Disclaimer - I do not own Gilmore Girls. Does this really need to be said?

Warning - This chapter does contain some mature themes.

This Thing Between Us

Chapter 2 – Will we ever learn?

Lori was a bright and even-tempered five-year-old girl. She had Rory's eyes and Jess' hair and complexion. She was a complete mixture of the two of them, both in looks and in personality. She had Rory's kind nature but Jess' forwardness. The one thing that Jess and Rory could always agree on was that they would never be without her.

"Hi Mommy, Hi Daddy," she smiled happily at them.

"Hi sweetie," said Rory, smiling at her daughter. "Hey, Bumblebee." Said Jess affectionately, as he signalled for her to come and sit on his lap.

"Here, Daddy, look what I made for you." She said as she handed him a piece of paper with her childish drawing on it.

"Oh, that's beautiful sweetie. What is it?" She giggled.

"It's Stars Hollow Daddy, where me and Mommy went this weekend. Mommy told me to draw you a picture of what we did there to show you because you couldn't come."

"Well, it's very nice," he said, kissing her forehead. But when he looked up to see a rather annoyed look on Rory's face.

"Yes, Jess. As you were too 'busy' to join us." He ignored her. He had, in all honesty, thought that he had a meeting about the release of his new book, but it was cancelled at the last minute. But he wasn't going to justify himself to Rory. Besides, she was always happier when she was pissed at him

Emma watched the interaction between the 'family' with great interest. Lori was an extremely happy and well cared for child, but there was a certain amount of tension between her parents. It worried her slightly that Lori was going to pick up on it one day. Rory and Jess were still rather young, and in many ways still growing up themselves. However, that wasn't what this meeting was about.

"So, why don't we get down to business, shall we," Emma smiled, and sat down behind her desk. "Now, first of all I'm sorry if my phone call before worried you, there's nothing wrong but this is a matter which I feel we need to discuss." They both nodded in understanding, as did Lori, but more than likely was just copying what her parents did. "Well, I want you to know how much this school loves having Lori here. And you like being here with us, don't you Lori?"

"Sure," she answered cryptically. She was so much like her father at times. Jess couldn't help but chuckle and stroke her hair.

"Well, as I'm sure you are both aware you have a very clever little girl here."

"We know," smiled Rory and reached over to stroke her daughter's cheek affectionately. "Trust me, she's always telling us." Emma laughed a little.

"Well, now she's told a lot of other people. Recently, as you know the children took a standard IQ and general skills test, so we could assess their learning abilities more accurately. And Lori scored very highly. Exceptionally in fact."

"Really? Err, how well? I mean, err, what does this mean now?" Rory was suddenly in a fluster. Should they look at more advanced schools? Move her up a grade? Would she want to? A myriad of thoughts were flurrying around her head, and she grew increasingly annoyed at the fact that Jess seemed completely unaffected by this.

"Lori got one of the highest scores in the tri-state area, and while this school does not want to lose Lori-"

"Who would?" piped in Lori. Jess shook his head.

"Settle down, kid."

"While we don't want to lose her,' continued Emma, "we want what's best for her more, which is why we would like you to consider some of the following options. Although we are a good school, there are those that are perhaps more suited for Lori's level."

"Move schools?" Lori suddenly became very agitated and upset, "But what about Becky, and Lily and-"

"Lori, sweetie, we're just looking at options for now, nothing's going to happen yet. And if it does you will make lots of new friends and we'll make sure you see you're old ones as often as possible, ok?" Lori's gloomy face seemed to lift a bit.

"Ok." She said quietly, and snuggled more closely into Jess. He kissed her for head again, and then gave her an Eskimo kiss. Jess always knew what to do to calm her down. As Rory watched the interaction between the father and daughter, she smiled despite herself. She had to admit it; Jess was a wonderful father. He was so warm and giving to Lori. She just wished he could be like that all the time.

