thank you so much for reading/reviewing!
sheisbeautiful-sheisnotme - YES to everything you said. also, yes chapter 11 is def another of my faves. I was going for 'why did you drop out of yale?!' vibes and i think that comes through in a more ~mature~ way
fyi - Rated M Scene ahead!
enjoy xoxo
disclaimer: I own nothing
Jess wakes up to a familiar feeling of soft hands under his shirt and in his hair. Gentle kisses being placed upon his neck. Familiar lately, that is. He opens his eyes and finds her snuggling up to him in a way that she's been doing most mornings over the last couple of weeks. He smirks, taking a deep breath through his nose before pressing his lips to where her head is pressed against his chest.
"Gotta say, I'm a big fan of these pregnancy hormones."
She looks up at him, lower lip tucked under her teeth, eyes half-lidded and dilated.
"You weren't the other night when I cried watching The Great British Baking Show."
"I stand corrected," he nods in defeat, "I don't like the ones that make you cry. But the ones that make you horny I absolutely adore. Guess I gotta take the good with the bad."
She sits up and moves so she's on top, straddling his body on the bed. He bites the corner of his smirk, bringing his hands to rest on her bare thighs.
"Horny is kind of a juvenile term, isn't it?"
"I don't know," he shrugs with an impish look, "but it's definitely what you are. There is so much heat coming from between your legs right now, I just know when I take these clothes off of you I'm going to find a river there."
She matches his smirk and raises her eyebrows suggestively.
"Luckily for you, I already did half the work."
She raises her shirt ever so slightly, just enough that he sees the bareness between her legs; she drops the shirt just as quickly.
He whistles and moves his hands to grab her behind.
"I love my pregnant little vixen," he remarks with a devilish smirk.
"Yes I can feel just how much you love me. It's poking my leg as we speak."
He winks and his hands move to the hem of her top, "this shirt is too big, baby. I'm going to need you to take it off."
"It's your shirt," she replies playfully.
"You're right. I should be the one to take it off."
He grabs the hem and tugs it upward, sitting up enough to help her get it over her arms and head.
As he lies back to take her in, he is greeted with a brand new sight. He doesn't realize he gasps, but Rory frowns when she hears it. His eyes are locked, his hands frozen on her body. Completely transfixed by the fresh bump between her hips.
"What's wrong?" she asks with wide eyes, looking down at herself. Still spellbound, he moves his hands slowly from her legs up to the protrusion.
"Where did this come from?" he asks, voice laced with awe and delicate affection.
She relaxes and smiles softly, her hands skim down her body and rest on top of his over the slight swelling of her lower belly.
"It's your baby, Jess."
Looking down at his captivated face, she sees a rippling breath move through his chest. His eyes shift up to hers.
"Our baby," he corrects softly, before moving his attention back to the little life between them, "it's like you…popped overnight."
A tender laugh escapes her, and he watches her belly shake with it.
"It doesn't feel like that to me. My shirts have been getting tighter lately. Like they're squeezing my skin," she shrugs, "that's why I borrowed one of your shirts to sleep."
He shakes his head, "no, there's no way this has been here and I haven't noticed. I'm constantly looking at you. Both dressed and nude. This is…new."
The enchantment in his tone touches her deeply, and she moves a hand from one of his to softly hold his cheek. He slowly gazes up from her stomach and over her body, to her face. The hormones that amplify all of her emotions take the stage, as she recognizes the wetness surrounding his gold speckled orbs; her eyes mist too. They share a silent moment, knowing that there aren't quite words for what they are both feeling, but it's understood anyway. He takes a deep breath and circles the palms of his hands against her taut skin. The lifting of his lips is gentle, his smile full of soft appreciation, as he lets his eyes take in all parts of her glowing figure. Her long brown hair flowing over her shoulders, the ends silkily sweeping near her chest and on her upper arms. The once perfectly petite breasts now look fuller; their pink peaks slightly darker in color. Her skin - face, arms and legs included - supple and smooth with a buoyancy that reflects the flourishing growth happening inside her body.
"I know, they're bigger," her mumbling voice breaks his concentration, "And my nipples look funny."
His eyes meet hers once again, his circling hands still on her stomach.
"You are…ethereal, Rory."
Her look blooms into fully besotted, all of her features softening and concentrating on his radiating look of love.
"That's a strong word."
"Trust me, it's not strong enough."
A lovely pink blush spreads cross her cheeks and nose under his praise. She shrugs one shoulder up.
