A/N: Don't expect this kind of updating again. I knew what I needed to write though and I had enough time at work to be able to so. This probably won't happen again. We are definitely getting closer to something momentous! The idea that this whole story sprouted from. So, I'm definitely excited by that. I hope you enjoy.

TRIGGER WARNING: Just in case, there is a mention of drug use and child abuse in this chapter. There will also be mentions of it in the next chapter.

"Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being." – Albert Schweitzer

Jess sighed in aggravation as he got Becca's voicemail again. They had gone two weeks without talking. "It's me. Again. Look, we can't just leave things how they were. We need to talk about this. Without yelling." He saw Chris waving him over, no doubt to discuss how they were going to divide up the bookstores. Jess took in a deep breath as he finished up his message. "Becca, this isn't us. We don't fight. I can't remember a time when we weren't able to talk things out. Just…know that I love you. I really love you. I'll try and call you later tonight. Bye." Jess hung up and looked at his phone briefly. He didn't know what else he could do. If she wasn't going to answer her phone, there was no way that they could work things out.

Jess thought of the ring box hidden away in his dresser drawer. He had bought it just a few weeks prior. He hadn't planned it. That morning he and Becca had gone out for breakfast. It had just snowed and as they walked back to his car a strong wind gust blew into them. Becca had turned her face into him, whining softly as the cold bit at her cheeks. Jess had chuckled softly, the cold not bothering him, as he brought his hand up to cover her face. He had kissed the crown of her head, thinking in that moment that he truly loved her. He could do this every day with her. He could spend the rest of his life with her. That afternoon, while she was painting, he had gone out to find her a ring.

Jess shook his head at the memory. He wanted to fix things with Becca. He just didn't know how.

Becca looked down at her phone as it alerted her to another voicemail from Jess. She ignored it as she took a sip of coffee, leaning back into the couch. She looked up as her drinking companion asked, "Is that him again?"

Becca nodded, looking at Will. He had been such a good friend to her. When she had shown up to her art group that morning after her fight with Jess, Will had noticed immediately that something was wrong with her when he got the group started on their next project. They had talked after the group session was over for a few hours. He had listened and told her she wasn't crazy for her feelings. He listened to her. They had talked every day since then. She felt closer to Will than she had felt with anyone else. Looking back down at the phone, she spoke softly. "Yeah, he left another message. I just…don't want to talk with him. I know what he'll say. That their friendship is nothing, that I don't need to worry about it. I don't know, maybe I shouldn't. He's never done anything to make me question him. But lately, he's just been so distant. I don't know if it's because of the book being published or maybe it's me. Maybe he doesn't love me like he used to. I don't know what to make of it. When he looks at me, I know he does love me. But that isn't enough, right? I should be able to just know without having to look for it, right? Please, tell me again that I'm right."

Will gently grabbed her hand, squeezing it. "You're right. If I was him, you wouldn't be questioning if I love you. You'd know." He turned her hand over, let his fingers intertwine with hers as their palms pressed together. "You'd feel it with every touch."

Becca's mouth opened slightly, her fingers tingling at his gentle touch. "Will?"

Will brought his other hand up, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "With every caress. I'd show you every minute of every day, how much I love you." He let his hand slide to the back of her head, his fingers weaving through her hair.

Becca felt her breath become slow and shallow. Her heart sped up as she started to lean in toward him. "Will?""

He started to lean forward as well, his lips hovering over hers. Whispering softly he told her, "You'd feel my love for you in every kiss we'd share." Becca moved the last inch forward, slanting her mouth over his.

Rory opened the door to her childhood home, calling out, "I'm home."

She heard her mom shout joyfully, "Loin fruit, is it really you?"

Rory laughed underneath her breath, smiling as Lorelai ran over to her. They hugged tightly, happy to be together again. "I've missed you, mom."

Lorelai smiled, tightening her hold a little more. "You've been gone too long, conquering the world and all. I demand you come and visit your mommy more!"

They pulled apart as Rory said, "I wish I could, but my new job won't allow it."

Lorelai grinned widely, pride shining in her eyes. "You mean your new New York Times job?"

Rory smiled brightly at that, still not used to her new position. She wasn't anyone just yet. Barely working there for a month. She loved it though and she knew that her mom was proud. "Yeah, that one."

Lorelai wrapped her arm around her daughter's shoulders, guiding her into the kitchen. "My little girl, a journalist for the New York Times. I'm so proud."

