A/N: Again, sorry for the wait. Hopefully this chapter will be good enough for forgiveness.
Disclaimer: If I owned it, the chapters would come much quicker because then I could quit my stupid job!
Ch. 6- A Very Gilmore Christmas (Part 2)
Approaching the impressive house of Richard and Emily Gilmore had always been a chore to the younger generations; tonight was no exception. Lorelai and Rory were arguing over who should ring the doorbell while Luke stood silently by, practically attached to his fiancée, fidgeting nervously. Jess thought the scene was hilarious, but was eager to get this night over with as quickly as possible. He walked, unnoticed, up to the front door and knocked loudly. All three heads swiveled around simultaneously to stare at him with wide eyes. A maid answered the door and invited them inside. After taking everyone's coats, the maid led them into the living room where they would be having their customary cocktails. Emily looked startled as her guests entered.
"I didn't hear the doorbell. Did you hear the doorbell, Richard?"
"No, Emily, I did not hear the doorbell" her husband responded patiently.
"They knocked" replied the maid timidly before hurrying out of the room.
"Who knocked? You always ring the doorbell. That is why we have one. Honestly, Lorelai, was this your doing? It is Christmas and you should show some sort of decorum for once in your life" she began, standing with her hand on her hips.
"It was me. I didn't know knocking was banned. Sorry" Jess interrupted her, earning himself an appraising, disapproving glance.
"And just who are you?" she asked, before turning her glare back to her daughter, "Who is this Lorelai? Are you bringing random people off the streets to dinner now?"
"Mom, this is Jess, Luke's nephew. I told you on the phone yesterday that he was coming to dinner. And you've met him before" Lorelai explained through gritted teeth.
"Oh yes, that's right. You're the one who came to dinner with a black eye and left rudely before dinner was over. You also broke my granddaughter's arm did you not?" she accused, turning back to stare at Jess once more. She looked even more disgusted than when she thought he was a random person off the streets.
"That was me, but I didn't break Rory's arm. The dashboard of the car did that" he replied, trying to keep from sounding overly sarcastic.
"Why don't I get everyone some drinks?" Richard interjected, "Jess, I am Richard. Rory's grandfather. I don't believe we have met before. It is nice to finally meet you. I have heard quite a bit about you. Now, what can I get everyone? Girls, would you like martinis?"
"Yes, dad. Thank you" said Lorelai, glad for the change in subject.
"Thanks, grandpa" Rory echoed, taking her drink.
"Luke, Jess, would you like a beer?" Richard asked politely.
"Beer would be good" answered Luke.
"Actually, could I get a rum and coke?" Jess asked, earning an approving nod from both Rory and Lorelai.
When everyone was seated with their drinks, Emily began trying to make polite conversation. Rory and Lorelai exchanged a nervous glance, knowing that she was up to something. Richard, however, was seeming to take a liking to Jess after hearing that he was a published writer. Everyone was starting to relax when Emily finally struck.
"So, Rory. I've made you a list of young people in cities across the country that you should be visiting with your job. I want you to consider looking them up. You need some social interaction with people other than your co-workers" she said as she handed Rory a folded sheet of paper.
"Grandma, these are all guy names" Rory stated as she glanced over the list.
"Well, we think that it's time you move on from Logan. We were hopeful that you would accept his proposal, but since you didn't, it is high time you stop moping about him and find a suitable replacement" Emily explained.
"I don't want to replace Logan, Grandma. And I'm actually seeing somebody right now, so this list is a little inappropriate."
"You're seeing someone?" Emily asked excitedly, "Is he a co-worker? Because interoffice relationships are not always a good idea. Lorelai, have you met this boy she's seeing yet?"
"He's not a co-worker. He lives in Philadelphia and mom has met him before."
"How long have you been dating? How long have you known about this and not told me Lorelai?"
"We actually just started dating officially last night" Rory answered honestly, looking to Lorelai for help.
