AN: I am so sorry. Really, I am. I've just been super busy with school and two jobs and life n general is sucking so much right now I felt no will to write. But things are getting better, summer vacation is approaching so that's reason to be happy. No school for three months. I'll probably have time to work on this story some more. I'll only have my job and driver's school (I'm finally getting my license, I'm 22, I think it's about time, don't you?) Anyway, no more rambling, here are the thanks yous and chapter 7 - finally:)

Poetic Angelica - thank you, and I agree, Jess is an ass, I can't understand why so many people like and are glad he's back on the show. I haven't seen the episodes yet, but this news didn't make me one bit happy. Anyway, thanks for reviewing!

Blazergrl17 - so you want it to be Finn? Read on!

Riotgirllina - You'll just have to read this chapter, I hope it makes you happy!

Emily - lol that was clever hehe. Finn really is awesome... and hot:) Thanks for reviewing!

Coffeemilkshake - oops, I guess it was even longer than last time, I apologize. Don't be mad, but my day has only 24 hours, if it had 36 maybe I would update more regularly. But I'm trying, bear with me hehe. Thank you by the way! ;)

Kylie1403 - will do... in time! Thank you!

PsychTnkrbll - I like being evil. Mean girls are the coolest hehe Just kidding, I promise I will never do that again... not! Thanks for reviewing!

NateBran - I'm glad you found the story and that you're enjoying. I'm just sorry I didn't update as quickly as everybody wished me to... oh well.

ElvenPrincess01 - I'm glad you didn't find a threat, I scare too easily hehe. Anyway, I'll try to come up with a sarcastic thing for Jess to say about Finn and his Australian ways (I'm not sure I'll find it, don't know much about Australians, never met one. But I like Ian Thorpe! And Tanc Sade obviously, but there's nothing with them, they're perfect) and no it is not wrong for you to find hilarious when Marty breaks his heart. I think so too, hehe. We're mean... maybe not, Marty's too slow.

Problem Child1 - you're the second person who mentions Veronica Mars, I wish I'd seen this show before... you know why I love your reviews? They're very... graphic hehe. I can picture your computer screen covered with food while you're laughing. It's a very nice picture hehe. Not for your monitor but... Flogging Molly, can't say that I have. We don't get the new, cool, alternative stuff here in Brazil. They just the popular stuff from bands that have been on the road forever. New things never make it here. But I'll look on the internet sometime. I like punk, pop, jazz... whatever! Anyway, thank you for reviewing!

Bookworms - I think the readers have indeed settled that I am an evil writer, so yeah hehe. Cliffhangers are the best, love them. In my stories at least, when it's on others, not so much, makes me anxious and I don't like to be anxious. Anyway, the pairing? It's PDLD I promise... or not... no I do promise... no I don't hehe. Jess and Marty are on the run too hehehehe. Maybe not Marty, but wouldn't it be so much fun if I had Rory get back with Jess? A love triangle... once again... yeah, maybe not... or maybe yes... can you tell I'm undecided? But seriously, I'm not planning ahead with this story. I just sit in front of the computer and let my fingers type whatever they want, So don't blame me, blame my fingers! Lol... that was stupid, forgive me... anyway, thank you!

Jmarit17 - mean? Not me! hahaha No I am, I'm aware... About Jess, never liked him. Hated him, always. Jerk, idiot, insensitive, asshole and so on... I hadn't heard about the spoilers because I don't really read them, the kind of... spoil the show for me. But I know he's back cause I read what people said at the ORG forum. I haven't seen any of the new episodes, they premiere next week here, but knowing that he's back does not make me happy. I prefer Logan... or even more Finn, but I know that'll never happen on the show, so I have to be content with just writing it... anyway, thanks for the review!

ReeseAnn - I won't tell anyone, promise hehe... thanks for reviewing!

GilmoreAtHeart74 - Thank you very much!

Smile1 - well, thank you so much for your very kind review! And thanks for understanding my lack of time, but I didn't review one of your stories this week, so yay me! Anyway, really I appreciate all the compliments you made, they made my day! So yeah, thank you very, very much!

Also thank you to princetongirl, Severiona Black, Bonny, Gilmorefan31, gilmoregirl7878, Keitawolf, gilmoreaddict, nancerz-, Kat, ETB4670, eternalgorithm, Vni, wickedshizit, angela.

I'll try to update sooner, but I make no promises! Enjoy the chapter and please review! ;)

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Chapter 7: Back with the troublemaker

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to check on you. I saw how not so happy you looked as you left the party."

"I'm sure you can guess why."

"I have an idea. Talking didn't do much good?"

"Talking never does good when it comes to Jess, Finn."

