Title: Lovely Things

Author: Buffychick

Pairing: Rory/Jess (Literati)

Timeline: Two years after Rory graduates from college.

Disclaimer: Yeah, right.

A.N.: Basically, I started this, and if you like it, I'll keep going. If not...well, I may just keep going anyway, 'cause I can't get enough of Rory and Jess.

Feedback: Is delicious and keeps me writing (and more importantly, posting).


Author's Note: Again, sorry for the extreme delay in posting. If you want the excuses, they are: I got the flu, then strep throat AGAIN, and my four-year-old got tonsillitis. It's been a little insane around here. Apologies. Try to be patient, I am working hard to make it worth it! -- BC


Her cell phone chirped, signaling a new text message had arrived, and she plucked the phone off her desk, dragging her eyes off the article she was editing and then smiling to herself.

Miss you. Coffee?

She messaged him back, Miss you, too. Coffee sounds good. Gimme 5 min.

Several times a week she and Jess would "have coffee" together, taking a break from their day, grabbing a cup of joe, and finding a quiet spot to make a quick long-distance phone call. Five months had passed since that day he'd spilled coffee all over her and they'd fallen into a routine, albeit a frustrating one. They took turns driving out to see each other every other weekend, even if Rory was covering an event or if Jess had papers to grade. Going on actual dates had never been their thing, ordering pizza and watching movies on the couch was much more their speed, and neither of them minded if the other was busier than usual during their visits, so long as they were able to be in the same room together.

She quickly finished up with her article, saving it to CD and snapping shut her laptop. Grabbing her cell phone she headed to the coffee pot across the room, poured a cup, and headed out into the sunny spring day to sit on the park bench across the street from her office. Jess picked up on the second ring.

"Hey beautiful," he said, smiling into the phone.

"Hi yourself," she grinned back.

"Coffee?" he asked.

"Yup."

"Park bench?"

She smiled, please at how well they knew each other. "Yup."

"Good."

"And you? Coffee?"

"Hot and steamy," he confirmed, glancing around the closet they'd given him for an office. He love nothing more than to leave there and go home to find her waiting for him, ready to settle in for the night, her writing an article, him designing the pop quiz he'd be giving tomorrow since his class had decided not to read the assignment for their last session… Grab some Chinese on the way home…eat on the couch together…watch the news and Leno later…climb into bed together.

Rolling his eyes at himself he sighed. He'd become the anti-Jess because of this girl. And he wasn't sure he really minded all that much.

"Your office?"

"The tomb, yup."

"I'm in the middle of an article about the corruption of government at the state level," she told him, sitting back against the bench. "Our state representative is not happy with me."

"She's an old bag anyway," he rolled his eyes.

"It might mean I have to go to DC soon."

"Oh yeah?"

"If this goes the way I think it is, yeah," she sighed, picking at a piece of lint on her skirt. "I'll need to get some key interviews from former state reps and some other people."

"How long?"

"Dunno…maybe a couple days."

"Weekend?"

She frowned, hoping not. "I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I do."

"No problem," he said easily. "We still on for this weekend?"

Now she smiled. "Yup. I should be home by six."

Jess leaned back in his chair, shooting paper wads into his trashcan. "I don't have my four o'clock class this Friday, so I'll head out early. Wanna do dinner at Mosley's?"

Her blue eyes lit up. "Ooh, yes. We haven't been there in a while. What time do you think you'll be getting in?"

"Eh…if I leave straight from my 2:30 class I'll be there around 5:30, 6 with traffic."

"Just use your key if I'm not home yet, okay?"

"I plan to play in your underwear drawer," he teased, realizing with ease that it also didn't bother him that they'd exchanged apartment keys a few months ago, something he'd never before done with a girlfriend.

"Maybe there'll be something new and fun in there," she grinned back.

His eyebrows rose appreciatively. "Yeah?"

"Maybe…"

"Dirty girl."

"Dirty and needing to get back inside," she said, unable to contain her happy smile. "I love y—I, ah, um…talk to you tonight?" she asked, flushing uncontrollably at the slip of her tongue.

