Thank you to everyone who reviewed. They mean so much. Just to know people are enjoying what I come up with.
I don't own The Gilmores. I wish I was a Gilmore. That might be nice. Their hair is ALWAYS perfect. :D
Chapter Eight – Decent Days and Nights
"You ready? How you feeling?" Lydia asked Lily as she set a plate of pancakes in front of the younger girl.
"Nauseous ." Lily pushed the plate away from her.
"You have to eat something."
"I did. The eggs and bacon you made before the pancakes."
"Right. I tend to over compensate on breakfast."
"I've noticed." Lily smiled and took a sip of her orange juice.
"Jess? You ready. I made you pancakes." Lydia called out as she placed her empty mug in the dishwasher.
"Yes, I'm ready." Jess entered the kitchen wearing black dress trousers and a navy button down shirt.
"No tie?" Lydia asked as she poured him a cup of coffee.
"Don't push it." He grinned as he sat at the table. "Why do I have to do this again?"
"It's her first day at the school. We have to meet the principle."
"You work there. You know him."
"Not the point." Lydia smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She paused for a moment, inhaling his scent before turning back to the stove.
"What?" Jess asked her.
"Nothing, eat your breakfast."
"I can't look at this food anymore." Lily stood up from the table. "I'm gonna go finish getting ready."
"Okay." Lydia smiled. "Oh, and Lil? You look great in that uniform."
Lily glanced down at her uniform. A maroon plaid skirt, with a white open necked blouse and a maroon sweater. "I look like a dork."
"That's because you haven't put your tights on yet."
Lily rolled her eyes and headed into her room. When the door of the kitchen swung closed Lydia hit Jess upside the head.
"What the hell was that for?" He asked, turning in his seat, rubbing his head where she hit him.
"You were smoking!" She pointed her finger at him, her other hand on her hip. "I can smell it on you!"
"So?"
"What do you mean 'so'? You only smoke when you're nerv- You're nervous?" She sat down beside him. "About Lily going to school?"
Jess rubbed his eyes and then pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah."
"Why? She's going to be fine. She's smart. Super smart. She runs circles around both of us. And I'll be there. All day."
"That's part of the problem. Her 'parent' is a teacher? And these kids you teach? You're always complaining about how competitive and horrible they are."
"Well, I don't think that Lil living with us will be a problem. And yes, the kids are competitive but all kids are like that. My school was like that. Your school was probably like that. You'd know that if you-"
"Showed up once in awhile?" Jess interrupted, pulling Lydia's chair closer to his.
"Yeah." Lydia smiled. "But, you know if she doesn't like it, she will tells us. She's very vocal."
"I know." Jess whispered, smiling as he leaned across to kiss Lydia.
"Oh Jeez!" Lily covered her eyes as she walked back into the kitchen. "No sex in the kitchen, please."
"See what I mean?" Lydia smiled and gave Jess a final chaste kiss. "Ready to go, prude?" She asked Lily as she followed her into the living room.
"Yes." Lily smiled, but then her face dropped. "I'm scared." She admitted.
"You'll be fabulous!" Lydia told her as she put her suit jacket on. "Just remember everything me and Rory told you."
"Right." Lily smiled as she remembered the conversations about private school she'd had over the last two and half weeks. "Keep my head down, keep focused and don't piss off the Kathryn Merteuil of the school."
"Bingo. Just keep dreaming of those ivy covered walls. And remember, it'll be nothing like 'Gossip Girl'."
"Damn. And I was totally looking forward to finding my own Chuck Bass."
"Oh, into bad boys? Or scarves?" Lydia laughed. "Rufus is totally my favourite."
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. I totally would. Just don't tell Jess. Speaking of which, Jess, get your butt out here!"
"So eloquent, Ms. Mariano."
"Shut it!" She threw his black pinstripe blazer at him.
"We ready?" Jess asked the girls as he put his coat on.
"As I'll ever be." Lily smiled and swung her messenger bag over her shoulder and followed Lydia out the front door.
