Paris walked into the kitchen area and using Rory's phone she called Jess first then Luke. Jess was now living in New York City in midtown. He moved there when his fifth book hit best seller. He was now being published not only by Truncheon books but also by Simon and Schuster, which was part of CBS. He still was part owner of Truncheon Publishing Company and he opened Dodger Books & Records on Mercer Street, where he and his staff sell used, out-of-print and even some new books in almost any subject imaginable. They have LPS, too. Everyone he employs is a writer in some genre. Paris tried his store first.
"Dodger Books & Records, how can I help you?" a young perky voice answered the phone.
"Hello, I need to speak to Jess Mariano, is he there? Tell him it is Dr. Paris Geller, and it is very important."
"Sure," said the voice. "I will go and get him for you."
"Paris, to what do I owe this pleasure?" asked Jess when he came to the phone. It wasn't often he spoke to Paris, she wasn't his favorite person, but since she was Rory's best friend, he would see her occasionally.
"Jess this isn't for pleasure, it's about Rory," Paris said calmly in the phone.
"What's wrong with Rory?" Jess responded in alarm.
"I am with her now at Colin and Steph's apartment. Ace - he has been killed."
"What… how… when…? I just had dinner with the two of them four nights ago,"
"He was a victim of the bombing in Paris earlier today."
"Give me the address and I will be right over there," Jess answered. Paris gave him the address to Steph's apartment.
He hung up the phone and turned to his employee, April, and told him that he was leaving and didn't know when he would be back. He told her to close the store tonight and if she needed anything to contact Chris, his partner who would be in later that evening. He took off and walked quickly the short distance away. Luckily both addresses were close together.
While she was waiting for Jess, she decided to call Luke in Stars Hollow. She knew this would be a difficult call to make. Lorelai had passed away from ovarian cancer ten months ago. When they finally found out she had it, she was in the advanced stages. She lasted one year going through chemotherapy and Luke was by her side the whole time. They had only been married three years when she was diagnosed. It was not only hard on Luke but also Rory. If it wasn't for Ace, Rory wouldn't have made it through it. Ace stayed by her side, helping both Luke and Rory with the arrangements. Rory and Ace would stop by Stars Hollow and Face time him when they were on assignments. He became close to Ace, and he was very excited when the two of them told him that they had gotten engaged.
Luke was running both the diner and the Inn with the help from Michel, Sookie and Ceaser. Paris tried the diner first. She knew from Rory that Luke spent very little time at the Crap Shack since Lorelai had died and was spent most of his evenings his old apartment above the diner.
"Luke's," a gravelly voice answered the phone.
"Hey Luke, this is Paris."
"Hey Paris, How are you?"
"Luke, umm the reason why I am calling is Rory…" she never got to finish her sentence when Luke interrupted.
"Rory... what's wrong with Rory... what has happened?" Luke would never be able to forgive himself if something had happened to Rory. He promised Lorelai that he would take care of her.
"Luke, Ace was killed in the terrorist explosion today in France."
"Where is Rory now?"
"I'm with her, she was with Steph when she got the phone call and Steph brought her to her apartment. She called me and I came right over. I gave her a sedative to help her sleep. I just got off the phone with Jess and he is on his way."
"Okay, since Jess is with her tonight I will come up the first thing tomorrow morning."
While Paris was on the phone, Marty came out of the study after making his calls to CBS. He walked past the spare bedroom and heard whimpering. He knocked and walked in. He turned the lamp on the nightstand on low and called her name.
"Rory… it's me, Marty. I just want you to know that I am here for you, Rory. Whatever you need I am available anytime, day or night," he said softly.
"Marty, wow, what are you doing here? Is this a dream?"
"No, unfortunately it isn't a dream. I came here to help you."
Tears began to fill her eyes, and she looked up at him. "Thanks, Marty. Can you just hold me?" she asked.
"Of course," he answered, and he went and sat by her side on the bed.
She sat up and he put his arms around her in a hug. She laid her head on his chest and he held her. He climbed up on the bed and rested his back and shoulders on the head board and held her close to his chest. She looked up at him and smiled.
"This feels like Deja` vous," she said.
"Really? How?" he asked.
"Well, remember when we were at Yale and we would sit on the bed watching old movies together?"
"Oh yeah, now I do. Those were great times," he said softly as he stroked her hair.
They sat like that for about thirty minutes, neither of them speaking as they were both lost in their own thoughts. Suddenly she looked up at him.
"I haven't seen you in a long time," she said to him.
"It has been awhile," he replied smiling down at her and still stroking her hair.
"I didn't know you lived in the city. Who told you I was here?"
