A/N: I have to admit Jess & Tori scenes are my second favourite kind of scenes to write for this fic, after Jess/Rory scenes. So glad that so many of you enjoy them :) Now, on we go...

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 37

Davey was so deep into his books, he really didn't hear his name being called, albeit in a low voice, into the stacks of the library. Nobody was even supposed to know he was up here. His buddies on the football team weren't exactly into the whole studying thing as a rule, especially not in an obvious way, but Davey knew he really had to get his head down. If he didn't do well enough in his finals, well, he didn't even like to think about what that would mean. His scholarship was riding on his getting at least Cs across the board, as well as proving himself at his sport. He had most of his subjects covered, but right now history was kicking his butt and he needed to read over the facts a couple more times if they were ever going to stick. Back of the library seemed like a good place to spend an hour after classes, cramming as much knowledge as he could, away from prying eyes. Apparently somebody figured out where he was and came looking.

"Jaime?" he frowned on realising it was his little sister who was trying to track him down. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"It's a school library, and I go to this school," she reminded him, rolling her eyes. "I need ten dollars."

"And I'm an ATM now?" said Davey, closing his book and staring at her.

"Davey, please!" she urged him. "It's important."

At her pleading looks and tone, his eyes narrowed.

"Are you in trouble?" he asked, even as he reached into his back pocket. "'Cause if this is going to pay off some bully or buy you some cigarettes-"

"Do you even know me at all?" she checked, rolling her eyes. "It's for art supplies."

"More art supplies." Davey nodded. "Of course it is. Because you don't have enough of those already," he muttered, knowing she wasn't listening anyway as he handed over a couple of bills. "Here, but don't ask me for any more, okay? Since Dad wants me to study instead of work right now, I'm running a little short."

"You'll get this back soon, I promise." Jaime grinned. "Thanks, Davey!" she called as she pelted from the library.

Davey smiled and shook his head. Of all the crazy people in his life, his little sister might be the craziest, but he loved her to pieces and wouldn't have her any other way, that much he knew for sure. Settling back in his chair, he opened up his history book again and got back to reading. He made it through a whole two paragraphs before a clattering beyond the shelves got his attention.

"What does it take to get some peace around here?" he said to himself, getting up to go and investigate.

Through the stacks, he saw an arm, a head, and then heard laughter. Just as Davey started to realise that he had stumbled upon a couple looking for a little privacy and decided to leave them be, they came stumbling out from behind the shelves and spotted him. Billy dragged the back of his hand across his mouth that was stained with Tara's lipgloss whilst she turned three shades of pink that were easily seen on her pale skin.

"Hey, man," said Billy awkwardly.

"Hi," Davey greeted them both with a smile. "You do know what happened to the last couple that tried to find some privacy back here, right? Miss Sheindlin really doesn't like that kind of thing in her library," he told them, folding his arms across his chest.

"My Dad is at my house and Billy's mom is at his place." Tara sighed.

"The diner apartment is out since my parents found out we were dating, and outside, it's raining," her boyfriend supplied. "Besides, we can only get in trouble if we get caught," he said, gripping Tara's hand in his own and grinning.

She giggled and hid her face in his shoulder.

They were awfully cute, or so Davey might have said if he didn't want to come off like a girl. It was cool that they were happy and everything, but he really didn't want them to get busted.

"Can't you wait until later and go to the movies or whatever?" he asked them. "That's what the back row was built for."

"I'm working later." Billy sighed. "And I'm supposed to have my homework done before that. If I'm not home by four thirty today my mom is gonna be pissed."

"Which means we have to go anyway," said Tara, showing her boyfriend the watch at his wrist that was showing four fifteen already.

"Damn!" he cursed. "C'mon, let's go. See ya, Davey."

Davey raised his hand in a silent wave, then backed up towards his place from before when he realised Miss Sheindlin was glaring already, hands on hips and eyes flashing fire. For a woman of at least sixty and no more than five feet tall, she could be very scary when she wanted to be.

"Okay," said Davey as he settled back down to read, locating his place in the book.

He maybe got through two whole pages this time before the next interruption came. Honestly, Davey was about ready to give up, go home, and just fail history, because it would be easier than all this hassle. His cell ringing in his pocket, albeit on vibrate, stopped Davey from reading any further. Apparently it was Martha calling, so he answered immediately, asking if everything was okay.

"I think so," she told him. "I was just wondering if you'd seen, Jack? Also, why are you whispering?" she asked.

"Because I'm in the library," he told her, as loud as he dare. "And no, I haven't seen Jack. He was in school today, right?"

"Yeah, he was," she confirmed. "But Alison wasn't, and then last period Jack had a free but we were supposed to meet in the diner but he didn't show. I checked at his house, at the Van Gerbig place, everywhere. He's just not around, and his cell is going straight to voicemail."

