#rory x emily

[gilmoregirlsedits]

Gilmore Girls (2000 - 2007) s03e18 - Happy Birthday, Baby

[not-with-you-but-of-you]

GILMORE GIRLS | 1.06 x 6.19

[corrodedcoffins-blog]

History Repeats Itself

masterlist

note: first jess one-shot!!! (and i'm actually proud of it???) also i say their baby is one but i don't know babies to well so if she's too advanced for a one year old, just cut me some slack

warnings: teen pregnancy, food/eating

word count: 4.7 k

♡ summary: Being a teen mom is hard but without any help it's even harder, after saving up enough she can finally move to Stars Hollow to be closer to her baby's father

♡ Jess Mariano x reader

request ✓

The bus ride down was long, and it only got worse as 1-year-old Caroline woke up from her nap and decided to let everyone know of the inconvenience. Finally after the long months of working and saving up she had enough to move to Stars Hollow, unlike Jess who had a parent to send them and an uncle to stay with, she saved up and made it happen. She wanted Caroline to be around her father, and she wanted to be close to Jess.

And Y/n’s always loved the idea of a small town, a place where you felt safe, a place she would feel safe raising her child in, a place that wasn’t $2,500 a month for a closet. Here she could give her daughter a lot more, here she would have a support system in Jess and Luke. Unlike what her parents would give her.

By this point in the bus route it was only the mother and daughter and a couple strays, she saw the messy haired boy sitting on a park bench close to the bus stop, of course he had his nose in a book. She started packing up Caroline’s stuff, tucking her blanket and toys in the basket of the stroller.

When she got to the bus doors, Jess quickly made his way to help her lift the stroller down the steps, when the stroller was once again on the ground Jess squats down getting face to face with his little girl, “Hey, Care!” “Daddy!” He lifted her up by her armpits. When the little girl was out of her seat and in her dad’s arms, her mom stacked their bags on the seat.

“Hi! You’re so big! Really she is. She’s growing up so fast.” “Well she can walk way more stable now. No more scaring, mommy that you’ll fall if I look away for a second.” She says the last sentence in baby voice while she tickles the girl’s belly to make her giggle and their foreheads to rest on each other’s.  

“So you gonna show us around?!” “‘Around’?” They continued their walk around the gazebo area, walking towards Luke’s. 

“This is it, that's the record shop, that’s the bookstore, that's Luke’s, and that’s all you need to know.” “Well where’s the bank, I might need to rob it later.” “You’ll find a job. And if you don’t then work at Luke’s, he could do with the time off then maybe he’d get off everyone’s backs.” “He’s probably stressed with you always causing trouble.” “Me? Trouble? Nooo, I’m a peach.”

-

Jess had the baby today since Y/n was off to find a job, her first stop was the most promising. Luke let her know that a friend of his needed extra staff at their Inn for an event that was coming up, someone who could be an assistant of sorts. So after wearing her most capable looking top, and best fitting jeans. She kissed Caroline’s check and yelled goodbye to Luke and Jess as she began her walk.

When she walked inside she saw a man at the front desk on the phone. Waiting to ask for directions, she hung around the man’s desk, busying herself with some pamphlet. She couldn't help but listen to the man’s angry English in his french accent.

Suddenly he hung up the phone and got back to writing whatever he was writing, without looking up and with an annoyed tone said, “Yes?” “I was looking for Lorelei, I’m here for-” “The assistant job, yes.. Follow me.” He walked quickly to wherever it was they were going, mumbling along the way, “Of course, an assistant. Just what we need around here. Not like I don’t already do most of the work around here.”

He opened the door for them, it ended up being the kitchen they were now in. A tall woman holding a to-go coffee cup that said ‘Luke’s’ on it and a shorter woman in an apron fighting with a scruffy man about vegetables, which look to be parsnips. 

“The mini-you is here.” “One little comment, Micheal. I’m not saying you’re incapable. I just want more help with organising events so I focus on planning!” “Whatever.” Turning on his heels, Micheal walked out the doors making his way back to his desk. 

“So you’ve met Micheal! Sorry, we usually don’t let him around the new people but we're a little short-staffed. Let’s head to the dining room.”

They sat down at a table in the dining room, Lorelei asked all the important questions, and Y/n was perfect, now she was just asking the things she’ll tell Sookie later when the woman asks about the new hire.

Taking a sip of her sixth coffee this morning Lorelei asked, “So, are you new to town? I haven’t seen you around before.” The girl was stirring milk into her second coffee as she responded, “Yeah, I am. I just moved here with my um- my daughter, closer to her dad so…” 

Since it was of course the time most adults got horrified, thought she was a bad kid, and though she didn’t get that vibe from Lorelei, it was at least bound to shock her. “You’re daughter? How old are you? Wait- I know, it’s on your resume. I mean- I’m, deja vu y’know? Abba did say ‘the history books on the shelf are always repeating themselves’.” 

She must have seen the confused look on the young girl and explained, “I had my daughter when I was sixteen.. And came here to get a job, so just getting major deja vu. Well then, since I know what you’re going through, I won’t put you through the short mental torture of waiting for a call I was gonna do and just tell you you got the job.” “Oh, thank you! I really need this, I can’t thank you enough.” “Just change her name to Lorelei and we’ll call it even.” “deal.” Those two would get along great, much to Luke’s misfortune.

-

Y/n sat at the counter with Caroline in front of her sitting on the counter while she played with her mother’s hair. Jess was filling up cups of coffee and serving customers while he listened to Y/n’s words.

“So until you go back to school, you’ll have Caroline during the day here and when I’m done work I’ll take her.” “No, you’ll never have a break. After work you go to your house, relax then grab her after dinner.” 

Jess may have this ‘I only care about myself’ attitude but that never included Caroline and Y/n, he’d kill for either of them at any given moment. He always put them first. If thought Y/n needed a break, she was getting a break whether she wanted it or not. 

Just as the girl was going to thank him she was interrupted by another girl around their age coming to sit down at the counter, two over from her. 

“I have the book you lent me.” She said, unknowingly interrupting the conversation since Jess was facing the coffee machine to make a new batch when she sat down. “Oh, thanks.” He muttered, notably not turning to face her.

On the inside Jess felt guilty. Why did he feel guilty? He didn’t do anything, he and Y/n weren’t together, nevermind the fact that all he did was lend Rory a book. As friends. Because they’re friends. But nonetheless it almost felt like cheating. Jess and Y/n may not be together officially but that didn’t mean that they both didn’t love each other. And not just because they were the parents to a beautiful little girl. Jess had always wanted more, he’d let the girl know that more than a handful of times, and she let him know it wasn’t unrequited, yet something always came between them.

You’d think having a baby together would bring them closer, and in some ways it did; they trusted each other more. But they also fought more and being the dumb teenagers they were, they didn’t have the emotional ability to move past that and build the relationship they both wanted. And then when they felt they were ready to, Jess was sent to live with his uncle. Just another fork in the road. But now they were living in the same town and had a good system, and people to support them. It was the perfect time, everything was going right, they could feel all the feelings that never really left resurfacing.

“Okay, I have to get to work. You’ve got her?” “Yeah.” “Bye, baby, I love you. I’ll see you in a little bit, but you get to spend all day with daddy.” “Bye-bye, mommy!” 

