Chapter Two: Taking Action

            ** He stood . . . dangerous and handsome.  A mystery to everyone, but her.  She alone understood him.  She alone held the keys to his heart.  She alone could reveal the magic only he could offer.

            A slight smirk played on his lips when he caught her staring at him.  Her heart inevitably beat faster.  And when her eyes met his, contentment rushed through her.  She succumbed to the feelings in her heart, never once thinking it wouldn't last . . .**

*****

            Lorelai Gilmore hurried to answer the front door. "Kirk, for the last time - I don't need you to water the trees . . . Rory?" she said in shock, staring at her daughter.

            "Hey Mom," Rory said, almost nervously.  She briefly wondered how she could have let things get like this between her and her Mother.  They used to be so close . . . and they would be again.  Rory was determined to make things right.

            "Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad you're here!" Lorelai pulled her daughter into a fierce embrace.  Rory hugged her Mother back, and then followed her into the living room.  The two took a seat on the couch.

            "Honey, is everything alright?"

            "Yes, why wouldn't it be?"

            "Sweetie, this is the first time I've even seen you in almost five months.  It's been weeks since I've spoken to you, and then here you are, on my doorstep.  It would seem like something might be wrong."

            "Well, actually, I guess something is wrong.  The way I've been acting.  It was totally wrong of me to cut everybody off, especially when I needed them most.  I want to try and get things back to the way they were . . . back before, well you know."

            "Oh Rory," Lorelai's eyes were misty when she once again embraced her daughter, "I missed you, babe."

            "I'm so sorry, Mom."

            "Rory, it's okay.  I can only imagine what you were dealing with when you left.  What happened to you wasn't fair.  I just wish you hadn't decided to deal with it on you own."

            "At the time, that's what seemed best.  But now, I know better. . ."

            "Are you finally ready to truly move on?" Lorelai asked her daughter, anxious to hear her answer.

            "Well actually," Rory paused, deciding she wasn't quite ready to tell her Mother her plan.  Instead she said, "Hayden asked me to marry him."

            "Oh my God. . . I had no idea you two were that serious.  Sweetie that's wonderful!"

            "Well, actually, I didn't realize we were that serious either," Rory admitted regretfully, "I told him no, Mom.  We broke up."

            "Rory . . . how are you ever going to be happy again if you can't let go of what happened, move on.  Jess is gone, Rory, it's time you accepted that," Lorelai said harshly.  She didn't want to upset her daughter, but she was desperate to make her understand.  They had tried everything to find Jess Mariano, but apparently he just didn't want to be found.  It was time she move on.

            "Mom, I can't.  How can I move on when I know that the man I love, the one person that truly makes me happy, is out there . . . somewhere.  I'll never be able to move on as long as I still have hope of finding him."

            "How, Rory, how?  You've already tried everything.  How do you propose to search for him?"  Lorelai was not in the least happy that her daughter was going to begin searching for Jess again.  That alone showed that even after all this time, she still hadn't even began moving on.

            Rory nervously chewed her lip.  She knew her Mother wasn't going to like her plan.  But that didn't change anything, she was still going to go through with it.  "Mom, you're right.  I've tried everything.  If Jess was in this country, I would have found him . . ."

            "What are you saying?"

            "I don't think Jess is in America.  I'm going to go to Europe and search there."

            Lorelai's mouth fell open.  Her smart, level headed daughter had done the impossible.  She had surpassed even her own Mother's insanity.

            "Rory, you can't possibly . . . what I mean is . . . crazy . . .what are you thinking . . . no you can't," Lorelai was setting records for incoherence.

            "Mom, yes, I can.  Once you calm down and think about this, you'll understand that this is something I have to do.  Besides, I've always wanted to travel abroad anyway."

            "Rory!  You're 26!  You can't just go to Europe.  You don't know anyone there.  There won't be anyone for you to stay with, anyone to help you in your search!"

            "Well, actually, an old, er, friend of mine from Chilton.  Well, he's currently working at one of his father's business firms in London.  I was going to go there first, to see if he could help me."

            Lorelai could tell by the determined gleam in her daughter's eye that nothing she said would talk her out of this.  "Just think about it first, Rory.  Really think.  Get a good night's sleep and . . ."she trailed off when she saw Rory shaking her head.

            "Mom, my flight to London leaves tonight," she whispered quietly.

            "Oh Rory . . ."

            "I have to do this Mom . . . please understand."

            "I understand, honey.  I may not like it, but I understand."

*****

Several hours later, in a small little apartment, above a small little diner. . .

            Luke Danes was surprised to hear a knock on the door.  'Who the hell could that be," he thought, making his way to the door.  He swung open the door in an impatient manner, and felt his knees buckle at the sight in front of him.  He was so incredibly shocked he couldn't even speak.

