'Men without Women' lay abandoned on the pull down tray in front of him.
She reached across and rubbed his arm. "Did you get any sleep?" She whispered.
He looked at her and shook his head. He still hadn't spoken.
"It's going to be fine. They're going to be-"
"What if they're not?" Jess whispered, cutting her off.
"Then we'll deal with it, if anything happens. We've no idea what's happening. Please get some sleep. You'll need your strength when we get there."
Jess nodded, staring at the seat in front of him. He grabbed her hand, still resting on his arm, and bringing it up to his mouth, kissed her palm. He then put his head back against the seat and turned to face her.
"Sleep." She demanded.
"Right, sleep." He gave her a small smile and closed his eyes. Lydia put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes too.
"I love you." She whispered.
"Back at you, Lyds."
"Hi, we're here for Jimmy and Sasha Mariano." Lydia asked the receptionist at UCLA Santa Monica Hospital. They had landed thirty minutes ago and only having brought hand luggage with them meant they got to the hospital pretty quickly.
"Are you family?" The blonde receptionist, whose name tag read 'Nikki' asked looking at a file.
"Yes, my husband," Lydia put her hand on Jess' arm, " is Jimmy's son."
"Okay. Well if you want to take a seat, I'll get the doctor for you."
"Can you not tell us anything?" Jess asked.
Nikki shook her head, "I'm sorry sir, I'm just a receptionist. The doctor shouldn't be long."
"Do you know where my sister is then?"
"Sister?"
"Yeah, when we were called, they said that Lily was on her way here." Lydia explained.
"She's probably in the family room. It's down the hall and to your left. I let Dr. Atwood know you're there."
"Thank you." Lydia smiled and took Jess' hand as they walked down the hall. They saw Lily through the window of the room. Her blonde hair around her face, eyes filled with tears and her knees pressed up against her chest. An older woman sat on one side of her, rubbing her back, while a brunette, the same age as Lily sat on the other.
Lily looked up as Jess pushed open the door.
"Jess!" She jumped from her seat and ran to her brother.
"Hey squirt. How you holding up?" Jess asked hugging her.
Lily pulled back from the hug and looked up at Jess. "Mom's gone." She whispered, tears starting to fall. Jess let out a sigh and pulled the girl into his chest. Lily started to sob, Jess stroking her hair, trying to sooth her. Lydia placed her hand on Jess' shoulder, who then reached up and squeezed it, keeping hold of Lily with his other arm. "She didn't make it into surgery. She had a brain injury, or something. They couldn't bring her back." Lily told them.
The blonde who had been sitting with Lily stood up and walked towards the group. Lydia was the first to acknowledge her. "Hi." Lydia whispered.
"Hello. I'm Olivia Johnston. This is my daughter Madison. Lily was at our house when the hospital phoned."
"Hi." Lydia shook her hand. "This is Jess, Lil's brother, and I'm Lydia. His wife. Thank you for sitting with her."
"Yeah, thanks." Jess whispered over Lily's head.
Olivia simply nodded in response, and gestured for Madison to join her. "We should get going. Let you be alone."
"Thanks." Lydia nodded, watching as Jess and Lily sat down.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Bye Lily."
"Bye Mrs Johnston. Bye Maddy." Lily waved, her head on Jess' shoulder.
Lydia sat beside Jess, her hand resting on her lap, drumming her fingers across her thighs. Jess reached across and grabbed her hand, squeezing it. They locked eyes with each other, and gave each other a silent nod. Lydia knew Jess didn't want to talk yet, and Jess knew Lydia would be there when he wanted to.
The three sat in silence and ten minutes later a male doctor entered the room. "Mariano?"
"Yes." Lydia answered as the three stood up, "Are you Dr. Atwood?"
"I am." He nodded. "Why don't you sit down?" He gestured to the chairs, and sat down opposite the family, Lily in between Lydia and Jess.
"How's my dad?" Jess asked, "He must be out of surgery by now."
"He is." The doctor confirmed. "But your father had massive internal injuries, as well as an open fracture of the femur and several cracked ribs. We did all we could, but unfortunately he passed away. I'm sorry."
Lily buried her head in Jess' chest, her tears soaking his shirt. Jess put his arm around her, but kept his eyes on a crack in the wall behind the doctor. Lydia let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding, and averted her gaze to the floor. She blinked back a few tears. She had to be the strong one.
