Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it. Any original characters (ahem, Claire) and most of the plot belong to me, but everything else is stuff I only wish I could take credit for.

A/N: Wow. Over two hundred reviews. You guys rock hardcore. Well, I've had a very Gilmore-centric spring break. I got season two on DVD and it's inspired me to both make some LJ icons and work on this story. But alas, spring break is coming to an end, so we'll have to leave it to your reviews to inspire me. ) Oh, Utopian, you read my mind about what was going to happen in this chapter, and I was SO tempted to call the chapter 'Dry County' but I went with 'The Price of Love' instead. Gotta pay homage to the old-school bon jovi.

Chapter 13: The Price of Love

"Rory." Lorelai said into the phone.

"Mom?" Rory asked, wiping her wet eyes. She sat up in her bed. She hadn't heard from her mother since their fight.

"Rory, first of all I owe you an apology. I overreacted to the situation with Jess. You're in love, and I have to respect that. Jess may not be my favorite person, but I know you love him."

"What brought this on?" Rory asked, fighting a fresh batch of tears at her mother's words.

"Jess came to see me a few days ago, ready to fight me for your honor, or something." Lorelai revealed.

"What?" Rory yelped. "Jess went to Stars Hollow? He came to see you?"

"Yeah." Lorelai said, smiling at her daughter's shock. Jess hadn't even told her about it. He had done it for her and had no desire to inform her of his good deed. "He really loves you, kid. I get that now."

"Mom…" Rory started.

"Hey, next time you talk to him, tell him that the passage really hit home. He'll know what that means." Lorelai said, not letting her daughter finish her sentence.

"Well, you'll probably talk to him before I will." Rory said bitterly.

"So you really did break it off with him." Lorelai said, nodding to herself.

"You know about that?" Rory asked, shocked.

"Jess was on the phone with Luke, and they filled me in. Not everyone's as adamant about keeping me out of the loop as you are." Lorelai said.

"Mom…I'm sorry." Rory said honestly.

Lorelai laughed and said, "Don't apologize. You're growing up, and you have nothing to be sorry for. But sweetie, are you sure you did the right thing by breaking up with Jess?"

Rory's jaw dropped. "I can't believe those words just came out of your mouth."

"Strike it up to insanity. You're avoiding the question." Lorelai accused, prompting her daughter to answer her question.

Rory sighed. "I can't be with him, mom. He lost his virginity to his best friend, who he lives with. You should see them together, mom. You'd think they were a couple."

"They aren't though, darling. They're friends. It's you that he loves." Lorelai said, trying to reassure her child.

"Mom, you and Luke were friends way before you fell in love. You watched each other go through tons of relationships-."

"I don't appreciate your use of the word 'tons.'" Lorelai interjected.

"And you ended up together. Two best friends turned lovers." Rory continued, ignoring her mother's interruption.

"Baby, that's not how it happens every time!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Listen to you defending him! He comes and picks a fight with you and all of a sudden you're his best friend?" Rory cried, frustrated.

"I despise Jess." Lorelai said, but it didn't carry as much conviction as it usually did. "But the boy is crazy in love with you. Now I've never met this girl-."

"Claire." Rory cut in softly. "Her name is Claire."

"Claire." Lorelai repeated. "I've never met Claire, but I know you, and I know Jess, and he loves you. Honestly, I've never seen someone with so much love in their eyes. Isn't that enough?" Lorelai asked.

"No." Rory said simply. "It isn't. Mom, they used to have sex because it was a 'good way to pass the time.' Those were Jess's words. What if they decide it's still a good way to pass the time. I won't let him get the chance to break my heart. I've had enough of that."

Lorelai smirked. She'd expected nothing less from her daughter. "I can't make you do anything you don't want to do, but I hope you know that I think you're overreacting. Oh! I sent you a package. It'll be there tomorrow."

"OK…" Rory said, confused.

"I hope you like it. I think you will." Lorelai said. "I've gotta go though. Love ya, kiddo."

"Yeah, love you too."


Rory woke up to the sound of the doorbell ringing. She stumbled out of her bed and opened the door widely. There was a delivery man standing there, holding a very large box wrapped in plain brown paper.

