Hey everyone! I'm soooo sorry that it's been so long since I last updated. I got busy for a while and then I was out of writing mode so it's taken me a little while. But enough with the excuses. I hope this chapter is ok. I wrote it so long after I wrote the last one so I don't know. Let me know what you think please!!!! Anyways, here we go.

Ch. 11

A week went by and Jess still hadn't told her. It's not like he hadn't tried. He'd thought about telling her millions of times. It was just never the right time. There were moments when it took everything he had to not just grab her and kiss her and make her want him again. He wondered if things were ever going to be the way they were before again. He cursed himself constantly for screwing everything up. If he hadn't of been such an idiot and left, who knows, they may have been married by now.

Rory had somewhat similar thoughts going through her head. She didn't know how much longer she could wait. She was just too stubborn to be the first to admit that she wanted more. She was beginning to think that he'd lost interest and didn't want to be more than friends. She loved being friends with him, yeah, but her favorite times were when he was holding her or unconsciously stroking her arm up and down. She decided that if he didn't do something soon, she'd have to overcome her pride and take the first step.

Jess walked to Rory's apartment room that day, taking his time. He knew he had to tell her soon, before he drove himself crazy. He stood at the door, afraid to knock. He was so nervous that his pulse had sped up to an unusually fast rate. He finally, slowly knocked. About three seconds later, Rory threw open the door, looking as amazing as ever.

"Hey Jess, come on in." She turned around and walked back in, leaving Jess to shut the door and follow her in. He did so slowly. She sat down on the couch as he just stood there, suddenly knowing what to do with his hands. Rory suppressed a giggle. "So what's up, Jess?"

"Uh, nothing. I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Ok, well, come inside the apartment then and I'll get you and me some coffee. Then we can talk about whatever it is you need to."

"Ok, sure. Thanks." He went over and sat down at the table, nervously playing with a napkin. She handed him a cup of coffee and he thanked her. He then took a drink, not even tasting it as it drained down his throat. She looked at him, waiting for him to speak. When he didn't, she spoke instead.

"Jess, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I just need to tell you something."

"All right, go ahead." He began to open his mouth but just as he did, Rory's phone rang. "Hey, sorry, let me get that really quick."

She walked to the phone and answered it, wondering who it could be. "Hello?.... Oh, hey Luke, what's up?...... What happened? ..... What?! Where is she?..... Oh my God, tell her I'll be there as soon as I possibly can. Bye." Rory hung up the phone, about to break down in tears.

"Rory?" Jess questioned. "Rory? What's wrong? What did Luke say?" He got up and walked over to her, looking her in the eye. "What's wrong?"

Rory couldn't hold it in anymore. She started sobbing. "Mom," she whispered in between cries.

Jess grabbed her and held her tight in his arms, gently stroking her hair. "Shh, Ror, it's ok. What happened to your mom?"

"Car accident. Hartford Hospital. I got to drive there." She tried to pull out of his arms.

"Hey, you can't drive anywhere like this," he hugged her tighter, gently kissing her head and wishing he could make all of her worries go away. "I'll drive you there. Go on and get what you need while I go get my car, ok?"

She slowly nodded her head. He let her go and hurried out to get his car. She blindly went into her room, grabbed some clothes, and stuffed them in a bag. She ran into the bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush. She then rushed to the door, slipped on the first pair of shoes she saw, grabbed her purse, and bolted out of the door. She pushed the button for the elevator and when it didn't come immediately, she pushed open the door to the stairs and flew down them, not stopping once. She got outside just as Jess pulled up with his car. She jumped in and Jess pulled away."

"Wow, you were quick, Ror."

"I don't want to waste any time," she replied, wiping her eyes while trying to catch her breath.

"So did Luke give you any details?"

"He just said she got into a car accident and was rushed to the hospital in Hartford. I don't even know how badly she was hurt." She started to cry harder again.

"Ror, everything will be ok. Don't worry, I'll get us there as fast as I can." He took one of her hands in his, trying to comfort her as much as he could while driving. She tried her best to give him a smile. They rode all the way to Hartford hand in hand in silence.

When they arrived at the hospital, Jess dropped Rory at the emergency room doors and went to park the car. Rory rushed inside to the desk. "Excuse me, can you tell me what room Lorelei Gilmore is in please?" Rory asked the nurse. She didn't get a chance to answer because Rory saw Luke and ran to him.

"Luke!! Luke, where is she?"

"Right down here," he told her, leading her towards the room.

"Is she ok?"

"Yeah, she's not too bad at all. She's going to be fine." Luke looked at Rory's tear stained face. "Rory, you didn't drive yourself here, did you? All the way from New York?"

"No, Jess drove me. He just went to park the car." With that, she ran into the room to see her mother, leaving Luke standing there speechless. Jess drove her? Jess Mariano? His nephew Jess? Luke had no idea that Rory and Jess were speaking again. He couldn't believe he was going to see Jess again after all of these years of no communication. Just as he thought this, Jess slowly walked up.

"Uh, hey Uncle Luke," Jess said, hesitantly.

"Jess. Hi." Luke glanced at Jess and then suddenly became very interested in his feet. They stood in silence for a few minutes until Luke couldn't take it anymore. "So, uh, you and Rory are...."

"Yeah, we hang out."

"Are you two back.... together?"

"No, not like that. We're just friends," Jess replied, frowning a bit.

"Oh, well, good."

"Excuse me?" Jess said, a little offended.

"Well come on, Jess. I think you've hurt her enough for one lifetime. You don't need to put her through it again."

"Look Luke." He was trying to hold his anger in. "I know what I did was stupid. I didn't do it to hurt her, though. I actually left for her sake. I just, I want another chance. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen but it's nice to know that you're on my side. I don't think this is the place to be talking about all of this."

"Yeah, you're right. So what have you done with your life, Jess?"

"I wrote a book."

"You what?"

"I wrote a book. Meant to Be...Well, Hopefully."

"That was you?" Luke asked, trying to pick his jaw up off of the floor.

"Yeah, you read it?" Jess was surprised. It didn't really seem like Luke's kind of book. Actually, no book really seemed like Luke's kind of book.

"Nah, I've seen it, though."

"Oh, well, yeah that was me. Read it, you might learn something."

"Maybe I will."

At that moment, Rory walked out of her mom's room. She was crying but trying to hide it. She walked over to Jess and wrapped her arms around him, hoping he would do the same. He did and they just stood there for a few minutes, leaving Luke feeling kind of awkward. Rory reluctantly pulled away and turned to Luke. "Hey Luke, how you doing?"

"I'm fine. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, relieved actually, that she's ok."

"Yeah, doctor said she should be able to leave in two days."

"So what happened? How'd she get in an accident?"

"Well, she was driving to Hartford and a drunk driver almost hit her. She swerved to miss it but went down into a ditch instead. She was unconscious when they found her but she came to pretty quickly."

"Probably all of the coffee," Jess mumbled. It made Rory laugh a little which in turn made Jess smile.

"Well, I'm just glad she's ok. I was so worried when you called. It's a good thing Jess was there to drive me or else I don't think I would've made it here alive."

Luke thought to himself, Maybe Jess has changed. Maybe he finally grew up. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

A/N: So how was it? Good? Crap? Ok? Please let me know what you think. I was kind of inspired to write this chapter when Jess came back on the show for the two weeks. The show's just not the same without him!! Oh, has anyone else pre-ordered the first season of Gilmore Girls? It comes out in May but you can pre-order it now, just in case you didn't know. I can't wait!!!! Anyways, if you have anything to say about my story at all or anything else, please review or e-mail me. Thanks!!!