Chapter Twelve: Neruda said it best.

Lane's eyes lit up as Rory stepped into her house, carrying baby Anna in her arms. They'd been home a week, but this was the first time Rory had risked taking Anna outside the safety of their own home. Carefully Rory sat down next to her best friend and smiled warmly at her.

'How are you both doing?' Lane asked, stroking a finger over Anna's cheek.

'We're getting stronger by the day.' Rory replied. 'It's just so good to have her home, I was so worried in the hospital.'

'Hmm, I gather Jess was a big help though.' Lane replied, raising her eyebrows slightly as she spoke, Rory's eyes caught her friends, but she quickly looked away.

'Jess has been amazing, he's really been there for me and for Anna, I just feel…' She trailed off shaking her head.

'Feel? Come on you can tell me?'

'I feel safe when he's around.' Rory replied. 'I know he'll never let anything hurt us, he's been such a brilliant friend.'

'So I hear, but Rory I'm concerned and as your best friend I feel I have a right to voice my concerns.' Lane said, raising a hand to stop Rory talking. 'Jess is leaving soon, and he's never been entirely reliable, he's got his own life and soon enough he'll need to get back to it, I wonder if you're letting yourself get to attached, I wonder if maybe it would be a good idea to get some space from him.'

'Lane I know what you're thinking, because it's what my mom's been lecturing me about since Jess showed up, but you've all got to understand that we're friends, and I'm not as weak as you all think, I won't fall apart when he leaves, I know he'll be leaving and that's fine.' Rory replied, though her words lacked any confidence.

'You two have a history, if I remember rightly it was a very turbulent one, which took you some time to get over, I'm worried that him being around so much is going to tear open old wounds.' Lane emphasised.

'I think Neruda said it best, Love is so short, Forgetting is so long. It did take me a while to get over him, to forget him, not that I ever forgot him, rather I forgot the feelings, I got over them and moved past them. It's been such a long time since there was anything between us.' Rory sighed, holding Anna closely to her. 'You've no reason to be concerned.'

'Ok, well now that's settled, how do you feel about watching a movie?' Lane asked.

(***)

'I come bearing food!' Jess' voice rang throughout the Gilmore house, he'd let himself in through the open back door and was now setting the food down on the table.

'Oh Jess, hi.' Lorelai walked into the kitchen, and awkwardly greeted him, Jess lifted a hand in greeting, though a smile didn't cross his face.

'I thought you'd be at work, or else I would have brought something for you.' Jess indicated the food on the table.

'That's ok. I only stopped in for a minute.' Lorelai replied crossing her arms over her chest. 'Rory's upstairs with Anna, they'll be down soon.'

'Ok.'

Lorelai headed to the door, but as her hand rested on the handle she sighed and turned back to an awkward looking Jess.

'I hope you know what you're doing.' Lorelai said dropping her hand from the handle.

'Sorry?'

'With Rory, she's vulnerable and she needs a friend right now, you're here, always here. I just hope you know what you're doing, don't let her get to attached.' Lorelai warned.

'Do you really think she would? Me and Rory, what we had is long over, I don't see why everyone seems so worried that it'll turn into that again. Is it impossible for someone to be friends with an ex?' Jess asked darkly.

'People worry because this friendship seems to run deeper, there's an attachment between you two, there always was, and I've never liked it, I've never liked the effect you seem to have on her.' Lorelai shook her head.

'Why don't you just say whatever it is you're trying to.' Jess pushed.

'Don't hurt her, don't get so close to her. I want you to back off, because she's getting to attached and that's not what she needs.' Lorelai said angrily. 'Stop acting like a father to Anna, because you're not going to be around to raise her, she'll get attached to you as well and then you'll be gone, the sooner you leave the better.' She added.

Jess smirked humourlessly, shaking his head.

'You're starting to sound like Emily Gilmore, meddling in your daughters life, wasn't that why you ran away?' Jess raised his eyebrows.

'That is none of your business, and there's one very big difference, my mother meddled to try and make me fit her expectations of a daughter. I only ever try and protect mine.' Lorelai replied.

'I'm not going to hurt her, but I'm also not going to leave until the book is finished, and I'm not going to stop coming round and helping her out, not unless she asks me to.' Jess replied. Lorelai tensed up and was about to speak again when Rory and Anna entered, smiling brightly at Jess, Rory walked over and handed Anna to him, looking between Jess and her mom, the smile dropped from her face.

'Everything ok?' Rory asked.

'Yeah it's peachy, I'm heading back to work.' Lorelai walked out of the kitchen, banging the door shut.

'What's going on?' Rory asked, sitting opposite Jess who was holding Anna closely.

'I don't think your mom likes me being around so much, she'll be glad to see the back of me.' Jess replied.

'You're not going yet are you?' Rory's eyes widened, and her voice raised slightly.

'No, not yet.' Jess calmed her down. 'We've got a book to finish first.'

'Good. I'm sorry if my mom came on a little strong, she worries about me, even more so since the divorce.' Rory smiled sadly, leaning back in her chair.

'How are you doing with all that?'

'You know I'm actually really good. I feel more and more like my old self each day.' Rory laughed.

'I know the feeling, Taylor called me a hoodlum earlier, I felt 17 again.' Jess smirked.

'Apparently we're both regressing.' Rory replied, picking up some fries and eating them.

'Well we'd better slow it down or else they'll be nobody to look after Anna.' Jess said bouncing Anna up and down.

'Maybe it's best we stay as we are.' Rory said. 'I'm more than happy with that.'

'Me too.'

A/N- Sorry it's so short. I will try and get the next one to be longer, please review.