Does anyone even remember this story? It's been soo long since I've written anything! Sorry about that. But here is the final chapter, hope that it's not too terrible! Thanks for reading...
As the weight of Jess's words hit her, Rory swallowed hard, and couldn't bring herself to look Jess in the eye. "Oh… Well, of course that would make sense… you going home, and being around your family and I'm sure Allie would appreciate it… and your mom would be happy to see you… and you could go back to your old school…" Rory was saying all of this more for her benefit than Jess's, trying to remind herself of all the reasons that justified Jess leaving, and why it was a good idea for him. But there was one thought that kept interrupting all of her reasoning… what about her?
Jess looked at her awkwardly. "Well... that's all the stuff I said to Allie. I thought that it would probably be the best thing to do."
"Yes." agreed Rory absentmindedly. "Yes. You leaving here. You leaving me here."
"And so I told Allie I'd go back with her when she leaves." continued Jess. "And she… well, it turns out that she doesn't think I should." He looked for some reaction from Rory, but she seemed to still be caught up in her own thoughts, so he carried on.
"She thought that it was a ridiculous idea, and told me not to be so stupid, that she wouldn't want me cramping her style, and that it would make more sense for me to stay here at least until I finish school, and I have a job here, and she said that she's going to be all hormones and moody anyway, and that I'd just get in her way and so I should stay away until the baby's born. I think that she was just trying to be nice about it."
Eyes glistening with unshed tears, Rory was half listening to what Jess was saying, but not really understanding what he was telling her.
Jess took a deep breath. "Anyway, she punched me in the arm and told me that I'd be an idiot if I didn't stay here. And so that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to stay in Stars Hollow."
Rory took a moment to process this information. "What…?"
"I'm staying here, you're not getting rid of me that easy!"
Rory frowned. "You're… you're not leaving?"
Jess grinned. "Haha, I had you going there for a moment, didn't I, Gilmore!"
Her heart nearly bursting with relief and happiness as she realized that Jess wasn't going anywhere, she couldn't speak for a moment, but finally exclaimed, "That was mean!" finding it difficult to wipe the grin off her face.
Jess smirked. "Well you'd better forgive me quick, because if I have it my way, then we'll be spending a lot more time together from now on. You, know… if that's ok with you." he added hastily, suddenly afraid that she might not actually like him. But Rory's reaction quickly dismissed his fears.
She smiled at him shyly, and nodded. "Yeah, I think that'll be just fine by me."
Jess grinned again, and reached for Rory's hand, pulling her towards him. "I hoped you'd say that." he murmured, and then, hardly daring to believe that he finally had her in his arms, he leaned in for a long-awaited kiss. Rory eagerly slipped her arms around his neck, and closed her eyes, trying to suppress a happy smile.
"You could stay here longer if you wanted to, you know." Luke told Allie, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to leave straight away."
Allie smiled up at her uncle. "Thanks Luke, but I'd really like to get back home, and see how mom's doing and stuff… but you've been great, you really have. Thanks for everything."
Luke nodded briskly. "Anytime." He pulled Allie to him roughly, hugging her. Just as suddenly as he had grabbed her, he pushed her back to arms length.
He gave a hollow cough. "Ok then. Safe trip."
Allie suppressed a laugh at her uncle's awkwardness with affection. "Thanks Unkey Luke, I'll miss you!" Tiptoeing, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, his face instantly turning red. He muttered something unintelligible, and she just laughed, shaking her head.
"Allie!"
Allie turned around, just in time to be buried in a huge hug of perfume and curly hair.
"Mmmph!" Finally Allie managed to extract herself just enough to breathe.
"Lorelai! Nice of you to come by!"
Lorelai smiled down at the girl. "I thought I was going to miss you, I set my alarm, but I must've slept through it, and I had the wrong time anyway, I thought you were leaving on the next one, not this one, then Rory called to check on me and… well, and now I'm here, and you're leaving soon! I really think I'll miss you!" With a dramatic sigh, Lorelai enveloped Allie in another smothering hug.
"Mom, give the girl some air, would you?" Rory came to Allie's rescue. Lorelai reluctantly pulled away, and seemingly still in a hugging mood, transferred her affections to the unsuspecting Luke, clasping him round the waist and pouting miserably. Luke, caught unawares, just stood stiffly, glancing down in alarm at the Lorelai attached to him.
"It was really nice to meet you, and… and thanks, for, you know… stuff. You should come back and visit, and I can't wait to see the baby!" Rory told Allie earnestly.
The older girl smiled. "Thanks, Rory. Good luck with my weirdo brother, don't take any crap from him. He's lucky to have you around."
The girls gave each other a quick hug, and Allie turned to Jess.
He caught her in a head lock, and ruffled her hair. "I'm gonna come and visit real soon, ok? Just to see how things are. It was cool to have you here." He muttered gruffly, releasing her. She gave him a small shove, then hugged him too. "You got it good here, you know? Don't forget that. I'll miss you."
Allie stepped back quickly, shifting awkwardly under the steady gazes of the people in front of her. "Ok, well then. I should go." She gestured towards the waiting bus, the driver had just fired the engines, he was getting ready to leave.
Rory absentmindedly reached for Jess's hand. 'Ohh, they look cute together.' Allie thought fondly, glad that they had both finally come to their senses. She quickly snapped out of her thoughts, and back to the present moment.
"Thanks for everything, guys. Take care." And before anyone could capture her in another hug, or before it got to the awkward I've-said-goodbye-and-don't-know-what-else-to-say stage, she grabbed her backpack, and quickly made her way onto the bus. She was the last to board, and so, with a quick passenger check, the bus driver started to pull away.
Allie gave a last brief wave at the smiling faces of the people whose lives she had just wandered in on, feeling slightly hollow as she was now wandering back out again. She sighed, thinking about how strange it was that life in Star's Hollow would just continue as normal, and her time there would just merge into her store of memories. Yawning, she closed her eyes, her head bumping gently against the window, and her mind swirling with dreams of Star's Hollow, and Jess and Rory, Luke and Lorelai, and a time when she would see them all again.
Well, if anyone actually managed to read this far, sorry about the crappy ending!
I just really thought I should wrap this story up, it's been long enough. Anyway, thanks to all you guys who have stuck with this story, and I really appreciate the reviews!
