What would happen if Jess ever got a chance to confront Liz and tell her how shitty his childhood was. Hope you like it. I love reviews.
All characters are owned by the WB and Amy Palladino.
Chapter 1 The Surprise Visitors
Luke kept trying to bring Liz and Jess back together but Jess kept refusing. Liz was Liz and Luke wanted to try to keep what little family he had. Jess understood Lukes logic but was not interested in trying to rebuild the family dynamic. Jess was so angry with Liz. He was no longer willing to allow her to tell him he had a great childhood or that she did her best. He just wanted to be no contact with her and go about his life. Jess didn't care if he never saw Liz again. The lies and the web that Liz concocted in her head were just too much for him. Luke understood but he never understood how much Jess went through just to survive. Jess never told him as this was Luke's sister and he had too much respect for Luke. He knew if Luke knew the truth it would crush him.
Luke invited Jess and his family over for Thanksgiving dinner. Your family and my family is how Luke had put it. They decided to take the trip from Philadelphia to Stars Hollow. They were planning on spending the weekend with Luke and his family and had gotten a room at the Dragonfly. Jess was looking forward to having a nice quiet family dinner with his extended family. He thought Rory's kids and his would enjoy playing together. He hadn't seen them in what felt like forever. They drove up on Thursday morning and decided to leave their bags in the car and check in after dinner.
It was a full house for dinner. Luke, Lorelai, William, April, Rory and Finn and their twins and Buddy and Maisy plus the 4 from his family. Luke had outdone himself and everything smelled amazing. Just as they were getting ready to sit down the doorbell rang.
Luke walked over to the door and opened it and the person on the other side said, "Surprise Big Brother. Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have room for the three of us. We thought it might be fun to surprise you."
Luke responded, "Oh great fun. Liz how could you do this? No, it's not ok for you to just assume we have room for you and to just show up. How rude can you be? But then again this is you and you only think about yourself."
Lorelai walked to the front door and said, "Luke, they're family. Let them in. You have been cooking for days. I am sure there is enough food for them too. It will be ok."
Luke grumbled but let them in. He knew this wasn't going to work and it wasn't going to be ok and he was afraid that Jess and his family would leave. Luke really wanted them to stay but he had lots of doubts. He walked into the living room.
Luke spoke and said, "Guess who decided to show up and surprise us. Jess, I swear I didn't invite them. I wouldn't do that to you. Please believe me."
Jess looked up and groaned and said, "I should have known. I should have known that Liz would just show up. She doesn't care about head counts or table settings or if there is enough food or even beds. This is just like her. An inconsiderate ass. You, Luke have been trying to get us to talk for the last 2 years and I have nothing to say to her. Sarah, can you please get the kids stuff together so we can say goodbye we're leaving."
Luke pleading, "Can't we just try to get along. We are family. We have enough food for everyone."
TJ spoke up, "What have we ever done that makes you hate us so much Jess. We are supposed to be family. We thought you all would love our surprise."
Liz spoke, "Aren't you excited to see us. It's been so long since we last saw you. I thought you would love the surprise. Come on Jessie."
Jess stood up and turned to Luke and said, "Can the food stay warming for a couple of minutes? This won't take long."
Luke nodded curious as to what Jess was going to say. Jess then replied," April, Finn could you please take Mia, Finny, John, Ernie and Doula into the den. I don't want them to hear what I have to say. Thank you. Rory, could you stay? I think you know most of this but I would like you to stay please. You are one of my best friends and I may need you here. Please."
Rory nodded. Finn and April gathered up the kids and went to the den and turned on the tv. Jess then took a swig of water and turned to Liz and TJ and said, "Don't you ever call me Jessie again. No, I don't love your surprise. I hate it. No, I am not excited to see you. You want to know what you have done wrong. Listen up and don't try to talk over me or interrupt me and don't fake cry. It isn't going to work and honestly I don't care anymore about hurting your fucking feelings. Do you agree or should Sarah and I just get our kids and leave. Your choice."
Liz reluctantly agreed. She was hurt that Jess didn't want to see her and that he didn't even try to give her a hug. That he seemed so angry that they were there. She thought he would love their surprise. But then again she thought Luke would too and she saw what happened when he answered the door.
Jess then began talking in a very monotone voice. He wasn't going to get upset. They just weren't worth it. It had taken him too long to realize this. He said, "Where to start. Where to start. Let's see should I start with your ridiculous wedding that Luke had to come drag me to as I didn't even want to come to and then you forced me to give you away and TJ acting like an asshole and an idiot telling everyone about his air pants and then him yelling at me at my own wedding that how could I not want to wear air pants. How he embarrassed me in front of my new in-laws and Sarah's extended family and our friends and work colleagues. How he was drunk off his ass the entire day of my wedding. So embarrassing and so inappropriate. Or should I talk about the speech you, Liz made at my wedding where you thoroughly embarrassed me in front of all of our family and friends and people I work with babbling about god knows what as no one could understand you for a good 15 minutes until the mc took the mic away from you. You couldn't even stay sober for one of the most important nights of my life. Was it a game to both of you to see how much you could embarrass me? Or was that just a parting gift?
