Thank you to everyone who reviewed. You guys are awesome.
Sorry this had taken so long. The weather has been glorious here, so I've been trying to make the most of it before it buggers off again! This chapter is extra long to make up for it!
I do not own any characters you recognise. I swear, I'm just borrowing them. I will give them back. Maybe. Can I keep Jess?
Chapter Seven - The Mother
Rory rolled over in bed and slowly opened her eyes. It took her a minute to realise she was in her room in Stars Hollow. As she rolled back over, her head hit the pillow beside her and the unmistakable smell of Jess brought the memories of last night to the front of her mind. The reunion. Her Grandpa. That kiss.
She sat up, pulling her hair out of her face and glanced about the room. Jess' bag was unzipped on the other side of the room. Pushing back the covers, she got up and crossed the room, pulling open the door. The doors of both the bathroom across the hall and Will's room were opened and Rory heard a loud giggle coming from downstairs.
She made her way down the staircase and into the kitchen, were she found Will and Beth on stools at the breakfast bar, while Jess, in a pair of sweatpants and t-shirt, was at the stove making pancakes.
"You guys want blueberries?" Jess called over his shoulder.
"No. Chocolate chips!" Beth clapped her hands.
Will frowned at his sister. "But that's candy."
"Shh! Daddy's not here. We can have candy for breakfast."
Rory muffled her laugh as she walked into the kitchen. "Well I want blueberries." She ruffled Will's hair.
"Rory!" The twins yelled at the same time and both threw their arms around her. "Look Jess is here." Beth grinned.
"I know." Rory laughed, looking up to catch Jess' eye. "And he's making breakfast."
"They told me all about how they have pancakes on Sunday and I didn't want to disappoint."
"Well I'm impressed." Rory smiled.
"Rory, where's mom and daddy?" Will gazed up at his sister.
"They're in Hartford with Grandma and Grandpa."
Beth lifted her glass of juice with both hands and turned back to Rory. "Why?"
"Grandpa's not feeling very well."
"Does he have chicken pox? Me and Will had chicken pox."
"No." Rory shook her head. "Grandpa's heart is sick."
"So he doesn't love us anymore?" Beth's lower lip started to shake.
"Why wouldn't he love us any more?" Rory cupped her sister's cheek.
"'Cause his heart's sick. And if it's sick, it might not be able to love us anymore." Beth sniffed.
"Sweets, of course he still loves us." Rory hugged the little girl. "Grandpa's going to be fine. The doctors are making him all better."
"Promise?"Will looked up at Rory.
"Promise." Rory nodded, holding out one pinkie to each child. "I'll even pinkie promise." She grinned as the twins entwined their own pinkies with hers.
"Pancakes." Jess sat the twins down a plate each.
"Hey guys, you wanna take your breakfast into the living room and watch TV?"
"Yeah!" Beth jumped off her stool and then reached up to grab her plate and Will followed suit.
"Thanks Rory!" He yelled, following his sister and then topped at the door and turned back. "Thanks to Jess too." He smiled and made his way to the living room.
"You know, they're probably going to build a statue of you." Rory grinned as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
Jess rolled his eyes. "Very funny."
"Who's being funny? The way to anyone in this family's heart is through food."
"Well, in that case, breakfast?" Jess smirked.
"Please, I'm starving."
"Pancakes coming up." Jess smirked, putting the pan back on the stove top.
Rory watched him as he mixed the batter and before he poured it into the pan she stopped him. "Hey Jess? Can I help?"
"Help?"
"Yeah." She grinned. "I mean I'm not normally allowed to use kitchen appliances-"
"A pan is hardly an appliance." Jess interrupted, smirking at her.
"Whatever. I'm not allowed to use kitchen...stuff, but I've always wanted to try flipping pancakes."
"You want to flip the pancakes?"
"Yes please. You know, in the air." Rory smiled. "Can I?" She pouted. "Pretty please?"
Jess sighed. "Fine, get over here. But put that lip away."
"Oh, yay!" Rory jumped from her stool and joined him at the stove. "So, what do I do? Pour the batter?"
