Thank you for your continued support! I'm going to keep going so I hope you still read. :)

Chapter 4

Juliet was walking down the sidewalk when she saw Jess fighting Chuck Presby. She ran over to them. "Hey, break it up!" She shouted. "Jess stop!" She said grabbing hold of him.

"Aw look, sweet! Your girlfriend's come to fight your battles for you." Chuck sneered.

"Leave her out of it." Jess said darkly.

"Just be careful with her though, she will probably end up pregnant like her mother did." Chuck smirked.

Juliet gasped as Chuck suddenly doubled over with blood coming out of his nose after Jess had swung a punch at him. "Jess, stop!" She exclaimed as Chuck managed to get a swing back at him. "Stop! He's not worth it!" She said.

"He shouldn't say that about you." Jess growled.

"I've heard it all before. So has my mom." Juliet said quietly. She placed a hand on Jess' arm. "He's not worth it." She repeated, pulling him away from Chuck.

"You're pathetic, Mariano." Chuck called after him.

Juliet glanced at Jess. "Don't." She said, leading him towards the diner.

"Luke is going to kill me." Jess grumbled.

"Not when he hears why you were fighting." She said. "I've got your back."

He glanced at her. "Thanks." He mumbled, as they entered the diner. "Here we go..." He said as he saw Luke look up and his expression change.

He rushed over to them. "What the hell did you do?" He exclaimed.

"Luke, it wasn't his fault." Juliet said quickly. "Can we go upstairs?"

Luke let out an exasperated breath but nodded. He then followed them up. "Were you fighting?" He said.

"No, I was skipping in the sun." Jess said sarcastically.

"Jess..." Luke warned.

"He was defending me." Juliet spoke up.

"What?" Luke said looking at her.

"I mean I don't know what they were fighting about before I got there but after I got there, Chuck...uh...he said some stuff about me and about mom." She said quietly. "Jess was defending me."

"He's been baiting me all week. He deserved it." Jess mumbled.

Luke let out a deep breath and was quiet for a moment. "Ok." He said.

"Ok?" Jess said surprised.

"Well...it seems like you did have a reason." Luke said gruffly.

"I did."

"Well then...let's get you cleaned up." He said getting some frozen peas out of his freezer. "Put those on your eye."

"Thanks." Jess mumbled, sitting down in the chair. He glanced as Luke leant against his counter. "You seem mad..."

"I'm not mad."

"You seem mad..."

"Jess!" Luke said exasperated.

"He really did deserve it. He said that I should be careful around Juliet because she would probably get pregnant like her mom did at her age. He's a jerk!" Jess exclaimed.

"He said that?" Luke said shocked, glancing at Juliet who looked down at the floor.

"He's a jerk." Jess repeated.

"Sounds it." Luke glanced at Juliet again. "Are you ok?"

Juliet forced a smile. "Nothing I've not heard before." She said.

"Still shouldn't have to hear it. Your mom is an amazing person and so are you. So you don't listen to jerks like him." Luke said firmly.

"Uh huh." She said.

"Hey..." Luke said softly. "Look at me." Juliet looked up at him. "Don't listen to him ok? He's an idiot." He said.

Juliet gave him a small smile. "Thanks Luke." She said softly.

Luke nodded. "Are you ok?" He asked Jess.

"I'll live." Jess said dryly.

"I'll leave you to it then. Call me if you need anything."

Jess nodded. "I won't."

Luke let out a breath and nodded. "Ok...so I'll..." He said gesturing to the door. "Come down to help if you feel like it ok? If you don't, you can stay up here."

"Ok."

"Ok."

"Thanks Luke." Juliet smiled at him. "I'll stay with him a little bit if that's ok?"

Luke nodded before heading back downstairs.

Juliet glanced over at Jess. "I haven't even said thanks yet."

"For what?"

"Defending me." She said quietly. "I mean, I don't condone violence but...well, you know."

Jess looked over at her. "You shouldn't have to hear stuff like that. It's not right."

"I'm used to it." She shrugged.

"Well you shouldn't be. You're your own person. You're not like your mom." He said.

"I'll stop you right there mister because I am a lot like my mom!" She said, smirking slightly.

Jess chuckled. "Ok, in some ways yet but...well...uh..."

Juliet smiled at him, understanding what he was going to say. "Thanks Jess." She said softly. She sighed and got up. "I better get going. Rory and I said we'd help our mom organising this Bracebridge dinner thing for everyone."

"Ah yes, Luke mentioned that."

"Are you coming?" Juliet grinned.

"Luke didn't really give me a choice." Jess smirked.

"Yeah well don't blame him. My mom didn't really give Luke a choice." Juliet laughed.

"I guess I'll see you there then." He said.

She smiled. "Yeah. See you then." She said going to leave. "Leave those peas on your eye or else you're going to get a shiner."

"Yes mom." Jess rolled his eyes.

"Bye!" She grinned before leaving.

The night of the Bracebridge Dinner, Lorelai, Juliet and Rory were stood in the lobby at the Independence Inn.

"Hey, how's Sookie doing in there?" Juliet said.

"Ah, well, she's paper bagging it." Lorelai said.

