Chapter 20, wow, I just want to let you know that I couldn't have done it without you. You guys are the one constant thing in my life and I really appreciate all of your kind words. You guys are amazing and when I first started writing this fic, I had never even expected such a positive feedback; I love you for that!

Rory´s POV:

Apparently honesty was the one aspect that counted most. The one thing in life that made it all worthwhile; obviously it was a pain but once you accept it as an essential part, you learn how to actually use it for your own benefit.The lame, stereotypical "I'm fine" whenever being asked how you were, vanished as the trust was being reinstalled in Jess's and my relationship. No, it wasn't reinstalled, it was freshly installed, something both of us still worked on. It was shown in simple gestures, in life altering actions such as taking Jess with me and Mom to the weekly Friday nights´ dinners.

My grandmother had nearly died of an aneurysm; the vein in her forehead had been dangerously close to rupturing. My grandfather on the other hand had been considerate as if he had sensed the special bond that Jess and I shared. Mom had sat there all evening, her head going left and right as if she was watching a tennis match; not that my mom actually would be interested in sports, although she enjoyed athletes in shorts with muscular legs, but she had announced the minute Pete Sampras had resigned from the center court that the sport would be holding no interest for her anymore, since all of the new players were too young to even consider them being hot. I still had to laugh about my mom's face when she had heard the news; she had sighed overdramatically, had put a hand to her forehead and had exclaimed that it would suck getting old. I had spent an whole evening to convince her that she wasn't old, that she was just settling down.

Flashback

"So, Jess. What do your parents do?" My grandmother interrupted the passionate conversation about Hemmingway between Grandpa and Jess; apparently she needed to make herself noticed again, because the minute Jess, Grandpa and I had started discussing literature, she had been simply ignored, not intentionally of course, it just happened. Jess's head shot up; he mumbled something under his breath that sounded dangerously like "so close" as he tilted his head to one side, thinking about his answer.

I felt horrible, because I knew that Grandma would find something degrading to say about Jess's parents, and although Jess may not have the closest relationship to either of his parents, I knew that he was still really protective of his family, No outsider had the right to judge, no one. He wasn't ashamed of his parents, but I was aware of the fact that Emily Gilmore was a master of talking other people down. Most of the time she took great satisfaction in the task of degrading people; people who in her opinion weren't worth being affiliated with the Gilmore name. I squeezed Jess's thigh under the table which did not go unnoticed by my grandmother as she shot me a meaningful glare. Jess cleared his throat.

"My Mom designs jewelry and my Dad sells hot dogs back at the West coast." He replied politely although I could feel his muscle tensing. He looked her straight in the eye not giving her the opportunity to feel his weakness. My grandma snorted but smiled politely, her lips forming a thin line.

"Hot dogs? I hear they are delicious, not that I ever had the pleasure of having one." She heard they were delicious, who did she think she was? Jess nodded his head in affirmation.

"Yes, they are." I chuckled to myself. Jess was mocking my grandmother and she didn't even notice it. She directed her attention to me.

"Care to share what is so amusing, Rory?" My head jerked up and I glared at her. Mom shot me a nervous glance and now it was Jess's turn to squeeze my thigh, as if to say. "It's okay, Ror´." Mom shifted in her seat and I knew that she was on the verge to butter in. The tension in the dining room was palpable and even my Grandpa stopped shoveling the food in his mouth. I shook my head, still chuckling.

"Nothing." I replied. It didn't even matter what I was thinking, it never had.

Grandma wouldn't stop though.

"You're laughing; something must be very amusing to you." I forcefully put my fork down and stated calmly as if I wanted to chat about the nice whether.

"You are." I heard mom choke on her wine and Jess let out a deep sigh. My grandpa looked from me to his wife and shook his head, not getting what was going on.

"Excuse me?" I had had enough that the guy, the man, Jess who could have easily turned down the invitation to dinner, but who didn't, was being treated like crap by my grandmother. All evening she had been making subtle comments on Logan and on how I deserved best, on how she knew exactly what was best for me.

"I think you are amusing, Grandma." Mom buried her face in her hands, but she couldn't hide the smile that was visible on her face. Grandma put down her fork as well, but slowly so, after all a lady never looses her composure.

"And why is that, young lady?" I hated the fact that she kept calling me that. Young lady…

"Do you really believe that by talking Jess down you would make me love him less?" Jess who had been sitting still on his chair turned his head to me in a quick motion. His eyes were wide and his expression was priceless. Pride? Gratitude? Disbelief? Love? All these emotions were painfully visible on his face and it dawned on me that maybe no one has ever stood up for him the way I just did. He knew exactly what disagreeing or maybe even fighting with Emily Gilmore meant for me. I hated fighting with the ones I love, but if I had to choose between my grandmother and Jess, there was no hint of doubt who I would settle for. My grandmother shook her head condescendingly.

"Rory, you don't even know what love means. You are too young to understand the meaning behind it. It is more than just the butterflies in your stomach. It is more than …" I interrupted her furiously.

