Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all it's characters and situations are property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and The WB/The CW. I do not own anything and will not make any profit from this story.

A/N: Watching s7 again. Hating Logan. Glad LL are getting back together. Wish Lit. was still together. Wishing Vera Cobb's The New Paul Anka and Back From The Future was real too. Siiigh. Getting so frustrated with Lit. Why won't Jess open up and why does Rory always compare him to Dean?

A/N: I have no idea how the publishing world works, so all this Bantam stuff… I'm just winging it.

Jess woke up early the next day and headed off to Truncheon. The sooner he got business over with, the sooner he could return to Stars Hollow and to Rory. Not that he wasn't glad to see Matt and Chris, because he was, he just missed Rory. They were still in their blissed-out, honeymoon, lovey-dovey fase. Although Lorelai joked that they had taken up permanent residency in that fase.

"Hey, man," Chris greeted enthusiastically as Jess entered Truncheon, pulling him into a guy type hug.

"Hey, Chris, how you holding up?" Jess replied, returning the gesture.

"How am I holding up? How are you holding up? How's married life treating you?"

"Oh, please, they were practically married by the time they hit the three-month mark," Matt said, coming out of the stock room, "Jess, man, how are you?"

"I'm good, real good." He gave Matthew a hug too. "And married life is fine," he added, looking at Chris.

"How're you guys? Truncheon hasn't burned down, so I assume things are fine," he smirked.

They both rolled their eyes, "We're fine. Chris broke up with Melanie, but we saw that one coming."

"Thanks, man," Chris said drily.

"No problem," Matt replied cheekily.

"As for Truncheon," Chris said, pausing for dramatic effect, "The reason we called you in here was to discuss a very interesting offer on The Subsect."

Jess put down the book he had been flipping through, "The Subsect? That was like what? Three or four years ago?"

Matt nodded, "But Bantam only got wind of it now, you know how suits are, a little behind on the times..."

Jess smirked, "Bantam is interested?"

Chris presented Jess with a file, "They want to re-publish it on a large scale, it'll be in Barnes & Noble and all big bookstores, plus smaller independent ones too. This file contains all the details."

"Whoa. Why The Subsect though?"

"I guess because your second novel is already doing so well under Truncheon, and The Subsect didn't get the coverage it deserved, they wanted it, I dunno," Matthew answered, shrugging, "I don't attempt to understand the way their minds work, but who cares, I mean this is a great opportunity for you and for Truncheon."

Jess smiled, staring at the file in his hands, "Yeah, I'll think about it."

"Good," Chris smiled, "How 'bout some beers to celebrate?"

"Who knew that when Jess became our partner he'd become the most valuable asset we'd have?" Matthew said.

Chris rolled his eyes, "Yes, because that's really why we keep him around, the money."

Matt glared at him, "You know what I mean. So 'bout those beers… Cedar Bar Redux?"

Chris and Jess rolled their eyes simultaneously, "Matthew, we are not calling it Cedar Bar Redux!"

"That is not true!"

"Yes, it is!"

"I do not take you for granted, Zach!" Lane yelled, arms folded across her chest, and faced the counsellor. Since she had agreed to marriage counselling, she could hardly walk out, even though she felt like it.

The counsellor held up her hand, "Okay, it seems like communication is definitely a big problem here. You two need to talk to each other with respect, no shouting, no acting like you're sixteen and talking to your mother or father."

Lane and Zach both grumbled.

"Okay, Zach, tell me why you think she takes you for granted."

"She acts as if I'm incompetent around the kids, she acts as if I just bum around and what I do isn't important-"

"That's not tr-"

"Lane, your turn will come," the counsellor patronized.

Lane crossed her arms across her chest again and sat back in a huff. Oh, how she wished she could walk out right now. This woman acted as if Lane was a two-year old. But she knew that walking out meant walking out on her marriage, and as much as she hated the counsellor, she loved Zach, and despite their troubles, she loved her marriage.

"So, Jess how was Philadelphia?" Richard asked, as soon as everyone was settled down for dinner.

"It was fine, I just dropped by to see how things were, check in with Matt and Chris, you know… just business," he said vaguely. He hadn't told anyone about the Bantam deal yet, not with everything going on with Emily at the moment.

Richard nodded, "I've always wanted to go to Philadelphia-"

"Oooh! You can do the Rocky run!" Lorelai chimed in, causing Luke to roll his eyes and make Rory grin.

