*Out side Liz' apartment 8:45am

"Ready?"

"I think so, let's go." Jess takes Rory's hand as they enter the building.

*There's a knock at the door; Luke opens the door.

"Hi." A nod from Jess in Luke's direction is reciprocated. Rory goes over to her mother and hugs her, but then returns to Jess' side. Liz approaches them, her face red with anger.

"What is the matter with you? Do you take pleasure in making me cry?"

"Mom—

"Don't mom, me. You can't just run off when ever you feel like it." Liz begins to tremble with rage. Jess gives her a vague look. We're a family, Jess. You can't just ditch that."

Jess clenches his fist at his side; looks down at his feet and then at his more. There is fire in his eyes. "That's funny, because I don't remember leaving you home alone all night well I visited every bar in town."

Liz looks uneasily at her son and then speaks; irritation in her voice, "Jess, you know that isn't true—"

Hostility in his eyes Jess speaks in a gruff voice, "I bet you didn't even realize I was gone until Luke showed up." Jess nods in the direction of Officer Parker.

Seeing the pain in his nephews eyes Luke suddenly speaks up "Liz, I want Jess."

Jess looks stunned at his uncle; no one had ever said that before. For the fist time in his life, Jess felt what it was to be loved. Rory gently squeezes Jess' hand as Liz and Luke go at it.

"Be serious Luke, You don't want Jess around, you're a grown man he'll cramp your space—

"You mean like he did to you? I don't think so."

"Well, Luke I'm his mother and if I say he stays, he stays."

"Come on Liz, if you love the kid so much do what's best for him. Let him come and stay with me. If you miss come visit. You can't ask him to stay here. He's got nothing here."

"Oh, and I suppose he has everything in Stars Hollow."

" He does. He's got a good school system, 24 hr supervision, friends; *Luke's words trail off; he looks towards Rory seeing Jess hand tightly grasping hers* …and a girlfriend."

"I'm sorry but that's not enough for me, he had all that stuff when he was here, and he'll have it again."

At this moment Lorelei sensing the conversation is about to turn ugly intervenes, "Jess, why don't you take Rory down the street to get some lunch."

Jess replies knowingly, "Sure."

The two teens walk out of the apartment and head to the burger king down the street.

*BK—Jess is quietly picking at his fries; his eyes are tired. He's lost in thought.

"You ok?"

Jess looks up at Rory, "Yea, I just never thought it'd come to this. I thought my mom would be pushing me out the door. But now she's using me as a pawn."

"Jess—

"Maybe she has a point though. I mean Rory, let's face it; Your Mom and Luke are practically married. Neither one has dated anyone since last fall, and your mom is in the diner 4 times as much as she was 5 months ago. Maybe I should stay here, give Luke his space."

"But Luke doesn't want that. He wants you to live with him where you're going to be taken care of. Besides even if they do start dating, Luke's not going to go sell the diner, so there will always be a place for you."

*Jess and Rory continue to discuss Jess' future while the war at Liz' comes to a close.

*Jess and Rory return to the apartment.

"Good your back." Luke's gruff voice greets them as they enter.

Jess looks around, noticing his mother's absence.

"So, what's the verdict?"

"Go pack your stuff." Jess' eyes light up; he walks towards looks ad quickly hugs him.

Jess heads towards his room; Rory following behind him.

Lorelei nudges Rory as she passes, and Rory nods knowingly.

"I'll wait out here for you."

"Um, ok. I'll be out in five."

*Jess Room—Liz is sitting on the bed leafing through one of Jess; books. For a moment she goes unnoticed.

"So, am I ever going to see you again?"

Jess turns a bit surprised. "I don't know, form what I here Connecticut makes for a nice summer vacation spot."

"I'll have to look into that" Liz smiles at her son.

"Well, that's all my stuff."

"I'm sorry, you know."

"Sure."

"Maybe I just wasn't cut out for this mothering stuff, I never was any good at it."

"Ok, so you were never one of those mom's who made me lunch everyday; but you loved me…and I knew that. This isn't entirely your fault, I was kind of lazy, I chose to become a delinquent...I skipped school, started smoking."

"And this Star Hollow…made you stop doing all that?"

"Not really, mom. Rory did."

"She seems like a nice girl."

"She is."

"Well, you shouldn't keep them waiting, it's almost rush hour."

"Yea." Jess walks to the door; stops and turns towards his mother. "I love you mom."

"I know. I love you too Jess." The two embrace. "Promise me you'll call me, let me know how you're doing."

"Absolutely."

*The living room—Jess walks out.

"Ready to go."

"Sure." Luke stands up and approaches his sister. They embrace and say good- bye.

*Luke's car; rest stop an hour out of New York—Jess and Rory are asleep in the car.

"Leave them. Lock the doors. We'll be back in 5."

"Ok." Luke and Lorelei get out of the car and walk towards the building.

Luke stops and turns towards Lorelei.

"Thank you by the way."

"Hey, that's what friends do."

"No, friends stay in Stars Hollow and take care of my diner."

"Oh. So what am I."

"You know what you are."

"Do I? Tell me snuffy; tell me."

Luke gives Lorelei a stern look and then leans in and kiss her. She smiles and he walks away."

"Wait for me."

"Don't ever call me that again."

"Alright. Can we get some coffee?"

"No, there's no coffee drinking in my car."

"Fine." Lorelei playfully bumps into Luke.

"One cup."

"I Love you Luke."

"Yea. Yea." Luke and Lorelei walk slowly into the rest stop, hands entwined.

*Luke's Car backseat

Jess wakes up startled. "Rory…"

"Wha—

"Just checking." Jess takes her hand and kisses it. Rory's eyes open leisurely and she smiles at him.

"So…"

"So Dodger's finally been put to rest huh?"

"Nope. He just found a place he liked and decided to stay."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

*Luke and Lorelei return to the car, 3 cups of coffee in toe. Lorelei giggles as she plays with the radio. Jess and Rory continue to discuss the meaning of Catcher in the Rye as the car starts up and they head happily back to Stars Hollow.

A/N Ok, that's it. I know the ending kind of sucked but I was strapped for time. I hope you enjoyed it and I'd like to thank everybody for encouraging me. I really appreciate it.