I know it's been about a million years since I updated, but work's been crazy. I haven't been motivating myself to write when I get home. Hopefully that changes soon!

Thank you for all the reviews. They really mean so much. You guys rule!

I own Lydia. I wish I could lay claim to the rest, but alas, I cannot. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :)

Chapter Eighteen - In The Sun

"I love Saturdays." Rory sighed happily, stretching her legs over Mathew's. "We should do something fun today."

"I thought we just did." Mathew smirked, his hand on her knee.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Something that involves leaving the bedroom."

"Nothing that involves leaving the bedroom can be fun."

"Mathew, please. Remember when you were a kid, and just being outside was fun? I want that today. What did you do?"

He nuzzled against her shoulder. "As a kid?"

"Yeah."

"I went surfing."

Rory frowned. "We can't do that."

"What did you do?"

"Hung out with Lane. Read a book. Avoided tap lessons."

"Tap lessons?" Mathew chuckled.

"And ballet, baton twirling, cheer-leading and whatever else Miss Patti decided to teach."

"Sound eventful."

"Stars Hollow was an eventful town. No just hanging out for me." Rory smiled, kissing his cheek.

"I have an idea. You get a shower and I'll make breakfast." Mathew patted her knee and then stood up.

"Mathew?" Rory called out. "What are you making?"

"You said you wanted waffles earlier."

"I know." She nodded. "But..."

"Pancakes?"

"Perfect." She stood up and hugged him. "Thanks baby." She smiled, kissing him.

"Crazy lady." He mumbled against her lips.

"You love it."

"Yeah." He nodded, pecking her on the mouth. "Now, go shower."

"Sure." Rory disentangled herself from him and walked towards the door. She stopped at the threshold and looked at him over her shoulder. "How about you come with me and we make brunch together?"

Mathew raised one eyebrow. "Brunch?"

"Brunch." Rory confirmed with a smile and a nod of the head, before walking out of the room, with Mathew following closely behind.

"So, what are we doing that required me in a pair of ancient Chuck Taylors?" Rory asked, grinning up at Mathew as they walked hand in hand through a small park.

"We're taking a walk."

"But what is this place?"

"It's Clarawood Millennium Park. It's quieter than the bigger parks in the city. LOVE Park or Fairmount are always really busy and besides this place has the best..." He trailed off gesturing to his left with his head.

Rory took a half step ahead of him and glanced over. "Playground!" She yelled, throwing her arms around him. "This is perfect!" She laughed, stepping away from him and heading towards the empty playground. "Come on!" She called over her shoulder. "I want you to push me on the swing!"

When Mathew joined her, he stood behind her and pushed the swing she was on. "How'd you find this place?"

"Lydia and Simon did. Right after they first met. Think they just stumbled upon it." He replied, sitting on the swing beside her.

"It's so pretty." She smiled, looking over at the flowers to her right. "And perfect. This is exactly what I wanted to do. Thank you."

"Welcome." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Now, wanna see who can go higher?"

"Oh, you're on Mitchell!" She laughed, pushing herself off the ground.

"Rory." Lydia smiled as she opened her front door. "What are you doing here?"

"Mathew had an emergency meeting with a poet about...an emergency. I wasn't paying attention." Rory smiled as she followed Lydia into the living room. "I had him drop me here. That's okay?"

"Sure. I'm just watching TV."

"What you watching?" Rory glanced at the screen, paused on a woman in grey, as she sat on the opposite end of the couch from Lydia.

"See, there's the thing." Lydia bit down on her lip. "I can't tell you. Not until I've told you something. Else. Told you something else."

"Go on."

"I think I may have joined the vampires-are-hot brigade."

"Oh, god. I've lost you to 'Twilight'?"

"What? No!" Lydia shook her head. "You know how much R-Patz freaks me out. I wanna slap K-Stew. And the books were so bad that I don't think you could pay me to watch the movies."

"You've read the books?"

"Yes." Lydia admitted. "Blame it on morbid curiosity. A kid in one of my classes asked if he dazzled me. I didn't get the reference, but someone kindly explained it. I felt I had to read it in order to better communicate with my students."

"Uh huh." Rory smirked.

"And it was terrible. It read like a twelve year old's journal. 'Oh Edward's so good looking'. And apparently his handsome face made their abusive relationship okay. And, also, since when do vampires sparkle?"

