"Goodbye Jess." Rachel whispers as she walks away, leaving Jess sitting on
the, his head throbbing from the weight of his thoughts.
Rory is sitting in Jess' car looking straight ahead; refusing to watch to exchange between Rachel and Jess; as the moments pass she becomes more and more angry and hurt. Her watch beeps, she looks down noticing that 15 minutes have past. 'That's a long time' she thinks to herself. Uncontrollably she turns her head, immediately her eyes fix on Rachel who is walking away, 'where's Jess?' she wonders. Her eyes search the street when finally she sees him sitting on the curb, his head in his hands. Rory knows something is wrong. Suddenly the anger she felt for Jess and Rachel disappears and Rory gets out of the car and begins to cross the street.
Jess doesn't look up; he knows she's there, standing over him.
"What happened?" Rory asks quietly.
"Nothing..."
"Jess." Rory says sternly.
Jess stands up, "Nothing, she just wanted to talk; get closure I guess."
"Oh." Rory says, hurt in her voice.
"And I guess it made me a little reminiscent." Jess says calmly.
"Oh ok....you ready to go home?"
"In a minute." Jess replies pulling Rory into a hug.
Their embrace lasts for a few minutes, Jess; his thoughts unclear and confused holds on to Rory tightly.
*The next morning.
Light shines in through the window causing Rory to wake up. Rory's eyes immediately turn to the clock: 8:15. Rory rolls over towards Jess,
"Jess we have to go we're la-
Rory stops herself realizing that Jess isn't there.
Shuffling to the kitchen Rory searches for a sign of Jess. The overpowering smell of coffee wafts in Rory direction,.
"Mmm, somebody loves me." Rory says gleefully.
Jess moves towards Rory, "Danish?"
"Is it my birthday?" Rory asks suspiciously.
"No, I just figured it'd help you get up this morning, I mean we've got a long day ahead of us." Jess smiles faintly.
"I almost forgot!"
"Really?"
"No, I just said that for dramatic affect."
"Right, well if you shower now and eat later, we could be out of here in 20 minutes."
"I'll try."
*45 minutes later.
Jess is standing outside in front of his car as Rory runs out of the apartment.
"I tried!"
"Sure." Jess remarks.
*The first half of the car ride is quiet. Jess, unsure of what to say to Rory turns on the radio. Rory engrossed in her danish and extremely large cup of coffee decides to ignore Jess' odd behavior; at least until they get to Stars Hollow.
Her danish and coffee now finished, Rory can no longer take it, "Jess, is something the matter?"
"What?"
"I don't know you're totally not being yourself."
"Don't I always buy you danishes when we go somewhere, and I make you coffee 5 times a day." Jess says shortly.
"Yeah, but you've made no sarcastic remarks or anything to me all morning..........in fact you've barely looked at me since last night." Rory says breathlessly.
"I'm sorry, I've just been thinking about something."
"Oh." Rory says, sounding deflated.
"I just need a little time, and then I'll tell you all about it." Jess says calmly. "Ok?"
"Ok." Rory says quietly, reaching for the radio.
*Stars Hollow. *Rory and Jess have checked into the Inn. *Jess is in the bathroom. Having gotten icing on the green sweater she was wearing, Rory is searching through her bag for another shirt.
The phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Rory!"
"Mom hi." Rory says uneasily, still searching for her shirt.
"Michel called and told me you checked in."
"Nice to know those privacy laws are still enforced." Rory states.
"Yep yep. So what do you say? 15 minutes, Luke's burgers."
"Sounds like a plan Stan I'm starved."
"Great!" Lorelai giggles as she hangs up the phone.
Rory's hand is still in the bag as she puts the phone back onto the table.
Rory feels around for a shirt, in a last ditch effort she finds her light blue polo shirt.
"Yes!" She says, relived.
She lifts the shirt up, but it is resisting. "Damn." Something is holding it in the bag.
Rory puts both hands in the bag searching for the culprit.
Rory's hands graze a small paperback, "Here we go!"
Rory lifts up the book releasing her shirt. Rory turns to book the book back in the bag when she notices something sticking out of it, a picture.
Rory stares at it for a moment, the likeness, uncanny.
"Uh Jess?"
