A/N: Ok I figure it's in the best interest of the story if I speed it up a
little bit. Hope that's ok. So I should mention it's now four months later.
It's around august. Jess is still at his job, but an editor who recently
visited the firm showed "interest" in the "mysterious man who spent the
afternoon sitting in the corner scribbling ferociously on a yellow pad of
paper." Jess and Rory have been very active in Cole's life. Starting off
slow, Jess' visited Cole at home once a week. Trips to the park and the
library soon followed. Rory has just finished a summer course at school
that will allow her to graduate in January. She has already been given an
offer for a try out on a local tv news program when she finishes. Lane and
Tristan have become a hot and heavy couple. In fact Tristan recently moved
into an apartment in the same building to be closer to Lane, who still
refuses to move in with him; claiming she wants to "hold onto the last
thread of respect" her mother has for her. Lorelai and Luke are in Stars
Hollow, adjusting well to living together, although Luke is still very
uncomfortable walking around the house in his boxers---which Lorelai
insists he does at night when they watch tv together. Oh and in case you
haven't noticed, I'll be using the little quotes("") a lot this chapter
sorry can't control that.
*Rory/Jess/Lane's apartment. *Rory is on the phone with Lorelai.
"Yeah, so this guy noticed Jess' sitting there and asked him what he was writing Jess told him he was just writing some notes, the guy said well let me see those. Took them from Jess and walked away. The next morning Jess is filling some stuff and the guy comes into the back room, and says he'd like to see some more of Jess' notes."
"So basically this editor just offered him a book deal?" Lorelai asks excitedly.
"Pretty much, it was so funny Jess didn't know what to make of it when it happened. He came home, sat on the couch for like an hour before saying anything." Rory giggles.
"So why was this guy at a law firm, I mean why is he being sued? Oh! Did he steal someone's idea, or maybe he's secretly being tried for murder but they're keeping it on the down-low because he's really in the Russian mob!" Lorelai squeals.
"He's not being sued, and he's not in the mob. He was having a will drawn up." Rory says unenthusiastically."
"Man it would be so cool if he was in the mob and Jess got a book deal from him. Then you would have connections, and I bet you could get really good canolis!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Why would the Russian mafia give us Italian pastries?"
"Because they are aware of the obvious superiority that the canoli has over the-uh, what kinds of pastries do they make in Russia?"
"Changing the subject, now. My class ended today."
"Oh yeah? How'd it go?"
"Good, it was real interesting, and the professor said that as long as I passed the final----
"As if that's an issue." Lorelai cuts in.
"If, I pass the final I can definitely graduate in January."
"Wow I can't believe how good everything is going for you and Jess."
"I know, just let's not talk about it. I don't want to think about what other surprises are going creep up on us now."
"Ok, making mental note not to mention exciting stuff happening in daughter's life."
"So how's Luke?"
"Mad." Lorelai says grumpily.
"What happened? What is he mad at you for now, did you slip coffee into his tea again?"
"No....all I said was that he was too modest."
"Oh, God." Rory says, exhausted.
"I'm sorry but if I'm going to be walking around the house in my underwear while Luke's sitting on the couch with me, I'd at least like to know he's going be sitting around in his underwear too."
"Mom, not everyone likes to spend their evenings lounging around in their underwear."
"Not you too, unsay those things. It's not like I'm asking him to strip down to his skivey's in front of the whole town....after all I did have him install those blinds a few months ago." Lorelai says innocently.
"Skivey's?"
"Did I mention that we watched a movie about sailors last week."
"Luke did not watch that." Rory answers unable to imagine Luke sitting through an hour and 30 minutes of Lorelai gawking at the tight butts of 30+ sailors.
"Well, it was on a Friday, and the diner's busy then so I went Miss Patty's and Babette's weekly movie night."
"You're scaring me."
"Speaking of scary things, where is Jess shouldn't he be yelling things in the background?"
"He's not here."
"Where is he, it's 7, so he can't be working that late."
"He's out with Cole." Rory says sadly
"Oh....again." Lorelai says coolly.
"Mom, come on. It's his son." Rory says defensively
"Don't remind me."
"Mom, stop. I thought you said you were going to be good about this and stop putting your ill feelings towards another person on Jess."
"I know, I know. I've been trying. Luke will tell you I have..Right?!" Lorelai screams into the background.
"I'm not getting involved." Luke's gruff voice is heard in the background. "Hey, what are you doing...those are my pants, come on just because I don't agree with you...stop it!" Luke's voice booms through the phone as Lorelai momentarily forgets about Rory and makes a move for Luke's pants.
