A/N: I am going to make it to the end of this fic before November is out, I so am!

(for disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Week 5

Day 29

Lorelai came into the diner with the biggest smile on her face, and Luke wasn't sorry to see it. In fact, he was returning the look which was quite strange. Luke Danes wasn't exactly known for his good moods, but this past week had been different. Some said it had more to do with Lorelai than anything else. This Summer had certainly seen a turn in the Luke and Lorelai relationship, ever since that dance they shared at the St James/Belville wedding. Of course, that had been developing for a month now, what had really changed in the last few days was a whole other relationship, that between Rory and Jess.

"Isn't a beautiful sunny day?" said Lorelai as she parked herself on a stool by the counter.

"Birds singing, kids laughing, life is good," Luke agreed, as he poured her a full cup of coffee. "I can't believe the good mood he is in," he added in a lower register as he leaned over the counter towards her.

"I know!" she agreed in a tone just above a whisper. "Rory has called me every day since they made up, just giddy with being in love. I swear, if it was any sweeter I'd be puking by now."

"Lovely," dead panned Luke, rolling his eyes. "But honestly? Jess is the same. Not exactly skipping and tossing rose petals, but honestly, I'd be worried if he were," he considered. "But he's happy, like, really happy. I actually think maybe those two are happier since the fight than they even were before it."

"Could be," said Lorelai thoughtfully as she sipped her coffee. "Sometimes realising what you have to lose just makes you all the more grateful that you have it."

She seriously had been talking about Rory and Jess when she said it, and yet when she looked at Luke and inadvertently caught his eye, it seemed to mean more. They had both seen what life would be like without the other, when Luke was with Rachel, when Lorelai almost married Max. Time passed and they danced around the fact that they might mean more to each other. The dance at Sookie's wedding seemed to mean something, and yet with the craziness of work and the kids messed up relationship, nothing had really happened yet. It made Lorelai start to wonder if it ever would.

"So, er, things at the inn, okay?" asked Luke, making a big deal of rearranging the doughnuts and tidying the counter when he noticed how long he and Lorelai had been caught in a stare, eyes only for each other.

"Things at the inn are good," she confirmed. "I'd ask how things are here, but hey, you have the coffee, it's always good," she grinned, toasting him with her cup and taking a long drink.

"You ever think about trying the coffee some place else?" asked Luke suddenly.

Lorelai almost choked on her drink.

"Are you asking me to leave and never come back to your diner?" she checked, looking totally shocked and horribly hurt.

Luke felt sick.

"No! No, no, no!" he insisted. "I was... I was trying to ask if you wanted to... to..."

"He's asking you out," said a voice that got the attention of both sides of the awkward non-couple. "Seriously, Uncle Luke, you gotta get better at that," said Jess with a serious smirk on his face before he turned from the store room he'd been working in to head for the stairs up to the apartment.

In his wake he heard Lorelai laugh a little and then speak to Luke.

"That was you trying to ask me out?" she checked. "Oh, Luke, you just had to say 'do you wanna get coffee with me sometime?' Seriously, I... I'd love to."

Jess couldn't keep the grin off his face as he headed upstairs. He and Rory were happy, and his uncle deserved the same. So did Lorelai, actually. She had been pretty decent with him these past few weeks, and never did get involved when the fight broke out between Jess and Rory. He really appreciated that, and if he could show that appreciation in the non-obvious of way of helping the two adults find a little of what he and Rory had, so much the better.

Rory couldn't believe how busy the trip to Washington had been keeping her. Since she and Jess made up, all she wanted to do was talk to him. Calling was always awkward with Luke around at his end or Paris on her side, but she could write letters, if only she could find the time. She started one days ago now but still hadn't had a chance to finish it and send it off. Finally she had a half hour between getting back from a conference and heading down to dinner.

Sat at the desk, Rory pulled out her pad of paper and started reading through what she had so far.

Dear Jess,

Excuse the cliché but I really wish you were here. I know I've been saying that since I first came to Washington and I always mean it, but today I have a specific reason. Yesterday a few of us went out on our own to shop and look around, and we came across the most amazing book store. Jess, you would've loved this place. In fact, it's so good, I think at some point I'm going to have to come back here with you just so we can spend the whole day browsing. Paris was pretty strict about the time she wanted to leave to head back, so I barely got to dig through the fiction side, and the non-fiction looked so pretty and inviting! If we get anymore free time and I can convince Paris to come back with me, I might check it out, but I still want to drag you out here sometime, because I know you would love it. Besides, I've never enjoyed a book store as much as when I'm in one with you.

What have you been reading while I've been gone? Are you still working through Hemingways yawn-worthy volumes or did you actually get into something interesting by now? I'm pretty sure I'm going to need a whole other suitcase just to bring home the extra books I've bought so far. We got a trip out to the movies last week too, did I tell you about that? I'm pretty sure I didn't, but just so you know the new Scooby Doo movie is not worth the time.

Rory shook her head and then picked up her pen to continue where she left off.