She said bye to Jess after she walked around the counter and handed him Caroline, muttering a small ‘go see, daddy’ that Rory most definitely heard.

When the door finally chimed shut Rory shot up to follow Jess to the table he was now setting Caroline up at. She watched his gentle movements as he readjusts her shirt and places crayons and paper in front of her, which she got right into scriballing away. 

“She’s yours?” “Yeah.” “.. So that girl is your girlfri-" "I’ve got work to do.” 

-

The warm atmosphere of the dinner is a stark contrast to the cold winter air. Noticing Jess and Caroline are nowhere to be seen she assumes they were upstairs and makes her way up the stairs. Half-way up the flight of stairs she could hear her little girl’s loud giggles. She quietly opens the door to see Jess holding Caroline above his head, as if she was flying.

When she first got pregnant everyone told her Jess wouldn’t be a good dad, that she can’t rely on him for anything. God were they wrong. She doesn’t think it’s possible for her baby to have a better person as a dad. She sadly doesn’t get to watch the scene for much longer as she’s spotted by little Caroline.

“Mommy! I see daddy ‘morrow?” “Yes, you get to be with daddy all day tomorrow too.” “Yay!”

As the conversation between them goes on, Jess lets his little girl plant her feet back on the ground and starts collecting some things she’ll need during the night before she comes back here tomorrow, he then starts getting Caroline’s shoes on her feet. While Y/n sits on the couch next to their little girl.

“So who was that girl this morning?” “Who?” 

Jess always did this, it was a tell tale sign that he didn’t want to talk about it, but that’s never stopped Y/n before. “You know who.” Of course having to be difficult, Jess gives her a fake confused look, as if he’s never met another girl in his life. 

“The one returning your book.” “Oh, that girl.” “Yeah, that girl.” “She’s nobody.” “So you just lend books to ‘nobody’s now?” “Care, where’s Mr.Wiggle?” The girl lets out a gasp and reaches out for Jess to help her off the couch, when he does she runs into the closet where she previously hid while playing hide and seek a couple hours earlier. 

“What? Don’t want Care to hear about her new step-mom?” “Don’t call her that.” “What? Care? Only you can call her that?” “No, don’t call Rory Care’s ‘step-mom’.” “Rory! I get her name!” 

Jess was a quiet guy, but not this quiet, especially not with Y/n. He didn’t want to talk about Rory, maybe because it was weird talking about another girl with your baby momma. And yes it was weird for Y/n too, but for a completely different reason, she assumes. She liked Jess, and has since before she even knew about Caroline.

“C’mon, Jess, it’s me. I want you to be happy.” Sure Rory made him happy, but only because she was the only friend he had here, it wasn’t the way Y/n made him happy. Before he could deny for words again Caroline came back running into the room with her stuffie in her hands. Having already said her goodbyes, she opened the door and walked out.

“Caroline, wait hun! I think you should go for it Jess.”

She walked out the door, closing it behind her, leaving Jess to stare at where she disappeared. He decided to take her advice, just maybe not the way she meant it

-

Y/n helped Caroline pack more snow onto their snowman. Caroline wanted to do it after she heard Luke complaining about town events again, he stopped complaining when he saw how excited the girl was. They had Mr.Wiggles off the side learning against the tree, using him as a reference. 

“Mommy, no. Mr.Wiggles has more hair.” 

Caroline was getting very comfortable ordering her mother around, but in this instance Y/n let it slide, poking more sticks on the top of the snowman’s head to mimic Mr.Wiggle’s spiky hair. 

“That’s good!”

Lorelei and Rory were just one snowman down, both told Caroline they thought she would win and encouraged her before she even started. Since they were so close, they could hear the scene that had just played out. 

“Tough age, wait till you get to the terrible twos. ‘No’ is all you’ll hear.” Lorelei said, kindly as her and her own daughter walked past them. Y/n let out a laugh at the comment before she asks, “You guys done already?” “No, but after Michelangelo over there busted out the power buffer, and when Caroline busts out her cuteness, what chance do we have?” “I see your point.” “So off to Luke’s we go.” “We’ll see you there in a bit.”

-

Y/n was standing talking to one of the decorators when she saw Lorelei and Sookie step out of the kitchen, quickly finishing her directions she wrote down a note on her clipboard then made her way to meet them at the entrance of the dining room.

When Sookie sees her, she asks, “What’re we looking at today?” Sookie was really fun to work with, like Lorelei she was very chill as a boss, but Sookie was also so kind and always took it upon herself to make sure Y/n has eaten and that her and Caroline are taken care of. She could tell the woman was going to make an amazing mother.

“This is last on the list.” She replied, after she took a quick glance at her clipboard, then continued, “We’ve got trumpets, the madrigal singers-” “Sorry to interrupt, but I’m not playing squire of Bracebridge.” 

Sookie and Lorelei must have finally told Jackson to play the squire, they told her earlier in the week that they were playing to ask at the last moments so he had to. It was a flawless plan, especially when Jackson can’t say no to Sookie.

She saw that Lorelei and Sookie were just ignoring him, so she played along and continued down her list, “All the servers are lined up. This is just for the recorder players and harpists.” She stopped at the recorder players and let Lorelei talk to them, “Hi. Lay some on us, guys.” 

The two recorder players played the soft tube they were going to come accustomed to in the next few days. The three of them shared positive looks and when their playing came to an end, Sookie said, “Hey, you cats really know how to blow those things.” Lorelei continued Sookie’s comment by saying, “You’ve got the gig. Y/n here will call you later with the details. Thanks.” 

Recorder players started packing their things, Jackson started again on the fact that he wouldn’t play the squire, and the three women continued to ignore him.

“When do the quests arrive?” “Thursday at four on their own jet.” “After buying out the whole inn.”

“Must be nice to have money.” Y/n added, checking off and writing down more notes on her clipboard.

“You know what struck me today?” “-Was it the fact that I am not the squire?-""We’re crazy for doing this.” “We’re beyond crazy.” It did feel crazy, Lorelei told her they’d never done a function this big before and that’s the reason they hired more help. Like her, but also that they were planning to do a lot more big things like this, more weddings, and such. 

“We’re ‘Anne Heche speaking her secret language to god and looking for the spaceship in Fresno’ kinda crazy.” “Oquinis no-goodo noto.” Sookie said, causing Y/n add, “Il ecnatra dos guidan.”

Their nonsense was once again interrupted by Jackson, “And spring this on me at the last minute too. I mean, that’s just manipulative.” Suddenly a cook pops his head out of the kitchen, saying calmly, “Sookie- fire!”

Sookie rolled her eyes softly, this happened far too often, before saying, “I gotta get back in the kitchen. You guys handle the harps?” Both women nodded and replied in unison, “You got it.” 

“Alright. I’ll do it. I’ll play squire Bracebridge if that’s what you want.” Everyone knew he would cave eventually. Sookie patted his arm and said a quick, “Thanks, sweetie.” before walking back into the kitchen to hopefully deal with the fire. “As long as it’s not just because I fit the costume.” Jackson looked back at Lorelei and Y/n, Lorelei had a grin on her face while Y/n wore a tight-lipped smile. “It’s because I fit the costume, isn’t it?” He followed after Sookie.

