Author's Notes: Wow! The response to the first chapter was overwhelming. I really appreciate it, and a some very good points were raised that I'll have to address as the story moves on to make sure it's a good as I want it to be. Thanks so much for bringing things you like or thought were off to my attention.

And apologies for this taking so long. My mom got sick which lead to doctor's appointments for her and even more for me somehow. But we're both fine now. The good news is that I've got some more quiet time to write now so the next update should come faster.

Disclaimer: All things recognizable are someone else's and I'm merely dabbling in their world.

Chapter Two: I Can Hear Her Heartbeat

Jess jerked awake when he felt something soft brush his cheek. His eyes swam into focus in the dark room, and he saw Rory perched on the chest at the end of her bed. She was trailing her fingers over his cheek.

"You're really here," she said quietly. "I dreamt you were here. I thought maybe I was still dreaming."

"No. I'm here." Jess reached out and grasped Rory's hand in his. "I got here as quickly as I could." He took a deep breath and watched her face in the dark. "Is it okay that I'm here?"

Rory nodded. "I didn't think you'd want to come. I thought you'd be too mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you, Rory. I don't understand why you felt like you couldn't tell me what was going on, but I'm not mad." Jess stroked the back of Rory's hand with his thumb. "All that matters right now is that you're okay."

Rory drew away and pulled her knees up, hugging them to her chest. "How can I be okay? I ruined it all," she whispered. "I wanted it too much, and I ruined it."

"What are you talking about? You haven't ruined anything."

"Yes, I have. I was really, really happy with you in California. I came home, and I was so excited that you were coming back, and then . . ." Rory broke off and took a shaky breath. "And then I found out I was pregnant, and I was scared, but I was also kind of happy, you know? I thought I would tell you, and you would come back sooner. We could get a place together in New York. You could get a job somewhere; I'd get something too, freelance writing or copy-editing, something I could do at home. I'd have the baby, a little girl with your eyes, and I'd stay home and take care of her while you went to school, and then you'd stay with her while I went to grad school . . ."

Jess got up and sat next to Rory on the bed. "Why didn't you tell me all of this?"

She took another shaky breath. "I wanted to when I called, but then I started thinking that maybe you wouldn't want any of those things. That you wouldn't want the baby, or me. That you would be angry. I know you have some ideas about what you want when you get New York, and this wasn't one of them. I thought you'd be angry and leave me alone again." Rory started sobbing and buried her face in her hands. "And now it doesn't matter anyway, because I wanted it too much, and every time I want something too much it doesn't happen. I wanted my parents together, I wanted you to not move to California, I wanted . . ." She couldn't continue through her sobbing.

Jess did the only thing he could think of. He wrapped his arms around Rory and held her as she cried. "Angel, it's going to be fine. This isn't your fault. Sometimes these things just happen. You can't control them." He rocked her gently, "It just wasn't supposed to happen right now, but that doesn't mean it's not supposed to happen ever."

A shadow passed over the open bedroom doorway, and Jess looked up. Lorelai was standing there, watching them silently. "Everything okay?" she asked softly.

"It will be," Jess told her. "Could we just have a few more minutes?" When Lorelai nodded and moved away, Jess turned back to Rory. He tipped her chin up so that she had to look at him. "Ror? You know I love you, right?" When she nodded, Jess smiled. "Good. Now listen to me. All those things you wanted? I want them too, and I want them with you." He brushed her hair back from her face. "Now, they might not happen right away, but we'll have them. A place together in New York, a little girl with my eyes, and, if you don't mind, a little boy with your smile."

Fresh tears spilled from Rory's eyes. "Do you mean that?"

Jess leaned down and kissed her gently. "Every word."

A quiet sniffling echoed from the kitchen, and Rory called out, "Mom?"

Lorelai appeared in the doorway, tears apparent on her face. "Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop . . ."

Rory laughed a little, "Yes, you did."

A watery smile appeared on Lorelai's face. "I missed that sound yesterday. But really, I didn't mean to bother you. It's just that that was the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

Jess felt himself blush. "Yeah, well," he said gruffly, "I don't know about anyone else but I'm starving. What if we go wake Luke up and force him to make an early breakfast?"

Rory pulled away and stretched. "I think pancakes are exactly what I need. Well, after a shower anyway." She stood and grabbed her bathrobe. "Will you give me an hour?"