"I need next of kin to sign a few release forms." Dr. Atwood broke the silence.
"I'll do it." Lydia stood up, running her hand down the back of Lily's head, and then landing on Jess' arm, she gave it a squeeze. He locked eyes with her, but gave her no further sign of acknowledgment.
Lydia followed the doctor out of the room and towards the nurse's station. He handed her some forms, "Death certificate, report of death. You just have to sign them. Do you want the hospital to refer you to a funeral home?"
"Please. That would be a big help." Lydia gave the doctor a small smile, signed the papers in front of her. "Can I ask something?"
"Sure."
"The driver, that hit them? What happened to-"
"DOA." Dr. Atwood cut her off.
"Right. Thank you." She handed him back the signed forms. "Do we need to wait, about the funeral arrangements? Or can we take Lily home, and come back tomorrow? I mean, later today. After some sleep."
"You need to stay here and talk to Child Services. Lily's a minor, so you need to sign some more paperwork to gain temporary custody before she can leave the hospital."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Someone should be down soon." Dr. Atwood handed her signed forms to a nurse, and then turned on his heel and left. Lydia tapped her fingers on the desk for a few seconds, before lifting her purse from the crook of her arm and putting it over her shoulder.
"If my husband's looking for me," She told the nurse, pointing at Jess through the window, "can you let him know I stepped out for some air?"
The nurse nodded her head, before turning her attention back to her paperwork.
"Thanks." Lydia sighed and headed towards the exit.
"You know, they say smoking is bad for your health." Jess sat down beside Lydia on a bench outside the hospital. She was sitting indian style, her chin propped up by her right hand, a cigarette in her left.
"Good thing we're at a hospital then." She sighed, as Jess took the cigarette from her hand, and inhaled. "Where's Lily?"
"Sleeping. I wondered where you got to."
"I was only gone five minutes. And I just needed to think, and I wanted you guys to have, I dunno, some time to grieve. Alone."
"Okay. Is there a reason we're still here?" Jess asked, extinguishing the cigarette underneath his shoe.
"We have to wait to talk to Child Services. Temporary custody, since Lily's a minor." Lydia pushed her hair behind her ear and kept her eyes on the flattened cigarette on the ground.
"Right, she's only fifteen." Jess nodded, and then let out a sigh. "She lost her parents, and she's only fifteen."
"So was I." Lydia said quietly, looking Jess in the eye. "Jamie was eleven. We got through it. So will Lily. She's tough."
"You and Jamie had each oth-"
"Lily has you." Lydia cut Jess off.
"It's not the same thing. What can I do? I'm a screw up." Jess closed his eyes and hung his head.
"Look at me." Lydia lifted his head, forcing him to lock eyes with her. "You're not a screw up. I wouldn't have married a screw up."
"You were drunk."
"Not when you asked. You're a great guy, Jess. And you will get her through this, you hear me?"
Jess bobbed his head slightly, but didn't say anything.
"Good. Now, I take it this freak out means that you want us to get permanent custody of Lily?"
"She's family, Lydia. You take care of family."
"I know. I'm on the same page. But we have to talk to her about it. Moving her across the country is a huge thing; we need to ease her into it. You know, don't spring it on her."
"Sure." Jess sighed.
"Okay, well we should get back in case Lily wakes up." Lydia got to her feet and offered her hand to Jess. He took it and led them to the entrance door. Suddenly he stopped and turned to face Lydia.
"What?" She questioned.
Jess said nothing, but leaned in and kissed her.
"What was that for?" She asked, smiling, when Jess pulled back.
"For being you." He shrugged. "Just keep being, you know, you."
"Really, 'cause I was planning on being Lucille Ball tomorrow." Lydia smiled.
"No, nothing... zany. Please. Just you. Because if I get Lily through this, it'll be because of you." Jess told her seriously.
Lydia wrapped her arms around Jess neck, and buried her face in his neck. "We can do this Jess." She whispered.
"I know." Jess kissed her hair, before pulling away, and taking her hand they walked back into the hospital.
Jess finished signing the papers of temporary custody, while Lydia woke Lily up in the family room.
"Lily, sweetie?" Lydia bent over and kissed her forehead. "Hun, time to wake up."
