Hey! I know it's been quite a long time since I've been on here. Life has been pretty crazy recently and I've had a lot of writer's block and a loss of direction in my writing. However, I've recently been rereading my old stories and I enjoyed reading this one and feel like I could make something of it. So I hope you're all still with me! :)

To quickly summarise what has happened so far in this story: Jess went to visit Liz, TJ and Doula only to find out that TJ had died in a car crash months before and Liz had returned to her old ways so he took Doula and brought her to Stars Hollow. He comes to the decision to raise Doula himself and Luke has agreed to help him. In the meantime, he has become friends with Lane and they become close before admitting they might have feelings for each other and start dating. Rory is not happy about it!

Chapter 12

Lorelai came down the stairs, ready to go to work and saw Rory curled up on the couch in the living room. "Rory?" She said. "What are you doing up so early?"

Rory just shrugged.

"Where's Logan?" She frowned glancing round.

"Gone back to Yale." She mumbled.

"Oh, how come?" Lorelai said surprised. "I thought he was staying for the weekend."

"Yeah, well Jess ruined that." Rory snapped.

"Jess? What did Jess do?" She said confused.

"He's dating Lane, that's what he's doing! He's going to hurt her and he's only doing it to get back at me! It's so petty!" She exclaimed.

"Whoa, wait a minute, Jess and Lane are dating? I thought they said..." Lorelai said shocked.

"Yeah, well they were obviously lying because Logan and I bumped into them on what was obviously a date and then Jess confirmed it." Rory snapped. "I went off on him about it and now Logan thinks I'm still hung up on him and we fought about it and he left! Which I'm obviously not!"

Lorelai sighed. "Well..."

"What?" Rory frowned at her mom.

"You seem really upset that Jess and Lane are dating..."

"Because she's my best friend! He's going to hurt her like he hurt me!" She exclaimed.

"Maybe he won't..." Lorelai said hesitantly.

"I can't believe you're defending him! You're meant to be on my side! Why won't you be on my side?!"

Lorelai sighed. "Rory, I'm always on your side, you know that. But...it does seem like Jess has changed. And you know how much I hate admitting I'm wrong. You know he came to me the other day and asked for a job at the inn so that he could still spend time with Doula during the day. He's really stepping up for her." She said. She sighed when Rory didn't say anything. "Look, I get that it must have been a shock for you but isn't it good that Jess is moving on?"

"Not when it involves my best friend. He doesn't get to hurt her." Rory mumbled.

"Well, maybe he won't. From what I've seen, he seems to care about her. Luke says they make a good team at the diner."

"Well good on them."

Lorelai sighed. "Ok, well I need to get to work. Just...don't let this ruin your friendship with Lane. You've known each other since you were 5. Don't let a guy get in the way of that. It's not worth it." She said.

Rory sighed. "I don't know..."

"Why don't we meet up for lunch later on? We've not really hung out much recently. It would be nice to hear how things at Yale are going." Lorelai said.

Rory gave her a small smile. "Yeah, actually that sounds good."

"Ok good." Lorelai smiled. "I'll see you later then."

"See you later, mom."

Lorelai arrived at the inn and rushed to the reception desk. "Yes I know I'm late and I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you." She told Michel.

"Hmm...sure you will." Michel drawled before walking away.

"Always nice to have a good conversation with you!" Lorelai called after him. She glanced up to see Jess walking in and hovering at the door. She took a deep breath before walking up to him. "Hi Jess..."

"Oh..hey..." Jess said.

"So are you ready for your first morning?" She said.

"Oh..." Jess said surprised.

"What? Did you forget?"

"No, I just thought...well, I assumed Rory told you..." He said awkwardly.

"About you and Lane." Lorelai said. "Yeah, she did..."

"And you're still willing to give me a job here?"

Lorelai sighed. "Look, Jess, Rory is everything to me and of course, I don't like that she's really upset at the moment and you seem to be the cause of that." She said. She saw him duck his head slightly. "But...you're doing this for Doula and I care about Doula as well. So...the job's still yours if you want it."

"Thanks." Jess said gruffly. "For what it's worth, I never wanted to upset Rory. But I just want to move on and she always makes it so hard for me to do so. It's ok for her to rub Logan in my face but then when I try to move on, she freaks out. It's not fair. I'm done letting her dictate what I do in my life."

"Ok, maybe you need to stop talking right now." Lorelai said.

Jess sighed. "I just want you to know I never went out to upset her. Me and Lane, trust me, I never thought that was going to happen...but it did and I can't help that or change it. And I don't want to. But I also don't want to feel guilty about it because that's not fair."

Lorelai sighed. "Yeah, I get that."

"I never wanted to get between Rory and Lane. I swear I would never intentionally do that." He said.

"I believe you." She nodded.

"You do?" He said surprised, glancing up at her.

Lorelai smirked slightly. "Well, it surprised me as well. But...yeah, I believe you." She said.

Jess smirked slightly. "Thanks."

"Now get to work." She said.

Jess smirked. "Yes ma'am!" He said, heading to the kitchen.

"Hey, less of the ma'am or else you will be without a job here!" Lorelai called.

Luke watched as Lane glided round the diner that morning. He'd noticed the spring in her step and the fact she couldn't stop smiling. She then suddenly saw her face light up and he followed her gaze outside to see Jess heading towards the diner. He realised his suspicions were right. Her good mood obviously had to do with Jess.

"Hey." Jess said entering the diner. "Sorry I'm a bit late. Sookie lost track of time." He told him.