"I hate school!" Lydia proclaimed as she came through the front door of Truncheon that afternoon.
"It wasn't that bad." Lily traipsed in behind her, carrying five heavy textbooks.
"Those kids are mean and vindictive."
"They're not that bad."
"You would say that, you're one of them now." Lydia turned to face Lily, walking backwards forwards Truncheon's coffee shop.
"Please. You are so over-dramatic!" Lily smirked at Lydia, glancing past her shoulder. "Rory?"
Lydia turned on her heel, and saw Rory sitting at the counter with Mathew. "What are you doing here?" She smiled at the brunette.
Rory jumped of her stool and pulled the two girls into a hug. "I came to see how your first day went." She told Lily, keeping hold of her shoulder.
"You drove two and half hours to see how her day at school went?"
"Yeah." Rory smiled. "I know first days can be scary."
"It was okay." Lily shrugged.
"You could have called."
"But if she called, she wouldn't be able to give you this." Mathew held up a cake box.
"You brought cake?" Lily asked, a wide smile on her face as she joined Mathew on a stool.
"Yeah, chocolate cheesecake. Your favourite." Rory smiled at Lily.
"You're certifiable, you know that?" Lydia grinned.
"It's genetic. There's nothing I can do but embrace it!" Rory laughed as she sat back down and took a sip of her coffee.
"Is Jess in his office?" Lydia pointed towards Jess' door.
"Yeah." Mathew nodded. "They're gonna making kissing noises now." He winked at Lily.
"I think they're gonna do more than make the noises." Rory lent forwards and fake whispered.
"Oh gross!" Lily wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"You're such children!" Lydia told them as she opened Jess' door and entered his office closing the door behind her.
"She's right." Lily smiled as she took a bite of her cake. "They do more than make the noises."
"Are you saying you've heard them...you know?" Mathew asked, wide eyed.
"Eww! No!" Lily swatted his arm. "They just kiss. A lot. I complain, but I think its actually kinda cute. Newly weds and all that. I don't wanna think about what else they do."
"Mathew, you're grossing her out." Rory grinned and poured herself another cup of coffee. "So, tell me? How was school really?"
"It was fine." Lily smiled. "It seems majorly hard, and they've piled on the work already, but I think I'll be able to handle it."
"I know," Rory nodded, "It does seem like they expect you to get smart all in one day, right?"
Lily nodded her head in agreement, her fork in her mouth.
"You make any friends?" Mathew asked her, pouring her a glass of ice tea.
"Yeah, two girls in my class took me under their wing. Fern and Anna. They seem nice."
"That's good." Rory smiled, and then adopted a look of concern and asked her, "Anyone call you Mary?"
"No?" Lily shook her head, unsure of whether to smile or not.
"Good."
"Did you get called a Mary in school?" Mathew asked, trying to hold back a laugh.
"Yes." Rory sighed.
"No way! You were a goody goody?"
"No, I just liked to study."
"Wow, Mary, I totally see you in a different light now." Mathew teased.
"Oh, shut up!" Rory threw her balled up paper napkin at him as Jess and Lydia came out of his office.
"Now, now! Behave!" Lydia clapped her hands. "You're worse than kids."
"Hey Lyds, guess what? Rory was a Mary in high school!"
"Seriously? But you dated him?" Lydia pointed at Jess.
"Not until senior year. I was only Mary in my sophomore year." Rory explained, "But you're a teacher, you were clearly interested in studying, weren't you a Mary?"
"No!" Lydia scoffed. "I hung out with too many boys. A habit I haven't yet been able to break." She shrugged. "But everyone thought I was fooling around with all of them. But I wasn't. Total one guy girl."
"And you just let them think that about you?" Lily asked.
"I let them assume whatever they wanted. I knew I was doing nothing wrong."
"Okay, on that note, we're gonna go." Jess said. "I'm assuming you have homework?" He pointed at Lily.
"Yes. A bit left to do. I got most of it finished waiting on Lydia!"