"Err, Rory." Emma tried to recapture Rory's attention but she knew that for those brief few seconds, it was pointless. Lori and Jess were adorable with each other. This would be the point of view of any outsider. He loved her more than anything else alive. As any father should. When Rory watched the way that the father and daughter connected with each other, she always got chills. She loved how he didn't care how silly he looked when he played with her. It was the only time she ever saw him drop his bad boy persona, even to this day. And she loved how Lori was so adamant that he was the 'World's Best Daddy.' Although she did have proof, it was on his coffee mug.

"Rory!" Rory jumped suddenly at the sound of Emma trying to re-grab her attention.

"Oh, sorry I got lost for a minute there."

"As, I was saying, although we don't want to lose Lori, there are perhaps more suitable schools for her abilities. I sometimes fear that we don't really have the staff or facilities to really do her justice."

"What about simply moving her up grade, rather than a completely different school." Asked Jess, finally weighing in.

"Now, that's something that I would not recommend. While her academic skills would be tested more, we have to remember that everything else would be advancing to. Putting her with older kids could be very intimidating, and often have the reverse affect."

"And they're all poopy heads, Daddy!"

"Lori," Rory warned her, "that's not a nice thing to say about other people."

"But you said Daddy was-"

"Lori! That's enough!" Rory could feel Jess glaring at her. She tried very hard not to talk ill of Jess in front of Lori, and she knew he did the same. But he could be so frustrating sometimes, especially now that they worked together on occasion. And things just tended to slip out; particularly when she didn't think Lori was listening. But being a curious five years old, she very often was.

"Anyway," Emma continued, trying to break the tension in the room. "I have several brochures here for you to look at. These are all exceptional schools, with excellent credentials, particularly at Lori's age group. However, they are all quite expensive, but they do have scholarship programmes and reasonable payment plans-"

"The money's not an issue." Stated Jess, simply.

"Right, well, unless you have any further questions, I think that that concludes our meeting. It was very nice to see you both again. Rory, Jess," shaking their hands. "I hope to see you again soon, and I'll see you tomorrow Lori."

"See you tomorrow."

- Outside the school building -

"See, I told you I was a genius, Daddy."

"Oh, I never doubted it," he laughed and scooped her up, and carried her on his hip down the steps to the main street. Rory followed carrying Lori's book bag and lunchbox. "So, what are you girls up to now?"

"We're going home to have dinner, a bath and then bed. Her big brain needs a rest."

"Oh, Mommy-"

"No, 'Oh, Mommy-ing me,' little miss, you've had a long weekend and a long day, you're going to bed early."

"Will you come and have dinner with us Daddy. You could read me a story and tuck me in?" Rory and Jess glanced at each other, awkwardly.

"Err, I don't know bumblebee -" he said looking into her big saucer blue eyes, trying not to upset her. But in the end, it was Rory who gave in first.

"Jess, do you have plans tonight?' asked Rory, sighing.

"Err, well, no, none at all."

"Then you should come and have dinner with us. You didn't get to see her this weekend, I'm sure she's dying to tell you all about it, aren't you Lori?"

"Oooo, yes! Daddy do you remember Kirk?" she asked excitedly.

"Lets get a cab first sweetie and then you can tell me all about it. "

"That's okay Jess, I brought my car. I'm parked around the corner."

"Okay. So should we pick something up on the way back to your place or just order when we get there?"

"What makes you think that I won't cook?' Both Jess and Lori stared at her for a moment and then burst out laughing. "Oh, come on you two, I'm not that bad!" But they continued to laugh. "Oh, alright. Chinese?"

"PIZZA!" Lori, yelled, excitedly.

"I thought you two, where Gilmore girls? Where are your iron stomachs? Lets get both. There's 'the China doll,' and 'Gippeto's Pizzeria,' on the same block as you. You love them both. Lets just get moving or it will be your bedtime missy before you've had dinner."