"Lydia?" Lily sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?"
"Just before six. We can go home now."
"Can we-" Lily started to ask.
"Can we what sweetie?"
"Can we go to your house?" Lily blew out a breath. "I just don't want be at home. Yet."
"Sure." Lydia nodded, and wrapped her arm around the younger girls shoulder.
They met Jess at the front of the hospital, waiting on a cab. "We're going to our house." Lydia told Jess.
Jess raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
The cab ride was quiet, and they pulled up to the driveway of the beach house fifteen minutes later. Once inside, Lydia ushered Lily into the spare room, and opened her luggage. "Here, put these on." she said, handing Lily a pair of pyjamas. "Get some sleep. I'll wake you later for some food."
"Thanks." Lily reached forward and pulled Lydia into a hug.
"I know, sweetie." Lydia whispered, pulling back from the hug and looking in the younger girls eyes, "But it gets easier. I promise. Now, please get some sleep."
Lily nodded her head, and Lydia kissed her forehead before leaving the room.
"How's she doing?" Jess asked as Lydia closed the door.
"As well as can be excepted. She's tough though." Lydia sighed, walking to Jess, who pulled her into a hug.
"We should get some sleep too." Lydia said after a few heartbeats.
"No." Jess shook his head. "I need to get over to Jimmy and Sasha's. Paperwork, lawyer stuff."
"It can wait, Jess."
"It needs to be done."
"Fine, then I'll go. I slept on the plane. And don't tell me you did too, 'cause I know you didn't. You need to rest. You can't run on empty."
Jess ducked his head, and pressed a quick kiss to Lydia's mouth.
"Was I being me again?" She smiled.
"Something like that. So, sleep?"
"Yes. And I'll bring back some food for breakfast."
Lydia returned back to the house she and Jamie had bought just before one that afternoon. She left a paper bag of groceries on the kitchen counter before heading to her bedroom. She opened the door and silently joined Jess on the bed. He was awake, eyes fixed on the ceiling, arms behind his head.
"Did you sleep at all?" Lydia asked putting her head on his chest, and throwing one of her legs over his.
"An hour here and there." Jess removed one arm from behind his head and placed it around Lydia's shoulder.
"And in total?"
"About four." Jess sighed. "Did you get anything sorted?" He spoke into her hair.
"Yeah." Lydia lifted her head off his chest and propped herself up on her elbows. "I found Jimmy's insurance papers. I called and gave them the hospital details. They rang back, and everything is sorted. I called the lawyers, we're meeting them tomorrow. About custody of Lily, and Jimmy and Sasha's will. The funeral home the hospital referred us to were really helpful. We're going first thing tomorrow morning. The lawyers told me they wanted to be cremated, so the funeral home can sort it all out. We need to pick," Lydia let out a sigh, "caskets. Is this too much for you. I can shut up if you want?"
Jess sat up and kissed her. "You're amazing. I don't know what I do without you." He whispered.
"S'okay." she shrugged, "I don't mind. Oh, and I called The Inferno. They're closing up until after the funeral."
"Okay." Jess nodded.
"You hungry?" Lydia asked, just as Jess' stomach rumbled. "I'll take that as a yes. I'll start cooking. Will you wake Lily?"
"You're cooking?" Jess raised one eyebrow and Lydia rolled off the bed.
"Breakfast." She nodded.
"It's one thirty in the afternoon."
"All day breakfast then. Now, come on!"
"These are really good pancakes." Lily pointed at her plate with her knife.
"Thank you." Lydia smiled over the mug of tea she was holding.
"It's the only thing she can cook. She screws everything else up." Jess smirked, standing at the sink, washing the dishes.
"Not true!" Lydia exclaimed. "I make great scrambled eggs. And waffles? Incredible!"
"So basically, you can make breakfast?" Lily asked.
"Yeah, you can't order out for breakfast." Lydia sighed, standing up and placing her cup in the sink, on top of the plate Jess was washing.
"We have to talk to her, about moving." She whispered and Jess shot her a look. 'Now?'
Lydia nodded and took her seat again. Jess dried his hands of and sat beside her. "Uh, Lil, there's something we need to talk to you about."
"Yeah?" The teenager's eyes darted between Lydia and Jess and back again.
