A/N: I'm awake. And sober. Sort of, anyway. There has been a lot of celebrating in the past couple of weeks as I and most of my friends are now done with university. Hence the ridiculous delay. And this chapter's evil and would not work. Anyways. Onto the actual chapter which I hope you enjoy. Sorry again for the delay.

Pack a bag, take a trip

"What kind of a mood are you in?" Rory joked, walking into Jess's office. Not getting a reply, she walked up to him and touched his shoulder lightly, making him look at her.

"Sorry." He pushed his headphones down. "I was listening to something."

"Anything good?"

"A podcast some publishing guys in Nevada are putting out."

"Why?"

"Thinking it might be interesting to try and do something similar with Truncheon when we have some time to put into it." Jess shrugged. "I mentioned it to Matt and he seemed cool with the idea and it should be easy enough to get Chris on board. Of course, the concept of having more time is risible, especially with the baby almost here, so damned if I know if we'll ever actually do it."

"For what it's worth, I think it sounds like it could be a really good thing."

"I'm not even done hashing out the details in my head yet. I'll get there."

"I'll help with anything you want me to."

"I know." He smiled, running his hand down her leg. "Thanks."

"Any time." Rory replied. "So you're busy with that?"

"Sort of. Why, do you need something?"

"Nah, I was just thinking I want to pack my hospital bag and wasn't sure if you were going to mock me or not."

"I am going to mock you no matter what."

"I know that, I just wanted to assess how much you were going to mock me."

"I'd say you'll probably get off easy tonight." He smirked, picking up her hand in his and kissing her palm. "Need any help?"

"I'm good. I have it all planned out."

"Even that sentence scares me."

Laughing, Rory shook her head. "You're silly."

"You're mean." He pouted, kissing her bump. "I don't think your mother likes me very much, Brett, or she'd know that being called that is totally ruining my street cred."

"Right. 'Cause you totally have any left, mister married with a kid on the way that is actually doing work he doesn't have to at 7 o'clock on a Friday night."

"That's a really long title."

"Get A4 sized business cards. They'll definitely set you apart from the competition." Ruffling his hair, she smiled, looking at the door. "I should let you get back to that. If I know you well enough, you'll have everything planned out on this by morning."

"Hope not, I'd like to get more than three hours of sleep for a change. Fuck it, it's practice." He laughed, kissing her stomach again.

"But I like you being in bed with me." She pouted slightly.

"Because you have someone on hand to send for water?"

"Yeah, that too." She laughed in reply. "Don't stay up too late."

"Don't pack the kitchen sink."

"You don't get a say in anything relating to that bag, got me? Other than snacks. You should pick your own." She relented quickly.

"I'll defer to your wisdom."

"You sure?"

"Whatever is fine with me. As long as you don't pack it now, I doubt many things last that long."

"Yeah, you're right. I'll try to remember to get you something closer to the day so you don't starve to death or something."

"What medieval hellhole are we going to that doesn't have vending machines? Because I'm not sure I'm ok with you giving birth there."

"I just want to be on the safe side."

"By safe you mean paranoid, right?"

"No." She giggled, shaking her head. "Of course not."

"My bad."

"Right, I was going."

"I'll be here, yell if you need something."

"Jess, headphones." She pointed out, making him roll his eyes at himself.

"Yeah, forgot about that. Come find me then. Or call my phone."

"I'll figure it out, I'm sure." She walked to the door after ruffling his hair one more time, but turned around before she opened it. "Hey, do I tell you enough how proud I am of you for Truncheon and everything you do?"

"Probably." Jess smiled, spinning around in his chair. "Would you have married me if I was still working at Walmart?"

"Yes. I'd live in the street with you if we had to." She smiled back, shrugging. "I'm just so happy for you because you get to do something you love."

"Not love. Tolerate most days."

"Oh, please." Rory giggled in reply. "You love it."

"I seem to remember you were going away."

"I am." She waddled out of the room, still smiling.

"Pack." Jess smirked, walking in the kitchen a while later, finding Rory looking through the fridge.

"I did."

"Not that. Grab a different suitcase and pack some clothes."

"Why?"

"Because I'm your husband and you must obey me?"

Snorting with laughter, she gave him an incredulous look. "No, really, why?"

"It hurts that you don't take me seriously." Jess smirked. "I want to go away."

"Where to?"

"Anywhere." He shrugged. "Your shower's in a couple of weeks and I've been with you long enough to know you're not going to want to be away from your doctor in the last few weeks, so this is pretty much our last chance to have a grown up couple of days to ourselves. Or almost, but that's more of a technicality that we're going to ignore." Kissing her quickly, he smirked. "Stop thinking, let's go."

"I'll pack, you find us somewhere to go." She nodded, smiling playfully.

