AN: So...things are looking up. I will know more very soon where my recently-ended relationship is actually going...there's hope, which is a dangerous thing as anyone who's ever been in love, and had their heart broken, knows. I'm one panic attack away from losing it, yet I still have hope. Might be stupid, might be pointless, but I can't help it. Thank you, thank you for hanging in there with me.

-BC


Curves & Edges
Chapter 12

By Buffychick

Author's Note: I'm not one for song-fic, mostly I think it's stupid, but this song inspired me, so there you have it.

Inspired by: "All of Me" by John Legend

Author's Note 2: I lost my inspiration with Regrets and Reason, and I know how horribly unfair that is. I promise to continue it, but in the meantime, I give you this this peace-offering.

Summary: Almost a decade after the disastrous kiss at Truncheon, Luke & Lorelei are married. Rory is a world-traveling reporter based in Boston. Jess is a successful author recently moved from Philadelphia to New York. When life brings Rory to New York she and Jess reconnect.


Jess refused to let the incident ruin her evening. Absolutely refused, just as he refused the ice for his hand that she'd tried to force on him. "I'm too manly for ice," he insisted, and, before he lost his nerve, dragged her to the dance floor for a crazy boogie to a song that was too fast for a slow dance and too serious for fast-dancing. He guided her around the floor, reveling in her smile and her laughter as he made a complete fool of himself just to get that reaction. He twirled and dipped her, then snagged a rose from a table centerpiece and placed it between his teeth until she was almost crying with laughter. Lorelei watched with a smile on her face, absolutely astounded that the man making her daughter's evening was the same boy who'd caused her so much hurt years before.

"What the hell is he doing?" Luke asked, gaping at his nephew.

Lorelei smiled wider. "He's helping her forget about the nasty Huntzbergers," she told him knowingly.

"He looks like an idiot."

"Pretty sure that's all part of the plan."

Jack approached them. "Let's dance," he suggested to Lorelei when the music changed tempo again, a popular boy-band filling the speakers. She gladly took his hand and joined Rory on the floor, while Jess turned Rory over to them and made a hasty retreat to the bar.

"Having fun?" Luke asked, ambling up next to him, surveying the crowd.

"Rory is," Jess said simply. That was all that mattered, and Luke understood.

"If I ask you what's going on with you two, will you give me a straight answer or will some force inside of you require evasive maneuvers?"

It was tempting, but Jess chose the mature route. "We're establishing," repeating his words of earlier to Lorelei.

"Establishing, huh?"

A nod. "We talked. A lot – last night. There's always something there, so we're trying to figure it out."

"Been a lot of years," Luke considered, eyeing his nephew with a sideways glance.

Jess's eyes remained on Rory. "Yep."

"And there's still something there?"

"Apparently."

Luke threw his hands up, resigned. "And we're back to monosyllabic. Good. Wouldn't want to stray too far from our norm."

Jess smirked. "You want details about what your step-daughter and I did last night?" he asked with a pointed cock of an eyebrow.

Luke shuddered. "God no. You're an adult. She's an adult. Your business, your problems. I'm out." He hesitated briefly, prompting a "But…" from Jess.

"No buts," Luke insisted. "I hope it makes you both happy."

Jess offered a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks. Me too. It's a little unnerving, but also familiar. So, we'll see."

"I actually have a favor to ask you," Luke said casually. "Lorelei wants to go to a conference for small business owners. In North Carolina. Just a couple of days, but she wants me to go with her, kind of a little getaway. What's that schedule of yours like these days? Think you could help out with the diner so I don't have to close it?"

Jess's brow furrowed, his schedule running through his head. "No Rory, no you, no Lorelei. What's to stop the town from eating me alive without protection? And when is it?"

Luke sipped his beer. "Next month. The 14th-17th. If you can't, it's fine. Normally wouldn't be a big deal, but Cesar's going to visit his family for two weeks, so I'm short on help. Lane'll be there, but it's too much for one person, and God knows that husband of hers is not allowed to go behind the counter."

Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Jess tapped the screen. "Let me check…yeah, looks okay. No book tour right now, not a lot more press to do at all. Thank God. I'll be there. Come down the day before and go over everything that's changed?"

Luke nodded. "Thanks. Appreciate it. Day before's good. You can stay at the house or the apartment, whichever you want. And keep all the tips."

Jess's lips pursed into a smile. "I wasn't going to agree under any other terms. The generous tips the people of Stars Hollow are known for are vital. And I'm changing the specials sign."

Luke's eyes rolled. "I'm going to regret this."

"You don't already?"

