Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it. The plot and any original characters (specifically Claire) belong to me, but everything else is stuff I only wish I could take credit for.

A/N: Your reviews make me so happy, and I especially appreciate the honest yet constructive criticism I've received. Thank you all so much. Without further ado, I present Chapter 7.

Chapter 7: Living On a Prayer

"So, what now?" Jess asked again.

"You said that already." Rory responded.

"Did I? I wasn't sure because I don't think either of us has said anything in about ten minutes. Do you have an answer to that question?" Jess asked her.

Rory shook her head. "No. I don't. But I think this changes everything."

"Does it?" Jess responded, staring intently at Rory.

"What?" Rory yelped, shocked at the question.

"What does it change? I love you, and you love me. But what changes? You're still the belle of Stars Hollow, and I'm still the guy who was ruining your life and will continue to ruin your life. Your mom hates me. Your grandparents hate me. Hell, I hate me for what I did to you. I'm just some guy who lives in a shoddy apartment with his best friend, who pretty much supports him." At Rory's confused look, Jess smirked. "Oh, you didn't know that, huh? Didn't know that Claire's a little rich girl who's just playing bohemian? She has a trust fund that could feed a small country for centuries. Whenever I can't make rent, and it happens much more than I'd like, she spots me."

Rory was shocked at this revelation about Claire. She'd had no idea that she came from an upper-class background. "Why are you telling me this?" Rory demanded.

Jess shrugged, looking annoyed. "So you know exactly what you're dealing with here, kid. What could I possibly offer you? Nothing, and we both know it. And you could never be with a guy who has nothing to offer you. So again, I ask you. What the Hell is going to change?"

Rory felt the tears in her eyes, but they were as much tears of anguish as they were tears of sadness. "You're a dumbass!" Rory proclaimed, standing up and balling her hands into fists.

Jess raised an eyebrow as he looked up at her. He leaned back in his chair and waited for her to continue.

"Oh don't look at me like that!" Rory exclaimed. "You're a dumbass. You think you know everything about me. You think I could never be with you because you "have nothing to offer me?" Go to Hell! No one's ever offered me what you have!"

"And what have I given you, Rory?" Jess asked, "Besides multiple reasons to cry?"

Rory rolled her eyes. "How about excitement and unpredictability? How about good conversation about books and music? How about nights curled up on the couch watching movies? How about the most amazing, mind-blowing kisses in the entire world? Most importantly, you know what you gave me, you complete moron? You gave me the most pure and unadulterated sense of love and happiness that I've ever known."

Jess was staring up at the fuming girl with absolute shock. His jaw had dropped as far as it possibly could, mirroring the expression that Claire was wearing in the bedroom.

"I think I'm speechless." Jess whispered, finally picking his jaw up from the floor.

Rory was still glaring at him. She sniffed indignantly and wiped at her wet eyes. "Let me save you the trouble of thinking of a vague, non-committal response." She snapped. She picked up her purse and stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her. Almost immediately though, she threw it open again.

"And don't ever call me 'kid' in that condescending voice! I'm only five months and twelve days younger than you." She paused for a moment before adding, "Dumbass!" She slammed the door again, so hard this time that the frame splintered.

Jess was staring at the closed door with shock written all over his face. Claire opened the door and walked into the living room. She tossed Jess his leather jacket. "Go after her." She commanded.

Jess caught the jacket and placed it next to him. "I don't want to." He said, still looking at the closed door.

Claire rolled her eyes and walked back into the bedroom again. She reemerged, holding a book in one hand and a lighter in the other. "Go after her, or Hemmingway gets it.

Jess's eyes widened in panic. "You wouldn't."

Claire smirked. "I've been looking for an excuse to burn this damn book, and if you think I won't do it then your best friend isn't some little rich girl playing bohemian."

"I didn't mean it as a bad thing." Jess muttered.

"I know that." Claire said, but there was hurt in her eyes. "I know you love me and don't think anything bad about me because of my background. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself. But we don't have to talk about this now, Jess. I'm still going to be here when you get back. Go after her."

Jess hesitated. Claire sighed in annoyance and lit the lighter. She brought it up to the book, but before the flame could capture the pages, Jess shot up from his seat. "I'm going! Extortionist!"

Claire smiled as she watched Jess put on his jacket. He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, Claire."

Claire smirked and tossed the book aside. "You're welcome, baby. Go."

Jess smiled at her quickly. "OK. Here goes nothing." He walked out of the apartment and closed the door loudly behind him, causing the frame to splinter more and the door to hang crookedly.

Claire pulled a crushed pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and took one out. She put it between her lips and used the lighter she was still holding to light it. She inhaled deeply and sank down onto the couch. She looked at the closed, cracked door and said, "Who knew that the price of love was going to be having to get a new door?"


Jess jogged down the stairs to the sidewalk in front of the building. He looked around quickly, and saw Rory trying to hail a taxi on the corner. He walked over to her, and whispered in her ear, "Don't leave."

Rory jumped, panicked, and turned quickly. As she did so, she brought her elbow up and caught Jess square in the jaw. Jess stumbled backwards, holding his chin with a look of pain on his face. "Nice elbow you've got there."

"Sorry." Rory said. "Don't sneak up on a girl in New York City at night, especially one who can defend herself in ways-."

