Family Portrait

A/N: Alright, as always I'm going to start off by thanking everyone who reviewed. I'm really glad that you're all enjoying this because I certainly am enjoying writing this. Alright, so let's begin!

Chapter 4: Seeing you Again

Both Lorelai and Luke had frozen not daring to move or speak. Jess put his chopsticks down and once again looked between the couple before finally getting up. Lorelai noticed this and immediately jumped up. "Where are you going?" she quizzed.

"To see what the kid wants," Jess replied, "I mean listen to that screaming."

"You know, I think I'll go," Lorelai said. She rushed out of the kitchen and took each step to at a time to reach upstairs while Jess took his seat back at the table. Luke coughed and returned to picking at his rice. The crying seemed to quiet down slightly for a few seconds before Lorelai came back bounding down the stairs. "Boo!" she yelled all the way down.

"What?" Jess looked to Luke, confused. Luke shrugged, equally confused.

"Luke! Luke!" Lorelai appeared in the kitchen, "Where is Boo?"

"Who's Boo, Lorelai?" Luke asked beginning to pick up the empty plates.

"The bear," Lorelai elaborated, "The two are inseparable. God! You'd think at this age the kid would've stopped crying like that. I mean sure she's in a strange place and her mom's not here but seriously! Where's the bear? He's soft and fluffy and doesn't have the normal bear hair. You got it especially for her and gave it to her after she was born. She named it Boo."

"I don't know," Luke shrugged, "I haven't seen the bear."

"I need the bear!" Lorelai exclaimed jumping from foot to foot, "She won't shut up without the bear!" Both of them seemed to forget that Jess was in the room with them.

"I don't know where the bear is!" Luke shouted.

"Check under the couch!" Lorelai ran into the living room and began looking all around. Jess watched the two slightly amused.

"Lorelai, I don't think the bear is under the couch," Luke shook his head. She was impossible.

"Was Jamie's car in front of the diner still?" Lorelai wondered, "Because if it was they must still be in town."

"Or they took Lane's car," Luke offered. Lorelai glared at him for ruining hope of finding Rory and getting Boo to make Liza be quiet.

"Hey, is there something I could do?" Jess stepped forward. Lorelai's eyes widened as she remembered Jess was still there. Then the patter of little footsteps came closer and closer and they heard some snivelling. Lorelai glanced towards the stairs and saw a tiny foot appear. Lorelai raced to the stairs and made it up in record time. Jess shook his head as he followed Luke back to the kitchen. "I know," Jess stated.

"What?" Luke turned to face Jess with a worried look on his face.

"That Rory's here," Jess continued, "I'm not naïve."

"Oh," Luke sighed.

"Why else would Paris and Jamie be here?" Jess finished, "Or why everyone was acting crazier than normal in the diner. I know you didn't need lettuce."

"Well..." Luke didn't know what else to say. He couldn't quite explain to Jess why they didn't want him around Rory. He had a daughter and Luke believed Jess should know about her, but it was Rory's choice to not tell Jess about Liza.

"Mom!" a voice yelled from the front door which had been flung open. A curious Jess and Luke appeared in the archway between the kitchen and living room. Lorelai, holding on to the banister, peered down from upstairs as well. Rory had in her hands the bear that hung limply in her hands as she froze noticing Jess standing there in the house.

"Rory, I can-" Lorelai began tumbling down the stairs to greet her daughter at the door.

"I...I was on my way to eat," Rory stuttered pulling her glance away from Jess, "And I remembered I had Boo. So...here." Rory shoved the bear into her mother's arms. Liza's hiccups could be heard now in between sobs. "Oh god," Rory muttered as she scampered up the stairs and Lorelai followed quickly behind her.

(Upstairs.)

Liza was strolling down the hall rubbing the tears from her eyes. Rory raced over to her and hugged her tightly. Lorelai tapped Rory on the shoulder as Rory pulled away from Liza and took Boo from Lorelai and led Liza back to bed. "Mom, why didn't you tell me?" Rory asked after Liza was safely tucked in.

"I was afraid that you wouldn't call me all week," Lorelai confessed, "And then when you got here I didn't know how you'd react to Jess staying here all week to help us out. When you asked if I could take care of her for the night I couldn't say no without telling you that Jess was here."

"So, you neglected to tell me that the father of my child is in town?" Rory hissed angrily.

"I'm sorry!" Lorelai exclaimed loudly, "Alright! I'm sorry!" Rory just shook her head and brushed past her mother. Halfway to the stairs Liza emerged from the room once again.

"Stop yelling," she whined hugging Boo tightly.

"Honey, go back to bed," Rory sighed, tiredly.

