Part 3: Being back

They found Lorelei sitting at a table near the window, looking at the menu. They joined her and sat down.

Hey mom!

Lorelei lifted up her head and smiled.

Hey you two! So, had a nice trip?

Yeah, Rory answered.

You hungry?

I'm starving!

And you Jess?

Same.

Good! Luke?

Wait a second, Lorelei! Luke answered.

He came a few seconds later.

Oh, hey Jess. Glad to see you.

Me too, Luke.

How are you?

Better every hour.

Great. So, what will you have?

Cheeseburger with french fries, Lorelei instantly answered.

Ok, Luke said, writing down and stopping himself from doing any comment. Rory? Jess?

Same, they answered at the same time.

Ok, be right up.

Luke went to give the order to Ceasar.

So Jess, you're probably tires to be asked, but...how are you?

I've been better, but it was worst before Rory came last night, he answered.

I'm glad to hear it. Are you planning on staying long in Stars Hollow?

Oh mom, Rory said, there's something we would like to ask you.

Go on.

You're probably aware that Jess and I are back together.

Well, yes.

Well, Jess continued, I'm in Stars Hollow to be with Rory, but also because I didn't want to stay in New York with my mother.

And, Rory went on, I promised to help him to change. If he had stayed in New York, it would have been a little hard.

So you're coming back definitively, Lorelei concluded.

Well, it depends a little on you, Jess said.

Why?

I don't have anywhere to stay.

Oh...

So that's what we want to ask you, mom.

But Luke can't take care of it?

Jess called him this afternoon and he said that he had begun renovations in his appartment, so he can't. So we were wondering if we could share my room.

But there is already not a lot of space!

With some reorganisation, it'll be ok!

But...ok. We're beginning by a test. If everything's going fine, it'll stay like that. If not, Jess, you'll have to sleep on the couch because we don't have any other place.

That's ok for me, Jess said.

Me too, Rory said.

Great. Welcome back to Stars Hollow Jess!

Thanks.

Their meals arrived and the finally ate. Luke took it on the house, which, naturally, they were pleased with, and went back home. Rory and Jess took care of rearranging Rory's bedroom in order to make a little more space and they made an improvised mattress with everything they found until they would get a real one. It all went on for a big part of the evening, so they went to bed when they were done. They woke up late on the next morning, around 11. Jess was the first to open his eyes, his back aching, and Rory woke up a few minutes later.

Morning, she said still a little asleep.

Morning, Jess answered. You slept well?

As a baby. And you?

Mmm...I think I've never slept that bad.

Why?

Well...let's say that it's not the most comfortable thing...

My god...at this point?

Maybe even worse...

Don't stay ther! Come over here, I'll do you a massage.

Jess got up from his ''bed'' and sat down on Rory's bed, and she began her massage. After a moment, he was already feeling better.

Rory, I'd hire you right now.

Rory smiled then, consciously or not, she couldn't have told, she began to put light kisses on Jess's neck, while continuing the massage. Jess, under the charm, turned around and kissed Rory furiously...when Lorelei came in.

Sorry to interrupt, I won't be long. I'm here to tell you that I'm going out.

How long will you be out? Rory asked.

I don't know, I have to go to the inn, Sookie's and Kim's antiques...and God knows how much time it could take with mrs. Kim!

Ok! Anyway, I don't think we'll move from here, so if there's anything, you know where to reach us...and if we decide to go out, I'll call you.

Ok! 'Later!

She got out and came back a second later.

Nothing dirty!

Promised! Rory and Jess answered.

Lorelei left and they could hear the door close a few seconds later.

So, Rory said, where were we?

About here, Jess answered.

He resumed kissing like they were doing before Lorelei had interrupted them. Soon enough, they deepened the kiss and Jess made Rory lay down on the bed, then began to kiss her on the neck. When he reached under her t-shirt, she stopped...well...tried to stop him, but he insisted.

Jess, she said. Jess, please stop.

But he didn't stop. She panicked a little.

Jess, she pleaded. I'm asking you, stop! I'm not ready for that!

This time he took back his hand, kissed her one last time on the mouth before looking at her and sitting back down on the edge of the bed. Rory did the same and circled him in her arms.

I'm sorry Ror, he said after a moment of silence. I don't what happened. But I love you so much! I'd like so much that you belonged to me that way.

I know. I love you too. I'd like to show you, but I'm not ready yet. Give me some more time.

Take the time you need. I'll wait.

Thank you. On the other hand, there's already something that belongs to you...

What is it?

She took his hand and, while looking him in the eyes, put it where was her heart.

This, she answered. He had belonged to you since the beginning and it will forever. And soon, I'll entirely belong to you.

Jess smiled and kissed her briefly.

What about breakfast? she asked.

Good idea. I'm inviting, Jess answered.

Mmm...thanks!

They went to Lukes to take their breakfast then came back. Rory took the occasion to prepare what she wanted to bring to Yale, with Jess's help, even if he spent most of the time kissing Rory instead of packing. After a few hours, Rory finished packing and Lorelei came back. The first she did when she entered was to crash down on the couch and take deep breaths of air. Hearing that, Rory and Jess went to see her.

Hey mom! Rory said, arriving.

Hey hun, hey Jess, Lorelei answered, out of breath.

Are you okay? Jess asked.

Have you ever had the impression that you didn't have the time to breath when you've been so busy during the day?

No, they both answered.

Oh...hum...anyway. That's how I'm feeling. I'm exhausted!

Take it slow tonight mom. You have to be in good shape tomorrow.

Why?

You don't remember? We're moving my stuff to Yale!

Ah, yeah. Chinese for dinner?

Excellent!

Cool! Jess, you can give me the phone?

Sure.

When she got the phone, she ordered Chinese food and turned on the tv.

You'll take care of the meal when it'll arrive? That's nice, thanks. The money's in my purse.

I don't think we have the choice.

You'll have to get used to it, that's always like that when we order.

So lucky I am.

The food arrived about 45 minutes later. They ate in front of the tv, watching a crazy program then went to bed early. This time, Jess slept on the couch after Lorelei promised him to go mattress hunting the next day. They woke up early the next morning, put the boxes in Luke's truck and Lorelei's car and left, eating breakfast on the road. They arrived in new Haven an hour later, took about 3 hours to move and settle Rory's stuff then got back to Stars Hollow, where Luke payed them the lunch. In the afternoon, Lorelei, Rory and Jess went mattress hunting and found one quite quickly and went back home. Rory entered in Yale two months later, and the year went by in a blur and Rory and Jess were happier than ever, even after a year. Well, speaking of that, Jess was planning something for Rory, with Lorelei's help, who had finally accpeted Jess. Anyway, she hadn't really had any choice because he was living under her roof. Finally, she thought he was nice, and Jess had to admit that he and Lorelei were getting along quite well, to Rory's happiness, who, recently, had told Jess that she was now ready to live in an appartment with him...We understund that Jess was waiting for it so, when Rory was in class, he went to New Haven to find a beautiful appartment very afordable. Of course, Jess kept it as a surprise, as well as Lorelei, who had helped Jess, knowing her daughter's interests and accepting for her to leave the house. When it was done, Jess could concentrate on something else, but he didn't know what to do...once again, Lorelei helped. She made him buy a bracelet made of silver where he asked for something written on it and reserved them a table in a great restaurant of Hartford, which she would pay a part, but, if Jess really wanted Lorelei to pay a part, he had to show at a dinner at Rory's granparents'...Jess agreed, even if he wasn't excited to do it.