The Final Hurrah!
"Jess?" Rory questions.
"Just keep your eyes closed," Jess tells her. "You too Holden and LJ."
"This is stupid," LJ retorts, but keeps his eyes closed regardless. "Where are we even go- Humph," LJ says as he trips over the kerb. "What the hell was that?" LJ asks, picking himself off the ground.
"Sorry, I forgot to tell you to watch your step," Jess replies.
"Are we nearly there?" Holden asks her father.
"Yes, just relax everyone," Jess tells them.
"Where's Oliver?" Rory asks frantically. "You didn't leave him at the house did you Jess."
"No, I've got Oliver," Jess answers. "Just relax, we're almost there."
"How much longer?" Holden asks. "Give us a rough estimation, how many more steps?"
"I don't know," Jess replies. "Minus seventy-four."
"Minus?" LJ asks confused.
"Yeah, minus," Jess answers. "We actually got to our destination awhile ago, but you were all being pains so we circled around it."
"I can't believe you Jess," Rory says as she opens her eyes. "I'm going to get- Oh, is that what I think it is?" Rory asks Jess in disbelief.
"Well if it's what it says on the sign, then yes," Jess says and then looks at the kids who still had their eyes closed. "You can open your eyes now."
"Finally," LJ mutters and then looks at the building in front of him. "Huh?"
"Nice one dad," Holden says proudly. "That's great."
"It's a library," LJ deadpans.
"Not just any library," Holden tells him. "This library has the best collection this side of... the universe."
"Doesn't Stars Hollow already have a library?" LJ asks confused.
"Lucas," Rory warns.
"See when you said that I had to find a place for my books," Jess explains. "I thought what's a better place than a library."
"And you're really going to let other people read your books?" Rory asks him. "Because I know how territorial you can get over your books."
"Yes, they can read them," Jess replies.
"I don't believe you," Rory says stubbornly.
"No, it's true," Jess tells her.
"So you're telling me that your first edition of Hemingway's 'Old Man and the Sea' is in there," Rory says motioning towards the library.
"No, of course not," Jess replies. "I'm not letting the kids get their sticky jam hands on my first editions, or any Hemingway book for that matter."
"Jess?" Rory questions. "How many books did you keep that aren't in this library? And where exactly are they now?"
"I don't know," Jess answers truthfully. "I'd say no more than three hundred."
"Three hundred?" Rory questions him in disbelief. "And where are they?"
"In our house," Jess replies emphasising the word 'our'. "The ones I couldn't cram into our library I put in the study downstairs."
"We don't have a study downstairs," Rory tells him.
"Oh," Jess replies. "Well think of it as a second library with a desk in it then."
"Oh, Jess," Rory says. "Why do I love you?"
"Because of my books," Jess answers hopeful. "Do you at least like the name of the library?" Jess asks Rory.
"The Literate Library," Rory reads the sign aloud. "Kind of ironic don't you think, I mean, I'm sure if they couldn't read then they wouldn't be going to the library. Also, are there any books even in this library you've constructed?"
"Whatever," Jess huffs. "I like it."
"Emergency town meeting! Emergency town meeting!" Lane yelled running through the town.
"Who knew Stars Hollow had a town crier," Jess says amused as Lane ran past them.
"Who knew that it was Lane," Rory says amazed.
"Well come on," Holden says grabbing Rory's hand and dragging her towards Miss Patty's. "It's an emergency town meeting after all."
"They haven't had one of these in years," LJ says excitedly. "I wonder what it's about."
They made their way quickly to Miss Patty's, and by the time they got there it was already packed.
"I guess we're stuck in the doorway," Rory huffs disappointed. "I can't even see."
"LJ, guys," Lorelai says. "We saved you seats."
"Thank the lord," Holden proclaims as she makes her way through the crowd over to Lorelai and the four empty seats.
"How'd you score us these seats?" Rory asks Lorelai as she steals a red vine off her. "Kirk never lets anyone save seats."
"Well Kirk isn't here," Lorelai replies, and Rory immediately turns her attention to the podium.
"Ladies and gentleman... ah who am I kidding we're all mates here," Finn says from behind the podium. "I've called this town meeting because I want to dethrone Kirk. I know that there have been discussions about it already, but we need to act. So who's with me?"
"Yes," The crowd cheer in affirmation.
"This is so exciting," Lorelai says bouncing in her seat.
"I know," Rory agrees. "This is way better then when we dethroned Taylor."
"Yeah," Lorelai agrees. "Taylor just gave up and Kirk took over... this is like a revolution, we the peasants are revolting... but not revolting as in disgusting, ah you know what I mean."
