A/N-I hope you enjoy the chapter. I have been planning this chapter for months and I'm so glad its finally done. All of the girls dress' can be found online at Neiman Marcus. Kisses of gratitude go to Book Tease 87 because...she's just awesome! I've had Rory's dress picked out for a long time, so it's no longer current, however the designer is Catherine Dean. I still have more story to go...but I am barreling toward a finish...but not anytime soon!

"…The best of luck this weekend at the International Independent Publishers Award Gala this weekend. Author and Co-owner Jess Mariano is a finalist in the fiction category for the ultimate prize in independent publishing.

These young men have come a long way in the seven years they have been in existence, but talking to the owners, they make it clear that some things will never change.

It doesn't matter what changes we make to this business "…Truncheon Books will never move from Locust Street in Philadelphia," owner Matt Peterson says.

"We used part of my grandfather's inheritance for a down payment and I put his house and pension from the carpenters union up as collateral. Matt and Jess were able to get a home loan. Suddenly we owned the building. It was a huge risk and I had a lot of family try and talk me out of it. But I believed in our vision and I believed that Jess would help us get there. Even so, I remember asking my grandfather to forgive me as we signed the loan papers," co-owner Chris Parker added.

"Even with the collateral we had, I still have no idea what possessed the bank to give a bunch guys in their early 20's that loan," co- owner Jess Mariano adds.

As Truncheon books, they paid back Parker's inheritance, refinanced three years ago and used that money to expand Truncheon Books into retail stores.

"It was the smartest and dumbest thing we could have done," Peterson adds."

Trudy read Alicia Matheson's piece for Philly Magazine as they drove to New York for the awards dinner.

"Seven years?" Rory asked. "I thought you guys opened in 2005?"

Matt shook his head. "Nope, Truncheon existed before then as just a 'zine"

"Meaning, Chris and I used to just publish our poetry and short stories and sell the 'zine at school."

"We also worked out of Matt's parents' house."

"The good old days," Matt laughed.

"Hey I miss the snacks your mom made us," Jess laughed.

"It has, however, been five years in April since your boyfriend had the brilliant idea to buy the building and live in it," Matt added.

"Can't believe it's been five years," Jess said quietly.

"It's crazy," Chris added. "Time flies."

"Do you know what you're going to do with the prize money if you win Jess?" Mandy asked.

"I would love to be able to pay off a huge chunk of our loan." Jess answered.

"The hell you're doing that! Chris exclaimed. "That's your winnings."

"And I want to put it back into my business. Imagine what we could do with the money if we didn't have to make loan payments every month."

Chris and Matt both nodded. "It would be nice," they conceded.

When they got to New York, Matt, Chris and Jess went to The Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center. As a finalist, Jess was scheduled to read an excerpt from his novel and take promotional pictures.

With their men busy doing distinctly grownup things. The ladies took the opportunity to get their nails done. Later, they would go back to the hotel and get ready. Mandy arranged for a friend of hers to help with the hair and makeup.

"Well, well, well," a woman exclaimed in a deep New York accent. "Look what the cat dragged back to New York."

"Sarah!" Mandy exclaimed, embracing her friend.

"Philly is agreeing with you!"

"Things are good."

"You're beaming, Chris was worth the move." Sarah stated.

Mandy introduced Sarah to Trudy and Rory.

"So this is the lady who stole Jess Mariano's heart," Sarah said when she got to Rory. "It's great to meet you."

"You know Jess?" Rory asked as they got on the elevator.

"Sarah went to school with us," Mandy answered.

"Good ol' PS. thirty-three," Sarah mock saluted.

"I've missed you, "Mandy laughed as she unlocked the door to her room.

"Missed you too," Sarah smiled. "Alright, let's get down to business, who's gonna be the hair guinea pig?"

The girls agreed that Rory would go first because she had the least complicated style. Sarah gave Rory a simple bun that was held together with a crystal hair clip that went with her dress. Rory's makeup was soft around her eyes with neutral and navy blue smoky colors and rose lips.

Trudy went next and had her long black hair pulled back in a simple French twist. She went with smoky eyes and red lips.

Mandy's medium length hair was swept into a low messy bun that sat on her left side, below her ear. A few wisps of hair were left to fall around her face, framing it softly. Like Trudy, she opted for smoky eyes, but chose a dark fuchsia lipstick.

Mandy's dress was black, with a plunging V-neck and crisscross detailing. It had a fitted bodice with a full skirt that was hemmed slightly shorter in the front than the back, allowing her shoes to peek out. The shoes she chose were the star of the entire ensemble: open toe fuchsia sandals, with a four inch black stiletto heel and a gold ankle strap. The gold detailing was carried through the sole and foot bed, making it appear as though the entire shoe was framed in a soft metallic halo of light. She wore gold chandelier earrings with pink accent gemstones, to match her shoes.

Trudy chose a gown that was bold, sophisticated and sexy. The sleeveless dress was a beautiful bright red; the fabric was light and soft and clung to her every curve, extenuating her slim figure. With a high neckline that draped across her collarbone, her choice could easily be seen as conservative –until she turned around, revealing sheer side panels and a deep V back that dipped teasingly low. The skirt fell straight down, flaring out slightly below the knee and pooled at the floor. She paired her deceptively daring dress with simple but elegant black suede sling back peep toes with a four-inch heel. Trudy wore no jewelry except for a pair of pearl stud earrings.