Rory blushed softly as Paul Anka trotted over to greet her. She scratched behind his ear as her mom went to pour her a cup of coffee. Looking around, Rory asked, "Where's Luke?"

Lorelai handed over the cup of coffee as she told her, "He wanted to head to the diner early to make you a special breakfast."

Rory's heart warmed at that. "He didn't have to do that."

Lorelai waved her hand, telling her daughter, "He's missed you too, kid." Pushing away from the table, she started to head toward the stairway. "Let me just grab my shoes and we'll be off!" Just as she passed the small table that held the mail, Lorelai remembered something. "Oh! I knew I was forgetting something. You received a package a few days ago."

Rory walked toward the mail, wondering why she would receive something at her mom's house. She had made sure to change her mailing address for everything. She picked it up and immediately noticed the handwriting. Rory looked up at the staircase to make sure her mom wasn't coming yet, before she ripped the envelope open. Excitement filled her as she tilted it, letting the contents of the package slip out. A book landed in her hand and as she examined it, her heart fluttered. The Nonentity, written by Jess Mariano.

She wanted to yell at him. Not telling her that he was writing another book. She wanted to be there for him when it was released. Be part of his small support system. Quickly, she skimmed through it, noticing that this one was far from a short novel. She knew what she would be reading that night. Turning to the first page, wanting to get just a glimpse at what it was about, she started to read the dedication. To the girl who told me I was strong enough to accomplish the impossible. Who wanted more for me when I wanted nothing. Thank you.

Rory couldn't believe it. Never in her life had she thought that this would happen. That a book would be dedicated to her. She didn't know how to feel about it. She didn't know what the dedication meant for them. She remembered that conversation they had had back when they were teenagers. Even back then, Rory knew Jess would become something.

She heard her mother coming down the stairs and quickly put the book in her purse. The last time Jess had come up in conversation, Lorelai hadn't reacted so well. Rory didn't want to have an argument with her mom about the rekindled friendship between her and Jess. Especially since her mom would see that perhaps Rory still had feelings for her ex-boyfriend. Rory smiled at her mom as she started telling her a story involving Kirk.

Rory was curled up in bed, her old clock telling her it was past midnight. She knew that she should sleep since her mom had the entire next day already planned out for her. However, Rory couldn't wait another second to read Jess' book. She read the dedication again, smiling softly as she ran her fingers over the words, before turning the page to the first chapter. As she began reading, she could hear Jess' voice in her head.

'Robert's earliest memory was of a concerned mother telling his own, "The innocence of child should be protected for as long as possible." He always thought back to that woman. He wondered what his life would have been like if she had been his mother. A mother so concerned for a child that wasn't her own, trying to save him from a world of misery. He could only dream of the love she must have shown to her own children. Would it have been a utopian experience? Would he have looked at the world around him, only able to see the good? He would never truly know. Robert, though, had heard that when he was on the cusp of losing that innocences.

His second earliest memory was of his mother a few weeks later, on his birthday. She had forgotten he had turned five since she was coming down from her latest high. Angered over the fact that there was no money to get her next hit, she had shook him violently, telling him it was his fault. He had begged her to allow him to go to school. His school had told her to buy him new school supplies. She had wasted all her money on him. Didn't he care about her and her needs? Now she couldn't get what she needed.

Robert remembered how her nails dug into his small arms as she told him that she should just withdraw him from school, since he was a dumb brat anyways. He remembered how her harsh words had made him feel, as if he was nothing. When he had started to cry, she pushed him away, disgusted with him. Later that night, when she sobered for the briefest of moments, his mother had come to him as he tried to fall asleep, crying. She begged him for his forgiveness, telling him through her sobs that she didn't mean anything she said and that she was sorry. She promised him she would get clean.

Robert, of course, forgave her, still believing she would change. The next week, after he had walked home five miles from his first day at school, he found his mother with her newest boyfriend and a syringe sticking out of her arm. It was in that moment Robert stopped living. He merely existed in his dystopian world.'

Rory closed the book, letting the entirety of it wash over her. Tears clouded her vision as she looked out the window, the darkness of the morning concealing her emotions briefly. She hugged the book to her chest, trying to soothe the deep ache that had formed there from the first few paragraphs. It been allowed to go away, either, as she delved deeper into the story.

