"Why do you get to ask why I am here?" Rory said jumping up from the couch.

"I live here that's why, I suppose no one told you." He said glaring at Lorelei and Luke.

"So this is what you guys have been acting like idiots for?" Rory walked out the backdoor leaving everyone behind.

"I guess Toby and I are your dirty little secret. I thought you guys were going to tell her before she came back. Remember the discussion we had a month ago when I moved in?"

"I didn't know she was coming this weekend, Jess. Honest." Lorelei said as she went after her daughter.

Rory sat on the porch in confusion. 'Why is he here? Is he alone? Why are there kid's clothes?' What was supposed to be a nice relaxing weekend was now more stressful than ever. Tears were forming in her eyes as she remembered there last encounter. It had been at Luke and Lorelei's wedding 2 years before.

"I hate this way more than you." Jess said as they locked arms.

"I really don't think so," Rory glared at him as they waited for their queue.

"Why do you hate me again? I've forgotten. It was after all me who poured my heart out to you and got shot down like a clay pigeon. So don't turn this around on me, we broke each others hearts end of story."

The music started and the doors opened. Rory had to hold back the tears as she put on the biggest smile she could. It was a wedding so tears were expected. As they reached the end of the aisle and Jess took his position next to Luke, Rory noticed his eyes were watery. Weather it was because of what was just said between the two or because of the wedding she would never know. Her mind was taken away from that as her mother walk down the aisle.

Later at the reception Rory and Logan were dancing. She remembered how uncomfortable she was being with Logan around Jess. It seemed to be a punch in the stomach to him. Logan left early and she was left sitting with Lane sipping wine and talking about what a beautiful bride her mother was. She thought Jess had long left. Part of her wished he had.

"Is this seat taken?" Jess said as he approached the girls.

"No. It is all yours." Lane replied getting up and leaving the two.

"What do you want?" Rory glared at him as she sipped her wine.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. Must be all of this magic in the air. Huh." He said with a smirk. "I never meant for us to be like this, Rory."

She leaned over and kissed him. He griped on to her as they kissed and then pulled away. Their eyes caught one another's. He was trembling. She was pretty sure she was too.

"Why did you do that?" he asked licking his lips.

"Wine makes me do stupid things." She grabbed her purse and jumped up from the chair.

"Rory, you can't just do that and then run away." His words seemed to tremble just as much as his hand as it griped her wrist.

Looking down at his hand on her wrist she began to cry. She knew it wasn't the wine. It was Jess. He made her do stupid things. She looked around for her mom or Lane. She didn't see anyone but Babette and Patty pointing and gossiping. She could just hear the rumors they were already spreading.

"You can't tell me that you didn't feel it, Rory." Jess moved in closer to her grabbing her chin and looking in to her eyes. "There is so much you don't know. I want you to know it all. You just have to let me talk to you. At least let us be friends."

"I can't. Too much has happened Jess. I am not the same person. I am pretty sure you're not the same. I am sorry about the kiss. I am sorry about the broken heart. Most of all I am sorry I lost a good friend." She removed his hand from her chin and kissed his knuckles. "Bye Dodger."

"Bye Rory. My heart will no longer be your playground."

With that she ran to the back of the Inn. Leaning against a tree she began to cry.

Her memory came to a close when a child's voice was heard.

"Hi I'm Toby. Are you a friend of daddy's?" Rory looked down to see a little boy with dark curly locks. His eyes were a deep brown. He climbed up on the swing next to her. She just stared at him in amazement. He was no older than 3 and he was wearing a pair of converse and a Ramones shirt.

"I'm Rory. Who is your dad?" she knew the answer.

Before the child could answer Lorelei walked out the door and scooped him up.

"I see you met my daughter Rory." She wiped off the dirt that was on his hands.

"She is pretty. Does she know daddy?" he looked back at Rory.

"Yes she knows daddy. Why don't you go tell him you met her?" She put him down on the ground.

"Ok. Bye Rory."

"Bye Toby." She said watching until he shut the door. "So is Kirk his daddy? Maybe Luke? Please tell me anyone but Jess."

