Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Seriously, I'm completely bowled over and so flattered by the response this story has got.
I own very little. Bee, she's mine. As is Katie. Enjoy!
Chapter eight - Dating
"So, you're dating him right?" April grinned, handing Katie a beer as she settled on the couch with her own soda.
Rory glanced over at her sister and best friend. "Yeah, I think so." She shrugged. "It's too soon, right? I mean Adam-"
"It's not to soon." Katie interrupted. "Adam was..."
"Beige?" Rory supplied.
"Yeah." Katie laughed. "And beige doesn't take that long to get over. I would know."
Rory sighed. "But-"
"No buts." April smiled. "This is good. And since you were very bad at handing over the details last night, cough them up."
"Nothing happened." Rory gave them a small smile. "We kissed."
"But it was a good kiss, right?" April asked. "I mean obviously it was a good kiss."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That it's Jess. He looks like he knows what his doing." Katie told her, one eyebrow raised in amusement.
"It was just a kiss." Rory told them, her cheeks turning red as she thought about the kisses she had shared with Jess the previous day.
"She's blushing." April pointed at her sister, laughing.
"I always blush!" Rory defended. "I'm pale. My colouring means I blush eas-"
"Quit trying to defend yourself. We know it was a good kiss. Or kisses, I'm guessing. Did you hear music?" Katie smirked.
"I hate you two."
"Was it true loves kiss? Were you meant to finish his duet?" April grinned as there was a knock at the front door.
"Hell. You are going to hell." Rory told them as she got up to answer the door.
"At least we'll have a tan!" Katie quipped as Rory pulled open the door.
"Jess." She smiled and the two behind her immediately sat up.
"I brought you your stuff." He smiled, holding up her case and dress.
"Thanks." Rory smiled and took them off him, quickly setting them down before stepping out into the hall and closing the door behind her.
"What's going on?" Jess asked, a half grin on his face.
"Nothing." Rory shook her head, running her hand down his arm. "I'd invite you in, but you would be stared at like some poor animal in the zoo."
Jess chuckled, putting his hand on her her waist. "Katie?"
"And April." Rory nodded.
"I never said hello." Jess smirked, dropping his head to kiss her.
"Hi." Rory smiled up at him.
"Coffee?" He asked, his thumb tracing a circle on her hip.
"Sure, let me grab my purse." She turned to open the door when he grabbed her hand.
"It's on me. Come on." He pulled her towards the elevator.
"I've no coat." She laughed.
"I'll give you mine." He kissed her before stepping into the elevator. "What do you say?" He raised an eyebrow just as Rory's front door opened.
"Where you going?" Katie called out and Rory jumped in beside Jess just as the doors closed over.
"She going to kill me." Rory laughed, pushing her hair out of her face as she leaned back against the wall.
Jess smirked and mirrored her pose. "Not worth it?"
"Dunno yet." She shrugged, pushing herself off the wall and walking out.
"You know, your mom's pretty cool."
"She likes to think so." Rory laughed. "And I think so too, I guess. She's cooler than any other mom I've ever met. I think her being young enough to be my sister helped though."
"Why, how old is your mom?" Jess frowned taking a sip of his tea.
"She's forty three. She was sixteen when I was born."
"Wow. That's crazy. So she had you, then met Luke and nine years later April arrived."
"Well, technically, mom had me, nine years later April arrived and then mom met Luke. When April was three." Rory grinned.
"What?"
"April's my step sister." Rory shrugged. "I mean, if we're going to get technical about it. April's mom left when she was two. Went to Scotland apparently. She hasn't seen or spoken to her since. I was eleven when me and mom moved to Stars Hollow and we met Luke and April on our first day. I was on babysitting duty and homework help long before mom and Luke ever started dating."
"And they started dating...?"
"When I was seventeen. Mom proposed right before my twenty-first birthday. They married the following June and the twins arrived that winter."
"Your mom proposed?" Jess chuckled.
"Yeah." Rory smiled. "They were arguing and mom was looking for a way to shut him up. I think her head imploded when he said yes though."
"And you've another sister?"
