Title: Picture
Author: Bent137
Rating: R, for the lyrics mostly.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Gilmore Girls, Yale, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, or their song "Picture"
Author's Notes: This is a future fic, it takes place 3 years after graduation and yes there will be a sequel..... infact I started the sequel before I even started this. Oh and for the record, Jess is 21, Rory is only 20.
Spoilers: Will reference characters and events not found in Season's One or Two, as well as events that may never happen.

Chapter Two: Rory

I called you last night in the hotel
Everyone knows but they won't tell
But their half-hearted smiles tell me something just ain't right
I've been waiting on you for a long time
Filling up on heartaches and cheap wine
I ain't heard from you in three damn nights

"Here honey, I brought you a drink," Lorelai Gilmore said handing her daughter, Rory, a glass.

"Thanks mom," Rory smiled at her mother and brought the glass to her lips.

"So what do you think of the wedding?" Lorelai asked.

"I think it's one of the more interesting weddings I've been to," Rory sipped her drink, "I also think you gave me your glass."

"What makes you think that?" Lorelai asked.

"The presence of alcohol."

"You turn 21 in about 4 months anyways."

"4 months, 14 days, but who's counting?"

"Apparently you are," Lorelai sipped her own drink. "It's just a little wine. What do you think?"

"It's okay I guess," Rory sighed. "Maybe I'm just not meant to be a drinker."

"It's an acquired taste."

"If I have to acquire a taste for something I don't want it, that's my main reason for not eating lobster."

"That and it had eyes." Lorelai grinned.

"Mom," Rory rolled her eyes, "a steak had eyes too but I don't see that stopping us."

"It doesn't see it stopping us either, mostly because it's eyes are gone. Whereas the lobster's eyes are right there, staring at you, watching you eat. Kind of like on Buffy."

"I worry about you some times." Rory sighed again and looked out over the Inn's yard. There were people dancing, and laughing, and beautiful floral decorations all over. Rory smiled and waved at a blonde girl wearing a teal bridesmaid dress, whom was approaching her. "Hi Melody," Rory said.

"Hey Rory, Lorelai," the girl greeted with a British accent.

"How's your sister doing?" Lorelai asked.

"Oh, William is annoying her already. I tried to warn her that he was a wanker, but she wouldn't listen and it's too late now, the knot has been tied, the ball and chain attached and..." she paused thoughtfully, "well I can't think of another."

Rory smiled apologetically, "We'd better get heading back to the dorms though Melody."

"Grand, I can't wait to get out of this bloody awful dress. Didn't my sister ever watch The Wedding Planner? Does she not realize that teal is the color of gangrene?"

Lorelai grinned, "At least she didn't choose I Honestly Love You as their song."

Melody rolled her eyes, "She wanted to, but William said that Sexual Healing was a much more inspired choice and was hip for this generation. I'm not sure exactly which generation he thought this was, but watching Mum almost have a coronary was brilliant." Rory and Lorelai laughed. "Let me just give the bride and groom their well wishes and say goodbye to my Mum and Dad and I'll be ready Ror. Which reminds me, they would like a word with you Lorelai."

"Okay then, I will come with you," Lorelai said. She hugged Rory, "Call me tomorrow okay?"

"I will," Rory said. "I'll wait right here for you Mel."

"Good, don't you dare leave with out me." Melody and Lorelai began to walk away when suddenly Mel stopped and turned back. "The bride has been kissed!"

Rory laughed and shook her head, "Kind of lame, but okay."

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

Rory sat in the passenger seat watching the scenery go by as Melody drove, chatting although Rory had no idea what about as she wasn't really listening.

"Rory, are you okay?" Melody glanced at her, concerned.

"What?" Rory looked up. "Oh, yeah."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Oh, that was not a nothing. That was a something, and since you were so ignoring me I deserve to know."

Rory looked at her and sighed, "I was thinking about Jeff."

"I see."

"We're going out again tonight."

"Ooooo, I won't wait up."

"Melody!" Rory chastised the girl and was silent a moment before relenting, "I think that's a wise idea."

Melody cast a sidelong glance at Rory, "You go girl."

Rory blushed and settled back into the seat.