"Great." Jess grabbed her text books. "We were thinking of heading to Argentos for dinner."
"Sound good." Lily put her bag over her shoulder.
"You two are welcome to come too." Lydia picked up her files. "I mean if you'll still be here in two hours Rory."
"Sure." Rory smiled.
"We'll meet you there at seven then. Rory you can come with us now, if you want?"
"No, I'll hang here. We were in the middle of a very heated debate." She indicated between herself and Mathew.
"About?" Lydia asked.
"Thomas Hardy."
"As you were." Lydia rolled her eyes. "See you later."
"I'm so stuffed." Lydia complained, "My God Gilmore, you can pack it away."
"Years of training." Rory laughed. "It's not as easy as I make it look."
"I need to sleep. I'm that full." Lydia rested her head on Jess' shoulder.
"Well, then, let's get you home. It was great seeing you Rory." Jess hugged her.
"Yeah." Lydia hugged her as Jess got into his car, "A very unexpected, but non the less pleasant surprise."
"Glad you liked it." Rory smiled as she hugged Lily. "Now, remember, it's all up hill from here in school"
"I know. Thanks for the cake."
"Anytime."
"Hey, Math, you want a lift back home?"
"I can do it. I mean it's on my way out of the city." Rory smiled as she opened her car.
"Okay. Well, I'll call you soon, Ror. Bye." Lydia waved as she got into the passenger side of Jess' car.
"Yeah, bye Rory!" Lily called and Jess waved from the car.
"Bye!" Rory and Mathew waved to the three as they drove off.
"Well get in." Rory smiled and climbed in herself.
"I had fun today with you." Mathew said as they pulled up to Truncheon.
"Me too." Rory smiled.
"Don't be a stranger, Rory."
"I don't think I have a choice." She laughed. "Night, Mathew." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Yeah, night." Mathew got out of the car, and didn't look back until he had open the door. He gave her a small wave, which she returned. He closed the door and Rory sat for a few minutes, staring at the closed red door, before she shook her head to clear her thoughts and started her car, and began to drive back to DC.
"Happy birthday, Miss Gilmore."
"How'd you know it was my birth- I'm gonna kill Lydia." Rory sighed as she saved the article she was working on.
"She can't help it. She loves birthdays. She mentioned you were working." Mathew ran his index finger around the rim of his coffee cup.
"Yeah, but it was a light day, they had an early full lid."
"They really say 'full lid'?"
"Yeah." Rory laughed.
"You should tell Lydia. She'll be very excited. What are you doing now?"
"Working on my article. Then I'm going to open a bottle of wine and watch 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'. A present from Lydia."
"Why did she buy you that?"
"Well, my name's Lorelai Leigh, like Marilyn in the movie."
"You're called Lorelai?"
"Yeah, my mom named me after herself." Rory walked to her kitchen and pulled open her fridge.
"So you're Lorelai Junior?" Mathew laughed.
"No. The third. My great grandmother was Lorelai also." Rory lifted a bottle of water from the fridge, and pushed the door closed with her shoulder.
"Okay. I'd never heard of anyone called Lorelai before, and now I know of three."
"Four, if you include Marilyn." Rory balanced her phone between her cheek and her shoulder to open her water.
"Right." Mathew sighed, and the two lapsed into silence.
"Lydia invited me to the Halloween party at Empire."
"Oh yeah. 'Night at the Movies' theme. You going to go?"
"Yeah, I was gonna. Lydia asked me to dress up with her, go as Betty."
"To her Veronica?"
"That's what I said!" Rory laughed, "But no; Betty Rubble to her Wilma Flintstone."
"You should come." Mathew told her. "Lydia would be devastated if you didn't."
"Right." Rory rubbed her temple. "You haven't told them have you?"
"Told them what?"
"About us talking?"
"No." Mathew said a little too quickly. "I mean, there's nothing to tell. We're just friends Rory, right."
"Yeah, right, friends. Listen, I better go. Finish my article."
"Right, happy birthday again."
"Thanks Mathew. Bye."