"Gigi." Rory confirmed. "My dad's kid. She's ten and a ballerina. And she eats fruit."
Jess laughed at the face Rory made at the thought of eating fruit. "So nothing in common?"
"Nope. I take after my mom and she takes after hers. So apart from our dad, nothing."
"You see her a lot?"
Rory shook her head. "No. They live in California. I speak to her every couple of weeks and she'll send me emails. But I don't get to see her that often."
"That upsets you?" Jess noted.
"Well, yeah, she's still my sister." Rory smiled. "And you have no crazy family set up?"
"No." Jess smiled. "Just my mom and dad. Pretty normal."
"Do you ever wish you had any siblings?"
"I used to, but not now. And besides I have Bee. She's claimed me as her brother. Speaking of..." Jess checked his watch, "I should head."
"Sure. Eddie's been giving us the eye to leave for about ten minutes anyway." Rory laughed, waving at the tall blonde man behind the counter, reading a book.
"You know his name?" Jess smirked.
"I am here all the time." Rory told him, glancing back before she crossed the street. Jess followed behind her and then caught her by the wrist as she went to climb the steps.
"You free on Wednesday?" His thumb rubbed circles on her inside wrist.
"Wednesday?" Rory bit down on her lip and closed one eye in mock concentration. "Hmm? I think I have plans with this guy I met at the Ice Capades."
"The Ice Capades?" Jess smirked. "You realise that guy's probably gay, right?"
"Yeah, but he was so cute. And an excellent dresser." Rory laughed. "I'm free, why?"
"I was thinking dinner?" Jess asked.
"Dinner sounds good."
"Pick you up at seven." Jess bent his head to kiss her. "Go," He whispered against her lips, "before you freeze."
"Kay. Talk to you tomorrow?"
"Sure." Jess nodded, smiling as she took up off the steps and into the building. He turned to leave.
"Hey Jess?"
He turned back and found her at the top of the stairs. She bounded back down them and joined him. "This dinner? Is it like KFC or something fancier?"
He chuckled. "Fancier. Why?"
"Just needed to sort out a dress code. I didn't wanna show up in a patented date-like little black dress if we were only going for fast food." She shrugged, giving him a wide smile.
"Definitely wear the dress."
"As you wish." She grinned, pecking him on the lips before taking off back up into her building.
Tuesday morning arrived and Jess woke with the harsh winter sun in his face. He scrubbed his hand over his face before glancing at the clock. Seven thirty. Another half hour before his alarm was due to go off. He never ever really needed an alarm, even as a kid during the holidays he could never sleep past nine, but he always set one.
Kicking off his sheets, he wandered into the kitchen to find Bee checking her make up using the window of the microwave oven.
He grabbed a cup and pulled a tea bag from the box sitting on the counter. "Morning."
"Hey." Bee smiled, flicking the kettle on for him.
"Why are you ready so early?"
"Meeting at eight with Carl, the poet. Contracts to sign."
"At eight in the morning?"
"Yeah." She nodded pulling on her coat. "He flies to Paris for two months today. He has to be at the airport at eleven."
"Oh." Jess nods his head once.
"See you at the office." She smiles, giving him a wave before pulling the door closed behind her. As Jess hears the door click into place, he stands , pours hot water into his cup and wanders into the the bathroom to have a shower.
"What to you fancy for lunch?" Bee asked as she rummaged through her bag for a pair of gloves.
"Turkey sandwich." Jess replied as his cell phone buzzed. He lifted it and answered it without checking the ID. "Yeah?"
"That's how you answer the phone? 'Yeah?' Honestly, Jess, I taught you better than that." Elizabeth Mariano's voice came down the phone.
"Hey, mom." He smirks, shaking his head. "How's London?"
"London was awful. Miserable weather. Not to mention the people. And I thought New York was rude!"
"Hold on. 'Was awful'? You're home?" Jess asked.
"Yes, your father has a meeting tomorrow. We'll be in the city. I want us to have dinner."
"Us, including me?"
"Yes, including you." Elizabeth sighed.
"I can't mom." Jess scratched his head. "I have a date."
"With a girl?"
"Yes, with a girl." Jess retorted causing Bee to stifle a giggle.
