Disclaimer: I own nothing

"Hey Lizzie" I whispered as I sat by her sleeping form.

"I'm going to go" the babysitter left.

"Jesse" she opened her eyes.

"Hey kiddo how you feeling?"

"Good I not sick"

"Yea you're not sick"

"What wrong?"

"Oh nothing I saw my dad today"

"You not me" she frowned.

"I'd love to find your dad kiddo just so I can kill him for leaving you" she laughed "but I can't I don't know who your father is"

She nodded and stood up in her crib.

I picked her up and put her down on the floor.

"Wowy dwink" she said.

I started a pot of coffee and silently cursed Rory for getting her addicted to the stuff.

"Daddy left. Where mommy" she asked.

I froze. We knew she would ask sometime but I thought it would be awhile from now. Guess we should've figured it would be sooner when she said her first word at 7 months old.

"She's up with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny." She's not even a year old what was I going to say she's dead.

"Willy?"

"Yup"

She smiled "Can I see"

"Not until your 101." Hopefully

----------------------------

"We're closed learn to read" Jess said standing behind the counter reading a book.

"I see you already can" I said.

"Observant" he said still not looking up.

"Jess" he looked up when he heard his name.

"What do you want Jimmy I was fine until you popped up"

"I just wanted to see you" I said a little loudly.

"Keep your…" someone screamed and he went into the back for a minute and came out with a baby.

"Sorry"

"For waking Lizzie or for disappearing"

"Both"

"Just leave"

A girl stormed through the door "I'm so sorry I know I said I'd watch her but…hi Mr. Mariano"

"Hi Rory and Jimmy is fine"

"Oh ok well I'll just take Lizzie and go on up" she walked over to Jess and took the baby upstairs.

"Come you can't possibly like this stuff" I looked around "small town tied down to a girl and looking after a dumb kid"

"Oh she's not dumb she's going to be a phone psychic right Lizzie" Rory said from the top of the stairs

"Law" Lizzie corrected.

"Psychic"

"Law"

"Psychic"

"Law"

"Rory she's 9 months old I think you can hold off on the life planning until tomorrow and she won't suffer" Jess said.

"Fine" Rory took the girl by the hand and kept walking.

"Come on Jess you don't want this your crazy girlfriend fighting with your nine month old sister wow nine months and already talking and walking"

"She may be related to Liz but she wasn't raised by her"

"Come to California with me I'll get you away from this crazy small town" I offered.

"Look I really hated this town when I first got here but now I don't not as much the town is crazy and the townies hate me but some people don't and I'm staying for them"

"Well tell me I want to know who made you my own flesh and blood a small town boy not that crazy chick I hope"

"Her name is Rory and you know it and yes she was a big part of it for the first time ever I have a real family"

"Look I know you hate me but at least come for a vacation you know over the summer I heard the crazy… I heard Rory say she was going to Europe why don't you come with me to California"

"Let me think about it"

"Great well I'm going to stick around for awhile why don't you uh give me a tour of the town tomorrow"

"I can't I have school"

"You mean your actually going"

"It would look kind of bad for the valedictorian not to go to school"

"Oh my god did I hear you correctly" Rory raced down the stairs and jumped into Jess arms wrapping her legs around his waist.

"That is so great I'm so proud of you" she kissed him quickly.

"Who's watching Lizzie" he asked.

"Oh" she jumped down and ran back upstairs "Go to California"

"Come on now that's the second time she told you to go you obviously have her permission just come"

"I have to talk to Luke he might need my help around here over the summer" he said.

"Alright" I said "I'm going to go Rory probably wants to talk to you about that teacher's pet award"

--------------------------------------------

"What did I do now" I asked.

"Well I did hear about that little fight at gym with Mr. Forester"

"It was defense"

"Witnesses say you threw the first punch"

"Well he's assaulted my girlfriend many times"

"Yes Miss Kim told me that which is why I'm letting this slide that and the fact that you've been doing very well in school this year I'm sure the thanks goes to Miss Gilmore"

"So why the hell was I pulled out of class to some see you just so you can tell I've done well this year I thought school was for learning not praising"

"Your father is here"

"You mean my uncle"

"No another man says he's your father but he's not on the list so we want you to clarify that he's your father"

"Where is he" I asked.

