Part 4

"Good morning," Rory's voice is soft as she gently wakes Jessie whom is sleeping soundly on Lorelai's bed.

Jessie opened her eyes into two small slits and then smiled at Rory as her eyes focused on the other girl. "Mmm! 'Morning," she moaned and then yawned widely. When she had finished yawning and opened her eyes fully, she noticed that Rory was fully clad, which made her raise an eyebrow in a silent question.

"I'm going to Hartford to visit an old friend," Rory explained with a sad smile, her eyes shiny of unshed tears.

"Paris?" Jessie simply asked with a sympathetic voice.

Rory nodded at her silently.

"Want some company to there?" offered Jessie with a casual glance over at Rory, almost as if she was afraid of the answer.

"Sure," Rory replied with a small almost nonexistent smile.

* * * * *

The wind blew lightly making the barren branches of an oak rustle silently. Two girls, one just some feet away from a beautifully chiseled gravestone with a sculptured angel resting on the arched top while the other girl were some yards further behind.

The taller of the two girls, a brunette bent down and put the flowers, three white roses and one red she had been carrying from the flower shop, gently in a vase filled with crystal clear water. When she had made sure the vase stood steadily on the ground, she fished out a small lantern and put it down beside the flowers. After she had lit the lantern she remained in the bent down position and stood like that for several silent minutes.

When she finally spoke she said with a sob, "It's my fault she's there..."

"What do you mean?" the shorter blonde asked with a concerned look in her eyes, she had never seen Rory in this kind of mood before.

"If I'd told her earlier... she'd been alive today," Rory explained with a slight tremble on her lower lip, as if she were about to cry.

"You don't know that," Jessie said, she knew that it was true, having experienced depressions herself.

Rory turned her head, displaying her puffed tear-soaked eyes to the blonde, "You're only saying that to cheer me up."

Jessie gave the brunette a sympathetic smile, "No, I'm saying that because I know how it is to be depressed, I was for the better part of my early teens. It didn't get better until I met my first girlfriend actually."

"Really?"

"Yes, the more probable thing that would've happened unless she got professional help is that she'd dragged you with her. Look what she managed just by killing herself."

Rory sniffed loudly and turned her gaze back at the gravestone, "I miss her though," she stated with a sedated voice.

"And you should, especially since you were in love with her, I'm just saying that you shouldn't feel guilt for not stopping her from committing suicide," Jessie was about to continue when she realized her heart screamed at the grave, cursed it for daring to hurt her... what did the taller brunette mean to her? Suddenly a chill ran through her spine as she understood how the other girl; Paris must have felt before she choose to kill herself. That torturous feeling of pain running through every vein of her body at the thought of spending so much time close to the object of her love, but still miles, light-years away was unbearable.

Rory turned her head as she heard the other girl gasp, the sight that met her was a panic looking blonde girl with an ashen face, she looked as if she was paralyzed and a concerned Rory stood up to get reach out to her.

Jessie felt dizzy, this should not, could not happen, she still loved Katie, he asked herself how she possibly could be in love with this girl, denying the simple truth. Feeling her feet give away under her she stiffened as she felt two hands grab her, steadying her to stand up. "I-I'm ok," she managed to say with a weak stuttering voice.

"Are you sure?" Rory's eyes were filled with worry and she tried to catch the shorter girl's evasive eyes. After a moment she gave up, as it seemed that her friend actually got better. "I'm finished here, would you mind if we took a detour to visit my grandparents before going home or are you not feeling well enough for that?" she asked her voice still filled with concern.

Jessie nodded and replied, "I can manage," at the look she received from the other girl she added with a more firm voice, "I'm fine. No really, I'm fine."

Rory shrugged it off and made a defeated gesture, "If you say so."

Since Jessie had regained her balance they both turned and left for the car. For the first time since they met there was a clear distance in between them.

* * * * *

"Rory!" Emily cried out with a surprised voice, "We didn't expect you and your mother until later tonight."

"I know, I just had some," Rory hesitated before saying, "business to attend to here in Hartford and thought I might come by to say 'hi'," and then smiled at her grandmother.

"What a nice surprise," Emily returned the smile and then noticed the girl behind Rory. "I see you brought company?" she noted with an interested look.

"Ah, yes, this is Jessie, my roommate at Yale. Jessie this is Emily, obviously my grandma."

Jessie stepped forward and smiled at the older woman, she could clearly see the similarities, especially around the eyes. "Hello Mrs. Gilmore, it's a pleasure to meet you," she said with her best smile and an offered hand.

Emily took the hand and returned with a pleasant smile pleased with the excellent manners the girl offered, "Nice to meet you too," she replied and then looked back at Rory. "Would you two like to come in for a cup of tea?"

Rory gave her grandmother an apologetic smile, "Sorry but we have to get back home to get ready for the Lanes dinner." She then pointed at Jessie, "I actually only wanted to come by and ask you to add a plate for Jessie here, since she'll be joining us on our thanksgiving dinner crusade."

Emily gave her granddaughter a mildly surprised look and then said, "We'd be delighted to add you to the dinner table," to Jessie with a pleasant smile.

"Thanks Mrs. Gilmore." Jessie replied with a genuine smile.

"Oh it's nothing, we are very interested in getting to know Rory's new friends."

"Well it's time for us to go now," Rory said as she checked her wristwatch. "See you at the dinner."

As the two girls walked out of the house Emily stood at the front door waving them off, she had really liked the blonde girl accompanying her granddaughter and looked forward to the dinner, to get to know her better.

To be continued...