Story Title: Seventeen Ain't So Sweet

Author: Jess x Loverr X

Rating: T/PG-13

Summary: This is after the car crash, which sadly sent our poor Jess away from us for awhile. This story is basically about a different reaction that Rory might have had when finding out. It's also about Jess and his journey back to his home, and back for a second chance with the girl of his dreams.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls.

A/N: I had the best weekend ever. On Saturday I went to a Paramore concert, and they were totally awesome. Then I spent a few days with my best friend and now I'm here writing this for you. So I hope you enjoy.

There Goes My Hero:

The truth is..

You could slit my throat

And with my one, last, gasping breath

I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt.

- You're So Last Summer : Taking Back Sunday

The pair somehow ended up on the couch, wrapped in each others arms. Jess silently stroked Rory's arm. He took a peak down at her face, and he watched her struggle to keep her eyes open.

The strength in his arms built up, and he slowly lifted up the almost passed out Rory. He struggled slightly when she squirmed around so that her face was pressed into his chest, but he took control and slowly made their way into her bedroom.

Her body rolled itself out of his arms and into the heap of comfy covers. Jess smirked when Rory reached out for him with her eyes closed.

"Don't take back your promise." She whispered simply.

"Never," Jess whispered back before sliding himself into the already crammed bed. He felt like mentioning this to Rory, but with another glance at her face he realized she wouldn't have heard him anyway.

His arms found their way around her waist, snuggling her close. His lips pressed themselves into the crook of her neck, and he kept them there. Even as his eyes slowly started to shut, and he would soon be in a coma of his own, he wanted her to know he would be there for her.

Luke's Diner:

"Where is Jess anyway?" Lorelai asked, finally realizing they were missing the presence of that said person.

"Out," Luke simply replied, finishing up his calculations with the cash register.

"Out where?" Lorelai pressed. Luke looked up at her.

"Just..out,"

"There are not many places in this town Luke; I could probably find him in fifteen minutes. You might as well save me the time, and just tell me."

There was a silence that ran itself throughout the diner, and somehow Kirk once again found himself in the middle of it.

"You should probably just tell her, Luke." He whispered.

Luke rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh.

"He went to go see Rory."

"What?" Lorelai asked.

"He went to go see Rory. You know, your daughter?" Luke said again, knowing that Lorelai had understood him the first time.

Fearing that she would have another break down, Luke quickly ducked himself behind the counter. When no pots were being hurled at his head, he slowly glanced up at Lorelai. She was sitting peacefully, reading a magazine that had just found itself in front of her.

"You're not..mad?" Luke questioned. She looked up at him.

"I'm not gonna try and control things, Luke."

"That doesn't sound like you."

"You're right…I'll be right back." She confirmed before standing up from her seat and getting on her way towards the Gilmore house.

Gilmore House:

Jess awoke to a rather loud tapping.

His eyes adjusted themselves to the figure making all the noise. He jumped slightly when he realized it was Lorelai tapping her foot loudly on the hardwood floor of Rory's room.

"Sleep good?" She asked with a bit of sarcasm.

Jess struggled to unhook himself away from Rory, and hurriedly tried to get himself as far away from the bed where she laid as possible. He tried to look everywhere besides the woman standing in front of him, but then found it was no use. His eyes slowly drifted and set themselves on Rory.

"I can't leave her, I promised."

"I didn't ask that," Lorelai shot back, as Jess's head glanced towards her. "I asked if you slept alright."

"I believe your exact words were 'sleep good.'" Jess corrected.

"Do you really want to be arguing right now with me over what my exact words were?" Lorelai asked astonished.

Jess remained silent.

"How long have you guys been asleep?" She asked, calming down.

Jess took a look at the clock.

"23 minutes."

"Are you still tired?"

"I wasn't really sleeping…"

"Of course you weren't."

Jess caught on to Lorelai's game, and found himself with the opportunity to explain himself.

"You can't make Luke send me home." He paused. "I can't be forced out of a town."

"I'm not-"

"And I can't leave Rory. She's the only person that has ever really made me want to change." Lorelai once again tried to object, but Jess continued. "I've changed for her."

The older Gilmore waited an extra second to see if he was really finished, and then shared what she had to say.

"I'm not here to kick you out of my house, or out of this town." She looked for his reaction, and noticed he was slightly confused. "And you're right, Rory does need you. She hasn't talked to me since I tried to have you kicked out of Stars Hollow."

"So you're letting me stay? You're gonna let me stay with Rory?" Jess asked, making sure he understood.

"I think you are the best thing for her right now. I haven't seen her as happy as she was last night when you came back."

"I came back for her."

"You seem to be doing a lot for her." Lorelai joked.

Jess looked down at Rory, and gave a small smirk.

"I plan to do a lot more for her."

"If you hurt her, I swear-"

"That's the thing I don't plan on doing." Jess assured.

Lorelai nodded slowly, showing she had faith in the boy standing before her.

"You're a good kid, Jess Mariano."

With that, she made her way out of her daughter's bedroom, and walked back to Luke's knowing Rory was in the care of a guy falling head over heels in love with her.

On her way back to the diner, Lorelai ran into a guy she swore she would never have to see again.

"Excuse me? Does Rory Gilmore live here?" She heard his voice ask someone a few feet away from her.

Lorelai froze. Her gaze studied the figure before her, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Dean? What are you doing back?"

Uh Oh…

Just a background story on the whole Dean/Rory story for you. They dated long before Jess ever entered the picture. And Dean made the decision to see other people, and broke it off with Rory. The last Rory heard, Dean was far away from her and never thought she'd have to see him again. So Jess has never met Dean before, and Dean still thinks Rory is waiting for him to come back to her.

A/N: Hope you aren't thrown off by the Dean coming back thing. I was surprised when I wasn't asked any 'Where's Dean?' questions before. If you have any questions on anything I forgot to explain, please ask. I hope you liked it, and I'll have another post up this weekend.