"In my office follow me" the principal walked into his office and I followed seeing Jimmy sitting in a chair

"Never seen him" I turned around.

"Jess" he said.

"Yea he's my father"

"Fine you may go home"

"What no I told you I had school today that doesn't mean you come and get me out of it"

"And to think last year he barely came that Gilmore girl has that effect on people I wish she'd date all my students"

"I don't"

"Yes well Mr. Mariano you are free to leave and missing half a day really won't make a difference"

The door flew open and Lane came in "I'm sorry to interrupt but there are twenty future freshmen in garbage cans ten in toilets and fifteen in lockers"

"Jess go spend time with your father" he left.

"Hi I'm Lane" Lane said to Jimmy then walked out.

"Come on" I got up and walked out of the office and out of the school.

"Come give me a tour like you see on TV where they stop at all the places and talk about what happened there" Jimmy said.

"Alright let's start at Luke's" I walked over to the diner.

"What happened here" Jimmy asked.

I thought back. So much had happened here but one thing really stood out but there was no way he was getting it out of me.

"Sleeping and reading I live upstairs" I kept moving.

"This is the town square" I said.

"What happened here?"

"Many stupid festivals" I said still avoiding anything about Rory I kept moving.

"This is the Independence Inn which recently suffered a large fire"

"What else happened here?"

"I met you" I said.

"Anything else"

"Nope"

"So what was that thing in the office about a Mr. Forester assaulting your girlfriend" he asked.

"Nothing he used to date her he wants her back and he's crazy you put the pieces together" I kept moving.

"This is the bridge" I said instantly regretting coming here this is where Rory and I had our first date where we read together and where I told her I loved her this was our bridge.

"So what happened here?"

"Luke pushed me in"

"That's a nice memory you must hate this place"

"Not really kind of the opposite" I slipped.

"Why"

"No reason"

"Why"

"Well this is kind of our bridge Rory and me"

"How…chick flick"

"Will you shut up?"

"It's sweet I was wondering when you were going to bring her up you've been avoiding talking about her all day I want to know about your life Jess and she seems to be a big part of it."

I kept walking.

------------------------------------

"How was your day" I sat at the counter.

"Fine yours"

"Ok did you write your speech yet" I asked.

"Yea just finished you"

"Why does she need to write a speech" Jimmy asked.

"She's valedictorian at Chilton" Jess answered for me.

"Have you thought about California yet" I asked.

"I'm going"

"Good now about prom"

"I got the tux"

"Good remember it's this weekend"

"How could I forget?"

----------------------------------

Hey Jess hey Rory you're back early what happened" Luke asked.

"Nothing just the music was crappy and it was boring and Dean was being Dean so we left" Rory said.

"Are you ok" I asked.

"Yea I'm fine"

"Good"

"I'm going to head home I have some work to do on my speech" Rory left.

----------------------------------

"Headmaster Charleston, faculty members, fellow students, family and friends, welcome. We never thought this day would come. We prayed for its quick delivery, crossed days off our calendars, counted hours, minutes, and seconds, and now that it's here, I'm sorry it is because it means leaving friends who inspire me and teachers who have been my mentors so many people who have shaped my life and my fellow students' lives impermeably and forever. I live in two worlds. One is a world of books. I've been a resident of Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, hunted the white whale aboard the Pequod, fought alongside Napoleon, sailed a raft with Huck and Jim, committed absurdities with Ignatius J. Reilly, rode a sad train with Anna Karenina, and strolled down Swann's Way. It's a rewarding world, but my second one is by far superior. My second one is populated with characters slightly less eccentric but supremely real, made of flesh and bone, full of love, who are my ultimate inspiration for everything. Everyone has that one person who they know will always love them no matter what. I happen to be lucky enough to have many. All of my friends and inhabitants of my wonderful town have supported me through everything. Richard and Emily Gilmore are kind, decent, unfailingly generous people. They are my twin pillars without whom I could not stand. I am proud to be their grandchild. But my ultimate inspiration comes from my best friend, the dazzling woman from whom I received my name and my life's blood, Lorelai Gilmore. My mother never gave me any idea that I couldn't do whatever I wanted to do or be whomever I wanted to be. She filled our house with love and fun and books and music, unflagging in her efforts to give me role models from Jane Austen to Eudora Welty to Patti Smith. As she guided me through these incredible eighteen years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her. Thank you, Mom. You are my guidepost for everything." She smiled at Lorelai.

