A/N- Okay this takes place six years after the series finale. Rory's an international correspondent but, shes taking a break to come home for Luke and Lorelai's wedding. She hasn't seen Jess since she went to Philly in The Real Paul Anka. Jess wrote another book that ended up on the best sellers list. He's still living in Philly but is coming to Stars Hollow for the wedding. There's someone coming with him too!
Jess' POV
I glanced up at the sign above the door one last time before pushing it open. I looked around and saw Luke standing near a table in the corner. He was frowning at Lorelai who was talking very fast, with her arms flying around her. I approached them catching bits of their conversation.
"…in Africa for the last two months! Don't you want to welcome her home properly?"
"Lorelai…" Luke started.
"Hey," I greeted when I reached them.
"Jess, hey!" Luke replied giving me a quick hug.
"Hi Jess! Tell him to give me four coffee's to-go." She demanded pointing at Luke.
"Four?"
"Yes, four. I'm going to pick Rory up from the airport and I need four coffee's." she told me.
"Luke your not gonna win this one. Just give her the coffee's." I said to him sympathetically. He glared and walked off to get her coffee. I sat across from Lorelai.
"Thank you! So where's your mini me?" she asked.
"I dropped her off at Liz's on the way in so she could spend some time with Doula while T.J. isn't home. I'm gonna pick her up in a couple hours. You're still taking her dress shopping tomorrow, right?"
"Yep! Rory and I will pick her up here at eleven. And you have to get fit for your tux." She reminded me.
"I know."
"And Friday's the rehearsal."
"I know." I repeated.
"Followed by dinner with the wedding party, which includes my parents."
"You just had to remind me, didn't you?" I glared.
"Don't worry too much. Dad can't wait to meet you, he read your books. And Mom…still hates you. But she hates me too, and Luke, and just about every one that will be there, so at least you aren't alone in that boat." She rambled.
"Yeah. I'm gonna go unpack our stuff upstairs. I'll see you later." I said getting up and grabbing the bags I had dropped by the door. I treaded up the stairs, and opened the apartment door. I dropped the bags in the bedroom part and pulled a book out of my bag. I sat down at the kitchen table to read. About thirty minutes later Luke came up.
"Jess?"
"Yeah?" I replied closing my book.
"I have to go to an engagement party at Lorelai's parents tonight and I was wondering if you could close up the diner?" he asked.
"Couldn't Cesar do it? The whole town is gonna flock to this place tonight and I really don't want to be here for it." I said frowning.
"Cesar has to leave at seven and Lane can't work after eight because she has to pick her kids up from her moms. And you can throw anybody who's here to gawk out the door."
"Okay." I agreed reluctantly.
"Thanks Jess." He smiled and headed for the door. "Oh! Liz called T.J.'s coming home early tonight so you might want to go get Erica."
"Right." I nodded following him out the door.
We stepped out from behind the curtain and the entire diner stopped talking. I sighed and headed for the door as quickly as possible. When I was outside I slowed my pace and walked in the direction of my mom's house. It only took about five minutes to get there; as I approached I saw Doula and Erica playing in the front yard. Liz was sitting on the porch watching them.
"Daddy!" Erica yelled running up to me.
"Hey Angel." I replied picking her up.
"Look what Grandma gave me!" she said excitedly, pointing to a necklace she had on.
"Very pretty. You can wear it to Uncle Luke's wedding next week." I told her. She nodded happily and I put her back down. "Go say goodbye to Grandma." She ran off to say goodbye.
I followed her up the porch stairs, "Hey Liz, how about I take Doula for the rest of the day? We can go get ice cream." I suggested.
"Okay, if you're sure."
"Yeah, we'll have fun right guys?"
"Yeah!" Doula and Erica chorused.
"All right." Liz agreed. "I'll pick her up at the diner later."
"Okay." I nodded. "Let's go guy's."