- Later At Rory's Apartment -

If someone had snapped a photograph of the scene now playing out in Rory's kitchen it would have looked to be a very pleasant, if a somewhat quirky scene, of a young family wading their way through half of the chicken column from the local Chinese restaurant, and two heavily topped pizzas on 'Hello Kitty' plates, telling each other about their day. And that was exactly what was happening. All the tension that existed between Rory and Jess seemed to disappear whenever they just sat down and listened to their energetic five year old tell them all about her day, and her father about her weekend.

"And then Mr Kirk sat their for another ten minutes deciding whether or not he was going to have another cup of coffee, until Uncle Luke got all mad and red and then he grabbed Mr Kirk by his hair and he threw him out of the diner. Grandma said that he used to do that to you too, and I laughed. And then Mr Dosey came in singing with all these funny dressed ladies with chocolates and they were playing with these funny whistles and then Uncle Luke got mad and red again and then started yelling at Mr Dosey and then he took Mr Dosey's whistle and he snapped it in half and then Grandma started booing and laughing, making Uncle Luke even madder, and then she let me try some of her coffee." Lori finally finished to take a breath and a last bite of her pizza. "Mommy I'm done, please may I leave the table?"

It took Rory a minute to recover from her daughter's story telling, but finally she replied, "Yes, sweetie, you may but only to go and pick out which bubble bath you want and what pyjamas you want to wear tonight."

"Oh, Mom!"

"Nuh uh. You know your going to bed early. You've had a long day, now go and pick out what you want." Lori scurried off to her bedroom to do as her mother had told her. She was a handful but she would always do what Rory said when she used that tone of voice. So would Jess.

Jess couldn't help but laugh. "I was amazed that she actually stopped talking when she went for that last bite of pizza. She does know she can actually take a breath in the middle of telling a story?"

"Well, if she doesn't I'm sure she will work it out eventually – she is a little genius after all."

"Yeah," Jess chuckled, "What are we going to do about that anyway? Are we going to move her to a different school?"

"Err. Well, we haven't really discussed it yet. Are you doing anything tomorrow? I have the day off so I was going to go through some of these brochures that Emma gave us. So are you free, we could have lunch or something?"

"Err, lunch sure. Where?"

"Just meet me here around one-ish."

"That sounds fine. So, you guys had a nice time this weekend?" He asked, doing his best to make small talk.

"Err, it was fine. Lori pretty much went through all the highlights with you. It was nice to see everyone. Sometimes it still feels weird that I don't see my mum everyday. They're all doing well, though. Lane's kids are pretty big now, so is Bobby. He was pretty quiet most of the time; I guess he takes after the Danes side. Or it could simply be that Lori didn't give a chance to get a word in." Jess chuckled.

"Yeah, that could be it. Did you see-?"

"Your mom? Err, yes, everyday. She said you two haven't spoken for a while."

"No, we haven't." Rory quickly dropped the subject. Liz was like a second mother to Rory but Jess' relationship with her was somewhat tenuous. She was about to say something more when Lori came running out of her bedroom.

"Mommy!" Lori cried from her bedroom, "I'm ready for my bath!"

"Okay Sweetie, err Jess could you finish cleaning up in here while I give her a bath, please?" He nodded, and Rory then moved to follow Lori to the bathroom.

When Lori was finished in the bath and all tucked in, Jess pulled out one of her favourite stories and proceeded to read to her.

"Do the funny voices Daddy!" Jess, never one to disappoint his little girl, obliged though knowing all the while that Rory was listening in, trying her best not to laugh.

Half an hour later, Lori was fast asleep. Jess sat for a moment, just looking at the sleeping child in front of him. His sleeping child; she was perfect. And she was growing so fast. He saw her as often as he could but sometimes he still felt as if he was missing so much. He stroked her hair gently and then kissed her forehead, before heading back into the living room.

He found Rory in the living room, drinking a glass of white wine and pretending to read a book. He could see she was smirking even with the book held right in front of her face.

"What?' he asked irritated.

'I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it."

"Thinking what?'

"You know what." Rory suddenly started giggling uncontrollably.

