Rory raced to reach the phone as fast as she could. She had been in the shower when she heard the ringing start and desperately hoped she wouldn't miss whoever was calling.

The beep of the answer machine sounded just as she reached it. "Damn it!" she groaned.

"Hey, one and only daughter!" Lorelai's voice said after Rory relayed how she wasn't in and was sorry to miss your call. "I have fantastic news to share with you! You will pay sorely for not being here -"

"Mom?" Rory cut her off, lifting the phone.

"Rory!" She exclaimed. "I thought I missed you!"

"No, you didn't," the younger girl laughed slightly. "I was taking a shower. Its been a long, exhausting day."

"Well, maybe you don't want to hear my fantastic news then..." Lorelai mused. "I can call back later."

Rory smiled. "Mom, tell me now. I'm never too tired for you."

"Aww, kiddo," Lorelai smiled. "Right back at ya."

"What's your news?" Rory asked anxiously. The last time she got a phone call this late at night from her mom, she had a little brother eight months later. Something clicked in her head at the memory. "Mom...are you...? Is this like last time you called me at 10 pm?"

Lorelai beamed. "Maybe."

"Mom!" Rory shouted. It wasn't an angry shout but this time it was excited.

"Okay, okay, geez," lorelai laughed. "I'm pregnant, kid! I just found out tonight! Luke told me I had been too tired for my usual self and when I wasn't in the mood for coffee this morning, he knew something was off."

"Oh my gosh, mom!" Rory jumped up. "That is amazing! How far are you?"

"A lady never gets impregnated and tells, my dear," the older woman laughed. "But honestly, I don't know. I made an appointment with my doctor and am going in two days."

"A baby," Rory sighed. "I know how much you and Luke wanted another one, mom. This is amazing. Really. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, kiddo," Lorelai smiled. "You know. This one could be a girl. You won't be my only female loin fruit anymore maybe."

"Gross, mom," Rory laughed.

"I'm pregnant, what can I say?" She laughed. "Wow. I'm pregnant. Again."

"Are you excited?"

"I'm over the moon, babe."

Rory smiled bigger. "How's like doing?"

"He's trying to see if we can fit a crib in Evan's room," Lorelai replied. "Maybe when we did the add-on, we should have added another bedroom."

"Because you expected more kids than evan?" She laughed.

"Well, now this one might figure out what a surprise it is!"

"You've been trying for months, mom. Its not that unexpected."

"I didn't say unexpected," Lorelai corrected. "I said surprise. Two different things."

Rory laughed again. "Congratulations. Really, mom. This is fantastic news."

"Didn't I tell you it was?"

"Yes!" She smiled at her mom through the phone. "Do you need anything?"

"Not yet, no," Lorelai told her. "But Luke talked to Jess and surprise, surprise, he's gonna come down here and help get some stuff ready."

Jess? Rory asked herself. "That's good," she swallowed hard. "When's he coming?"

"Uh, later this month, maybe?" She answered. "Luke wanted to take the crib stuff out and move Evan's room around but he'd have to close work so Jess offered to help."

"That was really nice of him," Rory nodded.

"Anyway, I got to get going, babe," Lorelai told her. "Luke looks mad I'm taking this long on the phone."

"You'd think your husband knew how long you take on a phone call by now," she laughed.

Lorelai joined in. "I guess he's still learning after all this time."

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Rory had congratulated her mother again before doing so and got a very happy thank you in response.

But there was a feeling in the pit of her stomach but she had no idea why. Her mother was pregnant again and she couldn't be happier for her. The doctor had told her chances were low of conceiving at her age but her and Luke tried anyway. Rory was glad they didn't give up because she knew her mother wanted another baby with Luke.

Her mind went through the end of the conversation again and her heart thudded. Jess. Her mom had mentioned jess would be coming back to Stars Hollow this month. Rory hadn't seen Jess since Evan's last birthday, eight months ago. Evan had just turned five and he was very excited at Jess' present. Of course he spoils the kid with toys.