"I'll give you anything you want," Jess said softly. "I've waited this long, another sixty minutes won't kill me." He stood and brushed a kiss to Rory's brow.

She smiled gently and leaned up to kiss him properly. "I love you," she whispered and then moved around him and her mother on her way to the bathroom.

Jess, now left alone with Lorelai, studied the floor intently. "Well, go ahead. Say it."

"Say what?" Lorelai asked.

"That I'm a big mushy sap." He turned to face Lorelai and stepped toward her, meaning to move around her and into the kitchen.

"You said it, not me." When Jess was next to Lorelai in the doorway, she slung an arm around his shoulders. "All I was going to say is that I think I finally understand what Rory sees in you."

"Huh. And it only took you six years."

Lorelai laughed, "That may be a new record for me, kid. You should feel proud."

Jess's laugher joined hers, and they sat companionably for the first time ever, waiting for the one person that they each loved more than life itself.

Jess held the diner door open for Rory and Lorelai and then followed the women into the suddenly quiet room. He could see almost half the town crowded at the tables and around the counter. Miss Patty, Babette, and Babette's overtall husband whose name Jess couldn't remember sat in the far corner. Kirk was sitting at the near end of the counter next to the nut who used to sell twinkle lights. Bootsy and Rune were at the opposite end of the counter, and even Taylor had managed to avoid Luke's wrath to sit at a small table near the front window with Mrs. Kim of all people.

Despite all of the people who had come to the diner that morning, there was still an empty table in the very center of the room. Given the table's location and the fact that every eye in the place was on the trio that had just entered the door, it was obvious to Jess that the table was vacant for a reason. Rory's condition and his return were meant to be featured, center stage, like some bizarre circus act. It made Jess want to scream, berate them all for finding some sort of pleasure in viewing something so private and painful. And it was painful. Sure, Rory was wearing a brave face, and Jess had been full of promises and flowery words, but they were still dealing with a loss that made both of their chests ache. It would take time for them to get over it, and if this town cared half as much for Rory as they claimed that they did, they would've respected that and stayed away for at least one day.

Just as Jess was about to open his mouth and tell the town what he thought of them, Luke stormed out of the kitchen, bellowing, "If you're not here to eat, get the hell out of my diner!"

The room shifted its collective gaze to the flannel clad man behind the counter.

"I mean it!" Luke continued. "They," he gestured toward Jess and Rory, "aren't on display. They don't sit in your kitchen and watch you when you're in pain. Get out!"

Fully three quarters of the room had the decency to look chagrined and slink out the door, though Patty did pinch Jess's butt on her way out the door. He was too stunned to do anything more than turn and stare at the woman as she left.

"I did not miss this town," he muttered when he finally found his voice again.

Rory giggled and wrapped her fingers around his. "I know. Welcome home, Dodger." She tugged Jess's hand until he sat at the center table that Lorelai had claimed as though nothing was amiss when they had entered the diner.

Luke approached the table then with two empty mugs and a full coffee pot. "Sorry about that. They must have swarmed in when I went to unpack the bread shipment."

"It's okay," Rory sighed. "It was going to happen sooner or later."

Luke reached out, and in a gesture that surprised everyone but the two of them, tucked a stray lock of hair behind Rory's ear. "Vultures could've waited. How're you feeling?"

She shrugged. "Okay, I guess." Her hands wrapped around the coffee mug in front of her, and she took a long sip, preventing any further answer.

Letting the young woman off the hook, Luke turned to Jess. "What about you?"

"Been better. Been worse." Jess pushed a hand through his hair. "It's weird being back here."

"This town only does weird," Luke reminded him. "So, do I need to straighten up your half of the apartment?"

"Nope."

Everyone turned, wide eyed, to look at Lorelai.

"What?" she asked. "He can stay at the house. It's not a big deal."

Rory reached across the table and laid a palm against her mother's forehead. "Are you feeling okay, Mom?"

Lorelai grinned and batted the hand away. "Just fine, babe. We're all adults here, and recent events have given us more evidence of that than an episode of C.S.I. Seems silly to still treat you both like kids."

Luke's brow furrowed in confusion and disbelief. Moving to the door, he opened it and stared up at the sky.

"What are you doing?" Lorelai asked.

"You just made a calm and rational decision involving Jess and Rory. I'm checking for flying pigs and a hail of fire."

