TITLE: The Harsh Light Of Day

PAIRING: R/J

SUMMARY: Rory's 27th birthday is approaching, and Jess, who seven years before left her life, enters it again. But things are very different from the way they were before… (yea, I know this summary sucks, but I'm no good at these things)

SPOILERS: None that I know of

DISCLAIMERS: I don't own anything you recognise from the show. Basically I own just the characters I've made up, e.g. Pete, Mel, Cate etc.

RATING: R (although will be PG at least for the first chapters, maybe even longer)

A/N: So, this is the sequel to 'The Day After Tomorrow', but I don't think it's necessary to have read that story to understand this one. Anyway, before anything I have to say that I've never been to the US, I know nothing about universities or any companies etc. that are mentioned in this story. So if something seems very strange/unrealistic to you, let me know, but please try to forgive any smaller flaws you find in this story(I'm sure they'll be a lot of those..) For instance, I have no idea when Rory's birthday really is. And again, you're more than welcome to point out the grammatical errors etc. And I really need reviews for this one, so please send feedback! Thank you! I hope you like this..:)   

Chapter One

*Monday, 7am*

Rory sat up on the bed. She could have sworn that she hadn't slept an hour. For a minute she just sat there, trying to convince herself that she really needed to get up. Weeks went past so quickly, it seemed like every day was Monday. Rory hated Mondays.

"Get up, sleepyhead. I've got breakfast ready for you!" his voice shouted from the kitchen

She smiled a bit and finally got up. She was definitely lucky to have a husband who made her breakfast practically every morning. Slowly she crawled first to the bathroom and then to the kitchen. She sat down beside the table and looked at her husband.

"Thanks, Pete. I don't know how I'd ever get out of bed without you"

"You wouldn't" Pete said laughing and came to kiss her after he'd put the pancakes on the table. "Anyway, I already ate, I have to get going"

"This early?" Rory asked after she had stuffed her mouth full. "Will you have time for lunch?"

"I doubt it" Pete said and took his briefcase from the table. "But I'll call if it looks like I can make it. If not, I'll be home around six"

"We could order some take out and watch a movie?" Rory said and smiled at him when she got up and went to straighten his tie.

Pete's blue eyes looked at her cheerfully and she touched his short brown hair gently.

"Sounds good. But now I have to go"

"Okay. Bye, honey" Rory replied smiling and after Pete had gone, she turned her gaze back to the pancakes.

*NBC building, 11.30am*

Rory sat in her office room and stared at the computer screen. She yawned lazily and then got up. She was hungry, and since Pete hadn't called she was forced to go out for lunch alone, unless she got someone from the office to join her. Melanie, her best friend in New York, was sitting in the room next to hers and Rory peaked into her room.

"Would you like to have lunch, Mel?" Rory said and tried to suppress another yawn.

"You're hungry?" the woman asked and ran her fingers along her blond hair. There was really no point in asking the question, she already knew the answer. "Yea, sure. Just give me five minutes to wrap this up."

"I'll give you ten, I have to get some papers to Bill before we go."

"See you by the elevators, Rory" Melanie screamed after her when she got back to her room and then walked down the hall to the door of a larger office.

Rory knocked and when she heard her boss's voice, she stepped in. Bill, her slightly chubby, 45 year old boss was sitting behind his desk and drinking coffee, as always. Rory actually suspected that she had got her first internship at NBC six years ago because Bill was so happy to find someone who shared his obsession for coffee.

"Rory, hey, it's good you came"

"I just came to bring you these papers. I didn't know you were busy"

Rory's gaze turned to the woman sitting on the other side of the table. She was about her age, she had dark hair and brown eyes. She looked foreign, maybe Spanish or Italian. Rory figured that she was the new employee Bill had talked about the other day and smiled at her kindly.

"This is Caterina Zambrotta, our new recruit. And this is Rory Gilmore, one of our key figures here in the newsroom. Caterina will be working in our Italian correspondence.

"Since when have I been a key figure?" Rory said laughing and stretched out her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Ms Zambrotta"

"Please, call me Cate" the woman said and smiled at Rory.

"I was actually hoping that you'd take Caterina for lunch and give her some insight into what working here is like"

"It's pretty much like any other company that practises slavery" Rory said and grinned at Bill. "But sure, we're just going out for lunch with Melanie, so if you're ready here, you're more than welcome to join us"

"Melanie Wiltord is working in our French correspondence. Rory on the other hand is our… What are you, Rory?"

