Sony31 – Firstly, I have no idea how long this is going to be. If it turns out again to be 26 chapters, I'm going to be pulling my hair out. That'd be too weird. Secondly, Lorelai isn't really an actress. Once more, I gave her a job without doing any research, so I don't know if it's an actual job, but I've decided to have Lorelai be an agent/talent scout person. You know, the ones who go to malls and give out their cards to little kids who throw hissy-fits, and then the kids come in and have glamour shots taken and then go on to be big movie stars but the agent gets a cut of everything? I think it's a real job. And I'm glad you're switching between liking Jess and liking Rory; originally I went over my stuff, and I thought 'people are going to hate Jess', so I needed to keep you guys guessing who was in the right here. Lookie, a really long AN! Because you write me such long, fabulous reviews. Done now, though.

LivingintheOCsucks – Thanks for the 20+ reviews in the past 24 hours.

Rory and Marty walked along without speaking, enjoying each other's company and the sights and sounds that Boston had to offer them.

"So Jess got back yesterday?"

"Yes he did."

"How was that?"

"Somewhat awkward, as usual. But I accidentally walked into this woman, and Jess was all manly and stuff about getting her and her husband to back off." Marty rolled his eyes, something that didn't go unnoticed by her. "What was that for?"

"Nothing."

"No, you definitely meant something there."

"You'll get mad at me."

"Marty, tell me." He sighed. She's pouting, and he can refuse her nothing when she pouts like that.

"Just that you always seem to forgive Jess anything with the smallest act of kindness. You sounded like he was your hero for 'acting manly' one time, when first of all he's a total jackass to you most of the time, and second of all, he's your husband. He's supposed to be nice to you anyway."

"He's not forgiven anything at all. I just think it's sweet when he gets all protective like that." Marty rolled his eyes again. "Okay, you really gotta stop doing that."

"You know I don't like Jess at all, Rory. If I had my way, you'd be out of that house by now." A horrified look came over her face.

"Marty! Don't say things like that." A hint of crabbiness was creeping into her voice, so he tried to pacify her.

"I know you won't leave him, though, so I'm going to drop it."

"Thank you." They continued walking, looking on as two Native American performers serenaded the crowds with wooden flutes.

"I'm sorry," Marty told her after a few minutes. "I don't have the right to pass judgment on your marriage like that."

"Damn right you don't," she responded, but there was no anger in her voice.

"I just don't like it when my friends are hurt. But neither do I understand your reasons for staying with Jess, so it's not my place to try and talk you into anything."

"You don't understand," she affirmed. "Hell, I don't understand sometimes." He looked at her, shocked by this new development. "I never thought I'd be the girl who lets her husband get away with going behind her back, but I know Jess loves me. Deep down, I love him too. I'm just not good with showing it, so he looks for comfort elsewhere."

"That's a crappy excuse and you know it, Rory." She stopped and turned so they were facing each other.

"Bottom line: Jess takes care of me. He takes care of my life. He takes care of my kids. He's there whenever I need him, and he always forgives me. So I'm not going anywhere, no matter what he does."

"And what if he gets bored and decides to leave?" A small smile spread over her face as she turned back around and continued walking.

"He won't."

"Why not?"

"I already told you why. He loves me. God knows why, because I'm not the nicest or most affectionate wife, but he does." Marty nodded slowly, then brightened up.

"I do believe its ice cream time." Her face lit up, and then they were racing towards the small, well-lit shop for giant cones of sugary goodness.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

It was noon when she arrived back at the house, kissed Marty's cheek goodbye, and pulled her rolling luggage up the walkway and through the front door. She let the suitcase bump loudly up the stairs behind her as she went to her bedroom, to let everyone in the house know she was home. A minute later, she was unpacking alone in her room when Kathy came in.

"Was it really necessary to drag your bag up the stairs? I would have come and carried it for you it if your arm was that tired."

"Hi Kathy," Rory greeted, ignoring the woman's ranting. "Where are Jane and Riley?"

