A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update. I wrote part of this chapter a while ago but I just got around to finishing it now. Sorry, sorry, sorry!!!! Ok, well, here it is!

Chapter 12

Lorelei got out of the hospital about three days later. Rory took her home and stayed with her for a day. She was afraid to leave and take the chance of something happening to her. She couldn't stay any longer than a day because she had to get back to work. Jess had tried to convince her that she could stay longer if she really needed to, her boss probably wouldn't mind. Rory insisted, though. She needed to have something to do so that she didn't have to think about how she almost lost one of the most important people in her life.

Jess had been staying with Luke for the past few days. He hadn't wanted to ask, but Rory did the deed for him and of course Luke couldn't say no to Rory. Over the past few days, Jess and Luke had talked a little and things were back to normal between them. Well, as normal as things can get between them.

Jess and Rory were leaving to go back to New York that day. Jess was packing up the few things that he'd brought along. He took his stuff down and put it in the car. He then re-entered the diner to let Luke know that he was leaving.

"Luke, I got to go get Rory and head home. Thanks for letting me stay here. I'll see you later." He turned to leave but Luke stopped him.

"Jess, come here a minute please." Luke led him into the storage room where they could talk without the whole town listening. "Jess, be careful okay?"

"Luke, it's not that long of a drive. We'll be fine."

"Well, yeah, be careful driving, but that's not what I meant. Be careful with Rory."

Jess let out an exasperated sigh. "God Luke, how many times have I told you, we are just friends."

"Yeah, maybe for now Jess, but you two are both still hung up on each other. You know you still love her and I'm pretty sure she feels the same. It's obvious to everyone except you two."

"Whatever Luke."

"I'm serious, Jess. If you hurt her again, I swear I will go talk to that swan and have it give you another black eye. You got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. I have to go get Rory. I'm late. See you later, Luke." He started to turn and walk away but then turned back to Luke. "Oh, and Luke?"

"What?"

"You should be looking in the mirror when you talk about the whole two people so obviously in love with each other thing." He then walked out of the diner, got in his car, and drove the short distance to Rory's house, leaving a shocked Luke standing in the storage room.

*****

During their drive back to New York, Rory and Jess were silent pretty much the whole time. Jess could tell that Rory was thinking so he didn't want to ruin her concentration. Plus, he had to admit, that contemplative look on her face was making her look even more gorgeous than usual.

Jess was right when he thought she looked like she was doing some thinking. She was doing a lot of thinking. Never in her life had something so near-fatal happened to someone so close to her. It brought a lot of things into perspective. She made a promise to herself that she would call her mom much more often. Almost losing her mom had made her realize how much she'd really missed her.

She also made another promise to herself. She told herself that she'd tell the people she love that she loves them more often. This included Lorelei, of course, and also Lane, Luke, her grandparents, all of her friends, and... Jess. She loved him differently than the rest. She'd know it for a long time, as long as she could remember, but she hadn't told him since they'd started hanging out again. She wasn't sure why. Fear of rejection, fear of getting hurt again, fear of him leaving again: all were good possibilities. After what happened with her mom, she felt she really needed to tell him, before it was too late, if it wasn't already.

Just then they got to New York. She looked out at the huge city and could feel herself smiling. She'd always been a small town girl growing up. She definitely loved Stars Hollow. New York City fascinated her, though. There were so many different kinds of people and different places. It was her second home and it would always have a place in her heart.

Jess watched the smile from on her face and he couldn't help but smile right along with her. She was so perfect. Luke had been right about him. It was totally obvious that he was in love with her. He got a goofy grin on his face whenever he was around her. Everyone had to have noticed by now.

Except for her.

He had to tell her soon. He couldn't wait much longer. It was so hard to restrain himself when all he wanted to do was grab her, kiss her, and make her love him. Tonight, he told himself. I've got to do it tonight. I've waited long enough already.

"So," Jess said, "what do you want to do now? Do you want to go anywhere or do you just want to go home?"

"Um, I think I just want to go home if that's okay with you. Maybe we can go back to my apartment and order some pizza?"

"Yeah, whatever you want."

They drove back to their apartment building. Jess went to his apartment really quick to unpack his stuff. Rory ordered the pizza and then did the same. When she was done, she walked out into the living room and saw Jess was already there, watching TV. She stood there and watched him for a second. She could really get used to this, him being there all the time. She was still standing there staring at him when he looked up and saw her.

"Oh, hey, sorry. I just let myself in."

"Oh, it's ok," she replied, snapped back to reality. "I ordered the pizza. It should be here soon."

"Ok, cool."

She walked over and sat down next to him on the couch. Jess put his arm around her and pulled her over so she was right next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder and they stayed like that, content, until there was a knock on the door. "That must be the pizza," Rory said, lifting her head off of his should. She went to get up but Jess stopped her.

"I got it." He went to the door, got the pizza, and paid the delivery guy. He then took it into the kitchen area where Rory was getting some plates and napkins. They sat down at the table and began eating.

"So Ror, you doing ok now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." It's now or never, she told herself. "There was something I've been meaning to tell you, though, Jess."

"Yeah, what's up?" he asked, a little concerned.

"Well, first of all, I just want to thank you. You've been so great these last few days with everything with my mom. I don't know what I would've done without you."

"Ror, it's no problem. You know if you need me I'm here."

Her heart melted. "Yeah, I know, and thanks for that. There's something else I want to talk to you about, too."

"Ok, this doesn't sound good."

"Well, I think it's kind of good. I don't know what you'll think. Look, Jess, let's face it, we were so in love when we were dating. And you broke my heart when you left. I've told you how bad it hurt."

"Rory, I told you--"

"I know, Jess, just hang on. Anyways, that's why I wanted to be friends first now because I didn't want to get hurt again. But I can't do this anymore, Jess. It's too hard."

"What, being around me?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't think you get what I mean."

"Well then what do you mean, Rory." He was getting pissed because he thought she didn't want to hang out anymore.

Rory took a deep breath.

"I love you, Jess."

A/N: So there it is. Yay, finally someone said something!!! lol So please review and let me know what you thought. Once again, sorry for the delay. Now I want to rant and rave about last night's Gilmore Girls cuz none of my friends watch it so I have no one to talk to about it. Am I the only one who's so sick of Dean? I mean, come on, he dumped her in front of the whole town, then tried to get her back, then got married, and is now kind of trying to get her back? Ugh, I dislike him with such a passion. I mean, come on, make up your mind, dude. And did you all see the upcoming episode thingy? Jess is coming back once again!!!! YAY!!!! Does anyone know if it's for good this time. I hope so but I doubt it. Ok, enough from me. I'm sure you all skipped reading this anyways. So I'll try to update soon. Please review!!!!!!!!!