Fourth chapter, a continuation, not a time jump. I hope you like it!

Read and review! I'd love know what you think!

Rory woke up to a soft thudding sound. She couldn't place what it was or where it was coming from, so she snuggled deeper into Jess's chest and tried to fall back asleep. The thudding began again so she buried her head underneath a pillow. This time, though, the thud was followed by a woman's voice.

"Jess," it called and Rory realized who it was after the second time his name rung out. "Jess, your sister is getting restless."

Rory sat up in bed, searching for her clothes. She threw on her sweatpants and a t-shirt before turning to Jess who was happily oblivious to his mother in the hallway.

"Jess!" She whispered close to his face. He tried rolling over but she held his face. "Jess! Wake up!"

"What?!" He groaned, opening his eyes. "What it is it, Rory?" He asked, his voice softer and she smiled and kissed him softly.

"You need to go," she told him and he looked hurt for a second. All of a sudden, a louder knock was heard, this time it was on Rory's door.

"Rory?"

"Is that my mother?" Jess asked, eyes wide, and Rory nodded emphatically.

"She's looking for you," she whispered. "You need to go!"

He rushed out of bed, pulling on his sweatpants in the process and stumbled to his room. Rory took a deep breath before getting out of bed and opening her door.

"Liz?" She asked when she opened it. "Good morning."

"I'm sorry, sweetie," Liz said, holding Doula's hand. "Did I wake you up?"

"No," Rory lied. "I was just brushing my teeth. It took me a second before I heard you knocking. What's up?"

"Have you seen Jess?" She asked and Doula's attention piqued at the sound of her brother's name. "He was supposed to be at my house an hour ago to watch Doula for me. I need to go into New Haven for the day."

Just as Rory was about to answer, Jess peeked his head out of his door into the hallway. He wasn't wearing a shirt and Rory realized it was because she had accidentally put it on herself.

"Sorry," he said, looking quickly at Rory and then at his mother. "I need to take a really quick shower. I didn't mean to sleep so late. Can I meet you downstairs in ten minutes?"

"Sure," Liz smiled. "We'll be in the library. Bye Rory. We'll see you soon."

"Bye Liz," Rory smiled and she waved at Doula before they all went their own ways. Once her door was closed, Jess walked back into her room.

"So, maybe we should have gone to sleep earlier last night," he suggested, arms crossed against his bare chest.

"I'm glad we didn't," Rory said and he laughed. He let his arms fall to his sides before walking to her and hugging her to his chest. "Take a shower. You smell," she whispered and he kissed her hard.

"Nice shirt," he said before walking into his room and letting the door close behind him.

Rory smiled to herself before she went about taking her own shower. When she was clean, she put on a pair of jeans, a sweater and a pair of boots. She packed her things up, but left them on a chair in the room, and she left. While she had been getting dressed, she heard Jess shout a goodbye through the wall and heard him leave. When she got downstairs, people were mulling around; open only a few hours, and the inn was already busy. She walked into the town, straight to Luke's, where she found Lane.

"Hey," Lane said from behind the counter. "I thought you were coming in for breakfast."

"I am," Rory said with a smile. "I just woke up about forty-five minutes ago."

"Late night?" Lane asked, head cocked to the side with an accusing smile.

"Yeah," Rory said sheepishly and Lane's smile grew. She just shook her head and took Rory's order.

While Lane worked, Rory sat at the counter, eating her breakfast. Whenever Lane had a second to talk, they leaned across the counter discussing the previous night's events. Lane ooh and ahh-ed at all the appropriate times. Rory could see that she wanted to add her opinions to the story, but she held back. It took nearly an hour and a half while Lane worked, for Rory to complete the story.

"I can't believe he told you all that," Lane said once Rory had finished the story with Jess's confession. "Do you agree? Is he the one?"

"I don't know if I believe in that stuff to begin with," Rory admitted. "I don't know if there's a one for me."

"Oh, I do," Lane said. "And he may be it. He's right; there is no one who gets you like he does. I don't think even me or Lorelai can keep up with you like he can."

"You hate Jess," Rory said with a laugh and Lane looked shocked, but then she accepted it.

"I may have hated Jess in the past," she admitted and Rory looked on pointedly. "But only because of what he did to you. If you can forgive him, then so can I."

"If he is the one," Rory said, cringing at the word, "then I'm screwed. He lives in Philadelphia. I live in Hartford. Neither of us is going anywhere anytime soon."

"If he is the one," Lane said, and she sounded more positive, "then it doesn't matter about now. You'll end up together eventually."

"I don't know," Rory said, resting her head on her folded arms atop the counter. Lane laughed and took away Rory's dishes. She went back to work and Rory remained at the counter checking emails on her phone. She had to pick up Paul Anka to keep him for the two weeks Luke and Lorelai were on their honeymoon, but she remained at Luke's long enough for Lane to take a quick break and stand across from her again.

Lane was in the middle of telling a story about something cute the twins had done and Rory smiled and laughed through it. Lane was such a great mom and she and Zach made beautiful babies.

