Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls so don't sue me.
-Chapter 5-
Rory rolled her eyes, was he serious? After the argument they had just had, was he really standing in front of her asking for a favor? One look in his eyes told her that he was very serious. "What is it?" Rory asked before agreeing to anything.
"It's my dad." Jess glanced at Dean out of the corner of his eye as he spoke. "He wants to get together again, but as you know the last dinner wasn't exactly the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
Rory looked slightly perplexed. "What does this have to me?"
"I just don't want to have to face him alone again." Jess shrugged.
"Why not take Luke? He is your uncle."
Jess didn't answer her question, his eyes lowered to the ground for a moment before meeting hers again. "Will you come with me or not?"
She couldn't resist, not when he looked at her with those eyes. They were filled with emotion; she'd never seen them like that before. Full of hope, need, and a little fear. Suddenly she remembered her promise to him that she would always be there for him. While she hadn't completely forgiven him for taking Shane to the bridge, or even figured out why it made her so angry, she found herself agreeing. "I'll come. When is it?"
"Friday."
A frown immediately formed on Rory's face. "Friday?"
"Yea, you know it's the day after Thursday and the day before Saturday. What are they teaching you at that fancy private school?"
"I know when it is, but it's just that Friday's are the big Gilmore family dinners. They're really hard to get out of."
Jess nodded. "Don't worry about it then."
With a firm shake of her head, she told him. "I said I'll come and I'll come. I might be placed in front of a firing squad for the crime of being a no show, but I'm willing to risk it. Just give me a place and a time."
"Dinner's at seven, and don't worry about the place. I'll pick you up at 6:30, ok?"
"Ok."
Jess smiled at her. "Thanks, tell Bag Boy I said goodbye." He walked off in the other direction and Rory slowly made her way over to Dean again.
"What was that about?"
Rory looked at Jess' retreating form once more. Not wanting to lie to him, she explained what he wanted and that she had said yes. "You're going?" He asked, shock coloring his features. "Why?"
"Because Jess is my friend and he needs me."
"Right." He sounded less than convinced.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Dean sighed. "Nothing, it just seems like you'll do just about anything for that guy."
"Dean, Jess needs all the friends he can get right now. This can't be easy for him and I'm sorry that you don't like it, but I'm going to be there for him."
`````
"Evil!" Lorelei exclaimed, as she came down the stairs dressed for dinner at her parents' house. "I can't believe you're sending me into the lions' den alone."
"It won't be that bad." Rory reassured her from the bottom of the stairs.
Lorelei looked at her like she had grown a second head. "Have you ever met your grandparents?"
"Once or twice."
"Then you should know the horrors I am going to experience tonight." Snatching her keys off the table, she turned to Rory with pleading eyes. "Let me come with you. I'll be good, I promise."
"Hmmm." Rory pretended to consider it. "You, me, Jess, and his dad. I doubt it would work."
"Why not?"
"Because you dislike Jess."
"And his father even more." Rory watched her mom pull her coat on. "I'll never understand how someone could leave their kid. Although, I dropped you off on a doorstep once." She paused as if remembering the experience. "But I came back and picked you up a few hours later, so I guess it's a little difference."
"Mom."
"Just think, you and Kirk could have been brother and sister?"
"You dropped me off on Kirk's doorstep?"
"Of course not!" She gasped. "Kirk was practically a kid then, it was his mother's doorstep."
Rory rolled her eyes. "What a loving mother you are."
"What?" She asked. "I took you back."
"Awful."
"I could have left you. And looking back now, I should have."
"Dinner." Rory said firmly ushering her mom to the door. "Have fun." She smiled in mock sweetness before shutting the door.
Looking down at her plain black dressed, she took a deep breath. Jess would be there any minute. After checking her watch once more, she hurried into her room to find her shoes. The doorbell rang just as she had stuck her head under the bed. With a jerk, she banged her head, and still hadn't located her shoes. "Coming." She called. One hand rubbed her sore forehead as she reached out to answer the door. "Hey," She smiled warmly at Jess. "Come on in."
"What happened to you?" He reached out and brushed his fingers across her smooth skin that was already red and promised to have a bruise by the morning.
"My bed hates me." She mumbled, her breath catching at his touch. Closing her eyes briefly, she again turned in the direction of her room. "I need to find my shoes, I'll be right out."
"Ok." Jess responded as Rory disappeared. He could hear heavy thumps and the occasional groans coming from the room.
"A-ha!" Rory exclaimed, reappearing with a pair of black heels in her hand. "They were in the laundry hamper. Wonder how they got there." Slipping them on, she nodded towards the door. "Ready to go?"
