Slight reference to spoilers! (R/J) of course:)

Disclaimer: I have no connection what so ever to Gilmore Girls or its creators. My only connection to the WB is that I watch is on weekly basis. Feedback and reviews are lovely and well appreciated. Thank you so much for reading assuming you did :)

*Lyrics are copyrighted with RCA records on behalf of Eve6*

~ Here's to the Night~

Chapter Two: "Here's a toast to all those who hear me all to well"

The two of them sat next to one another and let their feet dangle over the edge of the bridge each with a white take out box in hand. The evening was a rather calm one. Almost too calm in fact. The water beneath their feet was at a stand still except for the occasional duck that would swim by.

"Jess?" came quietly from Rory's lips.

"Hmm"

Rory set her box down next to her and looked over at him before she spoke again. She opened her mouth to speak but for once in her life she couldn't get the words out. Jess felt her eyes on him and looked up.

"Rory? You wanted something." He stated.

"Uhh yeah, can I uhh have some of yours?" She asked knowing very well she sounded like an idiot.

Jess smirked as he offered her his box. He knew her to well to know she wasn't trying to ask about the food.

"Thanks. I think I'm going to seriously consider sesame chicken the next time we decide to get take out." Rory babbled slightly trailing off towards the end of her sentence.

"Huh, what's this? Now you gotta steal my kind of Chinese food too. What's wrong with what you usually get?" He asked. He reached to take his box back but Rory pulled it out of his grasp.

"I think it's only fair. You've confiscated a fair number of books from my collection within the last few days. And now that I think about it, I don't even remember consenting either. Don't even get me started about when I might get them back." She answered as a smile danced across her face.

Jess leaned back and rested his weight on the palm of his hands. He looked directly out to the water for a moment and then back at Rory. She held his gaze and waited for him to reply.

"You know me Ror, I always give them back. Sooner or later that is." Jess said as he cocked his head to the side slightly. He watched her blue eyes flicker as he spoke, mostly towards the end of his comment.

"Hmm, I don't know. What if something happens and you drop my books on the ground just as you pass over a never ending puddle of mud? Then what will you do?" She asked.

A faint laugh escaped from his lips ever so softly making Rory's smile widen. One might miss his rare laughs but not Rory. She noticed everything and anything about him. Always.

"You wouldn't hold it against me would you?" He asked.

Rory set his food down next to hers and turned herself more to face Jess. She focused on his eyes first but moved on before she lost herself in them. She always did and wasn't quite content on making that her first pit stop. His lips were next on her list and he knew it too.

"Maybe." Rory said after a long period of silence.

Jess nodded his head but continued to stare at her. Slowly, he licked his lips as he thought over what she had just said.

"Maybe huh? That might pose a problem for us and we can't have that now can we?" Jess joked back.

Rory giggled softly and leaned closer to him as she spoke "We better clear this matter up right away."

Jess also leaned closer and waited for the inevitable. He felt her hand touch his knee and finally rest there. He blinked slowly savoring the moment but soon opened them.

"What do you suggest?"

"Hmm, a million dollars!"

"Your books aren't even worth anywhere near that even in mint condition."

Rory pouted and said "A girl can dream can't she."

"Never stopped one before I'm assuming. No really Rory, what should I do here? I'm not to keen on giving them back and you seem to want something in return for them." Jess said again as he closed the small gap between them. He reached up his hand and brought it to her cheek. Gently, he stroked it at first but then slowly guided it towards his lips. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was that twinkle in the blue eyes he loved so much. How was it the most amazing shade of blue known to mankind colored the eyes of his first love? How did he get so lucky?

Rory felt his presence close in around her and thought for a moment she was in heaven. Was this what heaven was like for everyone? This amazing, indescribable feeling that made her heart jump up into her throat and sent tingles down to her toes. And with that it was over surprisingly before it even started.


Rory looked back at Jess surprised that he pulled away so quickly however his lips still lingered around hers.

"Does that work for you?" He asked in almost a whisper.