"MOM!" Rory barks into the phone.
"Oh, sweetie. Hi sorry. I just can't stand it, he's sitting on the couch, it's dark out and yet he's sitting on the couch watching baseball in his jeans Rory, his Jeans!"
"Leave Luke alone."
"I bet Jess watches baseball in his underwear." Lorelai says grumpily.
"First of all, Jess doesn't watch baseball. Second, I plead the fifth. And for the last time, I refuse to discuss neither Jess' nor my own underwear." Rory says coldly
"Kill Joy."
"Mom, I'm going to go. Jess should be home soon, and I want to go take a shower and do some laundry before he gets home."
"Fine, desert me, oh child of mine just leave me to the buzzards." Lorelai over dramatizes.
"Love you too, bye mom."
Rory hangs up the phone and sighs. "Two hours and 30 minutes, that's got to be a record." With a backwards glance at the telephone she makes her way to the bathroom and turns on the shower.
*20 minutes later * Jess enters the apartment.
"Hello?" Jess says cautiously.
"Hey." Rory's head up off the couch, her hair is wet, her face tired.
"Jeesus. You scared the hell out of me." Jess replies taking a step back.
"Sorry." Rory says quietly.
"So, uh what's going on?"
"Nothing just sitting here."
"Reading?" Jess asks a smile creeping onto his face.
"No...tv." Rory says simply.
Jess eyes narrow at Rory's words. When home alone, Rory only liked to do three things, take long hot showers, do laundry and read. Rory hated to watch tv by herself, she claimed the tv would turn her into a zombie if she didn't have someone there to protect her during Survivor 20.
"Are you ok?" he asks concerned.
"Course."
Jess drops his bag on the floor and sits on the edge of the couch, turning Rory's face towards him with his hand.
"Rory, you're watching tv, alone. Something's wrong."
Rory pulls Jess' hand away from her face, "It's nothing I'm just tired, my last day of class was today-
"I thought it was next week." Jess says, cutting Rory off.
"No this afternoon." Rory says calmly, her tone slightly cracking, revealing hurt.
"I forgot I'm sorry." Jess says calmly, honestly feeling terrible, having promised to be home to welcome her when "the hardest class of her academic career" ended.
"It's ok, you had other stuff to do."
"No, I should have been here."
"Jess it's ok, Paris called to congratulate me and after that I called my mom and talked to her for a while, so it's not like you missed much."
"Damnit, Paris remembered and I didn't. What kind of boyfriend am I if the most egotistical person in the world remembers that my girlfriend's most hated class ended today and I forgot."
"Forget it Jess." Rory says annoyed. "It wasn't that important." Rory says calming herself down, refusing to let this issue bother her any further.
Jess sighs, "So how long did you talk to your mom?"
"Two and a half." Rory states simply, not meeting Jess' eyes.
"That's it? That's got to be some sort of record." Jess notices Rory looking down at her feet, causing guilt to rise up in Jess' throat.
"That's what I said." Rory replies forcing a smile.
"So, uh did you eat?"
"About an hour ago. How about you?"
"Yeah, I took Cole to Burger King after the movie."
Rory nods her head before standing up and walking into the bedroom.
Jess follows her. When he reaches the door he sees her sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Rory, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to forget. This week has just been so crazy with everything. I swear I never meant to get you upset." Jess pleads.
"Jess I understand, really I do." Rory's lie is met with a stern look from Jess, frustrated she lets the top half of her body fall back onto the bed, "At least that's what I've been telling myself since 2:30 this afternoon."
"Rory, I don't expect you to understand; I should have remembered I don't know why I didn't."
"I'm supposed to be the neutral one, the one who understands everything. I should be ok with this." Rory says breathing heavily.
"You can't help it if your not. I haven't been there for you very much these last few weeks." Jess says, guilt over taking him
"Jess don't blame yourself, you had other things to do. I'm not the only thing going on in your life anymore."
"You're not a thing Rory." Jess says stifling a laugh. "You're a person, I person I love."
"Either way, things have changed and I have to deal."
"No you don't." Jess says blatantly, standing over Rory.
Rory looks up at him, "How can you say that?"
"Look around Rory. You're sitting in our room, not your room not mine, ours. We're not living our own single lives anymore. We're in a relationship. If something's not right we're supposed to fix it."
"Jess things have change, you can't undue that." Rory says, anger in her voice.