"You're not getting the spontaneous thing, are you?"

"It's late, I don't want to spend the whole night driving. Plus last time you decided to be spontaneous, we wound sleeping in what I'm sure was the Bates motel because everything else was booked."

"Oh, and you didn't enjoy it?" He whispered in her ear, kissing her neck gently.

"So not the point!" She blushed. "Just because we spent the entire weekend…"

"Go on, you're a grown-up, you can say it. Naked."

"Go to hell." She glared at him, pushing past him towards the door.

"I even went for the censored version and this is what I get?" He fake pouted, looking at her.

"Yes, it is. Now go book something while I pack."

"Can't you do it while I pack?"

"Right. I completely trust you to pack clothes for me." Rory grinned, leaning against the door frame. "I don't even want to think what you'd consider appropriate clothing for a weekend away."

"I do." Jess laughed, trying to move his hand under her shirt but she quickly slapped it away.

"We're never going to leave if you don't stop that."

"Fine, but if you think we're going to be doing anything else all weekend, you're very mistaken."

Blushing again, Rory kissed him quickly. "I'll pack your stuff as well."

"Thanks."

"Now go!" She laughed pointing at the office door before heading for the stairs.

"Take a bathing suit." Jess smirked on his way to the office, looking after her.

"Jess, I have nothing appropriate."

"Huh. Take an inappropriate one then."

"Jess…"

"Not changing my mind on this one."

"Fine."

"I will check."

"I hate you." Rory laughed, sticking out her tongue before heading up the stairs.

"You're teaching our daughter all the wrong things." He called after her again before closing the door after him, leaving Rory shaking her head, still giggling to herself.

"God, this is beautiful." Rory took a deep breath, looking out the window. "I'm choosing not to think how much money…"

"Then don't." He smiled, kissing her cheek. "Enjoy being irresponsible for a bit."

"You do bad things to me."

"It's what I'm here for." He moved his mouth to her neck, a hand rested on her hip. "Come to bed, I'm sure it's going to be better in the daylight."

"But…"

"It's cold." He continued kissing her neck, smirking.

"I get the feeling this is less your overprotective side and more your…" She stopped herself, closing her eyes.

"You're some kind of genius, aren't you?"

"I must be."

"So?" Jess whispered again and she turned around, taking his hand.

"No." He whined the next morning, grabbing her as Rory tried to roll to her back and out of bed. Looking down at his hand, she laughed.

"What, you thought that if you didn't hold me down I'd run? Because I'm pretty sure I'm not able." She pointed at her stomach.

"I'd rather be safe."

"Oh, please, we're a lot of months too late for that one."

"Sh, we're grown-ups, it's legit. We can totally get away with telling people we planned her." Moving closer to her, he leaned on his arm, the other one drawing lines up and down her arm. "Now stop thinking about her."

"Easy for you to say that, she's not kicking you."

"Quiet down, evil spawn, your parents are having adult time." Jess chuckled, leaning down and kissing her bump.

"What do you want to do today?"

"Stay in bed." He shrugged. "I thought I made that clear just now."

"We're on holiday, I want to do things." Rory pouted.

"Fine, but whatever we do, I insist they involve that bathing suit."

"Jess, I'm going to look like a whale. I'll wear it around here to make you happy, but that's it."

"You're fucking gorgeous, stop complaining."

"Aw, I was going to swoon but then you finished that thought." Rory laughed, lifting his hand and placing a small kiss on his palm. "I won't look disgusting in a bathing suit?"

"You're not exactly Carol Yager."

"I feel pretty close."

Serious for a minute, Jess kissed her forehead. "I think you look amazing but, if you'll be uncomfortable, ignore me and wear a muumuu."

"Good to know I have your permission to ignore you." Rory smiled, kissing him. "I'll put a dress over and then see how I feel."

"Sensible compromise. I almost feel like I won this."

"Don't fool yourself." She smiled again, looking over his shoulder at the clock. "Should we go?"

"Too bright outside. We'll get cancer."

"Uh-huh." She nodded, laughing at his silliness.

"I'm sure the Surgeon General agrees with me."

"And this has nothing to do with you not wanting to get out of bed?"

"Nothing at all." He grinned, shaking his head. "Just trying to stay safe. You don't want to die before you have enough time to get back at the kid for all the crap she's putting you through, do you?"

Rolling her eyes, Rory laughed, moving her hand over his chest. "Shut up."

"Gladly." He laughed as well before kissing her.

Sitting on the beach later that night, Rory sighed happily looking at Jess.

"I'm happy we did this."

"I'm happy you finally went into the water after whining about wanting to do it for ages." He smirked. "I counted the guys that checked you out, by the way. Curious?"

"Right. I'd totally believe you."

