I don't own Gilmore girls.

A/N starts with Richard's death but nothing from AYITL is the same except for that. Now on with the story.

She was numb, there was no other word for it. She wasn't even sure if she was awake at the moment. Honestly she was hoping this was all just one bad dream. The worst of her life.

"Rory, Rory are you there?" the sound of her mother's voice coming through the phone assured her that this in fact was not just some horrifying dream. This was real, this was happening. How was her mother even coherent enough to make this phone call?

"Yeah mom I'm here." Rory tried to push down all the emotions she couldn't, wouldn't break not now.

"Okay sweets if you can get home soon I'd apricate it. Luke just got home so I'm going to go. Rory could hear the catch in Lorelai's voice as she swallowed herself.

"Yeah I'll be home." She hung the phone up and sat it down. In a few hours she was sure she'd be searching for the phone but for now she didn't even care. She sat down heavily on her couch. He was dead, her grandfather was dead. The man who was always so strong. The man that seemed invincible. He'd made it though everything and now he was gone. She felt the tears working their way down her cheeks. She just let them flow not even attempting to stop them. She had no one to call, no one to lean on. Her Mom had Luke yet she hadn't dated anyone in years. She was always so busy working for the New York times traveling living the life that she always thought she wanted. Now though it just all seemed so empty. So meaningless.

What had she gained she hadn't seen her grandfather in two months and now it was too late she was almost thirty two and she didn't have a husband or kids. Her mother always joked that she was married to her job and Rory had always laughed it off but now she saw the truth in it. She was married to her job. She Rory Gilmore had nothing to show for the last thirty two years of her life but fancy diploma's, a few awards and bookshelf's filled to the brim and more regrets then she could count. She stood up and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes and cheeks. She tried to make her legs work as she stumbled towards the bookshelf. She didn't even know what she was looking for she just pulled a book off the shelf at random.

She sat down and looked at the cover, feeling a shock go through her system at what was staring back at her. A boys journey. By Jess Mariano. She caressed the book and she wondered where he was now, what he was doing. She knew he still had the publish house in Philadelphia but she also knew was a New York times best seller many times over with at least a dozen books to his name and more then a few movie adaptations.

This was his saddest book though the one that told of his life with Liz. His life in New York then Stars Hollow back to New York and Finally Philadelphia. She realized in that moment she wanted to have a part of Jess. She just couldn't read anything right now so she went over to her DVD shelf and pulled out the movie that was a fictionized story of them. And the L's have it. Of course, that story had a happy ending unlike their own ill fated romance but anyone that knew them could see their true story mixed in with the fiction. Rory watched it snuggled under a blanket and let herself think about Jess for the first time in what felt like forever. Last time she'd seen him was almost a year ago. She'd went back to Stars Hollow for Thanksgiving and he'd been there too. They'd talked books and Jobs she'd told him she was proud and teased him about a few of his books. They never touched the book based on the movie she was currently watching and they never touched on the book of his life. Those two were off limits without either of them having to say anything. They hadn't talked relationships or the past. So as she watched the credits roll two hours later she wondered about his personal life. She could ask Luke but she wasn't sure she could handle the truth. What if he was in love. She wanted that for him. She really did but at the same time she wasn't sure she could handle it.

She knew she had his number. They had swapped them at Thanksgiving but she had to wonder if he'd want to hear from her. It was going on eight o'clock and she didn't even know if he would know about her grandfather, would Luke have told him? She didn't really know why he would but it was a possibility. She stood up and went in search of her phone like she had known hours ago when she put it down she was having trouble find it now. She finally found it on the floor where it had slide off the end table. She scrolled her contacts and found his name. she took a deep breath and leap of faith and hit call.

Jess was trying to work on his next book when his phone rang. He was surprised to see Luke's name on the screen. "Hey Uncle Luke what can I do for you this fine Fall night?"

"Jess." Just the sound of his name coming from his uncle made his blood run cold.

