A/N: Hey, hi, hello there! Yay for chapter 16! Spring Break, sadly, is over, and Rory jumps into the last chunk of her semester. We're getting closer to the end, here, actually. Let us see what happens next... Read, review, and have a great day!

Chapter 16

Before they knew it, their week was over. Rory and Jess said their somber see-you-laters Saturday afternoon as Jess headed back to Philadelphia and Rory made her way back to Yale. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, but after spending that much time together, separating again was even more painful. Rory let the tears fall on her drive back to her apartment, chastising herself because she felt silly to be so upset over a temporary separation. June was coming faster than she could believe. Before too long, they'd be in Stars Hollow for Luke and Lorelai's wedding and then she'd be free for the summer and able to visit him in Philadelphia ever week. Still, that was weeks away, and way more time than she wanted to wait.

Rory knew long distance would be hard. But, as she thought over their time spent in person, the more time they spent together, the more mornings they woke up together in the same bed, the more evenings spent simply lounging on the couch and reading to each other, the more it set in that those times were what she wanted forever.

Forever.

That one little word took Rory's breath away. She wanted to be with Jess forever, in a until-death-do-we-part, sharing accomplishments and sorrows and books and beds kind of way. The realization took her by surprise, but in a way that gave her a warm feeling that started in her gut and radiated out until it left a blissful grin on her face.

She had always been a planner, always knew what the next five steps would look like. But lately, life had thrown her some curveballs and she only had a vague idea as to what the next five minutes were going to look like. Didn't know what classes would come next, what career she would end up in. She barely knew what she was going to eat for dinner that night. What she did know was that her future involved a life with Jess in which they grew old together, doing whatever they would end up doing.

Of course, the fears of careers and family obligations and overall adult-life responsibilities were there. But she knew that somehow, they would work those things out. Her tears were replaced by a soft and content smile as she approached her New Haven apartment.

Unfortunately, she didn't have as much time to revel in her epiphany, as she was bombarded by Paris and her control-freak ways the second she walked in the door. Paris had study plans and schedules and basically the entire rest of the semester planned out. They had six weeks left of this semester, and after that was summer, then after that was the daunting senior year. So, to Paris, that obviously meant they were graduating tomorrow.

But Paris wasn't exactly wrong about how much pressure they were under. The end of junior year was no joke, especially with Rory's added responsibilities of editing the Yale Daily News. She spent her time reading, taking notes on reading, writing, and editing other peoples' writing, finalizing layouts and answering people's never ending questions on their pieces. Most days, she was lucky if she remembered to eat more than one meal a day and most of her food intake was coffee and stale bagels from the coffee cart outside the library. If she wasn't in class, she was at the library or at her apartment, and when she did end up being able to come home to the apartment, she spent a lot of time working and very little time sleeping. Her phone conversations with Jess and Lorelai came few and far between, and when they did occur, they were short and superficial. She didn't want them to be that way, but she was so distracted with everything else it was hard to focus on her relationships as much as she should.

It didn't take long before she started to feel run down and burnt out and, though she acknowledged to herself that she wasn't taking care of herself, she continued to remind herself that the semester would end eventually and soon she would be as free as a bird. She had to think that thought multiple times a day, simply to prevent herself from collapsing under the pressure of it all.

One Saturday in April, a few weeks after spring break and a few weeks before the end of the school year, Paris had walked into the kitchen where Rory was studying, only to wrinkle her nose.

"Do you smell that?" she asked.

"What?" Rory responded distractedly, hurriedly taking notes on the assigned readings for one of her classes.

"Something in this room smells rank, how do you not smell it?" Paris wandered about the space, sniffing various items in the fridge, and even taking to gingerly sticking her nose in the trash can.

"Well, Paris, not all of us are blessed with a superhuman sense of smell," Rory mumbled.

Paris ignored Rory's comment and continued to walk around with her nose in the air, sniffing for the origin of the odor, when there was a knock at the door.

"Great. Now our company will have to smell the mystery stench," Paris griped as she walked towards the door. Rory responded with an eye roll as she stayed as focused as possible on her work.

Paris peeked out of the peephole and sighed, turning to undo the seven different locks before opening the door.

"It's for you."

Rory continued to write fervently.

"Hey! Gilmore! Snap out of it!" Paris walked over to Rory and snapped her fingers in Rory's face.

"Hey! Paris!" Rory shouted in annoyance as she batted Paris's hand away. "What your damage, Heather?" she asked with a glare.

Paris pointed at the door. "You have company, Veronica."

Rory turned to see Jess leaning against her doorframe, smirking.

