** 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!**

December 2008

Rory lifted the plastic bottle to her lips and relished the feeling of the water against her dry mouth.

"Ror, he's a pig!" Sighed the woman beside her breathlessly.

Rory placed the bottle back in the holder on the treadmill and started to walk a little faster.

"That's no excuse. I've been working there for a year now and he treats my like his little go between." Rory said, her obvious frustration causing her to quicken her pace more.

"Honey, it's what he does." Said the woman, looking over at Rory sympathetically.

"Like I said, it's not an excuse."

"45 minutes. Stick a fork in me, I'm officially done." She said, stopping the treadmill she was on and stepping off of it.

Rory followed her example, picking up a towel and dabbing her arms and neck.

"Glyn, all I've ever wanted to be was a journalist, not the coffee girl!" Said Rory, her expression showed how disheartened she was feeling. "Maybe I should try a different news paper."

"You quit and I'll kill you. You're the only thing keeping me sane!" Smiled Glyn, putting her arm around Rory and guiding her over to the locker room.

"How did you graduate from office skirt status?" Asked Rory.

"I stuck it out and, when I got the opportunity, I proved my worth." Said Glyn. "You'll get your opportunity."

They showered quickly, changed back into their work clothes and then left the building.

Rory paid the street vendor for their coffee's and handed Glyn a cup.

"How does he get away with treating people like dirt." Asked Rory as they carried on walking down the street. Glyn rolled her eyes.

"Because he's an ass, and he's good at covering it." She said. "He only promotes the guys, and when someone makes a big deal about it, he promotes a woman too. But only the ones who he knows want kids. That way, when they go on maternity leave, he can replace them." She said.

"That's discrimination." Said Rory in disgust.

"That's our boss." Said Glyn, too used to the way things were to complain anymore.

They reached the subway station and stopped.

"This is me." Sighed Rory.

"Sweetie, you really need to move up in the world. I know you don't make much, but I know you make enough to move out of that little shoe box you got in Brooklyn." She said disapprovingly.

"I like it." Smiled Rory, eager to be back in her apartment.

"That's because of that small town mentality of yours." Glyn smirked, shaking her head.

"I like that too." Rory grinned proudly.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Glyn said, hugging Rory quickly and walking away.

Rory did what she did everyday. She got on the train and sat with her forehead resting on the cool glass of the window. Watching the world go by. Some days she couldn't get a seat by the window, and she'd find herself sitting next to a stranger, wondering what they were thinking. No one seemed to enjoy the train ride the way she did though.

She walked down the street towards her apartment building. She smiled when she saw one of her neighbours approaching.

"Hey Rory!" He smiled.

"Hey Mike, how'd your dinner party go last Tuesday?" She smiled back, stopping to give him her full attention.

"Ugh, dreadful. Did you know that Will was sleeping with Liza?" He said scandalously, referring to two of the other tenants from their building.

"No!" She gasped.

"Well you do now, but you didn't hear it from me!" He grinned. "I gotta, go. Blind date!" He said.

"I'm gonna' want to hear about that!" She smiled.

"Of course! I'll probably see you tomorrow morning. I got roped into one of those early morning jogging things with Carlos." He rolled his eyes.

"You? Jogging? I think I'd pay to see that." She smiled playfully.

"Me too." He laughed, touching her on the arm briefly as he carried on past her. "Later?" He called back to her.

"Later." She called back happily.

She carried on up the steps to the main door and pulled out her keys.

She couldn't wait to draw a hot bath and wallow in it for the rest of the evening, preferably with a good book.

Her apartment was on the second floor. It was small, but she loved it. And Lorelai had given it her seal of approval also. She'd given Rory their monkey lamp as a house warming present. Emily had disapproved of course, but in the end she reluctantly accepted that Rory was going to live there and insisted on replacing her second hand furniture.

She opened the door to her apartment and smiled, closing her eyes. It was as if her apartment contained some kind of comforting glow that she could bask in for a moment. It was especially nice after dealing with her boss all day.

"Hey, you're home!" Came a familiar voice from the kitchen.

"Adam?" She frowned, closing the door and stepping further into the apartment.

He came out of the kitchen and kissed her on the cheek.

"Surprise!" He smiled proudly at that candle lit dinner he had arranged.

"You cooked?" She smiled. "That really is a surprise."

"No… I didn't cook." He said. "You know me."

"I know you. I also know we're having take out."

"Yes, but take out from the best Chinese restaurant in New York. Which makes up for it." He said, picking up a bottle of Champaign and opening it.

"Special occasion?" She frowned, taking off her coat and letting her hair down.

"Maybe." He grinned. "We'll see." He filled two glasses and handed one to her.

"You're up to something. I can smell it." She said, narrowing her eyes at him.

"That's the sweet and sour pork." He said, trying to avoid her suspicious looks. "Drink up."

She shrugged and did as he asked. If she wasn't going to get her quiet evening in the bath she was going to enjoy her romantic evening with her boyfriend.

She scrunched her face up and pulled the glass away from her lips. She opened her mouth and pulled a diamond ring off of her tongue.

"What's this?" She asked.

"That's the special occasion. Or at least, I'm hoping it is." He said, watching as she studied the ring in awe.

"Adam… it's really beautiful…" She started, shaking her head in disbelief.

"No, wait. I haven't done my speech yet." He said, getting down on one knee and taking her left hand in his.

"Adam…" She sighed, blushing slightly.

"Rory Gilmore, I… have never met anyone like you. You're smart and funny and beautiful. And I love you. And I know this is a little sudden, but I know that what I feel for you is going to last. That's why I would be honored if you would agree to marry me." He said sincerely.

She looked down at him and couldn't help thinking how funny he looked, kneeling on the floor of her Brooklyn apartment in his Armani suit.

"I…" She looked around her, hoping something would offer her the answer she knew she was required to give. She looked into his eyes, they were pleading with her. "Yes." She smiled slightly.

He got up quickly and kissed her. They hugged and she closed her eyes.

Her relationship with Adam was much like her relationship with Dean. It was safe and predictable. His kisses were reassuring and his hugs were strong and protective. She cared about him a lot. And maybe that was all she really needed. One bad boy had been enough for her. She didn't know if it was because he was bad or because she loved him so much, but Jess had broken her heart in a big way. And she wasn't looking to let that happen again.