"You called her? Again, why?" Lorelei was skeptical of Jess' motives but
listened closely.
"Look, I can't really talk now, Rory sleepy and I don't want to wake her."
"Rory doesn't know you're talking to me?"
"She doesn't even know I called Emily, I told her that she called here and got the machine."
"Question of the day Jess, Why?"
"Look, Rory is an am zing person, and you and her grandparents are the ones who raised her. I feel its only fair to her that I make a point of getting along with all of you. I don't have any family, well besides Luke anyway so if I'm going to marry her, I would never ask her to leave behind her family…she's given so much up for me already, I think the least I can do is call a truce with you."
Impressed by his words Lorelei smiles." Alright kid, you've made your case, I think your right, Luke's told me a million times and I realize now that he's right; I have to let go of the image I have of you. You're teaching 6 year olds for God's sake, how can I blame you for that."
"I'm glad, I hope you'll talk to your mom and be in Hartford when we get there." Jess slowed the car down anticipating Lorelei's response.
"Absolutely, drive safe."
As Jess turned off the phone he felt at peace. At that moment, Rory woke up, noticing the look of joy on Jess' face.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing, I'm just excited, get ready we'll be there in 10 minutes."
*The Gilmore Estate
"Rory, you look wonderful, Boston suits you well." Emily Gilmore hugged her granddaughter, keeping her eyes on the tall dark haired man standing behind her.
"And you, must be the man on the phone, Jess." Uncharacteristically, Emily walked towards Jess and kissed his cheek." Now come inside, we've got lots of things to talk about before your mother gets here."
*In the living room
"Rory, I'm so proud of you, landing that job at the newspaper, I ordered a full subscription this morning."
"Thanks Grandpa."
"Now, come let me steal you away I've got some new books I think you'll love."
*Rory and Richard head towards the study as Jess begins to tap his foot nervously.
"So young man, it took a lot of guts for you to call me up like that."
"Yes ma'am, I felt it was important that you meet me, and get to know me, I plan to be around a while, so I think it's only right, after all you're important to Rory, and everything that's important to her is important to me."
Emily gives an impressed smile to Jess. "Well, you must be something special if my granddaughter was willing to give up her job in Hartford for you."
"Ma'am I know that to many, including Rory's mother, I don't appear to be the most dependable guy, but please understand that it was because of your daughter that I've gotten as far as I have. When we were teenagers I was a mess, I didn't understand what love was or encouragement was. In Stars Hollow, Rory believed in me. Because of her I went to Boston and made something of myself."
"But why teaching?"
"Rory, told me to try it."
"Be serious, I was sitting right here on this couch while Rory and her mother discussed how shocking it was that the one and only hoodlum Stars Hollow has ever scene has became a teacher."
"Alright, Rory probably doesn't remember, but the night before I left for college she came to visit it me, she brought me a gift—the one thing we had in common was books, and so she brought me this book "Wonder Boys" and she looked at me and said "Jess, You're Grady, you're the screw up that can take his experiences with him and change the course of somebody else's life. I spent the next 3 hours reading and rereading the book, and I realized that she was right, I ran to her house to tell her everything, but I walked in on her kissing Dean, and I ran."
Silently Rory and Richard reenter the room. Emily looks up and nods.
Jess turns around seeing Rory eyeing him he starts to speak and then—
"I didn't realize*Rory eyes tearing spoke softly* "I remember that, but I never knew that's why you came--*Jess stands up a takes Rory in his arms no longer caring about how her grandparents perceived him. Oddly enough Richard and Emily's faces didn't distort they just stood there and let the moment pass. Emily immediately notices the look in Jess' eye...it was the same had given Lorelei at Rory's birthday party 8 years ago.
*Lorelei walks in silently
"Wow, I missed the party didn't I?"
"Honestly Lorelei, don't ruin the moment, come on dinner's ready." Emily thrusts her arms forward towards the kitchen; everyone follows her leas. The mood at the dinner table is almost cheerful. Jess listens intensively to Richards' story of Rory receiving her first book. After dinner, Emily tells the maid to prepare coffee, Richard offers Jess a drink, at first he declines but seeing the look of disappointment in Richard's eyes, he follows him into the study.
"Well now that we are alone, tell me, what is new in the lives of my daughter and granddaughter?" Emily looks expectantly at them.