"Rocky? What are you talking about, Lorelai?" Richard asked.

"I swear, if it's something vulgar-" Emily started, but Lorelai cut her off.

"Noo. Rocky. As in Rocky Balboa. You know those six movies they made about this boxer named Rocky," she suddenly turned her attention to Jess, "You actually resemble Rocky Jr."

Jess groaned, "No, I don't," he said firmly.

Lorelai frowned, "Boo, you're no fun," she looked at Rory, Your husband's no fun."

"Lorelai, eat your peas," Emily said, by now used to her daughter's random rants.

"Yes, Lorelai, eat your peas," Luke repeated.

Lorelai gasped, "You're on her side now?"

Luke shrugged, "Seemed like the right thing to say."

"Well, I have been betrayed, I feel sad, alone-" she pouted.

"You'll get over it," Luke said wearily.

"Well, alright then," she said, resuming her pouting. "So… what is everyone up to tomorrow?" She asked, picking at her peas and looking at them with a disgusted look on her face.

"Jess and I are going car shopping," Rory piped up, having been silent for so long.

Emily raised her eyebrows, "Is something wrong with yours?"

"Oh, yeah, it's completely shot."

"Shot?" Richard asked, concerned.

"Gypsy can't fix it. Said it would be cheaper to just buy a new one," Jess interjected.

"Oh, that sucks," Lorelai said, remembering the time her Jeep Wrangler needed to be replaced.

Rory shrugged, "Yeah, well… I get to go shopping, so that's fun," she smiled.

Lorelai nodded in agreement," What about you, mom? Dad?"

The elder Gilmores suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable.

"What?" Lorelai asked, catching on to their demeanour.

"We have to go to the hospital tomorrow for my first chemo," Emily said.

Everyone stared at their plate, not knowing what to say.

"I'll come," Lorelai suddenly said.

Emily and Richard shared a gentle look.

"You're sure, Lorelai?" Richard asked.

Lorelai nodded firmly, "Yeah, Michel can cover the inn alone, he's done it before, and… yeah, I'm sure."

Emily smiled, "That would be very nice. Now finish your peas."

"Yes, mom." She looked at her peas disgustedly, while the rest of the table smirked.

"How 'bout this one? A nice Prius?" Jess said, as they moved well into their second hour at the car dealership.

Rory wrinkled her nose, "No Prius."

Jess sighed, "Rory, we've been here for over two hours."

"I'm sorry," she said, looking at him with big, innocent eyes and pulling the famous Gilmore pout. "We can go if you want to."

Jess looked at her and shook his head, "No. It's fine. Let's keep looking."

Rory smiled as he wrapped his arm around her and led her to the other side of the parking lot.

"How 'bout a nice 'Stang?" he suggested as they passed a Mustang.

Rory grinned at him, "Oh, yeah, 'cause Mustangs just scream Rory Mariano. Have you been watching One Tree Hill again?"

"It was on, okay?"

Rory nodded, smiling, "Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night, babe."

She opened the door of another car, "Oh, what did Chris and Matt wanna talk to you about? What was the reason they ripped you away from me? Left me with emotional scarring…"

Jess smirked at her, 'They actually had some big news for me," he said slowly, gauging Rory's reaction. She instantly stopped looking at the car and focused her attention on Jess.

Jess took a deep breath, "Bantam books wants to re-publish The Subsect on a large scale and put it in all the big bookstores-"

Rory squealed and flung herself around Jess' neck pulling him into a tight hug and kissing him, "Jess, that's amazing!"

He smiled, "Yeah, it's pretty cool," he cleared his throat, "That's the good news…"

Rory's face fell, "There's bad news? Oh, man. I hate bad news."

Jess smiled at her sympathetically. "I know you do."

Rory sighed, "Alright, I'm ready, give it to me."

"There's gonna be a book tour-"

"That's not bad."

"-It's two months-"

"Oh."

"So that's two months I'd be on the road."

"That is bad news," Rory said before she caught herself, "Not the book tour, that part is amazing and you totally deserve it. But two months… I can't stand to be away from you that long. I mean I was already a mess 5 hours after you left for Philly, but, no, we're adults, you deserve this and go, I'll suck it up and be a man."

Jess smiled at her little monologue.

She looked up at Jess and smiled at him, "I am so proud of you," she said sincerely, hugging him and pulling him in for another kiss.

