Author's Note: This is my favorite chapter so far because it switches between points of view. Enjoy.

Chapter Ten: I Promise

Lorelai took a step back to process what it was she'd just walked in on. Here she was, looking for her boyfrie- fiancee, and she accidentally had walked in on her daughter, who she was now on the outs with, and her once-boyfriend, horizontal on the couch. It was a lot for her to take in in a few simple moments. "Oh my God," she said, covering her eyes and turning around. "Uhm, Luke isn't here, is he? I guess that's a stupid question. This wouldn't be happening if he were here. Or if he is here, I'm going to kill him for letting this happen. Uhmm, he's not here, right?"

"No", Jess said, embarassed, buttoning his shirt back up, "He's down in the diner."

"Uhmm, okay, I'll just, I'll go then." Lorelai blurted out, dashing out of the apartment and down the steps. She was absolutely furious. Luke had to know that they were up there alone, he must have seen them walk into the diner and up the stairs. Once she was in the diner again, she started to yell, "Luke! Where the hell are you?"

"Why are you yelling? I've got customers!" Luke said in a hushed tone.

"Oh, we need to talk."

"I'm busy,"

"Too bad." Lorelai took hold of Luke's sleeve and pulled him out to the front steps of the diner. She stood there pacing, rubbing her hand against her forehead.

"What?" Luke said, sounding somewhat worried.

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The two sat on the worn leather sofa awkwardly, staring at eachother. "So," Jess started, "That was crazy."

Rory looked into his eyes, wondering what he was really thinking. Maybe he was thinking that he had made a mistake to get wrapped up in her again. All of the things that come with dating a Gilmore. He couldn't take it last time. Hopefully he was more prepared now. She hoped to God that he wasn't regretting what had just happened. Rory watched as a strand of hair fell in his face as he bobbed his head from side to side, trying not to look uncomfortable. This was reminding her of the first time they'd be alone in Luke's apartment. How they stood so stiff, not sure how to act or what to do.

This mess that had been made was just getting worse. Now Lorelai was going to be mad at the fact that Rory was getting involved with 'him' again. She didn't know where to start or what to say. All she knew was that she had to set things right.

"Jess?" Rory said softly

"Yeah?"

"Did you mean it? What you said before. When you told me that you loved me, did you mean it? Because I mean, some guys just say it without any meaning behind it."

"Of course I meant it." The look on Jess's face made her trust what he was saying. She leaned over and kissed him again. Every time that their lips touched the sensation made her remember how much she loved him. Every time he came back for her, it killed her not to go with him. It killed her to say no. But she knew that if he really did love her as much as he said, he'd give up everything for her. It may be selfish, but Jess knew how much she wanted to be a journalist and how much college meant to her. He knew that she'd never be able to leave her life at school or in Stars Hollow. They both knew that time at Yale she wouldn't be coming back with him. They both knew that if he really wanted to be with her, he'd have to make the sacrafice. No matter how much she loved him.

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"Lorelai, I swear that I didn't know!" Luke was following her in her rushed paces, trying to get her to look him in the eye. He was failing. He hated how stubborn she was.

"Luke, come on! You let those two up to the apartment alone and expect nothing to happen? She was taking his clothes off for Christ's sake!"

"Given their history, no! I didn't think that was going to happen. Rory's a sensible girl and I didn't know that they were back together!" They were both yelling so loudly that the whole town could hear what was going on. And people wonder why the citizens of Stars Hollow are always gossiping.

"Well apparently, you didn't think!"

"Okay, you know what? I can't take this anymore! You CANNOT blame this on me. I don't control these kids and either do you. Jess said he was getting his key and that was all."

"How long does it take to get a key?"

Luke stormed away into the diner, red with frustration. Every customer in there had heard their bickering and watched Luke intensely as he took his frustration out on a batch of hamburgers.

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"Okay, we've got to stop." Jess said, he was out of breath. "One of them is going to walk in here on us again and all Hell will break loose."

"You're right. I need to go talk to my mom." Rory stood up and straightened her clothes. She pushed her hair behind her ears and picked up her purse. She turned over to Jess, "I'll meet you outside in two hours." Jess pulled her down and gave her one last long kiss. She pulled away and hurried out of the apartment, trying not to smile. She started to think of what she was about to face, and the task became easier.

