Disclaimer: See previous chapter...and the chapter before that...and the chapter before that

Parings: R/J, L/L

Rating: PG-13

A/N: Continuing on with the story. THANK YOU for the feedback. I cannot say this enough. THANK YOU. Really. I mean it. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

***

Vanessa Carlton blared through the Jeep. The fading sunlight shone through the window, weakened by the night that was coming. Luke flinched and switched the radio off.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, I can't listen to that."

"C'mon Luke! I know you like it."

Lorelai grinned and switched the radio back on, turning it up as loud as it would go. The music blared in their ears so loudly they could barely hear it. Lorelai opened her mouth, singing along with the words as loudly as she could.

"You know I'd walk a thousand miles/if I could just see you tonight!" she sang.

Luke tried to suppress a laugh, but failed. Her voice was terrible. Which figured. She had so many unexpected quirks, it figured she would be a bad singer as well. Lorelai heard his chuckle and immediately turned to look at him. Luke fought to stay serious, but he couldn't help but smile.

"Luke Danes? Laughing and smiling? Alert the presses! Call CNN!"

"Can I help it if you're a terrible singer?" he retorted with a smirk.

Lorelai pretended to look insulted. "Am not!"

"Yes you are."

"Am not."

"Well, for my sake, can we keep the radio off?"

"C'mon, I wasn't THAT bad."

"Define bad."

Lorelai playfully punched him in the arm. They were nearing the diner, and suddenly Lorelai remembered the problems she had escaped from.

"Rory...oh no," she moaned. "I never called! I didn't even...oh man."

"Lorelai, don't worry about it, she's probably with Jess."

"Gee, what a comfort."

"Lorelai. Come on."

"OK, OK. Sorry. It's just...I mean...I never thought Rory would be so irresponsible. AGAIN. Maybe she's making a habit out of this whole falling asleep thing. New boyfriend? Oh well, let's sleep next to him to break him in."

"Lorelai. Please. You know nothing happened, so why are you making this into such a big issue?"

"Because...because....because I don't want her to turn out like me!" she cried.

"Lorelai, Rory is responsible. I think I believe it more than you do. She wouldn't make that mistake. Jess respects her. I know he would never push her." Then Luke smiled wryly. "Trust me, no one could turn out like you."

"Was that a compliment?"

"Uhhh..."

"Just say yes."

"Yes."

"Oooh...you follow orders outside the diner too. You could be my slave!"

Luke glared.

"Ok, maybe slavery isn't the greatest idea...although it would have its benefits," Lorelai quipped, wiggling her eyebrows. Luke blushed, looking away immediately and trying to hide it, but it didn't go unnoticed, and Lorelai once again realized she had said something with unintended second meaning. She blushed a little too.

"I didn't mean-"

"I know," Luke interrupted gruffly. The awkward silence had returned as they pulled up to the diner. By this time, it was dark. The stars were beginning to come out, gleaming white against the deep blue.

***

Rory had been cradling Jess in her arms for 2 hours. It had been the most emotionally draining day of her life. A fight with and disappearance of her mother, kissing Jess. All of a sudden, the mood with Jess had done a complete turnaround. She knew he didn't have a lot of family, so she couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lose someone when you had nearly no one. She felt Jess's damp cheeks, but didn't mention it. Watching the first star appear, she realized she probably didn't have much time before her mom came back. Then she remembered the one thing she had forgotten to say.

"Jess?" she whispered softly.

"Yeah?" he whispered back, shakily and barely audible.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. It's just...she...I...I told her I'd be back...she was the only...I never...I only came back for her...I have nothing..." he said from against her chest.

"You have me," she told him firmly.

He smiled from against her chest, but quickly wiped it off. It didn't feel right, under the circumstances. He knew he had to go back to New York now, and he didn't want to do it by himself.

"I'm going to go back for her funeral."

As if reading his mind, she turned his head so she could see his eyes. "Do you need me?" she asked simply. She watched for his reaction. The usual blank façade he put up was replaced by a combination of overwhelming sadness, but relief at the same time. He didn't have to say.

