Living in Sin

Disclaimer: If I owned them, I certainly wouldn't be wasting my time fantasizing about them  I own nothing.

A/N: This was a fun thought that came to me, and personally, I've never seen it done. I don't know how it'll turn out, but I can't wait to see. Review if you like it! Review if you don't! Review if you're indifferent! The keyword here is REVIEW!

Chapter 1

It just didn't work out. That was how Rory explained away her divorce from Logan Huntzberger. That's how she explained why she was no longer Lorelai Leigh Huntzberger, known as Lorelai among her high-class, socialite friends. That's how she explained the fact that she was plain old Rory Gilmore again. It just didn't work out. That's how she explained moving back to Stars Hollow from Hartford, her 5-year-old daughter Anna Catherine in tow. That's how she explained it to everyone who asked. It just didn't work out.

It wasn't a lie. They'd tried as hard as they could. On paper, it looked perfect. They graduated from Yale. Logan had a degree in business with a minor in journalism, while Rory graduated with a double major in journalism and English. Logan was following in his father's footsteps, slowly acquiring more and more newspapers of his own. Rory worked diligently as a freelance journalist until she was 26 and had Anna Catherine. After that, she still did pieces, but not nearly as many. She did what any good wife would do. She stayed at home with her daughter. She and Logan went to all the right events together, donated to all the right charities, and looked like they couldn't be more in love. So what had happened? It was the question on all of Stars Hollow's minds when their golden girl returned. What had gone wrong?

"It just didn't work out." Rory said, looking Taylor defiantly in the eyes. He was completely bald now, with a few more wrinkles, but besides that nothing had changed about him.

Taylor looked tempted to comment or ask another question, but instead he looked at Anna Catherine with a smile. She was holding on to her mother's hand and looking up at him with big, ice blue eyes just like her mother's. Her soft, long blonde hair was in pigtails.

"Well we certainly are glad to have you two fine ladies back in Stars Hollow. How are you, Anna?"

"Fine." Anna Catherine said shyly, taking a step backwards. Rory smiled down at her daughter and grabbed her grocery bag with one hand, the other still clasped around her daughter's.

"Well, it was good to see you, Taylor. Take care, and Happy Thanksgiving if I don't see you beforehand." Rory said.

"Take care, you two!" Taylor called as they left his store. As soon as they were out of sight, he said to the next customers, "It's too bad about her marriage. Doesn't surprise me a bit though. She's just like her mother."


"Don't like Taylor, Mama." Anna Catherine said as she and her mother walked down the street.

"Join the club, Baby." Rory said as she led her daughter into the diner.

"Hi, Luke!" Rory said as she placed her bag on a table. She lifted up Anna Catherine and sat her in a chair. "Sit still for mama, OK?"

Anna Catherine nodded and did as she was told.

Luke walked up to their table with a smile. "Well, look at my favorite girl."

Anna Catherine smiled, "Hi Grandpa Luke!" She exclaimed. She dove from her seat into Luke's arms.

Luke hoisted her up and said, "You want some pancakes?"

Anna Catherine nodded and Luke kissed her cheek before putting her back in her seat.

"Just coffee for me." Rory said, smiling at her stepfather. He and Lorelai had gotten married five years before, and were as happy as they had ever been.

"You got it." Luke said, walking over and giving the order to Cesar. He walked back over and said, "All excited for Thanksgiving, girls?"

Anna Catherine bounced up and down in her chair and said, "Turkey!"

Rory laughed and touched her daughter's hair affectionately. "Mom's been telling her how good your turkeys are. She's very excited, aren't you darling?"

Luke smiled, "I'm excited to have you here, Anna. It'll be your first Thanksgiving with us."

"Yay!" Anna Catherine said, still bouncing.

"Anna Catherine, sit still." Rory commanded gently. Her daughter did as commanded, never losing her bright smile.

"You need to know something though, Rory." Luke said seriously.

"What's that, Luke?" Rory asked, her eyes still on her daughter.

"Jess is coming to Thanksgiving. He comes every year." Luke said. "It's never really been a big deal because you don't come, but-."

"It's fine." Rory snapped, not looking at Luke. Her daughter's head shot up at Rory's changed tone.

Rory turned to Luke and said, "It was all a long time ago, Luke. I appreciate your concern, but it'll be fine. I don't want to see him, but I'll survive. As long as he doesn't ask me to leave with him, we'll be fine."

Luke stifled a laugh and said, "I'll go get those pancakes."


"We're here!" Anna Catherine shouted as she entered the diner, a bouquet of flowers in her hands. Her mother trailed behind her with a smile.

Luke picked up his granddaughter and took the flowers from her. "Thank you very much. Where do you and your mama want to sit?" He asked pleasantly.

Anna Catherine looked around and pointed at a table with only one man seated there. Rory couldn't see his face or neck, because it was covered by a book. But she could see the unruly dark hair peeking up from above, and the narrow shoulders peeking from down below. His black shirt was neatly pressed, a drastic change from the Jess she knew.

Rory took a deep breath and took her daughter from Luke. "Want to meet an old friend of mama's?" She asked. Anna Catherine nodded eagerly.

Rory took slow, deliberate steps towards the table where Jess was sitting. He was reading The Old Man and the Sea. Rory smirked and said, "You'll never give up the Hemmingway, will you?"

Jess peeked at her from over his book, and then lowered it so his mouth was showing. It was curved into a small smile. "Rory." He said softly. He put the book down and said, "And who is this young lady?"

Rory didn't respond. Her mouth was practically on the floor with her shock. She could see his neck now, and was shocked at what she saw. A white clerical collar. Rory was speechless.

Jess stood and stooped to eye level with young Anna Catherine. "Hello, there. I'm Father Mariano. What's your name?"

"Anna Catherine. You have pretty eyes." She said with a shy smile. "I like this. What is it?" She grabbed at his collar.

Jess smiled widely at her. "I'm a priest. Do you know what that is?"

Anna Catherine nodded. "It means you give long, boring speeches that make mama fall asleep and daddy snore."

Jess laughed loudly. "That's what other priests do, but not me. I promise. But, I'll tell you what. You can call me Jess, how bout that?"

Anna Catherine nodded. "OK, Jess. Can we eat now?"

Jess smiled. 'You're definitely your mother's daughter." He brought his eyes up to Rory with that same smile. "Say something." He commanded.

"I don't think I can." She said, putting her daughter down. "Go find grandma." She commanded.

"You're a priest." Rory said, amazed.

Jess nodded. "I'm a priest."

"Wow."

The awkward silence that followed was deafening


A/N: This admittedly wasn't the best chapter. It's only purpose really was to set the story up. What do y'all think?