"I have no idea" Rory replied laughing. "I do a bit of everything around here"

"Rory will mostly be the person whom you're responsible to directly and she'll give you a hand if you have any problems. She's pretty much the number two here in foreign affairs" Bill continued smiling and chuckled when he continued "Naturally, I'm the number one. But I'll let you girls go and get to know each other. When you're back, Rory could show you around the office, right?"

"Of course" Rory said smiling and then left the office with Cate.

The women went to the elevator after getting their coats and saw Melanie already waiting. Rory introduced Mel and Cate to each other and in a few minutes they were all sitting in a tiny restaurant near the office where they ate lunch practically every day.

"So, you're rather young to be in such a high position at the office" Cate said after they all had their meals in front of them.

"Yea well, I've been at NBC full-time for three years now, but it was six years ago when I was first an intern here. I just got lucky basically. But, I'm not really your boss. I don't really know how to explain what I do, I do a bit of everything, I guess"

"Rory is our general handyman" Mel said laughing

"Well, I'm sure we'll get along well" Cate said kindly. "And Rory, you have a very interesting name"

"It's short for Lorelai" Rory replied smiling.

"So are you two New Yorkers originally?" Cate asked

"No, I grew up in a small town in Connecticut, Stars Hollow. But I've lived here since I've worked at NBC"

Cate nodded smiling and seemed a bit occupied in her thoughts.

"So, are you Italian then? You speak English so well" Melanie asked, she herself was Canadian.

"My father is Italian and my mother American. I lived in Seattle until I was a teenager, but the last ten years in Italy. My fiancé is American, but we met in Italy"

"So, how did you decide to move here? Did he get a job here or what?"

Cate shook her head laughing.

"My fiancé is… a free spirit. He's a writer, pretty much a freelancer. He writes a lot for newspapers and he actually just got a publishing deal for a book here in New York. He's travelled around the world, and I met him while he was passing by Florence two years ago. I fell in love instantly" Cate said and giggled lightly. "It was my luck that he came back and I managed to charm him"

"How long have you been engaged?" Rory asked lifting a glass of water to her lips.

"Six months, although it seems it happened just yesterday" Cate was smiling when she spoke. "But you have a ring, too, Rory"

"Yea, I've been married for a year and a half now. Pete and I met at university and we've been together ever since. Four years, I think"

"Pete's an architect" Melanie said with her mouth full of food. "I would have fallen in love with him myself if Rory hadn't already snatched him. I never get lucky with men!"

"Yea, right!" Rory said laughing and looked at her friend who was a really striking woman. "Believe me, any party and the guys are lining up to Mel"

Everyone knew that Mel was a sworn single. But not many knew that she had once been involved with someone, the love of her life, like she had told Rory. He had died years ago in a car accident, and Mel was pretty sure she would never find anyone who could even come close to him.

Cate enjoyed the company of her new colleagues and the three women soon found that they got along very well. After lunch, they all returned to the office and at five o'clock they were ready to go home.

"Bill? I'll have the report on EU law for you tomorrow" Rory said and peaked inside her boss's office. "I'll just check something and then it's all ready"

"Thanks, Rory" Bill replied with a smile. "Are you heading home?"

"Yea, unless you need me?"

"No, no. Go home, you've worked so much overtime lately"

"Okay, bye" Rory said when she ran to the elevator and caught it just before the doors closed.

"Rory!" Cate cried out behind the dozen people standing in the elevator and somehow managed to get past them to Rory. "I'm so glad I caught you. I was wondering if you and Pete would like to have dinner with me and my fiancé some time? We don't really know too many people here in New York, so it would be nice to get to know you better"

"Sounds good" Rory replied smiling. "We could go and eat out, or you could come to our place. Pete is a really good cook"

"That sounds great. We can talk about it tomorrow" Cate said when they got off the elevator.

"It's nice to have you at the office, Cate" Rory replied smiling. "See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Rory" Cate waved at her when they went their separate ways.

Rory wrapped her coat around her more tightly. It was March, and it was still pretty cold outside. Now she just wanted to get home and eat something. She was starving.

