Jess heads into the principal's office the next morning before his first class. He is there to pick up the work he needs to complete. He confidently knocks on the door. The principal gruffly yells for him to come in. Jess approaches the desk.

"I'm here to pick up the work." Jess simply states.

The principal ignores him and instead of just handing him the papers goes into a lecture.

"You know Mr. Mariano you're lucky I'm giving you a second chance. If it weren't for that little girlfriend of yours I probably wouldn't have. Rory was one of the best students we ever had at Stars Hollow High and if she thinks you can do it then I will at least give you a chance." He then holds out the papers Jess needs. Just as Jess reaches for them he pulls them back. "But head my warning Mr. Mariano if you screw this up, your not graduating. I expect you to come to school everyday for the next two weeks. You need to do well on all your tests and on your finals. That is on top of all of the work you must finish."

The principal then hands Jess the papers. "Goodbye Mr. Mariano."

Jess walks out of the office feeling nervous. He is nervous that he won't be able to complete all of the work. If he doesn't graduate he's not going back. No ands, ifs, or buts about it. Jess doesn't know what he will do if this plan doesn't work. However he is confident that he will find something.

When Rory got off the bus who was waiting for her other then Jess. Damn, he was looking really hot. Or was it just the coffee he was holding. When someone is holding coffee it always makes them seem more appealing. Rory stepped of the bus and approached him.

"Does that coffee happen to be for me?"

"Oh you wanted one? I wasn't sure so I just got one for myself." Jess says sarcastically.

Rory reaches for it but he holds it over his head. "Your going to have to work for it Gilmore."

Rory presses her lips against his catching him off guard. She quickly slips her tongue into his mouth. When he lets his guard down she snatches the coffee. "Thank you."

"Ohhh so you like to play dirty."

"If that's what I have to do for my coffee, then yes."

Jess lets out a low chuckle. He really didn't let anyone hear him laugh. Except for Rory. He had always been more open with her. It was hard, but he finally had to learn to let his walls down. They continued to walk down the street towards Luke's."

"So did you get the work from the principal."

"Yes, as a matter a fact I did."

"And what's the verdict."

"I have my work cut out for me."

"Do you want to start now? You could go get your stuff and we could meet at my house. It is quiet there. It's not full of people. There are less distractions so you can study to the fullest."

"Are you trying to get me alone Miss Gilmore?"

"No, I'm being serious. We have to at least get you to the summer school point. So no study breaks at all."

"Even if I use my wiles on you."

"Getting a little cocky there aren't we Mr. Mariano."

"And rightfully so." He says with a smirk.

"Ok, so I will meet you at my house in like twenty minutes."

"Sounds good teach."

Rory rushes inside. She goes into her room and grabs the closest pair of jeans. She then reaches into her dresser for a t-shirt. She then looks in the mirror. Very cute, she thinks. It's not like I'm trying to seduce him or anything. I just want to help him study and that's all that's going to happen. Okay maybe a little lip-gloss couldn't hurt. I'm only choosing the strawberry flavored one because I like the color. She then looks at herself in the mirror again. Perfect!

She then hears the knock at the door. Rory rushes to open it excited to see Jess. However, she is instead greeted with a surprise.

"Dad! What are you doing here?" Rory asked excited but at the same time confused and worried. After all it is rare that the infamous Christopher makes an appearance.

"I just came by to see my kid. Is that a problem? Because I could leave if you wanted me to." He says in his normal nice voice. That voice always sounds so welcoming. Like it would never hurt you or lie. But Rory knows better. Still she cannot help but be excited. It is her dad after all.

"Don't be silly. Come in, come in, come in!" Rory says with a wave of her arm and a smile.

Christopher is barely inside before Rory's arms are around him. "I missed you."

"I missed you too. I actually wanted to talk about that. Ever since that thing with your mom it has been different."

Rory suddenly tenses up at the mention of his relationship with her mother. She goes into protective mode, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I know it has been different." Rory says in a voice that isn't as cheerful as the one that she used when welcoming him into her home.

"I want to change that. I want to be a dad. I want to be in your life." Chris says with sincerity.

"I want you in my life dad. It's just that if you are saying this you have to mean it. You really hurt me last time. It needs to be different. You have to keep your word." Rory says weary but still happy.

"I understand that. I'm sorry I hurt you. This time I promise it will be different." It looks as if Chris as finally changed for the better. He is finally ready to be a parent to her. He's ready to love her like he should have done a long time ago. Maybe that thing with Sherry really did help him.

"Ok." Rory says while once again taking him into her arms.

"We can't do that today though because my boyfriends coming over to study."

"Ah, study." Chris says sarcastically.

"Yes, study. He needs to bring his grades up. He is going to be here soon. I would ask you to stay but there really wouldn't be anything for you to do."

"I understand. Why don't we make plans for sometime next week."

"That sounds good to me. What day is good for you?"

"Saturday sound good?"

"Sounds great."

"I will come over around 3 we can have lunch."

"It's definitely good now that foods involved."

"I figured."

"Well, look I don't mean to rush you but Jess will be here soon. You should probably get going."

"Don't I get to meet the lucky fellow first?"

"Well I guess." Rory says hesitantly. "But it has to be quick. We have a lot of work to do."

As if planned the doorbell rings. Rory smiles at her dad and goes to answer it.

"Hey. I know were supposed to be studying but I figured I could bribe the slave driver for a break with some coffee." Jess says holding two large to go cups from Luke's.

Rory just gives him a smile. Jess then looks behind her and sees her dad.

"Jess come on in. I want you to meet my dad."

Jess complies and walks through the door. Christopher puts out his hand. "Hi I'm Chris. It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry this was unexpected I just decided to stop by."

"It's fine. It's nice to meet you." Jess says politely.

"Well I should be leaving. I've been told you have some studying to do."

Rory then reaches over and gives him another hug. "I love you. And don't forget Saturday."

"Don't worry. I won't. See you later."

Chris waves at Jess and walks out the door.

Rory then gives Jess a long soulful kiss. "Thank you."

"for what?"

"For being nice to my dad. It meant a lot to me."

"Well what do you think I was gonna do? Attack him in the foyer." Jess says with a smirk.

They then proceed into the living room for a long night of studying. Maybe some study breaks. After all she was wearing the strawberry flavored lip-gloss.