Here's a new chapter! I got inspired last night and decided to write it down. Hope you all enjoy! R&R please! Merry Christmas (It is indeed still Christmas at my house...lol...just 45 more minutes....)
Life's Lessons
Chapter 8
Chinese Fights
A week had passed and no one had seen or heard anything from Candace, so they assumed she got the message and stayed away. But there was no such luck. The next day she walked in and screamed for Jess.
Rory, who was sitting in the back reading, recognized that voice and looked at Matt frightened. Matt looked at her and ran to find Jess.
"Jess! Jess where are you! Crazy chick is back!" Matt ran around bumping into Chris.
"Ow! Dude, watch it!" Chris saw the uneasy look in Matt's eyes and looked out to the front. "She's back?"
"Yeah. Find Jess fast! I'll call the police." Matt turned and ran to the phone.
Jess heard some noises from the front and began walking when Chris ran into him.
"Whoa. Calm down. No one stole the bar did they?" Jess joked, but frowned when he saw the concerned look on Chris' face. "What's going on?"
"She's back."
"What?! Where's Rory?" Jess dashed to the front, avoiding Candace's gaze and rushing to Rory. "You ok?" Rory nodded and trembled. A few minutes later a blonde hair man walks in, grabbing her hand and whispering something to her. Rory looked closely and gasped.
"What?" Jess, Chris, and Matt all turned to look at Rory.
"That's Logan." Rory whispered. Jess turned his gaze back to the front and sneered. Rory stood up and hid farther back.
"What did the police say?" Jess nervously asked Matt.
"They should be here soon."
"It doesn't matter. Logan has power, he can weasel his way out of anything." Rory whimpered.
"Shh." Jess tried calming her. "Just stay back here. Everything will be fine. I don't think you should be worried about Logan. It's Candace that worries me."
Rory nodded as tears began streaming down her face. She crossed her arms over her stomach and looked down.
"May I help you?" Jess asked, approaching Candace and Logan.
"Finally. You have crappy service here." Logan said, annoyed.
"Sorry about that. We had a few things to clear up." Matt came up behind Jess and stood next to him.
"Whatever. My girlfriend here says she was treated like crap last week. Can I get an explanation on that?" Logan angrily asked.
"Girlfriend!?" Rory came out from the back. Logan's eyes narrowed and he looked away nervously.
"Hey Ace." Logan fidgeted a bit and looked at her. "You look good. What are you doing here in Philly?"
"I live here. So this is your girlfriend?" Rory coldly replied.
"Yeah. Why did you decide to move here Ace?"
"I married Jess. So your girlfriend there, she's here because she was treated like crap? If anyone was treated like crap, it was me. She had no problem slapping the life out of me." Rory was raging now.
"What are you talking about?" Candace innocently asked.
Rory walked closer to Logan and pointed to her cheek, which was slightly bruised. "See this here. Yeah, this was because of her!" Rory pointed at Candace angrily. Jess walked up behind Rory and wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"Ace. There's no way Candy here could have done that. And why would you marry this low life? You turned me down for him? He's nothing Ace. Nothing!"
"Oh and innocent 'Candy' here is something?!" Rory stormed off, followed closely by Matt. Jess stood there glaring at Logan.
"Out! You're not welcomed here. We told Candace that last week." Jess fumed.
"Do you know who you are messing with? Besides, you have no proof of what she did."
"Yeah we do. Do you think I'm an idiot!?" Jess began pacing as sirens were heard in the background. Chris ran outside to meet the officers.
"You called the police? Cute." Logan sarcastically said.
"Well when they see the proof I have, neither of you will be allowed her again." Jess went to find Rory and Matt. "Matt! Rory!"
Rory was in the corner crying with Matt pacing in front of her. Rory looked up at Jess, afraid. "Jess."
"Ror, things will be ok. Don't worry." Jess sat down next to her and cradled her gently. "Matt go get the security tapes from the back and make sure the police get the one where Candace assaulted Rory."
Rory, who was now whimpering, suddenly stood up. "I can get rid of Logan. If you get the police involved, it could get messy." Rory walked out to Logan as Jess stood up swiftly, following her.
"Ace. You come back to protect Book Boy here?" Logan rolled his eyes.
"Logan. Please, just leave. I don't want things to get messy. For you or us. Just, please?" Rory pleaded.
Logan stared at her for a few minutes and looked at Candace who was steaming. He turned back to Rory and nodded. "Fine Ace. Come on Candy." Logan wrapped his arms around her and headed for the door.
