A/N a slightly shorter chapter here but I didn't want to leave you hanging after the last one which was pretty intense. Next chapter will likely be a longer one to balance this one out. I hope you're still enjoying my story. Thanks for reading :)

Chapter 9

Kisses and Confessions

It was sometime around 3 in the morning when she changed her mind. She rolled over to face Jess, gently waking him by running her fingertips across his forehead. When his eyes flickered open to rest on her face she confessed.

"I need you to come with me. I don't want to drive all that way on my own or I won't go through with it."

He nodded in agreement in his sleepy state. It made sense for him to go with her for the drive, he needed to collect his car anyway. He said as much to her then suggested he would wait for her at the bridge while she talked to her mum. The look of relief that washed over her previously concerned face was all the answer he needed. Kissing her briefly on her mouth he rolled over to check the time before turning back to her to find her eyes already drifting shut. With an arm around her waist he too quickly fell back to sleep. They would have plenty of time to make plans after sunrise.

For a change it was Jess who was awoken by the sound of pans and some not so quiet cursing in the kitchen. The bed next to him was empty and cold. He pulled his shirt over his head as he crept toward the bedroom door, hoping to catch a glimpse of the culprit before she realised he was awake and watching her. She hadn't really begun to show yet, not in a way anyone but her lover would notice anyway. Standing in the kitchen in her short singlet and fleece pyjama pants her could just detect the slight swell of her lower abdomen and the definite change in her breasts. She had never looked more beautifully dishevelled and he couldn't keep himself from her for another minute.

"Good morning beautiful" he whispered as he snuck up behind her while she stood at the sink, looking out the window.

He kissed her in the sweet spot behind her ear that he'd discovered all those years ago, unable to contain his smirk as it triggered the same response as it had when she was an innocent 17 year old. The blush rose up her neck spreading across her cheeks and he traced its path with kisses leading the way to her lips. She sighed into his mouth, turning to face him properly and wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers immediately becoming tangled in his hair.

"Shower?" he asked, one eyebrow raised, more an invitation than a question really.

She placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead the way. They spent the next hour forgetting about the world outside their tiny apartment, ignoring today's to do list.

Later, as she was untangling herself from the sheets in a bid to get up and dressed before too much more of the morning slipped away, Jess spoke, breaking the silence of the last quarter hour.

"No matter what happens today, I love you. Don't ever forget that. I will not run away this time. If you run away I will be right here waiting for you to come back to me when you're ready." It was a long speech for him and a testament to how much he had changed and grown over their years apart and she believed every word.

"I love you too Jess. Thank you for everything. Those words just don't seem to be enough but that's all I have so, thank you. I don't know what I'd have done if you'd not picked up your phone when I called you last week. All I know is, right now, we need to get dressed and get on the road before I change my mind all together and then I'll have to build myself up to this all over again tomorrow and as much as I would happily repeat this last hour with you I'd rather do that with less mess in my head."

They quickly got the last of their things together for the trip back to Stars Hollow, packing an overnight bag just in case, and we're on the road by 10am. Rory called ahead once they were driving through Hartford to be sure her mum would be home when she got there. Jess parked the car near the bridge and got out, waiting for Rory to come around to take the driver's seat. He held her to him for the longest time. He kissed her forehead then looked deeply into her eyes before letting her go.

"I'm right here if you need me," he reminded her as she settled herself into her seat, latching her seatbelt as he closed the door for her.

"I love you Rory."

He stood and watched her drive away until he could no longer see the silvery blue of her car. He turned to make his way along the bridge to that old familiar spot. Pulling a book that he knew he wouldn't be able to focus on from his pocket he sat there engulfed in the silence, impatiently waiting.