A/N: I'm a Literati sucker, what I can say? Hehe. I hope you like this story. It's completely different from the other one. It's a little more drama and it's a little more complicated than the others. The characters are little more dramatic and not easy to write, but I loved them in this way. I put something very personal in this story. What Jess is going to live here, it was a state close to me before. The territory I'm about to enter hits close to home for me. But I think you're gonna like it despite the drama. I hope for your support as always and please review if you like what you read. That keeps my muse alive!
P.S. English is not my first language, but I'm really trying here. So, if you think that it's hard for you to read - just don't read it! The reason I'm in this alone it's because I have updates every day. I love my readers and I want to pleased them in that way.
Rating: T (maybe M for some chapters, but we'll see);
Story:
Rory comes back to Stars Hollow to try and pick up the pieces of her ruined life. But she is not the only one who want to do that. Jess is there too, but he is not the same.
Chapter 36 It's time to accept him
Lorelai sighed and leaned her chin on her elbow. She was staring at the laptop on her desk at the Inn. She had to finish her accounts, but her thoughts were everywhere but here. Rory did not look good this morning. She was not that type of a person who would complain, but she still had called Jess. Lorelai frowned. That was not in Rory's style, but in the moment Jess had entered in the house, Rory had changed. She had relaxed under his cares and even had fallen asleep in his arms. When Lorelai had peered through the door of her daughter's bedroom, Jess was still awake. He just had given her a nod, but did not move more. He did not look guilty either. Something had changed in him and Lorelai had to admit that he looked better than before.
"You need help?" Her mother's voice made Lorelai alert. She looked at the door and saw Emily Gilmore stood there. "If you think that…"
"Hey mom!" Lorelai forced a smile and waited for her mother to come closer. "What are you doing here?"
"I think I can come here to visit my daughter, right?" Emily took the seat opposite Lorelai.
"Sure." Lorelai pursed her lips. "Now about the real reason?"
"I heard some… very disturbing rumors."
"Huh." Lorelai leaned back on her chair.
"That's all you can say?" Emily looked surprised.
"I'm still waiting to tell me what rumors you are talking about." Lorelai shrugged.
"Rory." Emily frowned. "Your daughter and her new relationship!"
"Ah." Lorelai smiled. "Jess and Rory."
"She acts scandalous lately." Emily murmured. "People talk, you know? She's leaving his place in the early hours of the day… with him!"
"Mom." Lorelai moaned and leaned back on her chair.
"You have to talk to her, Lorelai!"
"She is 26 years old! I think she has her own opinion!" Lorelai murmured.
"And you just sit here and do nothing?"
"What is the problem?" Lorelai crossed her hands on the desk. "Is it Rory's relationship with Jess? Or… it's Jess?" She leaned forward. "You never liked him!"
"So as you, but now you let her be with that…"
"My daughter's relationship is not your business!" Lorelai frowned. "Rory loves that mane! She loves Jess and if she wants to be with him, I won't mess with that!"
"But Lorelai…"
"I think we're done here!" Lorelai murmured and got off her chair. Her mother followed her with frowned expression on her face. "Good bye, mom!" Lorelai finished and looked at her mother. Emily sighed and twirled on her heals.
When she came back home, Lorelai saw Jess sat close to Rory. She was lying on her bed and looked pale and he brushed her face with moist towel. Lorelai coughed to get his attention and Jess finally looked at her. He put his index finger on his lips and got off Rory's bed. Lorelai waited for him outside.
"She's fine." Jess spoke in the moment he closed the door behind his back. "I think she has some sort of stomach flue."
"Are you sure?" Lorelai frowned.
"She told me that." Jess shrugged. "And the symptoms are the same."
"Okay." Lorelai agreed only because she was not sure in her thoughts right now. The suspicion that there was something more than stomach flu built up in her. "You'll stay here?"
"I was about to ask." Lorelai saw the relief on his face. "Thank you."