"No can do. They moved in here with Luke and I about a month ago. Toby's mom left them a year before. Jess was scared to death of the single father in New York thing, so he came running to Luke. I was not too happy with it at first, and then I met Toby. Amazing kid. Jess is only staying here till he can get an apartment. He has 2 jobs and is trying to get a full time babysitter. Until then Toby is passed around from me to Luke to Sookie whoever is willing to help." Lorelei wiped the tears from Rory's face.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Last time you and Jess met up it didn't go to well. Plus I knew you would freak out."

"My ex-boyfriend is living in my old room with his 3 year old son. I am a little freaked yes. Not only is he an ex. He is the one the only JESS which you have always had a small homicidal love for, so yea. Freaking out right now." Rory got up from the swing. "Who else knows? Everyone I assume? Everyone, but me. Does Lane know?"

Lorelei nodded her head. "Look I need to get to the Inn. If you want you can come with me, that way you don't have to be here."

"Why didn't he move in with his mother? She lives here. Right?" Rory's confusion grew to anger.

"You know the answer to that. You met TJ. Jess would go nuts. He would be raising 2 kids." She laughed.

Inside the house Luke and Jess sat in silence. Toby was playing with a dump truck in the floor. The 2 men were in no way prepared for a Gilmore girl freak out.

"Do you think I should get a room at the Inn? I mean Toby and I can stay there till she leaves." Jess looked at Luke with a terrified look in his eyes.

"No I am sure they are working it out right now. You guys are adults now I am sure after her shock wears off she will be fine with it all."

"Rory? Huh. Are we talking about the same person? Luke she hates me. I don't want Toby to have to see her wrath on me." Jess took his son in his lap.

The door opened and the boys jumped. Rory walked in to the living room and sat next to Toby and Jess. Looking at Jess she smiled. She had never seen this side of him. He sat there holding Toby so close, playing with his curls.

"What are you staring at me like that for?" Jess snarled at Rory.

"It is different. You're different. That is all."

"Yea I have a kid, things change."

"I am going to the Inn. Bye kids play nice." Lorelei said as she ran out the door.

" I need to get back to the Diner." Luke said as he patted Toby on the head, "Watch this two Toby. They can be a handful."

"Bye Uncle Luke." Toby said hugging him.

As the door shut there was a blanket of silence. They just sat and stared. Toby climbed down to the floor and started playing with his dump truck. He was unphased by the confusion in the air. Rory watched him play for a few minutes. Smiling as she did.

"It must be nice being a kid. No worries. Everyone is your friend. The only time you get a broken heart is when a toy breaks and it can be repaired or replaced. You soon forget about it after a few hours anyway." She smiled at Toby as she spoke.

"I am sorry all of this was thrown at you. I thought they told you." Jess's face was sincere.

"It is ok. The shock is gone. I would love to hear the back story though."

"Short story or long story?"

"I have got all weekend." She smiled at him as she grabbed a pillow to cuddle with.

"Hey Toby go play in the room for a little bit. It is grown up time." The boy picked up his truck and hugged his dad, then headed to the room. "Well about 4 years ago. I met a wonderful, beautiful woman named Claire. After Toby was born she started acting funny. Things just fell apart. She rarely stayed at home. Then one day she left a note telling me she wanted no part of his life. She then signed all of her rights over to me. Toby never really knew her. It wasn't easy living in New York as a single dad without any family around. So one week I left Toby here with Luke and your mom. The next week I came to stay. That was the short version" he smirked.

"I'm sorry. That is just horrible. Poor kid. It must be rough having no mom."

"He never knew what a mom was, so it isn't really that hard for him. Huh. The first few weeks I had him totally alone I was like the guys in 3 Men and Baby. I figured it out though." He smiled as he looked at Rory.

There was silence in the room again. Rory was growing comfortable with him. She didn't know if this was good or bad. The next few hours were filled with cartoons and laughter. They didn't once fight. Rory was still in so much awe of Jess and Toby. She felt all of the anger melt away in the hours that passed.

4 hours later they headed to Luke's for some food. Toby insisted on holding Rory's hand. He was a very quiet child. He was very well behaved. As they walked down the roads of Stars Hollow they got looks from all of the town's people.

"We are to confusing for the towns gossip radar." Rory laughed as she watched Miss Patty run towards them.

"Rory! When did you get in to town?" She grabbed Rory and squeezed her.