"Hmm, I don't know. I think I need another trial run." She stated and then pressed her lips against his again. Jess responded quickly returning her kiss this time with more passion and desire than the first time. Rory reached around his neck and pulled him even closer with her hands. She ran her fingers through the back of his hair as their kiss deepened. Jess opened his mouth right as Rory slipped her tongue inside perfectly. They truly knew each other inside. A result of numerous hours spent with one another.

"Where's Luke?" Rory asked as she followed Jess through the front door of the dark diner. Jess wanted to make a quick stop before they headed back to her house.

Jess headed toward the stairs with Rory right behind him.

"Upstairs? Out with Nicole? I don't really know. Why?" He asked back as they continued up the stairs.

Rory tucked some hair behind her ear as she listened to him. She followed Jess through the door and closed it behind them. She turned around and was faced with a pitch black room.

"I just thought because of everything he'd want to hang out with us or you tonight." She finally said. She watched Jess' faint outline as he made his way through the apartment to turn the lights on.

Jess flicked a lamp by his bed on and then looked at Rory.


"If you want to hang out with him so badly, what are you doing with me?" He asked sarcastically.

Rory lingered near the living room area not quite sure where to go. She had been up in Jess' room plenty of times but things were different now for them. At least for the moment.

"I guess I'm just using you to get to Luke under strict orders from my mother. And I repeat "Do everything and anything possible to get close to the man responsible for the best coffee in the universe." I can't exactly go against my mother's request regarding coffee." Rory explained.

Jess listened to her closely as he began to move stuff in this room. Rory walked over trying to figure out if there was any hope of him actually recovering the book he'd spoke of earlier. He was now on his knees skimming over the titles quickly so they could be on their way.

"So this is what it feels like to be used? I can't say I've ever been used before." He replied and then paused in his search to make eye contact with Rory. His eyebrows rose as he watched her smile grow.


"For some reason I find that hard to believe." Rory stated with a giggle.

Jess finally located the book and pulled it out from underneath a large stack. He rose to his feet and approached Rory again.

"Thanks for the boost of confidence." He joked back and then handed her the book.

"So you found it."

"Yup. Read it and let me know what you think."


Rory took the book and flipped through the pages briefly as she watched text fly by her eyes. She saw the occasional scribbles in the margins and looked forward to seeing his viewpoint about the novel. She closed the book and looked back at Jess to find him watching her every move.

"Thanks. I'll let you know what I think." She said. Rory swiftly reached up and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"Welcome. Should we get going?" He suggested and then moved back towards the lamp he had turned on.

"OK, we don't really want to be here if Luke is out with Nicole now do we?" Rory muttered as she looked around the apartment briefly. Her gaze settled on something that was right in front of her the entire time. How had she been able to avoid it until now?

"I don't. I just might be forced to have the sex and responsibility talk with Luke." Jess said.

"So Jess, are you taking all that?" Rory asked in disbelief out of nowhere just as he was about to turn out the light.

"Huh?" He answered before he turned to see what she was talking about. His gaze fell upon hers, which was on the heap on the floor by his bed.

"That's the plan." He answered and then clicked out the lamp.

He made his way over to Rory in the darkness and his hand found her back once again. He pushed her back slightly signaling for her to start walking but her feet stayed planted firmly on the ground. He squinted his eyes as he waited for them to adjust to the darkness. He struggled to see Rory's face as he let his eyes adjust to the change. The breath he had been holding finally became too much and he let it out.

"I guess one could think I've packed a lot of stuff but as a wise women once told me you should always prepare for everything." Jess finally said trying his best to lighten the now sullen mood.

Thoughts of her mom rambling on and on about her many trips with her parents and how she never was completely prepared for anything began to run through her mind. She remembered Jess standing at the edge of their table watching and smirking during Lorelai's speech.

"I didn't peg you as the type of guy who would bring a lot of luggage that's all. You seem like the type who would just bring a few changes of clothes, books, and that would be it. Guess I'm wrong." Rory said.

Jess looked at his feet nervously and then back at Rory.