She was greeted in the diner by Luke's yelling. "Listen, Rory, you know I think you're a good kid and all, but you and Jess can't be doing that in my house. Your mom is all pissed off now and she thinks it's my fault. You really need to talk to her."

"I'm sorry, Luke, really. Where'd she go?"

"Don't know, just left about two minutes ago. You can probably catch her."

"Thanks, and I'll put in a good word for you." She rushed out of the diner and looked either way. She saw her mother walking down the street in the direction of their house.

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"Listen to me, and listen to me good," Luke stormed into the small apartment, swinging the door open with great force. "When I said you could live here, I didn't mean that you could go messing around with Rory, getting me in trouble with Lorelai. You don't come up here with her alone, pretend to be finding your key, and then start screwing around."

"We weren't screwing around!"

"Oh really? Then what exactly were you doing?"

"I, I don't know, " Jess paused, "It just kind of happened."

"Well, make sure it doesn't happen again!" Luke started in the direction of the door and a sly smile grew across his face. He turned around and looked at Jess. "You know, " he said, "Once me and Lorelai are married, you and Rory will be cousins." He started to laugh.

"Come on Luke!" Jess said, disgusted, "Not by blood!"

"Oh well, it's still true." Luke walked out of the apartment and down the stairs, satisfied with himself. He could now only hope that Rory could work things out with Lorelai.

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"Mom! Mom, wait up." Rory ran to her mother's side, breathing heavily and resting a hand on her shoulder. "Mom, we need to talk."

"Yeah, we really do. What the hell is the matter with you, Rory?" Lorelai was yelling, "You used to be so sensible and now you're talking crazy, dropping out of school, moving in with my mother, and on the verge of having sex with a guy whose disappointed you more than once."

Rory was looking around at the town's people, embarrassed that her personal decision had just been screamed for them all to hear. "Can we go home and talk? I don't want to do it here."

The two walked back as fast as possible, uncomfortable silence between them. Rory ran up the stairs to the porch and bursted through the door. She'd been here hours ago, but she'd already missed it dearly. She walked over to the couch and sat down, immediately springing into conversation. "Okay," she said with a stern look on her face, "I know that you don't like Jess. I know that you never did, and you probably never will. You know that I trust your opinion more than anything in the world, but with some things, I need to trust my own instinct."

"I know that," Lorelai said sympathetically, "I'm not trying to make up your mind for you."

"Okay. Well, last night I left Grandma's house because I wanted to walk around town. I was by myself until I saw you and Luke in the diner. I heard everything. Congratulations. I couldn't be happier." This brought a smile to Lorelai's face. "I was turning away to go back to Hartford and I saw Jess. I didn't know it was him at first. Then we were fighting and I started to cry and things just got out of control. We ended up spending a night in a motel." Lorelai's mouth opened but Rory cut her off, "Nothing happened! We just slept, I didn't want to go back to Grandma's." The worried look on Lorelai's face was quickly changed to a look of relief. Rory continued telling her mother the goings on of the previous night. She explained how Jess had gotten everything together and that she truly loved him. Lorelai faintly smiled at all of this, glad that her daughter was happy. She just prayed that Jess didn't dessert her again, she knew Rory wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Sweetie, you didn't have to yell at your Grandmother like that. I can take care of myself."

"I know you can, but I wanted her to feel like crap for making you feel like crap. Maybe I was out of line for yelling at her, but I just couldn't take her belittling you every five seconds."

Lorelai pulled Rory into a close hug. She'd missed her so much. Rory pulled away and looked up at her mother. "I'm going back to school."

A look of astonishment swept across Lorelai's face. "You are?"

"I don't know what I was thinking. You were right. One man's opinion shouldn't completely shatter my life long dream," Rory sat up and looked her mother square in the face, "Even if I don't have what it takes,"

"You do!" Lorelai said over Rory's voice.

"But even if I don't," she said smiling, "I shouldn't judge myself before trying." She hugged her mother again, finally feeling at home.