Luke watched his sister as she packed her things up, getting ready to leave Star's Hollow. Not for the first time. "Why leave?"

"Because I have craft shows to make," she replied flatly.

"He needs you."

"Has he ever needed me?" Liz asked, turning toward Luke. "Really, has he ever, in his teen-aged to young adult life, needed me?"

"You know he has."

"He sure has a funny way of showing it," Liz snapped. "He yells, he cuts me off and when he's not doing that, he's..."

"Being Jess."

She sighed. "Just gimme a hug and a kiss g'bye and I'll be out of your hair."

"You're his mother."

"He's a big boy," Liz replied. "He doesn't need me. He doesn't want me around."

"What ever happened to wanting him?" Luke asked. "When you thought he wasn't gonna make it you were there for hours!"

"Well, he's fine now. He can take care of himself."

Luke shook his head. "You are unbelievable."

"Fine!" Liz yelled. "I'm unbelievable! I'm a bad mother and I'm irresponsible and I'm a screw-up."

"Liz, I never-"

"You didn't have to," Liz replied. "I have to go. TJ's waiting for me."

He sighed and hugged her. "Call?"

She nodded and hugged back. "I will."

"Visit?"

"We'll see."

He nodded and let her go, watching her walk down the stairs. He looked out the window, and watched her leave the diner and hop into an old car, where TJ was waiting behind the wheel.

*****

"So, Jimmy left?"

Jess nodded. "Jimmy left."

"Thank god," Luke replied, leaning back in his chair next to Jess's bed.

Jess didn't reply.

Luke cleared his throat. "So..."

"So."

"They're gonna let you outta here soon."

"Yup."

"Any idea where you're gonna go?" Luke asked.

"Not a one."

Luke sighed as they sat in silence.

"If... if you wanted to come back... I know you hate Stars Hollow, but... just until you find a place of your own..."

"Thanks," Jess nodded. "I might."

Luke nodded back. In Jess-speak 'I might' meant a big, fat 'Yes.' "Well, Rory's spring break is coming up soon, so she'll be around."

Jess nodded.

"I'm sorry Liz left."

"Don't be," Jess replied. "It was inevitable."

Luke sighed. "You're mom's-"

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"Can't wait to get outta here," Jess told his uncle. "I swear to god, when I'm out, I'm gonna eat the biggest burger ever."

"Guess I'll have to stock up on ground beef then," Luke mused.

Jess gave him a smirk. "So how's Nicole?"

Luke shrugged.

"You don't know?"

"Don't know."

"She's your wife."

"She's been busy working," Luke replied. "And I've been worrying about your sorry ass."

"You don't have to," Jess told him. "You know that."

Luke pushed his head playfully and got to his feet. "Shut up. I gotta get going for the dinner rush. We'll talk more later."

******

A Week and a half later...

"Mom!"

"Yes, Sweets?!"

"I have 'My Boyfriend's Back' stuck in my head!"

Lorelei snickered as she applied her make-up in the upstairs bathroom of her home. She loved her daughter, and she loved it that Rory was home for spring break. She also loved it that Rory was so excited about Jess finally being released from the hospital. He'd taken his own sweet time in getting better, but it had finally happened, and it relieved Lorelei to no end to see her daughter so happy.

"Don't worry!" Lorelei called. "We'll listen to Bowie in the car, you'll be fine!"

Rory smiled at her mother's response and plopped down on the couch. They were getting ready to go to Luke's for coffee. And Jess. Well, not so much her mother for the Jess part. She hadn't seen him since before Yale had let out for break, and that had been days ago. For some reason, going days without seeing Jess seemed to feel like going months.

She got up and hopped up and down at the foot of the stairs. "Mom!"

"Coming!"

"Coffee! Jess!"

"Coming!"

*****

The usual crowd was gathered at Luke's that morning, and most of them were giving sideways glances to Jess as he limped around the diner, serving people their food, cleaning tables, and the usual diner chores.

He still hated Stars Hollow with a passion.

He sighed and looked around from behind the counter. "The prodigal son has returned," he muttered darkly.

No one had actually said much to him, other than a few muttered "Thank you's" for his services. It didn't surprise him.

"You couldn't just stay in your coma?"

Jess rolled his eyes at Dean's voice. "Go away."

"I have an order."

"Good, go shove it up your-"

Luke yanked Jess away from the counter. "Go clean something. I got it, Dean."

Jess and Dean gave each other the meanest of glares and Jess limped over to a table and began to wipe it with a bleach rag.

"Gimpy," Dean muttered.

Jess scowled. "Can still kick the crap out of you, you pansy-assed mother-"

"Jess, clean!"

Lorelei and Rory walked into the diner, chattering happily, and Rory stopped and smiled when she saw Jess.

Lorelei went straight to the counter. "Coffee."

"Hi, Lorelei," Dean said.

"Hi, Dean," she replied pleasantly. And then she thought a moment. Dean. Jess. Rory.

Jess leaned in to kiss Rory, but Luke put a stop to it.

"No lips in my diner!"

Jess rolled his eyes. "Prude," he muttered. He raised an eyebrow at Rory. "I have a book for you."

She smiled. "Really?"

He nodded. "It's upstairs."

"Yeah?"

He nodded again. "Yeah. Wanna come get it?"

She nodded. "Sure."

He hobbled behind the counter and up the stairs and Rory followed him.

Dean shook his head. He couldn't believe that after all Jess had put her through, Rory had taken him back. Hell, he couldn't believe Jess was back at all.

God help Stars Hollow.