My notes: Was it really Dean? Or maybe - someone else? The secrets in Stars Hollow never remained secrets forever. Enjoy reading!:)

Story: Four years after Philadelphia, Rory and Jess meet again. (In my story that night ended different. Keep that in mind.)This time in Stars Hollow for Luke and Lorelai's wedding. Each of them keep a secret. Secret, that can change a life.

Chapter 26 Beauty And The Beast

The secrets in Stars Hollow never remained secrets forever. Two days before Christmas, Rory Mariano had the opportunity to see that.

It was a late afternoon. Jess was in the kitchen with her and both of them were smiling at each other. They had just woken up from their so called 'afternoon nap'. Rory smirked. Nap? Sure it was! Annie was at the kindergarten and the house was quiet. Suddenly, her cell rang.

'Hello?' Rory answered, still smiling. Soon after that, her smile faded and that made Jess worry. 'Okay, thanks! I'll be there soon!' she finished the conversation and looked at Jess.

'I have to pick up Annie.' She said and grabbed the car keys from the kitchen table. 'Be back soon!'

'What? Rory wait!' Jess grabbed her elbow and stopped her just before she reached the door. 'What happened?'

Rory turned to him.

'She refused to eat and cried constantly all afternoon. I am going to get her and then we can talk, okay?' she said and grabbed her coat. 'Don't forget to take your pills.' She yelled before she slammed the door.

Jess went to the bathroom. He filled a glass with cold water and took his pills for the day. He felt surprisingly good these days. The headaches were not so heavy and he was better than ever.

A little after that he went to the living room and sat on the sofa, waiting for Rory and Annie.

'Where is he?' he heard Annie's trembling voice.

'He's here honey, like I told you…' that was Rory.

'You're lying!' Annie sobbed. 'He's gone!' at those words Jess froze, but managed to raise his voice.

'I'm here!' he yelled and soon after that, he felt two little hands around his waist.

'Daddy!' Annie sobbed. 'I'll be good I promise! I'll be good! Don't go!'

Jess took the little girl on his lap and started to rub her back. She shivered. He looked at Rory. She didn't look better. Her face was sad, but her eyes were glowing, not from sadness, but from anger.

'You are a good girl!' Jess whispered to his daughter. 'You always are…'

'But… but… I can do better. And… if I promise to be better, you'll stay with us and… and… you're not gonna die… Please daddy, don't die! Please!'

Jess saw his worst nightmare just in front of his eyes. His little girl was crying. She was hurt.

'Who told you that?' he continued to caress her back and Annie calmed down. She raised her wet green eyes to his.

'Daniel…'

'Daniel?' Jess looked at Rory.

'Dean's son. They go to kindergarten together.' Rory answered, still wearing her coat. Jess nodded and looked back at Annie.

'Well, Daniel is wrong!' he said and wiped her tears.

'Really?' Annie sniffed.

Jess tried to smile.

'Really. I'm not going anywhere.'

'And you stay with us?'

'I'm staying with you…'

'I love you daddy!' Annie hugged him again and Jess felt his own tears.

'I love you too, my little princess!' he said and hugged her too.

Rory coughed and interrupted them.

'I'm going to see my mom. She called me for something…' Jess looked at her. She was avoiding his eyes, but he let her go this time.

'Okay, we're going to eat afternoon breakfast and then… '

'We'll read a story…' Annie giggled.

'You're a book tease, like your mother!' Jess smiled.

'But you love me!' Annie smiled too.

'Yeah, yeah…' Jess tickled her and she giggled again.

Rory coughed again.

'Bye you two!' she said and waved.

'Bye!' Jess and Annie said in one tone.

Rory started the engine and drove off, but not to her mother's place.

Five minutes latter, she was already standing in front of the house and knocked on the door.

'I'm coming!' she heard a woman's voice and soon after that the door opened. She went inside without permission.

'What are you doing here?' the woman asked her. Her voice was annoyed.

Rory looked at her with anger in her eyes.

'I want to talk with your husband!' she said.

'He's not here!' the woman said.

'His car is outside, so just call him!'

'Who you think you are…'

'Just call Dean, I don't have much time!'

'Rory?' Dean appeared from the kitchen. 'What are you doing here?'

'What am I doing here? You son of a…' Rory tried to calm. 'The whole town knows!' at that moment Rory saw Lindsay, who disappeared to the kitchen and let them alone.

'For what? For Jess?'

'Yes, for Jess! Only you knew outside the family! You told them! I thought that when you said that you were sorry, you meant it! I thought that we were clear! God, how much do you hate me? How much do you hate Jess? But Annie? Jeez, Dean! She's just a little girl, who loves her father!'

'Rory wait! What are you talking about? I told only to Lindsey… I never meant…'

'Lindsey?' Rory whispered, and then yelled. 'Lindsey! Come here you coward!'

Lindsey walked in from the kitchen.

'Careful with your language!' Lindsey said with a flat voice.

'When you're attacking my family I can give you more than a voice!' Rory stepped to her with an angry face.

'Rory!' Dean ran between them.

'You bitch! How dare you?' Rory almost yelled. 'Who gives you the right to mess with my family?'

'Who gave you the right to mess with my husband?' Lindsey yelled back.

'I'm not messing with your husband! I stopped messing with him long ago!'

'I saw you in the square!' Lindsey still yelled. 'You were kissing!'

'Honey, please…' Dean tried to touch his wife, but she pulled back.

'After every fight we have, you run to her! Every time! You still love her! Admit it!'

Dean tried again.

'I loved her before, now it was a mistake and I…'

'You're lying! She seduced you, didn't she?'

'What are you talking about?' Rory intervened. 'I have a family!'

'Dean also has one, but look at him!'

'No, you don't understand!' Rory raised her voice again. 'I have a family. I have a husband, who is the love of my life and he loves me. We have a beautiful little girl, who did not deserve to suffer like this! We tried to keep that secret, just to protect her from that pain! Minutes ago, she was crying in her father's arms! That broke my heart! If you were trying to hurt me, congratulations, you succeeded. But not only me! You hurt my daughter and I will never forgive you for that!'

Rory turned around and walked out of the house. She got in the car and started the engine, eager to go home.

When she entered, the house was quiet. She dropped her coat on a hook and ran upstairs. Then she heard his voice.

'Once upon a time…' Rory entered just when Jess started. He was sitting on their bed and was hugging Annie, who was on his lap.

'Can I join?' she asked and Jess reached his free hand to her.

Rory sat beside him and put her head on his shoulder.

'Mommy, we just started!' Annie said and smiled at her.

'What's the story?'

''Beauty and the beast'…again!' Jess rolled his eyes and Rory laughed.

'It's my favourite!' Annie grinned and cuddled to Jess. 'C'mon, daddy!'

Rory grinned too and kissed his cheek before she layed her head on his shoulder again.

'Yeah, Jess… c'mon!'

Jess smiled and started to read.

'Once upon a time…'