Matt, Chris and Jess were getting a drink at the hotel bar while waiting for the ladies to come downstairs. They were dressed in black slim fit tuxedos with bow ties. When the girls appeared, the men stared in shock, totally unprepared for the beauty they saw before them.

"Chris must be the one who can't keep his eyes off you," Sarah said to Mandy, nudging her playfully as they got off the elevator.

"That would be him," Mandy answered.

Mandy introduced Chris to Sarah and gave Jess a hug.

"Look at you all grown up," Sarah said to Jess. "Still with the books, always with the books. It only makes sense that now you're writing them too -really, there was no other career path for you."

"Good to see you," Jess smiled at her, his eyes darted around the room looking for Rory.

"She got a call from Lorelai. She said she'd down in a minute," Mandy noticed.

"We're gonna be late if she doesn't get down here soon," Jess said, nervously fiddling with his watch.

"Relax, you're a finalist, nothing is happening without you," Matt said.

After what seemed like an eternity –but was really no more than five or ten minutes –Jess' nervous ear heard the ding of the elevator. He was so anxious, his palm started to sweat. When the doors opened, the entire world fell away –all he could see was her.

Jess had never before had his breath taken away quite like he did now. He'd teased her for months about the infamous blue dress. He was convinced, could not possibly live up to all the hype. It was about as believable as the existence of unicorns. But as it turned out, he'd never been so happy to be so wrong.

The gown had intricate beading and embellishment adorning the V-neckline and cap sleeves. A subtle sheer inlay added an allusion detail that extended to the back of the dress. The back of the dress above the waist was entirely sheer, covered in the same delicate embellishment of the sleeves. The bodice and skirt of the dress were simple, soft and elegant midnight blue silk chiffon. The skirt was slightly shirred, and fell straight down from a subtle empire waist, with a few inches of extra length in the back, creating a tiny train that delicately ghosted the floor as Rory walked, making it seem to Jess as though she were a goddess enveloped in darkness, too beautiful to exist in the real world outside of a dream.

As Rory walked towards Jess, he realized that she was all he ever needed and all he ever wanted. As long as he had her, everything would always be okay. Rory was his constant, his compass, his north star. It was true when he was seventeen, it was true now and it would be true in forty years and for the rest of his life. If there was one thing Jess knew for certain it was that if Rory wasn't in his life, he'd be nowhere. The one thing he hoped for most was that he'd never need to know what to do without her.

"Hi," Rory smiled at him.

Jess tried to say something –anything, but no words would come.

"Jess?"

"Yeah!" he whispered, unable to find the full octave of his voice. "Sorry. Hi. You look…you look," he stammered, "hi. I said that already…"

Rory giggled. "Should I take your lack of coherent sentences as a good thing?"

Jess laughed breathlessly. "Yeah… the lack of words thing is because you look…. it's a good thing."

"So the dress -?"

"Definitely lives up. I thought that it was this mythical legend that couldn't possibly be… but it is. You're…there are no words for how beautiful you are. Or, there might be, but I sure as hell can't find them right now."

"You'd better re-master the English language before we get to the awards ceremony. You are being recognized for how well you string together all the words."

"Right. All the words…"

"Okay, as amusing as this is, we need to speed this up a bit, or we're gonna be late," Matt laughed. "Luckily, I'm fluent in the non-words of a salivating man-child: He's utterly captivated by your beauty, he's never loved you more in his life. Can we go now?"

Jess looked at Matt silently.

"What? Did I miss anything?"

"No…"

"Okay, so, can we go now? You need to re-master those words, Jess –I refuse to talk to be your interpreter all night."

"You can pull her pigtails later," Chris smirked.

"But her hair isn't even in pigtails," Jess said, momentarily confused.

Chris and Matt looked at each other and then Jess, waiting for him to get the pun.

"Oh! Right, funny," Jess said eventually.

"Oh boy, we might be in for a very long night," Mandy laughed. "Rory, help him walk, or we're never leaving this hotel."

"Come on Dodger," Rory smiled, kissing him lightly and taking his hand.

They arrived at the Manhattan Center and were escorted to Truncheon's table. The grandeur of the Grand Ballroom was breathtaking. Intricate strings of twinkle lights flowed out from a massive crystal chandelier, casting the entire room in a soft glow.

They all ordered drinks and when everyone had one in hand, Matt proposed a toast. "To Truncheon, for where we have been and where we're going. To Grandpa Parker, because without him, none of this would have been possible."

The group clinked glasses joyfully and everyone took a drink.

"Where ever he is, he's proud of you," Mandy assured Chris, squeezing his hand.

"Yeah, smiling because I didn't blow his inheritance," Chris laughed.

"While we're all here and our glasses are raised," Matt said, "I'd like to say that no matter what happens tonight, we are pushing Jess' new book to print before the end of the year."

"Matt -" Jess started to say.

"Oh, you've suddenly remembered how to speak? If you're gonna fight us on this, save your breath, Mariano."

"Here, here!" Chris said loudly.

"To Truncheon," Jess sighed with a smile. "To the three guys in a cramped street on Locust Street. Who knew that three books a month and a 'zine would get us into such a beautiful room, that is decidedly not cramped. To literature, and to the friends that make it fun."

They spent the night eating, drinking, dancing and laughing. When the winner was announced, it wasn't Jess, and he was just fine with it. He never set out to be recognized for his work. All the recognition and accolades in the world made no difference –he had everything he wanted.