"Has he always been that attractive?" Lane asked suddenly, confusing Rory. Lane nodded out the window and Rory turned to see Jess carrying Doula across the street while telling her something that caused her to laugh. Rory smiled as she watched before she turned back to Lane.

"You just think he's attractive now because the maternal side of you is reacting to the fact he's carrying a toddler and he looks happy doing it," Rory accused and Lane shrugged before walking to a table and pouring coffee. Jess and Doula came into the diner and he sat on the stool next to Rory, Doula on his lap.

"Hello, Rory," he said and she looked at him and smiled shyly. "Sleep well last night?"

She could feel her cheeks burning, but she answered as Lane came back over. "I really did. What about you? How'd you sleep?"

"Best night's sleep I've had in a while," he said and she smiled.

"You guys are gross," Lane commented and Jess laughed while Rory smiled. "What can I get you to eat?"

"I'll have a burger," Jess said and he place Doula on her own stool, watching her closely so she didn't fall back. "Liz said that she can have macaroni and cheese."

"Yup," Lane answered, before handing Caesar the order. "That's all she eats. We don't have the kid friendliest menu."

"That's fine," Jess said. "I hear she likes it."

"She loves it," Rory told him and he looked at her with a smile. She smiled back and stood up. "I'm going to go get the dog. I'll be at the inn later if you want to talk."

"I'll be back around three," he said and she nodded. She brushed her hand down his arm as she walked away and out of the diner.

As she walked to her mother's house she thought of all the things she could say to Jess. She wasn't even sure how she wanted to end things with him. She had no idea if Jess was the elusive one.All she knew was that she liked spending time with him and they had a good time together. She knew that the night before may had been stupid, but it also felt right. She knew that Jess was a constant in the back of her mind; he was the biggest what-if in her life. Rory had to admit that most of what Jess had said was true; she was never going to meet someone who understood her like he did. They had spent far more time apart than they had together, but things fell into place when he was around. He was the one, ultimately, that got her back at Yale and she was just now starting to understand why. She didn't want him to be disappointed in her and he didn't want her to be disappointed in him.

As she let herself into Lorelai's house, she noticed all of the newly opened wedding gifts in the center of the living room. She smiled as she walked past them and into the kitchen. She peeked into her room and saw Paul Anka asleep on the bed and she continued on to the table. She found a note from Lorelai addressed to her.

Hi Rory! I packed all of the things he'll need and left the bag on the couch. It might be covered by wrapping paper, but it's in there. I'm going to call you later once we land. I want to hear about the rest of your night! I hope everyone behaved!

Also, Paul Anka might put up a fight when you try to get him to leave. He's very attached to the house. Just give him a treat, though, and he'll go with you in a second. His leash is hanging by the door.

I love you!

-Lorelai Gilmore-Danes!

Rory smiled and left the note on the table. She dug through a mountain of wrapping paper on the couch, surprised Luke had left it there, and found the bag of Paul Anka's things. She put it on her shoulder and threw the paper away, saving them a mess when they got back. She found the leash and walked into her room, effectively waking Paul Anka up. When she put the leash onto his collar, he started to whimper; he did not want to go outside. She tried pulling him off the bed, but he wouldn't budge. She ran to the kitchen, found his treats and before she could even get back to the room, he was at her side, yearning for the treat in her hand.

"Come on," she coaxed. She grabbed the leash and held the treat out in front of her as he followed along, Once they were outside and off of the porch, she let him eat it and he happily walked with her back to the inn.

"No," Michel said as Rory and Paul Anka walked into the inn. "No. He is not allowed in here."

"Michel," Rory said. "We're going straight to my room. He'll be quiet and I won't let him on the bed."

"No," he said again.

"Michel! He's an innocent dog!"

"No, I'm sorry, but no."

"Michel, I know that you sneak your dogs in here," Rory said as Paul Anka sat down next to her. "I've seen them and I've never told a soul. Just pretend like you didn't see us and I'll keep pretending I don't see yours."

"Fine," he said, defeated. "At least I hide them," he muttered and Rory smiled triumphantly as she pulled Paul Anka to stand.

When they got to her room, she kicked off her boots, filled his bowl full of water, and sat on the bed. As he licked his bowl empty, she flipped through the channels until she landed on a showing of Almost Famous and she smiled. Eventually, Paul Anka joined her on the bed, lying across the bottom, and she let him despite what she had promised Michel. She could hear people bustling around the hallways and up and down the stairs over the sound of the TV. She heard Paul Anka yawn and when she looked at him he was asleep. All he seemed to do was sleep.

Toward the end of the movie, she heard a door close and she thought it was Jess. When she looked at the clock on the bedside table, she noticed it was after 3, and she knew it was Jess. He knocked lightly on their shared door before poking his head in.

"Hey," he said and she smiled up at him. He walked into the room and sat next to her on the bed. "My favorite," he said when he noticed what was on the television.