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

Melody looked up from her desk when a blouse hit her in the head, "Hey!"

"Sorry," Rory said, her voice muffled by the clothes surrounding her as she dug through her closet.

"You know, I expect this from me, but not from you. What's going on?"

"I can't figure out what to wear tonight," Rory whined, turning and facing the other girl. "Nothing seems right."

"Okay, well where are you going?"

"To dinner and a movie."

"Dinner where?"

"He didn't say."

"Great," Melody stood up. "So I would go with casual chic or shabby chic if you will." She eyed the pile of clothes before plunging her hand into it and pulling up a pale blue skirt with pale green and yellow diagonal stripes. "Wear this with," Melody paused a moment looking around before picking up the blouse that had hit her in the head. It was white with a ruffled neckline, "With this." Melody handed Rory the blouse and sat back down at her desk.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive, and wear that underwear set you bought when we went shopping in March."

"The white lace with pale pink flowers?" Rory asked as she began putting the rest of her clothes away.

"Yep," Melody confirmed. "Don't forget pantyhose either."

"Mel, you're a lifesaver."

"Oh, what flavor?"

Rory grinned at her, "Cherry."

"Are you implying I'm virginal or that I'm a car?"

"Is it possible to be a virginal car?"

"Oh real cute. Keep it up and I won't pick out your shoes."

"You'd do that?" Melody groaned as Rory finished hanging up the clothes. "Because really that'd be great since I have to go take a shower."

Melody waved her hand, "Go, shower, I'll pick out shoes and set them on your bed, then I am going downstairs so I won't have to subject myself to further torture."

"Thanks Mel," Rory bounded out of the room as Melody got up and walked to Rory's closet. She studied the shoes on the floor a moment before choosing a pair of white sandals and setting them on Rory's bed. She grabbed her books and walked out the door, shutting it safely behind her.

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

"That was a good movie," Rory said as Jeff unlocked his apartment door.

"Yeah it was." He held the door open and she walked through. He followed her, shutting it behind him. "Do you want something to drink?"

"Water would be great right about now. That popcorn was salty."

"Okay." He walked out of the room and Rory sat in a chair fishing her cell phone out of her purse. She quickly dialed a number.

"Hello?" Melody asked groggily when she picked up the phone.

"Hey Mel, did I wake you?"

"Actually you did, but it's okay my Psych book thanks you."

"Fell asleep at your desk again?"

"Yeah."

"I was just calling to see if there were any messages."

"Nope, this is the first time the phone's rang since you left."

"Really? Wow."

"So where are you?"

"Jeff's apartment."

"Oh. In that case I definitely won't wait up. Although, remember we have our Psych final tomorrow afternoon."

"I remember," Rory said. "I've already done most of the studying, I'll just do some more in the morning." Jeff walked back into the room and handed her a glass of water. "I gotta go Mel, talk to you later."

"Bye Ror, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Rory hung up her phone and smiled at Jeff. "Just checking my messages."

"Oh, is there anything urgent? Because I plan on keeping you here for a while."

"Nothing too urgent, although I do have to be back tonight."

"Well then, I guess I'll have to hurry up with my plan," he took her hand and pulled her up from the chair.

"What plan?" Rory asked as he led her towards his bedroom.

"The one where I make you very happy."

"Already it sounds promising."

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

Rory winced when she accidentally knocked her purse off of the nightstand, half of it's contents spilling onto the floor. She reached down and carefully picked it up before grabbing some of the items that had fallen out. She began placing them back into the purse, shuddering at the cold air grazing the flushed skin of her back. She paused when she picked up a picture. It was of Jess, it had been taken when they had gone to the beach, she wasn't sure who by. A flash of anger flowed through her, remembering, briefly, what had happened before she'd left Stars Hollow.

***

Rory searched the ground for a small stone to throw at the window. She spotted one and scooped it up, pulling her arm back and releasing it, hoping it'd hit it's target. It didn't, it hit the fire escape. But apparently that was enough noise because the window opened as she was searching for another stone.

"Rory?" Jess' voice called.

"Yeah, it's me," Rory called, "I need to talk to you."