"Yeah?" Jess replies walking out of the bathroom.
Rory stuffs the picture into her purse.
"My mom just called, she wants to meet us at Luke's, but I was thinking that, maybe you should takes sometime to yourself, maybe take a walk." Rory says calmly.
"Ok." Jess watches Rory grab her coat, 'How does she know me so well?'
"Bye, Jess."
"Bye."
*Walking out onto the streets of her hometown, Rory pulls her coat tightly around her; the air suddenly colder the wind bitter and harsh.
*Luke's diner. The bell over the door rings causing Lorelai Gilmore to jump off her stool.
"Rory!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Mom!" The two women hug.
"Where's Jess?"
"He, was kind of out of it so he said he'd meet up with us in a little while."
"Ok, So burgers time?"
"Actually, I'm not that hungry." Rory says nervously.
"On the phone you said you were starved."
"Well I was wrong." Rory says unhappily.
"You ok sweets?" Lorelai asks, noticing Rory's unhappy face.
"No." Rory says simply.
Lorelai turns back towards the counter, "Luke, two coffees to go."
"Here you go." Luke says gruffly. "Hi Rory."
"Hi Luke, bye Luke." Rory says as Lorelai rushes her out of the door.
*Lorelai and Rory are now halfway down the street.
"Ok, so what's going on?"
Rory mumbles incoherently.
"I know it's got to be something big if it's keeping you from eating."
Rory nods.
"Oh my God, are you pregnant?!" Lorelai exclaims putting her hand out preventing Rory from walking and further.
"No." Rory says. She reaches into her bag and grabs the picture holding it out for her mother.
Lorelai takes it, "You adopted a 3 year old boy for 30 cents a day like Sally Struthers?"
"Look at his face." Rory says as her eyes begin to mist.
Lorelai holds the picture up, "The eyes look familiar.....and the non- smile.......how cute! Jess' baby picture." Lorelai coos, "Wait didn't Jess say his mom never really took any pictures of him?"
Rory nods "Look at the shoes."
"Aw, he's wearing blue sneakers."
"Mom, the brand." Rory says shortly.
"Sketchers...so?"
"What's wrong with the picture miss fashion diva?"
"I don't know...hey wait, sketchers weren't made until the 90's....Jess is what 3 here?"
"Flip it over." Rory says, tears gathering in her eyes.
Lorelai flips it over, there in black letter it reads: "Cole Thomas Keaton 12/08"
Tears are flowing steadily down Rory's face now.
"Are you saying that this is..."
Rory nods.
"Oh, Rory. I'm so sorry." Lorelai says sympathetically taking Rory into her arms.
* A half hour later. *Luke steps out of the diner at the suggestion of Kirk who swore that someone had died. *Seeing Lorelai embracing Rory, holding her close and rubbing her back, Luke knew something was wrong.
Lorelai looks up in time to see Luke walking towards her.
"What happened?" He asks, concerned.
"I'll tell you later." Lorelai whispers as Rory pulls away from here.
"Rory, did Jess do something? I'll friggen kill him!" Luke spats.
Rory shakes her head.
"Luke, go back to the diner, I'll be there in a minute."
Luke nods and then turns back to the diner.
"Rory, sweetie." Lorelai coos.
"Yeah?" Rory sobs.
"You need to find Jess."
"What if..."
"You have to hear it from him, you have to let him make the next move, baby."
Rory takes a deep breath. "Ok."
"If you need me you know where to reach me." Lorelai says before heading towards the diner.
Rory stands frozen on the sidewalk for a moment, planning her next move.
She sighs and then turns left towards the bridge.
*The Bridge: Jess is sitting on the edge; his feet dangling. He has a far off expression; his head is reeling, the muscles on his neck are tight; he is longing for a cigarette.
Rory approaches the bridge quietly, as the bridge comes into view she sees Jess sitting on the edge of the bridge in same manner as if he was sitting on the curb again; His body slouched, muscles tight.
"He's yours, isn't he?" Rory says casually, her heart beating fast.
Jess doesn't turn around. "Read a book?"
"Maybe." Rory walks over to Jess and sits beside him.
"God, why is that things finally start going ok for us, and now.....this."
Rory hangs her head, "I don't know."
