Look! An update! An actual, honest to god update! Colour me shocked too! Thanks to those who reviewed!

I own nothing. Lydia's mine. And Peanut. And Jess...yeah, I wish!

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty One - You Got Me All Wrong

"I dunno if I like it." Lily frowned as she turned on the spot, looking down at the purple dress she was wearing.

"You're crazy. It's all kinds of perfect." Lydia told her, fixing the gold detail on one of the straps.

"You sure?" Lily raised her eyebrow at Lydia.

"Don't give me that look." Lydia laughed as Rory came into the dressing room holding three other dresses.

"So these are pointless, right?" Rory hung the dresses up. "I mean, that one's incredible."

"Told you." Lydia gloated, sticking her tongue out.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Very mature."

"I try." She shrugged. "Now turn so I can unzip you."

As Lily made her way back to the cubicle to change back into her jeans and sweater, Rory ran her hand across the dresses she had just hung up. "Does she need shoes?"

"Yeah," Lydia nodded, frowning at her friend's nervousness, "but Sam's dinner thing isn't until next week. We have time. You okay?"

"What? I'm fine." Rory nodded a few times. "Matt's going to move in with me." She then blurted out.

"Okay, hello left field." Lydia laughed.

"You're not mad?"

Lydia frowned again. "Why would I be mad?"

Rory thought for a second and then shook her head, laughing. "I dunno. I just panicked, I guess."

"This is good." Lydia grinned, rubbing her bump. "How'd he ask?"

"He didn't."

"Wait," Lydia put her hand up to stop Rory, "Did you ask him, but it came from nowhere, and you didn't even know you wanted him to move in until you asked?"

"Yeah," Rory looked surprised, "how did you know that?"

"That's what happened when I asked Jess to move in. One minute we were watching Jeopardy, and then next I had asked him to move in. I think the apartment's haunted."

"By who, Sadie Hawkins?"

"Maybe." Lydia shrugged as Lily returned holding her dress. "Hey kid, Math and Rory are moving in together."

"Cool. What're they gonna do with the apartment about Truncheon?"

"Turn it into a crèche for Peanut when I go back to work. Obviously." Lydia laughed as she handed over Lily's dress to the sales assistant.

"What are you doing when Peanut arrives?" Rory asked.

"Well, I have maternity leave right up until Christmas vacation. I'm supposed to start back in January. But, Jess and I discussed it, and I want to take the year. I'll start back next school year, when Peanut's one." Lydia shrugged before turning to the sales assistant and signing for her credit card. "Thank you." She smiled, handing back the pen.

"Thank you." Lily took the bag and they left the shop. "So you'll be off for the whole year?"

"Yeah."

"Awesome." Lily grinned and Lydia frowned.

"I'm not feeling the love." She pouted and Rory laughed.

"No, not that its awesome you'll not be there." Lily rolled her eyes, "Just I'll get to drive to school everyday. There's a couple of kids who overheard me talking about Sharona and Michael Hope started a rumour that I don't actually own a Mustang, since you drive me in everyday."

"Carbon footprint, Lily. And Michael Hope is in detention the minute I'm back at school."

"In over a year?" Lily smirked and Lydia sighed in frustration.

"I'm ignoring you now." Lydia turned to face a laughing Rory. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." Rory shook her head and changed the subject. "So who's going to watch Peanut when you do go back to work? Mary Poppins? I mean you weren't serious about Jess and Truncheon, were you?"

"No. Though Jess did offer to work from home went I go back, but a girl who used to work at Fort William started her own child minding business when she had twins two years ago. She's taking Peanut."

"A teacher?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, she taught art before Ms. Collins."

"Looney Lisa?" Lily laughed and Lydia frowned.

"Don't call her that. She's still a teacher."

"I didn't come up with it." Lily shrugged. "I am a sheep and I blindly follow."

"I hate to think what I get called."

"Ms M." Lily shrugged as her cell phone beeped. "You're beloved Lyds. Deal with it."

"Oh." Lydia smiled and Rory laughed at her.

"What ever happened to Looney Lisa?"

"She pulled me aside after Lily came to live with us. She didn't feel comfortable interacting with a student outside of school hours." Lydia grinned. "Never tell Lily how much I love her for that."

"I'm sworn to secrecy." Rory raised her hand in the Scout's Honour.