"Today. Earlier. I needed a vacation." She replied noticing just how natural standing with Jess and Toby felt.

"Miss Patty." Toby tugged on her dress. "When are you going to teach me how to dance?"

"Ahh Jeez." Jess said kneeling down. "We have been through this Toby. Ballet is not for you."

"I want to dance!" Toby pouted.

"Toby I will teach you anytime." Miss Patty patted his head and walked off.

Rory giggled as Jess gave into his son. They walked in to the Diner and all eyes looked to the door. They stood in silence as Toby ran to Luke who was getting an order.

"Uncle Luke cake!" Toby said licking his lips.

Luke finished taking the order then picked Toby up. " No cake till after dinner."

The boy pouted as Luke sat him down on a stool. Rory and Jess sat on each side of Toby.

"This kid is mean. Don't let his innocent face deceive." Kirk said pointing at Toby. "Just yesterday he tied my shoe strings together in a knot. When I got up to leave. BAM. I fell to the ground. The whole place was laughing. I was in tears." His serious face made Rory laugh, "You laugh now, just wait till he does it to you. Or maybe someone you love?"

"Kirk he is 3 years old. I am just pretty damn proud he could tie the knots." Jess said messing up Toby's hair.

Rory giggled and started to think back to moments Jess and her had in the Diner. She smiled as she watched him laughing and smiling with his son. Toby looked so much like Jess it was like his own Mini Me. For a 3 year old he was pretty well versed. He could talk a lot clearer than most 3 year olds she had met. Which wasn't many. Sookie's kids. That is about it. She rarely saw her half sister Gigi.

Luke took Toby up to his office to take a nap. It was 5pm and he hadn't had one all day. Rory and Jess took a walk to the bridge.

"This is still my favorite place in Stars Hollow. I come out here to think. There are a lot of memories on this bridge."

"Yeah a lot of them." Rory said sitting down next to Jess.

"17 seems so long ago. Do you remember the basket sale? Dean looking all Jolly Green Giant and money less." Jess smirked as he remembered that day.

"How could I forget?" Rory smiled as she looked into the water.

It began to rain as they sat on the bridge. Both just sat and let the water wash away all of the anger and pain of the last few years. As the rain came down harder Rory giggled and moved closer.

"We are dumb huh?" Rory asked as she looked over through the rain at Jess.

"I guess you could say that."

"Want to go in out of the rain?"

"No, I want to let it wash it all away."

Rory smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. They sat there looking at the water hitting the lake. Rory closed her eyes tight and leaned back lying down on the bridge. It felt good to talk to Jess. No anger. No promises of a relationship. No hopes of one either. Just two friends letting the water wash away all of the bad. It was poetic.

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain." Jess said smirking at her.

"Henry Wadsworth Longfellow" she said with her eyes still closed.

"I miss this."

"Me too."

"There is a song that reminds me of you. Haunted by the Pogues. Have you heard it?"

"Sid and Nancy soundtrack. Yep. I have heard it." Rory paused as she realized what song he was talking about. Her earlier thoughts of no hopes of a relationship suddenly felt like a lie. She missed Jess.

"I guess we should be headed back." Jess said as he jumped to his feet offering her his hand.

"Jess I can't do this." She got up with out his help and stared at him as the rain stopped.

"Do what, walk home? You can stay but I have to get back to Toby."

"Jess you know what I mean. THIS." she waved her hand around.

"Stand in the rain?" he asked with a smirk.

"You can't be that blind." She grew angry at his game.

"Rory don't glare at me like that. I really don't know what you're talking about." Jess said knowing exactly what she was referring to.

"I'm going to my mom's. I guess I will see you there later."

She walked down the bridge as the rain started up again. This time so hard it sounded like a thousand people running down the bridge. Through the noise of the rain and the thunder she heard Jess.

"I still love you." He said in to the rain. Hoping for some clue that she heard him. He got nothing. He walked back to Luke's to get Toby. Forgetting he was drenched in water.

"There is a shower at home you know." Luke chuckled.

"Yes." Jess said as he ran up the stairs to get Toby.

"I am just glad you survived the rain. Most wild animals look up and drown in it."

"I am not listening anymore."

"Next time we can maybe hold hands and skip in it." Luke laughed as he wiped down the tables.