"It's probably just because I've been able to eat and sleep properly again."
"That is definitely part of it," he agrees, and she notices something like relief in his eyes, "but that's what I'm saying. You are…glowing with health."
She bites her lip and her eyes water more, "are you trying to make me cry?"
"It's fucking beautiful, Rory," he says so softly that a tear does escape her eye. He shifts his body beneath her and places his hands under her legs; he pulls her slightly forward to meet her bump with his lips.
"Months two and three were so hard on you," he mumbles against her, the vibrations of his words feel electric, but his tone sounds as though he experienced her pain within himself. He sits back to look at her face again, and tries to explain,
"It's like…a massage to my nervous system to see you feeling and looking so well. You and our baby."
She laughs and brings a hand to wipe her eyes.
"That's an interesting way to say it. But I know what you mean," she places her hair behind her ear on one side, "I feel so lucky to have made it to this stage. Knowing how it could have gone. And something could still go wrong, but…I feel good about being out of the first trimester. Though there were some parts I loved, like you taking care of me and learning to make Luke's soup. And now you can make it for our kids when they're sick!"
They share a sweet smile; his hand grazes over her belly in a petting motion. He bites his bottom lip in thought as he looks over her form again.
"That's right," he mumbles and then requests, "Can I take a picture of you? Like this? Just for me."
The light blush on her cheeks deepens.
"I hope it would be just for you. Um," she looks down at herself again, not seeing quite the level of beauty in her body that he does, but she nods with a small smile, "okay."
He pushes himself up to a seated position, moving her steadily in his lap with him. He reaches out and grabs his phone off the nightstand. She moves her hair to cover her breasts a little more, and smiles softly into the camera faced at her.
"Gorgeous," he murmurs affectionately, "definitely my new lock screen photo."
Her jaw drops and she scoffs, "do not do that!"
And he takes a picture of that too. He smirks and puts his phone back down, pulling her towards him by the arms.
"Just joking. Those are for my eyes only," he kisses her tenderly. He moves one hand from her arm and skims it down her body, purposely over the slope of her stomach and then between her legs. She tremors when he slides his fingers through her lips.
"It's practically an ocean now, isn't it?" he teases, rubbing her up and down.
"Jess," she stutters out on an affected breath. His smirk grows.
"That's the other wonderful thing about your pregnancy hormones," he easily finds her swollen clit with the pads of his fingers and strokes her there; her whole body quakes above him, "you're always just a few touches away from an orgasm. It's so satisfying making you explode over and over and over again, baby."
She throws her head back and moans loudly, the sound is shaky and the hand resting on his arm digs into him.
"This is gonna be an extra quick one, huh?" he rubs his two fingers faster over her; she brings her free hand to hold and play with her breast in tandem with his movements. It fills her fingers with its new size, pearly skin spilling out at the sides of her palm.
"Look at this beautiful fucking body," he mutters sensually, erection expanding in his shorts, "and all I want to do is make it feel so good."
"It does, it feels so good," she mumbles out between breaths, and in just a few more swipes of his fingers she comes undone. He holds her up with one arm, not wanting her to fall forward on her stomach. She grips onto it with both of her hands, trying to stay stable as pleasure wracks through her. After a few deep breaths, she sits back and tugs at his shorts.
"Damn, my baby is a fiend," he teases with a sexy smile, watching her throw the blankets back to take his clothes all the way off, "come here."
She crawls back up and he brings her to straddle him again. He first takes her face in his hands to kiss her deeply, then moves them to her bottom. Before he gets a chance, she puts a hand between them and guides him inside of her.
"Such a little fiend," he grunts as she sits down on him completely. She gives him an impish look and starts to bounce in his lap.
"Easy, easy, easy sex kitten," he hisses out, holding her ass firmly to keep her in place, "Do you have any idea how good you feel? You're all fucking tight and slippery, it's going to be over way too fast if you do that."
Her body shakes with the breath she takes; erotic sparks rattling through her that she's trying to keep contained. He takes some of the pressure off to let her move once more. With her hands gripping his strong, defined shoulders, she grinds slower. Her whole body rolling up and down with each movement. And he is so grateful that she listened to him, because with this new hypnotic view he has of her lush curves, he knew he wouldn't last long in the first place.
"Perfect, baby. Thank you," he mutters between moans, "so fucking perfect."