-------------------------------

"Have I told you how brilliant you were" mom smiled

"Twice" I reminded her.

"It was amazing" Jess said.

"Yea well yours will be better I'm sure" I said.

"Not possible" he smiled a real genuine smile.

"We'll see" I shrugged.

-------------------------------

"Teachers, students, administration, family, random townies welcome to Stars Hallow High graduation. Everyone has waited all year for this day. Some people thought it would never come that they would be stuck here forever. I was one of those people. When I first came here I had no intention of finishing high school. I didn't like school and I was certainly not going to go to school willingly but I believe that there is one person for everyone that makes them want to be better. To try and succeed instead of just scraping by or not getting by at all. I found that person and I made it from rock bottom to here. Anyone who thinks that this is as far as they can go or anyone who didn't think they could even get here you're wrong. Everyone has the capability of succeeding. Many things shape the youth of this generation but it is the love of family and friends that will push them onto to do great things. A teacher once told me that intelligence is not about your IQ or your grades but about how much you want to work. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2003 don't forget to rock the vote next year" he winked at Rory.

-----------------------------------------

"Your speech was awesome Luke was crying so hard he had to leave" Rory hugged me.

"Thanks" I smiled.

"It was great" A voice said from behind. Rory let go and looked. It was Jimmy.

"I'm surprised you came" I snapped.

"Well I did"

----------------------------------

"Have I told you how much I'm going to miss" I clung to him my arms wrapped around his neck and my legs around his waist.

"Yes and I'll miss you too" he said.

Lizzie poked him "2 months be back"

"I won't miss your birthday"

"Good"

"Alright I have to go I'll talk to you later bye" he started walking away.

I ran to catch up with him and my lips crashed into his.

"Go get out of here what are you still doing here run" I said almost in tears.

He rolled his eyes kissed me one last time and ran to the security gate.

------------------------------

"I don't mean to just drop you off and leave again but I got to get to work you know two weeks no work puts a dent in the old check account" Jimmy said.

"Ok"

"Um Sasha is home so is Lily you can do what ever I'll be back around 7"

"Ok" I walked into the house as he left.

"Hello" I called.

"Jess" a woman came over to me.

"Yea" I said.

"Hi I'm Sasha and I don't mean to be rude but the dogs are fighting so I have to take care of that make yourself at home" she walked away.

I walked around and then I saw a cabinet that seemed to be making noise so I opened it and saw a girl in it.

"Whoa" I jumped back.

"What never seen a girl before is Connecticut really that far away that girls just haven't made it over there yet"

"There are girls just none in cabinets"

"That's great what's your name again"

"You can remember that I lived in Connecticut but you can't remember my name"

"Well my mom wasn't exactly sure what your name was"

"So Sasha is your mom"

"No the dog is"

"Is Jimmy your…"

"Nope"

"Oh"

"Hey I'm almost done with this and I have some time why don't I show you around" she offered.

"Sure but first I have to call someone"

"What your mommy what's to make sure your ok?"

"My mother is dead"

"Funny"

I gave her a serious look.

"Oh my god you're not kidding I'm so sorry"

"It's fine"

"You can use the house phone we have free long distance"

"Thanks" I picked up the phone next to her cabinet and looked at the phone for awhile.

"I'm going to help her out with the dogs" she jumped out and left.

I dialed the familiar number and heard her voice.

"Hello"

"Hey Rory"

"Hey Jess how's California"

"Hot"

"Yea well can't really help that"

"Yea I guess"

"So what are they like?"