"Yeah." Lorelai tilted her head. "I know we didn't start well, but…"
"Truce?" Jess rose up his eyebrows. "I thought you hate me?"
"I was." Lorelai shrugged. "You hurt my daughter Jess. I can't easily forget that. You should've seen her after you left. She was broken. She never showed or talked about that, but…"
"I know." Jess' face faded. "But that was me then. I was… confused."
"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" Lorelai sighed. "Rory wants you in her life now. She wants you back and if that makes her happy, who am I to stay on your way?"
"I'm not the same guy, Lorelai." Jess looked at her honestly.
"I know." Lorelai nodded.
"I'm not better than before." Jess shook his head. "I'm still not cured completely. But… I'm trying." He sighed. "I'm not saying that I will be flawless now. I can't promise you that."
"Nobody is flawless, Jess." Lorelai lowered her voice. "But Rory Picked you. She loves you and I can't do anything about it."
"You can." Jess smiled with sadness. "You can tell her how bad guy I am."
"I could try." Lorelai murmured. "But she won't listen."
"She won't, huh?"
"Nope." Lorelai smiled. "Go take care of her, Jess." She nodded and let him walked back in Rory's room.
Jess sighed when he closed the door behind his back. His look fell on the woman in the bed and a thin smile appeared on his lips. She was awake and looked at him. Her eyes were clear and she smiled.
"You had a nice little chat with my mom?" She whispered and he walked to her.
"You heard?" He sat on the bed and took the moist towel again. Rory sighed when he skimmed it over her face.
"Yes." She smiled tiredly. "I heard and I have to say that it was nice."
"Nice?" Jess smiled.
"Yeah." Rory nodded. "I was surprised as well, but my mother really accepted you."
"Why do I get the feeling that this has something to do with you?" Jess rose up his eyebrows.
"Because she knows that I love you." Rory shrugged, but then her face crooked. "Not again!" She moaned just in time. Jess grabbed her in his arms and took her in the bathroom. "Damn it!" She hissed over the toilet. Jess held her tight. "My stomach is empty and that nasty feeling just refused to let it go!"
"It's ok." Jess murmured and brought her back in her bed. "Maybe you should try and eat something? A toast maybe? And a herbal tea?"
"Jess…" She moaned, but he walked out of her room. When he came back, he held a tray with a toast and steaming cup of tea. Rory sighed and sat on the bed. "You shouldn't have."
"I should." He insisted and placed the tray on her lap. "You took care of me before. Now it's my turn. Eat now."
"I can't." She frowned, but took the toast.
"You have to." Jess nodded at the toast in her hand. "You'll feel better, I promise."
"Uh-oh." She murmured and took a bit.
"That's good." Jess smiled. "Now some tea?"
"Okay." Rory sipped some tea and crooked her face. "Um…"
"What?"
"I'm trying." She murmured.
"That's good."
"I'm sorry I'm such a baby." She frowned and took another bit. "I hate this!"
"I know." Jess touched her face. "Now eat!"
And she listened to him. It turned out that he was right. Her stomach calmed enough to let her fell asleep in his arms. When she woke up on the next morning, Jess was gone. She knew that he had to go and help to his uncle in the diner. And he had left her a note on the pillow. He would come back by noon. Rory smiled and got off the bed. She felt strong enough to go in the bathroom and take a shower. But it turned out that she had jumped on a conclusion. She felt sick again.
"Okay." Rory sighed and concentrated over her breathing. It took her little more time she thought that she needed. She barely reached to the bed. Her ears rang and she hung her head between her shoulders. "It's okay." She murmured and took the phone from the nightstand. "Just breathe, Rory. Just breathe." Then she dialed a number.
"Hello?" Lane's voice echoed at the other side of the line.
"Lane?" Rory's voice was weak.
"Rory! Are you okay?" Her friend sounded worried.
"I need your help!" Rory whispered.
"Sure!"
"You have to go to the Pharmacy and buy me something!" Rory whispered and leaned back on her bed.