It was just after seven on Christmas morning, and Luke was getting his cinnamon rolls ready for their second prove and had just started the coffee pot. He heard Lorelai come down the stairs and into the kitchen. This was his favorite way to see her, glowing, rumpled from sleep, hair wild, bathed in morning light from the kitchen windows.
"Merry Christmas," she said, her voice still husky with sleep.
"Merry Christmas," he replied, pulling her in for a kiss.
She sat down at the kitchen table. "The girls aren't up yet?"
"Oh I imagine Franny's up, but Rory's probably stalling her for bit to give us old folks a chance to wake up."
"Hey, watch who you're calling old," she swatted at him playfully. "What time is everyone coming?"
"Liz, TJ, and Doula should be here around eleven, I told Jess to come anytime but he'll probably show up around ten or eleven," he pressed on, ignoring the face she made when he mentioned Jess, "Your mom will be here at eight so we can open presents with the girls."
Lorelai groaned. "Coffee, please! I need a nice base of caffeine before my mom gets here."
"Already on it," he placed the steaming snowman mug in front of her.
A few minutes later, Rory and Franny bustled through the kitchen door in their matching candy cane pajamas with hats and coats over them.
"Merry CHRISTMAS!!!" Franny shrieked, running straight to Luke and catching him around the knees in a big hug.
"Merry Christmas," Luke said affectionately, ruffling her light brown hair. She giggled and ran over to Lorelai, giving her grandmother a big hug.
"Good morning," Rory hung up her coat by the door and sunk down at the kitchen table. "I held her off as long as I could, but we couldn't stay away any longer."
"Perfect timing," Luke put a grinch mug filled with coffee into Rory's hands.
"Mmmmmm," she inhaled deeply and took a big sip. "When's Grandma coming?"
"Moooooom, Grandma's already here!"
"I mean my Grandma, silly!"
"She'll be here at eight," speaking of which, I should go change. I doubt she'll enjoy my heat miser onesie," Lorelai said, heading upstairs.
"When can we open presents?" Franny demanded.
"As soon as your Gran gets here. Do you want to watch Rudolph again while you wait?" Franny ran into the living room chanting, "Rudolph, Rudolph, Rudolph!"
"And to think, I was such a quiet kid," Rory said, following her daughter into the festively decorated living room.
Luke started prepping the potatoes for Christmas dinner, listening to Rory and Franny chatter in the living room. He was never so happy as when his family was all together and happy and nearby. He heard Lorelai join in on the chatter and smiled to himself.
He felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket. Jess' name came up on the screen. He answered, "Hey kid, Merry Christmas! What time are you swinging by? I'm making a ziti just for you."
"Merry Christmas!" Jess' voice sounded rough. "Ziti sounds amazing, sorry I'm going to have to miss it."
"Miss it? I thought you were coming?"
"I want to, but the flu had other plans for me this year, guess I'll be celebrating in bed with some Campbell's soup this time. Tell the gang I said Merry Christmas."
"You need anything, kid?" An edge of worry crept into Luke's voice.
"No, I'm okay, I promise. It's not like last time, it's just the flu. I even went to urgent care and got checked out last night. I'm just gonna take it easy."
"That sucks, kid. I'm just a few minutes away; if you need anything at all I want you to call me."
"I will, I promise. Have a good Christmas."
"You too, kid." Click. Jess had hung up.
Luke found it hard not to worry even though he knew it was silly. He was sorry his nephew would miss the holiday fun. Even if he usually just sat quietly and watched the chaos, it meant something to Luke to have him there.
Luke threw himself into the preparations and when Emily arrived they all enjoyed watching Franny open her mountain of gifts. In the post gift lull before the rest of the family arrived, Luke found himself checking his phone.
"You could text him," Lorelai said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Huh?"
"I know you're worried, just text him."
Luke sighed. "He hates it when I make a fuss."
"He's exactly like you, so you know he needs you to make a fuss but he pretends to hate it."
"I don't do that," Luke sputtered.
