I Love Loving You
By: Legacy at Heart.
Disclaimer: I own only Kate.
Story Summary: What if Rory had a twin sister? And what if Jess did not fall for Rory but her twin sister? Starts at Season 2 when Jess comes in and jumps around a little after that.
Chapter Summary: The Ins and Outs of Inns- Mia, the owner of the Independence Inn comes back and gives both Jess and Kate advice on the other. Sookie and Lorelai start to plan their own inn.
Chapter 6- Pranks, Fights... and Love?
A few weeks later, Lorelai was sitting in the diner, mulling over the offer Emily gave Rory and Kate the last time they were at dinner a week ago.
"I was thinking that you two could pose for a painting," Emily said.
"Us," Kate asked, pointing to herself and Rory.
"Yes," Emily said.
"Danger, Will Robinson, danger," Lorelai exclaimed.
"An oil portrait of you girls for his study," Emily replied.
"An oil portrait," Kate echoed.
"I tried. Have fun," Lorelai muttered.
"I think that that is a nice idea," Rory said.
"Sign me over to death row, why don't ya," Kate added.
"That's my girl," Lorelai cheered.
Emily glared at her and then Kate relented to being in the painting.
Lorelai sighed and then Kate rushed into the diner. Luke looked at her. Lorelai turned and smiled.
"I need coffee," Kate said.
"Hey, sweets, how's the song coming," Lorelai asked.
"Horrible," Kate groaned.
"You're writing a new song," Luke asked.
"Barely, I have the melody, the tone, but I can't find the words to put into it. And I have less than a week because there is this thing at school in a couple of months and Paris is making me sing," Kate said. "I'm so dead," she muttered, putting her head in her hands.
"Can anyone go to this thing? I haven't heard you sing in a while," Luke asked.
"I'll check," Kate said, smiling.
Then she drowned her coffee as her fingers tapped against the counter as if they were playing on the piano. Lorelai and Luke looked at each other. Jess came down.
"Coffee," he asked Kate who was still tapping her fingers.
"Yes please," Lorelai replied.
"What's with her," Jess asked, pointing to Kate while pouring the coffee.
"Shh," Luke said. "This is a good sign," he added.
Kate's eyes brightened and she jumped up. Jess was shocked but then Kate lost the brightness.
"No inspiration," Lorelai asked, sadly.
"I'm dead," Kate said.
"She's writing a new song," Lorelai said.
"And coffee is my alcohol. Hand it over, Mariano," Kate said.
Jess smirked and then gave her a go to cup. Kate glared at him and then left. Jess made four more cups.
"So how are you, Jess?" Lorelai asked.
"Well, I'm not bleeding or anything," Jess replied.
"Well, then it's gonna be a good day, huh," Lorelai said.
"I guess," Jess said, holding out the tray of to-go cups as Kate stormed back in.
"Mom, I need a new dress," Kate reminded Lorelai.
"Okay, sweets," Lorelai replied.
Kate sighed and then looked at the tray in Jess' hands.
"All for you," Jess said.
"Thank you," Kate replied turning and leaving.
Jess watched her go and smiled. Then Lorelai banged her cup on the counter.
"Puppy eyes later, coffee now," she said.
Luke chuckled and poured her coffee.
"So, you guys have a site in mind for the inn?" Luke asked.
"You're opening an inn," Jess asked.
"Yes," Lorelai replied. "On both accounts," she added.
"Great, where," Luke asked.
"The Rachel property," Lorelai replied, bringing up Luke's ex who came back to town for a while a couple of years ago.
"Oh," Jess and Luke said.
"Sorry," Lorelai said.
"It's okay," Luke said.
"I just meant, Rachel took the pictures, and the pictures kind of got us into the place, so we started calling it the Rachel property 'cause it made sense at the time and then it became a habit. But now out of respect for you, I'm gonna stop repeatedly using her name and uh, think of another name to call it. Let's see, The Crap Shack's taken," Lorelai said.
"It's okay. Call it what you want," Luke said.
"So, who taught you about all this business stuff? Your dad," Jess asked.
"Please, my dad didn't even have a checking account until I finally got taller than he was. He bought this land with cash from working construction, built this place himself. Didn't have a bookkeeper, an accountant, or anything," Luke replied.
"Wow, so you had no one showing you the ropes," Lorelai said.
"Nope, I figured I had to just dive in on my own, fail if that's my destiny, and forget what the experts say," Luke replied.