"Well," Lydia started, "It's about who you're gonna live with-"
"You guys." Lily cut her off. "I wanna live with you. That's okay right?"
"More than okay." Jess smiled at his sister.
"Yeah, we really want that." Lydia nodded, "We're gonna talk to the lawyer tomorrow about permanent custody. But you know that living with us means moving. To Philadelphia. Right?"
Lily nodded. "Yeah." she sighed. "I don't wanna stay in California anymore. Not without mom or dad."
"Okay. That's okay." Lydia gave Lily a small smile, which quickly fell when she saw tears form in the younger girl's eyes. She quickly rose from her seat and knelt by Lily's chair, hugging her.
"Sorry." Lily sobbed. "I just miss them. It hasn't even been a day and I miss them so much."
"Oh, petal. It's okay to miss them. I still miss my mom and dad. Everyday. But it does get easier. I promise."
"It just feels so... I dunno." Lily shrugged, unable to finish her thought.
"It's still new. But in time you'll miss them in a way that's remembering them. Not missing them because their gone." Lydia shook her head, "That doesn't make much sense, I know-"
"No it does." Lily cut her off, "Like I'll miss them, but I'll miss the way mom made chocolate chip waffles and hot chocolate with marshmallows on christmas morning to eat when opening presents, or the way dad would insist we watch 'North by North West' every year on his birthday."
"Yeah." Lydia smiled. "Like I miss how my mom used to leave catalogues on my bed, with little post it notes on the pages with things she thought I would like. Or dad, my dad thought himself somewhat of a music aficionado and he would try and get me and my brother to guess random bands that were playing on the radio." Lydia laughed.
"So it gets easier?" Lily whispered, rubbing her nose.
"Promise." Lydia stood and kissed the crown of Lily's head, just as Lily started to yawn. "You should get some more sleep, you didn't get much last night."
Lily nodded and headed back towards her room. Lydia faced Jess who was back at the sink. She wrapped her arms around his waist, placing her cheek against his back. She then yawned herself, as Jess turned to face her.
"Sleep." He pressed his forehead to hers, and placed his hands on her waist, rubbing the exposed skin there.
"Will you be okay?"
"I'm a big boy. I can cope."
Lydia reached up and cupped his cheek, pressing kisses to the side of his mouth, "You know I'm here if-"
"I know." He cut her off.
"Okay." She yawned again. "See you later." She kissed him one last time before turning and heading to their room.
Jess watched her retreating back, and when she closed the door, he headed to the living room and lay back on the sofa. He opened his book, looking at it, but not reading. After a few minutes, he dropped it to the floor, and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his palms. He let out a sigh, and started blankly at the ceiling.
Lydia picked at the hem of the boxer shorts she wore as she listened to the ring tone of the phone pressed to her ear.
"Lydia, why are you calling at half eleven? I'm at the clinic at five in the morning."
"Oh." Lydia pressed her free hand to her temple. "I forgot about the time difference. Sorry."
"Time difference? As far as I know it's the same time in Philadelphia."
"I know, Jamie," Lydia sighed. "But it's half eight here. I'm in California."
"Cali? Why are you back home?"
"Jess' dad and step mom were in a car accident. They died, Jamie."
"God, Lydia. How's Jess and Lily holding up?"
"Lily's a lot like you were. Crying every so often but taking it in her stride. Jess is Jess. He's stoic."
"He hasn't said anything?"
"No." Lydia sighed. "I don't wanna push him. He'll talk when he's ready. I just don't know what to do." She brushed away a few tears that had begun to fall.
"What do you mean? Do what?"
"To help them. I feel useless. I don't know what to say or anything. And I feel guilty for being sad, and I can't cry, 'cause Jess hasn't. And I-"
"Lydia!" Jamie cut her off. "Just be with them. You didn't talk to anyone for two months after mom and dad died. And Jess speaks way less than you do at the best of times. Just keep quiet, and knowing you're there will help."
Lydia blew out breath, and pushed her hair behind her ear. "When did you get so wise?"
"At the clinic. People like knowing someone's there if they might need them."
"Oh. Well thanks for listening to me ramble."
"It's what I'm here for big sis. And you know I'm here if you need to talk. You are allowed to be sad about them dying too you know."
