It'd been four days since Jess was discharged from the hospital, and he was beginning to feel like his old self once again. He'd temporarily moved into Rory's apartment, and she'd turned into a mother hen. Making sure he had coffee, and water, and blankets. Or pillows, or books, or the remote. He complained that she didn't have to go through so much trouble for him, but he secretly adored the look of concentration that formed on her face as she rewrapped his bandages. After that first night in that hospital, there was a change between them. A chord had been plucked and left their emotions in a whirl. They hadn't talked about anything that was said while Jess was still sightly high on the pain medication, but there was an unspoken agreement between the two of them.

He had to admit, New York was beautiful in the winter. The snow was slowly drifting down as he watched out the window; seeing the edge of yellow cabs many floors down, slushing through the white mix. He'd grown up in this city, and it was still his most favorite place to be. Everything that he'd ever wanted, he'd been able to find on that island. Well, until that one summer.

Rory muttered something in her sleep, and he glanced down at her. She was curled up against his side, her head half on his shoulder, half on her pillow. They were both propped up on the wide couch that was placed in front of the television set in the cramped living room. An old black and white flick was playing quietly, but Jess hadn't paid much attention to it for the past few minutes. Rory had stuck the DVD in before laying down next to him, having just finished her dinner. She'd been gone at work all afternoon, and felt guilty about it. She'd told him it was 'bonding' time, watching the movie. But twenty minutes in she'd passed out; exhausted from the past two days. Jess had been watching her sleep, tracing slow patterns on her arm that was draped over his stomach.
She slowly blinked up at him, and winced. "You shouldn't have let me sleep," She said quietly.
"Why?" He fake whined back at her.

"I don't know. That's not very good skills for a care giver to demonstrate," she rubbed her eyes with her free hand, leaving the one resting on him.
"I think its pretty acceptable when said caregiver hasn't slept the past week,"
"That's not totally true."
He raised his eyebrows and grind softly at her.
"I got a few minuets last night, and like, Saturday when Mom and Luke came by and watched you."
"Why do you have people watching me like a dog? I'm gonna begin to feel helpless, you know. You'll end up having to be on my beck and call for the rest of our lives."

She punched him in his unhurt shoulder.
"Shut up, dork."
"Dork?" He laughed. "Are you six?"
"Yes I am, dork."
"Aw," He pulled her up closer against him, and chuckled. "I love when you act six,"
She rolled her eyes, and changed the subject on him. "How're you feeling?"

"Fine and dandy, Pippy,"
She grinned at the reference.
"Seriously. You're due for more pain meds in an hour," She glanced at her watch.

He snuggled into her neck. "You're all the pain meds I need."
"That literally has to be the cheesiest thing you've ever said in your life."
"It's quite possible." Jess took hold of her chin and pulled her face up to meet his. This. This made him feel sixteen again. It made him crave cigarettes, and Hemingway, and, god, more of Rory. She sighed into the kiss as he wrapped one head around the back of her neck, securing her to him.
"Jess?" She breathed.
"Hm?" He barely had the concentration to respond.
"I love you."
This made him pause. He pulled back, staring into her ocean blue eyes that would always be home to him. It was the first time she'd said it in years.

He'd said it first, then ran away. Ever since that night, he'd dreamed what it would sound like hearing it from her. So much in life had been shit for him, but this one moment seemed to make it all fall away. When she first came into his life, he'd never known what she'd be. That he'd spend nights drunk, cursing everything in life, but never her. They'd just been kids then. Now, it meant something even more.

He watched her eyebrows knit together, and he remembered that he hadn't responded to her yet.

"God, Rory," he crushed his mouth back to hers, and pulled her as tight against him as he could manage without causing pain.

It was New Year's Eve. And as the snow fell outside on the city, Jess found himself becoming whole once more, and more happy than he'd ever been in his entire life.

*YEAH I KNOW. School, life, same old excuses. That, and I had no real clue where to take the story. But I got some inspiration, so I hope you lovelies enjoy. Thanks for sticking with me. I love you all. 3 3 3 *