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 it 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 Three: "Wanna stay not to go, I want to ditch the logical"

The only light in the room came from the television. It gave off just enough light for Rory and Jess to see one another. Jess was stretched out on the entire length of the couch with his head in her lap. He had spent the majority of the movie just like that. However, he found himself becoming more distracted as Rory's fingers ran through his short hair. He snuck a glance up at her out of the corner of her eye trying not to get caught. She had already scolded him for his insistent intermissions every 15 minutes. He smiled at her while she tried her hardest to be annoyed at him. She almost had him convinced if only her lips hadn't been so swollen and reddened from his intense kisses.

"What are you going to do?" Jess asked without taking his eyes off the television screen.

"About what?"

"This summer." He answered and then added "While I'm gone."

The long pause forced Jess to turn his head and look up at Rory.

"I plan on becoming a hardcore party girl. All day and every night out on the town living the wild life." Rory stated.

Jess' eyebrows raised and then he replied "So you decide to wait until I'm gone to finally let loose a little. Where's the fairness in that?"

Rory let out an airy laugh and said "I'm loose."

He gave her a stern look until she finally gave in and said "OK, I'm looser than before. Happy?"

"Not really. No, seriously, what are you going to do?" He asked again more insistently.

"Don't worry about me. I've got plenty of things to get done before school starts. There's just so much stuff to do and even more that I didn't anticipate until my last chat with Paris." Rory answered sounding slightly out of breath.

"I thought she didn't get into Harvard." Jess commented as he ran his finger over Rory's soft hand.

Rory nodded and replied " She didn't thus giving me more ideas about all the short comings and inadequate things I've done or plan to do. She threw my whole plan right out the window. But that's Paris for you. It's impossible for her not to get to me and she knows it."

"Come here." He ordered her once she finished her rampage. Rory obeyed Jess but not out of fear. It was pure curiosity not knowing what he had up his sleeve this time. He still kept her on her toes and threw her for a loop every now and then.

"Rory" He said as he took her face in his hands.

"Yeah." She answered as quite as a church mouse.

"You're hardly inadequate. Believe me." He whispered to her just loud enough for the two of them to hear.

"Yes, I am. I'm supposed to be ahead by now. I don't know what to do exactly. Maybe I should be reading course books for next fall."

Jess deepened his stare into her bright blue eyes and interrupted with "Rory, you are ahead don't you see. You've made plans for your future and where you want to go with your life. How is that a short coming? You're being too hard on yourself."

She frowned knowing there was truth to his words.

"But I have to be hard on myself in order to stay one step in front of everyone else."

"The only one on your road is you, Rory."

Rory's face softened even more as she looked down at him affectionately. She cracked a smile knowing he would catch it soon.


"Where did you get all this wisdom and insight from anyhow?" She asked.

"I eat a lot of fortune cookies."

"Is that so?"

"Hmm." He answered just before he brought her lips to his again. Rory pressed her lips deeper against his furthering their kiss. Jess responded instantly pulling her lips against his harder if it was even possible. She pulled away minutes later not knowing which way was up. Jess' kisses were like a drug and Rory had become a hardcore addict.

"Ever think about pacing yourself there, Stallion?" Rory asked in a rather flirtatious tone.

"Speak for yourself Miss I'm completely out of breath and all flushed." He bantered back and then touched her warm cheek with his hand.

Rory smiled a bit timidly at him but then lifted her head up. Why was she acting shy and reserved about it? She sure didn't feel that way anymore. She reached out her hand and touched the side of his head.

"Well then at least we're on the same page." She declared.


"Indeed."

Jess sat up from her lap and took a seat next to her. He reached for his can of pop on the coffee table to took a swig and then leaned back again. Rory scooted over and rested against him slightly. She knew she could deal if at least some part of her body was touching his.

"So another weekend getaway for Lorelai and Alex. Is there something serious going on that I don't know about? Although in Stars Hollow that type of notion is unheard of but there is a first time for everything." Jess said.

"No, I don't think so. She seems to be a bit more future focused after dad's baby and the Sheri thing."

"Are you going to fit them into your packed summer days?" He questioned.

"I hope to."

"See you wouldn't have time for me around here anyway." Jess declared.

"So your dad." Rory stated slightly out of nowhere.

"My dad." He said back causally.

Jess continued his gaze toward the television but wasn't watching any of it.

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

"Anxious?" She questioned again.

"Not really" He answered with his gaze still else where.

"Excited?"

"Debatable."

"Slightly disturbed?"

"Depends on who you ask."

Rory paused a moment in her round of questions but then continued.


"Scared?"

"A little but don't repeat it to anyone including your mother." He answered before he even knew what he had just said.

"My lips are sealed...urg regarding the release of information that is."

Rory watched the rise and fall of his chest next to her as he spoke again. "I'm still not even sure why I'm really going and yet I'm all packed and ready with a ticket. Does that make any sense to you? If so, maybe you could explain it to me then."

Jess wasn't the softy type of guy but he had his moments every now and then. Only with her. Rory released her grip on his hand and placed her hand on his stomach. Her fingertips tingled as she felt his faint muscles through his thin shirt.

"You're going on this trip because you've turned over a new leaf and want to live life with no regrets."

Jess nodded but remained silent in response to her comment.

"Are you convinced yet?" She asked hopefully even though she knew he wasn't.


"Well..."

"OK, you woke up one day and realized that in order to become a full all around person you need to stick your feet in the Pacific Ocean. And then only then will you be able to experience self-actualization." Rory continued as she rested her head down on his shoulder.

"Thank you for the insight Maslow. Are you going to charge me by the hour to analyze my life or could we work out a payment plan?"

Rory poked his stomach with her finger and replied "I'll have you know Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs happens to be highly respected by professionals everywhere."

"Respected or not I think it's bogus."


"Ahh fair enough. Jess you know what you're doing more than I do. Maybe you don't need an exact answer tonight and you'll figure it out once you get there." She concluded.