4 Months later.

"You are not carrying the weight on your side." Luke complained.

"Luke we have one more flight of stairs this couch isn't getting any lighter with your complaining." Jess said as he stopped to catch his breath.

"Why again didn't you get movers?" Luke asked moving up the stairs.

"You told me it was pointless and I should save the money. Jeez do you not remember that?" Jess said as they finally reached the room of his new apartment.

Lorelei and Toby were sitting on the floor of his new room when they heard the men burst in. Toby ran down the hall screaming his dad's name. Lorelei followed.

"Stop calling me that Toby. You call me dad you know that." Jess said as he collapsed on the sofa.

Toby jumped on top of him knocking the air out of him, "Dad is Jess. Jess is Dad." He followed his statement with a laugh.

"This is all your fault Luke." Jess glared at Luke.

"My fault? If you weren't a pain in my ass I wouldn't have to scream your name every 5 minutes. Then the boy would be calling you Dad. I would also have my sanity."

They had been at each other's throats for the last 4 hours of moving. Luke being just as sarcastic as Jess. Toby running around their feet screaming his dad's name and Lorelei trying to catch him. Jess was just happy to finally have a home of his own in Stars Hollow. It was a nice two-room apartment. There was a big living room and the kitchen was just the right size. Toby was thrilled to have his own room. He kept telling the landlord over and over about how he had never had his own room. He was soon going to be 4 and a room of his own was very important.

"Luke and I better get going. We have to pick Rory up at the bus station in a few hours." Lorelei said giving the 2 boys a hug. "Anything you want me to tell her?"

"No Lor, I don't. Now stop asking me. I haven't talked to her since she left a few months ago and I really don't want to deal with it. She is a friend, if she wants to see me she can stop by, if not stay away." Jess said walking them to the door.

"We will tell her that you asked her to stop by and give you kisses and hugs. Bye." Lorelei ran out the door and hid behind Luke." Luke is big. He towers above you Jess. Don't come any closer."

"Just tell her I said Hi and Toby and I are doing good." Jess said to her rolling his eyes.

It had been 4 months and Rory had only sent one post card. It was addressed to Toby. It had a picture of a boy ballerina on it. The letter on the back read:

I hope dance class is as much fun as you hoped.

Hugs and Kisses

Rory

Jess had laughed when he read it. Toby had been very excited about the card. It was a boy not a girl, that thrilled him. Toby's birthday was in just a few days. Jess had planned a huge party right in the middle of town for him. Lorelei and Sookie were getting all of the decorations and Sookie of course was cooking the food. He wanted it to be a special event for Toby. It was the first happy birthday he had ever had. Surrounded by family and friends. Jess was very proud to see his boy so happy.

"Dad is Rory coming to see us?" Toby looked up at Jess who was unpacking.

"Maybe, I am sure she will be at your party. Don't worry." Jess said trying to smile.

"I bet Kirk a dollar that she would be." Toby scurried off to unpack his room.

Jess spent the rest of the day getting the apartment in order. Toby had fell asleep in his new bed. It was a racecar bed. Luke bought it for him after Toby and him went to the store one day. Luke couldn't say no to Toby as he screamed he wanted a big boy bed. Jess didn't blame the kid. He had been sleeping in his playpen his whole life. Everyone made him feel even worse by calling it a crib. Now Jess could finally afford to give him a real bed and more importantly a real room for it.

Rory was moving back in with her mother for a while. She couldn't stand living in New York all alone. The few friends she had made were not really friends at all. She decided to get a job as an editor for a publishing company. She could do that from home. Which was what she needed right now. Stars Hollow. She had planned on moving out in a few months, maybe moving to Boston. Rory was excited about her return home.

"Rory!"
"Mom!"

"Let me look at you!" Lorelei inspected her daughter.

"You really have to trust I would tell you if I was missing a body part."

Luke looked at them as the 2 Lorelei girls hugged and chatted. Then Rory ran to him and hugged him tight. She always liked the way Luke hugged back. He gave big manly hugs that made her feel like a small kid.

"So how are Jess and Toby?" Rory asked grabbing her bags.

"We just moved them into their own place. That kid is so excited. He talked Luke into getting him a racecar bed. I have never seen a kid so excited about his own room. Jess seems even more excited. The Mariano boys never looked happier." Lorelei said as she helped carry Rory's bags

"That is good. Really good." Rory trailed off.

When they arrived at her mom's house Rory ran to her bedroom. All of Jess's stuff was cleared away. Not a trace of him left. She frowned. She had sort of hoped he would leave something behind. She looked on her dresser and found her copy of Howl. There was no note inside. The picture Toby had showed her was gone. She smiled. She started unpacking and then stumbled upon a few things Jess had left. A few books and a few CDs.