Lorelei put her arm around Y/n and led them to the harpist, “Go ahead.” The harpist played the same tune as the two recorder players. But just as the woman started, Lorelei got a call. She patted Y/n’s arm, “I have to take this, you handle the harpist.”

The girl tried to stay calm, nodding her head and going back to listening to the music. Lorelei trusted her, yes it wasn’t a big job by any means, but still it was a step into a bigger role down the line.

-

The next day, Sookie and Y/n had all the waiters/performers in the dining room going over what their job was. And teaching them the old English words to use for things.

Sookie was just telling Rune that he couldn’t just talk like an old man whe Lorelei came in with a disappointed look on her face, and let them know the dinner was off.

The three women, as well as Rory and Caroline were now sitting at a table at Luke’s, Caroline was happily eating her pancakes, plain just as she liked and completely unaware of the collective disappointment of the group.

Lorelei has really welcomed Y/n into her life. She may not be Jess’s biggest fan, but she would always help another teen mom out. Especially since she sees so much of herself in Y/n. She’s grown to really love the girl in the short time they’ve known each other. And aftering hearing Y/n didn’t have her family in her life she was more than happy to help and maybe become that family for her one day. Just like Mia did for her.

“I’ve got 30 pounds of aged beef, trays and trays of trout, mountains of prune tarts. I diced pumpkins until my hands turned orange. I’ve got pumpkin hands!” Sookie showed the table her hands, it apparently caught Caroline’s attention since she grabbed Sookie’s right hand and held it in her left while she continued eating. Sookie lets her hand rest in the little girl’s while she freaks out more and asks Lorelei, “How can you stay so calm?” “There’s nothing we can do about it.” 

Rory was just as upset, mostly because she knew how hard her mother worked on the planning, “I can’t believe they got snowed in.” Y/n hasn’t told Jess, but she’s become pretty close to Rory, the girl sometimes comes to the Inn and helps around and Rory’s become kinda her only friend, that was until Rory invited her to the record store with Lane. After that day she had two friends. 

After knowing Rory more, she realised how much she and Jess have in common, and even though Rory has a boyfriend she can tell there’s an attraction to Jess she’s trying so hard to hide. 

Y/n zoned out for a moment, looking outside, she was upset that the first event she helped organise wouldn’t even happen. She was broken from her stare out the window from Caroline jumping in place while sitting on her mom’s lap, the cause of which was Luke coming to the table. 

“You girls want anything besides coffee?” He asked, adding on with a pat on the girl’s head, “Or pancakes?” “Hey, what about Luke?” “What about him?” “He eats, and Jess eats. Doesn’t Jess eat?” Sookie directs the question at Y/n, before the girl could say anything Luke cuts her off, “What’s she doing?” “I think she’s inviting you for dinner.”

Getting distracted while trying to convince Luke to come to dinner, the four decide to still put on the dinner for the town. Like an out of control slumber-party.

-

The dinner was going great, the secret amazing part of inviting the town was that Y/n and Caroline could actually meet everyone. Miss. Patty and Babette loved Y/n and Caroline (mostly Caroline), Caroline loved Kirk, and everyone loved that Caroline could do whatever she wanted and Talor wouldn’t say anything. And Y/n got to meet Paris after all the stories she’s heard.

Caroline and Y/n were in line for the horse drawn carriage rides, when Caroline saw her favourite person, Lane. “Laney! I ride with you!” Lane, before agreeing, made eye contact with Y/n to make sure it was okay. Y/n gave them the go ahead and helped Caroline get settled. After their carriage left she made her way to the next one. Telling the driver it’s just her.

It was nice to get a break from everything. It was quiet and peaceful. Well that was until Jess ran up and hopped on the carriage next to her. Without a word he put the blanket that was over the girl’s legs on his too. 

“I thought you and Care were going together.” “She’s one ahead, with Lane.” “Ahhh. Well it’s two to a sleigh no more, no less. So you were breaking the rules, you're welcome for saving you.” “You could have hurt yourself.” “Aw, you care about me.” “You are my baby's father.” 

She wished she just agreed with him. She didn’t just care for him because he was Caroline’s dad, and she doesn’t think she says it enough. But then again, maybe it would mess things up if she admitted that. But that decision was made for her.

“I’m touched.” “Jess. I don’t mean it like that. I care about you, Caroline or not.” 

Trying to change the topic to something she thought was more lighthearted, she says, “So, how are things with Rory?” “There are no things with Rory.” “C’mon, Jess, we can talk about this stuff-” “Why are you so insistent that I date Rory?” 

She wasn’t expecting that outburst. Not from Jess. He rarely ever yelled at her, and when he did it was always misplaced anger, never actually angry at her. This time it was her, it was what she said.

“I just want you to be happy-” “C’mon, Y/n. Be serious.” “I am. I want-” “If you want me to be happy so bad, why won’t you give me a chance?!” 

He turned his face to her, looking right into her eyes, she could see the hurt in his. Did she put it there?

“What’re you-” “Since we found out about Caroline, I’ve tried and tried to help you realise that I love you. And not how you mean ‘I love you’. I don’t love and care for you because we have a family and I have to. I love you, because I want to. I want to be with you. And I know it will be hard, but I’ll do the work.” 

If she had more social awareness at the pent she would have hated that the coachman heard all of that. But after what Jess said, the look in his eyes; that was so full of love. She felt like it was just them two in the world. No, that it was just their little family in the whole world. He and Caroline were all she would ever need.

“I love you too, Jess. I have for so long, long before Caroline, but I thought you wouldn’t want to be tied down to me, especially after I had Caroline, that any sign I thought you gave me was all in my head.” “It’s not.” 

He brought her in closer to him, an arm around her shoulders and when her arms wrapped around his waist he left a kiss on the crown of her head. The small kiss brought her eyes up to him, which led to their first real kiss in one year and nine months. 

His lips were softer than she remembered, but they still fit into hers as if they never left.

She broke away from their reuniting kiss to place her head in the crook of his neck, wanting nothing more than to be close to him.

“My mom didn’t want me to come home.” She took her head out of his neck to look at him fully. They were always that person for each other, the one you can tell your problem to and they knew when to help and when listening was enough. Right now, she knew listening was enough.

“I’m sorry, Jess.” “It’s fine. Just sucks.” “I know. Well, Care and I will always want you to come home.” After her words, he brought her closer than before. She was always just what he needed. 

Wanting to change the subject, Jess nodded his head to the snowman Y/n and Caroline built. “It’s good.” “What?” “Your snowman, well Caroline’s snowman I'm sure she’d want me to say.” “You know which one’s ours?” “Definitely shows her personality… It kinda looks like Mr.Wiggles.” “That’s what we were going for. But everyone thinks the one on the end is going to win.” “Really? It’s so overdone.” “I agree.” “You and Care’s should win.” “Agree again.”

-

The dinner was filled with Jess and Luke confused at what exactly was in the food, Jess and Y/n trying their best to keep Caroline sat which about half an hour in they gave up and just let her walk around the lobby, as well as saying hello and talking to everyone at the table. Having an interesting conversation with Mrs.Kim about grace, ��helping’ Kirk by sitting on his rolling food cart, and even talking with Paris for a while. 

Overall it was a great night. Even better when Jess, Y/n, and Caroline got to their shared room, putting Caroline asleep together for the first time in a while. And falling to sleep in the same bed together, holding each other, listening to each other’s breaths, as well as Caroline’s. Everything was just how they both always secretly wanted. And now get to have openly and freely. 

