So, I know I said that this was a third person Rory point of view story, but I couldn't resist letting my readers know just what our favorite boys were doing – I didn't want anyone to think that Luke was harboring any more secrets.

And I have to tell you, I actually like what I've written here; Luke and Jess are far easier conversationalists to write, as their talking is minimal but conveys a lot. Plus, they're both just so interesting.

Also, I have actually sat down and outlined some of the things I want to cover, so hopefully this story will have a long, healthy life.

Finally, I could help but add a Great Gatsby reference; it's one of my favorites.

Chapter 6 – Till Now, Always Got By On My Own

I Never Really Cared Until I Met You

As Jess's long legs skimmed the calm waters, he felt a great sense of contentment. Jess found this realization relatively ironic, given his past feelings for the town but in this moment, he was okay with the world, even the Stars Hollow part of it.

However, he wasn't back in Stars Hollow on his own terms, which was how he'd always assumed he'd return. He'd returned to the place he used to resent more than any other place in the world due to a somber phone call a few days ago.

Flashback:

Sitting in his favorite chair with a writing pad resting on his knee and a pencil poised in his hand, Jess wrinkled his brow in concentration. However, his phone's shrill ring interrupted his thought process as it echoed through his small room. He groaned and mumbled something about how penning the great American novel was a lot easier without technology or interruptions.

"Hello?" he'd grunted into the phone, already peeved with whoever was at the other end of the line.

"She left me." The caller didn't identify himself, but Jess immediately knew who it was anyway.

It was one of the few adults the Jess respected and trusted: Uncle Luke. And Luke would only call if he really needed Jess. It was a 'promise' they had made one another when Jess left for New York.

"You can call me, you know," Luke told Jess as Jess hoisted his duffle bag.

Jess glanced at Luke, and a smirk crept on to his face. "Why?"

"Not all the time. Just, when you need to. If something goes wrong, you can call me."

"Huh. Okay. You too."

So, Jess had come back to Stars Hollow, no questions asked, because he knew that Luke wouldn't have placed the call unless he truly needed Jess. And when he'd arrived at the diner, he was glad that Luke had called, because he'd never seen Luke look as rumpled, miserable, and drunk as the Luke that greeted him that night was.

Jess glanced at Luke, who was sitting silently beside him on the bridge, looking a bit forlorn and lost.

Sometimes Jess considered the bridge to be his and Rory's, but at times like this, Jess knew the bridge was just as much his and Luke's as it was his and Rory's.

When he really thought about it, he knew that the bridge often brought forth more memories of Luke than Rory.

Smiling slightly, Jess fondly thought all of the times he and Luke had spent at the bridge. This bridge was where Luke had pushed Jess into the water because he was being a pain in the ass. It was also where Luke had found Jess after the car crash, and the two had sat as they did now, in silence for hours. It was the place where the two of them had spent an entire afternoon circling a 'viscous' swan; Luke mercilessly teasing Jess while Jess waited for the swan to "beak" him again.

The two hadn't discussed the actual details of the 'blowout' as Jess aptly termed it, but he knew that Luke would talk when he was ready. Until then, Jess would wait.

"Are you writing another book?" Luke's low voice broke the peaceful silence, but Jess didn't mind too much.

"Yeah." His response was short, but Jess knew that Luke took no offense.

"I liked your first book. The title was appropriate."

Jess glanced at Luke curiously. "You think so?"

Chuckling, Luke replied, "Yes, but only because Rory thinks so."

At this, Jess smirked and stared into the water. Of course. Rory understood the title. He almost never admitted it to himself, but sometimes, while writing Subsect, he'd been speaking to Rory. When he imagined his audience, he always pictured her bright blue eyes shining with enjoyment and understanding, urging him to write more.

"What's the new one about?"

Before Jess could think to lie, he simply answered, "Rory."

Luke just nodded and said, "She was acting strange this morning." He glanced at Jess, looking for a reaction but found none.

"That's Rory."

"No," Luke replied softly. "That's Rory flustered. That's Rory in love, or on her way."

Shrugging, Jess said, "Maybe." But a smile briefly flitted across his face opposed to his usual smirk and Jess knew that Luke had seen it.

Jess gestured to the boat tied to the left of them on the bridge. "Wanna fish now?"

"Okay."

The two climbed into the boat, letting it peacefully drift away from the bridge. Luke began slowly putting together his fishing pole while Jess leaned back and let the sun warm his face. He'd never tell a soul, but Stars Hollow, especially at this bridge, was a beautiful place to be on a summer day.

He opened his eyes to check on Luke, who was casting his pole with the grace of an expert. "Luke."

"Yeah?"

"You think there are any fish in here?"

The question hung between the two of them for a moment, until Luke flashed a small smile at Jess and answered, "Does it matter?"

Jess faintly smiled back and retrieved his pencil and yellow writing pad.

An hour later, the day that was slowly coming to a close found Luke quietly fishing while Jess stooped over his writing pad, scribbling furiously.

"She wanted to elope." The unexpected words seemed to stretch in the silence.

Jess looked up, setting the writing pad and pencil aside.

"She said it was now or never. I had to elope with her right then or never marry her at all. I couldn't think. She was so frantic."

"Huh."

"I messed up." This statement surprised Jess; he had believed that Lorelai had instigated the entire 'blowout'.

"I kept April from her and then wouldn't let Lorelai interact with April at all, even though April was spending a lot more time in my life. I pushed her away but acted as though nothing had changed at all. I hurt her."

"You can fix things."

"I know. I just don't know how."

"You two will work things out."

A hush followed this statement until Luke announced, "I love her."

"Then you need to fix things."

"I know. What about you and Rory?"

"What about us?" Jess replied evasively.

"It could work, Jess. She really cares about you. And no matter what you do or say, I know you care about her too. Probably more than you've ever cared about anyone else."

Jess stared at the silent waters, thinking hard. A part of him desired a cigarette—despite having given them a while ago—to help him lie to Luke, but he wanted to believe he was beyond that.

Luke sensed Jess's hesitation and continued. "You dedicated your first book to her. I know you care."

Jess recalled the hours he'd spent laboring over the dedication and his intent to demonstrate exactly what she'd meant to him. In the end, he'd only written: "To my Daisy, the only intellectual who hates Hemmingway." He vaguely wondered if she'd recognized the Daisy reference; they'd both been beyond Great Gatsby when they'd met, but Jess thought it was appropriate all the same.

Finally, Jess replied, "That's what scares me. Caring."

Luke nodded. "I know."

The two spent the rest of the day in silence, engaging in small talk, or running the diner, but the important words that had been shared between them lingered below the surface.