Disclaimer: Lists of things I do own: My computer, my imagination, four annoying pain in the ass little brothers, too much free time, my addiction to everything related to the outrageously sexy Milo Ventimiglia and many more but I certainly do not own anything that you may recognize in this fic. I'm not brilliant enough…

A/N: thank you so much for your sweet reviews. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. I'm really excited about this fic, Literati is really a great inspiration.

Chapter two: Changes are not always for the bad.

Passing the Stars Hollow sign, Jess Mariano sighed. He still could not believe he was coming back yet again to this God forsaken town on his own account. Two weeks ago, he had seriously thought about checking in with a professional of mental health care when he had agreed that spending a few days with his uncle and his happy family for Christmas was not such a horrible idea. Sure, he was happy to see Luke, Doula and even Lorelai but the thought of being watched closely 24/7 by Taylor and the rest of the town was annoying him beyond words. Finally, after three hours of traveling non stop, he pulled over in front of Luke's dinner, Stars Hollow, Connecticut. Why did he not stop? Simply because that would have given him an opportunity to think, to have second thoughts which would probably would have lead him to turn around and go straight back to Philadelphia. He looked over at the diner's windows and did not stop the engine. For a few minutes, he seriously considered that it was not too late. He could still go back. He could still avoid their judgmental and scrutinizing eyes. He could keep all the awkwardness from being created and hanging over them like an old, scary and very annoying ghost. He could free them all from the drama that the twelve next days with her will certainly bring. He could do all that and spend Christmas alone but at least his heart and mind will remain unaffected. Perhaps, he would even be considered as a hero. Everybody would be grateful that he made that decision for them. Perhaps… He sighed and eventually, silenced the car. He had come to a realization. Nine years had passed since the day he left on that damn bus. He was not that kid anymore; the one who fled at the first sign of trouble. One quick look around himself confirmed that Stars Hollow (which was way to much lightened considering the hour) had not change even the slightest bit. But he certainly did and even though he had nothing to prove, he still felt the need to show it to them. The picturesque town and its inhabitant already had a glimpse of the new, improved Jess. It was 2 years ago, when Luke and Lorelai finally tied the knot. He remembered the day he passed Luke's doors. Eyes went wide, jaws fell to the floor, gushes and gossips were whispered… the usual reactions when he was seen in town. A town meeting was actually held when Luke had thanked him in front of Taylor and Kirk for accepting to be his best man. How could Luke seriously consider not only to invite him but to make him actually participate to the ceremony? The meeting was held but just like ten years ago, Luke and Lorelai got together and told Taylor to mind his own business. Jess was family. Jess was not missing his uncle's weeding, especially when it was to a Gilmore. Jess was staying, end of discussion… or meeting more accurately.

«Was I not used to this circus, it might have hurt my feelings. » Jess had commented with a smirk when Luke and Lorelai had come back to the dinner that day.

He remembered with an ironic laugh how this 5 hours had been the longest of his life. Seeing Rory for the first time after the Philadelphia incident was only one of the few painful events of the day. The fact that both of them were accompanied by their fiancés did not help ease the tension. Not to mention that being best man and maid of honor, they had several obligations to attend to which required both of their presences. In his apartment, a framed picture of the newlyweds with Jess and Rory on each of their side was standing on his desk. It was a beautiful picture. One of the rare picture where you could see Jess smiling, not just smirking or scowling but giving a real and unaltered smile to the camera. Rory and Lorelai were absolutely stunning in their way too expensive dresses and Luke was grinning like an idiot, his hand on his wife's back. Jess was not a picture guy, he had not many pictures around his apartment but he could not get rid of this one. He could not explain it, he even felt his heart aching just a little when, on rare occasions, his eyes would find their way toward it. But every time he thought about putting it away, he could not bring himself to do it. On that picture, a really small percentage of the people he ever cared about where smiling happily. How could he get rid of such a rare and precious moment. As cheesy and un-jess like as it sounded, he wanted to keep it next to him. Like a reminder. All the pain, the ache and the obstacles were worth it. They got their happy ending.

He was brutally brought back to reality by someone knocking joyfully on the window. He startled a little but recovered quickly when he recognized the person standing outside of his car, her nose almost smashed against the window. Leave it to Lorelai to make a knock sound joyful.

