A/N: I guess you're not surprised to see my name here again? Yeah, I have to admit that I dreamt this story recently and I just couldn't wait to write and post it here. I'm a Literati sucker, what I can tell? Hehe. I hope you like this one. It's completely different from the other one. It's a little more drama and it's a little more complicated. The characters are little more dramatic and not easy to write, but I loved them in this way. As the previous story, I put something very personal in this one too. What Jess is going to live here, it was a state close to me before. The territory I'm about to enter hits close to home for me. But I think you're gonna like it despite the drama. I hope for your support as always and please review if you like what you read. That keeps my muse alive!
P.S. English is not my first language, but I'm really trying here. So, if you think that it's hard for you to read - just don't read it! The reason I'm in this alone it's because I have updates every day. I love my readers and I want to pleased them in that way.
Rating: T (maybe M for some chapters, but we'll see);
Story:
Rory comes back to Stars Hollow to try and pick up the pieces of her ruined life. But she is not the only one who want to do that. Jess is there too, but he is not the same.
Chapter 1 Pick up the pieces (Prologue)
Rory never thought that her work as a famous journalist would lead her back home. She stepped outside the bus and hung her small bag over her shoulder. Her eyes closed for a minute and she inhaled the sweet scent of her hometown. It was autumn. It was her favorite season of them all. She did not know why, but she just loved it.
Rory opened her eyes and looked around. The small square was full of people as always. She smiled when she saw the small children played in the playground. Nothing had changed since the moment she had left Stars Hollow. She doubted that something would change at all. Rory inhaled deeply and looked at the well-known building at the end of the square. Luke's Diner So many memories were left there. So many lost dreams and broken promises. She shook her head and smiled again. That was in her past. She was a new person now. She was here to try to heal herself. Maybe that was the first step of her recovery. She lifted her chin up and took the first step of it. Maybe a nice cup of coffee would be a great start for it.
The doorbell rang joyfully when she opened the door of the diner. Rory stood there for a moment and inhaled the scent again. It smelled like her past. Nothing had changed here too. Then she looked around and saw the shocked faces of the customers. They all looked at her as if she was some kind of an alien.
"Rory?" Luke's voice made her look at him. He was standing at the beginning of the staircase and stared at her. His face was shocked as well. Rory forced a smile and walked to him. Her steps were light and her hug was warm. Luke hesitated, but hugged her too.
"Hey Luke." Rory greeted him when she pulled back. "Can I have cup of coffee, please?"
"What are you doing here?" He frowned. "I thought that you…"
"Coffee first?" Rory murmured and nodded at the customers.
Luke frowned and followed her look. The diner was unusual quiet and all the looks were focused over them.
"This is not a circus, people!" Luke growled. "Eat or get out!"
That was enough to make everyone loud again. They focused over their meals, but Rory was sure that she was the subject number one in their conversations. She sighed and sat on the tall chair behind the bar. Luke frowned and poured her a cup of coffee. Rory smiled nervously and took a sip.
"Mm-mm… just like I remember." She murmured and undid her blue jacket. "Nothing's changed here."
"What are you doing here?" Luke asked her once again. Her face faded. "Lorelai told me that you are too busy with your work and stuff."
"Stuff?" Rory held back a moan. "Very nice way to put it Luke."
"I'm trying!" Luke hissed and tilted his head. "So? When is the date?"
"There is no date." Rory shook her head and looked at her hands clasped over the bar. "Nothing's gonna happen!"
"Hm." Luke rubbed his chin. "I thought that it was sure? Lorelai was prepared for it."
"But it's not gonna happen!" Rory sighed and looked at Luke. "Luke, please…"
"Hey it's okay." Luke put his hands up. "Drink your coffee in silence."
"Don't be like this!" Rory frowned.
"Like what?" He snapped. "You turned your back to your mother, because of it! But I have nothing more to say! It's your business and I have nothing to do with it!"
Rory opened her mouth to protest, but Luke was already gone. He hid in the kitchen and left her alone in the bar. She should have expected that. It was her fault after all. Rory sighed and took another sip of her coffee. She almost choked this time. It was bitter than before. Or that was just her conscious.
