Jess moved closer to Rory, positioning his chair so that it was in line with her perch on the bridge. "Do you want to go first or should I?" he asked.

"I…I think I…Jess, I'm so sorry," Rory said before starting to cry.

Jess reached out for her but she was out of his reach. "Rory, if you're going to do that could you at least move closer so I can hold you."

Rory looked up from her perch, "Why would…why would you want to do that after what I've done. I was…Kevin was so right. I'm lucky I still have you after what I've done."

Jess shook his head, "Rory, listen to me. You didn't I know you feel guilty about the accident, but I've got to tell you again you didn't cause it! You didn't make it rain, you didn't make that tanker cut me off, you didn't even ask me to be in New Haven that night! Rory, you have no reason to be guilty about this unless…unless its your only reason for staying."

Rory was shocked at the way Jess shouted at her, he was angry at her for feeling guilty, "It is my fault, Jess. If I hadn't shouted at you, told you to leave me alone, you wouldn't have been there, you would have been with me," Rory countered.

"Yes, I would have been with you, and maybe we would have been in that accident together. It could be you in this chair now, or you could be dead, did you ever think about that? Did you think how badly I would feel if that happened? Did you ever think that maybe you had nothing to do with this for a reason? Did you ever think that all of this happened for a reason?" Jess shouted, bringing his hands down on the arms of his chair for emphasis.

"What reason could there be for this, Jess? And don't start talking about divine…"

He cut her off. "You know, when Lucy suggested it, I thought it was crap, but maybe, just maybe it's true. Maybe this happened so we could have a second chance, so I could try again with you and not run away after I finally tell you…" Jess trailed off emotion making further speech impossible.

Rory finally moved closer to Jess. She stood right in front of him and gently cupped his cheek, "I'm sorry I was so awful to you back at Yale and I'm sorry I tried to appease my guilt by babying you and making you feel badly or helpless. I wasn't thinking of you and I apologize," Rory said sincerely. "What were you going to tell me?"

Jess sniffed and wiped his cheek that was not being cradled in Rory's hand, "I love you, Rory. I have for so long. I messed up, God knows that, but I love you, and I want to be with you, but I need you to let me be, Rory. I need to do for myself, push myself, find out my limits, and I need you to let me!"

"I…I was only trying to…"

"To protect me, I know," Jess replied. "But please, Rory, love me, don't smother me. Go back to Yale, live your dreams…love cannot equal sacrifice!" he declared.

"But I want to be here for you, with you…" Rory began.

"You can be, on the weekends," Jess replied. "But don't sacrifice your dreams for me, please."

"I can go to Southern Connecticut State and still major in journalism. I can get my Masters at Yale, that's what really counts anyway," Rory told him. "You say love shouldn't equal sacrifice, but I say it has to, otherwise all we are are two people that only look out for ourselves. We are more than that, Jess, we have to be," Rory declared. "Love is compromise and forgiveness and supporting each other, but it's not only me taking and you giving and it's not you giving and me taking either. It has to be about both of us, about sharing, about magic…"

Jess stopped her rant with his lips. "That's what I wanted you to say all along. But you have to let me try and fail. Just promise you'll be there to pick me up if I fall on my ass, literally or figuratively."

Rory closed her eyes and nodded slowly, "I promise, and I promise I'll try not to…but you can't stay quiet, you have to tell me when I'm making you uncomfortable."

Jess smiled and nodded, "It's a deal and you know how we close a deal right, Gilmore?"

"Right, Mariano," Rory replied and pressed her lips against his. "Seal it with a kiss."

Rory and Jess walked back to the house, Rory strolling beside Jess' chair, leaving him to be responsible for his own transportation. "Do you realize we've been had?" Jess asked.

"What? Mom and Luke having the Kinkirks give us a talking to. I know," Rory sighed.

"Glad they did?" Jess asked.

Rory squeezed Jess' shoulder, "Very glad."

Their job done, Lucy and Kevin departed Stars Hollow for Glen Oak the following day with the promise to return for a visit after Jess' spinal surgery which he and Rory agreed he should at least try on their way home from the bridge, it couldn't make it any worse, so why not.

On Friday night, for the first time in a long time; Lorelai, Rory, Luke, and Jess went to the Gilmore house for Friday night dinner. Emily and Richard were thrilled to see them all assembled together. In spite of bad first impressions, Jess' devotion to Rory and to Luke had earned him a place at the Gilmore table.

"How are you Luke?" Richard asked sitting down.

"Not bad," Luke replied. "I'm getting anxious to pay you back the money you spent to buy back the diner. The doctor should clear me soon."

"Excellent, you always had a strong work ethic, Luke. At least that's what Lorelai tells me," Emily said. "There's no rush you understand…"

"There is," Luke replied. "I owe you both more than I care to admit and that is simply not the Danes way, and I want to start repaying you."

Jess spoke up, "I could open for you, Uncle Luke. I can manage enough and we can rehire Caesar and Rory can fill in between classes…"

"That would be an awful long trip for her, from Yale to Stars Hollow every day," Richard said.

"Um, Grandpa, I wanted to talk to you about that," Rory began, but Emily cut her off.

"She's transferring Richard, to that Southern Connecticut College." It was said with an air of disappointment.

"Why would you do that?" Richard asked then looked over at Jess, "Oh."

"Mr. Gilmore, it's not what you think…" Jess began, but stopped when Richard stood up.

"Young man," he said flatly. "Follow me please. I'd like to speak with you in private."

Lorelai hit Luke hard in the ribs, "Ouch!"

"Luke," she whispered and moved her head towards the departing duo.

"I'll go with you there, uh, Richard," Luke said and rose to follow them out.

That move left the "Gilmore Girls" alone in the living room.

"I hope this isn't a repeat of the Dean incident," Lorelai sighed.

"It won't be, Jess has a brain in his head," Emily sighed. "Even if he can be somewhat rude at times, although the accident did mellow him out a bit."

"Yes, it did," Lorelai agreed. "He actually speaks in full sentences now."

"You know, Rory, I'm glad that Jess is going to college with you," Emily sighed. "But I am utterly disappointed you're giving up Yale."

Lorelai whispered in Rory's ear, "And the hit's just keep on coming."

Coming Up: Luke takes Jess on a shopping trip and they both do some impulse buying.