"Very funny, flannel man. Now get into the kitchen and make my girl some pancakes."

"With chocolate chips," Rory added. "Lots and lots of chocolate chips."

Shaking his head, Luke left the doorway and headed toward the kitchen. "Fine. But just for today. You ask for chocolate chips tomorrow, and I will deny even knowing they exist."

Rory giggled at her mother over the rim of her coffee mug. Lorelai grinned back, happy to see some of her daughter's spark back. Jess's laugher joined Rory's, and Lorelai watched his face break into a smile. A few years ago it would have looked ridiculously out of place on the young man's face, but now there were even the beginning of lines around his eyes as if he smiled all of the time. He may have left for California an angry, empty kid, but the time there had changed him in so many ways. Jess was now a whole person who seemed to be able to deal with his emotions rather than hiding from them. He still carried that old pain and fear of betrayal, but they were no longer things he wore like a second skin.

As Lorelai was studying him, Jess was studying Rory. She was laughing and looked happy, but Jess noticed that she wasn't carrying herself with the ease that he was used to seeing in her. She looked tense under her mirth. Rory had always curled forward a bit, hands inside her sleeves, when she was nervous or insecure. College and doing things on her own had given her the confidence to grow out of it a bit, but now she had her hands pulled so far into her sleeves that Jess worried for the weave of the cotton. He suspected that Rory wanted to curl in on herself too, but she was holding her back unnaturally rigid. Something was bothering her, but she was trying not to let anyone see it. He made a quick decision to find out exactly how much she was bothered by what had happened between them.

Standing, Jess offered Rory his hand. "Come with me for a minute."

"What?" Rory looked up at him startled.

"Just come upstairs?"

"What about my pancakes?"

Jess snorted under his breath, a shade of his old biting sarcasm coming though. "Luke screws up the first three and tosses them anyway, and he'll want them all to be perfect for you. You've got time."

"Fine." Rory gave Lorelai a bewildered look but stood stiffly and followed Jess to the stairs. She let him usher her into Luke's apartment.

The apartment looked similar to the way it did the last time she saw it. There was still a bed on each side of the room, and all of the belongings spread around were Luke's. There were no stray paperbacks with rumpled covers lying around. No CD cases scattered across the top of the coffee table. Instead there were fishing poles propped against the walls and order receipts piled on the counter next to cash register totals and new order forms waiting to be completed. All traces that Jess had ever lived here seemed to be gone, even more than the last time she was in the room, but if she closed her eyes she could still see the chaos that had filled at least half of the room when Jess had lived there.

"Having a nostalgia moment?" Jess asked quietly, leaning against the door.

"Little one," Rory admitted, turning to face him. "Why are we up here?"

Jess pushed off the door with his hip and walked towards her. "We're up here because I want you to tell me what's wrong."

"It's been a rough couple of days, Jess. You know that."

"I know, but that's not what I mean." Jess reached out and pushed back Rory's sleeves until he could see her balled up hands. "What's with the prize fighter impression?" Jess then used his fingers to gently uncurl the tight fists she'd made and held her hands gently in his own. "Tell me?"

"I'll be fine." Rory's lower lip trembled, and she pulled it between her teeth.

Jess sighed and smiled gently. "I know you will be, so will I. My heart hurts over this, too, but that's not what I mean. Emotionally we're both messed up right now, but you're dealing with something physical here. There's no one else around. I don't need you to be brave. Tell me what's going on."

Rory seemed to crumple in on her self then, tears brimming over as her chin dropped to her chest. She leaned into Jess and buried her head in the bend of his neck. His arms came up around her shoulders and held her tightly as she cried. Turning and slowly walking backwards, Jess drew Rory to his old bed and sat down, pulling her onto his lap.

"What's the matter, Rory? What's wrong?"

"I feel broken, like something's missing," she whispered. "And it hurts. I've never actually been kicked in the stomach, but this has to be what it feels like."

"Is it sort of a dull throb that turns sharp if you move too fast?" Jess asked quietly.

"Yeah. How'd you know that?"

Jess shrugged, "It's what getting kicked in the stomach feels like."

Rory's eyes widened in shock. "Do I want to know?"

"Not much to know, really. I was twelve, scrawny, and read a lot. A couple of guys cornered me after school one day and pummeled me."

"Is that when you stopped trying in school, 'cause it got you beat up?"

