A/N: Can't put my mind into studying. So here it is.

Chapter 18: Will you be my valentine?

January 6th 1993 4:30 am

The horrendous sound from Luke's alarm clock woke the deep sleeper. Luke slowly opened his eyes and turned to his side. He found that he was sleeping on the very edge of his bed as the saliva drooling boy was still asleep in a starfish position. The blanket was on the floor instead of the bed as Jess kicked it out when he felt it was too warm in the middle of the night. Luke had a thin smile on his face, he shook his head when he thought about how much this little monster had changed his life upside down. He quietly got up, placed back the blanket over Jess's body and lumbered to the bathroom.

' I'm scared, Uncle Luke.' Jess walked into the bathroom, still rubbing his eyes.

'Jeez!' Luke jumped, he did not hear Jess opened the door and walked in, all he heard was a sudden voice behind him. 'Jess, you almost gave me a heart attack! What did I tell you about knocking?'

'but this is important.' Jess pointed out, still standing behind Luke.

' Ok as long as it's not the place is on fire or you're dying, it can wait for a minute.' Luke sighed, he was standing in front of the toilet bowl. 'I need some privacy here, sit on the bed and I'll be done real quick okay?'

Jess pleaded, 'but this is important! Just think that we're at the washroom in the mall where you can pee AND talk.'

'No, Jess. I don't want to imagine that we are in the mall.' Luke declared.

'but!'

'Ok, Jess sit down on the bed and talk loudly, I will reply you from here.' Luke cut Jess off.

'okay.' Jess walked out and started to talk about his worry. Luke took a huge breathe, finally he didn't have to hold it back anymore. ' What if I go to school today and apologize and Rory doesn't care! What if she's not like most other girls when she says go away, she actually means go away!'

Luke was done with his business and walked out, ' Well of course, if you just go up to her and say you're sorry that's not gonna work! You need to do something, an action to show that you are truly sorry.'

'Like what?' Jess wondered.

Luke was changing into his red flannel shirt and jeans while trying to suggest something to Jess, ' um.. like write her an apology card with flowers or something..'

'We don't have any flowers though.' Jess replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, throwing Speedy up and down.

Luke was now walking to the bathroom to comb his hair before putting on his backward baseball cap. ' Then you'll have to use those money I gave you for helping out at the diner to buy her some.'

'But I saved it all up for the whole month to buy a new book!' Jess exclaimed.

'Well too bad! You did something wrong and now its time for you to own up and take actions if you really love Rory. Which reminds me as well, you owe Dean a big apology too.' Luke finally done with all his wake up routine, and sat next to Jess.

Jess sighed, and hung his head low, he was getting really stressed and worried about it but he knew this is the only thing he can do and he understood that he really messed it up big time, 'I know.'

Luke grabbed Jess's grey beanie from the table and put it on Jess's wake up hair, 'here, you don't have to change, put on your coat and bring your money. We'll get the flower business done right now.'

'It's only 4:45!'

' Gabby's flower shop do their early deliveries on Wednesdays. Come on now, I gotta come back as quick as possible to open up.' Luke grabbed his green army coat and ushered Jess to follow on quickly.

Jan 6th 1993 7:45am Luke's diner

Jess was sitting at one of the tables beside the window. Today he combed his hair longer, gelled his hair more and put on his nice light blue dress shirt and dark blue jeans. He wanted to look nice when he hands the flowers he and Luke picked and the letter to Rory. He waited and waited, but there was no sign of Lorelai and Rory today.

Luke walked up to Jess, 'Jess, looks like they're not coming today.' Luke could see it through Jess's eyes that he was a little disappointed. ' You will see her at school, I'm sure. Do you want me to walk you to school?' Luke was trying to make things a little better for Jess.

'No I'm okay.' Jess said quietly looking at the flowers. He spent his whole saving for the month on the bunch of flowers. It was purple, he knew Rory's favourite color was purple so he insisted on buying the only purple flowers in the store even though it costed him a fortune. Jess got up, carried his backpack to his back and held the flowers and letter with his left hand.

Jan 6th 1993 7:50 am Stars Hollow Elementary

Jess walked into his classroom, he looked over but there was no sign of Rory so he sighed and walked over to his desk and dropped his bag and everything on the floor. He laid his head on the desk. It was 10 minutes till the bell ring, all the kids were at the playground and trying to take every minute into account to play. But Jess was in no mood today to play, he only wanted to see Rory and tell her how sorry he was.