"Two years, Rory." Jess breaths hard, "...And I never knew."
Silence.
"I've been sitting here for an entire hour, and I still don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?" Rory asks.
Jess sighs, "Tell me something."
"What?"
"Do you still hate him?" Jess asks, throwing a rock into the water.
"W-who?"
"Your dad, you know for that whole sherry thing."
"No, I guess not."
"But was it ever the same between you two?"
"No." Rory says flatly.
"I don't want you to hate me."
"Oh my God." Rory mutters.
"And I don't want things between us to change." Jess says, desperation in his voice.
"Jess....."
"How can I say I want to do the right thing and be a part of this kids life, with out screwing up the only relationship I've had that's ever made any sense?" Jess says desperately, tears forming in his eyes.
"Are you going to marry her?" Rory sobs.
"No, that's just it. She didn't want that...s-she wasn't even going to tell me until she saw me at the restaurant last night."
"Oh."
"I just, Rory my dad wasn't there at all for me when I was little; I barely remember him now. I just don't think I could do that; walk away. I know I've run a million times before, but you've shown me that I have to take responsibility, pay my dues. Rory, he's my dues my responsibility."
"Well I guess I can't stand in the way of that." Rory says solemnly, standing up to leave.
"Tell me something else." Jess says gravely approaching Rory.
"What?"
"Do you hate me now?"
"Jess, I could never hate you." Rory says, shaking.
Jess puts his arms around Rory. "Do you still...are we, are we still engaged?" Jess asks.
"I don't know, do you think you can handle having two families?" Rory sobs.
"Can you?"
"I don't know....but if it means that I get to spend my life with you than I'll put up with anything."
"Rory, I don't know what I'd do without you." Jess whispers, burying his face in Rory's hair.
*10 minutes later
Rory pulls away from Jess, "What now?"
"How about a late lunch."
"Ok, but after that we're going home."
"You don't want to stay?"
"I do...but you have some stuff back home you have to deal with, and I'm going to be there to help you deal with it." Rory smiles faintly.
Jess takes Rory's hand in his and they start towards the diner.
A/N Deff. not the end. I just have to work soon so I had to end it here. Hope you liked it.
Rory is sitting in Jess' car looking straight ahead; refusing to watch to exchange between Rachel and Jess; as the moments pass she becomes more and more angry and hurt. Her watch beeps, she looks down noticing that 15 minutes have past. 'That's a long time' she thinks to herself. Uncontrollably she turns her head, immediately her eyes fix on Rachel who is walking away, 'where's Jess?' she wonders. Her eyes search the street when finally she sees him sitting on the curb, his head in his hands. Rory knows something is wrong. Suddenly the anger she felt for Jess and Rachel disappears and Rory gets out of the car and begins to cross the street.
Jess doesn't look up; he knows she's there, standing over him.
"What happened?" Rory asks quietly.
"Nothing..."
"Jess." Rory says sternly.
Jess stands up, "Nothing, she just wanted to talk; get closure I guess."
"Oh." Rory says, hurt in her voice.
"And I guess it made me a little reminiscent." Jess says calmly.
"Oh ok....you ready to go home?"
"In a minute." Jess replies pulling Rory into a hug.
Their embrace lasts for a few minutes, Jess; his thoughts unclear and confused holds on to Rory tightly.
*The next morning.
Light shines in through the window causing Rory to wake up. Rory's eyes immediately turn to the clock: 8:15. Rory rolls over towards Jess,
"Jess we have to go we're la-
Rory stops herself realizing that Jess isn't there.
Shuffling to the kitchen Rory searches for a sign of Jess. The overpowering smell of coffee wafts in Rory direction,.
"Mmm, somebody loves me." Rory says gleefully.
Jess moves towards Rory, "Danish?"
"Is it my birthday?" Rory asks suspiciously.
"No, I just figured it'd help you get up this morning, I mean we've got a long day ahead of us." Jess smiles faintly.
"I almost forgot!"
"Really?"
"No, I just said that for dramatic affect."
"Right, well if you shower now and eat later, we could be out of here in 20 minutes."
"I'll try."
*45 minutes later.
Jess is standing outside in front of his car as Rory runs out of the apartment.
"I tried!"
"Sure." Jess remarks.
