Sliding the cake and coffee in front of her Jess replied, "Yeah well nothing better to do in this town." Leaning down on the counter he looked her directly in her eyes to convey the underlying message. She stared back at him unable to break the intense gaze that he held on her. Slowly they started leaning into one another "There's my baby!!!" Lorelai Gilmore screamed crashing through the diner door followed by Luke. Jess and Rory sprang apart and Rory whirled around on her stool and ran to hug her mom.

"Mom!! I missed you soooo much!"

Hugging the two girls fell to the floor of the diner as they giggled and talked without paying attention to the fact that Luke and Jess were staring at them. After a few minutes Rory realized that they were being gawked at and stood up quickly pulling her mother with her.

"Sorry," Rory apologized blushing. Pulling her mom towards the counter Rory asked, "So what's wrong with the jeep?"

"Oh god! Don't even get me started on that pile of junk. It left me stranded half way to Hartford," Lorelai answered dramatically. Taking a notice of Jess as she fell across the counter Lorelai quickly sat up, " Which by the way I see that you've returned her without a scratch this time, thank-you."

Taken back by Lorelai's acknowledgment Jess nodded his head, "Your welcome."

Waiting for Jess to succumb to his usual sarcastic remarks Lorelai was surprised when he had nothing else to say. "Well darling daughter of mine. I think we should get you home and unpacked so that you can spend some much needed quality time with mommy." Standing Lorelai started pulling Rory towards the door. Turning she looked at Luke and Jess, "Thank-you for all of your assistance today. We greatly appreciate it. Luke I'll let you know about the jeep then and really thank-you for helping me out today. We'll see you guys for dinner later. Bye." Lorelai pulled Rory out the door before she could grab her suitcase or schoolbag or even say a proper good-bye.

"Ok what was that about?" Rory asked once they reached the other side of the street.

"What about what?" Lorelai asked.

"Mom, you just drug me out of there without even grabbing my stuff first!"

"Oh!" Lorelai whirled around looking back at the diner. "We'll get it later. It's like the twilight zone in that place," Lorelai responded turning back towards home.

"Mom? Are you okay?"

"No! Jess had no comeback for me whatsoever. That's weird. I mean I know we really can't stand each other but I at least thought we had the smart- ass teenager sarcastic parent type thing going. And now we don't! Do you think he's sick or something?"

Rolling her eyes Rory stopped walking. "You're upset because Jess refrained from his usual James Deanness likeness?"

Stopping also Lorelai looked at Rory bewildered, "Well yeah, I thought it was a rather nice routine between us."

"Well maybe he's trying to be nicer so you know you start liking him and he starts getting along with Luke more. Speaking of Luke, is the fight over?"

"Umm..I assume so. I don't really know. When he showed up I freaked on him cuz he was supposed to be getting you and then when he told me he sent Jess to get you I doubly freaked on him. He told me to just trust him for once and then we rode back in silence. So I don't know!" Lorelai replied looking exasperated.

"Okay enough thinking for you today. Let's go home." Rory said wrapping her arm around her mom and pushing her towards their house.

~Later that day~ "Mom! I'm going for a walk," Rory called into the living room.

"Okay sweets. Meet me at the diner in an hour."

"Okay," Rory answered shutting the door behind her. Although going to see her boyfriend would have been the most logical step Rory headed in the opposite direction towards the bridge. She had deemed it to be "their spot" and she didn't mean her and Dean's. Sitting down she let her legs dangle over the side while she looked out over the lake. Losing herself in her thoughts Rory didn't hear someone approaching her until they sat down next to her.

"Whatcha doin?"

"Thinking."

"Do you ever take a break from doing that?"

"Why? Do you think I'm to serious?"

"Sometimes. Learn to lighten up Gilmore."

"Oh yeah, you're one to talk. You sit around this town brooding and acting like the "bad boy" when I know that you're a real big softie under it all."

"Please don't let that rumor get around. I have a reputation to uphold."

Glancing at him Rory realized how easy it was to talk to him. Even in their silences she was comfortable. Standing she knew what would make her happy. "Jess I've gotta go. I'll be at the diner in like a half hour though. Can I meet you there later?"

Standing also Jess looked at her questioningly, "Sure, diner half hour."

"Okay." Stepping past him Rory started up the bridge but before she realized what she was doing she ran back to him and kissed him long and hard then she turned and ran all the way to Dean's house.