"It's fine. How was your first day there?" He asked.

"Good, yeah." Jess nodded. "Sookie's cool."

"Yeah she is." Luke nodded. "So, Doula's having a nap right now so you were right to keep her here today."

"Cool. She been ok?" He asked.

"No trouble at all." Luke said.

"Well, thanks for watching her."

"You don't have to thank me. I'm happy to help. You know that." Luke smiled.

"Thanks." Jess said. He went behind the counter. "Hey." He smiled at Lane.

"Hey back." Lane smiled.

"I'm just going to go check on Doula then I'll be back down for my shift." Jess said.

"Sure." Luke said.

"See you." Lane smiled.

Luke watched Jess head upstairs. "I'll just be a minute." He told Lane.

"Sure." She nodded.

Luke headed upstairs and smiled when he found Jess holding Doula and talking softly to her. "Hey..." He said.

"I didn't wake her." Jess said quickly.

Luke chuckled. "I believe you."

Jess smiled slightly. "Ok, maybe I did. But I kind of missed her this morning." He admitted.

"I'm sure." Luke smiled. "And is there someone else you missed?"

"What?" He said confused.

"Oh I don't know, maybe a certain colleague downstairs who hasn't been able to wipe that smile off her face all morning." He said, raising his eyebrows.

Jess blushed slightly. "Really?"

"Yep." He said.

"Huh."

"So I'm guessing it went well last night then?" Luke said.

"It...had its ups and downs but yeah...I think it went well." Jess admitted, ducking his head slightly.

"Good. I'm happy for you." He said.

"You are?" Jess said glancing at him.

"Look, I know the situation is complicated but I like Lane. If she makes you happy, then I'm happy."

"Thanks." Jess said gruffly. He glanced at him. "You know I'm happy for you and Lorelai as well right?"

"Sure." He nodded.

"No, seriously. She..uh..she could have really had it out with me today but she didn't. It was cool of her. I'm glad you're happy. You deserve that." Jess said.

"Thanks Jess." Luke smiled softly. "Now put your sister down and start your shift."

Jess smirked. "Whatever you say, Uncle Luke."

Lane glanced across at Jess later that day. "So Lorelai really wasn't angry at us?" She asked.

"Didn't seem to be." Jess said.

"Maybe Rory didn't tell her." Lane said.

"Oh no, she knew. She just...I don't know, she was cool." He said.

Lane let out a breath. "Ok good."

Jess glanced at her. "Are you having second doubts?"

"What, no! Why would you think that?" Lane said.

Jess sighed. "I just know how Rory and Lorelai have been pretty much a second family to you. I would understand if you were having doubts."

"Jess, I'm not having doubts." Lane said softly.

"No?"

"No." She smiled softly. "Besides, if Rory can't be happy for me, then maybe she's not as good a friend as I thought she was."

Jess smiled. "Ok. Good." He said.

"How about you?" Lane asked.

"What?" He said confused.

"Well...I know what Rory means to you. I'd understand if this was too much for you." She said.

Jess shook his head. "I'm done with Rory." He said.

"You don't mean that."

"I do. I'm done with her dictating my life. I need to focus on Doula now. And...I'd like to think I have someone else to focus on as well." He said.

Lane smiled. "I'd like that too."

Jess smiled. "So, up for a second date then?"

Lane laughed. "Definitely up for a second date." She grinned.

"Good. I'll..uh..get back to you on that then." He smirked.

"Look forward to it." She grinned, before starting to refill the coffee jug.

Jess glanced round the diner at the townspeople who were obviously trying not to make it look like they were eavesdropping. "Hey Lane?" He said.

"Yeah?" She said turning round.

Jess went forward and kissed her. "I've been waiting all morning to do that." He smirked.

Lane blushed slightly, glancing round the diner conscious of the people watching them. "Wow, Mariano, I never knew you were one for public displays of attention."

"I am for girls who are worth it." He smirked.

"Wow! Cheesy line but sweet." Lane laughed.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She smiled softly, stepping forward to kiss him again as the bells of the diner rang. She heard the diner go quiet so she looked past Jess to see what had happened. "Oh..." She said pulling away from Jess.

"What?" Jess said.

"Rory..." Lane said.

Jess turned round and saw Rory stood by the door awkwardly. "Oh..." He said.

"I came to talk to Lane..." She said awkwardly.

"Well she's right here." Jess said.

"Alone." Rory said.

"No." Jess said.

"No?" Rory frowned.

"Not if you're going to upset her, no." Jess said.

"So what, now he's your keeper?" Rory said, glancing at Lane.

"No, I'm not. I just don't want you upsetting her."

"And your spokesperson as well huh?" She said sarcastically.

"What do you want, Rory?" Lane said, crossing her arms against her chest.

"I need to talk to you. Alone." She repeated.

"Fine." Lane said.

"You sure?" Jess said.

Lane turned to him and smiled softly. "Nothing she says will change my mind about you ok? I promise."

"Ok. If you're sure." He said. "You can go upstairs if you want."

"Thanks." She smiled gratefully.

"Just...no shouting. Doula's up there." He said.

"I think we can agree to that. Right?" Lane said glancing at Rory.

She sighed but nodded. "Yeah sure."

"Ok. I'll see you later then." Jess smiled at Lane.

"Yeah see you." Lane said. "Come on, let's go." She told Rory, leading her upstairs.

So I hope you liked it! :) I know it's been a long while but I hope you're still with me and want to read this. Let me know what you think by leaving a review! :)