How did we get here - A Gilmore Girls fan fiction

Chapter 24

Later that evening, Rory leads Jess to her bedroom. She pulls a box tied with a bow out of her suitcase. "This is your Christmas present."

Jess sits on the bed to open it. "What is it?"

"It's your chapter. I finished writing it. It's just the first draft but it's a chapter I wrote dedicated to you. Your struggles, your influence in my life, your successes. Everything. I want you to read it."

"Thank you. I will." Jess takes the box into his room to read.

Jess couldn't sleep that night. He goes to the kitchen to get something to eat. He is surprised to see Lorelai there.

"Hello."

"Hey, Jess. How are you?"

"I am good. A little hungry."

"What do you have in your hand?"

Jess opens the fridge so he can cut up some pie. "Rory wrote a chapter about me for her book. She wanted me to read it."

"Cool. Jess, I think we need to talk."

"I figured this was coming up." Jess pulls up a bar stool across from Lorelai.

"Jess, you're family to me. And because of that I love you. But I hate you also. You hurt Rory deep when you left without saying goodbye. As strong as she is now, I don't think she has ever gotten over that."

"I am not the same person anymore, Lorelai."

"Are you sure about that? Like 100% sure? Because in six months, she's going to have a baby with another man. So you better ask yourself now, are you ok with that? Logan will forever be in Rory's life because she has a baby with him. So before you sit here and tell me how you have changed and you love Rory, ask yourself, do you love her enough to also have Logan in your life? To always have to share Rory with another man? Think about it before you hurt my daughter again."

Lorelai leaves the kitchen says, "good night, Jess" and heads upstairs for bed.

Jess sits on the counter for awhile. He goes into the fridge gets a beer, puts on his jacket and heads outside.

A short time later, Luke joins him.

"Hey, Jess." Luke sits on the patio chair next to Jess. "Why are you out here? It's cold."

"I needed some fresh air. The sound of the waves, it helps me think."

"About what?"

"About Rory, the baby, Logan, me."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Jess sits down next to his uncle. "How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Love Lorelai even though you know Christopher will always be in her life?"

Luke takes a drink from his beer. "At first I couldn't handle it. We broke up twice and Christopher had a hand on both of the breakups."

"What changed?"

"What changed was that I realized I was angry at the world and miserable. I tried to be happy. But I wasn't. Not even close. My happiness is with Lorelai, and I want to be happy. I want to be happy more than anything. It outweighs my concerns with Christopher. And so how do I do it? I don't know. I just know that my happiness is with Lorelai. I want to be happy. So I want to be with Lorelai. Being happy is better than being miserable and angry."

"So ask yourself this, is the happiness you have when with Rory, better than any feeling you have without her?"

"Thank you, Luke." "Good night, Jess."

Jess is left alone outside to the sounds of the wave and the stars.

*****

"Hey, have you been out here all night? Rory comes out to the porch.

"No, not really. It's just the waves are calming."

"Yeah. They are."

"Rory, can you walk with me?"

"Jess it's so cold out."

"Please."

"Ok, let me get my coat."

Jess waits for Rory to return as they walk on the beach walk. Jess walks maybe fifty feet from the house when he stops and turns around to look at Rory.

"Rory, I love you. I have loved you since I was 18 years old. When I'm with you, I am happy. Happier than I have ever been.  You make me be a better man because you believe in me. When everyone doubted me, you had unwavering belief in who I can become. You make me a better person. And I want to be with you. You and the baby. I know you have to think about what you want. But I thought you deserved to know how I feel. I'm in. I am all in."

Rory is stunned into silence. Jess starts to walk back to the house.

Rory calls out to Jess. "I think I'm in love with you, Jess."

"You think or you know?"

"I know." Jess stops and turns to look at Rory. "I have been in love with you since the very first time you kissed me. And maybe even before that. I have been so scared of this love I keep moving, mostly running away from it. But I can't deny it any longer. I love you."

Jess runs to Rory, grabs her face and kisses her deeply and passionately. "It is what it is. You. Me."