- 

In the morning Y/n got up early since she was technically working, and she still was when Luke, Jess, and Caroline left to open the diner for the day. It was around noon when Y/n finally left, walking to Luke’s to spend the day with her two favourite people. Which was when she saw Michelangelo’s snowman fallen to a large pile of snow on the ground.

She didn’t even have to think for a second to know that Jess did it. Sometimes he did the weirdest things to show his love.

The bell rang as she pushed open the door, she sat down next to Caroline, saying ‘good morning’ and getting one back before she made her way to the counter.

“I saw what you did.” “What’d I do?” “Caroline will be happy she won.” “Anything if my girl’s win.”

[jakeperalta]

2024 apple replay: @thelightreflects asked gilmore girls + #17 ↳ sorry mom by kelsea ballerini

[chloelovesu]

[gigireece16]

my parents

[clarkgriffon]

GILMORE GIRLS ➤ Timestamp Roulette 4x22 | Raincoats & Recipes

[doverstar]

I'd love to defend Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life for a minute (I don't usually make long posts and may delete this later for that reason) because I feel like writing something inconsequential.

Other people get lots of comfort watching the original show (especially in the fall). I feel cozier watching AYITL. The characters are much older; the dizzy, flighty, still-growing-up feelings for Lorelai and Rory have faded, and it's full of moments that make it clear that certain things in their lives are definitely always going to be there. Constants. Luke, Stars Hollow, family, Kirk, Taylor, the changing of the seasons. Now - for my defense. (I'm rambling.)

Okay, many, many people don't like the revival. I understand. It's different in a lot of ways from the original show, and lots of expectations were not met. When I first saw it, it threw me too. But I didn't dislike it. In fact, the more I rewatched it, the more I thought it was almost better than the first show. The leading ladies are not flashy young stars anymore - Rory is Lorelai's age when the OG show first began, and Lorelai is gracefully and fabulously careening toward grandma times with all her wit and charm, all her most comfy habits, and it makes me want to hang out with her more than Season 1 of the show ever did. And I think the fact that ASP came back to write for these characters again and end it on her terms, at last, was an absolute win, and I love how she did it because it fixed so many things I thought were wrong in the show.

Lorelai is self-centered, terrified of commitment, and has no idea how to put others before herself and not run away during the hard times - unless something involves Rory.

Rory is self-centered, thinks she is special, and has no idea how to deal with not getting what she wants. The consequences of her actions almost never directly affect her, and when they do, said consequences are quickly stamped on and snuffed out by her mother/friends/family.

Emily is self-centered, desperate to be in control, and finds her worth in what other people think, in how things look, and that includes what Richard thinks.

In the show, Lorelai has moments where she learns to stay and learns to put other people who are not Rory before herself. Those moments don't last. She definitely has good intentions, but they're all conditional. She only has good intentions up to a point - and that point is usually when someone or something threatens her happiness and feeling of safety, or Rory's happiness and feelings of safety (understandable; that's her child).

In the show, Rory is told she is the sweetest kid in the whole world. Rory is told she'd never do anything to hurt anybody. Rory is told she's special, she's smarter than her peers, she's not like other girls. Rory 100% believes that. She also probably has a bit of a problem with living up to that image - she wants to be all of those things, and thinks she is, and can't handle it when it seems like people think she's not. (That may or may not have something to do with Christopher, who always had somewhere more important to be, or with Lorelai, who was so cool and strong and sure of Rory.)

And the show has moments, too, where Lorelai has to face the music and see that she's screwed up or is hurting someone with her behavior (Max, Chris, Luke, Jason, Emily, Richard, Sookie), but very very often, Lorelai breezes her way through that music and keeps moving, and flits to the next thing or person that will make her happy, because she does not know how to stay and stand and fix what she's broken. Because it only matters if she is happy and if Rory is happy. (The same thing goes for Rory in the show - consequences come, but Rory rarely has to properly deal with them herself. She is coddled and propped up the whole way.)

Now, to my point!

I watched AYITL and noticed something was different right away. Lorelai is with Luke (she should be), who is the opposite of her - constant, loyal, selfless, determined to stay no matter how hard things get. But they're not married. Lorelai is scared to really commit, and marriage is one of the hardest things you can commit to - ever. And Lorelai is not happy. Rory, for her part, is not perfectly settled as a reporter or a journalist or any of the things she was always told she could be. And she's not happy. And Emily, bless her, has lost her husband and her false sense of control is spinning away, and of course, she is not happy.

And A Year In The Life takes the show's clumsy half-arc of these three Gilmore women and perfectly completes it.

Lorelai's fear of commitment and habit of bolting when things get hard drives her to push every new chef out of the Dragonfly, refuse to expand the inn to better accommodate Michel's needs, shun Rory's tell-all of her past mistakes, shame Richard at his funeral and break Emily's heart, and worst of all, nearly wreck the closest thing to a proper relationship she's ever had: the one she has with Luke. She can't face that she misses her father, loved her father, and that maybe her mother is right about her relationship status. She can't face that people might read Rory's writing and see all her flaws and all her mistakes growing up in printed ink, and she can't run from that. And when Rory insists, Lorelai cuts ties. Lorelai has spent years avoiding marriage with Luke. She has spent years hurting her mother in an effort to defend herself at all costs. And she has spent years ensuring the Dragonfly Inn is exactly what she wants it to be; because changing it would be uncomfortable, and as a result, she won't commit to a new chef, she won't expand, and she's about to lose Michel the way she lost Sookie.

Rory's bubble of self-centeredness and assurance that she's special is popped with the needle of reality at last: she is not special. She's a young woman who has to actually work hard to find a job and make some money, like everyone her age. She is talented and she is smart, but she's not God's gift to journalism, and people keep saying no, and people keep asking her to prove her skills and her merit, and she doesn't know how to deal with that because everyone has always told her she can do anything she wants and she's the best. She wants a distinguished career and can't find anyone who will take her on; she tries to write for a raging batty feminist (hello Alex Kingston I love your work) and that goes sideways; she wants Logan Huntzberger but she turned down his proposal and now he's engaged and it has to be a secret; she wants somewhere to live - just not Stars Hollow because she's better than the thirty-somethings stuck back home. She wants Lorelai to approve of her book and insists her mother give her this, as if Lorelai hasn't always given her whatever she could. And when Lorelai says no, Rory does what she wants anyway and almost fractures their relationship over it.

Emily's control is completely gone - she can't control her emotions, she can't control her tongue, she can't control her maid or her maid's handy family, she can't even control a stupid painting of her late husband. She's on a downward spiral and her anchor is dead. She tries to regain a sense of worth, because surely that will bring happiness back. She tries to gain it from how many possessions she has, that doesn't work. She tries to gain it from Jack, who is not well-suited to her but he makes a matching accessory to the life other people will see. That doesn’t work. She tries to gain it from therapy with Lorelai, control her daughter at last, that doesn't work. She tries to control Richard's headstone, that doesn't work. She even tries to find solace with her beloved D.A.R, and she finds that emptiest of all.

A Year In The Life has these women finally face their flaws head-on and grow. The way characters should.