Davey didn't know what to think. Alison not being in school could be a good thing. Maybe the Foresters had left town again, though that seemed like wishful thinking somehow. He couldn't imagine for a second that wherever she had gone was where Jack would be. That bitch hurt him way too much for him to be so dumb.

"You want me to help you look for him?" Davey asked his sister, closing up the book and shoving it in his bag. "'Cause I don't think I'm gonna get anymore studying done anyway."

"Thanks, Davey" said Martha with a smile he could hear. "Let me know if you find him?"

"Will do," he promised, hanging up the phone and heading out. "Why can't people just let me alone for five minutes?"

"Huh."

Tori was evidentially surprised when she found her brother in the cemetery. It wasn't really a place she thought to look for him. Now that the rain had stopped, she just intended to stop in on the way past and leave some flowers for Mrs R. Instead of the usual empty space in front of the dear old lady's headstone, she found Jack sitting, looking more than a little lost somehow.

"Hey, Toria," he greeted her with a smile that didn't come out at all right.

He got to his feet, brushing dirt off his backside and picking up his book bag.

"Hey," she replied. "I didn't know you came here."

"Sometimes," he admitted. "You too, huh?"

"It's a semi-regular arrangement."

"Huh."

Jack watched as Tori placed her flowers on Mrs R's grave, her hand brushing over the lettering on the headstone as she stood straight again. Maria Louisa Rossini, always in our hearts, it said, along with the dates that proved she lived a long full life. Thanks to the people of Stars Hollow, she had said, it was a happier one in the end than she could have ever hoped for.

"She's still a good listener."

"Yeah," Jack agreed. "And it's not just because she's not here to interrupt. Even when she was alive, she just... she seemed to understand so much, and even when she didn't really get it or couldn't help, it just felt better to tell her stuff."

Tori smiled, knowing he was saying just exactly her own thoughts. Swallowing hard to stop the tears from coming, she stepped in closer to Jack and put an arm around his back.

"I can listen too," she reminded him. "What's going on, Jack?"

Her brother took a deep breath and let it out loudly.

"Alison's grandfather died today," he said, staring at Mrs R's headstone still. "It's why she wasn't in school. She called me, right before classes got out, crying her heart out."

"I didn't know she had one," said Tori bitterly, feeling bad the moment she saw the way Jack was looking at her. "I care that her grandpa died. That's not something you wish on anybody," she said definitely, remembering the pain of her own loss, not so long ago, "but just because I have a little sympathy for a family that lost a loved one does not mean that I suddenly like them. They hurt my family, and that's priority one with me."

Jack smiled at her fierce loyalty, pulling his sister close and kissing the top of her head.

"I love you, Toria," he told her. "You know that, right?"

"Sure," she assured him. "Love you too," she said with a smile. "Y'know Martha is having a meltdown because we couldn't find you... again."

"Oh, damn it!" he cursed, face-palming for good measure. "I'm sorry, I forgot I was supposed to meet her."

"You might wanna call her before she completely blows a fuse," Tori advised. "She already has half the town out looking for you... again."

"Okay, I got it," he told her, playfully shoving her aside and pulling out his cell to make the call. "I'll try not to disappear again for a while, okay?"

"Promise?" Tori checked.

"Promise," her brother assured her.

When Tori got home, she found her parents having a pretty serious conversation. It didn't take much figuring out to know what they were talking about.

"You heard about Mr Forester," she said, a statement not a question.

"News travels fast in the Hollow," said Jess, as Rory wiped at her eyes with the back of one hand.

"I don't even know why I'm crying," she admitted as Tori came over to give her mom a hug. "It's so many years since I even said 'hello' to the guy."

"Because you're a good person, Ror, and you used to get along with Forester's folks." her husband reminded her. "Just because Dean has been an asshole and his daughter isn't exactly an angel, doesn't mean the old man deserved to die."

"Alison called Jack to tell him what happened," Tori confessed, feeling like her parents should know something like that. "I found him in town and we talked. He's fine, just feeling a little mixed up, I think."

"More than a little," Jack said himself as he came in through the door. "But I'm fine."

"You sure, son?" asked Jess, seeing how affected Jack looked by what had happened today.

"It's not cool hearing somebody you cared about cry that hard," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders, "but it doesn't change anything. Alison used me, and I can't forget that. I feel bad for her family, but that's all. I don't wanna see her, I don't... I'm not interested."

Jess nodded that he understood and Rory moved to hug her son, as much for her own sake as for his. She felt badly for the Foresters, of course she did. It was awful when anyone died, because it always meant pain and heartache for somebody. Part of her pain was her own though, as all of this dragged up the agony of her own grandfather's death. Even after this many years, it still stung to be reminded sometimes. She figured it always would in some way or other.

