Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this story

Luke's Diner

To say the patrons of Luke's diner were shocked would be and understatement. Even the town's biggest gossips were at a loss for what to do. They watched as it all unfolded around them. Everyone was of course curious, all dying to know the whole story. But after witnessing the fight outside and hearing the horrible threats from the elder Gilmore's, no one wanted to chance causing more pain. So they just looked on enthralled. Jess stood anxiously still, while Rory was outside. They could see the anger radiating off of him and it was obvious that it was taking everything in him to stay where he was, while Luke and Lorelai went out. His eyes were locked on her tiny figure, his hands gripping the counter in front of him. The more upset Rory became the more anguish Jess appeared to be in. Just as he seemed ready bolt out after her, Rory came through the diner door. The patrons stood in wonder as he opened his arms to her and she flew into them. It was astonishing to see, the boy who showed such ambivalence to the rest of the world, could be so effected by her pain and distress. So caught up in the young couple before them they almost didn't notice when Lorelai and Luke reentered the diner.

"Hey" said Lorelai as she walked up to them.

Jess loosened his hold on Rory so she could turn to face her mother, but didn't completely let her out of his embrace.

"Are you alright Hun" she asked

Rory didn't answer her, she could tell by the looks being passed between Luke and Lorelai, that something more had happened, something bad. She braced herself for whatever it was.

"What are they threatening now?" she asked her voice sounding hard and detached

Lorelai looked around the diner realizing the audience they had drawn. There was no way they could discuss this here, they needed to be able to talk through there options without worrying about who was listening. They could try going back up to the diner apartment but they would have to worry about keeping there voices down. And she wouldn't completely rule out somebody sneaking up to listen at the door.

"How about we take this back to the house?" seeing Rory's hesitation, Lorelai quickly added. "You can bring Lane with you and leave from there…...Plus, I have a few ideas, and we might need some things I have stashed there." Lorelai said the last almost mischievously

Rory looked to Jess and Luke, seeing they didn't mind she finally nodded, curious about what her mom was up to.

"Alright but you will explain as soon as we get there."

Crapshack

Rory sat on the couch with Jess beside her, holding her hand. Lorelai was on the other end and Lane and Luke had taken up residence in the remaining chairs. They had just spent the last hour discussing all that transpired outside the diner and of course the Gilmore's latest threat. Rory felt ill, she knew that her grandparents would refuse to pay for Yale once they found out about her marriage. In fact she and Jess planned for just that, they had been saving to pay for her tuition themselves. But they never considered she would be forced to give up her college dreams. She stupidly never imagined her grandparents capable of such cruelty. Jess took a deep breath and shifted beside her, when she looked at him she could tell what he was thinking.

"No" she told him before he could even open his mouth.

"But Ror, it wouldn't be right. You have to go to college. Maybe if we just pretend to go along for now…." his tone pleading

"And what lose another 3 years while I finish college. Then what?... They'll just come up with another threat to keep you away. I won't live my life like this. We've already lost too much time, it hurts too much. I refuse to ever do that again." Rory was yelling now

"But" Jess tried once more not willing to let her give up on her dreams even for him.

"No!!" Rory shouted before getting up, and going into the kitchen.

Jess looked at Lorelai "The only thing holding me back from killing your parents, is I'd have to leave Rory behind when I went to prison." That said he got up to find Rory

"Hey" he said quietly when he found her sitting on the bed, in her old room. Her head was down but she looked up when she heard him enter.

"Hey" she replied as she wiped away a few stray tears.

"You know I don't want to be away from you again. It killed me not to see you everyday." Jess said as he sat beside her

"I know" she replied as she laid her head against his shoulder. He immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I just hate the thought of you giving up anything to be with me. I promised myself you wouldn't have to do that again. You need to go to Yale to become a journalist" He turned his head away disgusted that he couldn't give her everything he felt she deserved.

Rory shook her head and grabbed his face forcing him to look at her.

"Don't you know by now, that the only thing in my life that I truly need, is you."

"Rory" he tried

"No listen to me. I can still become a journalist without Yale or an Ivy League college. It will be harder but not impossible. But without you there to cheer me on, and come home to, none of it will mean anything." When he still looked doubtful she kissed him saying. "Besides, I have a feeling this isn't the end of it. Mom looks like she has something planned."

She got up to go back out when he stopped her by grabbing her wrist

"Promise me you won't regret this later and end up resenting me." The look on his face was almost fearful

"The only thing I will ever regret is the time we lost. As for resenting someone, my grandparents will hold that honor alone."

She smiled at him reassuringly and gave him what was meant to be a quick peck, but Jess held her to him, pulling her onto his lap and deepening the kiss. He wanted her feel how much he needed and loved her with him. Rory soon got caught up in the pleasure he was providing, moaning she began to pull off his shirt, pushing him back against the bed. Jess ran his hands up her sides pulling her top off wanting to feel her bare skin against his own. He let out a moan of his own and squeezed her ass, before allowing his hands to slide up, unclasping her bra.

"UUHHUUMMM" someone said loudly interrupting them

The two finally pulled away from each other and dazedly looked up to see Lorelai standing in the doorway, her hands covering her eyes.

"Sorry to interrupt" she said clearly embarrassed "But I thought you might want to hear what I have in mind….. I'll just give you a moment to ahhh…ummm I'll just see you out there." Quickly turning to leave she began mumbling. Jess and Rory could just make out something about needing therapy and going blind before they heard her clearly shout "You could have at least closed the door"

Rory's face turned bright red and Jess couldn't seem to stop laughing. She smacked his arm letting him know she didn't think it was that funny.

"I can not believe that just happened." She said mortified

"It's not my fault you can't resist me." Jess replied cheekily while leaning in to kiss her neck

"Stop that" she squealed, pushing him away and smacking his arm again "We have to go out and face her now."

She got up, furiously redressing, and walked to the doorway obviously dreading going out. Jess followed her putting back on his own t-shirt and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"C'mon Ror it's not as if, it's that big of a shock to her. She knows we didn't wait till the wedding night." he whispered in her ear

'I know." She conceded "But there's a big difference between knowing something and having a front row seat."

Rory blushed again and turned in his arms hiding her face in his chest. Suddenly out of nowhere she started to laugh, her whole body shaking with it.

"Did you see her face?... I think we truly scarred her." She gasped out, Jess soon joined her.

"Well" she said wiping her eyes and taking a deep breath she was still giving in to a few stray giggles here and there.

"Are you ready to go out there and face everyone?"