Title: Lovely Things

Author: Buffychick

Pairing: Rory/Jess (Literati)

Timeline: Two years after Rory graduates from college.

Disclaimer: Yeah, right.

A.N.: Did you think I forgot? No, no. Just lost my inspiration for a while. Thanks for hanging in there!

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

Crossing and uncrossing heel-clad feet, Kate fidgeted at the table for four and glanced yet again through the dimly lit restaurant, crowded as usual on a Friday night, her gaze aimed at the front door.

Across from her at the table the six-foot and lanky brunette smiled to himself. "He'll be here," Kyle reminded her, taking a sip from the tall draft in his hand. "You said he had a thing before this, right? Some kind of promotional book thing?"

She nodded, toying with the hem of her casual green skirt, her feet shuffling nervously in the new shoes she'd splurged on for the occasion. "Yeah, I know. I just…you two have to like each other."

A grin played on his lips and his eyes twinkled with amusement. "I'm not interested in dating him."

"Good thing, he'd have a problem with you being taller than he is," she retorted, unruffled, her eyes never moving from the front door.

"Kate," he sighed good-naturedly, "He'll be here, and it will be fine. You've told me a ton about him, I read his book so I can compliment him appropriately, and you're friends with him. Best friends," he added pointedly, and raised his voice just a bit to be heard over the din coming from the attached, and much more crowded, bar. "If you love him, I'm sure I'll at least like him."

"I'm not worried about you," she muttered, half to herself. Turning in her chair so that she once again faced her boyfriend, she nodded. "You're right. And Rory will be here soon…which will distract Jess from interrogating you too much. You're going to love her," Kate told him with a genuine smile splaying her pretty face. "She's wonderful, and so great for Jess. I can't believe I wasn't sure about her at first."

"You're protective," he shrugged. "A good friend."

Kate smiled at him and leaned over for a kiss. "Bet yer ass. Just remember not to mention Rory when Jess gets here."

"How could I forget it's a surprise when you've only mentioned it twenty or so times in the last three days?" he grinned again and settled back in his chair with the menu, debating internally between a sandwich or a steak. "When's she supposed to be here?"

"About eight. Jess said he'd be here no later than 7:30, which means he's already late, shocking… They haven't seen each other in weeks. Actually, it's the longest they've gone without seeing each other since they got together again. He's probably being a total shit right now. Rory keeps him sane, and therefore congenial, to the rest of the human population."

"He can't be that bad," Kyle guessed, unfolding long legs and leaning back in his chair.

"You'd be wrong," Kate grinned back at him, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. "But you're sure to love him. I think. I hope."

Green eyes shone. "You're cute when you're nervous."

A saucy grin flashed on her lips. "I'm damn sexy when I'm nervous," she corrected.

Leaning in to kiss her again, he agreed. "That's pretty much a given," he told her, then leered at her legs. "Have I told you I love it when you wear a skirt?"

Kate's eyes glinted. "I don't think you've mentioned it…"

His smile reached his eyes, which then averted from her face toward the man walking toward their table. "I believe the celebrated writer appears…and Rory's with him."

Kate turned happily, then turned back almost as suddenly, her eyes wide. "Oh. Uh…That's not Rory…" she said delicately.

"What?" Kyle asked, glancing from her back to Jess.

Kate had no time to answer before her roommate reached the table, Erin sliding up next to him.

"Hey guys," Jess greeted them with a smile and appraised Kate's ensemble. "All dolled up, he noted. "I'm going to take a stab and assume it's not for me."

Kate composed herself and hugged him briefly. "Sure isn't," she smiled back overly-sweetly. "Um…this is Kyle Jacoby. Jess Mariano, Kyle. Kyle, Jess. Be nice," she warned Jess, her tone lowering so that only he heard her.

Jess ignored her and offered his hand to Kyle, appraising him silently. "Brave man," he grinned. "Nice to meet you. Heard a lot about you."

"Same here," Kyle told him. "I was starting to think she was making up this famous author roommate. The traveling's got to be rough."

Jess snorted. "I'm definitely not famous, nowhere close, but yeah…the traveling…you have no idea." He turned to the redhead at his side. "This is Erin Callahan. She's the publishing assistant that's been working with me." His eyes flicked to Kate. "I've told you about her."