"Bye."
Rory ended the call and headed back to her laptop. She stopped typing after a few minutes and stared at the phone, unable to work out why she suddenly felt so uneasy.
"Trick or treat!" Rory yelled when Lydia opened the door to the apartment on Halloween night. "Oh! You look amazing!" Rory said, as Lydia did a quick turn showing off her white, one shoulder dress, her extremely large bun and heeled gladiator sandals.
"Here I'll take your coat and bag." Lydia said, taking Rory's long black trench and overnight bag off her. "And you look incredible!" She smiled looking at Rory's short blue dress, pinned back hair and lashings of black eyeliner.
"Thank you very much. I think we make quite the pair." Rory grinned.
"Yeah. We do." Lydia agreed as she handed Rory a martini glass.
"What is this?" Rory asked staring at the red drink in her hand.
"A blood-tini!" Lydia grinned as Lily came out of her bedroom wearing a blue and white checked dress and sparkly red shoes.
"You're Dorothy!" Rory grinned, giving the younger girl a closer look. "And that's not a wig. You dyed your hair?"
"Yeah." Lily smiled, tucking a curled lock of her newly coloured chestnut hair behind her ear.
"She ignored the advice of her horoscope, but we love it now." Lydia handed Lily a glass of fruit punch. "You look great. What time did you tell your friends to be here."
"Eight. So they should be here soon. That is unless they've changed their minds about hanging out with a teacher on Halloween."
"I'm the coolest teacher in that place." Lydia grinned and took a sip of her drink.
"Is Jess dressing up?"
"Yes. Superman!" Lydia laughed. "I'm so excited!" She continued as Jess came out of the bathroom.
"Uh, Lydia?" Rory pointed over her shoulder, "I wouldn't get too excited."
Lydia turned to see Jess dress in a pair of black trousers, a white shirt and black tie, that wasn't completely tight and a black blazer.
"Jess! How is this Superman? Where are the tights? And the cape? And the gaint 'S'? The only thing you got right is the hair!" She indicated to his now neatly brushed and side parted hair.
"I'm not done yet Lyds. Close your eyes."
"How is closing my eyes gonna help?"
"Just do it Murphy!"
"Fine." She sighed and closed her eyes, bringing her hand up to cover them. "I still don't see what you could be doing. Jess?"
"You can look."
Lydia lowered her hand and saw that Jess had unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and loosened his tie even further to reveal a blue shirt with the Superman 'S' on it, and put on a pair a black framed glasses. "You're Clark Kent?" Lydia gave small smile, biting down on her lower lip.
"Yeah."
"Well, that's totally cheating!" She swatted his arm. "But you do look kinda sexy in those glasses."
"Oh yeah?" Jess smirked.
"Yeah." Lydia reached up to kiss him, but before she could there was a loud bang at the door.
"I'll get it." Lily said. "You two go back to being gross!"
"You know she really doesn't mind it!" Rory laughed as Lily opened the door.
"Oh my God! You guys look great!" Lily said as Mathew, Simon and Chris came in dressed as Ghostbusters.
"When you're walking down the street, and you see a little ghost. Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" Mathew sang as walked towards Jess and Lydia.
"That's not the song." Lydia laughed.
"It's the Jack Black version." Mathew grinned, as he turned and stopped Rory on the couch. "Hi, Rory." He sat beside her and she threw him nervous smile.
"You guys look great."
"You too. Blue is definitely your colour."
"Thank you." She smiled, a slight blush colouring her cheeks. She bit down on her lip, unsure of what to say, but was saved by a loud knock at the door.
"Okay. My friends are here. And if any of you," Lily glanced around at the six adults in the room, "do anything to embarrass me, I will kill you."
"I don't remember Dorothy being this mean in the movie." Jess quipped, causing Lily to glare at him.
She opened the door to a chorus of "OMG! You look great!" and "I love your costume!".
Five teenagers entered the room, two girls and three boys. Lydia walked over to meet them. "You guys all look great." She smiled.
