A/N: I have so many ideas in my hard but sometimes it's really hard to get them out sounding right. I am sure most of you can relate. So I apologise in advance if this isn't up to scratch.

Chapter 11

Could it be?
~~~

She watched him from beneath her lashes, seeing him in a new light.

Could it really be?

But how could it not when everything seemed different - the sun was brighter, the coffee tasted better and her palms were with out a doubt even sweatier.

She didn't want to scare him and she knew that he might be a little freaked out if she told him - told him what exactly?

In truth Rory still had a couple of things to figure out before she revealed anything.

But it made her happy knowing that she had this secret and that she could let it out when the time was right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jess was reading 'Across the river and into the trees' when he felt his hair stand on end again.

She was standing in the doorway watching him with a smile on her face.

"What's up?" he asked putting the book down.

"Nothing much. I didn't mean to disturb you." She said, motioning to the book.

"It's okay, not like I haven't read it before."

"True, you and Hemingway were always joined at the hip." She mused.

"Are you just gonna stand there whole day?"

"Is that your way of asking me to come in?"

He grinned at her. "Yeah."

"Well now how could I possibly resist the suaveness and panache of that?"

"You can't."

They laughed.

Skye sat on the bed next to him.

"So, last night . quite a an evening huh?"

He grimaced, "Now you know why I wasn't so keen on it."

"Come on Jess," she patted his leg, "the night wasn't a complete disaster was it?"

They both knew what she was talking about.

"No I guess not." He conceded smiling.

"You can do better than that, lot's better."

"Okay," he knew she wouldn't drop it unless he gave her more information.

He also knew it wasn't because she was inquisitive but more because she did care about him.

"I was glad when she came out after me. I didn't realise how badly I wanted her to until she was there... She asked what happened with Luke."

"And?" she pressed gently.

"And," he sighed. "I said I didn't know."

Jess lay back and closed his eyes. He could feel her watching him in the silence but it didn't bother him. He didn't feel like he was being dissected emotionally.

One of the things about Skye was that she knew when to let him come to her on his own and when to coax his feelings out into the open.

This time he knew she was waiting but that he'd talk when he was ready.

"I felt every thing fade away when she held me," he said long moments later, "It was just us."

She lay down, facing him, leaning on her right arm.

"That's great Jess."

He looked at her, "You're happy for me." He stated.

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" she didn't ask him how he knew but he knew she wanted to know.

"Your eyes - they're really light at the moment, almost lavender."

"Ah, the blessing of having ever changing eye colour."

"Yeah, at least that way I have the advantage of knowing when to stay out of your way."

She stuck her tongue out at him.

"When?" she asked.

He smiled, enjoying the game. He could see that she knew he was changing the subject but she played along - for the moment anyway.

"When they turn almost completely midnight blue, except for the outer rings."

She lay a hand on his chest, "You sure know a lot about my irises."

"What can I say? Something so fascinating is worth watching."

"Yeah, yeah," She swatted him playfully. "Nice subtle tactic Jess, if I didn't know you I would've fallen for it."

Playtime over!

"Seriously though, I am very happy for you. You deserve this."

"Sometimes I'm not so sure."

"Well I'm sure enough for the both of us." She stated firmly.

Jess stared at the ceiling, letting the quietness and security of her presence envelop him.

"She feels the same you know."

She spoke so softly he almost didn't hear her.

"How do you know?"

"I know everything."

"No," said turning to face her, "How can you say she feels the same when I don't even know what I'm feeling?"

She looked at him incredulously, "Come on Jess! Don't give me that crap for crying out loud."

"Why area you getting so worked up?"

"Because you know how you feel, she knows how she feels. Why don't you two just admit it to yourselves and to each other?"

Jess really couldn't deal with the emotions her words evoked so he jumped off the bed and looked out the window.

"There's nothing that exciting out there Jess."

Still he couldn't, wouldn't look at her.

He heard her come up behind him.

"Can I ask you something?"

He stood rigidly, still refusing to acknowledge her.

"Why must you be so damn stubborn Mariano? You know that crap doesn't work with me!"

"What is it?" he asked finally, still looking out the window.

He didn't see Skye rake her hands through her hair in utter frustration.

"Do you care about me?"

This caught his attention, "WHAT?" he asked, whirling around to her.

"Do you care about me?" she asked again, this time more slowly.

"How can you ask me that?" He couldn't believe this.

"Just answer the question." She said impatiently.

"Of course I CARE!" He more than cared - he loved her. "G-d Skye what are you trying to pull?"

He saw something flash in her eyes, something akin to hurt but still she kept on.

"And do you know that I care about you?'

"Yes." He answered without wavering. "Where's this going?"

"So why for goodness sake Jess can you not believe that you could care about someone else, that that same someone else could care about you - deeply without doubts?"

"I - "

"Why do you have do keep putting yourself down?"

He stood watching her, not knowing how or why he should defend himself.

"She cares damn it? Rory cares and not 'cause she's looking for some thrill or because she feels sorry for you!"

Jess finally saw that Skye was agitated and angry at his ambivalence. And it made it wonder.

Could she speaking the truth?

Could it be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: So what do you think of this chapter? Sorry it was mostly one sided and to all the Rory/Jess fans (I am definitely included here just in case you didn't notice) there will be some action between them in the next chapter.