“Are you sure this is okay?” Lindsay looked around the apartment nervously before turning her gaze back to Luke.
He nodded. “It’s fine. I’ll just be staying at Lorelai’s.”
Jess smirked.
Luke shot him a look. “I, uh, made sure there was clean towels, sheet, all that crap. If you need anything, Jess knows where it is.”
Lindsay nodded.
“I’d better get going.” Luke looked directly at Jess. “Lorelai’s going to be expecting quite an explanation when I get there.”
“Sorry.” Lindsay bit her lip.
“It’s not your fault.” Luke patted her shoulder. “You stay relaxed and get some sleep. Let Jess find you something healthy to eat.”
She nodded.
Jess followed Luke to the door. “Getting to be quite the softy,” he muttered.
“She’s a sweet girl.” Luke leaned in. “Don’t hurt her.”
“Never,” Jess said softly as Luke walked away. He closed the door behind Luke. “Hungry?”
Lindsay shook her head just as her stomach let out a loud rumble.
Jess laughed. “Well, you might not be, but someone is.”
“Maybe a little hungry.” Lindsay flushed a deep shade of red.
Jess nodded. “I’ll fix us something to eat.” He began rustling through the refrigerator.
“Wait.” Lindsay had sat there for a minute, in her seat at the table before she spoke.
“What?” Jess looked confused as she heaved herself into a standing position and walked around the table to stand in front of him.
She shrugged. “It occurs to me that you shouldn’t have to wait on me. I’m just as capable of getting us dinner.”
“Not according to Sasha.”
Lindsay smacked him.
He held up his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m just going on what she told me.”
“So, I’m not the best cook.” She shrugged. “Can I at least help?”
“Sure.” Jess nodded. “You grab the phone book, I’ll dial.”
***
“I’m soooo stuffed.” Lindsay leaned back in the chair and rested her hands across her middle.
Jess pointed a chopstick at her. “You’re the one who couldn’t choose between Chinese and pizza.”
“You’re the one who ordered both!”
“I didn’t want a cranky pregnant chick on my hands!”
Lindsay laughed, halfheartedly trying to kick him.
“What are those?” Jess pointed to her feet.
Lindsay raised her eyebrow. “Feet. I believe you have a pair.”
“Not those.” He made a face. “What’s the pink glittery things on them?”
“Toe socks.”
“Huh.” He stared at them for a moment. “They look weird.”
She threw a pizza crust at him. “Thanks a lot.”
“Just saying.”
They were both silent for a minute. “So,” Jess said, spearing the last dumpling with a chopstick. “I’ll sleep in my old room and you can sleep in Luke’s.”
“Uh-uh.” Lindsay shook her head. “No way in hell.”
“Why?”
She glanced towards Luke’s room. “He and Lorelai are together now right?”
Jess nodded.
“Exactly my point.” Lindsay raised an eyebrow.
Jess frowned for a moment until the lightbulb went off in his head. “Ugh! Gross!”
“I’m not sleeping in there.” She laughed at his expression.
Jess shuddered. “You are a cruel, cruel, woman.”
***
Jess slept a fairly deep slumber until about 2:17 when the shaking began.
“Jess, Jess! Wake up!” Lindsay hissed, shaking his shoulder firmly and steadily.
His attempts to ignore her were thwarted when she kneed him in the rear. “I know you’re awake you pain in the butt!”
“I’m not a pain in the butt,” he muttered grumpily, turning over. “However I now have a pain in the butt, thanks to you.”
“Stop your whining.” She was kneeling beside him, her face bright pink with excitement.
Jess propped himself up on his elbows and sighed. “Okay, I’m up. Now tell me why.”
She grabbed his nearest hand (causing him to lose his center of gravity and almost topple backwards off the bed) and placed it palm-first against the upper mound of her stomach.
“What the-” Jess started, then he felt it. A tiny fluttering, almost like the beating of a butterfly’s wings or the brush of someone’s eyelashes against your cheek.
He looked up at Lindsay, straight into her delighted brown eyes. “Is that?” his voice trailed off as she nodded.
“It’s the baby,” she said softly.
As if on cue, the baby moved again, leaving another of the strange sensations traveling across the warm surface of Lindsay’s stomach.
“Wow.” Jess smiled. “That’s….amazing.”
Lindsay continued to beam. “You should feel it from my end.”
Jess moved his thumb, lightly stroking the surface of her abdomen. He glanced up and their eyes met once again.
They both froze, in the moment caught between awe and desire.
Lindsay was the first to move, stretching her body out beside him on the bed.
For a moment Jess’ thoughts wandered to when Luke had ditched the twin and sprung for a double bed. Then, he blinked, clearing his mind of all thoughts and slowly laid back down, never moving his hand from it’s place on Lindsay’s stomach.
***
She was warm.
That was the first thought that came across Lindsay’s mind when she woke up. Usually she awoke cold, the blankets having fallen off the bed, or drifted off her feet. Today her feet were toasty and her body all curled up to… Jess?
Lindsay nearly jumped back in surprise until she remembered what had transpired the previous night. The baby moving, waking up Jess in excitement, never wanting the moment to end.
And it hadn’t.
She watched the slow rising of Jess’ chest, or the black t-shirt he was wearing, to be more exact. This was… weird, but in a good way.
Jess stirred slightly, his body shifting so his face nuzzled up to Lindsay’s. Her eyes widened as he rubbed their noses together.
Definitely a good weird.
Suddenly, Jess stiffened. His eyes shot open. Pulling away, he sat up.
Lindsay followed suit. “Morning, Jess.” She smiled sheepishly at him before heaving herself to her feet and scurrying towards the bathroom.
When she came out, Jess was in the kitchen, wearing nothing but his t-shirt and a pair of plaid boxers. “You and Luke are definitely related,” she remarked, grinning.
“Shut up.” Jess held up a carton of eggs. “Scrambled or over-easy.”
She turned on the radio, flipping stations until she came across one playing an old Pat Benetar song. “Scrambled, definitely.”
Jess watched her skip off to the bedroom
, singing under her breath.
And had to catch his.
He grabbed the phone when it rang, still staring after her and not quite paying attention. “Hello.”
“Hello. This is Mr. Lister. I’m looking for my daughter.”