Rory sighed. "Thanks Logan." Rory was trembling and looked extremely pale. Logan smiled slightly and walked out. The police ran into Logan and Candace outside and from the way things looked, Logan got them to leave.
"You saved us all from a big mess there." Chris smirked at Rory. Rory smiled and turned to Jess who was now eyeing her cautiously.
"Ror, you look pale. Are you alright? Maybe you should sit." Jess held her up and Rory closed her eyes.
"I don't feel too well Jess." Rory quietly said. Jess picked her up and carried her to the car.
"I'm taking the rest of the day off ok?" Jess informed rather than asked. Chris and Matt looked at Jess worriedly and nodded. "Rory, how are you feeling now?"
"Mmm…I-I, ugh, I need to throw up!" Rory shrieked and jumped out of Jess' grasp and ran to the nearest trash can. Jess followed her and held her hair back for her. Rory frowned and turned to Jess.
"Let's get you back to the apartment. You should rest. Don't overdue anything and you're stressing. It's not good for you or the baby." Jess was concerned now, he carried her to the car and they drove back to their apartment.
"Why does all of this always happen to me?" Rory questioned quietly. Jess set her down on the couch and looked at her.
"Rory…" Jess sighed.
"No. Why does pregnancy have to be so difficult with me?" Rory began breathing heavily as tears formed in her eyes.
"I don't know." Jess was beat. He didn't know what to tell her. "Just take it easy ok?"
Rory nodded. "What if we lose this baby too? What if I can't have any kids?" Rory's tears flowed freely now. "We had so many complications the first time and lost it."
Jess wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Shh. Ror, you have to calm down. Relax, and don't stress. We won't lose this baby. We won't."
Rory cried harder. "You don't know that!" Jess held her tighter and rocked her gently.
"Rory, I don't know what to tell you here. You need to take it easy and not worry." Rory sniffled and closed her eyes. She knew he was right, she was just extremely hormonal right now.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. Sleep ok?" Jess let go of her and Rory laid down. He got up and found a pillow and blanket. He carefully covered her with the blanket and she took the pillow from him.
"Stay with me." Rory begged. Jess smiled and sat down in front of the couch. He turned the TV on and felt Rory's hand rest on his shoulder. He kept thinking about last time. The baby they lost.
Flashback
"I'm sorry miss, but you lost the baby." The doctor sympathetically told her.
"What? Why?" Rory asked.
"It just couldn't make it, and all the stress from you caused your body to abort it. I'm sorry. Your body doesn't handle stress very well. If you were to get pregnant again, the chances of this happening again are high." The doctor walked out leaving Jess and Rory alone.
"We're never going to have kids." Rory whispered sorrowfully. Jess took Rory's hand in his and tried calming her down.
"That's not true. You'll be more careful next time." Jess knelt down and kissed her cheek.
"What if I can't get pregnant again?" Rory sobbed.
"You will." I'll make sure of it. Jess thought.
End of Flashback
Jess smiled. He would take care of Rory and this baby. He couldn't let her go through that heartbreak again, he couldn't let himself go through that again.
- - -
A few hours later Rory heard her cell phone ringing. She opened her eyes and looked around for it. When she spotted it she got up and ran to it.
"Hello?"
"Oh lovely daughter of mine! How are you today?" Lorelai's voice rang over the phone.
"Mom, hi. I'm alright. Tired. These last couple of weeks have been stressful." Rory absentmindedly informed Lorelai.
Lorelai immediately became concerned. "Stressful? Stressful how? You know you can't let yourself get stressed right?"
"Yeah I know." Rory sighed. "We just had a crazy ex, or something like that, of Jess come into Truncheon. We kinda got into it, then she returned with none other than, you should sit for this, Logan."
"What?! Crazy psycho ex came with Logan? As in propose to you at grandparent's party Logan?" Lorelai was shocked.
"Yep. So as you can see, things have been crazy. I'm fine though." Rory assured her mom.
"Well take it easy honey. And feel free to boss around James Dean ok?" Lorelai chuckled a little.
"Will do." Rory laughed back. "Speaking of him, I should go find him. Make him make me coffee and dinner. I'll talk to you later mom. Love ya."
"Alright sweets, love ya too."
"Jess!" Rory got up and looked around the apartment for him. She walked into their bedroom and found Jess looking at her photo album. "What are you doing?"
Jess looked up at Rory and smiled. "You were a beautiful baby."
Rory gasped. "You're looking at my baby pictures! Jess no!" Rory tried snatching the album away, but Jess pulled it away.