Rory: Rory is confronted with the fact that she is not special and has to move home like everyone else her age and get a job she does not want, because that's life, and that's what everyone else has to do in the real world. And when she's at her lowest, pouting, she gets advice from someone who has faced his own flaws long ago and has grown and who knows her at her best, and encourages her to get up and work hard (Jess Mariano, ladies and gentlemen). And she does. Rory hits bottom and takes Jess's advice and works at understanding her mother, who is not perfect, and even goes to interview her father, who is also not perfect. She fights with Lorelai over the book and insists on her own way, and when Lorelai refuses, Rory can only blame herself. She has a rabble-rousing night with her LaDB boys and winds up sleeping with Logan in one more bubble of fantasy, one more umbrella-jump of escapism, like the old days, because Logan is her weakness. And when she wakes up the next morning, Rory turns and walks away from Logan and the affair and her insistence on having what she wants regardless of who she hurts (hello, Dean Forrester and her affinity for taking spoken-for men) for the final time. And the consequences of her desires? She’s pregnant. (Come on, we all know the baby is Logan’s; Rory’s life rhymes with Lorelai’s.) She goes to Christopher to interview him for the book and is subtly asking her father why he wasn’t in her life, because she needs to know what to do with her baby and her lover. She didn’t go to Lorelai to figure that out. She went to her dad, because the truth is, Rory didn’t have her father, and part of dealing with the consequences of her actions is to work out how to take care of this baby and whether or not that means involving the father. She’s owning up. She goes to Lorelai and offers to give up this book; she doesn’t make excuses or whine, she wrote the book anyway because she believes in it, but when she’s gotten three chapters in, she respectfully goes to her mother and asks her to read it and then, for the sake of Lorelai, not herself, Rory promises to quit and throw the book out if Lorelai does not approve. Because Lorelai is more important to her than herself. Rory has worked hard and made mistakes and gotten pregnant and she has stared the world in the eyes and seen she’s not special. And she has to deal with that. And she does, finally, deal with it. And she’s happy.

Emily: Emily is confronted with the fact that nothing is inside her control—except what she does. Worth does not come from what she owns or who she’s with or what she’s wearing, and it didn’t come from her marriage, either. That wasn’t why she married Richard anyway. She is miserable and alone, and part of that is her fault. She married Richard because she loved him, and she keeps coming back to Lorelai because she loves her, and she opens up her house to Rory when Rory needs a place to write because she loves her. Emily looks around at what she has and recognizes what has worth and what doesn’t, maybe for the first time, with clear vision. She recognizes that she can’t control everything. At first, that fact keeps her down. She forgets what day it is, the curtains are closed, and she doesn’t get up in the morning. No Richard, no Lorelai, no reason to move. And then Lorelai calls her, and tells her about who Richard was and what Richard did and how it mattered, and that inspires Emily. She can get up. She buys a place on Cape Cod, totally opposite of the sort of life everyone admires and expects to have worth, and she does what she’s really always been best at—she loves. She takes care. She took care of Richard, she took care of Lorelai and Rory when they needed it, and she takes care of Berta and her wonderful family, instead of having a maid take care of her needs. She packs up and moves out, she sends Jack away, she reveals the D.A.R. for what it is and quits them forever, and she takes a job at a whaling museum because she just likes it. It’s nothing fancy, and neither is her oceanic house or the music she plays in it or the clothing she wears, because none of that is worth anything anyway. Her family is. Her friends are. She gets the painting of Richard done right and brings it with her, and she gives up attempting control of everything and only takes control of how she behaves. She gives Lorelai what Lorelai needs for the Dragonfly, and her only stipulation is that she gets to spend more time with her daughter and Luke. She loves, she takes care of others, she helps. And she’s happy. And now, the best for last. The star.

Lorelai: Lorelai sits in that stupid Stars Hollow Musical and hears a song that perfectly describes her problem—it’s never or now. Make a commitment. Do something hard. Make your life about something other than your momentary present happiness and comfort, the way you do with just Rory, sometimes, but make it a permanent change. Make change permanent! Don’t run away! …And then she runs away. She’s been miserable, she’s hit bottom, like her mother before her and her daughter after her. She’s losing friends, she’s losing Luke, she’s losing Emily, she’s losing Rory over the manuscript, and it’s all her fault. Lorelai tries to breeze past it. She does Wild. She does what she’s never done before, she does something hard and uncomfortable, but she does it for herself, and therefore it doesn’t quite work. She tries to hike, Dipper Pines won’t let her hike, she meets other women her age who think this hike is gonna fix things, it doesn’t, and she gives up and goes to get coffee because that’s her go-to. (Coffee is speedy, bad for you, and only a temporary rush—kind of everything Lorelai clings to, actually.) But the coffee shop is closed, and when Lorelai is denied that allegorical Band Aid, she goes around back and sees a great view and finally finds clarity. She didn’t need the hike—she needed to think. She needed a moment of silence and introspection to gain the insane courage to finally stop moving, stick around, and face her fears. To put her eyes on herself and then take her eyes off herself and onto other people—namely the people she loves. Lorelai calls Emily and cries, because it’s hard to do this, it hurts, but with one story, she proves she loved her father, and she knows her father loved her, and the fact that she’s calling shows that she knows Emily loves her too, and she loves Emily, and has loved them both all along. It gives Emily the strength she needs to get out of bed. That was hard, but Lorelai did it. And now she’s going to do more hard things—she’s going to commit. It’s never or now, and Lorelai chooses now. She goes home and the first thing she does is propose to Luke and become Lorelai Danes overnight. Hard. Scary. Just right. She patches things up with her daughter, and chooses Rory over herself—for the hundredth time, yes, but when it’s at its hardest for her to do. “I’ll read it when it’s done.” Lorelai expands the Dragonfly. She goes to Emily for help, which is also super hard, but this time it’s not for Rory – it’s for her, and it’s for Michel, and it’s for the Dragonfly. And she accepts Emily’s affectionate terms. Lorelai chooses Rory, Luke, Emily, and Michel over herself, and commits, and she doesn’t run away. And she’s happy.

And all of it is earned. Finally earned.

I could talk more about the incredible writing, about ASP at her best, about the perfect themes and scenery and the very intentional end to Paris, Lane, Kirk, Taylor, Dean, Jess, Logan, Chris, and the general cast’s stories, but I’ve already rambled for too long.

Suffice it to say: A Year in the Life is my Gilmore Girls. It’s best version of the story. I think it was expertly done. Not perfect, but an ending that was earned.

[angeldiarybook]

I love making these

@marsinl

[madeleineengland]

Gilmore Girls and the Santa's sleigh 🎄

[sincerethoughtsblog]

[a-aexotic]

i can see you, 𝒈𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒔.

✫ 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬 . . . y/n cromwell was nothing if not a sophisticated, pampered, and ambitious socialite. she had lived in manhattan for about five years with her workaholic mother since her divorce with from her father. in the five years she had lived in the upper-east side, she had conquered the elites and made them her minions. she was living her best life until she heard the worst news she could ever fathom...

tristan dugray was nothing like y/n, in any sense other than maybe the fact they were both rich, spoiled and rather confident - okay, maybe they had more in common than what meets the eye. they hadn't seen each other since she had moved away with her mother five years ago and they were happy that way.

until of course, her mother decided it would be best for y/n to spend the next few months with her father back in connecticut after y/n got in trouble with her friend group. what y/n didn't know until she eventually got to connecticut was that her father was engaged to none other than tristan dugray's mother. how could her year get any worse?