"Who was that?" Lydia asked as Lily slipped her phone back into her pocket.

"Sam. He wanted to know how the dress hunt was going."

"You tell what it's like?"

Lily shook her head, "No."

"Good girl." Lydia smiled as Lily's phoned beeped again. "What, is he asking for details?"

"It's not Sam. It's Anna." Lily stepped ahead of them, turning to walk backwards and still talk to them. "Listen, I know we had planned girl's night in because Jess and Mathew are having a boy's night at Empire, after their hard day packing, but do you mind if I bail? Fern's having a sleepover."

"I guess that would be okay." Lydia sighed, "I mean, you shouldn't have to hang out with married, pregnant ladies."

"Hey!" Rory looked offended. "There is no ring on my finger. And if you've put a jinx on me and I end up pregnant..."

"Okay, okay." Lydia laughed. "Touch wood that Rory's not knocked up." She grinned, tapping her forehead.

"What was that?" Rory asked.

"What?"

"The hitting your head. And 'touch wood'? It's 'knock on wood'."

"No." Lydia shook her head and looked to Lily.

"Yeah," Lily nodded. "Mom always said 'knock on wood', Lyds. Never 'touch'."

"Really? My dad used to say..." She trailed off and frowned. "This is one of those crazy Irish things I do, isn't it? I hate when I don't realise it's a crazy Irish thing."

"It's okay Lyds. I kinda like your crazy Irish things." Lily laughed as they reached Rory's car. "It's like living in an episode of 'Ballykissangel'. You know, without the priest who loved the barmaid. Or Colin Farrell."

"What are the girls doing tonight?" Mathew asked as he followed Jess into the kitchen of the Truncheon apartment.

"Movie night." Jess shrugged, pulling open the fridge and taking two beers out. "Though Lydia had planned a non alcoholic cocktail night. She bought a load of strawberries and then burst into tears in the market because virgin daiquiris are the devil's work." He handed one bottle to Mathew.

"Right." Mathew twisted off the cap and took a gulp, looking about the apartment. "I'm moving in with Rory."

"What?" Jess laughed, choking on his beer.

"I'm moving in with Rory." Mathew repeated, moving to the couch and sitting down.

"I heard that." Jess smirked, sitting in the arm chair. "When?"

"I dunno, soon." He shrugged. "We were going to wait and tell you and Lydia together."

"When did you ask her?"

"I didn't. She asked me at the wedding."

"Wait," Jess tried to muffle a laugh, "She asked you? You know that Lydia asked me to move it too?"

"Oh, God, that's right." Mathew took a gulp of his drink, his face visibly paling.

"And it makes sense, because it's Rory's apartment. Just like it was Lydia's apartment."

"No." Mathew shook his head, violently. "No, what if the apartment is haunted or something. And when these girls move in, they are made to ask their boyfriends to move in, and then we're powerless to say no and the next thing you're married."

"Okay, you're talking crazy, you know that right? And spending far too much time with Lydia." Jess downed the last of his beer.

"We need to get drunk. Really drunk." Mathew nodded resolutely.

"Whatever you say, man." Jess smirked, "but if you complain about a hangover during inventory tomorrow, I will kick your ass."

"Duly noted." Mathew finished his beer before they both left for Empire.

Lydia rolled over onto her back as she felt the bed dip under Jess' weight. "Hey," she whispered up at his back and he glanced over his shoulder at her.

"I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep." He kissed her quickly before lying down beside her.

"I was awake." she rolled over to face him. "You taste like beer." She smiled, running her hand along his face.

"We had a few drinks." Jess nodded.

"Good, I told you didn't need to stop drinking because I had too."

"So how was girl's night?"

"Fine. Lily went to Fern's, so it was just me and Rory. We watched 'How to Steal a Million'."

"Who won?"

"What?" Lydia laughed.

"O'Toole or Hepburn. I know you have an internal debate about who you love more. O'Toole or Hepburn?"

"O'Toole." Lydia grinned. "But only because Audrey looked fabulous in her Givenchy and I'm currently the size of a planet. I can't believe you know I do that."

"I know a lot about you, remember? And you are not a planet. You're gorgeous and sexy and I love you." He leaned over and kissed her.

Lydia's head fell to his shoulder as she laughed. "Oh, God, love? Jess Mariano. You're drunk."