"Sorry my idea didn't help," he said taking a step towards her.

"It's not your fault."

"I know, just seemed like a nice thing to say," he said with a smile which was returned by Rory.

"I'm pretty sure you got your closure though," he continued and Rory just sighed. "That party's just not the same without you, love," Finn added while taking another step closer. Rory looked him in the eye and smiled, thanking him for the compliment. He said nothing and they just stood there, staring at each other for a while, until Rory finally spoke, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"I never got to thank you for the dance," she said the first thing that came to mind. Finn kept on smiling while slowly taking another step forward, leaving not more than two feet distance between them. Rory felt her heart beat just a bit too fast for her taste but did nothing to prevent Finn from getting nearer her. But a loud and strong knock on the front door made them return from the parallel dimension they had gone to, Rory looked straight at the floor and Finn took a large step back, while running his fingers through his hair.

"You gonna get that, love?" he asked, as the knocking continued louder.

Rory, who had not moved, slowly walked to the door and mechanically opened it. It took her a while to realize who it was standing in front of her.

"Go away," she said and her first reaction was to shut the door on his face.

"I'm sorry," he managed to say while his hands on the door prevented her from closing it.

"I don't want to hear your apologies, Jess, we've said all that we have to say to each other."

"No, I haven't said everything I want to say to you. I was a jerk before, I'm sorry for the stuff I said, I take it back, I just want you to listen to me now."

"You can't take it back, Jess, it's not how it works."

"Then tell me what I have to say that will make you listen to me."

"I don't think there's anything you can say that'll change my mind about you."

"Is everything ok?" Finn asked approaching the hall where Rory and Jess stood.

"I see I interrupted something," Jess said clearly jealous, but already regretting his comment. He was there to apologize to Rory for being an ass before, and there he was being an ass once again.

"I don't know what you're talking about, mate, Rory and I were just talking."

"You don't have to explain anything, Finn, let him think whatever he wants to think. I owe him nothing," she said looking Jess straight in the eye.

"I apologize, I didn't want to imply anything, or hurt anyone, or make anyone uncomfortable. But you have to understand me and my feelings, Rory, when I see you're home alone with some guy."

"Finn's not some guy, he's one of my best friends, he's someone I can rely on, not like you."

"Now you're being unnecessarily rude," Jess said hurt by her remark.

"Unnecessarily rude? I didn't ask you to come here in the first place!"

"I came to apologize, maybe have the conversation you wanted to have when you came up to me before, I came so we could find a way to fix our relationship."

"What relationship, Jess? We never had a relationship, you ran away before that ever happened."

"That's not true, I was in love with you."

"Then why didn't you say anything when we were together?"

"Because I was stupid, and young, and proud! I didn't want to think my world depended on you being a part of it, that my life wasn't complete without you in it. I thought if I never said it, I'd learn to grow more independent of you."

"I really should not be here for this conversation," Finn said clearly uncomfortable and discreetly took a step towards the kitchen so he could exit through the back door.

"You don't have to go, Finn," Rory said turning to him, ignoring Jess.

"Rory, talk to him, he seems cooperative now and he sure has things to say, things you should listen to. Tell him what you feel too, don't be scared. If you need me, you know where to find me. That Kirk guy's a little odd, but he makes the best drinks," he said and tipped a non existing hat her way and walked off.

"I didn't mean to interrupt anything," Jess said looking down.

"Stop it Jess. What do you want?"

He took a deep breath, "can we start fresh?"

"Start fresh?"

"Yeah, friends. I wanna make you trust me again."

"You don't even live here anymore, Jess, what does it matter, we don't talk anymore."

"But I want to. I know we don't do it now, but seeing you tonight again made me realize I don't want to erase you from my life. I was wrong when I tried to do that the first time, I regret it now, I wish I could take it back, and I'm very sorry I hurt you."

Rory smiled, "you know, that is the first time you apologize for that."

"And I mean it," he replied sincerely.

She sighed, "I don't want to go through all that again, Jess, I just can't deal with it."

"You won't have to, I promise," he said and took a small step her way.

"You don't have to make any promises, Jess. What if you can't keep them?"

"I'll try to keep them. Will you give me a chance?"

Rory thought for a while. He seemed sincere, she couldn't deny that, and he had apologized, maybe for the first time in his life he used the words 'I'm sorry' and really meant them. She turned her head over to the kitchen, towards the door Finn had just exited, and then back at Jess. "Just friends, nothing more?"

"Nothing more," he answered.

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok."

Jess smiled and gave a relieved sigh, "I won't let you down, Rory."

"I believe you," she replied and he walked over to her, his arms open offering a hug that she almost reluctantly accepted.