She picks up her pace slightly at his praising words, and he doesn't stop her. Instead, he moves one of his hands from her ass to where their pelvises keep meeting. He spreads his hand on the bottom of her curved stomach and finds her throbbing bud again with his thumb.
"Oh god," she whimpers as soon as he's pressed against it. He feels her swell around him at the contact, her body already wound tightly for more. He groans a string of expletives as she continues to squeeze him with each swipe against her swollen nerves. Getting lost in the pleasure she's experiencing from his hand, she stops her rocking movements and stills, squeezing his shoulders still and hunched over his body. He takes the opportunity to bend his knees and take control of everything. His thumb rubs harder, and he can feel her knees shaking on the bed beside his hips. She tightens more around him as she approaches another orgasm.
"Yes baby, please come," he begs, holding onto his own orgasm with a fumbling grasp at best, "I'm going to explode, Rory, because your body feels so fucking amazing. Every single part of it, inside and out."
His words get her there, and she comes crashing down around him just as he starts to spill into her. He holds her hips so tightly, as he trembles with jerky motions, that he knows there will be small bruises there. She clings still to his shoulders; when his body settles, he flips them so they're both facing each other on their sides.
"You have some real magic down here," he mumbles with a suggestive brow, hand cupping between her legs.
"It's just the hormones," she replies with a laughing smile.
"It's all of you," he kisses her nose, "are you okay?"
"I'm feeling very sexually satisfied," she nods, then smirks, "for now."
He sits up in bed with a chuckle.
"Give me enough time to refuel, please," he stands up and throws his shorts back on, "and you need to eat, it's almost ten already. What are you in the mood for?"
She licks her lips in thought, stomach already rumbling with hunger.
"Grapes and frosting."
He crosses his arms and shakes his head.
"That's not breakfast."
She pouts.
"It's my favorite thing lately."
"I know, baby," he walks up to the bed and places his hands on her thighs as he leans down to kiss her head, "and you can have some after or later. But you gotta have something healthier first."
"Fine," she sighs, "waffles. With peanut butter."
"And strawberries?"
"Okay, and strawberries."
"I'm on it," he affectionately pats her thigh. He steps back to walk away but is enticed by her roundness again. He crouches down to be closer to it, and places gentle kisses all around her belly button.
"I love you."
He feels her hand in his hair.
"The baby can't hear you yet."
"I wasn't talking to the baby," he responds standing up again.
"Sure, you weren't," she gives him a teasing smile. He smiles too.
"I was talking to both of you," he insists, "but…six months right? That's when babies can hear outside your body?"
Her smile softens and she nods.
"They say six to seven months, yes."
He nods, "and you're about to start month five soon."
"I know," she sighs, sitting up in bed to snuggle under the warmth of the blankets, "some days it feels like it's speeding by and others I feel like it will never come out."
"It's a good speed, I think. But then again, I'm not the one doing the dirty work."
She is silent for a minute, but he waits because he can see something going on in her head.
"I think I'm going to talk to my job about starting maternity leave at the end of month seven."
"Yeah?" he asks with a growing grin, "so you can focus on writing?"
She nods a few times.
"Is that okay?"
His brows furrow, "What do you mean by that?"
"Jess…I don't make as much money on maternity leave. And also, you like to work from home sometimes. I don't want to be in your space, and honestly I'm sure there will be times I don't want you in mine. We share an office here. It could be…a lot. And if you want, I'll wait until month eight."
He regards her with a confused inquiry, a perplexed look in his eyes.
"I can't tell if you're being serious or not."
"I am!"
"Okay well, it's kind of an insane question so I wasn't sure," he shrugs with his hands up. His body softens and he gives her a loving look.
"You should definitely go on maternity leave at seven months. If there are any spatial issues we will work them out. But, I don't foresee any on my end. I love it when you're home. I love sharing spaces with you. Especially really small ones that force us close together."
She chuckles and matches his look of love.
"However, you know since we are getting closer to the halfway point to…becoming a family of three, maybe it's time we start looking at bigger places to live."
She frowns, her fingers fret with the sheets beneath the blanket.
"I'm not ready yet," she finally responds.
He looks her over.
"We don't have to do it today…"
"I don't…feel ready to even think about it. Yet."
He scrutinizes her with a gentle discernment, but he lets it go with a shrug.
"Okay," he walks towards the door, "don't forget to take your vitamins."
"Can I have them with breakfast?" she asks in a drowsy voice, sliding her body down the bed to lie more comfortably on her side, "and also, wake me up again when breakfast is ready."
