Life: 2.0

Epilogue

Author: knowhere

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Nothing.

AN: I didn't think I would write an epilogue to the story but these scenes kept on playing in my head. As a 'thank you' to those who have constantly reviewed, I'm offering a deleted scene from Chapter 11 to everyone who reviews this epilogue.

Summary: Literati. Life doesn't always turn out like you expect. Jess and Rory meet as adults when their lives are at a transition period. Life, love, and everything else: Version 2.0. AU.

Three years later...

"Gabriel James Mariano."

Jess stood up to clap and whistle and heard the mumbled comments behind him. He didn't give a shit if he wasn't supposed to cheer until all the names had been called because his younger brother just graduated high school and he wasn't going to let anything get in the way of letting Gabe know that he was proud of him. Jess saw out of the corner of his eye that Bram had stood up too and was waving his arms in a wide sweep to let Gabe know where they were sitting. When more people complained about not being able to see around them, Jess just pretended he didn't hear anything.

It had been a long journey since they moved to their new house and Gabe started high school but it felt like the time had just rushed by in a blink of an eye. Jess couldn't believe that his brother was now a high school graduate and would soon leave in the fall to go to school in California. They had discussed various school choices, and while Gabe had been reluctant to leave home and go so far away, Jess knew that deep down, Gabe had really wanted to go back to their home state. Jess understood that Gabe was just a little scared to be on his own for the first time, but he also had every confidence in his younger brother that everything would be just fine.

Jess zoomed in as far as he could on the video camera and captured the principal shaking Gabe's hand and giving him his diploma. He watched as Gabe smiled and then moved his tassel to the other side of his hat and Jess had never been so proud. They were closer than brothers though their relationship wasn't quite like that of a father and son. They had the best of both worlds. They joked, shared, and ribbed each other like brothers, but Jess had many times over the last few years stepped in as the role of the parent to help guide Gabe to become the man that was emerging today. Jess genuinely smiled at the thought that he had actually been able to successfully take care of, and raise, Gabe through his turbulent teenage years.

Well, he hadn't exactly done it on his own…

"Hey, look, there's Rory," Bram pointed her out in the crowd below where all the teachers sat adjacent to the graduates.

Jess zoomed in on her familiar face. It was a comforting sight for him to behold. "How can you miss her? She's as big as a house."

Bram chuckled but elbowed Jess in a show of support for his best friend. "Don't let her hear you say that or she'll kill you. She just told me last night how she hadn't seen her feet for a while now."

Jess smirked. "She wore mismatched sneakers out to the mall the other day when we went shopping for cribs."

"You didn't tell her?"

"Why would I?" Jess asked. "It was cute as hell."

Jess and Rory had gotten married shortly after Gabe had turned sixteen, which in Jess's opinion, was great timing because the distraction of being a newlywed, and all the time that he spent coaxing Rory into the bedroom, prevented Jess from freaking out every time Gabe took the car out on his own. Jess didn't think that being married would change much in his life since Rory had already been living with them and thoroughly engrained in their lives but he was wrong. There was something incredibly primal and satisfying for Jess to know that Rory now belonged to him, heart and soul, and he to her. He was still reminded of it at odd hours and moments when Rory would turn to smile at him when she brushed her teeth, or when they would spend a quite Sunday morning in bed reading the newspaper, or even when they just sat out in the backyard barbequing lunch. Jess was happy being a husband, something he didn't think would ever happen for him, but here he was, in love, married, and expecting a little girl by the end of the summer. Jess saw Rory swivel her head, her eyes searching the crowd. Though he knew she probably wouldn't see him, he waved and thought about how she changed his life.

Rory scanned the crowds for Jess, remaining at the goalpost where they previously agreed that everyone would meet after the ceremony.

"Bye Mrs. Mariano!"

Rory hugged one of her previous students. "Mari, congratulations! Where are you planning on going to college?"

"Columbia," the pretty brunette replied.

"Wow. Good luck with everything."

"Thanks. I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your class."

Rory smiled. She loved this part of the year where she could see how her students have grown up. "It was a joy having you in class."

"Oh, there are my parents." Mari started to back away but then gave Rory a quick hug. "Thanks for everything!"

Rory watched her disappear into the crowd and marveled at how just a few years ago, Mari had been the quiet girl that sat in the second row of the class. Time sure did pass by quickly. She felt a flutter in her belly and smiled as she rubbed the briefly protruding part, assuming that it was a foot. "Hiya baby," she spoke quietly while she patted her tummy.

"Is she pretending to be Mia Hamm again?"

Rory turned and grinned at Jess. "Already making trouble in the womb."

"That's my girl." He embraced her as best as he could with her belly in the way, kissing her softly. "Seen Gabe yet?"