"Jess!" she exclaimed, standing up and becoming incredibly embarrassed as she glanced down at her stained t-shirt and ripped sweatpants and tried to adjust her greasy messy bun. "What are you doing here?"

Jess's brow furrowed in confusion "Wasn't it part of our plan?"

"Our plan for…?" Rory asked, scanning her mind for what was happening that day.

Jess walked into the apartment, closing the door behind him. "We're supposed to meet your mom and Luke in Hartford in an hour to finalize your dress and my suit." Jess still struggled not to cringe when he remembered he had to wear a tux. He was growing more concerned about Rory the longer she stood in front of him. She had dark circles under her slightly bloodshot eyes, and somehow Rory Gilmore, Queen of Organized Schedules, had forgotten what day it was.

Rory's hand flew to her forehead. "Oh my God. That's today?!" she shrieked.

"Yeah. Hey, are you okay?" he asked, stepping towards her as she went around the apartment in a panic.

"Ugh, yes, fine…" Rory mumbled, frantically trying to gather her notes.

"Rory, hey, slow down." He grabbed her wrist and pulled her over to meet his eyes. "You don't look okay."

"Thanks, that's what every girl wants to hear," Rory mumbled as she tried to pull away.

"Stop, that's not what I mean and you know it. I mean, you look tired and stressed."

Rory sighed resignedly. "Yeah, I guess."

"What's going on?"

"I've just been so busy with school and the paper and mom's wedding and now Lane's wedding is a month after mom's and…" Rory's hand rubbing her forehead anxiously as she spoke, her voice trembling.

"Okay, slow down, one thing at a time. First, take a deep breath for me."

Rory glared. "Don't patronize me," she grumbled.

Jess rolled his eyes. "Rory, I'm not patronizing you…"

"Yes, you are!"

"How am I patronizing you?"

"You're… just…" she started angrily before faltering. Her shoulders dropped. "I don't know," she admitted.

Jess remained frozen in place, a little afraid to move and set off the bomb that was a stressed and sleep-deprived Rory. After a beat of silence, he decided it was safe to try again. "'K, can we try that deep breath now?"

Rory nodded and followed suit, inhaling deeply.

"Thank you. Now, are you caught up at the paper?"

"I don't know, maybe…"

"Paris, is she caught up at the paper?" Jess called into the living room.

"Yes, and if she caught up any more, she'd be writing the whole damn thing herself," Paris called back as Rory rolled her eyes.

"Paper's taken care of," Jess said reassuringly. "Now, homework. You caught up on assignments?"

"Yeah, but readings…"

"Reading you can take with you. Read in the car, I'll drive. I'll read to you while you try on dresses, even," Jess smirked, rubbing Rory's arms to try and get her to release the tension in her shoulders.

"Don't tease, I might just take you up on that," Rory let a small smile show.

"No teasing here," Jess shook his head. "Now, first wedding to tackle we are tackling today. Lane's wedding is a whole month after Luke and Lorelai's, it can be on the back burner for a little while. Just a couple weeks!" he continued as Rory tried to interject. "I'm sure Lane wants you alive to be her maid of honor and if you stay on this path of replacing coffee with sleep, I don't think that's going to be the case, even with your caffeine tolerance."

Rory's pout began to melt as she mulled over Jess's words. "Fine," she gave in. "You win."

"Thank you." He smiled and pulled Rory in for a kiss, reveling in the sensation that he'd missed so dearly in the previous weeks. He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, only to wrinkle his nose and pull away.

"Okay, new first task."

"What's that?" Rory asked as she pulled away from him.

"Uh… Rory, I love you, please don't be offended by this question… how long has it been since you showered?" Jess asked tentatively.

Rory's eyes widened in embarrassment as she thought back. "Oh my god, I think it's been like five days…"

Paris shot up from the couch and came over to sniff her. "That's it! You're the thing that smells like old cheese!" she cried victoriously.

"Me?" Rory cried indignantly before sniffing her shirt and wincing. She looked up at Jess, blushing. "Do you think mom and Luke will mind if we're a little late?"

Jess shook his head. "No, in fact I think they'd prefer it."

Rory slapped his arm playfully and made her way to the bathroom. "Can you call and let them know?"

"Already on it," he replied, flipping open his phone as Rory closed the door behind her. Jess heard the water turn on when Rory suddenly stuck her head out of the bathroom.

"Hey Jess, I didn't really pack anything—"

"I'll pack your stuff for this weekend," Jess called, already walking to Rory's bedroom.

"I love you!" Rory called from the shower.