They watched the girls and Jack dancing for a bit, conversation light and easy, until Rory stumbled from the dance floor and headed in their direction, sweaty and smiling. Jess instantly grinned as she approached. "Having a good time?"

"Yes!" she grinned and latched onto his hands, tugging playfully. "Come back and dance with us."

He tugged back until she was resting against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her in place. "That was a one-time only thing. You needed to smile. And you're doing okay without me."

She pouted and backed out of his embrace, plucking the pilsner from his hand and taking a sip of his beer. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Luke's strong-armed me into helping him at the diner while he and your mom go to some conference."

She looked from Luke to Jess. "Conference?"

"Just a small business-thing your mom's hopped up to attend. Next month," Luke explained. "Couple days."

She returned her gaze to Jess. "You're going to willingly go back to Stars Hollow, and work in the diner? Unsupervised?" she asked skeptically.

Jess chuckled. "A whole three days of terrorizing Taylor and scaring Kirk. It might actually be fun."

"Seriously, you're going to be there alone?"

"Yeah?" he asked, confused.

"Aren't you afraid they'll tar and feather you?"

He snorted. "Nah. I can take it." The song changed again, a slow one this time, and when she glanced wistfully at the dance floor he obliged her. "Of course, this is going to cost you," he teased, indicating the dance. "I want payment in flesh," he whispered in her ear, nipping at her lobe, and her mind reeled.

What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down

Her fingers clenched on his shoulders and she sucked in a breath, heat flooding through her. "And you think I'm greedy," she said breathlessly.

"You're also very, very generous," he murmured low against her mouth, sending her heart racing. "I don't know how you do it. I wasn't expecting this."

What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright

"You think I was?" she asked, her voice shaky.

He shook his head slightly. "No…I don't. I think it's just happening. Because it's us, and this is where we always end up."

"We also always screw this up and one of us, or both of us, leave," she said nervously,

My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

His hand cupped her face, his thumb tracing lazily over her cheek. "I know we're both completely messed up. Maybe before was like…Rory and Jess 101. Lessons learned. We had to get through all that to get to here, where we have a chance."

She stared at him with wide and wild eyes, holding her breath. "Is…is that what you want? You want us to try?"

'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections

His head was buzzing with a million thoughts – How stubborn she was, but how arguing led her to pout, which was incredibly sexy. Her ability to consume more food than two human beings twice her size. Her love of Thai food. Kisses against gas pumps and on a lumpy couch above a diner. Her obsession with Stars Hollow and all of the hokey events. Bus terminals. Outdoor weddings. How she would snort if you got her laughing really hard, and then flush with embarrassment. The look on her face when he kissed her at Truncheon, and the image of her leaving. The way she looked in the morning, sexily tousled and sleepy, face naked of makeup and looking a decade younger than she was - exactly as he'd always imagined she would in that situation.

Jess swallowed and suddenly became very aware of their surroundings. "Can we go? Be alone?" he asked gently.

Rory's head shook. "Answer me first. Please," she begged in a whisper, suddenly terrified.

He saw the white-hot fear and vulnerability in her, recognizing it because it had consumed him as well. "I think it's worth a more serious conversation," he offered.

They'd stopped swaying but neither of them cared. Couples moved around them, the music went on, and the world faded away to just them, right there, right then, in that moment.

Finally, she offered him an anxious smile. "Well then…let's go."


The cab ride was awkward, each of them stealing glances at the other one before returning to stare out the window, lost in thought.

"Are you hungry?" he asked suddenly.

She turned to him, surprised at the sudden question. "Uh…no, not really. Although I probably will be eventually. The candy bar was fantastic, but probably not going to hold me all night."

"Hey, stop at Frank's," Jess requested the cab driver, who nodded and began to change lanes, pulling over all the way to the left of the one-way street. "Keep it running," he said to the cabbie, who nodded and turned his light out as Jess helped Rory out of the car and into the brisk February evening.

"What are we doing?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her, snuggling into her beautiful black and white wool dress coat.

"Franks," he told her, indicating the flashing neon sign above their heads. "Hidden treasure of the city. Pizza to go. Won't matter if it gets cold because it's actually better reheated." In New York, no one paid attention to the two very dressy individuals standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

They approached the window and ordered a few slices, which Rory couldn't resist tasting, careful not to get anything on her clothing. Her eyes lit up when she bit down and chewed, and he laughed at the image before him – her fancy dress and coat, mile-high heels and sophisticated hair, eating pizza off a paper plate with her bare hands while standing on a dirty sidewalk. She was perfect.

"This is incredible!" she exclaimed, mouth full, and returned his grin. God, he was handsome. Overcoat, suit and tie, smelling masculine and incredible, his quirky smile playing on delicious lips. "Get more!"

