Rory kept working through the night finding she couldn't sleep. She was in a hurry to get her belongings packed away. She had got both rooms packed and half the living room when there was a knock on the door. She got up and walked through the maze of books, movies and boxes that were piled up where ever there was space.
"What are you doing here?" Rory asked with a surprised smile on her face happy to see him.
"Figured you could use some help," he responded kissing her pink plump lips. "I've brought a few more boxes, if you need them."
"I might need a few more for the kitchen," Rory respond looking around. "Would you mind packing the kitchen up, while I finish the living room?"
"Leave the coffee pot, coffee and two mugs?" Jess asked stepping through the doorway pushing the door shut. He made sure to lock it behind him.
"Yes, please," Rory told him with a soft peck. Jess chuckled getting busy putting boxes together so he could start on the kitchen. Rory headed back through the mess her living room was.
An hour later Rory was placing the last of her books into the last box. She looked around making sure she had packed everything up. Seeing no stray book or movie she walked into the kitchen to see most the cupboards were empty along with the counter top. Jess looked up from his spot on the floor where he was digging pots and pans out of a random cupboard.
"You can go to sleep," Jess told her seeing her yawn.
"I'm not tired," Rory told him stifling a yawn. "See? I can help in here, just give me a cup of coffee and I'll be good to go." Jess wasn't having any of it though. He could see how tired she was. The black bags that were starting to form under her eyes were a dead give a way. "I've had to stay up longer for finals, I'll be fine really!"
"You don't need to stay up for finals anymore, Rory. I have this under control. Go get some rest and I'll join you in a few minutes once I finish," Jess told her placing his hands on her shoulders. "I promise."
"Promise's mean shit, Mariano and you know it!" Rory told him sternly. "Let me help and we can get to bed twice as fast together." Jess felt slightly hurt that Rory didn't trust his promise. He knew he had a bad record of breaking promise's but he had thought she had seen enough to know just how dramatically he had changed. "Beside's it's my stuff, you shouldn't be forced to pack it up."
"No, now it's our stuff," Jess responded kissing her forehead. "I'm offering to do it, not being forced. I have this under control, I swear." Rory nodded finally giving in.
"Ok, just don't take too long," Rory whispered pressing her lips against his.
The second her head had hit the pillow she was out cold. Thoughts about her future were put on hold. Her worries about things involving Jess vanished. Sleep had finally won and put her into a much-needed deep sleep.
Jess had got the last of the kitchen packed away. He left the coffee pot and things out knowing she would need a cup straight away in the morning to fully wake up. He had planned on getting out of bed before Rory to get the boxes taken out to the pick up, he just hadn't expect for her to have so much stuff. He was hoping that he could get everything to fit in both the pick up and Rory's car. He let the thought vanish as he stripped down to his boxers making his way to the bedroom. He slipped under the blanket pulling Rory's sleeping form into his. Rory let a sigh of content out moving to get closer to him. His eyes closed on their own accord.
Rory smiled lightly opening her eyes. She quickly got out of bed as not to disturb a peaceful sleeping Jess. She had a quick shower and changed clothes. She started a pot of coffee grabbing her keys. She scribbled a quick note letting Jess know she would be right back. She made sure she had some money on her. She quickly went to the bakery that was a block and a half over.
Jess woke up hearing the door shut. He groaned rubbing the remaining sleep from his eyes. He shielded his eyes from the sun that was streaming in through the window. Blinking a few times getting his eyes to adjust he looked at his watch to see that it was while after 1 in the afternoon.
"Good afternoon, sleepy head," Rory giggled standing in the doorway. "There's doughnuts in the kitchen. There's a clean towel in the bathroom if you want to shower."
"I think, I'm gonna shower," he told her kicking the blankets off. He went over to where his bag laid on the floor taking it into the bathroom with him.
Rory went about the apartment piling everything up that needed to be tossed out. She piled the boxes in the living room making sure each box had been wrote on.
"Not everything is going to fit in the back of Luke's pick up and in my car," Rory stated hearing the bathroom door open.
"I figured as much late last night. I'll have to go and rent a U Haul trailer. I'll be back in a little bit."
"I can go with," Rory told him with a slight pout. Jess kissed her lips holding her hips.
