A/N: I decided I definitely wanted to continue this, so here's a second part. Looking like it could be four or five in total now! lol

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Part 2

They're within a mile of Stars Hollow, so the sign says. Jess never felt so conflicted about going to a place in his whole life, but then he looks down at the head on his shoulder and smiles. It'll be worth it, all the crap from Uncle Luke and the people in the crazy little town that had fast become home. Rory wanted him here, that ought to be enough for a guy like Jess. Truth be told, it really was.

It's a good thing that Rory is sleeping, he considers. The freak out that had begun when the bus got delayed was not pretty. Jess was kind of proud at the way he got her to calm down, but still, he would've preferred her not to panic so much. He got it, of course he did. She was the good girl type most of the time, and being late home would let her mother know what she'd done today. Lorelai was a pretty cool mom, so Rory said, but Jess already knew very well that the woman did not like him at all. Much like with the car crash, Lorelai was bound to pile all the blame onto Jess himself, for encouraging Rory to 'go bad'. This he had told his travelling companion when she began to worry.

"But that's not fair!" she insisted. "I told them, I told all of them that the car crash was as much my fault as yours. This isn't your fault either. I chose to cut class, I put myself on the bus, and I came here because... because I wanted to."

The way she faltered over her reason made Jess' heart skip a beat. She came to New York for him, only for him. For a goodbye, that's what she said, but he wasn't buying. Nobody acted that way just for the sake of a real farewell. She has to care about him, Jess is sure of it, even if Rory hasn't exactly been forthcoming. He understands that too. If he were as honest as he should be, she'd be sure right now that he liked her too much too explain, enough that he hates Dean Forester, and wishes Rory would dump his ass already.

Sleeping Beauty stirs in her sleep and Jess holds his breath. He likes the way she's curled up into his side right now, not worrying, not caring about anything. He smiles and dares to kiss the top of her head as she settles down again. Rory is so much more than a pretty face, and yet she is certainly that as well.

Jess knows it's wrong, to let her cuddle up to him like this when she never would in a conscious state, at least not yet. His arm has gone dead, and his legs aren't far behind. He's been keeping so still for hours now just so Rory would stay as she was, comfortable and content. Her peace brings him his own, even as main street comes into view and he knows the dream is about to be shattered.

It seemed like a good idea at the time, hopping onto the bus, all confident swagger and nonchalance. Jess thought he was so smart when he sat down beside Rory and declared he was coming home with her. Now he realised what he really has to face, what she has to face.

"Rory," he whispers softly near her ear, gently jostling her awake. "Hey, time to wake up, sweetheart."

The affectionate term is out there before he's hardly noticed, and Jess immediately wants to take it back. Not because he didn't mean it but because she would only make a big deal if she heard.

He realises maybe he got away with it when she sits up sharply and stares straight ahead at the town appearing around them rather than at him. Jess looks on as Rory checks her watch and the panic returns to her face. She's late, too late for Lorelai's graduation that had meant so much to her. Somehow Jess had a feeling he was going to get the blame for that. As wrong as it would be, he'd happily do it, for Rory. Exactly what kind of sap is he turning into for this girl?

"Oh my God," Rory gasps as she grabs up her bag and coat.

She knows her mom will be upset about the graduation thing, and doubly so when she realises the real reason why she's so late home. Still, she finds a smile, even as she scrambles past Jess' knees to escape the bus before it's hardly stopped moving.

"Welcome home!" she tells him, and then she's gone.

"Thanks," he mutters, getting up from his seat but in no real hurry to get off and go to Luke's place.

His uncle isn't likely to be thrilled to have him back, Jess knows that, but he hopes at least in some small way he won't hate the idea. By the time he left it had been Jess' call. Uncle Luke probably wouldn't have made him go actually. He seemed to understand, at least a little bit, how Jess really felt about Rory. They never spoke of it, but it was nice to think he kind of got it.

Just as soon as he is about to get off the bus, Jess stops. He realises Rory has left her mother's gift behind, The Go-Go's record, signed by Belinda Carlisle. Part of him wants to rush right after her, hand it over, be the hero that saved her special gift for Lorelai. The other part, where his common sense lives, tells him no. Right this very second, Rory is probably explaining herself, apologising like a Catholic at confession or something. Even as she tells her mother exactly what happened, Jess is sure Lorelai will be blaming him. For being a bad influence on her precious baby, that'd be it. It made Jess want to crack the record in two, but he wouldn't, because Rory would only be upset.