"What?" Rory said.

"So she's right on schedule then." Juliet smirked. "Hi Babette, Morey!" She smiled at their neighbours as they walked in.

"Hey dolls!" Babette smiled.

"Hey!" Lorelai smiled.

"Are we the first ones here?" Morey said.

"Yes, you are..." Rory said.

"Now don't you freak out." Babette told Morey. "Morey hates being the first anywhere. He thinks it hurts his street credibility." She told them.

"Charlie Parker was late to everything." Morey said.

"Charlie Parker had more drugs in him than a Rite-Aid. Forget Charlie Parker." Babette said.

"You guys are in room 8. It's all ready for you." Juliet laughed.

"Thanks, doll." Babette grinned. "Come on, Morey. We can be late for dinner if it'll make you feel better."

"A little." Morey sighed.

"Poor Morey." Juliet laughed as Lane walked up to them.

"Hey!" Lane smiled at them.

"Are you alone?" Rory asked hopefully.

"Lane!" Mrs Kim said coming in behind her.

"My wedding night's going to be very interesting." Lane said under her breath.

"Hi Mrs. Kim. I'm glad you guys could come. You guys are in room 12." Juliet smiled, handing over the key.

"Thank you." She said. "Hello Lorelai, thank you for inviting us."

"Our pleasure. Do you need help bringing in the rest of your stuff?" Lorelai asked.

"This is my stuff. Don't need any more stuff. People have too much stuff."

"You know you're right. People have too much stuff. Absolutely." Lorelai nodded as they walked away.

"Says the woman with 64 pairs of shoes." Rory pointed out.

"Thus proving my point." Lorelai grinned.

"Hey, what is Paris doing here?" Juliet asked.

"She had to bring me the newspaper stuff tonight. She just couldn't wait." Rory sighed.

"A robot, she's a robot." Lorelai joked as she watched Rory walk off to go and meet Paris. She glanced over at her other daughter. "You doing ok?" She asked.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Juliet said.

"Well getting caught up in all that Jess stuff."

"Mom, I already told you, it wasn't Jess' fault." She sighed.

"I know. Luke told me what that guy said." Lorelai said, sighing. "I'm sorry you have to hear stuff like that. I feel...responsible."

"No, mom, don't be silly!" Juliet exclaimed. "Mom, you've been the best mom to us. Rory and I wouldn't change anything." She saind sincerely.

Lorelai smiled softly at her. "Thanks sweets."

"Jess really was defending me, mom..."

She sighed. "I know. And I do appreciate that. I just...I just want you to be careful with him. He's still getting into fights and I don't like that. That's all."

"Mom..."

"Please, Jules."

"I don't see why but fine." Juliet rolled her eyes. "Hey look, it's Grandma and Grandpa!" She smiled.

"The Joy-less Luck Club." Lorelai joked.

"Hello girls. You look particularly lovely tonight." Richard smiled at them.

"Thanks Grandpa." Juliet smiled.

"Thanks Dad. You guys look nice yourselves."

"Seems like the occasion called for it." Emily said.

"The air seems crisper here than Hartford. It's wonderful." Richard enthused.

"Hey Dad, you didn't grab the wrong prescription bottle earlier today, did you?" Lorelai joked.

"What?" He said confused.

"Nothing." Juliet said quickly.

"I think she was making one of her funny jokes." Emily told him.

"Oh. Went straight over my head." He said.

"Let me get someone to help you with your bags." Lorelai said.

"No, no, I've got them. Just point me to the room." Richard smiled.

"You guys are in room 31, best room in the place." Juliet smiled at them.

"Oh, anything's fine. I'll...uh...see you in a bit." He said walking off.

"What's got into him?" Lorelai asked her mother.

"Yeah, he was so..uh..different at dinner." Juliet said.

"I know. He's been that way for two days. I have no idea why but I'm taking the credit." Emily said happily before following Richard.

"Urghh, the hostess' job is never done." Lorelai groaned as Bootsy walked in.

"You're on your own with him." Juliet smirked, racing off in the opposite direction.

Juliet smiled as she saw Rory go out with Paris to take one of the horse drawn sleighs that their mom had surprised everyone with. She was glad that Rory had invited Paris to stay. It was nice to see them reluctantly becoming friends. She stifled a laugh as she watched her mom drag Luke out to get a sleigh as well. She then saw Jess sitting on the back of one of the couches. "You not going to go?" She smirked.

"Think I'll wait for the clog dancing." He said dryly.

"Suit yourself." She shrugged. "But I'll be damned if I miss a ride in a horse drawn sleigh! I'll just have to go all by myself even thought that's technically against the rules." She smirked as she walked away from him, glancing back at him and grinning before she went outside.

A few minutes later, Rory and Paris were riding through the town. "This is so cool. I'm glad you decided to stay." Rory smiled at Paris.

Paris glanced at her. "Well, me too. Thanks for inviting me." She gave her a small smile.

Rory looked around at her town for a moment before she looked back at Paris. "Can I ask you something?" She asked hesitantly.

"Is this about Tristan?" Paris said.

"What...how did you..."

Paris smiled slightly. "It's kind of obvious. Ever since the Romeo and Juliet play, he's changed. And so have you."

