A|N: First time fan fic author! During a depression, I became consumed by Literati fan fiction and it became part of my joy — I even have a spread sheet rating system of my favourites. When I ran out of stories to read, I began to write my own. This story begins during 'Lost & Found' s2 e15 but a slight change in attitude causes the story to develop differently. Rory asked Jess to get along with her mom and asked Lorelai to give Jess a chance — they followed through and it caused a ripple. The butterfly effect Gilmore style. Literati with a bit of Java Junkie. You should recognise canon dialogue but it may not be in the order you're expecting!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls, characters, or any original dialogue from our lovely ASP — this is for fun!

Rated M for swearing, suggestive themes, and sexual content in later chapters.

...

Chapter 1: Apologies, Confessions & Bad Egg Rolls

Soundtrack: How to Disappear Completely by Radiohead 2000 | Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch 2002

Jess had awoken that morning surrounded by boxes in a pile of his clothes with Oliver Twist open on his chest. Liz had shipped the rest of Jess' belongings to Luke's. On the one hand, Jess was comforted to have his books back, but on the other hand, he was annoyed that it meant he was permanently stuck in this half-mile, four-block freak-hole of a medical experiment. Jess knew he shouldn't hold out hope for Liz feeling guilty or missing him, but he also knew that she couldn't keep a promise or stay on the same course for too long. He thought she might invite him back and give him the same tired spiel about trying to be a better mother. His boxes were proof that her invitation would not be extended this time. At one point in his life, this might have hurt Jess. But where it would have hurt him was too far away & too deep inside him to be reached — so he thought.

While Jess was ambivalent about Liz's early spring cleaning, Luke was thoroughly aggravated. Since last night, he had ranted about finding a new apartment to fit them. "I'm having nightmares where I'm being chased by boxes with arms, and they tackle me and throw clothes on top of me and secure it with masking tape, and while I'm lying there, you're standing in the corner laughing, putting gel in your hair!"

"Should I be putting a tongue depressor in your mouth right about now?" Jess guessed that one too many nights watching baseball on his mini television wore Luke's patience threadbare.

"Tomorrow, you and me are finding a bigger place. I want you up and moussed and ready by ten o'clock because we are finding a bigger place to live. Got it?"

"Got it."

This was why Luke & Jess had gone in and out of every apartment available in Stars Hollow that morning. Thankfully after the seventh one, Jess had an excuse to escape the tedium.

Jess had moved so many times growing up that he learned to never be attached to where he was sleeping. He knew that Luke wasn't intentionally trying to do the same thing, but it still grated on him. As much as Jess didn't want to be in this town, he wanted to stay put for once and also why he happily chose to clean the gutters at Lorelai's. Truthfully, getting to hang at Rory's would be payment enough for his work, but he needed the cash.

Jess rapped on the Gilmore's front door and noticed a strange fluttering in his stomach at the prospect of the younger Gilmore girl answering. He tried to reason to himself that it was because he didn't eat enough for breakfast, but he wasn't very convincing. He couldn't keep the smirk off his face when Rory answered, and he immediately tossed her the CD he had tucked away in his back pocket.

"The Shaggs?" Rory questioned. She was relieved Jess had brought a diversion — otherwise her blush would have been far too obvious.

"Trust me," Jess persuaded as he had a flashback to the scene in Rory's room the first night they met when Rory had also insisted on trusting her. He did, but he would never let anyone in that quickly — at least that's what he told himself.

Rory had the same flashback and remembered the flutter in her stomach as an intriguing, hard-edged stranger stood in her bedroom. She had seen herself as innately trustworthy, so it had rocked her perception when Jess had balked. He had unwittingly challenged her then and she saw this moment as a victory. She knew he trusted her now — as she did him. "Okay," she smiled and moved aside to let him in the house.

"So, you're very punctual."

"Yeah, well, it was this or continue apartment hunting with Luke."

"You're moving?"

"I don't know. Luke flipped out last night, and next thing I know, he's dragging me all over town, banging on pipes and measuring square footage. It's crazy."

"A new place might be nice. More space. You'll have your own room."

As easy as it was to talk to Rory, Jess didn't want to expound on why he didn't want to move, so he quickly changed the subject, "You change your hair?"

Rory was taken aback by Jess' subject change, "What?"

"Your hair looks different."

"So, segue's not your thing, huh?"