'Hey.'

Jess looked up and saw a bandaged up Dean. He took a deep breathe, he was a little nervous. 'I'm sorry I hit you yesterday, that was wrong.' Jess remembered how Luke apologized to him last night, and he used the same sentence.

Dean dropped his bag and sat next to Jess, 'It's okay, I'm sorry too. I just kept on forcing you to play the games that I like, I never asked you what you wanna do.'

Jess opened his backpack and took out something, ' I want to give you this.' Jess gave Dean a tiny nervous smile. It was a Frank Thomas Rookie Card.

'Woah! I've been trying so hard to get this card! But I just keep getting crappy luck.' Dean replied with excitement, he was surprised.

' You're from Chicago, I know you would want it.' Jess smirked, ' Johnny and Sean had been wanting to trade this with me with some real good Yankees rookie cards but screw them, you can have it.'

'For real?!' Dean asked, still excited.

'For real. Uncle Luke said, if you want someone to forgive you, you can't just say sorry. You have to prove that you truly are sorry.' Jess replied before he held his right arm out, 'Friends?'

Dean looked at Jess with a closed-mouth smile, he also put his right hand out and shook Jess's hand, 'always friends.'

There was a little pause between the two little boys, before Dean chipped in, pointing at the flowers, 'Those for Rory?'

Jess nodded with a half bittersweet smile, ' It's no use anyway, I think she hates me for real this time.'

'No way jose, I know she likes you a lot.' Dean assured him.

Jess frowned, Dean had just been here for a day and he was sure that Rory likes him, ' how do you know?'

'because yesterday before I went and played football with you guys, I heard Rory and Lane talking about you.' Dean noted.

'What do you mean?' Jess asked still puzzled.

'Lane asked Rory what kind of chocolate is she going to buy and who will she give it to for Valentine's Day. And Rory said it extra quietly, but I heard it, she said you.'

Jess felt a little happier on the inside but then he remembered that was before punching Dean, he looked back down on to his own feet, ' but that was before I went crazy and punch you and shouted at her.'

' She will forgive you when she sees the flowers.' Dean confidently assured his friend. ' My mom always does! When my dad buys her flowers, she gets happy and forgive my dad and they even kiss, on the lips! It was disgusting!'

Both boys burst out into laughter, when the 'kissing on the lips' came up. After all, they were still eight.

January 6th 1993 3pm

'Hey Jess, you wanna come over, my dad fixed the bike, we can all bike to the bridge and smash the ice on top of the river!' Connor asked, while the kids were all packing up their stuff ready to flee out of school.

' Jess needs to go see his poor little girlfriend and kiss her, muah! muah! muah! ' Johnny teased. The boys all laughed and mocked Jess. Jess just rolled his eyes and ignored them. He had no time for a come back, he had important things to do today.

' Guys, quit it, it's not funny.' Dean warned the other kids.

Johnny scoffed, ' We were just kidding!'

'Why so protective Dean! Do you love Jess? Ooooo Everybody! Dean loves Jess!' another mouthy small kid joined in.

Dean got annoyed, he stepped up and grunted at the short little kid, ' Shut up!'

Jess pushed Dean back, ' Dean it's okay, don't let Bryan get to you, he just loves joking around.'

After the little quarrel, Jess ran out of school and ran to Lorelai's house still holding the flowers in his hand. Jess went and asked his teacher during recess why wasn't Rory at school today and she told him her mother called the school this morning that she was sick.

'Rory!' Jess ran and barged into Lorelai's house from the kitchen door. Only Luke and Jess knew that door was never locked. Jess went straight into Rory's room to find Lorelai and Luke were in there as well while Rory was sitting up on bed and Lorelai was feeding her. Jess dropped everything down and went up to her.

He looked sincerely worried about his friend, 'are you okay?'

Rory looked at her mother as if she wanted help from her mother. Lorelai gave in and sighed, 'Jess I'm so sorry, but I think Rory is too sick to answer you right now. She doesn't really want to talk to anyone right now.'

Jess pleaded, 'Rory I'm sorry, okay? Talk to me! I already said sorry to Dean, we're friends again now! We played football together at recess! Please?'

Rory didn't say anything, but a few tear drops rolled down her face, Luke immediately interrupted, 'Jess, let's go, we will talk to Rory another time, okay? She's really not feeling well.'

Jess didn't want to leave, he kept pushing off Luke so Luke carried Jess out of the house and drove back to the diner.

