Chapter 12. Those Sweet Words

"Mom I'm home!" Rory yelled as she saw the living room was empty.

"Hey sweetie, I was just getting ready for my date with Luke." Lorelai replied as she checked her hair in the mirror.

"You guys are going out tonight?" Rory asked as she plopped on the couch with exhaustion.

"Well yeah Rory, it's Friday night. I have a love life you know! You should give it a try." Lorelai said jokingly.

"I know." Rory replied somberly.

"Hey sweets, you wanna talk about you and Jess?" Lorelai asked sweetly as she took a seat next to Rory.

"Mom, I still haven't said I love you to him." Rory replied with frustration.

"Well do you love him?" Lorelai asked.

"More than he'll ever know mom." She replied genuinely.

"Then what's stopping you?" Lorelai asked her.

"Nothing. Nothing is stopping me mom. I need to tell him. I mean if I ever want a future between us, I need to tell him. God knows he has told me enough." Rory explained.

"Look Rory, You and Jess have changed a lot since high school. If you guys still love each other after everything that's happened, then this is something real babe." Lorelai replied as she rubbed her back lightly.

"Mom I never thought I would hear you speak about Jess and me like that?" Rory declared with a smile.

"Well you guys aren't the only one's that can change alright." Lorelai replied sweetly.

"Your right mom. What we have is real and I need to tell him that!" Rory said as she gave her mom a grateful hug.

"Hello it is me! Of course I'm right!" Lorelai replied jokingly.

"Thanks mom. For everything." Rory said sweetly.

"Anytime Baby!" Lorelai replied as she got up and put her jacket on.

"I'll be at the movies with Luke. If you need me try my cell." She said as she headed out the door.

"Bye mom." Rory said as she got up and decided to call him.

She called up his cell and got his voice mail.

"Damn!" Rory said in frustration. She wanted to talk to him and it couldn't wait.

She decided to head to the diner and leave him a note. She walked up the stairs and knocked first just to see if he would answer. No answer. She then slipped the piece of paper under the door and headed back home.

Later that night Jess arrived back at the diner. He headed up the stairs and into the apartment. He then saw a note with his name on it. He began to read it.

Jess,

Meet me at the gazebo at midnight.

-Rory

He smiled and then ran to get ready.

It was midnight and Rory was sitting there waiting. It was cold and she could see her breath. She was fidgeting with her fingers. It was a nervous habit she couldn't get rid of. She checked her watch again it was five past midnight. She sighed and sat back. She just sat there waiting. All of a sudden she could see a figure walking towards the gazebo. She looked a little more and knew exactly who it was.

"Hey you!" she greeted him with a smile.

"Hey." He replied as he walked towards her.

"I see you got my note." She said.

"Yeah I did." He replied as he smiled at her. He got a little closer. She looked so beautiful in the moon light. He felt his heart beat faster with each step he took towards her. Her scent was pure and beautiful. This girl made him weak in the knees and she was the only one who knew how.

"So what did you want to see me about?" he asked as he took a seat on the bench.

"Well I need to tell you something." She replied seriously as she then took a seat next to him.

"Okay." He said as he looked her in the eyes.

"Wow, you have a little green in your eyes." Rory said as she looked at him lovingly.

"That's what you wanted to say?" he asked confusedly.

"Oh, no that's not it." She said now embarrassed.

He just smiled in response.

"Did I ever tell you that when Dean said I love you to me for the first time, I couldn't say it back? Like at all." Rory began.

"Rory, I don't want to talk about him." He replied angrily.

"Just go with it okay?" Rory pleaded with him.

"Fine." He replied indignantly.

"Okay. Well I have a hard time saying those words to someone unless I absolutely mean it. I wanted to say it to you numerous times when we were together. I was too afraid to do so. I thought there is no way he would actually love me back. When you said them to me last year I was just so shocked, amazed even! You really do love me don't you Jess?" Rory explained.

"Rory you know I do." He replied softly.

"Good, that just proves that what we have is real. After everything that has happened with us, we still love each other." Rory said as she took his hand.

Jess looked at her with fear in his eyes. He never thought he would get to this point with her.

"Jess Mariano, I love you. You are my soul mate and I know that now. If I have to spend another day without you in my life I may go crazy. When you were in your coma, I think apart of me died when I looked at you helpless like that. Jess I need you in my life. I need you. Period." Rory said as a tear ran down her face.

Jess wiped her tear away with his finger and then looked at her with a smile.

"I've waited so long to hear you say those words. No one has ever said them to me." Jess replied softly.

"No one? Not even your mom? Not Luke? No one?" Rory asked him baffled by what he said.

"Luke and I don't have to say it. It's kind of understood. My mom never has either; she is kind of like me. You know she has a hard time showing emotion, but I know she does. It's taken awhile to get to a good place with her but were there. No one has ever taken the time to get to know me and love me." Jess explained.

"Wow, Jess…I don't know what to say." Rory replied as she began to cry for him.

"Hey Rory you said you loved me. What more could I ask for?" Jess said to her as he lifted her chin with his hand.

"I love you Jess with all my heart." Rory replied as she leaned against his forehead with hers and kissed his nose lightly.

"I love you too Rory." Jess replied as he stroked her hair lightly.

He leaned in a little and kissed her gently, she began to kiss him back. He broke their kiss and looked in her eyes.

"Hey, why don't I walk you home?" he asked her with a big smile.

"I would love that." She replied as she gave him another quick kiss.

He took her hand and they headed back to her place. They talked the entire way about anything and everything. Things were going to be different for them this time…………………………………………………

A/N Hey everyone it has been quite a busy week for me! Sorry I didn't update sooner! I hope you guys like this chapter! I know I do! Anyhoodle! Happy Friday everyone!!! Have a great weekend! Please read and review! Thanks! ;)

-Kara-