"Sasha likes dogs Lily reads in cabinets"

"Uh"

"Yea that's what I said.

"Are you having a good time?"

"Oh loads"

"Jess try and have fun"

"You too don't fall for some French guy named Jacques"

"Change it to an Italian guy named Jess and I'm so there"

"I'll have to make sure there are no guys named Jess in Italy"

"Jess"

"I better go Lily is going to show me around"

"That's nice have fun I love you"

"Don't drink too much coffee"

"Jess"

"I love you bye and I was serious about the coffee thing"

"Bye Jess"

"Bye Rory"

I hung up and Lily looked at me smiling "awwwwwwwwwww" she cooed.

"Shut up will you"

"Come on" she grabbed my arm and pulled me around.

---------------------------------

He's kind of hot. I like the leather jacket. Most of the quote on quote bad boys here are surfer bums but he's really cool.

"So is Rory your girlfriend"

"We should go" he walked in front of me.

"You know you're going to be my brother in two months you can talk to me" I smiled.

"Yes she's my girlfriend now where are we going" he asked.

"Bookstore my favorite place" I opened the door to the store and walked in with him following a few feet behind.

"Hey Lily girl" the owner's daughter Belle threw me a book.

"It's new "

"Oh yeah because the nineteenth century is so new" I looked at the cover of Frankenstein.

"Hey that's first Penguin Classic book we've ever gotten" she looked towards Jess and smiled "who's the new guy and why is he wearing a leather jacket has he not grasped the concept of heat stroke"

"This is my sort of brother Jess" I pointed to him.

"Not your brother I have a sister and her name's not Lily" he snapped. I rolled my eyes.

"Well hi Lily's not brother I'm Heather but you can call me Belle" she beamed.

"How did you get Belle from Heather" he asked.

"Heather Belinda Wick of Wick's Bookstore at your service" she climbed down from the ladder where she was standing looking at books.

"Great" he rolled his eyes.

"Who's your favorite author Jess" Belle asked.

"Hemmingway"

"Ugh I hate him I'm more into creepy books or newer books you know" she picked up a book from a near by shelf and showed it to him.

"Thank You For Smoking" he looked at her strangely.

"It's about Big Tobacco Industries and how they have to make cigarettes look good" Belle took it back from him "so what brings you to California"

"Long lost father"

"Jimmy, long lost father can't picture it he seems so responsible"

Jess laughed and she frowned then Mr. Wick came out.

"Belle what did I tell you about talking when you're working" he scolded jokingly.

"Sorry daddy" she pretended to be ashamed "Jess this is my father a brilliant man"

"Aw Belle now that's an understatement" I smiled.

"I'm going to uh go the Pacific Ocean I haven't seen it yet and well don't want it to disappear before I get a chance to" Jess walked out of the store muttering something about this being a long summer.

"You can leave whenever you want no matter where you want to go just please tell one of us if you want to leave the state we want you to stay but we know you're not used to heat or having a dad" I told him.

He nodded and left.

"I give him a week"

---------------------------

"Come on Rory we're in Paris stop worrying" mom tried to calm me down.

"What if he's bored?"

"It's Jess honey if he's not breaking the law he's bored so there's a good chance that he's bored"

"Yup that's Jess the only valedictorian in the history of Stars Hollow High to have been sent to the principals office everyday due to fighting or some other stupid thing he decided would be fun to do that day"

"Yea remember that time him and that guy decided to do their own announcements featuring why this school should be considered an institution for the mentally incapable and why Stars Hollow should be torn down and burned and of course that guy's favorite why the cafeteria smells like feet."

"He's bored"

"He's fine"

"I bet he's wandering around looking for somewhere to hide from cabinet reader"

------------------------------

I wandered the streets hoping to find someplace where Lily couldn't or wouldn't go. It was hard. The only place I could think of to go was a bar because she wouldn't be allowed in but there were no bars here. So I went into a surf shop.

"Hey dude" a guy said as I walked in the door "welcome to Venice Beach Surf Shop you looking for something to wear that don't cause you to die of like to much heat or something"

"No" I walked out and ran into someone I mumbled a sorry and kept walking.