"You do the voices! Hahahahahaha!" Jess just stood their waiting for her to finish. "What was that voice you did for the Fairy God Mother?"

"I was going for an eccentric grandmother type."

"Well, you certainly got the eccentric part down." She said soberly, her laughter fading. "But seriously, she really had a good time tonight. She loves it when you're here."

"I know. I love it too." He sighed, sitting down on the sofa. "Do you mind if I have some wine?"

"No, help yourself." He reached over and poured himself a glass, and then collapsed back onto the sofa. Rory was staring at him intently. "What?"

"I was just thinking, you haven't really annoyed me at all this evening."

"Well, that is an accomplishment. Especially after this morning." She laughed and took another sip of wine.

"Oh, come on, that was nothing for us."

"True." He then chuckled to himself, remembering one particularly bad occasion, where an argument between them had led to other people being injured. "Hey, remember when Liz and Lorelai forced us to partner up at that stupid 24 hour dance marathon?"

"Oh, God! Yes!" She grimaced at the memory. Poor Kirk, he was never able to win that contest again.

"Didn't they threaten to put us up for adoption if we didn't enter?" He asked, trying to remember how they made them do it.

"Either that or post our baby pictures on My Space. They really wanted that trophy didn't they? Why did they make us enter again?"

"I think their reasoning was any achievement of their offspring was theirs as well, and so long as they had it in their possession instead of Kirk, they were happy."

"What about us?"

"I think we were immaterial when a massive trophy was involved. It was really their only opportunity to get one; they were never any good at sports. It's where we get it. Well, you, at the very least I know how to run." She rolled her eyes at him.

"No, I mean why did they make us dance together? Why wasn't I with my Mom and you with yours? They must have known it would all end in tears."

"I'm not sure exactly, but it could've been that I didn't want to be seen dancing with my mother until after a lobotomy. Or anyone who acted like her."

"Either that or it was one of their pathetic attempts at making us get along."

"That's possible. If it's true then it's almost a shame they didn't know how well we were getting along in the back of my car the week before. Then no one would have gotten hurt. Well, Liz may have tried to send me to military school but it would have been worth it." He couldn't control his smirk when he saw the red blush rising in her cheeks.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, of course you don't." He took another sip of wine, and then fell silent. Rory, however, continued to stare at him.

"What?" He asked, getting slightly annoyed.

"I was just thinking about how different you are when you're with Lori. It's a shame you aren't like that all the time, well, more of the time. Like now for instance."

"What, you want me to make silly voices and pretend I'm a superhero?" She rolled her eyes and then shook her head and much more surprisingly, moved to be next to him on the couch.

"You know what I mean. You're calmer when you're with her, and less afraid of looking like an idiot and not nearly as cocky. You're almost sweet." He looked up at the last word she said. 'Sweet?' the last time she called him that was when Lori had the chicken pox about five months ago, when he had moved in with them for about a week until the virus was out of her system.

Lori had been even grumpier than was normal for a sick Gilmore Girl, as she had ended up missing the class trip to aquarium, which was one of her favourite places. She seemed to find sea creatures fascinating, and she could list almost all the different varieties of Sharks; that worried Rory and Jess sometimes, but so long as she wasn't swimming with them they thought it was okay. But needless to say, on the day of the missed trip, she had been thoroughly depressed. So, to cheer her up, he went around looking for as many, age appropriate, sea-creature themed movies as possible, no matter how embarrassing it was for him to leave the video store with "The Little Mermaid." For some reason Jess being a caring father really turned Rory on. He smirked as he remembered what happened that day.

Lori had finally dropped off to sleep after The Little Mermaid, after tucking her in he left the room to find Rory in the kitchen. She was at the sink finishing the dinner pots in the sink.

"She's asleep." Rory turned around, at his words, surprised.

"Already?"

"Yes. She was pretty tired. I suppose eating pizza with oven gloves on can be pretty stressful."

"Hey, she's the one that wouldn't stop scratching. And it wouldn't have been difficult if she wasn't so proud and refused to be fed like a 'baby.'"