*The first half of the car ride is quiet. Jess, unsure of what to say to Rory turns on the radio. Rory engrossed in her danish and extremely large cup of coffee decides to ignore Jess' odd behavior; at least until they get to Stars Hollow.
Her danish and coffee now finished, Rory can no longer take it, "Jess, is something the matter?"
"What?"
"I don't know you're totally not being yourself."
"Don't I always buy you danishes when we go somewhere, and I make you coffee 5 times a day." Jess says shortly.
"Yeah, but you've made no sarcastic remarks or anything to me all morning..........in fact you've barely looked at me since last night." Rory says breathlessly.
"I'm sorry, I've just been thinking about something."
"Oh." Rory says, sounding deflated.
"I just need a little time, and then I'll tell you all about it." Jess says calmly. "Ok?"
"Ok." Rory says quietly, reaching for the radio.
*Stars Hollow. *Rory and Jess have checked into the Inn. *Jess is in the bathroom. Having gotten icing on the green sweater she was wearing, Rory is searching through her bag for another shirt.
The phone rings.
"Hello?"
"Rory!"
"Mom hi." Rory says uneasily, still searching for her shirt.
"Michel called and told me you checked in."
"Nice to know those privacy laws are still enforced." Rory states.
"Yep yep. So what do you say? 15 minutes, Luke's burgers."
"Sounds like a plan Stan I'm starved."
"Great!" Lorelai giggles as she hangs up the phone.
Rory's hand is still in the bag as she puts the phone back onto the table.
Rory feels around for a shirt, in a last ditch effort she finds her light blue polo shirt.
"Yes!" She says, relived.
She lifts the shirt up, but it is resisting. "Damn." Something is holding it in the bag.
Rory puts both hands in the bag searching for the culprit.
Rory's hands graze a small paperback, "Here we go!"
Rory lifts up the book releasing her shirt. Rory turns to book the book back in the bag when she notices something sticking out of it, a picture.
Rory stares at it for a moment, the likeness, uncanny.
"Uh Jess?"
"Yeah?" Jess replies walking out of the bathroom.
Rory stuffs the picture into her purse.
"My mom just called, she wants to meet us at Luke's, but I was thinking that, maybe you should takes sometime to yourself, maybe take a walk." Rory says calmly.
"Ok." Jess watches Rory grab her coat, 'How does she know me so well?'
"Bye, Jess."
"Bye."
*Walking out onto the streets of her hometown, Rory pulls her coat tightly around her; the air suddenly colder the wind bitter and harsh.
*Luke's diner. The bell over the door rings causing Lorelai Gilmore to jump off her stool.
"Rory!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Mom!" The two women hug.
"Where's Jess?"
"He, was kind of out of it so he said he'd meet up with us in a little while."
"Ok, So burgers time?"
"Actually, I'm not that hungry." Rory says nervously.
"On the phone you said you were starved."
"Well I was wrong." Rory says unhappily.
"You ok sweets?" Lorelai asks, noticing Rory's unhappy face.
"No." Rory says simply.
Lorelai turns back towards the counter, "Luke, two coffees to go."
"Here you go." Luke says gruffly. "Hi Rory."
"Hi Luke, bye Luke." Rory says as Lorelai rushes her out of the door.
*Lorelai and Rory are now halfway down the street.
"Ok, so what's going on?"
Rory mumbles incoherently.
"I know it's got to be something big if it's keeping you from eating."
Rory nods.
"Oh my God, are you pregnant?!" Lorelai exclaims putting her hand out preventing Rory from walking and further.
"No." Rory says. She reaches into her bag and grabs the picture holding it out for her mother.
Lorelai takes it, "You adopted a 3 year old boy for 30 cents a day like Sally Struthers?"
"Look at his face." Rory says as her eyes begin to mist.
Lorelai holds the picture up, "The eyes look familiar.....and the non- smile.......how cute! Jess' baby picture." Lorelai coos, "Wait didn't Jess say his mom never really took any pictures of him?"
Rory nods "Look at the shoes."
"Aw, he's wearing blue sneakers."
"Mom, the brand." Rory says shortly.
"Sketchers...so?"
"What's wrong with the picture miss fashion diva?"