"Yeah, but just a small amount."
Rory poured the batter and then looked up at Jess. "That enough?"
"Yeah, now make sure the pancake is about a centimeter thick."
Rory tilted her head to look into the pan. "Centimeter thick, check. Now what?" She smiled.
"Wait until bubble start to appear on the surface. That's when you know that they are ready to be turned."
"Flipped." Rory corrected, keeping her eyes on the pan. "Oh," She pointed, "bubbles. So how do I flip?" She placed her hands on the handle of the pan. "Do I just go for it?"
"No, there's a technique. Here." Jess moved to stand behind her, placing his own hands on top of hers and lifting the pan off the heat. He shook the pan to move the pancake. "It's all in the wrist action. And you can't be afraid." He flipped the pancake over and then back again quickly. "You think you can do that?" He smirked and stepped away from her.
"Sure." She nodded, taking a deep breath. She shook the pan as Jess had done and moved the pan up and down attempted to flip the pancake on several occasions, but never following through.
"No fear." Jess whispered in her ear.
She smiled at him and started a countdown. "Three... Two... One." She jerked the pan upwards, sending the pancake flying in the air only for it to land perfectly back in the pan.
"I did it!" She dropped the the pan back onto the heat. "Jess, I flipped it!" She turned to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
"I saw." He grinned, his breath tickling her neck.
She pulled back and grinned at him. "I cooked. Sort of." She laughed and he quickly closed the small gap between them, pressing his lips to hers. The kiss deepened quickly, neither one know who had went there first, but neither was complaining. It was only when they heard a pointed cough did they break apart.
"You're gonna burn down my kitchen if you don't watch that pan. See this is why Gilmores don't cook."
"Mom!" Rory pulled away from Jess and crossed the kitchen to hug her mom. "How's Grandpa?"
"Out of the woods. His surgery went really well and he's recovered from the anesthesia. The doctors are really confident but they're keeping him in for a few days for observation as a precaution. Which, of course, he hates. And he has to change his diet. A lot less steak and a lot more fish. Which he really hates."
"But, he's okay?"
"He'll be fine. Besides, mom made him swear that she could go first. And, you know your grandma's going to out live the cockroaches, so we'll have them both for a very long time."
"That's not funny."
"Sure it is." Lorelai grinned.
"Mom."
Lorelai sighed. "It was scary. And mom freaked and I dunno." She shrugged. "You know me and dad don't have the best relationship ever, but he's still my dad. It was scary." She repeated.
"But he's okay? I mean this is worse than the angina thing when I was in high school."
"I know." Lorelai nodded. "But the doctors are confident that he will be fine."
"Pancakes." Jess sat a stack of pancakes on the breakfast bar.
"Thanks." Lorelai grinned.
"Oh, right." Rory shook her head. "Mom, this is Jess. Jess, my mom, Lorelai."
"Hey." Jess nodded.
"Hi." Lorelai gave a small wave. "So, this is the infamous Jess. I've heard a lot about you from my daughter."
"Really?" Jess grinned, glancing at Rory.
"Yeah, but not Rory. Beth."
"Oh." Jess smiled. "Well, I'm gonna go get dressed."
"Sure." Rory nodded.
"Enjoy your pancakes." Jess smiled and left the kitchen.
Rory sat down on a stool and picked up one of the forks Jess had set out.
"So..." Lorelai sat beside Rory and picked up the other fork.
"What?"
"That's Jess."
"That's him."
"What happened with Adam?"
Rory pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "We broke up." She sighed.
"I know. April told me. But was it because if Jess?"
"Jess?"
"Yeah, you know, the stud in the suit in the sweats that you were kinda kissing in my kitchen."
"You're good with words."
"You're only figuring that out?" Lorelai grinned. "And I have two four year olds and Michael to entertain and misdirect. But stop avoiding. What's going on with you and Jess?"
"Honestly mom, I dunno."
"But you are kissing?"
"That's recent." Rory shrugged.
"How recent?" Lorelai asked. "Was that your fir-"
"No." Rory interrupted her mom. "No. But last night recent."
