A/N: Someone asked what Adam looked like and how old they are at this point. Well, Adam is tall, blond... Um.. kinda' Dawson from Dawson's Creek, only cuter. hehe. And at this point in the story Rory has just turned 24. Jess is nearer to 25 and Adam is 26.
** 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!**
Rory followed Adam down the stairs at the Inn.
He was talking on his cell phone again.
"I can't believe you're going." She sighed, handing him his jacket.
He covered the phone with his hand.
"I know, but I promise I'll be back on Thursday with my parents." He
smiled and kissed her on the cheek before going back to his conversation.
Rory shuddered at the thought of her in-laws.
"Morning!" Sookie called from the front desk.
"Hey Sookie!" Rory waved and headed over.
"Oooh, look at you, all grown up!" Gushed Sookie.
"Sookie, you saw me at Thanksgiving!" Laughed Rory.
"I know, but you're always going to be the little Rory that used to help me
make cookies." She sighed. "So, I take it that the chunk of hunk in the suit
is 'the one'." She giggled.
"Yeah." Smiled Rory, looking back over at Adam. "That's him."
"Well, I just want you to know that the cake is going to be … stunning. And
you don't need to worry one bit about the entrée's because I have it all
under control!"
"Good to know." Nodded Rory gratefully.
A loud crash came from the kitchen.
"Stand back, Head Chef coming through!" Yelled Sookie, charging towards the
kitchen door.
Rory laughed and watched her. It was good to be home, and good to know some
things were never going to change.
She looked around the Inn. It reminded her of the Independence Inn, but it
definitely had more of Sookie and Lorelai's flare to it. They'd been in
business for 6 months, and so far everything was going well.
"Hey, where's hubby going?" Frowned Lorelai, coming over to the front desk
and placing some binders on it.
"New York." Sighed Rory. "Business."
"Ick. How long is he going for?" She asked, opening one of the binders and
flipping through the pages.
"He said he'd be back in a few days."
"Not so bad then. Gives you and me girly time." Giggled Lorelai, putting her
arm around Rory. "And we can plan the wedding more the way you want it. No
silly men to interrupt us."
"What about Luke." Smiled Rory.
"Well, he's kinda' busy with…"
Another loud noise came from the kitchen. Followed by some shouting.
"Sookie, I told you to get rid of those pot holders!" Shouted Lorelai.
"Stay there, I'll be right back!" She smiled at Rory, hurrying off to the
kitchen.
"Ok, well… I have to get going." Sighed Adam.
"Alright. I'll see you in a few days." Said Rory, hugging him.
"Definitely. I hope everything goes ok with your dress and all that… bride
stuff." He smiled and kissed her lightly.
"Me too."
"Love you." He smiled softly and kissed her again quickly before heading
towards the door.
"Love you too." She sighed, watching him go.
She looked around her again and took a deep breath.
"Mom! I'm going to go for a walk!" She called towards the kitchen.
"No… Rory…"
There was another loud bang and one of the waiters came tumbling through the
kitchen door.
Rory smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Bye!" She laughed, opening the door and leaving.
Stars Hollow hadn't changed. Everything was still the way it had been since
she moved away. It was strange, but comforting to know that there was always a
place for her there. Always something in her life that would be constant and
ageless.
She waved at people she knew and stood outside Miss Patty's for a while,
watching the ballerina's. Her gaze wandered over to the Gazebo and a wave of
sadness hit her.
She sighed and closed her eyes, but she could still see it.
"I can't catch my breath!" She smiled.
"You're not supposed to." Grinned Jess, his breath was warm against her
cold cheek.
Rory brought herself back to the present and shook the thoughts out of her head.
"Rory, honey!"
Rory looked up at Miss Patty.
"Hey Patty." She smiled.
"I got your wedding invitation. It was gorgeous. I'll definitely be
there." She said, flinging the end of her scarf back over her shoulder.
"Great." Smiled Rory, glad she had a distraction.
"I'll catch up with you later, I have to get back to my class." She
smiled.
"Ok, I'll probably see you later this week." Nodded Rory.
She carried on walking down the street, listening to the sound of the snow
crunching under her feet. It wasn't common for Stars Hollow to have snow in
March, but it certainly wasn't unheard of.
She looked up just in time to see the shoulder of the person walking into her.
Rory instinctively put her hands out to grab onto something and hold herself up.
One hand grabbed on to a fence post and the other caught the arm of the person
who had almost knocked her over. She felt their hands on her arm, helping her
right herself.
"Thanks." She laughed, turning to face them.
"No probl..."
Her breath caught in her throat and her mouth seemed frozen, unable to form any
words or sounds.
"Jess." She whispered finally.
