Disclaimer: I Do not own Gilmore Girls. I wish I did but sadly no.

A/N: As always thanks for all your great reviews.

Chapter 10: Make It Work

"I don't know. Pink sweater and cream skirt look nice but not quite sexy enough. The blue shirt with the V neck and black skirt seems a little to sexy. I have no idea what to wear mom" Rory complained as she looked at her self in the mirror. She had rung her mother with her cell phone to get some fashion advise for the 'trial' date she and Jess were going on tonight.

"What's wrong with sexy. The blue shirt is hot" Her mother told her. Lorelai was finding it amusing in a cute way how excited and nervous Rory was right now.

"I don't want to look to sexy cause it's like having a big flashing red light on me head saying hey I want loads of guys to check me out while were on our date. Not good considering I cheated on him" Rory replied and gave out a frustrated sigh as she tossed her black skirt to the ground. "I have no appropriate cloths for this."

"What about one of your cute little dresses. There not to sexy but you still look amazing in them" Lorelai suggested.

"Dresses are to fancy. Jess is a very casual guy he's not into the whole getting really dressed up thing" Rory told her. She felt like she was going to vomit. She had never felt so much pressure while dressing before, well not since she was 16 at least.

"Yeah. Jess doesn't strike me as a suit kind of guy" Lorelai laughed. Something else the kid had in common with Luke. "What about nice jeans with one of your tight but not to reveling sweaters. Like that red one that looks like a turtle neck but isn't."

"I think I know which one your talking about" Rory said as she pulled it out of her closet and inspected in closely.

"Honey your driving your self crazy here. This dinner isn't about what you wear. It's about you two trying to work past your problems and seeing if you can make it work. Don't worry to much about to small things" Lorelai told her daughter. She knew that no matter what she said her daughter would worry. That was just the type of person Rory was. But she had to at least try to get her to settle down a little.

"I just want everything to be perfect" Rory replied.

"I know you do. That's what make you, you" Lorelai smiled.

"I guess I should go and finish getting ready. Thanks for everything mom" Rory said to her.

"Okay and Call me and let me know how everything goes. Unless your to busy if you know what I mean" Lorelai giggled.

"Bye mom" Rory said with a small smile as she hung up her phone. She looked at herself in the mirror once again. She had no idea what was going to happen tonight and it scared her. She just wanted Jess back but she wasn't sure what she could do to make him see that she would never hurt him like that again. She wasn't even sure if she deserved a second chance with him. But weather or not she deserved she knew she had to try. She would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn't.

She picked up her best pair of jeans and looked at the red sweater. It was casual but nice and she did look good in it. She decided that outfit was the one and went into the bathroom to finish her make-up.

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Jess shifted in his seat once again. He was out Franks waiting for Rory. He had decided on Franks because they both liked it here and the food was always good. He had arrived half an hour early, deciding he needed a quick drink before the date began. He and Rory had a lost of history here and he was thinking maybe he should have picked a place they had never been to together. Sort of like a fresh start. But the more he thought about the more he realized that there really was no such thing as a fresh start. No matter what happened between them now their past would always be there. He could hopefully move past it but he could never erase it.

He hadn't forgiven Rory. But he realized that forgiving her would take time. And he was scared if to much time went past she would meet someone else. Even after everything that had happened he still didn't want to lose her. That's why he was here. He figured he could learn to forgive her and try and give it a second shot with her at the same time. He didn't know if he could but he was willing to give it a try. He only hoped that his bitterness would not ruin everything.

"Hey" Rory said in a soft voice as she sat down. He jumped from being startled. He had been lost in his own thought and had not seen her coming. "Sorry. Did I scare you?"

"I was just zoning out" He replied as he smiled at her. He looked at her. She was as always beautiful. "You look great."

"Thanks" She said blushing a little. Her mother had been right about the sweater.

They ordered their food and continued to talk for a while. Not about anything in particular. Just books they were reading and new music that they were listening to. It was nice. It actually felt like old times again for both of them.

"So how do you think are trial date is going so far?" Jess asked. He couldn't believe that's what he had called it when he asked her. He was ashamed to admit what a dork he was sometimes.

"I'd say good" Rory said with a dazzling smile. "But I think we are going to have to seriously talk soon."

"Why?" Jess asked her. He knew she was right but he had been having such a nice time so far he didn't want to ruin it.