"In the playroom. I'm getting ready to do a load of whites, so if you have any you want thrown in, toss 'em down the laundry chute." Rory nodded and continued to take articles of clothing out of her bag and drape them on the bed. "And you're planning on doing what with those?"

"Hanging them up." Kathy sighed.

"Go find your kids, I'll unpack for you." Rory flashed her a thousand-watt smile before scampering off to do just that. Kathy rolled up her sleeves as she took all the contents of Rory's suitcase with her to the spare room she used as her ironing center.

Rory's expensive heels clicked against the marble of her floors as she happily ran to the playroom, eager to see Riley and Jane. When she got there, however, her smile slid off her face and to the plush carpet covering the floor. Both her children were staring, transfixed, at the Veggie Tales video playing on the wide-screen as they sat together on the informal white futon in front of the TV. Behind them, Jess sat in their rocking chair, with Mina situated on his lap and whispering in his ear. Neither of them noticed her as Jess smirked at whatever he'd just been told, and let Mina run her fingers though his messy, gel-free hair.

"Mommy!" The two adults in the chair sprang up as Jane hopped off the futon and rushed into her mother's arms. Rory hugged the little girl as she watched Mina blush deeply and Jess shift awkwardly over her daughter's shoulder.

"Mommy!" Riley had toddled over to her as well, and she bent down to kiss his little head.

"Hi, Mrs. Mariano!" Mina said brightly as she too joined the tiny crowd around Rory. Jess was the only one not immediately around her, and she looked across the room into his dark eyes.

'Gotcha,' she mouthed with a humorless smile, and turned her attentions back to her offspring. Jess winced. He'd been caught; the movie and Mina's closeness had blocked out the sounds of her approaching.

The first time he'd strayed, it hadn't been far. Just to Shane's room, and Rory had eventually caught the two red-handed when she went looking for Shane to discuss a snack she'd given Jane that had upset the girl's stomach. A week later, Shane was out of the house, no reason given, and Rory had never discussed firing her during that time or after it. She'd been suspicious of Jenna with good reason, but never actually stumbled upon any incriminating evidence concerning her husband and the nanny. But Jane had hurt herself falling down the stairs while under Jenna's care, and Rory, already spurred by her suspicions, had shown no mercy in dismissing Jenna from her household. Now that she'd officially discovered proof of the latest liaison in her house, Mina's fate was uncertain.

Not that Jess particularly cared. He did like Mina, but it wasn't serious enough to try and stop Rory's vengeance on the girl. He knew it was a matter of time anyway; nannies never lasted long under Rory's watchful eye. That's why it was easiest to hook up with them; they'd be gone before they had the chance to think their relationship with Jess was serious. Also, sneaking around was critically aided by the fact that they lived in his house, and he had the added benefit of keeping the fling quiet. Shane, Jenna, and now Mina were the only girls he'd been with since marrying Rory. They wouldn't get caught, as was likely to occur should he decide to date a costar, and they knew enough to keep quiet when it was over. Dozens of Hollywood nannies, who'd been receiving nice little bonus packages from their bosses, had went public minutes after the affair was over, and it never turned out good for them. There would be an instant burst of popularity which lasted approximately fifteen minutes, and then the media would move on, and the girl would be left to deal with hordes of the wife's angry supporters. Her reputation would be ruined, social and professional, and she'd bear the crippling black mark for years to come. Jobs in the childcare industry and showbiz would become nonexistent for her, and gaining trust among new friends, especially married ones, would be practically impossible.

He'd obviously thought this through. And, as he expected, Shane and Jenna kept hush-hush about their activities while working under the Mariano's roof.

"How was Boston?" he heard Mina asking enthusiastically. It was funny; she looked up to Rory so much even as she slept with her husband.

"Good. Boston was good. We got some ideas to use on the show." She made eye contact with Jess again, but her face betrayed no emotions. His blood boiled at her lack of feelings. He'd give anything for ANY reaction- angry, upset, or hysterical. But as always, she didn't let him into her mind. She never did anymore. She'd earned his nickname the Ice Queen with good reason.