"Thanks, Ms Mariano." One of the girls, dressed as Minnie Mouse said.
"Please." Lydia waved her hand, "Tonight I'm Lydia." She smiled.
The teens all smiled at her and shuffled into the living room.
"Okay introductions. This is Jess, Lily's brother, Mathew and Chris, who work with Jess, Simon who is Chris' boyfriend, and Rory." She smiled, pointing each one out in turn.
She then pointed to each of the teenagers. "Minnie Mouse is Fern, and Anna is Cleopatra. Indiana Jones is Alex, and The Joker is Paul. And this is Ryan." She put her hand the last boy's shoulder, he was dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow. She then turned face them all, hands on her hips. "Now, I know tonight, I'm Lydia, and not Ms. Mariano, but we are going to a bar. And I will be stamping you with the biggest 'Loser' stamp in the world."
She watched as their faces dropped and she started laughing. "You didn't think you'd be allowed to drink, right? I'm still your teacher. I could get fired. But I do want you to have fun!" She smiled and joined Rory on the couch.
"Ryan is Lil's date." She whispered. "Just don't tell Jess. He'll freak out."
"He's cute." Rory glanced over her shoulder at him.
"And good at math." Lydia told her.
"I don't think that would have been one of Lily's top criteria." Rory laughed.
"You guys ready to go soon?" Jess asked coming out of the kitchen with Chris.
"Yeah." Lydia and Rory drank the last of their blood-tinis. "Did you get taxis?"
"No, we're walking. Fireworks display." Jess pulled Lydia to her feet.
"Okay, party people. We are walking, so no running ahead, or lagging behind, thank you very much." Lydia said as she pulled on a leopard print coat.
"You're such a teacher." Rory told her as she put on her own coat.
"Whatever." Lydia linked her arm as they left the apartment. "And remember," She whispered, "keep an eye on Lil and Ryan."
"Will do." Rory laughed.
"It's astounding, time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll."
"Oh my God! The Time Warp! We have to dance!" Lydia took Rory's drink from her and set it on the table. "Jess?"
"No. I'm not dancing."
"Fine." Lydia rolled her eyes and her husband and she and Rory headed to the dance floor.
"What are they doing?" Mathew asked, as he returned from the bar.
"The Time Warp apparently." Jess smirked, and then glanced at his friend. "So, what's the story with you and Rory?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I dunno, you guys just seem close."
"Well, we're friends." Mathew shrugged one shoulder, "I'm just being nice to her. As per your wife's request."
"So, she's 'my wife' now, huh?" Jess smirked.
"Oh, yeah." Mathew handed Jess a shot of tequila, "I can blame you. You're supposed to reign in her crazy antics."
"I don't think anyone could reign her in." Jess laughed, glancing at his wife, who was now leading the group dance on the floor.
"Let's do the time warp again!"
"I think I'm dead." Lydia wandered out of the kitchen the next morning holding two cups of tea, followed by Rory clutching her own cup of coffee.
"I know the feeling." Rory sighed, as Lydia handed Lily her tea. Lily moved over on the couch, pulling her legs under her, to allow the two older woman to sit beside her.
"You guys are just old. I feel fine." Lily grinned as she flipped through the TV channels.
"The fact you didn't drink your own body weight in cocktails is probably why." Lydia rubbed her eyes, with her thumb and index finger under her glasses.
"No one forced you two to drink that much." Lily laughed.
"I object to that." Rory said, pointing at Lydia. "She did. She forced me."
"Oh, yeah, I practically had to pour them down your throat!" Lydia replied sarcastically.
"Ladies." Lily warned them, smirking, "Let's remain friends. Oh 'The Hills'. Perfect."
"You like 'The Hills'?" Lydia asked.
"Guilty pleasure." Lily confessed.
"Me too!" Lydia laughed. "How'd we not figure this out sooner. Now we can gang up on Jess. He doesn't see the need for these kinds of shows."
"I've never seen this." Rory told them.
"Never?" They asked at the same time.
