A/N: Here I am, writing the third chapter to something that was supposed to be a really short one-shot. Anyway, now we have some actual storytelling and not just letters. I really hope you'll like it and that you'll tell me your thoughts.

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Chapter Three: Photo-proofed kisses I remember so well

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Jess smiled as he put Rory's letter back into the envelope. He pressed the envelope against his chest and sighed. Then he realized what he was doing and coughed. He put the letter down on the table in front of him, folding his arms and looking at the wall. Then, in one sudden motion, he grabbed the letter, ripped it open and scanned it quickly.

"I really did love you, Jess. I think some part of me always will. A pretty big part. The most part."

He smiled again. She still loved him. Fair enough, she hadn't exactly admitted it in the most straightforward way, but he found the words, somewhere under the Rory-ness that was her whole letter. He read it from the beginning again, but stopped at a part that bothered him.

"How come you didn't send me the letter until now? It's been over a year since that night."

Why the hell did she think he sent it now? Because he hadn't had the guts to do it before, and because… he missed her. He missed her very much. And whatever if a whole year had gone by, he didn't think it ever would be completely over between them anyway.

Jess sighed and looked at another envelope, which was lying on the chair next to him. He put Rory's letter on the table and starting reading the other one, probably for the hundredth time.

"Hey,

Your mother is having a huge party to celebrate her and TJ's wedding anniversary. Be there or be square.

Uncle Luke"

The first time Jess had read it, he laughed so hard that his roommates Matthew and Chris both wanted him to sit down and tell them who died. But he stopped laughing when he realized something vital.

Luke is Liz's brother.

Lorelai is Luke's girlfriend.

Rory is Lorelai's daughter.

Holy shit.

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Rory stumbled out of the cab and threw money to the driver through the open window. It had driven almost twenty yards before she realized that she had forgotten one of her bags in the trunk. Throwing her humongous backpack – containing some pretty breakable gifts - on the grass, she ran like a madwoman, waving her arms and shouting after it in German – which was a really bad habit. It finally stopped, making her run right into it and probably causing internal bleedings.

Coming home was starting out great.

"Moooooom," she wailed when she had finally managed to squeeze through the front door with her six bags.

"Child!" Lorelai ran down the stairs, almost tumbled down the last three and threw herself at her daughter, making Rory drop all of her bags. Rory could swear she hard a cracking of porcelain in one of them and cursed inwardly.

"Do you know what 'arschgesicht' means in German?" Rory asked in a defeated tone.

"Yes, I am extremely fluent in German," said Lorelai in a most sarcastic voice. "Actually I'm thinking about switching my mother tongue to German."

"Well, apparently it does not mean "Please stop so I can get my bag"," Rory grumbled. "And you can't switch mother tongue."

"Party pooper."

"I need coffee," Rory wailed. "I haven't had any real coffee coffee in two weeks."

"Lemme guess, they only have Irish coffee in Germany?" Lorelai quipped. She instantly sobered when she saw Rory's puppy dog eyes. "Jawohl, coffee-coffee coming right up."

Rory followed her mother into the kitchen. "Are you always gonna call it coffee-coffee now?"

"At least for the next ten minutes or so," Lorelai grinned. "I happen to find it fabulous."

"Thought so," said Rory.

Lorelai winked at her and started rummaging through drawers and Rory took this opportunity to watch her. She certainly had a glow about her, looking happier than in a long time. She was wearing the necklace Luke had given her and sometimes touched it without thought. Rory found it very sweet, though it made her heart ache a bit. Her mother was happy and in love. Rory was… not. At least not happy, though the other part made her uncomfortable. She and Logan hadn't been broken up for very long, and that had been a serious relationship. But she hadn't been very happy with him, she realized that now. She thought back to what Jess had written about Logan in his letter. That had been a very bright point in an otherwise pretty dreary work trip. A letter from Jess. Who would've thought she'd ever receive a letter from Jess Mariano? The thought made her smile, her eyes far away from the kitchen in Stars Hollow.

"Hold it right there, missy!"

"What'd I do?" Rory yelped, looking wide-eyed.

"You fell in love! You met a handsome German and now you're gonna move away to Germany, away from your poor Mommy - who has done nothing but nourished and taken care of you since the day you were born - all alone in a large cold house with no one but a dog named Paul Anka, who can't even bark without scaring himself, as company!" Lorelai rambled panicked, but with a sparkle in her eyes.

Rory laughed out loud. "Mom, I'm not in love with anyone, I'm in the process of getting over Logan, remember?"

"I should hope so," Lorelai said suspiciously. "You just came home to your mother; I want to have you home until you're at least forty."

"Okay, Mommy, I'll stay till I'm forty," Rory quipped, imitating a five-year-old.

"Good girl," said Lorelai, grinning widely. "Now drink your coffee-coffee."

Rory chuckled and grabbed her cup, but as she drank it she couldn't help thinking about what a certain boy in Philadelphia was up to that very moment.