Title: Origin

Author: Silver Blood

Summary: Two years in the future, Rory and Jess meet again. That's all I'm telling you for now.

Disclaimer: I intend to do nothing illegal, I am not making money off this story, the characters do not belong to me.

Chapter One

When the sun had set, and the darkness cast shadows upon his prominent features, Jess Mariano parked his car outside of a tall apartment building. He rested his forehead lightly on the cool leather of the steering wheel in front of him. He could see the light of his apartment glowing softly above him. Darcy was home. He smiled softly as he climbed out of his car, savoring the last few moments of silence before he slipped inside.

As he climbed the stairs, his muscles ached and his head throbbed. He was only 20, it didn't seem like his life should be this tiring. But he had to face the responsibilities he had taken when he began dating Darcy.

"Jessie!"

A small blonde bullet came whizzing towards him, hugging him below his knees. He leaned down to pick up the 5 year old.

"Hey babe, what's going on?" he asked the child while gently tickling her stomach.

"Mommy is sick again," she replied through her giggles. "She's been in bed all day."

Jess sighed but tried to smile all the same.

"I'll go talk to your mom, and then we'll go get something to eat, okay?"

The little girl nodded as he put her down.

The room was dark when he entered; the blinds had been shut and the curtains pulled tightly together. Jess looked at the silhouette on the bed for a moment before going to sit next to her. He nudged her gently, trying to wake her. She rolled over; the blonde hair so adjacent to that of her daughter's splayed beautifully across the pillow. Her dark eyes opened, taking a moment to adjust. He could see that she was ashamed to be seen like this, though it wasn't the first time.

"You promised you'd quit, Darcy."

His voice was full of anger and disgust in the darkness.

"You've said it so many times; it's becoming habit to lie to me. You can't keep doing this. Lainey thinks you're sick again. Did you even get out of bed today?"

Darcy silenced him with a kiss. He sighed; resigned, as her forehead rested against his.

"We all have problems, Jess. I'm getting there. You know I'm trying."

He groaned, running his hands through his short dark curls. He was tired of her saying the same lines to him over and over again. She had a daughter that she was supposed to be taking care of, but she hadn't talked to her in days. For weeks it had been the same. She'd promise him in the morning that she'd spend time with Lainey and look for a job, and he'd come home to find her drunk off her ass. It was a tired routine, and every time he saw the look in that little girl's eyes, he had to stop himself from taking her away from what had turned out to greatly resemble his childhood.

Jess made a decision in that moment, in the darkness of his girlfriend's bedroom. He wasn't going to let Lainey become him. He stood, prepared to make a speech he'd made many times before.

"That's it, Darce. You're fucked. Don't you get how much you're hurting her? Do you want your daughter to end up totally fucked up like you are? Like I am? Get your act together, or I'm gone."

Darcy sat up, her long blonde hair tickling her elbows as she flipped it behind herself.

"Fine, go. I don't give a shit. Thanks for nothing, goodbye."

She turned over in the sheets and faced the wall. It wasn't their first fight that ended like this, but it was decidedly their last.

"She's coming with me. I'm taking Lainey. You'll never see her again."

"Take her," The blonde spit over her shoulder.

Jess left the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. Lainey was sitting on the couch, looking at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"We're gonna take a little road trip, okay?"

Lainey nodded her blonde hair and smiled widely, jumping off to her room to pack a bag. After Jess had helped her, he went into the guest bedroom, where all his things were, and packed his own bag. This time, however, all clothing was packed, rather than just a few days worth.

With Lainey attached to his hand, Jess left the sterile white apartment for the last time, bags in tow. Ignoring her questioning about where they were going to stay, he wondered the same thing himself.