            "Hey Uncle Luke," Jess said, feeling slightly embarrassed.

            "Jess?  Oh God, it can't be . . . I'm losing it," Luke muttered, abruptly shutting the door in his nephew's face.  However, even after he had shut the door, he continued to stand there, staring at it.  'It couldn't be. . . it just couldn't be . . .'   

            Jess continued to pound on the door.  "C'mon Luke, let me in."

            Luke cautiously reopened the door, blinking his eyes rapidly, as if trying to make sure they were functioning properly.  Apparently they were, though, because no matter how hard it was to believe, Jess Mariano, his long lost nephew was still standing right in front of him

            The two stood there, staring at each other uncomfortably, until Jess broke the silence, "So, uh, do you think I could come in?"

            "What, oh sure, come on," Luke said, moving out of the way.  He returned back to the sofa and sat down.  Jess took a seat in the recliner across from him.

            "So, how have you been?" Jess asked.

            "Don't even try the small talk with me!  Jess, where the hell have you been?  Do you have ANY idea the hell you put us all through.  What we went through to try and find you?  How upset everyone was when we realized you were gone for good?  What the hell were you thinking?" Luke was just getting warmed up when Jess interrupted him.

            "I know, Uncle Luke.  I was wrong.  After . . . it . . . happened, I just couldn't handle it.  I had to get away.  I was so devastated . . . I just couldn't deal with everyone.  I needed to be alone.  I never meant to stay away permanently.  It's just . . . the longer I was gone, the harder it was to come back.  And eventually . . . I guess I just decided I would never come back.  It was just too hard.  I loved her so much . . ." Jess stopped when he heard his voice break.  This was harder than he had been expecting.

            Luke stared at his nephew, slowing forgiving him for what he had done.  It had been wrong, yes, but he hadn't meant to hurt anyone.  Luke suddenly realized that he had to tell Jess . . . had to tell Jess that Rory was still alive.  He didn't have a clue how to do it.  How do you tell someone that the girl he had been mourning for four years, was actually still alive and well?  He decided to stall for a while.

            "But you're back now.  What made you change your mind?"

            "Well I did a lot of thinking.  These past years have been really hard.  I had actually thought I was doing better . . . but a few days ago I realized that I hadn't moved on at all.  I decided that it was time to come home.  Dealing with my problems alone obviously wasn't working . . . so, here I am."

            Luke nodded.  He took a deep breath, "Jess after you left, we tried really hard to find you."

            "You mentioned that."

            "Yeah, well, there was a pretty big reason we needed to find you, actually."

            "And that reason would be?" Jess asked when Luke didn't continue.

            "Jess . . . the plane crash.  Well, the original report was that there was no survivors, but . . ."

            "Yeah?" Jess asked, wondering what on earth his Uncle was going on about.  He didn't really want to talk about the crash.

            "Jess, it was wrong.  Rory didn't die.  She survived.  She was in the hospital a few weeks before she woke up, and by the time she had, and we were all informed that she was alive, well you were long gone.  She tried everything to find you . . . but you . . . we just . . . she lives in Cambridge now.  We don't hear much from her. . ." Luke watched as his nephew's face slowly lit up with the realization of what Luke was telling him.

            Jess was shaking his head, "No . . . you're telling me . . . you're telling me that Rory . . . Rory's still alive?"

            Luke slowing nodded his head.

            "And I . . . oh God, I've spent the past years . . . oh no," Jess buried his face in his hands.  He still couldn't believe it.  How could he?  He had spent the past four years thinking she was dead, and then boom! She's suddenly alive again?  And if he hadn't ran away, then they could have been together all this time . . . Guilt and regret was overriding him when he looked back up at his Uncle.  Luke's own eyes were filled with emotion as they met Jess's. 

            "Jess, I . . ."

            "Luke, I have to go," Jess said quickly, jumping up.

            "Jess, I think you need some time to digest this.  And don't even think about running over to Lorelai's place.  The poor woman has dealt with enough lately.  The last thing she needs is -" Luke was cut off by the sound of the door slamming.  He sighed, wondering where all this was going to lead . . .

            Jess threw open the door to the diner and started running toward the Gilmore house.  He couldn't believe what his Uncle had said was true.  He had to talk to Lorelai . . . had to find out if this was some sort of sick joke. . .  And if it wasn't?  Well, then he had to find Rory.

            Little did he know that at that very moment, Rory was already halfway to London.

A/N : alright, so not the best chapter.  It was basically a transitional chapter, and the next ones should be a little more exciting, I hope.  I'm afraid that our favorite couple has quite an adventure ahead of them before they can be reunited and live happily ever after *grins wickedly* Haha, well I have a basic idea of where this story is headed, but if you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know.  Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter : ) and please continue to review if ya don't mind!  Bye everybody : )