Title: Finding Family (Part 2)
Author: Sirius superpuppy88@aol.com
Rating: PG
Archived: July 31, 2002
Spoilers: None
Summary: Rory and Jess find that they are supposed to be together. Jess gets a visit from someone in New York, which leads to a very complicated week.
[FADE to the Gilmore House. RORY walks in and sees her mom asleep on the couch. She writes a message on a piece of paper and lays it down next to her. Then she goes and puts on her pajamas for bed.]
Mom~ I'm sorry I ran off last night. My head was too confused to be stuck in a house. I figured out what I want and by the time you wake up I probably already accomplished it. I'll be home by 10:00.
(RORY sets her alarm clock for 8 o'clock in the morning. Plenty of time for her to get ready in the morning before she breaks the news to DEAN.)
[FADE to JESS walking through the door of Luke's with both coffee mugs in his hands. He sets them in the sink and rinses them. Then he goes upstairs and lays on his bed.]
JESS: (Whispers) Rory. (Smiles and rolls over on his stomach trying to fall asleep.)
[FADE to the Gilmore House. It's morning and RORY walks through the front door and sits down on the porch to put her shoes on. Then she swiftly walks down the street and to DEAN's house. It's 9:30.]
(Rory knocks on the door and waits for someone to answer.)
DEAN: Rory? It's 9:30. What's wrong?
RORY: I.I.I think we should break up.
DEAN: .uh.Rory.can you run that by me one more time?
RORY: (Firmly) I think we should break up.
DEAN: Wha.Why?
RORY: We've been fading apart for a while now. I know you've seen it too. I just don't feel like I can talk to you anymore. I can't be with someone I can't even talk to.
DEAN: He has something to do with this doesn't he? (Angry.)
RORY: Who? Jess? No.
DEAN: Rory, come on, this isn't right and you know it. (More compassionate.)
RORY: No, Dean, this is what I want. So, I guess I'll see you around or something. (RORY turns around and starts down his steps.)
DEAN: Yeah, I guess. (DEAN says to her disappearing figure.)
(RORY walks down walks down the street to Luke's in serious need of coffee. The bell tinkles when she enters and LUKE looks up at her with a smile.)
LUKE: Hey Rory. Coffee I presume?
RORY: Oh yeah.
(Pours her a cup and hands it to her. Then he looks down into the sink and sees two coffee cups. JESS walks down the stairs and into the diner.)
LUKE: Jess? What might these two cups of coffee be doing in the sink?
JESS: Uh, sitting? Duh?
LUKE: How did they get there, Jess?
JESS: My guess is someone put them there.
LUKE: Do you have the tinniest idea who might have put them there?
JESS: Yup!
LUKE: Who.?
JESS: Me! (JESS ignores the annoyed look on his uncle's face and goes to sit by RORY on the stools. He sets his elbow on the counter and sets his head in his hand.)
JESS: (To RORY.) So, did ya do it?
RORY: Yeah.
JESS: Feel better.?
RORY: Immensely. The only problem now is that my mom is gonna be way mad.
JESS: Why? She trusts you right?
RORY: Well, yeah, but she doesn't trust.you.
JESS: Ah, well then. I should probably start to get the whole Boy Scouts Honor thing right? Be nice, stay charming?
RORY: Good idea. Can we go for a walk?
JESS: Yeah, just let me ask Luke. (Turns to face LUKE who was listening the whole time.) Luke?
LUKE: Yeah, sure. Be back in an hour though.
JESS: Okay, thanks.
LUKE: No problem. But Jess, remember, be good. (LUKE had a very serious look on his face.)
JESS: Right.
[FADE to the streets of Stars Hollow where JESS and RORY are walking.]
JESS: Bookstore?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: Movie?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: CD's?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: OK, well I'm kinda running out of ideas so you tell me where you want to go.
RORY: (Doesn't say anything, just keeps walking.)
JESS: (Stops and watches RORY walk.) Okay then, I think I'll just follow.
(They end up at the bridge. RORY sits with her legs dangling and JESS follows suit.)
JESS: Nice choice.
RORY: Thank you. I figured it was appropriate.
JESS: So, are you going to tell me what happened with you and Dean?
RORY: We just broke up. Nothing special or anything. I just ended it.
JESS: And the reason you ended it was because you can talk to me but you can't talk to him?
RORY: Yeah, pretty much. I decided that I would rather be with someone who has the same interests as me than someone who just thinks I'm cute.
JESS: Well don't get me wrong, I think you are cute too. (Smiles.)
