"Did you get the cake?"

Jess put down the bags he had just brought in and walked over to Rory. He kissed her quickly when he finally reached her. "Hello to you, too."

"Hi," she smiled. "Did you get the cake?"

"Yes, I did," he finally answered. "I also got the extra plates and napkins and balloons and all the other supplies you asked for."

"Thank you," she touched his arm lightly. "I just want this to be perfect."

"It will be," he told her as he walked back to the bags and picked them up. "What time will your mom be done distracting Tori?"

"Um, the party is supposed to be at 2," Rory looked at the clock. "It's only 12:30. We still have some time."

"I can finish setting up for you," he offered.

"Thank you," she gave him another smile.

Rory moved out of the kitchen and let Jess make his way inside. She watched him for a moment before he noticed.

He laughed. "What?"

"Nothing," she shrugged.

"You're staring at me," he commented.

"Have I said thank you yet lately?" She asked.

His eyebrows rose in confusion. "For what?"

"Everything," she shook her head with a big smile.

"You're welcome," he said back with a smile of his own.

"Tori is three today," she said. "She's three, Jess."

"I know," he replied.

"No, Jess," she shook her head again. "She's three."

"I don't -" he began but she soon cut him off.

"For three years, more than that," she said. "You've been here. You've taken care of me and Tori and you helped me write a book and you got me back into Yale and make up with my mom -"

"Rory, you're rambling," he chuckled.

She took a deep breath. "We've only been together for what, a month? Right?"

"Right," he nodded.

"I just feel like this is more permanent than the time we have," she said. "I'm totally gonna pull a Lorelai on this and I guess I can because really, I am a Lorelai but Jess, will you ma -"

Jess' eyes awoke fast. It felt like one of those moments where an alarm goes off and interrupts the best part of your dream. He looked over in the darkness at the sleeping form beside him. Rory was fast asleep on her side. He watched her for a moment before kissing her hair then he stood up and got out of bed.

Quietly he sneaked his bare feet to Tori's room. He cracked the door a little to see her asleep in her new bed. Last week, she finally made the transition to a big girl bed. Rory had cried when she thought of how much her little girl was growing up but the two of them had gone with Jess to pick out a bed nonetheless.

He smiled softly as he looked at her but then closed her door as quietly as he had opened it. Today was the day before her birthday. Just as his dream had stated, Tori would be three years old. That meant that three and a half years ago, Rory had moved into his apartment with him. Three years ago he officially took on the role of surrogate father or whatever was closest to what he was.

He headed to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. Jess poured himself water and drank it down fast. The cold stung his throat and he still felt laced with sleep. The dream had awoken him and what he'd been too scared to admit.

It wasn't that he wanted to marry Rory right this second. He was nowhere near ready for that. But just the idea of it made him feel...happy. He always viewed the three of them as a family and it felt like a curveball to hear Rory thought it was crazy if they got married.

It wasn't a deal breaker, not in the least. It was more that even though it hadn't been that long, he'd hoped that somewhere down the road, it was in the cards. He hoped Rory thought so too but neither of them mentioned it again since Tori asked the big question and he was almost relieved. He wasn't sure he could fake another response.

He poured himself another cup of water and this time the water didn't sting as bad. He drank this one slower as he thought. The dream had reminded him of what he hid. He didn't want to admit any of it especially since Rory was probably right. It was crazy. It'd only been a little over a month they'd been together.

But yet it felt like longer. They'd been functioning like a couple for over three years. The only thing that was missing was the intimacy that comes with being in a relationship.

Jess shook his head and rinsed the glass. He headed to his laptop which sat on the table in front of the couch. Habitually, he sat down and opened it up. It asked for his password which used to be a random combination of letters and numbers but now was Tori's birthday.

As he opened up a document, it occurred to him. He hadn't written in a while. Not really written, anyway. He loved writing and the minor success of The Subsect had long faded as had as his interest in a sequel. But the book always was about Rory and with his new revelations, he almost felt inspired to write again.

He started typing as much as he could. It got later and he didn't even realize his eyes had grown heavy. Finally, he fell asleep on the couch with his laptop on his lap.

…..

"Jess?" Rory shook his shoulder awake. "Hey. Wake up."

His eyes opened and it took him a moment to remember last night. "I fell asleep?"

