A/N: This wasn't as fast as I would have liked. My muses stopped talking to be as soon as I posted the first chapter. Oh well. I'm watching Gilmore Girls right now and figured they might start talking to me again. Just incase anyone is confused, Jess calls Dani 'Kris', for her full name is Kristin Danielle Mariano.

Read and Review!

Brianne

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls or Jess, very sadly, or any of the songs I use or mention.

Dedicated to: My mom, for being my confidante, my best friend and my number 1 fan. Love you, Mom!!

Dani stepped off the bus, looking around Stars Hollow. Looking at the quaint little town, she groaned under her breath.

"Oh, my God." She heard Jess mutter behind her. She stifled her laughter at the sight of a creepy. gray-haired, bearded, guy in a sweater yelling at her uncle, something about repainting the diner. She swung her backpack onto her shoulder, waiting for Jess, he fell into step beside her stalking grouchily, his signature 'I-don't-want-to-and-you-can't-make-me' scowl on his face, Dani passed a brunette girl who was about Jess's age and a woman who looked to be her mother talking and glancing at them every once in a while. Dani tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder, adopting her own scowl, stalking beside Jess. The townspeople parted to make way for the angry teenage duo. She and Jess stopped in front of Luke's Diner, the brunette pair Dani had glimpsed on the street, walking inside.

The woman walking up to the counter yelling, "Luke, coffee, now!"

Jess glared at the door, saying grimly, "Let's go and get this over with."

Dani smirked, "Hold on." She tucked her bangs behind her ear and started to strut like the brunette woman had a few minutes before. She strutted up to the counter and in a perfect imitation of the woman, yelled, "Luke, I said I wanted coffee!!" Jess, who had snuck in the door behind her, was crying from laughing so hard.

She heard her uncle's voice from the back calling, "I'm coming, Lorelai."

The woman, Lorelai, Dani supposed, called back, "That wasn't me!"

The girl muttered, "He'll never believe it."

Jess came up, wiping his eyes and placed a hand on her shoulder. "That was brilliant, Kris." Dani blushed and fiddled with the silver ring she wore on her left ring finger (Yes, the wedding finger).

Luke came out of the back, swearing under his breath. "Language, Luke." Dani teased in her 'Lorelai' impression.

Luke looked up quickly. "Kristin Mariano." He growled.

Dani's outlook changed immediately, her eyes darkened and she unknowingly grabbed Jess's hand for support, without remembering she was mad at him. "Luke." She greeted coolly.

"Jess." Luke acknowledged her brother. Dani glances up at Jess to see his dark eyes cold, expression stony. "You can take your stuff upstairs." Dani swings her backpack covered in dirty bumper stickers on her back and goes behind the curtain to the stairs leading to the apartment.

A few hours later after Jess and Dani had wordlessly unpacked, Luke came up uncomfortably announcing that they were having dinner at Lorelai's house and that he thought Jess and Dani would like her daughter, Rory who was Jess's age. Luke had gone back downstairs and Dani and Jess had started to talk. That equaled one word.

Mistake

"Jess." Dani said his name softly, almost like she was afraid.

"Don't talk, Kristin." Jess snapped.

Dani winced, no one had ever called her Kristin unless they were furious at her. "Jess, please."

"I said to not talk." Jess snapped, even harsher than before.

"I don't see was you're so upset about." Dani tried, almost pleading with him.

"Well, then, it's no wonder you don't see that Paul is trouble, then is it?" Jess said coolly, sitting down on the couch.

Dani groaned, "There is no talking to you when you're like this."

"I'm sorry, what else do you want me to do? Write a novel, turn cartwheels, learn to jump a horse?" Jess suggested sarcastically.

"Jess, I don't want to fight." Dani begged, tears making her sea green eyes glaze over.

"Huh, well gee, then I guess I better learn answer to the every whim of my little sister!" Jess yelled, sarcastically.

"Jess, just stop!" Dani screamed, tears now overflowing, she grabbed her guitar. "I'm leaving. Don't look for me, I'll come back when I'm ready." She turned on her heel and slammed the door behind her. Running through the diner, she could feel the tears soaking her cheeks. She ran out to the gazebo, flopping down on the bench and sobbing, strumming the guitar idly. She thought she could feel her heart break, she was shipped off. Her mother wasn't talking to her, Jess wasn't talking to her. She didn't know anyone in this town.

A single line popped into her head. "Forget your high society, I'm soaking it in kerosene. Light it up and watch it burn, teach them want they need to learn." She played the whole song, losing herself in it. By the time she had finished several people had gathered behind her, watching the blonde. She smiled remembering one of the songs that her mother used to sing to her as a child, granted, not very well, but those memories meant the world to Dani.