Over the years, she'd still barely seen him. There was some Thanksgivings, a Christmas here and there, Evan related events and of course, her mother and his uncle's wedding six years earlier.

...

Rory had seen him when he first came outside to the town square for the wedding. She hasn't seen Jess the day before when he arrived to her hometown but when he walked towards the gazebo, it was as if time stopped. She had felt like the same seventeen year old girl sitting in her room at her desk who turned around to see a dark-haired boy for the first time.

He talked to Luke and his mother, holding his baby sister, Doula at times even. She laughed when he tried to escape his stepfather, TJ. During the ceremony, he stood beside Luke as his best man at the railing of the place her mom and Luke first celebrated their engagement and she smiled at him. He didn't smile back.

She had wanted to talk to him all day. It was the first time Rory had seen Jess since that disaterious open house at Truncheon. He had never reached out to her after that night and she had never either, despite telling her mother they were friends at Lane's wedding.

Finally, he was sitting alone at the table and she took that as a sign they can finally talk. Rory sat down beside him, in TJ's chair, and smiled.

"Hi," she started with and silently cursed herself because that's how she started off their first conversation in two years.

"Hey," he said turning to her. She noticed there was still no trace of a smile but she was determined to not let that hurt her.

"Fancy seeing you here," she said. "You know, I was hoping we could catch up at some point."

"Huh," he nodded.

"Still so monosyllabic?" She teased.

"Sometimes," he let out a smirk. "The verbal thing comes and goes."

She laughed. "Funny. I remember hearing that before."

"Its a well-known fact," he smirked bigger. "So what brings you here?"

"My mom got married," she said sarcastically. "To your uncle. Of course."

Jess chuckled. "I know that. Obviously. I mean, brings you to me."

"Oh," her smile faltered. "I wanted to talk to you."

"You could pick up a phone," he told her.

"So could you," she countered.

"Maybe I didn't want to talk," Jess answered as he took a sip of his drink.

Rory nodded. "I'm sorry."

Jess shook his head. "Water under the bridge, Ror."

"Is it?" She asked.

He blew out air and sighed. "I don't know."

Rory nodded again. "Jess..."

He shook his head again, mirrored their actions from seconds earlier. "Maybe we didn't start this reunion right."

"Huh?" She asked.

"Now who's monosyllabic?" He smirked at her. "Let's start over."

"Okay," she pretended to get up and sit back down again. "Jess! Hi! Its so good to see you!"

"Wow, Rory, you look gorgeous!" He told her.

She laughed. "You don't look so bad yourself there, Mr. Mariano."

He almost blushed but held it back. "Its only because Luke suggested the suit."

"I don't think its the suit," she smiled at him.

"I don't think it's the dress either," he smiled back.

"Thanks," she actually did blush. "How's work?"

"Work is...work," he told her. "We're getting more authors involved and the place is definitely doing better."

"Considering how well it was when I saw it, that's big," she laughed. "Have you written anything new?"

"Actually I have," Jess told her. "Its actually supposed to be getting published soon."

"That's amazing, Jess!" She beamed and hugged him. He hugged her back but after a few seconds, it felt awkward and she let him go. "I'll be sure to look for it."

"I'll send you a copy," he smiled.

"Thanks, Jess," she said and remembered the last time she told him that when she left truncheon that night.

They fell into an easy conversation about books and what they'd be been reading or rereading lately when jess noticed her ring. Rory's hand had been hidden on her leg most of the conversation and now he understood why.

"Logan?" He nodded towards the ring, calling him his real name to not upset Rory.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Two years now."

"Wow." It was all he could think of to say.

"I sent you an invitation," she said.

"I got it," he told her and took another sip of his drink. There needed to be something stronger than champagne if he was going to have this conversation.

She nodded. "Just didn't want to come?"

"Not really, no," he answered.

Rory just kept nodding. "We're happy."