« Are you planning on coming out of that painfully expensive of yours car before the next full moon or are you just wanting to test your defense against the legendary Stars Hollow's frizzing cold nights ? » she asked with a smirk, delicately rubbing her huge stomach. She looked from left to right at his newly bought black Beetle, her eyes full of malice. « Nice. » she commented. « I should probably try that writing thing Rory has been babbling about. I mean if you can do it, anybody can, right? » she added, her smirk growing. She stepped back, giving him more space to fully get out of the car. He glared at her.

« Lorelai, always a pleasure to see you. » he said dryly and she laughed. She smiled at him and after a few seconds he smiled back. Things had clearly changed during the last few years. Six years ago, their greetings would have been quite different, if there were to be any greeting at all. « How are you? » he asked throwing a quick glance at her stomach. For a thousandth of second, she could have sworn she saw fear flashing in his eyes and she laughed.

« It's not gonna bite, you know. » she said and his trademark smirk was back in place.

« No but you might. »

« Nah, don't worry I've got Luke for that. » she waved it off and he made a face.

« Dirty! » they said at the same time, followed quickly by chuckles. « So, everything's fine? » he asked again after they sobered up. His tone was softer, almost shy. She saw something in eyes. Concern. Genuine concern.

« Yeah everything is great. » she assured as he opened the door to his back seat and retrieve a rather large suitcase. « You? » she asked.

« Not bad. Still a little shocked and confused as to why I agreed to this insanity but other than that I'm ok. » he said putting the suitcase down and slamming the door.

« Now, that's impressive. » she commented looking at the luggage. « Planning on moving back? » she asked smirking and he laughed with 'yeah, right!' expression plastered all over his face.. « Awww you really are missing me! » she exclaimed putting her hand over her heart and smiling sweetly at him.

« You have no idea! » he said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

« Hey! Don't mock me! I'm pregnant! » she frowned, pouting a little.

« So? » he asked as they began to make their way to the diner's doors. « Is there a rule against mocking pregnant women I' m not aware of? » he went on, pushing the door open and keeping it open for her.

« Of course there is and ignorance is not an excuse. Pregnant women are future mommies and mommies must be cherished and worshiped no matter what. You can't mock someone you're supposed to cherish and worship! » he sensed that it was not the first time she was giving that speech.

« Luckily for me and a certain relationship I had with a certain daughter of yours, you're not my mother so you can forget the worshiping. »

« No affectionately prepared and blessed presents? » she asked as she went behind the counter and poured two cups of coffee. It was 10 PM so the diner was completely deserted. He distractedly looked around but Luke was nowhere to be seen.

« Nope. » he replied.

« Not even a little sacrifice? » she asked pouting.

« I'm afraid I have no offspring to sacrifice for the greater good, sorry. » he said dryly.

« You're no fun. »

« You're crazy. »

« At least you didn't dismissed the 'cherish' part of my rant, that's a start. »

« Which is not going to get you anywhere. » he interjected.

« Whatever. » she replied sipping in her coffee. « You're not drinking. » she stated.

« Obviously. »

« But why? » she asked, not quite grasping the idea that anybody could refuse a cup of steaming coffee on a cold December night.

« Because I'm tired and if I drink that now, I won't be able to close my eyes later. Plus, I never was a fan of coffee. » he said taking off his black trench coat, his black scarf and his black leather gloves.

« I forgot you had Danes genes in you. » she said.

« Yeah and the two you're carrying right now will have even more of them. » he said smirking.

« I will keep them away from vegetables and coffee haters. » she vowed.

« God forbid they grow to be healthy kids. »

« Rory never complained. » At the mention of her daughter, she noticed how his eyes shifting briefly but he quickly recovered.

« Rory is as much a freak as you are. » he said looking around once more. It was really strange being here again.

« Thanks. » she said ironically.

« You're welcome. » he replied using the same tone she used and adding a smirk to it.

« You're awful. » she stated with a shake of her head but her eyes smiling nonetheless.