"Is it?" Jess knew that his evasive answering-a-question-with-a-question technique was fool-proof for avoiding questions he didn't want to answer. He also knew her hair was the same because he studied her features.

Rory took the bait, "Well, um, no, I wear it like this a lot. Why?"

"Just looks different."

"Oh, bad different?"

Jess smiled at Rory's concern over his approval of her appearance. She was seeing beyond her sasquatch-shaped appendage lately. As he was about to compliment her, he was interrupted by Lorelei's exclamation from the living room, "Hey, ducks!"

The Gilmore girls never needed anyone else to understand their inner workings, but Rory offered Jess an explanation for this particular randomness, "We just got a new alarm clock."

"Huh. Bet I know what the lead story in the Stars Hollow Gazette's gonna be tomorrow."

"Hey, did you hear the ducks 'cause they're great?" Lorelai stepped into the foyer and strained to keep her smile, "Oh Jess, you're here… terrific."

Without a response from Jess, who had become taciturn once again, or her mom, who didn't want Jess to be there in the first place, Rory broke the silence and nudged her mom to be hospitable, "So, um… would you like to come in?"

Lorelai thought back to the conversation she and Rory had had earlier about making an effort and giving Jess another chance. Even though Rory said it was for Luke's sake, Lorelai saw a twinkle in Rory's eye that she was not only familiar with but more so worried about, but Lorelai had promised to make an effort. "Oh, yeah, come on in. Sorry, it's just... so excited about the ducks that, uh..." She struggled with a gesture that would show her willingness to try, "Do you want something to drink?" She walked toward the kitchen mainly to escape the tension building in the foyer, "You have good timing 'cause we shopped yesterday, and in addition to a case of Maybelline Fresh Lash Mascara, I also bought some of that new, uh, freaky Coke with the lemon in it. It's very addictive."

Jess followed behind them but kept his distance. "You can sit, you know." Rory offered.

"No thanks."

"So, Jess, what's new?" Lorelai tried to play the part of an interested friend.

"Not much."

Rory knew Jess wouldn't offer anything if he didn't have to, so she tried to keep the conversation going for him. "Jess and Luke are looking for an apartment."

Lorelai was pleasantly surprised that Luke listened to her suggestion and didn't have to play the part with as much effort when she asked, "Oh, you guys see anything good yet?" while handing Jess a soda.

If Jess didn't discuss this with Rory, he definitely wouldn't discuss it with Lorelai. So his simple response was a curt "Nope."

"Well, you know, there's some really cool places over on Peach. Or on Plum. Hm, Orange. Basically, any of your fruit-named streets are pretty nice." Lorelai was drowning in Jess' reticence and turned toward Rory for a lifeline. "Okay, well, I guess you should get started. Um, there's a ladder right out front and some buckets and gloves and stuff on the porch. You need anything else, just walk against the wind."

Miffed but resolved to talk to Jess about his lack of effort, Rory ushered Jess out the door, "Come on, I'll show you."

Rory looked back at Lorelai as she goaded, "I'm trying."

Rory goaded right back, "Well, keep it up," before walking out to find Jess. She hurried across the porch, fed up that Jess was thwarting her plans for everyone to get along. "Question."

"Yes?"

"You come over. You seem to have a very firm grasp of the English language. You put together several full sentences, even using a couple of words that contain two or more syllables. Then my mother appears, and suddenly we need a VH1 Pop-Up Video bubble over your head to understand what you're thinking. Can you tell me why that is?"

"The verbal thing comes and goes."

"I would really appreciate it if you would try to get along with my mom."

"I took the Coke."

She wanted to credit him for that small gesture, "I know."

"Personally, I think it's a little crazy to put lemon in Coke, but I took it anyhow."

Rory wondered if Jess could make an effort, but ultimately, she knew he was just being stubborn, "Stop it."

"Ooh, stern face."

Rory knew Jess derived pleasure from teasing her, but she wouldn't back down. She followed him into the yard, "Look, I went out on a limb for you trying to get my mom to give you the benefit of the doubt, okay? So I don't think it would hurt you to try to be nice."

Jess realized that Rory had just admitted that she had talked to her mom about him. Was he a worthy enough subject to not only incite a mother-daughter conversation but a daughter trying to convince her mother to give him the benefit of the doubt? Jess became curious about her intentions. "Why?"