"That's great," he said, not meaning it but knowing he wants Rory happy more than anything.

"Liar," she smirked.

He looked her straight in the eyes and smirked back. "Maybe."

"He's gotten so much better, jess," she said. Rory wasn't sure why she felt the need to make excuses or defend her husband to him but she did it anyway.

"Okay," he nodded. "Really, Rory. I'm glad you're happy. Even if its with him. I just want you to be happy."

"I am," she smiled heartily. "I want you to be happy, too, you know."

"Eh, I manage," he joked.

"Jess."

"I'm good, ror," he said. "Don't worry about me."

"Okay," she gave up.

Right then, jess' mother, Liz, had come towards them and holding a four year old Doula's hand. "Can you watch her for me, Jess? I have to go to the ladies room and I have no idea where TJ is right now."

"Sure," he said. Jess' face instantly brightened when he looked at his little sister.

"Thanks," Liz said as she walked off.

"I bet he's admiring the whole town and wondering what he can improve," he laughed.

Rory laughed. She didn't know TJ well but she knew Luke wasn't too close with him despite what TJ thought.

"Dance with me!" Doula told Jess.

"Right now?" He teased.

"Yes!" The little girl excitedly answered. She held onto his hand and pulled him from his seat. He'd never admit but he let her pull him.

"I guess I'm dancing," he told Rory.

Rory watched as he went out on the dance floor or what was supposed to be a dance floor and danced with his half-sister. She smiled at the sight and at her mom in her wedding dress dancing with Luke.

That was the last time she saw Jess for over a year.

...

Rory got dressed in her pajamas after the phone call with her mother and sat down on her couch. Her mom had given her the old, lumpy couch her grandmother had disliked so much from their house when she moved into her new place. She was grateful for it. It made her feel more at home than adjusting to somewhere new had felt the past two times.

She flipped through the channels before sighing and looking through her contacts in her android. Right there in the J category was Jess. Rory wasn't sure why she never called him even though she had his number right there. Maybe she was scared he wouldn't want to talk to her. Maybe she just wouldn't know what to say.

Letting her fingers hit dial, she held the phone to her ear. She listened to the rings until finally, there was his voice.

"Hello?" Jess asked.

Rory didn't say anything. Why had she called after all this time? She felt her stupid decision weighing on her.

Just as she was about to hang up after another hello was asked, she heard a different word. A name. "Rory?"

Rory sighed, closing her eyes. "Yeah, its me."

"Hey." He sounded surprised.

"Hey," she said back.

"This feels familiar," he said. Rory could just see the smirk on his face as he said it.

"I almost hung up," she sighed.

"Why didn't you?" He asked.

"I'm not sure," she confided. "I'm not even sure why I called."

She could have sworn he'd be nodding right now. "Is it because of your mom?"

"Maybe," she told him. "She told me you'd be coming by."

"Yeah, I thought Luke could use a hand," he replied.

"That was nice," she smiled. "I'm sure he really appreciates it."

"Rory." He said, serious. "How are you?"

"I'm..." She sighed. How could she say it? He probably knows anyway. "I'm divorced now."

"Oh," he said. Just the one word and it killed her. What she would give to know his thoughts. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not," she half-smiled.

"Yeah, I am," he told her. "I dont like if you're sad. You deserve to be happy."

"You deserve it, too," She smiled a real smile now, glad he couldn't see her and also not wanting to mention he was who she had once been sad over.

"I was actually in the middle of writing something right now..."

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "I'm sorry! I'm interrupting."

"Its fine," he said. "I should get back to it. Got a deadline."

"Okay," she said sadly.

"Bye, Rory," he told her and they both hung up.

"Bye, Dodger," she said to herself, wondering if she'd just made a stupid mistake.

A/N: so what do you think? I have very big plans for this one so I hope people like this and stick around! Plus there will be flashbacks throughout the story so you can get glimpses into the eight years between the finale and 2015 :)