Now he laughed and ordered two additional slices, requesting a bag this time, and slid all of the plates into the paper bag before turning back to the cab. "Shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm.

Rory giggled and allowed herself to be tucked back into the awaiting taxi, then whisked away to the hotel.

The moment they were alone in the hotel room the pizza was forgotten on a counter in the kitchenette as Jess pushed her against the door in a kiss that had her gasping for air within moments. "I have waited hours to get you out of this dress…and I can wait just a little bit more," he rasped between kisses, "but I have to kiss you now."

She couldn't even answer him, instead wrapping her arms around his neck and using one leg to hook behind his calf, pulling him to her. Jess moaned when they met up at just the right juncture, and his lips moved to her neck, her head falling to the side as his lathed kisses up and down her collarbone, his hands cupping her breasts until tingles shot through her entire body. "That's not helping."

"Not supposed to," she groaned against his lips as they came crashing back down onto hers.

The kiss continued, and would have never ended, but Jess summoned the power to slow it down until they were both breathing normally again. "We said we'd talk," he reminded her, his forehead against hers.

She kicked off her shoes. "Suddenly you're so chatty," she complained good-naturedly, but allowed herself to be led fully into the room.

"Do you want to change?" he asked.

She shrugged. "The dress is going to the cleaners. A few wrinkles won't hurt," she told him, settling onto the bed.

"Thank God," he grinned wolfishly, stepping out of his shoes and removing his jacket and tie, unbuttoning a few buttons of his shirt. "Because all my fantasies involve you still wearing it…for now." Rory blushed, and he grinned widely.

He moved to sit next to her, which proved to be too formal a position, and together they scooted back until they were lying face to face.

"So," she began when they were settled.

He grinned, almost nervous. "So."

Her eyes were serious. "You think we should try."

"I think we already are," he corrected softly.

Rory's mouth formed a small frown, her eyebrows knitted together. "Is that what this is?"

"Aren't you the one who last night said we're worth taking a chance on?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I was. I just want to make sure you're positive this is what you want. I don't want to hurt you again…and I don't think I can take getting hurt by you again."

"We're on the same page there," he murmured, taking her hand and tracing her fingers with his own. "I don't think either of us set out to hurt the other one, ever. We just never talked enough to make it clear what we wanted…unless we were demanding things the other one couldn't give."

"I love you, Jess," Rory told him, and his eyes shot to her, wide with panic and surprise. "I don't know if I'm in love with you, but I do care about you. I do love you. I've only ever wanted great things for you."

He relaxed a bit at her clarification. "By that definition, I love you, too. And I don't know if I'm in love with you either. I know that part of me has never gotten over you. We never really felt finished."

Rory nodded. "That's exactly how I'd put it. We've never been finished. It just…ended. Every time."

Jess fiddled with a strand of her hair. "So if we do this thing…it's for real. Dates and weekends away, and talking and conversations about more than books and movies and bands. Regular phone calls and checking in with the other one like a stable couple."

"I'm out of town a lot," she told him sadly.

His mouth became a rueful frown. "I know."

"Dates and weekends won't be easy."

"'Won't Be Easy' is the name of our tribute band," he smiled softly. "We'll call each other. We'll Skype. I'll come to you when I can. Our dates will be in a lot of random towns."

"You want to fly all over the place just to see me?" she asked, surprised. "You know how to Skype?"

His hand again found hers and their fingers entwined. "Yes, I know how to Skype. And I'll travel when I have to. Not all the time. And I can drive if stuff is more on this side of the country. I have a car, though I don't use it much here. I can write from anywhere."

She was so dumbfounded by this turn of events she lay in silence for a moment. "Did I lose you on that?" he asked finally, eyes searching hers.

"No," she smiled gently. "I'm just…surprised. That's a lot of effort."

"I'd be offended by that, but given my track record with you, that's fair."

"Sorry," she teased.

"It's okay. I'm just serious about this, Rory. I think this is it, for us. If it doesn't work…"

"It's over," she nodded sadly, realizing how much that notion scared her. "I don't want it to not work. I like feeling like this."

He cocked his head at her. "Feeling like what?"

She let out a breath. "Happy. Wanted. Content. Excited. Safe."

The last word resonated with him and he pulled her to him, his arms coming around her, his lips on her forehead. "You're always safe with me."

"I've always felt safe with you." She moved up and found his lips, kissing him gently before pulling back. "So…we're a couple again."

She felt his lips curve into a smile against her own. "Something like that."

"I'm not going to see anyone else," she told him.