"Did Belinda find her for you?"
Jess rolled his eyes. "No, mom. Belinda did not find her for me." At the mention of her full name, Bee's mouth fell open and she gestured for Jess to hand her the phone. "Hold on mom." Jess smirked as he handed his cell over to his friend.
"Mrs. M. I've told you, my name is Bee. You gotta stop calling me Belinda."
"Oh, hello Belinda dear." Elizabeth completely ignores Bee's request, causing Bee to roll her eyes at Jess. "So, tell me about this girl my son is dating?"
"Oh, sure." Bee grinned. "Her name's Rory, she's in publishing too." Jess' face dropped when he heard Bee mention Rory's name and he made a move to grab the phone back off her. Bee responded by turning one hundred and eighty degrees and bending forwards, placing the phone out of Jess' reach. "Though she is an Eli, I have to say she is very beautiful." Bee laughed.
"Any idea where he's taking her?"
"Dinner. And if I know Jess, which I do, he's taking her to Sorrento's." She gave Jess a wide grin.
"What are you doing?" Jess hissed and Bee waved him off.
"Listen Mrs. M., I gotta go. I'm on the lunch run. I'll give you back to Jess. Bye!" She smiled tossing Jess back his phone and pulling her bag over shoulder walked out of the office.
Jess sighed and out the phone back up to his ear. "Mom?"
"Jess, hunny, I hope you are taking this girl to Sorrento's. It's a beautiful restaurant."
"I am mom." He sighed, inwardly cursing Bee for knowing him too well.
"Good, well have fun, and your father and I will see you for Thanksgiving."
"'Kay, bye mom."
"Bye sweetie." Came the reply before the line went dead. Jess ran his hand through his hair and tossed his phone on the desk. His mom was hard work at times.
"Jess?"
He glanced up a saw Matt hovering at the door of the office. "What's up?"
Matt sighs and walks into the room, dropping down onto the couch and putting his feet up. "You think Bee's serious about this Nate guy?"
"What? And who's in the store?"
"I flipped the sign. And do you think she's serious about this Nate?"
"I dunno." Jess shook his head. "She just met him on Sunday morning. It's only Tuesday."
"So, not into him?"
"Dude, you have to get over this. Like the book said, she's just not that into you." Jess grinned.
"No." Matt shook his head. "One day she'll realise that we're supposed to be together and I'll move out of the friend zone."
"I hate to break this to you, but I don't even think you're in the friend zone."
"Yeah, kick me when I'm down Jess."
"Catch a grip Campbell. I'm not your counselor."
"Yeah, good thing too. You suck at advice."
"Man, seriously, this is a big city. You can't find some who actually likes you?"
He groaned, throwing his head back and covering his face with his hands. "I don't want some girl."
"Then, I don't know how to help. She seems really excited about this guy."
"Damn it." Matt gritted his teeth, swinging his legs of the couch and pushing himself into a seated position.
Jess ran his thumb across the screen of his phone. "That was too easy." He muttered.
Matt glanced over at him. "What?"
"My mom." Jess replied without looking up.
"Your mom's too easy?" Matt smirked.
"No." Jess rolled his eyes. "She found out about my date with Rory, but she dropped the topic without much fight. She's up to something."
"Or, she just doesn't care." Matt shrugged. "How's it going with her anyway?"
"Rory?"
"Yeah. You were with her this weekend, right? How was that? I always find it's the quiet ones that shock you the most in bed."
"What?" Jess snapped his head up. "No. We didn't have sex."
"Oh." Matt nodded his head a few times. "Frigid?"
"No." Jess scoffed, biting back a smile as he remembered how forward Rory was on Saturday night. "It just didn't happen."
"Why the hell is the store closed?" Bee yelled as she walked back into the office. "Why are we paying you?" She pointed at Matt.
"I have to take a lunch break too." He retorted.
"Fine." Bee huffed, throwing him his sandwich. "Jess, I'm gonna leave about four, that okay?" She handed him a bottle of water. "And before you say no, remember, I've been here since eight."
"It's fine. Why you going early?"
