Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls
Within days Jess was back at work making sure every little thing about the bookstore was perfect. Chris was busy running around doing stuff for Jess. He really wanted to talk to him. So much had happened in the few short weeks he was gone. Matt and Chris had been thinking of franchising. Chris knew Jess would think it was selling out and would never go for it but they were still thinking. They had also gotten more serious about the bar talk. Finally the store closed and Jess was satisfied with the way it looked. He had even gone so far as to have one of Matt's artistic friends paint a portrait of him and had it put on the wall. I was really pretty actually. You could see it as soon as you walked in. The background was pitch black. Matt was red and faded until almost white on the bottom of the painting. Jess sat down and sighed thinking of everything he had done in 8 hours.
"Hey Jess man you know that bar we were talking about" Chris sat next to him.
"Yea" Jess nodded.
"Well I think I know the perfect name"
"What"
"Matt's"
"I think that's a great idea" Rory walked into the bookstore and sat on Jess's lap "how you doing?"
"Fine"
"Fine not good"
"Good"
"Good not great"
"Great"
"Great not wonderful"
"Wonderful"
"Wonderful not fantastic"
"Rory stop it I'm fine"
"Ok"
"You guys are so weird" Chris shook his head "cheer this boy up we haven't gotten a sarcastic comment all day"
"TJ found a new friend"
"Does he live out side his mind" Jess asked.
"There you go" Rory smiled at Chris.
"Thanks now I know Jess is in there somewhere" Chris got up and walked upstairs.
"I was serious" Jess gave Rory a serious look.
Rory laughed then quickly stopped. Jess rolled his eyes and pulled her closer.
"You're allowed to laugh" he reminded her.
She turned around and gave him a weak smile then stood up and started walking around. Jess realized something had made her uncomfortable and got up too seeing Lorelai standing at the door. He chuckled a little at how Rory still acted like she was 17.
"I never see you guys act like you're together" Lorelai laughed "poor Jess I'm just waiting for him to break out into a verse of Do You Love Me"
"Very funny" Rory rolled her eyes.
Silence filled the room. It was a heavy silence filled with regret, love, loss, hope, disappointment, and things probably found in Pandora's Box. Rory slid off of Jess's lap and sat next to him. Lorelai walked upstairs. Luke followed her. As soon as both of them were upstairs Jess turned Rory's head to face him and lightly kissed her. Soon Rory would go back to Stars Hollow. He would have to stay here. He didn't have nearly enough money to live without working here.
"I'm not going anywhere" Rory put her head on his shoulders.
He couldn't possibly believe what she said. How could he believe that she wouldn't want to go back to a town she loved a place she needed to be. Rory loved everything about living in Stars Hollow. Lorelai and Luke were leaving this weekend she'd go with them. Why wouldn't she? She was only here to comfort him after Matt died he was fine now he didn't need her to comfort him. He needed her of course but not to comfort him. He can't stand to go a day without her.
"I won't leave with them I'll stay"
How did she keep doing that? How did she know exactly what he was thinking?
"Because I love you and you say things out loud on accident sometimes" she smiled "I have something to show you."
Rory pulled out a newspaper and turned to the best sellers list.
"That's…"
"You're book on the New York Times Best Sellers List yes I know" Rory grinned "I also know you're going on a book tour next month"
"The wedding is next month I can't go" Jess shook his head.
"Of course you're going" Lorelai walked downstairs "just send the gift."
"Well I can give you the gift now" he shook his head "but I don't want to miss my uncle's wedding."
"Don't worry about it TJ will be my best man instead" Luke stood behind Lorelai.
He was going to be gone for Rory only knows how long. He'll miss the wedding. He'll miss Rory. He'll be bored out of his mind. So why should he go? To promote a book he didn't even ever plan on getting published. Leaving would mess up everything he worked for. He'd be miles away from Rory for longer than he could handle.
"I'm not going"
