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

*A/N: Hey! Okay, so basically this chapter is a filler. The first part anyway, though the second part is a new beginning, in a way I guess. So, Rory and Jess aren't going to get together right away, cause I still have some stones to throw in their path. And Billy isn't out of the picture yet......basically I'm still adding colors to my master piece. (yeah right) Please tell me what you think when you're done reading. Thanks! :-)

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

L: ''So, what do you think ?''

R: ''About what ?''

Rory wiped a stranded hair away from her face as she turned her head to look at her mom. She didn't have a clue about what her mom was talking about. She had been too preoccupied with her own thoughts. Most of them were about Jess, but she had a reason for not worrying about Billy. See, everything was going great between them so there was nothing to think about. Now her relationship with Jess on the other hand reminded her of a boat caught in a storm. She was stuck on that boat with Jess until they finally reached shore again. All they had to do was get through the storm.

L: ''About my ingenious and profound idea of course.''

R: ''Which one ?''

Lorelai rolled her eyes.

L: ''The one about replacing the salt water of the ocean with coffee.''

R: ''Mom.''

L: ''What ?''

R: ''How are you going to get rid of all the salt water ?''

Lorelai shrugged.

L: ''We'll put it in bottles and sell it.''

R: ''No one drinks salt water.''

L: ''Kirk does.''

R: ''Where are you going to get that amount of coffee ?''

Lorelai pushed open the door of Luke's diner and smiled at Rory.

L: ''Luke.''

Rory shook her head as she followed her mom inside. Lorelai started to head for the counter without thinking. When she realized what she was doing, she stopped and looked at Rory.

L: ''I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that.''

R: ''Cause you've practically been programmed to do that.''

L: ''Well, I guess it's time to re-program.''

Lorelai wanted to head for a table in the back, but Rory stopped her.

R: ''It's okay mom, we can sit at the counter.''

L: ''Are you sure ? Cause that table over there looks really..........clean. Cleaner than the other tables. Besides the counter can be sticky sometimes and...........''

R: ''Mom, I made up my mind.''

Rory gave her mom a reassuring smile.

L: ''Sticky counter it is.''

Lorelai turned around, a little relieved that she didn't have to break her daily routine, and started to walk over to the counter. Rory slowly followed her, eyes on the ground as she did this. She had seen Jess when they came in. He had been taking orders at the counter. She still felt a little awkward and nervous when she was around him, but she was going to act like she wasn't. Maybe she could even try to talk to him without pulling an ice woman on him.

L: ''Luke, do you have enough coffee to fill an ocean ?''

Luke ignored her and turned his attention towards Rory, who just sat down.

Luke: ''Morning Rory.''

R: ''Hey Luke.''

L: ''You know, just because you're ignoring me doesn't mean that I will stop annoying you. Just ask Rory. The one time she tried to ignore me, I kept repeating the same question over and over. Am I annoying you ? Am I annoying you ? Am I annoying you ? Am I annoying you ?''

Luke shot Lorelai an annoyed look before he directed a question towards Rory.

Luke: ''Where's the off button ?''

R: ''I don't think she has one, but coffee will make her less annoying.''

Luke sighed.

Luke: ''Two coffees coming right up.''

L: ''And I didn't even have to ask you for it.''

Luke turned around and started to pour some coffee. As soon as he put the coffee down in front of Lorelai, she grabbed it and took a sip.

L: ''We thank you oh wonderful coffee guru. After we finish this worshipable coffee, we will get on our knees and kiss your feet.''

R: ''I don't think I want this coffee anymore.''

Luke: ''When are you leaving for work ?''

Lorelai checked her watch.

L: ''In a couple of minutes.''

Luke: ''I worship your work schedule.''

R: ''And Luke jumps and he scores.''

Lorelai shot Rory an evil look.

L: ''Looks like Satan finally found himself a gal pal.''

R: ''Just because I chose Luke's side ?''

L: ''No, because of the way you put it. He jumps and he scores ?''

R: ''Hey, maybe he plays basketball.''

L: ''Yeah. And maybe he has a cool nickname like Flyin' Flannel or Plaid ball. Get it plaid ball ?''

Luke: ''Go to work Lorelai.''

L: ''I will, but not because you said so, but because I only have two more minutes to get there. And I'm not going to waste them by arguing with you.''

Luke: ''One more minute.''

Lorelai ignored Luke's comment and gave Rory a quick kiss on her cheek.

L: ''Be good. Bye Homey Plaid.''

Lorelai got up and headed for the door. Suddenly the door opened and Kirk came in.

L: ''Hey Kirk. Luke has a new name.''

K: ''Really ?''

L: ''Yeah, he likes to be called Flyin' Flannel from now on.''

Rory watched Luke roll his eyes and held back a smile. There was no way he was going to win from her mom. Kirk sat down next to Rory.

R: ''Hey Kirk.''

K: ''Rory. Have you seen Flyin' Flannel ?''

A smile broke through on Rory's face as she called Luke over.

Luke: ''What do you want Kirk ?''

K: ''May I ask why you changed your name from Luke to Flyin' Flannel ?''

Luke sighed.

Luke: ''Jess !''

He shifted his gaze back to Kirk.

Luke: ''Jess will be right here to take your order.''

Before Kirk could say anything else, Luke went to take orders. Jess handed Ceaser an order and casually walked over to where Kirk and Rory were sitting.