Kate gave a curt nod. "Uh, yeah…hi, nice to meet you."

"Same here," Erin smiled kindly and sat in the chair Jess held out for her.

Turning to Jess, Kate plastered on a smile. "You didn't mention you were bringing someone."

Jess raised an eyebrow as he shrugged out of the corduroy blazer he was wearing and took a seat. "I didn't know I needed to. Besides, the last leg of the trip is here in Philly, thanks to the considerate assistant who arranged my schedule for me. Erin's here, not knowing anyone, so I figured she could use a night out at a good restaurant with people who we aren't trying to impress just so they buy my book."

Kate laughed a little too hard at the joke, causing the rest of the table to exchange curious glances. "No, no, it's great. I'm glad you're here, Erin…I just didn't know…"

"The table's for four, Kate," Jess said pointedly, his gaze hardening slightly in warning.

"Of course, really…I'm glad you could join us," Kate told Erin.

Erin swallowed. "Thanks for letting me intrude. I really was tired of eating hotel room service, alone."

"So, Jess," Kyle began, giving his girlfriend a hard glance, "how long have you been on the road? Kate's told me but I can't remember."

Glancing quizzically at Kate, Jess paused a moment before addressing Kyle. "We've been at it…" he turned to Erin, "how long now? Four weeks?"

"Five," she confirmed, toying with the chain of her beaded necklace. "On and off. I've been back to New York a couple times, Jess has swung through Philadelphia a few times, but mostly it's been the two of us hitting every bookstore in the nation." She shrugged. "Better to get your face out there than just your name," she explained.

"Well, I've read the book," he told Jess. "I really liked it."

"Thanks," Jess gave him an appreciative nod. "Hopefully I can just get better."

The waiter arrived, allowing them to order drinks and appetizers, with Kate glancing furtively toward the door every few seconds. "What is it with you?" Jess asked her.

Kate flushed and glanced at Erin. "Nothing, nothing…um…can I talk to you a minute?" she asked Jess.

"Can't it wait? I'm exhausted, I've got one more book thing to do tomorrow, and this is the first time I've sat down without a pen in my hand or a microphone in my face in five weeks. Relax already."

"Not really, I--" Kate began, then sighed heavily as she spotted the lanky brunette crossing the floor, headed their way. "Well…never mind…" she muttered, just as Rory approached the table.

"Um…hi," she smiled, glancing curiously at the additional guest.

Kate plastered a smile on her face and held her hands up, Vanna White-style, toward Rory. "Surprise!"

"Hey!" Jess said happily, rising to his feet and pulling her to him, planting a kiss on her lips. "What are you doing here, Gilmore? I thought you weren't able to come in this weekend?"

Rory glanced at Kate, who gave her best attempt at a casual smile. "I…uh…lied. Kate and I thought it would be fun to surprise you…the four of us having dinner tonight, hanging out this weekend…I could go to your book thing tomorrow…" Pulling herself out of Jess' grip she looked into the eyes of her boyfriend, found true happiness shining in them, and relaxed a bit against the tension that seemed to have surrounded their table. "Hi," she murmured.

He cocked his head slightly. "Hi. Missed you."

The grin exploded over her face, she couldn't help it, and he tucked an arm possessively around her waist, hugging her to his side. She self-consciously glanced back at the table, and the expectant faces looking up at them. "Um…hi," she stammered slightly, giving them a wave.

"Kyle," Kate began, "This is Rory Gilmore."

Kyle smiled at her and Rory instantly liked him as she shook his hand. "Nice to finally meet you," he told her sincerely.

"This is Erin," Jess told her, nodding to the redhead, who rose to shake Rory's hand. "We work together."

"Oh, right!" Rory nodded, making the connection. "Jess has told me about you. Taking some time off?"

Erin smiled back. "Yes, Jess was nice enough to invite me to dinner tonight. I didn't know I'd be the fifth wheel, though, so I feel a bit awkward…"

"Oh please," Jess told her, dismissing the thought. "It's fine. No big deal at all. Besides, now you get to meet everyone I've been talking about for five weeks."

"I bet you've been just an uncontrollable chatterbox," Rory said with a roll of her eyes, standing at the table feeling completely awkward.