"That is exactly my philosophy, exactly. Except I'm not diving in on my own, I'm diving in with Sookie, and, uh, failure is not even a choice of destinies, and I'm consulting any expert who will listen to me. Otherwise, it's identical," Lorelai stated.
Jess smirked and Luke rolled his eyes. Lorelai grinned and left.
Later, Lorelai and Sookie were in the Independence Inn's kitchen, talking about what they would call their inn when Michel came in.
"It shouldn't be too flashy," Lorelai said.
"How about something historical, like 'The Paul Revere'?" Sookie asked.
"That could work," Lorelai said.
"What could work?" Michel asked.
"We're thinking up names for the inn we're gonna open," Lorelai said.
"I mean, if you want simple, something like 'The Country Rose'," Sookie said.
"That is really nice," Lorelai said.
"We could line the front path with multicolored roses," Sookie said.
"How about 'the Money Pit'," Michel asked.
"Boo," Lorelai said.
"Or 'The Outhouse', go international," Michel said.
"Go back in your hole," Sookie said.
"You who have no dreams rain on those who do," Lorelai said.
"I say this because I care about you. It's risky what you are doing. Most new businesses go down within two years," Michel said.
"I say if we go down after two years, it'll be the most exciting two years of our lives," Lorelai said.
"Same here, boredom stinks," Sookie said.
"Fine, proceed blindly," Michel said, handing Lorelai some papers. "Here, it came in ten minutes ago. It does not involve the Independence Inn; therefore delivering it was beyond my official obligations, so I am taking an extra long lunch break," he added.
Then he left. Sookie glared at the door.
"He's so genuine," she said.
"Oh my God," Lorelai said looking over the papers.
"What is it," Sookie asked.
"It's the title search for the Rachel property. And guess who owns it," Lorelai said.
"Tell me it's not that bastard Donald Trump," Sookie replied.
"Fran," Lorelai said.
"No way," Sookie gasped.
"I'll call her," Lorelai said.
"Good idea," Sookie said.
Later, Kate and Rory were walking from the bus when they saw a crowd in front of Doose's market. Right there in front of the store was a chalk outline of a body and police tape all around it.
"What happened," Rory said.
"I have no clue," Kate replied.
"Just calm down, Taylor," a cop said.
"I want actions and answers," Taylor said.
Kate and Rory came up to the crowd where Dean was standing in the front.
"What's going on," Rory asked.
"I don't know. I got here and this is what I found. I mean, I told him it looks a like a fake but he didn't believe me," Dean replied.
"And you have such an honest face," Rory said.
"Well, he must not love me as much as you do," Dean said.
"And I'm getting grossed out," Kate piped up, leaving.
As she was leaving, she saw Jess standing away from the crowd, smirking at her. Kate gawked at him and he left.
The next day, Kate and Rory were at the inn helping Lorelai out when Michel came into the kitchen.
"I would advise at least pretending to look busy, the boss is here," he said.
"Mia," Kate and Rory squealed.
"You're kidding! When," Lorelai asked.
"I just spotted her walking in," Michel replied.
"Let's go," Lorelai said.
Rory and Kate nodded and they all went out of the kitchen and into the lobby.
"Mia," Kate and Rory said hugging her.
"Oh my babies, Ooh," Mia said, returning the hug.
"Did we know you were coming?" Rory asked.
"I didn't know I was coming," Mia replied.
Kate smiled and Lorelai raised her eyebrow.
"This isn't a surprise inspection is it," she asked.
"That's exactly what this is. Ready," Mia said. "Oh, you're too thin as always," she went on to the twins.
"But we eat," Kate protested.
"And you're all too beautiful," Mia concluded.
"Yes, that's true. We often feel guilty monopolizing the amount of beauty we're in possession of," Lorelai said.
Mia smiled and the girls looked at their mother, shaking their heads. They all went to Luke's for lunch.
"Look at this place, it's exactly the same," Mia said, looking around the diner.
"I made him paint a few months ago," Lorelai said.
"Good for you," Mia said.
"Mia, hey," Luke said coming over to them.
"Nice to see you Lucas," Mia said, hugging him.
"You're the only person in the world who can call me that, Mia," Luke said.
"I know that," Mia replied.
"I'm saying it for others who plan to try it later," Luke pointed out, looking at Lorelai and Jess who was pouring coffee.
"Whatever you say, Lucas," Jess and Lorelai said.
