PART 6

A few months passed by like that, without nothing major happened to them. As for Lorelei, put apart the work and she wasn't doing anything else. Luke got back to an almost normal life, but he was missing Rory and, to his big surprise, Jess, and the fact to see Lorelei like that was making him sad. Him and Sookie were trying every once in a while to get her out of her house, but they were always ending unsuccessful. One day, when Luke was cleaning up a little his appartment, he found a photograph of Liz. A flash hit him.

Luke: Of course! Why didn't I think about it sooner? I can be a complete idiot, sometimes.

He grabbed the phone and called his sister.

Voice: Hello?

Luke: Liz? It's Luke.

Liz: Luke? Wow! What a surprise! How are you?

Luke: I could be better. And you?

Liz: I'm reaaly good. Why are you calling?

Luke: Well I wanted to ask you something…

Liz: What is it?

Luke: Maybe it will seem crazy, but Jess left a few months ago with his girlfriend, Rory. I was wondering if you hadn't seen them?

Liz wondered for a second if she would to the right thing to tell Luke all she knew.

Liz: Yes Luke, I saw them.

Luke: When?

Liz: I see them once or twice a week.

Luke: What does this mean?

Liz: They're here in New York since the night they left Stars Hollow. They're living in my last appartment.

Luke stayed silent for a moment.

Liz: Luke? You still there?

Luke: Yes. Why didn't you call me? I was dead worried!

Liz: Luke, Jess and Rory are not ready yet to confront you all. It has been hard for them too, even more for Rory. They wanted to get all settled down before making contact again. Everything's fine for now. They went back to high school the week following their arrival here and today they're the bests or their class.

Luke: Really? Jess is the best?

Liz: Yes Lule. Rory helps him a lot. That's why they're both at the top…and they're still in love with each other, if it isn't more than before.

Luke: My god…why had I been such a jerk to them? How could I have been so blind? I thought Jess was only making Dean believe he was in love with Rory to piss him off…but I can see that I was all wrong, and it took me all this time to realize it…

Liz: Listen Luke, there's not only you in this. There's also Rory's mom, and all Stars Hollow. You're not the only one to blame.

Luke: I know, but…

Liz: Luke, you're not the only one to blame, ok? Now I gotta go, I going out tonight. If you want, you just have to call Jess, that's the same number.

Luke: Ok. Thanks Liz.

Liz: You welcome. Bye!

Luke: Bye!

Luke hung up. He knew now where were Jess and Rory, but he was wondering if he was going to call them that night or if he was going to wait. Finally, he told himself that the one who would hang up on him would just have to go to hell, and he composed the number.

In New York, Rory was sat at the table, doing her homework and Jess was in front the tv when the phone rang. Rory took it.

Rory: Hello?

Luke: Hum…Rory? It's Luke…

Rory: Luke

Jess quickly turned around when he heard the name.

Rory (a little angry): What do you want?

Luke: How are you?

Rory: I was ok until now. What do you want, lUke? How did you get our number?

Luke: I called Liz earlier 'cause I thought she would know where you and Jess would be, and she gave me the number.

Rory: Ok. And for the third time, what do you want?

Luke: I wanted to talk to you about…about your mother…

Rory: My mother? (she exploded) My mother? What does she have? She didn't tell Jess all the insults she wanted to tell him?

Jess got up and sat down near her.

Luke: No…listen. Since you left, your mother's not doing very good. She's only working, and she barely sleep and eat. She's going down to a depression. Your grand-parents, Sookie and me, we tried everything we could to change her mind, but everything we tried ended unsuccessful. She declined every invitation we were doing, and when we wanted to do a movie night like she loves them, she was always kicking us out, pretending to be tired.

Tears filled up Rory's eyes.

Luke: Rory, please, let her know you're still alive. She told me once, and to Sookie too, that if she could get only one phone call from you, she would feel better…

Rory (a few tears dripping down): Does she and the twon at least know how it hurt the way they were treating Jess? Do they know that?

Luke: For the twon, I don't know, but concerning your mother,Sookie and me, we really regret the way we acted. I promise on my sister's head.

Rory tayed silent for a moment.

Rory: I guess I'll believe you, Luke. But I'm still not ready to talk to her.