She let her head fall on his shoulder and he put his arm across hers and kissed the top of her head. They watched the last ten minutes of the movie holding each other and she turned off the TV as the credits rolled.

"So," he said, drawing out the word as he ran his hand up and down her arm.

"So," she mimicked with a sad laugh.

"I'm going to say something," he decided. "I'm not going to enjoy saying it, but it needs to be said."

"Okay," she said, expecting the worst. She waited and he never let go of her which surprised her. If he was going to say something that would forever change the course of their relationship, she expected him to, at least, not torture her with his touch while he did so.

"I meant everything I said last night," Jess said quietly. "I meant it and I believe it."

"I know," Rory said, nodding against his shoulder.

"Good," he nodded. "But, right now, you and I, we can't work. You're in school here and working here. I'm in Philly, happy and working. I have a lot of people that depend on me."

"Long distance relationships don't work," she agreed and he let out a deep breath, but tightened his hold on her. "If you believe what you said, are we supposed to wait around until we find each other when the timing is right? Are we just on hold?"

"I don't know," he said with a laugh. "I think we have to continue living our lives as we normally would."

"And forget this happened?" She asked, looking up at him and he shook his head hard.

"No, Rory," he told her. "This happened and I don't want to forget that. I'm just saying, I think, that we'll be seeing each other, you know? In a few months I'll be back in the area on my book tour. I'll be around for holidays now that Luke and Lorelai see you and I can stand to be in the same room without killing each other. And, who knows, maybe we'll end up at another stranger's wedding sometime down the road."

She laughed, leaned in, and kissed him softly.

"This is so weird," she told him and he nodded. "Jess, I- I think you may be right - about you and me and our destiny-"

"I never said the word destiny," he interrupted with a cringe and she ignored him.

"And I know that you're right about us now," she said. "The timing is off and we can't start something so big if we're hundreds of miles apart. And there's no way for either of us to do anything about the distance now. If it is meant to be, you and me, it will... be."

"Exactly," he said and kissed her again, putting both arms around her slight body. "And when we do happen to be in the same place and if we're both single, then there's no reason this can't happen again."

She laughed and kissed him. "You're right," she said with a shrug. "There's absolutely no reason."

"Don't feel like you have to wait for me," he said as he absently played with the ends of her hair. "I don't want to you to do that."

"I don't want you to, either," she told him. "If you find someone who could be the one, be with her. Do not wait for me, Jess."

"Okay," he agreed and she could hear the pain in his voice. "I know that won't happen, but okay."

"Okay," she said and he brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her. "This is a very adult thing you and I are doing right now."

"Being an adult sucks," he laughed and she smiled.

It was nearing the time where they would actually have to part ways. Jess was staying at the inn one more night, but Rory had to get back to her apartment and finish a piece she was writing for the Stamford-Eagle Gazette that was due on Tuesday. And since she only wrote a few pieces a month for them while she was teaching and in school, she needed them all to be perfect. However, she continued lying in bed, around Jess's body, while he drifted silently to sleep.

She fell asleep, too, and when she woke up, he was behind her, holding her against his chest and their legs were tangled together. She smiled at the sensation and looked up to see Paul Anka lying on the floor on his back with his feet in the air. She laughed silently and looked at the clock. It was after six and they had been asleep for over two hours. She whined and pulled herself out of Jess's grasp, turning around to face him. She had turned in time to see him twitch in his sleep and she leaned in and kissed him softly. She smiled when she felt him kiss back.

"Don't," he said, when she finally pulled her face from his. He reached for her hips, and pulled her closer to him. "Don't leave."

"I have to," she told him and he shook his head as if that could convince her to stay. She smiled a sad smile and rested her forehead against his. "I've got to finish an article, Jess. I have to go to work in the morning. I can't stay in Stars Hollow."

"So, this is it then," he said and let out a breath. "This is how it ends."

"Don't sound so ominous," she laughed. "We'll see each other soon. I'm sure of it."

"Whatever you say," he said with a roll of his eyes. "You should go, I guess. I've got to go to my mom's for dinner anyway."

"Okay," she said, drawing the word out as neither made a move. He held onto her hips and she kissed his nose with a smile. They just watched each other until Paul Anka woke up and barked. "Okay," she said with finality and they both pulled away from each other, sitting with their feet on the floor and their backs to each other.

She stood up first and went to her bag on the seat. On top was the shirt she had accidentally put on that morning that belonged to Jess. She folded it nicely and turned to find him standing behind her.

"Yours," she said simply, holding it out for him to take. He just shook his head and kissed her.

"Looks better on you," he told her and she smiled. "Goodbye, Rory."

"Bye, Jess," she said and he kissed her softly, holding her face, before letting go and walking into his room.

She stuffed his shirt into her bag, packed up Paul Anka's things, and left with a bag on each shoulder. She didn't stop in his room to day another goodbye; there was no point. This was where it had to end, at least for now. If they were meant to be, as he so vehemently believed, they would be. She was starting to believe it to as she drove away from the inn, Paul Anka beside her, and tears threatening to fall.