"Thanks, but two months is a lot," he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You're going, that's a given, we'll make it work, two months is nothing, some Hollywood actors have to go 6 months without seeing their wives," she stated seriously.

Jess smirked, "I love you," he kissed her temple gently.

Rory closed her eyes at his gesture and kissed him gently on the mouth, "I love you, too."

They turned their attention back to the cars, "You know, on second thought, maybe a Mustang…" she started rambling as Jess smiled and followed her.

"It seems that everytime I ask him to do something he gets mad at me."

"I don't get mad-"

"Fine, frustrated, then," Lane said heatedly, turning to her husband. "Remember when I asked you to shift hanging out with Brian so you could watch the boys and I could go to work? You had a fit about that!"

"That's because I hardly ever get to hang out with my friends," Zach replied testily.

"Yes, and I would also like to hang out more with Rory, but unfortunately I had to go to work. You don't think I'd much rather watch the kids myself than work?"

"So I have to sacrifice my friendship?"

"Don't be so dramatic, sacrifice, puh-lease, and yes, for your children, I expect you to, because I would."

"Sookie! Sookie! Sookie! Is there coffee? We just got a truckload of Italians, and I cannot handle them unless I am fully caffeinated," Lorelai said loudly as she barged into the kitchen.

"Oh, hey, Michel, didn't see you there."

"Story of my life," he replied drily. Sookie elbowed him and he instantly changed his demeanour, "I mean, oh, hello, Lorelai, good morning."

Lorelai looked at the two of them with a weird look on her face and raised her eyebrow, "You two okay?"

"What? Us? We're fine," Sookie smiled and waved Lorelai's claims away before turning back to her vegetables.

"Must be the coffee then," Lorelai replied, giving them a weird look before leaving the kitchen with her coffee.

"You nearly gave us away," Sookie hissed as soon as she was sure Lorelai was out of earshot.

"Yes, because your elbow burrowing a hole into my ribcage was the epitome of subtlety," Michel deadpanned before leaving the kitchen too.

Sookie scoffed, "Pff, French people," she shook her head.

"So, mom, are you ready?"

"Lorelai, honestly, all I have to do is sit in a chair the whole time. I can read if I want to, it's not a big deal," Emily replied, though silently touched by her daughter's concern.

"My bad," Lorelai said, letting her mother's tone slide.

"Oh, look Emily, you have a nice, private room," Richard said in a fake, bright manner.

Emily ignored him and looked at her watch, "Honestly, the doctor was supposed to be here 5 minutes ago."

"I'm sure he just got held up, mom."

"Yes, Emily, now just relax."

"I'm about to have chemo, I can't relax," she replied, growing increasingly agitated.

Lorelai shot her dad an assuring look and shook her head, silently telling him not to take it to heart.

Finally, after what seemed like half an hour with Emily's complaining, the doctor arrived and got Emily settled in to start the treatment.

"Okay, mom, we're gonna be in the cafeteria if you need anything, okay?" Lorelai said, before exiting the room, her father trailing behind her.

"I asked for water, not a glass filled with ice cubes!" They heard Emily yell as they made their way to the cafeteria.

"She's going to be just fine," Richard smiled, turning to face his daughter.

Lorelai grinned, "Oh, yeah."

"So, you happy with you car?" Jess asked, as he and Rory took a seat at one of the many tables at Weston's.

Rory smiled, "Yes, I am." She had chosen a nice silver Volvo. Not too flashy, but not too granny. "Sorry, I dragged you around for three hours."

Jess smiled, "It's fine, Ror. I didn't mind at all."

Rory smiled, "Liar."

Jess was about to respond when Kirk came to take their order. "Hello, Rory, Jess, what can I get you?"

"Pie," Rory said with a big smile on her face, "And lots of it."

"Well, we have 45 flavours-"

"Oh, you have two new ones?" Rory asked excitedly.

"Yes, we do, as a matter of fact, banana-peanut butter and chocolate-peach."

Rory's face changed, "That sounds disgusting."

"They're actually quite delicious, I concocted the flavours myself-"

"I think we'll pass, then," Jess interjected. "I'll have cherry pie."

"And I will have a piece of chocolate cake," Rory added, "And some coffee please."

"Are you sure you don't want to-"

"No," Jess said firmly, causing Kirk to squirm, he'd always been intimidated by Jess.

"Alright, then," Kirk replied, his voice a little bit higher, and quickly left the table.

Jess smirked, watching Kirk scamper away, "He always makes it too easy."