"Well, she was right, she is a big girl now."

"Yes, she is, isn't she?" Before Jess knew what was happening, Rory suddenly started to cry.

"Hey. Oh, come on, what are you crying for?" He walked up to her, and rubbed her shoulders in an attempt to make her calm down. But she refused to look at him, feeling foolish.

"Oh, it's nothing I'm just being stupid." But still she was unable to refrain from sobbing. "It's just that, my baby's not a baby anymore. Soon she'll be even bigger and leaving, and- oh," as she continued to cry, Jess tried hard not to laugh at her nonsense, and uncharacteristically pulled her in for a hug.

"Rory, our daughter just turned five, it's gonna be a while before we're sending her off to college or wherever, this isn't something we have to worry about yet."

"Not you, no."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She like's you better than me!"

"What? Oh, Rory!"

"Well, she does. All she wanted all week was for you to be here."

"No, she wanted us both to be here. You know she could never imagine life without her Mommy. You're the staple in her life, I'm the one that seems to just come in and out of it." Rory stared at him shocked.

"Oh, Jess that's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"No! I'm sorry if I've ever and if I do give that impression sometimes, you do know how to infuriate me. But you see her nearly every day. And when you don't you'll call incessantly. Seriously Jess, you're ten times the father Jimmy and Chris were put together."

"Wow, a compliment from Lorelai Leigh Gilmore, this is a momentous occasion. Maybe I should go and get a camera." She laughed at him.

"Hey, I'd compliment you more but when Lori's not around you can act like such a jerk you make me forget how sweet you can be." Jess smirked and inched closer to her.

"You think I can be sweet?"

"I – I – I mean with Lori."

"No, no, no. You didn't say with Lori, you just said I could be sweet in general."

"I also said you could be a jerk!" He chuckled and pulled her up against him, and whispered in her ear.

"Have you ever thought that maybe, I just like to make you mad?" His breath made her shiver.

She closed her eyes as he kissed her behind the ear, and then slowly he moved down her neck. He then kissed along her collarbone, and then back up her throat, until finally meeting her mouth. She gasped, at which point he took full possession of her mouth. She moaned, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly he backed her up against the fridge and began to unbutton her shirt, revealing her lacy black bra. Her hands quickly followed suite and lifted his t-shirt over his head, and then threw it across the kitchen, their lips only parting for a second. She moaned again, running her fingertips up and down the centre of his well, defined torso. Jess finally pulled away from her lips, and stared her straight in the eye. This was her chance to stop it from going any further. But she just stared straight back. It was almost like an x-rated game of 'Chicken.' There was no stopping. Her hands slowly drifted down from his stomach to the top of his jeans. Without breaking her gaze from his, she quickly undid his belt, the top button and the zip, pushing his jeans around his ankles. His erection was evident now, only concealed by the thin material of his briefs. The next thing he knew she had completely flipped them around, and he was backed against the refrigerator. She kissed him fully again on the lips, while her hands worked his briefs over his erection. As it sprang free, she grasped it. It was his turn to moan. Her lips moved away from his and they began to travel across his jaw, down his throat, chest and stomach, until finally she was keeling in front of him, and her mouth was around him. It took every ounce of Jess' self control not to scream with pleasure.

"Jess!"

"What? Oh, sorry." Jess was suddenly pulled out of his somewhat filthy reminiscing, by a somewhat perplexed looking Rory. And he hadn't even gotten to the part where she practically begged him to do her on the kitchen floor, and how being the gentleman he was, he obliged. Sometimes she had the worst timing.

"What where you thinking about just now?"

"About what happened the last time you referred to me as sweet. When Lori had the chicken pox."

"Really? I don't recall."

"You know you seem to be forgetting a lot lately. Particularly when it comes to our sexual history." For a brief moment, Rory was once again, silent. Then suddenly, after placing their glasses on the table, she was straddling him.

"Perhaps, then, you should try and refresh my memory."