Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Jess never left Stars Hollow. He agreed to Luke's plan and is finishing high school while living above the diner. Rory attends Yale, but her and Jess are still together. What happens when someone from her past returns, determined to win her heart?

-Chapter 1-

Rory stepped off the bus with a smile on her face as her eyes swept over the familiar streets of Stars Hollow. Home always felt good after a grueling week at school. After a quick stop at her empty house, she headed over to Luke's, to find her mom sitting at the counter, a cup of coffee clutched in her hands. "Hey mom." She called, sliding onto a stool next to her.

"Daughter of mine, how have you been?" Lorelai faced her with a broad smile on her face. "I have missed you immensely."

Rory smiled back. "The feeling, mother of mine, is mutual." The smile never leaving her face, she looked over at Luke. "Please, please, please can I have some coffee?" Luke didn't say anything, merely shook his head and poured her a cup. "Thank-you." Glancing around the diner her eyes rested on the stairs. "Is Jess home?"

"Yeah, go on up." Luke told her.

Picking up her coffee, she headed in the direction of the stairs, but her mother's voice stopped her. "Oh great, send her upstairs, alone, to be with her hoodlum boyfriend. When my daughter births the Spawn of Satan, it will be all your fault." With a roll of her eyes, Rory disappeared behind the curtain.

-----

"Knock, knock." Rory called as she swung the door open.

Jess looked up from the book he was engrossed in and let a smile grace his features for a split second before it disappeared. "Hey."

"So...whatcha reading?" She asked as she crossed to room to stand in front of the couch he was lounging on.

Jess' eyes had wandered back down to the page. "In Cold Blood." He answered.

Rory nodded. "Capote. Good choice." Jess simply shrugged. Reaching out she gently pulled the book out of his hands. "Want to take a second to say a proper hello to your girlfriend, who I like to pretend you have missed so much?" Jess glanced down at the book that was now in her hands and then up to her face. Instead of answering, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her down into his lap. His free hand was used to pull her mouth down to his.

"Hello." He whispered pulling back slightly and letting his forehead rest against hers.

"Awww, you do kinda miss me, huh?"

Jess pretended to play it cool. "I guess, sometimes. I mean, you are a good kisser and I miss the physical contact."

"Hey!" Rory started to get up. "If that's the only reason you keep me around, then I'm going back downstairs to my mom and I'll never step foot in this apartment ever again!"

Arms around her waist pulled her back down again. "I keep you around for other reasons."

"Like?"

"Who else has more books than a library? I've almost finished this one and I was hoping I could borrow something from you."

Rory turned her head to look at him. "I hate you."

"No you don't."

"Oh yes I do."

"Oh no you don't."

"Ok, I don't." She sighed, "But sometimes I don't like you."

"It's all part of my charm."

Rory laughed and leaned into his embrace. This was why she loved coming home.

-----

"Wow!" Lane exclaimed as she and Rory lounged on Rory's couch watching reruns of Saved By The Bell. "A Jessless afternoon."

Rory blushed. "We don't spend that much time together."

"Unless your sleeping or consuming insane amounts junk food with Lorelai, you two are together. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's cute and all..."

"But overkill?" Rory suggested. "I just miss him when I'm at school. We really don't spend that much time together. Two days a week, maybe. But I guess when I am in town; it's sometimes all Jess all the time. Sorry."

Lane shrugged. "It's cool. I just miss my best friend. And with Dave gone, all things happy suck."

Rory put her arm around Lane's shoulder. "Heard from him recently?"

"Nope, not even a postcard. I guess he's enjoying the sun and the surf."

"Or he's busy with school."

"Doubtful."

Rory shook her head. "I thought you two decided it would be better if you weren't dating."

"That doesn't mean I can't miss him or think about him or dream about him or..."

"I think I get the picture." Rory cut her off. "If it means anything at all, you'll find your Mr. Right. Whether or not it's Dave, I don't know. But he's out there, I promise."

"You think Jess is your Mr. Right?" Lane asked, leaning forward to grab some popcorn.

Rory shrugged. "I'm 18, I'm not thinking about whether or not my boyfriend is forever. But right now, he's the only person I can see myself with. So I guess for the time being, he's it for me."

"Do you love him?"

-----

"How was your weekend?" Paris asked absently as Rory dropped her bag by her bed. "Did you arrive in time for the annual hoe-down?"

Rory flopped onto her bed. "Of course. It was a yee-hawing good time."

"And Jess?" She flipped the page in her text book without looking up.

"Jess is Jess. Same ole', same ole."

Paris nodded. "Right right."

"Your weekend?"

"Fine."

Rory frowned slightly. "What gives? Your not your usual obnoxious self."

Paris finally dropped the textbook. "Jamie called."

"And?"

"I thought I made it perfectly clear to him that it was over. I practically dumped the guy on his birthday for crying out loud. But he...he...I don't know, he keeps coming back for more."

Rory thought of Dean just then. How it was obvious to everyone but him, that she had feelings for Jess. "He loves you." She stated.

"That's the problem." Paris sighed and picked up her book again.

-----

Rory leaned against the outside of the lecture hall, trying to catch her breath. With a glimpse at her watch, relief washed over her. She had made it on time. Actually she had three whole minutes to spare. Being late had seemed inevitable when she had taken off at a sprint across campus. Quickly she began readjusting her books and turn to grab the door handle when something to her left caught her eye. It couldn't be, but she thought she saw a familiar form, head down, hands thrust into pockets, hurrying away from where she was standing. Squeezing her eyes shut and reopening them, she pushed the figure out of her mind and swung the door open scanning the hall for an open seat.

-----

"So...this is Yale. Huh." Jess remarked as he took in the sights around him.

Rory smiled proudly, like she was showing off a painting she had just finished, like it was her masterpiece. "Yeah, this is Yale."

"Impressive. " He looked around one more time. "Anywhere to eat?"

A look of shock passed over her face and she even felt a little hurt. "To eat? Um, yeah, of course. There are lots of places. But don't you want to look around first? I could give you a tour."

"Nope. I'd rather just eat. I'm really hungry."

"Are you sure?"

Noticing the look on her face, he took her arm and looked downward into her face. "Rory, I get that you want to share Yale with me, but I'm never going to go here. Why waste my time looking at a school I'll never attend."

"I guess that makes sense, but Yale is...is a huge part of my life. The biggest next to my life in Star's Hollow. I want you to see where I hang out and where my classes are, but if you want to eat..."

Jess sighed softly at his girlfriend. This was important to her. "Give me the tour."

"Really? Cause we can go to the Student Union for lunch."

"No, I want to see all that Yale has to offer. But you have to walk backwards like they did at that Community College Luke made me tour."

"Ok," Rory turned around and began walking backwards down the sidewalk, a large smile on her face. "Over here we have my residence hall. I'll show you dorm later. And then on your left we have..." Her sentence was cut off she ran into what felt like a wall. "You were supposed to warn me if I was going to run into someone." She took a step forward and began to turn around to apologize when a familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Well, well, well, I see nothing has changed. You still can't stay away from me." He watched her whirl around and let his eyes meet hers. "It's good to see you again Mary."

Well? I know it's been done before, but I've just been itching to write a J/R/T triangle. Should I continue?