"Just a little. But it's Mathew's fault."

"How?"

"You know he's moving in with Rory?"

"Yeah, she told me that. But how does that explain you drunk?"

"Mathew freaked out. Because you asked me to move in. Apartment haunted. He'll have to settle down, married, baby." Jess sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes.

"Okay, well, first I need to spend less time with Math. And I had to ask you to move in. It was my apartment. But you proposed. Two years later! He's crazy!"

"Told him that, but he insisted on getting drunk. Made me tell what freaked me out, so he wouldn't alone in his panic."

"You tell him about the clown thing?" Lydia laughed, kissing his cheek.

"Nope." Jess shook his head, yawing. "I told him I'm freaking out about being a dad. But clowns are scary."

"What?" Lydia sat up and grabbed onto Jess' shoulder. "You're freaking out...Jess?" She looked down at her now sleeping husband. "Wake up. Jess!" She shook him slightly, but he simply rolled over onto his side.

"Night." He muttered before letting out a small snore.

"Great." Lydia hissed through her teeth, sitting back against the headboard, her arms folded over her bump. "Just great!" She glared at Jess, sleeping beside her.

"Lydia?" Jess came down the stairs to find his wife curled up on the sofa, a blanket around her, quietly reading a Harry Potter book aloud. "Hey, there you are." He pressed a kiss to her head before sitting beside her. "What book are you on?"

"Half Blood Prince." She tried to smile, putting her book down on the arm of the sofa.

"Isn't that the one where Du-"

"Don't! I don't wanna ruin it for Peanut!" Lydia reached over, placing her hand over Jess' mouth.

"Sorry." He mumbled against her hand. "Why you up so early?"

"Couldn't sleep." She shrugged one shoulder.

"You should have woken me up. Is anything wrong?"

"I tried, you were dead to the world. You told me something last night."

"Was it about Rory and Mathew moving in, because I don't know if I was supposed to tell you that."

"I knew that. Rory told me." Lydia bit down on her lip. "You told me that you had told Mathew...you're freaked out about Peanut?"

"What?" Jess paled and then sighed. "I said that?"

"And then promptly fell asleep. Are you really freaking out about Peanut, about being a dad? I thought you were excited."

"I am." He confirmed, taking her hand in his and rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. "I can't wait to meet our kid. But-"

"But...?" Lydia prompted and he nodded, sighing.

"I didn't meet Jimmy until I was almost nineteen."

"I know."

"I asked him once, about why he left. He said the whole pregnancy he was so excited about being a dad. But then I arrived and he ran. And when I met him, it was weird. I could rationalise looking like him, I had half his DNA, but I liked the same books as him. The same movies and bands. All that stuff that's supposed to be nurture and it was nature for us. I just can't help but wonder; what if I have his bolting gene."

"Oh, babe." Lydia cupped his cheek and gave him a small smile. "There are a few major differences. One, I'm pretty sure Jimmy didn't panic about bolting. If he did, I'm sure he wouldn't have done it. And two, if you did run, rest assured, I would hunt you down." She grinned at him and Jess shook his head, laughing. "But," she continued, "and I don't want this to sound mean, you do have that bolting gene."

"What?"

"Jess, you have it, and it kicked in the same age that Jimmy's did. He ran because he couldn't handle being a dad and you ran because you flunked senior year and couldn't handle disappointing two people who actually cared about you. But you grew up and got your life together a lot quicker than Jimmy did."

Jess raised his eyebrow at her and she shrugged. "What you're not the only who asked Jimmy stuff." Lydia laughed. "And listen to me, yes, you freaked out and ran, but didn't leave a kid to grow up without a dad. And I don't think you would ever do that now."

"Yeah." He nodded. "That did kinda suck."

"And, trust me, you are gonna make an amazing dad."

"You think?"

"I know." She smiled. "I wish you'd told me though. I wouldn't have felt so guilty about my own freak outs."

"But you haven't been freaking out, that's why I didn't say anything. You've been so calm."

"No, you've been Mr. Cool, Calm and Collected. I've been freaking out on the sly for months." Lydia admitted, wrinkling her nose.

"About what?"

"Oh," she bit down her lip for a second, thinking. "Am, well, Peanut having two heads. Peanut not having a head. Peanut having webbed feet. Peanut growing up to be a murderer. Peanut being born pure evil like Damien. You joining a cult and selling Peanut to be the anti-Christ. Peanut being a peanut."

