AN: I don't own anything.
Jess entered the suite, anxious to talk to Rory. He wasn't sure what had happened last night, and he really wanted to clear it up. Oh, and the tattoo was really bothering him. Why did he get a tattoo?
He found Rory sitting in an armchair, nursing a cup of coffee and looking fairly miserable. She glanced up and offered him a wan smile. She looked about as good as he felt.
"I thought you were at your signing until 4. It's only 3 now. Did something happen?" Rory asked.
"Yeah, I couldn't freaking sit there for another minute. Everyone was asking about you and when they weren't I couldn't stop thinking about this tattoo. Why do I have one? Did you get one? What happened last night?" Jess was a lot more agitated then he had realized. Once he started it felt like he couldn't stop. "I mean, we were at the club, we danced, we drank, we drank some more, we went to the Bellagio and then I don't really remember. This shit is why I don't drink champagne. When I do, bad things happen." He stopped to take a breath.
Rory looked at him slightly bemused. "As a matter of fact I did get a tattoo last night. So at least you aren't along. See?"
She held out her left arm to him. There on the inside of her wrist was a compass with the phrase Where you lead I will follow etched around it. He took it in and silently held out his left arm to her. It was the same, except his was larger and placed on the middle of his forearm. They had gotten matching tattoos last night.
"Jess, I really like you, but this seems like a lot really quickly," she said quietly.
"Look, Rory, I know. I never do things like this. You seem to bring it out in me," he replied. "How about we get you packed up and in a room of your own? A lot has happened in the last 24 hours. Maybe we can get together later for dinner. I really want to talk once our heads are a bit clearer."
"Thanks. I think that's for the best. Let me just grab my stuff and I'll get out of your hair." She headed toward her suitcase, picking up her purse on the way. A photo was sticking out of it and she grabbed it. She certainly didn't remember taking any photos last night.
As she gazed at the photo a look of shock flashed across her face. Jess came over to see what was the matter.
It was a picture of Jess, Rory, and Elvis. In a chapel.
She looked up at him, "At least now I know why we got the tattoos…."
He was speechless.
She went to speak, but before anything could come out her phone started ringing. She dove for it, thrilled for the interruption. Rory didn't think to check the caller id and found herself on the phone with Logan.
"Rory, where have you been? What the hell have you been doing? You have made me look like a fool. I can't believe you went out and threw your affair with that guy in my face." Logan was full of vitriol and just getting started.
Rory couldn't even begin to form a response. Before she could do anything Jess grabbed her phone and calmly replied, "Logan, Rory broke up with you. She no longer has to answer to you. If you continue to speak to her that way you will regret it." Jess went to hang up the phone, but before he did Rory snatched it back.
"I told you I was done with you. You are free to do whatever and whomever you want. It is no longer my business. I hope you will treat me with the same respect. I will be leaving Las Vegas on Monday as planned. I will go to our apartment and get my possessions, and that will be the last time we will need to speak to one another. Please stop calling. It's over."
They could hear Logan spouting more venom at her, as Rory hung up the phone. She turned to Jess, "he probably won't listen to either of us, but thanks for sticking up for me."
Jess smiled, "Well, it's the least I can do for you, I mean, after all you are my wife."
Rory's face fell. "what are we going to do? I just ended an intense relationship. I haven't been on my own in years. I can't fall into another one. Should we get an annulment?"
He knew it was the logical thing to do, but he didn't want to pretend it didn't happen. There was a reason they had made the decision to get married.
"So, I'm going to throw an idea out, and you can let me know what you think." Rory looked skeptical, but nodded.
"Let's stay married." She started to speak, but he held up a hand to stop her. "Look, I know we just met, and you just ended an awful relationship, but there was a reason we made this decision last night. It's true, I will follow where you lead. I felt it last night, and I feel it stronger today. I have to finish my book tour. I will be bouncing around the country for the next month. Let me court you. Let me call you and send you emails and get to know each other. When I am back in New York maybe we can date. If it doesn't work out we get this thing annulled and we move on. I don't want to let you go yet, Rory."
She looked up at him, the logical side of her was screaming to leave, to end this and run home to her mom. Instead, she replied, "Okay. Let's try."