Lorelai's mouth dropped. "Did he take advantage when you were upset about your grandfather?"
"No. He was a perfect gentleman. I, on the other hand, was not so..."
"Gentile?" Lorelai supplied.
"Yeah." Rory nodded.
"Answer me this. Do you like him?"
Rory nodded once. "I haven't felt this in a long time. With Dean I was sixteen. Doesn't everything feel amazing and exciting when you're sixteen? And with Logan, it was parties and jumping of scaffolding. With Jess, I get that same rush talking about Hemingway."
Lorelai frowned. "But you hate Hemingway."
"My point entirely. But we haven't talked about...us yet."
"Then talk to him." Lorelai shrugged. "But, sweets, for what it's worth, taking in everything I know about him, I kinda like him."
"Everything you know?"
"That the twins like him, that he looks good in a suit and that he makes really incredible pancakes. Seriously, I think these might be better than Luke's. But don't tell Luke."
"Where is Luke?"
"At Luke's." Lorelai smiled.
"Why?"
"Never mind why. Stop stalling and go talk to him."
"Fine." Rory rolled her eyes and dropping her fork, she stood up and headed upstairs.
"Hey." Rory smiled as she reached her room. The door was open and Jess was lying on the bed reading. "What are you reading?"
"'Howl'. I was putting some notes in the margin for you." He tossed the book to her and sat up.
"You vandalised my book?" Rory's jaw dropped and she flipped open the copy. "Oh." She read one note he'd made. "Oh, that's actually really...wow." She sat down beside him and gave him a small smile. "Thank you." She sat the book down and then looked up, locking eye with him. "We need to talk."
He nodded. "I know."
Rory sighed, wringing her hands together. "Jess, I just got out of a relationship. I mean Adam and I were together for a year. And last night was-"
"I understand." Jess interrupted. "Last night was a mistake. Too soon."
"No. Last night was amazing. Even though Adam and I were together for so long, I think we both knew that it wasn't 'it'."
"Then why stay together?"
"Because you don't give up a perfectly good relationship because the other person isn't 'it'."
"Then why do you?"
"When you've met the person who might be." Rory whispered, looking at her hands and then looking up, she shrugged one shoulder. "Jess, Adam was right to break up with me because of you. I'm not blaming you and I know nothing happened physically, but emotionally, I've been pulling away from Adam since I met you."
"Rory..." Jess moved closer to her, cupping her cheek. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since you fainted. I think you're amazing."
"So what now?" Rory asked, her cheeks pink.
"We date." Jess told her.
"You've met my mom and you still wanna date?"
"Yeah." Jess smirked, leaning in and pressing a kiss to the side of her mouth. "So we're dating?" He asked.
"Yeah." Rory sighed before closing the gap between them, covering his mouth with hers and kissing him.
When the need for air surpassed their need for each other, they broke apart, forehead to forehead. "Jess, do you mind if we leave now? Mom has a lot to deal with and I kinda wanna go visit my grandpa before we head back to the city."
"I figured you would." Jess smiled. "Get dressed. We'll leave whenever you want."
"Thanks."
"I'll be downstairs." Jess grabbed 'Howl' and kissing her on the crown of her head, left the room.
"Jess, whatcha doing?" Beth climbed up onto the bench on the porch beside Jess.
"Reading." He smiled down at the little girl.
"Are you writing on your book?"
"Nope." Jess grinned. "I'm writing on Rory's book."
Beth's mouth formed a small 'o'. "She's gonna be mad at you."
"I think I'll be fine."
"'Kay." She shrugged. "Did you bring 'Catcher in the Rye'?"
"Sorry kiddo, no." Jess shook his head, running his hand along her pigtail.
"But you promised to read it to me."
"I said I'd read it when you're older." Jess reminded her.
"But I am older."
"I guess I can't argue with that logic." Jess chucked. "I meant years, not months."
"You didn't spice-ify."
Jess laughed at her mispronunciation. "You're right, I didn't specify. But I still think you have to be older."
"If I'm older I can read it myself." Beth told me, her hand on her hip. "Please Jess?" She pouted.
