The walk back from work was not very far, only a few blocks. It was Friday and a beautiful day. She noted the particularly bright blue summer sky as she rounded the corner.
"Oh my!" She exclaimed, nearly stepping on something. It was a dog. It yelped to alert her of its presence. "Sorry, pooch." She replied, and walked on. However, this pooch did not just simply continue on its merry way. It began to bounce behind her, all four paws hitting the ground, and then going back up. She glanced back. It didn't look happy, really. Apparently, it just walked that way. "Don't follow me, I can't bring you home," she turned back to yell at it. It ignored her, and proceeded to follow her three more blocks.

Stopping at the front door, she sighed. She swung the door open and the pooch followed her inside. Bending down to pet it, she realized it was quite adorable. A medium sized, furry mutt. It was a mutt but it was not an ugly one. It looked so lonely. As she began to pet it, it perked up. Its tongue hung out of its mouth and the spark lit in its eyes. This delighted Rory. She knelt down next to it, dropping her bag.

"Well, you're just fantastic aren't you? Do you have a name? Or you just a little homeless, vagrant?" She looked for tags but it did not have any. She stared into its eyes. "I'll get it. It's Pete, right?" No response. "Okay, I'll try again. Bob. Martin? Joe? I don't know, Neil Diamond?" The dog let out a yelp. "Neil Diamond?" She tried again, and again it barked. "My mother is never gonna believe this."

"Believe what?" Jess replied, sorting through the mail having just come downstairs. He looked up. "What is that?"
"Neil Diamond."
"Rory, Neil Diamond was an older man who sang corny tunes last time a checked, not a small canine." She picked Neil up and brought him toward Jess, cradling him in her arms.
"He followed me home. I tried to shake him, I really did. I even attempted multiple disguises on the five-block walk, ducking every few feet into the nearest phone booth. But there was no fooling this one here, he knew me. Even wearing a Groucho mustache."
"He must be intelligent. That Groucho mustache fooled even me."
"I know, I told you."
"That still doesn't explain why you are calling it Neil Diamond, or why you let it in here."
"I let it in 'cause it got in, and looked sad. I started to try to guess his name and I guessed a bunch of normal things but then I guessed that and that's what he responded to." She looked at it, wiggling in her arms. "Isn't it just the most adorable thing ever?" She pushed it closer to him.

"No," he responded, looking back to the mail.
"Can we keep him?" She asked, holding Neil up to her face, and making and insane pouty face. "We could be like Tuner and Hooch. Two good friends – well, in this case two VERY good friends – who fight crime and share a dog that is faithful and delicious."
"Rory."
"Jess," she whined. "Just till we find who he belongs to then?"
"Fine. Just until then, but it's up to you to find his owner."
"No problem," she smiled.
"Neil Diamond," he sighed. "You Gilmore's are off the deep end, you know that?"
"Of course, we know that." She giggled. "Any notable mail?"

"A letter from your Grandfather."
"Addressed to you?"
"Yeah, scary."
"It's probably high praise about your book."
"Or a restraining order."
"He likes you, remember? Mom will come around. She already has, sorta." He pulled the letter out and began to read it. "What does it say?" She asked after a few moments.

"The novel was spectacular, blah blah blah. I sent my copy to a close friend who heads up a large publishing company in New York and they are interested in signing you for a much larger book deal. Enclosed is his card. I also managed to hunt up your phone number in Philadelphia and I took the liberty of giving it to him. Congratulations, Richard Gilmore."

"Jess! That's great. You've got a book deal with a huge firm!" She hugged him, squishing the puppy up to him as well.
"Rory!" He burst out.
"What? Aren't you excited?"

"Rory, you still couldn't just have a little faith in me could you? That's why you sent it to your Grandfather. So with his connections, he could get it looked at, on the off chance that someone would actually like it. It was never about him wanting to read it, was it?"
"Jess! It was not that at all. He really did want to read it. I had this annoying get together with my grandparents before I drove here, and I mentioned it and he really wanted to read it! I can't believe you'd think that."

