One of the Reasons

Disclaimer: I don not own Gilmore Girls.

Chapter: Homecoming

"Luke, have you seen my wallet?" Jess asked as he entered the diner.

"Right here," Luke said, holding his wallet up.

"Wow, Jess, why are you dressed so date-ish?" Lorelai asked, as she examined his clothing.

Jess looked down at what he was wearing. "A Ramones t-shirt looks date-ish?"

"I was kidding Jess. Are you really going on a date?" Lorelai asked him.

"Yeah. It's weird, I haven't been on a date for a long time," Jess replied as he made sure he had his keys.

"Rusty in the dating area?" Lorelai smirked.

"Something like that," Jess said back.

"So, where you going?" Luke asked him.

"We're going to the movies," Jess answered.

"Well, have fun. Don't stay out to late, now. Look at you, you're all grown up now, and you're all nervous and shaky," Luke grinned.

"Shut up Luke," Jess glared. He said bye to Lorelai and walked out the diner.

"1,2,3," Luke counted as Jess came rushing back in.

"I forgot my wallet," Jess mumbled and walked away from a laughing Luke and Lorelai.

"So, that movie sucked," Jasmine commented about the movie they had just seen.

"Oh, yeah," Jess agreed.

"Even though the movie sucked, I still had a great time," Jasmine said with a smile.

"I did too," Jess smiled back.

"So, I have to say that I love your shirt," Jasmine said to him.

"You're a Ramones fan?" he asked.

"Yeah, my aunt raised me with them," she said.

"You lived with your aunt?" he asked.

"Um, yeah. My parents died when I was three in a car accident," she told him.

"Sorry to hear that," he said, which received him a nod. "I barely knew my dad until last summer. And my mom, let's just say she wasn't all there I guess you can say,"

"Do you think it'll ever be normal between you guys?" she asked him.

"In some ways it will. Me and my parents are cool now, but we go by on a first name basis. I call my dad Jimmy and I call my mom Liz," he explained.

"At least your relationship is getting somewhere,"

"I guess,"

"So tell me about Daisy. She seems very important," she stated.

"She is. And it's weird how much I care about her. If someone told me I was going to take care of a fourteen-year-old teenage girl, I would have told them they were crazy, but it would have been true," Jess replied.

"She seems like a cool kid. And if she goes to Chilton, she must be very smart," she noted.

"She is smart. She's already taking an AP class," he told her.

"What class is that?" she asked.

"Spanish Literature,"

"Wow, that's very impressive. Wow, I'm really blown away. I mean, I speak Spanish, but I was never really good that I went up to an AP class. Well that and I took French," they both laughed and then she continued, "When is she coming back?" she asked.

"The twenty-eighth," he answered.

"Excited?"

"Yeah, I am," he replied.

"Remember when you told me you had to 'recollect yourself' ?" he nodded and she continued. "Is taking care of Daisy one way that helped you?"

"Yeah. I was a mess. I had flunked out of high school, and my uncle and me had a deal: in order for me to live with him, I would go to school and graduate. But that didn't happen. So I ran to Jimmy, and saw my life turn around, and I'm glad that happened," he told her.

"Wow, you should write a book or something. You know what, you should. I mean you're majoring in English Literature and you've practically read every single book out in the world. I can really see you being named 'New York's Bestseller Author'," she informed him.

"Well, when you say it that way," he smirked. She laughed and he smiled. "Hey, you want some ice cream?" he asked.

"Sure, but as long as it is in a cone," she smiled.

"could you have it any other way? Come on," he said as they walked to the ice cream parlor. "So, tell me how you decided to major in engineering," he told her.

"Well," she started, as they entered the ice cream parlor. The rest of the night was full of laughter and getting to know one another. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Jess, where have you been?" Luke asked as Jess walked into the diner, thirty minutes late.

"Sorry, got to bed late and I over slept," Jess answered and immediately got to work.

"So, it was a good date?"

"Yeah, I had really good time," Jess smiled.