The thought hadn't occurred to him at all, mainly because he had no desire to see other women. "Okay."

"Okay?" There was an edge to her voice.

He smiled reassuringly. "I'm not going to see anyone else. I don't work like that."

She relaxed. "Good."

"When will you know about Nigeria?"

Rory's eyes widened. "How did you know about that?"

"Jack told me."

"Oh…um… Soon, hopefully by next week."

"How long would you be gone?"

Rory frowned sadly. "I have no idea. As long as it takes to get the situation down and access to anything I can get access to."

"I'm not wild about this," he started, and put a finger to her lips when she began to speak in protest. "I'm not going to stop you, obviously. But if you go, you have to be careful. Promise me."

She smiled. "I appreciate your concern, but I promise I'll be fine. Jack and I have been through worse. I'll have military guard, I'll wear all the bullet-proof clothing they give me. But I have to go where the story is."

He grimaced at the idea that she would need even that much protection. "You couldn't have grown up idolizing an agoraphobic reporter?"

Charmed by his worry, she lifted her chin to kiss him. "You're adorable."

His mouth twisted. "Harrumph."

"I love that you worry about me."

"I'm fine."

Rory's eyes twinkled. "Too bad. I was going to offer to make you feel better."

Now his eyes lit up. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "But if you're okay, if you're fine…then I have nothing to offer."

A dark eyebrow arched. "Oh, that's where you're wrong. You have plenty to offer."

"But you said you're fine," she teased, grinning, as he shifted so close to her their noses touched.

"I'm fine about you going to Africa. There are many other things I'm concerned about," he told her, closing the distance and nuzzling her softly with his lips.

"Such as?" she asked, eyes closing as his lips lightly danced over hers, antagonizingly avoiding full contact.

"Global warming," he murmured, his lips grazing over hers, his voice husky. "The fate of the Polar Bears. Reality TV. That you might be uncomfortable in that dress."

Her lips curved in a slow smile. "Now that you mention it…"

"I can read you like a book," he told her, moving from her lips to her shoulder, taking advantage of the bare skin at his disposal. "And it's causing me distress to have you uncomfortable."

"Can't have that," she breathed headily, her eyes closing as he moved over her, taking her hand and tugging her up.

He smiled at her bewildered expression and turned them until her back was against the wall. Taking her hands in his he raised them until her arms were pressed against the hotel wallpaper, leaning his body into hers, leaving no air between them. Capturing her lips with his he dominated the embrace and instantly her knees weakened. She sank into the kiss, which gained momentum, and in moments she was panting against him as he freed his hands and reached behind her to pull the zipper of her dress down, stopping halfway. Sliding the dress down exposed the web of lace and crystals of her strapless bra and he groaned at the sight, diving down to attack the skin. His tongue danced over her, wetting the material, and he nibbled through it, puckering her nipples until they ached.

Her hands now free, they roamed over his back, tugging impatiently at his shirt. Forcing his head to move, she pushed him backward and grappled with the buttons, kissing her way down his chest as she undid each one. Victorious, she shrugged him out of the material and pulled him to her, hot, slick skin on skin. Jess roughly pushed her back to the wall, her head falling to the side, and she gasped when he returned to her chest, tearing the bra out of his way and letting it fall to floor as his hands took both of her small breasts. Rory's fingers dove into his hair, holding him to her as his tongue lathed her skin, his teeth grazing over her nipples. She began to ache, desperate for more. Her hips began to move involuntarily and she dragged his mouth up to hers for only a moment before he dropped to his knees before her.

She gazed down meeting his eyes, which were trained on hers, as he ran his hands under her dress and up her legs. Holding the fabric away he kissed up her leg, over her thigh, to the juncture between her legs…only to discover nothing in his way. Jess gasped and looked up at her and found a sultry, feline smile on her lips.

"Are you serious?" he gasped, feeling himself throb at the idea that she'd been panty-less the entire evening.

"I told you it was like I was wearing nothing under here," she murmured, suddenly nervous at the completely out of character move.

He swallowed hard as he stared at her, blood searing through his system, yet his body almost frozen with shock and need. "That's so hot," came his strangled words. Suddenly Jess growled in frustration and jumped to his feet, grabbing her around the waist and spinning until she was backed up against the bed. She fell, and he went to his knees, forcibly moving the dress fabric out of his way and nuzzling her thighs until they parted on their own. Rory's fingers tore at the bedding and she groaned, his knees firmly planted on the floor, his mouth firmly planted on her core. She lost all sense as he worked her with mouth and tongue, until she felt herself stir and within moments was shouting her release.

