A/N: Thanks to everyone who read. Additional thank you's to those who read AND reviewed.

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls ain't mine and none of the characters are either.

- - - -

TALK OR NO TALK

The bell jingles as I enter Luke's and the familiar smell of the diner surrounds me. Luke looks up from taking an order to greet me.

"Hey, Rory how are you?"

I smile at him "I'm good. You?"

He is about to answer when: "Rory!" My mom swivels around on the stool she was sitting on and runs towards me. I laugh as she envelopes me in a fierce hug which I happily return. "I didn't know you were coming this weekend."

"Well I just had to hear about that shopping adventure of yours."

"It is the sort of story that should be told face to face, isn't it?"

"Absolutely. The phone just wouldn't do it justice."

We release each other from our grasp and sit down at the counter where a steaming cup of fresh coffee is already set out for me. I take a sip and gesture towards Luke as a thank you.

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of having my one and only offspring visiting without notice?"

"I told you I just wanted to see you; it's been a few weeks now."

"Indeed it has. So do I get you all day?"

"Yes you do and I wondered if I could stay here 'till tomorrow too."

"Of course! We could do a movie night!" She is practically bouncing in her seat and her excitement is infectious making me momentarily forget the serious conversation I'm supposed to have with her.

Mom looks around the diner. "Luke!" She gestures for him to come over.

"Yes?"

"Could you make yourself scarce tonight? Rory and I are having a movie night."

"Mom!" I scold, then turn to Luke. "You can stay; you don't have to make yourself scarce just because we're having a movie night."

"Oh, yes I do," he snorts. "There is no way I am watching another girlie movie while you guys stuff your faces with every unhealthy snack known to man."

I giggle. "Okay then. Girls night it is."

"Yay!" Mom chimes in.

- - - -

I am less than thrilled about the prospect of a major argument with mom. She and I are very close and those months we spent fighting last year left no desire of a repeat. Our relationship was seriously put to the test then and I am sometimes amazed it was mended as quickly as it was. After all that, we were back to normal within a couple of weeks. Some changes are there, but they are welcome changes. She treats me more like an adult now.

It suddenly hits me that I have no idea how she will react. I mean, I only assume it will end in a fight. I have no similar prior occasions to compare with, I'm only going on a hunch here. Maybe I should give her more credit. She's always been supportive of me. Correction. She's always been supportive of me when I've done things that weren't bad for me. And there lies the core issue here. If she thinks Jess has grown up, sees that I'm happy and thinks he's good for me, she'll be thrilled. If she thinks Jess is bad for me, this will end in a fight. A fight I am not willing to give in, a fight I will win because I want to be with Jess. Even if I have to spend years proving to her that he is what makes me happy.

"How about a real testosterone trip?" Mom breaks me out of me trance and holds up a stack of DVD covers. "'Spy Game' via 'Se7en' ending in a climax of obscene violence in 'Fight Club'?"

I giggle. "Brad Pitt anyone?"

Mom shrugs. "It's just a phase. And besides, now we can tell Luke what we watched in the morning proving to him that I do not only watch girlie movies."

"Leaving Brad Pitt out of the conversation, of course."

"Of course."

"Okay, let's get them."

We walk up to the cash register. Kirk puts our rentals in a bag and hands it to mom.

"Oh and Kirk, could I get the receipt please?" She turns to me. "Luke'll want to see proof."

- - - -

"So, all set."

Mom pops the first disc in the DVD player and sits down next to me on the couch. The coffee table in front of us is covered in all kinds of junk food. Chinese food containers, a pizza box, candy wraps, ice cream tubs, all in a happy union of potential heart disease. This is exactly what a movie night should be. I settle in close to mom and watch the movie.

- - - -

It's late when the credits of 'Fight Club' roll down the screen. Most of the food is gone leaving a mass of empty containers and crap that Luke will end up cleaning in the morning. I rub my eyes and we both groan as we drag ourselves off the couch and into a standing position. We remain standing for a heroic three seconds before collapsing back onto the couch.

