A/N: Well anyway, here's the dinner. thanks to all my loyal reviewers. Hope you guys like it.

Chapter 9

Opening up

~~~

It was almost midnight and Stars Hollow's inhabitants were all tucked up safe and sound.

All except two; one waiting patiently at the gazebo, the other making their way toward it.

"Hey Skye." He got up as she got closer, smiling despite the chilliness of the night.

"Are you sure you're not up past curfew? Wouldn't want you to turn into a pumpkin now." She teased.

"Ha! Ha!"

They sat down facing each other, enjoying the quietness the small town brought.

"So," she asked, "what's the deal Mariano? Dragging me out of bed at this late hour. I could've been dreaming about Prince Charming."

"Dragging you out of bed?" he spluttered. "Please!"

"Okay so maybe I wasn't in bed, that doesn't mean I'm not curious."

She was actually walking around the Inn's grounds. It was a change from the fast pace of New York.

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Spill!"

"Lorelai invited us for dinner."

This was not what she had been expecting.

"Us?" She looked at him enquiringly.

"As in you, me, Luke and Lane."

"As in everyone who knows." She realised.

"Yeah."

"Interesting." She said for lack of a better word.

"I know."

"When?"

"Tomorrow night," he looked at his watch, "well actually tonight."

"And you're okay with this?" she asked dubiously.

"Are you?"

He was trying his evasive techniques again.

"Don't answer the question with a question."

"Sorry."

"So are you?" she asked again.

"I don't know. I'm trying not to think about it."

She hooked her arm into Jess', silently giving her support.

"I could always say I can't make it."

"But you don't want to."

"No." she confirmed.

"That's cool."

"Sure?"

"Yeah, I mean it might not be so bad."

"Why don't you just tell her Jess?"

"I'm afraid to."

She put her head on his shoulder. "It's not a catastrophe."

"Maybe I'm just not ready." He bit out.

"Okay I can take a hint." She told him, not taking offence to his remark.

"Sorry Skye." He lifted her head to look at her.

"No need to apologise. Hey, don't you have school tomorrow?"

"Later."

"Whatever. Doesn't change the fact that you have to go."

"Yeah I know it's my future, yadda yadda."

"Don't be so dismissive, you've got brains Jess. Don't waste that."

She wished he would give himself a break.

They sat there for a while, arm in arm.

"I better go if I'm gonna be able to get up later." He told her.

"You're losing your touch." Referring to when they had stayed for a couple of days at a time without sleep.

"Old age will do that to ya." He grinned. "Want me to walk you back?"

"Nah. I'm gonna stay here for a while, look at the stars." She saw his pensive look, "Don't worry I'll stay out of sight."

"That wasn't what I was thinking."

"What were you?"

"Don't get lost in your thoughts Skye. Midnight is the darkest hour."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rory's nerves started to kick in. It was six 'o clock - almost time.

Lane was already there, after some serious grovelling to Mama Kim.

"Do I look okay?" she asked for what seemed the hundredth time.

"Ror, you look great." Lane told her.

"Nervous are we?" Lorelai asked, coming into the room.

"A little."

"Why?"

Uh maybe 'cause the last time Jess came to dinner it was a disaster, and maybe 'cause she hadn't seen Skye since she decided to give her a chance, and maybe 'cause she was afraid she was going to embarrass herself.

"No particular reason." She told her mom.

"Well the food won't be a mess up 'cause I didn't cook."

"Thank goodness." Her and Lane said together, laughing.

"Hey I'll have you know I make a mean um. okay never mind."

Rory looked at the clock, the butterflies beating against her abdomen profusely.

She actually thought she was about to get sick.

And then the doorbell rang.

Showtime!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What on earth was I thinking?

Jess' panic didn't show on his face as he, Luke and Skye made their way up the steps to the Gilmore porch.

But somehow he knew she knew.

It was confirmed when she gently squeezed his hand, winking at him.

He took a couple of calming breaths and smiled at her.

"You okay?" Luke asked him.

"Yeah."

"Well one thing's for sure, this night sure won't be dull. and Jess?"

"Yes?"

"Please try not to give a repeat performance of the last time."

Jess sighed, the more he was trying to forget that, the more people kept bringing it up.

"Gee, I don't know Luke, it - "

"Jess!" Luke cut him off menacingly.

He was about to reply when Luke knocked on the door. He thought he was going to throw up,

Lorelai opened the door.

"Hi all come in."