RORY: Why thank you. But its more than that. We can just sit, or read, or talk, or watch a movie, or listen to CD's, or.I dunno. I can do just about anything with you.
JESS: Yeah. I like that about us.
(They sit in silence together for a little while. JESS is thinking something over in his head. He knows that RORY broke up with DEAN for him, but he's not sure what that makes him and RORY.)
JESS: So, what's going on with us. Do you want me to be your boyfriend or something? Or did you break up with him so we can be friends and you don't feel guilty? Where exactly do we stand?
RORY: Hmm, good question. I don't know. I wanted to be your friend so I broke up with Dean. I think that's where we stand now. We might be boyfriend/ girlfriend later, but not now.
JESS: Right, that works for me.
(More silence. Both are happy with how things stand. JESS stands up and takes off his jacket and shoes.)
JESS: Ya know what? It's rather hot and it seems like a good day for a swim. (Dips his foot in the water) Yup, good temperature. You don't mind if I.
RORY: No, by all means.have fun.
JESS: Cool. (JESS backs up farther on the bridge and then runs up and jumps into the lake.) Whoo hoo!
RORY: Haha!
JESS: It's really not that cold. You should come in.
RORY: Ok. (RORY takes off her shoes and socks.) Here I come! (Runs and jumps into the lake too. When she comes up for air she smiles and looks at JESS.) Wow, this is fun!
JESS: Yeah, I thought so. (Pauses to look at RORY, she's so pretty just standing there dripping wet. He knows now that he doesn't just want to be her friend. He thinks of telling her this.) Rory.
RORY: Mmm? (RORY looks at JESS and realizes the same thing. She doesn't just want to be his friend either. Her face relaxes and she just stares at him unblinking.)
JESS: Rory.I was uh.wondering.(Pauses.)
RORY: Jess.(Swims closer to him so that they are a foot apart.)
JESS: Well.um.ya see.
RORY: (Leans in and kisses JESS. After a minute she pulls back and looks at him.) I think I just fell in love with you.
JESS: I think I fell first. I've been wondering about that for some time now. Ever since you kissed me at Sookie's wedding you are all I could think about. (Smiles and brings her close to him again and they kiss.) I love you. (Both smile and stand in the water and hold each other for a few minutes with emotions running through them at top speeds.)
RORY: (She sighs into his shoulder.) I love you too. (After they break apart.) Hey, hold on. What time is it?
JESS: Uh. (Checks his watch with the big leather band.) 10:20. Why?
RORY: Oh my God! I was supposed to be home 20 minutes ago! My mom is going to freak! (RORY hops out of the lake and quickly puts on her shoes and socks. JESS hops out too and puts on his shoes. RORY starts to run and JESS catches up to her.)
JESS: So.how exactly are you going to explain that you are wet?
RORY: Crap! What do I say?
JESS: I don't know. I would just go for the truth at this point.
(They run past Luke's diner. JESS peers in the window.)
JESS: Rory! Hold up! Your mom is in the diner!
RORY: What? Let me see.
JESS: See, at the counter. She and Luke are actually talking!
RORY: Oh my God! Yah! They aren't even fighting! Hey look! Luke smiled!
JESS: I think you might actually be saved. (DEAN walks up behind them while they are looking in the window.)
DEAN: Oh, I wouldn't go quite that far.
RORY: Dean! What are you doing here?
DEAN: The better question would be what are you doing here? With him? Wet?
RORY: Why does it matter? It's over Dean. We are done. I thought we agreed on that?
DEAN: You walked away before I could say anything! (Angry.)
RORY: Well I said all that I needed to say so I'm done talking to you. It's over.
JESS: Um, I'm gonna go inside now. You two can stay out and talk if you need to.
RORY: No, I'll come with you.
DEAN: Jess, hold on. Can I talk to you for a second? (DEAN's voice isn't rude or pushy; it's actually pretty calm.)
JESS: (Turns around and looks up at DEAN. Then JESS turns to RORY and smiles.) Go on, I'll be right there. Don't worry. Tell Luke I'll be there in a second.
RORY: Okay. (RORY opens the door to the diner and walks in.)
JESS: (Turns to DEAN.) Yeah? What's wrong?
DEAN: I just wanted to get a few things straight with you. I love her. I don't think she loves me anymore though. This is really hard for me to say. Just be careful okay?
JESS: What? You think I'm gonna hurt her or something? I love her.
DEAN: What? How on earth could you love her? You don't even know what love means!
JESS: (Trying to stay calm.) I do know what it means and I do love her.