"Well Mom, business is going good, Sookie and I actually going to have a special dinner next month to commemorate the 5th birthday of our inn."
"That's wonderful."
"Um and I guess that's it." Rory nudges her mother in the ribs gently.
Emily picking up on this says, "Lorelei what's going on?"
Rory pipes in, "Mom's got a new boyfriend"
"Really, wonderful, when do we meet him?"
"Well mom, you've met him on several occasions, actually."
"Oh God, don't tell me you're dating that Frenchman."
"No Mom, I'm seeing Luke."
"Luke?"
"He owns the diner and he's Jess' Uncle."
"That was the man at the Rory's party and at the fashion show wasn't it?"
"Yes, mom."
"Well it took you two long enough didn't it." Emily smiled knowing she had surprised them both." Bring him to dinner tomorrow; we'll have a nice time…Rory? Can you and Jess stay till then?"
"Uh, ok mom, thanks.
"Sure Grandma"
*Richard's study
"So when do you plan to do it?"
"I'm sorry sir, do what?"
"Propose to my granddaughter."
"Sir I think it's still a bit early—
"None sense, you couldn't possibly know anymore about my granddaughter a year from now than you do right now." Jess' words fumble, when describing her grandfather, Rory never gave the impression that he was this forward. "My granddaughter loves you, and you obviously love her otherwise you wouldn't be here tonight."
"Sir, I came here to meet you and to get to know you,"
"No you didn't, I know what you came here for, to get our approval…Rory's had a few boyfriends come and meet us, but never has one of them ever approached Emily voluntarily. You, son, are here to get my consent."
"Well s—
"Jess, **Jess is speechless at being referred to by his first name by the head of the Gilmore family. **I'm an old man, and even more so old fashion. It means a great deal to me that you came here tonight attempting such a feat."
Jess looks up expectantly at Richard.
"Tonight when Rory was crying, you stood up and went to her, you impressed me beyond belief, you really care for my granddaughter and I know you'll continue to do so, You Mr. Danes have my blessing." Unable to control his feelings Jess stood up once again and embraced Richard Gilmore. Richard awkwardly patted Jess' back in response and quickly made drinks and they returned to the living room to find the three Gilmore girls laughing
"Oh good your back, we'd thought you'd gone lost."
"Emily, be serious." Richard goes over to his wife and sits beside her.
"Jess, guess what?" Rory looked excitedly at him "Grandma has invited us to stay the night, and tomorrow, Luke is coming to dinner." Jess' eyes twinkled.
"Are you alright, *Emily asked alarmed by the odd face Jess was making, you look like you 're about to have a fit."
"Oh Emily, leave the boy alone, he's obviously just tired, lets have the maid set up their room—
"As long as they're in this house, and unmarried, they will sleep in separate rooms. Rory you'll stay in your old room, and Jess can stay in the guest room."
Lorelei gave an exasperated looks towards her mother. "Well, it's getting late I better head home, walk me out mom."
"So what is that you want to lecture me on now Lorelei?"
"I just wanted to thank you for being so good about this whole Jess and Rory thing."
"Well, why shouldn't I be nice about it, Jess seems like a really nice boy, perfect for Rory."
"Well, you handled it much better than I did, so that says a lot. And you know thanks for putting up with me and Luke."
"I'm not surprised you two are together, I'm just sorry it didn't happen sooner. From what Jess told me on the phone he sound like a dedicated, hard working man,…who's madly in love with you." Emily Gilmore Smirked at her daughter and for the first time in years the to women hugged each other tightly.
"I'm going to have to kill that boy for spilling the coffee beans."
"Not until I've seen my granddaughter walk down the aisle you won't."
*Upstairs
"Goodnight Jess, I love you, I'm sorry about this whole arrangement." Rory kissed Jess goodnight and held tightly unto him for a moment.
"Don't be, it's understandable, I just hope I can get used to having blankets for a change."
Rory who was a chronic covers hog playful slapped jess with the back of her hand, she missed and he caught hand in his and kissed it. They say a last goodnight and Jess walks down the hall to the guest room.
The beds in the Gilmore house are soft and very comfortable but Jess gets almost no sleep in them, once again he falls victim to an over flow of thoughts, this time on how to propose to Rory and make tomorrows dinner the perfect opener to the most memorable night of their lives. Eventually Jess falls asleep, dreaming of his future life.
