AN: Here it is, on Friday the 13th I'm giving you the 13th and last chapter of this story. It'll be an extra long one, including a little epilogue. Hope you've enjoyed it. Thanks a lot for reading and reviewing!1

Disclaimer: Last time I checked, I still didn't own them.

On we go...

He did think about it. Hard. It remained silent for a long time in the room, with Luke, Lorelai and Rory watching him, waiting for him to tell them all what the call was all about. When he did, it remained silent for a while longer, allowing Jess to contemplate it some more. But he couldn't find a way out of the turmoil in his head. Sure, it would be a way out, the only way that wouldn't involve more debt for himself, his uncle or Rory. But on the other hand, it did feel like being bought, even though that was not Sasha's intention. He did believe that.

He talked to Luke about it. Luke thought he should do it.

"Jess, they can spare the money, they want you to use it. It's not just a gift, your dad is finally willing and able to provide for you. It must have taken him a lot of pride to do this."

Jess listened to Luke reasoning, but even though his arguments were acceptable, he still wasn't quite sure. So he asked the other person he loved. Her arguments weighed a lot in his decision scale. Her final opinion would make the difference. It was a little cowardly, he figured, but he didn't know how to deal with this by himself.

Rory agreed with Luke, while still giving him another point of view.

"Jess, my dad never got himself involved in my education. He never paid a dime for Chilton, he never contributed one dollar to get me through Yale, he just never seemed to think about it. And even though we can manage pretty well without him, his neglect hurts sometimes, knowing he will provide all these things for Gigi when she grows up. I have to beg for attention from Chris, but I've given up on that. At least Jimmy is coming to you first, thinking of you first. Take it Jess, please. Even if this is the last time he shows some interest in you or your education, believe me, it's better than nothing."

Jess gently stroked her cheek, cursing in himself for his total lack of understanding. Sure, Rory had seen her dad more often than he had seen his, but by seeing him she was constantly reminded of the bond they didn't have, one he did have with her half-sister. Maybe he wasn't worse off than she was, maybe it was just the other way around.

And going to Yale meant a lot to him: to get an education, to show Luke, Rory, Lorelai and himself what he was capable of, to be with Rory and not having to wait until the weekend before seeing her again…he really wanted to go to Yale. He nodded at his uncle and his girlfriend.

"I'm gonna accept their offer." They all just nodded back and watched as Jess grabbed the phone to call California…

New Year's eve was very special, as he held Rory in his arms while she leaned back against him, watching the fireworks together.

The days and the weekend after that were spent reading, making out, having snowball fights, making out some more until…

Monday, January 5th, 2004:

Jess reported himself at the front desk of Yale's administration building. Today no lessons were planned to enable all students to get themselves and their stuff settled in again before classes began again.

Jess got a map of the premises and, more important, the keys to his dorm room. He would be alone, since his alleged roommate dropped out just before the holidays. He might get a roommate later, but probably not before next school year. Jess didn't mind at all. With all the books he had carried with him, he needed all the space he could get. Plus, it would be so much easier to have Rory over now. She could even sleep over without disturbing anyone.

He was done "decorating" in less than an hour. All he had to do was make the bed, put his shaving stuff, his soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, hairbrush and gel by the sink, stuff his clothes in the closet and fill his book cabinet, which took up most time. After he was done, he took in his new surroundings. It wasn't quite homey, but it would do. Plus, with Rory coming in, he wouldn't have to occupy himself with making it homey at all.

The object of his affection sneaked up behind him and snaked her slender arms around his waist.

"I can't believe how lucky you are! You have the entire room to yourself!"

Jess grinned and turned to hug her. "You think?"

Rory looked confused. "I thought, they said…"

"They said I have no roommate. But surely that doesn't mean I'll be alone in here all that much?"

Rory caught on and slightly blushed. In a mock stern voice she reprimanded him.

"Heavens no, young man. We're here to study. No hanky-panky on a school-night."

Jess smirked and buried his head in the crook of her neck. He peppered her neck with tiny kisses before suckling on a very sensitive spot. Rory groaned, her stern face and words forgotten. "Jess…"

He retreated. "Sorry…I guess that counts as hanky-panky and since you don't want that…"

Frustrated, Rory grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a long and satisfying kiss. In between kisses, she managed to mumble that since they didn't officially start the new semester, a little hanky-panky wouldn't do them any harm.

Consequently, she ended up not leaving his room at all that night and getting in her first morning class just a little late. And a little flustered. But o so very happy.

Years later…

Time had gone by so fast for both of them. Here they were, Rory and Jess, packing their belongings for the last time. With a little melancholy Rory looked at the bare walls, the empty shelves of her bookcase, the stripped mattress on her bed. The one she would never sleep in again. The one she had hardly slept in anyway. She'd spent most of her time in Jess's dorm room. He'd had just one roommate all this time, and he was just an exchange student from South Africa, there for just one semester. Other than that, he'd had the place for himself. Where he was packing up as well.

Jess's years at Yale had gone by reasonably well. He wasn't the class mastermind, but he was doing fine for himself, his confidence showing more and more with each approval from his teachers. Rory of course had grades on her graduation list that would make Einstein look humble. But she was more proud of his achievements than those of her own.

Other than that, everything was going great. If Jess was a person who would hold hands and skip, he would.

Luke was still very proud of him. He now kept referring to Jess as his kid, and Jess knew he wasn't just making a mistake. Luke really felt it that way, and Jess was more happy with that than with his Ivy League degree.

Jimmy called sometimes. Christmases, Birthdays, Thanksgivings, days like that. That was it. They would talk for a while (never about the money) before he would put Lily on the phone. It had hurt in the beginning, the fact that, even though Jimmy paid for his education, his own father had no clue how to talk to him, but after four years of constantly trying he didn't really care anymore. He had enough to live for.

Like next week, when he and Rory would take a flight to sunny California to go see Kat. She had called about a month before demanding they would both come over to attend her wedding. Yes indeed, Kat Mendosa was getting hitched. After Jess had left California with Rory, she'd received three anonymous Valentine's day cards, went on three blind dates with each of the senders and got stuck to one of them. His name was Ian and he really was Jess's twin. Tall and blond. They had both laughed about that, but Jess was very happy Kat was so much in love.

All others were doing well too. Sookie and Jackson had another child; a beautiful girl this time, Dean and Lindsay were having their first baby in a few months and… Lorelei and Luke were finally dating.

Their future looked brighter than a star and with his new family Jess knew he had found his home…

THE END

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