Jess stilled, needing to grip the phone to prevent himself from dropping it. "Um…what? Yeah. Tonight…I'll talk to you tonight," he stammered.

Had she almost…?

They sat in silence for a moment. "Rory?" he asked finally, heart slamming in his chest.

"Um…yeah?" she asked nervously, her fingers wrapped tightly around the armrest of the bench.

He hesitated for a second, then swallowed. "Talk to you tonight," he said lamely, dropping his head down onto the desk.

Rory's mouth opened to respond, then closed again before she forced herself to bid him goodbye and hang up the phone. Dammit, she cursed herself.


"You know I don't want to go to this," Jess complained bitterly to Kate as they approached the restaurant.

"I know," replied cheerfully. "And you also know I owe you a red-velvet cake by next week, with red-velvet icing, and I have to watch any movie you want when we get home. So shut up."

He glowered and yanked open the door to the tavern, allowing Kate to go inside first, her heels clacking on the sidewalk as she walked past him and into the restaurant. Kate's friend, Mandy, was having a birthday celebration, one that required him to wear a tie and Kate a dress, and Kate had begged him for weeks to go with her so she wouldn't have to go alone. He'd suggested she call one of her past hook-ups and extend the one-night stand they'd had, to which she threw a textbook at his head.

"I'm here to eat, not socialize," he reminded her, his voice soft but determined against her ear.

"Oh, calm down. I'm sure you'll find something to distract you and put a smile on that handsome face of yours," she teased, pinching his cheek.

"Like what?" he asked as they were led by the hostess to the back room of the restaurant.

"My charming wit?" she suggested. "My gorgeous face, my deep, meaningful insight into world affairs?"

"The bullshit coming from your mouth…"

She grinned. "I know it's no evening with Rory, but hopefully you can make due."

Instantly he was ashamed. "I didn't mean it like that."

Kate turned her lovely eyes to his as they neared her friends. "Sweetie, I know. Relax. It's just dinner, some drinks, some cake, then home."

"I just don't want you thinking I don't have fun with you."

"I've never thought that," she assured him. "Now smile."

Excitedly she greeted her friends, wishing Mandy a happy birthday, and introducing Jess to the few people there he didn't already know. Ordering himself a beer, and getting a mixed drink for Kate, he hunkered down at the table beside Mandy's boyfriend, the tolerable but not overly bright Sam, and a few of the other guys who looked as miserable as he was.

All in all it wasn't a horrible evening. The food was good, and while the conversation wasn't going to go down in the hall of fame for the most exciting ever, he admitted to Kate later that he'd had fun, and even dropped in a lewd comment about staring at her legs all night to keep his mind sharp.

Pleased, she'd kissed him on the cheek. "That's the nicest thing you'd said to me in ages, even if it was sexist."

"Tap a little dry, huh?" he asked as they sat around the table after dinner.

She grimaced and took a sip of wine. "When's the last time you saw me go on a date with anything that resembled a human?"

"It's been a while," he admitted.

"Not all of us are head over heels in love you know."

He blinked. "I'm not in love."

Kate burst out laughing at his certainty. "My ass you're not! Jess, you're over the moon for that girl. And I love her, so I'm very happy about this turn of events."

"I'm not…I'm…"

"Say it," Kate urged. "You can't even deny it because you know it's a complete lie."

"Stop," he grumbled.

Kate leaned on her elbow, face in her hand, thoroughly enjoying her friend's discomfort. "You know you love her, don't you Jess?"

Jess didn't answer her, instead choosing to gaze across the restaurant and ignore her and the uncomfortable ball forming in his stomach.

"Admit it," she demanded.

He glared at her. "Have I done my job tonight? Can we get out of here now?" he asked instead.

Grinning, Kate rose to her feet. "Yes, yes, fine. We can go…."

His cell phone rang and she rolled her eyes. "Can't you guys go more than a couple hours?" she teased as he flipped open the phone.

