Author's note: I'm baaaack! Can you believe it? After over a year! Thank you, thank you, all fans of this story (are there any of you left?) for your patience, but I've been very sick this past year and unable to get the writing done. But I'm as good as new now and ready to go. So let's do it.

Disclaimer: They were on my "Get well" gifts list, but nope...haven't gotten them.

And now...on with it!

The elated mood shifted promptly after that night. And something very small triggered it. Jess was working in the diner the morning of the 27th as usual when a tourist seemed to have lost his wallet. The man was frantic, exceeding in apologies. Jess felt a bit sorry for him, but this was stars Hollow, so his wallet, if it was found, would be returned to it's owner with everything still tucked inside. However, the man was not to be pacified.

"I'm so very sorry for the inconvenience, really. If only I had checked my pockets before coming here without money. How am I gonna pay the bill now?"

Jess almost visibly cringed. He yelled for Luke to handle the man's problem and dashed upstairs.

In his room, with the door firmly closed, he let out a strong curse. He was so angry at himself, so annoyed. At Luke too for that matter. "How am I gonna pay now?" How indeed? Yale.

He applied and got into an Ivy League school and not even once had anyone considered the financial consequences. Glad he wasn't studying economy, he obviously lacked the talent.

Rummaging through his stuff, he found the envelope with his papers. Sigh. He had to call them, had to cancel his registration. Either that or ask anyone for help. But whom? Luke? No way, his uncle had done more for him already than he could ever in his life pay back. He sighed, remembering the proud look on his uncle's face when he'd seen the papers. Jess knew that the news of him not going there would devastate him. He would try and help Jess, even if he had to risk everything he had, everything being his own business. Never. The diner was Luke's pride and joy and having him put it all at stake just to help his nephew was just too much to ask.

Rory didn't have any money of her own, and he was damned if he would ask her to ask her grandparents. Even if they could afford to send both of them to Yale, they still weren't proud members of the Mariano fan club and the fact that even if they did help he would be in their debt wasn't something he was looking forward to. Lorelai was already in over her neck until the Dragonfly would be profitable enough…that didn't leave him much opening.

He couldn't get a loan with the little money he had saved up. No bank would offer him a loan without some reassurance they would eventually get it back. With interest. Stupid how you had to prove you had money in order to get a loan.

Other possibilities popped up and were dismissed as quickly as they entered his mind. Liz? Sure, she was a millionaire, or she would be if vodka was a legal currency. Jimmy? Same thing. If you exchange vodka for hotdogs. Another job? Sure, he could work at the diner, find an odd job around New Haven, save up a lot of money for college he wouldn't attend due to lack of time. Not to mention, he would hardly get to see Rory. No…not an option.

The only thing left to do was getting this whole transfer undone. But when? And how? How could he disappoint Rory, who was so proud of him and how was he supposed to face Luke?

The last one happened to just come up the stairs, finding his nephew sitting on the edge of the bed, completely morose. He had no idea what had come over him or why he couldn't handle the problem with the customer himself. Usually, Jess knew the policy of the diner as well as he did. So what was bothering him now?

"Jess, you okay? What happened downstairs?"

Jess sighed. Better just tell him now, get it over with.

"I'm gonna have to cancel Yale, Luke."

"Cancel? Why on earth would you cancel. Is it something with the transfer? Because that can be solved with some calls, I'm sure."

"No, there's nothing wrong with that, I just…"

He was interrupted before he could form an answer.

"You think you can't do it? Is that it? Because you can Jess, I know you can. You've come such a long way and if you really put in the effort, you can succeed in this."

Luke sighed. Never in his life had he been more proud of anything or anyone than on Christmas eve. He'd always known his nephew was smart, and now that he was willing to work for it the boy just couldn't afford to have cold feet. He looked up to see Jess shake his head sadly.

"That's not the problem either, Luke. I mean, I know I can do this. And believe me, I want to. Finally, I want to, but it's just that…"

Again, he didn't know how to finish. Luke was completely oblivious. "It's what Jess?"

Tell him, just tell him now, just blurt it out. There's nothing you can do to chage the course of this conversation anymore. "I can't afford it."

There, he said it. Now he could tell what was coming, he knew his uncle all to well.

"Yes, you can." See? He knew that's what Luke would answer. Did he have any clue what Ivy League colleges asked for fees, rent, books, etc.?