He smirks, and mutters before closing the door on her, "of course, sleepy sex kitten."
"You're looking much happier and healthier than the last time I saw you, Rory. You're feeling good?"
"So much better!"
"She is so much better," Jess adds on, squeezing Rory's hand where it rests on the examination table. The doctor grins as she puts her gloves on.
"You seem even more relieved than her, dad."
Jess chuckles and runs a hand through his hair.
"It was rough and there was nothing I could do to fix it. Glad to be past it."
The doctor turns to Rory with a wink.
"Oh, he's going to be a mess when you go through labor."
She laughs and throws him a quick smile.
"We'll get through it together."
"The best parents do," the doctor picks up the wand of the ultrasound machine and leans over Rory to expose her stomach.
"Look at that! You've got a whole new bump too," she gushes, "I saw the measurements the nurse took. You seem to be very healthy, Rory. Let's take a look at your little one."
Rory smiles wide, feeling a sort of pride in her body she's never really felt before. As the ultrasound screen comes on, she remembers something.
"Oh! Can we get new pictures today? We're going to my grandmother's for Christmas in Nantucket this week. We're going to tell her about the baby then, I would love to give her one."
"Of course," she presses the wand to Rory's body and starts moving it around, "Nantucket for Christmas sounds nice and quiet. I would love a holiday vacation like that."
"Oh, you'd be surprised. My mother is very good at filling a silence to the point that it feels like you're in the middle of a concert instead of a small living room with family members. It's impressive."
Jess laughs and nods in agreement, "she's not exaggerating."
"Well, that sounds fun too," the doctor chuckles, and the room goes silent as they hear the telltale heartbeat, "perfect. That's a healthy little heart right there."
Rory watches with relaxed shoulders and an adoring smile. Jess leans over to place a kiss on her head, and she momentarily places a gentle hand at the back of his, sharing his sentiment.
"Everything looks good and on schedule," she turns to look at them both, "would you like to know the sex?"
Jess looks to Rory for a decision, and she looks back at him with a confusing uncertainty. As though something negative could come from knowing, rather than being excited about making the choice.
"Um, we haven't really talked about it," she finally responds, turning back to the doctor, "I don't think I realized you would be able to see that already."
"It's okay, you don't have to make up your mind today," the doctor replies kindly, "sixteen weeks is the earliest we recommend doing it, anyway. Any appointment you have from now on we should be able to tell you. Just let us know. I'm going to put in your file for now that you don't want to know though, okay?"
Rory's face relaxes and she nods, "okay. Thank you."
"Absolutely," she finishes with the machine and stands up, removing her gloves and addressing both Jess and Rory, "keep up the good work. Eat healthy, don't be afraid to eat a lot if you're hungry."
"You've got nothing to worry about in that regard, doc."
Rory playfully nudges his arm.
"That's a good thing. You have no idea how many people I've had to teach to not be afraid of gaining weight while pregnant. Anyway, remember not to introduce any new exercise routine during pregnancy, but keep moving - walks, light weight lifting if that's your thing. Keep getting lots of rest. And even though we all know you don't need it, let your fiancé take care of you, okay?"
Jess throws the doctor a grateful look and Rory sighs with a smile.
"Okay. Thank you."
"Alright mama, here are your pictures," she hands them over and pats Rory's leg, "and I'll see you in a month."
"I'm glad she didn't take you aside to ask about the bruises on your hips," Jess teases after the doctor leaves the room.
She blushes, "I'm sure she's seen them before and knows exactly what they're from."
"So, she knows we can't keep our hands off each other," he winks, "oh, should we have told her how wild your libido is right now? That might be something a doctor needs to know, that you can't stop waking your fiancé up for sex in the morning, and sometimes in the middle of the night. Maybe she wants to take my vitals? Make sure you're not syphoning all of my energy."
Her blush deepens as she glares at him, but before she can respond her stomach grumbles loudly. He smirks.
"Come on, I'm done teasing. I'll take you to lunch before you go back to work."
"Street cart falafel?!" She pleads with excitement, quickly standing up and getting dressed again, "with extra white sauce and jalapenos? And extra pita bread on the side."
He grins and nods deeply, "Whatever you want."
"I've always wanted to try the pasta in the cheese wheel! You know what I mean? When they toss the pasta inside a big giant wheel of cheese? How about that?"
He laughs, amused and infatuated, and brings her into his arms. He kisses her head.