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore?" He questioned, looking at his clipboard.

Rory yawned and nodded. The man put the package on the ground and handed her the clipboard. She sleepily signed her signature, or something resembling her signature, and handed it back. The delivery man smiled at her. "Have a good day, ma'am."

Rory watched him leave before lifting up the large, heavy box. She made it into the living room before she had to put the box down again. She sat down on the floor and tore frantically at the brown paper. She pushed it aside, revealing a large, slightly battered cardboard box. Rory tilted her head to the side, still very confused. She used her fingernails to remove the tape that was sealing the box shut. She sat up on her knees and opened the flaps.

Rory gasped as she saw the contents of the box. It was her Jess box. She'd forgotten all about it. It was huge, and filled with so many things. Rory pulled out the dress she wore to Sookie's wedding, when she'd kissed him for the first time. She put it down and pulled out more articles of clothing she'd been wearing at different times she'd kissed him. She took out her hospital bracelet from when they'd gotten into that accident. She pulled out the copy of Othello she'd been reading to him that night, and the pad that he'd written lyrics to Guns at Brixton on. She pulled out over a dozen books, all with his handwriting in the margins. She pulled out CDs, the earplugs from the Distillers concert, the ticket from the show, and the T-shirt he'd bought her. Her bus ticket from when she'd visited him in New York came out next, followed by the Almost Famous DVD. She pulled out a few more books, seven more CDS, and a blue sweater that he loved. She pulled out a long-sleeved, button-down shirt that he'd given her once when she was cold, and the strawberry lip-gloss he loved. She pulled out a blanket they'd sat on during their many dates on the bridge, and her picnic basket. Inside the picnic basket she found even more CDs.Finally, she pulled out a framed picture of the two of them. It was the only picture of them as a couple that existed, and Dave had taken it while the two sat and watched the band practice. She was in her Chilton uniform, and Jess had his arm draped around her shoulders casually. They were looking at each other, and they looked very happy.

Rory was in tears as she put the photograph down. She looked around the living room, and saw that she was surrounded by memories of her and Jess. Making that box had hurt so badly, and she really didn't want to make another one. She wanted to still be in love with Jess.

Sniffing, Rory looked into the box and saw that there was one more item in there. It was a copy of Adam Bede, but Rory didn't know why it was in there. She picked it up, and saw a train ticket marking a page. She opened it and saw an underlined passage. She read it, and knew it was what her mother had been referring to last night. He had showed that passage to her mother because he loved her that much, and wanted Lorelai to know that she was being foolish in being mad at her daughter. The tears were falling and Rory was having trouble breathing. She loved him. She didn't want this to be over anymore than he did. But she felt so hurt and so afraid.

So what could she possibly do?


Claire walked into Jess's bedroom, carrying two cups of coffee, to see Jess lying in his bed, writing on a notepad.

"What are you doing?" She questioned, slipping next to him and handing him a mug. She looked down at what he was writing. The top of the page read 'BIG IDEAS TO GET RORY BACK,', but the page was full of doodles and scribbles. There were no actual thoughts anywhere on the page.

"I have no idea what to do." Jess said, tossing the pencil down and taking a long sip of his coffee. "I pretty much depleted my 'big gesture bin' when I went to see her mom, who seems to think that something huge is the only way I'll get Rory back."

Claire smiled sympathetically. "You'll figure something out, sweetie."

Jess sighed. "Yeah. I hope so."

In the other room, the phone rang. Both Claire and Jess looked at each other and made no effort to move, silently accepting that the machine would pick it up. Jess had given up on Rory calling him, and didn't really care who else called.

"Jess, it's Rory. If you're screening, pick up now."

Jess dropped his coffee mug on the bed, spilling the brown liquid all over his sheets. He was off the bed in a shot, and he practically dove on the phone. "Rory? I'm here."

"Oh." Rory said quietly. "I was about to hang up. Hi."

"Hi."

"I've been thinking, and I want to make this work." Rory said, still talking quietly.

"I want to make it work too, Rory. I love you so much." Jess said desperately.

"Yes, I know." Rory said stoically, thankful Jess couldn't see her smile. "Do you want to meet me at Café Del Sol and talk about it?" Rory asked, toying with the old hospital bracelet.