' What are you doing Uncle Luke! I wasn't done!' Jess complained, ' You said I should owe up my mistake and make it up! I was there trying to!'

'I know you were, but Rory was really sick, she didn't want to talk.' Luke tried to explain.

'What do you mean she doesn't want to talk! You were there! She must have wanted to talk to you for you to be there!' Jess continued.

' I was there cause Lorelai said Rory couldn't eat anything but mashed potatoes, so I made a big pot and sent it to her house.'

Jess took a deep breathe and calmed down a little, he didn't know what to ask anymore.

Luke chipped in, trying to change the topic, ' Hey, I told Caesar to close up tonight. We could go to Buddy's for dinner, I know you love his food.'

' I love Rory.' Jess mumbled with his arms crossed around his chest, he was utterly upset, he couldn't even talk to Rory, how could he possibly try to mend it back.

Luke stopped the truck in front of his diner before he sighed and spoke, ' Look, Jess. Rory doesn't want to talk right now and you have to respect her choice. It's like yesterday, you didn't want to eat, you didn't want to tell me what was going on, you just kept yourself in your room. But eventually, you came up to me, and we talked, right?'

Jess nodded, before Luke continued, 'well, it's the same for Rory, she just need some time.'

'But why?'

Luke knew the reason, but was not sure if he should tell the boy, Jess pushed him further, 'why, Uncle Luke?'

Luke couldn't help it, ' She couldn't sleep last night, she cried the whole night because of what happened. She's a little mad at you for punching Dean but at the same time she also feel awful that she shouted 'go away' to you rudely.'

'What?!' Jess was shocked, ' Why would she? It was all my fault!'

'There's more,' Luke sighed, ' her daddy got into a really serious accident on his motorcycle, late last night.'

Jess instantly turned his worried face and looked at Luke, hoping the next word wasn't her daddy was dead. Because of all the people, he knew exactly what it felt like when a person you love so much, is gone.

Luke forced himself to continue, ' her daddy didn't make it.'

Jess took a long pause before he calmly replied, ' We have to go back. I have to help Rory.'

'Jess...' Luke sighed.

'Come on Uncle Luke! I know how to help Rory! I really know!'

'Jess I'm sorry but we have to be patient ok? Give Rory some time, you understand that! You understand that more than anyone else!' Luke pleaded.

Jess did understood what his Uncle meant, he just felt really bad because he was the reason to start all this, but more than that, he was also very clear about the feeling of not having a daddy anymore. He stared down at his shoes again and muttered, 'Why do all daddies just take off and leave their babies?'

Luke didn't reply and just wrapped Jess around his arms, as if to tell him, everything is going to be okay...

January 6th 1993 9pm

Rory just woke up from sleeping, she switched on her night light and saw a bunch of purple flowers and an envelope on her desk. She got up and opened the envelope.

Dear Rory,

I am sorry I upset you yesterday. I shouldn't have punched Dean, I shouldn't shout at you. I did everything wrong. But can you give me a chance to make it up to you? It's only been less than 10 hours and I miss you already. I miss a lot of things we do together. I really miss it when you read the lines of the story out loud, your voice is so soft and beautiful. I really cannot stop thinking about you because I love you. Please don't be angry at me anymore?

Love,

Jess, the boy who sits here forever until you forgive him.

January 13th 1993 4pm

It had been a week since Jess saw Rory. He still see Lorelai from time to time at the diner when Lorelai tried to squeeze some time to spend with Luke. But Lorelai helped Rory took a week off from school. The news hit Rory really hard. Although she rarely saw her father, she always knew her father was somewhere in this world. Somewhere sleeping like her, eating like her and watching TV like her. She always knew her dad existed and was out there. But this was different, her daddy was really gone. Forever.

Jess was upstairs in the apartment, he picked up the phone and decided to call Rory. He knew Rory and Lorelai just came back from Boston to Christopher's funeral yesterday, so he immediately call, it's been 3 days since he tried calling and asked Lorelai whether Rory was ready to talk again.

' Hello?'

' Hi, Lorelai, this is Jess.' Jess replied politely.

'Hey Jess! How are you?' Lorelai asked , knowing the boy was calling again to check if Rory was up to talking again.

' I'm okay. Is Rory ready to talk today?' he asked with a little hope in his voice.

' You know Jess, she's getting better, but she still can't talk yet... I'm so so sorry.' Lorelai apologized.