Rory smiled and shook her head.
"Well one episode and you'll be hooked. I swear." Lydia grinned. "Now that's Justin Bobby." She pointed at the screen, "And I know he looks like a homeless person, but if he knocked on the door and asked me to leave Jess, I'd say yes in a heartbeat."
"Really?" Lily asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Yeah. Don't tell me you like Brody! Oh no, you would. Ryan has a touch of Brody about him!"
"Lydia! You said you wouldn't say anything!"
"To Jess." Lydia smiled, "And I told Rory not to tell him, so, technically, I held up my end of the bargain."
"Yeah, and you two are so cute together." Rory told Lily. "Your children will be gorgeous."
"I hate you two." Lily blushed a deep red.
"Oh my god. You really like him." Lydia pointed at her.
Lily stared into her tea, and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yeah." She sighed loudly. "I don't know what to do."
"Why?"
"He asked me out. On a date." Lily said, her head still down.
"Then what's the problem?" Lydia laughed.
"Well, I am allowed to date?"
"Yeah. I think. You can date at fifteen, right?" Lydia asked Rory.
"I was sixteen. What about you?"
"I dunno. I went out with my first boyfriend for nine years. He asked me to be his girlfriend when we were nine. I've no idea when we started going on dates. But, no, fifteen seems fine. Say yes." She told Lily.
"What about Jess?"
"I'll deal with Jess. We will have to meet him though."
"Ryan? You met him last night."
"Without the eyeliner." Lydia took a sip of her tea.
"You teach him."
"Jess doesn't. Hey, why don't you invited him to movie night on Friday?"
"A chaperoned first date?" Lily arched one eyebrow. "No way. He'll think I'm a total freak."
"That's what my first date was. Dean and I dated two years." Rory told them.
"See? And it's not like Jess and I are scary parents. We'll be cool. You can pick the movie."
"And I have food choice?" Lily stuck out her right hand.
"Deal." Lydia shook Lily's hand. "It'll be good, I promise. Just don't pick a sucky movie."
"I have no clothes!" Lily was pulling clothes out of her closest when Lydia entered her room.
"You have loads of clothes."
"And they're all hideous! Ryan will be here in forty minutes and I've nothing to wear, my hair's a disaster and I haven't picked a movie."
"The movie can be picked later. And here, wear this." Lydia handed her long blue shirt, "And these leggings. My curling tongs are heating, just wear a coat of mascara and some clear gloss and you're good to go." Lydia smiled. "God, what I would give to be fifteen again!"
"You're the best." Lily hugged her. "You have talked to Jess, right?"
"Not exactly." Lydia shook her head.
"What?"
"No, its fine. I have a plan. Just do everything we planned. He will not think you're a loser who needs chaperoned."
"Even though you feel the need to chaperon?" Lily smirked.
"This is for Jess. Make him feel, I dunno, like he has a say. Just work with me."
"Fine." Lily sighed as Lydia turned to leave. "Just don't embarrass me."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Lydia smiled before closing the door.
Lily sat on the couch, tapping her foot, and smoothing her hair when there was a knock on the door.
She stood up and walked to the door, shaking out her hands before she opened it. "Hey Ryan." She smiled, standing aside to let him in.
"Hey. You look...good." He nervously scratched his neck.
"Thanks. You wanna sit down?" She walked back to the couch. They sat in silence for a few beats before Lily turned to Ryan, "I haven't picked a film yet, so if you have any preference?"
"Well actually, I brought a movie."
"You did?"
"Yeah." Ryan bobbed his head. "You mentioned you were watching old movies, and how you were really enjoying them, and I though maybe we could watch this." He pulled a dvd out of his jacket pocket.
"'Casablanca?"
"Yeah, it's a favourite of my mom and sisters. I thought you might like it. But we don't have to watch-"
"No." Lily interrupted him smiling, "I want to watch it."
"You ordered enough for twelve people." Jess said as he came out of the kitchen.
"I like choices." Lydia shrugged. "Lily? What are doing here? I thought you were going out?"