Rory brought a hand to her mouth, stifling a soft sob. A cry of sadness. It was a cry for the world being such a harsh, cruel place to live in. She knew what she just read. She knew deep down, this was Jess' story. This was his life written out before her. She understood now. Their past, the reasons he left, she could see it written out before her. This was the conversation they never had before he left. The explanation as to why he was so angry, so guarded. She understood now.

Another cry escaped as she blindly reached for her phone. Anger welled within her. Anger at all the people that judged him without trying to understand him. She squeezed her eyes shut, tears falling freely, as she thought on all she had read. All the terrible things he went through at such a young age. Her hand trembled as she dialed the number she memorized long ago. Rory didn't realize how early it was until his gruff, tired voice answered. " 'Lo?"

Rory tried to take in a steadying breath. She failed as another quiet sob escaped. "Jess."

She could hear, what no doubt were his sheets, rustling in the background as he pushed himself up. "Rory? Wha…what's wrong?"

Wiping at her tears, she shook her head. "I…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called so late. Or is it early? I didn't mean to wake you."

Jess cleared his throat, his voice the only thing able to soothe her aching heart. "Don't worry about that. Did something happen? Are you okay? Is everyone okay? Your mom? Luke?"

Rory took in a shuddering breath as she assured him. "Everyone's fine. I just…I finished your book."

"Oh." Rory listened to him breathe in deeply, before he blew it out. She swallowed down another sob, her mind imagining him as a small boy with the whole world fighting against him. He always knew exactly what she needed to hear though. He knew her so well. "I'm okay, Rory."

Her hand tightened on her phone, as she looked out of the window. Rory's voice wavered, as she told him, "It's just not fair."

"Rory…"

"No, what happened," this time she couldn't stop herself from crying out, "it shouldn't have happened. You are such an amazing person, Jess. No one deserves that, but especially not you." Her anger came back as she thought back to when he first came to Stars Hollow. "Then you come here, to Stars Hollow, and they never gave you a chance. It isn't right. I know it doesn't change anything, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for how the town treated you, how my mom treated you, and I'm…I'm sorry for how I treated you. I was a terrible girlfriend, wasn't I?"

Jess laughed softly at her self-deprecation. "You weren't a terrible girlfriend. I was bad at the whole talking part of our relationship."

Rory slowly slid down in her bed so she was laying on her side. "I wasn't so great at it either."

She could hear him, settling back down as well, as he told her, "Plus, we were young. We didn't know how to handle that type of relationship."

Rory knew exactly what he meant. She knew that if they had communicated, if they had done everything right, they could have been it. The one. "Yeah. I'm still sorry."

Jess spoke softly, "I'm fine, Rory. Honestly."

Rory hesitated for only a moment before she asked, "Can I come see you? I know we've only really talked through emails and texts, a few phone calls. I just…I would really like to see you."

She held her breath as she waited for his answer. "I'm not in Philly right now. I'm on the road with my publishers, trying to get my book in some places. Are you back in Stars Hollow?"

"Yeah, I'm staying here for a few days." Rory felt a smile start to form at the idea of seeing him again. Especially after reading his book. She need to see with her own eyes that he was okay.

"I'll be in Hartford in two days. If you're still in town we can meet up."

Rory pressed her phone closer to her ear, joy filling her. "I'll still be here." Her eyes sparkled with an idea. "I can even meet you at one of the bookstores. I can get there before you, talk you up to the owner. How does that sound? That way I'll know this time around at least one place I can put your book in the Staff Recommended section."

Jess laughed at that. "You don't have to do that."

"I know, but I want to. So, what store should I hit up first?" Rory smiled as Jess told her that he'd text her the address of the bookstore. A comfortable silence fell between them afterward, both listening to each other breathe. Rory felt her eyes grow heavy with sleep, as she whispered, "Jess?"

"Yeah."

"I'm really proud of you. Your book…it's my new favorite. For so many reasons." Rory wasn't sure, but she thought she heard him take in a sharp breath. She needed to end the conversation though, before she said something she wasn't fully prepared to admit. "I'll let you get back to sleep though. Hopefully you'll be able to get a few more hours in. I'll see you in a few days."

"See you then. Bye, Rory."

Rory whispered goodbye before ending the call. She looked at the clock as she hugged Jess' book close to her chest. Five in the morning. She would be able to get just under three hours of sleep. It was worth it though. As she started to drift off, Rory smiled thinking about seeing Jess again in just a few days.