Jess raised an eyebrow. "Watch it," he told her, planting a kiss on her lips before pulling out his chair for her. "I'll get us another chair."

They shifted and made room for another person, getting Rory a drink and ordering their entrees before uncomfortable silence apprehended the table once again.

"It's been a weird start. Let's try again." Kyle cleared his throat. "So, I'm Kyle, she's Kate, he's Jess, she's Erin, you're Rory."

"A-plus," Rory grinned with a nod.

"We could probably all use a few more stiff drinks," he added.

"Here here," Kate murmured. "Okay…so…the trip! How was it? Tell us everything!" she ordered to Jess.

He shrugged. "Nothing to tell, really. Okay hotels, small bookstores, smaller newspapers, coupla magazines…"

"He's being modest," Erin interrupted. "He did Good Morning America, The Today Show, The View…"

"Oh my God, you did not tell me you were on The View!" Kate gasped before collapsing into giggles. "Oh my God, that is just too perfect!"

"You swore," Jess glared at Erin, who grinned back good-naturedly.

"Oops…"

"It can't have aired yet. My mom watches it religiously," Kate went on. "I'd have known. Better still, I'd have a copy. And I so would have put in on YouTube right now and made some random quote my ringtone."

Erin chuckled. "It airs next week."

Kate clapped her hands happily. "Oh, thank God for TiVo!"

Rory and Kyle exchanged a glance. "I'm sure it was great," Rory told Jess supportively, patting his hand.

He narrowed his eyes at Erin. "Dead."

"Not afraid," Erin countered.

"Um…so it sounds like you've been doing some really amazing things," Rory began.

"I wouldn't say that," Jess told her, lacing his fingers with hers. "Mostly I just couldn't wait to get home."

She smiled at him. "Is that the Jess way of saying you missed me?"

He considered. "Possibly."

"He did," Erin assured her. "He's told me tons about you guys. Well, except for Kyle…"

"I'm a mystery," Kyle told her.

"He's something," Kate agreed, giving him a smart-assed smile.

"You're putting up with her, so your manliness isn't in question here tonight," Jess told him. "Your sanity, maybe, but not your machismo."

"You know how it is," Kyle smiled, leaning back in his chair. "Once you train 'em right…"

The women at the table rolled their eyes. "I'm so glad you're here, Rory," Kate grinned. "After Jess is done tomorrow I was going to vacate the apartment so you guys can have some alone time."

"That would be great, are you sure?" Rory asked.

"I'm staying at Kyle's," Kate nodded. "No biggie."

"Only if we're all hanging out tonight, though," Rory insisted.

"Absolutely." Turning back to her roommate, she prodded. "So…who'd you meet? Anyone good?"

"Why don't we talk about Kyle?" Jess asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"Hey…" protested Kyle. "Guy code," he reminded Jess, narrowing his eyes in a mock threat.

"Um, would you like to see some of the stuff Jess has been doing?" Erin asked, pulling out the satchel she'd been carrying when she walked in. "I've collected articles and other promotional things along the way. Jess said he wouldn't ever want them, but I hoped he would change his mind…"

"He won't," Kate confirmed a bit too roughly.

"Kate," Jess murmured, glaring at her over his menu.

"I'd love to see some of it," Kyle lied in an attempt to ease the conversation.

Erin glanced uneasily at Kate before pulling out a small scrapbook-looking item. Opening it, she leaned over to show Kyle the mixture of articles, photos, promotional pieces, and flyers that she'd collected.

"Quite a lot of cities," Kyle commented, gazing at the book.

Kate glanced at it. "I've got more stuff at home," she told them helpfully. "I know you won't want it, but I thought maybe Rory would preserve your memory."

Jess groaned and grabbed at the book, snagging a photo. "I thought I told you no photos," he grumbled.

Erin grinned. "I just love that one!" Turning to Kate and Kyle, she wrinkled her nose with a smile. "We were in this pub in Boston earlier this week. Everyone was singing some Irish drinking song, and three-pints-of-Harp over here couldn't hold his liquor. He joined in some Irish jig."

Kate took the photo and raised confused eyes. "This isn't of you dancing," she said to Jess. The photo was of Erin and Jess, all smiles, heads intimately together.