She left the diner few minutes later and moved onto her next step for the day – her home. She stood at the doorstep for a long moment and stared at the door with pounded heart. Just then, the door opened and Rory saw her mother stared at her with disbelief. She looked at her, as she was some kind of an alien. It was as if Rory was the last person, Lorelai expected to see there.
"Rory?" She asked with thick voice and just then, Rory realized how much she had missed her mother. "Is it really you?"
"Mom!" She sobbed just before Lorelai could wrap her arms around her. Rory snuggled in her mother and felt as a child again. "I missed you!"
"Come on in!" Lorelai dragged her inside of the house and they walked to the sofa at the living room. "And you can stop crying by the way!" She brushed the tears of Rory's face. "I hate to see you crying!"
"I'm sorry, mom!" Rory forced a smile. "I thought I was doing right and I could be fine, but…"
"Hey, it's okay!" Lorelai rubbed her arm and smiled with warmth in her eyes. "Now tell me what are you doing here? I thought that you're gonna be too busy with the preparations."
"There is nothing to prepare." Rory showed her hand. "See the lack of something here?" She moved her fingers and Lorelai frowned.
"What?" She increased her voice and Rory trembled. "What happened? I thought that you were sure about it!"
"I know and I'm so sorry mom." Rory placed her hand on her thigh. "I'm so sorry!"
"What happened? Tell me!" Lorelai lowered her voice.
"I thought I'm ready, but then I just… I just couldn't do it!" Rory shook her head. Her face faded. "You were right and I fought with you!"
"I was right?" Lorelai frowned. "I was right about what?"
"Well as first, I caught him cheating on me." Rory bit her lower lip.
"That son of a bitch!" Lorelai hissed.
"Wait!" Rory increased her voice. "That's not all! I realized that I don't care!"
"So… I was right about the both things then?" Lorelai murmured.
"Yeah." Rory looked at her mother. "I'm sorry I fought with you mom."
"It's okay." Lorelai tilted her head. "So now you're here to pick up the pieces?"
"Yeah." Rory smiled shyly. "Can I stay?"
"Why are you even asking?" Lorelai smiled. "You can stay as long as you need. Go and unpack your things. We can catch up later. Okay?"
"Sure." Rory nodded and smiled with relief. She got off the sofa and Lorelai followed her. "Thanks mom!"
"Hey you're welcome." Lorelai winked at her and watched her as she hid in her old room. The smile disappeared of her face and she took the phone. "Hello, Luke?"
"Yeah, she was here." His voice echoed at the other side of the line. "Don't worry, she doesn't know!"
"I'm not sure if we have to hide that from her!" Lorelai bit her lower lip and looked at the closed door of Rory's room. "Maybe she could help."
"I'm not sure." Luke made a short pause. "This is not a good idea, Lor."
"Maybe it is!" Lorelai walked to the widow and stared outside. "Maybe this is not just a coincidence!"
"No!" Luke snapped. "Not now!"
"As you wish, but hiding this from her is not the best idea ever! She's going to stay and I don't know for how long!"
"Are you kidding me?"
"Nope!" Lorelai sighed. "Her engagement is over and she told me that I was right!"
"No kidding?" Luke laughed bitterly at the other side of the line. "And now she's here to ask for forgiveness?"
"She's here to pick up the pieces!" Lorelai bit her lower lip. "And I'll help her as long as I could. She needs me right now."
"I know." Luke sighed. "I understand but you have to promise me not to tell her! Please!"
"She'll understand!" Lorelai snapped.
"Lor!"
"Fine!" Lorelai sighed again. "I won't tell her about him… for now!"
"Thank you." He made short pause. "I have to go now, he's waiting."
"Okay. Bye Luke." Lorelai sighed. "Hope he make it this time."
"Yeah." He answered her and hung up the phone. Lorelai did the same and turned around just to see her daughter stared at her with confusion.
"What do you have to hide from me?" Rory asked and her face went serious. "Mom?"
P.S.
You can watch the trailer posted in my page here.