"No, but it's too late to back out now."
`````
"Jimmy, this is Rory, Rory, Jimmy." Jess introduced them and pulled out Rory's chair. She looked up at him with a surprised expression on her face, but didn't say anything.
"It's nice to meet you Rory." He smiled at her politely.
Forcing a smile of her own, she replied. "Same here."
"Jess, it's good to see you again." Jess only nodded. "I'm glad you could make it."
Rory frowned at the awkwardness and spoke up, "Mr. Mariano."
"Jimmy." He interrupted her.
"Jimmy, where were you living before you came to Star's Hollow?"
"California." He answered. "Venice to be exact."
"I've always wanted to go there." The table fell into silence again, but the waiter soon showed up to save them.
"So, Jess, Rory." Jimmy began after they had received their food. "Are the two of you dating?"
"Oh," Rory's fork was held in midair between her plate and her mouth. "No, um, me and Jess are friends."
"I'm sorry, I assumed you two were more."
Jess smirked slightly. "Well, you know what they say about assuming." Before he could finish, Rory elbowed him gently. He smiled at her, but didn't continue.
"Will you excuse me?" Rory asked, scooting her chair back. "I just need to use the ladies room, I'll be right back."
"We'll be waiting." Jimmy replied and stood as he watched her leave. "Nice girl." He commented, when she had walked a fair distance away.
"Yeah, nice."
Jimmy sighed, "Look, son, I asked you to dinner for a specific reason. There's something I want to discuss with you."
`````
"What happened while I was gone?" They were in Jess' car on their way home and Rory was curious about Jess' mood.
Not answering right away, he gave her a sidelong glance. "Nothing."
"Then why are you so cranky all of a sudden?"
"I'm not cranky."
"Yes you are."
Jess sighed. "Maybe that guy just brings out the best in me."
"That guy is your dad, Jess." She pointed out. Jess didn't answer, simply turned the radio up.
Not moving after they had pulled into the Gilmore driveway, Rory watched Jess out of the corner of her eye. He hadn't said a word since the comment about Jimmy being his dad. "I'm sorry." She told him softly, wishing she could take the remark back.
"For what?"
"What I said."
Jess nodded. "Let's call it even, ok? You forgive me for taking Shane to the bridge and I'll forgive you for pointing out the obvious."
"Ok." She opened the car door and climbed out. "Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure. Bye Rory."
"Bye Jess." She smiled at him and was surprised when he smiled back.
"Thanks for coming with me."
Lifting one shoulder, she stepped away from the car. "What are friends for?" With that said, she walked away from Jess and towards the front door.
`````
"I'm disowning you!" Lorelei exclaimed loudly as they entered Luke's the next morning.
"Was it terribly awful?" Rory asked sympathetically, referring to the dinner with her grandparents. Lorelei nodded, with a pout. "Awww, poor baby, but I know what will cheer you up."
Lorelei smiled excitedly. "A pony!"
"Mom, " Rory pointed out, "You wouldn't even let me have a puppy when I was a kid."
"You weren't.responsible enough for a puppy!"
"Ha! At eight I was more responsible than you."
Lorelei glared at her. "I resent that."
"Only because it's true."
Sitting at the counter with a sigh, she asked, "What will cheer me up?"
Before Rory could answer Luke appeared with a coffeepot, his frown deeper than usual. "A cheery server who willingly gives out an unlimited supply of coffee."
"Yay!" Came her excited cry before she noticed Luke's expression. "Something wrong?"
"What?" He looked at her for the first time. " Oh, it's Jess."
"What did he do now? Get that girlfriend of his knocked up?"
Rory looked at her, shocked, "Mom!"
Innocent eyes turned to meet her gaze. "What?" Her shoulders raised in a shrug. "It could happen. And that would explain why Luke is more grouchy than usual."
"I'm not grouchy." He told them. "And Jess didn't get Shane pregnant." He paused for a short moment. "At least I don't think he did."
Rory felt her curiosity getting the better of her. "Then what is it?"
"I don't know. But ever since he got home last night, he's seemed.I don't know, distant."
"This is Jess we're talking about. He's always distant."
Luke sighed, "Yeah, I know, but this is worse, more serious. I'm worried about him."
"Don't be." Jess came down the stairs just in time to hear the tail end of the conversation. "I'm fine."
Luke studied him for a moment and then gave a slight nod. "If you say so."
"I say so."
"Ok," He responded, but in reality he wasn't so sure. An unexplainable feeling told him that Jess wasn't fine, that he was far from fine.