"You're doing it right now." Lorelai kissed him on the cheek. "You know I'm right."
He rolled his eyes but started typing.
Hey kid, just checking in to see how you're feeling. Keep me posted.
Luke went back to his preparations taking the cinnamon rolls out of the oven and putting the turkey in. Liz and TJ and crew arrived soon after, and another round of greetings and gifting ensued.
When Luke stepped away to check on the turkey he had a text from Jess. He opened it to find a selfie of Jess on his couch with the caption "proof of life." He chuckled. It made him feel a little better to see his nephew's face, even if he did look pale and exhausted.
Luke spent the rest of the day in the kitchen finishing the holiday feast and making sure everyone was fed to bursting. He texted Jess a couple more times but didn't get another response. Lorelai reminded him that Jess was probably asleep. Their guests started to take their leave around five and by six it was just Luke and Lorelai left, Rory and Franny snoozing on the couch in front of It's A Wonderful Life.
Lorelai put a wrapped up casserole dish in his hands. "Go," she said.
"Go where?"
"Go see Jess, I know you've been worrying about him all day. Take the ziti. I'll clean up."
"No Lorelai, I'm sure he's fine, I can check on him later."
"I know you and I know you'll be a grumpy anxious mess until you've checked on him, so go."
Luke thought about protesting further but he knew when he was beat. "I'll be back in a few," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Mhmm," she said absently, already elbow deep in dishes.
He jumped in his truck and was knocking on Jess' door a few minutes later. There was no answer for a minute or two and then the door swung open.
Jess was wearing an oversized hoodie and gray sweatpants. His face was flushed and he had obviously just woken up. He smiled when he saw Luke standing there.
"You brought the ziti," he said.
"You know I couldn't let you spend Christmas by yourself."
Jess coughed into the crook of his elbow. "I don't want to get you sick, old man. Besides, we're Jewish."
"I got my flu shot this year," Luke said. "You go lay down, I'll bring you some dinner."
Jess went and sat on the couch while Luke reheated the ziti for him.
"You take your temperature?" Luke asked.
"A few hours ago."
"Where's your thermometer?"
"Bathroom cabinet."
Luke retrieved the digital thermometer and slid it under Jess' tongue. He was in the kitchen fixing up Jess' plate when he heard it beep.
"What is it, he asked?"
"One-oh-one point seven Connecticut Rock Radio."
"Haha," Luke said.
"I'm okay, I promise."
"I know," Luke frowned. "I still don't like to see you sick, though." He sat down on the couch next to his nephew and turned on the TV, A Christmas Story was playing.
Jess dug into the ziti.
"How was Christmas with the family?"
"Good, chaotic, we missed you."
"No one missed me."
"Doula and Franny were heartbroken.'Where's uncle Jess? Where's uncle Jess? I want to show him the books I got for Christmas, I want a pony ride, is Uncle Jess coming?' Is all I heard all day." And Rory and Lorelai and your mom and TJ all asked about you too. Everyone missed you, except maybe Emily, but she told me that she hopes you feel better soon."
Jess smiled, "Well, I guess I am a classic fixture on the couch at the holidays."
"Kid, you're a part of the family and we missed you."
Jess looked embarrassed and swallowed hard, wincing.
They watched the movie in comfortable silence for a while. Jess put his feet up on the couch, not on Luke, but close enough that it was basically hugging for the two of them.
Eventually, Jess cleared his throat. "Thanks for the ziti and for stopping by. I'm afraid I'm not much company tonight, though. I need to go lay down."
"No problem, kid. I was thinking I might stick around, you know. Sleep on the couch, just be here if you need anything."
Jess nodded. "If you want." He shuffled off towards the bedroom.
Luke called Lorelai, "Hey, I think I might stay here tonight and just keep an eye on Jess."
"He's okay?"
"Yeah."
"You just need to fuss over him and he just needs to be fussed over?"
"Pretty much."
"Okay, Love you. I'll see you tomorrow"