She sees him standing there, bathed in the glow of a streetlight, after walking her grandparents to their car for one last goodbye. She wonders in some far corner of her mind, how stupid she must look just standing there staring at him with her mouth slightly open. He must decide to take pity on her because suddenly he's walking towards her. That familiar smirk on his handsome face bundled up in the beat up old leather jacket that makes him look like the bad boy everyone always thought he was. Except her. She alone knew that the bad boy act was just that an act to hide behind, an excuse to not let the world in. Except her. It was always her he let in. It was always her he opened up to and only her. It was only for her that he was in this crazy town again. People would assume it was for his mother and baby sister and uncle that he came to see but the two of them knew better.
" Hey," he says when he reaches her.
" Hey," she replies with a shy smile.
" Luke called me," he explains. " He told me you were leaving and that I should come and see you off." This time her smile lights up her face. " He put all this together for you. It was all his idea."
" Really? Mom and I figured it was Sookie," He smiles and shakes his head. " I have to go thank him! Will you help me find him?" Jess smirks and jerks a thumb over his shoulder towards that diner. Rory's mouth drops open in shocked delight to see her mother and Luke locked in a passionate kiss.
" Looks like Lorelai has it covered," he intones dryly.
" Jess," she giggles and he smirks again.
" Hey, you wanna dance?" She smiles in surprise.
" I didn't know you dance," she says as she lets herself be led back to her party and the dance floor.
" There are many things you still don't know about me Miss Gilmore," he says and twirls her to her laughing delight. People clear the floor for them as the DJ that took over for Kirk puts on a slow song. The whole town watches them together but neither of them pays attention. They're too busy catching up to care.
" I got to meet Christiane Amanpour yesterday," she tells him.
" Yeah? That's great! How did that happen?" She tells him about the meeting and how embarrassed she was about meeting her idol in her pajamas. " Well at least you make an impression," he laughs.
" That's what my mom said! Anyways, she gave me her card and told me to send her some of my work and maybe she would be able to help me. I was floored! I mean this is a woman who won nine Emmy's for her journalism skills and she wants to look at my work!"
" Hey I've read you're work, it's nothing that you have to be ashamed of Ms. Yale News Editor," he tells her before he once more twirls her to make her laugh breathlessly. The song ends and they head over to the food tables where a blushing Luke talks softly to a grinning Lorelai.
" Hey Kid," Lorelai says when she sees to pair. " Jess."
" Aunt Lorelai," Jess replies in a fake respectful tone. Lorelai snorts and rolls her eyes. " Uncle Luke," this time the tone is real and Luke gives him a brief hug.
" Thank you Luke for the amazing party," Rory says before giving the man a sincere hug.
" It was nothing," he replies gruffly but returns the hug nonetheless.
" Right, I'm going to go see Liz and Doula before I need to go get a cavity filled," Jess says when things grow awkward. Lorelai and Rory laugh and then laugh harder when Luke says he doesn't get it. Jess turns away with a shake of his head but stops when Rory says his name softly. " I'm staying the night at the diner," he says reassuring her he isn't going to just take off. Rory smiles and says okay before leaving to go talk to Babette and Miss Patty.
Later that night after the party winds down Rory goes to Luke's diner and heads up the stairs knowing that Jess will be there waiting to see her and catch up in private. She knocks on the door to the apartment before he opens the door sans shirt and hair wet. Obviously he had just gotten out of the shower and she stands there drinking her fill of him for several moments.
" So do you want me to take a picture so you can have it on those lonely nights on the road?" She looks up and his teasing smirk is in place as he casually stands there watching her. She knows he is just trying to make her uncomfortable.
" Sure, why not?" She tosses back and quickly pulls out her cellphone and snaps a picture of him. He looks surprised for a moment before he laughs and pulls her into the apartment. He goes to the open duffle bag on his old bed and pulls out a shirt to put on.
" Want something to drink?" He asks going to the fridge.
" Sure," she says sitting on the old couch. He returns with two beers and sits next to her.
" So," He says after they both take a sip. She looks down and picks at a lose thread on the couch.
" Logan proposed," she blurts because she has to tell him.
" Wow," he says. " I don't remember seeing him tonight."
" I said no." She meets his gaze and continues. " It was right before graduation. He asked me in front of a bunch of people. It was awful because I couldn't answer him. He wanted me to move to California with him for his new job. He made it sound so nice but I told him I needed time. I think I was just stalling. I told him at graduation that I wasn't ready and he told me he didn't want to do the long distance thing again and that it was all or nothing. So I told him no and he left. Part of me was relieved. I'm just starting out! I'm not ready to be married to a guy like Logan. I knew my career would wind up taking a backseat to his and I just couldn't do it. It hurt though when he walked away." Jess pulled her in close for a hug and Rory realized she was crying.