"It's just a big duffel bag Rory. It's not that big of a deal. Plus Luke kinda pushed me to bring extra stuff so I did. You know what he's like when he thinks he's right about something." He replied hoping it would be the end of the conversation. They had spent far too much time on it already when there wasn't anything to discuss.

"Ahh yes I can recall many lectures about my drinking habits as well as my nutritional endeavors from Luke. I'm sorry I said something it's just.... I don't know Jess. Everything seems so.....so.." Rory said as she struggled to get the right words out. Finally she just gave up without even finishing her thoughts.

Jess moved his hand up her back and rubbed it gently. He felt the tension in her body weaken as she nearly melted under his touch.

"I know. Let's not talk about this until tomorrow." He replied in a lowered voice than normal.

"OK."

And with that, Rory and Jess left the apartment and headed over to her house.

"As he went on and on about how he wanted the contract drawn up for the tenth time, I finally told him I had enough of it. I just couldn't...Luke...hello.... LUKE!"

Luke shook his head as he suddenly realized he hadn't heard a single word Nicole had said in who knew how long.

"What?"

"What's going on with you? You're not even here with me tonight. Where are you?" She asked showing great concern for him. This was definitely out of his normal character.

"Nothing I'm fine." Luke answered quickly hoping she would buy it but knowing deep down he was a terrible liar.

She tilted her head and gave him that look. The look which said "I'm not buy it and you better tell me what's going on right now or else."

"I'm a bit concerned about how I'm going to cover the open hours at the diner. I might have to hire a new person but then I have to spend time training him or her. Most likely they won't stay either and then I've wasted my time. All ending with me back at square one." He said quickly hoping it didn't sound as ridiculous out loud as it did in his head.

Nicole had listened carefully and thought thoroughly about a reply.

"It's only going to be...." Nicole started but stopped once she heard her cell phone ring.

"I'm sorry just a second." She said just before she began her call.

Luke watched her ramble on to someone fairly important on the other end. He hadn't even wanted to go out tonight with her. She encouraged him it might make things easier and reminded him about their lack of interaction over the past week. He hated cell phones with a passion.

'Can no one be unreachable for longer than an evening?'

Soon Luke began to wonder if he'd call. Would it be to the diner just to give him a hard time? Or would it be to reach Rory if he missed her at the Gilmore house? Maybe Jess wouldn't even call while he was gone. After all it wouldn't be for that long anyhow. A few months can really fly by when you're having fun. That is if you are having fun. Growing impatient and annoyed with his thoughts, Luke tapped his finger on the table to give him something else to do. Nicole looked up at him and then back down at the napkin she was scribbling on.

"OK, don't worry about a thing. I will get everything straightened out right away. You've got my word on that. Thank you. I'll call you back later. Bye." She said and then shut her phone off.

"Luke, I'm really sorry about that and about what I have to do." Nicole said sheepishly.

Luke sighed knowing the inevitable already.

"It's fine. We'll finish this some other time. You've got important work to do." He said.

"I want to finish this now because you are important. Its just some paper work has been misfiled and sent thus creating an enormous mix up." She replied as she tucked her cell phone back into her purse.

"It isn't Taylor is it? Because if it is, it might make this situation a little more enjoyable." Luke stated with a weak smile at that.

"Thanks for understanding Luke. I'll call you once this is all straightened out." She claimed and then got ready to go.

Luke paid the bill and walked her out to her car. He headed back to the diner to find it and the apartment empty. Jess had informed him earlier that they would be hanging out at Lorelai's house. Luke wasn't keen on the idea seeing as Lorelai was out of town with Alex but for some reason his debating skills didn't work. He knew Rory needed time alone with Jess especially without her mother's quirkiness clouding the moment. Would a night be long enough or prove to be too long?

Luke sat down on the couch and took a sip of the cold beer in his hand. He saw the corner of Jess' duffel bag peeking out from behind the wall. Jess was leaving for the summer in the morning and there wasn't anything Luke could do about it. No matter how much he'd miss him, he'd never admit it.