"Why?…" Rory hesitated, not having formulated in her own mind yet the reasoning behind her grand everyone-should-get-along plan. She had told Lorelai it was for Luke, but Jess wouldn't play nice with Lorelai just for Luke.

Jess reiterated, "Yeah, why?"

The Luke explanation was all she had, so she gave it a try, "Because she's my mom and she's a friend of Luke's."

"So?"

"What do you mean, so?" Rory was getting frustrated with her lack of quick-witted retort. Did she not have a good reason, or was she just unable to admit the reason to herself yet?

"So, just because she's your mom or Luke's friend doesn't mean that I automatically have to get along with her."

At Jess' slight against Lorelai, Rory impulsively countered, "Jess, my mother is a great person. She's also my best friend in the world, so if you care about me at all, you will take that into consideration, and you will be mildly polite to her." She had heard the words fall out of her mouth and was startled by their connotation. She was hoping Jess didn't pick up on it. But he had.

"What makes you think I care about you?" He grinned at her with his head tilted.

Rory flushed at Jess' question and flustered as she tried to correct herself, "I don't mean care care, like care." Why are you talking about him caring for you, Rory?! "I mean, if you like me at all. . . not like like." God, Rory, could you make it worse?! He's giggling at you. Fix this! "I just meant that if... if you think of me remotely as the sort of person that you could, occasionally, stand to talk to, then you will try to get along with my mom, that's all." Rory internally slapped her forehead and thought, Nice save, Gilmore, geez.

Jess knew his answer the first time she said, "if you care." He didn't want to care — but he did. He was afraid this girl would anchor him to this Thomas Kincaid town. He had far more life experience than most other seventeen-year-olds. In those few years, only one person made him feel like they could see the cracks in the hard shell he had formed. It was disconcerting but addictive. That's why he kept stepping further into her world. He cared for her. You have a stupid way of showing it. Stop yanking her around, Mariano. "Okay."

"Okay?" Rory asked, incredulous that her chaotic arguments had convinced him.

"I can't guarantee that it'll work, but I'll try."He surprised himself with his promise because he had never tried for anyone. The warring parts of his brain fought: Tossing the anchor overboard, Captain! Shut up, you idiot.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Jess conceded. Rory was still staring at him, amazed that he would agree. Her arguments were jumbled and incoherent at best, but the main point was made. Jess cared for Rory, and for that reason, he would make an effort with Lorelai. The first step would be completing this task, so he reminded Rory, "I should probably get to work."

"Right." Rory snapped out of her daze and left Jess to work. "Sorry, go ahead."

Jess bent down to prepare his tools for the job smiling and, not that he would ever admit it, giddy at Rory's unexpected confession. A new apartment would be alright. Maybe I'll have my own room — that would have its benefits. Too soon, Mariano. Shut up, you idiot. Jess maintained his daydreaming as he ascended the ladder to start his efforts.

Lorelai pulled him out of this daydream when she called up to him a while later. He was worried that he had been banging too loud on the roof and had annoyed her. Luckily, she wasn't mad. Instead, she was inviting him to eat. He quickly gave her a "No, thanks," but after remembering Rory's request, he reconsidered, "Chinese sounds great."

As Jess walked into the kitchen, Lorelai began explaining the contents of the takeout containers, which consisted of the entire chicken column of the menu. "So, um, basically everything here is chicken. You've got garlic chicken, Kung Pao chicken, Szechuan Chicken, chicken in brown sauce, which looks and tastes remarkably like the Szechuan Chicken except it's got these red peppers in it, and if you eat them, you die. Plate?"

"I thought I'd, uh. . . "Jess raised his hands covered in gutter gunk.

"Oh, soap's on the counter."

"So, when was the last time you had those gutters cleaned?" Jess asked as he washed his hands.

"It's been a while."

"Yeah, I found an 'I like Ike' bumper sticker up there."

"Is it really bad?"

"Well, it won't be by tomorrow."

"I like hearing that."

Jess realized that most containers lacked greenery and mentioned, "So you guys aren't too hot on vegetables, huh?"

"What are you talking about? There's green pepper in the Kung Pao."

"My mistake."

"So, are you a healthy eater like Luke?"

"No. No one's a healthy eater like Luke. Yule Gibbons wasn't a healthy eater like Luke."