Luke, getting the wrong impression, said. "Did you sleep with her on the first date?"

"God, Luke, no. I'm not you," Jess replied back.

"Sorry, and I don't sleep with my date on the first date," Luke commented.

"Whatever you say," Jess said as he went to take Babette's order.

"So, what will be?" he asked her.

"Just some coffee," Babette told him.

"Make that two," Ms. Patty said as she came in and sat down with Babette.

"Ok," Jess said as he went to get them some coffee. As he was walking away he heard Ms Patty say, "Yes, it's true. Apparently Dean had an affair with another woman,"

"With who?" Babette asked.

"It pains me to say this but," in a hushed whisper, "Rory,".

"No, it can't be," Babette said.

"Well, it seems that it is. She sent him a letter and Lindsey found it," Ms. Patty went on. When Jess brought them their coffee, they stopped talking, but immediately continued when he walked away.

Jess couldn't believe it. The question that was running through his mind was, 'How could Rory Gilmore sleep with a married man?".

"Do you see her?" Luke asked, desperately trying to look in front of the people who were blocking the gate.

"No Luke, for the fifth time, no," Jess answered, irritated. "And I cannot believe you made Lorelai make you a sign,"

"What? You're not the only one excited about her coming back home. Plus, knowing her, I know she'll think it's hilarious but cute," Luke said.

"You do know her," Jess said. He looked ahead and finally saw Daisy coming looking around for them. "Daisy!" he called out.

She turned her head and when she saw Jess and Luke, she smiled and walked to them.

"Jess, hey," she greeted and hugged him, and he hugged her back. "You have no idea how much I've missed your annoying butt," she said.

"You have no idea how much I've missed your annoying butt," he said as he let go of her.

"Hey Luke," she said and gave him a hug, which he also returned back. "Love the sign, hilarious but cute," she smiled.

"See," Luke told Jess.

Jess just shook his head. "Let's go get your bags,"

"Okay," Daisy said and they started walking.

"So Daisy, did you finish your summer reading list?" Luke asked her.

"There was a reading list?" Daisy asked.

"What? Jess, you didn't tell her," Luke said as he hit him on the arm.

"I'm just kidding Luke, I knew there was a reading list," She laughed.

He looked at Jess and said, "Did you put her up to this? You did put her up to this,"

Jess, smirking, replied, "Uncle Luke, I am appalled that you would think I would do that,"

"Oh, stop playing cute with me, I know you made her do it," he continued.

"It's great to be back," Daisy grinned and laughed at Luke and Jess.

"Damn it Daisy. What the hell do you have in here?" Jess asked as they got to the apartment.

"Souvenirs," she said simply.

"And you just had to buy so much it takes up one bag?" he asked.

"Hello, memories," she smiled. "Hey Luke?"

"Yeah," he said as he got a bag from the truck.

"What do you say we all forget about my bags right now and go to the diner where you can make me a burger?" Daisy asked, with a smile.

"I say let's go," he said as he put the bags back into the car. They all got in and headed for the diner.

"You guys take a seat and get you your hamburger," Luke said as they entered the diner.

"Daisy!" Lane squealed when she saw her sit at the counter.

"Hey Lane," Daisy said, and got up to give her a hug.

"How was London?" Lane asked.

"Fantastic. Definitely a place I have to visit again,"

"So, what's in the bag?" Lane asked as she saw the bag that Daisy had.

"Oh, I don't know. Just stuff. Like lip gloss, my phone, and Lane Kim's present," Daisy smiled.

"Now that is the answer that I wanted to hear. Hand it over," Lane said with her hands in front of her.

Daisy pulled out some drumsticks with different designs on them. "Oh my gosh," Lane squealed.

"You like?"

"Of course I like. These are beautiful," Lane said, examining the sticks.

"And if you look closely, you can see your name in the designs," Daisy pointed out.

"Oh my gosh, you are the best," Lane squealed again and hugged Daisy again. "I'm gonna go home and put these in a special place. Luke, I'm taking my break," she yelled out and left the diner.