"Yeah thing have changed Rory, things in our own separate lives have changed, but that doesn't mean that our life together has to change. If you have a problem with something that's going on between us you have to let me know." Jess says sternly.
"I can't!" Rory yells.
"Why not?" Jess asks, taken back by Rory's anger.
Rory mumbles.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm ashamed ok." Rory grumbles.
"Rory, it's me, you always told me everything no matter how out there it was." Jess says honestly, feeling hurt.
"Jess if I tell you, you're going get mad at me." Rory says sheepishly.
"Not possible." Jess smiles faintly at Rory who's body is shivering on the bed, "Please tell me."
"I can't." Rory says frankly.
"Fine." Jess says defeated. Moving away from the bed, he turns towards the door.
Afraid that Jess might not come back if he walks out the door, Rory speaks up, "Jess, wait."
"What?" He says softly.
Rory sighs. "All morning while I was in class I kept telling myself how great it was going to be when I got home, and I started getting really excited about finally getting to spend some time alone with you."
Jess eyes soften, as the guilt in him rises again.
"But even then when I was picturing coming home and you being there waiting for me, this little voice inside my head kept saying 'he's not going to be there, he's too busy'"
"I tried not to believe it, but I guess I knew you wouldn't be there, just like I knew you wouldn't be home for dinner last night or the night before, and just like I knew you wouldn't be home in time for the book sale on Saturday."
The guilt is too much for Jess, he moves over to the bed and collapses on to it.
"I realize you have a lot going on in your own life Jess, with your job, your book and Cole and I guess I'm just being selfish expecting you to leave time for me."
Jess looks up at her, there are tears in both of their eyes, "you think I've forgotten about you all together?" Jess chokes on his words.
"No.....I don't, it's just with my having classes and you with all your stuff I hardly see you anymore. We decided to share this room to give us a little more time together, but now that you're writing your book you stay up until 3am, and I leave for school and work before you get up at 8. We've barely talked at all since Monday, Three days, Jess. People who are getting married shouldn't go 3 days without speaking."
"You're right..."
"And that's another thing, I know that we said we were going to get married for a while until you worked all this Cole stuff out, but you haven't even mentioned us being engaged in over two months. I'm starting to think that you don't want that anymore." Rory sobs.
"Of course I want that!"
"You know, my mom said things are going great for us right now, but how can they being going great when you spend most of your time at someone else's house."
"That's what this is about?" Jess asks sternly. "Y-you're angry with me for spending time with Cole?"
Rory groans, "Not just time, Jess; all of your time. I feel like I'm a five year old competing for my father's affection. I'm glad you and Cole have a relationship. I'm glad that you enjoy being a father, but I also feel left out."
"You do?" Jess asked, as things suddenly become clear.
"Yes. I feel like in the last month everything has come before me. If you're not out with Cole, you're writing, and if do actually get out somewhere together all you talk about is Cole or the book. I feel like I'm not even a part of your world anymore."
"Rory, you're th center of my world." Jess breathes.
"Doesn't feel like it. You know I thought it was a good idea to start things off with Cole very slow, like Rachel said, but now I'm not so sure."
"What do you mean?"
"Well first we go over to dinner, then it's "Oh Jess, come over spend some time with Cole while Rory's at school", then after reading an article in Parent's magazine, she decides that maybe you should build a relationship with Cole before I'm fully introduced to the picture. I know she just wants him to be well adjusted and stuff but come on, so now you spend four hours a day with this kid and I'm just supposed to nod my head and make dinner while you're gone."
"First of all, you've never made an edible dinner in your entire life." Jess smirks at Rory,
"Second, I don't want you to be left out of anything. You were the first thing in my life that ever meant anything to me. I want you with me all the time. I don't know how I let this get so out of control." Jess runs his finger through his hair.
"Like I said before, Jess. I know part of it I have to over look because of the circumstances I mean there's a lot of major new things going on in your life, I can't just expect you to drop all it just to come home and watch must see tv with me."
"That's just it. This other stuff doesn't matter, well Cole matters of course, but I shouldn't let my time with him affect us."
"Jess, I don't want you to stop spending time with Cole.."
"I know, you know I don't even know why I let Rachel talk me into this whole "ease in" thing. I mean Cole's two it's not like he's 13 and just discovered that his father has another family in New York. He's two, he's not going to even remember this stuff, two years from now he's just going to know that he has two parents who love him, this is so stupid." Jess gets off the bed and onto his knees.
Rory sits up, allowing Jess to put his head on her knees.
