A/N:  Okay this chapter takes place a few days after Chapter 4, Telling Lorelai.  After this- expect some major speeding up of the story.  I want to say thanks to all the reviewers!  It's good to know someone's reading!  Anyway, enjoy and review!

Disclaimer:  Still got nothin'….

Chapter 6

Disaster, Reconciliation, and Coffee

Rory awoke abruptly to the sound of someone pounding on the front door.  She unwillingly pulled herself from the bed and rubbed her eyes.  'Man, that dream was just getting good.' Rory thought to herself, smiling at the thought of Jess. 

"Mom?" She called, then noticing a note from Lorelai, "Oh.  At the Inn."

Rory sighed and went to the door.  As she opened it she asked, "Who dares to wake me up on a Saturday and bother me before I've had coffee?"

Rory jumped a little when she saw Sherri in the doorway.  "Hey Rory.  I'm sorry I woke you."

"Oh. Uhh, it's fine.  Umm, come in." Rory suggested, baffled.

Sherri entered and put her purse down on the couch.  She and Rory both sat down.

"Soo."  Rory started.

"Christopher is here isn't he?"

"What? No."

"He's not in Star's Hollow?" Sherri asked, beginning to be embarrassed for barging in on Rory like that.

"Oh, no he is.  I thought you meant here, as in at my house."

"Oh."  Sherri paused and Rory stared at her, wondering why she had come, "Rory, could you call him?"

"What?"

"I really need to talk to him."

"Oh, uh sure I guess.  Let me call my mom first?"

"Of course."

"Okay I'll be right back."  Rory stood, picked up the phone and brought it to the kitchen.

"Independence Inn!" Lorelai's cheerful voice greeted.

"Mom?"

"Hey babe what's up?"

Rory sighed, "Sherri's here."

At the Inn, Lorelai's eyes widened, "I'll be right there." And she promptly hung up.

Rory began to dial her father's cell phone.

"Christopher Hayden."

"Dad? It's Rory."

"Rory! Hi!" Chris hadn't heard from either Gilmore Girl in three days.

"Hey, um I think you should come over."

"Now?"

"Yeah.  Sherri's here, and Mom's on her way."

Chris was stunned, "Sure.  I'll be right there."

Just before he hung up, Chris heard a faint version of Rory's voice.

"Dad?"

"Yeah Ror?"

"I'm sorry."

Christopher smiled, "Me too.  I'll see you in a few minutes okay?"

"Yeah bye."

Luke's:

Amber had been helping Luke and Jess in the diner for the last few days.  That Saturday morning, Luke had gone to take some orders and Jess was behind the counter.  Amber was in the kitchen, preparing to make coffee.  She soon realized they were out and she reached for a new can on a high shelf.  As she stretched further- it was just out of her reach- her shirt rose and a few inches of her stomach showed. 

Just then, Jess entered, and took one glance at her stomach, "HOLY SHIT!"

Amber, startled, jumped and brought her hands back down to her sides, "What?"

Jess lifted the bottom of her shirt a bit, "What the hell happened?" he said, pointing to a large bruise that extended from about an inch to the left of her navel half way up her side.

"Oh, uh," Amber stumbled for words, yanking her shirt back down, "You know me- I probably just ran into something." She said quickly.

"What are you talking about?  You're no klutz."

Amber realized all too late that her standard lie wouldn't work on Jess.

"I ummm…"

"Don't."

"What?"

"Lie to me."

Amber took a deep breath, "You want the whole story or the Reader's Digest version?"

"Whole thing."

"I was living with this guy." Amber began.

"Oh God."

"Jess, just listen."

"Okay."

"I moved in with him less than a year after I left home.  He was good to me you know?  He was a good boyfriend.  And then, I don't know.  He started to drink, and he got jealous of nothing.  He started to get hostile, and over-protective.  And he hit me." 

Tears formed in Amber's eyes.

Jess grimaced, he face showing only a part of the anger he was feeling.  He wanted so much to speak but he didn't.

"It started out as just once.  He promised to never do it again.  And then it became more of a regular thing.  That's when I started taking more classes.  I figured- if I was at school all the time I wouldn't be home, and he couldn't hurt me.  It wasn't like he'd let me leave or anything.  Anyway, I ended up graduating a year early.  I told him I wanted to break up and that I wanted to move out.  That's when he gave me that." 

She said motioning back to her side.

Jess swallowed as much of his anger as he could, "Then what?"