"Nope. He's probably off talking to his friends." Rory peeked over Jess's shoulder. "Where's Bram?"

"He had an emergency call from work and had to rush back. He told me to say sorry to you and Gabe and to give you this," he kissed her cheek.

"There he is!" Rory started jumping up and down.

"Whoa, stop scrambling her brains." Jess settled his hands on her belly.

Rory just ignored his tendency to be overprotective. Jess had always been protective and possessive in a way that just made her feel delicious instead of burdened. During the course of her pregnancy, he would often hover over her in case anything was wrong. The other day, he was close to carrying her to the bedroom just because she had fallen asleep in the car and he was afraid that she would accidentally trip and hurt herself walking up the stairs.

"Congratulations!" Rory eagerly hugged Gabe, stretching up on her toes. Gabe had recently gone through another growth spurt and now stood at six feet.

"Thanks." He smiled widely.

"You did it, kid." Jess brought Gabe into his arms for a manly hug, complete with lots of back thumping.

"I know. I can't believe it."

Jess smiled. "Mom and Dad would've been really proud."

Gabe nodded. "Yeah," he said softly.

"We are too."

"Thanks, Jess." Gabe grinned boyishly, his face taking the more mature shape of the man he would soon become. "For everything." The brothers looked at each other, saying in silence everything that couldn't be voiced in words.

Thank you for being there for me. For changing your life around to raise me.

Thank you for coming in my life. For showing me love. For giving me the chance to meet my wife.

"Oh…"

Jess looked down to see Rory in tears. "Baby."

"Oh, I'm okay. I'm okay." She patted his arm and then laced their fingers together. "Just seeing the two of you together…"

Gabe smiled in understanding. Rory had been really emotional for the last month, crying at the drop of a hat at everything from not having enough cheese to make a sandwich to the Snuggle Bear on the commercials.

Rory smiled. "These are happy tears."

Gabe drew her into his arms for a hug. He whispered in her ear. "Thank you. We wouldn't have made it without you being in the family."

She cried some more until Jess drew her out of Gabe's arms and into his embrace. "Shh," he comforted her. He kissed the top of her head. "You're going to make Gabe cry too."

Jess grinned over her head to an equally smiling and emotional Gabe. To the three of them, this wasn't just the accomplishment of graduating high school. Today marked something much greater. They survived together. For Jess and Gabe, it marked an important period in their lives. Gabe was going to move out and start his own life and for Jess, it meant that he would have to adjust once again. In the beginning, when his parents had just died, he had felt that having to take care of Gabe was a burden. But later, he had grown accustomed to the responsibilities, and later, he learned to really enjoy and be grateful for the time he had with his brother. Now, he was going to start over again, this time with his own family.

"Hey Gabe!"

Gabe turned and saw his friend waving and pointing in the direction of the parking lot. "I guess it's time to get ready for grad night."

Jess cleared his throat. "Right. Well, have fun and be careful. We'll see you tomorrow."

Gabe gave them both one last hug and went off with a smile.

Rory leaned into Jess. "It's like watching our own son leaving us for college."

Jess grinned. "Just think, we get to do this all over again in eighteen years."

"Oh man." Rory sighed. "You'll probably be holding onto her for dear life, not wanting to let her go."

Jess chuckled. "With my shotgun at my side to scare away all her potential boyfriends." He couldn't help it; he kissed her deeply but briefly. "If she even resembles you at all, she's going to be too gorgeous for her own good."

"Flatterer. I know I'm huge right now."

"But still so fucking sexy," Jess whispered in her ear.

She looked around and saw that most of the graduates had started to disperse, most heading towards the buses to be loaded up for grad night. "Let's go home."

Jess smirked. "Hm, good idea. Our first night with the kid out of the house. We better take advantage. We're not going to have that again for a while."

Rory giggled. "Eighteen years."

"Oh god. Eighteen years of sneaking around and having sex under the covers behind locked doors? Waiting around for her to get old enough to have slumber parties so we get a night to ourselves? We're going to have to get really good at managing quickies."

"Well, we have a few more months before she gets here…"

He looped his arm around her thickened waistline, drew her close, and just felt content. It was funny how life takes you on a merry ride. Jess smiled down at the woman that showed him love, trust, and companionship and realized that since she was stuck with him for life and going on the ride with him, he figured he never wanted it to stop.

Three more years later…

"Jess! Rory!"

Jess swung around, catching the figure of his brother weaving through the crowds. "Gabe."

"Hey guys!" Gabe opened his arms and hugged Jess, careful of the small bundle tucked into Jess's shoulder, perched on his hip. "Heya gorgeous. Remember me? Uncle Gabe."