"Rory, I'm so sorry that I made you feel like this, please tell me that we can work this out."
"I don't know if we can, but I'd like to try." Rory sobs wiping her eyes with her hand.
"I'm so glad to hear you say that." Jess pulls Rory into a long embrace. "I don't want anything to ever come between us again."
"Me neither."
"Ok, I'll be right back." Jess says firmly.
"Where are you going?" Rory asks confused.
"I'm going to call Rachel and let her know that I'm still taking Cole to the park on Saturday and that you're coming with me." Jess smiles at Rory.
Her face, red and puffy from crying; Rory still manages to beam back at Jess.
*2 weeks later.
*Jess has laid down the law to Rachel, he told he that he couldn't be a part of Cole's life unless Rory was starting now. Rachel agreed and formally apologized to Rory. Jess has stopped working on the book every night, and has set a side one day a week to work on it. He and Rory have been working on their relationship. Although, reluctant at first Rory realized that Jess was sincere about keeping her in his life. She realized that it didn't matter if they got married this year or ten years from now, she just wanted to be with Jess, all the time.
2 weeks later.
*The bedroom.
Rory rolls over in bed, intentionally nudging Jess' sleeping form with her foot.
"Mmm." He mumbles.
Rory lifts his arm up, revealing his bare chest, she breathes deeply and then moves closer to him, draping his erected arm over herself like a blanket. She moves her elbow backwards, nudging Jess once more, this time getting his attention.
"Good morning to you to." He says gruffly.
"Oh, are you awake?" Rory whispers, grinning ear to ear.
"What time is it." Jess yawns.
"9:30am"
"Mmm, good so we have another 48 hours before you have to be up for work." Jess mumbles into Rory's hair as he wraps his leg around her body
Rory manages to escape before Jess traps her, "Actually, I'm supposed to go out with Lane today, remember? She's going to meet Tristan's parents next week and she needs to buy a nice dress."
"Right..I forgot." Jess mumbles.
"No you didn't." Rory swats him
Jess blocks her assault with his arms.
Rory laughs out loud as Jess's hand moves towards her waist, tickling her small frame.
*There's a knock at the door.
Rory rolls over, away from Jess.
"Yes, Lane?" Rory says cheerfully.
"Are you guys decent? Or should I come back later." Lane says bluntly.
"She sure knows how to beat around the bushes, doesn't she?" Jess says sarcastically.
Rory glares at him, "No we're good, come in."
Lane enters the room, her hands over her eyes, "When are you going to be ready, because as of now we only have 1 week and 22 and a half hours before we leave for Hartford."
"If Jess goes and makes coffee, we could be out of here in 20 minutes." Rory says innocently.
"I'm going!" Jess groins.
Lane and Rory giggle.
*25 minutes later:
Jess is sitting at the table as Rory and Lane hurry out the door.
"See you at 7-"
"If we're lucky!" Lane butts in.
"Have fun." Jess grins at them as they leave.
Jess listens to them bound down the stairs and then makes his way to the window. He watches as Rory and Lane babble on about what color dress accentuates Lane's brown eyes. The door of Lane's civic slams and loud music booms through the small car as it pulls away.
Jess turns away from the window, setting his sites on the telephone. He picks it up and reluctantly dials it.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"Jess?" Lorelai Gilmore's voice cracks with shock. In the six months that he'd been living with Rory, he had never willingly called her, without Rory sitting next to him, her nails newly painted making it impossible for her to dial the phone, leaving the duty up to Jess.
"Did Rory just paint her nails?" Lorelai asks frankly.
"No, she's actually not here right now."
"Well if you're looking for Luke, he's already at the dinner, but I guess you would know that....." Lorelai trails off.
"I actually wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Rory."
"Did something happen?" Lorelai asks warily.
"No."
"Oh, so what do you want to talk about then?"
"Well, I'm sure Rory told you that things haven't been going well for us these last few months...."
"She may have mentioned something."
"Well we've been going through a really good period, ok so it's only been two weeks, but still these two weeks have the best of my entire life."
"Well thank you for the update." Lorelai says simply going to hang up the phone.
"Wait!" Jess says desperately.
"What?" Lorelai says taken back by Jess' neediness.
"Well you know how Lane and Tristan are coming down to Hartford next weekend."
"Yeah, so?"
"I was thinking that maybe me and Rory would come down to see you and Luke too."
"That's great! You mean I get to see Rory?"
"Yeah, well being that things were going so good, I thought that maybe I should take some drastic measures." Jess says seriously.
