A/N: Wow, I just went back and read chapter 1 and realized I promised the rest of this story about two years ago. Clearly, I'm not reliable. And to be honest, it's been written since then. I wrote all three chapters at the same time. Anyway, I'm back now and honestly, I have a lot of favorite stories that have been abandoned for more than 4 years! I've only been gone 2 and I'm officially back! So here is chapter 2. Again, I'm sorry it took so long, I hope I still have readers! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

(Approximately 2.5 years later)

A giggle escaped her lips as his fingers probed into her sides. She gasped for air but he was relentless.

"Jess! Jess! Please, stop! Please!"

"Say it!" He ordered, pausing briefly.

"Never!" She replied and he continued his attack on her stomach.

"Say it!"

"You have this bad ass persona, but I know your dirty little secret!" She managed through her giggles.

"Shut up." He growled and continued tickling her.

He chuckled as she squirmed beneath him on his bed. It was obvious that she was in discomfort but he would not let up till she cried uncle.

"Fine!" She squealed. "I promise I won't tease you about The Beatles anymore!"

He paused, fingers ready in case she was trying to trick him.

"They own! I love The Beatles! I really do! And it's perfectly okay that you're addicted. I swear! I won't tease you anymore!"

Satisfied, he rolled off of her and onto his back. "Thank you."

"However," She began.

One look from him ended whatever thought she was about to voice. He sighed and let his eyes shut, just for a moment.

She smiled to herself as she watched him drift off to sleep. His breathing grew slower, his chest rising and falling steadily. She traced a finger across his jaw and crawled from his bed. She slipped her shoes back on her feet; she had to get back to work. A quick lunch date had somehow turned into stopping by Jess' apartment to get a couple CD's which had morphed into cuddling on his bed, for just a few minutes. A few minutes had somehow turned into an hour and she knew she would be in trouble when she got back to work but it was worth it.

A kiss to his cheek brought a slight sigh from his lips but she could tell he was sound asleep. She scrawled a note and left it on the pillow beside him before grabbing her bag and hurrying down the street to the subway station. Even midday the subways were crowded so she found a spot standing, clutching the handrail tightly.

The past two and a half years had been so happy and wonderful, yet so secretive and depressing. Rory had never been so unsure of a relationship. Jess, of course, had been all for the two of them dating. He had been the one to first suggest it, asking her to dinner that night they'd first reunited.

A bit wary, she had agreed to just one dinner and before she knew it, she was in deeper than she was sure she wanted to be. Something inside her always stopped her from fully committing herself to Jess but she wasn't quite sure what it was.

Jess rolled over sleepily and his face crunched a piece of paper. He frowned and lifted his head, lifting the paper and squinting to read it. 'Back to work! See you later!' She had drawn a small heart beneath the words, but no 'I love you.' He wasn't surprised; she had never uttered the words to him. She acted like she loved him but no matter how many times he said it, she would not respond.

She always said she didn't know why they couldn't be an official couple, after all they'd been together for the past two and a half years, and they certainly acted like a couple. Jess, however, knew exactly what her fears were. He had left her once, when they were mere teenagers and she was afraid it would happen again.

He couldn't help but be hurt by knowing that she thought this, even if she wouldn't admit it to herself. Wasn't it obvious how much he had changed? But he loved her deeply and for the most part was happy so he went along with it, accepting whatever acts of love she offered him but never forcing the words. He hadn't even told Lorelai or Luke they'd reunited, per her request.

Had it been up to him, they would be engaged by now, perhaps living together, and of course, Lorelai would know every detail of their relationship, no matter how uncomfortable the thought made him. Knowing Lorelai was oblivious to this relationship made it less appealing and somewhat dirty. He couldn't help but feel rejected, like Rory was ashamed of him somehow, though he knew that wasn't the case.

He stretched and climbed off his bed. In all truthfulness, he needed to get back to work as well. Truncheon was growing more and more successful. Nathan and Jess could no longer handle the New York branch alone and had hired three more men and a woman, similar to themselves. They had moved the business from the one room apartment to a much larger, ground level store, with a large front window in which they imprinted their name. The store was more welcoming and growing more and more popular because of it.

Jess and his coworkers had even considered branching out to the west coast, California or Washington. Secretly, Jess hoped it would happen so that he could volunteer for the job. As much as he loved Rory, it hurt too much to be her secret lover, rather than her actual boyfriend. Sometimes, anything, even leaving, seemed better than enduring her treatment.

He often wondered if he would actually take the opportunity if it presented itself. He knew that he would be taking it for the wrong reasons and he knew that he would be proving Rory right and hurting not only her, but himself in the process, but really, was that so much worse than their current situation?

Another frustrated sigh and he pulled on his shoes. He wouldn't leave her. He couldn't because he loved her. He had been young and foolish before. He was selfish but now he knew exactly what he was risking and he had never been much of a gambler.