" Breakups always hurt like hell," he tells her as she leans in closer inhaling his familiar scent. " Especially when you're in love with each other."
" Jess," she says and he knows where she's going, back to that night.
" It was a long time ago Rory. You already apologized and I already forgave you. I forgave you that same night when I told you that you could tell him we slept together." Jess tilts her face up so she can look into his eyes. " I'm sorry Rory. For all those years ago. You didn't deserve what I did Rory you deserved so much better."
She sniffles and leans in closer to him and they sit and talk for the next hour. She tells him about Dean and their second failed go round, the Life and Death Brigade, living with Pairs and her time off of Yale and why she left and then why she went back. Because of him and what he said to her. He tells her why he left all those years ago and finding his father out in California and how he made his way back across the country. About the time he was living in New York and came back for his mother's wedding. He tells her how he met his partners at the publishing house and how he wrote The Subsect and how she was his inspiration for his writing. They talk about the classes she took while at Yale and that sometimes she would use the things he said when she was debating literature in class and how she still finds Hemingway boring as all get out but can tolerate him more now. He smiles and tells her I told you so before noticing the time.
" As fun as this is, Rory you need to get up early tomorrow and take your first real steps to fulfilling your dream."
" My first steps to fulfilling my dream huh? Now who's the cheerleader?" she teases.
" Shush you," he says and playfully shoves her. He stands up and grabs his jacket and she puts her shoes back on, not remembering when she had slipped them off, before following him downstairs. They see Luke down there putting away the last of the party leftovers. Rory gives him another hug and says goodnight before she leaves with Jess. The walk to her house is made in silence but it's a pleasant one. She slips her hand into his after the first block and he doesn't bother to hide his grin from her. All too soon they reach her house. The lights are on and she can just see her mother inside. She turns to him with sadness in her eyes.
" Jess I-" he steps forward and gives her a soft kiss on the lips.
" Don't worry. We'll say goodbye in the morning," he says hugging her to him. She breathes him in deeply and gives a shaky okay. He kisses her forehead before turning and walking back to the diner. " Go inside Gilmore before it starts raining again," he calls over his shoulder. She smiles and does what he says.
It's just after five in the morning when she and her mother sip coffee in Luke's the next day. She savors this, her last breakfast at Luke's until who knows when. She smiles at her mother and Luke and their gentle flirting. She knows that this time they will work out and she can't wait until their wedding. Jess comes stumbling downstairs freshly showered but still half asleep just as Luke comes out of the kitchen with breakfast for all of them.
" Well aren't you graceful this morning," Lorelai quips. Jess mumbles something unintelligible and steals some of Rory's coffee.
" Hey! Mine!" She laughs and takes the cup back. " Who knows when I'll be able to drink Luke's heavenly blend again!" Jess blinks blurrily at her and she laughs at him before passing him the rest of the cup and getting up to help herself to a new cup from behind the counter. The small group eat finish their food and then it's time for Rory and Lorelai to leave for the airport.
" Why don't you come both with us?" Lorelai offers when everyone looks on the verge of misery. Jess's head snaps up at the offer and Lorelai meets his gaze with a pained smile. They all pile into Lorelai's jeep with Rory and Jess in the back holding hands and leaning into each other. Rory and Lorelai talk the whole way while Luke and Jess are content to just sit and listen. All too soon they arrive at the airport.
" So this is it Kid," Lorelai says when the other three aren't allowed to go on without a ticket.
" Yeah," Rory says trying hard not to cry and failing. The goodbyes are tearful except Jess. He manages to hold his back but his eyes are watery when he hugs Rory. He takes off his leather jacket and slips it around her shoulders. Finally Rory walks away, she gets to the edge of the security checkpoint before she turns around for one last look. Her mom and Luke and standing with arms around each other and Jess stands next to them hands shoved into his jeans pockets. Rory makes a strangled noise, drops her bags and runs back to her mom for one last round of hugs. She breaks away finally and hugs Luke again before turning to Jess. He holds her for a moment before he backs away enough to kiss her goodbye.
" Go get 'em Lorelai Leigh Gilmore," he says and plants a kiss on her forehead before giving her a gentle push towards the plane. She gives him a watery smile and hugs her mom again before leaving. This time she makes it past the checkpoint and waves before walking away. They watch until she is out of sight and then they watch her plane take off twenty minutes later before Luke drives them back to Stars Hallow. Lorelai sits in the passenger seat and stares out the window tears falling until Jess leans forward and puts his hand on her shoulder. " She'll be alright," he tells her though his own voice is horse from trying not to let tears fall. Lorelai nods and dries her eyes just as they enter the town.
On the plane Rory finds her seat and takes Jess' book from her bag before she settles in for the short flight, his jacket collar turned up so she can just tilt her head and smell his scent still. Jess was right she was taking her first steps to fulfilling her dream and she was determined to make everyone who loved her proud of the work she will do.