Genuinely impressed at anyone else having a Gilmore-level obscure reference, Lorelai praised Jess, "Wow, it's been ages since I've heard a good Yule Gibbons reference. "

"Many parts of a pine tree are edible."

"That's right. God, I wonder what the research process was like to get that information."

"I'd say fairly painful."

Lorelai chuckled and took Jess' plate to heat in the microwave, "So, how's school?"

School was the last thing Jess wanted to talk about, but Jess felt like he was pretty effortlessly getting through this conversation, so he just offered, "It's still there."

"You on any teams or anything?"

"No," Jess scoffed at being a part of any group activity, "No."

"Not a jersey guy?"

"No, definitely not a jersey guy. Though the thought of throwing a ball at some jock's head isn't entirely unappealing." Jess was suddenly aware that he hadn't talked to anyone besides Rory for any length since he had been in this town, "Look, I'm not really good at this small talk thing."

"You're doing okay. Cold egg roll?"

"Rory did owe me one. Why not?"

Lorelai looked confused by his statement. Jess took a large bite and immediately regretted it.

Lorelai asked, "Bad?"

"Oh yeah," Jess mumbled as he reluctantly chewed. They both smiled at each other, appreciating the moment.

Lorelai felt herself thaw just enough to see something of herself mirrored in Jess. She thought back to their first encounter and how if it had been her teenage self in Jess' situation being lectured by her, she would have said far worse than Jess did, purely to provoke a reaction. Lorelai recognized then that Jess hadn't done anything she hadn't already done by that age and for far less valid reasons. Before she could help herself, she offered an olive branch. "You know, I tried talking to Luke when he told me you were coming here." Jess didn't look up but kept chewing as quietly as he could; he didn't want to miss wherever this was going. "I told him that he should have talked to you. Even though you didn't have a choice. It had to suck just being shipped off to another state. So you were probably full of ragey teenage feelings, and Luke is not the greatest communicator. Don't get me wrong, he was great for Rory growing up, but he's never been a full-time parent." She was trying desperately to get the right idea across without rattling off the same fruitless lecture she had months before. "That's what I was trying to tell you when we were out on the porch that night. Look, I shouldn't have done the whole advice giving just yet. You didn't know me, and I shouldn't have shoved it down your neck. You reacted as I would have at your age, and I judged you for it. I was irritated and immature when you needed someone to be sympathetic. I hate when I'm an idiot and don't know it. I like to be aware of my idiocy, to really revel in it, take pictures. I feel I missed a prime Christmas card opportunity. So, I guess what I'm trying to say in a two-hour High Fidelity John Cusack talking to the camera kinda way is, I'm sorry." She trailed off into silence, then added, "Top Five crappy apologies, and go!" She chuckled and then waited.

Jess could do nothing but sit and absorb all of Lorelei's words and mark time until the taste of lousy egg roll would fade. Luckily, Rory recused him from having to formulate a response by rushing through the front door and yelling, "Mom!"

Lorelai jumped up from the table to help Rory in the foyer. "Here, right here! What?"

Jess stood up to look down the hallway to see if it was something he could help with but as soon as he made out that they were frantically looking for some bracelet that Dean had made, Jess thought it would be better to just return to work and let the girls handle this one on their own. It wasn't until he was halfway up the ladder that the puzzle pieces fell into place. A bracelet Rory lost. A bracelet that Jess had picked up on the bridge the day of the basket auction. They were one and the same. Jess had thought it was just something of Rory's that he could keep with him. He fully expected her to ask him if he had seen it the next day, and he would have handed it over without a fuss. Jess relished every day that he could keep her trinket in his pocket. There was no malice in his actions, just a misguided attempt at whatever connection he could have to her. He made his way back down the ladder and thought about how to fix the situation. Moreover, the weight of his mistake settled on him as he saw Lorelai rush out of the front door and scour the car for the bracelet.

Jess knew that he couldn't let this go on. He could say that he found it on the ground in the yard. He could drop the bracelet somewhere they had yet to look. Or he could tell the truth about when & where she lost it and where it's been since then — to Jess, this was the craziest solution. He didn't particularly feel like giving up that much information today but remembering Lorelai's apology & Rory's earlier confession, he decided that the least he could do would be to reciprocate and give Rory a glimpse into those cracks she seemed adept at finding.