"Well, then it was his plan the whole time. He's just being a typical, meddling Gilmore. He doesn't trust that I can take care of you, that I'm good enough for you. Well, I don't need his help, Rory!"
"You don't have to take care of me, Jess. You don't have to prove anything to anybody. It's not as if we're married or something. I'm just spending the summer here."

"Oh, even better! So, that's it? This summer, and I'm out of your life again?"
"I never said that, Jess! What is this really about? Me or the book deal?"
"Everything, Rory. Everything. You say you are gonna make sure that our relationship is important and serious this time, but really how long can it last? You've gotta go back to Yale next year! Back to that rich jerk. Face it; we're in different places."
"I don't wanna listen to this right now, Jess. I'm gonna take a walk. Figure yourself out; I'll be back. It's not like I have anyone else to stay." She stormed out, leaving Neil Diamond on the coffee table.

Jess sighed, looking rather moody and distraught. "Looks like it's just you and me, Neil."
Neil let out a yelp and simply stared at him.

--------------

Rory stormed down the sidewalk, annoyed and almost in tears. Folding her arms across her body, she continued to walk aimlessly. She knew no one in this city besides Jess. She had nowhere to go.

Staring at her feet, she walked for blocks. "Oh!" She exclaimed, realizing she'd run into someone. "Sorry." She mumbled, just continuing to walk.
"Rory?" She turned around at the sound of her name.
She looked up."Jonathan!"
"How are you?" He asked, seeming genuinely a bit concerned. She hadn't noticed his British accent at her interview or the few times they'd been at work at the same time. Curious.
"Not so great. But it's nice to see you." She attempted a weak smile.

"What's going on, then?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, Rory."
"Just got into a fight with my boyfriend, who is a long story, believe me. I'm staying with him for the summer and he's the only person I know in the city. So, now I'm wandering." She looked up. "And feeling more and more pathetic by the minute."
"He's not the only person you know, Rory. You know me. Come on. I was headed back to my place. You can stay there a while."
"Jonathan," she replied, hesitantly.
"Come on, it'll be fine. I promise."

--------------

"Let's get smashed. Just forget about her."
"Gee, that's great advice." Jess was already a bit tipsy and his "friends" weren't helping things. "I'm the one with the problem. I can't just forget about it. I need to do something about it."
"Fine. We won't get smashed. What is up with you?"
"I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me."
"You're so insecure."
"Well, I have a reason to be. We have a past."
"We do?"
"No, you idiot. Rory and I."
"But, she said she was over the past, right?"

"Right."
"Then you gotta believe her. Trust her."
"When did you get your PHD in psychoanalysis? Everyone I've ever trusted has hurt me. Except maybe, Luke. My mom didn't want me, my Dad ran out on me and Rory has played me like a cheap violin for years."
"You don't want advice. Then take my first piece of it. Get drunk."
"That's just not gonna solve anything now. I gonna go. Thanks for the help, Brian." He stormed out, setting some money down on the bar.

--------------

"I don't mean to seem out of line, Jonathan but when we were at work I never noticed your accent."
"Oh, no. Not out of line at all, Rory. I was a British citizen till ten years ago. I came to the United States to pursue an acting career."
"Doesn't everyone." She laughed.
"Yeah. Well, that wasn't a smashing success. Let's say that. So, I took lessons from a voice coach to acquire an American accent so as to get more roles. I did a few commercials, a guest spot on Sex and the City – of which my accent was actually an asset – but then I stopped getting jobs. So, I moved out here and am enjoying living in Philadelphia. I use my American accent at work because it's easier and I get less women approaching me and hitting on me."