Jess chuckled. "She fell asleep on the plane so she's a little groggy." He jiggled his baby girl seeing her big hazel eyes open with recognition. To everyone's surprise, the next generation of the Gilmore clan hadn't inherited the famous blue eyes. Instead, she took after her uncle, with big hazel eyes that could charm just about everyone. "Come on, darling, say hi to Gabe."

Emma smiled. "Hi," she said shyly.

"Want me to carry you and give your daddy a break?"

Emma paused. "Daddy?"

Jess smiled. "Sure. I have to help Mommy get our luggage anyways." He pressed a kiss to her silky soft temple and breathed in the baby innocent scent that made him proud to be a father. He handed her off to Gabe. "Be good."

Emma went willingly into Gabe's arms. "Emma like coloring books!"

Gabe smiled. "I know. That's why I sent you those princess ones."

She patted his cheeks enthusiastically. "Pretty princess."

"Just like you." Gabe took in Emma's shiny mop of riotous curls. "Very pretty."

Emma's eyes brightened at the compliment. "Gabe pretty too."

Jess chuckled. "Now you're going to be her best friend. She loves hearing compliments, especially when it compares her to a princess." He patted Gabe's shoulder. "I'm gonna go help Rory with the bags."

Jess turned to go help Rory spot their luggage on the revolving carrousel. Rory saw him and smiled at the sight of Gabe carrying their daughter a few feet away. "She actually let go of you?" Whenever Emma was sleepy or coming out of a nap, she always preferred the feel of her father's arms keeping her safe.

He chuckled and pulled her back into his chest, taking the rare chance to sneak in a quick snuggle in public. "Gabe called her pretty."

Rory laughed. "Some can lure kids away with candy, Em can be bought with compliments." Their daughter was a girly girl. She loved to dress up and could sit for an hour straight staring at all the various colors of eye shadow, lipstick, and blush that Rory had. If something was in a color that she deemed to be pretty, Emma wanted it.

"Here we go." Jess reached around Rory to grab one of their bags.

"And there's the other one."

Jess picked them up and saw Emma giving Gabe her sweetest face. "Uh oh. Looks like our daughter is trying to swindle something pretty off of my brother."

Rory laughed. "We better go rescue him."

"I can't believe we're at a restaurant that doesn't have placemats we're supposed to color." Jess's voice was slightly awed as he fingered the tablecloth.

Rory looked on in amusement. "It was nice of Gabe to babysit and give us a night off."

"Yeah, totally worth the price of our tickets to fly out here to California. Plus, I think he's trying to impress his girlfriend. Show her he's mature and good with kids."

"He really likes Chloe, doesn't he?"

Jess leaned forward and whispered, "I'm pretty sure he loves her."

"Really?"

"He has this way of looking at her that reminds me of the way I used to look at you back when we were dating and I suspected that I was falling in love."

Her heart melted just a little bit. "And how did you look at me?"

"Like I couldn't believe I was so lucky. That if I didn't hold you I was afraid you'd disappear. That if I wasn't inside you with my arms around you, I couldn't take my next breath."

"Oh Jess." Even after all that time, he still had the ability to soften her with one look or a whispered phrase.

"I have a surprise for you." Jess shot her a mischievous and naughty grin. "Gabe isn't watching Emma for just tonight. He's not expecting us back until tomorrow."

"And were are we going?" Rory smiled.

"I made reservations at a B&B about an hour away from here." Jess was excited to be able to spend some alone time with Rory. It had been a long time since they had that luxury. A few weeks ago Bram had dropped by to take his goddaughter out for his routine 'spoil Emma to her heart's content' day, but Jess and Rory only had half a day of privacy and not even really to themselves because there were two Westies running around.

Right before Gabe had left for college, Jess and Rory adopted another West Highland terrier to keep Wesley company. Jess had been worried that Wesley would become depressed since he shared such a close relationship with Gabe. So before Gabe had left, they adopted another Westie, Buttercup. That day when Bram had taken Emma for their shopping and bonding time, Buttercup and Wesley had been running around like two little energizer bunnies. Jess and Rory had spent the better half of their so-called private time trying to calm down their dogs.

Jess had planned for months, arranging things with Gabe so that he could get some real alone time with Rory. "I know it's a little early, but I was thinking we could celebrate our anniversary."

"That sounds great."

"Fuck me, baby. Tell me you aren't wearing those little lacy see through panties."

Rory giggled and fused her mouth to Jess's again, pulling his tie from the complicated knot. She felt his devious fingers wiggle up under her soft dress and make their way up to the band of her underwear; the one that she knew drove him crazy. "These are new. Just like the black ones but I bought it in red."

"Damn. You know I love red." He drew her dress off of her body, leaving her in nothing but a strapless bra and the matching panties. "Fuck. Just look at you."