Jess padded across the porch toward the front door. He hoped Lorelai would stay occupied in the car because he wanted to talk to Rory alone. After he slipped into the house and reached the hallway, Rory barrelled into him. He steadied her by the shoulders until they both realized he was touching her. Instead of pulling back, Jess relished feeling her, even if for a few seconds. He lessened the pressure and let his fingertips graze down her arms to her elbows.

Rory thought she was frozen but felt a fire burning her face and down through her arms where Jess' fingers lay. He heard her softly inhale and knew that he had thrown her off balance. He had also, unexpectedly, thrown himself off balance. Jess croaked sarcastically, "You look good."

She returned to reality and rolled her eyes, "I'm fine."

"Talk."

"I lost my bracelet. Dean gave it to me."

"How thoughtful." Jess was snide at the mention of Dean's name.

"I can't find it anywhere, and I have no idea what I'm going to do, so I don't have time for this."

"It's really that big a deal?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I know it's got an 'I've been pinned' Bye, Bye, Birdie' kind of implication to it, but it was just a bracelet." He wanted Rory to gauge how much she loved it. Decidedly, he thought, I'm not keeping this stupid thing now I know the Bag Boy had made it.

"I don't think Dean will see it that way."

"You didn't lose it on purpose."

"I know, but things have been a little weird between us lately and…" Rory knew that Jess was the last person she should discuss her relationship problems with, "…you couldn't care less."

"Oh, yes, I could." He knew that this was another little white lie he told Rory. He could only care less if she talked about how great her relationship was, but thankfully, she alluded to it not being all sunshine & rainbows in Deantown.

"I just think Dean will read something into this."

If he were to tell Rory the truth, there is no way she would be able to recount it to Dean. If she couldn't bring herself to say to him that she just misplaced the bracelet, she would definitely have to lie to him about Jess having kept it for two weeks. But that seemed to be the problem Jess couldn't care less about. "Should he?"

Rory looked at Jess and hastily answered, "No."

Jess considered that if Rory could see into him, he could see into her. When he studied her face, he saw past her little white lie and received the assurance he needed. He nodded and looked to his pocket to pull out the object at the centre of the drama.

Rory studied the piece of limp, worn leather and dull hammered medallion in Jess' outstretched palm. She knew she should celebrate for sentiment and relief, but the confusion about Jess having the bracelet delayed her response.

Jess thought it best to explain before she constructed scenarios in her head and before he became preternaturally evasive. "The day we went on the picnic at the bridge for that ridiculous town basket auction, you dropped it. I found it after you got up and…," he shrugged and trailed off momentarily. Rory looked up at him with brightness in her blue eyes as the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Rory's confused brow softened and she nodded in understanding. Her voice fell out softly, "You kept it." Jess kept it because it was hers. She knew it was the same reason she carried her defaced copy of Howl everywhere.

"I mean, I've stolen a lot of things, mainly out of necessity, sometimes out of fun," Jess rambled in defence of his actions, "but I didn't steal this. I would have given it back to you had you brought it up, but you didn't… so I just hung on to it. I didn't know that it was important or Dean's… obviously." He rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean for you to go all Captain Ahab when you realized it was gone."

Jess' shoe-gazing ceased when he glanced up to find Rory smiling smugly at him. He had explained it well enough, and they both understood. He still had the bracelet and dangled it from the tips of his fingers. Jess was sure that Rory would have snatched it at first sight, but he wouldn't escape so easily. Without a word, Rory shoved her jacket sleeve up and held out her wrist.

Jess thought it was strange to tie her boyfriend's bracelet back on her hand, but he would bear it gladly if this was the penance to be paid. He bent slightly, took the ends in either hand and carefully wrapped it around Rory's delicate wrist. He took the time to double-knot it, not for the security but for the extra time it afforded him. He could feel the warmth coming from the small patch of skin he hovered over.

Rory was also grateful for the extra time to study Jess as he was distracted. His hair was like grackle feathers, so black they had an iridescent blue where the light hit. Rory wanted to run her fingers through his soft waves, and she smiled as she felt a kinship with Lane — Rich Bloomenfeld. Rory's eyes traveled down Jess' neck, shoulders, arms, and to his hands. They were a golden Italian olive — what she would imagine Renaissance statues would look like if they were made of flesh instead of marble. They were strong but agile as they deftly manoeuvred the knotting. She imagined how they would feel intertwined with her own.