The kids both went upstairs to do their homework and such, leaving Rory and Jess alone. She looked less like she wanted to cry and more generally distracted by now. He wished he knew what to do to make her feel better, but there didn't seem to be anything.

"I feel so useless," said Rory eventually. "Like I should be doing something, but there's nothing," she sighed, shaking her head.

"Maybe there's something," said Jess, unsure why he was even suggesting this but going with it anyway. "We could go get some flowers and head over to the Foresters, pay our respects?"

"Jess..."

"What? A man is dead, Rory. You think there's a better time to make peace than this?"

Maybe he had a point. The very fact that Jess was talking about making peace with Dean meant a miracle had to be occurring, at least Rory thought so. In a moment of high emotion like this there was every chance Dean would react badly to seeing the two of them, and yet there was just as much of a possibility that the death of his father would make Dean appreciate what he had and accept the ridiculous situation of their past love and their kids entanglement for what it was.

"Okay," she said eventually, nodding slowly. "Let's go."

"We're not here to make trouble," said Jess the moment the door opened.

They were at the Foresters house, the one where Dean used to live with his parents and sisters so many years ago. It was common knowledge in town by now that the elder Mr Forester had died and that the family were all gathered at his home. The only surprise was that Dean hadn't answered the door.

"Rory," she smiled a watery smile, reaching out for a hug.

"I'm so sorry, Clara," her old friend told her as they held each other a moment. "I honestly am."

"You were always so nice," said Clara through a veil of tears. "Fixed the crazy hair, huh, Jess?" she said then, making a joke from so long ago, he barely remembered.

"It's been a long time, munchkin," he replied in kind, wondering how that annoying little kid had grown up into a woman and seemingly so fast. "Sorry for your loss."

"We knew it was coming," she said bravely. "At least he's not suffering anymore."

Jess nodded his understanding and handed over the lillies he and Rory had bought on the way over. Clara took them with thanks and then moved back from the door.

"Come in," she urged them.

With a deep breath, Rory crossed the threshold, feeling so very strange about being here after so long, with all the water that had gone under the bridge. Of course she could feel no more strange than Jess. He had never once entered this house before and felt very odd about doing so now, in these circumstances. Still, this had been his idea, and he wouldn't abandon Rory when she needed him, not now, not ever. Taking her hand in his own, Jess and Rory followed Clara into what turned out to be the dining room, finding Dean and Lindsay sat at the table with what had to be the elder Mrs Forester.

"Rory," she smiled at the sight of her. "How kind of you to come."

"We just wanted to say we're sorry for your loss. Mr Forester was always so kind and decent, even after..."

She couldn't go on and Jess wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Thank you," said Lindsay when Mrs Forester could not do so for all the tears she was crying. "It was good of you to come."

Dean hadn't turned around yet nor said a word. His back was to the visitors and seemed like it was going to stay that way. Heaven only knew where Alison was and Jess didn't feel like asking. He just wanted to say what needed to be said and go already.

"Look, we came here because we wanted to say... well, we're sorry for your loss, and we don't want any more fighting, okay? The past is the past, it's done. This kind of thing, loss like this, it should teach us all something," he said, shaking his head. "Life is too short for this crap."

"Spoken like a true author."

"Dean!" Lindsay admonished her husband the moment he grumbled those words. "Can't you just let it go? Please?"

It was amazing to Jess that she was still with him, even now. Still trying her best to make her marriage work, to make Forester a better man if she could. She really must love him, that was for sure. Nobody could be so desperate to affect change in a person if they didn't.

With a deep sigh, Dean pushed his chair back and stood up. Somehow he didn't seem quite his full twelve foot tall self anymore, Jess realised. The guy had red-rimmed eyes and the look of a man that hadn't slept for a week. With one hand, Dean pushed his hair back out of his face and then stared down at Jess and Rory in turn.

"Everything has to end somewhere, I guess," he said eventually.

"You just gotta know when to let go, right?" Jess replied, holding out his hand to Dean to shake.

A month ago, the last time they had stood toe-to-toe like this, he had been striking out with a fist, leaving his old enemy with a bloody nose, plus a pair of black eyes from what he heard later. Now he was extending a hand of, well, not friendship exactly, but certainly of peace. Jess was tired of fighting, tired of holding a grudge, of allowing the poison of old battles to seep into his family all the time. He was done with it, and he hoped Dean would see sense and agree. He certainly seemed to take long enough to consider it.

Rory audibly gasped when she saw her ex take a hold of her husband's hand and shake. It had been a very long time coming, but finally it seemed like there might be peace.

To Be Continued...

A/N2: This fic is now going on hold 'til 2017. I do this every year as I have a lot of other stuff to do in December, including Christmas-related fics and of course plenty of RL things too. Please rest assured, this story will be back in the new year. I thought 'it seemed like there might be peace' was a fitting place to stop for Christmas/the holiday season :)