Jess took a long paused, he was tired, he waited for a long whole week, he never gave up, he gave Rory time like Uncle Luke told him. But he was getting impatient. ' This is it right? Rory doesn't want to talk to me forever right?'

'No, Jess, it's not like that, honey. Remember how we thought Luke died? Remember that feeling? This is exactly what Rory is feeling right now. Jess, I know it's been a week, but just a little bit more, Rory will get way better soon. I promise.' Lorelai comforted, she knew what Jess was feeling, a week to a child is like a year not spending with his friend.

'Okay.' Jess put down the phone after saying goodbye.

January 14th 1993 4pm

Taylor walked in to Luke's diner dressing like a candy man holding his mega microphone. Luke grunted under his breathe when he saw the man coming in.

'What are you doing here, Taylor!' Luke grunted as he walked up to Taylor.

' I'm trying to announce a town's event!' Taylor said proudly.

' Go somewhere else and announce it! This is my diner! Luke's diner! You are not allowed to step foot into my property to announce dumb town's event!' Luke growled, which caught everyone's attention including Jess who was sitting by the counter, doing his math homework.

Taylor ignored Luke's rant and patted him by the shoulder, ' Don't worry Luke, it won't be long.' Luke rolled his eyes and stomped back behind the counter before Taylor continued, ' I am very happy to announce that the 8th Stars Hollow Dance Marathon will be this Saturday 8am, all potential contestants can sign up at Miss Patty's Dance studio! Remember, this is for raising money for our Stars Hollow Bridge!'

'You done, Taylor?' Luke grumbled.

'Yes I'm done Luke.' Taylor smiled.

'Great! Have yourself a big fat happy sunshine day and get out of here!' Luke replied sarcastically while forcing Taylor to leave after leaving a pile of brochures on the counter.

Jess picked up one brochure and read it.

To my dearest Stars Hollow citizens!

Are you all ready for the annual Stars Hollow Dance Marathon? Look no further, it's right around the corner! The dance marathon will start on the 19th of January, 8 in the morning! Be there or be square!

Anyone who are interested can sign up at Miss Patty's Dance Studio. All proceeds will be going to the fund for repairing our bridge.

We are also recruiting volunteers for coffee booth, snack booth, dancing judges, musicians and singers!

Hope to see y'all there!

A/N To be continued... didn't want the chapter to be too long, so here's part 1 :) will be writing part 2 after I finish studying *cries. I would love to know what you guys think would happen in part 2 although I do have a pretty clear blue print of where this is going! Let me know! Always love reading reviews, it really gets me going! Thank you for taking time to read this! Till then, stay tuned...

junienmomo: Thank you for your review! Yea I was younger than little Jess when GG was aired in 2000 lol Totally agree, for a guy like Luke, this parenting is just difficult and confusing to him. I'm just glad he at least took a step further and try to help and provide Jess a better life. He really tries hard. Even though sometimes, his methods are debatable. Future creative punishment hmmmm... I'll think of something when Jess gets out of line again. But right now, this kid is on a roll trying so hard, so I won't do that to him anytime soon. Let me know how this chapter is for you!

Anon1: Thank you for your review! Yes they do have a great relationship, and I hope it maintains... So glad you found the video hilarious! Those are just a few of the funny Jess scenes, there's way more. And I assume you're starting GG season 1 now? And thank you, I hope I will be able to focus on studying. I am notorious for leaving the things that I dread of doing to the last minute... so... but hey, here's the new chapter! Let me know what you think!

RhizOneill: Thank you for your review! I know right! Yay! Their bond is very strong...for now. Just kidding! But you never know ;p Let me know what you think of this chapter!

fizco: Thank you for your review! Same here! How can anyone not like Luke! He's awesome! It's either Luke or Jess. They are always my all time favourite character from GG. Yup, I agree that Jess needed to be taught a lesson. But Luke's way was probably not the best for a boy who had been abused by others when he was growing up. So we will see how Luke adapt to that later on, but not now, because things between Jess and Rory need to be solved! Let me know what you think!

Droolia: Thank you for your review! I kinda laughed too hard at your comment 'go alpha', that is exactly the word to describe a father figure who's mad at their kid and used physical punishment to take control. Definitely would change teenage Jess, by, a lot. I think I still got at least 5 chapters in me ( a year interval) and hopefully, hopefully, when ideas pop up my mind, I will definitely try to write a sequel to this story of a later years of these characters. But if I happen to write a teenage Jess, I would still stick to some of his original personality from the show. Let me know how this chapter is for you!