Jess finished the task and was unable to resist rewarding himself. He adjusted the bracelet and rubbed the pad of his thumb over the inside of her wrist. He felt her pulse pick up and wanted to press his lips against the same place. In your dreams, Mariano.

As their skin made contact, Rory felt the fire build again, this time, somewhere that wasn't familiar. She was so far out of her realm. All she could do was focus on the information she knew how to process. She knew that Jess' actions today were never beyond his capability but were undoubtedly out of his character. And yet he had proven today alone that he would defy his secretive, nonchalant nature — for her. She wanted to praise him for everything, but instead, she simply but reverently thanked him. She stepped back and felt her skin prickle with a chill of absence. Startled by her own body, Rory tried to shake him from where he had taken root inside of her.

Jess understood that Rory's thanks were for more than her bracelet. He nodded, "You're welcome," and slipped quietly out the front door.

...

Unbeknownst to the teenagers, Lorelai had come through the back door after searching the car and checking the side yard. She had been stopped in her tracks by Jess' endearing confession. And she knew from Rory's quiet acceptance of his apology that there would need to be a mother-daughter ice cream night to discuss whatever may be going through Rory's head. She was experienced enough to know that Rory was now internally like the puddle of Alex Mack shaped radioactive goo.

Rory strolled into the kitchen and fiddled with the bracelet. She was adrift in her thoughts until Lorelei startled her, "Ror?"

Rory looked at her mother and showed her the bracelet, "Look, I found it."

Lorelai took stock of her daughter — flushed in the cheeks and more glazed over than one of Luke's donuts. She smiled and excitedly offered, "That's awesome, babe! Where was it?" She thought this would be the test to see if Rory was ready to share. Or, more importantly, if Rory thought Lorelai was prepared to listen.

"Jess found it, but…."

"There's a but?"

"Jess found it two weeks ago. He kept it for two weeks. Dean didn't know it was gone for two weeks." She paused, and her voice lowered, " I didn't know it was gone… for two weeks."

"Hmmm. And what do we think about that?" Lorelai asked in earnest. Before now, she could have given Rory clear direction on what she needed to do. There had even been fights between mom & daughter about Lorelai's clear directions where Jess was concerned. But after today's revelations, she wasn't sure what advice to give.

Rory shrugged and gave her mom a pained expression. "I have to go tell Lane she can stop praying." Lorelai nodded and let Rory stroll out of the house without further questioning. Lorelai turned and peered out the window to watch Jess shoving gutter debris into trash bags and hauling them to the front yard.

She walked outside to catch him. "You leaving?"

"Yeah, all done."

"You weren't gonna come get your money?"

"Ah, I figured I'd get it eventually. It's not like I don't know where you guys live."

"That's true. You certainly do know where we live. Here…" Lorelai had a softness in her voice that Jess didn't know how to interpret, "…you earned it."

"Thanks." He did, however, know that he never responded to Lorelai's apology after Rory's interruption. If today's theme was about apologies & confessions, then he might as well roll with it, "And I…," but Lorelai interrupted.

"You know, I honestly would have pegged you to get all dressed in black and pull a Mission Impossible to return that bracelet," Lorelai wasn't going to say anything about it to Jess, but she couldn't resist the urge to praise good behaviour.

Jess froze. Damn, Rory really does tell her mom everything. "It did cross my mind, but I would have come down the chimney and pulled a Santa Claus."

Lorelai nodded and chuckled. He's quick, this boy. "Sorry, were you going to say something before?"

"Yeah, I uh…," spit it out Mariano, "I'm sorry about being a jerk that night for what it's worth."

Lorelai was stunned. This is what Rory was talking about. I didn't know him, and I judged him. Oh god, I was acting like my mother. Lorelai shuddered at her thought and responded, "It's worth a lot. Thanks, Jess. And you know, if you ever need someone to bitch to about your mother, I am an expert in that department. Just stay out of my beer." They both laughed. "Seriously, if you need to talk about anything, I'm here. No, Dr. Laura, I promise."

"You know there is something else I have been meaning to tell you."

"What?" Lorelai was intrigued that Jess would take her up on it so soon.

Jess leaned in, "You should really throw out those other egg rolls." Lorelai smiled in admiration, and Jess smirked as he walked away toward the diner to tell Luke he didn't want to move. After all, it was the day of confessions.