A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews. I realize some people may stop reading after this chapter, so... thanks for coming this far and sorry it's not a fic you feel you want to continue reading.

** Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Gilmore Girls. If I were that all powerful then Jess would be staying put! So, in summation... Please don't sue me!**

"For the last time, I think she'll love it!" Sighed Jess.

"Really?" Dean asked.

"Oh my god! Can you please strangle me with it?!"

"OK, alright." Dean sighed, putting the friendship bracelet in his pocket. "What did you get her?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing as in Nothing, or Nothing as in you're not telling me?" Dean frowned as they opened the main door to the Inn.

"Nothing as in Nothing." Jess shrugged. "I'm the best present anyone could ever get!"

Dean rolled his eyes and laughed.

"At least I don't have to worry about you getting her the better gift then."

"Yeah, for once in your life, you've got one up on me." Jess smiled.

They both stopped in their tracks when they saw Lorelai on the ladder by the door.

"Hey, can you give me a hand?" She said, trying to reach to put the banner up.

"Sure." Dean waited for Lorelai to get down and then he climbed the ladder.

"Hey Jess." Rory smiled and walked over.

"Happy birthday." He smiled.

"Thank You." She nodded. "Hi Dean." She called up to him.

Dean looked down at her and tried to wave without letting go of the banner.

"Ooh, be careful!" Lorelai gasped. "You have insurance right?"

"I'll be fine." Laughed Dean.

"Rory, this is ridiculous. I'm surrounded by a bunch of people, who's totaled IQ is still way below average! I actually miss Madeline and Louise!"

"Oh… Hey Paris. This is Jess and Dean." Rory smiled slightly.

"Wonderful. Let me ask you something Jeff."

"It's Jess." He sighed.

"Whatever! Do you know who Seamus Heaney is?"

"Yes." He frowned.

"Seriously?"

"Irish poet." He chuckled.

"Good… you're coming with me. Thank god someone in this building has something more interesting to talk about than 'The Bachelor'." She said, pushing him ahead of her and walking away.

"Uh… bye." Laughed Rory.

"What was that?" Asked Dean, getting down off of the ladder.

"That was Paris." Rory smiled.

"She's… interesting." He nodded.

"Nice choice of words."

Dean looked around nervously.

"Can I get you a drink?" Rory offered.

"A drink would be great." He smiled more.

*****


Rory pulled her coat on and stepped outside. It was getting late and a lot of people had already left. Dean had just left and Lorelai was trying to clean up a bit.

She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. Instead of breathing in fresh air, she breathed in cigarette smoke and started chocking.

"Jess." She groaned.

Jess's face took on a guilty expression and he quickly stubbed his cigarette out on the porch railing.

"Sorry."

"You said you quit."

"I did. Then I met Paris." He smiled. "She's…"

"Interesting?" Rory said, allowing herself to smile a little.

"Yeah." He nodded and they both laughed a little.

"Did Dean show you what he got me?" She asked, holding out her wrist.

"Yeah." He nodded. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, it's great. No one's ever made me a gift before." She said thoughtfully, playing with the bracelet.

"Sorry I didn't get you anything." He said.

"That's ok. I didn't expect you to."

"Why?" He frowned.

"I dunno… I just have learnt not to expect things from you." She smiled.

"I think I'm offended." He nodded, sitting on the porch swing.

"Oh, don't be. I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"Ok." He nodded as she sat beside him. "So, did you like the party?"

"Yeah, it was nice."

"What did you wish for?" He asked.

"When?"

"When you blew out the candles on your cake. What did you wish for?"

"Oh… I can't tell you. It won't come true." She said, shaking her head.

"It's not likely to come true anyway."

"There's the positive attitude I love." She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Well, have any of your birthday wishes ever come true?"

"Yes. When I was 5 I wished for a best friend. And the next year I met Lane."

"Awww… How sweet." He smiled softly. "But it's probably just more of a coincidence then a wish come true."

"Don't ruin it." She pouted.

"You're 18 today you know. You're an adult. Adults don't pout."

"Gilmore adults do." She grinned defiantly.

He leaned back on the swing and took a deep breath. He was surprised when he felt her rest against him slightly.

"Tired?" He asked, looking at her head resting on his shoulder.

"A little." She nodded, looking up at him. "You?"

"Not really." He chuckled. "Want me to tell you a bedtime story?"

"Yeah. Make it a good one." She ordered.

"Ok. There was this beautiful princess…"

"Called?"

"Rory, of course."

"Good."

"And it was her birthday. So the prince brought her a bracelet."

"Who's the prince?" She asked excitedly.

"Oh, he's Prince Dean of Chumpville." He said seriously and Rory giggled. "Anyway, the princess really loved her bracelet. But what she liked even better was the witty charm of the humble stable boy."

"Who's the stable boy?"

"Jeff." He said, as if it should be obvious. She laughed a little.

"Does Jeff think the princess is beautiful?" She asked, sitting up a little and looking at him.

Jess looked at her and smiled softly.

"Very."

"Does the princess like Jeff more than the prince?" She asked, her smile fading slowly.

"I think she's warming up to the prince." He nodded.

"And Jeff?" She asked. Jess shrugged and looked away. Rory sighed. "I think she likes Jeff."

Jess looked at her, wondering what she was thinking.

"Why?" He asked.

"Because Jeff makes her laugh." She smiled.

Jess swallowed hard and tried to smile back. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. Jess closed his eyes and kissed her back gently, bringing his hand up to the side of her face.

They stopped and looked at each other.

"The prince is so gonna kick the stable boys ass." Jess said quietly.

"Sorry." Rory said gently.

Jess kissed her again.