Author's Notes: Okay, I know that it's been ages since I've written anything, but I just wasn't in the mood. Plus, I started writing another story which, being perfectly honest, got more suitable praise. Yes, I'm a narcissist – who isn't? Anyways, here's for your undeserved loyalty...

Chapter 33

Jess was proud of the fact that he didn't need to hyperventilate before entering the Gilmore Threshold. Of course, he was saving that part for after – it was a given that he would.

"Are you nervous about something?" Rory asked from inside her room as she saw Jess stand underneath her door frame.

"What, no."

Rory laughed. "You'd think people would stop underestimating the Yale Educated a long time ago..."

"I stopped underestimating you the minute I discovered the book Howl and Other Poems on your shelf," he said sweetly with a crooked smile making Rory blush. He watched as she turned away and picked up her jacket and purse.

"But seriously, why are you so nervous?"

"I'm not." Jess lied, quickly and with a blank expression. Rory just stared, and he rolled his eyes. "Hey – the only three people in the world who scare me are Luke and your mother – when I'm dating you."

Rory frowned. "Who's the third?"

"Mrs Kim," Jess said flat out serious. Rory laughed. His eyes widened, "I'm not kidding! That woman is terrifying – I mean have you seen her eyes?"

"Come on," Rory giggled, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the front door.

"Have you? Honestly, I didn't think expressions could freeze like that, until I met her..."

Rory stopped for a moment and faced him, one hand on the door knob and the other in his. "Did you know there's a myth that says Mrs Kim can hear any insult about her within a fifty mile radius."

Jess looked at her bluntly. "Cute joke."

Rory's amused slight smile widened into a mischievous grin. "Who says I'm kidding?"

Jess's eyes narrowed, but instead Rory whipped her head around and walked swiftly out the opened door. He grinned as he watched her skip down the stairs, and as he began to follow her, he heard Lorelai's voice trail from up the stairs. He didn't know why, but something made him want to listen.

"...I know I haven't paid Tom's guys yet, Larry, it's just that...Ugh," she growled as she looked down at the phone. Apparently Larry had hung up on her. "...It's just that I'm poor and bankrupt and seriously considering the final scene in Dead Poets' Society as a valid living consideration," Lorelai moaned to herself.

Jess stared down at his shoes in discomfort.

"Jess? You coming?" Rory called out from inside Jess's car. He nodded to her, but before he closed the door behind him, he stared back into the house where he knew Lorelai was. And he felt something... Empathy? Regardless, it was an emotion Jess was neither used to, nor had the desire to feel again.

Much like the Grinch, Jess's heart was growing. And it sucked.