Here We Stand - Chapter 3

"Missing Pieces"

A/N - Rory and Jess live right outside of Stars Hollow, just to clear that up.

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"Jess!" Rory yelled angrily while slamming the door, "Where the hell are you?"

Jess heard her from the bathroom and sighed, turning off the water and stepping out of the shower.

"I'm in here," he answered while wrapping a towel around his waist.

Rory shook her head at the sound of his voice and walked into Lorel's room, setting her down in her crib for a nap before going to find Jess. She kissed Lorel's forehead and turned on the baby monitor before leaving and quietly shutting the door. Turning around, she almost ran right into Jess.

"Whoa," she shrieked, taking a step back, "you just came out of nowhere."

"Sorry."

"What the hell were you doing?" She asked, taking notice of the towel wrapped around his waist and wet hair.

"I took a shower, you know, because the baby puked on me?" He shot back, walking toward the kitchen.

"The 'baby' has a name Jess. Lorel, her name is Lorel." Rory followed him into the kitchen where he pulled a beer from the refrigerator and took a long sip.

"Really? She has a name? Well, you learn something new everyday." His voice dripped with sarcasm and Rory looked at him in disbelief. He can't be serious.

"You know something Jess? Your being a real jerk," She said, walking towards him, "Something's bugging you, making you act this way, why won't you tell me what it is so we can fix it?"

"Because there's nothing wrong."

"Jess…"

Jess snapped, "Rory! Stop it already! There is nothing wrong with me, alright?"

"No, not alright! You never want to talk, you never care about what I have to say anymore, you just made me miss what was supposed to be a nice lunch with Mom and Luke, and now you don't even care! That's not the Jess I know, that's not the Jess I love!" Rory voice was more of a pleading one than angry tone. She wanted him to talk to her, to tell her what was wrong so they could fix it together. But he wouldn't budge; it was like they were seventeen all over again.

Jess stared at her for a few moments, trying to digest the last part of her rant.

"So, now I'm not the Jess you love?" He asked quietly, but his tone spoke volumes.

"Jess, that's not what I meant, you know I love you. Your just making things really hard right now and I don't understand why."

"Oh, I'M making things hard?" His voice was rising, why was he doing this? Why was he yelling at her?

"What about YOU Rory? You think you're so perfect and you do everything right in this relationship? Well that's bull! You make mistakes to, but I don't jump all over your shit about it. But when I do one-thing-wrong your all over it. Why is that Rory? Why is it that I get bitched at when I do something wrong, but you can just get away with it?"

He had never yelled at her like that before, and she was beginning to get scared. She stepped back, and instinctively, he stepped forward.

"I'm sick of you accusing me of doing everything wrong! I take care of Lorel, I change her diapers, and I work all week so we can put food on the table and clothes on her back, but that's just isn't enough is it? I have to be the Brady Bunch Dad who is always happy and cheery and is glad to come home every night! And then-"

"Jess," Rory managed to get out between her tears, "please… stop yelling at me."

Immediately, Jess stopped and finally looked at Rory. She was… crying. 'Oh my God,' he thought, taking in the sight of her quivering jaw and tear-stained face, 'why am I doing this?' He stared at her in disbelief of his own actions, remembering her past and slowly backed away. He couldn't understand why he was so… angry with her. At everything, it was like he was a teen again - angry at the world and trusting no one. He looked down at the floor as he walked past her, at first not saying anything.

Rory saw him coming towards her again, and quickly moved towards the wall to stay out of his way. It was instinct; it was what she had learned to do when someone was angry with her. Just stay out of the way, and make them happy. Even years of therapy couldn't erase someone's gut instinct. With a sad face and distant eyes, he walked past her towards their bedroom. She let out sigh and watched him stop before entering.

Noticing her reaction to him simple walking by, and remembering her fear-stricken face from the previous argument, he turned around.

"Rory…" he whispered, eyes still fixated on the floor, "I would never hurt you… I love you." He paused, taking in a deep breath before continuing, and struggling with the next few words, "But right now, I'm just confused about a lot of things. I'm sorry." And with that, he retreated into their bedroom and closed the door.

Jess laid down on the bed and thought about his life. Things had been that way lately, deep, complicated thinking with even more complicated subjects. Why hadn't he finished college? Why did he have to have a job that he hated? Why couldn't he be the father and husband he wanted to be? The jigsaw puzzle that was his life had slowly been coming together, but right when he thought he had it all down, was when he noticed a few pieces were missing. Was he angry because he never knew his father, or because he felt tied down by being married and a father so soon? The worst part of it all being that while he was trying to figure this out, he was hurting Rory in the process.

Rory just stared as he left her and closed the door. Her heart was pounding, her emotions were taking over… this wasn't right. Something was wrong with him, and all she wanted to do was help. But, unfortunately, all he wanted to do… was push her away.

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A/N - Uh oh, trouble in paradise. But please, trust me on this story. I won't let you down. And I know, this isn't usually like Jess… but things will explain themselves in due time. R&R so I know if you like it and to continue! Thanks! Also… ILoveJess, Dream gal, Monique, Lor, RoryJess4Eva, Emily Carol, GiveMeYourLove, Casey, rjfan4lif, iminlovewithaboynamedJESS, Mrs. Mariano, Coolio02, Marren, dark princess (very blunt review, lol) and whats-shakin-bacon… Thank you for your reviews so much, and also, thanks to everyone else who reviewed that I might have missed, because sometimes I screw up :D