"Lorelai is creeped out by Jess' use of the word drastic, "What are saying?"
"Well, I was just wondering if there were any churches in the surrounding areas..."
A/N: Ok I don't know if you got the last part all I can say is (dum dum dadum dum dum dadum) Well maybe anyway This is a really long chapter- according to word, it's 19 pages. Anyway it was rainy here, and my last day before college starts so I figured I should spend it working on my favorite story that I've ever written. So here ya go hope you like it, it'll prob. Be updated on sat/sun. Have a good night. Please read and review :)
*Rory/Jess/Lane's apartment. *Rory is on the phone with Lorelai.
"Yeah, so this guy noticed Jess' sitting there and asked him what he was writing Jess told him he was just writing some notes, the guy said well let me see those. Took them from Jess and walked away. The next morning Jess is filling some stuff and the guy comes into the back room, and says he'd like to see some more of Jess' notes."
"So basically this editor just offered him a book deal?" Lorelai asks excitedly.
"Pretty much, it was so funny Jess didn't know what to make of it when it happened. He came home, sat on the couch for like an hour before saying anything." Rory giggles.
"So why was this guy at a law firm, I mean why is he being sued? Oh! Did he steal someone's idea, or maybe he's secretly being tried for murder but they're keeping it on the down-low because he's really in the Russian mob!" Lorelai squeals.
"He's not being sued, and he's not in the mob. He was having a will drawn up." Rory says unenthusiastically."
"Man it would be so cool if he was in the mob and Jess got a book deal from him. Then you would have connections, and I bet you could get really good canolis!" Lorelai exclaims.
"Why would the Russian mafia give us Italian pastries?"
"Because they are aware of the obvious superiority that the canoli has over the-uh, what kinds of pastries do they make in Russia?"
"Changing the subject, now. My class ended today."
"Oh yeah? How'd it go?"
"Good, it was real interesting, and the professor said that as long as I passed the final----
"As if that's an issue." Lorelai cuts in.
"If, I pass the final I can definitely graduate in January."
"Wow I can't believe how good everything is going for you and Jess."
"I know, just let's not talk about it. I don't want to think about what other surprises are going creep up on us now."
"Ok, making mental note not to mention exciting stuff happening in daughter's life."
"So how's Luke?"
"Mad." Lorelai says grumpily.
"What happened? What is he mad at you for now, did you slip coffee into his tea again?"
"No....all I said was that he was too modest."
"Oh, God." Rory says, exhausted.
"I'm sorry but if I'm going to be walking around the house in my underwear while Luke's sitting on the couch with me, I'd at least like to know he's going be sitting around in his underwear too."
"Mom, not everyone likes to spend their evenings lounging around in their underwear."
"Not you too, unsay those things. It's not like I'm asking him to strip down to his skivey's in front of the whole town....after all I did have him install those blinds a few months ago." Lorelai says innocently.
"Skivey's?"
"Did I mention that we watched a movie about sailors last week."
"Luke did not watch that." Rory answers unable to imagine Luke sitting through an hour and 30 minutes of Lorelai gawking at the tight butts of 30+ sailors.
"Well, it was on a Friday, and the diner's busy then so I went Miss Patty's and Babette's weekly movie night."
"You're scaring me."
"Speaking of scary things, where is Jess shouldn't he be yelling things in the background?"
"He's not here."
"Where is he, it's 7, so he can't be working that late."
"He's out with Cole." Rory says sadly
"Oh....again." Lorelai says coolly.
"Mom, come on. It's his son." Rory says defensively
"Don't remind me."
"Mom, stop. I thought you said you were going to be good about this and stop putting your ill feelings towards another person on Jess."
"I know, I know. I've been trying. Luke will tell you I have..Right?!" Lorelai screams into the background.
"I'm not getting involved." Luke's gruff voice is heard in the background. "Hey, what are you doing...those are my pants, come on just because I don't agree with you...stop it!" Luke's voice booms through the phone as Lorelai momentarily forgets about Rory and makes a move for Luke's pants.
"MOM!" Rory barks into the phone.
"Oh, sweetie. Hi sorry. I just can't stand it, he's sitting on the couch, it's dark out and yet he's sitting on the couch watching baseball in his jeans Rory, his Jeans!"
"Leave Luke alone."
"I bet Jess watches baseball in his underwear." Lorelai says grumpily.
"First of all, Jess doesn't watch baseball. Second, I plead the fifth. And for the last time, I refuse to discuss neither Jess' nor my own underwear." Rory says coldly
"Kill Joy."
