Author: Lady Eliza
Characters: All Characters
Rating: T
Summary: Total AU Rory and Logan Spoiler Warning
Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters.
AN: I apologize again for updating the ficquite late, but there seems to be a new format for updating stories and it is rather confusing. Anyways thank youto all myreviewers for theirwonderful feedback.There seems to be consensus when it comes to the sequel and basically there is going to be one, but I'm not sure when I willsubmit the first chapter. But in the mean time I haveuploaded my Trory fic it's called 'HoldingOut Hope' so check it out if you have time. As for Rory and Logan's wedding I always said I would finish this fic with them gettingmarried and thats exactly what's going to happen.Pleasecontinue to review.
Chapter 44: Anniversary Celebration
Jess was woken up early since his mother and T.J.'s crazy friends from the Renaissance Fair arrived at the break of dawn. He was designated to talk to everyone and make them feel at home. He would've liked to be anywhere else at that moment including working for Luke at the diner, but he hadn't said anything since he knew his mother would be upset when she found his note tomorrow morning telling her of his departure.
He wasn't one to leave a battle that was being fought, it was quite the metaphor to use but that was how Jess saw it, he had no choice in the matter since he was effectively being blackmailed. He had tried to find a way to stay put in Stars Hollow and pursue a relationship with Rory, but there was no way around it, he had to leave.
He wished he didn't have to throw in the towel as of yet, but he was trying to be the better man in this by complying with the threat. Jess didn't want the video to get to Preston Cromwell since that would ruin his marriage to Theresa and put their kids in the middle of a bitter custody battle. He was trying to think of all the parties involved and be the hero.
Jess was a little irritated that Lorelai had helped Elias. He had thought that him being Luke's nephew held some weight but apparently the Gilmore's only looked out for themselves and their rich friends. He hated how the wealthy could control him by blackmailing him into doing things their way. He would somehow make them pay for what they were making him do.
"Jess can you go to the diner and pick up our order for breakfast?" asked Liz who had poked her head from the kitchen.
"Sure," replied Jess.
She handed him the money and he walked the few blocks to his uncle's diner. He thought about seeing Rory, Logan, and Lorelai this very evening and he just got upset thinking about it. He didn't want to socialize, but he was doing this whole thing for his mom.
He walked into Luke's and low and behold whom should he see but Lorelai herself sitting at the counter like she didn't have a care in the world. He couldn't believe she had left him no choice but to leave town but she could sit there and pretend like she was doing him a great favour. He stormed up to her and said, "I hope you're happy I'm leaving just like you wanted."
Lorelai who had been enjoying her first cup of coffee that morning was not in the mood to have a confrontation with Jess, but it looked like she had no choice in the matter. "Hello Jess, I see you aren't a morning person."
"Don't act dumb. You know you left me no choice but to leave town when you and Elias Huntzberger decided to get rid of me," said Jess.
"You brought this on yourself, you little punk. Don't try to blame others for your stupidity in pursing my daughter while she was in a committed relationship with someone. Are you that desperate that you only go after women that are unavailable to you?" asked Lorelai.
"Oh yeah, like you would know about being in a committed relationship. I bet you that you will dump my uncle in a few months because you can't handle being in a serious relationship that would lead to other things. God forbid you think of marriage and kids."
"You know nothing of my life nor do you have anything to do with my relationships. I have problems with relationships I will be the first one to admit that, but you can't seem to find a woman that isn't already attached to another man. You are pathetic."
"Oh please you don't know the first thing about me so don't judge me. You and your partner in crime had to sink as low as blackmailing me to get rid of me. How do you look at yourself in the mirror?"
"Just fine thanks. What about you?"
Jess paused; she had him there. He couldn't look himself in the mirror after Luke had lectured him on the consequences to his and Theresa's relationship. He had actually thought about her kids and what the fallout from the affair would have on them. That was one of the major factors in his decision to leave. "I fine looking in a mirror," he lied.
"I don't want talk to you so go away," said Lorelai.
"Well, whatever the little princess wants," taunted Jess.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Lorelai.
"You act like super mom that did everything on your own, but in reality you were handed things on a silver platter. You bought your house using the money you received from your trust fund. You let your parent's pay for Rory's education, at both Chilton and at Yale. And you are worth a quarter of a billion dollars. So tell me Lorelai how does it feel like to pretend you've earned everything thing in your life when in reality you've just been handed things."