Rory, as hard as she may have tried to read, fell asleep on the drive to Hartford. Jess glanced at her and smiled, glad to see her getting some much-needed rest. He slowed to a stop at a traffic light and turned his full attention to her, memorizing her features for the hundredth, thousandth, millionth time. She was beautiful. The soft curve of her jaw, a smile playing her lips as she dreamt, her hair spilling across her face. Her head lolled to the side and he wished he had something to prop her up to prevent a neckache. She sat in the passenger seat, a book open in her lap, breathing evenly. Jess sighed contentedly as the light turned green and he continued to drive. A familiar feeling washed over him, one that he'd felt often ever since he first met her. A reminder that the woman sleeping in the passenger seat next to him was today, his tomorrow, his forever. He wanted to fall asleep and wake up next to her every day. He wanted mornings of strong coffee and shared newspapers and nights reading to her as she fell asleep on his chest. Him writing novels, her taking the journalism world by storm.

A future.

Jess had never let himself plan. Life hadn't given him that luxury. He had always had to take every day as it came and then go from there. The future was an abstract concept that only held uncertainty. Plans fell through, people came and went, and so he learned to rely on himself and only himself, not letting anyone else in. But somehow, Rory had changed that. She had made it seem like the days ahead held something worthwhile, something to look forward to. Because of her, he found himself making plans and promises for the days ahead.

A small smile of hope and contentment rested on Jess's face as they entered Hartford. Rory breathed in sharply and blinked awake and sat up in her seat, wincing as her neck objected to its sudden movements. She turned and saw the expression on Jess's face and looked at him curiously.

"What's with the weird smile?" she asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

Jess laughed. "My smile is weird? Jeez, thanks a lot," he said, the smile still staying persistently on his face.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Not typically, that's just a smile I haven't seen on you before."

Jess shrugged. "Nothin' specific."

Rory eyed him dubiously before facing forward in her seat again and turning on the radio, diving into her book to get some studying done before they reached their destination.

They made it to Hartford and met Luke and Lorelai, girls going to the dress shop and guys going to pick up their suits. The entire time the seamstress took final notes and measurements on Rory's dress, Lorelai was giving her concerned glances, not thinking she was picking up on anything. Finally, after they left the shop and were sitting on a bench waiting for Jess and Luke, Rory gave in.

"Mom, what's with the crazy eyes and the weird looks?"

"What? What do you mean?" Lorelai responded, feigning innocence.

Rory rolled her eyes. "You are as discreet as a clown walking down the street wearing a one-man-band uniform."

"Wouldn't that be a one clown band?"

"Mom."

"Okay, fine. I'm just worried, Rory. Those dark circles make you look like you're auditioning to be a raccoon, and you've yawned, like, a thousand times today. What's going on?"

"It's nothing serious, I'm not sick or anything," Rory said with yet another yawn.

"Very convincing."

"It's just school and the paper and everything. The work doesn't stop, so neither do I. It'll be over soon, I just have to push through until then." Rory leaned back on the bench and gave in to her heavy lids, closing her eyes.

"Okay, but that doesn't mean I'm not worried about you. Don't push so hard you break, promise?" Lorelai looked at Rory with concern.

"I promise. Actually, I think getting away even if just for a little while is doing me good. I haven't seen the sun or felt the breeze in forever." Rory's eyes remained closed as she mumbled through her conversation.

"Okay, my little romantic. Also, promise me the second you're done with everything—"

"I'll call you and we'll have a party," Rory interrupted.

"I was going to say take a nap, but party works," Lorelai said with a wicked grin. "Actually, no, nap first, then party."

"Nap, party, got it," Rory muttered as she felt herself drifting off.

Just then, Luke and Jess walked up to their bench.

"Is she asleep?" Jess whispered.

"No, she's not," Rory murmured.

"Open your eyes for a surprise."

"You're a poet and you don't know it," Rory responded, half asleep.

Jess took the lid off the coffee he had in his hand and wafted it under Rory's nose. Her eyes shot open and she took the cup from him.

"Oh, bless you!"

"Hey, as much as I think you need sleep, I don't think a dirty bench is the best or most comfortable place to nap. Hence, caffeine."

"I second that; sleep, yes, on a bench, no," Lorelai stated.

Rory looked back and forth between Jess and Lorelai. "Am I dreaming, or did mom just agree with Jess?" she asked Luke.

He looked just as stunned. "If you're dreaming, then I am too."

"Hey, crazier things have happened!" Lorelai rebutted.

"Actually, I don't think they have," Jess joked.

"Yeah, well, whatever…" Lorelai mumbled, sipping the coffee Luke had brough her.