He chuckled when she said that. "I guess you didn't know that I am partners now in the McCrae Knight Law Firm. Colin and I have worked together for the last seven years. Believe it or not, we ended up being roommates at Harvard Law together."
"Now that is funny," Rory replied. "I wonder why neither of them never said anything to me about that?"
"Well probably because you have been traveling about. Hey, I just want you to know I am here for you. I will do whatever you need done."
Rory sat up and kissed him on the cheek. "Marty, thank you so much - that means a lot to me," she whispered.
Just then there was a knock at the door. Steph put her head in and was surprised to see Marty sitting with Rory on the bed.
"I thought I heard voices. Are you okay? Would you like something to eat?" Steph asked.
"You know, I am getting hungry," Rory said. She got out of the bed and Marty gently guided her out with his hand in the middle of her back.
Colin smiles when he sees Marty with her. He remembers the day in Harvard when Marty confessed to him after drinking all afternoon, how pissed he was that she dated Logan and wondered why he was never good enough for her. He wanted to tell Marty many times to call her when she was in town, but then her mother got married, and then shortly after she was diagnosed with cancer and by then Rory was dating Ace. Rory sees Colin, and he comes over and gives her a hug.
"Hey," Colin says with concern in his voice. She holds him tightly and then let's go. She looks around the room at all her friends and smiles and then she whispers, "Thank you."
Marty goes right into action. "Do you have any take out menus? I think Rory could use some food right now."
Steph went to her counter and pulled out four take out menus from some of the restaurants on the streets nearby that deliver. Steph and Marty go over to the kitchen area and discuss with each other what to order. Just then there is a knock on the door.
Colin walks to the door and looks at Steph. "That's fast, I didn't think you ordered yet." He grabbed his wallet and opened the door and there stood Jess.
Jess smirked when he saw Colin standing there." Wow I knew you liked to spend money but handing out money as soon as someone knocks on your door, that's a new one for you!" Then he clapped him on the back and the two men hugged each other.
"Come on in, we are all in the main room," Colin said.
Rory heard his voice and ran right over to him and threw herself in his arms.
Jess hugged her and mumbled in her hair. "It will be ok, I am here"
Marty looked around the room. He had no idea who this man was.
Just then Paris walked over. "Hi Jess, thanks for coming."
Rory let go of Jess and turned to her friends. Steph and Marty continued talking about the menu and then he made the call to Ollie's, a Chinese restaurant that delivered and wasn't far.
Marty walked over to Jess and shuck his hand. "Hi, I am Marty Knight, I used to go to Yale with Rory."
Jess turned to Rory. " Is this Naked Guy?"
Everyone laughed including Marty. "You will never ever let me live that down, will you?" he asked, looking at Rory.
Rory replied with a chuckle. "Well, I want you to know that you were my first naked guy that I had ever seen. So nope, I guess not."
"You left quite an impression on her, Marty," Jess chuckled.
Everyone laughed again and Rory sighed and began to feel better. They all sat down and Colin poured drinks for everyone. Soon the food came and everyone ate.
While they were getting their food, Paris pulled Jess to the side.
"I am worried about her, Jess. I called Luke, and he said he would come up tomorrow."
Jess looked over at Rory. "I know, I'm worried, too. It hasn't been that long since Lorelai died. I remember the nightmares Ace said she had after her mom died."
Just then Marty walked over to where the two of them were talking. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be eavesdropping," he said, "but I didn't realize Rory's mom passed away?"
"Yes," Jess replied, "It was only ten months ago. She took it hard and Ace told me that she had a lot of nightmares for at least three weeks. "
"It took a while for her to sleep more than an hour. She lost weight and looked like a zombie. Luckily at CBS, her boss knew what was going on and contacted me. I got her an appointment with Dr. Montgomery who helped get through it. Ace took her to Europe for a while and between the trip and some valium she was able to recover," Paris added.
"I don't think she should be alone," Jess said.
"Look, I can stay with her," Marty said. "I had my calendar cleared so that I can help anyway I can."
Paris looked at him. She remembered how Marty was always at their dorm and she wondered if he still had a crush on her. Then she decided that was crazy. They were not college kids anymore. He was a successful lawyer at 33, a partner in a successful law firm. She smiled. "Well, if it isn't too much of a bother, maybe we can all take turns," she said.
Just then Steph walked over to the group. "What are you three conspiring about?"
"We were just telling Marty about Rory losing her mother ten months ago and how she had a small break down. So, we don't want her to be alone. Marty volunteered to help and stay with her," Paris said.
Steph smiled at Marty. "You know, if we all take turns that might help. But for tonight let's have her stay here. Maybe Paris and Jess can go back to her place and get some of her things. "