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"I want her," he managed to say before he passed out on the couch right after him and Logan arrived from the party. Logan heard that and smiled, 'it always takes him a couple of drinks to realize the truth' he thought to himself. It was clear to him, and the rest of their friends, that Finn had a thing for Rory. They all came to that conclusion on Rory's birthday when they decided to buy her flowers.

"Her favorite are sunflowers," he said then.

"How do you know?" Colin asked while Logan ordered from the florist over the phone.

"She said so."

"She told you? Why?"

"She told us, Colin. You were there too. We were all there, talking about stupid things in our lives and she told a story about when Mrs. Gilmore decided to make a bedroom for her at her house and started asking her if she liked NSYNC or The Backstreet Boys and what kind of flowers she preferred. Sunflowers."

"I have absolutely no memory of such anecdote," Colin said scratching his head.

"You were very likely drunk," Logan said as he hang up the phone.

"So you remember?" Finn asked.

"Most certainly not, but you do."

"I was paying attention."

"Sure you were. It's very easy to pay attention to a girl such as Rory," Logan said and winked at Colin.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Finn asked as he noticed their looks.

"Oh, nothing... the guy said he'd deliver the flowers in her classroom in about a half hour," Logan said and Finn decided not to push it.

Since that day Logan was pretty much sure that Finn wanted Rory, he was glad now that Finn had realized the truth himself. Logan just wasn't sure if Finn wanted her just for fun or if he was really into her. He always knew that Rory wasn't the kind of girl you play with, she was the kind of girl you take home and introduce to your parents as their future daughter-in-law. That's why he never made a move on her. He wasn't ready for that kind of serious relationship, he wasn't ready to commit to anything or anyone, so he decided it was best to keep her close as a friend than to lose her entirely after a one night stand. He knew that Finn was like him in that department, he had never had a serious relationship with a girl in his entire life. But he also knew that Rory was the right choice for that transition. He looked at the passed out Finn laying on the couch, 'I hope he's serious about her, it'll do him good,' he thought and walked to his bedroom leaving his friend sleeping.

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"'Lo?" Lorelai answered the phone the next day.

"I have found the perfect little spot for your ceremony," the voice on the other line said cheerfully.

"Mom?" Lorelai asked sitting up on her bed and rubbing her eyes.

"Not so far from our house so the guests won't have a long drive to the reception," Emily continued.

Lorelai looked at her clock, "It's 9 in the morning, mom," she whined.

"I'm aware, but as I was saying, it's not so big, I know you don't want a huge wedding..."

"Mom! It is 9 in the morning. On a Sunday!"

"You've said that, Lorelai. What is the matter?"

"I was sleeping, that's the matter!"

"You were sleeping! But it's 9 in the morning!"

"We've settled that."

"Why are you sleeping at this time of day?"

"Cause that's what I do!"

"But you'll miss the whole day!"

"I don't mind! There are seven days in a week, I don't mind missing one."

"Lorelai!"

"Mom!"

"But it's about your wedding!"

"I heard, and no."

"No what?"

"No, I'm not having my wedding in a perfect little spot that is not so far from your house."

"Why not? Have you decided on a place yet?"

"As a matter of fact I have."

"And where is that?"

"The town square."

"Your town square?"

"Yes, mother, where else?"

"You can't possibly be serious. You're not telling me that you are getting married in that town! Where will all the guests sit?"

"In chairs placed neatly on the grass."

"What if rains?"

"Then we'll be wet."

"Lorelai!"

"Mom, Stars Hollow is my town, it's my home, it's where all my friends are, whether you like it or not."

"But Lorelai, be reasonable. There'll be hundreds of people, how can you have a wedding in a small town square?"

"There will not be that many people, mom."

"What are you talking about? I've been making the list and we're close to one thousand!"

"You've been making the list? Mom, whose wedding is it?"

"Yours."

"Then who should be making the guest list?"

"I suppose you should."

"Then why were you doing it?"

"I want to help! You never let me be a part of anything in your life! But it's your wedding, let me participate!"

"I never said you wouldn't be a part of it, mom..." Lorelai was interrupted when Rory yelled from downstairs that she was going out for breakfast, "hold just a second, mom," she said and ran down the stairs catching Rory just before she closed the door. "Just wait 5 minutes till I'm finished with my mother and I'll go with you."

"I can't, sorry, I told Jess I'd meet him there before 9:30."

"Ha," Lorelai laughed but then she looked at her daughter and saw her eyebrows raised, "you're not joking?" Rory shook her head in the negative. "You're meeting Jess?"

"Yeah."

"As in Jess Mariano? As in Luke's nephew?"

"That would be the one."

"Why?"