"For what it's worth, I agree with them, too," Luke said.

"Okay, I must look like I'm dying if all three of you agree," Rory said.

"Not dying per se…" Lorelai said. "Just very, very tired."

"Well, you've got that part right," Rory responded with yet another yawn.

The four strolled down the street after deciding to make an afternoon out of their excursion to Hartford. Double dating with your boyfriend, your mom, and your mom's fiancé who also happens to be your boyfriend's uncle should probably have been awkward, but it really wasn't. Rory leaned her head on Jess's shoulder as they wandered, breathing in the spring air with her eyes closed.

"Hey, I have a surprise." Jess said quietly.

"Another one? You couldn't have snuck away to get another cup of coffee, I've been with you the whole time," Rory said thoughtfully.

Jess laughed. "No, surprisingly enough, I did not develop superspeed powers and run off to get coffee without you noticing."

Rory chuckled tiredly at the thought of Jess as The Flash.

"What I did do, between the suits and the coffee, was book a room at a hotel here in Hartford tonight."

Rory gaped at him. "You're kidding."

"Why would I kid?"

"You don't have money for a hotel room!"

"Hey, I'm not destitute, I can splurge a little," he said. "Especially with the woman I love needs a little pampering and I need a little time with her and only her," he whispered in her ear.

Rory could cry she was so happy. In fact, her eyes started to well with tears.

"Are you crying?" Jess asked, filling with concern. "Look, I can cancel it if it worries you that much. We'll just go back to New Haven, we'll relax there."

Rory stopped him with a kiss. "Don't you dare cancel it. These are happy tears."

Jess smiled against Rory's lips. "Good."

Their hotel room was equipped with a mini-bar, 24-hour access to room service, and a deliciously large bathtub. Rory felt her eyes stinging with tears again as she gazed around the room in awe. Jess watched her discover the room, his relaxed grin ever present on his previously unsmiling face.

"Now, I was serious about pampering you," he said as she sat down on the bed. "You've been working way too hard and you deserve a break. Anything you want tonight, you get."

Rory looked up at him shyly. "Is it bad that all I want is a really long bubble bath, a really big cheeseburger, and a really good night's sleep?"

Jess walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "Not at all. Can I ask if I can share the tub with you?"

"I insist," Rory said with a grin.

"Then I'm happy if you're happy," he said quietly, kissing her softly. "What's the order of events?"

Rory thought for a moment. "Burger, bath, bed."

"Sounds good. I'll call room service, you go find the bubble bath."

Rory grinned and skipped into the bathroom as Jess picked up the phone with a smile.

Fully relaxed after their food and their bath, Jess and Rory lounged in bed together on the edge of sleep. Rory, at least, was on the edge of sleep. Jess lay awake, absentmindedly rubbing Rory's arm, deep in thought. They weren't exactly in a place where they could move to be with the other person at that point. But he wanted that, and he had a feeling she did too. An idea occurred to him that make the corner of his mouth quirk up in a hint of a smile.

"Rory?" he whispered

"Hmm?" she responded sleepily.

He shook his head. This could wait, she needed to sleep. "Never mind, you sleep. We'll talk in the morning." He leaned over and kissed Rory's temple.

Rory opened her eyes and pouted. "No, now I'm curious. What is it?"

Jess propped himself up on his elbow. "What are you doing this summer? After school and the wedding."

Rory thought for a moment. "I mean, I need a job or internship or something, but I don't have any solid plans. Why?"

"Come stay with me."

Rory sat up and turned to face him. "What?"

"Come to Truncheon. Stay with me for the summer. I'm sure I could convince Matt and Chris to let you help out around the place, maybe even help with some editing or proofreading. You're beyond qualified, Miss Daily News Editor. What do you say?"

Rory's face broke out in a smile. The thought of staying with Jess for three months, getting to work in a bookstore and edit… it sounded like an absolute perfect summer. She grabbed his face and kissed him firmly.

Jess pulled away laughing. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes! Jess, that sounds absolutely amazing."

He smiled softly and stroked her cheek. "Great. You're coming to live with me for the summer."

"I'm coming to live with you for the summer," she repeated with a grin.

He closed the small space between them and kissed her deeply. When he pulled away, he saw her eyelids droop with sleep and she laid back down with a yawn. He kissed her nose and laid down, pulling her into him. "Now that that's settled, let's get you your good night's sleep."

"Hmm…" Rory agreed as she nuzzled into his neck, already on her way to sleep.

Jess joined her in dreamland, that smile never leaving his face as he slept.