"You told me that one."

"And you looked at me like I was crazy. You see why I secretly freaked out?" Lydia laughed. "Just promise me, you tell me about stuff. Even if you think it'll freak out the freak. We have to be a team."

"Promise." Jess kissed her forehead and she gave him a small smile." Everything else okay?"

"Yeah."

"Lydia?"

"No. I didn't tell you the big fear. It's too weird." She glanced up at him and tried to smile.

"You, weird? Never." Jess grinned. "Tell me. So I can tell you that you're crazy."

"You know how most normal people fear one day becoming their parents? Well I have this parallelizing fear that I won't become my mom. I don't know if it's because she died young and I'm putting her on a pedestal, but in my mind she was a paradigm of parental perfection. What if I never live up to that?"

"Okay, one, you are crazy. And two, you are gonna be a fantastic mom. But I know you well enough to know that you're not gonna believe a word I say. So, you have to tell this fear to Lily and see what she says."

"I'm not telling Lily. "

"Yes, you are. Promise me."

"Fine." Lydia sighed in frustration. "I'll tell her."

"Good." Jess squeezed her hand and squinted at her. "You didn't sleep at all, did you?"

"Nope."

"Bed."

"But, inventory." Lydia pouted.

"No. You need to sleep."

"But, the counting. You need me for the counting."

"You know we did inventory before you came along." Jess laughed. "Now, go to bed. Please."

"Okay." Lydia stood up and kissed the top of his head. "But, just know, I'm not happy about this."

"I know." Jess grinned. "See you later."

"Hey, Jess." Lily dropped her bag at the kitchen door and joined Jess at the breakfast bar, pouring herself a glass of juice. "Listen, I know I'm supposed to help with inventory, but I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, so I might not be much help and-"

"I need you to stay here today." Jess cut her off.

"But, I thought I had to help in order to get my curfew extended for Sam's dinner thing."

"Weren't you just trying to get out of it?" Jess smirked.

"Well, yeah, but I was planning on going but being terrible so you would send me home. That way, I still went to help and you would have to extend my curfew." She grinned and Jess scoffed, shaking his head.

"I need you here more."

"And my curfew?"

Jess rolled his eyes. "Extension granted."

"Thank you!" Lily clapped before throwing her arms around Jess' neck. "Why do you need me here anyway?"

"Lydia had a rough night. She's in bed, she needs to sleep, but I'd feel better if you were here, in case she needs anything."

"Okay." Lily nodded, walking back towards the kitchen door. "I'll go dump my stuff and let her know I'm in."

"Thanks Lil." Jess smiled at his sister. "Oh, and Lyds has something she wants to tell you."

"Okay, I'll ask her abut it." Lily shrugged and Jess smirked to himself before looking for his car keys.

"Lydia?" Lilly's head appeared around the door and Lydia smiled, putting down her book. "Jess said you needed to sleep." Lily raised an eyebrow, coming into the room to sit on the bed.

"We just wanted to finish the chapter." Lydia shrugged.

"We?"

"Me and Peanut." Lydia clarified. "Don't tell Jess." She grinned, tossing the book on to the bedside table. "How was the sleepover?"

"Good. We didn't sleep much."

"You're not supposed to. You're supposed to sit up all night, doing pedicures, talking about boys and eating raw cookie dough."

"We also watched 'Say Anything'." Lily grinned.

"Good girls."

"Oh, hey, Jess said you had something to ask me."

Lydia's eyes narrowed and she let out an annoyed sigh. "Remind me to kill your brother later, will you?"

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong. It's just, well, last night Jess told me that he was, sort of, freaking out about Peanut."

"Freaking out? Jess? About what?"

"It doesn't matter, we talked it out, but I told him about my fear."

"Your fear?" Lily prompted.

"About being a terrible mom. Or at least not as good as my mom." Lydia bit down on her lower lip.

"That's crazy." Lily shook her head. "I mean, I didn't know your mom, but you as a terrible mother. That's a role I'm not buying. I know that you're technically my sister, but you're pretty good with the mom-type advice. And I've seen you with Doula and Charlie and any other kid that crosses your path. You're a natural."

"You think so?"

"Know so." Lily smiled. "And about your mom, do you ever think that you're just remembering the good stuff?"

