Work Text:
Pairing: Rory/Jess (Gilmore Girls)
Setting: Season 3
“You know, I think this might be our best effort yet.” Lorelai stood back to admire the snowman she and Rory had built for the 2003 competition, grinning wide. “I mean, sure, last year’s was pretty good, and we graciously accepted first place...”
“Second place,” Rory reminded her with a look. “Okay, so, yes, technically, we got first by default, after the over-the-top, power-buffed entry was unexpectedly destroyed, but let’s be fair, we really only got second.”
“Ha! We got first because we earned it!” her mother told her strongly. “And I still maintain that guy with the power-buffer was a ringer!”
“Hey. Uh, I figured you’d probably want coffee, right?” Jess looked weirdly nervous as he approached with a steaming to-go cup in either hand, proffering them at Rory herself and her mom too. “Pretty cold out here.”
“Thank you.” Rory grinned, rushing to take her drink from him. “It’s so sweet of you to think of that,” she told her boyfriend, planting a kiss on his cheek.
“You’re welcome,” Jess told her, even as he seemed to squirm a little, handing off the second cup to Lorelai.
“Uh, word to the wise, babe,” her mother said then. “Guys don’t so much like to be called sweet. It steps on their manly egos,” she told her, all in an over-the-top whisper.
“Usually, I would agree with that.” Jess nodded, looking more at Rory than her mom. “But honestly? I can take it from you,” he said, proving the sweetness all over again.
“Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.” Lorelai shook her head. “But anyway, what do you think to this year’s shoo-in for first prize?” She presented it like a game-show prize.
“It’s great,” he said, nodding approval.
“Better than anybody else’s snowman here?” Rory checked.
“Absolutely.”
“Better than our Bjork from last year?” asked Lorelai slyly.
“Probably.”
“Better than the power-buffed ringer that you destroyed so we would win last year?”
“Totally,” Jess answered Rory’s next question too easily, seeming to realise a second too late exactly what he had confessed too. “Damn. You’re good.”
“I know.” Rory grinned, taking a long drink from her coffee cup.
“You are good,” Lorelai agreed, sipping her own drink. “Hmm, this will not be enough coffee. I’ll be back,” she said, scampering off in the direction of the diner.
Rory was still grinning as she watched her go, almost missing the fact Jess had moved until he was right in front of her, arms reaching out to pull her close. “How long have you known about the snowman thing?”
“Since the morning after the Bracebridge Dinner, i.e. the morning after the night when you smashed a poor, innocent, Dickensian old-man snowperson, just to let me and my mom win the competition instead.”
“He had it coming.” Jess shrugged, urging her closer yet.
Rory giggled and didn’t care to argue, as she kissed him and he kissed her back. They were soon so caught up in each other that they completely forgot they were in a public place, until Rory’s back hit something very cold. She pulled away, but it was too late. The snowman she and her mom had built was lying on the ground, destroyed.
“Oops?” Jess offered when she looked his way.
All Rory could do was laugh and kiss him all over again.