I'm pleased as Patty's Founder's Day punch that you guys like this story so much. I love your reviews…Gratzie!

Here's a new chapter for you. It's a lot more dialogue than I'm use to…I hope you enjoy!

Jeeze…

"Your mother is insane!" Luke declared while handing a dripping wet plate to Lorelai. She gladly accepted, dried it off vigorously with a dishtowel, and set it in the rack.

The night had started off fine enough. Emily's one comment about the front walk had been the only negative thing to come out of her mouth for the first half hour or so. That was until she let her tongue loose and laid into Jess.

Jess…

Who she hadn't seen in years but still had the same distain for as she did when she first met him.

Jess…

Who sat there, and took it like a man.

He endured pain equal to that of which he put Luke, Lorelai, and Rory through. But Emily yelling at him in such a manner was more punishment than the others would and could allow.

"You Scoundrel! You take off on the girl you were with without so much as a word. How could you do such a thing? Do you know how much that hurts?"

Here we go…

Lorelai looked up from her hands in shock.

"Don't make this about me mother!" She spat angrily.

"Bud out Lorelai, please."

I gotta do something…

Luke put up two hands in attempt to end the discussion.

"Please can we not do this, here or now? We can discuss the past at a better time. Maybe when we're not in such a delicate situation." Luke pleaded and begged for an ending but Emily gave him a glare that read nothing but 'no' and proceeded with the flogging.

At least I tried.

"What? Are we suppose to discuss this over Sunday Tea? This conversation to me is an appropriate dinner discussion. Especially since this boy will probably take off before morning!"

Richard interjected.

"Maybe we can confer in a more calm and rational manner, Emily. The boy obviously doesn't respond to yelling."

This is not good.

Everyone seemed to sigh at the same moment.

A long silence fell over the table.

What are we suppose to do? Pull a Kathy Bates in 'Misery'? Tie him to the bed? Hobble him? Maybe cut out his tongue…Jeeze.

"I don't blame you for hating me, or not trusting me. What I did was undoubtedly wrong and careless, but it's in the past and…and I can tell you that of everything I've done, everywhere I've been, leaving Stars Hollow is the one thing I truly regret. But I've changed and so has everyone at this table. You can't dwell on what has past. It'll just make you miserable. Believe me I know from experience...I'm really sorry you can't move on, but for your family's sake…I pray to god that you do. Excuse me, I have to use the restroom." Jess threw his napkin on the table and stomped out of the room.

Whoa…

"That boy…" Emily started when Rory stood up.

"Has gone through a lot! You have no idea what he's done or about his family. If Luke, mom, and I can forgive him, so can you grandma." She takes a deep breath, "I need some fresh air."

She pushed her way out of the room ignoring the pleas from Emily and Lorelai.

I've never seen Rory stand up to her grandparents before, and all for Jess?

Soon the four adults left at the table heard the front door slam shut.

"I hope you two are happy." Lorelai stated looking across the table at her parents in disgust.

"Now honestly Lorelai, that boy has been nothing but trouble."

Lorelai stood up, hands on the table, a serious look in her eyes.

"Dinner is finished. I think it's time you two headed home."

"Lorelai…" Richard began.

Lorelai shook her head.

"Dad please we're all tired and angry, I think it's best we end the night here."

Yep, I concur.

Luke stood up and placed a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"I agree. We'll try this again next week."

The grandparents stood up and left without goodbyes.

Well, that was fun.

"I have to admit Jess handled himself really well tonight." Lorelai said placing another dish in to the rack.

"Yeah, he did. He's not still in the bathroom is he? You know dinner with the Elder Gilmore's can do that to a man. Instant indigestion."

Lorelai laughed for the first time since her parents had left and it make Luke feel more wonderful than he thought possible.

Now that's the Lorelai I know and love.

"He and Rory are on the porch talking."

Luke gave her a shocked look.

"Really?" He asked incredulously.

Wow…

"Yep." She nodded throwing the dishtowel over he shoulder before facing him.

"Huh…That's the first time…"

"They've talked alone, I know."

This is good, really, really good.

They both had hidden grins at the corners of their mouths while possibilities raced through their minds.

Happy…together?

Both Rory and Jess sat out on the porch steps looking out over the town. They still hadn't said anything but "hi" since Jess joined her on the step. Finally after minutes of silence, Rory spoke up.

"Sorry about my grandparents. You really don't deserve that." She confessed shuffling her feet against the pavement.

"It's all right and I did deserve it."

Rory began to reject but Jess held up his hand and stopped her.

"No. Don't say that I didn't, I did. Since I got here, I never really had the chance to talk to you."

"Jess it's fine…"

"No I…Just let me tell you." He paused searching for theright words."I'm sorry for everything. For when we were dating and I wasn't all there, then when I left, then when I asked you to leave school to go away with me. I'm just….I'm really sorry, Rory. I hate that I hurt you so much." He regarded her seriously, gazed into her eyes directly, sending his point home.

"I forgive you, Jess." She leaned into him for a moment before sitting back up and looking down the street.

"Rory?" He whispered.

She faced him and all the emotions she had felt in the past came flooding back to her.

"Hmm?"

Jess took her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"Thank you."

She looked at him perplexed and wide eyed.

"For what?"

"For the past…"

It slowly dawned on her. She remembered the bridge, Sookie's wedding, every kiss, every touch, laugh, every emotion he had made her feel, and when she turned to face him, her eyes were glossy and reflective and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

She chuckled breathlessly.

"Your welcome."

"So, he leaves tomorrow night?" Lorelai inquired.

She and Luke were sitting on the couch. She on one end he on the other. Her feet were in his hands as he kneaded each one.

"Yeah, he has some stuff to do before school on Monday." Lorelai moaned as he hit a tense place in her arch. He pushed harder. She sighed content with his actions.

"I'm sorry." She declared.

Huh?

"Why?" Luke asked quite confused by her statement.

"I know that you'll miss him." She explained closing her eyes, fatigue taking over her body and mind.

"Yeah, I will…but this time it's not goodbye. This time it's different."

Different…

A/N: Well, how'd you like that one? There is going to be one more chapter. It'll be pretty long I'm sure. I wish this one had a little more to it but I didn't have the time or energy to make it that meaty. I promise more with the next one! Unfortunately I have work to attend tonight so then next chapter wont be up until Tuesday night/ Wednesday afternoon. One or the other! I hope you enjoyed this chapter but please keep all hands, feet, and loose objects inside the chair until the fan fiction is at a complete stop. Thank you and please read "Disappointed" again!

Don't have any cases of the Mondays!

Rusty