From the night of the wedding, Rory and Jess embarked on a turbulent, 9 month relationship filled with fiery arguments and even more passionate make ups.

Rory's job meant she was often distracted and too busy to call. He was still too quiet and private. He would watch as she ranted and yelled and fell asleep with her back to him. The ice would melt when she woke up to an empty bed but an apology on the opposite pillow, a new book or a cup of coffee.

They struggled through the separation of states, alternating visits between New Haven and Philadelphia. When Rory arrived at Jess's on her fourth weekend trip, she smiled as familiar voices drifted down the road from the tall brownstone bookshop. It was unseasonably warm for fall and the door was held open with a thick, yellowing book.

She hurried up the steps as best as she could in her works shoes and quietly knocked on the ajar door, still not totally comfortable around Jess's tight knit group of friends. They were creative and cool and although they were warm she often felt out of place with her office job, high waisted skirts and button up blouses. As she entered, Matthew was reclined behind the desk with his bare feet propped up against the register, a beer in either hand.

"Hey!" He threw both arms above his head, obviously tipsy. "It's Rory! Anna, it's Rory!"

Matthew's long term girlfriend Anna poked her head from around the storeroom door. She was quick witted and pretty, with dark skin and wild hair that had been at least three different colours since they met three months ago.

"Hey, Rory! You look fancy."

"Oh yeah, I had to come straight from work." She shifted her weight in her uncomfortable shoes, eyeing the festive banners decorating the cash register. "What's the occasion?"

"Tom's 25th", replied Anna, referring to the quiet art major who had joined the Truncheon staff several months ago. "We're all going out tonight."

"Do you want a beer?"

"Sure, thanks." Rory accepted one of the bottles from Matt's outstretched arm. "And that sounds good. I might go and change first, though."

"Don't!" Anna exclaimed. "You look hot."

"Listen to the woman." Jess's voice came from behind her as he thundered down the stairs, arms curling around Rory's waist. "You look hot. Hi."

"Hi", Rory grinned and leaned back into his chest, closing her eyes blissfully as kisses were pressed on every bit of neck in his reach. He could almost make her forget that they weren't the only two in the room. Almost.

"Excuse me", Chris cleared his throat as he walked out of the back office, Tom under one arm and an impressively large bottle of champagne in the other, "No foreplay in the workplace, love birds. Let's go."

Rory blushed furiously and made an awkward beeline upstairs to Jess's bedroom to a chorus of laughter and wolf whistles, her boyfriend's arms still locked shamelessly around her middle. Despite his protests, she switched her tight dress for mom jeans and Birkenstocks before accepting Jess' hands and letting him pull her to the pub.

Rory was always still stunned by how many people Jess and his friends seemed to know in Philadelphia, a constant stream of randoms joining and leaving the group's table. He was more lively and social than he was when they were younger and she felt comfortable in the lively atmosphere with Jess' arm slung around her shoulders or his warm palm on her knee. By midnight, Chris had disappeared with the blond he was perusing around the room whilst Rory and Anna had declared themselves best friends for life. Jess managed to pull her away from the booth at 2 am, half leading half carrying her back to the apartment.

They made it three blocks before she tripped over her own flipflops and landed on her butt, grazing her palms on the ground. She looked up at him like a hurt toddler with a glassy eyes and a trembling bottom lip.

"Jeez." He pulled her up from the concrete and crouched a little, offering her a piggy back, "get on." Her injury was quickly forgotten about as she jumped up gladly and laced her arms around his shoulders, singing loudly and off key into his neck.

When they finally made it back she managed to undress and fall into his bed in her underwear, silly and uncooperative as he readied her for sleep. He took a warm wash cloth and wiped away the traces of makeup that he knew she hated sleeping in.

"Why do I keep forgetting that you're a difficult drunk to deal with? I swear we're going tee total first thing tomorrow." He handed her the 'Stars Hollow High' gym t-shirt that she still slept in, shrunken and faded due to years of washing. When she just starred the proffered garment, he sighed and helped her pull it over her body before gentling her onto the mattress, surprised when she went down without a fight.

"Wow, you must be drunk. You haven't even tried to come onto me."

"I totally accosted you in the rest room, it's not my fault you didn't go for it." She pointed at him lazily, her eyes drooping as she spoke.

Grinning and climbing into bed beside her, his face easily found it's favourite spot amongst her hair. "Get some sleep, Ror. I'll have coffee and a shower ready in the morning."

She was already snoring lightly.

Even when she was woozy and a little hungover, Jess thought that there was nothing better than finding Rory sat deliciously sleepy and pliable among his sheets every morning when he got back from his run. Pulling off his sweaty t-shirt, he took in her heavy eyelids and crumpled bangs with a smirk.

"Good morning, sunshine."

"Mmm, gimmie." She reached greedily for the take away coffee cup he offered her, drinking deeply before placing it on the set of drawers. "Thanks."

"My pleasure." He crawled into bed beside her and pushed messy hair out of her eyes, grinning, "You look nice."

"Don't even touch me, you're sweaty and disgusting." She swatted his hand away but allowed herself to be cuddled into his bare chest, leaning them both against the headboard. "I can't believe I'm dating a runner. I mean someone who runs. Voluntarily runs."

"What's wrong with running?" He rubbed one hand up and down her arm.

"Teenage Jess would have kicked your ass if he saw those pink running shoes and tiny shorts you wear to the gym. And he wouldn't have ran anywhere unless chased", she giggled into his shoulder.

"First of all they're red, and teenage Jess didn't know what he was talking about. He also would never have run from anything. I'm not afraid."

Rory rolled her eyes and manoeuvred herself so she was sat in his lap, hands cupping his face. He grinned and grabbed her hips, re-positioning her weight to where he wanted it. Wiggling against him, she placed her lips against his ear and whispered seductively.

"You can pretend to be a big, strong man but please remember that I know the swan story."

"Shit", he groaned, dropping his forehead against her shoulder. "I so regret telling you that."

She giggled against his hair as he kissed her neck leisurely. Leaning forward as if to kiss him, she stopped millimetres before their lips touched.

"I'm going to go brush my teeth and drink my coffee then we can continue this," she whispered.

"You're such a tease."

She winked cheekily at his groan before sliding off his lap, avoiding his grabby hands and picking up her coffee as she ran to the bathroom. He sat back and listened to her move about the ensuite, smiling suddenly.

"I bet you didn't do this to Dean!" He called into the empty room. "Get him all wound up and then start worrying about your hangover breath?"

He heard her choke on toothpaste before skidding back into the room, eyes blazing as she wiped damp hands on her shirt.

"I thought I banned you from mentioning that name ever again?" At his chuckle she planted angry fists on slim hips. "Oh, I'm glad you find my anguish so amusing."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He fell back into the pillows with a belly laugh, "that's just my absolute favourite thing to make fun of you for." When she still didn't move he sat and reached out for her, laughter still sparkling in his eyes. "I'm sorry, baby. Come here."

She reluctantly trudged over to where he lay but yielded as he pulled her down next to him, nose to nose and sharing a pillow.

"You brought up the swan thing, for like, the fifteenth time since I told you. What did you expect?"

"You're so mean to me."

"You like it."

She rolled her eyes but accepted the kiss he leaned in for.

"I think we should break up", she whispered, tracing his face with her fingertips.

He pushed his hands under her shirt and kissed her again.

"Can we hold off on that for like, an hour?" Another kiss, deeper this time.

"Yeah, sounds good." She allowed herself to be pulled back under the covers.

TBC