"No," Jess laughed. "I never tried in school. That was when I decided if I was going to be hit, I would learn how to hit back."

"Oh," Rory said softly. "So, you started lifting weights or going to a gym or something?"

"Jeez, you're turning me into a bad '80s teen movie." Jess shifted Rory in his lap so he could look at her face. "You're also avoiding the original subject. What else hurts?"

Rory rested her head on Jess's shoulder. "My back's stiff. It's part of the stomach cramps and all, but it still hurts." She heaved a sigh that ended in a slight whimper as she shifted again. "The doctor said this would last for a couple of days. I just have to take it easy, no strenuous lifting or bending."

Jess nodded in agreement. "That shouldn't be a problem for you. Did you get anything for the pain?"

"No. They said whatever I usually take over the counter for pain would be enough."

"And have you been taking anything?" Jess asked though he already suspected she hadn't been.

"No," Rory confirmed.

Moving Rory gently from his lap to the bed, Jess stood and went into the bathroom. A brief search turned up a bottle of ibuprofen. He got a glass of water from the kitchen and presented both to Rory.

"Take three," he told her.

"The bottle says two," she protested.

"Just this once you can take three. It'll be fine." Jess shook three of the small orange tablets into Rory's hand and watched her take them. When she'd finished, he took the glass from her and set it next to the bed. "Good. Now lie down."

"What?"

"Lie down."

"Jess, come on. I'm hungry. I want to go downstairs and eat my breakfast."

"Lie down," Jess commanded again. "I'll get Luke to bring up your plate, and you can eat up here."

Rory blew out her breath loudly, "You're nuts. I hurt, but I'm not dying."

"Humor me? Please?" Jess stuck out his lower lip in an exaggerated pout and whined like a puppy.

"Wow, I'd forgotten that you do that."

"Is that a yes?" Jess asked.

"Fine," Rory agreed.

Jess grinned and gestured for Rory to settle back on the bed. He crossed the room and picked up the phone to dial down to the diner.

"Luke's."

"Hey, Caesar, it's Jess."

"Where are you? I thought you were in here?" Caesar's confusion was clear, even over the phone.

"I'm in the apartment."

"Then why are you calling down here?"

"Tell Luke to bring Rory's food up here."

"Why? Something wrong?"

"No. Just tell him. Thanks, Caesar." Jess hung up before Caesar could argue or put Luke on the phone.

Rory was watching Jess carefully from the bed. "You know Luke and my mom are going to come thundering up here now."

"I know." Jess sat on the edge of the bed and nudged Rory back down. "I don't really care," he told her. Swinging his legs up, Jess propped himself on his side next to Rory, back to the door, and settled his free hand on her abdomen.

"What are you doing?" Rory asked, her voice quavering a little.

Jess leaned down and kissed her temple. Without speaking, he starting rubbing slow gentle circles on her stomach. "This help?"

Rory sighed and leaned closer into Jess's body. "Yes, actually. Not sure if it's the massage or just you, but it helps."

"Good." Jess kissed her forehead again and let his head rest above Rory's on the pillow, content in breathing in the soft flowery scent of her hair.

The couple got to enjoy their quiet time together for an entire minute before the door banged open and Luke stumbled in, plate of pancakes in his hand and Lorelai hot on his heels.

"What happened?" Lorelai asked breathlessly as she rushed to the side of the bed.

"Nothing," Rory sighed. She looked up at her mother from her position on the bed. "Jess is just being hyper-protective."

The man in question scoffed. "No, Jess is being concerned about you taking care of yourself. You don't have to be okay all of the time."

"He's right, you know," Luke piped in from the table. "No one worth worrying about expects you to be fine right now."

"I know," Rory agreed, pushing away from Jess and slipping off the end of the bed with a small wince as her stomach twinged. "I just don't like the pity in everyone's eyes." She sat down at the table and started eating primly, not noticing the guilty glances exchanged between Luke and Lorelai.

Jess, however, did see the looks and shook his head. He sat up on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, and bowed his head. This was a situation he'd never expected to find himself in. When he was younger in New York he had nightmares about one of the girls he'd been with showing up and telling him she was pregnant. Fatherhood was never something that he'd imagined for himself, especially considering the role model he had in Jimmy, but now . . . with Rory it didn't seem all that unlikely. And that it had almost happened and was lost before he even knew about it . . . it was like part of his life had been yanked just out of his reach, a part he didn't even realize he wanted. With a heavy sigh, he got up and went to join everyone else at the table. Rory looked over at him when he sat down, concern in her eyes, and he shrugged it away. She had enough on her mind without worrying about him as well. Instead, he swiped a finger through the whipped cream topping her pancakes and grinned at her before licking it off.