"It's not her," he murmured. "I don't recognize the number." Hitting the talk button he moved the phone to his ear. "Hello? Yeah, this is Jess. Oh…hi…" he stammered a moment later, his eyes widening. Kate mouthed Who and he waved her off, striding through the restaurant and heading outside in order to hear better.

Kate found him ten minutes later, sitting on a park bench outside the main entrance, staring at the phone with a look of complete bewilderment on his face. "Hey, I said our goodbyes when it was obvious you weren't coming back. That was rude, even for you. What's going on?"

He didn't respond right away and Kate sat next to him, sensing something was wrong. "Jess?"

"They're going to publish my book," was all he said.

Her eyes flew open. "What? What book? Wait, it's finished? When did this happen? Oh my God! Jess!" she shrieked, throwing her arms around him with such force she almost knocked him off the bench.

He couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "That was Matthew Beck, with Brighton House. He got a copy of my book from a scout that picked it up…and he's going to publish it."

Kate's eyes teared up. "Oh my God…oh my God. Honey! That's incredible! I'm so proud of you! I can't believe this!" she grinned, excitement making her eyes glow.

"I know…me either," he told her dumbly. "I don't think I've processed it yet."

"You have to call Rory! Right now!"

"Yeah…no."

She stopped mid-stand and sat back down. "No?"

"I'll tell her, but in person. Get this…Matt wants me to be available to do signings and stuff. He thinks this is going to do really well."

"He said that?" she gasped.

Jess nodded. "I mean, it won't be right away…I have a lot of editing to do, and it needs a better title, and it has to go through legal and what not…but yeah. He thinks it's going to sell. He said that twice during the conversation. I have to go into New York this weekend to meet with him."

"Aren't you supposed to go see Rory this weekend?"

"Yeah…but I have to meet with him on Saturday morning."

"Gonna make it hard to tell her in person, then," Kate pointed out, pulling her wrap around her shoulders against the night chill.

"I know."

"They're going to put you up in a hotel, right?"

He nodded absently, wondering what that had to do with anything. "Yeah."

"So have her come with you. Tell her then. She can work from a hotel room, right?"

He blinked. "I guess so…probably."

Kate nodded. "Of course she can. It's settled. Now call her right now and tell her you'll pick her up to go to New York. Make it a romantic-slash-working weekend for both of you. Plus, there are much better places to celebrate in New York than in New Haven."

Jess stared at her. "They're going to publish my book."

Kate beamed. "My roommate, the twice-published author."

"Let's hope this one doesn't suck as much as the first one did."

"Stop it," she ordered, slapping his arm. "The first one was good. This one…I bet it's great. Are you going to let me read the end now?"

"Soon," he promised. Rising to his feet he offered her his hand. "Now, let's get home so we can watch the movie of my choice and you can get rested up to bake me a cake."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Pig."

"Published pig," he corrected.

"And that, children, is how your grandfather got that nickname."


"Now that we've crossed officially into the city, will you please tell me what this is all about?" Rory begged from her seat next to Jess in his ancient Chevy Malibu.

"In a minute," he promised. "When we get to the hotel."

She sighed, pouting. "You won't even tell me why we're staying in New York? You don't need to spend the money on a hotel room, Jess. My apartment is very private seeing as I'm the only one who lives there."

"You're such a romantic," he drawled, navigating as best he could in the city traffic, heavy even at eight-thirty at night.

"Do you know where you're going?"

"I do."

"Why does everything have to be a surprise?"

"Because it does," he told her, leaning over to give her a quick kiss before the light changed. "Now shush."

She shushed, but continued to fake-pout as they drove through the city. A moment later, though, unable to resist the call of New York she found herself gazing at the sights as they drove.

When he pulled into the parking garage for the Remington Hyatt Rory glanced at him, surprised. "We're staying here?" she asked.

"Yup."

"Jess…this place looks really pricey."

"Probably is."

"We can't stay here," she argued.

"Can and are, but only if you actually get out of the car," he told her as the valet stood patiently.

She glanced at him with doubtful eyes but got out of the car.

They checked in and headed up to the room and Rory turned on him. "I'm not going another step until you tell me what is going on," she told him, standing in the hallway outside their room.