"What'd you mean?"

"Well, my mom hasn't been gone a year yet, and when I think about her all I remember is chocolate chip waffles and putting on makeup and watching olf Marilyn movies. But I know that she grounded me and we fought and that I hated her at times. But I can't remember specific instances of those things happening. You think that maybe what you're doing? I mean, you never got grounded?"

"All the time. Usually for sneaking out with Seth."

"Oh really?"

"Do as I say, not as I did." Lydia smirked. "And I get your point. My mom probably freaked out about motherhood too. I just wish I could ask her."

"I'm sure Rory would let you borrow Lorelai." Lily grinned, before trying to stifle a yawn. "I think we both need to get some sleep."

"Don't you have to get to Truncheon for inventory?"

"Jess let me off the hook, in case you needed anything."

"But your curfew?"

"Extended." Lily grinned, standing up. "Yell if you need anything. Or call my cell."

"Hey," Lydia smiled and she pulled her blanket out, "wanna just get in beside me? That way I can kick you, if I so happen to need anything. And I have 'Modern Family' ready to watch for when I wake up."

"Have I ever told you that I love you?" Lily asked as she slipped under the cover.

"Not nearly enough."

"They're watching 'Modern Family." Rory pouted, snapping her phone closed as she marked off a book on her list. "Not fair."

"You love inventory." Mathew teased as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"I hate inventory. It's costing me a bomb." She pointed to her largest pile of books.

"You're buying those?"

"Yeah." She nodded.

"We're gonna make a killing."

"Or, I might just come in on my days off and read them in the corner." Rory shrugged, giving him a small smile.

"If you buy them, I'll give you my employee discount."

"You guys don't have an employee discount. And I am an employee. I write for the 'zine."

"Fine, we don't have employee discount. But I am willing to give you the Rory Discount." Mathew smirked.

"The Rory Discount. I feel special."

"You are special."

"Oh, jeez." Jess groaned from across the room. "Could you two tone down the cuteness. I'm trying not to vomit over here."

"Says the man I caught talking to his wife's bump." Mathew laughed.

"I was giving my unborn kid a life lesson. That's completely different."

"Uh huh?"

"It is!"

Mathew smirked. "Whatever you say."

"It's different." Jess retorted.

"Boys!" Rory stopped them before they actually started to yell at each other. "Okay, so me and Mathew will keep it to ourselves, but you have to admit that talking to Peanut is so damn adorable."

"You two are impossible." Jess sighed, "I'm going for some air."

"Have you heard from Chris and Si?" Lily asked, pulling a red vine out of the packet.

"Yesterday." Lydia nodded. "Simon called. They love Cali. Simon's amazed he's never been out before."

"Well Venice beach and the boardwalk is always buzzing this time of year."

"Yeah. They love the house. They wanna move in permanently."

"It's a good house." Lily agreed.

"It's a great house. I'll always love it. I was standing outside it when I realised I was in love with Jess."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Lydia nodded. "Remember when we first met?"

"How could I forget? I said you were pretty and you ran away."

"You know that had nothing to do with you, right?"

"Yes." Lily laughed, rolling her eyes. "So that's when you knew you loved Jess?"

"Yeah." Lydia smiled.

"How?"

"Pardon?"

"How did you know that you loved him? How do you know when you're in love?"

"Oh, well with me and Jess, it was when I realised he'd gotten a plane for the first time ever, despite being terrified, because I was upset. I realised that he would probably move a mountain for me. But it's different for everybody. Why?"

"Fern and Paul said 'I love you' to each other. And Anna and Alex have been walking around declaring their undying love for months. And they were asking me about Sam."

"But you and Sam haven't been dating that long."

"That's what I told them. And they get it. I know I care about him, but I don't know how I'll know if I love him."

"Sweetie, trust me, you'll know."

"Really?"

"Really." Lydia smiled, handing the younger girl another piece of liquorice.

"Thanks."

"Hey, Lil." Lydia gestured towards the TV, "What if Peanut turns out to be like Luke Dunphy?"

"Then Peanut will be amazing." Lily grinned.

"Yeah." Lydia agreed, taking a bite of a Red Vine and running her hand across bump. "Yeah, Peanut will be amazing."

Okay, the flogging can begin. Please don't be too harsh. Next chapter, I swear, Peanut's coming 'round the mountain!