"Then, I went to see Liz.  I was going to take you away- so neither of us would have to put up with her.  But you were already gone.  She said she'd sent you here, so I came.  And now, well here we are."

Amber looked at her little brother; his eyes so filled with rage it almost scared her.  "Go ahead Jess." She weakly smiled at him, giving him her permission to yell all he wanted.

Much to her surprise, Jess didn't yell.  Instead, he wrapped his arms around her.  Amber hugged him back.

"I'm so sorry." Jess whispered.

"It's okay, really." She said as she slowly pulled away.

"You know I'm not gonna let you leave right?"

Amber smiled, "Why would I want to?"  Jess smirked.  "I mean it.  I'm going to start over.  And I figure here's as good a place as any."

Jess nodded and wiped a final tear from Amber's cheek.  "You wouldn't believe what I want to do to that guy," he admitted.

"Oh, I believe it.  But don't Jess.  It's all behind us now."

Jess agreed, "You don't want me to tell Luke do you?"

Amber opened her mouth to respond, but another voice emerged into the air.

"Don't tell me what?"

Gilmore House:

Lorelai and Chris had arrived, and the four of them (five if you count the baby) sat in the Gilmore living room.  Chris and Sherri had already made up- she was sorry for leaving, he was sorry for making her leave- the clichéd story of apologies.  Now, Sherri stood with Eric, and spoke, "I think I'll go wait for you in the car Chris."  He nodded and kissed her lightly. 

"So." Lorelai began when she was gone.

"Lor, I'm so sorry."

Lorelai stared at her feet.

"I really am.  I'm sorry for breaking a promise, I'm sorry for running out on the both of you- again.  I'm sorry for everything.  I really didn't mean to hurt either of you."

"We know." Rory said for both of them.

Lorelai and Rory exchanged a glance and smiled, turning back to Christopher.

"What?" he asked, frightened.

"You're forgiven." Rory supplied.

"Really?"

"Oh you know us Gilmore Girls, you've gotta give us a few months to wallow and vent, but then we get over it."  Lorelai explained, and Chris nodded with understanding.

"So we're good now?  All of us?" he asked.

"Yeah." Rory and Lorelai chorused.

"Good."

Chris stood, "Well, I guess I should get going then."

"Long drive back to Boston." Lorelai stated.

"Yeah.  I'll see you guys later."

Rory stood as well and hugged him, "I love you Dad."

Chris beamed, "I love you too Rory."

They broke apart and Chris went to Lorelai and kissed her cheek, "Bye Lor."

"Bye."

They watched Christopher leave the house and drive away.

Lorelai sighed, "We need coffee."

Rory laughed, "Always."

"C'mon get your coat."

Rory nodded and ran to her room, then arm in arm they left for the diner.

Luke's:

Amber had recounted her story to Luke, and he was just as mad as Jess.  The situation played almost exactly the same- with the same types of interruptions, the same tears, and the same hug after.  They had gotten past it- and in a way, they'd bonded as a family for the first time.  Luke, Jess, and Amber went back out into the diner just as Lorelai and Rory entered.

"LUCAS! COFFEE!"  Lorelai yelled.

"No."

Lorelai turned and whispered, rather loudly to Rory, "Get the boyfriend to smuggle us some!"

Rory laughed, and went behind the counter.

"What are you doing? That's forbidden territory! Rory!" Lorelai panicked. 

"New approach." Rory answered as she poured two cups of coffee and returned to the other side of the counter, handing her mother one of the cups.

"What was it like? On the other side I mean."

"I've boldly gone where no Gilmore has gone before." Rory answered bravely as she drank her coffee.

Jess and Luke laughed to themselves.

"Come, sit coffee-man!" Lorelai suggested.

"I can't I have to-"

"There's no one in here Luke." Rory pointed out.

"Come on! All of you! Coffee for everyone!" Lorelai said loudly, then more quietly, "Rory can get it!"

They all laughed, and Luke, Jess, and Amber all took seats with the Gilmores.

If one was to walk by Luke's Diner that evening, (which most residents of Star's Hollow did) they would see what appeared to be one big happy family gathered around a table, drinking coffee and laughing.  And to Lorelai, Rory, Luke, Amber, and Jess- that is exactly what it felt like.

A/N:  I know, a little bit of a sappy ending- but it sets it up for a major jump in the story, which is about to happen.  It needed it too- for everyone to be happy in spite of their tough times.  Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think!