"I know. Thanks Jamie. You're my star."
"Any time. Bye Lyds."
"Yeah, bye Jamie." Lydia hung up the phone and placed it back in her purse. Jess popped his head around the door and gave her a small smile.
"Pizza's here."
"I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay." Jess disappeared again and Lydia raked her hand through her long hair and stood up. She inhaled a large breath and exhaled it loudly before exiting the room and joining Lily and Jess in the living room.
The next few days past in blur. Jimmy and Sasha's will had left everything, but The Inferno to Jess and Lily. The Inferno was left to Lee who had been with Jimmy since he opened the hot dog stand, and had become like a second son to Jimmy. Jess and Lily decided to sell the house, since Lydia's house would be there if Lily ever needed to visit the west coast. There had been no problem with Jess and Lydia gaining permanent custody over Lily, the lawyer thankful that her family had wanted to take her in.
The funeral was small. Jess, Lily Lydia and about ten other of Jimmy and Sasha's friends. Jess and Lily had taken their parents ashes to be scattered at the beach. "It's what Jimmy would have wanted." Jess explained Jimmy's love of the beach to his wife. Lydia had hung back, sitting on a nearby rock, knowing the privacy that moment required.
The three were in Jimmy and Sasha's house the morning after the funeral.
"What about this?"Lydia held up a large green and yellow fruit bowl.
"Keep." Lily said glancing up. "But in California."
They were sorting out the contents of the house. What was to kept, and brought to Philadelphia. What was being kept but stored in Lydia's house. And everything else was being donated to the Salvation Army.
"Okay." Lydia wrapped the bowl in some bubble wrap and placed it in a box to her left. "These?" She held up two clown statues.
"All the clowns can be given to the Salvation Army. I hate those things."
"Alrighty then. Goodbye weird, scary clowns!"
Jess exited Jimmy's study carrying a hardback copy of 'On the Road'. "I've packed up Jimmy's office. All his books and records are coming with us."
"No!" Lydia exclaimed, pointing her index finger at him, "No way! Our apartment is coming down with books already. And we'll have a whole other person," she gestured to Lily, "and all her stuff living with us. We don't have the room."
"I suppose I do have copies of all those novels at home." Jess sighed and turning back into the room, he tossed the book in the nearest box.
"That's a good boy." Lydia smiled, "We'll keep them at our house here, that way when we come you won't have to bring books with you. You can free up some space in your luggage. For, you know, my shoes and stuff."
"Right." Jess rolled his eyes. "I also found this." Jess pulled a folded sheet of paper out of his back pocket.
"What is it?" Lydia reached forward and pulled the paper from his hand. "Your report card." She told Lily as she opened it and started reading.
"Jeez." Lily rolled her eyes and went back to wrapping dinner dishes.
"4.3? Your GPA is 4.3?"
"So?" Lily shrugged one shoulder and pulled her long hair into a ponytail.
"So? That's amazing."
"Don't sound so surprised."
"I'm not surprised." Lydia assured her. "You, little girl are very intelligent."
"The classes are easy. I do a lot of extra credit work 'cause I get bored."
"Oh, okay." Lydia nodded and folded the report again. "I'm hungry. Chinese anyone?"
"Sure." Lily and Jess agreed.
"Here." Lydia tossed Jess the phone, "You order."
"Anyone want the last egg roll?" Lily asked.
Both Lydia and Jess shook their heads, "Go for it." Jess held the box out for her.
"Thank you." Lily reached across and grabbed the egg roll, before settling back into her chair to enjoy it. Lydia and Jess were sitting on the sofa, Lydia's legs draped over Jess' lap.
"Hey," Lydia annouced, "I've been thinking."
Jess smirked at his wife, and traced circles across her knees. "Never comforting words coming from you."
"Oh shut it!" Lydia sighed, swinging her legs off his lap and sitting up straight. "No, I was thinking about you." She pointed at Lily.
"Me?"
"Yeah, and school. You going to school." Lydia clarified.
"Oh. I have to go to school in Philadelphia?"
"Yes! Of course you do. But I was thinking about how you said you get bored, and the classes are easy?"
"Uh huh?" Lily titled her head and scratched her temple.
"Well, I was wondering if you, maybe, wanted to start at my school?" Lydia asked.