"I though you were going out?"
"No." Lydia shook her head, "Dinner and a DVD."
"Snap."
"Oh." Lydia bit down on her lower lip. "Okay, well maybe we could all chill here and-"
"I'm sorry," Jess interrupted her and pointed at his sister, "you're on a date?"
"Uh, Lydia?" Lily looked to the redhead for help.
"Oh, yeah, Jess can see you back in the kitchen, stat. Thanks." She pushed him through the door.
"She's on a date?"
"Yes." Lydia sighed.
"And you knew?" Jess asked.
"Yes. I didn't tell you because I didn't think you'd react well. How very wrong I was." Lydia said sarcastically, and then sighed loudly. "They're fifteen, Jess. They can date, it's totally innocent."
"I remember being fifteen. There was nothing innocent about it."
"Well, they're not like you. They're good kids. And I think you might like him, if you give him a chance. I mean, we'll be here tonight, so they can't do anything, right?"
"Right." Jess nodded his head once. "So, she's dating?"
"It was gonna happen." Lydia smiled. "And you will cool tonight?" She asked, putting her arms around his neck.
"I am the epitome of cool." Jess smirked, resting his hands on her hips.
"Oh yeah, a regular Steve McQueen."
"Cheers Baby." Jess winked and tapped her on the butt.
Lydia rolled her eyes and gave a small laugh. "Come on, Cincinnati Kid." And she turned and left the kitchen.
"So we're double dating?" She said to the two teenagers. "That okay?"
"Fine." Ryan nodded, while Lily mouthed 'Thank you' at Lydia.
"You like Chinese food, Ryan? I ordered enough for twelve apparently."
"Chinese is good."
"Good. You guys pick a movie?"
"Actually, Ryan brought 'Casablanca' for us to watch."
"Really?" Lydia grinned, "That's a great movie."
"Yeah, it's a favourite at my house. Lil mentioned you guys were watching old movies." Ryan told them.
"And we've yet to make it out of the Audrey Hepburn phase." Jess smirked at his wife, as sat down in the armchair.
"Audrey is not a phase." Lydia said, as she sat on Jess' lap, leaving the couch for the teenagers, one sitting at either end, "Audrey is for life."
"My mistake. Didn't you cry at this movie?"
"Jess!" Lydia chastised him, swatting his arm. "Lily hasn't seen it. You're gonna ruin it for her."
"Lyds, you cry at everything. This has ruined nothing." Lily laughed as she put the DVD into the player and then returning to the couch, and sitting Indian style.
"Okay, everyone ready?" Lydia asked, holding the remote. When she got a mumbled consensus, she pressed play, and setting the remote down, she put her head on Jess' shoulder, and settled back to watch Rick and Ilsa, occasionally throwing glances to Ryan and Lily, grinning to herself.
"Hey Lyds." Rory smiled as she answered the phone.
"Evening. How are you?"
"Fine, just doing some reading." Rory put her book down.
"Business or pleasure reading?"
"Pleasure. Slaughterhouse Five." Rory smiled.
"Oh yeah, that's a great book. Or so says Ren McCormack in 'Footloose'."
"You've never read it?"
"Nope. I'm not a big reader. I mean, I can read, and I do read. I just don't read like you or Jess. Or Lil, for that matter."
"That's okay. But I'm guessing you didn't call me to discuss you're reading habits."
"No." Lydia smiled into the phone. "I was thinking about how you told me you had to work on Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah," Rory nodded, "I have to, to get the time off for Mom and Luke's wedding."
"Right, well you see, here at the Mariano household we have a late Thanksgiving dinner, because my brother Jamie drives in from New Haven. And I was wondering if you wanted to join us?"
"For dinner?"
"Yeah, it breaks my heart to think of you alone in DC with a turkey sandwich. Please come."
"What time do you eat?"
"Eight." Lydia smiled, "Does this mean you're coming?"