"Five more minutes." Mom whispers next to me.

"Mhm." My response just as quiet.

I open my eyes after a few minutes have past and turn my head to look at her. She senses this and opens hers as well raising a questioning eyebrow at me.

"Mom, can we talk for a second?" My voice is still soft and barely audible, but she hears me and nods.

"About what sweets?"

I breathe in and am about to speak when I decide against it.

"Rory, what's up?" She asks again.

I shake my head. "Nothing."

She raises her eyebrows again. "Are you sure?"

I nod.

"You know you can always talk to me."

I nod again. "Yeah, it's just not a big deal."

She doesn't look convinced.

"Really, it's nothing."

"Okay, as long as you're sure." She relents.

"Yeah, it was just this fight I had with Paris, no biggie." I lie. It's the second time in 36 hours that I have lied to my mother.

She nods. Then she gets up and offers a hand to me pulling me up as well.

"Goodnight, kid."

"Goodnight, mom." I kiss her cheek. "Love you."

I walk towards my old room.

"Sleep good." Mom calls after me and I smile in return.

I shut the door behind me and sink down on the bed. I feel like shit.

- - - -

Two hours later I'm still not asleep. I've tossed and turned a million times over and nothing seems to be relaxing. It's quiet and has been since I went to bed. The only sounds were the door when Luke came home. Now it's all quiet and it is driving me insane.

So is my conscience. Which I suspect plays a big part in me not being able to sleep.

I reach over to my nightstand and grab my cell phone. I text Jess.

Are you awake?

Five minutes later there's still no answer.

"I guess not," I whisper.

Then my phone buzzes.

I am now.

I smile.

Can I call you?

My phone buzzes again.

You better.

I giggle and dial the familiar numbers.

"What are you doing up?" His voice is heavy with sleep.

"Can't sleep." My voice is soft and barely above a whisper. I don't want anyone but him to hear me.

"Why?"

"I did something stupid. Or rather I was stupid because I didn't do something."

"Mhm." I can hear him yawn on the other end.

"Sorry I woke you up."

"S' okay." There's a pause before he remembers. "What was it you didn't do?"

I sigh. If there is one person I don't want to fight with besides mom, it's Jess. This thing with us is so new and so fragile. I really don't want to ruin it.

"I haven't told her yet." I finally admit.

"Huh."

"Come on, Jess give me more than that."

"I figured you wouldn't until the last minute."

"What do you mean?"

"You're there 'till tomorrow right?" Another yawn.

"Yeah."

"So I know you. You hate confrontation, especially with your mom, so I figured you would put it off until you absolutely had to."

"I'm not gonna yell it at her as I pull away from the curb." I state somewhat offended.

He chuckles. "Didn't say that. But I wasn't expecting you to tell her today either." There's a pause. I hear him take a breath. "You're gonna do it tomorrow though, right?"

"That's the plan," my voice goes even softer and I'm surprised he even heard me. "I hate fighting with her."

"I know you do." His voice matches mine. "It's gonna be okay." His voice is comforting. "Maybe she'll be okay with it. And there won't be a fight."

"Maybe there will be."

"It's gonna be okay." He repeats his earlier statement and I don't know for who's benefit. "Don't worry about it, Ror."

"Okay." And it is okay.

"Okay."

"Goodnight, Jess."

"Night, babe."

I grin and settle into my bed in order to sleep.

- - - -

Sleep doesn't come easy tonight. Too many thoughts are making it impossible.

I am nervous as hell about tomorrow.

I have lied to my mom, not over the phone, but straight to her face.

I have also let Jess down. I promised him I would tell her. And I can see why that would mean something to him. Even if my mom turns out to hate him like before. To him it's not about my mom. To him it's about us. It's about me being sure. It's about us being something definite, something he can count on and not have me suddenly pull away from him. It's the reassurance he probably always needed, but I didn't give him because he wasn't able to tell me.

- - - -

A/N: Loved it? Hated it? Review and let me know.