Slight reference to spoilers! (R/J) of course:)

Disclaimer: I have no connection what so ever to Gilmore Girls or its creators. My only connection to the WB is that I watch is on weekly basis. Feedback and reviews are lovely and well appreciated. Thank you so much for reading assuming you did :)

*Lyrics are copyrighted with RCA records on behalf of Eve6*

~ Here's to the Night~

Chapter One : "Are you the now or never kind?"

He glanced up from the dark spot on the table that he was wiping to check the clock on the wall. Again. He silently cursed to himself and forced his eyes to focus on the table again. It seemed only seconds passed as he moved about the diner finishing up his work. He was grateful for the delay but at the same time aching for the minutes to pass. Was that even humanly possible?

He made his way behind the counter for the hundredth time that night and began to fiddle with the coffeemaker. As if on cue, the bells on the door clanged against the window. A slight smirk appeared on his face without even turning around. He didn't need to.

"How's that coffee radar of yours working tonight?" He asked as he stared at the remaining dark liquid in the pot.

A soft sigh escaped from behind him along with a voice.

"Surprisingly well." She replied.

Jess turned around coffeepot in hand and stood directly in front of her. He glanced from the cup on the counter back up to her.

"So are you gonna turn that cup over or should I just pour this directly into your mouth? You know, save you a step." He said.

Rory's forehead wrinkled as she contemplated his proposal for a second. After much though she replied "I think I'll pass on the coffee. Are you about ready?"

Jess' eyes widened slightly as he let his elbows rest on top of the counter.

"Huh?" He managed to mutter in disbelief.

Rory shifted her weight from side to side as she gripped the cuffs of her sweater with her hands.

"What?" She asked nonchalantly. She tried her best to stifle her forming grin as long as she could but knew it would come. He had that kind of effect on her.

"I just thought after pouring what seems to be a bottomless cup full of coffee day after day that you lacked refusal techniques when it came to this." Jess commented as he held his direct gaze into her crystal blue eyes.

Not being able to hold out any longer, Rory let the corners of her mouth curl up to the point where they were visible.

"Am I confusing you?" She asked.

"What else is new?" He answered with a sigh. He turned around and placed the pot back on the burner. Rory eyed the visible book outline in his back jean pocket. She strained her eyes desperately trying to decipher what Jess' current reading material was. She loved that about him. The book outline in his back pocket was something she could count on.

As Jess' tossed the damp rag on top of the counter Luke came back from the storage room. He looked up and offered Rory an awkward smile.

"Hello Rory." Luke said as he made his way behind the counter and stopped next to Jess.

"Hi." She replied as she surveyed the large jar of pickles he was holding.

"Alright, I'm out Luke." Jess declared and then tried to walk past Luke.

Instinctively Luke thrust his arm out in front of Jess forcing him to stop. Rory was used to this by now but still found a little humor in it. Jess and her had been dating for quite some time but for some reason Luke felt the need to act like he was in control. He liked to believe he knew everything that was going on with them and if he didn't than Lorelai knew.

"Where you going?" Luke questioned.

"Out." Jess answered as he rolled his eyes at Luke.

"Cut the crap. I am aware that you two are going out. Where do you plan on going while you are out?" Luke asked again sounding irritated. He eyed Jess who was looking at Rory.

"Somewhere in Stars Hollow."

Luke set the jar on the counter in front of Rory and rested his elbow on the lid.

"How can you put up with this? Doesn't he drive you crazy?" Luke asked Rory.

"As a matter of fact, yes he does." She answered.

Luke opened his mouth again to reply but Jess had slipped past him and was reaching for Rory's hand. She laced her fingers with his and started for the door.

"Stay out of....urggg oh hell have fun." Luke yelled to the two teenagers who were racing towards the door.

Luke watched them as they raced across the street still holding hands. He knew he was too hard on them. Jess mostly but he only did it because he cared. He had told himself earlier that morning to be more understanding than usual when it came to Rory and Jess. His nagging comments were especially not needed to bring them down.

A strange feeling crept inside his chest as he watched them walk away which startled him. For a spilt second he thought he might be having a heart attack. It took a moment but Luke soon realized it wasn't a heart attack. More like his heart breaking.

"So what should be do for food?" Jess asked finally after they had walked in silence across town.

Rory looked up from the ground and over at Jess' face.

"I want chinese. Mmmm doesn't that sound good? Some fried rice, sweet and sour chicken or something?" She proposed.

Jess contemplated Rory's idea and soon agreed. They took a quick turn and headed towards the China Wok. As they walked up to the door, Jess let go of Rory's hand. He reached and pulled the door allowing her to step through first. Rory smiled at him and felt a rush of warmth as she walked in the door. She felt his hand on the small of her back as they stood in the entry way. Rory felt her body lean back ever so slightly in order to touch Jess even more. Just the slight touch of his fingers sent bolts of electricity through her skin and up her spine. It made her feel different and free from everything else in the world.

Everything about him twist and turned her world upside down and secretly she loved it. Well, not so secretly now but it was before. Rory didn't hide her feelings for Jess from her quirky often times judgmental town any longer. Her mother was well aware of her relationship with Jess and Rory's feelings towards him. Lorelai wasn't exactly Jess' number one supporter but then again the position was reserved for Rory and her alone. A mother is naturally supposed to be opposed to her daughter's boyfriend no matter who is he. Granted she was far more accepting of Dean right away but that didn't scare Jess away. He wanted to earn Lorelai's respect on his own and didn't care how long it would take.

Jess looked down as he felt Rory press her back against his palm. He held his breath for a moment praying she wouldn't stand up straight again. He wanted to touch her a little bit longer.

"How many tonight?"

"Two." Rory answered.

Her voice jolted Jess back to reality and his surroundings.

"Actually we'd like to get something to go." He said out of nowhere.

Rory turned and looked at him with puzzled eyes.

"We would?" She asked.

He raised his eyebrows slightly and replied "Yes we would."

Rory turned back towards the host and smiled timidly. "I take that back. We'd like an order to go."

They waited about ten minutes for their order and soon were on their way again take out boxes in hand.

"So the usual then?" Rory asked even though their direction was giving her the answer already.

"Is that ok with you? I just kinda wanna go there tonight." He answered a bit quietly.

Rory took notice of his tone and hoped it hadn't come to that yet. No not yet. It was far to early for that. She didn't respond with words but tightened her hand around his as they continued on their way.