Luke rolled his eyes and Kate looked at Jess. Jess opened his mouth to speak and then Kate promptly left. Jess sighed and watched her leave.
Later that night, Lorelai, Rory and Mia walked into the town meeting, late.
"Is Kate with you," Taylor asked slightly fearful.
"No, I think she's coming later though," Lorelai replied, confused.
No sooner than she said that, Luke and Kate both walked in. Kate sat in the middle of Rory and Mia and Luke sat next to Lorelai. Taylor paled and Kate raised her eyebrow at him.
"Luke's late," Rory asked.
"Meeting was supposed to start at eight Taylor; it's a minute to eight," Luke said, as he and Kate sat down.
"Oh, you might as well be honest with him Taylor," Patty said looking at Kate slightly sadly.
Kate frowned and then realization dawned on her face.
"You two weren't invited," Taylor blurted.
"Why," Lorelai asked, confused.
"You weren't invited because we are dealing with the Jess situation," Taylor replied.
"The Jess situation," Kate and Luke asked.
"Controversy," Mia whispered.
"You think Jess put that thing in front of your store," Kate asked, standing up, her usually light blue eyes, dark in anger.
"Three people have reported seeing Jess in that area late last night, skulking, lurking," Taylor said.
"I was out too, Taylor. And I'm normally sulking," Kate pointed out.
"There were a lot of people out late last night. I know because I fed some of them. I'll give you their names so you can add them to your suspect list," Luke added.
"Another person witnessed Jess walking out of an arts and crafts store two days ago with what appeared to be chalk," Taylor said.
"You don't know that that all leads up to him doing that crime scene in front of the store," Luke said.
"People want action, Luke," Taylor said.
"No, you want action," Kate snapped.
"Watch your tone," Taylor said.
"I will not watch my tone while you attack my best friend," Kate snapped.
"Katie, honey, calm down," Patty said, seeing that the poor girl was near tears.
"You two need to realize that we wouldn't have had to do this. I lost business because of what that hooligan did," Taylor said.
"How was business lost Taylor? If you had to open a little late that day, your customers just came back later," Luke said.
"Not so. When Mrs. Lanahan couldn't buy her head of lettuce that morning for her lunch, she drove straight to Woodbury to buy lettuce from a competing market. Isn't that right Mrs. Lanahan?" Taylor said to the old woman, who was asleep. "Mrs. Lanahan," he asked.
"Okay fine. How much is a head of lettuce, a buck? Oh, let's go crazy, give me five heads," Luke said.
"This goes well beyond a head of lettuce, young man. The charges against your nephew are numerous. He stole the 'save the bridge' money…," Taylor began.
"He gave that back," Kate said.
"He stole a gnome from Babette's garden," Taylor went on.
"Pierpont was also returned," Luke pointed out.
"He switched harmless family movies with indecent, horrid movies," Taylor continued.
"He was helping me after you made me Queen of Censorship," Kate hissed.
"He hooted one of my dance classes," Patty stepped in.
"He took a garden hose from my yard," Fran said.
"My son said he set off the fire alarms at school last week," someone else called.
"STOP THIS," Kate yelled, marching up to the podium.
"Young lady, sit back down," Taylor commanded.
"This needs to be said," Kate hissed.
"Lorelai, control your daughter," Taylor said.
"No, Taylor, I want to hear this," Lorelai said.
"None of you have the right to talk about Jess that way. You all are such quick judgments and you fail to see him as someone other than the town hooligan. That's because you don't know him the way I do. I got to know Jess unlike all of you. None of you sit with him for hours on end, reading, talking, laughing, and having a good time like I do. None of you talk with him about anything and you have the nerve to wonder why you don't get the conversations I get with him," Kate said. "He's my best friend and I hate that you people can't grow up and accept that," she added.
"People like him are bad news, Kate," Taylor said.
"So are people like my ex," Kate pointed out.
"Jess won't change," Fran said.
"You don't know that," Kate said.
"You fail to see that Fran is right, people like Jess would end up hurting you and leaving you out in the cold if you don't do it to him first," Taylor said.
"What do you want me to say, Taylor?! That I hate the way Jess makes me feel? That he's a freaking lost cause to talk to because he's never going to change? That all this time I was leading him on because I wanted him to be my rebound guy? That I regret ever talking to him? That our whole friendship is a lie?" Kate ranted.