Rory shot him a disapproving glance, "You're mean."

"He has Lulu to help him with his bruised ego."

Rory shook her head, "My husband, the Oblonsky of Stars Hollow."

"But Oblonsky loved his wife," Jess countered.

"Yeah, after he banged the nanny."

"He made it up."

"He was still indifferent."

Jess shook his head, "I'm never gonna win this am I?"

Rory shook her head, "When Hemmingway becomes interesting, then we'll have this debate again."

Jess suddenly turned to her," Which reminds me, you still have to read Hemmingway, I read Rand for you."

"We'll discuss this later, honey," Rory placated him as Kirk placed their pie and her coffee on the table.

"Oh, hey, isn't that April?" Rory asked after five minutes.

Jess turned his head and followed Rory's gaze.

"Who's that guy she's with?" Rory asked curiously.

Jess shrugged, "Science partner or something, probably," he said nonchalantly.

"Uh, I don't think so," Rory said as April turned and kissed the mystery guy, full-on on the mouth.

Jess paled, "What the hell?" he muttered. "Who the hell does that punk think he is?"

Rory smiled at him, "Look at you, getting all overprotective, you sound just like Luke."

"I am not overprotective," he said, "I'm just concerned, is all."

"Well, you better be unconcerned fast, 'cause they're coming here to say hi."

"Hi, Jess, Rory," April greeted brightly.

"Hey, April," Rory greeted, smiling at the young girl, "Who's your friend?"

"Oh," April said, as if she'd forgotten the guy she'd kissed mere minutes ago, "This is Colin." She turned to Colin, "This is my cousin, Jess and his wife, Rory. She's Lorelai's daughter."

Rory laughed as she saw the wheels turning in his head and the confused look on his face," Don't try to figure it out, it just makes matters worse," she joked.

"So… anyway, we better get going, dad is waiting for us at the Diner," April said, gently tugging Colin behind her, "Bye, Rory, bye Jess."

"Bye April, Colin," Rory replied before turning to her husband.

"Okay, see, when I said unconcerned I didn't mean revert back to your high school days of monosyllabic and taciturn," she joked.

'Does she even know that kid?" Jess asked.

Rory shook her head at him, "I think it's nice she has a boyfriend. She deserves one, she works so hard in school."

"I just don't like him."

"Awwww," Rory cooed, "You're going into protective dad mode. I've never seen you in protective dad mode. It's fun," she took another bite of her cake.

"I am not in protective dad mode-"

"You are," Rory insisted, "It's fine, I like it." She shot him a smile.

Jess just stared at his pie.

"Jess, it's her life, if she's happy with him, you have to let it be, she obviously sees good in him, and that's all that matters; After all, if I had listened to people, we wouldn't be sitting here right now."

He smirked, "That's gonna get old real fast."

She stuck out her tongue, "Tough. Now finish your pie."

Yes, ma'am," Jess replied with a fake southern accent causing Rory to smile as she finished her own cake.

"Hey, babe, what're you making?" Rory asked as she entered the kitchen.

"Indian food," Jess replied, remaining focused on the pots and pans in front of him.

Rory frowned, "But you hate Indian food."

Jess shrugged, "Yeah, but you don't."

Rory smiled as she took a seat at the kitchen table, "Getting soft, Mariano?"

Jess smirked, "Never, Gilmore."

Rory cleared her throat, "So, are you gonna be all alone on the book tour?"

"Pretty much," Jess turned around to face her, "Just me and the tour manager, I guess."

Rory nodded, "Would you…like… some company?" She asked tentatively.

"I guess so," he replied, not catching on to her meaning.

Rory rolled her eyes. He was the smartest person she knew, but at times boys could be so dense.

"So you wouldn't mind if… your wife tagged along?"

Jess turned around, "What?"

"I just, I mean- if you want me to," she said hastily. "I don't wanna not see you for two whole months," she whined pathetically.

"What about the Gazette?"

"I can edit on the road," she shrugged.

Jess pulled her from her chair and pulled her in for a kiss, "I love you."

Rory grinned back, "I love you, too."

A/N: Sorry it took so long, I had writer's block and my family moved to Vietnam, so I'm there now for three weeks (only 1,5 left) before I go back to Belgium for uni.

I'm not entirely happy with this chapter so please review and let me know what you think. They make me happy. :D

It seems GG readers are less generous with their reviews than the VM crowd, so they mean more.

Notice the subtle flattery and hints?

Review! :D