"Look, I can't really talk now, Rory sleepy and I don't want to wake her."
"Rory doesn't know you're talking to me?"
"She doesn't even know I called Emily, I told her that she called here and got the machine."
"Question of the day Jess, Why?"
"Look, Rory is an am zing person, and you and her grandparents are the ones who raised her. I feel its only fair to her that I make a point of getting along with all of you. I don't have any family, well besides Luke anyway so if I'm going to marry her, I would never ask her to leave behind her family…she's given so much up for me already, I think the least I can do is call a truce with you."
Impressed by his words Lorelei smiles." Alright kid, you've made your case, I think your right, Luke's told me a million times and I realize now that he's right; I have to let go of the image I have of you. You're teaching 6 year olds for God's sake, how can I blame you for that."
"I'm glad, I hope you'll talk to your mom and be in Hartford when we get there." Jess slowed the car down anticipating Lorelei's response.
"Absolutely, drive safe."
As Jess turned off the phone he felt at peace. At that moment, Rory woke up, noticing the look of joy on Jess' face.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing, I'm just excited, get ready we'll be there in 10 minutes."
*The Gilmore Estate
"Rory, you look wonderful, Boston suits you well." Emily Gilmore hugged her granddaughter, keeping her eyes on the tall dark haired man standing behind her.
"And you, must be the man on the phone, Jess." Uncharacteristically, Emily walked towards Jess and kissed his cheek." Now come inside, we've got lots of things to talk about before your mother gets here."
*In the living room
"Rory, I'm so proud of you, landing that job at the newspaper, I ordered a full subscription this morning."
"Thanks Grandpa."
"Now, come let me steal you away I've got some new books I think you'll love."
*Rory and Richard head towards the study as Jess begins to tap his foot nervously.
"So young man, it took a lot of guts for you to call me up like that."
"Yes ma'am, I felt it was important that you meet me, and get to know me, I plan to be around a while, so I think it's only right, after all you're important to Rory, and everything that's important to her is important to me."
Emily gives an impressed smile to Jess. "Well, you must be something special if my granddaughter was willing to give up her job in Hartford for you."
"Ma'am I know that to many, including Rory's mother, I don't appear to be the most dependable guy, but please understand that it was because of your daughter that I've gotten as far as I have. When we were teenagers I was a mess, I didn't understand what love was or encouragement was. In Stars Hollow, Rory believed in me. Because of her I went to Boston and made something of myself."
"But why teaching?"
"Rory, told me to try it."
"Be serious, I was sitting right here on this couch while Rory and her mother discussed how shocking it was that the one and only hoodlum Stars Hollow has ever scene has became a teacher."
"Alright, Rory probably doesn't remember, but the night before I left for college she came to visit it me, she brought me a gift—the one thing we had in common was books, and so she brought me this book "Wonder Boys" and she looked at me and said "Jess, You're Grady, you're the screw up that can take his experiences with him and change the course of somebody else's life. I spent the next 3 hours reading and rereading the book, and I realized that she was right, I ran to her house to tell her everything, but I walked in on her kissing Dean, and I ran."
Silently Rory and Richard reenter the room. Emily looks up and nods.
Jess turns around seeing Rory eyeing him he starts to speak and then—
"I didn't realize*Rory eyes tearing spoke softly* "I remember that, but I never knew that's why you came--*Jess stands up a takes Rory in his arms no longer caring about how her grandparents perceived him. Oddly enough Richard and Emily's faces didn't distort they just stood there and let the moment pass. Emily immediately notices the look in Jess' eye...it was the same had given Lorelei at Rory's birthday party 8 years ago.
*Lorelei walks in silently
"Wow, I missed the party didn't I?"
"Honestly Lorelei, don't ruin the moment, come on dinner's ready." Emily thrusts her arms forward towards the kitchen; everyone follows her leas. The mood at the dinner table is almost cheerful. Jess listens intensively to Richards' story of Rory receiving her first book. After dinner, Emily tells the maid to prepare coffee, Richard offers Jess a drink, at first he declines but seeing the look of disappointment in Richard's eyes, he follows him into the study.
"Well now that we are alone, tell me, what is new in the lives of my daughter and granddaughter?" Emily looks expectantly at them.
