AN: This is now officially the longest story I've ever done, lol. And this is the one-year mark of my posting on Yep, just one year ago, I was nervously uploading my first story. Praying for a review. Ah, memories. Hehe. Here's another chapter, enjoy!

"Are we going to a strip club?"

"Do I look like I have a death wish?"

Jess snickered. "Then were are we going?"

"We're almost there."

Jess nodded, as Tristan continued to drive. They were definitely in Hartford, but this wasn't an area he was familiar with. They were in one of the ritzier areas of Hartford. Jess had never gotten used to having money, though he supposed he did now. He had two kids in private schools and money saved for both of their colleges. Not to mention a nice apartment in the city, and a retirement fund. But he would never describe himself as well off.

Tristan pulled into the Hartford Country Club and pulled into a reserved spot. Jess looked at him and frowned.

"We're at the country club."

"Yep."

"In a reserved spot?"

"It's Dad's. He keeps up his membership, even though they retired to North Carolina."

"And we're here because?"

"Because they pay for food whether they eat it or not."

"So, we're here to eat your parents' otherwise wasted food?"

"Yep. They're staying down south this winter. So, come on," Tristan said, getting out of the car.

"I thought you were supposed to be making me relax."

"What better place?"

"For me? A bar. A bookstore. A gym."

"Well, there's an open bar, a library, and a full gym on premises. Plus we can get massages, eat, or a plethora of other things."

"Hmm."

"Rethinking your prior comment?"

"No. I'm just not as opposed to the idea," Jess smiled, following Tristan as he shook his head and entered the dining room.

&&&&

After receiving an honest-to-God pleased smile from Luke Danes, Will and Anna left the diner and walked over to the Melville residence. They stood outside the little gate, hand-in-hand.

"You ready?"

"Just a second."

"Okay."

Anna took a deep breath. "Okay. Let me do the talking."

"No argument."

"I hope you stay this agreeable," she smiled, and leaned into him quickly.

"Let's just, do this, shall we?"

"Okay. I'm going in."

He nodded and followed her in the little gate and up the stoop to the front door. She extracted a key from her purse and let them into her parents' house.

"Mom? Dad? Anybody home?"

"In here!" Sookie's voice boomed from the kitchen.

Anna ran through her mind what she should do to get her mother out of the kitchen. Telling Sookie about her and Will near an open flame might result in the charred remains of her family's home. She couldn't carry that weight on her shoulders.

"Mom, where's Dad?"

"Out back, in the greenhouse," she called.

"Can you meet me out there?"

"Oh, sure, I'll be a sec," Sookie popped her head out the door from the kitchen. "Hey, Will!"

"Hey, Sookie."

"Just a sec, I have to take something out of the oven," she winked at her daughter.

Anna smiled and nodded, and led Will out around to the greenhouse. She opened the door, taking in a deep breath. She loved the smell of her father's greenhouse. When she was little, she used to bring her dolls out here and play—later she used to bring a book out and read. And now she was making a big announcement to her parents. Maybe one of the biggest announcements of her life.

"Hey, Sweetie!" Jackson said, standing to kiss his daughter on the cheek. "Wanna try something?"

"Maybe in a minute, Dad," she smiled.

"Will? You like artichokes, don't you?"

"Ah, well," he hedged, furrowing his brow.

"Hey, I'm here! What's going on?" Sookie said, joining the group.

"Oh, Mom, good. I have something I want to tell you both," she said, as her parents slipped their arms around each other.

"Is everything okay?" Sookie didn't want to get her hopes up—Will had been by Anna's side through the whole rape ordeal—but her hope this was what she wished it was held strong.

"Well," she smiled, and slipped her hand into Will's. "Actually we have something to tell you."

Sookie let out a squeal. "Really?"

"Really," Anna nodded.

"Really what?" Jackson asked.

"They're dating!" Sookie hugged them both at once.

"You are?"

"We are!"

"I'm so happy! Tell me everything, how did this happen? When?"

"Mom, not now," Anna said, giving Will an apologetic look.

"We went out for the first time this past weekend," Will offered.

"Have you told your Mom yet?"

"Uh, yeah, she knows."

Will glanced at Anna, who caught his look. They shouldn't have done that. Sookie was watching them like a hawk.

"When did she find out?"

"Uh, you know. Recently," Will cringed.

"How recently?"

"She knew, before the date."

"She knew this weekend?!"

"Sook, calm down," Jackson soothed.

"But, we saw her! How could she not tell us?"

"Mom, calm down. We were trying to keep it under wraps," she informed her.

"From me? Why would you keep it from me?"

"We didn't want to get everyone excited until we were sure," she smiled at Will.

"And you're sure?"

"I am," she nodded.

"We are," Will interjected.

Sookie squealed again, and hugged them. "I have to call Lorelai!" she said before running back into the house.