Rory smiled. He made her feel as beautiful as the day they met. She knew that there were some stretch marks though he claimed that they were so faint he needed a microscope to see them clearly. Jess was clearly turned on. She saw that not only evident by the serious erection he was sporting but by the deterioration in his language. The more turned on Jess was, the worse his language got.

"Hurry up and get out of your clothes." Rory tugged at his pants and she traced his arousal through his boxer briefs.

Jess urged her back towards the bed. "Up or down?"

"I wanna be on top."

Jess got naked as fast as he could and plopped down on the bed, reaching for her, feeling her heated skin in his hands. "Come here."

"I'm running this show." Rory pushed him back when he tried to reach for her and bring her down.

"Take off your bra."

Rory smiled. Jess loved sex and usually gave the directions but on the rare occasion, he would briefly let her have the reigns, but never for long before his dominant side came out. "Well, since you asked so nicely." Rory played with the front clasp, running her fingers up her sides. When she finally took off her bra, her nipples were hard, begging for attention. She cupped her own breasts and looked down at her husband with arousal shining in her eyes. "Hmm."

Jess stared at Rory with hooded lids, his hands finding their way to her hips. He loved when she got like this. Confident. Sexy. Naughty. "Are your nipples hard for me baby?" He loved that Rory was finally confident in her body and in her sexuality. She still got bashful once in a while, but overall, she finally accepted that she was a sensual and beautiful woman and that he loved her just like that.

She thumbed her nipples, feeling electrical shocks running through her body. "Yes." She threw her head back.

"You're so wet I can see right through your panties."

"Touch me."

"How?" Jess's hand went to the juncture of her thighs. "Like this?" His fingers fluttered over her body.

She could barely feel it at all. Rory blew out an exasperated breath. "Harder."

"Lift your hips." When she did, he tugged down her panties and then surprised her by urging her body up by cupping his hands on her bottom. Jess's voice deepened to a husky growl. "Wanna taste."

"Oh god!" She gripped the headboard as he delved in, his tongue eager and familiar. But there was nothing familiar about the incredible rush of feelings coursing through her veins.

Jess leaned up, bracing his weight on his elbows and eagerly pleasuring her, feeling her arousal as his own. "Come on baby."

Her thighs trembled at the sensations and she followed his whispered demand, almost collapsing onto his chest. She could barely speak. She vaguely registered Jess sliding out from under her and positioning himself behind, tucking a fluffy pillow below her hips, angling her up. "Jess?"

"Shh, baby. This is going to be so fucking good." He slid to the hilt in one sure stroke and felt the tremors that still raced through her body from her orgasm. "Oh yeah. So good. Perfect baby."

He titled up her body, holding onto her hips, thrusting until he was mindless with pleasure. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." He bracketed her body with his, hovering over her, his hands finding the comforting weight of her breasts. The ones that fit so perfectly it always felt like she was made for him. And every time he was sheathed tightly within her body, he felt like he was made just to love her.

When he came, she followed again. He locked her body into hers, holding her until they both caught their breaths. "Damn. I love you so much."

Rory shifted and Jess let go of her, slipping out. She lounged back on the bed feeling deliciously sore. "Me too."

After he cleaned them up, he snuggled back into bed, pillowing her head on his arm and holding her close. "We should visit Gabe more often if it means sex like this."

Rory laughed. "Has he talked to you about what he's thinking of doing after next year?"

Gabe was one year away from his engineering degree and had mentioned in passing that he was thinking of leaving California. Jess had been surprised but of course, very supportive of the idea. "He's thinking of come back home."

"Really?"

Jess had known that Gabe had been eager to return to California but lately, Gabe had confided in him that he wanted to be near his family. "Maybe. I think it would be nice to have him around again." Jess snuggled closer. "We could get some free babysitting from him. Get more nights like this."

Rory giggled at the predictable feel of Jess's erection against her backside. "Sounds like a great idea."

He rocked his hips against hers. "Uh huh." Jess slid his fingers down the front of her body, finding the wetness of her response. "Again?"

"So soon?" She pretended that she wasn't already burning up for him.

"Please?"

She turned around to face him and kissed him gently. "For you? Anything."

And he felt the same about her. He would do anything for her.

They were happy together. And they were a family.

AN: Thank you for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I have. I thoroughly enjoyed writing Jess in this new parental light and Gabe has been an especially special and interesting original character for me to create and write.

As I mentioned, as a thank you to reviewers, every review will be sent a cute little deleted scene that was taken out of Chapter 11. It involves Jess and Rory, a pizza date, and some giggly high school students.

**I will be sending the scene as a PDF so if you sign in for your reviews, I'll send it via email to the address attached to your profile. If you don't have one or don't want to sign in, just make sure you spell out your email address in the review so that I can send it. (For example: janesmith at email dot com).