"Hi Lorelai." Skye greeted, looking at him pointedly

"Hi." He said, finding his voice.

Rory and Lane walked in then catching his attention. The feeling of nervousness receded somewhat at the sight of her.

"Hi guys," she said.

"Hey."

"Hi Rory, Lane." Skye answered.

He noticed Lane was starting to get a starry-eyed look again but then Rory discreetly jabbed her with her elbow. He stifled a laugh.

"Nice place." Skye remarked to Rory and Lorelai.

"Thanks."

"I'm just gonna put this in the kitchen." Luke said.

"Oh you brought us coffee!" Lorelai squealed.

"Geez calm down woman! You're acting as if you've never had the stuff."

"Lukey, my coffee king. Lukey my - "

Jess shook his head as Luke and Lorelai made their way to the kitchen, leaving the four of them alone. in a not too comfortable silence.

"So can I get you anything to drink Jess, Skye?" Lorelai asked a moment later, unknowingly saving them from the discomfort."

"Um," Skye grinned, looking at Jess who shook his head. He SO did not need to deal with lectures about teenagers and alcohol right then. Even though he knew Skye was only teasing him. "soda would be great thanks."

"Make it two." He said.

Skye was doing exactly what he had done when he first stepped into the Gilmore home, looking at the pictures. She picked one up, smiling. It was one of Rory and Lane laughing in the snow.

Lane laughed, "That was taken the year before Rory went to Chilton."

"Looks like you guys had a lot of fun."

"We did."

"Here you go," Lorelai brought in the drinks. "Luke's busy in there, he doesn't trust me with the food. Now I wonder why?"

"My mom's not exactly a kitchen expert." Rory told Skye.

"I can relate."

"So are you guys hungry? Or do you want to sit and talk first?"

"Hungry!" Jess and Rory said, causing Skye to smile.

"Okay the masses have spoken, Luke we're coming in!"

They made their way into the kitchen to help carry the plates to the table that Lorelai had set up in the living room.

"Smells great!"

One of the reasons Jess wanted to eat was so he didn't have to sit around making idle chit chat but one look at both Rory and Skye's faces told him there was no way he was going to get out of here tonight without giving up some sort of information.

What was worse was that he was seated with Skye next to him and Rory directly opposite him. How was he supposed to eat when every time he looked up her eyes would meet his?

Lane was in between Rory and Skye with Lorelai and Luke separating him and Rory.

If he didn't know better he'd say the seating arrangements were planned specifically to torment him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Skye wasn't feeling too comfortable herself. She couldn't help thinking she was being sussed out by Lorelai and Luke.

But she could handle it, if it meant that Jess would ultimately be happy, she could handle anything.

They passed the food around and began eating.

"So Skye," Lorelai asked in between mouthfuls of pasta, "This must be quite an adjustment for you. Aren't you missing the City life?"

And so the inquisition begins. She glanced at Jess surreptitiously. "It's okay, I'm not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms yet."

"From New York or from the music?" Lane asked.

"From New York, I guess. I'll always have my music, so that's never a problem for me."

"You're seventeen right?"

"Right. Why do you look so unsure of that?"

"It's just your writing isn't what I would expect from someone your age."

"So what do you expect, bubblegum pop?" she asked, though not defensively.

Lorelai laughed, "Hey don't knock it. Britney has entertained millions around the world."

"Yeah, I suppose it's alright if that's what you're going for." Skye said.

"What, bubblegum pop?" Rory asked.

"No, entertaining."

"So you're not in it for the entertainment?" Rory asked her.

"No, not for other people. I'm in it 'cause I love music; it's my way of living."

My solace.

"So you could say you're maybe in it to entertain yourself?" Lane interjected.

"Maybe. But if that's what people wanna think, then let them."

"Skye's not big on what other people think." Jess added with a touch of pride.

This didn't go unnoticed by the rest.

"Well, I can certainly see why you two bonded." Luke said.

Jess looked at him amused.

"So next question," Lorelai interrupted. "How long do you two know each other?"

Oh-oh.

"Since second grade. We were put in a project together at school. You know alphabetical order."

"And the rest is history?"

"Something like that." She looked at Jess and grinned.

"So then you would know why Jess is so super friendly and courteous."

Skye almost choked on her soda.

"Mom!"

"What? I was only kidding."

Okay now this was going to no-go territory. One look at Jess told Skye she had to change the subject and fast.

"So Luke, if you don't mind me asking."

"Go ahead."

"The diner. what's up with that?"