The next day she packed up all of his stuff and headed to the diner. She was not sure what to expect. Hoping for the best she smiled.

"Kirk if you don't want potato's in your potato salad you don't order the potato salad!" Jess screamed at Kirk.

"Fine I will get a cheese omelet with out the egg." Kirk changed his order.

"So you want a bunch of melted cheese?" Jess scoffed.

"Yes I do Mariano." Jess glared at Kirk and looked as if he was about to punch him, "Sir Mr. Mariano sir." Kirk said backing away to sit at a table instead of the counter.

Jess turned around and told Caesar his order. Caesar laughed. Jess began wiping down the tables as the bell rang. He looked up to see Rory. He smiled and remembered how awkward this was going to be. He hadn't a clue what ground they were standing on if any. He walked towards the door and held it for her. She was carrying a box full of books and CDs.

"I hear your back in town for awhile Gilmore." Jess said grabbing the box. "What is this?"
"This is all of the things you left behind in my room. Wow that sounded weird. It is true though. I figured you didn't leave them as presents." She held up a book by Hemingway.

"No I wouldn't have left such good things to you Miss Gilmore. Thanks." He smirked and put the box behind the counter. "Coffee?"

"Yes please." She said sitting at the counter. "I heard you got a place. I would love to see it. Mom told me Toby was really excited." She smiled.

"Yep. The boy is flipping over it. Luke bought him a racecar bed. I am sure you already know though." He looked at her as she nodded. "Miss Patty is teaching him ballet. He loved the card you sent. He actually hung it up on the fridge this morning." Jess seemed very happy. After a few more moments just gazing at each other, Kirk broke the gaze.

"Where is my omelet?" he said annoyed.

"Your c-h-e-e-s-e is coming up." Jess said making sure to emphasize cheese.

Jess threw the plate down and waited for what he knew was next, "This is just cheese. I ordered an omelet."

"You ordered a cheese omelet without egg. Which is cheese!" Jess yelled as other's looked at him.

Kirk started to refuse it then saw that Jess was mad, "Yum. I really do like this. I must tell Lulu." Kirk shoved the cheese in his mouth and smiled.

"I see nothing ever changes." Rory laughed.

A few minutes later Luke and Toby came running into the diner.

"Tag your it!" Luke said running up the stairs.

Toby stopped and stared at Rory, "You're here!"

"I am!" she said hugging him.

"Daddy said we might not see you."

"Why would you say that Jess?" she asked knowing why.

"Daddy was sad. You never.." Toby was cut off by Jess.

"Toby you better go check on Uncle Luke. He might have killed over after that sprint up the stairs." Jess said wiping off the counter.

"I will be 4 on Saturday. Today is Thursday." Toby ran up the stairs.

An awkward silence fell over Rory and Jess. Rory felt bad for the way she had left a few months ago. She just knew it would be easier. That didn't explain why she hadn't written or called. Jess wiped down the counter and waited for Luke to come down so he could leave.

"Mom told me about Toby's party. It sounds like a big festival rather than a party. I am sure he will love it." She smiled.

"Well the boy is loved slightly more than I am in this town. Everyone wants to help out. Taylor has found away to work a fundraiser into it. Which is nuts, but whatever."

"Leave it to Taylor." She giggled.

Luke ran down the stairs with Toby following close behind.

"You have to see my room!" Toby said grabbing Rory's hand and dragging her to the door.

"Am I free to leave?"

"After you explain to me why Kirk is eating cheese." Luke looked at Kirk confused.

"He wanted a cheese omelet with out the egg." Jess laughed.

"That is just cheese."

"Which is the question you just asked right?" Jess smirked.

"I will just leave it at that." Luke said walking away.

Toby had drug Rory outside. She picked him up and smiled. He had gotten bigger in the last 4 months. It was crazy how that worked. She barely knew the boy and had missed him. Jess stepped outside and smiled at Rory and Toby.

"You have dance class boy." Jess said taking Toby from Jess, "Then Grandma and TJ are taking you for the night remember?"

"Darn. I wanted to show Rory my room." Toby frowned. "Don't you want to show her your room and bed Jess?"

"Stop calling me that." He blushed a little and they began to walk towards Miss Patty's.

"Will you show her? Please daddy!" Toby looked up at Jess with a pouty face.

"If Rory wants to see I will show her your room. Yes." Jess kissed Toby on the head as he put him down.

"I would love to see!" she exclaimed.

"Ok then. I will be taking her to the apartment. You better behave for Grandma. Ok? I don't want to hear any disaster stories about T.J. Ok?"

"Yes Sir." Toby kissed his dad and ran up to his classmates.

Jess and Rory walked to the apartment building. They barely spoke a word there. Rory asked what she should by Toby for his birthday and Jess answered with a simple whatever you want. They talked about the birthday party plans and how Kirk was going to be dressed as a clown. They laughed at the image. They finally reached the apartment and Jess led Rory up the stairs. He opened the door and let her walk in first.