"If you need me, I'll go. I'll be there." She kissed Jess gently and held him some more. Her eyes were full, and then they began to drip, salty tears flowing down her face, over her lips. She didn't know what she was crying for. Maybe for Jess, maybe for her mother, maybe for herself. She couldn't decide. She heard the Jeep pull up, but it didn't register that her mother was back. All that seemed to register was the fact that she was with Jess. He needed her right now. There was nowhere else to be. And at that moment, she knew what love was. She squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back. Through her tears, a faint smile crossed her lips, lighting her blue eyes in the darkness.

***

"Luke, I know I already told you...but thanks...really...I mean..." "Lorelai. It was no problem. Trust me." He gave her a look. They just stared for a minute. Luke was looking at Lorelai in a way that gave her chills. His eyes were darkened with something, but she couldn't place exactly what. It wasn't anger, that was for sure. She just looked at him. He wanted kiss her so badly, he could practically taste it. But as he had for many moments in the past, he refrained. She moved a little closer, then she spoke.

"Yea. So. We should probably go in. Rory's probably trying to beat my coffee record this from morning as we speak."

"Yea."

"Ok."

"Yea."

The two reluctantly got out of the car, leaving the tension behind.

***

Rory and Jess barely looked up when they heard the bell ring. Lorelai and Luke couldn't see the two behind the counter.

"Jess?" Luke called.

Jess stood up, his face still pale, his eyes bloodshot, and his voice hoarse.

"What."

Rory stood up behind him. Lorelai's maternal instincts were screaming that once again, something had happened between Rory and Jess. Then she saw her daughter's tearstained face, and Jess's sad dark eyes that were usually guarded. She had been wrong. Something was going on, but not between Rory and Jess. Not now. Something was wrong. She opened her mouth to speak, but Luke beat her to it.

"What happened?"

"My sister. She died," Jess stated quietly, looking into Luke's face.

"What? Alexa? She...how...are you...oh man. How do you know?"

"Liz called."

"Oh geez. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. What happened?"

"Car accident or something...she was only 7...I never..."he began, and then stopped, his voice catching. He was determined not to cry in front of Lorelai and Luke.

Lorelai reached over and touched Jess's hand. His first instinct was to yank it away, but he was too drained to even think of one sarcastic remark, or to put up his usual act. She let go seconds later anyway.

"I'm sorry," Lorelai said.

"Thanks," he said simply.

"You have to go back, right?" Luke asked.

"Just for a day or two."

"I'm going," Rory stated quietly from the dark corner.

Luke just looked at Rory in disbelief, but said nothing. Then he braced himself for Lorelai's reaction, but nothing came. Lorelai opened her mouth as if to argue, but decided against it. She had heard the tone in Rory's voice. Quiet conviction. She saw no sense in arguing. She simply stood there. And nodded. And then watched Jess closely. But where she expected to see desire, she saw only relief. Then she knew.

Luke was right. She berated herself for thinking that Jess was that low, to use this situation like that. He had lost someone he cared about. How could she even think that? And, he cared about Rory, and she cared about him. She finally saw what Luke meant. He wasn't a terrible person. She felt guilty about judging him. It took this situation for Lorelai to realize, but at least she knew. Jess wasn't the bad guy here. Lorelai remembered what it felt like to be judged by mistakes. And then everything from this morning seemed to be forgotten. The mistake, thought surely not forgotten by Ms. Patty, was forgotten by Lorelai. It seemed like centuries ago. All that mattered to her now was Luke, and Rory, and...Jess. All of them together. Lorelai sighed sadly for Jess's sake.

Rory looked stunned that her mother had agreed, but every few seconds she squeezed Jess's hand reassuringly in a simple, loving gesture. Luke looked at Lorelai, also surprised she hadn't argued. But he was also kind of proud of her. And her showing that she did want to make an effort made him want her even more. And then he remembered the horrible news once more. He looked at Jess, who was staring out the window, his face uncharacteristically emotional. Jess thought about the difficult times to come. But he knew with Rory there, it would eventually be OK. The four of them sat for a little while, in close, quiet, comfortable silence. The diner was, after all, a common spot for the any of the 4 after sunset. The stars winked and blinked. The moon hung, a translucent paper crescent in the sky.

***

More A/N: I know, I'm kinda dragging out the JavaJunkie stuff, but I'm not sure where I'm going with it, exactly. This chapter wasn't my best work, but I think I'm AT LEAST halfway through the story, and I'm trying to tie this all together as I go along. Doing my best here. :) Anyway, feedback? Ya know I love it.