"What is it a problem?"

"No, crap! I didn't mean to offend you. I think it's cool, you know. A diner in a small town. Great food, excellent coffee."

"Amen!" Rory and Lorelai chorused.

"Well, abbreviated version - it was my dad's hardware store and I love to cook so when he died I converted it into Luke's diner."

"Yeah, where the career opportunities are endless." Jess put in sarcastically.

Skye kicked him under the table, "Jess!"

"See, I was just waiting for you to say something witty." Lorelai said.

"Hey, I only call it like I see it."

Skye saw Rory start to fidget across the table. This definitely had the makings of a disaster.

"Jess, why don't you go get some air."

When he made no effort to move, she kicked him again and added a glare just for good measure.

He reluctantly scooted his chair back, banging the back door on his way out.

Skye sighed, "Rory, maybe you should go talk to him?" "Good idea." Lane added.

Rory smiled at her, really smiled and they shared a look of understanding.

When she was gone, Skye turned to Luke and Lorelai, "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay, this is no different from the last time." Luke said.

"He's just a bit on edge."

"Why? Is there something about Jess we have to know?"

"I don't know what you do know, do I can't really answer that question."

"There's more to your and Jess' relationship isn't there?" Lorelai asked.

"There's more to Jess, period."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was leaning over the railing when she found him. His stance angry.

"Jess?" she asked tentatively.

"Yeah?" he turned to face her, the sorrow on his face nearly took her breath away.

"What happened?"

"I don't know Rory, I don't know."

She hated to see him like this, her heart squeezed painfully at the idea of him being in pain.

She put her hand on his arm and when he didn't pull away she took it as a good sign.

"I was a jerk."

"Yeah you were."

A small smile crossed his mouth. She smiled back.

"Why must you always do that? Push people away when they're trying to help, to get close?"

"'Cause I don't know why they bother, no one sticks around anyway!" he bit out angrily. Rory almost flinched.

Instead she pulled him closer to her and he held her close. Rory felt like crying.

She felt him calm down but he didn't pull away, in fact he draw her closer, resting his cheek against her hair.

They were lost in each other and Rory thought that she could stay this way forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke was sitting in the kitchen when Jess and Rory came back inside.

He watched Jess as Rory left, giving them time alone. For a moment he thought Jess was going to follow her but he was surprised when he sat down opposite him.

"Listen Luke," Jess began, "about earlier."

"What about it?"

"I'm um I'm sorry. I was a bit harsh."

"Really, I hadn't noticed."

"Luke."

"What do you want me to say Jess? I don't expect you to understand my choices in life."

"But I could try."

"What?" He definitely wasn't expecting this.

"You heard me. Look I know things aren't gonna change overnight. There's a lot I don't know about you and there's a lot you don't know about me. but I am going to try to be more, less - "

"Jerkish?"

"Yeah."

And so they sat in the silence, in the Gilmore kitchen. There were a lot of wounds to heal but the fact that they were still sitting together spoke volumes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rory walked back into the living room. "Thanks for dinner Lorelai." Skye said.

"Could you even call it dinner?"

Skye shrugged

"So compared to last time, how would you rate this one?" Lane asked Lorelai.

"Oh I'd say its on par."

"Oh. okay"

Lorelai started cleaning the table.

"Um, do you think maybe you could wait before going in there mom?"

"Sure, what do you think they're saying?"

"I have no idea but there's no screaming so that's a good thing." Rory answered, looking at Skye.

"Lane," Lorelai said, "do you think maybe you could give me a hand in my room quickly?"

"Sure." She said catching on quickly.

So Rory and Skye were left in the living room.

"Skye?"

"Yes?"

"Why'd you send me out after him?"

"You know why Rory." She said sitting on the couch.

Rory joined her, "I mean, I would think you would've gone after him."

"I could have but" she turned to face Rory, "it wouldn't have meant the same to him."

"Meaning?"

"You're a smart girl, you figure it out."

"He didn't say much."

"But he held you and let you hold him." Skye stated.

"How did you know?" Rory blinked. She'd seen the minimum interaction between them and she didn't know how they were together before she'd arrived but she knew Rory had managed to creep into Jess' heart

"Jess puts up a mask that he only lets a few people past. And you're one of them Rory, he feels safe with you, he'll let you close."

"Physically yes but not emotionally."

"He's let you closer than you realise Rory. Closer than you realise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Quite emotional I know and really sucky. I am really sorry that it's so bad. Hopefully the rest will be better.