"Okay. So not 'Twilight' we're watching." Rory grinned.

"No." Lydia smiled. "Not 'Twilight'. 'Being Human'. Found it on BBC."

"Okay."

Lydia unpaused the TV and the picture changed, now showing a man with dark hair in black leather jacket. "That's the vampire." She pointed with the remote.

"Wow." Rory blinked.

"I know. Mitchell, he's Irish and beautiful."

"With you there. God, we're like a couple of teenagers." Rory laughed.

"Well, we did just go to prom." Lydia winked as Lily came into the living room.

"Oh, hey Rory."

"Hey, Lil!" Rory smiled as Lily as on the chair closest to Lydia's.

"Lyds, any ideas on baby names for Peanut yet?"

"Oooh!" Rory grinned. "Yeah, any thoughts?"

"Well if Peanut's a boy the name's sorted." Lydia shrugged.

"Really? Tell us!" Lily asked.

"No." Lydia shook her head. "I picked the name years ago and I'm not telling anyone. Not even Jess knows."

"Seriously?" Rory questioned. "He's okay with that?"

"Yeah. I mean, now he is. And we still get to come up with a girl name together."

"So this will be some help?" Lily asked, pulling a book of baby names out of her pocket.

"Where'd you get that?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "Bookstore." She flipped the book open to a random page. "How about baby girl Ida Mariano?"

"I'm sorry? I'm giving birth to a ninety year old."

"Fine. How about Echo? Verity? Zelda?"

Lydia reach forward and swiped the book from Lily. "Did you go through this and pick out all the names that would drive me crazy?"

"Maybe." Lily grinned. "But I have got some I like. Katy? Or Charlotte? And I really like Grace."

"Grace is okay. I just, God, I just don't like many names." She open the book and glanced down at the page. "I mean, Bella, Bennie, Bernadette, Bernice, Bertha, Beyonce! All horrible."

"So, no 'B' names." Rory laughed, taking the book. "Amy, or Sophie?"

"Gaga." Lily suggested breaking out into a loud laugh.

"Or Buffy." Rory grinned.

"Nothing vampire related." Lydia frowned.

"Okay. What do you like?"

"Classic names. Emily, but that's your grandma, so it's out. Or I thought about naming her after my mom, but her name is Jess' mom's name and I'm not sure how Jess would feel about that. I guess I just have to talk to him about it. It's his Peanut too."

The front door opened and closed and Jess called out. "Lyds? I got that tomato juice you wanted." He came into the living room and smiled. "And the chocolate." He handed her a Hersey's bar. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Girls names for Peanut." Rory held up the book.

"No need to worry." Jess smirked, kissing Lydia on the crown of her head.

"Why?" Lydia frowned, breaking a piece of the chocolate. "We can't call her Peanut."

"No, I mean, I have a name if Peanut's a girl."

"Oh, what?" Lydia grinned.

"Not telling."

"What do you mean 'not telling'?" Lydia sat up.

"I mean, that you keep the boy name a secret and I'll keep the girl name one too." He smirked.

"That's not fair!"

"It's fairer than fair." Jess replied.

"But..."

"No buts Murphy. Rory, you staying for dinner?"

"Ah, no." Rory glanced down at her cell. "Mathew's done with the poet. He's gonna pick me up."

"I'll do it. I've to leave a manuscript into the printers and pick up dinner. Anything in mind?"

"Japanese." Lydia replied.

"Oh yeah. That sounds good." Lily nodded.

"Usual order?"

"Yes." the two answered at once.

"Back soon. Ready Ror?"

"Yip." Rory stood up and shouldered her bag. "See you guys later."

"Bye Rory." Lydia smiled and Lily waved after her.

"Lyds? Can I ask you something?" Lily got up from her seat and moved to sit beside Lydia on the couch, her legs tucked under her. "About Sam."

"Oh God." Lydia breathed out, giving Lily a small smile.

"What?"

Lydia shook her head. "Nothing, just, go on."

"Okay. Well you know he plays soccer for school. Well he also plays for this league outside of school and they won the state championship."

"Wow. Okay. Impressive."

"Yeah." Lily nodded. "And they're having this dinner thing to present awards and things. Sam got player of the season, and he invited me to go with him."

"Okay, but I'm confused. What questioning am I answering?"

"Should I go?" Lily cried out.

