Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you may recognize.

A/N: This is a sequel to a previous story called Jessie, reviews are coveted and cherished. And ZZtop? You still rule.

Thanks to Linz for everything.

xoxoxo

Chapter Four

Luke, Jess and Will got home by quarter to nine. Will ran immediately to his room and Jess headed toward her room, too, but Luke pulled her up short with a quick, "Hang on a sec."

This was wholly unusual and Jess spun around, her eyes wide and curious. "Yeah?"

Luke took a few steps into the room and put his keys into the dish near the door, trying to think of the right way of saying what he wanted to say. Finally, he decided to just say it. "You didn't eat much tonight at dinner," he began.

Heat crept up Jess's neck and defensively she sputtered, "Do you know how much fat and cholesterol is in Alfredo sauce? I'd rather not die of a heart attack before I'm twenty." She delivered these words with the haughty bravado all teenagers seemed to be masters of.

"So it didn't have anything to do with the fact that you have an incessant and almost obsessive need to watch what you eat?" Maybe that was a little harsh, he thought watching her face go from shocked to defensive to angry all over again. Jess opened her mouth to furiously deny his charge.

"I watch what I eat so I don't get fat! Do you want me to look like Sam? Ballerinas have to be tiny!"

"Sam's not overweight," Luke pointed out quickly. "And would you really want me to be like Sam's mother, never asking questions, never making sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine!" she said sharply. This was catching her completely off-guard and she knew she sounded irrational, but she felt like she was losing control. "God, talk about obsessive!"

"Don't yell at me," he cautioned. Her temper was always the first thing she lost when they argued.

"I'm not yelling," Jess said in a calmer voice. "I just don't think this is a big deal." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him with cold eyes.

"Your health is always a big deal. I would be asking the same questions of Rory or Lorelai if they sat through a five-course meal and only ate the salad, minus the dressing, and the steamed broccoli served as a side-dish."

"What are you the food police?" she asked, incredulous. "Did you take notes?"

Luke sighed deeply and looked her straight in the eyes. "I worry about you because I love you. You know that, right?"

Jess glanced away and shrugged, "Yeah, of course."

"Then please don't fight me when I tell you I'm worried."

"I'm not fighting you, I just don't think there's a problem." What could he say? Luke pressed his lips together and finally said quietly, "Fine. Go get ready for bed."

Jess spun on her heal and stormed away from him. Luke put two fingers to the bridge of his nose and rubbed the lines etched into his skin.

In her room, Jess slammed the door closed and quickly put her pajamas on. Everything had been going so well, why did Uncle Luke have to ruin it? She shook her head. What did he know, anyway?

A tapping on the window interrupted her thoughts. Jess went to the glass and lifted, opening the window to allow Sam to enter, her jet-black hair sporting orange streaks today.

"Hey," Sam greeted her.

"Hi," Jess said without enthusiasm. "You had another fight?" she asked thinking of what Uncle Luke had said about Sam's mother.

Sam nodded and made herself at home on the bed. She tossed her overnight bag on the floor and settled into the rumpled sheets and comforter.

"She's a bitch," Sam said matter-of-factly. "And she hates me."

"What happened?" Jess said, not even trying to argue with Sam.

"The notice for the P-SATS came. You probably got one, too, by the way, so check your mail. Anyway, she did the thing I hate with acronyms. You know when someone adds the last word in the acronym when talking about the acronym?"

"What?" Jess asked, confused. Sam's tendency for dramatics was even worse that her own.

"Like TCBY Yogurt. The 'TCBY' stands for 'The Country's Best Yogurt'. The name of the store isn't 'The Country's Best Yogurt Yogurt'. There's no need to say, 'We're going to TCBY Yogurt.' Well, she did it the P-SATS, 'Here's the P-SAT test information,' so I'm already annoyed going into the conversation. And then, out of nowhere, she's all, 'You should really think about beauty school. College is probably a little beyond you.' Can you believe that!" Sam exclaimed, her outrage coming to the fore again.

Jess shook her head and said, "That's awful. I'm so sorry!"

Sam lifted her hands as if to say, 'I'm done,' and turned to Jess. "How was your night?"

"Well, I got the part of the Sugar Plum Fairy." They squeed for a moment, then Jess continued, "Rory went into labor during dessert and Emily was pissed about the breaking water on her antique Oriental carpet." They paused here to laugh because it wasn't at all surprising. Then Jess sobered and finished, "And then when we got home Uncle Luke got all up in my grill about what I ate tonight."

Sam frowned and said, "That's not cool. What did you eat?"

"I ate the salad and some vegetables. It was a big salad, too," she said, because it was true.

"That's not bad," Sam said.

"Thank you! He acts like I've got an eating disorder or something. God, as if! You should see what some of the girls in the company do to stay thin. All I do is watch what I eat. He makes me insane."

"That bites."

Jess shrugged, tired of it. "It's fine. It won't be forever, I guess."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, you said yourself, the P-SATs are coming. Then the SATs and then college. If I don't get into some place good, like Julliard, I'll have to go to college and then get a job, then…what? Married? Kids? Suburbia," Jess finished with disgust.

Sam looked at her friend, and saw the two very different paths that stretched out before her. Professional Ballet lay on one side, Normal Life on the other. "Who would we marry?" Sam asked, curious.

Jess thought about it. "Tim Zachary for me." Sam giggled and said, "Yeah, baby! Bring it!"

Meanwhile, Luke went to check on Will and found him in bed, with a reading lamp on, looking at a picture book. The room was dark except for the glow of his little light. His little son seemed softer in this light, and peaceful.

"It's late, kiddo," he said after peeking around the open door.

"Is Rory having the baby right now, Daddy?" Will asked without preamble.

"Yep," Luke said, coming further into the room. "She sure is."

"And I'll be the baby's uncle, right?"

"That's right." Luke sat down on the edge of Will's bed.

"Will Mommy be back tomorrow?"

"Probably."

"I miss her.

"I know."

Will suddenly looked so forlorn that Luke lifted a hand and tousled his son's dark chocolate hair. "Go to sleep now and we can have pancakes in the morning."

"Really?" Will's eyes got wide and hopeful.

"Yep."

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Night," Luke smiled and stood to leave, feeling at peace with at least one conversation. "Sleep tight."