Don't answer that it will just be more lies. Or should I start with how much crap you put me through Liz as a kid. Actually let's start there. Liz, No I will never call you Mom ever again. You aren't my mom. I no longer have a mom. To me you are an egg donor and a stoner and a drunk and I no longer wish to be related or associated with you. I don't care that you seem to be turning your life around. It's too little too late for me and my family. It probably won't last anyway. It never does. At least Jimmy did the right thing and left.
That you thought it was ok to not make sure there was food on the table growing up. That it was more important to you to be stoned or drunk or hooking up with some guy than make sure you took care of your kid or that I was safe and had a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. How many nights did I have to sleep on the floor? Too many for me to even count. How many nights did we have to sleep in the park because we got evicted or you got in a fight with your boyfriend and we were thrown out. But according to you it was fun we were camping. The police didn't seem to think the same way though did they and honestly I didn't either. How many times did you get arrested and I had to bail your ass out of jail? At least you had a warm place to stay for the night but what about me. If I was lucky I got to spend the night at the jail and got a clean bed to stay in or I was left to roam the streets and find a bench to sleep on and hope no one hurt me in the process. But you never cared. So why should I all of the sudden care now? How many times did Luke have to send money to bail us out? Why was it his job to take care of us? But he did and what did you do? Use that money to find us a clean safe place no of course not you used it for drugs or alcohol. And I was supposed to be ok with this? Why? But Luke wasn't ready to give up on you god knows why. He probably never knew what you did with it.
That it was ok and that I should have taken the abuse from your boyfriend of the week. Yes, you seemed to have a revolving door of deadbeat boyfriends. That it was ok with you that I was abused and beaten and starved and hurt and molested. Yes, molested by some of your so called boyfriends that you thought I should call Dad or Uncle whoever. It has taken me 2 years and a lot of therapy to realize that I was not to blame for any of it. That I should have never been put in that position to begin with. That you pimped me out to your boyfriends for drugs or alcohol. Or maybe that you were pimping yourself out as well. I really don't know or care at this point and time. Like I said a lot of therapy and a lot of anger and resentment that you could and should have done more. But this was a good life? If this was a good life to you I would hate to see what a bad one would be.
That it was ok with you that I went to school starving. I used to have to steal food in order to make sure I didn't starve. You surely didn't care if I ate or not. Feeding me wasn't a priority ever. I could have gotten free lunches at school but you were too stoned or drunk to fill out the forms. When I filled them out and asked you to sign them you beat the shit out of me so badly I couldn't walk right for days and told me we didn't need the help and yet at that point I hadn't had anything to eat for 4 days. But you didn't care. As long as you had your fix what did it matter. I didn't matter. You showed that to me time and time again.
That it was ok with you that your stoned and drunk boyfriends (Jess raises his long sleeve shirt.) used my chest as an ashtray and you did nothing to stop them. You actually stood there and watched and laughed while it happened more times than I care to talk about. (Lorelai saw his chest and gasped)
But you were such a terrific person and you were supposed to love and want the best for me. Half the time you couldn't even be bothered if you signed me up for school or care if I went to school. You never met my teachers or even checked my homework or helped with school projects. I remember being 9 and being so excited to present my project the next day in class. I had worked so hard on it. I stupidly left it on the kitchen table and went to bed. When I woke up you had deliberately broken it into 20 plus pieces. When I woke you up to ask you why you did it you told me you were looking for your bong and your coke supply. And how much of an ungrateful asshole I was that I had the nerve to wake you. I had to go to school with all the pieces and explain what happened. Boy was I embarrassed. But you didn't care. All that mattered is that you got your fix.
How many times did CPS come to our place? More than I care to talk about. But you were happy to do the fucking classes and get them to go away but nothing changed did it. You didn't change Liz. You didn't try to make sure we were in a safe place or there was food on the table. No you just lied to get them to go away but never changed.
I may have hated it at the time but the best thing you ever did was give me up and put me on a bus to Stars Hollow to Luke. You should have left me with Luke years before you did. Then maybe I would have had a more normal life. I may have had a normal childhood. Luke will tell you that he screwed up with me and that he was too hard on me. He has told me this but he was there. He cared. He only wanted what was best for me. I think he did an amazing job. I may have fought him on it at 17 but I was grateful to have a place to call home and a bed to sleep in and food to eat. But at the same time I was petrified that he would pull the rug out from underneath me and I would be back on the streets fending for myself. That's what you did to me time and time again so I thought this was normal. That's why Luke, I got a job at Walmart and was working so much. I wanted to make sure I could take care of myself if and when you got tired of me and threw me out. That was all I ever knew growing up and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am sorry I gave you such a hard time. Thank you for taking such good care of me and for loving me.
