Fighting Back

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story

AN: This is my first attempt, be kind.

Lane and Rory's apartment back yard

Rory and Lane are lounging on beach chairs each wearing large shades. They both appear to be asleep. 2 guys sit at a table near by playing poker. Suddenly a large shadow is cast over the girls.

"You're blocking my sun." Rory says sounding annoyed

"Huh you don't say."

Rory jumps she knows that voice "Jess" She whispers as she launches herself off her lounge and into his arms.

"Please be real." She begs as she runs her hands over his face and down his arms trying to convince herself he is actually there.

Jess places his hands on her face and stares into her beautiful blue eyes as he himself starts to well up.

"I'm real beautiful, I promise. And I'm not going anywhere again."

Rory can't help herself she sobs at the sound of his voice. Jess pulls her tightly to him and begins to whisper how much he loves her as he gently rocks her back and forth.

"Please don't cry. I can't stand it when you cry."

Jess himself has tears streaming down his cheeks. Rory pulls back as Jess leans in to kiss her sweetly. Rory deepens the kiss wrapping her self around him afraid to let him go. As Jess ends the kiss he leans his forehead against hers and smirks at her.

"I guess you missed me too."

Rory just gives him a watery smile. As each brush away the tears from the others face, Jess pulls her in for another tight embrace.

"Rory!!" Lane yells she had been calling her for awhile now with no response "What's going on? Is that Jess? I thought he was gone?"

The couple had completely forgotten they weren't alone, some how managing to wrap themselves in their own world.

"Huh?" Rory he asks dumbly "Oh Lane"

Rory slowly turns toward her friend never relinquishing her hold on Jess. At this point she noticed that the guys Zach, Lanes boyfriend, and Brent his best friend, have made their way over to Lane. They all are looking at her with a mixture of shock and confusion. Rory looks at her friends and back to Jess "Well" Rory unsure of where to begin "Lane, you remember Jess?"

"Unfortunately" she says glaring at him "So your back?"

"Yep" Jess quipped. "Nice to know you missed me."

Lane just continued to glare at him.

"I know you!" Zack says excitedly "Yah your Luke's nephew!" pointing at Jess, obviously proud of himself for figuring it out "Hey, didn't something happen and you were sent away? I never did get the details. It was so weird. Nobody would talk about what happened and as I'm sure you know, in this town nothing stays a secret. But Wow! You, you're a real mystery, an enigma." Zack nods his head impressed.

"Huh" Jess wasn't sure how to answer the strange boy and figured it was best not to say too much.

Brent has been looking Jess over, obviously sizing him up. Rory and he had been thrown together on more than one occasion when the group had gone out. Brent was intrigued by her. He had hoped that eventually they would become more than friends. She was fun to talk to and they liked a lot of the same movies and music. But he got the distinct impression that she wasn't looking for a relationship with anyone, and never pushed her. Seeing her wrapped around another guy though was definitely a blow to his ego.

"How do you know Rory?" Brent asked

"He broke her heart and ran away!" Lane blurted out before either she or Jess could answer

"Lane! That is not what happened!" "Isn't it?" Lane snapped, interrupting whatever else Rory was going to say "I mean I guess I wouldn't know. You refuse to talk about what actually happened. But I do know that you two were together. Then you disappear, leaving a note for your mother saying your ok and you're with Jess. You're gone for almost 5 months. Then one day you're back obviously devastated, Jess is gone, and you and your mom haven't spoken a civil word to each other in almost two years. I've never pushed you Rory, but now he's back and I can't watch you be destroyed again."

Lane stood in front of the couple arms tightly wrapped around her middle, tapping her foot with obvious agitation. Rory didn't know what to say. She turned to Jess and the two seemed to have a silent conversation with just their eyes. Finally she nodded and turned to Lane with a sigh.

"Your right, you deserve to know the truth. I never meant to shut you out. I just couldn't talk about it. It all just seemed too much and almost too private. Like it would be wrong to share it? I'm sorry I'm babbling. Do you think maybe the three of us could go in and talk?"

Zach immediately understood that Rory needed to speak to Lane alone. He excused himself and waved for Brent to follow him. But Brent wasn't so easily dismissed. He didn't understand exactly what was going on, but he knew Jess hurt Rory in some way. And he wasn't quite ready to leave her with him.

"Rory are you sure you want us to go?" Brent asked never taking his eyes off Jess "I don't know if we should leave you two alone with him." Brent looked to Rory and tried to take her hand and pull her away from Jess. "Maybe I should stay just in case?" Jess who was standing behind Rory with his arms wrapped around her waist began to tense up. Rory didn't want a fight. She knew Brent was just trying to protect her, even if it was misplaced. She shook her head at Brent and stepped backwards further into Jess's arms. "Well considering he's my husband I think it's safe."

Gasps were heard from all around. All eyes were focused on her trying to figure out if she was being serious. Finally Lane managed to speak.

"Your what?!!"

"My husband." Rory stated calmly "One of the many things we need to talk about. So if you guys will excuse us we need to go in."

Rory didn't wait to see if Lane was following her. She grabbed Jess's hand and began to pull him behind her into the apartment.