"Mom, I'm going to go. Jess should be home soon, and I want to go take a shower and do some laundry before he gets home."
"Fine, desert me, oh child of mine just leave me to the buzzards." Lorelai over dramatizes.
"Love you too, bye mom."
Rory hangs up the phone and sighs. "Two hours and 30 minutes, that's got to be a record." With a backwards glance at the telephone she makes her way to the bathroom and turns on the shower.
*20 minutes later * Jess enters the apartment.
"Hello?" Jess says cautiously.
"Hey." Rory's head up off the couch, her hair is wet, her face tired.
"Jeesus. You scared the hell out of me." Jess replies taking a step back.
"Sorry." Rory says quietly.
"So, uh what's going on?"
"Nothing just sitting here."
"Reading?" Jess asks a smile creeping onto his face.
"No...tv." Rory says simply.
Jess eyes narrow at Rory's words. When home alone, Rory only liked to do three things, take long hot showers, do laundry and read. Rory hated to watch tv by herself, she claimed the tv would turn her into a zombie if she didn't have someone there to protect her during Survivor 20.
"Are you ok?" he asks concerned.
"Course."
Jess drops his bag on the floor and sits on the edge of the couch, turning Rory's face towards him with his hand.
"Rory, you're watching tv, alone. Something's wrong."
Rory pulls Jess' hand away from her face, "It's nothing I'm just tired, my last day of class was today-
"I thought it was next week." Jess says, cutting Rory off.
"No this afternoon." Rory says calmly, her tone slightly cracking, revealing hurt.
"I forgot I'm sorry." Jess says calmly, honestly feeling terrible, having promised to be home to welcome her when "the hardest class of her academic career" ended.
"It's ok, you had other stuff to do."
"No, I should have been here."
"Jess it's ok, Paris called to congratulate me and after that I called my mom and talked to her for a while, so it's not like you missed much."
"Damnit, Paris remembered and I didn't. What kind of boyfriend am I if the most egotistical person in the world remembers that my girlfriend's most hated class ended today and I forgot."
"Forget it Jess." Rory says annoyed. "It wasn't that important." Rory says calming herself down, refusing to let this issue bother her any further.
Jess sighs, "So how long did you talk to your mom?"
"Two and a half." Rory states simply, not meeting Jess' eyes.
"That's it? That's got to be some sort of record." Jess notices Rory looking down at her feet, causing guilt to rise up in Jess' throat.
"That's what I said." Rory replies forcing a smile.
"So, uh did you eat?"
"About an hour ago. How about you?"
"Yeah, I took Cole to Burger King after the movie."
Rory nods her head before standing up and walking into the bedroom.
Jess follows her. When he reaches the door he sees her sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Rory, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to forget. This week has just been so crazy with everything. I swear I never meant to get you upset." Jess pleads.
"Jess I understand, really I do." Rory's lie is met with a stern look from Jess, frustrated she lets the top half of her body fall back onto the bed, "At least that's what I've been telling myself since 2:30 this afternoon."
"Rory, I don't expect you to understand; I should have remembered I don't know why I didn't."
"I'm supposed to be the neutral one, the one who understands everything. I should be ok with this." Rory says breathing heavily.
"You can't help it if your not. I haven't been there for you very much these last few weeks." Jess says, guilt over taking him
"Jess don't blame yourself, you had other things to do. I'm not the only thing going on in your life anymore."
"You're not a thing Rory." Jess says stifling a laugh. "You're a person, I person I love."
"Either way, things have changed and I have to deal."
"No you don't." Jess says blatantly, standing over Rory.
Rory looks up at him, "How can you say that?"
"Look around Rory. You're sitting in our room, not your room not mine, ours. We're not living our own single lives anymore. We're in a relationship. If something's not right we're supposed to fix it."
"Jess things have change, you can't undue that." Rory says, anger in her voice.
"Yeah thing have changed Rory, things in our own separate lives have changed, but that doesn't mean that our life together has to change. If you have a problem with something that's going on between us you have to let me know." Jess says sternly.
"I can't!" Rory yells.
"Why not?" Jess asks, taken back by Rory's anger.
Rory mumbles.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm ashamed ok." Rory grumbles.
"Rory, it's me, you always told me everything no matter how out there it was." Jess says honestly, feeling hurt.
"Jess if I tell you, you're going get mad at me." Rory says sheepishly.
"Not possible." Jess smiles faintly at Rory who's body is shivering on the bed, "Please tell me."