R: ''Hey.''

Jess quickly glanced at her and nodded.

J: ''What can I get you Kirk ?''

Rory felt a little disappointed by the way he greeted her, but at least he acknowledged her.

K: ''Do you have Fruitloops ?''

J: ''Nope.''

K: ''Could you make me some ?''

J: ''You've got five more seconds to decide Kirk.''

K: ''Can I have ten ?''

J: ''Four.''

Kirk glanced at Rory.

K: ''What would you get if you were me ?''

R: ''Coffee.''

K: ''What kind of coffee ?''

J: ''The kind of coffee that makes you sleepy afterwards.''

R: ''Black coffee.''

Kirk nodded and looked at Jess.

K: ''Black coffee please.''

He returned his gaze back to Rory.

K: ''What else ?''

R: ''Uhm.......pancakes.''

J: ''Or eggs.''

K: ''You two are confusing me and I don't like it when people make me confused.''

J: ''Or we have bacon, sausage, donuts.............''

K: ''I'm just going to get some Fruitloops at Doose's.''

R: ''Bye Kirk.''

She smiled as she watched Kirk leave. He was probably the strangest person in Stars Hollow. Rory brought her eyes up and met Jess'. When she saw the emotionless look in his eyes, she quickly looked away.

R: ''Can I have Kirk's coffee and pancakes please ?''

Jess nodded, not saying a thing as he poured some coffee into a paper cup. Rory silently sighed and realized that he wasn't going to make it easy for her. But then again, why would he ? She was the one who practically ignored him yesterday and she was the one who broke up with him almost a year ago. She should have figured that the friends thing wouldn't work for them.

R: ''Can I have it to go ?''

Jess put the coffee down in front of her and raised his eyebrows.

J: ''Pancakes to go ? Pretty risky with the syrup.''

Rory grabbed her coffee and got up.

R: ''Never mind.''

She left him some money and silently left the diner.

*~*~*

Rory went straight to the bridge, not thinking about the fact that Jess used to come here often. Rory shook her head and smiled bitterly. She remembered that he once told her that this was his favorite spot in Stars Hollow and now he probably just ignored this place, afraid that he would run into her. Suddenly Rory heard footsteps on the bridge and she looked up to see who it was, even though she already knew. As soon as her eyes found Jess' figure, she sighed and grabbed her coffee.

R: ''I'll leave.''

J: ''You don't have to.''

Rory met his eyes.

R: ''You're not going to push me in the lake, are you ?''

Jess didn't say anything and sat down next to her. Rory was aware that her hand was gently grazing the side of his arm and quickly pulled it back. Rory glanced at him, hoping that he would say something. Finally she couldn't take the silence anymore. She was used to talking to him and this was killing her.

R: ''I didn't mean to treat you the way I did.''

Jess kept his eyes on the water, not moving or saying anything. Rory sighed.

R: ''I feel horrible about it. And about not keeping in touch with you.''

J: ''I haven't exactly been a good penfriend either.''

Another silence filled the air around them.

R: ''Why did you come back ?''

Jess shrugged. He actual reason was, that Stars Hollow felt like home to him, but he wasn't going to tell her. Not yet anyway.

R: ''Fine. I'm a very patient person. Besides I'll just read your diary.''

Jess held back a smirk.

J: ''What makes you think that I don't have a secret hiding place ?''

Jess turned his head and locked eyes with her. She may have changed in appearance a little and she may have become more serious, but the cheerfulness was still radiating in her eyes.

R: ''I'll find it eventually.''

She tore her eyes away from Jess.

R: ''I'm a really good searcher. Remember the time when my mom lost the phone ?''

Jess nodded.

R: ''Remember the person who found it ?''

Jess nodded and smirked.

J: ''She left the phone in the medicine cabin when she went to get a bandage earlier.''

R: ''You have an amazing memory.''

J: ''Oh yeah, I can even remember what I had for breakfast yesterday.''

Rory softly laughed and glanced at Jess. She was feeling more comfortable around him. And that was exactly what she had wanted.

R: ''You know, I still mail Lily every now and then.''

Though Lily had never mentioned anything about Jess moving back to Stars Hollow. Maybe he didn't tell them where he was going.

R: ''She misses you.''

Jess didn't say anything. He knew that Lily missed him, she had told him right before he left, that she was going to miss him. She told him that she never had a big brother before and that he was the best one she had ever had. And for the first time in his life, Jess had felt touched. He even hugged Lily right before he left. He had promised to call her once he got where he was going, but he hadn't yet. He wasn't that good with promises. He looked over at Rory and wished that he could hug her, like he did back in Venice. And he wanted to ask her, if she had missed him. Had she thought about him ? Probably not, she already had a new boyfriend. He never thought Rory would get a new boyfriend this quickly. Not because she wasn't beautiful enough, cause she was probably one of the most gorgeous girls on this planet, but because of the fact that she needed time to think about things. Jess wondered if she loved Billy. Jess wanted to ask her all this and more and he knew, that she had questions to ask herself. But right now wasn't the time. Besides he hadn't answered her question, so he didn't have the right to ask one and expect an answer. Even though he would probably get one. They had to focus on their future now, the past would come later.

*R*E*V*I*E*W*! Please ? :-) Thanks you so much for all the reviews!!! It's really cool to know that people are actually taking the time to read my chapters. :-)