"More than what? Is it more than thinking about the special someone 24/7? Is it more than missing him the minute you leave him? Is it more than compassion and knowing exactly how the other person feels? Is it more than needing that one person whenever you feel down? Jess is there for me, whenever I need him. He is there for me when I'm having a fight with mom or dad; he is there for me when I think the day simply doesn't have enough hours to get all the work done. Jess is there without being asked. He doesn't judge me or mom. He just simply takes me the way I am. He doesn't want to change me or my life. This is not something I can say of you. All my life you tried to turn me into a person I am not. This is me." I pointed to Jess, then to my mom and then to myself. Tears blurred my vision as I continued.

"You almost broke up mom and Luke, don't even think about trying that with what Jess and I have , because let me tell you. You won't succeed." A touch on my arm made me realize where I was. Jess tugged at my arm to make me sit down; I hadn't even noticed that I had gotten out of my chair. I looked over to my mom and I could see that tears were steaming down her face as well, but she was smiling, her face filled with motherly pride.

"Come on, Ror´, sit down, please?" Jess soft voice filled the room and I obliged. My grandmother glared at mom.

"This is entirely your fault; she has never raised her voice at me. You never passed appropriate manners to her." Mom eyed her thoughtfully.

"What else is new? But I have never been prouder." She sniffled slightly and took a sip of her wine.

"Emily, please, calm down." My grandfather apparently thought that it was his time to participate in the dispute.

"I will not calm down." She was met by four disbelieving pairs of eyes. Angrily she slammed he napkin on the table.

"I'm having desert in my bedroom." With that she stood up and left the room in a hurry.

Silence, only disturbed by Jess's irregular breathing and by the sound Mom created by ripping her napkin apart.

"Let's enjoy desert, shall we?" Grandpa's suggestion interrupted my thoughts. I was surprised at my outburst, but there was no way in hell I let anyone come between me and Jess anymore.

The rest of the evening was spent in comfortable silence and we shortly left after desert. With a hug from my grandpa for me and a meaningful handshake and a pat on the back for Jess and with the suggestion that we should meet up some other time, we were released.

Flashback end

My mom had had trouble to let go of me as we said our good byes in front of the Gilmore mansion. Jess and I had to go back to New Haven, because Lane and Dave were having a gig tomorrow and we didn't want to miss it, plus I really needed to be with Jess right now.

I finally handed Jess the keys to my car, too exhausted to drive myself. Emotionally drained.

My mom still had a tight hold on me.

"I am proud of you, kid." I nodded into her embrace and wondered silently why she was proud of me. Hadn't she done the same for Luke?

I climbed into the passenger seat and let out a deep breath I didn't know I had been holding.

Jess smiled affectionately at me and kissed the palm of my hand and then intertwined our fingers and let them rest on his thigh.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

I was sitting on my couch, reading, wearing comfortable clothes, trying to relax. My Grandpa had told me that my Grandma was gonna calm down eventually, I could only hope that he was right because although she had treated Jess like crap all night, she was still my grandmother and although I was actually beginning to realize that I had to stand up for myself, to lead a life on my own, she meant a lot to me and I loved her in a weird twisted way. I heard the shower being turned off and not a minute later Jess appeared in the common room ( Lane was out), a towel wrapped securely around his waist, hints of shaving cream still noticeable on his face. I looked up from my book and smiled at him.

"You shaved in the shower?" Jess nodded and came over to me.

"Yes, and I cleaned it up already." He smirked at me remembering the tantrum I had thrown the first time he had shaved at my place and hadn't freed the sink from the stubbles. I shook my head.

"I still don't know how you can shave in the shower without it being a bloodbath. I mean I still cut myself every damn time I shave my legs and well, I can actually see them." I ranted but Jess interrupted me with a kiss. A soft one, without tongue, just his lips brushing against mine. He had been very silent since we had left my Grandparents´ and I couldn't help but wonder why. I chuckled.

"Hmm, you smell nice." I said, taking in the clean scent of shaving cream and aftershave.

"Yeah?" he asked slightly mocking me, rubbing his chin. I snuggled into him, not caring that he was still wet from the shower. I needed to feel his body. I rested one hand on his bare chest and started drawing lazy circles as I closed my eyes, letting the sensation sink in. I could feel Jess swallow as his Adam's apple moved up and down. I smiled and placed a chaste kiss on his throat, feeling the vibration of his inner movements.

"Thank you." He suddenly whispered, interrupting the comfortable silence. All of a sudden I was wide awake, but despite my urge to reply I just nodded and laid my head on his chest.

"No one has ever done that for me before. You know defending me, standing up for me no matter what." I swallowed down the tears that were threatening to make their way through my tear ducts.

"For you everything." I whispered as he shifted in his seat so that he was facing me. His eyes were slightly clouded, and I could see that he was as affected from the earlier confrontation as I was. He kissed my forehead, my nose, my eyes and finally his lips rested on my mouth. I was drowning. Drowning in my emotions, drowning in his chocolate brown eyes. Finally my eyes fluttered shut and I heard him reply in a soft voice, barely audible if it hadn't been for the fact that he was only inches away.

"For you everything."

So, what do you think? This chapter totally didn't turn out the way I wanted it to be, because I had intended to write a confrontation between Rory and Cat, but you guys wanted fluff and here it is. Tell me what you think, it actually makes my day. Thanks for reading and now review. Thank you!