The Aftermath - A Gilmore Girls Revival Fan Fiction

Chapter 4

Looking through the crowd of people, I noticed that Jess was nowhere to be found. 

My eyes found my mom and Luke laughing and embracing out on the dance floor.

I could see Lane and Zack sitting down, lovingly feeding each other a piece of the wedding cake.

I could see Kirk insisting that Petal was rebelling because she simply would not listen.  "You get back here this instant, young lady!" he called after her, and then threw his hands up in defeat when she didn't listen to his command.

I looked to see Miss Patty and Babette singing karaoke, Morey watching on from the front row, holding his lighter up in tribute.  

But where was Jess? 

Had he left?  Just like that? 

Would he do that?  Without even saying goodbye, AGAIN? 

I was so upset.  Damn you, hormones!  There's no reason to feel upset over Jess Mariano's disappearing acts. 

"Hey kid, are you going to be okay alone for two weeks?" My mom asked, walking up to me. 

The word 'alone' unexpectedly knocked the breath from my lungs. 

"I can ask Babette to check on you each day to feed you, walk you, make sure you're stay potty trained..." she teased. 

I smiled.  "No no, let's not tell Babette.  Please.  Let's let you and Luke be the talk of the town for just a while longer" I teased. 

As much as I didn't want to be all 'alone' for two weeks, the idea of my mom being gone while the people of Stars Hollow find out I'm pregnant was just a terrible thing to even think about - let alone have happen. 

The town gossiper was not someone I wanted sniffing around.

"I'll keep an eye on her" Jess promised, walking up. 

"What?  I thought you took off?" I asked in surprised.  Happy to see him.

"You better not be thinking about taking off - you're supposed to be running the diner for me while I'm gone!" Luke reminded him, a little nervous now.

"Relax, save the adrenaline for the honeymoon.  I'm not going anywhere any time soon" Jess promised.  "I'll be around if you need anything" he continued, looking at me. 

Mom laughed.  "Well kid, are you okay with me leaving you alone in a world where Jess is in charge?" she asked, only half teasing.

"I'll be FINE, mom, you need to GO.  Go get out of here & enjoy what's left of your wedding night!" I insisted. 

She gave me a sly smile and let Luke lead her away. 

I turned to Jess and was about to speak, but he took my arm and led me towards the diner. 

"Where did you go when you left?" I asked skeptically as we walked. 

"When did I leave?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

"When I couldn't find you, and you were gone" I laughed.

He smiled a sideways smirk of a smile.  "So you were looking for me?" He asked in amusement.

"Well, I didn't mean to be.  I mean, I noticed that you were gone, was all I meant" I defended. 

"Come on upstairs" he instructed, nodding his head towards the stairway when we got into the diner.

"What?  Why?" I asked, suspiciously.

"Relax, Nancy Drew.  It's not what you think" he said with a laugh, sensing my nervousness.

I walked up the stairway, and opened the frosted glass door to the apartment above the diner. 

When I walked inside it smelled strange...  but in a good way.  Scented candles were lit and placed everywhere around the room. 

Even in the bathroom, where there was a bath drawn and candles all around the tub.

"Jess, what -" I was trying to ask.  Was he trying to seduce me!?

"This is supposed to help you relax, not tense up more, you know..." he said with a laugh, taking my coverup off of my shoulders.

"Jess are you...  Did you think we...  What exactly did you think would happen here tonight?" I asked flustered, as soon as I was able to pool my thoughts together enough to form a full sentence.

He put his hands up in defense.  "No no no, Rory, it's not like that.  I just know you've had a rough year and I know it's a small gesture, but I really just wanted to help you relax and unwind a little bit" he said.

I noticed something was missing from this relaxing equation. 

"Usually a person enjoys a bottle of wine while relaxing" I said, testing him.

"I mean, I could get you a glass if you'd like one, but you and I both know you can't have a whole bottle" he said, his eyes wide with concern.

I looked down and nodded.  "So I guess that means you know, then" I whispered.  I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes. 

He let out a sigh.

"Yeah, I know.  I figured it out, though.  It's not like anyone told me or anything.  I put it all together as soon as you said you were drinking water.  It all just suddenly made sense" he said with a laugh. 

I laughed too, and looked around the room. 

"Thank you for doing this" I whispered, a smile growing on my face. 

"You're welcome.  Now go.  I put boiling hot water in there because I knew how hard you'd be to convince, but you probably don't have much time left before it gets cold" he said, gesturing toward the bathroom. 

I nodded and walked inside, shutting the door behind me.