"No, but it's enough of a reminder," Erin grinned. "See that sign in the back?" she asked, pointing to an old wooden sign, the word "Meyer's" scrawled in green across a white paint-chipped background. "That's the name of the pub. We'll never forget."

"Sounds nice," Rory nodded, glancing through the book.

Jess grunted and pocketed the photo. "Let's order."

They fell into silence as they each perused the menu and then ordered when the waiter had been signaled. The discussion over dinner ranged from the book signings to Erin's career, to Rory's writing and the latest assignment she'd been given, which would involve her traveling to California for a week at the end of the month. Kyle and Jess got into a discussion about music, and Jess was completely surprised to discover that he and Kyle shared a mutual love for several of the same bands. When Rory excused herself for the restroom before dessert was served, Kate jumped at the opportunity to go with her.

"I'm so sorry!" Kate gushed in a hissed whisper as they left the table, linking her arm through Rory's and keeping their heads close.

"For what?" Rory asked.

"I had no idea Erin was going to be here."

Rory shrugged. "Oh, it's okay…she seems nice."

Kate all but sneered. "I'm not saying she's not nice, but this was supposed to be a double-date, and your stupid boyfriend had to go ruin it."

"Well, to be fair, he didn't know--"

"It doesn't matter…I was so excited for you guys to have this whole reunion thing and her being here makes it all awkward," Kate announced as they entered the restroom.

"She seems okay," Rory admitted, locking herself in a stall.

From the next stall over, Kate snorted. "But she also seems a little…'Hi, I've been with your boyfriend for five weeks straight.'"

Rory's glanced over at the wall dividing them. "You think?"

"To me, yeah, a little. It's very subtle. And maybe I'm just imagining it, I don't know."

Rory contemplated this as she walked out a moment later to wash her hands, joining Kate at the sink. "I'm not worried about anything with Erin. She's doing her job, and it's over for now, right? He's home. I'm here."

"I know," Kate conceded. "I'm probably just being paranoid. I'm really happy for you guys, and it looks like things are happening for both of you. I don't need some redhead, which obviously came from a box, breaking you up."

The girls headed back to the table together, arms linked. "I'm glad you've taken it upon yourself to save our relationship, which you've also admitted doesn't need saving."

Kate batted her eyes. "It's what I do."

"You really think her hair color's fake?"

"Clairol Red #894. Bad experience with 894 myself, four years ago. It taught me lessons, though, so I can't hate it entirely. Plus, it left me with the ability to spot an 894 job at 90 paces."

Rory gave a nod of appreciation. "Impressive. And not a little scary."

Kate ignored her. "And that bag of hers? Fake Coach."

"My bag's a fake Coach," Rory admitted.

"Yes, but I like you."

Rory nodded, trying not to laugh. "You should meet my mother."

"Why's that?"

They approached the table and Rory lowered her voice, "Uncanny similarities."

Jess held her tight against him, his lips fused to her neckline, the moisture of perspiration slicking their bodies as they came together for the first time that evening, starving for each other after more than five weeks of loneliness. Rory gasped and her head fell to the side, her back arching as her legs came up and around his waist, her hips meeting his in time, in rhythm. They pumped faster and faster against one another, vision blurring, minds blank save for the single thought of meeting that mutual goal. Though their breath was ragged, their movements were fluid, and in no time they were crying out together in satisfaction.

He looked down at her as she worked to catch her breath, and her blue eyes opened to meet his. They stared at each other, emotions playing over each of their faces but the words going unspoken until Jess suddenly reached down and tenderly kissed her, easing his weight down on top of her, gently as he could, until he was cradling her face in his hands as his lips and tongue tangled with hers.

His heart was slamming in his chest, love for this woman almost crushing him with its enormity. He's missed her, God he's missed her. More now than he ever had before, and he'd certainly done his share of leaving her in the past. All their years apart, and he'd never been lonelier for her than he had the past five weeks while he traipsed around the country, alone.

"What is it?" she whispered a moment later when he had reluctantly slowed his kisses.

"Hm?" he asked, leaning down to touch kiss her forehead.

"You're being all smoochy on me…where's Jess?" she teased as he rolled off of her and snuggled their bodies against one another, her back to his chest, his arms around her waist.

"Jeez, can't a guy just miss his girlfriend?" he murmured.