"Nate called." She grinned, sitting down on her desk. "We're going out."
Matt tossed his half eaten sandwich in the trashcan beside him. "I'm not that hungry." He stood. "I'll just open up again." He left the office and Jess looked up at Bee.
"What?"
"Would it kill you to be nice to the guy?"
"It might." She shrugged one shoulder. "And I'm not willing to risk it. He just irritates me."
"Try to be civil."
"Fine."
"Thank you." Jess sighed and turned back to the manuscript he was reading.
"Wow."
"What? Too much?" Rory turned to face Katie.
Katie shook her head, grinning. "No. But you're aware that's 'come get it' dress?"
"Yeah." Rory replied a sly smile on her face.
"You want him to come get it?" Katie's jaw dropped.
Rory shrugged on shoulder. "Wouldn't you."
"Well, well, well. You have changed." Katie bumped Rory' hip.
"Oh, shut up." Rory told her, trying to bite back a smile. "But if he doesn't want it again tonight, you have to come shopping with me for a new dress."
"Wait...doesn't want it again? What happened this weekend?"
"Nothing." Rory sighed. "I mean, something nearly happened, but he stopped it."
"Frigid?"
"No!" Rory scoffed. "Concerned. He didn't want it to be about my being upset about my grandpa."
"Oh. That's actually pretty sweet." Katie laughed as the door knocked.
Rory let out a deep breath, glancing at the door. "That's him."
"I'll get it." Katie ran her hand down Rory's arm. "A lady never rushes to meet a man."
"Tips from Emily Post?"
"No. Emily Gilmore!" Katie grinned, standing on tiptoe to check the peephole. "False alarm." She rolled her eyes, opening her door to reveal April.
"Wow, you're wearing the 'I want sex' dress." April smiled handing Katie the pizza box she was holding. "I brought pizza."
"I see that." Katie deadpanned as April tossed her coat over the back of the couch.
"Ap. What are you doing here. And how do you know about this dress?"
"I came to wish you good luck. And me and Kate planned a pizza and movie night. I brought '10 Things'. And I know about the dress because I was there when you and Lorelai bought it."
"But you were way over the other side of the store when we discussed the dress." Rory gestured with her hands.
"Yeah, but you two are loud." April grinned, jumping down onto the couch.
"I love you little Danes." Katie laughed joining her on he couch.
Rory opened her mouth to say something when the door knocked again. "Stay." She warned the two. She crossed the room, checked her hair in the mirror and then opened the door.
"Hey." She smiled at him.
He stared at her for a second and then let out a breath. "Hi. You look...amazing."
"Thanks." She wrinkled her nose and felt her cheeks heating up. "You look good too." She glanced down at her feet and then a pointed cough behind her. Grabbing her coat and purse, she took a step towards him. "We should go." She smiled.
"Should I wait up?" Katie called out, laughing.
Rory stuck her head around the door frame. "No." She smiled, shaking her head and pulled the door closed. "Sorry about that." She smiled up at Jess as he took her coat from her.
He held it out to help her put it on. "It's cold out."
"Thanks." She buttoned the coat and started walking towards the elevator. "So, where we going?" She asked over her shoulder.
"Sorrento's. Ever been?" He asks as the elevator opens.
"Nope."
"It's Italian." He tells her, reaching out for her hand.
"Really?" She laced their fingers together. "I never would have guessed."
"Smartass." Jess chuckled, bending his head to kiss her.
"Mariano." Jess glanced at the hostess, before turning his attention back to Rory, who was taking off her coat.
"Right this way. The rest of your party is already here." The redhead smiled at them.
"Wait, what? Rest of...I booked a table for two." Jess stopped her in her tracks.
She glanced at the reservations book. "It was changed to a table of four this afternoon." She inclined her head to the left and Jess and Rory follow her line of sight. A couple, a blonde woman and a man with a mop of hair very like Jess', sit there.
"Shit." Jess squeezed his eyes shut. "I knew she was up to something."
"Jess?" Rory placed her hand on his elbow. "Is that your..."
"Parents." Jess sighed, opening his eyes. "Yeah, that's mom and dad. I'm sorry. I should have known. Bee told my mom we were having dinner here. Sorry again." He smiled and reached down to take her hand.