I just read back what I wrote before and it really does sound like I'm on vacation, doesn't it? Trust me, I am learning a lot. Yesterday we met Senator Barbara Boxer and Republican Congressman Doug Ose from California. Paris was scaring them to death with a hundred and one awkward questions, but everybody else was nice enough and their talks to the group were really interesting. I'll spare you the details since I know it's not really your idea of fun, but rest assured, your girlfriend is getting brainier as well as enjoying herself out here.

Speaking of Paris, I probably shouldn't talk about her like this without her knowing, but it's nothing I haven't tried to say to her face. There's a guy here that I think actually likes her! As in wants to date her. I know it's surprising, but Paris isn't always the nightmare she seems, and I guess it's true what they say, there really is somebody out there for everybody. Anyway, the guy's name is Jamie and he goes to Princeton. He and Paris were on opposite sides of a debate the other day and I seriously thought the roof was going to blow off the building from the tension! Well, they do say that people who fight hardest are actually attracted to each other. Maybe Paris and Jamie are the next Lizzie and Darcy, except angrier on her side, and they're both rich. That analogy kind of sucked, but it's late and I'm tired, so you'll have to just pretend it was a smarter reference than it was.

Actually it's even later than I thought and I should really be heading down to dinner. Hope everything is good at home in the Hollow.

Still missing you,

Rory.

Day 32

Jess finished reading Rory's letter and laughed when he got to the part about the guy with a crush on Paris. That sounded unbelievable, but Rory wouldn't lie, and like she said, supposedly there was somebody in the world for everybody. Whoever this Jamie from Princeton was, Jess wished him all the luck in the world, most especially if he was going to try to date Paris Geller. Jess would be careful what he said on that topic though. It seemed Rory and Paris were becoming less adversaries and more friends these days and the last thing he wanted to do was start another fight.

Sitting back against the headboard, Jess propped the legal pad against his knee and started his reply to Rory, referring to her letter as he went down the page.

Dear Rory,

You're bringing home more books. Wow, I'm shocked. I'm assuming my sarcasm is strong enough to come across even in the written word, after all, you know me pretty well, and your love of books is pretty legendary. Yes, I am aware that I can't judge given my own collection. What kind of things did you pick up? Anything I can borrow later? I'd definitely love to see that store sometime. Maybe we'll take a trip next Summer, that'd be cool.

I finished my own collection of Hemingways within the first couple of weeks of you being gone, then hit the Russians for a while. Is it petty if I admit I went to Andrew's store and got more Hemingway when we were fighting? I know, it's dumb, but I don't regret it. I'd forgotten how much I liked 'Across the River and into the Trees' the first time. Then the last few days I've been ploughing through The Fountainhead. I can't believe I went back to it, I vowed not to after the last time, but I knew it'd make you happy if I gave it another chance. I guess it's not so bad, but that woman is crazy and I expect some kind of reward when I get to the end of the damn book!

As for the movie, do not worry about me ever seeing Scooby Doo. It was not on my to do list at all. Of course I probably could've been convinced to go if you had wanted to, but thank you for saving me a couple of hours of torture, I appreciate that.

"Jess!"

Luke's voice boomed up from the bottom of the stairs causing his nephew to roll his eyes. He had hoped to get a reply written to Rory before he was needed to work in the diner. Checking the clock he realised he definitely shouldn't have been summoned yet, not for another hour.

"Jess, I'm not kidding, get your ass down here now!"

That made Jess wince a little, but then smirk as he realised he wasn't wanted for work, he was in trouble. That had to mean Taylor was here. Jess bit his lip, dumped the paper and pen on his bed and got up. Time to face the music, he supposed. He went over to the mirror and practised his most innocent expression for a second. It was fine, he could do this.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he said to himself, a practice run before he headed down the stairs to face the wrath of his uncle and the town selectman, reminding himself all the way not to smirk!

Day 35

Rory couldn't help the blush that rose in her cheeks as she read the part of Jess' letter that told her he expected payment from her for suffering through Ayn Rand's classic that so pained him. After six weeks away from him, Rory knew she would be as eager and willing a participant in those kind of activities as he was, but thinking about it, especially with Paris in the room, just made her feel so embarrassed. Thankfully her room-mate was on the phone to her Portuguese nanny right now and not paying any mind to Rory.

So, Taylor is on the rampage. Apparently somebody left a banana peel on his doorstep and now he has a sprained ankle. There's a long list of suspects as I'm sure you can imagine, and yes, naturally, yours truly is on the top of that list. Luke went crazy when he thought it might actually have been my fault. Doesn't he know I've cut way back on my pranks these days? Not that I could ever stop completely. The town needs me to be myself. I wouldn't be doing my duty if I didn't keep up in my hoodlum ways, now would I?

How is Paris and her lobotomised friend? I'm guessing he has to be medically insane to have a crush on her, but hey, I found you. If there's a woman in the world who can put up with me, I figure even Paris has a chance of finding somebody.

If there was more exciting news to give you, I would, but Stars Hollow isn't exactly hoppin' this Summer. By the time you get this letter it shouldn't be much more than a week before you get home. Then and only then am I going to be able to say I'm enjoying this Summer.

See you soon, but not soon enough,

Jess

To Be Continued...