"What do you mean?" Rory said confused.

"Well you used to get all annoyed at him bothering you all the time. But now...you seem happy when he comes up to you." She shrugged.

Rory bit her lip slightly and looked at her. "Does that bother you? I mean, would it bother you if something..." She said but stopped.

"If you something happened between the two of you?" Paris raised he eyebrows.

"Look, it's fine. Nothing's going to happen. I'll just tell him I can't." She said quickly.

"Wait, what?" Paris said surprised.

"I mean, if it would upset you..." Rory said cautiously.

"You wouldn't go out with him if it upset me?" She said surprised.

"Well...no. Friends before boys." Rory said.

"We're...friends?" Paris said quietly.

"I don't know what we are really but I feel like we're in some kind of the friend...zone?"

Paris smiled slightly. "Noone's ever called me their friend before."

"Oh come on, stop it. You have Madeline and Louise." Rory said.

"They tolerate me. Different thing."

"Paris..."

"Rory, it's fine. If you want to go out with Tristan, don't let me stop you." She said quietly.

"Really?" Rory said surprised.

"He's never going to like me like he likes you." Paris shrugged.

"Paris..."

"Rory, it's fine." She said. "Honestly. I actually think you would be good for him."

"Really?"

"Well you did stop him from doing that stupid prank with Duncan and Bowman." Paris said.

"Oh no, that was all Juliet." Rory said.

"Yeah but he did it for you as well."

Rory sighed and glanced over at her. "You really would be ok with it?"

"Yes already! Geez, just stop asking me or I might change my mind." Paris exclaimed.

Rory smirked slightly. "Ok, sorry." She said. She smiled softly at her. "Thanks Paris."

Paris rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever." She said.

Meanwhile, a bit further behind Rory and Paris, Juliet was sat in her sleigh by herself. Suddenly, Jess came and jumped into it and sat next to her.

"Jess!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Well, I heard you were breaking the rules riding alone. I couldn't let that happen." He smirked.

"You could've hurt yourself." She rolled her eyes.

"I live on the edge. I can jump out if you want." He said.

Juliet smirked. "Nah I think I can put up with you for one ride."

"I'm honoured." He said dryly.

"Thought this wasn't your thing." Juliet said.

"It isn't." He said. "But I couldn't let you go out in the dark by yourself."

"Oh so now you're a gentleman huh?"

"Maybe."

Juliet laughed. "Right...after all that fighting first right?" She joked.

"Of course." Jess smirked.

"Thanks again by the way." Juliet glanced at him.

"It's fine."

"You didn't have to do that."

"Chuck was being a jerk. I don't care him being a jerk to me. But you don't deserve it." Jess shrugged.

Juliet glanced at him and smiled. "You know, you're a lot more like your uncle than you think."

"Whatever." He rolled his eyes.

"If you don't like it here, why don't you just go home?" Juliet said.

"What?"

"I mean school's out." She shrugged.

"My mom doesn't want me there."

"Luke told you she said that?" Juliet frowned.

"No. Luke told me it was his idea for me to stay here for the holidays. It wasn't his idea." Jess said.

"I'm sorry." Juliet said quietly.

Jess shrugged. "That's good by the way."

"What?"

"Your snowman. Snowwoman, actually." He said.

"You know which one is ours?"

"It definitely has the most personality. Kind of looks like Bjork."

"That's what we were going for." Juliet grinned.

"Yeah?"

"But everyone thinks the one on the end is going to be the winner." She said.

"Really? It's so overdone." He said.

"We agree." She grinned.

"You should win."

"Oh no argument!"

"I'm glad they made up." Rory smiled as they watched their grandparents walk off together a lot happier than the previous evening when their Grandpa had admitted he had retired.

"Me too." Juliet smiled.

"Urghh ok, let's go home." Lorelai exclaimed coming up to them and putting her arms round their shoulders.

"Are we coming to get our bags later?" Rory asked.

"Why?" Lorelai frowned.

"Because we're walking home. We don't want to carry them." Juliet said.

"Who says we're walking?" Lorelai grinned.

A few minutes later, they were riding through Stars Hollow towards home in a horse-drawn sleigh.

"This is the only way to ride." Juliet grinned.

"I wholeheartedly agree." Rory nodded.

"Whoa, what happened there?" Lorelai said, seeing that the elaborate overdone snowman had been smashed.

"I have no idea." Rory said surprised.

"Bad news for ringer guy. But guess who wins by default?" Lorelai grinned.

"I guess that would be us." Rory grinned. She glanced over at her sister who had a small smile on her face. "Hey, you know anything about that?" She whispered.

"I plead the fifth." Juliet said innocently.

"Uh huh." Rory smirked.

Juliet smirked and glanced up at the diner apartment where she spotted Jess in the window. She saw him give her a mock salute and then disappeared from sight. She smiled to herself before focusing back to her sister and mom's conversation.

So I hope you liked it! I have so many more ideas for this so I really hope you enjoy reading it and keep with me. I would love to hear what you think so please let me know if you want to. I would really appreciate it. Thank you again for all your support! It means so much to me. :)