DEAN: She's too good for you. (DEAN's voice turned low and he almost growled when he said it.)
JESS: She doesn't seem to think so.
DEAN: (Furious.) You little punk! (DEAN punches JESS and JESS falls to the ground.)
JESS: What the hell was that for? (JESS stands up and touches his cheek tenderly where DEAN hit him.)
DEAN: Come on you little jerk! Let's see what you've got! (They were attracting a little bit of a crowd from the people walking through the streets but they were off to the side so the people in the diner couldn't see them.)
JESS: No man. I'm not fighting.
(DEAN punches JESS again. This time on the other cheek so his whole face turns bright red. JESS' nose starts to bleed.)
JESS: I'm going inside. I don't have to take this from you.
DEAN: Not so fast buddy. (DEAN grabs JESS by the arm and swings him around. DEAN punches JESS in the stomach and JESS keels over in pain.)
(At this point the crowd is so big that it goes in front of Luke's diner and LUKE comes out with RORY and LORELAI quick at his heels.)
LUKE and RORY: Jess!
RORY: What the hell was that about Dean? You said you wanted to talk to him!
DEAN: (Embarrassed.) I think I'm gonna go.
RORY: I hate you Dean! How could you have possibly done this? I hate you! (RORY starts to cry and she runs over to JESS who is lying on the ground.) Jess! Are you okay?
JESS: Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Luke, can you help me inside?
LUKE: Sure. (They hobble into the diner and the crowd follows. LUKE turns around and gets mad.) There's nothing to see here! Go home! (JESS sits down at a table and LUKE hurries to go get some ice.)
RORY: Oh, Jess. I'm so sorry. I didn't think he would fight with you. I love you.
JESS: I love you too. I'll be fine, don't worry. (LORELAI comes over when she hears this.)
LORELAI: (To RORY) You, you what?
RORY: I love him mom. I left this morning to go and break up with Dean, which I did. Then I came here and Jess and I went to the bridge and swam and when we came back Dean was waiting to beat Jess up.
JESS: Lorelai, please don't be mad. I'm sorry about all of this. The fight, you finding out like this. I don't really know what to say.
LORELAI: Rory, can I talk to you for a minute?
RORY: Sure. (They walk off and go outside to the alley to talk.)
Author: Sirius superpuppy88@aol.com
Rating: PG
Archived: July 31, 2002
Spoilers: None
Summary: Rory and Jess find that they are supposed to be together. Jess gets a visit from someone in New York, which leads to a very complicated week.
[FADE to the Gilmore House. RORY walks in and sees her mom asleep on the couch. She writes a message on a piece of paper and lays it down next to her. Then she goes and puts on her pajamas for bed.]
Mom~ I'm sorry I ran off last night. My head was too confused to be stuck in a house. I figured out what I want and by the time you wake up I probably already accomplished it. I'll be home by 10:00.
(RORY sets her alarm clock for 8 o'clock in the morning. Plenty of time for her to get ready in the morning before she breaks the news to DEAN.)
[FADE to JESS walking through the door of Luke's with both coffee mugs in his hands. He sets them in the sink and rinses them. Then he goes upstairs and lays on his bed.]
JESS: (Whispers) Rory. (Smiles and rolls over on his stomach trying to fall asleep.)
[FADE to the Gilmore House. It's morning and RORY walks through the front door and sits down on the porch to put her shoes on. Then she swiftly walks down the street and to DEAN's house. It's 9:30.]
(Rory knocks on the door and waits for someone to answer.)
DEAN: Rory? It's 9:30. What's wrong?
RORY: I.I.I think we should break up.
DEAN: .uh.Rory.can you run that by me one more time?
RORY: (Firmly) I think we should break up.
DEAN: Wha.Why?
RORY: We've been fading apart for a while now. I know you've seen it too. I just don't feel like I can talk to you anymore. I can't be with someone I can't even talk to.
DEAN: He has something to do with this doesn't he? (Angry.)
RORY: Who? Jess? No.
DEAN: Rory, come on, this isn't right and you know it. (More compassionate.)
RORY: No, Dean, this is what I want. So, I guess I'll see you around or something. (RORY turns around and starts down his steps.)
DEAN: Yeah, I guess. (DEAN says to her disappearing figure.)
(RORY walks down walks down the street to Luke's in serious need of coffee. The bell tinkles when she enters and LUKE looks up at her with a smile.)
LUKE: Hey Rory. Coffee I presume?
RORY: Oh yeah.
