A/N: I'm so so sorry I've been neglecting this fanfic. I've been either busy or inspired to write for other stories so my apologies once again. I want to say thanks to all who read and reviewed last chapter. It means so much to me. So, I want to apologize because I feel like last chapter and this chapter practically Jess has be really out of character. But since is based in an alternate universe, I suppose that makes it ok. Any ways, on with the story…

The remaining weeks of summer went by flawlessly. Rory caught up on her reading list and spent nearly every day hanging out with Jess. And when Jess wasn't hanging out with Rory, he was spending his time with his mother reconnecting with her. The two had quickly become friends getting to know each other to the point where it seemed they had never been separated. Luke still wasn't happy with Liz's previous actions but he had warmed up to the idea of the two spending time together. After endless fights with Jess, Liz, Lorelai, and even Rory's opinions, he finally saw how important it was for Jess and Liz to have a relationship and gave in. Since then, he has kept his mouth pretty much closed about the situation.

Rory was spending her Thursday afternoon at Luke's diner, reading and waiting for Jess to return from lunch with Liz. It was her usual daily routine. Rory lifted her head from her book when she heard someone enter the diner. Her eyes lit up when she saw it was Jess. She loved hearing about his lunches with Liz and after he caught her up, they had plans to go see a movie.

"Hey! How was lunch?" Rory asked enthusiastically.

"Good, the usual," Jess replied quietly and casually. Rory glanced at Jess. She knew he was lying. Usually, Jess was much more chipper, chatting about other things he didn't know about Liz and the plans they were making to go do something else soon. It was the only time Rory ever saw Jess excited over something, including when he gets new Hemingway books. Rory could tell that he was hiding something. Something was bothering him or didn't go as planned at today's lunch.

Rory hopped off her stool seat and headed towards Jess. "I have a book for you but I left at my house. Wanna go with me to get it?" Rory asked nervously. She wasn't good at the whole lying thing but she wanted to talk to Jess about what was on his mind.

"Yea, sure," Jess replied in his same monotone attitude.

Rory and Jess walked silently out of the diner, heading to the Gilmore house. Rory waited til they were out of earshot of diner before she asked Jess, "What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Jess, I know you. Something is bothering you."

"It's not bothering me. But…my mom wants me to move back in with her."

"Is that a good thing?" Rory asked confused.

"I guess."

"Do you want to?"

"I don't know. Maybe. It's complicated."

"I understand Jess."

"What do you think I should do?" Jess asked hoping Rory would tell him what to do or at least suggest a path for him.

"I can't tell you what to do. All I'm going to say is that a mother and son's relationship is an inseparable bond. And that you should do what you think is best for you and what you are most comfortable with."

"That doesn't help me. I still don't know what to do."

"We can make a pro con list to help you."

Jess smirked at Rory. "You and your pro con lists," Jess said as the two made a circle around Stars Hollow heading towards the movie theater.

Friday night, Lorelai was arranging the junk food selection on the coffee table, making sure the Twinkies were not in conflict with any other cookies and making sure that chocolate was readily available next to the popcorn, chips, and other salty foods. Lorelai was about to add the Pop-Tarts to the mixture of food when she was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Coming!" She yelled as she rushed to the door. "Oh, Jess…you know you don't have to knock. You're practically family. You practically live here."

"I know you keep telling me that. Is Rory here?" he asked in a very animated tone.

"Yea, she's in her room," Lorelai replied as she turned to fix her food arrangement. Everything had to perfect for Pippi Longstocking. It was a classic. Lorelai glanced up as Jess excited rushed for Rory's room. She shook her head. She didn't understand that boy. Yesterday he was moody and today he was more excited and animated than Lorelai had ever seen him. Hormones, she thought as she added the finishing touches to the arrangement.

"Hey Jess," Rory exclaimed as Jess entered her room. Rory laid her book on her dresser among the collection of other books she had there.

"Rory, I have good news," Jess yelled excitedly.

"Do tell," Rory said gesturing for Jess to take a seat beside her.

"I thought about what you said yesterday, about my mom. So, I decided I'm moving in with her."

"Really? Jess, that's great!" Rory said matching his excitement.

"I know. I mean I love Luke and everything but I just feel like this is something I have to do. I'm grateful for all he has done but she's my mom you know. Like you said it's an inseparable relationship."

"That's great Jess. I'm really happy for you. I'm glad you're able to make that connection with your mom," Rory said honestly. Although Jess never admitted it, Rory felt he had resentment over his mom leaving him when he was younger. Although Jess and Liz had got along well over the past months, Rory felt that Jess still had some of that resentment and would never fully commit to the relationship. She hoped that Jess and Liz could have the same relationship her and Lorelai has.

