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Chapter One: The Coldness Inside

It was two a.m. and Jess was writing in his office downstairs when the screaming began. The bloodcurdling cries had him racing up the steps to their bedroom.

"Rory! Rory! Wake up," Jess said, reaching out to brush the hair off her face. After they moved in together, Luke shared with him the story of the terrible night he found Rory in the diner. Curled up on the floor, fighting her assailant in her sleep, and Jess had woken to Rory having nightmares before, but nothing like this. Nothing like what Luke experienced. He kept talking, the way Luke said to, and eventually Rory woke, gasping for breath, the tears choking her throat.

"Jess, Jess, please don't leave me. You can't leave me. Promise, promise me!" she cried, frantic, in his arms.

"Shhh, Ror… it's okay. I won't leave. Is that what you're dreaming about? Me leaving? Tell me, please. Trust me," he said holding her tight, knowing it was the dream talking, fearing she hadn't forgiven him.

"No, I dreamt… it was stupid. I dreamt the toaster was broken, and you said you would fix it, but it fell down the steps. You looked down from the top step, shook your head and turned away. You walked away. The toaster was in thousands of pieces and Luke said 'No one can fix this, he's shattered,' and you were lying there. Bleeding from a hundred holes on our wood floor," Rory sobbed. Jess soothed her, holding her tight, rocking her gently, whispering how much he loved her, and he'd never leave her. Her crying turned to gasps, then sporadic hiccups, before he was able to lay her down and hold her while she slept.

Sleep didn't come easy for Rory, the empty feeling kept her awake long after Jess thought she drifted off and dozed off himself. She was so cold inside. Something was coming. She knew something bad was coming, and nothing could spoil tomorrow for her mom. Luke and Lorelai were going to get married and nothing else mattered. But she knew, the coldness inside was growing and she knew.