"You know I do."

"OK. Meet me there in an hour." Rory said, hanging up without saying goodbye.

Jess hung up the phone and turned to face Claire, who was stripping his bed of the dirty sheets. "She wants to meet and talk. Maybe I won't need to make the big gesture after all."

Claire smiled sadly at Jess's naivety. "Yeah. Maybe."


Jess stood immediately when he saw Rory enter the café. "Hey."

"Hi." Rory said, slipping into the seat across from Jess. There was a cup of coffee waiting for her. Rory looked at it for a moment, and then pushed it away.

"You're saying no to coffee?" Jess asked, shocked.

"It does happen now and again." Rory snapped, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I guess." Jess said. "I've missed you."

"I know." Rory said. "I missed you too."

The statement brought a hint of a smile to Jess's face, which Rory quickly wiped away.

"Don't smile like that." Rory snapped. "You have no right to smile."

Jess let the smile fall from his face. "Sorry. I have a lot to be sorry for."

"Yes." Rory agreed, nodding. "You do."

"Sleeping with Claire isn't one of those things." Jess finished, looking Rory directly in the eye.

Rory took in a sharp breath, and stood. "This was a mistake."

"Sit down. Please." Jess said, pleading. "Just for a minute. Let me talk?"

Rory looked at the pleading look in Jess's eyes, and slid back into her seat. "Say what you want to say."

"Alright." Jess said, taking a breath. "I slept with Claire even though we were only friends. The keywords there are 'only friends.' I have never in my entire life ever felt anything for Claire other the friendship. I've never wanted to date her, and after a certain time, I never wanted to sleep with her again. Do you know what happened to make that happen?"

Rory shook her head, even though she thought that she did know the answer.

"You, Rory. I met you, and I never wanted to touch Claire again. I met you and I fell in love." Jess said, reaching for her hand. She pulled her hand away, but didn't look away.

"I slept with her the first time because she didn't want to go to NYU a virgin, and because she was gorgeous and my best friend. We did it a few more times because we were lonely. Then I met you, and I knew that if we were ever going to be together then I couldn't keep doing that. I knew that the friends with benefits thing would never fly with you. So I stopped sleeping with her. And I've never regretted it. Neither has she. She's my best friend, Rory. You're the woman I love." Jess let out his long speech quickly, not looking away from Rory's eyes.

Rory sighed. "Are you done?"

Jess shook his head. "Almost. I love you. I've always loved you. You are the only woman I have ever been in love with. I hope that means something to you."

Rory nodded slowly. "It does. OK, it's my turn to talk."

She stared at Jess for a long, painful moment before she began. "OK. When you told me about the five other girls, I was a little upset. Sex is so intimate to me, and you've had sex with five girls who you haven't been in love with. But I know I can't judge you on that, because I had sex with Dean and I don't love him. I mean, yes, I thought I did. But I don't. That isn't the point right now though. So, I can learn to handle that. But Claire, Jess. You used to have sex with Claire just because it was something to do. That's tough to deal with. She's your best friend. You live with her. You live with a girl you used to have sex with for fun. Throw into that mix the fact that you two act like a couple. You laugh and you share jokes and you talk about books and music. She wakes you up for work, and she helps you pay rent. She kisses you goodbye when she leaves, Jess. And that painting of you. God, that damn painting. You two act more like you're dating than you and I ever did." Rory finished, staring at her hands.

"Rory, I can understand why you're so afraid. I remember feeling the same way when you and Dean hung out. But you don't have to be afraid. That's just how Claire and I are. It's how we've always been."

Rory nodded, still intently gazing at her hands. "I know that, Jess. Really, I do. And I want you to know that I would never, ever ask you to stop being friends with her."

Jess tilted his head to the side. The thought that she'd ask for that had never even crossed his mind. Fortunately though, it didn't look like he'd have to worry about that.

"I want you to move out of that apartment." Rory stated firmly, looking him directly in the eyes.

Jess's eyes got wide. "I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard me." Rory said. "I want you to move out. I can't be with you while you're living there. I won't."

"Are you serious?" Jess asked, his mind spinning.

"Consider me a heart attack." Rory said dryly.