He grinned, enjoying this. "I'm sure someone will put a blanket over that poor girl sleeping in the hall."

She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Rory…please. Come inside. I promise…I'll tell you everything," he murmured, stroking the hair back from her face.

"So there is something going on," she confirmed. "There's more than just us going away for a weekend."

"There is," he admitted, opening the room and flipping on the light switch as they made their way inside.

"Spill it," she demanded, dropping her purse on the bed.

He grinned. "Okay, okay…I give. Tomorrow…I have to leave you on your own for a while."

"Okay…why?" she asked warily.

"To meet with my publisher."

"Your…what?" she asked, shock and mounting excitement welling in her stomach. "Your publisher? The book? Wait..what?"

"My book is going to be published. The new one," he explained, enjoying the confusion on her face. "

It's…Jess!" she shrieked, throwing herself into his arms and laughing as she kissed him. "I can't believe this! Oh my God! When did this happen?"

He grinned self-consciously. "Wednesday night. He called while I was at that dinner with Kate's friends…and he told me he got the book from the scout that Truncheon passed it on to, and he actually likes it. A lot."

"Oh my God! I just can't believe this!" She hugged him again. "I mean, of course I can believe it…it's just not what I was expecting. I didn't even know it was finished! When did you finish it?"

He gave a one-shouldered shrug, still slightly uncomfortable with having a fuss made over him. "About two months ago. I got into a good place with it, and the end came rather easily. I spent another month touching it up, editing it, refining it…and then I just said 'screw it' and sent it to Sam at Truncheon."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged, grabbing a beer from the mini-fridge. "I would have, eventually. I just…I don't know. I didn't want to jinx anything. I didn't tell anyone, I just figured if it was meant to happen it would happen."

Rory gazed at him. "Jess…I'm so proud of you. Seriously," she told him, kissing him softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I am so, so proud of you. I know this is going to mean such great things for you."

He kissed her back and rested his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "I guess I hope you're right. I have to meet with him tomorrow for coffee, go over some things, sign a contract with them for this book, and depending on the sales, maybe a second one."

"Wow…" she grinned, shaking her head in disbelief.

He rolled his eyes with a sheepish grin. "I know, right? In the ten minute conversation we had he mentioned a second book, press conferences and releases for the first one, signings and travel…it was insane. I don't even know if anyone will read it!"

"I will," she told him.

"Besides you, who are obligated to read it under the girlfriend clause."

"Millions of people are going to read it, and I'm going to have to beat off your groupies with a stick."

"Do writers have groupies?"

"You will," she assured him. "And maybe someday, when you're really famous, a stalker."

"We can only hope."

"The really famous authors get stalkers."

"Dr. Suess couldn't go anywhere."

"This is incredible, Jess," she grinned, eyes shining. "I know I keep saying that, but I really am so proud of you."

He cocked his head slightly, gazing into her eyes. "I love you, Rory," he said simply.

Her eyes flew open, and her jaw dropped slightly with a sharp intake of breath. For a moment she didn't say anything, and then when she did, she was choked up. "I love you, too, Jess."

Running a thumb over her cheek, he kissed her. "I'm sorry I haven't told you sooner."

"Don't be sorry…I could have told you…I almost did, the other day on the phone…"

An easy smile played on his lips. "I wondered about that. And so you know, that's not why I'm telling you now. It's just…time."

She smiled slightly. "Yeah…I know. I figured when I had to keep stopping myself from telling you that it was going to have to come out eventually."

"Same here," he agreed. "But I really do…I think…maybe…part of me has never stopped loving you."

Rory's heart skipped. So this was what joy felt like… "I…I know. I never thought I'd be here with you like this…but I'm really glad I am. I'm grateful we ran into each other that day at the coffee shop."

"Literally."

"I think it was fate's way of making sure we didn't miss each other again."

"Knocking someone down gets their attention, that's for sure."

She smiled. "Jess?"

"Mmm?" he murmured against her forehead as he kissed her there.

"Come to bed with me."

Smiling, he complied.