(Pours her a cup and hands it to her. Then he looks down into the sink and sees two coffee cups. JESS walks down the stairs and into the diner.)
LUKE: Jess? What might these two cups of coffee be doing in the sink?
JESS: Uh, sitting? Duh?
LUKE: How did they get there, Jess?
JESS: My guess is someone put them there.
LUKE: Do you have the tinniest idea who might have put them there?
JESS: Yup!
LUKE: Who.?
JESS: Me! (JESS ignores the annoyed look on his uncle's face and goes to sit by RORY on the stools. He sets his elbow on the counter and sets his head in his hand.)
JESS: (To RORY.) So, did ya do it?
RORY: Yeah.
JESS: Feel better.?
RORY: Immensely. The only problem now is that my mom is gonna be way mad.
JESS: Why? She trusts you right?
RORY: Well, yeah, but she doesn't trust.you.
JESS: Ah, well then. I should probably start to get the whole Boy Scouts Honor thing right? Be nice, stay charming?
RORY: Good idea. Can we go for a walk?
JESS: Yeah, just let me ask Luke. (Turns to face LUKE who was listening the whole time.) Luke?
LUKE: Yeah, sure. Be back in an hour though.
JESS: Okay, thanks.
LUKE: No problem. But Jess, remember, be good. (LUKE had a very serious look on his face.)
JESS: Right.
[FADE to the streets of Stars Hollow where JESS and RORY are walking.]
JESS: Bookstore?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: Movie?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: CD's?
RORY: Naw.
JESS: OK, well I'm kinda running out of ideas so you tell me where you want to go.
RORY: (Doesn't say anything, just keeps walking.)
JESS: (Stops and watches RORY walk.) Okay then, I think I'll just follow.
(They end up at the bridge. RORY sits with her legs dangling and JESS follows suit.)
JESS: Nice choice.
RORY: Thank you. I figured it was appropriate.
JESS: So, are you going to tell me what happened with you and Dean?
RORY: We just broke up. Nothing special or anything. I just ended it.
JESS: And the reason you ended it was because you can talk to me but you can't talk to him?
RORY: Yeah, pretty much. I decided that I would rather be with someone who has the same interests as me than someone who just thinks I'm cute.
JESS: Well don't get me wrong, I think you are cute too. (Smiles.)
RORY: Why thank you. But its more than that. We can just sit, or read, or talk, or watch a movie, or listen to CD's, or.I dunno. I can do just about anything with you.
JESS: Yeah. I like that about us.
(They sit in silence together for a little while. JESS is thinking something over in his head. He knows that RORY broke up with DEAN for him, but he's not sure what that makes him and RORY.)
JESS: So, what's going on with us. Do you want me to be your boyfriend or something? Or did you break up with him so we can be friends and you don't feel guilty? Where exactly do we stand?
RORY: Hmm, good question. I don't know. I wanted to be your friend so I broke up with Dean. I think that's where we stand now. We might be boyfriend/ girlfriend later, but not now.
JESS: Right, that works for me.
(More silence. Both are happy with how things stand. JESS stands up and takes off his jacket and shoes.)
JESS: Ya know what? It's rather hot and it seems like a good day for a swim. (Dips his foot in the water) Yup, good temperature. You don't mind if I.
RORY: No, by all means.have fun.
JESS: Cool. (JESS backs up farther on the bridge and then runs up and jumps into the lake.) Whoo hoo!
RORY: Haha!
JESS: It's really not that cold. You should come in.
RORY: Ok. (RORY takes off her shoes and socks.) Here I come! (Runs and jumps into the lake too. When she comes up for air she smiles and looks at JESS.) Wow, this is fun!
JESS: Yeah, I thought so. (Pauses to look at RORY, she's so pretty just standing there dripping wet. He knows now that he doesn't just want to be her friend. He thinks of telling her this.) Rory.
RORY: Mmm? (RORY looks at JESS and realizes the same thing. She doesn't just want to be his friend either. Her face relaxes and she just stares at him unblinking.)
JESS: Rory.I was uh.wondering.(Pauses.)
RORY: Jess.(Swims closer to him so that they are a foot apart.)
JESS: Well.um.ya see.
RORY: (Leans in and kisses JESS. After a minute she pulls back and looks at him.) I think I just fell in love with you.
JESS: I think I fell first. I've been wondering about that for some time now. Ever since you kissed me at Sookie's wedding you are all I could think about. (Smiles and brings her close to him again and they kiss.) I love you. (Both smile and stand in the water and hold each other for a few minutes with emotions running through them at top speeds.)
