Jess noticed the hinted smile fighting to spread over Rory's face. In thought, he wrinkled his nose. Head going from one side to the other in feigned examination of the woman standing in front of the window and illuminated by faint light stream through the lacy curtains, he smiled and didn't repress it. "What wasn't appealing? You spoke...speak your mind. You are passionate. You aren't afraid to take risks. You are beautiful and smart and kind and you had the whole world ahead of you," he answered, fully serious. "And I wanted you to be safe. I wanted you to feel safe and secure. That wasn't something I could give then. After all, I was the cause of a fight at Kyle's part. That's not safe. I wasn't safe. I realized it then and had to do something. I didn't want to hurt you or drag you down into that messy world I found myself in. But, I'm not that person. I've grown. At least I hope I have. I hope I can make you feel safe and I hope I can keep you safe." She meant the world to him and would drop anything for her. Hell, he'd hitched a ride on the back of Luke's truck just to see what was going on and if Rory was okay and then stayed to help out in any way possible.

"I was. I was so sorry. I am so sorry and I will make up for it every day for the rest of our lives. I messed up time and again. Didn't know how to fix it, either. Even back at that night at Yale, I knew it wasn't time and it wasn't right. It could have been. Maybe it should have been. But we weren't ready. Hurt was too fresh. Life wasn't put back together," he mused, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. "But I do. I have to and I want to. I was wrong. I was so very wrong. Everything I did was wrong and so was how I reacted. Plus, you love this place and I love you. This place makes you happy and I want you happy. When you smile, I smile. When you cry, I cry. Your laugher is my laugher. Your success is my success. Loving you is both the easiest and the hardest thing I could ever do. To honor that, mere words aren't enough. Actions are my 'I love you'. Before we met, love was indefinable. It seemed out of reach. Not anymore though. Not since that fateful night you were sitting at your computer next to some patchwork chicken. That smile you gave, so full of hope and innocence, always seared into my memory because at that moment I knew I was a goner." He hadn't wanted anyone else but Rory and doubted he ever would. Yet, Jess had come to terms with the fact his love might not have been returned.

He cocked and eyebrow in disbelief. "Oh really? I thought you were part of the DAR or something like that. You planned some sort of 1940's event as a charity. It made it to the papers in Philly. Every reporter claimed it was a huge surprise. You, uh, looked beautiful. Your hair was particularly lovely, although it always looks nice. It just looked a little nicer," Jess reminded her with a sheepish smile. Sometimes complimenting girls was hard. "So I think you have some talents in the surprise department."

Her suggestion made him chuckle. It brought back fond memories of long ago. "Be sure to sign my name and include a lot of apples. He likes them I hear," he replied. With talks of time, he nodded. He couldn't believe it had been that long. "It feels like yesterday. I kind of wish Dean hadn't showed up then. That Paris of yours was fascinating to talk with." He could hardly believe they were standing in the midst of a proposal. Back then it hadn't seemed like a possibility. Even a few months ago Jess hadn't imagined this would happen.

"But you do the clothing shopping and the laundry. So you take care of me, too. But okay…okay we can have some cooking lessons if you want. Although why would I want to be away from my beautiful fiancé?" he asked while stroking her soft hair. He smiled as he thought about their trip for cones. "I told you that ice cream isn't ice cream unless it's in cooones. It just doesn't taste right. I think Lorelai would agree even if she thought our conversation right now was joke worthy." Used to he would have minded. Not now, though. He could care less. Besides, Jess was certain Luke and Lorelai had their own on-going love list.

"Yeah, I am too. I didn't think I was until meeting you. I wouldn't marry unless it was to you. I couldn't imagine being with anyone but you and I didn't want to. It was fine. Being a loner had its own mystique," he admitted, smiling as she rambled. He loved when she did that. He listened and kissed her on the top of the head as he did so. "Good. I'm glad that you don't expect me in a dress. But I am curious to know what that outfit is that you like me in so much. Everything I have is about the same, not that I mind." He really didn't know what outfit she thought of. He really didn't own many clothes – jeans, sweaters, and t-shirts for the most part. He liked to keep his wardrobe simple. Fewer choices made life just a little bit easier. Little time spent shopping also made life easier. It seemed like a win-win situation.

Jess sat down on the bed. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her cheek. "My first book wasn't all that great," he mumbled, grabbing the book off the shelf. It was a hand-bound book. On the front 'The Eloquence of the Sun' was scrawled. "It's about two people, lost in time, trying to find their way back to each other and trying to find out who they, themselves, really are."