Luke: I know that, Rory, and I understand it. But at least, promise me you'll call her soon. Seeing her like that is driving us crazy.

Rory: Ok. I promise.

Luke: Thank you. Could you please put Jess on the phone?

Rory: Hold on, I'll ask him.

She put her hand on the phone and looked at Jess.

Rory: Luke wants to talk to you.

After a second of hesitation, Jess agreed.

Jess: Ok.

Rory gave him the phone.

Jess: Hey Luke.

Luke: Hey Jess. So, hum…how are you?

During the time Jess and Luke were talking, Rory went away a little and, without really wanting it, she crashed down on the floor, crying.

Jess (seeing Rory): Listen Luke, I gotta go, Rory's not feeling very well. I'll call you later.

Luke: Ok.

Jess hung up and went immediately to Rory. He took her to him, wanting to be comforting.

Jess: Shhhh...it will be ok, Ror…you know I love you…

Rory (through her tears): Jess…snif…that's my mom! She's feeling horribly bad…snif…Luke told me she was near the depression…that's horrible! Look at what I did to her!

Jess (still holding her): She caused you pain too…

Rory: I know, but we can't eternally hold a grudge, Jess! That's my mother! Look, you were getting allong pretty well with Luke, earlier.

Jess: Yeah…good point…you're right…

Rory: Luke told me that if I called her, she would feel better. Maybe that's what I should do…

Jess: Are you ready for this?

Rory: I don't know…but maybe I won't know it in a year either, so I should do it now.

Jess: Ok.

He got on his feet and went to grab the phone. He came back and gave it to her. A few seconds later, Rory was sitting between Jess's legs, her head resting on his shoulder, hesitating. Finally, she shook her head and copmosed her mother's number. After two rings, a tired and desperate voice answered.

Lorelei: Hello?

Rory: Huh…mom? It's me…Rory…

Lorelei: Rory? That's really you?

Rory: Yes mom…

Lorelei (tears in her eyes): Oh my god…I missed you so much!

Rory: I know mom…Luke called us earlier and he told me hor you were…I was all upside down to know you like that.

Lorelei: I'm already feeling better. Believe me.

Lorelei sniffed.

Lorelei: Tell me, where are you?

Rory: I'm in New York, in Jess's mother old appartment. She agreed to let it to us.

Lorelei: Did you go back to high school?

Rory: Yes mom, and Jess and I are the best of our class.

Lorelei: Really? That's great! Are you able to fill in your needs?

Rory: It's still a little hard, but Jess's mother helps us. She paies the rent and we pay the rest. She soon won't have to do it anymore. Jess and I found ourselves a little job. I work as a waiter in a big restaurant near here and Jess works in a grocery store.

Lorelei: I'm glad to know you're both doing fine. Will you forgive me one day, Rory?

Rory: One day, mom, but not yet.

Lorelei: I thought so. And I respect that.

Rory: Thank you mom. Well, I think I'm gonna go. I still have homework to do and I want to go to bed early tonight.

Lorelei: Ok then.

Rory: I'll call you soon.

Lorelei: Ok. 'later!

Rory: Yeah. Bye.

Rory hung up and rested back her head on Jess's shoulder, who rubbed her arm.

Jess: You ok?

Rory: Yeah. I feel better, as if there was a weight that had gone.

Jess: Good.

They kissed, softly first, then more deeply. They got up in the same movement, not letting go of each other, and they directed themselves to their room. They stopped a moment, looking at each other.

Rory: I love you Jess.

Jess: I love you too Rory.

They resumed kissing, still with the same passion. Rory brought Jess to the bed and crashed down on it, bringing Jess with her. They didn't even stop. A few seconds later, Rory took off Jess's t-shirt, who looked at her in the eyes.

Jess: Rory, you sure you want to do it?

Rory: Yes, why?

Jess: Well, you know, you told me once that you wanted it to be special, with flowers and a dinner…

Rory: Damn the ''special''. We love each other, no? That's all that matters.

She had barely ended her sentence when Jess kissed her once again. He went down in her neck, then unbottoned her blouse, kissing every skin part he was discovering. After that, he made her take off her pants, and Rory did the same after…