Luke and Lorelai watched her, ready to step in when Kate took several deep breaths and continued.
"But I can't answer those. Because if I do, then it'll hurt too much- and I don't want to get hurt again. I could say all the things you want to hear because then you all win. Have any of you realized that I've been happier lately? That I'm singing more and more?"
There was a mummer of agreement and Lorelai and Luke nodded, both smiling.
"What about Tripp?" Dean asked. Half the people joined him in a series of questions about Tripp Brooks, Kate's ex boyfriend.
"Tripp was a phase, a stupid, stupid phase. I never felt the things I feel with Jess and you people want to take that away from me," Kate said.
"He'll hurt you," Dean said. Rory looked at him shocked, as Kate spoke again.
"Jess makes me whole again. I can't explain how but I know that I have so many things that I wanted to say to him but I can't because I'll lose him if I do and it doesn't work out. I try to be perfect because he's worth it. He's the perfect one because he's funny and smart and handsome and amazing. He's perfect because he's imperfect. He gives me a light that no one else gave me. And if you all make him leave or ever try to get in our way again…I could never forgive you," Kate finished.
The hall was silent as Kate walked out the front entrance. Luke and Lorelai looked at each other.
"No one says anything. Let this play out the way they want it to play out," Lorelai announced. Everyone nodded and the meeting was adjured and everyone filed out.
The next day Rory was waiting for Dean, who was inside of Doose's, when Jess came up to her. Now Rory was happy that Kate stuck up for him but Jess was still acting so jerk-ish, she hated him. Case in point: the fake crime scene was still outside.
"Should you be standing here all alone? I hear this is a pretty dangerous corner," Jess said.
Rory rolled her eyes. "I'm fine," she said.
"Feeling succinct today," Jess asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Pretty much," Rory replied.
"Did I do something to offend," Jess asked.
"Me," Rory asked.
"Yes," Jess replied.
"No," Rory replied, curtly.
"Good," Jess said.
"You might want to ask that same question to Luke though and Kate while you're at it," Rory stated.
"Meaning," Jess asked, confused a little.
"You've got this whole town down on them," Rory said.
"Really, how did I do that," Jess asked.
"You know how you did that," Rory said.
"I'm not really familiar with the blue book laws in this town, so you can be talking about a lot of things. Dropping a gum wrapper, strolling arm in arm with a member of the opposite sex on a Sunday," Jess asked, when Rory gestured to the "crime scene" next to them. "Ah. What about it?" he asked.
"You did it. The whole town knows you did it. They had a meeting about it," Rory said. 'Where my sister practically said she loved you, you jerk,' she added silently.
"You actually went to that bizarro town meeting? Those things are so 'To Kill a Mockingbird'," Jess told her.
Rory had to agree with him one that but she wasn't about tell him that.
"Yes, I went. And Luke went. And Kate went. And when they got there, everyone ganged up on them. They all want you gone," Rory said.
Jess wasn't surprised that Rory, Kate, Lorelai and Luke went to the meeting. And he wasn't shocked that Taylor probably led the meeting and wants him out of town. But Kate- one the Gilmore Girls, a town freaking princess- was getting ganged up on because of him…it scared him in the depths of his soul. What if one day, the town snaps her out of whatever craze is making her hang out with him? What if he lost her because of them?
"Wow, bummer," he heard himself say. What the hell was wrong with him?!
"And they're standing there yelling at everyone and defending you and paying Taylor back for his lettuce losses…" Rory trailed off.
"Wait, his what," Jess couldn't believe this. Kate actually was paying Taylor back for lettuce!?
"And now Luke's a pariah and Kate's slowly becoming one and it's all because of you!" Rory exclaimed, poking his chest. Jess was silent.
"What a shock, you don't care about any of this," Rory said.
"I never said that," Jess protested.
"Go. I'm tired of talking to you," Rory said.
"Fine," Jess replied, starting to walk away.
"You care nothing about Luke or Kate and their feelings!" Roy called.
"Got a second wind," Jess asked, coming back over to her.
"All Luke does is stick up for you, and all you do in return is making his life harder. I guess that's what you have to do when you're trying to be Holden Caulfield but I think it stinks. Luke has done a lot for my mom and a lot for me and Kate, and I don't like to see him attacked. And Kate is your best friend, you could show her that you care for her feelings too. You don't know how hard she fought for you last night and yet, you probably wouldn't even care about that. Okay, second wind over," Rory ranted.