-Chapter 5-
Rory rolled her eyes, was he serious? After the argument they had just had, was he really standing in front of her asking for a favor? One look in his eyes told her that he was very serious. "What is it?" Rory asked before agreeing to anything.
"It's my dad." Jess glanced at Dean out of the corner of his eye as he spoke. "He wants to get together again, but as you know the last dinner wasn't exactly the beginning of a beautiful relationship."
Rory looked slightly perplexed. "What does this have to me?"
"I just don't want to have to face him alone again." Jess shrugged.
"Why not take Luke? He is your uncle."
Jess didn't answer her question, his eyes lowered to the ground for a moment before meeting hers again. "Will you come with me or not?"
She couldn't resist, not when he looked at her with those eyes. They were filled with emotion; she'd never seen them like that before. Full of hope, need, and a little fear. Suddenly she remembered her promise to him that she would always be there for him. While she hadn't completely forgiven him for taking Shane to the bridge, or even figured out why it made her so angry, she found herself agreeing. "I'll come. When is it?"
"Friday."
A frown immediately formed on Rory's face. "Friday?"
"Yea, you know it's the day after Thursday and the day before Saturday. What are they teaching you at that fancy private school?"
"I know when it is, but it's just that Friday's are the big Gilmore family dinners. They're really hard to get out of."
Jess nodded. "Don't worry about it then."
With a firm shake of her head, she told him. "I said I'll come and I'll come. I might be placed in front of a firing squad for the crime of being a no show, but I'm willing to risk it. Just give me a place and a time."
"Dinner's at seven, and don't worry about the place. I'll pick you up at 6:30, ok?"
"Ok."
Jess smiled at her. "Thanks, tell Bag Boy I said goodbye." He walked off in the other direction and Rory slowly made her way over to Dean again.
"What was that about?"
Rory looked at Jess' retreating form once more. Not wanting to lie to him, she explained what he wanted and that she had said yes. "You're going?" He asked, shock coloring his features. "Why?"
"Because Jess is my friend and he needs me."
"Right." He sounded less than convinced.
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Dean sighed. "Nothing, it just seems like you'll do just about anything for that guy."
"Dean, Jess needs all the friends he can get right now. This can't be easy for him and I'm sorry that you don't like it, but I'm going to be there for him."
`````
"Evil!" Lorelei exclaimed, as she came down the stairs dressed for dinner at her parents' house. "I can't believe you're sending me into the lions' den alone."
"It won't be that bad." Rory reassured her from the bottom of the stairs.
Lorelei looked at her like she had grown a second head. "Have you ever met your grandparents?"
"Once or twice."
"Then you should know the horrors I am going to experience tonight." Snatching her keys off the table, she turned to Rory with pleading eyes. "Let me come with you. I'll be good, I promise."
"Hmmm." Rory pretended to consider it. "You, me, Jess, and his dad. I doubt it would work."
"Why not?"
"Because you dislike Jess."
"And his father even more." Rory watched her mom pull her coat on. "I'll never understand how someone could leave their kid. Although, I dropped you off on a doorstep once." She paused as if remembering the experience. "But I came back and picked you up a few hours later, so I guess it's a little difference."
"Mom."
"Just think, you and Kirk could have been brother and sister?"
"You dropped me off on Kirk's doorstep?"
"Of course not!" She gasped. "Kirk was practically a kid then, it was his mother's doorstep."
Rory rolled her eyes. "What a loving mother you are."
"What?" She asked. "I took you back."
"Awful."
"I could have left you. And looking back now, I should have."
"Dinner." Rory said firmly ushering her mom to the door. "Have fun." She smiled in mock sweetness before shutting the door.
Looking down at her plain black dressed, she took a deep breath. Jess would be there any minute. After checking her watch once more, she hurried into her room to find her shoes. The doorbell rang just as she had stuck her head under the bed. With a jerk, she banged her head, and still hadn't located her shoes. "Coming." She called. One hand rubbed her sore forehead as she reached out to answer the door. "Hey," She smiled warmly at Jess. "Come on in."
"What happened to you?" He reached out and brushed his fingers across her smooth skin that was already red and promised to have a bruise by the morning.
"My bed hates me." She mumbled, her breath catching at his touch. Closing her eyes briefly, she again turned in the direction of her room. "I need to find my shoes, I'll be right out."
"Ok." Jess responded as Rory disappeared. He could hear heavy thumps and the occasional groans coming from the room.
"A-ha!" Rory exclaimed, reappearing with a pair of black heels in her hand. "They were in the laundry hamper. Wonder how they got there." Slipping them on, she nodded towards the door. "Ready to go?"