"Not reliant on martial arts." Jess said, nodding. "Claire has that book. She practiced on me a few times. Kicked my ass."

"Lucky girl." Rory responded, staring at Jess.

"Look, what you said up there…" Jess started.

"I agree. Let's forget it happened. It doesn't change anything. We'll just go our separate ways." Rory said quickly.

Jess shook his head. "You don't want that." He stated.

"No." Rory agreed. "But you do."

Jess stared deeply into Rory's eyes, making her squirm beneath his gaze. "Do you really believe that, Rory? A little while ago, I wanted you to move to New York with me. I wanted to be with you forever. You honestly think that that's suddenly changed? Maybe I wish it'd changed. But it hasn't."

Rory stared at Jess. "You know, you were never this open about things before." She commented.

Jess shook a finger at her playfully. "You're trying to avoid the subject. Don't try to be like me. It's not flattering."

Rory smiled softly at him. "I wanted to go with you."

"I wanted you to come with me. But it wouldn't have worked. We could've played house for a while, but we couldn't have handled it." Jess said.

Rory looked down at her feet. "That's supposed to be my line," she whispered.

"I tend to step on people's cues." Jess mumbled.

"I slept with Dean." Rory blurted out.

Jess managed to stay reasonably calm, balling his hands into fists but not allowing his posture of his tone of voice to reveal his anger. "I actually kind of figured that out. So, you're the other woman."

"I was." Rory agreed. "He's not leaving her. I-I wasn't enough to make him leaver her." She sputtered out, tears spilling over.

Jess's face softened and he loosened his hands from the fists they were molded into. He closed the space between him and Rory, putting a hand on her cheek and brushing her tears away with his thumb. "Dean's an idiot." He whispered. "You're more than enough."

Rory looked up at him with glassy eyes. "I am?" She asked quietly.

Jess had to smile at her. "God, Rory. Don't you know by now? You're everything."

"There it is again." Rory whispered to herself.

"What?" Jess demanded, leaning his forehead against Rory's.

"That feeling of happiness. I'd forgotten what that was like." She responded, leaning into him.

"I hadn't." Jess whispered against her mouth.

Rory's lips met Jess's in a very tentative kiss. It was brief, lasting only a few seconds, and the tenderness of it made Rory feel warm inside. At that moment, nothing was wrong. She was in the arms of a man who she'd loved since she first set eyes on him. The busy New York street melted away, there was nothing but a full moon and that mysterious sense of happiness.

Jess held her at arm's length, looking at her. "Want to get some Chinese?" He asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Rory smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I do. More than anything, actually."

"There's a place up the street. It doesn't suck." Jess suggested.

"Well, how can I resist that?" Rory asked. "Let's go. It's on my grandmother."

Jess smirked, but it melted and was replaced with an awkward look. He looked at his feet for a moment, before looking back up at Rory. He offered his hand, and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding when she immediately laced her fingers with his.

"This is going to be OK." He thought to himself as they walked up the street, hand-in-hand.


Dinner went as smoothly as it could. They talked about books, movies, and music- all the safe topics. Things were still far too fragile for them to try and talk about anything that mattered. Both Rory and Jess were dangling from a thin thread of hope, and if it broke then they wouldn't be able to fix it again.

"I can't believe you still like Metallica." Rory said as they left the restaurant.

"Hey, their new stuff sucks and that whole Napster thing was lousy, but their early stuff is good. You can't deny that." Jess protested, smiling as Rory took his hand.

"I most certainly can." Rory proclaimed. "They're loud and annoying."

"Kind of like The Smiths?" Jess asked as they walked back towards his apartment.

"Oh, don't even go there." Rory said. "You like The Smiths too. You can pretend you don't for the rest of your life, but I saw the concert ticket in your wallet."

Jess looked away and mumbled, "Claire made me go."

Rory laughed. "Nice try, but Claire told me she doesn't like The Smiths. You're busted."

"You can't prove a thing." Jess said, pulling out his key as they approached the door. "Wanna come back up?"

Rory shook her head. "Not tonight. I'm just gonna go."

Jess nodded. "Yeah, OK."

"But I'll call tomorrow?" Rory asked.

"I'm working 8-4 at the warehouse and 5-10 at the bookstore." Jess said, frowning.

"The day after?" Rory asked.

Jess thought for a moment and said, "I'm free after four."

Rory nodded. "OK. I'll call after four then."

"OK."

"OK."

"You said that already." Jess responded.

"I know. I'm waiting for you to kiss me goodnight." Rory retorted, looking at him expectantly.

"Oh." Jess said awkwardly. "OK."

Jess leaned in and gave Rory a light, sweet kiss on the lips. Just as Rory started to lean into the kiss, Jess pulled away. "Goodnight, Rory."

Rory frowned. "Yeah, goodnight." She backed up and stood on the street, hailing a taxi. One pulled up quickly, Rory shot one last glance at Jess, got in the taxi, and was gone. Jess sighed deeply. "Oh God. What am I doing?"

He unlocked the door and stepped into the building. He started to ascend the steps and mumbled to himself, "I hope this works." He stopped in mid-step, raised his head to look at the ceiling and said, "Please God. Don't let me screw up again." He continued to walk up the steps, hoping the fact that he didn't utilize God that often would make him more likely to answer his prayer instead of less likely.