"How did you do that if he's in Philadelphia? You're not having some lewd online relationship are you? They are so tacky."
"No, grandma. I'm dating Jess" she said quickly, taking a deep breath and holding it.
"Jess? As in this Jess? Rory, you can't be serious. You're dating this hoodlum again? After what happened last time? This is unacceptable. Not to mention he is your mother's fiancée's nephew. I forbid it. Lorelai, how could you let this happen?" she practically squealed.
Lorelai looked helplessly at her daughter and shrugged. Jess downed his drink in one gulp and shook his head. Luke watched looking slightly amused. Rory looked furious and was about to respond, but her grandmother didn't give her a chance.
"Rory, I know that Logan leaving was hard on you, but come to your senses. You can't be serious about this. It's not like you love this boy" she said gesturing to Jess, and emphasizing the last two words.
Rory couldn't say anything. She looked like a deer in headlights. Emily thought she was going to have a stroke when she realized what it meant that her granddaughter hadn't said anything.
"Oh my God, you do love him" she exclaimed, horrified.
Rory emptied the contents of her glass down her throat, feeling mortified. She was relieved that the maid chose this exact time to announce that dinner was ready. The group walked in silence to the dining room. Lorelai placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder before taking her place across the table from her. Jess hated wine, but he drank the glass in front of him immediately and gave a grateful smile to the maid as she replaced the empty glass with a full one before anyone else realized it. He grabbed Rory's hand under the table and squeezed it reassuringly. Rory let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding and relaxed at this gesture.
The rest of dinner went surprisingly well in comparison to drinks. Emily continued to make veiled references to Rory finding an appropriate relationship while on the campaign trail and finding hidden insults to throw at Luke and Jess, but nothing as blatant as her previous outburst. After dinner, Richard brought the girls their Christmas gifts and Lorelai ran to her car to bring in the gifts for her parents that she had forgotten to bring in. The younger couple was glad that they had decided to all ride together because between the cocktails and the never-ending supply of wine at dinner, thanks to the awesome maid, they were feeling slightly tipsy and were in no condition to drive. On the way home, Lorelai commended them on a job well done at dinner, although she would have preferred that someone had gotten angry and stormed off so they could have left earlier. When they pulled up to their house, Jess began to say goodnight to Rory when Lorelai pulled him aside.
"Stay here tonight. You can have the couch. No one should be alone after getting properly Gilmored. It's not safe."
The older two adults went upstairs to bed, leaving Rory and Jess alone in the living room. Rory rested her head on Jess' shoulder and sighed, glad to finally be able to relax. She was feeling pleasantly warm from all the alcohol she had consumed at dinner and was perfectly content to stay where she was all night. Jess, though, decided to break the peaceful silence.
"That was some night. Remind me why I agreed to that again?" he asked sleepily.
"Because men are powerless to a Gilmore girl's demands. Well, at least you and Luke are."
"You're grandmother was a bit scarier than last time. Are you sure you don't want to take her list and see what kind of guys she's picked out for you?"
"Ugh. I know what kind of guys she's picked out for me. The one and only time she set me up on a date it was a total disaster. I was shanghaied or else I never would have agreed to it. She's not the best judge of character."
"So she gets everything wrong then" he prompted, remembering the last thing she said during the disastrous cocktails.
"She gets some things right" she said, remembering the same thing.
"So you love me, huh?" he half-teased, putting his arm around her.
"I really do" she said seriously, sitting up to look him in the eyes.
She was sure that the alcohol had made her say that, but she also knew it was completely true. She had always loved Jess and it was time he knew it. He smiled at her, really smiled, before pulling her in for a deep kiss. It wasn't until they were lying in Rory's bed, clothes strewn across the floor haphazardly, that Jess finally responded with words.
"I love you, too, Rory. Merry Christmas" he whispered as they slid into a refreshing night's sleep with smiles on both their faces.