"I'll do my research and take you there for dinner sometime soon. Deal?"
She lifts her scarf to her neck, and he takes the ends off it for her, wrapping it snugly for warmth. She grins.
"Okay. Deal."
"I'm going to try not to mention the fact that you waited until almost five months in to tell me since you brought me a sonogram."
"I think that counts as mentioning it, mom."
Emily shoots Lorelai a look from across the room. The group of five sit in Emily's living room on Christmas Eve after a family dinner. They agreed to give one gift each before bed, and to avoid any further scrutiny about not having wine (or coffee with dessert), Rory and Jess decided it would be a good opportunity to share their news.
"My fifth month hasn't even technically started yet, Grandma. And we didn't want to tell you over the phone or text. It's news that's meant to be shared in person, don't you think?"
Emily turns and smiles warmly at Rory. She takes her hand in hers, applying an affectionate pressure.
"You're right, dear. Can I assume you're wearing that sweater to hide something from me, then?"
Rory smiles brightly and stands up, "I'll go change into my pajamas so you can see it. It's not much yet, just a little bump, but it's pretty cute."
"Just show us your stomach! Come on, lift up your top like this is girls gone wild and you're just tipsy enough to not think about the repercussions!"
"Lorelai!" Luke groans, putting his head in his hands.
"Do I want to know what she's talking about?" Emily mutters to Jess, who has a fist pressed to his mouth to keep from laughing. He shakes his head.
"Go on, Rory. Do what makes you comfortable, ignore your mother," Emily then mumbles, "we all have to do it sometimes."
Rory looks between her mom and grandmother before walking away to change.
"Do you know what you're having yet?" Emily asks Jess, looking more closely at the picture in her hand.
"We think it's a human, though it does have some extraterrestrial features."
She drops her hand in her lap and glares at him.
"Be serious. A boy or a girl? A great grandmother needs to know these things so she can buy certain things for her great grandchild. Maybe even some furniture?" She suggests with a scheming smile, "on that subject, have you looked into new places to live? I can't imagine you're planning to shove a family of three in a New York City apartment."
"Jesus, mom. You've hardly known for five minutes that Rory's pregnant and you're already trying to hijack their lives!"
"Speaking of that, how long have you known?"
Lorelai flounders and then replies with a scoff, "I'm her mother! It's different. And Luke is like her father."
"Well, she does have a biological father if you remember," Emily states with a raised brow and then turns her look on Jess, "have you two told him?"
"Sure," Jess replies with a harsh scowl, "we sent him a lovely postcard saying 'you're not the grandfather'."
Emily's look hardens more, and she puts the sonogram down to turn towards him.
"I know Christopher has made some mistakes- "
"Some mistakes?" Luke's grumpy grumble interrupts her, unable to stay quiet on the subject, "why would she trust a man that never showed up for her to treat his grandchild the way they deserve to be treated? Why even bother setting this kid up for a future of disappointment from him?"
"He's still her father," Emily argues, turning just slightly to address Luke over her shoulder, "what about you, Jess? Rory mentioned you have an estranged father somewhere. Have you told him?"
Luke shoots Jess an apologetic look, but doesn't try to butt in. Jess stares steadily back at Emily.
"Yes. I have," he replies firmly, tone completely absent of the guilt that he thinks Emily is expecting, "because as absent as he was for most of my life, he's around now. He calls me and texts me. He asks me questions like 'what's new in yours and Rory's life?'. If Christopher were to call Rory and ask her that question, I'm sure that she would tell him too."
Emily's sharp look starts to slacken, "I'm sure he's tried."
"He hasn't," Jess responds quickly. Suddenly, his gaze turns from Emily and everything about his face becomes rosy and bright. The room turns to where he's looking, to see Rory stepping into the living room in a fitted thermal pajama set, her body sweetly sloped at her middle and drawing tender attention.
"What are you guys talking about?" she asks, walking towards the couch with an innocent looking smile. Jess follows her every move with his eyes, and when she's in touching distance he reaches for her hand and holds it. Their eyes momentarily meet and then she looks back at her family.
"Oh Rory," Emily sighs happily, "you're glowing!"
"Can I touch it?" Lorelai asks with a wide, giddy smile; successfully thwarting the semi-hostile energy that so recently overpowered the room. Rory laughs and shrugs.
"If you want, but you're not going to feel anything. Just a hard belly."
Her mom jumps off the couch and places her hand at the top of Rory's protruded stomach.
