Title: You're Beautiful

Disclaimer: I own nothing; the title is from James Blunt song of the same title. No infringement intended.

Summary: Jess sees Rory on the train in New York five years after his last encounter with her. (Set after let me hear your Balalaikas ringing out episode

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Rory had been preparing herself for the meeting with Jess. She knew that he would object to her being his editor. She had managed to use her married name to fool him into thinking that this Miss James had never met him before, and she hoped he would not know who she was until she helped him with his book.

She had read some of the chapters he had handed in while meeting with Ethan. It was beautiful and poetic, and she saw some things that needed changing, but pretty much it was a finished product.

Rory had loved his writing style in the subsect but it was a lot more courser. It was full pf personality and a lot of substance, but there was something missing within it. Like it was missing the experience that Jess really had.

And she had bought his second book which was simply called Eyes, it was much more poetic and it was virtually a book full of love and humour. Rory had been jealous at first but then when she realized that maybe the woman who was in this book, had been his wife, she had suddenly devoured the book. Almost as fast as she read his first. This time the book had been filled with the knowledge.

And from what she read, this book surpassed them. It was tragic and full of pain, but she could see the woman in her mind. Could tell you what her colour of eyes she had, and how she laughed. He had managed to put all the details she needed to know in just one chapter.

So she emailed him instead and asked him to make some changes and she listed them and to send them via the email. She knew he wasn't ready to see her yet, especially after their impromptu meeting on the train.

She had seen him briefly, and then she acted like he wasn't there. She wasn't ready to tell him the truth, and when she did, she had to make sure he had no where to run, and had to probably brace herself for his anger and his words. Because if there was something Jess was good at, it was the harsh words.

Rory knew her life wasn't perfect, in fact it was hell on wheels, serving 2 billion. She had messed things up with Kyle, but in the end it worked out. She knew he wasn't the one for her, but she had done what her mother had done. Kyle was her Max, only she didn't have anyone to give her the reality check her dad managed to do for her mom.

She just hoped that there was a Luke out there for her. A man she could depend on, and accept her for who she was and is. So she opened up the new email from Jess, and read his comments on her comments, and she had to smile. He didn't know who she was and she wanted him to think that Miss James is his editor until she got a firm handle on her feelings.

When she had said 'so this is it?' she had merely meant to say that this was not how she envisioned seeing him again. She knew he would be in her life again very soon, but she pictured herself in some stunning outfit, looking fit and happy, not depressed and cramped and looking how she felt. Expired.

She watched him go back and he stood and stared at the doors and he never glanced back. Rory closed her eyes and tried to ease the tension out of her body. How was she going to get back to where they were?

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'Mr Mariano, this is Maureen, Mrs Scott assistant, if you could send the new changes to Mrs Scott, so she is ready for the meeting next week, thank you. And call me if you have any concerns.'

I sighed and went over to email my editor the new changes I had managed to do. It had been almost three months since he had first been contacted by this mysterious editor. He knew her married name, and that she was talented. She hadn't tried to change the image of the book, just tightned certain parts and expanded on some. She had written that this was the kind of project that she had always wanted to do.

I felt close to this person, and I didn't even know her first name. I knew that she had gone to an Ivy League college, had a strong upbringing and loved literature. She would make obscure references, and the first time she did that he felt assured that he had the right editor.

He got to know Maureen though. He would talk to her if he had any questions, and she was always really nice. She had even said that his boss seemed happier than ever. The only info on this editor of his that he got out of Maureen was that she was recently heart broken and that she spent more hours at the office, than she did at home.

And that she consumed his pages like it was oxygen. Maureen had described her boss as almost obsessive about his new rewrites and that she would spend hours reworking certain parts. He had lost his wife 2 years ago, and now the fog was starting to fade.

I would love Sarah for the rest of his life, but I didn't think I could do everything alone anymore. I had felt the quiet of being alone protected me for awhile. I never had to explain to anyone, but now all I wanted to do was explain to someone.

But that would come in time, and I don't think I am quite at the point that I would do anything about it for awhile. I had heard that grief is always in steps. At first it's the world ending pain, and then when it begins to dull, you accept what has happened, and once you managed to do that, you need to breathe and take a step forward. I need to take that step.

And I did when I sent the new pages and looked forward to this meeting with my editor.

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Meanwhile in a apartment not very far away from the heartbroken, the editor began to read the new changes and she smiled. He had managed to get what she thought he was going for without much prompting. She had managed to gain the courage to meet him. To have the meeting that any other editor would have with her author the first week she got the assignment.

She knew that she shouldn't have accepted the assignment. Ethics and all that. But she had wanted to help him, she almost said no, until she read the pages. She was going to tell Ethan that she needed time off after their meeting, but she had read the first paragraph, and that was it. She had to finish this. To help him. She owed him after all.

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It was stupid of him, but Jess was actually nervous about this meeting. He didn't know if this editor would turn out to be this scary woman who had managed to blow what he imagined out of the water. Or she could be everything and more.

He didn't know when his intrigue turned into something more. It was ridiculous to be in love with some woman he hardly knew and hadn't even met. Or this was fear and he was simply trying to occupy his mind.

He entered the restaurant and he looked around. How would he know who this woman was? Would she look worldly like he had imagined? Or would she be the bookish type? The very thing an editor should be, and in the smallest most darkest corner of his mind, the tinniest corner full of the thoughts he wouldn't ever acknowledge or even really think, he wondered if this editor would look like Rory?

A waiter showed him to a table, which the publishing house had reserved for this meeting, and Andrew let him know that Miss James would be there momentarily. He looked down at the finished product of his book. It wasn't thick and it was overwhelming. It was simple and beautiful.

Mr. Mariano, sorry I'm late.' A voice says, and when I look up there she is. 'Rory? What are you doing here?' I asked her and she sits down. 'I'm your editor.' She said and I just stared at her.

Author's Note: ok, I am thinking about not writing this anymore. It not going as I planned and you guys deserve a better story. I will try to put out one more chapter, but if it's not liked, than I will begin the sequel of Come home little girl, and forget this one.