Her cries did amazing things to his body as well, and Jess rode it out with her until her quaking subsided. He stared at her over her shaking form and she held out a hand to him. "Please," she rasped, her breath unsteady.

Jess shucked his pants in moments and she slowly rolled over onto her stomach, beckoning him to unzip her the rest of the way. He obliged by lowering himself over her back and kissing his way down her spine as he undid the remainder of the zipper, causing her to shiver at his light touch. He stood, pulling the dress down and onto the floor, and she was there, naked, waiting for him.

She turned onto her back and they moved up fully onto the bed as Jess, a glint in his eye, covered her body with his own once more, reaching a hand down between her legs to tease her lightly as he attempted to kiss every inch of her.

They both sighed when he entered her before slowly beginning to move their hips. Jess was emitting delicious little grunts and moans with every thrust and as the speed increased, his eyes screwed shut, sensation overwhelming him. Rory's fingers dug into his shoulders as they rocked. "Look at me," she gasped, and his eyes opened, dark and intense. For a moment they stared, feeling the subtle shift in the air, both realizing this moment was different. Defining.

He started to speak, then thought better of it and instead kissed her gently before resting his forehead against hers as they continue to move. "Mmm… God," she moaned a moment later, and he jerked a bit at her unconscious words. Within seconds his mind went blank, taken over completely with sensation, and it was too much.

"Fuck, Rory," he gasped. She gripped his shoulders so tightly he vaguely, crazily wondered if she might leave marks before he shuddered and cried out, spilling into her. She matched him thrust for thrust until she, too, shouted in release.

Late in the night Rory lay in his arms, snuggled against his side while she slept. He stroked her hair absently, staring at the ceiling, unable to join her in slumber because his mind reeled with the events of the past few weeks. She'd been his first love, they both knew that. He wished he had been hers, and fought a wave of infantile bitterness. At sixteen Jess Mariano thought love was a joke, definitely not meant for him, until he'd walked into her bedroom and everything changed. He wasn't sure if it was Howl that had peaked his interest in her, or her sweet smile, her sparkling eyes, her wit. Surely he'd never expected to find anyone in that po-dunk town that could interest him. But she had, even though she embodied everything that little Mayberry was - from hokey carnivals to annoying, pointless festivals. Rory, however was that and so much more. It was impossible not to fall in love with her.

And he was fairly certain she'd loved him back. He was sure of his own feelings as a teenager, even in his early twenties, but he'd never been certain to what extent her feelings ran. Certainly there were degrees of love, weren't there? He knew she'd loved him to some degree, some fraction of her heart had belonged to him even as they hurt each other over and over. What would have happened if they'd given it a chance? If he'd spoken to her on the phone while he sweltered in the California sun? If he'd…they'd… done it all right the first time, or the second time, or even the third time…

Would they be here, now? Or would it have changed everything then, for better or for worse?

Jess placed a kiss on her forehead. Still…she was here. Is here. Now. She wants this. He wants this. Even if deep down they're still two scared kids…but what adults really aren't?

He looked down at her as best he could without moving, without disturbing her. Perfection was in his arms. Oh, she wasn't perfect in the traditional sense. She had her faults and arguing with her was one of the most enjoyable and frustrating experiences one could experience, but she was perfect for him. Or he'd thought she was when he was younger. Was she still?

She was beautiful, certainly. Clear, fresh eyes that were the exact opposite of his deep sable ones. Fair skin, delicate features, lithe body all contradictory to his dark complexion, rough exterior and strong frame. But while he appreciated her physical beauty, her brain was much more intriguing. She was smart. Beyond smart. Maybe a little naïve even now, but it was part of her. Obviously they shared taste in books, movies, music, pop culture. They were both more or less homebodies when they didn't have somewhere to be for work or family. Small groups of friends, family connections between them…and the spark. The undeniable spark that had always been there. The unexplained bond that had united them since they'd first laid eyes on each other, a link which had apparently never weakened. It couldn't be put into words, but it existed, and it continuously brought them back into each other's world. The mental pull and tug of the heart toward each other. And it had brought them to here, to now.

He was concerned about a long-distance relationship, but not overly. He could write from anywhere, had only moved to New York because he knew the city and it was easier on travel as far as his editor and publishing house were concerned. He could make it happen if he had to move to Boston…should it come to that. Taking a breath he realized where his thoughts had led him, and hit the brakes. Too fast, too much, too soon. Might want to have a date first before you start calling the movers.

Rory stirred a bit and turned away from him in her sleep. He rolled with her, snaking an arm around her waist and breathing her in.

Maybe he was a cuddler after all, but he didn't care. He wasn't willing to let go this time.


AN: So...?