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

A/N: Wow. This has been a lot better recieved than I thought it'd be, and I thank youfor that. I hope you all continue to enjoy this story and Cadenza at Midnight, I appreciate the compliment and I promise to be as kind to Catholicism as I can be.

Chapter 2

"You're a priest." Rory repeated.

"You can keep saying it." Jess said, sitting back down and looking up at her. "It isn't going to stop being true."

"But how?" Rory demanded, sitting across from him. "You're not Catholic, are you? I thought you were an atheist."

Jess shrugged. "I was neveran atheist. I just never really talked about religion. Technically, I was a Baptist. I never practiced though. Neither did my mom. When I was out in California, I started going to church with my dad's wife and her daughter. They're Catholic. I really got into it and I converted." He could see the disbelief in her eyes and smiled. "Yeah. I found God. I'm not ashamed of it."

"Well, I'd hope not." Rory said. "Otherwise this isn't the profession I'd have picked. But there's a huge difference between finding God and becoming a priest. You're a priest!"

Jess nodded. "I searched for a very long time for something to believe in. I thought I'd found that in you. Then, after that day when I, you know, asked you to leave with me, I was devastated. I've finally learned to admit that. I was crushed. I slipped into a bad place. I was drinking and doing drugs and I was just terrible. I turned to God, and I saw the path I was on. I was destructive to myself and to others. I wanted to show other people like me that there was a way out, if they loved God. I wanted to devote my life to doing God's work."

The look Rory was giving him was still one of disbelief. "I can't believe it. You became a priest because of me?"

"No. I became a priest because it was God's will for me to do so. You just helped me to see that." Jess said.

Rory shook her head as if to clear it. "This is all a little too much to take in. I mean, you're a priest!"

Jess sighed. "Yes Rory, I'm a priest. I'm Father Mariano of Saint Thomas Aquinas in New Haven." He sounded a little frustrated at her disbelief.

"How long have you been…a priest?" She asked.

"Don't say it like it's a negative thing." Jess said softly. "I was ordained about three years ago."

Rory nodded and took a deep breath. "Wow." She said.

"Wow indeed. And that pretty little girl is your daughter?" Jess asked.

Rory nodded and looked over to where Anna Catherine was sitting with Luke and Lorelai. "That's my Anna Catherine. She's five."

"She has your eyes. Where's her father?" Jess asked, trying to get Rory to meet his eyes.

"Logan and I are divorced. He lives in New York now." Rory said, looking at her hands.

"I'm sorry." Jess said softly. "She's named after Tolstoy and Hemmingway, isn't she?"

Rory snorted. "Tolstoy and Logan's grandmother. I would never name my child after a Hemmingway novel. I love her way too much for that."

Jess smiled at her. "You look good." He said honestly.

Rory let herself look at him closely for the first time. He had grown more attractive with time. His hair was a little shorter than it had been. He'd filled out a little more, and there was a sweet softness in his hazel eyes that had never been there before.

"You look good too. You look happy. It suits you well." Rory said.

"I am happy." Jess responded, studying her face. "You don't look happy."

Rory shrugged. "I love my daughter. I'm glad to be back here with Luke and my mom. I can't really ask for more."

Jess's mouth turned up in his characteristic smirk. "Do you tell yourself that, Rory? Do you believe it?"

Rory had to avoid his eyes as he smirked at her. It took her back to a place that she had no right to reminisce about anymore. "It's the best I can do." She said honestly.

"Can I do anything for you?" Jess asked, putting his hand on top of hers.

Rory immediately pulled her hand away and shook her head. "I'm not exactly comfortable with that."

Jess rolled his eyes. "Then is there anything the church and I can do for you?" He asked, almost sounding sarcastic about it.

Rory looked at him skeptically. "I'm not religious, Jess. I'm also not Catholic."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to help." Jess said. "Look, I know this is weird for you. It's weird for me too. I'm here though. Just so you know."

Rory smiled bitterly. "Wow. You really have changed." She said sardonically.

Jess's eyes took on a hurt look. "Too much time has passed to hold onto that bitterness, Rory. People do change."

"Hey, kiddo." Lorelai said, walking over and placing a kiss on her daughter's head. She smiled at Jess. "Hey, padre."

Jess smiled back. "Lorelai, always a pleasure. How are you, my child?" He asked, teasingly.