"Well Mom, business is going good, Sookie and I actually going to have a special dinner next month to commemorate the 5th birthday of our inn."
"That's wonderful."
"Um and I guess that's it." Rory nudges her mother in the ribs gently.
Emily picking up on this says, "Lorelei what's going on?"
Rory pipes in, "Mom's got a new boyfriend"
"Really, wonderful, when do we meet him?"
"Well mom, you've met him on several occasions, actually."
"Oh God, don't tell me you're dating that Frenchman."
"No Mom, I'm seeing Luke."
"Luke?"
"He owns the diner and he's Jess' Uncle."
"That was the man at the Rory's party and at the fashion show wasn't it?"
"Yes, mom."
"Well it took you two long enough didn't it." Emily smiled knowing she had surprised them both." Bring him to dinner tomorrow; we'll have a nice time…Rory? Can you and Jess stay till then?"
"Uh, ok mom, thanks.
"Sure Grandma"
*Richard's study
"So when do you plan to do it?"
"I'm sorry sir, do what?"
"Propose to my granddaughter."
"Sir I think it's still a bit early—
"None sense, you couldn't possibly know anymore about my granddaughter a year from now than you do right now." Jess' words fumble, when describing her grandfather, Rory never gave the impression that he was this forward. "My granddaughter loves you, and you obviously love her otherwise you wouldn't be here tonight."
"Sir, I came here to meet you and to get to know you,"
"No you didn't, I know what you came here for, to get our approval…Rory's had a few boyfriends come and meet us, but never has one of them ever approached Emily voluntarily. You, son, are here to get my consent."
"Well s—
"Jess, **Jess is speechless at being referred to by his first name by the head of the Gilmore family. **I'm an old man, and even more so old fashion. It means a great deal to me that you came here tonight attempting such a feat."
Jess looks up expectantly at Richard.
"Tonight when Rory was crying, you stood up and went to her, you impressed me beyond belief, you really care for my granddaughter and I know you'll continue to do so, You Mr. Danes have my blessing." Unable to control his feelings Jess stood up once again and embraced Richard Gilmore. Richard awkwardly patted Jess' back in response and quickly made drinks and they returned to the living room to find the three Gilmore girls laughing
"Oh good your back, we'd thought you'd gone lost."
"Emily, be serious." Richard goes over to his wife and sits beside her.
"Jess, guess what?" Rory looked excitedly at him "Grandma has invited us to stay the night, and tomorrow, Luke is coming to dinner." Jess' eyes twinkled.
"Are you alright, *Emily asked alarmed by the odd face Jess was making, you look like you 're about to have a fit."
"Oh Emily, leave the boy alone, he's obviously just tired, lets have the maid set up their room—
"As long as they're in this house, and unmarried, they will sleep in separate rooms. Rory you'll stay in your old room, and Jess can stay in the guest room."
Lorelei gave an exasperated looks towards her mother. "Well, it's getting late I better head home, walk me out mom."
"So what is that you want to lecture me on now Lorelei?"
"I just wanted to thank you for being so good about this whole Jess and Rory thing."
"Well, why shouldn't I be nice about it, Jess seems like a really nice boy, perfect for Rory."
"Well, you handled it much better than I did, so that says a lot. And you know thanks for putting up with me and Luke."
"I'm not surprised you two are together, I'm just sorry it didn't happen sooner. From what Jess told me on the phone he sound like a dedicated, hard working man,…who's madly in love with you." Emily Gilmore Smirked at her daughter and for the first time in years the to women hugged each other tightly.
"I'm going to have to kill that boy for spilling the coffee beans."
"Not until I've seen my granddaughter walk down the aisle you won't."
*Upstairs
"Goodnight Jess, I love you, I'm sorry about this whole arrangement." Rory kissed Jess goodnight and held tightly unto him for a moment.
"Don't be, it's understandable, I just hope I can get used to having blankets for a change."
Rory who was a chronic covers hog playful slapped jess with the back of her hand, she missed and he caught hand in his and kissed it. They say a last goodnight and Jess walks down the hall to the guest room.
The beds in the Gilmore house are soft and very comfortable but Jess gets almost no sleep in them, once again he falls victim to an over flow of thoughts, this time on how to propose to Rory and make tomorrows dinner the perfect opener to the most memorable night of their lives. Eventually Jess falls asleep, dreaming of his future life.