"Wow," Jess said as he watched her practically run down the street.

"Here you go Daisy," Luke said as he placed her food down.

"Thanks Luke," she said and started eating. "Hmm, I've really missed these burgers,"

"Glad you're enjoying it. Jess you sure you're not hungry?" Luke asked him.

"I'm sure," Jess nodded.

"Oh Luke, before I forget, here is your present," Daisy said as she handed him a baseball cap with a no cell phone sign. "I know, it's stupid, but I think it's funny,"

"I like it," he said as he took the one he had on off and put the new one on. "How do I look?" he asked.

"Perfect," she smiled. As Luke went back into the kitchen, Jess' cell phone rang.

"ohooooo," Daisy said, imitating Adam Sandler from 'Billy Madison'.

"Shut up Billy Madison. I'll be right back. Hey," he said into the phone as he walked outside.

As Daisy watched him, she noticed how he would laugh and smile. "Hey Luke,"

"Yeah?" Luke asked from the kitchen.

"Why is Jess smiling like that?" she asked, as she kept watching Jess smile.

"Oh, he must be talking to Jasmine," he told her.

"Who?" she asked.

"Jasmine. He met her at Hartford State," he explained.

"Oh really," she said with a smile. Jess came back in and sat down. Daisy looked at him with a smile.

Jess, who was trying to ignore her stares, gave up. "Damn it Luke, why'd you tell her?"

"What? You didn't tell me I couldn't tell her," Luke argued back.

"So you have a girlfriend," she teased.

"Shut up Daisy," Jess said.

"Oh, you're shy. That's so cute," she continued.

"How 'bout you take that burger to go huh?" Jess asked, trying to change the subject.

"And now you're trying to change the subject," she grinned.

"Luke, I'll bring your truck tomorrow," Jess told him as he got up.

"Alright," Luke said.

"Bye Luke," Daisy said. "Thanks for the burger,"

"Bye,"

As they were walking to the car, Daisy was greeted by welcomes and hugs.

"So, Jess," Daisy started as she fastened her seatbelt. "What's her name?"

"Jasmine Ortiz," he responded.

"Latina," she admired.

"Yup,"

"You really like her huh?" she asked.

"I do. She makes me laugh and I've really needed that," he told her.

"What about me?" she pouted.

"You make me laugh, but in a different way. You get what I mean,"

"I know what you mean,"

"So do you mind if I go up to Hartford tomorrow to see her?" he asked.

"You're going on a date, you're so grown up," she said as she pinched his cheek.

"It's like you and Luke are out to get me," Jess said.

"No, it's the whole town who's out to get you, not just Luke and me," she joked.

"You sure haven't changed," Jess told her.

"Would you have wanted me to change?" she asked.

"Nope,"

"Good. Do you think you can drop me off at Anna's house tomorrow. You know before your date?" she asked.

"Sure. But it might be late when I pick you up," he told her.

"Well do you mind if I sleep at her house," she asked.

He looked at her and said, "You already had this all planned out huh? "

She sighed. "Yes, you caught me. Anna already asked her mom if I can stay the night and she said yes. Now all you have to do is say 'Yes Daisy, you may stay at Anna's for the night',"

"Ok. Yes Daisy, you may stay at Anna's for the night," he mimicked her.

"Thank you,"

"So are you guys going to do any special girl stuff?" He smirked.

"Well if you must know we are going to go to a liquor store and take all the money and beer. Then use our fake id's to get into the over 21 clubs," she joked with a serious face.

"Well don't get caught," he joked back.

"I won't ," she chuckled.

As Jess was about to turn the corner, they heard Lindsey's mom yelling at Rory, and then Lorelai trying to defend Rory. They stayed silent all the way to the apartment thinking how Rory Gilmore could do such a thing. But at the same time, feeling sorry for her.

a/n: Hey. I have to say this chapter was long. Compared to my other stories, it is very long. I hope you liked this chapter. Stay tuned for the next chapter. Is there such a thing as Hartford State? I don't think there is…oh well.