"Your school? You one you teach in?"
"Yeah." Lydia smiled.
"Isn't it some fancy private school?" Lily asked, shaking her head.
"Yes." Lydia confirmed.
"And they wear dorky uniforms, right?"
"Yeah they do." Jess laughed.
"They're not that bad!" Lydia laughed, "My uniform was way worse."
"Yeah, that's true." Jess pointed at his wife, "I've seen the pictures!"
Lily laughed along with her bother, while Lydia pouted in mock annoyance, but suddenly Lily sobered up. "Listen guys, I don't know about this private school thing and-"
"Well, think about it." Jess interrupted her. "No one is pressuring you into anything. But I think Lyds is right."
"You do?" Lydia asked Jess.
"Yeah. I mean I know how bored I was in high school. Maybe it would be good to go somewhere a bit more challenging. Shot at a better college too." He told Lily.
"Maybe." Lily nodded thoughtfully. "I'll definitely think about it." She smiled.
"Good." Lydia said, standing up. "I think you'd be a great fit for Fort William. Just let me know if you wanna do it and I'll phone the headmaster and get your transcripts faxed to them."
"Okay."
"Oh, and while we're on the subject of fab Lydia ideas," Lydia smiled as Jess rolled his eyes, "I was wondering how you guys felt about a road trip back to Philadelphia?"
"Roadtrip?" Both Jess and Lily asked at the same time.
"Yeah." Lydia nodded. "I know you hate flying," she pointed at Jess, who bobbed his head in confirmation, "I don't know how you feel about it, though." She said it Lily, frowning.
"Not that big a fan." Lily shook her head.
"Really? 'Cause my car's still here, and I keep meaning to bring to to Philly-"
"What car?" Jess cut her off.
"My car. I got it for my sixteenth birthday. Drove it all through high school and college."
Jess started to laugh, "You're planning on us driving cross country in some old car you got nearly ten years ago?"
"It's not some old car!" Lydia replied, annoyed. "It was my dad's car. Mint condition '65 Ford Mustang. And it's still in perfect running order. Or it should be, I pay the guys at that garage enough to make sure it's still running."
"You own a '65 Mustang?" Jess asked, wide eyed.
"Uh huh!" Lydia smiled and turned to focus her attention back to Lily. "So roadtrip? We load up the car, take a week and drive back. After a week of being stuck in car with us, living with us will be a snap!"
Lily looked between the two adults and then gave a loud sigh, "Would I get to pick the soundtrack?" she smirked.
"Yes!" Lydia replied quickly, before Jess had a chance to protest. "Is that a yes then?"
"It's a yes." Lily confirmed.
"Oh good!" Lydia hugged her. "I finally get to take Sharona home."
"Sharona?" Jess smirked.
"Yeah, like the song. Sally's far to obvious a name for a mustang." Lydia shrugged and brought the empty Chinese containers to the kitchen, singing as she went, "Is it just destiny, destiny? Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona?"
"Hey Lydia?" Lily looked at her sister in law across the living room. It was the morning after Lydia had made the suggestion that Lily went to private school. They were still in Jimmy and Sasha's, packing up different objects. Jess was bringing already packed boxes back to his and Lydia's house.
"Yeah, pet?" Lydia glanced up from her spot on the floor and the set of drinking glasses she was wrapping.
"You know that stuff you were saying about going to your school?"
"Fort William? Yeah." Lydia nodded slowly.
"Well, I thought about it last night. A lot. And I think it might be good."
"Really?" Lydia grinned.
Lily nodded once, "Yeah. But-"
"No buts." Lydia interrupted her. "If you think this will be good, we should do it. What's your but?"
"Those kinds of schools cost a lot of money."
"Sit." Lydia instructed the younger girl, patting the floor beside her. Lily did as she was told, faced Lydia and pulled her knees to her chest. "What are your reasons for wanting to go to the school?" Lydia asked.
"Well I was thinking about the whole being bored in school."
"Okay." Lydia nodded.
"And, even with all the extra credit work I do, I still always have down time. There's only so many times you can revise a topic, you know? And I was just thinking, this school won't be easy, right?"
"Right. It's tough, but you can do it."
"I know. I think I need to do it. If I keep busy with school, I won't have to think about," she exhaled loudly before continuing, "anything."
