Disclaimer- Gilmore Girls and the characters associated with the show are not mine.

Chapter Ten: Mary or a Mary

Lorelai drank her coffee sip by sip so she could continue to listen in on Luke and Jess's conversation. They thought she'd left, and it was her plan, until Jess asked Luke if he knew a Mary. Only last week, had she heard the name Mary again. Of course, now Rory reacted to the nickname with affection instead of ranting.

"I don't know, he implied he had my life's story, knew all about Liz, said Doula's safe, living an odd life," Jess said.

"Well, she is living an odd life, but she seems happy. What did he want?" Luke asked again, Jess had ignored the question before.

"He wanted to know why I didn't seriously date anyone. Kept badgering me. I threatened to throw him out, call the cops, but he thought the idea was funny," Jess replied, angry again.

"How'd you get him to leave?" Luke asked.

"I guess I gave him the right answer. I just don't know why it was the right answer," Jess said, turning to see Lorelai smirking at him.

"Were you eavesdropping? Didn't your mother tell you it's rude?" Jess asked, glad he didn't go into any details. Luke knew he loved Rory, but he didn't think Lorelai did, she wouldn't be so nice if she knew.

"Yes, but actions speak louder than words, and I learned from the best. So tell me, book boy, what did this guy look like?" Lorelai asked, holding her cup out for a refill.

"Well dressed, clean cut. Blond with blue eyes."

"What color of blue?" Lorelai interrupted.

"It wasn't the Yale dick," Jess said. "I remember him. Wealth, but different. Looked like he'd get his hands dirty."

"Interesting," Lorelai replied. Luke watched the two of them. It was great to see them interacting, even if they were both hiding something. He waited, Lorelai liked dramatic effect.

"Why?" Jess asked. If he had confirmation the visit was about Rory, it meant something. It meant he could hold on to his dream. Lorelai stood and gathered her things before answering. Luke smiled, she was getting ready to drop her bomb and run.

"Did he look soldierish?"

"Soldierish? Not sure if soldierish is an actual description. He implied he was soldierish," Jess answered.

"I don't know him," she said, watching Jess look down, his shoulders slump. "But I know of someone, and I know a Mary."

"You know of someone, and you know Mary. Who's Mary?" Jess asked. No-one else he asked even knew a Mary.

"Not Mary, a Mary. There's a difference, and it's still the Virgin Mary. Even if it isn't precisely accurate, she isn't Mary Magdalene either. And someone, well someone is the person we owe for her life in Mexico," Lorelai said, before walking out the door. She knew Rory had feelings for Jess, and needed at the very least, closure. But she hoped if they were meant to be together it didn't take forever to get there. Somebody in this damn town should have their happy ending. Of course, neither Rory nor Jess lived in town anymore. Maybe it's the town. Tossing her cup in the trash, she put on a fake smile and greeted her friends and neighbors along the way home.

Back in the diner, Luke turned to look at Jess who was wielding a cleaning towel as if he was trying to take the varnish off the tables. He wanted to ask, but didn't want to get his head snapped off. Jess glanced up and saw Luke staring. Sighing, he tossed the rag down and ran his fingers through his hair.

"You made it stand on end," Luke said.

"What?" Jess replied. Confused.

"Your hair, it's sticking up now. So, I take it Mary might be Rory? What does it mean?"

"Maybe, it would make sense since he left."

"After you told him why you didn't date?" Luke asked.

"Yeah. I don't know what it means, I'm heading back to Philly." Jess said, going upstairs. Luke nodded. He knew what it meant. It meant Jess had hope.