"Mom," Rory dragged out, Jess smirked.

"Rory, please! Chris is sick and he needs someone to watch Gigi."

"Why can't you do it? You know I don't want to see him!" Jess sat up in the passenger seat, his content demeanor becoming worried.

"Luke can't handle it right now. Not yet." Lorelei pleaded, "Gigi is you sister, your family." Rory looked at the backseat; it was filled with bags and boxes.

"Alright, but Jess and I have been out shopping for the apartment, there is no room for her." Jess mouthed out 'who'.

"Please, you know Chris will come around to Jess. Hell, if Emily went to your wedding, Chris will come around. This might be a step in the right direction. Just please, you know he would have done the same thing."

"Luke would have watched me. And if not, the whole town would." Rory's mind was jumbled. She was not ready to forgive her father for being rude to Jess. When Jess went to ask Chris if he could marry Rory, he started to yell at Jess and kicked him out. He hadn't come the wedding either. But, Gigi was her sister. But not by choice. Chris promised Rory at Sookie's wedding, he messed that up. He messed everything up! Rory's mind debated.

"Dammit!" Rory sighed, "we'll go get her."

"Rory, thank you!" Lorelei exclaimed loudly. Rory closed the phone.

"What just happened?" Jess asked.

"My dad called my mom. He's sick and needs someone to watch Gigi." Her voice dull, "Mom doesn't think Luke is ready yet, and she asked me if we could watch her."

"And you said yes," Jess trailed off. He leaned his head to the window. "You know how I feel about him." He closed his eyes.

"You well know that I don't like at the moment either. But she is my sister."

"Half." Jess pointed out.

"Still, she's only a little girl. She doesn't need to be involved with the feud."

"Yeah." Silence followed them to Chris's place.

"Jess," Rory tried waking him.

"Mmhmm." He got out of the car. They stood side by side before walking in, "where is she going to ride?"

"Your lap?"

"No way! I'll drive if that's the case!"

"Jess, you have been up for three days."

"I've slept!"

"About fifty minutes in total. You have shadows under you eyes. You need to rest."

"It's that entire damn novel's fault. I'm just stuck." He admitted, looking at the ground. It was still very hard for him to admit things that were his fault.

"I know," Rory cooed. She rubbed his back. She kissed him softly. "Ready?"

"If he yells at me, I'm punching him."

"There's the old you!" She said playfully. Jess kept his arm around Rory's waist the whole way up.

"Dad?" Rory knocked on the apartment's door.

"Rory, is that you?!" Chris's voiced called out.

"Jess is with me," Jess gripped her tighter. Chris's response was incoherent. The door opened, Chris was undoubtedly sick. His skin was pale and his face a shade of yellow. They walked in.

"Your mom said you'd be coming." He explained, trying to start conversation.

"Yeah." Was her only response.

"Here are her things, some of she has her toys in her backpack. Jess walked to the coffee table and grabbed the bag. "Gigi!" Chris started to cough reverently. A little five year old girl walked out in a pink, Dora Explorer backpack. "This is Rory; she is going to taking care of you for a couple of days." He kneeled down to her. "Bye kiddo." He hugged her. He stood back up, "Please, take care of her," Jess rolled his eyes as he made his way to the doorway. "Rory--" he paused, "Jess, thanks."

"Gigi, this is Jess, he's gonn take care of you too." Rory stooped to the girl's level. "We're all gonna have lots of fun together!"

"You promise?" Gigi asked. She was wary of Rory, she had only met her a handful of times; bringing that huge man with her didn't help ease her comfort.

"We promise." The man spoke, looking down at her. Rory looked at him strangely, "she is only a child. She has nothing to do with my feelings toward him." Rory smiled and stood back up and grabbed Gigi's hand.

In the elevator Jess felt a tugging at his hand. He looked down; Gigi was staring at him, looking scared. He pitied her. It wasn't her fault that her father was a complete jerk. Jess grabbed her hand and weakly smiled at her. If only Stars Hollow could see this, he thought smugly.

"Sure you don't want me to drive?"

"Positive."

"Really? This could be excellent bonding time."

"I decline the offer." Rory smiled at him.

"I'm not good with kids and--"

"Jess that is a pitiful excuse. Think of it was a learning experience; when that doesn't work, let me remind you that you love me."

"Damn. But only for you, got it?" He scrunched up his eyebrows and stuffed Gigi's things in the backseat. "Get in." He sat in the car, Jess looked at Gigi. She looked as though she was going to cry. "Sorry, sorry. Don't cry. There isn't any room in the back. Your gonna have to sit with me." He made his voice softer. She hesitated before getting in.

"Thank you Jess." Rory leaned in to kiss his cheek then started the car. Jess couldn't help but relax as he leaned his head on the window; the car was vibrating as Rory drove back home, the body on him warm. He closed his eyes. Rory smiled when she looked next to her, Jess and Gigi were both sleeping. When the car ran over rocks on the highway. Jess unconsciously wrapped his arm around Gigi. Rory couldn't help admit that the picture was amazing.