"I didn't know they were coming down so hard on him," Jess said. It was the truth, he really didn't know and he hated it. Luke and Kate were good people and they didn't deserve that at all.
"Funny, I never pegged you as clueless, my mistake," Rory said.
"Okay. I get it," Jess said and Rory looked at him incredulously. "No, no, I do, I get it," he reaffirmed. Rory smiled a little, finally believing him.
Jess smirked a little. "So did you at least think it was funny?" he asked.
"That is so not the point," Rory said.
"Ah, you thought it was funny," Jess said.
"I do not," Rory exclaimed, hitting him.
"You and your sister think that this is funny," Jess said.
"Leave," Rory laughed.
"Fine," Jess relented. "You still think that it is funny," he said.
Rory laughed and Jess went back to the diner. Mia was sitting by the counter and she smiled at him. Jess smiled a little at her and poured her a cup of coffee.
"Kate doesn't care about what they think, say, or do," Mia said.
"What," Jess asked.
"She doesn't care. It won't break her heart to stay with you. Leaving you will," Mia went on.
"I still don't get it," Jess said. Nor could he believe it.
"Taylor and the town might want you out but Kate…she would probably follow you. You're her best friend, Jess. Give it time and you'll be more. And when that happens, you'll both be inseparable because that's the kind of love you'll have. But, Kate is a delicate flower actually. I know that she doesn't seem like it, but she can break under the pressure, so treat her well," Mia said.
Jess smiled and nodded. "I will, she's too special not to. Thanks, Mia," he said.
"And when that finally happens, I'll come back and the three of us will work on Luke and Lorelai," Mia chuckled.
Jess laughed. "I'll hold you to that," he said. Then he thought. "By the way, do you know if Kate found that thing funny," he asked.
Mia smiled. "Honey, when she and I were walking to here yesterday, she was practically crying because she laughed so hard."
Jess smirked and then went to serve the other people.
After school, the next day, Kate was walking past Doose's when she realized the crime scene was gone. She smiled and ran into the diner.
"Luke, where's Jess," she asked Luke who was talking to Lorelai and Mia.
"I don't know. He dropped off his school stuff and then left. Try the bridge, maybe," Luke replied.
Kate grinned and nodded. Mia got up and leaned in close to Kate's ear.
"Let your heart make up your mind," she whispered.
Kate smiled and nodded again. She walked out of the diner and was happy she changed after school ended, intending to go to her grandparents house. She wore a dark green off the shoulder sweater and dark washed jeans, to go with her black boots. She went to Weston's and ordered two brownies with chocolate sauce and whipped cream and two coffees. After that, she walked to the bridge and spotted Jess sitting there, reading.
"Hey," she said.
Jess looked up and smiled at her. He took the coffee and brownies from her and Kate sat down. She smiled and handed him a spoon for the brownie. Jess took the spoon and dug into the brownie.
"You cleaned it up," Kate said as they finished their snack.
"I guess I did," Jess said.
Kate smiled and sipped her coffee. "I found it so funny," she said.
"Seems like all the Gilmore girls enjoyed it," Jess said and Kate looked at him. "Lorelai and Rory gave me props," he added.
Kate giggled and Jess smiled at her. Kate looked at the book he was reading and gasped.
"Hell froze over, you're reading Rand," she said.
"Shh, not so loud, you'll ruin my rep," Jess teased.
Kate smiled and Jess leaned against the tree behind him. Kate raised an eyebrow at him and Jess opened his arms. Kate got the hint and went into his embrace, settling in-between his legs and her head on his chest.
"Could you help me understand her," he asked.
"Want me to read to you," Kate asked.
"That would work," Jess replied.
Kate smiled and took the book. She opened to the first page and started to read, enjoying every second she was in Jess' arms.
Chapter 6- Done
AN #1: I'm so sorry that I took so long with this one too. My personal life was crazy because my grandmother passed away earlier this month and school wasn't lightening up at all. Also, I really was occupied with writing new chapters for "Haven't Met You Yet"- my Heroes fanfiction and "Real Life Fairytale" the Beford Diaries and Gossip Girl Crossover Fanfiction I have going on. Hopefully I can update now more and more since I'm on break. Thank you to all your reviews!
AN # 2: I made referneces to two songs in this chapter. One is during Kate's rant towards the end and the other is when Mia and Jess are talking. PM me if you think you know.
3 Legacy at Heart.