*Disclaimer: I don't own the series Gilmore Girls or the characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.

*A/N: Hey! Bryan's gone, Rory's back in Stars Hollow and she's happy, right ? Well, not quite. Don't worry Jess will be back........better than ever! I know this chapter.....well sucks, but I had a lot of trouble writing it. Everyone can have a bad day, right ? *puts on The World's Greatest by R.Kelly* Thanks for the reviews and pretend that R. Kelly's singing: 'You're the World's Greatest' instead of 'I'm the World's greatest. Cause you guys are the world's greatest reviewers EVER!

*~*~*:-)*~*~*Bye, smile :-)

Before Jess could properly stop his car, Rory had already opened the door and was on her way to the front door by the time he finally got out of the car. Rory rang the doorbell and nervously wrung her hands together as she impatiently waited for her mom to open the door. She glanced over her shoulder at Jess, who was leaning against his car. He caught her glance with his and smiled a consolatory smile at her. Finally the door opened and Rory was not only greeted by her mom, but also by her grandparents and Luke. As soon as Lorelai saw Rory, she squealed and threw her arms around her daughter. Rory returned the gesture and smiled at how tight her mom was hugging her.

L: ''I'm glad you're here. I missed you.''

R: ''Same here.''

Lorelai let go of Rory and looked at her.

L: ''You're glad I'm here ? Where would I be if I wasn't here ? I mean I live here. Okay, half of the time I'm at Luke's, but that's still here. Here meaning Stars Hollow.''

Luke: ''I think she got the point Lorelai.''

L: ''Yeah, she's smart like that.''

Luke rolled his eyes and let out a frustration sigh, even though he didn't really mean it. Rory walked past her mom and went over to Luke.

R: ''Hey Luke.''

Luke: ''Rory.''

Rory smiled as she hugged Luke. Luke carefully placed his arms around her and gently hugged her back like he was afraid to crush her or something. When he let go, he had an embarrassed look on his face which just made Rory wanna laugh. While she hugged her grandparents and reassured them that she was doing fine, Lorelai and Luke finally noticed Jess, who was still standing by the car.

Luke: ''Jess ?''

Luke walked down the steps and over to Jess.

Luke: ''What are you doing here ?''

J: ''Just driving Mrs. Daisy.''

The two men stood across from each other for a while, staring awkwardly at each other. Then both of them started to grin and to both Rory and Lorelai's surprise they hugged each other.

L: ''Ah, look coffee man and diner boy are bonding. That's so sweet.''

E: ''I wish you would stop referring to them as coffee man and diner boy. They have names you know ?''

L: ''I know, but coffee man and diner boy sounds funner.''

E: ''Are you aware that funner is not an actual word ?''

L: ''It isn't ? Or maybe I'm just the first one to use it ?''

E: ''You know, I don't find it amusing. Especially not when you're mocking me.''

Richard: ''I agree with your mother Lorelai. And I'm pretty sure funner isn't a real word.''

L: ''Fine, spoil my fun. Ruin my imagination. You know, because of you I will never be able to make up words ever again.''

E: ''Stop being so dramatic.''

Richard: Shall we go in to the house ?''

L: ''We'll be right there dad.''

R: ''Yeah, we've got to get my bags first.''

E: ''You shouldn't be carrying those bags by yourself. Did you ever think of hiring a maid ?''

Lorelai rolled her eyes at her mom.

E: ''I saw that.''

L: ''I think we can manage to carry our own bags mom. Now go inside, we'll be right there.''

E: ''Fine, come on Richard.''

When Emily and Richard went inside, Lorelai let out a sigh of relief.

L: ''Finally. So, guys, how are those bags coming ?''

Luke shot her another one of his annoyed looks as he took a couple of Rory's bags out of the car. Jess took the remaining bag and followed Luke to the door.

Luke: ''You could have helped us you know ?''

L: ''But Luke, I'm just a weak girl without muscles. And you on the other hand have muscles, lots of them.''

Lorelai playfully ran one of her hands over Luke's arm. Luke sighed and went into the house with Lorelai closely behind him. Rory smiled and shook her head. Those two were still at it. Jess walked up to her and stopped.

J: ''Those too are so obvious.''

R: ''Except to themselves.''

J: ''Right.''

He locked eyes with her for a moment, until she started to feel uncomfortable and went into the house. Jess dropped the bag on the floor and followed Rory into the living room, wondering why he couldn't define the look in her eyes that he just saw. When they arrived in the living room, Emily and Lorelai were arguing, Richard was sitting on the couch with his hands clasped in his lap and Luke was trying to get Lorelai to stop arguing. In spite of all the shouting and arguing that was going on, Rory wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. Well, maybe one place else. She sat down next to her grandpa on the couch and watched her mom and grandma argue with a smile on her face. Jess sat down next to Luke.

Luke: ''Jess.''

J: ''Yeah ?''

Luke: ''How is she doing ?''

He nodded in Rory's direction. Jess followed his gaze and rested his own on Rory.

J: ''She's doing okay.''

Luke: ''Did............that guy, hurt her bad ?''

J: ''She has bruises if that's what you mean.''

Luke: ''I hate him.''

