-1A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. I appreciate it. I hope you all like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls. If I did, I would probably be a happy person.

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The hotel phone rang, and Rory quickly picked it up hoping it was Jess.

"Hello?" Silence. Then a click. "Hello?" With a sigh Rory hung up the phone and her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Are you awake now?"

"Um, yeah. I guess."

"Will you give me another chance?" Logan's voice sounded a little pleading and Rory almost felt sorry for him. But then she remembered how he treated Jess and how he cheated on her with an entire wedding party and all of her pity vanished.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I love someone else, and you treat me like dirt. Go party and have fun with all of the girls that you used to before you met me."

"I don't want that. I love you."

"Well, I don't love you. I thought I did, but I don't. So please Logan don't call me again." There was a long pause. "I love Jess. I can't change that, and you can't change that either."

"Goodbye Ace."

"Goodbye Logan." Rory snapped her phone shut and sighed in relief. She would finally have Logan off her back. Rory collapsed on the bed and decided to call it a night.

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After many hours, Ellie stood leaning on Veronica's kitchen table. Veronica walked up to her slowly. She had just gone out of the room for a second to use the restroom and it seemed that in that short time Ellie had fallen to pieces. She was shaking. Her shoulders were shaking in silent sobs, but her legs were shaking too. It seemed that she was having trouble even standing.

"Ellie?" Veronica tried. "Hun, what's wrong? You were sad when I left, but you were pretty okay." A pause. "Ellie, you're crying, and you never cry. Tell me what's wrong." There was a short silence, and Ellie finally answered.

"He's not going to pick me." Ellie's legs looked as if they couldn't support her weight anymore.

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. And even if he does pick me… he'll regret it later." Ellie spoke slowly and softly.

"How do you know?"

"I know Jess better than anyone." Veronica really didn't know what to say to that. So after a silence and a few sniffles Ellie stood up straight and looked at her best friend, of ten years with red eyes.

"I have something that I need to do. I'll call you." Veronica knew what Ellie was going to do. They had been friends since they were kids, and knew each other all too well.

"Ellie don't do this. You love him with everything you have, this will kill you."

"I do love him. But this is something that I have to do, and it will be best for him."

"Why can't you think about yourself for once? Be a little greedy."

"No, I love Jess too much to be greedy. I'll call you. I always do." Ellie smiled a sad smile, winked at her best friend, turned and headed for the door.

"Ellie don't do this! Please don't do this!" Veronica called after her, but Ellie didn't even slow down or turn to look at her friend. Just left.

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It was late. Very late, and Ellie knew Jess would be asleep. So she quietly entered the apartment and started on her plan.

When she was done she wrote a letter to Jess, kissed his forehead, nose, and finally lips softly. Then she picked up his hand to look at the hotel and the room number in the light. She wrote it down on her own hand and gently placed Jess' hand where she found it. He didn't stir. So she put the letter on her pillow next to him and as quietly as she came in, she left.

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Rory was having trouble sleeping. But had finally fallen into something that you she couldn't quite identify. It wasn't sleep, but she wasn't conscious either. At least she wasn't conscious until she heard a knock on her door.

It startled her and she looked over at the alarm clock in her hotel room. It read 4:45 a.m. Who would be at her hotel at that hour? So Rory stumbled out of bed and opened her door a crack to see who was outside. When she saw who it was, she opened the door all the way.

"Ellie?" Rory couldn't quite believe her eyes.

"That's my name."

"What are you doing here? It's almost five in the morning."

"Well, it's a long story, but I came here to tell you that Jess is all yours."

"What do you mean?"

"He loves you more than he could love anyone. He's just too stupid to see it right now. He loves me too, but never as much as you… So I'm taking myself out of the mix."

"What are you going to do?"

"What I do best. Disappear." Ellie motioned to 3 duffle bags that were resting on the floor of the hallway, leaning against the wall.

"Does Jess know?"

"Not yet. But I left him a letter."

"Oh."

"Just give him like a day to process this before you see him. I know he'll need it. And I only have one thing to ask of you."

"Name it."

"Always love Jess with all of your heart. Treat him well, and give him space when he needs it. He deserves that." Even in the dark hallway Rory thought she saw a tear trickle down Ellie's face. And she definitely heard her voice shaking and cracking. This had to be hard on her. As much as Rory wanted to jump up and down for joy, she also wanted to hug Ellie and cry for her. She loved Jess just as much as Rory did. Maybe more.

"I promise. So, we'll never see or hear from you again?"

"Nope. I have to go now, before the sun rises."

"Oh, of course. Be safe."

"Yeah, you too. And um, have a nice life with Jess. He really is a great guy."

"I know."

"Now go get some sleep." Rory simply nodded as Ellie grabbed her three duffle bags and left.

Rory couldn't imagine putting everything she owned, or needed in three or four duffle bags. It seemed impossible. But Ellie managed it with ease.

It was weird knowing you would never see someone again as you watched them disappear. A strange feeling that left Rory feeling sad and antsy at the same time. So she decided that today was the day to settle things with her mom.

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The next morning Jess rolled over. He was awake, but didn't want to open his eyes. Until his hand touched a paper on the pillow next to him. Jess quickly sat up and started reading.

Jess,

I know that these last few days have been crazy. I also know that putting you in a position to choose me or Rory was unfair. It was an impossible choice, and I understand that now. I shouldn't have given you a choice at all, which I'm not. I want you to be with Rory. You're thinking that I'm crazy, and what kind of mind would do this. Well apparently mine. But this will be better in the long run. You love Rory. She will always have your heart. Just like you will always have mine. This is all just a game of Holding Hearts isn't it? Don't bother trying to find me. I'm going to disappear and you will most likely never see me again. Not unless I want you to. This letter is really hard to write so I better wrap it up before I lose my nerve to do this. I want you to know that I will always love you with everything I have, no matter what. Have a happy life with Rory, and forget all about me. The one thing I don't want is you wallowing over me. Have a nice life.

Love Always,

Elizabeth Marie Casanova

Still shocked Jess held the tear-stained paper tightly and read it repeatedly. A few tears came up in his eyes but he didn't even notice. Jess just got up to explore many things that were now gone. The one thing that he didn't expect to see was his leather jacket. He thought for sure Ellie would have taken it. He almost wished she had. But there it was, laying on the couch. Right where she had left it a few days ago. It still smelled like her. At one time it had smelled like Jess, but Ellie wore it so much that his scent eventually faded into almost nothing. Just a hint of him here and there.

So Jess collapsed on the couch to think.

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A/N: Phew, that was sad. A little fluffy, I know. There will be one more chapter that's set like 2 years in the future. And then this story is done. Sad. But I have to let it go. I hope everyone liked it, so now review please.