✫ 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 ;; tristan dugray x fem!reader, platonic!paris geller x reader, platonic!rory gilmore x reader

✫ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 ;; not canon gilmore girls timeline (for the most part), rom-com energy, adult humor, asshole!tristan, family issues, the rest is to be determined...

✫ 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 ;; i am rewatching gilmore girls and of course, i've been inspired to write a fanfic because there are not enough tristan fanfics on tumblr. i hope y'all enjoy, this is very self-indulgent lmao. i love tristan sm and i think a rom-com esk fanfic would bring me (and everyone) so much joy. thank you so much for reading! let me know if i should make a taglist for this series.

dedicated to my beautiful best friend, @autumntales 🩷

main masterlist. gilmore girls masterlist. playlist.

0 of 15 chapters published. started: july 31, 2023 deadline: october 1, 2023

prologue

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

chapter four

chapter five

. . .

[thepurecinnamonroll]

Idc what anyone say about this but

I'M SAYING THIS WITH MY ENTIRE CHEST

But I still want people to explain to me how they see this relationship

I genuinely want to understand why people say that Jess and Rory were the perfect couple but they "happened at the wrong time" which is why they didn't last, but Jess was genuinely a horrible person to the point the whole town hated him

While I don't agree with the whole idea of a town meeting being put together just for everyone to discuss how badly they want Jess to leave, THAT KINDA SPEAKS VOLUMES

People be like "But Rory actually chose Jess" or whatever makes their relationship "significant" but that doesn't change the fact that FIRST, Jess wasn't that good a person and SECOND, Rory and Jess relationship wasn't necessarily healthy— and I don't mean "Oh, Rory and Jess argue sometimes" because I know relationships aren't perfect, but literally all Rory and Jess did was argue and make out, and they never went on any dates

People act like just because Jess was smart and only liked Rory and they kissed a lot, their relationship was perfectly fine and he "treated her right" when their relationship definitely wasn't perfectly fine, and he didn't treat her right

And I feel like at least a few people should like the person you're with, but it's like Jess made it so no one would like him because he was just rude and disrespectful to everyone— and a lot of the fandom gives Lorelai flak for not "giving Jess a chance" when she literally did, but did y'all forget that he was being a complete jerk the whole time FOR NO REASON, so it's understandable that she didn't want him around her daughter

[amoosarte]

WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW 𝜗𝜚 𝐉𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐎

━━━ in which he knows he’s fallen for her but chooses to ignore it but she doesn’t, causing both of them heartbreak…

Jess wouldn’t know what love feels like, simply because he doesn’t know how it feels like. Coming from a mother who was too busy getting boyfriends than to be paying attention to her son, he didn’t know.

He was a troubled teenager, he knew but he didn’t care, but living in such a small town, it made him go insane. Then again it gave him the chance to experience love.

Her name was Maggie short for Margaret, she was a sweet experience for Jess, but he wouldn't say that out loud. She was a girl with a sweet attitude if approach with one, though Jess didn't really introduce himself like that.

He laid eyes on her the moment he entered his uncles diner, she was helping a customer and bussing tables. "Mags, come over here for a sec." Luke gestured the girl over, making her slowly but surely examine the boy.

"This is my nephew, Jess." Luke introduced him, in which he had a bratty face, looking the girl up and down with judgement. "Jess, this is one of my employes named Margaret." Luke signaled to the girl.

"Pleased to meet you." She wiped her hand with her waist apron, wanting to shake the boys hand. "Right.." Jess pushed around her, making her just stand there. Luke sighed and walked over to Jess taking him upstairs.

Margaret looked at the boy with a glare and got back to work.

The second time Jess had an encounter with Margaret was when he was escaping dinner at the Gilmore household. He was sneaking out from the back and making his way on the main road, there he heard a light voice reading.

It was a story he's heard about it but never read it, but it made him surprise who was reading it. There she was, sitting in by her window, was Margaret, quietly but somehow clear in her words when reading. "Taming of the Shrew?" Jess smirked looking up.

It made the girl jump in her skin, quickly shutting her book, looking down to see the boy smiling. She looked at the boy confused, she was out of her work attire and she hadn't seen the boy since that day.

"Jess, was it?" Margaret asked, looking at the boy, in which he nodded. "why are you here, at night, all alone?" She asked, looking around the street. "Escaped dinner." He muttered. His eyes shifted towards her, he examined her.

Her hair was loose (she was a brunette, he noticed) and a semi large 'The Smiths' shirt covered her upper half. He smiled stupidly, looking up at her again. "the smiths?" He said it like it was a joke. She focused her attention to him again. "yes? they're my favorite band." She says.

"Interesting choice.." Jess said making it a bit insulting. "At least it's not ABBA.." She muttered making him whip his head back at her. "No way you think of that." He wanted to laugh. "Go home Jess!" Margaret said before shutting her window's close.

Jess had this asshole smile, as he walked away, he knew something of her little by little.

Jess didn't really like Star Hallow, but this was interesting. "Whatcha doing?" He leaned on the diner counted looking at the girl below, in which she was organizing the inside of her basket. "Getting ready for the Annual Basket auction." She replies.

"Got good stuff in there?" Jess tried to peek in it before she closed it, looking up at his as if he was stupid. "You have to bid on it if you want to know whats in there." Margaret huffs up as she walks into the back to get her coat.

"So what if I bid on it?" Jess asked, this got her attention. "Now why would you do that?" She asked making him wonder about it before replying. "To see what's in the basket..?" He teased, making her groan and roll her eyes.

When it came to her basket, she was surprised on how many boys bid on it, making her nervous. "20, do we have a 25?" Taylor asked making the crowd shift, making the girl eye the last boy that bid 20, until someone actually bid 25 dollars.

"Twenty-five, here." Jess rose his hand, making the crowd look at him, and so did Margaret. "No more bidders?" Taylor asked the others, watching as the boy groan and lose the basket and the girl he wanted to go out with.

"It goes to the fellow in the yellow jacket." He hammers the table lightly before moving on. "You actually bidded on my basket?" Margaret looked at him confused. Making the boy keep walking with the basket in hand.

"Yes I did, let's move on." They walked away from the plaza, Jess was taking her away from the crowd. He actually brought her to the lake luke had pushed him into some days ago. "My goodness, did you bring me to the place Luke pushed you in?" She snickered, in which made him look at her.

She giggled and sat down near the edge, making him follow along. "You're actually in luck, I put some good stuff in this basket." Margaret smiled and opened the lid, revealing the goodies inside. "This seems like diabetical murder scene." Jess said in a monotone voice.

"Hush, there some healthy options here." Margaret pulled some sandwiches out, handing one out towards him, the scene was a comfortable silence.

Jess looked around before swallowing his bite. "The boy bidded on your basket because he wanted to make a pass on you.."Jess said making the girl look at him. "oh, um well thanks for doing that.." She smiled at him.

The silenced became a bit unsettling, the boy looked away from her, noticing how he made the situation a tad bit more still? "Sorry the guy was being an ass, so I did the more responsible choice.." He said, taking a chip from the basket.

Margaret looked at him, nodding in understandment. "Thank you for being responsible." She smiled slightly, then the silence turned a bit more comfortable.