"You know you can try to be happy Jimmy really wants to get to know you and Lily likes you and she doesn't like many people" the girl from the bookstore followed me.

"What ever" I walked faster.

"Take off your jacket"

"No"

"Look I know it's part of the New York bad boy thing but here it makes you look like you have some horrible skin disease that you don't want people to see now unless you have a skin disease take it off"

I took off the jacket.

"Good no skin disease" she smiled "now let's do something fun" she grabbed my arm and pulled me into and unmarked store.

"Where are we" I asked looking at the empty room.

"Well it was one of those tourist picture spot things but it closed because there aren't many tourists here"

"Why are we here?"

"To have fun I told you" she shook her head and pulled a pair of shorts out of a bag she was carrying "You can change in the back room"

"There is no way in hell you are getting me to where that"

"I thought you'd say that but if you don't at least try them on I will torture you the whole time you're here"

"No I'm not planning on staying here that long anyways"

"2 months"

I shrugged and walked out of the empty store.

-----------------------------

"Hey Jess there you are come sit down" Sasha patted the seat next to her on the couch. I reluctantly sat down.

"So Lily tells me you have a girlfriend"

"Huh"

"What she like"

I shrugged.

"Ok we'll talk about something else why were you in Connecticut"

I shrugged.

"How did you like living in New York"

I shrugged. I knew I was being rude but I really didn't want to talk.

"I'll get you a treat if you say something"

"Huh"

"Something with an actual meaning"

"Don't bother" Lily sat in a chair next to the couch "he doesn't want to be here he won't be here long why should we try and be nice to him when he's trying so hard not to be nice to us" Sasha gave up and left.

"Actually not being nice comes easily"

"What a talent" Lily snapped "why don't you just go back to your perfect little world sorry if we weren't what you expected I bet you always got what you wanted you were some spoiled little brat from New York City without a care in the world never went without anything always got what you wanted when you wanted it and how you wanted it"

"You really think my life was that perfect you try having no father knowing that he left you because you weren't good enough you try living with a mother that was never sober enough to remember your name or living with her boyfriend who constantly beat her and threatened you try living knowing that everyone is waiting for you to become just screw up try living in an apartment with an escaped convict living next door who swears he'll kill you if you tell the police where he is then talk to me about perfect" I yelled before realizing what I had even said.

"Oh boohoo I'm Jess my life is like a freakin soap opera I had a hard life and now my dad is nice enough to try and get to know me even though I'm a self-centered jackass punk from New York"

"I'm Lily my life is like an episode of the Brady Bunch but with dogs instead of kids"

"Go to hell"

"Already there"

"Why did you even come?"

"I wanted to get to know my father but he's not here"

"Whoa what's going on" Jimmy walked in.

"I'm leaving it was nice meeting you see you in another 18 years" I brushed past him and out the door.

---------------------------

I saw the black leather jacket on the couch and grabbed running out the door and catching up with him.

"You forgot this" I handed him the jacket.

"You know I really wanted to meet you I've never had any siblings and I know you're not my brother but you're the closet thing I've got" I started walking away.

"Lily" I turned around "you never finished showing me around.

I smiled and ran over to him grabbing his arm and pulling him around.

"You still going to leave" I asked.

He shrugged.

"Verbal response please"

"It's going to be a long two months"

I smiled "So tell me about your girlfriend is she pretty"

He rolled his eyes.

"Is that a no?"

"No"

"So it's a yes"

"It's a let's move faster"

"Point taken she looks like a frog"

"She does not look like a frog"

"Ok Cleopatra" I ran

"She does not look like a frog" he chased me.

I had to get him to talk somehow.

-------------------------------------

"What if he's just running around trying to catch someone?"

"I'm sure he's not" I said. Where does she come up with these bizarre ideas.

A/N: I've never been to a high school graduation and have no clue what a valedictorian would say Rory's speech was from the show (tweaked alittle)but obviously I had to make up my own for Jess since on the show he didn't graduate. Sorry if it was stupid or not something that someone would say at a graduation or anything like that