A/N: Okay, we're writing machines. Of course, it could have to do with the fact that I'm not at school because I messed up my foot…but so what? I'm writing aren't I? THAT'S A LIE! This is posted like four days after I started it. OH OH! This chapter is dedicated to udon'tknowmebutiknowme for finding my gross mistake in Gilmorized. You get a dedication if you go back and find it! Post a review for Gilmorized and the next chapter of this will be dedicated to you!

Disclaimer: Don't own…

On with the story…

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Chapter 11: I Love You

Jess' POV

I never thought that I would get caught up in all of this when I first arrived at Stars Hollow. I had vehemently insisted on not associating with Rory in any way, but she drew me to her. She drew me in and I couldn't resist helping her out as best I could.

Tabitha…Tabitha is the strongest person I know. And while she is very much strong, behind those blazing emerald eyes, she's broken. And she hides it well, no doubt about that—but I know her and I know that she had to told back tears when she was up there with Rory. I know that she is the strong one within her family of three—her mother, sister, and her. Her mother is a kind lady who's had a rough life. Madison is an upbeat fifteen-year-old looking to follow the rules and talk openly with her mother and sister.

She's my pride and joy—I would be nowhere without her by my side. I take comfort in the fact that she'll always be with whether that be in heart and mind or in physical form. She always knows the right thing to say and can make me smile no matter what's going on.

"Jesse!" Tabitha called perkily throughout the apartment.

I groaned, "Don't call me that!"

"Don't call me…TayBay," she cringed as she said it and flopped down on my bed next to me.

I smirked at her and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her down onto the bed with me, entangling our limbs closely together. She wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled our faces closer, wiggling to get closer to my body. I rubbed my nose against hers and she giggled. I tightened my grip on her as she settled her head under my chin.

"I'd be nowhere without you Tab, I hope you know that," I confessed to her quietly, breathing in the scent of her left over shampoo.

"Of course I know that," she said, conceited and giggled. Even when I'm trying to be serious, he has to turn it into the joke. But I know she knows I meant it. She always knows, "I love you," she told me as she snuggled even deeper into my chest. I held her against me and listened to the sound of her breathing, its soothing pattern allowing me to drift off into sleep.

"Love you, too," I mumbled as I let myself succumb to some much needed sleep.

That had been the day after the first time my mom went out. She had come home later that day drunk and stoned with some random guy. Tabitha had simply gotten up, got the phone, a take-out menu and padded back into my room while my mother drifted to her room for the rest of the night. Tabby stayed with me the entire night.

But my feelings for Tabby have changed into those of friendship now. I sure as hell couldn't live without her, but hugging her doesn't give me the same feelings it did before. That relationship is behind me, but our friendship will always be strong as anything.

As I look at Lorelai who is idly sipping her coffee, I wonder how Rory is doing.

Rory's POV

I woke up to the low buzz of the TV. I looked over to see Tabitha sitting in the chair fast asleep. She must have been uncomfortable—she was in a chair for God's sake!

I, on the other hand, was in immense pain and decided it was time to go home and retrieve my vicodin. I stood up slowly, carefully, and just as I got to my feet, the door swung open. Jess must have saw some kind of pain in my eyes and rushed to my side. He wrapped one arm around my waist and the other holding the hand I had wrapped around his waist. I leaned against him and let him help me to and down the stairs. Once we reached the diner I saw my mom sitting at the counter looking severely upset. I quickly looked away, trying to rid myself of the guilt I could feel coming on.

"I'm going home to get my vicodin," I almost whispered.

She simply nodded and took another sip of what looked to be cold coffee.

I sighed and Jess led me out the door. We walked in silence, me wincing every once in awhile as pain shot to various parts of my body. Jess had long ago wrapped an arm securely around my waist for support and I leaned into him gratefully.

"Jess?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you helping me?" I asked.

Jess sighed lightly and looked down at the ground, "Because you need it," he looked up and down into my eyes, "Because you deserve to have someone there for you—always," he admonished and by this time, we had reached my front steps.

We stood stock-still at the bottom of the steps, staring into each other's eyes searchingly. After a few seconds of cold blue meeting hard brown, our guards were let down and I saw the pain searing through his eyes. I'm sure my eyes must have mirrored his because he swept me up in a hug and held me close against him, careful not to crush my arm. I cried into his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his back. He rubbed my back and held me tight as his face stayed buried in my hair. We both took a deep breath and pulled back. He held onto my upper arms and rubbed them up and down soothingly.

"Everything's going to be okay. You know that right?" Jess asked, as he ducked his head to better look me in the eye.

I shook my head no and looked down at my shoes, "You don't know that," I whispered and rubbed my hands on my pants, shifting my weight nervously.

He simply pulled me back into his body as we walked up my stairs and into my house.

Nobody's POV

Back at the diner, Lorelai and Luke were silently eating a late dinner or burgers and fries—Luke's burger soy of course. Lorelai didn't want to talk and Luke wasn't going to force her.

The only person she wanted to talk to wouldn't talk to her. And while she understood that she needed time, she also wanted to know what happened. She still hadn't gotten the full story and it bothered her to no end. Jess knew and she was pretty sure that that Tabitha girl also knew. Maybe Luke was right, maybe she just needed an outsider's support right now. Whatever the case was, she hoped Rory came to her soon…or she was going to explode.