"Why shouldn't you go?"

"It's a dance." Lily threw her arms out to emphasis her point.

"So?"

"I can't dance."

Lydia laughed, shaking her head. "You don't have to dance."

"I don't?"

"No. I mean, you can dance if you want to." Lydia smiled. "You can leave your friends behind."

Lily frowned in confusion. "What?"

"'Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance, well they're no friends of mine." Lydia sang to the younger girl, causing Lily to roll her eyes.

"You done with the safety dance?"

"Yes." Lydia grinned. "And you know, at these thing, they're not expecting you to tango or samba or anything. Maybe a paso doble."

"You just like saying paso doble." Lily smiled.

"I know. The dancing at this thing will be you standing in the middle of a floor, your arms around a cute boy you really like, swaying."

"Swaying?"

"Swaying." Lydia confirmed. "It'll be fun, I promise. Just stick to slow songs."

"Okay. I don't have anything to wear."

"Shopping." Lydia grinned. "We'll find something fabulous."

"Thanks." Lily smiled. "Lyds, why'd you freak out before?"

"Freak out?"

"Yeah. When I mentioned Sam, your face contorted. You panicked."

"Did not." Lydia shook her head but was met with Lily's unwavering stare and raised eyebrow. "Fine. I thought that you were gonna ask about sex."

"Oh." Lily nodded slowly. "Well since you brought it up..."

"Oh, so you do want to talk about-"

"Well, I know the basics." Lily interrupted. "And I know that I'm still not ready, but how do you when you are. Ready, I mean."

"I think the fact that you know that you're not ready, and that you're not afraid to say so is gonna be a big help for when you are ready, but I can't tell you when that'll be. It's a personal thing."

"Well, how did, I mean, with you..." Lily sighed, unable to form her sentence.

"I just knew." Lydia shrugged, reaching forward and taking Lily's hand in her own.

"How old?" Lily asked, her eyes on their joined hands.

"Fifteen."

"But, if you were fifteen then-"

Lydia stopped Lily."But I was with Seth for years, and we loved each other. Don't worry, you'll know when it's right for you."

"What if I'm never ready?"

Lydia laughed and squeezed Lily's hand. "Trust me, it'll happen. But can I ask you one thing. When you are ready, can you let me know?"

"Sure."

"Thank you. And when you do, you know, do it, make sure you're safe. And happy. That's all I want, you safe and happy."

"Promise. Thanks Lyds."

"No problem kiddo. And hey, I guess as part of my parental duty type thing, I have to make sure you know what sex can lead to."

"That?" Lily grinned, pointing to Lydia's bump. "You want some tea?" she asked, standing up.

"No, but can you get me a glass of tomato juice?"

"Gross!" Lily made a face.

"I know, but Peanut wants what Peanut wants."

Lily walked to Lydia and put her arms around her neck in an awkward hug. "Thanks again. I'll be right back." She smiled, before turning to go into the kitchen.

Jess walked into his room to find Lydia sitting up on the bed, rubbing her bump. "Peanut, baby, you liked Japanese food last week. What's with the somersaults?"

"Giving you a hard time?" Jess asked, taking off his watch and placing it on top of the dresser.

"Yeah," She sighed, "but, I think it might because there's a girl name picked and Peanut doesn't know what it is."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Lydia nodded her head.

"Well, in that case." Jess smirked and made his way over to Lydia. Bending his head, he pressed a kiss to her bump and whispered to it. "Peanut knows." He smiled up at Lydia.

"Doesn't work like that. Peanut can't understand you. I need to hear and then via a psychic mom type link, I let Peanut know what's going on. You have to tell me the name."

"Nice try." Jess smirked, placing a small kiss on Lydia's lips, pulling away to find her pouting.

"Come on." She pleaded.

"Nope." He laughed, kissing her cheek. "See you at the birth."

"Fine." Lydia relented, sighing. "Hey, I had talk with Lil today."

"About shoes?" Jess laughed.

Lydis shook her head. "No. Sex."

"What?"

"Yeah, I mean not a bird and the bees how to guide. She just wanted to know how you knew you were ready."

"Ready?" Jess blinked.

"Yeah. I told her I couldn't help."

"Good." Jess nodded.

"Good?" Lydia sat up and wrinkled her brow in confusion.

"Yeah." Jess rubbed his temple. "That you didn't say anything to her."

