Rory took the long way home via the bridge so she could get some air. Luckily she didn't run into anyone who stopped to talk to her.

"Hey hun." Lorelai said when she got back; Jess was loading boxes into the back of Luke's truck under Lorelai's instruction. "How did it go?"

"She hadn't spoken to Kirk yet, only Bootsy but she's going to make sure that everyone knows an accurate version."

"Good." Lorelai said. "Put you're back into it Jess."

"You could help." Jess pointed out.

She looked at Rory.

"No." Lorelai shook her head. "Men lift boxes; we'll sit here and …"

"Watch?" Jess supplied.

"Observe." Lorelai corrected.

"Semantics." Jess muttered.

"Be nice and you can borrow whatever books you like while I'm gone." Rory told him.

"You mean you the ones that aren't in this box." He asked as he moved another box into the back of the truck."

"Those would be the ones." Rory said when she went to join Lorelai on the steps.

Jess had just finished loading the last of the boxes into the truck when Luke arrived.

"Now he chooses to arrive." Jess muttered.

"If you've brought coffee I'll love you forever." Lorelai declared.

"That's a pretty big promise." Luke said handing over coffee to Lorelai. "Orange juice." He handed a cup to Rory.

"Thanks Luke."

"I hope you got me a drink too, since I'm the one who moved all this stuff."

Luke handed him a cup too.

"Thanks."

"So is that it?" Luke asked.

"I think so." Rory replied. "Jess, come and help me check." She got up.

Jess sighed and followed her inside.

"What was all that about?" Luke asked as he sat down next to her.

"Rory wants to say goodbye without us watching." Lorelai replied.

"So Jess spent the night." Luke said.

"Rory fell asleep on him so there wasn't much chance of him getting up without waking her and he did make breakfast."

"The kid is growing on you." Luke nudged her.

"No but I have to get used to him being around so I'll make the best of it." She paused. "Rory went and talked to Patty."

"That's brave."

"She wanted to make sure that Patty had the facts and I'm guessing that wanted to ask her to tell people not to be too hard on Jess."

G

"So what did you forget? The kitchen sink?" Jess asked.

"Jess." Rory rolled her eyes. "I just need my purse and my jacket."

"I guess I'll be heading back to the diner then." Jess started to walk off knowing she wouldn't let him get far.

Rory grabbed his arm and spun him so his back was flat against the wall and kissed him.

"You're feisty." Jess told her.

"Blame it on the hormones."

"Okay." Jess wrapped his arms around her and held her close so he could kiss her again.

"I have to go back to school." Rory said.

"You'll be back next weekend for a couple days right?"

"Right." Rory agreed.

"If you need to talk you have my number and if anything else comes up you're not that far away."

"Miss Patty is going to tell people the truth hopefully, so it shouldn't be too bad."

"I can deal with the town." Jess told her. "Just concentrate on school and make sure you don't eat all junk food."

"Now you're sounding like Luke." Rory told him. "Don't worry I'll just eat Paris's five cereal combination."

"Rory, we need to leave. Finish saying goodbye." Lorelai called from the outside.

"I'll call you later." Rory kissed him. "Bye."

"Bye."

TBC