Alright, first things first, I don't own Gilmore Girls. Anything you recognize? Not mine. So this is my first GG fic. Please, let me know what you think.

Secondly, This obviously takes place in the future... Logan is history, and that whole Jess going to Yale and getting shot down thing? Never happened.

Jess woke up as soon as he heard the crying. It wasn't unusual. In fact, his son had nightmares more often than not.

He was out of bed and in his son's room like a shot when the 2½ year old called out for him. "Da! Da!"

"Holden…" Jess soothed the little boy by sitting on his bed and pulling him into his lap. If you had told him 3 years ago that he would spend most of his nights soothing a little boy's nightmares he would have laughed. So would anyone who had known him… But it was indeed how he spent most of his time these days. "Holden, buddy, wake up."

"Da?" The little boy woke slowly, still crying and sniffling quietly.

Jess smiled softly and ran a hand through his son's unruly hair. It was remarkable really. Holden was the exact image of Jess, except for the eyes. He had his mother's eyes. A deep, haunting forest green. "Yeah, buddy, it's me."

Holden sniffled one last time and burrowed his face into his father's t-shirt. "I-" he hiccupped, "I have a bad dream."

"I know, Holden." Jess rubbed circles on his son's back, bunching up the Power Rangers pajamas, but lulling the boy back into a half sleeping state.

"I-" hiccup, "I sleep with you?"

"Sure, buddy." The 24 year old acquiesced. He shifted Holden in his arms, grabbed his favorite toy- a ratty stuffed lion named Sid, after Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, one of Holden's favorites- and a downy soft green blanket and made his way to his own bedroom. He laid his now sleeping son down on the right side of the bed before settling himself against the headboard. He grabbed a well-worn copy of A Farewell to Arms and tried to lose himself in it.

20 minutes later he had read the same paragraph 12 times.

Holden's nightmares were beginning to worry him. He'd done all he could, but his son was still waking up crying at least 5 times a week.

He threw down his book and gritted his teeth in frustration. It was time to do what he swore he never would. It was time to call his uncle.

"Luke!" Lorelai called down the stairs. "Could you get the phone?" Her voice was accompanied by some boyish giggles.

"Shouldn't he be in bed?" Luke asked, referring to their 3-year-old son, William, Liam for short.

"Blasphemy!" More giggling. This time from both mother and son.

Luke smiled slightly and, rolling his eyes, clicked on the phone. "Hello?" The greeting was a growl, something to be expected from the gruff diner owner. No answer. "Hello?" Still no answer. "Listen, I'm going to hang up. Don't call here again."

"Luke!"

Luke's breath caught in the back of his throat. "Jess?"

Half an hour later Lorelai descended the stairs, with a freshly bathed and dressed Liam asleep in her arms. Luke was sitting, unmoving, on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. The phone still clutched in one white-knuckled hand. "Luke?" He turned to face his wife. "Who was on the phone?"

"Huh?"

"The phone. Who was on it?"

"Jess."

"What?" She screeched, forgetting momentarily about the sleeping child in her arms. "What?" she repeated, much more calmly. "Jess? Jess your nephew who broke Rory's heart then disappeared to only God knows where to never be heard from again? That Jess?"

Luke didn't even blink at his wife's longwinded question. "Yeah."

"What did he do?"

"You're going to wake Liam up if you don't put him in bed soon."

Lorelai glared at the blonde, realizing he was right. "Don't think we're done."

He collapsed against the back of the couch and rubbed a hand over his tired face. "Wouldn't dream of it."

He had closed his eyes and was nearly asleep when Lorelai stomped back into the room. "Speak."

Luke opened one eye and glanced at his angry wife. "Is Liam asleep?"

"No changing the subject, diner man."

"Lor-"

"Jess. Speak."

"He needs help."

Lorelai snorted. "Color me surprised… what does he need help with?"

"His son."

"Da!"

Jess awoke to a bright-eyed Holden jumping on his stomach. "Ugh…"

"Da! Wake up!"

"Holden." Jess warned, his eyes glinting mischievously. He snaked an arm about his son's waist and pinned him to the bed. Then with the other hand he began to tickle the little boy mercilessly. "What do you say now, little man?"

Laughing hysterically the 2½ year old thrashed about on the bed. "Da! Stop!"

Jess chuckled and quit tickling his son. "Breakfast Holden?"

Holden nodded "Bre-fast Da."

"Pancakes?" he asked settling Holden on his hip. Jess laughed again when Holden nodded excitedly.

"Help?"

"You want to help?" Holden nodded. "Alright. Let's see what we can do." He set his son down on the small counter and rummaged around the kitchen for everything they needed to make breakfast. Jess froze when he heard his son start to hum to himself. It was something else he got from his mother.

Neither Jess nor Naomi, Holden's mother, were big talkers, but unlike him Naomi couldn't stand silence. She had a habit of humming or singing to herself when the quiet got to be too much.