"Well, I told her I couldn't really help because it's a personal thing. It's different for everyone."

"What?" Jess ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "You shouldn' t have said anything!"

"What are you talking about?" Lydia shook her head. "She asked me, what was I supposed to do? Ignore her because it's uncomfortable? That's not how it works."

"She ask you anything else?"

"Yeah. How old I was."

"And you told her?" Jess stared down at his wife.

"Well, yeah. What's the big deal?" Lydia shrugged.

"The big deal is that you shouldn't be talking to her at all!" Jess yelled.

"What?" Lydia yelled back. "She came to me!"

"And she's my kid sister!"

"And what the hell am I? The crazy pregnant girl who happens to live with you? She's my sister too Jess!" Lydia pushed herself off the bed and placed her hands on her hips. "If she asks me something, I gonna damn well answer her!"

"It wasn't your place!"

"Wasn't my place?" Lydia picked up a pillow and threw it at Jess. "I don't get you? I just told her what anyone would have told her. She'll be ready when she's ready and that when it does happen to be safe."

"Safe?"

"Yeah?" Lydia sighed as Jess turned away. "I warned her sex leads to Peanuts!"

"Don't get cute." Jess warned her, half turning back, pointing his index finger at her.

"I wasn't being cute. And I didn't realise you were all for unprotected sex these days!"

"I'm not! But you just gave my sixteen year old sister the green light to have sex!"

"No I didn't!" Lydia told him through gritted teeth. "She said she wasn't ready still. I believe her. And it's not like I tossed her a condom and told her to have fun!"

"You might as well have!" Jess scoffed as his grabbed his jacket.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?"

"I can't be here." Jess pocketed his wallet and left the bedroom.

"Jess!" Lydia yelled after him, walking to the bedroom door, just as she heard the front door slam closed.

"Lydia?" Lily appeared at her side. "What happened?"

"We had a fight." Lydia wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, retreating back into the bedroom, lifting the thrown pillow as she went.

"I heard." Lily followed her in. "About me?"

Lydia looked back at the teenager and nodded once. "Yeah. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything to him."

"Don't be. I expected you to tell him. I didn't think he'd freak out though."

"Me either." Lydia sighed. "I mean, I knew it wouldn't make him happy exactly, but I didn't think me talking to you would be a big deal. Or any deal."

"What d'you mean? You talking to me?"

"Jess went off because you're his sister and I shouldn't be talking to you about this stuff."

"But, I'm your sister too. That's crazy. He can't do that. I'll be back." She turned on her heel and left Lydia's room.

"Lily, where are you going?"

"After Jess." Lily called as she bounded down the stairs, picking up her car keys when she reached the bottom. "Bye!"

Lily drove to Truncheon but as she passed she saw that Jess' car wasn't parked outside, so she drove past, taking her right to head to Empire. As she pulled into the staff parking she took in the sight of Jess' car and slamming her door closed, she quickly made her way to the front door.

"Little L!"

"Hey, Paul." Lily smiled. "Jess in there?"

"Yeah." He smiled, pulling the door open for her, letting her in past the que.

"Hey, what gives? She about fifteen!" A guy in line yelled out.

"Boss' sister." Paul shrugged. "He's in the office."

"Thanks." Lily walked past him, and headed to the office, waving at Dan the bartender as she passed him.

She knocked on the door and then opened it without waiting for a reply.

"I said I was busy." Jess growled from his spot at the open window, his back to her and his hand holding a cigarette out the window.

"Too busy for me to kick your ass?" Lily replied, slamming the office door closed behind her.

"Lil?" Jess dropped his cigarette before turning to face her. "What are you doing here?"

"To tell you that you're an idiot." Lily told him as she crossed the room, hitting on the shoulder when she reached him. "And to get your butt back home and apologise. You can't tell Lydia that she can't talk to me. I wanted to talk to her, Jess. And, for the record, I'm supposed to talk to my mom about this stuff, but I can't. Lydia's the closest thing I have."

"Lil, I know, but-"

"No buts!" Lily interrupted, grunting in frustration. "Fine! If this is the way you want it, what age were you when you lost your virginity? When were you ready?"

"What?" Jess looked up and then quickly glanced away from his sister, his cheeks turning red.

"Come on, Jess. This is what you wanted. And just so you know, Lyds answered this right away. Without turning that fabulous shade of red."