Lorelai smirked at him. "I'm good. Still adjusting to you in that collar though. I always feel like its Halloween."

"I think the same thing when you wear those knee-high boots." Jess retorted. They looked at each other for a moment before they started laughing.

Rory looked from her mother to Jess, a puzzled look on her face. So much had changed. Jess and her mother were joking around with the easy comfort of old friends. She felt so out of the loop, and so taken back by all that was happening.

"Are you two kids ready to eat?" Lorelai asked, placing her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Because my granddaughter is ready for some turkey."

"I'm starved." Rory said. "I had a dream about turkey last night and I've been drooling ever since."

Jess laughed as he stood. "That turkey is sounding appetizing. Let's go."

Rory and Lorelai lagged behind and Rory whispered, "You knew Jess was a priest."

"Of course. I saw him give his first sermon at Saint Thomas. It was really good." Lorelai replied.

"You didn't tell me." Rory said.

Lorelai shrugged and looked at where Jess was talking to Luke. "Would you have believed me?"

Rory looked over at Jess, in his short-sleeved black shirt and white collar. She shook her head, "No, I wouldn't have. I still don't know if I believe it."


Rory stroked her daughter's blonde hair as she dozed in her lap. "That was amazing, Luke. Just like always."

Luke smiled and took Lorelai's hand. "Thanks, Rory. I'm glad you liked it. And I think Anna enjoyed it too."

"Just like a Gilmore." Jess said, teasingly. "Eat all you can then sleep until it's time to eat again."

Rory frowned. "She isn't a Gilmore."

"Baby." Lorelai said, sympathetically.

"Of course she's a Gilmore!" Luke exclaimed softly, as to not wake up the subject of their conversation. "Lorelai's last name is Danes now, but she's no less a Gilmore now than the day I married her."

Lorelai smiled at her husband and kissed him affectionately. "I love you."

"I love you too." He whispered.

Rory smiled sadly at her mom and Luke, who were so obviously enamored with each other.

"I think I'd better wake Anna up and get back home." Rory said.

"Don't wake her up." Jess said, standing. "I'll be happy to drive you back."

Rory hesitated. "That isn't necessary." She said.

Lorelai looked at her daughter and said, "Rory, let Jess drive you back to your house. Luke and I will be by later for coffee."

Rory sighed. "Alright, thank you."

Rory pushed herself out of the chair, her daughter still in her arms. She was always a heavy sleeper, and the motion of her mother walking didn't wake her up. Jess led them out to his car. It was a nice, dark blue Chevrolet Malibu and a huge change from the last car Rory had seen him own.

Jess opened the door for Rory and shut it quietly before getting into the drivers seat and starting the car.

"Where do you live now?" Jess asked. "Not with your mom and Luke, right?"

"No. I live on Maple." Rory had used the money she'd mad as a journalist, as well as her considerably large alimony payments to rent a small house for her and Anna Catherine. It was a little smaller than her mother's house.

Rory directed Jess to her house, which was tiny and picturesque. It even had a white fence in front. "Wow." Jess said as he parked in front of it. "I think all the cuteness is going to make me sick."

"It's all I need." Rory responded. "Why spend money on some big house for just me and Anna? Besides, the fence gives it character. Makes me feel…"

"Feel what?" Jess prodded. His hands were on the steering wheel but he was facing her.

Rory shrugged. "Not so flawed."

Jess frowned and his eyes filled with a gentle sympathy. "Rory…"

Rory turned her eyes away from him. "Could you get the door for me?" She whispered.

"Of course." Jess said. He got out of the car and opened her door for her. He offered a hand, but she refused to take it. With some adjustment, she was able to maneuver herself out of the car without waking her sleeping daughter.

"Rory…" Jess started again as he closed the passenger side door.

"Don't, OK?" Rory said, frustrated. They stood in silence for a moment before she said hesitantly, "Luke and my mom are coming over for coffee tonight. You're welcome to come too."

Jess nodded. "I'll be there. Rory, you don't have to be afraid of talking to me. I swear I just want to be there for you. And hey, that means something coming from me now."

Rory smiled softly, knowing that was exactly the reaction he'd wanted. "Thank you, Jess. Really. But it's just…" She trailed off.

"What?" Jess demanded, taking a step closer.

"The fact that you're a priest now doesn't rectify everything you've done to me." Rory said, before turning around and walking into her house.