Finally, he set all the ingredients and utensils next to Holden. Then he plugged in an electric griddle on the other side of the counter. As far from his inquisitive son as possible.

"What now Da?"

"Now," Jess poured some flour into a measuring cup "You can pour this into the bowl." He handed the measuring cup to his son. "Two hands."

The cooking went fairly well; minus the egg Holden had convinced Jess to let him crack. There were still remnants of that disaster on the counter and, unsurprisingly, in Holden's hair. And, of course, there was flour all over Jess' t-shirt and Holden's pajamas. All in all, not a very eventful cooking experience for the Mariano boys.

"Yummy bre-fast Da."

"Yeah?" Jess cringed as Holden wiped his maple syrup covered hands on his pj pants.

"Mmmhmm."

"Good." He tightened the top on his son's milk filled sippy cup before handing it to him. "Listen buddy, I've got something to tell you."

"What Da?"

"We're going to take a little trip." He watched his son closely, but Holden just smiled and guiltlessly smashed his hands into a half eaten pancake. "We have to go see my Uncle in Star's Hollow."

"Un'ca Luke?"

"What?" Holden looked up at Jess' harsh tone. "How'd you know that Holden?" The 2½ year old shrugged and went back to playing in his food. Jess shook his head; his son was too smart for his own good. "We're leaving today, so you need to have a bath."

The little brunette scrunched up his nose. He didn't like baths. "Bella?"

Jess looked up from where he was piling dishes into the sink. "Bella?"

Holden nodded excitedly. "Bella see Un'ca Luke."

"Bella can't come with us buddy."

"No Bella?"

Jess sighed, his son looked to be on the verge of crying. That was never a good thing. "I'll ask Lia if she and Bella can come…" Holden smiled brightly and clapped his sticky hands together. "Don't get your hopes up, kid." He sighed again when Holden, who was now in his arms on the way to the tub, laughed and planted his syrupy hands in his hair. "Looks like I need a bath too."

Jess shook his head an hour later, so far they had eaten, showered, brushed their teeth, and dressed, already he was exhausted. The dishes were finally done. He just hoped Holden had stayed in his room playing, as he'd left him. "You ready, buddy?"

"Bella?"

Jess rolled his eyes; people said he had a one-track mind. "Yeah, we're going to ask Bella and Lia if they want to come to Star's Hollow." The emerald-eyed boy was up and at the apartment door before he could blink.

"Da! Open the door!" Jess looked expectantly at his son. "Please?" Jess obliged and sighed when Holden took off again.

"Holden Lucas Mariano!" The 2½ year old froze and turned at the sound of his father's voice and, also, at his dreaded full name. Jess smiled wickedly at the small boy. "Wait for me."

There was a great deal of manly laughter and boyish giggling as the two Marianos raced down the hall to the apartment three doors down from theirs. "I win." Holden announced.

Jess cocked an eyebrow at his son. He'd clearly gotten there before Holden. "Oh really?" Holden nodded and knocked on the apartment door. "How?"

The little boy shrugged. "I just win."

The petite blonde woman who answered the door laughed. "You two race again?" Jess and Holden shrugged simultaneously. "Come in."

The Marianos entered the apartment; Jess following the blonde and Holden scampering off to find Bella.

Bella Madison, a gregarious, strawberry blonde, 5-year-old girl, was Holden's best friend. The age and gender differences didn't bother the two, as soon as they'd met the small Irish girl and smaller New York boy had had an instant connection.

It was to be expected though, as Bella's mother Natalia, more affectionately known as Lia, was Jess' own best friend. She was his business partner too. The two owned a little combination café/bookstore. Ironically enough Jess owned the café part, though he did occasionally help Lia with her inventory. Whether she wanted it or not.

"Thanks."

Lia just shrugged as she handed Jess a coffee. "It's not as good as yours." The two sat quietly, just sipping their coffee and listening to their respective children's laughter. "So, to what do I owe this early morning visit?"

"Nightmare." Jess said simply.

"Really?" Lia asked worriedly. Jess nodded. "Are you going to get some help Jess? Really, he-"

"I called my uncle last night."

"Your Uncle?" Jess nodded. "Is he a psychologist or something?"

"My Uncle Luke, Lia. I've told you about him."

"I know that." The blonde glared half-heartedly at her friend. "The diner guy. Star's Hollow, right?" he nodded again. "When are you leaving?"

"Today, hopefully. Holden wanted me to ask if you and Bella could come."

"And you told him no way, right? I mean, crazy townspeople, absolutely nothing to do, Bella's got school, and who would run the shop?"

"Exactly." If Lia hadn't been watching her friend closely she wouldn't have noticed how his face fell slightly.

"Are you kidding?" the blonde laughed, "Of course we're coming."

"But-"

Lia waved a hand dismissively. "Bella's in kindergarten. What do they really do? Nap? She's smarter than those other kids anyway, it'll be fine if she misses a few days."

"What about-"

"Kelly and Shane can take over the shop for awhile. Like I'm going to miss Star's Hollow."