"No, but it's too late to back out now."
`````
"Jimmy, this is Rory, Rory, Jimmy." Jess introduced them and pulled out Rory's chair. She looked up at him with a surprised expression on her face, but didn't say anything.
"It's nice to meet you Rory." He smiled at her politely.
Forcing a smile of her own, she replied. "Same here."
"Jess, it's good to see you again." Jess only nodded. "I'm glad you could make it."
Rory frowned at the awkwardness and spoke up, "Mr. Mariano."
"Jimmy." He interrupted her.
"Jimmy, where were you living before you came to Star's Hollow?"
"California." He answered. "Venice to be exact."
"I've always wanted to go there." The table fell into silence again, but the waiter soon showed up to save them.
"So, Jess, Rory." Jimmy began after they had received their food. "Are the two of you dating?"
"Oh," Rory's fork was held in midair between her plate and her mouth. "No, um, me and Jess are friends."
"I'm sorry, I assumed you two were more."
Jess smirked slightly. "Well, you know what they say about assuming." Before he could finish, Rory elbowed him gently. He smiled at her, but didn't continue.
"Will you excuse me?" Rory asked, scooting her chair back. "I just need to use the ladies room, I'll be right back."
"We'll be waiting." Jimmy replied and stood as he watched her leave. "Nice girl." He commented, when she had walked a fair distance away.
"Yeah, nice."
Jimmy sighed, "Look, son, I asked you to dinner for a specific reason. There's something I want to discuss with you."
`````
"What happened while I was gone?" They were in Jess' car on their way home and Rory was curious about Jess' mood.
Not answering right away, he gave her a sidelong glance. "Nothing."
"Then why are you so cranky all of a sudden?"
"I'm not cranky."
"Yes you are."
Jess sighed. "Maybe that guy just brings out the best in me."
"That guy is your dad, Jess." She pointed out. Jess didn't answer, simply turned the radio up.
Not moving after they had pulled into the Gilmore driveway, Rory watched Jess out of the corner of her eye. He hadn't said a word since the comment about Jimmy being his dad. "I'm sorry." She told him softly, wishing she could take the remark back.
"For what?"
"What I said."
Jess nodded. "Let's call it even, ok? You forgive me for taking Shane to the bridge and I'll forgive you for pointing out the obvious."
"Ok." She opened the car door and climbed out. "Jess?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure. Bye Rory."
"Bye Jess." She smiled at him and was surprised when he smiled back.
"Thanks for coming with me."
Lifting one shoulder, she stepped away from the car. "What are friends for?" With that said, she walked away from Jess and towards the front door.
`````
"I'm disowning you!" Lorelei exclaimed loudly as they entered Luke's the next morning.
"Was it terribly awful?" Rory asked sympathetically, referring to the dinner with her grandparents. Lorelei nodded, with a pout. "Awww, poor baby, but I know what will cheer you up."
Lorelei smiled excitedly. "A pony!"
"Mom, " Rory pointed out, "You wouldn't even let me have a puppy when I was a kid."
"You weren't.responsible enough for a puppy!"
"Ha! At eight I was more responsible than you."
Lorelei glared at her. "I resent that."
"Only because it's true."
Sitting at the counter with a sigh, she asked, "What will cheer me up?"
Before Rory could answer Luke appeared with a coffeepot, his frown deeper than usual. "A cheery server who willingly gives out an unlimited supply of coffee."
"Yay!" Came her excited cry before she noticed Luke's expression. "Something wrong?"
"What?" He looked at her for the first time. " Oh, it's Jess."
"What did he do now? Get that girlfriend of his knocked up?"
Rory looked at her, shocked, "Mom!"
Innocent eyes turned to meet her gaze. "What?" Her shoulders raised in a shrug. "It could happen. And that would explain why Luke is more grouchy than usual."
"I'm not grouchy." He told them. "And Jess didn't get Shane pregnant." He paused for a short moment. "At least I don't think he did."
Rory felt her curiosity getting the better of her. "Then what is it?"
"I don't know. But ever since he got home last night, he's seemed.I don't know, distant."
"This is Jess we're talking about. He's always distant."
Luke sighed, "Yeah, I know, but this is worse, more serious. I'm worried about him."
"Don't be." Jess came down the stairs just in time to hear the tail end of the conversation. "I'm fine."
Luke studied him for a moment and then gave a slight nod. "If you say so."
"I say so."
"Ok," He responded, but in reality he wasn't so sure. An unexplainable feeling told him that Jess wasn't fine, that he was far from fine.