"He asked me."

"Why?"

"Cause he wants to chat."

"He wants to chat? 'Bout what?"

"Nothing specific, just catch up."

"Catch up? Are you serious? When did you and Jess become buddy-buddy again?"

"Mom!"

"What? I'm serious, I didn't know you were speaking to him."

"We talked and decided to be friends again."

"Rory, you and Jess were never friends."

"We were too!"

"Rory, come on."

"Mom, no, it's nothing like that. He has good intentions, I think. He wants to prove that he's changed, that I can trust him again."

"Oh, Rory."

"I don't like him that way anymore, mom, I'm serious. I'm over Jess."

"Does he know that?"

"I told him so last night."

"He was here last night?"

"It was his uncle's engagement party, of course he was here."

"See, he hasn't changed, he never gave me congratulations!"

"Mom, put yourself in his place. Nobody likes him in this town."

"Nobody but you."

"Mom!"

"Fine, you know what? Do what you wanna do, you're a big girl, you can be responsible for your actions."

"Thank you. I'll see you later," she said opening the door.

"Yeah," Lorelai said and watched her daughter leave the house, "hi, mom," she got back on the phone.

"Is Rory back with that troublemaker?"

"What?"

"I heard you mention the name Jess. Isn't he the one that left her broken-hearted? Why can't you keep her away from him?"

"I didn't even know he was in town, mom."

"And what kind of a mother does that make you?"

"The kind that doesn't have a crystal ball."

"Lorelai, this is a serious matter! Rory can't throw her education down the drain for that boy!"

"She won't do that. She said she's over him."

"And you believe her?"

"I've got no reason to doubt her."

"Fine, she's your daughter, but he will never be welcomed in my house."

"Lucky him," Lorelai mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. So you wanna get together sometime today to discuss the wedding plans with me?"

"So you'll consider my plans?"

"Didn't say that. But I want you to be a part of my plans."

"You do?"

"Of course."

"I'm glad."

"So am I. How's lunch?"

"Perfect."

"Ok, so I'll see you at 3."

"Lorelai!"

"Just kidding, I'll meet you at 1:30."

"Right, good-bye."

"Bye, mom."

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Marty saw Rory at the coffee stand on Monday morning but she didn't notice him. He was upset and decided not to talk to her. She had disappeared at the engagement party and had left him all alone with a bunch of people he either did not know or did not like. He left without even saying goodbye since she was nowhere to be found. Well, he sort of knew she was at her house but he didn't feel like going there because he knew what he was going to find. He saw when Finn disappeared too. He was then certain that there was something going on with the two of them and that his chances with her were diminishing by the second. He watched as Rory bought her coffee and headed to class and decided to do the same. If she wanted to talk to him, she would seek him.

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"Hello?" Rory answered her cell phone just minutes before entering her classroom.

"Hey," the voice on the other end greeted.

"Oh, hi! What are you doing up so early?"

"Insomnia."

"Sorry."

"That's fine, I'm used to getting about two hours of sleep a night now. How are you?"

"Ok, you?"

"Ok too. What are you doing?"

"Going to class. You?"

"Watching TV."

"I'm jealous. I have a quiz now."

"Then I won't keep you. Let me just ask you something. Is it ok if I stop by your dorm tonight? I know it's Monday and that you have class early in the morning..."

"Actually I don't have any classes tomorrow, only the newspaper."

"Oh, then it's ok that I go see you tonight?"

"I guess there's no problem. I'll check with Paris, but if she minds I'll just tell her to go to Doyle's."

"Ok then. Is 7:30 ok?"

"It's great. If you bring food it'll be even greater," she joked.

"I will, don't worry," he answered laughing.

"Good, so I'll see you tonight," she told him.

"Yeah, see you," he replied and hang up.

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Paris was about to go to Doyle's dorm room when someone knocked at their door.

"Right on time! Talk about anxious to see you!" Paris said in a loud voice so that Rory could hear from her room.

"Just open the door and tell him I'll be out in a sec!"

Paris did as Rory told her. "Didn't expect to see you again. Ever," was her greeting.

"I don't like you either, there's no need to be nice to me," he answered ironically.

Paris sneered, "well then, you're a jerk who doesn't deserve even Rory's friendship."

"Getting protective, are we?"

"I don't know why Rory insists on seeing you. You have nothing to offer her. You are nothing. You're wasting her time."

"That's for her to decide, not you."

"I hope she makes a good decision then. She'll be out in a sec, excuse me," Paris finished and bumped hard on him on her way out.

He walked in and closed the door behind him. Not one minute after he had made himself comfortable on the couch Rory walked into the common room, "hey Jess."

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AN: Are you mad?