The rapid shift in Jess's mood didn't go unnoticed by Luke, and he gave his nephew a look that seemed to ask, 'What the hell is going on with you?'

A small head shake meaning 'not now, we'll talk later' was Jess response, and he went back to stealing crumbs of Rory's plate, giving each of them a few moments of much needed normalcy.

She continued to eat slowly, savoring each bite and letting small giggles slip out as she fought Jess's fingers for the last bite of her breakfast. It meant a lot to her that he was treating her in the same way he used to. Sure, he was worried about her, that much was obvious given the way he'd ushered her upstairs, but he could tell that she didn't want him to fuss over her in front of other people. That was the most important thing he could do for her in her eyes right now because she wanted time to deal with what had happened privately before accepting public condolences. So it may have been a bad idea on her part to venture to Luke's so soon, but the only thing she wanted to do right now was

something familiar and normal . . . for as long as Stars Hollow would let her be normal.

Nearly an hour later Rory and Jess bid Lorelai goodbye outside Luke's as she got into her Jeep to spend the day at the Dragonfly. Once she was gone, the young couple looked at each other warily, neither one knowing what to do or say.

"So," Rory shrugged, "it's been a while since you've been here. Wanna see what's changed?"

Jess looked around skeptically. "Things have changed?"

"Some of them, sure," Rory said brightly and took him by the hand to pull him down the sidewalk. "Come on."

"Fine," he agreed moodily and drug his feet a little as he followed her. They'd barely made it to the corner when he'd noticed something. "They're staring."

Rory glanced around only seeing the regular Saturday morning Stars Hollow traffic. "Who's staring?"

"All of them."

"Wow. Paranoia, party of one, your table is ready."

"Not funny," Jess grumbled, "and not paranoid. It doesn't seem like there are an inordinate number of people looking out of store windows or an odd number of twitchy curtains for a day no breeze to speak of?"

She took another look around and noticed that he may have a point. "Well, you're a novelty again."

Jess shifted uncomfortably on the balls of his feet. "I can't do this."

Rory sucked in a sharp breath and gulped a few times. "Can't . . . can't do what?"

"Be out here with them staring," he clarified. "I have to go back to the house."

"Oh, okay," she sighed with barely disguised relief.

He gripped her hand tighter. "I'm not running away again."

"I didn't think you were."

"Liar." Leaning over, he kissed her softly on her temple. "Coming back with me?"

"No," she shook her head. " I want to walk around a little more. It helps."

"'kay," he nodded and kissed her solidly on the mouth before walking back to the house.

Rory watched Jess until he rounded a corner, and she couldn't see him anymore. Turning on her heel, she started a meandering path across the town square when she noticed Miss Patty sitting on a nearby bench. She tried in vain to change directions without being noticed but was too late. Patty had noticed her and called out to stop her.

"Rory, honey," she called out and continued when Rory approached her. "We were all so surprised to hear what happened. How are you doing, sweetie?"

"I'm feeling better, thank you," Rory replied politely, but with enough finality in her voice to suggest that she wanted to leave.

Patty paid no mind and shook her head, "It's a shame. You and Jess . . . it would have been a beautiful baby."

"Mmm hmm," Rory mumbled, tears welling in her eyes.

"But at least he's back around now," the former dancer sighed wistfully. "For a little while anyway."

Rory blinked away the water in her eyes quickly. "He'll be around," she said defensively.

"Sure he will, honey," Patty said with false sweetness as she patted Rory's hand. "You be careful now." It was clear that she meant that warning to apply to more than just an afternoon stroll.

Nodding briefly, Rory frowned and turned to head in the other direction. She made it about a half of a block when Taylor leapt out from around the corner of a building and planted himself firmly in front of her.

"There you are, young lady!" he chirped. "Simply deplorable what's happened. That wretched boy behaving this way."

"What way, Taylor?" Rory asked, her patience wearing thin despite having only been approached by two people. "Jess hasn't done anything wrong."

The store owner shook his head sadly. "And here you are, still defending him. A shame what he's gotten you into."

