A/N- I thought of this after watching 'Luke can see her face'

Description: What if Jess had stayed after Liz's wedding. How will things change with Jess now living in Stars Hollow again?

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or the characters associated with the show.

A Different View on Reality

Chapter One: Small Town Charm.

Jess heaved a sigh as he prepared to walk his mother down the aisle, a task which he desperately didn't want to do, and yet here he was reaching out and taking her arm, not responding to the proud smile she gave him as he led her down the aisle towards her soon to be husband.

Jess had to admit, however annoying T.J was, he was better than all the other guys Liz had married, and dated in the past. He may not openly show it but he was pleased his mother had finally got her life together; it had taken her long enough. Then again here he was almost 19 and his life was going nowhere, he'd lost all sense of direction, he was living in New York, in a grotty apartment where he slept on a filthy mattress on the floor. Working as a messenger all hours of the day and night, any hope of a decent path in life was thrown away when he'd left Stars Hollow to find his father. Which had proved to be a waste of time, and the part that killed him the most, was that he'd left Rory behind, without so much as a goodbye.

Getting to the end of the aisle, Jess passed his mothers arm over to T.J, and kissed her cheek. Before taking his seat next to Luke, as soon as he was sat down his heart skipped a beat, across the street there was Rory, watching the festivities from what he assumed she thought was a safe distance. Her eyes locked with his and she stood frozen for a few seconds before bolting down the road. For a split second he considered chasing after her, but the ceremony had started and there would be nothing but lectures and yelling if he left now. He heaved a sigh and focused on the wedding. Soon finding he was trying desperately to stop himself laughing, a task which was made harder by the stifled laughter of his Uncle next to him, and the elder Gilmore next to Luke.

'Stop laughing.' Jess whispered harshly, smirking as T.J mentioned the tights again.

'Can't' Luke shook his head, failing to contain his laughter.

'Think of something really horrible, Famine, Death, Grease 2.' Lorelai said laughing as she whispered the words.

'Not working.' Luke replied.

'You,' Lorelai pointed at Jess. 'Say something to stop us laughing.'

'I want to move back to Stars Hollow.' Jess said staring straight ahead. Lorelai and Luke both stared at him open mouthed, neither of them laughing now. As Luke was about to respond the vows came to an end, and he had to focus his attention back on his sister's wedding.

'Jess wait up. 'Luke called following him across the square after the wedding party was winding down, Jess was heading back to the diner after saying goodbye to his mom, who'd left with T.J for their honeymoon.

'Yeah?' Jess turned to face his uncle, knowing what this was going to be about.

'What you said during the ceremony, about moving back, did you mean it?'

'Yes.'

'Why would you want to move back here?' Luke asked.

'I guess the small town charm won me over.' Jess said raising his arms up and letting them fall back to his side.

'Be serious.' Luke warned, 'This is the second time now you've come to me asking to come back, I want a pretty good reason.'

'Have you seen my life? I know you've seen my apartment, well my life is a worse mess than that, and the only time I ever felt even the slightest bit in control, the slightest bit like I could actually achieve something with my life, is when I was here.' Jess burst out.

'You can achieve something.' Luke responded. 'You can come back, have your old bed, at least it has a frame which is a step up from your current place, you'll have to pay rent, and get a job.'

'I will.' Jess promised. 'First thing in the morning I'll look for a job, and I'll help out in the diner.'

'Ok then.' Luke nodded.

'Thank you, I appreciate this.' Jess nodded awkwardly.

'Just tell me one thing, what you were saying about Rory? Does she have anything to do with you moving back?' Luke asked.

'For some reason she has a role in every decision I've made since meeting her.' Jess shook his head. 'I won't cause her any trouble though, I'm not here to hurt her, or mess with her.'

'Good.' Luke nodded again. 'Go and get yourself settled in, I need to walk Lorelai home.'

'Yeah, what's up with that, are you two on a date or something?' Jess asked with a smirk.

'That's none of your business.' Luke replied turning away.

!

'So what's the deal? Is he moving back here? Or was it some sort of unfunny joke he was pulling.' Lorelai asked as Luke walked her home.

'He's moving back here.' Luke said keeping his head straight forward.

'What! Why? I thought he was happy in New York.' Lorelai said raising her voice slightly.

'He's far from happy, I can see it, he's messed up, but at least he seems to know he needs help, so he's asked to come back because he wants to sort his life out.'

'Well at least he's being responsible, that's something I guess, and you really think he's unhappy? It's so hard to tell what he's thinking.

'I know he's unhappy, he must be to want to move back here.' Luke replied.

'I guess,' Lorelai nodded slowly, letting the new information sink in. 'How am I going to tell Rory.'

'Like a band-aid, do it quickly.' Luke suggested.

!

Rory pushed her study books off her lap, letting some of them tumble to the floor as the phone rang. Hopping up she knocked over a bowl of chocolate covered raisins, but managed to grab the phone before the caller rang off.

'Rory?' The voice was so familiar to her, and it stopped her heart hearing him speak her name, a blush rose in her cheeks as she steadied her breathing.

'Hey.' Rory spoke quietly.

'Sorry to call so late, I just got in from the wedding and I needed to tell you something, I think it should come from me.' Jess said cautiously.

'Ok, go ahead.' Rory replied, half between happy to hear his voice and half wanting to yell at him for how he left, for how he ran off after telling her he loved her.

'I've asked Luke if I can move back here and he's said yes.' Jess said quickly.

'Huh.'

'Isn't that my line?' Jess joked, Rory smiled despite herself.

'Funny.' She said dryly.

'So uh, I just wanted to check it was ok with you, because if it's not I won't stay.' Jess replied, and Rory wondered when he'd become so considerate.

'It's a free country, live where you want, it doesn't bother me.' Rory replied.

'Ok. So, how are you?' Jess asked.

'Don't do that, you've called to tell me your moving back and I appreciate it I really do, and I've told you I'm ok with it, but don't start making small talk, I can't just forget everything that happened.' Rory shouted.

'I know, I'm sorry, for everything that's happened and everything I did wrong which was basically everything.' Jess said sincerely. The tone of his voice softened her a little.

'I'm fine, college is crazy but I love it. How are you?' Rory conceded.

'I'm better than I was last week.' Jess said evasively. 'I'm glad you like college.'

'So was that it?' Rory asked.

'Yeah, unless of course you know of any jobs going?' There was a pause for a few seconds.

'Andrew is hiring at the bookstore.' Rory offered him the information.

'Thanks.'

'Sure, ok so see you round I guess.' Rory replied.

'See you round Rory.'

'Oh and Jess.'

'Hmm?'

'Welcome home.' Rory said hanging the phone up.

!

'Honey?' Lorelai called; spotting Rory on the couch she walked over and sat down next to her, taking off her painful heels and throwing them across the room. 'Rory, I have something to tell you.'

'Jess is moving back to Stars Hollow.'

'Wow! How did you do that, because that was seriously impressive?' Lorelai said wide eyed.

'He called to check it was ok with me.' Rory replied.

'And is it ok with you?'

'Yeah, I mean he can live wherever he wants, it doesn't bother me, we've been broken up for a while, and it doesn't bother me.' Rory replied.

'Good.' Lorelai said.

'I'm sleepy so I'm going to head to bed; I have to be back at school tomorrow afternoon.' Rory kissed her mom's cheek, and then headed to bed. Falling asleep thinking of Jess.