Chapter Text
The drive to Stars Hollow took just over two hours which, fortunately, Lily spent quietly asleep in her carseat, for the most part.
And Rory hadn't been much better, to be fully honest.
Although, the empty roads and approaching darkness -along with, thankfully, a break from the bothersome drizzle that had been a constant for the entire day- had made for peaceful and relaxing few moments that Paris used to enjoy the quiet, soothing breathing of her wife and daughter.
"Mama, I'm awake!" Lily informes, breaking the silence in the vehicle.
Letting the small smile that the little girl always seems to paint on her lips, Paris softly replies, "good morning, baby."
"Juice please?" the toddler requests, busying herself with a stuffed animal her moms had packed for that exact reason.
"Sure thing, love. Just a second." Gently patting her wife's thigh, "Rory. Rory, hey."
"Mmmh.."
Chuckling, "Rory, your daughter wants some juice and I'm a little preoccupied, here."
Almost whining the brunette mumbles something unclear.
"Babe," Paris repeats, sternly.
"Ugh," Rory complains in that tone that is anything but mad, for real, "hello, honey."
Noticing that her mommy is finally awake as well, Elizabeth squeaks in excitement, "mommy mommy mommy, juice please?"
"Of course," Rory replies as she dugs down to find the pouch of organic apple juice she had, smartly, packed.
"And, hello to you, too, Mrs Geller-Gilmore," Rory murmurs while she places a soft kiss on the spot where Paris' shoulder and neck meet.
"Behave, woman, if you wanna make it in one piece," the blonde warns, slightly squeezing her thighs.
“Granma Lori!” an overly hyped Lily shouts, as soon as she’s unbuckled from the carseat and placed on the grass.
Rushing towards the parked car, Lorelai opens her arms wide, ready to hold her granddaughter tightly. It’s been about a month since the last visit, after all.
“Oh, sweetheart,” the woman says, lovingly, “I’ve missed you so so much!”
“Me too,” Lily replies, seriously, before she lets her eyes roam around the small yard, “where Granpa Lukey?”
Right at that moment, as if he’s heard the call, the man appears at the front door holding a spatula in hand.
“Is that Miss Lily I hear?”
“Granpa!” the child squeaks as she -more or less steadily- makes her way to the tall man.
As usual, he makes a scene of being knocked over by the tiny body squirming in his arms, “i swear, you’re more beautiful every time I see you,” then, shifting his attention to the young couple, “what do you guys feed her -rainbows and cuteness?”
Dinner is a quick affair because, bless him, Luke had managed to get it all perfectly timed so that the food is still warm and delicious by the time bags have been put away in the rooms and a sleepy toddler changed into a yellow-blue polka dotted onesie.
Later, well past Lily’s bedtime and once the little girl is finally down for the night in the small bed Lorelai and Luke had temporarily added to Rory’s former room, the four adults are lazily sprawled over the couches while The Good Place plays on the flatscreen.
“Okay, so, that guy from Parks Renovation is one of the...?”
“Bad people." Rory supplies as the other two women snicker -not too subtly.
“Wait, when did that happen?”
“Literally, like, three episodes ago." Lorelai replies, amused.
“Okay I’m lost.”
“Oh my god, Luke! This always happens!”
“I mean, there’s a lot going on there.”
“Sorry to break it to you,” Paris interjects, “but there’s four seasons out and it’s only gonna get a lot worse.”
“Yeah,” Rory nods, “this show is gold but the plot is quite, uh, intricate. Well, you'll see.”
“And with this,” Luke says as he stands up from the couch, “I’m gonna leave you to this hell. Good night, girls.”
He doesn’t leave, though, without lovingly pecking Lorelai’s lips and poking his head into Elizabeth’s room, first.
Life in Stars Hollow hasn’t changed much since Rory had moved away.
The weekly town meetings are still religiously held and attended, even though Taylor has finally surrendered to the power of the internet and all related announcements are now shared through the public newsletter or the facebook group page.
Sure, Miss Patty has added a pilates class, just last year, and is now toying with the idea of bikram yoga, Weston’s is offering PSL that would put Starbucks to shame and the Diner now comes equipped with stable and fast wifi. So, you know, Stars Hollow has kind of finally joined the modern days but life, overall, is still the same.
Oh, and the town has also become the proud host of Connecticut’s fifth most important Pride parade.
“I never thought I would say this but this hole in the wall of a town has its charme during the Fall season,” Paris admits as she slowly crosses the main square, Rory’s warm hard tightly clasped in her own.
Chucking in that special way that had Paris hooked from day one, the brunette replies, "I told you it would have grown on you.”
“Hey hey hey, let’s take a step back here.”
“Nu-uh. No take backs.”
“You’re so frustrating,” Paris growls, defeated.
“Yeah, well,” her wife quips back, squeezing her hand, “I don’t recall any complaints on that one time i first kissed you right under this gazebo or the summer day we finally discovered I was pregnant while sitting on the pond’s deck.”
Rory will never ever get used to the way her wife’s face and demeanor completely change at the pure mere reminder that Rory Gilmore is, in fact, her wife and the amazing life they have created and shared for years, now. Especially the cheerful little blonde that had been the very cherry on top.
Paris cannot really hold it any longer and so she says it, soft and honey like, “I love you so very much.”
“Oh, I love you too, darling.”
A few days pass in a whirlwind of one too many cup of coffee, family dinners, special moms dates, morning strolls through the town center with the occasional stop so that Lily can be doted over and spoiled by everyone.
Paris and Rory, accustomed as they have become to chaotic Boston, happily welcome the change and slow in pace; a much needed break, to be honest.
Elizabeth, on her part, is taking full advantage of the extra attention she’s been getting, the snuck cookies and candies, the free dance classes and the immense variety of Halloween decorations taking over the town.
The first thing Rory notices as she lazily opens one eye, not yet ready to leave the state of drowsiness currently weighing on her bones, is warmth. Soothing, comforting warmth.
Which easily puts a soft, lopsided grin on her face.
Because, well, her wife’s arm is draped across her belly, one leg bent over her thighs as silky lips lay still, slightly parted, right next to her neck -not exactly kissing but.
And this, right here in this bed, is the moment in which Rory just knows that she was meant to exist in this world to fill the space between Paris’ arms.
The second thing the brunette notices is the sound of cartoons and loud giggles and Luke’s deep voice coming from downstairs.
Swiftly, and as quietly as possible, Rory leaves the warm bedsheets to venture down to the living room and discover what her family is up to at -ugh!- eight twenty-two in the morning.
“Mom.”
“Hey, honey. Good morning!” Lorelai greets from her position on the floor, sewing kit right next to her, “did we wake you? Luke has just stopped by with fresh donuts, if you want some breakfast.”
“Mom.” Rory repeats, sternly, all the while placing the gentlest of kisses on Lily’s head.
“Mommy, I ate postars!”
“Uh?”
“It’s poptarts, baby,” Grandma corrects, not moving her attention from the task at hand.
“Oh, I hope you saved some for mama and I."
“Yesss,” the child proudly confirms, eyes drifting back to the tv.
"Please, Lily, hold still for a second longer. You're doing so well!" Lorelai requests, ever so gently.
“Mom.”
“What, Rory, what?”
“Why is my daughter clad in a taco costume?”