"Yeah," she replied. "You couldn't sleep?"

"No, I -" he started but then didn't want to get into the dream he had. "Just didn't want to wake you."

"Oh," she said.

Jess sat up on the couch and placed his laptop back on the table. The battery was almost dead and he made a note to charge it. "Sorry."

"You don't have to apologize," she gave him a small smile. "Just I woke up and you were gone. I got a little worried."

Jess reached out for her arms and pulled her down beside him on the couch. "You don't have to worry. I'm here."

"I know," she said. "I just wondered where you were."

"I started writing," he told her as a way to almost change the subject.

Her face lit up. "Oh my God! Really? How much?"

"Not much," he half shrugged. "I guess I fell asleep before I could get more into it."

"Am I gonna get to read it?" She asked.

"Yeah," he agreed with a small laugh at her excitement. "When there's more to it."

"I can't wait," she beamed.

"What time do we have to be at your mom's?" He asked.

"Um," she checked the time. "A few hours. I was thinking we wake up Tori, have a quick breakfast then get driving. Is that good?"

"Sounds perfect," he said.

Rory smiled brighter then kissed him quick before she stood up. She headed to her daughter's bedroom. It took Jess a moment to follow as he shook the previous nights thoughts from his head. He needed to clear it out before the party, he told himself. If for anyone, it'd be for Tori. He finally got off the couch and went to see the soon to be birthday girl.

….

Jess listened to the phone ring twice before he answered. He wasn't sure if he felt up to talking to that particular caller right now but with a deep sigh, he picked it up. "Hi, Mom."

"Hi, baby!" Liz exclaimed. "I hear you're coming to town today!"

"Yeah," he ran his hand through his hair. "It's Tori's birthday and Rory wants to have a party in Stars Hollow so we're coming a day ahead."

"Oh, I'm so excited!" She cheered. "I miss you. It's so nice when you come to visit."

Jess held his lips together tightly but then spoke. "It's just a day."

"A day with my son," she corrected. "Those are always the best days."

He didn't say anything about how when he was little,he'd wish she would believe like that. Even tho their relationship was better now, less strained, there would always be moments when he felt that sting of how he grew up.

"I'll see you when we get there, all right?" He cleared his throat. "We actually have to be hitting the road soon."

"Oh," Liz said. "Well, okay. I'll let you go. Don't want to delay your arrival."

After they hung up, he went outside. It was only a little white lie that he'd told his mother. He always needed a moment after he talked to her. Right now, he was alone. Rory and Tori had gone out for last minute things they wanted to bring to Stars Hollow with them. He decided to stay home but now he felt like he regretted it. He missed them.

As if they could tell what he thought, a car pulled up. He immediately recognized it and smiled. Rory pulled around to park and when she was safely in a spot, she climbed out of the car. Jess had reached them by then and opened the door for Tori.

"Hey!" He smiled. "There's my favorite girl!"

"I thought you had two," Rory teased.

"I do," he said but looked into Tori's eyes and shook his head.

Tori giggled and so did Rory. Jess walked over to the trunk, little girl still in his arms. "Need any help?"

"Um, I think I'm okay," she said with a glance at their bags. "We didn't get that much stuff."

"Okay," he nodded. "You wanna walk up or you want a piggyback ride?"

"Piggyback!" Tori happily replied.

"You're on," Jess put her down on the ground then kneeled for her to get onto his back. "Climb on."

Rory laughed as she watched. Everytime she saw the two of them together, she wished she was on a reality show. That way, there'd be cameras all the time and she could just relive the moments over and over again.

"You wanna go first?" Jess asked his girlfriend.

"You guys go ahead," she smiled.

"Okay," Jess kissed her softly. "Ready, Tori?"

"Ready!" She held onto him tighter.

Rory followed behind after she shut the trunk. In her hands were the bags and on her face was a smile.

…..

The car ride to Stars Hollow felt short. The three of them played car games and sang along with the radio. Even Tori sang some of the songs and when she sang her own words, both Rory and Jess called her out for it.

When they reached their destination, Jess got out of the car first. He opened the doors for Tori and Rory both and then went to the trunk to get out their luggage. The front door burst open and Lorelai rushed outside. She enveloped them into a hug while Luke finally wandered outside.