"Hey, hey." Lorelai appeared at Jess shoulder. "What's that lip for Missy?"
Beth looked up at her mom and sighed. "Jess promised to read 'Catcher in the Rye' to me, but he still thinks I'm too young."
"And he's right. Too much goddamn swearing." Lorelai smirked at Jess.
Beth giggled. "That's what daddy says when you buy shoes."
"I know." Lorelai smiled. "Now run along and play with your brother."
"But..."
"No buts. Go." Lorelai nodded her head towards the door.
"'Kay." Beth sniffed and jumped down from the bench. "You won't go without saying bye, will you?" She asked Jess.
"No." He grinned.
"Good." She gave him a bright smile and then turned and ran back into the house, calling out for Will.
Lorelai sat down beside Jess and smiled over at him. "My daughter has a crush on you."
"She's a cute kid."
"I don't mean Beth."
"Oh." Jess paused and then cleared his throat. "Well then, in that case, I have a crush on your daughter too."
"I like hearing that. So tell me about you."
"About me?"
"Yeah. Where you from? School? What do you do now?"
"Well I'm from Hartford. I went to Harvard, both undergrad and grad school. And I'm in publishing. Sort of."
Lorelai frowned. "You're sort of in publishing?"
"Yeah, I do publish books, but I have my own company and we're independent. We publish maybe five books a year."
"Your own company?"
"Yeah." Jess nodded. "With my best friend. Right after college we pooled our money and bought a crappy building in the Village. Opened a bookstore and publishing house."
"You bought it yourself? Right after college?"
"Well, the down payment, yeah." Jess nodded. "My dad grew up with nothing, went to college on a scholarship. I guess he always taught me the value of the dollar. My parents paid for school, but I knew I didn't wanna rely on them after so I had a job while I was at Harvard. Saved all I could." He shrugged.
"That's impressive." Lorelai told him. "So what does your dad do?"
"He's an architect."
"And your mom?"
"Has a History of Art degree from Yale which she uses for charity work and DAR functions."
Lorelai laughed. "Sounds like my mom."
"Don't get me wrong, I love her, but her world is so...vapid. I never wanted to be a part of it."
Lorelai nodded. "I gotta say I like you kid."
"Thanks."
"You know, Rory's very special."
"I know." Jess nodded. "I think she's amazing. I've never met anyone like her before."
"Well, I'm glad. But just so you know, she has a whole town looking out for her. And even though she lives in New York, we have spies."
"Tell April I said hello." Jess grinned.
Lorelai laughed "So, you've met my spy?"
"Yeah and I want you to know, I don't intend on hurting Rory. But if I do you can add my best friend to your list of people who want to hurt me. She'd kill me for screwing this up."
"That's good to know." Lorelai patted his forearm.
"What's going on?" Rory asked as she stepped onto the porch.
"Oh, nothing. Just getting to know your gentleman caller." Lorelai smiled.
Rory rolled her eyes, "Thanks Stella."
"Anytime Blanche."
"She hasn't been torturing you, has she?" Rory glanced down at Jess.
"No!" Lorelai exclaimed.
"I'm fine, we're just talking." Jess ran his knuckles along her arm.
"Mom, we're gonna head. I wanna go see grandpa before we head back to the city."
"You sure? You could stay for lunch? We could head up to The Dragonfly. Sookie would love to see you."
"I'm sure. But I'll kidnapp April in a couple of weeks and we'll both head down."
"Okay. I'll go round up the twins for you." Lorelai stood up and walked back into the house.
"So, what was that really about?" Rory asked, sitting down.
"Nothing." Jess placed his hand on her knee. "She was just asking about my life. Nothing you don't know."
"Okay." Rory smiled at him, before leaning into him, placing a light kiss on his lips.
"Gross." They broke apart when they heard Will's protest.
"Sorry." Rory her eyes. "Guys, Jess and I have to go." She told the twins.
"But, why?" Beth pouted.
"We have to get back to New York." Rory took Beth's hand. "But we'll come back and visit soon."