RORY: (She sighs into his shoulder.) I love you too. (After they break apart.) Hey, hold on. What time is it?
JESS: Uh. (Checks his watch with the big leather band.) 10:20. Why?
RORY: Oh my God! I was supposed to be home 20 minutes ago! My mom is going to freak! (RORY hops out of the lake and quickly puts on her shoes and socks. JESS hops out too and puts on his shoes. RORY starts to run and JESS catches up to her.)
JESS: So.how exactly are you going to explain that you are wet?
RORY: Crap! What do I say?
JESS: I don't know. I would just go for the truth at this point.
(They run past Luke's diner. JESS peers in the window.)
JESS: Rory! Hold up! Your mom is in the diner!
RORY: What? Let me see.
JESS: See, at the counter. She and Luke are actually talking!
RORY: Oh my God! Yah! They aren't even fighting! Hey look! Luke smiled!
JESS: I think you might actually be saved. (DEAN walks up behind them while they are looking in the window.)
DEAN: Oh, I wouldn't go quite that far.
RORY: Dean! What are you doing here?
DEAN: The better question would be what are you doing here? With him? Wet?
RORY: Why does it matter? It's over Dean. We are done. I thought we agreed on that?
DEAN: You walked away before I could say anything! (Angry.)
RORY: Well I said all that I needed to say so I'm done talking to you. It's over.
JESS: Um, I'm gonna go inside now. You two can stay out and talk if you need to.
RORY: No, I'll come with you.
DEAN: Jess, hold on. Can I talk to you for a second? (DEAN's voice isn't rude or pushy; it's actually pretty calm.)
JESS: (Turns around and looks up at DEAN. Then JESS turns to RORY and smiles.) Go on, I'll be right there. Don't worry. Tell Luke I'll be there in a second.
RORY: Okay. (RORY opens the door to the diner and walks in.)
JESS: (Turns to DEAN.) Yeah? What's wrong?
DEAN: I just wanted to get a few things straight with you. I love her. I don't think she loves me anymore though. This is really hard for me to say. Just be careful okay?
JESS: What? You think I'm gonna hurt her or something? I love her.
DEAN: What? How on earth could you love her? You don't even know what love means!
JESS: (Trying to stay calm.) I do know what it means and I do love her.
DEAN: She's too good for you. (DEAN's voice turned low and he almost growled when he said it.)
JESS: She doesn't seem to think so.
DEAN: (Furious.) You little punk! (DEAN punches JESS and JESS falls to the ground.)
JESS: What the hell was that for? (JESS stands up and touches his cheek tenderly where DEAN hit him.)
DEAN: Come on you little jerk! Let's see what you've got! (They were attracting a little bit of a crowd from the people walking through the streets but they were off to the side so the people in the diner couldn't see them.)
JESS: No man. I'm not fighting.
(DEAN punches JESS again. This time on the other cheek so his whole face turns bright red. JESS' nose starts to bleed.)
JESS: I'm going inside. I don't have to take this from you.
DEAN: Not so fast buddy. (DEAN grabs JESS by the arm and swings him around. DEAN punches JESS in the stomach and JESS keels over in pain.)
(At this point the crowd is so big that it goes in front of Luke's diner and LUKE comes out with RORY and LORELAI quick at his heels.)
LUKE and RORY: Jess!
RORY: What the hell was that about Dean? You said you wanted to talk to him!
DEAN: (Embarrassed.) I think I'm gonna go.
RORY: I hate you Dean! How could you have possibly done this? I hate you! (RORY starts to cry and she runs over to JESS who is lying on the ground.) Jess! Are you okay?
JESS: Yeah. Yeah I'm fine. Luke, can you help me inside?
LUKE: Sure. (They hobble into the diner and the crowd follows. LUKE turns around and gets mad.) There's nothing to see here! Go home! (JESS sits down at a table and LUKE hurries to go get some ice.)
RORY: Oh, Jess. I'm so sorry. I didn't think he would fight with you. I love you.
JESS: I love you too. I'll be fine, don't worry. (LORELAI comes over when she hears this.)
LORELAI: (To RORY) You, you what?
RORY: I love him mom. I left this morning to go and break up with Dean, which I did. Then I came here and Jess and I went to the bridge and swam and when we came back Dean was waiting to beat Jess up.
JESS: Lorelai, please don't be mad. I'm sorry about all of this. The fight, you finding out like this. I don't really know what to say.
LORELAI: Rory, can I talk to you for a minute?
RORY: Sure. (They walk off and go outside to the alley to talk.)