« I try. » he replied and she giggled. She gulped the rest of her coffee and tried to get up to refill her cup but in her eight months and a half pregnant state, getting of a counter stool was easier said than done. She shifted, turned around and finally gave up while he kept on smirking. She looked at him, giving him a killer stare and the smirk disappeared as quickly as it came. He got up and refilled her cup.

« You know I don't think Luke would approve my participation in the poisoning of his unborn twins. » he said handing her the cup. She smelled it and sighed contently while he got back to his place.

« What he doesn't know, can't hurt him. » she said wiggling her eyebrows.

« As if it was the 1st cup you drank in the last nine months. » a clearly irritated voice cut through their discussion. He was just coming down from his old apartment.

« Lukie! » Lorelai shrieked, bouncing on her stool and consequently almost falling from it. In two stride Luke was behind her, preventing her from hurting herself. « My hero! » she said as he bent down and they exchanged a quick kiss.

« Take it easy. At least wait until they're born to put them through danger. » he said, his eyes shinning with concern. Thinking about it, the concern was always in his eyes when it came to Lorelai. It just amplified now that she was his wife and pregnant with his future son and daughter.

« Yeah, you're right, it's not fun if I can't see actual scratches and bruises. » she said grinning and he rolled his blue eyes before finally turning to his nephew. « You're here. » he said smiling.

« Nothing gets past you, Uncle Luke. » he said smirking.

« Some things never change. » Luke commented dryly with yet another roll of his eyes at the use of the false politeness.

« But others do. » Jess said throwing a knowing glance at Lorelai. « For one, your wife didn't try to strangle me when I stepped outta my car. We're clearly going in the right direction. There's progress. Or maybe it's a sign of the apocalypse, I'm not quite sure yet. » Jess said, the smirk back.

« Don't let it fool you, she's just hormonal, wait 'till these two pop out and scary Lorelai will be back. »

« Hey! I so resent that. I was just trying to be a nice aunt. » she said smirking right back at Jess who winced.

« Jeez! » he exclaimed annoyed. « Unnecessary and useless ugly mental images! » he said making a face.

« Awww look at that Luke, Jess is scowling. Just like the good old days. » she said pinching his cheek while he glared and frowned even more. Luke chuckled and she finally let go of Jess' cheek. Silence fell upon them as they looked more closely at each other. While Jess looked more like a man, more grown up, settled and as always, good in own skin, the Danes couple did not seem to be affected by the passing years. For a forty-some years old woman, ready to give birth to two babies at any moment, Lorelai looked absolutely gorgeous. Pregnancy looked good on her. As for Luke, Jess wondered if he was ever going to change. Turned backwards baseball blue cap and flannel shirt at the ready, the only thing distinguishing him from his old self was the weeding band on his left hand and the happiness shinning in his eyes even when he was trying to sound annoyed.

« Stars Hollow is definitely the town that time forgot. » he eventually said, noticing that the diner as not change at all.

« Nah, your Uncle is just a big sentimental. » Lorelai said smiling up at her husband.

« And you're physically unable to keep your mouth shut. » Luke replied.

« You're mean. »

« You're annoying. »

« You're boring. »

« You're crazy. »

« You love me. »

« You bug me. » he finished their banter before leaning over and kissing her softly. Jess averted his eyes at that moment. He had watched the exchange with amusement and a hint of envy. He had not shared one of these moment with anybody since Ali left.

Despite the visits they paid to each other every once in a while, he still was not used to see Luke and Lorelai as a team. He always knew that in spite of years of denial, fears and obstacles, they would end up right where they were now. Even if he would never admit it, he was really happy for the both of them. Luke was the only father-figure he ever had. The only member of his family he could always count on. He often wondered how someone as reliable and settled as Lucas Danes was a member his own family. A close relative. It was very strange and almost unbelievable. Jess stayed in touch with Liz and Jimmy but he had let go of the hope of seeing them act as real parents (with him anyway) a long time ago.