"Luke what is it what's wrong?"

"It's Lorelai's father you remember Richard Gilmore right?"

"Well I don't think I ever met him but yes I know who you are talking about."

"He passed away today they are having the funeral next week I just thought I'd let you know. Maybe you'd want to come."

Jess found this whole conversation weird it wasn't like he was close to the Gilmore's or Lorelai and he wasn't close to Rory anymore either. He hadn't talked to her in almost a year. "Well um thanks for letting me know." Jess wasn't sure what else to say. "Send Lorelai my condolences."

"Oh um sure." Luke said a little awkwardly he wasn't sure why he'd called Jess. Lorelai had locked herself in their room. He wasn't sure when or even if Rory was coming into town, and he guessed he just needed to talk to someone and Jess had been the obvious choice or maybe now thinking about it he hadn't been the obvious choice. Just as Jess went to say something else his call waiting went of fand he was stunned to see Rory's name.

"Uncle Luke I have to take this it's Rory."

"oh" Luke was a bit stunned. "Okay nice talking you Jess."

"You too Uncle Luke." Jess said switching his phone over

"Rory are you there?"

He heard a sniffle and figured she'd been crying. Of course she'd been crying she'd lost her grandfather.

"Jess my.. my grandfather died and I don't know what to do… what do I do…"

"you go home Rory it's what you do." He told her patiently

"I don't know if I can be that close to Hartford without him being there. I know I Have to go back for my mom but I don't know If I'm strong enough. I'm not strong enough Jess."

"Yes you are, you are Rory Gilmore New York times extraordinaire you can do anything."

"no I can't." she whispered. He looked at the time. It was eight he could make it to her by a little after ten.

"Okay Rory here is what you're going to do you're going to go and take a long hot shower. Then you're going to watch some mind numbing TV nothing to think about. I'll be there in two hours and I'll need you to let me in. can you give me your address?"

"Yes." She gave him an address that he quickly jotted down.

"Okay I'm going to hang up now I'll see you in a couple hours."

"Thank you." Were the last soft words he heard before he hung up the phone.

"He stood up and stretched making sure to save his writing he called Matt and then Chris to let them know he'd be out of town for awhile as he had family business to attend to. He didn't want to go into detail with them and then have to explain himself.

He packed a bag making sure he had a suit and he headed to New York. He was headed there as he wondered why, all he hand Rory seemed to do was hurt each other but he'd always love her and he knew that every relationship he had imploded because he couldn't get over the blue eyed brunette and so when she called he'd come running even if that did make him slightly pathetic. Maybe there was something in the Gilmore genes that triggered something in the Danes genes he just wasn't sure. He tried not to think to much about it as he got closer and closer to New York and Rory. He found the address she'd given him and went up to her apartment. He knocked on the door and waited.

Rory heard the Knock on the door and stumbled towards it. It had to be Jess she just new it. She opened the door and just stood staring at him. All ruffled hair and brown eyes she fell into his arms. Not that his arms were actually open but she still fell he was quick to catch her as the tears fell fast and hard against his chest.

"Okay lets get you instead." He gathered her close and stepped in shutting the door behind him. He walked her to the couch settling her down noticing the book and movie on her table he shook his head and sat down beside her. "Why don't you get some sleep." He whispered where she was cuddled close to him.

"Okay." She whispered back. She stood up and started towards her room. "Jess."

"yes?"

"Please lay with me I don't think I can bare to slepp by myself tonight."

He was floored by the request. "Don't you think maybe the couch is the best place."

"No." she shook her head. "I need you by me please for tonight." And with those blue eyes shining at him he couldn't deny her anything he nodded and followed her into her room. He got her situated and got into the bed himself as she fell asleep beside him he wondered how he'd gotten into this situation in a dark New York apartment in a bed with Rory Gilmore on his way to Stars Hollow the next day. His life just liked playing tricks on him he was sure.

A/N next up Rory and Jess go to Stars Hollow oh my.