"I'm completely trustworthy." He chuckled, leaning back a bit before pushing a strand of hair away from her face. "And you're beautiful."

"I'm really going to miss then after the baby's born." She whispered, blushing from his words.

"What?"

"Being just you and me. I love her and I am so, so excited for her to be here but at the same time…" She trailed off. "Is that bad?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yes." Jess smiled, sitting up and kissing her gently. "You're not alone."

"Good to know." She ran her fingers through his hair. "I get so scared sometimes that we're going to lose what we have when she's here and we'll end up being frazzled and tired and we'll never again be like we are now."

"She'll grow up, she won't constantly need us forever."

"Yeah, I know. But what if by the time that happens, we'll be so used to it that it won't change all we'll be parents all the time and never us like we are now?"

"Look at me." Jess cupped her face in his hand. "It will change back, ok? I promise."

"But…"

"Not completely, but it will. Trust me."

"If I say I do, will that validate your belief that you're trustworthy?"

"Likely." He kissed her. "You're scared, I'm scared, but we're not going to fuck this up just because we have a baby."

"I know." She smiled, placing another kiss on his lips. "I'm just irrationally terrified we will."

"Me too."

"Then you should have told me sooner!" She hit his arm lightly, laughing. "I don't even know what's me being crazy and what's a valid thing to feel these days."

"The simplest solution is to tell me everything and I'll let you know."

"Please, you'd mock me forever if you knew half the things that went through my mind."

"Like…?"

"So not telling you." She kissed him, smiling. "Come on, let's get up and walk for a while longer."

"You're making me take a long walk on the beach? Fuck, I really have no street cred left."

"You sat on the beach grumbling all day about the sun and the people and everything. You're good." Rory motioned with his head for him to stand up before extending her arms, waiting for help. Wrapping his arm around her, Jess smiled when she kissed his cheek before leaning closer to his ear. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Hey, what made you propose this?" Rory asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Don't know. You said packing and it made me think. That's about it."

"Thank you."

"Nah, don't." Jess smiled, kissing her before wrapping his arm even tighter around her.

"I don't want to go back." Rory whined the next afternoon as they sat in a café, having dessert. "Why don't we live here?"

"Because we have jobs in Philadelphia?"

"Spoilsport." She stuck out her tongue quickly, grabbing another bite of cake on her fork. "How about we move here when we retire? If I haven't replaced you with a hotter model by then."

"Zing. Who says I won't replace you before that happens?" Pointing his finger at her, he smirked. "And don't even try to pout, you started it."

"But…" She drew out the word, pouting before she burst out laughing. "Let's be friends again."

"Only if you stop planning our retirement. I don't want to think about being old."

"You are old."

"You're really not going to play nice today, are you?" Jess smirked, picking up his coffee cup and waving it in front of her. "Real coffee. With caffeine."

"You're going to do that to your pregnant wife? Jerk."

"You love me." He chuckled, kissing her quickly. "How's the cake?"

"Good. Want a bite?"

"Yes. You can feed me, we'll be ridiculously cutesy."

"Here comes the airplane?" She laughed, lifting her fork before putting it in her own mouth. "Wait, no, my cake!"

"You suck at sharing." He smirked again.

"I didn't kicked you out bed last night, I resent that. I can almost deal with you being in our giant bed, but the normal sized hotel room? I got very close to killing you."

"I'm gonna keep quiet on this one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That I have nothing but love for you taking over our bed with that giant pillow and waking up every hour to go to the bathroom." Jess laughed, kissing her before she had a chance to reply. "You don't have to tell me off, I know I was a jackass."

"No, you're not." She shrugged. "I'm sorry you're not comfortable, I can go sleep in the guest room or something."

"Shut up."

"Jess, I'm seri…"

"Shut up." He repeated himself, cutting her off. "You're not going anywhere."

"But…"

"You want me to tell you to shut up a third time? 'Cause I'll do it."

"Fine." She smiled, kissing him.

"I like sharing a bed with you, it's nice. Particularly when you sleep naked, but I'll take it at other times as well. And I don't really get to complain, since you've got to be way more uncomfortable than I am."

"Yes, but I have to be, you don't."

"I'm hoping for bonus husband karma for the sacrifice."

"You've got it." She smiled sweetly, running her fingers through his hair.

"Good to know." Looking at her empty plate, he smiled. "More cake?"

"We said we'd leave as soon as we were done."

"No one's making us."

"But we're going to get back late."

"You can nap on the drive back." Jess smiled, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. "What's half an hour longer?"

"You're evil." She giggled, cupping his face in her hand and holding him in place so she could kiss him. "That carrot cake looked very good though."

"I'll go get you some."

"Grab me some decaf as well." She smiled, watching him as he headed for the counter.