"I'm hungry," Liza complained and ran towards the stairs, now giggling. Rory tried to stop her, but Liza slipped right past her and raced downstairs. Lorelai and Rory shared a look forgetting they were upset with each other and raced downstairs after her.

(Back downstairs.)

Jess had taken a seat on the couch and was drinking the beer that Luke has served them both. Luke sat next to him. Although he wasn't really one to drink alcohol that often he knew this was a time to do so. They heard Lorelai and Rory arguing and then it stopped and Liza came bouncing down the stairs still clutching Boo. She stopped and looked Jess over. "Hi," she waved smiling brightly before scurrying off to the kitchen. Jess got up and approached the kitchen and Lorelai and Rory tumbled down the stairs. It took Rory a second to realize where Jess was going, but as she prepared to take off Luke stopped her.

"Let him go in," Luke suggested. Rory looked pleadingly at her mother who shook her head. She agreed with Luke on this one.

"He needs to know," Lorelai shrugged. Jess was already in the kitchen. "He probably already does."

Inside the kitchen, Jess watched as Liza yanked open the fridge with some trouble. Once the door was open she stood her tip-toes to reach the milk. Jess took it down for her and got her a glass. Liza sipped the milk as soon as she got the glass in her hands. After her first gulp she placed the glass on the table and took long paces towards Jess. "I'm Lorelai Elizabeth Gilmore," she greeted, "and who are you?"

"Jess Mariano," Jess introduced.

"What are you doing in my grandma's house?" Liza asked.

"I'm having supper with Lorelai and Luke," Jess replied.

"Do you know my mommy?" Liza wanted to know. She had made her way back to the table and picked up her glass. Boo was tucked safely under her arm.

"Well, is your mommy's name Lorelai too?" Jess played along with her questions.

"Hey!" Liza protested pouting with her milk moustache, "Momma told me that you can't answer a question with a question. It's against the Gilmore rules."

"Well, in order to know if I know your mom," Jess explained, "I need to know who your mommy is."

"God, lay off her Jess," Rory appeared in the kitchen.

"I'm just having a conversation with her," Jess pointed out.

"Come with me," Rory motioned to the back door, "We should go for a walk. Liza, go back to bed honey." Liza shrugged and ran into the living room. Rory exited the house with Jess right behind her and headed away from the Gilmore-Danes home.

(At the Bridge.)

The two stood on the bridge silently. After she had told the others not to wait up for her she headed straight here. It was the first and most private spot she could think of. Now, she knew she needed to explain it all to Jess. Explain that he had a daughter and why she never told him. "So, should you start or should I?" Jess wondered.

"Jess, I couldn't tell you," Rory sighed, "I refused to. I've been through the whole absent dad thing. I didn't want Liza to have to go through with you what I did with my dad. I didn't want her having false hopes that you would show up and see her when you promised. My dad broke his promises all the time and I figured I could spare Liza from that. Plus, I didn't want to end up like my mom. She loved my dad and it broke her heart when he married Sherry. I know she found Luke, but it took her a long time to get over my dad."

"Rory, I've been through the absent dad thing too," Jess pointed out, slightly angry, "I know what it's like when your father is coming in and out of you life. Do you really think I would do that to my own kid?"

"I don't know," Rory's lower lip quivered as she held back tears, "I was eighteen and afraid. What was I supposed to think? That you were going to marry me?"

"No, that I would be there for her," Jess' voice began to get higher, "For four years I went around not knowing that in New Haven I had a kid."

"You seriously think you would've been around?" Rory cried, "Yeah, maybe you would've until someone better came along, someone without a kid."

"I loved you Rory!" Jess shouted frustrated, "You were the first person to actually give me a chance. You were the first person I felt comfortable letting down my guards with and just being myself."

"I loved you too," Rory admitted, "I still do. I was just too afraid to lose you. "

"Great girl you raised there though," Jess seemed to calm down a bit. Rory sniffed a little wiping the tears away from her eyes.

"Well," she shrugged, "I can't take all the credit. I had a lot of help."

"She'll be starting school next year I guess," Jess stated.

"Yeah," Rory nodded, "She'll be five next August."

"I'd like to be a part of her life now," Jess told her, "I missed four years, but I want to be there."

"Sure," Rory nodded, "We'll introduce you to her slowly though. We can't just drop it all on her like that. Especially when she's a Gilmore and she can't turn to coffee."

"Good old Luke," Jess smirked. Rory grinned, her eyes now dry as she felt the flutter she always felt around Jess. Their eyes locked and for a whole two second Rory's mind went completely blank for almost the first time in her whole life as their lips inched closer together. Jess pulled back though, "Rory, I have a girlfriend."