Beth narrowed her eyes. "Promise?"
"Promise." Rory smiled and Beth threw her arms around Rory's neck. "Rory?" She whispered in her sister's ear. "Does this mean no more Adam?"
"Yeah." Rory smiled.
"Good." Beth kissed her cheek and then turned to Jess. "You better bring 'Catcher in the Rye' next time." She told him and then giggled, hugging him too.
"We'll see." Lorelai told Beth as she let go of Jess.
"He promised. And you can't break promises." Beth told her mom.
"Bye Will." Rory hugged her brother. "Stay outta trouble."
"I do." He frowned. "Beth's the troublemaker."
"I bet." Jess grinned while Beth shouted "I'm not!" at the same time.
"Bye Jess." Will smiled up at him and then hugged him, taking Jess by surprise.
"Bye buddy." Jess ruffled his hair. "We'll see you soon."
"'Kay." Will nodded before joined his sister at his mom's side.
"Drive safe guys." Lorelai smiled as Jess lifted Rory's bag. "It was nice meeting you Jess."
"You too." He smiled. "I'll give you a minute." He told Rory, carrying her bag to the car.
"Guys, why don't go find a movie to watch." Lorelai told the twins.
"Okay!" They yelled in unison and ran back into the house.
"Call me after you see dad, let me know how he's doing? And when you get to New York, so I know you got there?"
"Yeah." Rory nodded. "So, what do-"
"I think he's great." Lorelai interrupted.
Rory grinned. "Really?"
Her mom nodded. "Yeah. I mean there's more to him than that pretty face. And he seems to really like you, so that gives him a few brownie points. Plus he built his business from scratch. Gotta respect a person who does that, right?"
"Yeah." Rory laughed. "So, he gets the thumb up?"
"Two thumbs up. Six, if you include the twins. Eight, I forgot about April. Katie?"
Rory nodded.
"Ten thumbs up. That's pretty good. And, once I give Luke my glowing report, he'll have won over the entire family."
"Thank you mom." Rory smiled and gave her mom a hug.
"I love you kid. I just want you to be happy."
"Love you too. Tell Luke I said bye? I don't wanna hit the diner. I'd never get out."
"No problem sweets. Talk to you later."
"Yeah. Bye." Rory sighed and joined Jess in the car.
"Everything okay?"
"Ten thumbs up okay." Rory smiled.
"What?"
"Never mind. Let's go." Rory squeezed his arm as he put the car in drive.
Rory knocked on the door to room 356 and then pushed it open. "Grandpa?"
"Rory?" Richard smiled as his granddaughter entered the room, closely followed by Jess.
"Hi." Rory smiled and walked to the side of his bed. "Can I hug you?"
"I think it's mandatory." Richard smiled as Rory placed her arm around her neck. "You had us all terrified." She kissed his forehead.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Rory shook her, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. But.."
"But? Are you in pain? I shouldn't have hugged you."
"No, no. I'm on an information lockdown. Your grandmother won't let me read a newspaper."
"I think I can help." Jess spoke up from his spot at the door. "If you're willing to accept a little contraban?" He smiled as he pulled a copy of 'The New York Times' out of his inside pocket.
"When did you get that?" Rory asked.
"When you are asking what room we'd to go to." Jess smirked, handing the paper to Richard.
"Thank you young man. Rory aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, the blockade runner?"
"Yeah, he's a regular Rhett Butler." Rory grinned. "But grandpa, this is Jess Mariano. Jess, my grandpa."
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Gilmore."
"Please, call me Richard." Richard shook hands with Jess. "Mariano? Any relation to James Mariano?"
Jess nodded. "He's my father."
"Excellent. He's a fine man. Did a wonderful job remodelling our offices. He told me you were in publishing. Like Rory."
"Yes. But I own an independent company."
"Good! I like a self sufficient man."
"Grandpa, Jess owns a bookstore too. You would love it."
"Well, I'll have to visit." Richard told Jess. "That is as soon as Emily lets me off house arrest."
"Grandpa it's for your own good." Rory frowned.
"I know, Rory. I know."
"Good. I'm glad your okay."
