This is the second part of a double update, make sure you check out chapter 5 before you read this (meant to put a heart here but it doesn't render well for some reason so -heart-)

Jess wasn't sure about doing that reading at first.

When Luke had first called him about it ("Listen, Jess, I have something stupid to ask you… You don't have to say yes to this, I just told Andrew that I'd ask you, for reasons completely unknown to man.") He felt strange. Coming back to the town that once held a meeting to discuss what should be done about the 'Jess problem' was always tricky, of course, but coming back as a guest of honor, as the hudloom who had managed to make something of himself and was now a successful author, was even trickier.

Admittedly, the prospect of seeing Luke's proud face was appealing. He was almost embarrassed in how much Luke's approval still meant for him, even after all these years, even when he already knew for sure that his spot in Luke's heart was secured forever. Seeing the pride, the wonder even, that beamed from Luke's eyes whenever he did significantly well was everything to Jess, and while it may have taken him some time to fully admit it to himself, it had always been part of what was driving him onwards.

Now, when he was standing in Andrew's bookshop and watching it getting fuller and fuller, little by little, he knew he had made the right decision coming there. This was the place where everything had begun, the place where his very first steps towards leading a healthy life had occurred, where he first felt really loved. He saw people beginning to notice him in his corner and whispering among themselves, many of them he could recognize. When Lane and Zach walked in he smiled and waved in a small, discrete motion, and she smiled back wholeheartedly, the look in her eyes affectionate behind the black-framed glasses. He had always liked Lane, back since the days when he and Rory used to sit through band practices and offer advice, constructive criticism, and support. She basically looked like she hadn't aged a day.

"There's our boy!" Liz's voice carried over the crowd, and seconds later he was met with a tight hug and a generous pat on his back that almost made him stumble forwards. Liz and TJ were quirky, indeed, and he felt like his relationship with his flaky mother would always be somewhat strained, sore, but them being there meant something to him. He hugged his mother back and freed one of his hands to shake TJ's firm palm.

"Thanks for coming," he said, and Liz made a dismissive sound.

"Come on, as if we would have missed it. I'm so freaking proud, I can't feel my face!"

"This has been all she's been talking about for the last couple of weeks," TJ gestured at his wife with his thumb. "Now, personally, I don't get the big hype over books. The way I see it they're just podcasts that you hear in your head with your own voice. Hey, that's a pretty good slogan," TJ's eyes suddenly became distant, and Jess just knew he was about to use his visionary voice. "Books - your own head-podcasts. Maybe I should sell it to them before they figure it out themselves."

"TJ, there is no they." Liz patted her husband on the wrist, and turned back to look at a highly amused Jess. "And you - good luck tonight. Have I mentioned I can't feel my face?"

"Yeah, you did," Jess shrugged.

"That's how proud I am. Face-numbingly proud of my boy!" Liz teared up with emotion, which used to annoy Jess to no end, but now felt incredibly heartwarming. "Doula is also here somewhere. She'll be thrilled to talk to you. Did you know she was applying for Yale?"

"Actually, I did. Luke told me." He casually mentioned, and a powerful wave of nostalgia washed over him for a second. "I may have an alumnus for her to talk to, if she wants."

"Are you talking about Rory?" Liz playfully arched an eyebrow. "Because if you are, trying to pass her on as just an alumnus is an insult to our intellect. We have eyes, you know."

"Enjoy the reading," Jess ended the conversation abruptly, and his mom laughed.

"I didn't mean to embarrass you, I'm awful, I'm sorry. And you bet your ass we will enjoy it."

Jess squeezed her arm and nodded at TJ. He was finally on good terms with his mom, and he didn't want to mess it up. But there was only so much he would take from her, after all they've been through. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, just in time to see Luke and Lorelai passing through the door. He left his book and his cell phone on his chair and went over.

"Full house," Lorelai commented. He wondered whether or not she knew about his recent interaction with Rory. Something in her eyes told him that she did.

"Yeah, it surprised me too." His lips curved in a polite smile.