Did you actually think I would actually want to see you? That I would be excited with your surprise visit? You can't be that naive can you? How absolutely stupid are you? How did you even know we would be here? This is our first Thanksgiving here. I guess you just have dumb luck. No, I don't blame you Luke. I could never blame you Luke. I haven't picked up the phone or returned an email, voicemail or text from you in the last 2 years. Some days you have left upwards of 20 voicemails and texts but I haven't responded to a single one. You keep leaving them but I don't even listen to them anymore. But you just don't get the message or take the hint. Well here is the message. Liz, I despise you. I despise what you did to me growing up and I will never be able to forgive you. You are dead to me and I never want to see you again. You will never be a part of my life or my family's life. My kids will never know you as their grandmother. Don't try to come after me to change my mind. Just stop. Leave us the hell alone. No more emails, phone calls, text messages. Just stop.
Sarah, do you have paperwork in your purse? I am glad you thought to bring it today."
Sarah nods and goes and gets the paperwork and hands it to Jess. Jess reads it quickly to check that it is the right paperwork and nods and hands it to Luke. Luke looks it over and hands it back to Jess who hands it to Liz. Luke knew Liz would be upset by this paperwork but after hearing what Jess said he was shocked that all this went on and he never knew. Luke was embarrassed and William would be mortified.
Jess then says, "The paperwork you have just been handed is for a restraining order that has been granted against you Elizabeth and you also TJ or should I say Gary. You are not allowed within 50 feet of me, Sarah, Ernest or John or any other children we may have. You may no longer contact us in any way or we will call the police and have you arrested. Do not try me on this one. You will lose. Every one of your drunken incoherent voicemails and texts were used and turned over to the court to get this granted. This is a permanent order and will not and can not be changed. I don't want it changed. I am thrilled you are finally out of my life.
Furthermore I have filled paperwork with the court to sue you for permanent custody for Doula. You will not be allowed to do to her what you have done to me. I have already spoken to the judge that granted the restraining orders and I have been told it is a slam dunk case. See you in court next month if you even remember and are sober. I don't expect you will even show up as you haven't shown up for the last 2 court dates. Must not be important to you. Enclosed in that paperwork you will also find a temporary custody agreement for me to take Doula. You may not like it. You may try to tell me that you have changed but I don't care. The courts don't care. At this point I think you are incapable of changing. She is allowed to leave with me as I am now considered her legal guardian. You have lost that title and I will damn make sure you can never get it back.
Luke, Lorelai, thank you for opening up her home to me and my family but I think it might be best if we left. I am truly sorry for any hurt or trouble that I may have caused tonight or anytime in my past. Thank you for everything. I love you both. Luke I will call you. Buddy, Maisy it was so nice to see you both again. Thank you for letting me get all of that out. It was hard but so worth it in the end. Every bit of therapy that I did was worth being able to tell you exactly how much you hurt me Liz. I never thought I would have the chance but I am grateful I could tell you how much I despise you."
Jess, Sarah and Rory then walked into the den and helped get Doula, John and Ernie's shoes on. They then walked to the front door and got their coats. The 6 of them went to the car and Sarah and Jess began buckling everyone into their car seats. Jess was happy that Sarah suggested bringing the extra seat for Doula. It was as if she knew that they were going to crash the day. Liz and TJ just stood there in absolute shock. They couldn't believe that Jess was so angry with them and that he had the power to take Doula away and that he was taking her.
Luke came down and handed him a diaper bag and then gave Jess a big hug and said, "Thank you for what you said. I am very proud of you. I know that couldn't have been easy. I had no idea on so much of it. You all are welcome to go to the Dragonfly and Sookie will feed you dinner and you can still stay there if you would like. I understand if you want to go back home too. I love you Jess. You have really turned your life around. I am so proud of you. I had no idea things were this bad. I love you kid. I hope you know that."
Jess replied, "Thank you Luke. I know that. I love you too. Thank you for everything. I am sorry you have to deal with the fallout. This is not how I was hoping today or this weekend would go. I miss you Luke and I was hoping the kids could all get a chance to spend time together and you and me too. Please know that I am not upset with you. I know if you knew how bad things were you would have gotten me out of there. I know that in my heart of hearts. You did more for me in the 9 months I stayed here than anyone else has ever done for me my whole life. Except for Sarah of course. I think it might be best if we went home. But I will call you when we get there and maybe we can try this again with less food and stress next week or in the coming weeks. You are my family and I won't be a stranger. I promise."
Jess then took Doula from Rory and placed her in her seat and Sarah started buckling her in. Rory then hugged Jess and said, "I am so proud of you. I know how hard that must have been for you to say all of that. It's late. Would you like to stay in the suite Finn reserved for us. Don't worry it's huge and has like 5 bedrooms and there is plenty of room for all of us. No charge for anything of course. Don't fight me on it. You will not win. Finn will call and get everything straightened out and the chef is doing a big spread for Thanksgiving. I would love it if you all stayed. Then the kids could see each other in the morning and spend a little time together. Luke, Lorelai, and William were planning on coming over tomorrow and all of us going swimming. But I do understand if you need to get out of the state of Connecticut. Either way let me know and we want to see you next time you are up this way. Please don't be a stranger. I am so proud of you for everything you did and everything you said. You should be proud of yourself."
Jess replied, "Right now I just need to get away from this house and away from TJ and Liz. Give me a couple of minutes away from here to talk to Sarah and I will call you either way. Thank you for staying and holding my hand and just being there for me and Sarah. You have done so much for me and I will forever be grateful for everything."