*Rory and Pete's apartment, 6.30pm*

Rory heard the apartment door open and Pete walked in. Rory went to give him a hug with a coffee mug in hand and he smiled at her looking pleased.

"Did you have a good day?" Pete asked taking off his coat and kicking his shoes to the corner.

"Yea, it was good" Rory replied and went to the phone. "Pizza?"

Pete nodded going to the bedroom. Soon he returned without his suit, wearing jeans and a t-shirt. Rory came up from behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"How was your day?"

"Long" Pete replied laughing when he pulled Rory on the couch. "But it doesn't matter now that I'm here with you"

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear" Rory replied smiling and laid her head on his chest.

Pete reached down to kiss her and then stroked her hair gently.

"So, have you decided what you want for your birthday?" he asked curiously

"I don't know. It feels weird that I'm 27 in a few weeks"

"You're getting old" Pete said and smirked. "But I'm getting old with you"

"That's comforting to know" Rory laughed. "But I really don't need a present"

"I just wanna give you something, Rory. A trip somewhere?"

"We don't have time for trips. You're away from home so much as it is. And it's a bit too expensive. Let's settle for a weekend home, just you and me. Do you think you could manage that?"

"I think so. I'll just make sure that Eric isn't expecting me to go to Washington that weekend. So, do you wanna stay here or go to your mom's?"

"I really wanna stay here!" Rory cried out laughing a bit. "I need a quiet weekend, not my mom being neurotic. I mean, I love her when she's neurotic, but right now… A quiet weekend, please"

"Then you'll have one"

"Good" Rory said when the doorbell rang and she sat up to go to the door.

"I'll get it" Pete said and got up quickly

Pete was working on a project in Washington and for the past few months he had spent at least two weekends in every month there. He was the youngest employee at the architect firm he worked for and he was usually the one who was sent to supervise projects when it was needed. And this particular project was pretty much his own, so he was happy to go and see that everything was working out.

Pete returned with the pizzas and settled on the couch beside Rory again.

"We have this new woman at work, Cate. She's really nice and she asked if you and I would have dinner with her and her fiancé some time. They're new here, so they don't know that many people"

"Sounds nice" Pete said while stuffing his mouth with food.

"Yeah, I was thinking that we could do it this weekend?"

Pete shook his head and after having some coke, he said he'd leave for Washington on Friday morning. 

"Oh, I forgot. Well, I could ask them here some weeknight. Thursday? You're not leaving early on Friday, right?"

"No, I have to get going at noon, so Thursday would be good for me" Pete said and started thinking about what he'd cook for the night while Rory went to the fridge to get another soda

"Lane is coming here next week, did I tell you about that?" she said leaning against the living room wall.

Pete shook his head and Rory told him that her best friend had a few extra days off work and she had decided to come spend time with Rory. Lane lived in Chicago with her husband Mark. They had got married a bit before Rory and Pete, Lane had met Mark her first year in college. Lane worked at a music store and Mark was a sports journalist.

"I'm so glad she isn't coming this week, I'd barely have any time to spend with her. I can't believe how much work there's been for the last few weeks"

"Yea, you've been exhausted lately"

"Bill said that things are probably winding down, especially now that we have a few new employees. That should mean less work for me. Thank God!"

"So, is Mark coming with Lane? We could catch a game or something"

"No, Lane's coming alone. I think she needs the break, you know from Mark and this whole baby thing. I think she's getting a bit desperate"

"Well, they have been trying to get a baby for a year now. The best thing for them would be to relax and

take things easy. They're both so stressed out that it's no wonder nothing's happening"

"I guess so" Rory replied lost in her thoughts. "And they still have time. I mean, it would be different if she was ten years older. I'll just try to make her relax when she gets here. I need a distraction from work and she really needs to put the baby out of her mind for a minute"

"I'm sure you'll manage that. And I'll probably be working long hours next week, too, so I won't be in your way"

"Have you ever been in the way?" Rory asked smiling and went to get another slice of pizza for herself.

A/N: Next chapter: the dinner. And we get to meet Cate's fiancé.. The reasons for Jess leaving years ago will be introduced in the next few chapters, too. It's nothing dramatic though, and it's got nothing to do with his father (in this story he's not seen his father since he was a child). And this really isn't a story about a steamy affair between Rory and Jess, even though it sounds so tempting..;)