(Quick Recap: Last chapter we saw Luke and Lorelai run Jason off, Lorelai ran to Luke once again and again, and Rory had a surprising phone conversation....let's see where this one takes us, shall we?)(quick disclaimer: none of these characters are mine.)

Chapter 6: A New Day Brings New Confrontations....

6:00 AM ... the next morning...

Jess Mariano pulled off the very familiar tree-lined exit in Connecticut as he struggled to keep himself awake. He had to be alert today, of all days.

Her call last night was surprising. Why did she choose him? Questions flew through his tired mind as he tried to stay calm as well as awake. He knew that his questions probably wouldn't be answered soon or easily. Especially where Rory Gilmore was involved.

The last time he had seen her she had coldly rejected him. He was angry, but after some thought, he figured he had deserved it. After all, he had run off on her too many times in the past to really, truly deserve her trust. But now, she was calling on him. Jess wondered if they could ever make this work. He still loved her with all his heart. The main question on his mind was just how to prove this to her.

Jess: (thinking out loud) "Well, maybe this is my chance..."

His thoughts drifted off to that of Dean and what he would like to do to him for making Rory cry so much last night. He wondered if he knew what pain he had caused for Rory. He wondered what could have possibly gone through his mind to think he could have it all. After all, he was already married.

Suddenly, he was staring straight into the eyes of the target of his thoughts. Stopped at the red light in front of Luke's Diner, there he was. Thinking out loud again, Jess swore under his breath: What the hell is he doing?

He didn't have time to go through with his thoughts though because suddenly Dean was at his window.

Dean: "What the hell are you doing here?"

Jess: "It doesn't concern you," he retorted, hoping Dean would just walk away.

But Dean had his feet planted on the ground. Obviously, he wasn't going anywhere.

Dean: "She's not home, you know. Well, where is she? I know you know. Why else would you be in this town?"

Jess: "You really don't know when to stop, do you? You think I would tell you, even if I did know? Go home Dean. I'm not going to fight you today." Despite the angry thoughts going through his head, he was too tired to do anything about it this early in the morning.

At that moment, the light changed to green and Jess quickly accelerated and sped off, in the direction of The Dragonfly Inn.

Dean was left staring into the distance. He couldn't believe it. He thought he was finally getting Rory back. He meant it when he said he would divorce Lindsay. He knew that he had made a mistake the night before, but in his mind, it was the best possible mistake he could have made.

Meanwhile back at the inn...

Luke had awoken at 5:00 AM, even though he had already arranged for Caesar to open up the diner this morning and he knew Lane would be around to the diner soon for her shift. The diner was in good hands. Nevertheless, he was still awake. He figured it was just out of habit. He had been gazing intently at the woman beside him, still asleep. She looked so peaceful. Of course, he well knew that if he tried to wake her, there would erupt a string of torments. He smiled. Of course, that didn't bother him. Lorelai Gilmore had never bothered him. In fact, he anticipated each and every visit that he had ever received from her. Every discussion or argument that they had ever shared was full of passion and the only fear in Luke's heart was that he might never get the chance to tell her just how he felt about her.

Slowly, he traced his finger over her smooth cheekbone, being careful not to wake her up. He shuddered recalling the joy that he felt at having been able to hold her in his arms all night.

Lorelai felt the soft touch of a man's finger tracing her jaw bone. Reveling in the sparks that shot through her, she kept her eyes closed, enjoying every touch. She never knew she could feel such sheer joy just in being next to a man. Luke had been so great to her last night. Just his very presence had been such a comfort to her. She remembered the kisses that they had shared and smiled. Opening her eyes very slowly, she brought her hand up to meet his. They touched hands momentarily before speaking.

Luke: "Good morning, sleeping beauty. What are you doing awake so early?"

Lorelai smiled. "That is what I was going to ask you. Someone brushed a very masculine hand along my jaw. I figured it was Harrison Ford again, and I was just about to tell him that it can never be. I found someone else..."

Luke (suppressing a light laugh): "Oh yeah? Him again? Won't he ever leave?"

Lorelai: "I am a wanted woman, you know."

Luke: "I know it all to well... So who is this man you have found?"

Lorelai reached up, cupped his strong cheek bones in her hands and slowly lowered his lips onto hers, completing a passionately full morning kiss.

Lorelai: "Does that answer your question?"

Luke (smiling now more than ever): "I believe it does."

In the room next door...

Rory was just waking up from a very fitful last couple hours worth of sleep. After falling exhausted onto the bed last night, she had awoken every hour and struggled to get back to sleep.

She had finally decided around 6:00 AM to just get up and get ready for whatever the day brought. She wondered if Jess was really coming to Stars Hollow and if so, when she would see him. It was so late when they had talked. Surely, he would call her today when he woke up to let her know. After a hot shower and throwing on some jeans and a light cotton sweater, she went downstairs to see if Sookie needed any help with breakfast. She needed to be around someone who did not know what happened last night.

Sookie was just entering the back door of the kitchen when Rory walked in. It looked to Sookie that she had just had a rough night and concern suddenly overtook her face.

Rory (trying hard to be bright and cheery, with little success): "Hi Sookie. Need any help this morning?"

Sookie (with concern): "Hi sweetie. Are you okay?"

Rory (frustrated that someone noticed her pain): "I'm good. Did you hear about mom and Luke?" She desperately wished that this would take the focus off of her.

Sookie (looked up from her food preparations): Your mom and Luke? Sookie asked increduously...

Rory (smiling, now that the focus was on her mom): "Yeah, they are together right now."

Sookie (smiling): "I'll have to get that news when she gets down here. Now, about that look on your face...."

Rory: "Uh, I think I hear something, see you later Sookie!" And with that Rory dashed from the kitchen, through the dining room and out the front doors only to run face into ....

Jess: "Woh there, slow down, where's the fire?"

Rory (looking up in surprise): "Wh-What? I mean - I was expect... Jess! You must have driven all night!"

Jess: "Not all night. Only a couple hours."

Rory: "But...what...I....."

Jess (cutting her off): "Let's get inside so I can hear exactly what you need to talk about, guiding her back into the inn."

At that very moment, Lorelai was emerging from the room she just shared with Luke and thought she heard a very familiar (though not always welcome) male voice....

Standing at the top of the stairs, she saw the source of the voice. Jess. Holding Rory's hand. What on earth was going on here? Could things get even crazier?

(A/N Okay, I am really liking these cliffhangers. I never really knew how to write them. If it isn't working, let me know. I don't know where this story line is going, but I am loving every minute of writing it. It may be time to change my profession to writer since I am loving it so much. Okay, so comments would be great, even thoughts on where you might like it to go....it might inspire my imagination a little more....thanks for continuing to read my work!!!)