"Because we have to move forward or were never going to get anywhere in this relationship. I'm just going to lay it out on the table. I love you so much it hurts. I am willing to do anything if it means we can be together again. I know that I broke your trust but I can promise you nothing like that will ever happen again. I just want us to be happy again. Happy and together. But I also really need to know where you are Jess. Where's your mind out, where's your heart out?" Rory didn't meant to lay all of this on him. But they needed to stop having the same conversations over and over. They needed to get to the next step.

"Okay" Jess replied as he looked at her. He took her hands in his own and a small smile touched his lips when he felt how right it was to have her hand in his own. "I love you as well. I really want to try and make this work. I want to move on from all the shit that happened. But you need to know that I have not completely forgiven you yet."

"I can understand that" Rory said honestly. She placed her other hand on his face, touching it lightly before removing it. "Will you ever be able to?"

"I hope so" He replied quietly as he looked down. "I just know I don't want to lose you."

"You won't lose me. Not unless you want me lost" Rory said.

"Where do we go from here?" Jess asked her. He had no idea what was the right course of action. He had never been in this situation before.

"I don't know" Rory replied.

"Your supposed to. Your the smart one here" Jess reminded her. He looked back up at her and felt very calm all of sudden. When he looked into her eyes everything seemed a little better then it actually was.

"Your just as smart as me" Rory told him with a grin. "Don't go playing dumb on me now."

"I really like that about you" Jess told her. She looked at him slightly confused. "You always make me feel like I'm more then what I think I am."

"You are." Rory simply replied. She noticed that he hadn't taken his hand away from hers and viewed it as a good sign.

"So did we make a decision?" Jess asked as he realized they had gone off topic a bit.

"No, I don't think we did" Rory replied with a small grin. "Look. I'm the one that screwed up. I hurt you. You know that I want to be with you again so the balls in your court. I'll do what ever you want?"

"Well, I guess then we give a second go" Jess said and Rory almost jumped with happiness. "But you have to understand I'm going to weird about certain things for a while. I can't just sweep what happened under the rug. It's going to be hard but I think it's worth it." Jess didn't want to be unrealistic about the way things were and he wanted to make sure she understood that.

"I know it's not going to be all sunsets and puppy's but I know that we can make it work" Rory agreed with him. She knew that it would be difficult at times but she was to happy to let it bother her. He was willing to give her a second chance and that was all the mattered. They were made for each other she was sure of it.

"So I think our serious talk went well. Don't you?" Jess asked her with a small smirk. He was happy. For the first time in a while he was really happy. He wasn't sure if this was going to go well or badly but either way he could at least say he tried with the girl he loved. He didn't want to die a bitter old man talking about opportunities lost. He loved Rory. He wasn't willing to give up on what could be the best thing to ever happen to him. She had made a mistake but hopefully with time it would just be a part of their history and have nothing to do with there future.

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4 Months Later

"Just give me coffee Luke" Lorelai said with frustration. She was holding out her cup like a beggar on the streets.

"I told you no. You've already had seven cups today. If you keep drinking that stuff like this you will die" Luke said in a firm and annoyed voice.

"Wow. Your just Mr. Positive today" Lorelai replied "Now give me coffee or I will die. I need the coffee Luke. The coffee is like air to me. And when a person doesn't get air they die. If you love me and want me around, you will give me the coffee."

"If I give you the coffee will you be quiet?" Luke asked her in a gruff voice.

"Yes" Lorelai said happily. She was winning as always.

"Fine" Luke said as he grabbed the pot and poured some coffee into her cup. She squealed happily and then took a sip.

"Sweet precious air" Lorelai said in a dramatic voice once she had swallowed.

"I thought you said you would be quiet" Luke said to her with his eye brow raised.

"But talking is like air to me as well" Lorelai replied with an evil grin.

"So what is actual air to you?"Luke asked her.

"Stuff just floating around."

"Figures" Luke replied but he couldn't help but smile. She was so cute when she was acting nutty.

"So I should head home soon. Rory and Jess are alone in the house" Lorelai told him.

"Umm. Lorelai. They are old enough to be left alone, I'm pretty sure they have been doing... You know, for a while now" Luke told her.

"I know they have sex Luke" Lorelai laughed. "Doesn't mean I want them doing it all over my furniture. And they were getting quite cozy on the couch before I left."