"I can't." Rory says frankly.
"Fine." Jess says defeated. Moving away from the bed, he turns towards the door.
Afraid that Jess might not come back if he walks out the door, Rory speaks up, "Jess, wait."
"What?" He says softly.
Rory sighs. "All morning while I was in class I kept telling myself how great it was going to be when I got home, and I started getting really excited about finally getting to spend some time alone with you."
Jess eyes soften, as the guilt in him rises again.
"But even then when I was picturing coming home and you being there waiting for me, this little voice inside my head kept saying 'he's not going to be there, he's too busy'"
"I tried not to believe it, but I guess I knew you wouldn't be there, just like I knew you wouldn't be home for dinner last night or the night before, and just like I knew you wouldn't be home in time for the book sale on Saturday."
The guilt is too much for Jess, he moves over to the bed and collapses on to it.
"I realize you have a lot going on in your own life Jess, with your job, your book and Cole and I guess I'm just being selfish expecting you to leave time for me."
Jess looks up at her, there are tears in both of their eyes, "you think I've forgotten about you all together?" Jess chokes on his words.
"No.....I don't, it's just with my having classes and you with all your stuff I hardly see you anymore. We decided to share this room to give us a little more time together, but now that you're writing your book you stay up until 3am, and I leave for school and work before you get up at 8. We've barely talked at all since Monday, Three days, Jess. People who are getting married shouldn't go 3 days without speaking."
"You're right..."
"And that's another thing, I know that we said we were going to get married for a while until you worked all this Cole stuff out, but you haven't even mentioned us being engaged in over two months. I'm starting to think that you don't want that anymore." Rory sobs.
"Of course I want that!"
"You know, my mom said things are going great for us right now, but how can they being going great when you spend most of your time at someone else's house."
"That's what this is about?" Jess asks sternly. "Y-you're angry with me for spending time with Cole?"
Rory groans, "Not just time, Jess; all of your time. I feel like I'm a five year old competing for my father's affection. I'm glad you and Cole have a relationship. I'm glad that you enjoy being a father, but I also feel left out."
"You do?" Jess asked, as things suddenly become clear.
"Yes. I feel like in the last month everything has come before me. If you're not out with Cole, you're writing, and if do actually get out somewhere together all you talk about is Cole or the book. I feel like I'm not even a part of your world anymore."
"Rory, you're th center of my world." Jess breathes.
"Doesn't feel like it. You know I thought it was a good idea to start things off with Cole very slow, like Rachel said, but now I'm not so sure."
"What do you mean?"
"Well first we go over to dinner, then it's "Oh Jess, come over spend some time with Cole while Rory's at school", then after reading an article in Parent's magazine, she decides that maybe you should build a relationship with Cole before I'm fully introduced to the picture. I know she just wants him to be well adjusted and stuff but come on, so now you spend four hours a day with this kid and I'm just supposed to nod my head and make dinner while you're gone."
"First of all, you've never made an edible dinner in your entire life." Jess smirks at Rory,
"Second, I don't want you to be left out of anything. You were the first thing in my life that ever meant anything to me. I want you with me all the time. I don't know how I let this get so out of control." Jess runs his finger through his hair.
"Like I said before, Jess. I know part of it I have to over look because of the circumstances I mean there's a lot of major new things going on in your life, I can't just expect you to drop all it just to come home and watch must see tv with me."
"That's just it. This other stuff doesn't matter, well Cole matters of course, but I shouldn't let my time with him affect us."
"Jess, I don't want you to stop spending time with Cole.."
"I know, you know I don't even know why I let Rachel talk me into this whole "ease in" thing. I mean Cole's two it's not like he's 13 and just discovered that his father has another family in New York. He's two, he's not going to even remember this stuff, two years from now he's just going to know that he has two parents who love him, this is so stupid." Jess gets off the bed and onto his knees.
Rory sits up, allowing Jess to put his head on her knees.
"Rory, I'm so sorry that I made you feel like this, please tell me that we can work this out."
"I don't know if we can, but I'd like to try." Rory sobs wiping her eyes with her hand.
"I'm so glad to hear you say that." Jess pulls Rory into a long embrace. "I don't want anything to ever come between us again."
"Me neither."
"Ok, I'll be right back." Jess says firmly.
"Where are you going?" Rory asks confused.
"I'm going to call Rachel and let her know that I'm still taking Cole to the park on Saturday and that you're coming with me." Jess smiles at Rory.
Her face, red and puffy from crying; Rory still manages to beam back at Jess.