"Oh yeah, that's a belly alright," she teases, smiling warmly at her daughter, "this is so weird."
"Yeah, you are standing a little close to me," Rory teases back.
"No! Weird that my child is having a child," Lorelai pouts in a nostalgic way, "but also…really amazing."
"It's pretty cool," Luke mumbles behind Lorelai, a little nervously. Lorelai drops her hand and steps out the way. With a raised brow and her hand held out, she asks him,
"Do you want to touch it, Luke?"
He stands up, flustered and scratching his head.
"No," he waves his hand in denial, "maybe when the thing starts kicking. But I'm good."
"The thing?" Jess asks with a taunting smirk. Luke throws his hands up and walks away, mumbling something about tea.
"Now would be a good time for me to ask you, Rory," Emily starts, and throws a glance Jess's way, "because I couldn't get an actual answer out of him. Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl?"
"Oh," Rory's grin drops slightly, and she turns to take a seat on the couch next to Jess, "we don't know."
"Really?" Emily asks in disbelief, "I would think they would be able to tell by four months at least in the twenty first century. Did they say when you could find out?"
Behind her, Lorelai gives Rory a curious look. She meets her mom's eyes, and then looks over at Jess. He shrugs, leaving the floor open for her to respond, having already battled a little bit with Emily not so long ago.
"Well, we could have found out at my last appointment. Which was this past Friday," Rory admits, shoulder lifting sightly, "but I wasn't ready to make a decision about it yet. I'm not sure if I want to know. I might wait until birth."
"Huh," Emily sounds, squinting at her, "well, that's certainly a choice."
"That's exactly what it is mom," Lorelai says with a small laugh, "it's a choice she gets to make. She's the pregnant lady."
Emily sighs and leans forward to pick up her glass of wine.
"Makes it a bit harder to shop for," she mumbles as she lifts the glass to her mouth.
"So, don't shop until the baby comes then," Jess suggests, sticking up for Rory despite not understanding the decision himself, "or don't shop at all. We can afford to clothe, house and feed a baby. We would have bigger problems than not knowing its sex if not."
Emily gives another exhausted sigh and sets her wine glass back on the coffee table. But just as quickly, she turns back to them with a cunning smile.
"Where will you be housing the baby, by the way? You didn't answer that question either."
"Well, I think the baby is going to live with them mom. That's usually how that works.
"Lorelai, please. Why don't you go help your husband pour tea or whatever excuse it was he gave to scurry away with discomfort?"
Lorelai frowns but stays put.
Jess and Rory share a look, and she turns back to answer.
"You know, the first few months were really hard. I was so sick. We haven't had time to talk about it."
He raises a tame brow at her, hearing a slightly different answer but with the same message as what he heard the other day: she's not ready to figure it out yet.
"That's understandable, but you are planning on moving? You should use the realtor that I used for Truncheon. I can help you look at houses, if you'd like. New York isn't so far for a weekend trip."
Rory shrugs, "I'll let you know when we start thinking about it."
"You're going on five months pregnant dear, how much longer do you think you have to think about it?"
Rory shifts, a little uncomfortable; she puts her hair behind her ears and crosses her arms. Noticing her body language, Jess snaps out of staring at her and turns to Emily.
"We have time," he answers leaving no room for argument. He places a hand on Rory's leg and asks, "do you want to go to bed? We had a long day. You should rest."
Emily and Lorelai look on at the couple with matching soft smiles. Emily stands with a sigh and picks up her now empty wine glass.
"I'm heading to bed myself. I'll see you all in the morning for breakfast and more presents," she steps up to Rory and places a hand on her arm, "though I'm not sure anything will be able to top what you two are giving the family. Goodnight."
Rory smiles and stands up to hug her, "Goodnight Grandma."
Lorelai stands after she leaves the room and faces both Jess and Rory.
"I'm sorry. My mother just can't help herself sometimes."
Rory's hands fidget at her sides, "it's okay. I know she means well."
"She definitely thinks she does."
Rory bites her lip, side glancing at Jess and then back at her mom.
"She's done a lot for us, mom," she reasons in a soft voice, "maybe I should find out the sex next time we go. If it would make her happy."
Lorelai clicks her tongue and shakes her head, her brows furrowed, but her look soft and motherly.