"I didn't need to know that" Luke replied bluntly.

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Lorelai walked into the house and was grateful to find both Rory and Jess fully clothed. All though they were kissing like two love struck teenagers. "Do we need to have the talk about where babies come from?" Lorelai asked and almost chocked on her coffee from laughter when she saw how fast they moved apart.

"Mom!" Rory said surprised as she tried to neaten up her hair. Jess was patting down his shirt.

"Hello lovely's" Lorelai said as she placed two take away coffee in front of them.

"You take such good care of me" Rory smiled as she picked hers up.

"Thanks" Jess said to her.

"So I'm going back to the Inn now. If you two want to get friendly please take into your bedroom" Lorelai said with a grin. Oh how she loved embarrassing her daughter.

"Mom" Rory said in a disgusted voice.

"Have fun!" Lorelai called out as she headed out the door again.

"Your mother is crazy" Jess laughed as he and Rory wrapped their hands around each other and laid on the couch.

Jess's book was getting published. He and Rory both couldn't believe it. So Jess had decided to keep the book store job but quit the bar tending job. Which meant that he could sometimes come with Rory when she was in Stars Hollow. Rory loved having him with her.

The past four months had been a blur of highs and lows for their relationship. Sometimes things were going so well they couldn't believe it. And sometimes things went so bad they almost killed each other. But the good stuff made the bad stuff worth it and through out it all they were just happy they were together.

Rory was feeling blessed that Jess had given her a second chance. The first few weeks they were back together she had been so scared that he would change his mind, she made every kiss and touch mean something in case it was the last she would ever get. His moods had been very up and down. It had only taken her a couple of days to work out when he needed company and when he needed to be left alone. The only thing Rory wasn't sure of was if he had forgiven her yet. He never really mentioned what happened and she wasn't sure what his feelings were about it now that they had been back together for a while.

Jess had been having an in ward battle with his mind during their first few weeks back together. He hadn't been sure if he was ready to be with her again and he was worried he had rushed back into things to quickly. He would unintentionally snap at Rory for the littlest of things which would lead to fights and her being upset and him feeling guilty. Sometimes things were good and he didn't even think about the past. Those were the times he would realize he had made the right decision in the end.

He loved Rory and after a while they had found their rhythm with each other again. It hadn't been like the movies. Things weren't perfect all of a sudden. It had taken time and work but that made it even more worth the while.

Having his book get picked up to be published had really helped as well. Seeing the look on her face when he told her had been a big moment for him. Seeing the look of love and pride in her eyes. It had left no doubt in his mind that she loved him and wouldn't do anything to hurt him again. It was the moment he was sure everything would work out for them.

"Hey Rory" He said. They had been sitting there in happy silence for a few minutes now. Just enjoying being each others arms. "Have I told you lately how much I love you."

"Yes" Rory smiled as she kissed his lips lightly.

"I'm so happy to be with you right now. I'm so glad we've made this work."

"So am I" Rory said with a content tone. She had never been one for romantic thoughts but she actually found her self thinking she could just seat here with him in this moment forever and be a very happy person.

"I know you already know this but I just wanted to say that it's forgiven. What happened. It doesn't matter anymore" Jess said softly and he ran his hand through her hair tenderly.

"Actually I didn't know that. And I have to say it's nice to hear" Rory whispered to him.

"We should move in together" Jess said after a few more minutes of silence. He had been wanting to ask her just before everything bad happened and he had been thinking about it a lot recently as well.

"Really?" Rory said a little surprised. She hadn't expected him to want to take things to the next step for a while especially after everything that had happened.

"You practically live at my place in New York. In makes sense and besides I think it would be nice. For it to be our place not just mine" Jess told her as he searched her eyes to see what she was thinking.

"I'd love to" Rory happily said as she kissed him again. This time it was a passionate kiss. He kissed her back with as much enthusiasm.

The door opened and Lorelai walked in with her hand covering her eyes. "I got all the way to the Inn and then I realized I had left my phone on the charger. So If your naked and doing something dirty please stop!" She said in a loud voice as she walked into a wall. "Crap."

"Your mother is crazy."

The End

A/N: Big huge thank you to anyone who read this. And a big huge massive gigantic thank-you to all those who reviewed, you guys made this so much fun to write.