*2 weeks later.
*Jess has laid down the law to Rachel, he told he that he couldn't be a part of Cole's life unless Rory was starting now. Rachel agreed and formally apologized to Rory. Jess has stopped working on the book every night, and has set a side one day a week to work on it. He and Rory have been working on their relationship. Although, reluctant at first Rory realized that Jess was sincere about keeping her in his life. She realized that it didn't matter if they got married this year or ten years from now, she just wanted to be with Jess, all the time.
2 weeks later.
*The bedroom.
Rory rolls over in bed, intentionally nudging Jess' sleeping form with her foot.
"Mmm." He mumbles.
Rory lifts his arm up, revealing his bare chest, she breathes deeply and then moves closer to him, draping his erected arm over herself like a blanket. She moves her elbow backwards, nudging Jess once more, this time getting his attention.
"Good morning to you to." He says gruffly.
"Oh, are you awake?" Rory whispers, grinning ear to ear.
"What time is it." Jess yawns.
"9:30am"
"Mmm, good so we have another 48 hours before you have to be up for work." Jess mumbles into Rory's hair as he wraps his leg around her body
Rory manages to escape before Jess traps her, "Actually, I'm supposed to go out with Lane today, remember? She's going to meet Tristan's parents next week and she needs to buy a nice dress."
"Right..I forgot." Jess mumbles.
"No you didn't." Rory swats him
Jess blocks her assault with his arms.
Rory laughs out loud as Jess's hand moves towards her waist, tickling her small frame.
*There's a knock at the door.
Rory rolls over, away from Jess.
"Yes, Lane?" Rory says cheerfully.
"Are you guys decent? Or should I come back later." Lane says bluntly.
"She sure knows how to beat around the bushes, doesn't she?" Jess says sarcastically.
Rory glares at him, "No we're good, come in."
Lane enters the room, her hands over her eyes, "When are you going to be ready, because as of now we only have 1 week and 22 and a half hours before we leave for Hartford."
"If Jess goes and makes coffee, we could be out of here in 20 minutes." Rory says innocently.
"I'm going!" Jess groins.
Lane and Rory giggle.
*25 minutes later:
Jess is sitting at the table as Rory and Lane hurry out the door.
"See you at 7-"
"If we're lucky!" Lane butts in.
"Have fun." Jess grins at them as they leave.
Jess listens to them bound down the stairs and then makes his way to the window. He watches as Rory and Lane babble on about what color dress accentuates Lane's brown eyes. The door of Lane's civic slams and loud music booms through the small car as it pulls away.
Jess turns away from the window, setting his sites on the telephone. He picks it up and reluctantly dials it.
"Hello?"
"Hi."
"Jess?" Lorelai Gilmore's voice cracks with shock. In the six months that he'd been living with Rory, he had never willingly called her, without Rory sitting next to him, her nails newly painted making it impossible for her to dial the phone, leaving the duty up to Jess.
"Did Rory just paint her nails?" Lorelai asks frankly.
"No, she's actually not here right now."
"Well if you're looking for Luke, he's already at the dinner, but I guess you would know that....." Lorelai trails off.
"I actually wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Rory."
"Did something happen?" Lorelai asks warily.
"No."
"Oh, so what do you want to talk about then?"
"Well, I'm sure Rory told you that things haven't been going well for us these last few months...."
"She may have mentioned something."
"Well we've been going through a really good period, ok so it's only been two weeks, but still these two weeks have the best of my entire life."
"Well thank you for the update." Lorelai says simply going to hang up the phone.
"Wait!" Jess says desperately.
"What?" Lorelai says taken back by Jess' neediness.
"Well you know how Lane and Tristan are coming down to Hartford next weekend."
"Yeah, so?"
"I was thinking that maybe me and Rory would come down to see you and Luke too."
"That's great! You mean I get to see Rory?"
"Yeah, well being that things were going so good, I thought that maybe I should take some drastic measures." Jess says seriously.
"Lorelai is creeped out by Jess' use of the word drastic, "What are saying?"
"Well, I was just wondering if there were any churches in the surrounding areas..."
A/N: Ok I don't know if you got the last part all I can say is (dum dum dadum dum dum dadum) Well maybe anyway This is a really long chapter- according to word, it's 19 pages. Anyway it was rainy here, and my last day before college starts so I figured I should spend it working on my favorite story that I've ever written. So here ya go hope you like it, it'll prob. Be updated on sat/sun. Have a good night. Please read and review :)