A/N So… I am back from writing camp now (even though I did my best to avoid that from ever happening). I had an amazing time and thanks to all of you both for reviewing and wishing me good luck, cause I so did. Now sorry for this taking so long to post, but well, I had my excuse. And now, about this chapter. I´m not sure about it, not at all. It is kind of out of character, and I am aware that this would totally never happen on the show (you'll see what I'm talking about) but well, I always think stuff like this is so cute and it was in my mind. Don't know what you'll think, but I would love for you to tell me! And I promise next chapter will be more Gilmore girls-y, or at least I think so, but well, now I'm gonna stop with the rambling and just let you read.

9. The Talk

Luke had just closed up the diner and headed up to his apartment. When he saw Jess there he was a little surprised at first, having forgot all the events of the day during a very busy night with a particularly annoying Kirk.

"Oh, right, you're… here" he mumbled as he remembered.

"Yep. Still here" came Jess's voice from the bed, his nose deep into the book he was reading.

Luke turned on the light and gasped when he got a real look at his nephew. His face was swollen on several places, one of his eyes had turned black, his lip was covered with dried blood. His elbows were extremely scratched and Luke was sure there was more damage, hidden by Jess's clothes. He just stared at him for a while, then said "Wow. You look… awful"

"Gee, thanks" said Jess, looking up, a bit annoyed.

"No, I mean… I didn't know it was that bad"

Jess shrugged, beginning to read again.

"It's nothing"

"Nothing!" Luke asked, unbelievingly. "You call that nothing?"

"It's not that bad" Jess said, still avoiding eye contact.

"Jess. Come on. You sure you're okay?"

Jess was quiet for a while, then he mumbled "No"

"Jess?" Luke said, now taking a few step forwards to him. "You know you can talk to me right?"

Jess nodded, but he didn't say anything. Luke stood there, waiting him in quietly. Then he heard him swallow really hardly and a minute later, Jess had completely turned away from him, hiding his face in his hands. Luke hesitated, then he sat down next to his nephew's back and put a hand on his shoulder. It was shaking slightly. Luke grabbed him a bit tighter, trying to show he was there and he wanted to help. A while they just sat like that. After Jess's crying seemed to have calmed down a bit Luke spoke "You gonna turn around?"

"No" Jess said firmly, even though his voice was a little shaky.

"You can, you know"

"No" he said stubbornly.

"Jess" Luke sighed.

Slowly he turned around. Puffy-eyed and still wet from the tears he just clumsily had tried to brush away Jess looked up at his uncle. Luke suddenly got filled with such a warmth for Jess. He looked so weak, like a little boy. Jess, who was always playing Mr Tough Guy with everyone, who could never go through a conversation seriously. Here he was, crying. In front of him, out of all people. He never would have believed that. Somehow it made him feel proud. Like he was the chosen one, someone Jess finally had accepted so much that he felt he even could lean on him a little. God, it was a great feeling. Like he really meant something.

They just looked at each other for a while, both completely serious. Then Luke let go of Jess's shoulder. In stead he put both his arms around him and pulled him into a close hug. Jess was tense at first, but after a while he softened. This was okay.

"Thanks, Uncle Luke" he whispered, just a tad ironically.

"So… um… you're with Rory now, I assume?" Luke said after they broke apart, trying to get the uncomfortable tension out of the air.

"How'd you know?" Jess asked, looking a bit confused, but not disapproving of this subject.

"Oh, well, let's think about it. You say she came to New York after you, and you came back here, Stars Hollow, because of her. Then she waits for your answer from me, assumingly cause she really wants you here. You get into a fight with her ex boyfriend, which probably means he had some reason to get jealous at you. She rushes to get help and it wasn't Dean she was concerned about and then you two looked pretty close as she helped you upstairs earlier and she was with you a looong time up there and…"

"Okay, I get it" Jess interrupted him, fake-annoyed, but actually rather pleased as he remembered the events of the day. It really did seem like she cared about him when you put it like that, and he liked that conclusion. He liked it a lot.

Unaware of it, Jess was smiling dreamingly as he thought of that. Luke noticed that and thought for a while about making use of this wonderful mocking opportunity, but as Jess's eyes were still red he was afraid of ruining this new closeness with him, so he decided not to.

"You really like her, don't you?" he asked in stead.

"Yeah" said Jess, waking up from his ponderings, slight embarrassed it had been that obvious what he was thinking.

"And…" Luke now entered the really uncomfortable area of this conversation "You know she isn't very… you know… experienced… with the whole guy thing… right?"

"You mean sex?" Jess smirked, trying to make this as painful for Luke as possible.

"Well… yes, I do. And I'm sure you have had lots of girls and I'm not saying…"

"What Luke? What are you not saying?"

Luke, discovering that Jess was only trying to mess with him sighed and said "Just… take care of her, Jess. And by care I do not mean getting her pregnant, just so we're clear"

"Geez Luke, relax" Jess said, sneering. "Believe me, I don't want her getting pregnant any more than you do"

"As long as we agree on that"

"God, I never thought I'd have that talk with someone" Jess said, more to himself, a few minutes later. "I've seen people have it on TV, I just never thought anyone would bother to have it with me"

Jess didn't even look up from his book and he probably wasn't expecting an answer, so Luke remained quiet. Still he couldn't help taking a good look at his nephew and smile a bit, being glad to have him back.

A/N Told you it was weird and not likely to happen. But well, it just sort of came out that way. Now review, review, review!