J: ''Ditto.''

Suddenly Emily and Lorelai stopped arguing and focused their attention at Rory, as if they just realized that she was in the room.

E: ''So dear, please tell me that this Bryan is going to be locked up forever ?''

L: ''Real subtile mom.''

E: ''What ? It's just a simple question.''

L: ''Maybe she doesn't want to talk about it. Did you ever think about that ?''

E: ''Nonsense. Of course she wants to talk about it.''

L: ''Since when do you decide for her ?''

R: ''It's okay mom. Bryan's going to jail as soon as the hospital gives permission.''

Richard: ''Good.''

R: ''Yeah, good.''

Suddenly she regretted telling them that it was okay. By saying that she had practically invited them to ask her all sorts of questions about Bryan and what he had been doing to her. When really she didn't wanna talk about it. Right now she didn't even wanna think about it. So instead of telling them that she didn't wanna talk about, she decided to take the easy way out and run. Postponing their questions till later when she was ready to talk about it. Rory got up, which cause everyone in the room, including Jess to look at her.

L: ''Where are you going ?''

R: ''I'm going for a walk.''

E: ''Now ?''

L: ''Okay sweetie, just be back in an hour, okay ?''

R: ''I will.''

After Rory closed the door behind her, Jess got up too and told everyone that he was going to have a smoke which received disapproving looks from Emily and Richard. He on the other hand just found it amusing. He didn't smoke anymore, well only if he was worried or upset about something, which hadn't happened a lot until Rory showed up again out of her secret hiding place. But he didn't mind. If spending time with Rory meant worrying about her and smoking a couple of cigarets and so be it. He reached for his pack of cigarettes and looked at it before he threw it in a trash can that he passed. He had this feeling that he didn't have to worry about Rory anymore. He smiled and hid his hands in his pockets as he continued following the path that would lead him to his favorite spot in Stars Hollow. The spot that just happened to be her favorite spot too.

*~*~*

Rory's thoughts were interrupted when she heard footsteps on the bridge. She smiled, already knowing that it was Jess. After all these years he still remembered. She turned her head and smiled at Jess, who was standing behind her now. For some reason that reminded her of the night of the dance marathon. They both went to the bridge that night, both for a different reason that was still the same. Jess nodded at her as he looked down on her, even after all these years still amazed by the color of her eyes. Some would call it blue, but he knew that that would never even come close to describing the true color of her eyes.

J: ''Hey.''

R: ''Hey.''

Jess ran his hand through his hair, that had the exact same color as the night sky and sat down next to Rory, letting his legs dangle above the water, copying her actions.

J: ''So, are you okay ?''

Rory nodded and looked down at the water again. She liked the lake better during the say. Cause during the day it looked like a copy of their world, mirrored in the water. Now all she could see was the dark sky mirrored in the water, making it look like a deep and black pit. She wondered how far you would fall if you fell in the water at night ? Maybe you would fall into another world ? Rory shook her head and softly laughed.

J: ''So, you're going to stay here for a while huh ?''

Rory shrugged.

R: ''Probably.''

J: ''Well, I hate to make this short, but I've got an apartment to get back to.''

R: ''You're leaving already ?''

She looked up and met Jess' eyes. At night they were even darker than the lake, but for some reason she knew that she didn't mind falling and getting lost in them.

J: ''Yeah, I have a job to get back to.''

R: ''Right, a job. I used to have one............before Bryan.''

J: ''Listen, Rory, I know he didn't treat you well and hurt you, but he's gone now, so don't let anybody tell you what to do okay ? You are the only person you need to listen to.''

R: ''I know, thanks for clearing that up though.''

Jess smirked at her.

J: ''Walk me to my car ?''

R: ''Sure.''

They got up and slowly made their way towards Jess' car. When they reached his car, he turned around to face her.

J: ''Thanks for walking me to the car.''

R: ''I always though you were supposed to walk a person to the door ?''

Jess shrugged.

J: ''The car has a door.''

Rory smiled and looked up at him.

R: ''It was great seeing you again.''

J: ''Well, it's great to be seen by you.''

Rory took another step towards Jess, so they were standing only inches away from each other.

R: ''Thanks................for everything.''

Before she knew what she was doing she put her arms around Jess' neck and pulled him closer. Jess slipped one of his arms around her waist, not putting too much pressure on it, cause he didn't want to hurt her. Rory smiled at how gentle he was. Her bruises didn't hurt that much anymore, but it was thoughtful of him to remember. Finally Rory let him go and took a step back so she could look into his eyes again.

J: ''Any time Ror.''

The wind blew a strand of Rory's hair in her eyes and Jess couldn't resist to reach out and wipe the piece of hair away from her face. As he did this, his fingers slightly grazed Rory's cheek and he could feel her tremble under his touch. He tucked the strand of hair behind her hair and returned his fingers to her cheek. He slide his fingers up to her eye. The black had faded, but you could still see the damage that Bryan had done. He started to caress her eyes, but Rory turned her head and forced him to stop.

R: ''You better go.''

J: ''I'm sorry.''

He shot Rory one more look before he got in his car and drove off. While he was driving, he had to force himself from making a u-turn and driving right back to Stars Hollow.