Please R&R thank you.


Jess and Rory walk into the living room entrance and stand expectantly.

"You have got a lot of explaining." Luke stands up when he notices their presence.

"Uncle Luke, I told you that I was going out tonight, and it's not even not late." Jess defends himself

Luke pauses "Maybe that's so, but you didn't tell that you were going out with Rory."

"I didn't think I needed your permission to go on a date."

"Why are you both so against us going out?" Rory speaks up

"We're not, it's just…." Lorelai trails off

"So you're telling me you two didn't spend all this time talking about how much this is a bad idea, feeding off each other?" Rory asks

"No….." Lorelai says

"No, absolutely not." Luke confirms

"Right so then you talked about what?" Jess asks

"Uh we talked about…" Lorelai looks at Luke

"We talked about the uh…" Luke looks helpless

"The grass, cause it needs cutting and we want you to do it." Lorelai finishes

"The grass?" Luke looks at Lorelai like she's crazy.

"How about when you two can come up with something better you call this meeting again?" Jess asks

"How about not. Sit down, both of you." Luke orders them and Rory and Jess take a seat on the couch.

"First I just want to know what were you thinking taking Rory on a date?" Luke asks Jess

"Uncle Luke look at her, besides she's smart, Rory's not like other girls that's what makes her special. It's Dean's loss that he gave her up. He didn't even try, I fight for what I want."

"And you wanted Rory. See that's it, Rory is smart and special and pretty, she should be going out with one of those classy Chilton boys." Luke tells him

"Yea but, I am one of those classy Chilton boys now." Jess reminds him.

"For a day, you couldn't have possibly changed in one day." Luke states

"What if Rory is the only one who took a chance to get to know me? You don't take the time of the day to even try. Jess turn down your music, clean up your crap-"

"I never say crap" Luke cuts him off

"Jess work the restaurant, have you forgotten that I was pulled from my home and dropped off in Pleasantville? Not really my ideal situation, Rory is the only thing that kept me sane here. If not for her I would have been long gone by now, she's the only thing keeping me here." Jess explains to Luke

Rory can't help herself a smile forms on her lips and she slips her hand into Jess's.

Lorelai sees this and tries to ignore the nagging feeling saying she should let them be. "Listen I know how you both feel, but looking at you I see me and Chris." Lorelai tells them "And I can't let either of you ruin your futures."

"Was your future ruined?" Rory asks "No, it wasn't you are happy with how everything turned out. I know you are. I'm not going to get pregnant."

"It's not just that, it's everything having a boyfriend confuses you, you get distracted things that were important aren't so important anymore." Lorelai replies

"You had no problem with me going out with Dean, in case you have forgotten." Rory stands up

"Dean was a different story."

Luke looks at Lorelai and nods "Dean was a good kid, Jess you haven't done anything but cause trouble here."

"No one's given him the chance!" Rory exclaims

"I'm sorry Rory." Lorelai tells her softly "But I'm not backing down on this one."

"So am I." Rory grabs Jess's hand "Come on." She pulls him to the front door. Lorelai flinches as the front door slams, she hears a car door slam and pull out of the driveway.

"Rory? Listen let's talk, I'm sorry- Rory?" Lorelai looks in the foyer. "Luke they left!"

"They what?" Luke hurries inside.

"I am turning into my mother, I just chased my daughter away." Lorelai moans she starts pacing trying to sort her thoughts

"Lorelai come on let's go look for them before we both freak out, they don't have any money or anything they can't go far." Luke reasons grabbing his and Lorelai's coats.

*****************

"What are we doing here?" Jess asks getting out of the car.

"We can't just keep driving and this will be the last place my mom will look." Rory walks towards the door.

"Even after Dean's?" Jess jokes "Do you think they're even awake? It's kind of late."

"I hope so." Rory rings the doorbell.

"Rory?" Emily asks opening the door a moment later. "Is everything all right? Come in first, who's your friend?" Emily ushers them inside.

"Grandma this is Jess, Luke's nephew." Rory introduces her.

"The baseball cap wearing man at the diner?" Emily asks and Rory nods "You're more clean cut than your uncle." Emily nods approvingly "What brings you here at this time of the night?"

"My mom and I and Jess and Luke all got into a disagreement so we left and I this was the only place I could think of to come to." Rory explains

"Not to mention the last place your mother will look." Emily adds "Come inside you can tell me all about it inside." Emily walks into the living room. Rory gives Jess an I told you so look as they follow her inside. Emily sits down "All right tell me what happened?"

"Jess and I went out on a date and mom and Luke don't want us going out, they think Jess is nothing but trouble." Rory says

Emily looks at Jess "Are you?"

"No Mrs. Gilmore." Jess replies "I had a troubled past yes, but people tend to judge me before they get to know me and it's hard not to live up to what people think. I'm trying though, for Rory's sake."

"Why for Rory's sake?" Emily asks

"Because Rory is the only one who gave me a chance and got to know me for real."

"Yes, well that is very much like Rory." Emily half smiles pulling her robe closer around her. "Tell me about yourself Jess."

"I just transferred from Stars Hollow High to Chilton" Jess begins

"May I ask why?"

"Partly because of Rory to be honest, but partly because there's no structure in Stars Hollow High, the academics are poor, the standards are low. I need a challenge to thrive." Jess replies honestly

Emily nods, "That's very honest of you, and true" She smiles "What about your future what are your plans?"

"I originally wanted to go to Princeton, but now I want to go to Harvard. My mom took me there once to visit a friend of hers that is a professor there, I sat in on a class and I knew it was there that I belonged." Jess tells her

"What do you plan to study?"

"Law, I want to be a lawyer. I have always been good at giving an argument and a fight to get what I want. I figured what better job?" Jess smiles

Emily looks slightly confused "I'm not sure I understand what your mother has against this boy Rory."

"That's what I have been trying to tell her, she wont even give Jess a chance." Rory says

"I'm glad you came here, both of you are always welcome here." Emily tells them both

"I'll second that." Richard walks in "I happened to overhear your conversation, I don't see what Lorelai has against Jess." Jess stands up and shakes Richard's hand. "His manners are impeccable. Nice choice Rory, better than that other boy you dated a while back." Richard says approvingly

"You two will stay here tonight, Rory you can use your room of course, Jess there's a guest room down the hall from Rory, you may sleep there." Emily stands up "I'll see if I can find something for you to sleep in."

"I'll show you the room" Rory says to Jess and takes him to the room.

"This house is amazing, if I were your mother I would have never left." Jess comments looking around.

"Here's the room" Rory opens the door.

"Thanks Rory, I'm glad your grandparents gave me a chance. I know how I act, but I know who I am. I'm glad that you do too." Jess smiles and Rory gives him a soft kiss.

"You're welcome." Rory goes to her room and Emily appears from another room.

"Here's a shirt and sweatpants, they may be a bit too big but it'll do." Emily hands them to Jess.

"Thank you Mrs. Gilmore." Jess accepts the clothes

Emily stops "I'm just glad Rory came here and didn't run, thank you for bringing her here, she has a lot going for her, and so do you." Emily smiles "Good night."

"Night." Jess replies and goes inside his room shutting the door.

********************

"They are not anywhere in this town!" Lorelai exclaims worried "What did I do? I chased my daughter out, I did this."

"Lorelai, Rory is smarter than that. Think where would she go?" Luke asks

"I don't know!"

"All right, let's both go home and get some sleep. I'm sure she'll call in the morning." Luke reasons sensibly

"Ok." Lorelai nods "Yea, she'll call." Lorelai repeats

"I'll take you home" Luke offers and Lorelai smiles weakly


To be continued…. Please R&R