Lorelai was shocked into silence for about thirty seconds before she blew up at the damn bastard. "My financial situation is none of your business, but let me tell you something Jess, green does not flatter you. I worked hard for where I am at this point in my life and I refuse to let a brat child like you try to make it sound so blasé. You have no idea about the things I went through and you should be lucky if you were in the exact same predicament as me you would've just jumped ship. You are weak Jess and you pray on others for your own personal satisfaction and one day soon you're going get yours and I hope to god I'm around to see that."
"Your going to get yours that's for sure," said Jess mysteriously.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?" asked Lorelai.
"You'll see. Now I have to go and please don't come say goodbye to me since I never want to see your face again," said Jess.
"Right back at ya," said Lorelai.
Jess went behind the counter and yelled, "Caesar is the food ready yet? I have such dismal company out here."
Lorelai was heading out the door when he said that, so she turned around gave him the finger and walked out the door. Yeah Jess sure had pissed off a lot of people since his return to Stars Hollow.
Jimmy Mariano and Sacha Chancellor had just arrived in Stars Hollow and they were headed to Liz and T.J.'s place. Jimmy had been hesitant about coming but Liz had talked him into it. Sacha was nervous because this was the first time she would be meeting Liz.
The couple had left Sacha's daughter with a neighbour in Venice beach since the little girl had refused to leave the house. They hadn't heard from Jess in a while and they hoped he wasn't getting into any trouble.
When Jimmy and Sacha arrived in front of Liz's house the party seemed to have started already. There were women dressed in medieval period outfits sitting on the front lawn, men in tights speaking in old English conversing on the front porch and a merriment that seemed to spread from one individual to the next.
"And they thought Venice beach is weird, this place has got us beat," commented Sacha.
"Yeah, Liz and T.J. sure do know how to pick their friends don't they?" asked Jimmy.
Before Sacha could answer Liz knocked on the car window that was closed. Jimmy opened it and said, "Lizzy long time no see."
"Yeah, Jimbo it sure has," said Liz, then she focused her attention on Jimmy's guest. "And you must be Sacha. I'm Liz and it's great to finally meet you. I've heard great things about you."
"Thank you. I've heard many nice things about you as well. I hope we aren't too early in coming here," asked Sacha.
"Oh don't you worry about a thing. Our friends from the Renaissance Fair circuit arrived earlier today and we had to get Jess out of bed real early to go get breakfast at Luke's," babbled Liz.
"Yeah, he must've hated that," said Sacha.
"Now, come on you two, can't stay in the car forever," said Liz then bounded to the grass to have a chat with the women sitting there.
Sacha turned to Jimmy and said, "Jimbo?"
"Don't ask," said Jimmy.
As the couple came out of the car Jess came out of the house and gave the giant man sitting on the stairs a dirty look. "Finally some sane people," said Jess. He came and embraced his father and Sacha.
"How are you kiddo?" asked Sacha as she fixed his collar.
"I'm fine except I feel like I'm the only down to earth person around here. Can you believe that this walking mental institute arrived early in the morning and won't be gone until a week from now," asked Jess.
"I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure they are nice people," said Jimmy trying to be polite.
Jess gave him father a look that simply said 'Yeah right, if you were on something'. He looked around and found his mother on the grass talking to the fair maidens, as they were known. He just gave his father another look and Jimmy sighed.
"Or not," replied Jimmy. That made Jess smile.
Rory and Logan arrived at Liz's anniversary celebration as the party was in full swing. They didn't want to be early, but they had made a promise to show up so that's exactly what they were doing. Rory held onto Logan's hand very tightly. Logan looked at his beautiful fiancé, she was dressed in a black Oscar de la Renta creation, and she looked really nervous.
Logan had reassured her he would be at her side throughout the entire event and Jess would not be able to come near her. He tried to distract her and asked if she was going to do a lot of dancing since her dress had a lot of straps falling freely at the bottom. He hadn't succeeded in distracting her.
"Baby, I'm here you don't have to worry," said Logan.
"Yeah I know that," said Rory. "Oh look, there's mom."
Logan turned just in time to see Lorelai wave at them. He was more comfortable around his future mother-in-law now then he had been when he and Rory had first started dating. As she approached he leaned in and kissed her cheek and shook hands with Luke who was two steps behind her. "Hello Luke, Lorelai, how are the festivities going?"
"They're fine. You missed the village idiot getting caught with Lady Arundel; her husband is going to fight for her honour. They have a dawn appointment and I'm going to watch so I can take pictures and mock them," said Lorelai.
"So we haven't missed much huh?" asked Rory.
"Be very glad you missed that Rory," said Luke.