"No." Rory pulled her hand away. "I can't meet your parents."
"What? Why? I've met you're mom."
"Yes." She nodded. "And want to meet them, but not tonight."
"What's going on?"
Rory looked about her. "Can't we just bail? They'll never know."
"I'm not bailing. What are you freaking out about?"
"I'm not wearing the right thing."
"Trust me, you are." Jess smirked.
"Be serious." Rory ran a hand through her hair. "This isn't a dress to meet your boyfriend's parents in. It doesn't say 'Hi, nice to meet you, I'm going to be so good for son.' It says 'Hey, you know you can have sex with me later'."
Jess grinned. "I can have sex with you later?
Rory grunted and snapped her finger. "Focus. Please."
"I'm trying but your dress keeps talking to me."
"Jess!"
"It's too late. They've spotted us."
"What?" Rory glanced around just as Elizabeth reached them.
"You two planning on standing by the door all evening?" She smiled. "Hi hunny." She smiled, kissing Jess on the cheek. "And this must be Rory."
"Hi, nice to meet you." Rory smiled as Elizabeth slipped her arm through Rory's and led her to the table.
"James, this is Jess' date, Rory."
"Oh." James stood up and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, I thought we were only meeting Jess for dinner."
"Yeah, well, we didn't know we were meeting you or mom at all." Jess smirked as he pulled out Rory's chair.
"So, you win." James laughed. "Wine?"
"Please." Jess smiled and Rory simply nodded her head.
"So, Lizzie, covert ops now, huh?" James grinned at his wife.
"Don't call me Lizzie, Jimmy." She smiled. "And no covert ops. I just wanted to spend some time with my son. And if I get to meet this beautiful girl he's been spending time with, all the better. So, Rory. Where are you from?"
"Connecticut. Stars Hollow."
"I've been there." Elizabeth smiled. "Dragonfly Inn? You know it?"
"Yeah." Rory laughed. "My mom owns that inn."
"Your mom? So you're Lorelai's daughter."
"You know my mom?"
"Well, your grandmother. I've been to the inn for DAR functions."
"Oh. You're in the DAR with my grandma? Small world."
"Isn't it?" Elizabeth smiled. "James, this is Richard Gilmore's granddaughter."
"Oh, you're grandfather told me all about you."
"And me, you sir." Rory smiled.
"How is he?" Jess spoke up, his hand coming to rest on her thigh.
"Better." She looked up at him. "He's getting home on Friday."
"We heard about the surgery. Send him our wishes?" Elizabeth asked as the waiter arrived to take their order.
"That wasn't so bad, right?" Jess glanced down at Rory as he pushed his key into the lock.
"No, but it could have been better." She kissed his cheek and walked past him into the apartment. "Where's Bee?"
"At home. Long Island." He answered flipping the light switch on."Drink? I think there's some wine about here somewhere."
"Sure." Rory nodded, placing her coat over the back of a dining chair in the kitchen.
"Go sit down." Jess nodded towards the couch.
"I'd rather be here." Rory smiled, wrapping her arms around Jess' neck.
"Really?" He smirked, ducking his head and pressing kisses along her collarbone, while his hands found her waist. "You know that dress is more incredible than what I'd been picturing. And when I found out it could talk..." He smirked kissing her on the mouth, swiping his tongue along her bottom lip, silently asking for entrance.
Rory pulled away. "I thought you wanted to take me out on a proper date before we had sex?" She rasied one eyebrow. "I don't think dinner with your parents counts."
"Well, what about Monday?" He asked, his breath hot on her neck.
"Monday?"
"We had coffee."
"Does that count?"
He stepped back half a step and looked her in the eye. "I dunno, does it?"
Rory smiled and ran her finger along his bottom lip. "Yeah." She whispered. "It counts." She pressed a chaste kiss to his lips and then pulled back smiling. "What now?"
Jess' hands left her waist, and looking down he entwined his fingers with hers. He pulled her out of the kitchen and towards his room. "Now," he smirked, placing a kiss on her neck, "I have my way with you."
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