"Maggie."

Margaret didn't know the Bracebridge Dinner would be such a problem, it was never one, not until this year. She was so fussed up with what to bring, what clothes to arrive in, what to look like, why was this so hard?

Maybe it was because he was here this year. She didn't really understand, they haven't properly interacted since Annual Basket Auction, but there was always signs..

When he would peep around just to glance at her, little actions such as him giving her a peeled orange, her cup of coffee at the diner, doing her chores little by little. It made her develop something she didn't want.

She had developed love towards the boy, and she wanted to throw up. She didn't mean it in a disgusting way but deep down she knew it was a one sided love.

Margaret could only look at herself in the mirror and just let her imagination go wild. What if Jess developed the same feeling as she did?

Would they become more? It made her heartbreak because it wouldn't work.

She ended up going to the dinner with a white knitted sweater and a black skirt, the black tights weren't really helping tring to block the cold winter air.

The first thing she saw was Jess talking to Rory, both noticing her when she walked in with her older brother and his wife. Maggie hated fidgeting with rings, and made her anxious.

Jess was about to tease her until she had walked passed them, making both of the teens look at her. She was talking to Lorelai, who was directing her to their room.

Jess could only look at her and just stare, what was going on with her? Was there something bothering her, or was he bothering her.

The dinner was intense, Margaret could feel his eyes burn holes into her. She could only just sit and eat, ignoring his presence because it made her think of things she didn't want to imagine.

She was half of the people that had left for a sleigh ride, some left before dinner and the other half did it again after. Maggie had a nice warm mug of hot chocolate sitting on her lap, along with a blanket to cover her exposed legs.

She huffed as she could see her hot breath seep out. She was alone once again, her brother and his wife having their own moment. The driver was about to move until there was a shift in the carriage.

"You didn't have the patience to wait for me?" It was Jess. Then instantly her palms became clammy and the warmth that was just in her legs suddenly rose up to the rest of her body. "You're ignoring me or something?" He kept pestering.

"No, just didn't feel like talking today." Maggie just knew that sounded lame once it came out of her lips. Jess kept looking at her and he saw her eyes go somewhere else. He stood still for a moment before sitting straight in his seat.

They had been sitting there almost half of the sleigh ride, and the air was thick. Until a head was placed in her shoulder, Maggie looked over just to be greeted with black hair in her way.

Jess had began to lean into her body more, making her lean away. "What are you doing?" Margaret could feel her face heat up, and he could feel it. "You're hogging the blanket, jeez don't you know how to share?" Jess said before it returned back to the quietness.

Then he could feel the blanket go around him, but he could feel the body next to him more clearer now. The rough thick khaki jacket he had on was a big contrast to her black leather jacket.

He could see her rosy cheek, her puffed out pink lips and her messy brown hair that was under the white beanie under her head.

When you know, you know.

Jess huffed and Maggie could feel him relax under the blanket, but he still had his face shoved into her neck. "I got you a present." Jess had whispered, making her the only one able to hear it. Maggie could only chuckle, the vibration making its way towards him.

"Me too."

Everything had changed after that, Jess seemed to be around more frequent, he seemed to care more. He had became a little bit more open with her, more genuine with her.

Then it had all changed a month before graduation, when he found out he wasn't eligible to graduate.

Now Maggie stood in front of him, near the bus station going to hartford. He had things packed and he hadn't said anything about leaving, not even her.

She just by chance was passing through there, she had came back from visiting harvard. Coming home to tell him the news, that she had been accepted.

Instead of seeing him near the diner, he was getting ready to leave her. It was eating him alive when he saw her get off the bus and head towards him. "Where are you going?"

"None of your business." His voice was blunt, making her flinch just a bit. "Excuse me?" She was confused, why was he sour?

"You're excused." He huffed out. "What's up your ass today?" Maggie was speechless. Jess on the other had sighed, visible annoyed. Maggie huffed, sitting down right next to him.

"Where are you going." She asked again, after some time of silence. Jess was still ignoring her, making her knee shove itself towards him. "I'm leaving.” His answer didn’t affect her, she knew it was going to happen either way.

Maggie looked at him, making him stiff as a board. “Okay.” She had finally peeled her eyes away from him. Jess was starting to bite his nails, he felt uneasy about this drastic change he was about to commit.

Both of them saw a bus going towards Star hallow coming their way. Maggie was going to tell him, before she would never see him again.

She knew she couldn’t make him stay, so she would unravel it all today, before he left. “Here.” She handed him a fresh book that was wrapped. Jess could see her hands shake, he could hear her voice shake, and he was the cause of it.

Jess looked at her, her face was somewhat in denial but it was putting up front he knew too well. He took it out of her hands. “this is your early birthday present.”

Before he could respond, she stood up grabbing her bag and making her way towards the bus. She stopped and grabbed something out of her bag.

“Here, this is my new address starting in March, feel free to write me or to drop by.” Maggie smiled at him, making him take the letter, it was a street near Harvard. His eyes were wide, this was big news, for her, for them.

He had encourage her to at-least apply and she agreed now she had been accepted. “Just because you’re leaving doesn’t mean we’re no longer friends, we’re friends.” She said.

“Friends can lean on each other, you can lean on me if you want to Jess, but that is a step you need to take, okay?” Jess was still, a million thoughts running through his head, He was barely able to hear her say.

“I love you, Jess.” It was like the world was becoming still, and the last horn to Star hallow blew and she walked away. Forever leaving him until he decided to reach out and lean on her.

Jess saw nothing but truthfulness on her face, and his heart palpitated. Jess was in love with her, he wanted nothing but to kiss her, hold her just for a minute but his time was up and she had been nothing but patient.

Jess however had turned hesitant, she was headed toward her dreams and he was still lost. So he let her leave, leaving her with hope that he will choose her... he never did.

He would say that was his biggest regret.

She waited, waited for two year that eventually turned into four, and ended at five. She was now twenty two, and has only a dash of hope, but it flew away when she met him.

A boy who was like her, waiting for someone. Somehow they met as an accident that turned into a friendship that healed them, and turned into love.

His name was Theodore, and he had healed her waiting heart that was stuck in denial and hope. Two years had flown by and she had moved on, now planning her wedding.

She had returned to Star Hollow to hand out wedding invitations to closer relatives and friends. Maggie had contacted her brother to meet up at Luke's diner. "My, look how you've grown up!" Eliza her brothers wife had said. "Hey Maggie, how's Theo?" Tyler, her brother asked, making her roll her eyes. "You haven't seen me in a long time and you ask for theo?" She said, making the man surrender jokingly. "How've you been?" Tyler said slinging his arm around, making her laugh. "Happy."

Luke was surprised when he saw her enter the diner, he was happy but he had gotten a tinge of sadness in his old heart. The last time he had seen her wasn't that long ago but to him, she was still seventeen.

"Hey Mags." Luke side hugged her, making her smile. "Hey, how've you been?" Her smile had turned large, she wouldn't lie, she had missed him. "Busy and tired running this place." He exaggerated, massaging his shoulders jokingly. Maggie laughed, making him smile a bit. "This place needs you back, miss my handy employee."

She had laughed harder this time and continued to talk to him before eventually going to sit with the people she was originally going to talk too. "Here it is!" Maggie pulled something out of her bag, in which was the wedding invitation. "God, you're growing up." Tyler took the card, almost tearing up watching his baby sister grow into a wonderful lady.