"Don't feel pressured, babe," she squeezes her arm, "she does those things for you guys because she wants to. Not because she expects something in return. And even if she does, she isn't going to stop loving you or being there for you if you don't give in. That's not how family works, you know," Lorelai looks up at the ceiling in thought and then back to Rory, "well, that's at least not how her relationship works with you. It's a little different for me and her."
"I think it would be fun to wait until birth," Jess speculates with a playful undertone, he stands up and places an arm around Rory's shoulder, "we could take bets from your crazy followers in Stars Hollow."
"Hey now, that's an idea! Great way to pay the hospital bill!"
"We are not doing that," Rory shakes her head, "you two are crazy."
Lorelai pouts then lifts her hand and stage whispers to Jess, "I'll start collecting at the next town meeting."
Rory shakes her head and yawns. Jess kisses her cheek.
"Let's go to bed."
"Darn, I was hoping we could stay up all night to watch Christmas movies and eat candy."
Jess shakes his head and Rory rubs her stomach.
"Sorry. I have to think about more than me and my whims now."
"God, getting pregnant has really changed you."
"Just think, in a little over five more months you'll have two of her to corrupt," Jess mocks. Lorelai grins widely.
"You're right! Goodnight. I'm going to go have sweet dreams about growing the Lorelai army."
"And the Lorelai army enforces Lorelai law and Lorelai religion, right?" Jess theorizes with a patronizing smirk.
She winks, "by any means necessary."
Rory sighs and turns to leave the room, "Goodnight, our fearless leader."
Within fifteen minutes, Jess and Rory are tucked in bed in a guest room. There's a small TV on the wall across from them, glowing with scenes from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, volume at a cozy level. Rory is curled into his side, her head and a hand on his chest as she half-watches the movie. He has his arm wrapped around her back, his hand resting on the side of her stomach. His eyes are also trained on the screen, but he's not paying any attention at all. The conversations tonight and the events over the last week have worry poking at his mind. He shifts his head to see if she's asleep. She catches him and tilts her head back, meeting his eyes with a questioning smile. He looks over her face, then brings his free hand to hold her head as he kisses her hair. He leaves his hand slightly tangled there but shifts back to meet her eyes again.
"Is it fair to say I'm noticing a pattern?"
The warm smile on her lips falls, and her face tenses in confusion. He shakes his head as if to start over, realizing that she can't read his mind.
"With the moving thing. And finding out about the baby's sex."
The tension morphs into something else, a mix of understanding and maybe guilt.
"Did you want to know if it's a girl or boy?"
"That doesn't matter to me, Rory."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm looking forward to having a baby with you, I am not hoping for one thing over another," he assures her, "and that's not at all why or what I'm asking."
She looks up at him silently, and he doesn't pressure her because he can see she's working through her thoughts; she's not pushing him away. She moves her body slightly, to lie on her side next to him so she can face him more comfortably.
"I'm…hesitant to plan too much."
He doesn't need her to expand on that. He can read it on her face, can hear the vulnerability in her voice. He remembers conversations from the summer, when they were first trying, and again the previous month when she was so nervous she made herself sick.
His fingers comb through her hair, then around her ear and to her face. He speaks gently, treating the topic with the precariousness it deserves.
"It won't make it any easier. If something does happen. It will still be devastating."
She inhales deeply, closing her eyes as she whispers, "I know."
He rubs his thumb across her cheek.
"But you're allowed to be afraid," he murmurs, and the deep blues he loves are open again, "and we can do anything you want in response to that fear, if it helps you handle it."
Her eyes water, and it's something they do easily lately but this more than calls for it - this feeling of being seen and not made to feel foolish. Having someone that takes everything seriously, rather than telling her to get over it or stop harping on it. He looks between her eyes with so much love and protection.
"I know I told you in the past not to be scared. I realize that's not really a fair thing to say to you, especially now that you are pregnant and your body and mind are going through so much," he speaks gently, "I'm not going to talk you out of it or act like I can keep you safe from any horrible thing, because unfortunately I can't. But I'll always be by your side, feeling your feelings with you and holding you close."
She lifts her hand and places it on his forearm, squeezing it with affection and gratitude.
"We don't have to find out the sex if you don't want to, and we don't have to talk about moving until you're ready," he dips his head to press his lips to hers, "I would like to show you something. I was planning to show you in person when we get home, after Christmas. But I'd like to show you now. Is that okay?"
She nods slowly, "what is it?"
