Disclaimer - Fate is cruel and has decided that I would abuse that power if it were granted to me...I probably would.

Summary - Jess, the best man, is back in town for Luke and Lorelai's wedding...with his 6 month old son. How will the town react? How will Rory react? RJ. Post Season 5. R&R!

A/N: Yay! 100 reviews! Reviews were awesome! I really don't why I couldn't remember that band name. Thanks for your help! I think the name of the club in this chapter is real. Heard it somewhere. But I doubt it's really in NY. So consider it completely made up.

It was a short walk from Jess' apartment to the coffee house he and Rory had agreed to meet at. Mrs. Grier didn't mind watching Jacob. She even scorned Jess for not getting out more often. Jess made for a speedy exit when he revealed it would be a 'lady friend', as Mrs. Grier so kindly put it, he would be taking to the show.

Jess took his time walking. As much as he hated to admit it - he was nervous. Of course he was nervous. It was Rory. He kept glancing at his cast. Beside the Hep Alien sticker - a simple picture of the band with 'hEP aLIEN' under it - was Rory's own addition: the number for a driver's education class. He smirked.

Rory arrived right at 6:00 pm. She knew for a fact that Jess would be a good ten or fifteen minutes late. As per usual. A shock came to her though. She entered the small shop and spotted him in the back corner with a tattered paperback.

"You're early." She said, taking the seat across from him.

"So it seems." Jess smiled.

"How's your arm?" She pointed to his cast.

"Eh, " He shrugged, "It's better. Although I get a little twinge in it everytime I see a tree." Rory laughed.

"Who's the band opening for?"

"It's weird. Lane won't tell me." Rory frowned.

"Huh." Jess look out the window, watching a small crowd go by.

"You know, don't you?" She accused him. Jess only smirked.

"I might have an inkling." Jess continued after a glare from Rory, "Let's just say you won't be disappointed."

An hour later Jess and Rory arrived in front of the club. A short line had already formed. Rory looked around and gasped at the marquee:

The Brickhouse presents:
DEBORAH HARRY
TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS
HEP ALIEN

Rory turned to Jess and hit him lightly on the arm.

"Why didn't you tell me!"

"Told you you'd like it." Jess only smiled as Rory talked endlessly.

Rory knew when Lane refused to tell her that it had to be big. Or really bad. But all the thoughts in Rory's mind were blank except, the band is opening for Debbie Harry.

The doors opened not long after and people were beginning to be ushered in. The two stood only a couple people back from the stage. Rory spotted Lane behind her drums, alternately adjusting and testing. Lane waved and Rory waved back.

Rory and Jess yelled as loud as they could when the lights went out. But to their surprise, about a third of the crowd were just as loud. IT seemedas though Hep Alien had developed a following.Neither had much more time to dwell on it though, as Lane came in with a drumroll. Zach was next. And then Brian. Rory was blown away. They had really improved since starting out. There was no longer a sloppy feel to it. It was if they had perfected their show.

Jess liked Ted Leo, but couldn't help but join Rory in talking about how good the band had gotten. The conversation ceased the moment Debbie Harry came out. And the two stood in awe.

After the show finally ended, the two went backstage to find Lane, Zach and Brian. A small crowd had formed around the three. They signed some things and took a few pictures. Finally, the crowd thinned out.

"Lane! Oh my god, you guys were awesome! Why didn't you tell me who you were opening for!" The words came as fast as Rory could manage.

"I wanted to surprise you!" Lane answered.

"Yeah, we figured we'd be cautious." Brian added.

"And I, for one, felt that we'd been jinxed far too many times." Zach said.

"Very strategic." Said Jess.

"We thought so too, " Zach answered, "You guys coming to the after party?"

"Sure."

Rory and Jess followed the three to the subway entrance. Rory sat close to Jess, leaning her head on his shoulder. Jess was sure he might go crazy from the contact but managed to keep his cool and wrap an arm around her shoulder.

This is crazy, Rory thought. He's just being friendly. We're friends now. Just friends. Ok, he's being more than friendly. I hope he's being more than friendly. Rory surprised herself with the thought. But would it be that bad?

I'm going crazy, thought Jess. Like she would ever get back with me, the idiot who always ran away. But his thoughts changed when he put his arm around Rory and she didn't say anything. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, would it?

There were at least a hundred peolple crammed into the penthouse on the top floor. Loud music blared. Empty drinks sat abandoned on tops of shelves, a TV, and a stereo. Lane ledRory to a group of people that had formed in the kitchen. She introduced a few people. Althouh she had been to many parties,Rory felt very out of place.It wasn'texactly the same crowd seen at a Yale party.

Jess walked around the crowded pent house. He found it hard to find a spot to park himself. Any empty space left was taken up by at traffic of people flowing through the room. Spotting Rory in the kitchen, he made his way over to her. It wasn't easy. More people had arrived and, if it were even possible, the music had gotten louder. The mildly sober were now drunk off their ass.

Right about the time he reached Rory, shouting broke out from the far side of the room. Two guys were in a shoving match and it was quickly becoming serious.

Without a word, Jess grabbed Rory and made a bee line for the door. Rory held on to Jess' hand as tightly as she could. Both fought against the pull of the crowd, who were desperately trying to get a better view of the full on fight that was now going on, pushing against the two.

They finally made it outside and to the elevator. A few seconds after Jess pushed the first floor button, Rory and Jess both realized they were still tightly holding hands. Neither said a word. Rory only laid her head on his shoulder again and Jess returned his arm around her shoulder.

A/N: Oh yes, there is more RJness in the next chapter. So review and tell me your thoughts and patiently wait for the next chapter. It might be a while seeing as how my first college classes are on monday. So bare with me, folks. R&R! Thanks!