"Gee, that's something you try to avoid? I know some men who you could trade places with."
"Well, yes." He paused. "Then while I'm not thinking about it, it just goes back to what I know. British."
"It's nice." She smiled.
The kettle, which was on his stove, began to whistle. "Would you like some tea?"
"You really are British. Got any coffee?"
"God, no. Can't stand the stuff. Outside of work at least. Always was a tea fan."
"Tea is fine." She nodded. He poured water into two cups, inserted teabags and sat down at the table again.

"Well then. What was all this about?"
"What?"
"With your boyfriend? The fight. Or would you rather not talk about it?"
"Oh, I don't know. It was just ridiculousness. As I said, we're a long story. However, he was always my second choice in relationships. I liked him, but I hid it from my ex-boyfriend and I never could quite commit as I had. Then he got this letter, and he thought I didn't believe in him and I wasn't committed. He blew up and I left."
"Sounds like you have commitment issues."
"I don't." She sipped her tea. "I love Jess. I want to be with Jess. I don't know how we are gonna work when I go back to Yale, but I love him. We agreed to try it even though we didn't have everything figured out. Then he has the nerve to blow up."
"You go to Yale?"
"Yes. During the school year of course."
"Wow, I thought you were older than that."
"Thanks," she sighed.

"Not in a bad way, like wrinkly old. You just seem pretty put together for twenty-one?"
"Yes. Twenty-one. I've always been pretty put together. It's just my personality. However, I don't feel like it much anymore." She placed both elbows on the table and ran her hand through her hair.
"Life isn't easy. It's just suddenly become clear to you. That's all." He leaned in to catch her gaze. She nodded.

There was a silent moment and suddenly, but smoothly be pressed a soft kiss against her lips. Lingering there for what seemed like moments. She was tempted, but she did not reciprocate. She pulled back as suddenly as it had happened.

"Oh, Christ. I'm sorry, Rory." He sat up straight.
"Jonathan," she scolded. "I'm sitting here talking about my boyfriend and you kiss me?"
"I'm sorry. It's just that I really quite fancy you. You're so pretty and sweet. That was really inappropriate though. Especially since I am your boss."
"It's okay." Rory sighed, "and thanks."
"For what?"
"The nice things you said about me. All the advice, listening."
"You're welcome. He has problems trusting you, Rory. He'll get there, maybe. It's a tough barrier to get over. Prove yourself trustworthy. Hopefully, it will be easier. Although, I suppose that last little action wasn't really helping you be trustworthy, was it?"
"Not really. I didn't initiate it though, so I'm safe." She replied. He nodded. "It was nice though, and you should use your British accent more. Makes you twenty times sexier."

"See, that's why I don't use it."
"Well, stop kissing me and find yourself another great babe to mack on! Use the accent, seriously."
"I know this is inappropriate again, maybe. It's late. Do you wanna crash here?"
Rory read her watch. It was half past ten o'clock."Wow! Where did the time go?"
"I think I spent it kissing you."
"Now, now. That was just a split second. We spent it talking, but my goodness. I guess so. I can see Jess in the morning."
"Well, you've got the couch all to yourself. There are blankets and pillows all over it, so you should be set." He stood and cleared dishes. "Goodnight, Rory." He turned to face her.
"Thanks a lot, Jonathan." She blinked. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his cheek. He embraced her and went into his bedroom.

She padded her way to the living room couch. British men were so sexy, she thought to herself. What an odd day this had been. She move a few pillows and pulled down a blanket. Her phone began to vibrate in her bag. She pulled it out and read the screen.

Incoming Call
Jess Mariano Cell

She fumbled with the phone a bit. She didn't really want to answer it. She ended the call and sent him a text message.

I'm fine. Ran into a friend.
I'll be home tomorrow morning.
Still love you,
Rory.

She put the phone back in her purse and laid her head down on the pillow.

Notes: My goodness I was out of ideas for this chapter. So any ideas on your part would be FANTASTIC. I hope you didn't hate it. Reviews love so please do them:D Thanks for reading.