"Never said I was surprised, kid." Lorelai's smile was candid. Jess was always tense around that woman, and the newly found warmth in their relationship always took him by surprise. "I read your book. It's definitely worth the hype. It really is a… How did that review go? A gut-wrenching peek into the inner workings of both the hive mind of a cult following and New York City?"

Jess laughed. "Yeah, it was something like that." He confirmed. "Thank you for coming, I'm glad you're here."

"You bet," Lorelai smiled.

"Wanna stop by the diner later? I'll make you something to eat." Luke offered, expressing his love through caring gestures as usual.

"Sure. I have some stuff I need to take care of after the reading itself, but I'll swing by."

"Great. See you there." Luke concluded and turned away, but then seemed to change his mind and turned back, pulling Jess into a hug. Jess hugged him back. No words were needed.

"I saved you some seats." He awkwardly ended the moment, and Luke nodded.

"Thanks."

Jess resumed scanning the crowd with his eyes, trying to pretend he wasn't looking for anyone in particular rather than just taking in all the familiar faces. It was 2 minutes to seven, he should be taking his seat. Maybe she wouldn't come to the reading itself and they would just hook up afterwards, he thought in bitter disappointment. After all, she didn't say she was coming. They were involved in business together, he shouldn't expect her to act like she was his friend.

"Jess, are you ready?" Andrew whispered, and Jess nodded and grabbed his book. "Thank you so much for doing this, man."

"Hey, anything to piss off Taylor, right?" He responded, making Andrew chuckle and pat him on his back.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor for me to have our very own Jess Mariano here in Stars Hollow Books tonight!" A round of applause followed Andrew's introduction, and Jess shifted in his seat. Suddenly, the door opened one last time, and Jess' breath hitched.

There she was, awkwardly trying to close the door silently behind her while holding a little girl's hand in hers. Her little girl, he reminded himself as the girl looked up and met his eyes with two blue orbs that penetrated his very soul, just like her mother's. Rory finally looked up as well and sent him a nervous little wave over the crowd, then crouched to speak into her daughter's ear and pointed at him. He found himself desperately wanting to hear what words she was using to describe him to her.

He didn't hear the rest of Andrew's opening lines, but a second round of applause caused him to shake his head for the second time that night. Get your shit together, he mentally slapped himself. "Thank you, Andrew, I'm glad to be here," he scanned the room with a polite smile. "As some of you may know, I grew up in New York before I came to Star Hollow, but this book is the first time I've ever revisited my experiences there. I'd like to read you a part of it."

"And just as quickly as it started, it was over. Never to be repeated, never to be forgotten, never to be told." Jess closed the book and looked up. People slowly began to wake from the trans and an increasing final round of applause washed over the room. Jess watched as Rory leaned down and whispered something into Sylvia's ear, and the blond girl nodded and continued clapping with her small hands. They seemed thick as thieves, he thought.

"Jess Mariano, ladies and gentlemen!" Andrew exclaimed while shaking his hand. "Thank you, Jess, and thank all of you for coming!"

The chatter slowly decreased as people began leaving the store. Luke and Lorelai waved him goodbye, and he noticed that Sylvia was leaving with them, each of her hands securely held in one of her grandparents'. Soon, he felt a gentle pat on his shoulder, and he turned to see a smiling Rory, holding a bouquet of flowers he had not seen before. "I thought this was proper," She blushed, but he could see humor hiding in her expression. He took the flowers, suddenly feeling very dumb.

"Thanks," he mumbled. "Was that…?"

"Syl, yeah." Rory confirmed his suspicions. "Sylvia. She really liked it, she said that you read better than me."

He laughed. "I'm glad to hear that my book speaks to six year olds."

Rory was touched at the fact that Jess remembered how old Sylvie was. "Not just any six year old," she corrected. "Ms. Sylvia Lorelai Gilmore, the six year old."

"I'm flattered." He said, and Rory laughed. "And I mean that in all seriousness, if she's anything like you." This time it was Rory's turn to feel a little embarrassed, and he relished in the light blush that covered her cheeks and her neck. "Now," he said. "Let's talk business."