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Meanwhile, Rory and Jess had collapsed as a heap on the couch after Rory had successfully found and taken her vicodin. Now, they were presently lying on the couch waiting for it to kick in before they made their trek back to the diner and to Tabitha whom they had left alone upstairs.

Rory was lying up against Jess' chest, her back to him with her head on his shoulder. He had one arm wrapped around her stomach and the other running through her hair as both of her petite hands played with his strong, rough hand lying on her stomach.

Rory moved her head slightly so that she could see Jess' face and smiled.

Jess felt her gaze and looked down at her, "What?" He asked, a lazy grin spreading on his face also.

She shook her head slightly and looked forward again, "Nothing, it just amazes me how comfortable I can be around you when I haven't known you long at all."

Jess simply sighed with a nod and held her tighter, "I couldn't believe it either, but what can we do? If you have a connection if somebody, then you have the connection. I feel it with you and I felt it as soon as I met you."

"I felt it too," Rory whispered.

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Tabitha woke with a start, uncomfortable in her blue and brown, Trixxi print crisscross tunic with brown, ankle-length leggings. She hadn't taken off her Mary Jane "My Fair Lady" pumps, so her feet were aching. She sat up fully, stretched and then threw off her dreaded pumps. Tabitha took the time to rub her eyes and yawn before padding her way towards what she thought was the bathroom. She was right.

She entered and looked at herself in the mirror. Her black hair was in crazy waves around her face and her green eyes were tired. She pulled her hair back into a low pony tail and pushed her blue headband back to keep her untamed baby hairs out of her eyes. She dabbed the parts of her face where her make-up was smudged and then exited the bathroom. She straightened her back, squared her shoulders, and put her Mary Jane's back on.

And just as she was walking to the door, she heard yelling downstairs.

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Rory's POV

Jess and I left my house as soon as I felt the medicine kick in. The walk back to the diner was made in complete comfortable silence. My arms were crossed protectively across my chest. Jess walked along side me with his hands in his pockets; close, but not close enough to touch. We reached the diner and walked through the door.

I don't know if the sound simply startled her, or if it was simply her breaking point, but as soon as the door made its ding sound, my mom quickly squeezed her mug tight and then dropped it on the counter with a crash. It dropped and then rolled off behind the counter and shattered—or at least that's what it sounded like.

I jumped and gasped as my mom let out a heart-wrenching sob. Her head fell as her hair made a curtain around her face. Her hands flew to her face as she shook her head.

"Mom?" I asked tentatively.

She shrieked with a hiccup and curled into herself.

"Mom what's wrong?" I was starting to get worried and went to check on her.

I touched her back, but she jumped and snapped her head up. The look on her face of pure sorrow could have made the most evil person cry. "Why didn't you come to me!?" She cried passionately, "I'm your best friend, your MOM! Why could you talk to Jess and Tabitha but not me!?"

Tears were streaming steadily down my face as my mom stood and faced me completely, waiting for my answer. I shook my head sadly and put a hand to my mouth, my weight shifted from foot to foot, "I don't know," I confessed honestly, "I just—I just-thought—that it was my fault," I stuttered as the words got caught in my throat, "I wanted to come to you, I wanted to tell you," this was where Tabitha walked down the stairs with wide-eyes, "but I just didn't want to worry you. You have to understand that Dean was seriously screwing with my head. I thought that since it was my fault he was beating me, that I shouldn't worry you with it," I was crying hard and hiccups were starting to form. Jess didn't even try to come to me, knowing that I had to do this with her by myself. I shrugged, "I didn't know any better," I whispered and stood there crying.

And just as Tabitha was about to step in to hold me, my mom came and gathered me in a tight embrace, "I love you," she whispered.

We clung to each other as though we were the other's lifeline—which we were. I felt my shoulder dampen as she cried onto me, "I love you, too, Mom," I cried back.

With our shoulders shaking, we let reality sink in that this was going to be a very long and tough road to recovery—and we hadn't even told the grandparents yet.

Jess' POV

By the time Lorelai and Rory had settled down somewhat, it was almost three o'clock in the morning. All of our eyes were drooping and we needed to get to bed. Neither Rory nor Lorelai were in any condition to go home, so sleeping arrangements were as follows: Luke on the couch, Tabitha and I in my bed, and Lorelai and Rory in Luke's bed. It took some time for Luke to agree to Tabitha and me staying in the same bed, but eventually he was too tired to argue and gave in.

After everyone had fallen asleep, Tabitha rolled over and poked my shoulder.

"What?" I asked groggily seeing as I had been half asleep.

We were curled together under the blankets, our limps entwined together with my arm over her waist.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too," I whispered back and kissed her forehead, "Anything else?"

"Nope, just wanted to let you know you'll always have one person who loves you," she answered as she pushed one of my stray hairs back.

"I'll always love you, too. Now go to sleep," I replied.

I saw through my barely-open-eyes the small smile that flitted across her lips as I said this. I then closed my eyes, pulled her close and drifted off into my sweet, black oblivion…

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A/N: Wow, I love this chapter. Not sure how you guys will feel about it, but it's just about the best I can do at the moment. By the way, links for Tabitha's outfit are in my profile! Check them out! Reviews are love so press the pretty little button!

P.S. Ellie wanted to add an author's note, but she didn't send it to me, so it's not here.