Jess had to carry Gigi and her bags as they walked to their apartment, Rory was behind, laden with boxes.

"Jeez, it's almost six?" Groaned Jess as they walked through the door.

"Don't wake her," Rory put the boxes down on the table. "Gently lay her on the couch, and I'll get the rest of the stuff." Jess obediently laid Gigi on the couch.

"No, I'll get them." Jess started for the door, Rory wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I think she likes you," she whispered before she kissed him.

"Whatever," he smirked, and then left the room.

Minutes later, strong and urgent bangs came from the door. Rory ran and opened it to a dripping wet Jess. His hands were full from the remaining packages.

"What happened to you?" Rory laughed. Jess put the things on the table and grabbed a small towel from the kitchen drawer.

"It's called the water cycle, Rory, and when--"

"Shut up!" She playfully hit his arm.

"Okay, okay. When I finally closed the car door, it started to drizzle. No big deal. As I walked through the lot, it started to get harder. This," he motioned to his body, "is the final result."

"You have to change clothes before you become sick."

"Rory, are you saying you don't like me dripping wet? That hurts." He put a hand to his heart.

"Seriously, Jess! You have to change."

"You said I was perfect the way I was." Jess crossed his arms.

"You have to change clothes!" Rory exasperated.

"I think I remember you saying you didn't mind my style of clothing." Jess smirked.

"You are so immature!" Rory laughed as she walked closer to him. Jess wrapped his arms around her.

"You said I was perfect the way I was." He repeated, Jess leaned his head to her and they kissed.

"Now I have to change my shirt," Rory mumbled.

"I can help with that," he whispered back, gripping her tighter.

"Gigi—"

"Is asleep. Live a little." He urged.

"If she wakes up—" Jess put his finger over her lips.

"I will do whatever you want. Until then," he led her toward their bedroom.

"Shit!" Jess shouted. The room was dark, but he knew someone had poked him on the back. He looked at the sleeping figure in his arms. Rory was still asleep. Jess moved his arms from under her and turned around. Gigi was staring at him. She had her doll dangling from its arm.

He sighed, "What's the matter?"

"I'm scared." Her lower lip protruded out. Jess pushed himself up from his elbow and tried to turn on his bedside lamp. It wouldn't turn on. Great, the lights are out. He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Uh, do you want me to get you anything?" She shook her head. Okay, Rory made me watch the Sound of Musicand when there was a storm all the fucking kids stayed with that blonde nanny. She sang some stupid song and—"Do you wanna stay in here?" Gigi nodded her head. Jess gently pushed Rory to her side of the bed, she didn't even stir. Gigi scrambled in the bed as the thunder roared. The room was momentarily alit with lightning. Gigi started to cry.

"C'mon, don't cry. It's alright." Gigi hugged Jess when the thunder boomed again. He tenderly laid them down. "Your doll isn't scared." Gigi quickly brought up the dolls head on Jess's chin, causing him to through his head back.

"Ashley is never scared." She stated, Gigi placed the doll between them again.

"Uh huh," the hit made Jess's eyes to water. The sky rumbled again.

"Why does it do that?" She whispered.

"Uh," Rory wake up! Rory wake UP! Rory WAKE UP! He screamed in his head. "When lightning strikes, it makes that sound."

"Oh," she paused. "Why does lightning strike?" Good question, Gigi.

"It just does."

"Oh," Gigi paused, "I think the sky is angry." She cringed when the thunder clapped.

"That's sounding pretty good right about now," RORY, WAKE UP! Gigi nestled into Jess's chest; he cupped his hand over her head.

"Oh now, this is sweet!"

"Rory please shut up." Jess mumbled. The doll was uncomfortably pushing itself in his stomach.

"I'm gonna get the camera," she giggled. Jess flapped his eyes opened and sat up.

"No!"

"Jess, I was joking! But, what happened last night?" He started to speak, but Rory stopped him. She looked at Gigi still asleep in the bed. She got off the bed, Jess followed.

"You mean you slept through all that?" Rory started the coffee machine. "The storm woke the kid up and since you were acting out the living dead, she came to me." He put on a fake, uncaring act. Rory noticed, but said nothing, and let him continue. "The lights were out, and it took me awhile to go back to sleep. Funny how, on the only night I can get to sleep, it storms." Jess rifled through the refrigerator.

"Ohh, something's out to get you." Rory teased.

"Are the skies fighting with me to?" He laughed as he closed the door.

"What?"

"Nothing." Rory let it slide. "Is it okay if I go back to bed?" to prove his point, he yawned.

"Sleep the whole day." Rory hugged him.

"Have I mentioned I love you?" He rested his forehead against hers.

"Once or twice. Go back to bed; I'll start to put up the things we got yesterday,"