Liz had offered to let them stay with her and TJ, but Jess had reached his tolerance limit for his step-father, so Rory politely declined saying they had already made arrangements.

When they found a motel, they approached the desk.

"How may I help you?" The woman behind the desk asked.

"We need two rooms." Jess told her.

"I'm afraid we only have one left." She replied smiling.

"Does it at least have two beds?" Jess inquired.

"Only one king size I'm afraid."

"We'll take it for the night." Rory handed over her credit card.

"Rory." Jess said.

"I'm tired and I need to sleep. It's not like I haven't seen you in your underwear before." Rory stated. "We'll take the room."

"Just sign here Ms Gilmore." The woman handed her some paperwork.

"Thank you." Rory signed it.

"Room 12." The woman handed her the key. "Do you need some help with your bags?"

"Don't worry he's got them. Thank you."

Rory opened the door to the room and walked in and collapsed on the bed.

"Ah. That's better."

"You're really that tired?" Jess asked.

"You try growing a person inside of you and then tell me if it doesn't take a lot of energy."

"Sorry I asked."

"I'm going to change and take a nap. We can figure out something for dinner when I wake up."

"I'll sleep in the chair." Jess offered.

"Jess you can sleep on the bed, it's big enough. I trust you."

"Lorelai doesn't."

"That doesn't matter, and for the record she wouldn't have let me come if she didn't have the minutest element of trust in you."

"That amount of trust would be like a drop of water in the ocean." Jess said.

"Jess, the reason Mom didn't like you was because she was trying to be nice to you and you threw it back in her face, the same way you did with Luke. You aggravated the whole town with stunts which were actually pretty funny. Mom liked Dean she thought I was happy, she just didn't want you to interfere with that."

"You weren't happy."

"I know, but I at least thought I was. With you I could have fun and be myself and talk about books. After we got together all Mom wanted was for you not to get me into trouble and for you not to break my heart."

"I pretty much screwed that one up."

"I got over it." Rory said. "It's pretty much all Mom still wants from you, other than owning up to your responsibilities which you're doing."

"She's always going to hate me."

"No she's not." Rory told him. "You just have to show her the Jess that I know."

"Rory…"

"Jess you know I love you, I probably always will but right now I need some sleep."

"Okay." Jess conceded.

"You did well with telling Liz." Rory told him as she slipped her shoes off. "Did I tell you Luke wants a detailed account of TJ's fainting?"

"You mentioned."

"He gave the whole diner free coffee." Rory added.

"I bet Lorelai loved that."

"Mom gets free coffee all the time."

"And free food."

"That's what you get for having the diner owner being in love with you for years."

"The whole town knew." Jess smiled.

"Jess, my grandmother knew every time Mom mentioned Luke and voiced her disproval. Mom never wanted that lifestyle, she wants Luke."

"Please don't finish that sentence." Jess pleaded.

"And his coffee." Rory supplied.

"Luke says you get your coffee addiction from your grandmother too."

"How does Luke know that?"

"Something he heard your grandfather ask how many cups of coffee Lorelai had had one morning and he got a look on his face. Luke guessed your grandmother did the same."

"I guess. But it's not as bad as Mom. She needs at least three cups before she goes to work, more if she can con Luke."

TBC