"You got to leave me now, you got to go alone
You got to chase a dream, one that's all your own
Before it slips away
When you're flying' high, take my heart along
I'll be the harmony to every lonely song
That you learn to play

When you're soaring' through the air
I'll be your solid ground
Take every chance you dare
I'll still be there
When you come back down
When you come back down

I'll keep looking' up, awaiting' your return
My greatest fear will be that you will crash and burn
And I won't feel your fire
I'll be the other hand that always holds the line
Connecting' in between your sweet heart and mine
I'm strung out on that wire

And I'll be on the other end, To hear you when you call
Angel, you were born to fly, If you get too high
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll catch you when you fall

Your memory's the sunshine every new day brings
I know the sky is calling
Angel, let me help you with your wings

When you're soaring' through the air
I'll be your solid ground
Take every chance you dare

I'll still be there
When you come back down
Take every chance you dare,
I'll still be there
When you come back down
When you come back down"

Dani shrieked as a hand touched her shoulder as she played the last chord of the song.

"I'm sorry." An Asian girl who looked to be Jess's age, or a little younger stood in front of Dani. "I heard you playing, you're absolutely amazing."

"Thanks," Dani said, blushing slightly. "I used to play for a country band in New York. I'm Dani Mariano, by the way."

"Lane Kim." The girl said, shaking Dani's hand. "I love your shirt."

Dani laughed, looking at her 'Heaven is for Wimps' shirt. "Thanks. My mom almost killed me when I first bought it, but my brother convinced her not to, her- my mom's, boyfriend hates it too."

"No dad?" Lane asked, sympathetically.

"Nope. He was one of my mom's many, many, one-night stands. My mom raised me and my brother." Dani answered, feeling a pang in her chest at the mention of her dad.

"I still have a dad, I think." Lane said, smiling. "I never see him though."

"I'm sorry." Dani apologized, privately thinking that it would be better to have a dad and not see him, then not have one at all.

"Don't bother." Lane said, waving a hand dismissively. "Want a tour?" Dani eagerly accepted, glad to be making a friend.

"And that's Luke's Diner, best food in town, you have to try some." Lane said, at least an hour later.

"Really?" Dani asked, then continued. "He's actually my uncle, but I haven't tried any of his food yet, well no. I tried his coffee when I was pretending to be Lorelai Gilmore, I think her name was, anyway, his coffee is absolutely incredible." The two girls opened the door and were met by a swarm of customers and loud rock music. "My brother." Dani explained.

"Let's go upstairs and get him to turn down his music." Lane suggested. "Besides, I want to meet him."

Dani shrugged and led the way upstairs, knocking loudly and getting no response, she opened the door. "Jess Mariano!" Dani screamed, trying to be heard over the music. That got Jess's attention. He went over to the stereo and turned down the music.

"What, Kristin?" He asked harshly, the tone of his voice betraying his stony expression.

"This is Lane Kim." Dani said by way of explanation. "Lane, my brother Jess."

The two vaguely waved to each other and exchanged 'hellos' and 'what's ups'. "You two don't look at all alike, but you both look like Luke, creepy." Lane observed.

"Different dad, same mom." Dani and Jess said together, then glaring at each other.

"Oh, I've heard Luke mention his sister a couple of times." Lane said.

"Yeah, anyway. Let's go, Lane. Jess, keep the music down." Dani snapped the last part to her brother, before tossing her head and laying down her guitar that she had been carrying around town. The girls walked out, as soon as they had closed the door they heard the music turned back up again, although not quite as loud. The two shared evil smirks and continued downstairs.

"So, what's with the 'Kristin'?" Lane asked. "Isn't your name Dani?"

"My full name is Kristin Danielle. I just go by Dani." Dani explained, walking up to the counter. "Hey, Luke?" She called.

Her uncle reappeared from the back. "Yes Dani? Oh, hey Lane."

"What's up, Luke?" Lane responded.

"Can I have a burger, Luke?" Dani asked, throwing in the puppy eyes as well.

"Me too?" Lane asked, attempting the puppy eyes and failing miserably. Dani cracked up watching her try. "Okay, how the crap do you do that?" Lane asked, giving up and laughing along.

"Lots and lots of practice," Dani smiled, her laughter not quite reaching her eyes, her blue orbs still revealed the scars of New York, scars and wounds that had not fully healed.

A/N: So, not totally satisfied with this chapter, but there you go. I still need songs that remind you guys of them! Please!

Anyway, I'm always open to suggestions and constructive critisisim.

Thanks!

Brianne