He twists his body to grab his phone off the nightstand near him. He then shifts to sit up more, and she follows. She cuddles up against him again. He grins and wraps an arm around her, circling her body while he searches through his phone. Scrolling past photos from the last week, of Rory mostly, he finds what he's looking for. He clicks on the first picture, turning his phone sideways. She inspects it with squinted eyes and a curious look. It's a wide picture of a space, walls painted with children's book characters, small tables and chairs in a corner, colorful bins lined up between windows on the wall. Suddenly, she recognizes the windows and the room setup, and a gentle gasp escapes her.
"Is this Truncheon? Is this the studio space upstairs?!"
His grin confirms it, and he swipes to show her some more pictures. She sees a gated off corner of the room, with a couple of convertible cribs sitting behind it.
"Jess, it's amazing. You've been working on this since September?"
"Me, Liam, Brooke, some contractors," he shrugs one shoulder, looking at the pictures with her; a prideful look on his face, "Brooke did all of the character paintings."
"They're incredible! What is it all for though? Is someone renting it from you as a daycare or something?"
He takes a breath and puts his phone down. He puts a little bit of space between their bodies so he can see her better.
"Truncheon is."
Her eyebrow raises.
"I got the idea when we went up to look at the space that day. You were going through the cabinets, talking about being little. And it just came to me…I wanted to make Truncheon a space that's friendly to all ages. For us, for our kids I mean, and for anyone else that works with us and has kids or will have children. There is still a lot more work to do. My vision is using the space as a daycare during the day, and in the afternoons I'd like to somehow make it an aftercare place. You know, for kids like Connor that might need a place to go between school and their parents or guardians coming home."
Her eyes are wide and wet with admiration. She closes the space between them and hugs his neck. He holds her close as he inhales a deep breath, feeling lighter as this secret is out.
"That is such an incredible idea. Jess, you're amazing."
"I had a lot of help," he mumbles against her head, "and a lot of inspiration."
She sits back to look at him again, "I can't wait to see it in person. And I love that our kids will be at work with you and will have this space like it's a second home. Kind of like when I grew up and Mom worked at the inn, and it became a second home to me."
The side of his mouth lifts high, because that's something he didn't even think about, and somehow the space is becoming even more special already.
"That's exactly why I'm showing you this now, Rory. If you don't want to think or talk about moving somewhere bigger until after the baby comes, even until it's one or two years old, it's okay. We will have this other safe space to take them, if we are ever feeling stuck or crowded in the apartment," he brings his thumb up to her face, to clear away the bit of wetness that's seeped out, "and it's really going to be just ours for a while. It will take time to get all the right approvals and permits. So, it might just be me, you, and our…little love for a while."
She presses her lips to his, unable to control herself at his sweet words.
"That's so nice. And my grandmother knows about it?"
He shrugs one shoulder, "I just told her it would be a kid's space for Truncheon, and we could charge for doing after school care and special events. I of course didn't tell her we were trying to have kids."
More tears escape her eyes, and he works his thumbs like windshield wipers to try and keep up.
"The crying is from good emotions, right?" he checks, with a hopeful smile. She nods in confirmation, sniffling but grinning.
"Yes. I'm just thinking…it's really nice. Having a baby because we want to, and not only preparing for it but wanting to make space for them to be near us as much as possible. It's nice, for it not to be a surprise we have to respond to. You know what I mean?"
The corners of his mouth soften in understanding.
"I know what you mean."
She swallows, her tears start to slow.
"Not that my mom didn't do a great job, or ever made me feel unwanted or unloved. And even Liz I know has always loved you. But…you started planning this before we even knew I was pregnant. It's just so nice."
He takes her in his arms again, breathing in the familiar scent of her cherry almond shampoo. He kisses her head and scrunches his fingers in her hair in loving motions near her neck.
"I know," he eventually whispers, "we both had hard things to deal with growing up. But we had good things too. And we'll give this baby, and any others we might have, all those good things and more."
She holds him firmly, squeezing her body to his as much as she can. He eases his hold.
"Careful with that thing," he jokes, moving the hand in her hair to her small bump. She gives him a look, but her smile doesn't wane. His teasing smirk melts as he says,
"There will never be a question of if they were wanted or if they were a mistake, like I know we have both felt before. They will come into this world knowing that there's been a place waiting for them, and that it will always be there for them."
She sniffles.
"You're not talking about Truncheon."
"No," he confirms, and he glides his hand beneath her shirt to rub over the warm skin there, fingers gliding around her bellybutton and all around the roundness of the life they created, "I wasn't talking about Truncheon at all."