Jake stumbled out of his room, rubbing his eyes, and trying to wake up as someone pounded on the front door.
Just before he reached it they stopped. And once he had it open, and his eyes focused, he realised, there was no one there.
Someone had placed a letter under the welcome mat, he could see it peeking out from the corner. Angrilly he snatched it up and made his way back to his room.
Brooke had stayed the night as they had a court hearing that morning and she wanted to be with Jake through the whole experience. She was just beginging to stir as he opened the enveleope with Niki's untidy scrawl on the front.
Jake You win. For now. I've realised that Jenny is better off with you and your parents. My parents can barely tollerate me and aren't really your biggest fans, so I can't imagine that they'd be too happy to have their granddaughter dumped on them.
You should know that I'll be back. I don't know when, but once I've sorted my life out, I'll contact you. Hopefully by then you'll be willing to let me spend some time with our daughter, and we can be mature about our situation.
I love her. Remember that. I know I've messed up, I'm sorry for that, and everything I've put you through.
Don't let her forget me. Tell her Mommy loves her and she'll be back one day.
Sorry again for everything.
Good luck with your life. Hopefully I'll see you soon.
Niki (P.S. I've talked to my lawyer, he knows what's going on. You won't hear from him again.)
Jake stared at the words on the page, not beleiving what he saw. He must have made some noise as he sat there, because Brooke sat up besde him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Wasa matter?" she asked, wiping the sleep from her eyes.
"Niki."
"What did she do now?"
"She gave up." he replied slowly, trying to make the words sound real.
"She what?"
"She left me this note. She's giving up, and going away to sort out her life. She says she'll come back when she's settled down."
"She gave up?" Brooke asked, taking the note and skimming through the words. "Oh my God! Jake this is great!"
"I... I know. I just can't beleive it..."
"Beleive it baby. We won!" she kissed him, before taking his hand and dragging him to the kitchen where his mother was slowly making coffee. They explained everything and soon everyone was jumping and screaming, hugging and crying.
They all got dressed and went to the court house anyway, just to make sure everything was ok, and Jake was awarded full custody.
They went out to celebrate.
"Did you hear about Jake?" Haley asked Lucas as she dropped into a seat beside him at lunch.
"Yeah. Niki gave up or something?"
"I heard she left him a note saying she would be back in a year or something and she wanted joint custody."
"Maybe by then she'll be able to handle a little responsibility."
"I'm so happy for Jake. It sucked that he almost lost Jenny. He didn't deserve that."
"No he didn't. I was thinking of inviting him and Brooke out one night. Maybe we could all go to dinner or something."
"Really?"
"Yeah. That is, if my girlfriend wanted to come?"
"I would love to. Let's go ask them." she jumped up, her food forgotten. Lucas laughed as she raced across the quad to where Jake, Brooke and Peyton sat, talking happily as they ate their lunch.
"Hey, guys. We heard the good news. Congratulations man!"
"Thanks Luke. I've gotta tell ya, it makes it alot easier to breathe now, knowing I won't get home one day to find Jenny gone."
"We were thinking, maybe you guy's would like to go out to celebrate? When things settle down for you."
"Us? All four of us?" Brooke asked, as Peyton sat watching the exchange.
"Well, yeah. Maybe, Peyton and Nathan would like to come too. We could ask Tristan and Rory."
"Make it a family affair." Peyton remarked. They all laughed, a little uncomfortable.
"Why not?"
"Sounds good to me." Jake added.
"I'll talk to Nate."
"Cool."
"Ok, great. I guess I'll see you guys later at practise/"
"Yeah. I'll save you a spot on the bleachers if you want Haley." Brooke repied, smiling at the girl with her ex.
"I have to work today, but thanks. Maybe another time."
"Sure." Luke and Haley walked away, silent for a moment, before they started to laugh.
"That was weird right?"
"Definatly."
"But it was nice."
"It's good. I'm glad you Jake and Brooke can get along again."
"And Brooke wants to be your friend. Who saw that coming?"
"Hey, we're going on a quadrouple date with your brothers, who have only ever been in the same space three times. One involving fist-a-cuffs. I don't think anyone ever expected any of this."
"Tristan's gonna kill me for getting him into this."
"Oh yeah." they walked to class together and sat at their desks, still smiling at the thoughts of their interesting lunch experience.