The foursome laughed at the goings-on of the party thus far.
Jess had known the minute Rory had entered the party. He turned around and there she was standing with Logan and looking sexy in her little black number. He watched as Lorelai and Luke went and chatted with the couple.
He looked at Lorelai with venom in his face and knew she deserved what she was going to get. He continued to watch Rory when Sacha came up beside him and followed his gaze. "Huh, now I see what's caught your attention."
"She looks breathtaking in that dress," said Jess.
"She looks likes she has a lot of money. I'm sure that didn't come cheap," replied Sacha.
Jess just rolled his eyes and continued to watch Rory.
As the evening progressed Jess tried to catch Rory's eye but she wouldn't even look at him, instead she was always with Logan or her mother. She didn't converse with anyone else but Logan, Lorelai, and Luke, well except when he mother came to say hello. He was disappointed that Rory was being such a snob; he would've never taken her for being so stuck up.
But Jess came upon Rory alone when he went outside to take a breather. She was sitting on the front steps of the Dragonfly and he sat next to her, which made her jump.
"Jess, what do you want?" asked Rory.
"Hey, calm down. I just wanted to talk to you," said Jess.
"I don't particularly want to talk to you," said Rory.
"Well, tough you're going to have to deal. I want you to know that I'm going to be leaving town tonight. I don't want to, but I'm being forced to and I want you to know I still love you. You don't have to say anything, but I just wanted you to be aware of your options," said Jess.
"Why you egotistical jackass. How dare you assume I would want to be with you over Logan? He is the one I want and the one I am going to marry. Don't tell me a bunch of lies. Your running away from your problems once again and I hope you realize that doesn't hurt me, but your loved ones such as your mother will be heartbroken. I could care less if you stay in Stars Hollow or not," yelled Rory.
"You have feelings for me Rory and we used to be good together. Why can't we have that same relationship back?" asked Jess.
"I'm going to marry another man Jess. Is there another reason?" asked Rory.
"You don't love him like you love me," said Jess matter-of-factly.
"Of course I love him. He is the love of my life and I won't be happy unless he and I are together. He knows me in ways that no one else does. I've never loved you the way I love Logan and I would like you to stop assuming otherwise. I'm glad your leaving town, maybe now I can live my life without you hovering in the background.
Before Jess could answer Logan came out of nowhere and took Rory's hand. "Rory, are you okay?"
Rory was so relieved to see Logan that she hugged him fiercely. "I'm fine let's go back to the party," said Rory.
Logan gave Jess a hard stare and left the troublesome boy to his own devices. Jess decided then and there he was going to leave Stars Hollow right away without saying goodbye to anyone.
Back inside the Dragonfly Inn Logan asked Rory if she was all right and Rory told him about her conversation with Jess. "He actually told me he's leaving Stars Hollow. Can you believe that?" asked Rory.
"Well, good riddance," replied Logan.
The couple now felt free to mingle among the guests since they did have Jess to worry about. Liz was enjoying herself immensely and T.J. was being T.J. Luke was even laughing with the guy who played the role of the court jester. Lorelai was chatting with Sacha. Jimmy was having a very interesting conversation about pickles and where to buy the rights ones with Kirk.
The party was in full swing and no one really noticed Jess being gone. The people in the room were enjoying themselves too much to think twice about the disappearance of one Jess Mariano.
By midnight Jess was waiting at the bus station for his ride in to New York. He was glad to be going back. After his conversation with Rory he didn't much like staying in a place where he wasn't wanted. If Jess was really truthful to himself he would admit that what Rory had said really hurt him and he couldn't wait to get as far away from her as humanly possible.
So there he sat the lonely boy in the empty bus station with a duffle bag with all her worldly goods waiting for the next bus to take him back to the place where it all began. He at least got the satisfaction in knowing that he had gotten back at Lorelai. At the moment there was a letter addressed to Rory's dorm in the Stars Hollow mailbox. In it he had written about Lorelai and Elias' blackmail of him and how they left him no choice but to leave town. He didn't divulge specifics but he made sure he painted Lorelai in a negative light.
He would have his revenge against Lorelai and he would have the satisfaction in knowing that he was the one to destroy the strongest mother-daughter relationship known to man. Jess smiled then looked up and saw his bus. He got on the bus and didn't look back.
What Jess didn't know was that Luke had accidentally come across the letter and had switched the original letter for another one, which contained a letter of apology to both Logan and Rory.
So in the end Jess didn't really have his revenge. He just thought he had.
AN: Please, Please, Please Review.