"He hasn't gotten me into anything!"

"It's so unfortunate when things like this happen to good girls," Taylor continued, shaking his head sadly. "I suppose your mother's influence has something to do with this."

Rory screamed wordlessly and threw up her hands in frustration. "Jess did not do anything wrong! I did not do anything wrong! Mom did not do anything wrong! Leave it alone!" With that she stormed off and left Taylor standing there shaking his head and muttering about the lack of respect in today's youth.

She stalked silently around town for the next hour finally noticing what had made Jess so jumpy. Everyone was looking at her with sorrow or judgment in their eyes. It stung and made her feel more raw than she already did. There wasn't anything that she'd done wrong. What had happened to her happened to women everyday . . . and she was an adult. An adult who was in love with her boyfriend and who was suffering and just wanted to be left alone. But where could she go to be alone in a town where everyone was watching her even on a normal day?

Suddenly it dawned on her that she knew of the perfect place, a place where she'd always been able to hide before and feel safe. Turning her feet, she made a beeline for the haven of the bridge. Rory sighed happily once her shoes passed from the firmness of the path to the slight give of the slats of the bridge. She walked to the center and sat gingerly, folding her legs beneath her. The sound of the water lapping softly at the bridge supports was soothing, and for the first time all day the only eyes on her belonged to the birds overhead. Heaving another sigh, she closed her eyes and wondered why she hadn't come here first. After all, the only person who knew how much time she spent there was the only person she really wanted to see.

While Rory was finally finding quiet at the bridge, Jess was finding it hiding the cool quiet of Rory's bedroom. He spent a long time just standing in the doorway looking at the rumpled bed and the chair at the foot of it. Trying to imagine it the way he remembered it years ago, part library and part temptation, Jess found he couldn't see it that way any more. All he could see was Rory lying pale and fragile in that small bed and him sitting at the foot of it feeling tired and more than a little guilty. He tortured himself with those images for a long while before shivering and moving blindly back to the living room. The couch was squishy and lumpy, he knew that from experience, but it was still welcoming. Sinking into the corner of it, Jess propped up his feet on the coffee table. His head tipped back against the back of the couch, and his eyes shut wearily.

The trilling of the phone startled him and made his head jerk up. Blearily staring around the room, Jess caught sight of a clock and realized that he'd been asleep for almost three hours. The phone was still ringing, piercing through his head, and he rose stiffly to snatch it up.

"Uh . . . yeah?" he questioned, flopping back down into a seated position.

"That's how you answer someone else's phone?" Luke asked his nephew dryly. "No wonder I never got my messages."

"Would you rather have me babble like Lorelai?"

Luke answered quickly, "No. Your way is fine. So . . . how are you?"

"Way to segue, Luke," Jess chuckled. "I'm okay."

"You didn't look okay this morning."

"I'm fine."

"Jess, don't lie to me anymore," Luke sighed. "You looked like hell this morning."

"Well, I'd been on a plane all day yesterday, and I slept in a chair. How am I supposed to look?" Jess snapped.

Luke huffed, and his frown was nearly audible. "That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it."

"Then I'm pissed, but I'll live," Jess replied, wanting nothing more than to hang up but knowing Luke would just come over to yell at him.

"Pissed at who?" he older man wanted to know. "At Rory?"

Jess groaned in despair. "No . . . yes . . . it's complicated. I don't know anymore."

"What are you mad about?"

"Luke, are you trying to play therapist?"

"You're my family, Jess. I'm worried about you," Luke revealed reluctantly.

"Wow, feeling that love," Jess snarked.

"Why won't you talk to me?"

"What do you want me to say? I'm mad that Rory didn't feel like she could tell me what was happening until it was too late. I'm mad that everyone in this damn town looks at me like I'm some kind of demon . . ." Jess trailed off with a sigh.

Luke could tell there was more on Jess's mind and prodded him to continue, "And?"

Jess squirmed even though Luke couldn't see him but answered anyway. "And I'm mad that I lost something I didn't even know I wanted until it was gone. Happy now?"

There was a moment of echoing quiet before Luke let a breath escape in an understanding sigh. "Oh."

"Yeah, oh," Jess confirmed sullenly.