Doula and Erica ran off towards the ice cream shop. I followed slightly behind them; they were already inside when I got there. We ordered deciding to eat our ice cream in the gazebo. Once we were sitting on a bench I turned to them.
"So what do you guys want to do after this?" I asked.
"Play in the square." Doula said. Erica nodded her agreement.
They spent the next two hours running around while I sat in the gazebo reading. At six we went back to the diner and I made all of us cheeseburger. Liz came a little later to pick Doula up. At seven Luke came downstairs looking rather queasy.
"Looking forward to dinner?" I asked sarcastically.
"Oh yeah." He said rolling his eyes.
"Lukey!" Lorelai called as she entered the diner. "You haven't tried falling down the stairs have you?"
I looked up, and stopped breathing. Rory was behind her smiling. I knew I was going to see her eventually I just hadn't expected it to be tonight. Her hair had grown out and her bangs were gone. She was thinner than the last time I saw her, I suspected that was from being in third world countries. Her eyes were sparkling like they hadn't been the last time I saw her. She froze when our eyes met.
"Hi." I said to her.
"Hi." She replied.
"Hi." I said to Lorelai.
"Please don't start that again!" Lorelai sighed dramatically.
"What?" I asked.
"When you two first started dating we walk in here one morning and it's 'hi, hi, hi, hi, bye, bye, bye, bye' add a new word!" she begged.
I rolled my eyes at her. "We were not like that."
"Uh, yeah you were." She told me.
"Whatever."
"I'll take that as a 'You're right Lorelai'! Let's go Luke we don't want to be late!" she grabbed Luke's hand and dragged him out the door. Rory laughed and sat at the counter.
"You don't have to go?" I asked her.
"Nope. Mom told them I get back tomorrow." She said smiling.
"You want something to eat?"
"Yeah, I'll have a cheeseburger, fries and coffee. Lot's of coffee!"
"Well, that's a given." I replied smirking. I poured her a cup of coffee and went in the kitchen to start her order.
"Daddy!" I heard, followed by the sound of feet running down the stairs. Erica came from behind the curtain dressed in my old Metallica shirt.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have pie?" she asked approaching me.
"No, it's too late. You need to go to bed." I told her. She stuck out her bottom lip and her eyes widened. "Fine." I sighed and picked her up. I carried her around the counter and sat her on a stool next to Rory. "This is Rory, Lorelai's daughter." I told her. "Rory this is my daughter, Erica."
"Hi! Do you like pie?" Erica questioned. I smirked and went back around the counter to get her a piece of pie.
"Yep. Apple's my favorite." Rory told her smiling.
"Mine too!" Erica agreed. I placed a plate in front of her and she grabbed the fork taking a big bite.
"And after you eat your apple pie your going to bed." I reminded her.
"Uh huh." She replied distracted by the pie. "Night Daddy." She said once she finished. I picked her up off the stool and gave her a kiss.
"Goodnight Angel." I put her on the ground and she walked up the stairs.
"You have a daughter." Rory stated once she was gone.
"Yep."
"How old is she?"
"Four."
"She looks just like you."
"Yep."
"Where's her mom?" she asked.
I shrugged, "She didn't want to be a mom."
"Oh."
"So how's life as Christiane Amanpour?" I changed the subject.
"Great!" she smiled. "And how's life as a best selling author?" She questioned referring to my second book.
"Pretty good."
The bell above the door rang and I looked up. Taylor was marching up to the counter.
"You!" he yelled pointing to me.
"Me?"
"Someone glued the door of my car shut! It was you wasn't it?" he continued to yell.
"Taylor I haven't pulled crap like that in ten years! Now stop yelling my kids upstairs sleeping!" I snapped.
"We are not done discussing this!" he said as he walked out the door.
"Yes we are!" I called behind him. I shut the door.
"Glad to be back in the Hollow?" Rory said sarcastically.
"Oh I'm thrilled."
A/N- So there's chapter one what do you think?