"You did what?" Lorelai asked suspicously.
"I answered your phome. Your mother called."
"Please tell me you hung up as soon as you recognised her voice." Lorelai begged.
"No. Actually, I didn't really get the chance. As soon as she realised it wasn't you, but she didn't have the wrong number, she demanded to know who i was. I told her, and she told me I was to acompany you and Rory to the next Friday night dinner you attend. She's very insistent."
"Controlling. She's a control freak, who feels the insesent need to run my life. It's insane. I can't beleive you have to come to Friday night dinner. I'm so sorry"
"It's ok. I mean, it's obviously something that's important to her, so I guess, if we were to continue dating I'd have to do it eventually. Better to get it out of the way early right."
"Ummm, have you met my parents?"
"I've met your mom."
"Yeah. At least you got the worst part out of the way. But don't worry. Rory and I will be there to protect you from the Gilmore monsters/"
"They can't be that bad."
"Together, interogating a boyfriend they're worse than any other parents. Ever."
"You are so dramatic."
"It's part of my charm."
"Hmm..."
Rory finished zipping up her bag seconds before Tristan lifted her off the floor and pulled her on top of him on her bed.
She screamed and grabbed onto him as he leaned up to kiss her.
"What are you doing here?" she aked him, laying on her sde.
"You are going home in four days so I'm going to get in as many kisses as I can before you get on that plane."
"We're having dinner tonight remember?"
"With our parents. Which means I can't kiss you the entire time. So I'm doing it now." she laughed as their lips met again and then pulled away.
"I thought we were supposed to be meeting Haley and Lucas,"
"Forget it. I don't want to share you with them."
"Well I want to see them. Come on. You'll have my undevided attention while we walk to the school." she climbed off the bed, pulling him with her.
"You're so mean to me."
"But You still love me."
"Very true." he wrapped his arms around her waist as they walked out of the hotel room.
"You've gotta tell them." Haley insisted, poking Lucas.
"Hey!" he grabbed her hand to stop her from continuing.
"You have to. You're the one that suggested it."
"Ok. Ok. I'll tell them." they walked towards Tristan and Rory, who were waiting outside the school near Lucas' car. "Hey guys,"
"Hey how was school?" Tristan asked.
"Ok, seriosly. Get over it. You're finished and we still have to go. We all know how amazing you are." Lucas replied.
"I was just askiing how your day was, man. Chill!"
"He's just a little testy because we don't get winter break for as long as your school did. Our day was pretty good though. Lucas has something to tell you."
"What's wrong?" Rory asked. By now they were all in the car, on their way to the cafe.
"Nothings wrong. I just-"
"What've you done?" Tristan asked, jokingly.
"We were talking to Jake and Brooke today." Haley began.
"And..."
"And... I sort of suggested that we go on a kind of double date thing."
"Are you serious?"
"Why would you subject yourselves to that after the accidental triple date you got stuck on the last time?" Tristan asked, laughing.
"And then I suggested Peyton and Nathan come along. I also may have volunteered you two as well." he finished quickly. The car was filled with silence. "And now you're plotting in your heads the best way to kill me. Great!"
"Ummm, I'm going home in four days. So, if you really want..."
"It can't be just the three of us again. That was two weird. If the two of you were there, things could be better. Please, please please." Haley begged turned in her seat to give a pleading look to the other two.
"Maybe, if you make it-"
"Rory I don't want to do this!"
"It's one night Tris. Come on. For your brother?"
"My stupid, evil brother, who get's people roped into things they'd rather do after being eaten alive by chipmunks!"
"Ok, that's it. We have to go. You need to be with normal people your own age, instead of my mother. She's turning you into a freak."
"So you'll come?" Haley asked as they pulled up in front of the cafe.
Rory looked at Tristan. "Fine. But it better not be a long night. And I'm not watching any crappy movies."
"Thank you. So much. I promise I'll make it up to you guys."
"You'd better." Tristan sulked as they all walked inside.
The three of them sat at a table for about half an hour while Haley worked. And then Lucas dropped Rory and Tristan at the house, before heading back to school for basketball practice.
Ok, so I know you've been waiting about a thousand years and this wasn't really that great, but I just felt like writing today and decided to give you something. Don't hate me.