Things between him and Lorelai had changed throughout the years. It was not a drastic change, it did not happen over night. It was something slower, progressive but efficient nonetheless. It had taken ten years but they had come to an unspoken and mutual agreement. She knew he helped Rory when she was lost. She knew her daughter kept in touch with him but it did not frighten her as much as it used to. At some point of her life, she had thought that Jess could only bring chaos and heartache. But when she had gotten back to Luke three years ago, she witnessed what Rory and Luke had seen from the beginning. Underneath his cool behavior, his sarcasm and attitude, beyond the facade of hurtful words and indifference there was someone good. Someone almost too pure who had been hurt by life more than once and was just trying to protect himself from getting hurt again. She should have trusted the two person who truly mattered to her. To her defense, he did not exactly gave her any chance to give him the benefit of the doubt and when she tried he ended up doing what she had predicted he would. He left without looking back, hurting her daughter deeply in the process.

Time heals everything.

As time went by, he slowly let go of the 'selfish, self destructive behavior' as Luke had once put it and she slowly let go of her numerous prejudices. They finally cut each other a lot of slacks to finally realize that life was much more easier that way.

« So is it ok if I crash up there. » he said pointing to the ceiling when they broke apart.

« Sure, but you could stay at the Inn, if you want something more… um comfy. » Lorelai offered.

« Thanks but I think I will stick to old habits . Plus it's free. » he said and the Danes nodded.

« Yeah because money is a huge issue for you« Lorelai commented dryly.

« You need help with that? » Luke asked gesturing toward the suitcase and ignoring his wife.

« No, I think I'll manage. » Jess waved off.

« Ok, so if you need anything you know your way around. The spare key is still where it used to be. » Luke said while Lorelai gathered her stuff.

« Shocker. » Jess commented and his uncle glared at him. « Thanks. » he added after a while with a small smile and Luke nodded knowingly.

« Sure. » the couple started to make their ways toward the door when Luke turned around, remembering something. « Did you call her? »

« Yeah I did this afternoon before leaving but she wasn't home. I left a message but she hasn't called me back yet. » Jess said trying to sound nonchalant.

« She will. » Luke assured. At first, Lorelai was slightly confused, not knowing who she was but when she saw Jess' demeanor change she understood.

« No she won't. » Jess said but he was not angry or disappointed. Instead a small smirk appeared on his face. « We haven't had a telephonic conversation in way too many years. Even when we were a couple, the phone was never our thing. Plus I don't have a cell phone, I left your number on the message so by now she should have figured out why or from where I was calling. » he said with a smirk that the two others mirrored.

« You can always count on my daughter's predictability. » Lorelai said.

« True. » Jess said.

« Well she's gonna be here tomorrow before noon so you'll have plenty of time to mock her. » Luke added.

« I won't allow it. » Lorelai said vehemently and Jess chuckled.

« Just try and stop me. » Jess said.

After a few more jokes and witty remarks, the couple went back home and Jess ascended the stairs leading to what he once almost called home. He entered the old office/apartment and in less time than you need to say 'Stars Hollow' he was overwhelmed with a strange sense of calmness, while hundreds of memories came rushing back to him. He put his suitcase on the couch before retrieving a book and his laptop from it. He turned his computer on and while it was loading he went to the fridge looking for something to eat. He was not surprised to see that his uncle had thoroughly prepared his return. The fridge was packed with food and drinks. He grabbed a bottle of water and what he needed to prepare a turkey sandwich. When he was done he went back to his laptop and checked his emails. After getting rid of the junk mail and reading the few professional mail he received he almost closed the internet page when he received another mail. He opened it and as he was reading it a smile appeared on his handsome face. He shook his head amused and finally turned off the computer. He ate, drank, took a shower before settling under the covers of the bed, whose sheet were freshly changed, to read a little, all the while smiling like he had not in a long time. When he close his eyes, her mail appeared in front of his eyes.

From Rory Gilmore to Jess Mariano.

Subject: Christmas Holidays.

See you at home Dodger,

Rory.

A/N: that's it for chapter 2. Yeah again, there was a lot of descriptive parts and not quite enough dialog but I'm not used to write for this fandom and it's the beginning of the story and I need to built the frame before I can really make the characters interact. I'm having so much fun writing this. I hope it wasn't horrible. And don't worry in the next chapter, the real fun will begin! It may come sooner if I get reviews.

Thanks again to those who reviewed last chapter.

One last thing, about my quotes. I'm sorry if it bothered you, believe me it bothers me too but for now, that's all I have. As soon as I get Microsoft words back , I will get rid of the ugliness.