"A revolution?" Jess questions. "Damn, I left my pitchfork and flaming torch at home today."
"I like him, he's funny," Lorelai proclaims. "Has he always been funny Rory?"
"Pretty much," Rory answers.
"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Lorelai questions her daughter. "All this time I've wasted."
"You're the one that didn't want to get to know Jess, so don't blame me," Rory replies.
"Finn! Finn! Finn! Finn!" The crowd chants.
"Oh no," Lorelai says glancing around. "What did we miss? Holden?"
"Not much," Holden answers. "Finn told them that in order to dethrone Kirk they need another person ready to step in and overtake the role of town selectman."
"Oh no," Rory says. "Finn won't go for that."
"I'll do it," Finn tells the crowd and they all cheer in response.
"Let's go knock down Kirk's door," Andrew yells.
"Yeah," Gypsy agrees.
"People, people," Finn says trying to get them to calm down. "No one will be breaking down Kirk's door. This will be a big shock to him, because he's Kirk, so I think that we should throw Kirk his very own festival to lessen the blow, who's with me?"
"Okay," The group reluctantly agree.
"Come on people," Finn tells them. "Kirk mightn't have done the best job, but he's done it to the best of his ability, and I think that he should be rewarded for that. And who doesn't like a festival, come on, I know you guys love your crazy festivals."
The crowd seemed to be torn between Kirk and their love of festivals.
"The festival will be held, there's no changing that," Finn tells them. "Meeting adjourned."
"Oh my god," Laura squeals. "What till they hear about this at school. I cannot believe that you're the new town selectman dad, that is so cool."
"What did I just agree to?" Finn asks Rory, Lorelai and Luke concerned.
"Oh not much," Jess answers. "You just sold you soul to the devil and you're never going to get it back."
"Great," Finn mumbles. "Stupid chanting crowd, it's just like being back on the red carpet 'Take off your shirt Finn!' and trust me when you have a hundred girls screaming that at you then you do it."
"I can't believe you got coerced by the town," Rory says to him. "Well you're definitely a townie now."
The day of the Kirk festival
"This festival rocks," Rory says to Finn. "I must say that you've outdone yourself."
"Why thank you love," Finn replies pulling Rory into a one armed hug. "Kirk's sure enjoying himself."
"Yeah," Jess agrees. "But he forced you into making this an annual event, you are totally Kirk-whipped mate."
"Look who made it onto the front page of the paper," Lorelai says excitedly running over to them. "
"Please don't let it be me again," Jess prays.
"No, it's Finn," Lorelai says excitedly, handing Jess the newspaper.
"Finn Morgan, Town Selectman," Jess reads the title off the paper. "Finn Morgan, who will be playing himself in the yet to be filmed but highly anticipated movie 'Dodger' has been crowned Town Selectman in the town of Stars Hollow, where he recently moved to with his daughter Laura. And it seems as though Star Hollow is the place to live, Dodger Holden (Jess Mariano) also resides in the small town, with his now wife New York Times writer Rory Gilmore, and their three children Lucas Jess, Holden and Oliver. So if you're considering moving, move to Stars Hollow, it's the place to be. Now back to the task at hand-"
"Who the hell wrote this article?" Rory says snatching it off Jess. "Oh Tina, well that explains why it's so... gossip column worthy, don't they edit anymore?"
"Give it back," Jess says as he takes it off Rory. "I knew it. I knew that I saw my name mentioned again."
"Well I'm going to go and see if Kirk's having a good time," Finn says as he starts to leave.
"No, stay here," Jess says as he grabs a hold of Finn's shirt and keeps him where he is. "We talked to Finn Morgan and this is what he had to say, 'It's not a challenge I wished to take, it was thrown upon me, but I will do what I believe to be right by the people. But one man cannot do this alone, so I've appointed Jess Mariano (Dodger Holden) as my right hand man, thank you'. Finn, I cannot believe that you did that."
"Guess what?" Rory says excitedly. "You know what this means?"
"No, and I'm guessing that it's not something good," Jess replies glumly.
"Oh no, it's good," Rory tells him. "You are now officially a part of this town, you've avoided it for a long time Jess, but it's official, you're a Stars Hollow-er... ian? ... It's not important, but you are a part of this town now, I knew you would be one day."
"I am not a part of this town," Jess replies defiantly.
"Yes you are," Rory says as she pulls him into a hug. "And I'm glad that you are."
The End
A/N: Be sure to check out my other Rory/Jess full length fics: The Ripple Effect (2008) - University of Texas (2008) - I Can't Read Your Mind (2008) - FYI IdkYou (2008) - Juvenile Delinquents (2009) - The Subsect by Jess Mariano (2016)