She grinned. "You know you can. And you better have."

"Well, I did," he told her, nuzzling her earlobe with tender lips. "A lot."

"I missed you too…it's hard enough to go two weekends without seeing you, much less five straight weeks. All I can say is thank God for unlimited roaming."

"So next time come with me."

"Yeah, right. I'm sure Lou will just love it if I tell him I'm taking five weeks off to run around America with you."

"So quit," he offered.

"No, thank you. It's a crappy job, but it's my crappy job. Besides, I'm going to California in two weeks and next week I…I have an interview."

Jess raised his head. "What? With who?"

"In Boston. In TV," she confessed, playing nervously with his fingers. "Farther away from you."

He was silent a moment, then said carefully, "I didn't know you were looking for a new job."

"I'm not. I wasn't, I mean. But I heard about this position…it's nothing, really. Not on-air. Just reporting, writing up the stories, editing. But it's a start. Probably getting the anchors their coffee. I don't care if I'd be doing the weather, but it's with TV news. In a big market."

Jess felt his heart clench and begin to sink as he considered that she'd be further away from Philly. And when the excitement and hope in her voice began to really shine through, his heart sunk more as he realized that he was going to have to be supportive when really…he wanted to hold her to him and keep her next to his heart forever.

"When did all of this happen?"

"Last week."

"When were you going to tell me?"

There was an edge to his voice that had her turning toward him in the dark. "I didn't want to tell you while you were on the road," she said softly. "I don't even have the job, and Boston's not that far, if I do get it…"

He wanted to snap at her, to fight back at her words with his own. But he couldn't. "I know…it's not that far. Couple more hours. We'll work it out."

"Are you okay?" Her eyes were filled with worry as she looked at him, he could tell even in the dim lighting provided by the bathroom light across the hall.

"Yeah…it's just been a long five weeks," he said finally. "I don't want to think tonight."

Rory moved against him, settling herself against his chest, her legs entwined with his as they lay together on the bed, the hum of traffic outside his apartment the only real sound other than their steady breathing.

"I love you, Jess," she murmured. "I'm so glad you're home."

"Love you, too. You coming with me tomorrow?"

"Can I?"

"Course. But I'm warning you, it's not exciting, and you will be bored."

"Silly boy. I could never be bored watching you sign books for hours on end."

"It's been known to happen. I've seen old women nod off in the middle of things, simply standing in line, then…whoosh. Down they go."

"Well, should that happen and it turns out that I do, in fact, have the stamina of an eighty-year-old woman like you seem to be implying, remember that we'll be in a bookstore. I'll wander and buy up half their inventory. But mostly I'm just going to be enamored with this adorable face," she pinched his cheek, "and don't forget, I have groupie-beatings to handle."

"Ah, yes, the groupie beatings. Erin had a hard time dealing with all of my adoring fans. Good thing she'll have you there tomorrow."

"Erin's not woman enough," Rory commented lightly, thoughts of her earlier conversation meandering their way into her brain. "Few can handle it. I come from a long line of Groupie Deterrent Agents. I'll show you how it's done."

"Tell me there's a t-shirt."

"Coffee mugs," she corrected.

"Naturally. I'll bring bail money."

She grinned in the dark and kissed him again, breathing in the smell of him and realizing how relaxed she really was for the first time in weeks. "Five weeks is too long…" she murmured.

"Incredibly too long," he agreed, brushing hair from her face.

"I didn't like it."

"Me either."

"You know we've been doing this for over a year?"

"I remember something about that, yeah."

She swallowed. "It's getting harder…for me. Is it getting harder for you?"

"To go without seeing you?" he asked.

She nodded, eyes wide, heart beating more quickly.

"Yeah…it is," he confessed, and she relaxed once again, pleased. "I don't like waiting until Friday to see you, much less waiting five weeks."

"We should probably talk about it sometime…"

A shoulder joked. "Probably. But for now…let's test that stamina you're bragging about," he murmured suggestively, taking her earlobe in his teeth.

Rory sighed with pleasure, rolling her eyes at his distraction technique, before sliding a hand down between them. She chuckled when he gasped at her fingers wrapping around him, and moaned when they began to pump lazily.

It turned out they needed to test her stamina at least twice more that evening.