"I want Eliza to be my maid of Honor." Maggie asked shyly making the other woman jump in excitement, then sitting back down. "I'd love too!" She smiled.

Eventually they had invited her to their house, her little nephew had missed her dearly.

Margaret smiled big, she loved this part Connecticut, her little town. She watched the kids she once knew pass her by telling her hello, and other things. She had entered Luke's diner with no thought in her mind, looking up to find Luke.

Then again, she turned into a fool everytime he looked at her. "Jess." Maggie felt her heart drop as his name became a foreign language.

Jess was surprised to see her, then his mind went blank.

The two adults had stood there still, what was wrong with her? She had waited for this moment, because she was over him. "Hi, um how've you been?" She said taking a step near the counter. Jess was still looking at her, taking her features in.

"I've been good, you?" Jess finally mustered something out, making the girl look around before responding. "I'm fine, do you know where you uncle is?" She asked looking around again, the diner was empty, it was just them. Jess's eyebrows frowned "Upstairs.."

"Alright, it was nice seeing you." She smiled at him before walking away. Jess could only think about was why was she so calm, acting like she didn't care.

"Luke you in there?" Maggie knocked before the door swung open. It was Lorelai, and Luke, they seemed flustered. "Woah is this a bad time?" She said, before the two yelled a 'no'. "Well this is actually a good time for me, Lorelai come here." She said, walking to were luke was.

The other two looked at eachother, as the younger one pulled something out. Lorelai was the first one to see it, making her scream. "You're engaged!?" She yelled, leaving no time for the girl to respond before pulling her into a bone crushing hug.

Luke was shocked but congratulated her, but when he was done she laughed. "Gosh, you guys, wait!" She said before pulling out wedding invitations, making the other woman scream more. "You're getting married!?" She yet again pulled her into a hug.

"I want both of my parent figures there..you guys mean so much to me." Maggie gave them a sad smile that was quickly wiped off. Luke had laughed a bit, while Lorelai cried happy tears just a bit.

After some time Lorelai had left to tell Rory the news, after her Luke walked her down. That was when Luke remembers what happened between her and his nephew, quickly looking at her. "It's fine, I'm over it." She smiled.

Jess had noticed her and Luke walk past him, before leaving the diner to talk outside. "Luke, I wanted ask you for a favor." Maggie said, catching the attention of the older man. "I want you to walk me down the aisle, but it's totally up to you!" Maggie continued to talk until Luke hugged her. "I'd love too."

With that Maggie smiled and hugged him back, after sometime they parted. Maggie could see on luke's face that he was thinking about something, and she knew what. "He can come too, I don't mind."

Luke looked at her with worry, only for her to shrugged it off. "I'm over it Luke, I've met the love of my life, and I'm happy.." She stated while Luke nodded, then she left.

Luke smiled a bit before going back upstairs only to find Jess staring at the invitation back upstairs. "Are you going to go?" He asked a bit dull. "I am." Luke snatched it out. “Ironic.”

"She was nice enough to invite you too, knowing you broke her heart." Luke had a harsh habit of reminding him, making him wince. “You need to get over it.” He continued, making the boys anger grow once again.

“She’s finally moved on and able to find happiness, you should follow in her steps.” Luke said. “Please why are you so angry about this? It was just a stupid crush she had.” Jess anger began to bubble.

“It wasn’t a stupid crush, she was waiting for you for five years!” Luke declared. Jess anger disappeared, now he was looking at his uncle with a confused look. “What do you mean five years?”

“Five years my ass! When I finally had the courage to go see her, she was already with him! She broke that promise.” Jess yelled, making Luke frown.

“She met Theodore when they were both healing! He was nothing but a friend to her, a year later they began dating, she moved on! Now she’s over you and now getting married.” Luke screamed back, making Jess quiet again.

“You didn’t have enough courage, but she did. She was able to look at you and forgive you, takes a really nice person to do that.” Luke finally said. “I’ll be going to that wedding, and I’ll be walking her down that aisle.” He said slapping a rag down the counter.

Jess looked at his uncle who stormed upstairs, now wanting to scream at himself for being an idiot. Jess ran outside and looked for her around the plaza, he saw no one.

She looked eternal, that's how Jess would describe her. She was like a model you would see in a bridal magazine, the ones that found the perfect dress.

Jess was nothing but awestruck, watching her walk down the aisle with his uncle's had guiding her down, handing her to her future husband. Jess saw it in his smile, he looked in love with her, it made him think. Would that have been him, if he chose her?

The whole ceremony was beautiful, Jess eyes were just on her. Capturing every time she smiled, when her eyes twinkled towards her lover. When she cried reading her vows, and looked at him while he read his.

When she kissed him as everyone erupted cheered for the happy couple, making him stand up as well. Finally watching her walk down the aisle but now with someone that would cherries her like he should've done.

As the party, Jess wanted to run away from the crowd. So he did, sneaking around before he made his way to his car, until he heard a voice he knew so well. "What are you reading these days?"

Jess looked behind to find her with a kind smile, her after party dress that made her move freely now. Jess could only think of their first encounter years ago. "Mostly taming of the shrew and others.."

"Jess, was it?" Margaret smiled, looking at the boy, in which he nodded. "why are you here, at night, all alone?" She asked, looking at the sweet boy with a knowing look he knew too well. "Escaped dinner." He muttered, his eyes shifted towards her, as he examined her.

Her brunette hair was loose, while it was halfway tied up, and her body contained a loose white sundress, god was he a fool. He smiled stupidly, looking up at her again. "The smiths?" He said as the background noise was her favorite Smiths song, the singing along of her guest said so too.

She focused her attention to him again. "yes? they're my favorite band." She says. "Interesting choice.." Jess said making it a bit insulting. Margaret looked sadly at him, the air became a bit awkward. “Just because we had a rough time with our relationship doesn’t mean we’re no longer friends, we’re friends.” She said.

Jess eyes widen, how could she? How could she still say he's a friend after everything he's done. "Jess, you have to put in mind we both experience the same hurt, in the end we didn't end up together." She said, making him look at her nervously. "As your friend, I would want you to move on.. as the girl you broke her heart, I would want you love someone better."

“Friends can lean on each other, you can lean on someone special if you want to Jess, but that is a step you need to take, okay?” Margaret said, giving him a sad smile, before turning away. "Bye, Jess, Love you." She said, before walking away.

Jess stood there, as the tears finally bursted out. Maggie short for Margaret, she was a sweet experience for Jess. She was an experience he wished he could relive and do the right thing, because he had finally lost the girl he loved, the girl who genuinely was ready to be by his side, but she needed him to take that step.

A step he regretted not doing everyday after he wedding.

𐙚 @landitolover, @moneygramhaas, @d6za1, @ch3rryknots

𝓂𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉, ⟢ more!

[cinnamonzz]

[emmafallsinlove]

jess and rory could’ve been endgame if rory would’ve listened to jess when he told her to take someone that looks like him to that friday night dinner because i can see rory goes to dave like “i need a favor” and just imagine dave sits in jess’s clothes in the gilmore household like i can’t believe i’m doing it and like imagine emily call to lorelai in the following morning like “jess is such a wonderful nice man” AKDDJTDJYFU