They each said their hellos,hugs and smiles were exchanged. Later when the men had left to give the girls alone time, Jess almost felt relieved. He wasn't relieved to be away from Rory or even Tori, for that matter. He hoped the space between them might make that dream leave his thoughts.

Luke noticed he seemed off. "Something going on with the two of you?"

"No," Jess shook his head. "We're fine."

"You don't seem fine," he commented.

"I'm fine," he repeated. "Rory's fine. Tori is fine. We're all fine."

Luke stopped the car on the quiet street to turn to look at his nephew. "You'd tell me if anything was going on, right? You wouldn't keep it to yourself just because it's Rory you're in a relationship with now, right?"

"Right," Jess nodded. "But there's nothing to tell so you don't have to worry about it."

"All right," the older man said as he started the car again.

There was a few moments of silence before anyone spoke again. Jess almost considered telling him about the dream or at least what the dream has told him but he couldn't. It was too soon to worry about that kind of thing anyway, he told himself.

"I'd like to think we have a better relationship now than we used to," Luke interrupted the younger man's thoughts. "That we tell each other stuff instead of letting ourselves take too many shifts at Walmart and get kicked out of school."

Jess smirked. "Are you still mad about that?"

"Maybe a little," he shrugged. "But only because you didn't know I hadn't actually meant to kick you out."

"Come on, Luke," he said. "We've been over that probably a hundred times. Do we have to do it now?"

"No, we don't," he stared at the road ahead. "But we could also change the subject. What would you like to talk about?"

Jess felt like laughing. He had to give his uncle credit. For a man who wasn't a big talker, he sure didn't give up trying to get Jess to open up.

"Nothing is going on," he ignored the question.

"I didn't ask that," Luke defended. "I asked what subject you want to talk about."

"Books," he replied.

Luke's face changed. "Uh -"

Jess now did laugh. "I know. You don't know that many books as I do."

"You don't really want to talk about books," his uncle eyed him suspiciously. "Just tell me whatever it is so you can get it out of your head."

Jess sighed. "It's stupid."

"I find that hard to believe," Luke commented. "I know you. You don't let stupid things weigh on your mind."

"I don't wanna talk about it," he said. "Especially not with you. Not with my uncle and definitely not with Rory's stepfather."

"So it does involve Rory," Luke nodded.

"Doesn't it always?" Jess gave a small smile.

Luke nodded again. "Yes it does and the more you keep it in, the more I'm gonna worry because I care about you both."

Just as Jess was about to finally open up, a car pulled up at the house. It was a fancy car and one Jess was sure he'd seen before but couldn't remember where. He and Luke went to get a closer look and finally it clicked.

"Is that -" Luke began to ask.

Jess cut him off. "Yeah, it is."

"But the girls aren't here," he said.

"I know," Jess signed. He didn't want to to deal with this particular person right now and especially not after what he almost told Luke. "I'm gonna call Rory."

He walked away from the window and his uncle as he pulled out his phone. It rang a few times but went straight to voicemail after. Jess cursed to himself. Instead of a call, he sent a quick text how she needed to get there soon.

There was a knock on the door and Luke looked at him. Jess let out a heavy sigh, knowing what he had to do even though he didn't want to do it.

The door opened and Jess came face to face with one of his least favorite people. "Hello, Jess."

"Hi, Logan."

…..

"My feet are killing me," Rory groaned as they passed through the main streets of Stars hollow.

"Pfft," Lorelai sputtered. "Mine have been hitting much longer than yours have."

"You're the one who suggested shopping," the younger girl pointed out.

"And went along with it," Lorelai replied.

"I know I did," she pouted. "But - well, look at Tori. She's fast asleep."

"We tired her whole self out," she said. "Not just her feet."

Rory almost laughed. "Thanks for taking her those few times so I can get her last minute presents."

"No problem," her mother smiled. "But doesn't she have enough already?"

Rory looked down at her sleeping daughter. "Yeah. But you know what? I want her to know how loved she is."

"Presents don't always teach you that," Lorelai commented.

"I know that, too," she said. "Believe me. I just want her to know I care. And that Logan does and Jess and you and Luke -"

"That's a lot for presents to say, isn't it?" She teased.

"I don't ever want her to feel like I did growing up," Rory whispered. "That she only had one biological family member there for her. That the rest was people in a town and while I love them and are happy they're in my life, it just didn't feel the same as not having my own father or even my grandparents."