"Nothing big. We are just glad to have a place of our own." Jess said as he led her through the apartment. He showed her around then brought her to Toby's room. His room had blue walls and lots of toys. She smiled as she turned on the light and noticed the bed she had heard so much about. "He loves that bed. One night and he already thinks it is heaven." Jess showed her Toby's bookshelf and dresser. Then lead her back to the living room.

"I am so happy for you guys. This place is really nice." She smiled as she walked back into the living room glancing at his room. "Let me see your room."

"No it is not really unpacked. The bed is set up only cause Lorelei did it. She insisted that I have a king's bed. Which sounds as stupid coming out of my mouth as it did hers." He looked at Rory as she tried to peek her head in. "Ok come on." He led her into the room. His bed was a canopy bed. Black curtains lined it. He had pin striped blankets and sheets. There were 2 bookcases that reached the ceiling. They were full of books. Rory's eyes grew big as she walked toward the books. She ran her hand over the spines and closed her eyes. Smiling she turned to Jess.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Jess asked confused.

"I have never seen anything that was yours before. I mean I have never really seen your own space." She smiled.

"I guess not." He said scratching his head. "How bout I cook you dinner tonight?"

Rory's eyes got big as she nodded. "That sounds wonderful."

Hours later after dinner they sat watching Almost Famous. She was cuddled up next to him and he had his arm around her. It had felt comfortable and neither of them understood why. When the movie was over Jess looked down to see Rory sleeping on his lap. He ran his hand through her hair and smiled. She looked so peaceful he didn't want to wake her. He smiled as he thought about the spaghetti dinner he had just made. She had looked so surprised that he knew how to cook. Jess didn't realize just how much they didn't know about each other. She was so beautiful sleeping. The wine had knocked her out. Jess was tipsy from the wine and not quite sure how to wake her. He looked at her one last time before shaking her.

"Rory, baby. It is time to get up." Jess said as he watched her struggle to open her eyes.

"Sorry I guess I fell asleep. It is that movie. I have seen it a hundred times." Rory said as she stretched.

"It is a great movie." Jess said as he pondered what else to do.

"Jess about last time I saw you." Rory said as she pulled her legs underneath her on the couch.

"What about it?" Jess didn't want to get on the subject. The past only brought scattered emotions. "I mean, why do you want to bring it up?"

"I am sorry I left like that. It just seemed easier. Then I was afraid of how you took it so I never called or anything. Do you forgive me?" she bit her bottom lip as she waited for his reply.

"Rory, I was never mad. Not this time. Hurt, not mad. I just don't get it. Why did you leave?" Jess grabbed her hand as he waited for her answer.

"I am a complete mess Jess. You and Toby don't deserve the confusion. This is not about you and me. It is about you and Toby." She smiled and kissed his knuckle.

"I know. He adores you though. I adore you." Jess got up and headed to the kitchen to wash the dishes. "How do you like your eggs?" Jess asked.

"Scrambled. Why?" Rory walked towards him smiling.

"I want to know what to make in the morning. I can't let you leave this time Gilmore." He turned as she walked up beside him. She smiled and touched his cheek.

"I can't let myself leave this time Mariano." She kissed him and pulled him closer. The kiss was long and passionate. They stumbled to the bedroom.

Rory removed his shirt and he removed hers. They kissed each other all over as they removed each other's clothing one by one. Jess touched Rory's lips with his finger and whispered secrets in her ear. Rory quivered with each word. It made her whole body excited. They kissed until finally Rory got on top and they began to do what they had wanted to do for years. Tears fell out of Rory's eyes as she finally felt him. He held on to her kissing her neck and tasting the salt from her tears that rolled down. He had never seen anything so beautiful.

In the morning Rory woke up in the big bed alone. Jess had put his robe on the bed so she put it on and wandered out to the living room. She smelt eggs and bacon in the air as she reached the kitchen she saw Jess cooking. He smiled at her and reached over to kiss her cheek.

"Good morning sunshine." He smiled as he filled her plate with eggs and bacon.

"Good morning," she said grabbing the plate, "This looks good."

They sat at the table smiling and eating. Neither one said a word. The phone rang and the answering machine picked up.

This is Jess &Toby Mariano. We are not answering the phone right now leave a message. Why did you say Jess and not daddy? Fine this is Daddy and Toby Mariano. Better? Yes.

Hey Jess this is Lorelei. Toby said Rory went to your place last night. No one has heard from her so I hope she is with you. If she is there and listening to this right now I just want to say Dirty. If not then don't mind me.

"Dirty." Rory laughed.

"Your mother is crazy. You know this right?" Jess smirked.

Rory nodded and finished breakfast.