A/N: Here's my very first continuing story! Yay! So anyway, I was re-watching the Gilmore Girls episodes with Jess in them and while I was watching episode 4.21 this idea just sort of popped in my head. I know that everyone who does a rewrite of this episode usually has Rory run away with Jess when he asks her to come with him but I thought 'what would happen if he decided to stay in Star Hollow again instead to try to fix up his life with the help of Luke?' and so this was born. It starts out at the part when Jess and Luke talk after the wedding. I hope you guys enjoy! :D
Disclaimer: Sorry but apparently I don't own GG. Too bad.
The moon was shining brightly through the windows of the apartment above Luke's diner as Jess Mariano moved about, grabbing his belongings and stuffing them into his old, olive green, army duffle bag. He just spent the day at Stars Hollow attending his mother, Liz's wedding. He walked her down the aisle, tried his best to stifle his laughs throughout the most ridicules wedding reception he's ever seen, and watched from afar, with a smile on his face, as his uncle Luke happily danced with Lorelai Gilmore, the woman he was in love with. As Jess watched these displays of love and happiness though he felt his heart ache as he yearned for the company of the only woman he ever and will always love. He yearned to be with Rory Gilmore, the only person who truly understood him and saw him for who he really was, so they could share lovely and happy moments of their own. Over the time he spent here he read through a book about love that Luke lent him and the words he read hit him like a ton of bricks to the gut as it finally made him realize what a complete and total jerk he's been to the only people he cared about and now all he wanted to do was to try to make things right again and fix the hearts he broke and the promises he made. He just didn't know how he was going to do this yet.
Jess moved over to the kitchen table where his books lied and started sticking them into his brown leather backpack. Just then he heard the door to the apartment swing open behind him.
"Oh, hey." Luke greeted Jess as he walked in and closed the door behind him. "You leaving?" He asked as he noticed Jess putting his things in his bags.
"Yeah, just kind of hanging around, see if I'd catch you." Jess replied looking at his uncle before he finished packing his bag.
"Good, I'm glad you did." Luke walked over to the fridge and opened it, taking out a beer. "Said goodbye to your mom?"
"Yeah, we're good. Gave her a cell phone number that's pretty permanent. Just got it. Left it for you on the fridge."
"Good." Luke said as he took a swig of his beer.
Jess tugged on the zipper of his worn out, black leather jacket, closing it as he considered what to his uncle. "I want to pay you back, all the money." Jess decided.
"You don't have to."
"I want to. And I appreciate it, everything. The money, living here."
"Well it's good to hear but I kind of knew that."
Jess shook his head and smiled. "Yeah but in a relationship," Jess grabbed his backpack and slung it over his right shoulder. "any kind of relationship, it's important to let the other person know you appreciate them so you don't create barriers that delay any hope for reciprocation."
"Think I read that somewhere."
"yep."
"You're hoping for reciprocation?" Luke asked as he looked at his nephew that he thought of as his own son. "You've had it. I'm here Jess, I'm always here."
Jess nodded his head with a smile. "Thanks." He put his hand out for a handshake. Luke took it in his hand and pulled Jess towards him giving him a hug. Jess held back tears as he patted his uncle on the back. They both smiled a little at each other once they pulled away.
"How'd it work out?" Jess asked referring to Luke's attire which was a gray suite with a white, cotton button-up shirt and a burgundy tie.
"The tie was perfect." Jess nodded in approval then turned around and headed for the door. "Hey Jess?"
"Yeah?" Jess asked moving his attention back to Luke.
"I want you to move back in with me." Luke said looking at Jess with pleading eyes.
"What?" Jess asked taken aback by his statement. "Why?"
"Why not?" Luke shrugged then sighed. "You shouldn't have to live the way you are now. Sharing a small rotten apartment with complete strangers, trying to find any kind of job you can get your hands on to help you get by. It's not right." Luke shook his head. "And believe it or not, but I miss having you around."
"Are you serious?" Jess asked as he continued to stare at his uncle, taking in everything he was saying.
"Yeah." Luke nodded with a smile. "You can stay here and help me run the diner while you work on putting your life back together. I want to help you Jess make a life for yourself. I know how much you hate accepting help from others but at least let me do this much, please."
"You sure about this uncle Luke?"
"As sure as I can be."
Jess pondered his options for a bit. This may be the chance he's looking for to prove and redeem himself and to fix all the wrong he's done. Jess sighed as he made up his mind and looked up at Luke with a smile. "Then let this day be known as the day that Jess Mariano returns to Stars Hollow."
Luke grinned as he walked towards Jess and pulled him in for another hug. "Welcome home kiddo."
"Thanks."
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Rory was driving home in her car from Yale as she thought over the events of this night. Dean had came earlier when she called and was able to get her out of a tight situation. When they got back to her dorm she questioned him about his marriage with Lindsay and how he was able to come to Yale so easily. He just told her that it was nothing and that Lindsay wasn't even home at the time. She just shrugged it off and they told each other good night with a hug and he left as she went to bring her belongings to her car. She had a feeling that there was something going on with Dean and it had something to do with her. She didn't know how to feel about it though.
She pondered this as she entered the small town of Stars Hollow and headed home unaware at the time that Jess Mariano, the boy she loves but is unaware of how strongly she actually loves him, has made the decision to stay at Stars Hollow.
So there you have it, chapter 1 of my first ongoing story. I'm sorry if it's a bit short but I plan on trying to make the chapters longer from here on out. I really hate the scene with Dean and Rory (I mean, come on Dean! You're married already!) so I decided to just summarize what happened between them. I hope you don't hate me for that. Well anyway I hope you liked the first chapter. Reviews are golden! Thanks! :D
RB