"Da!" Jess shook his head; he wasn't sure exactly when it had started, but his best friend's daughter had taken to referring to him as her father. It didn't really bother him. It didn't even bother him that when the four of them were out together people believed that they really were a family; Holden and Lia had the same green eyes, while Jess, Holden, and Bella all shared the same mass of unruly curls. What did bother him was the fact that it didn't bother him. Especially since he knew it should. Shouldn't it? "Da," Jess steadied the red headed girl as she climbed into his lap. "Holden said you were going to go away."

"Un'ca Luke." Holden said proudly as Lia picked him up and settled him on her hip.

Jess nodded. "We're going to see my Uncle Luke in Star's Hollow."

Bella stuck out her bottom lip and pouted at him "Can I come? Please Da?"

"Your mom already said you could."

"Really Mum?" Lia nodded. Bella squealed and hugged Jess tightly.

"You'd better go pack, Princess."

Bella nodded and hopped out of Jess' lap. "Come on Holden." She waited until her mother set the little boy down, then grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom.

Lia smirked into her mug. "You don't even correct her anymore."

Jess rolled his eyes and stood up. "I'm gonna go… pack. Tell Holden where I am."

The Irish woman continued to smirk at her friend. "Don't forget to call Shane and Kelly."

Jess continued to walk away. "Half an hour Natalia."

"When are they getting here?" Lorelai asked her husband for at least the twentieth time that hour.

"I don't know." Luke growled. He silently thanked God when the phone rang. "Answer the phone Lorelai."

The brunette glared at him briefly before answering the phone. "Hello?"

"Mom?"

"Rory! Sweets, how are you?"

"I'm good. How are you? It sounds like something's wrong."

"I have news."

"Me too!"

"Ror-"

"Finn and I are on our way to Star's Hollow! And we're bringing one of his friends."

"Colin?" Lorelai asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste. The boy was polite enough… but he was quite honestly the most boring person she'd ever met in her life.

"No."

"It's not Logan is it?" That one was an asshole. He'd broken her baby's heart.

"What? No! It's one of Finn's Australian friends."

"Oh really?"

"Colby, say hi to my mom."

"G'day-"

Rory pulled the phone away before the Australian could continue. "See?"

"New meat."

"New exotic meat." Rory added, stealing her boyfriend's favorite adjective. "So what's your news?"

"Are you sitting down?"

"I'm in a car mom."

"Right. It's Jess."

"Jess?"

"Jess."

"As in ran away to California never to be heard from again Jess?"

"The very same."

"What about him?"

"He's coming to Star's Hollow."

"What?"

"With his son."

"What!"

Jess' car was a mess. Food wrappers, CD's, takeout coffee cups, small toys, and half read books littered the floor. He smirked a little as he remembered Lia's reaction.

"What are you grinning about?" Lia's voice was low, as Holden and Bella had finally fallen asleep.

"Me? I don't grin."

Lia rolled her eyes "Whatever." She looked out her window and sighed. "Are we there yet?"

"You're worse than the kids."

The blonde shrugged. "Are we?"

"Does it look like we're there?"

Lia shrugged again. "How would I know? I've never been to Star's Hollow before."

Jess sighed. "15 minutes."

7 minutes later Jess was ready to pull over. Holden was screaming his head off and thrashing around in his car seat. "I can't wake him up! Mummy!"

Lia looked at Jess, who was completely white, his lips were pressed so tightly together it almost looked as if he didn't have any. "I'll get him. You just get us there in one piece." Jess nodded as Lia unbuckled her seatbelt and twisted around so she could reach into the back seat.

"Is Holden okay?"

Lia smiled sadly at her daughter, who had tears in her eyes. "He'll be alright Bella." After a fair amount of struggle the blonde finally managed to get Holden unstrapped and into her arms. "Holden, come on. Wake up, boyo."

"Da!"

Jess reached over and ran a hand through his son's hair. "I'm here buddy."

Holden's crying stopped gradually; by the time they reached Luke's Diner the little boy was fully awake, wrapped securely in Lia's arms, and clutching Sid. "I'll bring him in, Jess, if you'll get Bella?" Lia offered as Jess turned off the car.

"Sure." He opened the back door and unbuckled the excited 5 year old. "You ready to go Princess?"

Bella smiled at him, her blue eyes shining hopefully "Carry me Da?"

Jess sighed and held his arms out to the little girl. "Come on, Monster."

She giggled and launched herself at the 24 year old. They had just caught up to Lia and Holden when Bella forced him to stop. "Wait! Da, I left Grandma in the car!"

Jess shook his head at Lia, who was making her way back to the vehicle. "I'll get it Lia. Why don't you guys go in?" Lia nodded and carried Holden into the diner. "Let's go Bella."

The little girl beamed at him as he took her back to the car.

That was the first Star's Hollow would see of Jess Mariano in almost six years. A tall, dark haired man, carrying an adoring little girl, searching his rust bucket car for a stuffed bunny named Grandma.