"I know but you still have things to take care of here." He looked around the place. A smile came to his lips seeing that both her ex's boxes were among the trash that was piled up. "The sooner it gets done the sooner we can head out of here." He did have one little stop to make without Rory. He had already asked for permission, but he didn't have a ring. Rory looked around, she did have a few things that still needed to be packed away after they got washed.
"Ok, just don't take too long." Jess pulled her into a kiss. Pulling away from the kiss he rested his forehead against hers.
"I'll try my hardest not to," he smirked kissing her once more.
With Jess gone Rory got busy getting the pile of trash taken care of. After the trash was taken care of Rory got busy getting the few dishes rinsed out and put away. After the last box was taped shut, Rory went to the bathroom and got the dirty towels put in a plastic bag and put on top of her suitcase. With Jess still not back yet. She took her suitcase and a few other bags down and out to her car.
Jess looked through the display case's filled with rings. He had already told the sales assistant he was fine. He stopped when his eyes landed on a certain ring.
"I would to see that one," Jess said pointing to a ring.
"That's 1/3 ct. t.w. princess-cut diamond framed milgrain ring in 14K white gold." Jess looked at the ring now that he was able to see it up close. It was a vintage-enthused 14K white gold design which showcases a brilliant 1/4 ct. princess-cut center stone wrapped up in a frame of diamond accents. Providing hints of romance, sweet gold, diamond-adorned hearts cuddle the shank.
"This is the one, I'll take it."
"You're in luck it's on sale," she smiled taking the ring to get it put in a box. She rung the ring up and Jess handed his credit card over. It may have been a bit expensive even if it was on sale, but Rory was worth that, if not more.
Rory was starting to get worried a little. She knew how traffic was and he had been gone for a little over 2 hours. But something told her, he should have been back by now. Everything was taken care of that could be. All that needed to be done was to get everything loaded up and she could hand her keys in.
"What took you so long?" Rory asked jumping to her feet when the door burst open.
"Traffic was a bit hectic than normal," Jess offered up for an excuse. Rory let it slide. She just wanted to get everything put onto the trailer and get moving away from New City and in to Stars Hollow. "I should have dragged Luke with," Jess said out of the blue. Rory titled her head to the side looking at him. "There is no way you can help move the couch, both beds, the desk, and the dressers."
"I'm stronger than I look," Rory told him flatly placing her hands on her hips. Jess gave her an intense look. "Fine, Bill lives in the apartment across the hall. Drew lives in the one at the end of the hall and Jake lives directly above." Jess hated the jealousy that flooded through him at the name of each guy. "Bill has been married for the last 5 years, Drew's into men and Jake has been with the same woman for the last 4 and half years. You have nothing to worry about. They helped me and mom when I moved in, they'll be happy to help out again," Rory clarified letting Jess relax.
"You get them and I'll start moving a few boxes." Rory kissed his cheek and went to find the three men in question.
They were more than willing to help out. A few friends of theirs had also volunteered and with in 2 two hours everything was packed away. Rory checked over the place making sure she had got everything packed away. Jess wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting his chin rest on her shoulder.
"It feels so surreal," she whispered leaning back into his safe and secure embrace.
"That tends to happen." Rory shivered feeling his breath on her ear.
"When are you going to go get your things?" Rory asked not ready to leave yet. She wasn't quite ready to leave her first place that was all hers.
"Sometime next week. I'm going to show up unannounced and see how Matt and Chris really are doing without me. I don't have much to take. Just my personal things. Matt wants to move out of the apartment above the store and he wants my place, so I figured, I'd let him have my couch and stuff. We have no use for it," Jess told her. "We gotta get going if we wanna make it back to Stars Hollow before the sun sets." Rory nodded turning around to share a kiss with him.
"You go ahead and I'll be behind you shortly." Jess nodded and headed out. Rory looked around one last time before shutting and locking the door behind her. For the first time since making the plans of moving in together, everything felt real and it just wasn't a bunch of talk. Rory walked off leaving the place for the last time.
"I hope you find what you're looking for." Rory smiled at Brenda the old woman who was in charge of the place. She had a soft spot for Rory.
"I already have. It only took a few extra years, but I've found it and I'm not letting go quite as easily as I had before. Thanks for letting me leave months before my lease is up."
"It's nothing Rory, I hope it works out." Rory gave the older woman a hug. She handed her keys over and walked out. She was leaving the city and she wasn't sad. She was happy to see what this new chapter with Jess was going to bring her way.