Neither man knew what to say after that. Like started and faltered a few times with an attempt to say something consoling or meaningful, but eventually stopped. Jess tired of the awkward silence and stuttering and hung up the phone. He set it on the arm of the couch next to him, watching it as if daring it to ring. When it didn't, he nodded glumly and once again laid his head back. His eyes drifted shut, and Jess slept fitfully until he was awakened by the ratting of the front door. He looked over eagerly, anticipating Rory, and was disappointed to find that it was only Lorelai coming home.

"Hey," she said gently after noticing Jess sitting in the darkened living room. She held up a brown paper bag. "I stopped by Luke's. He sent over some soup if you and Rory are hungry."

"No thanks," Jess said stiffly. "Not hungry, and Rory's not here so . . ."

"Not here?" Lorelai asked. "Where is she?"

Shrugging, Jess looked away. "She went out for a walk when we left the diner. She's not back yet."

"And that didn't worry you? It's almost eight, Jess!" Lorelai cried on a fairly frantic note. "Rory's been on a walk for ten hours!"

"I'm sure she's fine. Not like much else can happen to her around here, especially since she's not around me at the moment. Besides, she's a big girl. She can take care of herself."

Lorelai drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was not the Jess she was used to, this wasn't even the Jess that had been sitting at her kitchen table this morning. And she wasn't sure how to handle this Jess, sad and sullen and broken, at all. "I'm sure you're right," was all she could say.

He didn't respond, just rolled his head away from her and nodded.

"I'm going to go put this in the fridge," she said, shaking the bag slightly, "and then I've got some paperwork for the inn to do upstairs." Lorelai walked past Jess toward the kitchen. "Holler if you need anything, okay?"

"Sure," Jess said flatly. "Good night."

Once she'd put the soup away, Lorelai paused next to the couch and let her hand hover over Jess's head for a moment before deciding against touching him. "Good night," she told him instead before quietly mounting the stairs.

Rubbing his hands over his face, Jess waited until he heard Lorelai's bedroom door close before picking up the remote to the TV and clicking it on. At least that way if she came back down he'd look busy.

Barely twenty minutes later, Rory opened the front door and quietly slipped inside. The television was on, volume low, and Jess sat slumped deeply into the couch. He didn't acknowledge her return at all, and Rory was grateful that he wasn't going to fuss over her like everyone else she'd run into that day. Padding on silent feet, she rounded the couch, sat on the floor, and rested her head against his knee. They sat that way for a long time before Jess reached out and stroked her hair gently.

"Have a good walk?" he asked.

"I guess," Rory replied. "I just needed to be by myself for a while. Spent most of the day sitting on the bridge."

He smiled a little when she told him that. "I told Lorelai you'd be fine. She was worried that you weren't here when she got home."

"I should have called her or something, but I . . ."

Jess hummed in understanding. "I know. Luke sent over soup if you're hungry," he said after a pause.

Rory shook her head, shaking Jess's leg along with her. "Not really. I think I'm going to go to bed."

"'kay." Jess cleared his throat gruffly. "I'll sleep out here."

Rory pushed to her knees and stared at him. "Why?"

Jess refused to meet her eyes. "I think it'll be better if I stay out here."

"What do you mean?" Rory asked, reaching up and turning his head to face her.

His eyes closed, and he plucked at the edge of the couch cushion with trembling fingers. "It's just safer."

"Safer? Jess, what does that mean?"

He jerked his head away and mumbled something Rory couldn't make out.

"Jess, tell me," she urged gently.

Jess growled in frustration and finally met Rory's eyes. "Every time we share a bed something happens, and you cry. I don't want to keep making you cry."

Rory didn't say anything. She just got to her feet and held out her hand to Jess. He eyed her warily for a moment before letting her tug him to his feet.

"I'm willing to risk it," Rory told him and started to pull him back toward her bedroom.

Jess stopped outside her bedroom door and jerked her back against his chest. Cupping her cheek, he leaned down and kissed her.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

Rory drew away slightly and pressed her forehead to his. "I know. I love you, too."

Jess smiled softly and nudged her into the room, closing the door behind them. They both readied themselves for bed quickly and quietly. Jess waited until Rory settled herself, and then he crawled into bed behind her, curling his slightly larger frame around Rory. It was the first peaceful night's sleep either of them had in weeks.

Author's Notes the Second: So, that's chapter two. Again, I apologize for the long, long wait, but sometimes life happens. The next chapter should be up sooner, a big chunk is already written, and it'll pick up right where this one leaves off. Review if you've got time!