"Lily."

"No. Answer the question. How did you know you were ready?" She asked, her hands placed on her hips and her foot tapping the floor. She let out a sigh when Jess failed to answer. "See why I went to Lydia?"

"Yeah." Jess nodded.

"And, for the record, it's my thing. I get to talk to whoever I want."

"Okay."

"Good. Now get home and start grovelling."

"You think I need to grovel?" Jess asked walking towards Lily.

"And then some, dumb-ass!" Lily replied, hitting him upside the head.

"I'm sorry." Jess whispered, lying down on the bed beside Lydia. "I'm an idiot. And a jackass. And whatever else you've called me since I left."

"I'd say them out loud but I wouldn't want Peanut to hear."

"What about the psychic mom link?" Jess joked, but his smile fell as Lydia turned to face him. "I'm sorry." He repeated.

"What happened?" Lydia asked. "What's wrong with me talking to her?"

Jess shook his head. "It wasn't that."

"Seemed like it." Lydia pushed herself into a sitting position and Jess followed suit.

"I freaked out that she's old enough to have sex. And because I can't freak out about that, I kinda clobbered you."

"You freaked out because she's old enough to have sex?"

"Sort of. I mean, sometimes I still think of her as that eight year old I met, reading 'Alice in Wonderland' in a cupboard."

"Jess..." Lydia squeezed his hand.

"It's stupid, I know that. What's why I yelled. I'm really sorry."

"You said that."

"And I'm really glad you're here to talk to her."

Lydia grinned. "She asked you, huh?"

"Yeah." Jess half laughed, shaking his head. "When it happened, if I was ready."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." He shrugged. "I went a deep shade of red. Man, when do I ever get embarrassed talking about sex?"

"Never." Lydia laughed. "Not with me anyway. But she's your kid sister. I think some level of embarrassment is required."

"I don't know what I'm gonna do when this one arrives?" He sighed, placing his hand on Lydia's bump.

"Well, we have year before any embarrassing sex talk is needed for Peanut. And I'll field it, and having learned from this evening, tell you nothing. No freak out required."

"Not the sex talk. The growing up part. You can only protect them for so long."

"We'll do it together. First word, first steps, first cuts, first friends, first crush, first broken heart, first love, first time. All of it. Me and you. Freaking out together. Deal?"

"Deal." Jess smiled, leaning in to her kiss her.

"You guys friends again?" Lily called from the other side of the door.

"Come in." Lydia called out.

Lily pushed open the door and gave them a small smile. "Well?"

"Friends." Lydia smiled. "He apologised."

"Good."

"Oh, Luke called when you were gone."

"Everything okay?" Jess asked.

"Everything's fine. He wanted to know if Lily wanted to spend the week in Stars Hollow. April's gonna be in town. She requested he ask."

"Sure. When?"

"Monday."

"Do I get to drive?"

"Nope." Jess shook his head.

"There's a train to New Haven. Luke said he's pick you up from there."

"Okay." Lily nodded. "I'm gonna head to bed. See you in the morning."

"Good night Lil." Lydia smiled.

"Yeah, night." Jess told her, before she closed the door. "So, a Lily-free week?"

"Yeah. I was gonna get Simon to paint the nursery this week anyway. And we're going to pick Lily up from Stars Hollow on Saturday."

"But Saturday's-"

"I know." Lydia interrupted. "But your mom came on the phone. She wants you to be there. Doula has a present for you."

"Lydia..."

"I know you hate birthdays. I know it's because growing up they sucked. But she's making an effort. Plus she's the only legit grandparent Peanut has. I'm not losing that. We're going."

"Fine." Jess sighed.

"Thank you. I promise it'll be fun."

"Okay. I'm going to take a shower."

"Sure." Lydia smiled, lying back down.

"Hey, Lyds?" Jess called from the door. "I-"

"Find me agravating. I know." Lydia nodded. "I love you too. Go shower." She waved him away before picking up her cell phone and selecting Rory's number.

'Change of plans. J's birthday dinner now in Dragonfly Inn, SH. Explain all tomorrow. - L x'

She hit send and tossing her phone onto the bedside cabinet, she rolled over and fell into an easy sleep.

I found the fight really hard to write. I'm not a fighter (unless a customer at work had really got my goat up!) and I try to avoid confrontation. Let me know what you think - review? Go on. :)