Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. I have been gone for Summer Vacation.

Jess was folding clothes and throwing them into his duffle bag that was open on his bed. He gave Rory a crooked smile as she sat on his bed, watching him pack.

"Do I have to go?" He asked Rory childishly. Rory smiled and shook her head.

"Not if you don't want to, but your mom won't be happy about you not showing up when you said you would." She smiled gently at his crooked smile. That smile of his always got to her. She really didn't want him to go, but he had promised his mom, and she knew a thing or two about family commitment. Her Friday Night Dinners were nothing new. She had to go every Friday and leave Jess alone. This was only one weekend without Jess. No big deal, right?

"Fine, I'll go. But you better be here when I get back." He pointed at her teasingly. An entire weekend in New York without Rory... Jess had no idea what he could possibly do. Of course he'd call her a lot, and make sure that she was okay. He hated the idea of leaving his fiancé behind.

"I'm not going anywhere, Jess…" She spoke softly in his ear. Her breath made him shiver.

"I love you so much." He spoke with the same softness as she did. He cleared his throat and spoke a little louder. "Once we are married, I'll never have to leave you again. We can be together forever and ever and ever…" A soft, loving smile played on his face.

Rory leaned in and kissed him on the corner of his mouth. "I'd like that…" She couldn't imagine being with anyone other than Jess.

Jess smiled and threw a pair of khakis into his bag.

"I'm going to Stars Hollow this weekend. I'll tell them about our engagement at Friday Night Dinner, then I'll spend the weekend with my mom. And, after your trip, we can meet in Stars Hollow and drive back to New Haven together." Rory's announcement threw Jess of guard. He sat next to her on the bed.

"You don't think we should announce it together when I get back?" As soon as the question came out of his mouth, he wanted to take it back. He really didn't want to be around when she told her grandparents. He enjoyed his limbs and didn't want to stick around for Richard to tear him apart.

"No, it'll be better this way." Rory said. She was unsure how her family would react, so if Jess wasn't around, he might not change his mind about marrying into her crazy family.

"If you insist." Jess said smiling.

Jess looked down at his bag. He realized that he was finished packing. The sooner he left, the less traffic he'd run into on the way to New York. He should have announce that he was leaving, but instead he said, "Come on, I'll buy you a coffee before I leave."

Rory smiled and jumped up to get dressed and ready. "Yay for coffee!" She yelled excitedly. Jess laughed and zipped up his duffle bag, looking around his apartment.

He grabbed two copies of his book. One he had written an inscription for Lorelai, the other for Luke. Rory's copy was special. It had notes in the margins, as well as a dedication and an inscription. He took post-it notes and marked each book so they wouldn't get mixed up.

Rory came waltzing out of the bathroom, fully dressed. She was wearing a pair of jeans with a turquoise tank top. Jess smiled at her and handed her all three books.

"Here. Will you give them to their respective owners for me?" Jess asked politely, already setting them into Rory's purse.

"Of course, dear." Rory said with a smile on her face.

"Oh no. None of that cutesy name-calling until after we're married!" He grabbed his duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"Whatever you say muffin." Rory said playfully. Jess pointed at her accusingly.

"That's it! I'm driving!" He grabbed her keys off the counter, smiling devilishly. He began to walk out of the apartment.

"No! Jess, it's my car and I'm driving it!" She chased him out of his apartment, turning on her heel to look into the abnormally clean apartment. For some reason, she felt like this was an important time to look over the apartment that she had co-signed with him two years ago.

"Come on, Sweetheart!" Jess yelled in a singsong voice. Rory shut his door and ran to the elevator. She hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Jess." She said sweetly. Jess held her tightly and patted her back lightly.

"I love you too, Ror." He smiled as the elevator closed.

--

Rory and Jess sat at a table for two at the coffee house around the block. It had been one of their favorite places to be as a couple. Jess was drinking a café latte; Rory had a caramel macchiatto with an extra shot of expresso. The two ordered the same thing Everytime they came, and half way through, they'd switch coffees. It was a tradition they had made when Rory first started Yale.

Jess finished off Rory's coffee and smiled. "I love coffee. In New York, its hard to find good coffee." Rory scoffed.

"Jess, there's a Starbucks on every block!" She took a sip of Jess's remaining coffee.

"Starbucks waters down their coffee. This place is perfect. Being here with you is perfect." He smiled and placed his empty cup on the table.

Rory smiled and took the last sip from her cup before doing the same. They stood up and went outside into the parking lot. They had taken Jess's car so that he could leave right after coffee, and Rory could walk back to Jess's apartment.

When they reached his car, Jess pulled Rory into a tight hug. He ran his fingers through her hair and smiled when they pulled apart. "I'll miss you Ror, and I'll call you as soon as I can."

Rory nodded and grabbed onto his leather jacket. She pulled him close to her and kissed his lips deeply. As they kissed, Rory felt Jess's hands wrap around her small waist. Rory smiled into the kiss, feeling Jess do the same.

When the kiss ended, they stood smiling at each other, gazing into each other's eyes. A single tear fell from Rory's face, but Jess wiped it away, putting one finger to her lips.

"Shh, don't cry. I'll be back as soon as possible." He smiled a crooked smile as Rory nodded. He opened his car door. "Goodbye Rory."

Rory smiled at him and his crooked smile. "Bye Jess."

Jess got into his car and drove off. Rory waved at him as he went. Everything inside Rory told her to call him right now and tell him to turn around. All she wanted was to be with him; to be close to him. Jess Mariano, her fiancé, her everything.

As Jess drove away, he saw Rory waving at him in the rear view mirror. He couldn't understand why he felt like he should turn around and blow off his family. He needed Rory and she was all he had ever wanted out of life. He could have nothing, as long as she was by his side. Rory Gilmore, his love, his everything.