"Sure." Rory sighed. "Just to please my mom, she was on the phone thirty minutes ago trying to convince to blow off work, because you can't be alone on a holiday."
"Well, great. Thank God for Lorelai. And I gotta go, Lily's having a hair crisis. I'll see you Thursday."
"Yeah. See you then." Rory snapped her phone closed and smiled, picking her book back up and taking a sip of her glass of wine.
"Rory! You're here early!" Lydia let her into the apartment at five thirty.
"They gave us a full lid early, so I thought I'd come and see if I could help out."
"There's nothing to do. I'm not even allowed near the kitchen. Watch." Lydia walked to the kitchen and pushed the door open.
"Out!" Mathew said.
"I'm not even in. And you can't burn food just by standing near it."
"If anyone can it's you." Mathew told her, pointing a turkey baster at her. "Oh hey Rory. Can you take her away please."
"Sure." Rory smiled, and grabbed Lydia arms dragging her to the living room.
"Wanna watch 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'?" Lydia asked.
"Oh my God, I haven't seen that in years."
"Well, I've watched it twice already."
"Third time lucky?" Rory smiled.
"Definitely."
There was a knock at the door just as Sally Brown was asking Charlie if he was expecting a turkey card, and Lily wandered from her room, "I'll get it." She told the two watching the special.
She pulled open the door and was greeted by a tall blonde man.
"You must be Lily." He smiled, but got reaction from Lily further than a far away stare.
Lydia turned at the sound of the voice. "Jamie! You made it!" She ran to hug her brother. "This is Lily."
"We've met." Jamie laughed as he closed the door.
"Lil, this is my brother Jamie."
"Hi." Lily whispered breathlessly.
"Okay," Lydia tried to hide a laugh, "That's Rory." She told her brother.
"Hi." he waved at Rory, "Can we do proper introductions in a minute. Let me dump my stuff and use the bathroom."
"Sure, go ahead." Lydia smiled as Jamie walked to the bathroom.
"That's your brother?" Lily stared after him. "He's gorgeous."
"I'll let Ryan know you think so." Lydia grinned, causing Lily's eyes to snap back into focus.
"You were watching Charlie Brown?" She asked sitting down beside Rory.
"How are things with Ryan?" Rory asked the younger girl.
"Fine. I really like him."
"That's so cute." Rory cooed, making Lily roll her eyes, trying to bite back a smile.
"Here's to family and friends, old and new! Happy Thanksgiving!" Lydia raised her glass of wine.
"Happy Thanksgiving!" The table chorused back at her.
"Mathew, Jess, this looks incredible. You have outdone yourselves." Lydia smiled as cut into her turkey.
"Yeah, its looks delicious. And I'm an expert on Thanksgiving food." Rory poured cranberry sauce on her turkey.
"Yeah, isn't your record four dinners in one day?" Jess asked.
"Three and a half. We skipped rolls when we didn't have to."
"Didn't Luke provide rolls for the walk home?"
"Yeah," Rory smiled at the memory. "They were good rolls."
"Four Thanksgiving dinners?" Mathew looked at the brunette beside him.
"Yeah. It was quite an accomplishment for me and my mom." Rory smiled at him.
"I bet." He smiled back.
At either ends of the table, Lydia and Jess were watching the exchange with interest. True Mathew proclaimed they were 'just friends' but the married couple could tell there was more there.
"Rory, can you pass the salt?" Lydia asked.
"Uh sure. Here." Rory handed her the salt shaker across the table, her cheeks a pale pink, and a small smile playing on her lips.
Mathew had the same smile on his, that he tried to cover up by taking a drink of his wine.
"Are you too warm, Rory? You look a little flushed." Lydia quirked one eyebrow at her friend.
"What? No, I'm fine." Rory smiled, and focused on her food, Lydia and Jess throwing small smiles at each other.
This wrote itself. Lydia and Rory are so easy to write. I love them together! The next chapter might take a bit longer. I have a few 3000 word essays due in for uni, so they take priority at the minute. But I will have it up ASAP. I promise.
Please review. :)