Lorelai's face looked sad. "I'm sorry for taking you away from my parents."

"You had to," she said. "It wouldn't have worked if you hadn't. Besides, they weren't my only grandparents, either."

"Yeah," she agreed. "The Hayden's were a tad worse than my own parents."

"I want her to have everything," Rory moved a piece of hair away from her daughter's sleeping face.

Lorelai smiled at her own daughter. "Then she will."

They pulled up to the house and the first thing they noticed was the car they didn't recognize. Both gilmore women gave each other looks as they got out of the car. Rory reached in and carried Tori into her arms and out of the car.

Together, they walked up to the door with no sign of the mysterious car's owner. Lorelai was about to unlock the front door when it opened before her.

"Hi," Luke said.

Lorelai laughed at her husband. "Hello. What's going on? Who's car is that?"

"I think you should come inside," Luke instructed.

They followed him inside the house and were both stunned at the sight of Logan and Jess sitting in the living room together.

"Logan?" Rory said in surprise.

"Hey, Ace," he said, the old nickname bringing back hundreds of memories.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. "The party's tomorrow. You didn't even tell me you were coming."

"I wanted to surprise Tori," he half-chuckled as he spoke his next words. "Though it looks like I could wait a little."

"Let me take her to your old room," Luke said.

Rory let her stepfather take her daughter from her arms and bring her sleeping form to her old bedroom. "You could have told me you were coming. I'd have kept the surprise from her."

"I didn't want you to have to hold it in," he said. "Is it okay? Should I have not come?"

"Of course it's okay," Rory said as Luke entered the room again. "She's your daughter."

He gave her a small smile. Jess and Lorelai exchanged glances curiously.

"Since she's asleep, I think I'll head out for a little bit, Logan stood up. "Maybe come back when she's awake?"

"Yeah, that's a good idea," Lorelai finally spoke to him for the first time. "She had a busy day."

"That's good," he nodded.

Rory watched him walk to the front door. "Where are you going to stay?"

"I have a hotel," Logan answered her. "Let me know when she's up?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay," he waved them off. "I'll see you later, then."

When he was gone and his car had started, Rory noticed the looks around the room. "Okay what?"

"Nothing," Luke said.

"I didn't say anything," Lorelai replied.

Rory turned to her boyfriend. "Jess?"

"He's her father," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Tomorrow's her birthday. He should be here."

"Maybe we should go," Lorelai walked over to her husband and began to push him towards the front door.

"You don't have to go anywhere," Rory said.

"I just do what she tells me," Luke said right before the door shut.

"Okay," Rory sighed. "That wasn't weird all."

Jess said nothing. Rory watched his face as she tried to figure out his thoughts. When she came up empty,she let out another sigh.

"Get it out," she said. "Whatever thoughts you have on Logan being here or how I treated him, come on."

"I have no thoughts," he stood from the couch.

"I find that hard to believe," she said. "You tolerate him at best for me and Tori. I know how you feel about him so come on, Jess. Let me hear it."

"No," he walked past her towards the kitchen.

She followed him. "You must be thinking something."

"I'm thinking that because I love you and Tori, I hate that him being here bothers me," he admitted. "I hate that I have to not want to it bother me just because we're adults. But I can't not think of everything that happened or how he's her biological father everytime I see him."

"I know," she agreed.

"But most of all," he continued. "I hate that I think of him with you. I can't get it out of my head. It never really didn't occur but it's like especially now, it plays in my head because I'm with you and he had you a lot longer than I ever did."

"Hey," she walked up to him and took his hands in hers. "It doesn't matter how much he's had me in the past. It's the present and the future that matters now. And you know who has me then? You."

"I know I'm being ridiculous," he confessed.

"No, you're not," she gave him a small smile. "I just want you to know that me and Tori, we're yours, if you want us to be."

"I want you to be," Jess whispered.

"Well, that's really good to hear," she smiled bigger.

"Let's go check if your mom is at the door with a cup against it trying to listen in," he joked.

She laughed. "All right."

A/N: This chapter isn't how I intended but I wanted to post something. I wanted the party in this chapter but for now, it's the next one. I hope it's still good.

Also, I'm having difficulty writing lately. I hope it gets better but updates might be slow. I thought a heads up needed to be said.