"You guys want to try something now?" Jackson asked, hopeful.

Anna bit her lip to keep from laughing and patted her dad on the back.

&&&&

Ella had been wandering around town for hours. She had taken the opportunity to escape her grandmother's house for some alone time when she heard everyone leave for the diner. She roamed aimlessly, in and out of shops, hitting almost every place but Luke's. She knew it was likely that her family would be there the better part of the day, so she headed over to Weston's Bakery for coffee. She was sitting there when she saw Billy rush in.

His face was flushed pink, from the cold no doubt. He ordered hot chocolate, and turned to look out the window. That's when he saw her, and froze.

"Hey," she said, figuring there was no getting out of talking to him. She owed him that.

"Hey," he said, taking his drink from the cashier.

"Want to sit?"

"I guess so," he said moving over to stand next to her table.

"Please?"

He nodded and sat next to her at the table. He put his drink on the table and looked down at it.

"So, what have you been up to?" she asked, trying the small talk thing.

He looked up at her, and she saw the hurt in his eyes. It was obvious then and there that she needed to be much more direct. Not to mention honest. She swallowed hard, and tried to ease her bouncing foot.

"Sorry. I've been doing a lot of thinking," she began, glad to see his expression soften a little.

"I thought about what you said, about the whole no matter where I want to go, you'll be supportive. And that means more to me than you know."

He nodded. He wondered how long she would make him wait to address the other issue. He wasn't sorry he'd said it, but he couldn't help but feel a sting that his words weren't returned.

"And about the other thing, what you said to me," she put her hand on his tentatively, "It was amazing to hear you say that, but it took me completely by surprise."

"Oh, come on, Ella. After the road trip?"

"No one's ever said that to me before," she said quietly, withdrawing her hand.

"I've never said it to anyone before," he countered, feeling a little defensive.

"And I was so glad you said it, but I can't say it back. At least, not yet. Because I don't want to say it to you, unless I really mean it."

He nodded. He didn't like it, but she did make sense.

"I think I'm well on my way to saying it soon," she blurted out.

He looked up at her in surprise. "Really?"

She nodded. "I like you a lot, Billy. I've never had a steady boyfriend. I've dated a lot of guys, but never seriously. I've never felt like this," she smiled as he put his hand over hers and squeezed.

"So, how's the school decision going?"

"Still down to two."

"I've been looking into schools, the past day or so."

"Really?" her smile brightened.

"Yeah. I mean, there's still time for me to apply to some of the places I have a chance of getting into."

"I'm so glad," she encouraged.

He smiled back at her, enjoying the moment. The last day hadn't been his best, but it had made him think a lot more about preparing for his future. College couldn't be that bad, everyone else seemed to do it, and for the most part enjoy it. Not that he enjoyed the tension he'd felt, but maybe this was all going to work out for the best.

&&&&

Jess sat in the steam room, eyes closed and completely relaxed. Tristan came in, and sat a foot away from Jess, leaning back against the wall.

"Tell me you aren't relaxed."

"I'm relaxed."

"How was your massage?"

"Hot rocks are good," Jess managed.

Tristan smiled. "Told you."

"What's next?"

"Drinks. Then we should get home."

They'd eaten lunch, played basketball, taken showers, gotten massages and now they felt like Jell-O.

"We have to go home?"

"Hey, I like home. Besides, if I see another one of my old friends from high school sporting a receding hair line, I'm going to scream."

"Relax man, it's not in the water," Jess rolled his eyes.

"I know. It's just weird."

"Whatever."

"I'm ready for a drink."

"Fine."

Neither moved. Their eyes were closed.

"In like, five minutes?"

"Definitely."

&&&&

"You smell good," Rory pressed her face into Tristan's chest.

"I'm glad you approve," he chuckled.

"Where'd you guys go?"

"The club."

"You got Jess to the club?"

"Yeah. So?"

"So? It's Jess."

"We had a good time."

"Huh."

"What?"

"I just never would have pictured Jess enjoying the club."

"He needed to relax."

"You're such a sweet man," she cooed.

"Stop," he warned.

"Or what?"

"Or I won't let you smell me again."

She smiled and burrowed into him again, inhaling deeply. He rolled his eyes.

"I'm not sweet."

"Are too."

"You're the sweet one."

"So, what does that make you?"

"I'm the strong one."

"Ah. I forgot," she teased.

"Fine," he said, moving to scoop her up, and carried her over to the bed. They'd met up at their room in the Dragonfly before meeting everyone in the dining room downstairs for a late dinner. He dumped her down on the bed and pinned her easily. He held both her wrists with one hand, and kissed her neck.

She giggled and he nipped the same spot with his teeth.

She shivered.

"So, what do you say now?"

"You're my big, strong, sweet man," she giggled, causing him to groan and bury his head in her neck, increasing the likelihood of their being more than fashionably late for dinner.