Carrying the record under his arm he heads for the diner. At this late hour and in the dark, nobody will notice him. That worked for Jess. If he had to face Taylor or any other busybodies in this crazy town right now, he would not be responsible for his actions, or at the very least his words. Still, as he looks around at the simple stores and familiar sites of main street, he sighs. Jess meant what he said to Rory in New York - he really was coming home when he got on the bus back to Stars Hollow. It remained to be seen, of course, how popular his choice was with everybody else.

Rory is well aware that she's rambling when oxygen becomes an issue, but she just can't help herself. She needs to get all of this out, she needs her mother to understand, because then at least that would mean one of them had some insight. Rory never felt so out of her depth. She is so very sorry for letting her mom down, and so very confused about why she would even do what she did. Hopping on a bus to go see a guy that was distinctly not her boyfriend, cutting class and missing her mom's graduation, it was crazy and insane. Rory was sure she must have had a seizure or something equally unlikely, because she had no other explanation she was okay with accepting right now.

"Okay, sweetie, please. You gotta breathe," Lorelai tells her, reaching to grasp Rory's hands in hers, if only to stop the crazy windmill arms. "Breathe for me and just think about this for a second," she urges her. "Now, you missed my graduation, and yeah, I was pissed, but one apology was enough, twenty seven is overkill," she explains with a kind smile. "And honestly, you think you went to New York because of a seizure? I mean really, that's what we're going with?"

"Yes," Rory tells her with a firm nod, even though she knows it's bull. "What other explanation is there?"

Lorelai can't answer that, she just gives her a daughter a look that speaks volumes. Rory likes Jess. Lorelai has seen it coming from a mile away, as has Dean, she knows. It's going to be messy and painful, and honestly, Lorelai could think of a hundred guys she would rather have her little girl date, but there is simply no accounting for taste. Besides, Christopher had a rep back in the day and Lorelai always knew he wasn't as bad as some people thought. Maybe she was wrong about Jess. Lorelai doubted it, but she hoped.

"I wish he stayed in New York," cries Rory, very real tears leaking from her eyes. "Except that's a lie too because I don't wish that. I want him here, Mom, and I... I want him. I like him so much, and I don't know why," she cries.

Lorelai just pulls her daughter into a tight hug, holding on for just as long as it takes. Being this age is never easy, even for girls that are smart enough not to get knocked up at sixteen!

Jess wants to yell. He wants to fight back as Uncle Luke verbally wails on him about his irresponsibility, about skipping back to town without warning, and about getting Rory into trouble with her mom. He wants to argue and yell and scream, but he doesn't. Some of this he most definitely deserves anyway, and besides, it's actually kind of nice that Luke cares enough to tell him how things are going to be. The guy wants to look out for him, and as much as that rubs Jess up the wrong way a not small part of the time, at least he knows he cares. It's more than Jess can say about his mother.

"Are you done?" he asks when it seems the rant is finally over, along with all the new ground rules Jess must now abide by.

"As a matter of fact, yes," said Luke snippily. "You have anything to say for yourself?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Jess echoes in the exact same tone of voice with a half a smile that he can't help. "Thanks"

Luke looks momentarily stunned by the sound of such a word from his nephew.

"Y'know, for not throwing me back on the bus to New York. For all that this place is, it's better than the alternative," Jess shrugs, like it's nothing.

It's not. They both know what he means, even if neither is really willing to say so. Luke knows Jess came back here because Rory visited and he realised maybe he had a chance with her now. At the same time, Luke gets the feeling he's grown on the kid too, much like Jess had grown on him. Underneath the teenage rebellion crap, he really isn't so bad.

"Get some sleep," he tells Jess then, gesturing towards the bed.

He nods once and heads in that direction until Luke calls him back, asking what the bag under his arm is carrying.

"What, this?" he asks, smirking in that way he knows bugs his uncle. "This is Belinda," he says, the only explanation he's willing to give apparently.

Luke stands there staring, his hands on his hips, as he shakes he's head and mutters;

"I'm never gonna understand that kid."

To Be Continued...