"Me too." Richard smiled. "Jess? You couldn't get me some tea? Black?"
"Sure. I'll not be long." Jess nodded and left the small room.
"That was subtle." Rory smiled.
"Well, I try." Richard grinned. "So, what happened to Adam?"
"It didn't work out."
"Good." Richard nodded causing Rory to look up in shock. "He was far too straight-laced." Richard continued. "Not at all right for you."
"Okay."
"But, this Jess. He seems different."
"He is." Rory agreed.
"That's good. We just want you to be happy."
"I know, grandpa." Rory smiled.
"One tea." Jess held up the cup as he came into the room.
"That was fast. And it's not a styrofoam cup."
Jess shrugged, setting the cup on Richard's bedside unit. "I charmed a nurse."
"Very cunning." Richard laughed.
"Listen, I hate to cut this visit short, but I have a voicemail from Bee. She sounded paniced. Said it was an emergency."
"Bee?" Richard inquired.
"My best friend slash business partner. I'm pretty sure she's capable of starting a fire underwater."
"That's fine. We'll go." Rory smiled. "Grandpa, you look good. Tall." She grinned and kissed his cheek. "I'll call you when you get home."
"Okay. Go. Let this man prevent a certain catastrophe. It was nice to meet you Jess."
"You too, Richard." Jess nodded.
"Oh, Rory, you would have a book I could borrow? You grandmother really has been strict."
"No, sorry Grandpa." Rory shook her head. "My book's in my case."
"I maybe able to help, but only if your opinion on Hemingway differs from that of you granddaughter's." Jess smirked, pulling a small paperback copy of 'The Old Man and the Sea' from his back pocket.
"You're like a walking library." Rory shook her head. "And yes, he likes the painful Ernest too."
"Thank you Jess." Richard took the book.
"I apologise in advance for the notes I've made on the book. I tend to write my thoughts down."
"As did Mark Twain." Richard smiled. "I look forward to reading those too then."
"Well, we should head." Jess touched Rory's elbow.
"Yeah." She nodded. "Bye grandpa, feel better."
"Thank you Rory. And Jess."
"Bye." Jess smiled and headed out, Rory following him.
"Bee! What's wrong? I got your message!" Jess entered his apartment, followed by Rory.
"Jess?" Bee came out of her room, her red hair piled on top of her head. "You're home!"
"What happened?" Jess asked again.
"I met someone. A guy. He's called Nate and he's amazing."
"That was what the "Oh-my-God! Jess you have to come home right now!" message was about? You met a guy?"
"Yeah." She nodded. "Oh, hi Rory."
"Hi." Rory waved, holding back her laughter.
"I could murder you Belinda."
"Hey! What's with the full name?" Bee pouted.
"You made it sound like the place was on fire or something." Jess argued.
"Oh, sorry. But this is good news." She smiled. "I'll leave you two alone though." She grinned, turning on her heel and skipping back to her room.
"Scary, she never skips." Jess grinned. "Sorry I rushed you away from your grandpa."
"It's fine. He's needs to rest anyway." Rory shrugged. "Besides, meeting a guy? Very big deal."
Jess grinned. "Oh yeah?"
"Definitely." She matched his grin, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.
When they pulled apart, she stroked his cheekbone, smiling softly. "I should go."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I have work in the morning. And Katie and April are waiting to hear all the details of this weekend."
Jess laughed and kissed her nose. "Want me to walk you?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine. It's not that far." She picked up her bag and then glanced down at her case.
"Leave it." Jess told her. I'll bring it and your dress by tomorrow after work."
"Thanks." She kissed him again quickly and then headed to the door. "Go, let Bee tell you all about this new guy."
"'Kay." He nodded. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah. See you then." Rory smiled and then shut the door behind her.
"So, you met someone?" Jess pushed open Bee's door.
"Yeah, but that can wait. I wanna hear everything that happened. I'm guessing things went well?" She grinned.
Jess rolled his eyes and joined her on the bed. "Yeah." He nodded. "You could say that."
Remember to review. I love hearing what you guys think!