"I get it." Lydia said softly, rubbing her knuckles along Lily's arm.
"Plus," Lily locked eyes with Lydia, "I always wanted to go to Brown or Dartmouth, but I didn't think I could ever get in. Jess said this could help?"
"The Ivies? Really?" Lydia grinned, "Yeah, this would help a lot!"
"But, it's a lot of money. I guess we could use the money from the sale of the house?"
"No." Lydia shook her head. "Jess and I already discussed this. The money from the sale of the house is being put into a trust fund for you. For college or whatever. But high school? On me."
"No, that's too much." Lily tucked her hair behind her ears and shook her head.
"Listen to me." Lydia placed her hand on Lily's knee. "My parents? They were loaded and when they died they left enough money to put me and Jamie through private school, college and grad school if we wanted. Even after our education was paid for there was a lot left over. And then my grandma died. Remember when I first met you? When Jess and I first started going out? She was way more wealthy than my parents. And she pretty much left it all to me and Jamie. I have more money than I could ever spend. I wanna do this."
"You sure?" Lily whispered.
"More than sure. This is probably the most sensible thing I've spend the money on. I paid for the boys to extend Truncheon and add a coffee shop. I restored Jess' old car and I got myself a lot of new shoes. I'll be giving you a future." she smiled
"Or a shot at one at least." Lily grinned. "Thank you!" She leaned forward and hugged the older woman.
"Well, I better get on the phone. Lots to sort out." Lydia pulled herself to her feet. "You okay finishing off in here?"
"Sure."
Lydia grabbed the phone and headed in the direction of Jimmy's office just as Jess entered. She motioned for him to follow her and he did so. She closed the door behind them, and then started to hunt out a phone number.
"What's going on?" Jess asked.
"She wants to go to Fort William."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Lydia nodded, "She was worried it would cost to much, but I explained how loaded we were and she came round to the idea."
"What are you doing?"
"Phoning the school. I talked to Headmaster Green first thing this morning, in case she said yes. I had her transcripts faxed to him. He said to phone him about this time after he had a chance to look them over. He better say yes."
"You are a sneaky one." Jess smirked.
"Well, it couldn't hurt. I had to move quickly to get her in. Classes start in less than a month. If she said no, we still could have gotten her into a public school. No harm in asking Green, right?"
"Right." Jess pressed a kiss to her forehead. "God Murphy, you are aggravating." he smiled.
"I know. And I love you too. Now out and help her." Lydia pushed him towards the door and began to dial.
Forty five minutes later Lydia emerged from the study. She looked around her and saw that Jess and Lily had finished packing everything. Everything was sorted, and the only things remaining were the boxes and large furniture items that were to be picked up by the Salvation Army the next day.
"Jess? Lil?" Lydia called out as she wandered through the house. She found them on the front porch, sitting in silence, drinking ice tea.
"You guys finished?"
"Yeah, all done." Lily smiled. "How's the phone calls go?"
"Great." Lydia grinned. "You're in."
"Really?" Lily jumped to her feet and hugged Lydia.
"Yeah, they said they'd be lucky to have Lily Mariano, especially if she's anything like her sister in law!"
"This is so great!"
"Well done, squirt." Jess hugged his sister. "Dad and Sasha would be proud."
"Yeah. Thanks." Lily whispered. "When do I start?"
"Term starts September twentieth. So in eighteen days. We'll get your uniform when we get to Philly."
"Oh." Lily's face dropped. "I forgot about the uniform."
This was hard to write. I always had this planned, but when it came to writing it, it was tough. My medical knowledge comes from years of watching ER, so God knows how accurate this was. Or wasn't as the case maybe. I did tend to lose concentration watching ER. Some of those doctors were cute! My legal knowledge? Years of CSI, Ally McBeal and many viewings of Legally Blonde.
Also, I have no clue how old Lily is really. But I'm gonna say in my world she was eight when Jess first showed up in California, making him nearly eleven years older than her.
I also have never lost a parent, so I don't know how that kind of grief grips someone. I do know, that keeping busy and trying to laugh and remember good memories is how I got over my grandma's death, so that's what I tried to do here. I dunno if I got it right.
Roadtrip next. It was supposed to be in this chapter. But it was so long already, I decided to spilt them up.
Please review. They are love.