The Aftermath - A Gilmore Girls Revival Fan Fiction

Chapter 5

Jess was downstairs when I emerged from my oasis, thankfully, since I was wrapped only in a big, cozy, oversized bath towel. 

I took in a deep breath and could smell the amazing aroma that is a cheeseburger, lingering up from downstairs.  He must've been able to hear my stomach growling all the way from the diner!

I hurriedly changed into the t-shirt and boxer shorts he left on the bed for me. 

Once I was dressed, I made my way to the couch, lightly brushing my fingertips across his worn out copy of Oliver Twist, which was sitting on the end table as I walked by.  I smiled at the memories that came with that book.

I wrapped myself in the blanket hanging on the back of the couch, picked the book up and thumbed through it.  There was writing all over the margins.  "Same ol' Jess," I thought to myself with a fond smile.

There was a knock on the main door.  "Are you dressed?" Jess asked, peeking his head inside. 

I laughed.  "It's safe," I teased.

He walked in carrying takeout boxes from downstairs.

"Oh my god.  You have no idea how much you rock right now!" I said, diving in. 

He just laughed and stood back while I ravaged the stash.

**********

After we ate, we went back to sitting on the couch.  I curled up beside him & cuddled into the blanket. 

"You cold?" He asked.

I shook my head.  "No, just cozy" I promised. 

He laughed & then turned to me.  "So when are we going to talk about this?" He asked. 

I looked up at him.  "You mean how amazing that cheeseburger was?" I teased. 

He gave me a stern look.  "No, how about, like, I don't know - who's the father?" He asked. 

I didn't want to tell him.  I was worried that seeing as how he's the only person willing to put up with me for the next two weeks while my mom is gone, that he would send me packing as soon as he found out the baby was Logan's.

"Can't we just talk about it later?" I begged. 

"What?  Rory, why?" he asked.

"Because I don't think it's fair to tell anyone else who the father is until I tell him myself" I said.  I wasn't lying, not really, but the real reason was way more selfish than that.

"Yeah.  S-sure.  I understand.  So when do you plan to tell him?" he asked. 

That was a question I had no idea how to answer.  I had no idea when, or how, I would tell him. 

I had no idea how he would react, and I had no idea if he'd even want anything to do with the baby. 

I could understand if he'd never want to be with me again.  In fact, I couldn't blame him, but I wasn't sure I could handle him rejecting our child.

"I - don't know" I whispered, feeling ashamed of myself.

He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me in close.  We just stayed that way for a long time.  He ran his fingers through my hair and kissed the top of my head. 

"If you need me, I'm here to help.  In any way that I can.  Whether it's just an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on, they're all yours.  No matter what" he promised.

I smiled.  "Thank you" I whispered, pulling away from him. 

"It's just - hard, you know?" I continued after a long pause.

He looked over at me.  "What is," he asked. 

I sighed deeply.  "This.  All of this.  None of this was 'the plan'.  I'm 32 years old, I have no job, no home, no relationship, and I'm pregnant!  I mean, I'm a Yale graduate for God's sake.  I was published in the New York Times...  I was supposed to be better than this!  Life just wasn't supposed to happen this way.  This wasn't what I wanted!" I sobbed. 

I had done remarkably well keeping my emotions in check up until this point. 

"Maybe it's not, Rory, but maybe it's exactly what you NEEDED.  You're such an amazing woman, with so many amazing qualities that anyone would be stupid not to look up to.  You haven't FAILED at life, you've succeeded!  Can't you see that?  Having a child is one of the most selfless, most honorable things that you could ever do.  And from what I hear, it's way more rewarding than any of your other accomplishments" he insisted.

I looked at him in shock.  "Okay, who are you?" I teased.

"A writer.  One who knows an amazing story when I see one.  One who can see the bigger picture rather than just the page you're on right now.  And by the time the story is over, you will absolutely flourish" he promised.

I smiled.  "You really believe that?" I asked.

"I may not always volunteer the truth, Rory, but I really try hard not to lie.  So yes, I do really believe that" he promised.

I laid my head on his shoulder and he brought his hand up to brush the hair from my eyes. 

"I sure hope to hell you know what you're talking about" I whispered, and before long, I had drifted off to sleep.