That night, when she got back to her apartment, the door was already unlocked which made her slightly nervous for a moment until she opened it fully and the smell of garlic wafted into her nose. Jess. He poked his head out of her kitchen.

"Hey, I made you dinner to make up for making you late this afternoon."

He was so sweet. And always thoughtful. Yet, he did have a track record for acting sweet and then disappearing. She couldn't forget that.

"It smells amazing. I'm just going to change."

"Well, hurry. It'll be ready in two minutes."

Rory deliberately ignored his command and took her time selecting a pair of purple yoga pants and a navy Yale tee shirt before carefully hanging up her work clothes. She finally returned to the kitchen but stopped short in the doorway.

Jess was unaware of her presence for the moment and she used the time to study him. He was wearing jeans and a slightly wrinkled black tee shirt; no shoes. Standing over the stove like that, with his messy, tousled hair she couldn't help but think about how sexy he was. No matter what his "track record" was, she couldn't deny how sexy he was.

He turned off the stovetop burner and turned to call Rory but found her standing in the doorway staring at him, her face covered with love and lust. Admittedly, he felt the exact same. She did, naturally, appear very enticing in her too tight casual wear. She licked her lips slowly, unaware of the affect the action had on him. It took no more prompting for Jess to cover the distance between them.

She was surprised but not at all disappointed when she suddenly found herself wrapped in his embrace, pressed up against the doorway between her kitchen and living room. She loved his kisses, always had. His touch was soft and gentle, yet rough and demanding. She often wondered if such a combination was even possible or if she had imagined it all. She wasn't being that logical at the moment thought. Not with his hands grasping her hips, his fingers digging into the skin of her lower back. Somewhere along the way to her bedroom, she lost all ability to form concrete thoughts and she let her senses take over.

Her bare shoulder was warm against his cheek. He heard the slightest rumble from her stomach, followed by a larger one. He laughed out loud and she grinned sheepishly.

"Hungry?" He teased, already climbing from the bed and pulling his clothes on.

She giggled childishly, "Well, you did make me miss dinner."

He crawled over to her side of the bed and pressed a kiss to her neck, pulling away only to let her put her tee shirt back on.

"I couldn't help it." He defended himself. He kissed her neck again and let his fingers dance across her stomach to pull her into a hug.

"I love you." He offered, never sure how she would respond but always knowing it would not be with the answer he wanted. This time he felt her tense up and suddenly his arms were in his lap and she was headed towards the bedroom door.

He was usually good at dealing with this rejection; easy going, respectful of her feelings, but this time, very suddenly, he was pissed. A white hot anger that he hadn't experienced in years. He stormed after her, raging.

"What the hell, Rory?!"

He saw her jump but only processed her fear in the back of his mind and pressed her further. "Rory, I love you! Why can't you just get past this notion that I'm going to leave you? I was a stupid teenager back then, Ror! I didn't even know what love was! If you would just sit down and think about it, you'd realize that I've changed! I don't want to spend my whole life paying for my mistakes and that's what you're making me do! Give me a call when you've made up your fucking mind!"

She was always too scared to respond to his proclamations of love. This was almost the time, almost. But she couldn't help pushing him away. It was so wrong but she completely abandoned him and went to get food.

Before she knew what was happening he was standing there screaming at her. It was like an explosion. One moment he was there, screaming at her and the next the door was slamming behind him.

She was in far too deep and she knew it. He had promised that he wouldn't leave and then he left. It hurt more than she thought it would. She wanted to feel satisfied. He'd left. He'd done it. Jess Mariano had lived up to his reputation and left her standing in her living room, completely shocked and alone. But she couldn't. It was hard to feel satisfied when this wasn't actually what she had wanted. She never actually wanted him to go. She just expected him to.

She'd been mentally preparing herself for this scenario for the past two and a half years but for some reason was still hurt and surprised. It didn't entirely make sense in her temporarily boggled mind. She'd kept a very respectful distance between her and Jess, making sure she didn't get too attached. By the way she was currently feeling, it was apparent she hadn't actually done as well as she'd originally thought.

At that moment, there was only one thing she could think to do. It may not make things right, in fact, it definitely wouldn't but she couldn't help herself. She needed something to help dissolve this feeling of rejection. She had to do something, anything to make herself stop thinking about Jess. With one hand already dialing his cell phone number, she went to her closet to change.

A/N: Again, this story had a different feel from my other stories but I really hope you like it anyway. I know I've proved myself to be unreliable but I DO have Chapter 3 written and would love to have it up very soon. Fine, don't believe me, I guess I'll just have to prove you all wrong. Keep in mind, this is a three part story so there's only one chapter left.

As always, thanks so much for reading. I love my readers and love your reviews too! I know I've been mean in not posting for so long, but I would very much appreciate some reviews. Good, bad, or otherwise. :)