"I don't know...hey wait, sketchers weren't made until the 90's....Jess is what 3 here?"
"Flip it over." Rory says, tears gathering in her eyes.
Lorelai flips it over, there in black letter it reads: "Cole Thomas Keaton 12/08"
Tears are flowing steadily down Rory's face now.
"Are you saying that this is..."
Rory nods.
"Oh, Rory. I'm so sorry." Lorelai says sympathetically taking Rory into her arms.
* A half hour later. *Luke steps out of the diner at the suggestion of Kirk who swore that someone had died. *Seeing Lorelai embracing Rory, holding her close and rubbing her back, Luke knew something was wrong.
Lorelai looks up in time to see Luke walking towards her.
"What happened?" He asks, concerned.
"I'll tell you later." Lorelai whispers as Rory pulls away from here.
"Rory, did Jess do something? I'll friggen kill him!" Luke spats.
Rory shakes her head.
"Luke, go back to the diner, I'll be there in a minute."
Luke nods and then turns back to the diner.
"Rory, sweetie." Lorelai coos.
"Yeah?" Rory sobs.
"You need to find Jess."
"What if..."
"You have to hear it from him, you have to let him make the next move, baby."
Rory takes a deep breath. "Ok."
"If you need me you know where to reach me." Lorelai says before heading towards the diner.
Rory stands frozen on the sidewalk for a moment, planning her next move.
She sighs and then turns left towards the bridge.
*The Bridge: Jess is sitting on the edge; his feet dangling. He has a far off expression; his head is reeling, the muscles on his neck are tight; he is longing for a cigarette.
Rory approaches the bridge quietly, as the bridge comes into view she sees Jess sitting on the edge of the bridge in same manner as if he was sitting on the curb again; His body slouched, muscles tight.
"He's yours, isn't he?" Rory says casually, her heart beating fast.
Jess doesn't turn around. "Read a book?"
"Maybe." Rory walks over to Jess and sits beside him.
"God, why is that things finally start going ok for us, and now.....this."
Rory hangs her head, "I don't know."
"Two years, Rory." Jess breaths hard, "...And I never knew."
Silence.
"I've been sitting here for an entire hour, and I still don't know what to do."
"What do you mean?" Rory asks.
Jess sighs, "Tell me something."
"What?"
"Do you still hate him?" Jess asks, throwing a rock into the water.
"W-who?"
"Your dad, you know for that whole sherry thing."
"No, I guess not."
"But was it ever the same between you two?"
"No." Rory says flatly.
"I don't want you to hate me."
"Oh my God." Rory mutters.
"And I don't want things between us to change." Jess says, desperation in his voice.
"Jess....."
"How can I say I want to do the right thing and be a part of this kids life, with out screwing up the only relationship I've had that's ever made any sense?" Jess says desperately, tears forming in his eyes.
"Are you going to marry her?" Rory sobs.
"No, that's just it. She didn't want that...s-she wasn't even going to tell me until she saw me at the restaurant last night."
"Oh."
"I just, Rory my dad wasn't there at all for me when I was little; I barely remember him now. I just don't think I could do that; walk away. I know I've run a million times before, but you've shown me that I have to take responsibility, pay my dues. Rory, he's my dues my responsibility."
"Well I guess I can't stand in the way of that." Rory says solemnly, standing up to leave.
"Tell me something else." Jess says gravely approaching Rory.
"What?"
"Do you hate me now?"
"Jess, I could never hate you." Rory says, shaking.
Jess puts his arms around Rory. "Do you still...are we, are we still engaged?" Jess asks.
"I don't know, do you think you can handle having two families?" Rory sobs.
"Can you?"
"I don't know....but if it means that I get to spend my life with you than I'll put up with anything."
"Rory, I don't know what I'd do without you." Jess whispers, burying his face in Rory's hair.
*10 minutes later
Rory pulls away from Jess, "What now?"
"How about a late lunch."
"Ok, but after that we're going home."
"You don't want to stay?"
"I do...but you have some stuff back home you have to deal with, and I'm going to be there to help you deal with it." Rory smiles faintly.
Jess takes Rory's hand in his and they start towards the diner.
A/N Deff. not the end. I just have to work soon so I had to end it here. Hope you liked it.