Disclaimer: Don't own L Wish I did.

A/N- Please read and review. This has taken me forever, but I promise I will try and update all my stories more often. This part is the brace bridge dinner, hope you like it. Review and let me know.

The strangest things

Chapter Five

Rory and Lorelai stood in the hall of the inn welcoming their guests. First to arrive was Babette and Morey.

'Hey Sugars, ooh it's so good to be in the warm, it's snowing something awful out there.' Babette shook the snowflakes from her coat.

'Well if you'd like you can go straight to your rooms to warm up a little before dinner, we've put you in room six.' Lorelai said handing over the key.

'Thanks doll, and don't you two just look wonderful, like a picture.' Babette replied, accepting the key before walking off in search of their room.

'Wow the snow is coming down pretty heavy, I hope it doesn't spoil plans for the horse and carriage rides.' Lorelai looked a little anxiously towards the open door as Luke, Ally and Jess arrived.

'It's so pretty though.' Rory smiled, turning her head and locking eyes with Jess, as they made their way over to the two Gilmore's.

'The place looks nice.' Luke said as they reached them.

'Thanks.' Lorelai smiled, glowing with pride.

'What rooms do we have?' Ally asked impatiently.

'Uh let's see Luke, you and Jess have room eight and Ally I've put you in with Miss Patti.' Lorelai answered with a good natured smile on her face.

'Oh.' Ally looked down at the floor in disappointment, Rory struggled not to roll her eyes. Feeling she needed to get away.

'Hey Jess, would you like to see the library?' Rory ventured, aware that four sets of eyes had suddenly turned on her, hoping that she wasn't blushing again. Jess looked slightly taken aback but followed her wordlessly.

'Was that an exit strategy or did you just want some one on one time with me?' Jess smirked as they reached the empty library.

'Maybe a little of both.' Rory regretted speaking the second the words were left, turning from him quickly before he could see the embarrassment in her face, but it was too late, he began to smirk wider at her, almost breaking into a real smile. Chuckling softly beneath his breath he stood beside her, no more than an inch or two between them.

'Quite a collection in this place.' Jess said lifting his hand to pick out a copy of howl, just as Rory reached for the same book. Their hands brushed each others.

'Rory there you are.' Dean's voice filled the room and Rory pulled her hand away and spun to meet his gaze.

'Hey, sorry I didn't know you'd arrived. I was just showing Jess the library.' Rory said giving Jess one quick glance before taking Dean's hand and walking off with him.

*

'Hey is everything ok?' Rory asked her mum, just before they went out to the horses.

'Hmm, I had to move Ally in with us. I know you don't like her but she didn't want to sat with someone she didn't know. Is that ok?' Lorelai asked, a bit concerned about Rory's dislike for Ally and even more so for her like of Jess.

'Sure I mean if she really didn't want to share with Miss Patti then I guess it's the only option.' Rory replied.

'Thanks sweetie, now I'm going to get a carriage, you coming?' Lorelai asked.

'Urm, I think I'll wait for Dean if it's alright with you?' Rory replied looking across the lobby to where Dean was standing with Clara.

'Course it is, I'll just have to ride alone.' Lorelai smiled, already spotting Luke by one of the horses and heading over to him.

'Come on or we'll miss all the good horses.' Clara whined, tugging on her brothers arm.

'Sorry Rory looks like I'm spoken for.' Dean said giving her a quick kiss.

'Go, really it's fine.' Rory smiled watching as they walked off together. Five minutes later she was in a carriage by herself, just as they pulled away Jess jumped in beside her.

'What are you doing? That was dangerous.' Rory shouted in shock.

'Oh yeah you were going about a mile an hour.' He replied sarcastically. 'Besides I heard it was two per slay, you were breaking the rules. But if you want I can jump out again.'

'Don't!' Rory said a little too quickly putting a hand on his arm. Jess smirked at her.

'So what do you want to talk about?' Jess asked leaning back.

'Anything! Everything! Oh I just love the snow, it makes everything seem better.' Rory smiled brightly looking up into the sky, snowflakes fluttering across her cheeks and landing on her eyelashes. Jess looked across at her seeing the snowflakes on her eyelashes, her eyes closed as she breathed in the fresh snowy air. He sighed silently to himself, she was beautiful. No he couldn't think like that, he wrenched his head away and took a deep breath.

'What do you see in Dean?' He asked, half wanting her to say she didn't know, realise that he wasn't right for her and the other half wanting to pick a fight so that he'd stop thinking about her so much.

'What do you mean? He's great, he's sweet and kind.' Rory said turning to face Jess.

'Like a puppy dog.' Jess commented. Rory glared at him. 'It's just he doesn't seem like your type.'

'Well he is my type, he's exactly my type.' She crossed her arms across her chest defensively. He could stop now, leave it at that and try and get on her good side again. But he wouldn't.

'What do you talk about with Dean?' He persisted.

'I don't know, everything.' Rory replied. She was looking upset, alright enough, he told himself reaching out without thinking and taking her hand, entwining their fingers. She inhaled sharply, not expecting that.

'I'm sorry if I upset you.' He looked at her sincerely. Taking his hand back as they reached the inn again.

'That's ok, I'm fine.' Rory said getting back out of the carriage and going inside, back to the warm and out of the snow which was now falling harder and harder. She looked down at her hand and smiled.

'What's got you so cheery?' Lorelai asked curiously, as she watched her daughter smiling like a fool.

'Oh nothing.' Rory said quickly. 'I'm going to see if I can track down some coffee.'

'If you find it bring me some.' Lorelai instructed, watching anxiously as Jess walked back into the room.

'Did you enjoy the carriage ride?' Lorelai asked Jess.

'Well I won't be writing home about it anytime soon, but it didn't make me want to throw up either.' Jess replied.

'Good.' Lorelai spat out walking away.

*

'You know I don't think your mom like's me all that much.' Jess whispered in Rory's ear, coming up behind her whilst she was looking out the window at the heavy snowfall. She jumped slightly but then steadied herself, but didn't look around.

'What gives you that impression?' Rory asked breathing on the cold window pane and drawing snowflakes.

'Just a hunch, so why aren't you up in bed? I thought since we had such drama at dinner. Ranging from surprise retirements to drunken spoon playing, that you'd be tired out.' Jess moved so he was beside her, glancing sideways at the same time as she did the same, their eyes locking.

'Ally's sharing a room with us and she kept telling us all these stories about her old school, about herself. I just needed to get out, but I'll go back once I'm sure she's asleep. How about you, what's got you up so late?' Rory replied.

'Luke snores.' Jess shrugged, though usually this didn't bother him tonight he'd wanted to get out of the room. Explore a little.

'It's snowing pretty hard. If it keeps this up then we won't be able to get home tomorrow.' Rory leaned against the window frame, now facing Jess. He mimicked her, leaning the same way on the other side.

'Hmm you might be right.' Rory said stifling a yawn. Jess smirked at her again.

'You've got to get some sleep.' Jess instructed. 'Here I'll even walk you back to your room.'

'How gentlemanly of you.' Rory smiled, walking alongside him towards he room. As they reached it she pressed her ear to the door and heard nothing but silence. Satisfied that Ally was now asleep she smiled at Jess and opened the door.

'Sweet dreams.' Jess whispered as she closed the door. Rory leaned against the now closed wood and breath out, smiling to herself.

A/N- hope you all like it, hit the review button to let me know.