"You're giving me an ultimatum." Jess said, baffled.

"If that's how you want to look at it." Rory said with a shrug.

"Move out of Claire's or we're breaking up." Jess stated, making sure he was correct in the things he'd heard.

"That's what I'm telling you." Rory said, nodding. She folded her arms across her chest again and said, "What's your answer?"

Jess's head snapped up to look at her. "I have to decide this minute? Rory, this is huge! If I move out of Claire's, I'm homeless. Do you realize that? I can't afford my own apartment. I can barely afford my half of the rent at Claire's. Do you think any other roommate would be so accommodating? Do you think anyone else is gonna help me out when I can't make rent?" Jess demanded.

"I can appreciate that, Jess. But if you really love me, you'll do it."

It was a card that Rory had never played before, and Jess was taken aback by the statement. He stared at her quietly for a long moment. "Rory, I do love you. This is a decision I'm going to have to think about though."

Rory nodded and stood. "My grandmother is coming up in two weeks to finish out the summer with me. By the time she gets here, I want to know whether to tell her I have a boyfriend, or if I should tell her to feel free to set me up."

Jess nodded absentmindedly, standing up. "Two weeks." He agreed.

Rory hesitated, then turned away without saying anything. Jess stood shocked for a moment, then sat back down with his coffee to think things through.


It was two in the morning when Jess stumbled into the apartment. He skulked in quietly, but then forgot himself and slammed the door behind him. As if that didn't provide enough noise, the broken door fell off its hinges, landing loudly on the floor. Jess stared at it for a moment, then began laughing hysterically. He laughed so hard that he fell down on his butt, laughing the whole time.

Claire rubbed sleep out of her eyes as she walked towards Jess. "Jess? What are you doing?"

Jess looked up at her with an uncharacteristically huge smile. "Breaking things and ruining my life!" He exclaimed, falling backwards on the floor.

"You little deviant. Are you drunk?" Claire asked, standing above Jess's head.

Jess shrugged, a motion that was awkward from his position. "Probably. But I don't think I'm slurring my words, so I can't be too drunk. Am I slurring?"

"Not noticeably." Claire said, sitting down next to Jess. "Where did they serve you?"

"Charley's." Jess responded. "And then at Molly McGuire's. God bless the fake ID."

"You still have that thing?" Claire asked, running a hand over Jess's hair.

"I didn't even realize I did. Found it in my wallet." Jess murmured, closing his eyes.

"Peace talks with Israel didn't go so well?" Claire asked.

Jess shook his head. "Well, she wants to get back together."

Claire cocked her head to the side, "…And you got drunk because you were that happy?"

Jess laughed loudly. "Funny girl. Such a funny girl."

"Well, thanks. I'll be here all year."

"Yeah," Jess muttered, "but I won't be."

"What are you talking about?" Claire asked, looking down at Jess.

"Rory had a prerequisite to our reconciliation." Jess said, and it was followed by a large belch.

"Wow. That was hot, and leave it to you to use those huge words while you're plastered." Claire said, still running her hand over his hair.

"Rory's making me move out." Jess said simply, trying to sit up. "Whoa, room's spinning." He lay back down.

"What?" Claire yelped. "What are you talking about?"

"If I want her back, I have to become homeless. There's a really shitty shelter about three blocks away. I could live there. But I think they kick you out after like three months. Stupid assholes. No respect for us homeless folk." Jess ranted, his words slurring together.

"Alright, now you're slurring." Claire said. "And making no sense at all."

"Well, I'm apparently very drunk." Jess said matter-of-factly.

Claire smirked. "You sure as hell smell like it."

Jess laughed. "Yeah. Liquor leaves a stench. Aftertaste too. It's kinda groovy."

Claire raised an eyebrow. "Groovy?"

"A highly underused word." Jess stated.

Claire laughed. "Indeed it is, darling. Tell me what Rory said."

"Who knows?" Jess asked. "Oh wait, yeah. I do know. She said that if I loved her, I'll move out of here."

"Oh." Claire said, her mind working quickly. "Well, that's interesting."

"Yeah." Jess said. "I'm gonna pass out now."

"Alright, baby. You do that." Claire said quietly, still thinking.