"I'll be right down." The window shut again and Rory walked around the building to the front door and pressed her face against the cool glass, peering inside for signs of him. Suddenly the curtain moved and light spilled out into the diner for a moment. It grew dark again as Jess approached the door. He clicked off the lock and opened it for her. Shutting it and locking it again once she'd entered. He took in her skirt and blouse and distraught look and immediately headed for the coffeemaker. "I'll make you some coffee and we can sit in the kitchen and talk." Rory nodded, watching as he set about making some coffee. He grabbed a mug for her and walked to the kitchen, turning on the light inside. He looked over at her, "Come on." She followed him into the kitchen and watched as he dragged two stools over to a counter. He set the mug on the counter and turned to her. "Have a seat, I'll go get the coffee." Rory watched him leave the room before climbing on top of the stool.

She was staring into her mug when he returned. He approached her and carefully poured some coffee into the mug. She wrapped her cold hands around the mug and lifted it slowly to her lips. She took a deep breath, enjoying the aroma, before carefully sipping the hot beverage. Jess watched her, waiting patiently until she was ready. When she was she turned to him. "They fought again."

"Who did?"

"Mom and Grandma."

"What about this time?"

"Yale, as usual," Rory said bitterly. "Mom can't understand that it was my choice, my decision. Not Grandpa's or Grandma's, and even not hers. Mine."

Jess nodded, "How bad was it this time?"

"Really bad, we didn't even get through the salad."

"Was she trying to pick a fight? Had she had a bad day?"

"No, actually mom was being civil, quiet and a little aloof, but civil. Grandma brought it up."

"I see."

"Mom forbade me from speaking to them, ever again."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It would have been funny if it wasn't so serious."

Jess raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"She had a tomato on her fork, and was gesturing so wildly it flung off and hit the curtains, leaving a big red spot." Jess chuckled. "It was a total accident, but she was blamed for it of course."

"Sounds about right."

"Then she just got up and stormed out, and I ran after her. We got in the jeep and drove home. It was on the way that she forbade me to speak to them again."

"So I guess it was really bad."

"Yeah," Rory paused. "I don't know what to do, I was getting so used to them being involved in my life." She paused and took a heavy breath, blinking rapidly. "Mom can't understand it, or maybe she doesn't want to understand. She was just so hurt by them that she very nearly hates them." Rory looked at Jess, tears shimmering behind her eyes. "I don't hate them, I never could. I just don't know what to do. She's my mom, and I love her." A tear slowly trickled down Rory's cheek as Jess slid off his stool and wrapped his arms around her. She cried softly into his shoulder as her stroked her hair and back. He pulled softly away and kissed her forehead before capturing her lips with his own.

She responded with equal passion, for she didn't know what else to do but to lose herself in it, just to stop the ache. Her arms slid around his waist and under his shirt, trailing up his back before finding their way around to his chest. Her cold fingers dancing over his nipples before finding their way to his abs, causing him to moan lightly into her mouth. He pulled away slightly, looking her in the eye. "Rory," he said her name softly, half questioning, half warning. She dragged her pointer finger's nail over his abs again, trailing to his belly button and the top of his jeans. He closed his eyes and made a noise similar to a whimper before returning his lips to hers once more as his hands journeyed under her silky blouse, to feel even silkier skin.

***

Jeff snorted in his sleep, startling Rory out of the memory. She glanced behind her and then turned back to the picture with a light sigh. She tucked the picture back into her purse, along with the last of the fallen items and reached for her clothing that was scattered nearby on the floor. She shoved her stockings, underpants and bra into her purse and quickly pulled on her skirt and shirt. She glanced around quickly and grabbed her purse before standing up. She tiptoed towards the door, scooping her sandals up along the way and crept out of Jeff's apartment. She shut the door silently behind her and leaned against it with a sigh. 'I can't keep doing this,' she thought, pushing herself away from the door and making her way down the hall. She pushed the button for the elevator, and entered when it arrived, empty. She hit the button for the lobby and waited until the door shut to pull on her sandals.

I put your picture away
I wonder where you've been
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to him
I put your picture away
I wonder where you've been
I can't look at you while I'm lying next to him