"Yea, Luke wasn't too happy about it. He's probably still screaming back at the diner now. He was especially unhappy about me moving to New York but I told him it's not too far away and that I…."

"Wait! Back up a sec. New York?" Rory asked confused. New York? What about New York?

"Oh, well Liz…my mom," Jess said correcting himself, "lives in New York. I've never been to New York. I bet it's way better than Stars Hollow. Not that there is nothing horribly wrong about Stars Hollow, I just don't think small town life is my thing."

"But…no…no…you can't move!"

"What?"

"You can't move. At least not from Stars Hollow!" Rory yelled hysterically.

"Rory, I…"

"No! No, I can't lose my best friend," Rory objected.

"I thought you were supportive of me reconnecting with my mother."

"I lied!" Rory said. She started gasping for air. She didn't want to start crying in front of Jess but she felt that it was inevitable. She felt like her whole world was crashing down on her. She tried imagining life without her best friend, life without Jess but she couldn't picture it. Sure she had Lane and the others at school but none of them compared to Jess.

"Rory, I figured you of all people would understand. I mean with your relationship with your parents and grandparents and all that history…"

"That's different," Rory objected, trying to hold back her tears.

"How's is so different."

"No one is losing their best friend in that situation."

"You're not losing your best friend. It's not like I'm being shipped out to fight in the War. It's just going to be some distance between us."

"No, I'll definitely be losing you. We won't be starting high school together, or sharing old books, or making fun of stupid movies, or listening to music together…none of that. You'll be in New York. You'll find new friends. You won't be with me anymore."

"No one will ever take your place," Jess said wrapping his arms around Rory. Rory rested her head on his chest and let her tears flow. She couldn't hold them back any longer.

Rory sat in the floor in Luke's apartment packaging CD's and old books. She tried not to think about the inevitable but it was hard. Today was her last day with Jess, her last day before he moved on to New York. She had begged and pleaded with Jess to stay in Stars Hollow to somehow get Liz to move down there, everything but it didn't work. She had made up her mind to move back to New York. And Jess had made up his mind to go with his mother.

"So Luke was yelling at me today saying all this stuff about how immature and irresponsible my mom is and how she's never been a parent before and how I should think about that before I go run to live with her. Blah, blah, blah…it's getting kinda tiring."

"Maybe you should listen to Luke. He's smart, he knows what he's talking about," Rory said hopeful.

"Rory, please don't start in on me too."

"What? I'm just saying he's your legal guardian. He adopted when you were five and…"

"If you're not going to be supportive of me, then why are you here?" Jess asked bitterly as he taped up a box.

"Today is my last day with you. I want to spend as much time with you as possible," Rory replied sullenly.

Jess sighed. He knew he was going to miss her. There was no way he couldn't miss her. She was his best friend, knew everything about him, understood him, and was just like him. They had an inseparable bond too. Jess and Rory continued to pack in silence. Once they were finished packing, Jess, Luke, and Rory toted all of the boxes to the moving truck parked outside of the diner. Once they had loaded the truck, Jess said his goodbyes to everyone waiting outside. First, Jess hugged Lorelai bye, thanking her for everything over the past years and for being like a second mother to him. Then, he hugged Luke, promising Luke that everything was going to be ok, that he would call, that he would come back if need, telling Luke not to worry. Then he made his way to Rory. Jess grabbed Rory's hands, holding them in his on. He smiled and Rory managed to fake a smile, holding the tears in.

"I'm not good at goodbyes," Rory confessed through tear filled eyes.

"This isn't goodbye. Goodbye implies that we'll never see each other again. This isn't the end. It's only the beginning."

"But Jess…" Rory protested.

"We're still going to keep in touch. All the time. I promise. Like I said, no one can take the place of you. You're my best friend Rory. You always will be."

Rory silently nodded. She wanted to say something else, anything else but she couldn't form the words. Nothing came out of her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to stream down her face, washing out her mascara. Jess pulled Rory close in a tight embrace as he hugged bye. "Bye guys," Jess said as he parted from Rory. He hopped in Liz's car. He and Liz waved bye to everyone as they followed the moving truck out of Stars Hollow.

Once they were out of sight, Rory let the tears stream down her face. She relived all of their memories, how they met on the playground, Friday night movies, Valentine traditions, their kiss under the mistletoe, swimming, all the times they laughed together, sharing books, everything. Rory let her tears wash away all of those memories as she watched her best friend leave her.

A/N: I know, I know…you probably think I'm really cruel at this point. But I promise something good will come from this chapter. There is a method to my madness and I promise you, you don't have to wait long to see. It will be in the next chapter. So, leave me a review to let me know what you think and to push to me to update the next chapter quicker. Thanks! :)