"Right. So, I have to go out." He broke the silence that had crept up on the room's occupants, making all quiet except for the Veggies. Mina was obviously freaked out by Rory's suddenly heightened dislike, and both Jane and Riley were back on the futon, watching their tape. "I'll be back by dinnertime." He nodded to Rory on his way out of the room, and made his way to the upstairs room where he could smell Kathy ironing away.

"Kathy, are there any errands you need me to run?" She glared at him.

"Why the sudden need to get out of the house?" she asked conversationally. But didn't drop the glare.

"You know how it is; Rory's got a stick up her ass, and I think I'd be better off steering clear of her for the rest of the afternoon." Kathy sighed. There was no doubt in her mind that a certain unnamed employer's infidelity was at the root of Rory's bad mood.

"I guess you could go grocery shopping. I just have a short list, but you're a man, so it'll take you a while to find everything."

"I feel like I should be insulted."

"The list is on the refrigerator. Add avocados to it when you grab it, I just remembered I need some for tomorrow's dinner." He thanked her and went to the kitchen to take the list. It was mostly ingredients for Kathy's delicious recipes, but there were also a couple household items (toothpaste, food for Jane's fish Fishy), and a few brands of alcohol written in Rory's hand which she'd obviously run low on. He folded the list and placed it in his pocket before grabbing his leather jacket from the coat closet, and leaving the house.

Having heard the garage door open and close, Rory knew he was gone. She got up from where she sat between Riley and Jane, snapped at Mina to watch them, and made her way towards the drink cart in the living room.

She swallowed the bitter tonic as her gaze fell on the room's focal point; a blown-up picture of her and Jess on their wedding day. They were standing on the balcony of the hotel their service had been held at, and New York City's lights glowed behind them. But it wasn't the view that made Rory's throat constrict; it was the look on her face as Jess kissed her cheek, and she stared ahead of her at the camera with a look of sheer happiness on her face. She glowed, and not just because of the expensive white dress she wore. She glowed because that was probably the happiest she'd even been in her entire life.

Looking back, Rory faintly recalled the recognition that she would probably never be that happy again. Even as they'd said their vows and shared their first dance, she'd had the haunting suspicion that things weren't going to get any better. Their wedding was the climax of their relationship; of her life. She'd even tried to explain this to Jess after their rehearsal dinner, when he wasn't supposed to be seeing her but she'd snuck into his hotel room anyway. She'd tried to tell him her fears that their life together wouldn't work out, but he'd laughed and chalked it up to nerves. Reminded her that he loved her. Promised her that he'd never wanted anything so much as he wanted their marriage to bring them even more happiness than that which they'd already experienced.

So she'd smiled, kissed him, and gone back to bed. And the next morning, she'd forcibly ignored that nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Maybe she was a pessimist, but from that point on, things had been good for a while, but slowly tapered off. She'd become more removed the more she felt that he wasn't legitimately listening to her fears, and that only served to increase them.

She held back all signs of tears even though no one was watching as she looked upon her picture's face. She looked backwards to the point in time that had found her completely content with everything at the present. She remembered when she'd been able to bring herself to be open with Jess about everything, and accordingly the time when Jess hadn't even dreamed of looking at another woman.

Those days were gone now, though. They had a beautiful little girl, Jane, and a brilliant baby boy, Riley. They both had important, high-paying jobs, they owned a gorgeous house, and they both were on the surface very happy. They weren't really, though. And because she felt so horrible about keeping Jess from the happiness he could have had with any other wife, she tried to turn a blind eye to his extracurriculars.

As she stood up to refill her drink, she made up her mind to give Jess a break tonight. Regardless of how much it bothered her to get close to him, she would give him the opportunity to be like any other man and wife. Every once in a while she came to the same conclusion, that she was a bad wife and Jess deserved her affection again, and made the same decision. It never lasted long, but it was during those times that she found the reason for staying with Jess she never told Marty about.

Hope.