"No, Luke I can't. You can't either by the way, so don't offer, I won't take it."

Luke sat down next to him, almost comically adopting the same pose. For a moment, he seemed as lost as Jess felt, but then, with a sudden outburst:

"Well, you're going to Yale. I don't care where I'm gonna find the money, but I will. You've come this far and I'll die before I let you miss out on this unique chance."

Jess swallowed an upcoming lump in his throat. He wasn't used to that kind of support, but it felt amazing to get it. Even if it didn't actually get him anywhere nearer to the gates of the Ivy League.

Later that evening, an emergency meeting was set up. Jess, Rory, Lorelai and Luke went straight upstairs after closing the diner to try and come up with a plan that would put an end to their problems and send Jess to college.

Surprisingly, it was Lorelai who seemed the most dedicated, and maybe she was. This new Jess was a nice man who made her child happy and that was enough for her to be on his side from now on. They went through all kinds of plans, from getting an extra mortgage on the diner (which Jess refused because it would put too much of a burden on Luke's shoulders), to selling Rory's new car (which he refused with a sad shake of his head and a kiss for her will to sacrifice it), but none of them could come up with a permanent solution that wouldn't harm any of them.

Jess sank lower and lower into his depression, unconsciously clutching his admission papers closer to his chest, as a safety guard he desperately needed. He didn't want to have to call them, didn't want to miss his one and only chance to become the man he wanted to be.

Then, suddenly, the phone rang. Jess, who sat closest, grabbed the receiver. Ignoring Luke's warning to answer correctly or else…"Luke's. We're closed. See you tomorrow, or rather not."

He was about to hang up, when he just in time heard who it was. "Jess? Don't hang up yet. It's me."

"Jimmy? What are you calling for? Christmas is over and New Years eve isn't till a couple of days. So unless it's something serious…"

"It is. I have some good news for you."

"Spill." He wasn't interested in his father's good news, but what the hey? He could use the distraction.

"Sasha's old man died."

"And exactly how is that good news? That's just like you Jimmy, thinking of someone's death as good news."

"The guy was an asshole, but he was filthy rich and Sasha's his only child."

"Again, how does that make it good news for me?"

"Because of Sasha. Hang on, I'll let her explain herself."

Jess heard a rustle and then the female voice of Jimmy's girlfriend sang in his ears. "Hey Jess."

"Hi Sasha, sorry 'bout your dad."

"Don't be, he was sick, old and grumpy and had quite enough of his life. So…wanna hear the news?"

"Yeah, sure."

"You're going to college."

"So that's where those papers on my desk came from!"

"Don't be such a smart-ass, living with one is hard enough."

"Complain to Rory about that, I'm sure she can relate."

"I'm sure she can indeed, but now let me get to the point."

"Takes you long enough."

"Then stop interrupting me, you big baby!"

Grinning, Jess decided he'd teased her enough. "Okay, let's hear it."

"Well, I figured going to a posh place like Yale is gonna cost some hard cash, which you don't have…"

"Sasha…don't. Just don't go there. I can't take it from you. Thanks for thinking of me, but I can't. It wouldn't be right."

"Jess, please just hear me out, don't interrupt and if you still don't want it when I'm done, then I can't help it. But first just listen, okay?"

He gave in. It wouldn't hurt to hear her out.

"Jess, your dad has been honest with me from the moment I met him. I've always known about your existence and even though I've never criticized him for the way he left you for Lily's sake, I've always felt that you never got what you deserved. Now you know Jimmy and he wouldn't have been able to pay alimony for you if he tried, but that's not an excuse and it certainly doesn't make things right. So in the light of that, helping you make a future for yourself isn't charity, it's a long overdue debt. Added up it doesn't even cover the alimony your mom should have gotten. So please, let us pay for your school and don't take notice of where it's coming from. We can't offer you more than that."

It was silent for a long time. Then Jess sighed. "That's a lot to think about, Sasha. Do you mind if I think about it for a while and call you back tomorrow?"

"Of course I don't mind. Just one more thing Jess…I know it looks and sounds like we're buying you off, but that's not our goal. We're just trying to right a wrong that was done long time ago…try to consider that, would you?"

"I will. Thanks Sasha, I'll let you know."

AN: That's it. I promise I won't keep you waiting for another year before updating. That is...if you want me to...let me know, hit the review button!