A/N: Hey guys! After reading a few reviews I went back to my original intention and decided to write two endings. I don't think it's fair to those readers who have stuck with this story for the last nine years to have an ending with them not being together even though that is the ending that I believe it's fitting for the story.

So, chap 34 is the way I believe the story should really end and chap 35 shows them ending up together, which I feel is what most readers were looking for.

Hope you'll enjoy it!

Thank you so much and please review!

"But you'll remember

You'll remember me

That our love was worth it

Remember… this is our happy ending

You'll remember

Yeah… you'll remember

You'll remember me"

Two years later...

It was a beautiful cool morning. The sun was out and the sky blue but the cold wind could chill your bones if you stayed at the same place for too long.

Jess was buying a cup of coffee at Washington Square Park on his way to his - way too early - morning class at NYU when something caught his eye.

For some reason the brown ponytail swinging from one side to the other as she ran felt familiar to him.

He quickly grabbed the cup he had already paid and still unsure called out her name loudly and surprise hit them both when she stopped and turned to look at him. For a moment everything stopped except his drumming heart.

She slowly walked towards him, pulling her earbuds out. He looked her down, from the tightly pulled ponytail to her top and large tee over yoga pants and running shoes. She wasn't breathless but the thin layer of sweat on her forehead told him she was probably on her way home from her run.

"Hey," she greeted as she came to a stop in front of him.

"Hi," he paused still surprised. "I wasn't sure if it was you. You weren't into sports."

She shrugged with a smile, "I've started running a little over a year ago. I never expected to enjoy it so much; now I run every morning."

"Around here?"

"I live a few blocks from here, close to where-" she trailed off.

"Where we used to live," he completed.

"Yeah," she sighed, " What about you? From what I remember this wasn't your part of the town."

He chuckled, "I did live here with you, but I know what you mean. Actually, I was going to class," he pointed at the university behind him.

A grin spread at her face and she touched his arm, "Congratulations! I knew you could do it! What's your major?"

"I'm in my last year in Business. I'm also an intern trying to work my way to the top but the age thing isn't helping," he shrugged.

"There will always be a place for you wherever I'm working at. And if you'd rather work somewhere else I can always get you some interviews."

"You don't even know me when it comes to work," he pointed out and then flinched hearing what he had said.

"I know you; that's enough. I'm sure you're great and I'd love to help however I can."

"Thanks. I might take you up on that," he said, looking down and suddenly the shining ring on her finger seemed to blind him. He narrowed his eyes at the elegant white gold band with the small-ish shiny rock adorning it and wondered how he could have missed it before, but maybe he just didn't want to see it.

Rory noticed where his eyes traveled and used her other hand to play with the ring on her right hand.

"So… you're engaged?" he half stated half asked.

"Yeah. We've been engaged for a few months now."

"Who's he? I mean, if you don't mind me asking."

She shook her head, "Eric. He is the painter I told you about a few years ago."

"You've been together all this time?"

She nodded, "We've had our ups and downs like everybody but we've made it work."

He swallowed. "It's stupid that when I saw you the first thing I though was that I hoped we could give it another shot?"

"It's not stupid," she said quietly. "But I've moved on and I think you have too."

He wanted to protest because some part of him would always love her but making their conversation difficult was the last thing he wanted.

Apparently, she could still read him like a book and saw the memories and heartbreak come alive in him even though his expression remained the same because she reached for his hand and sighed before saying, "Breaking up with you was like killing a part of myself but I had to do it. I had to choose who I loved more; myself or you."

"You made the right choice."

"I know," she paused. "It still hurt."

"I wish I had done things differently."

"All we can really do is what we think is best for ourselves at the moment. You thought you needed to be completely self-suficient; I thought I needed you to be happy."

"It's ridiculous that it took me so long to realize what really mattered. You made me the happiest I've ever been. You were everything."

She bit her lip, "I won't say you were the best thing that ever happened to me. But when it was good it was really good." She couldn't say the same but it had been one of the happiest moments of her life. It's just she was in an even better place now.

He nodded. He understood.

"I should probably get going. I have class in ten."

She nodded, "It was good to see you. And if you ever need anything don't hesitate to call; my number is still the same."

He smiled in acknowledgement and leaned close to kiss her cheek softly. Then he straightened before walking a few feet towards the university across the street when he stopped and turned around with his hands in his pockets. "We could have had it all, right? We were so close," he asked trying to reassure himself that it wasn't just him.

She smiled sadly at him, "You were it for me; I believed you could have been my happily ever after."

"I'm sorry I screwed it up. You have no idea how much."

"I know," she swallowed. "You should go or you'll be late for your class."

He nodded but kept looking at her for another minute and she held his gaze. His chest tightened and it simply hurt because he knew this was truly goodbye.

He gave her another nod and turned around to walk to class. A few seconds later he couldn't help himself and looked back at her but she was already running away from him.

THE END