"I know I'm going to be totally out of character here, but oh well…I think our baby is going to look just as beautiful."
"Wow, what happened to my rock?" Rory giggled and blushed.
"It was just a one time thing! If anyone asks, I'll deny it. I mean I have a reputation to keep." Jess smirked.
"Right. Your 'I hate the world and the world hates me' act? Please, that act is long gone."
"No it's not!" Jess argued.
"Well first of all, you're working at Truncheon, where you have to talk to people and be civil to them. Second, you have friend, FRIENDS! Third, you're married and are living a mature life. I'd say that your act is gone. Maybe part of the old you is still here, but you've softened up." Rory pinched his cheeks teasingly.
Jess rolled his eyes. "Huh."
"Oh no, no monosyllabic words with me! I won't have it. You grew out of that." Rory scolded.
"Really?" Jess was just teasing her now.
"Two can play at that game." Rory challenged.
"A Gilmore monosyllabic? That will be the day the world ends."
"Do not mock me!" Rory playfully hit Jess' shoulder. He grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Alright. I won't. You hungry?" Jess stood up and pulled Rory with him.
"Starving!" Rory's stomach growled as if on cue. "I am eating for two now."
"More like twelve." Jess mumbled.
"What was that?" Rory asked accusingly, knowing full well what he said.
"Nothing. Let's get Chinese."
"Hey, baby here is a true Gilmore." Rory pointed to her stomach. "Because of baby I eat more. A lot more."
"Yeah like triple the amount you normally do." Jess pointed out.
"Well maybe baby Mariano has my eating habits with a bit of yours." Rory reasoned.
"I don't eat that much."
"But you're a 'man' and men eat a lot more than women. Except Gilmore women." Rory smiled.
"You win." Jess raised his hands in defeat. "I'll order the food. You go pick a movie or book or something."
"Alright. But no Almost Famous. I put my foot down there. No kid of mine will watch that disgraceful movie."
"Fine, but that means they will read Hemmingway."
"What!? I did not agree to this! They will read Ayn Rand all day long."
"We'll just have to compromise then. They can read both, and when they come of age, they can choose whether or not they want to read either."
"Sounds good to me." Rory walked over to Jess and shook his hand. The looked at each other seriously, then smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine. Just get me and baby food." Rory walked over to the TV and picked Wizard Of Oz. Jess ordered Chinese and sat next to Rory, watching the movie. Half an hour later the food arrived.
They ate dinner in silence. Jess said he was ready for this, but was he? Was he ready to be father. This hadn't seemed real to him, and he was sure that somehow he would screw up and this kid would end up like him.
"Jess? Jess!" Rory waved her hands in front of him. "You ok?"
Jess sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Yeah. Just tired."
"You're lying. Jess really, what's going on?" Rory was concerned.
"Nothing Rory." Jess stood up angrily. Rory's eyes widened and she began crying.
"Ok." Rory quickly got up and walked to the bedroom. She closed the door and collapsed on the bed.
Jess sighed. "Rory! Rory wait." He opened the door and saw Rory crying on the bed. He walked over to her and sat down next to Rory. "I'm sorry. It's just. You know I'm not good at talking about my problems."
Rory sat up and wiped her face. "So there is something wrong then?"
Jess shrugged. "It's nothing really. I just, do you really think I can do this?" Jess sat there awkwardly.
"Do what?" Rory asked confused.
"Be a dad. You know my past. I had a crappy childhood and neither of my parents were really great. How am I supposed to be a good parent if I don't know what a good parent is?"
Rory was relieved. At least this wasn't that big of a problem. "Jess you'll be great. Do you really think that I had an amazing childhood? I mean it was great and all, but I didn't have a dad around. I never knew what that was like, but this, us…we're different. We don't have to be our parents."
Jess smiled and reached for Rory's hand. "I suppose."
"No really. We are parents together Jess. We'll have each other to lean on and this kid won't be screwed up. Little Mariano will be one of the coolest kids you know." Rory smirked and leaned against Jess. She yawned and closed her eyes. "Plus, you won't leave."
Jess nodded. "Of course not. Go to sleep hon."
"Only if you stay with me." Rory held onto Jess.
"'Kay." Jess laid down next to her. He had just gotten his inspiration to finish his book, but he wanted to wait until Rory was asleep before starting on the end.
There you have it! How was it? Did you enjoy it? I think I'm letting Jess get too mushy. What do you think? BB GOOD and review please! :)
Beth