{Chapter Six}

Rory sat there stunned for a few moments before seeing that he was not kidding and most likely would not back down regarding this. She nodded standing up knowing he would follow and lead him to the kitchen. She stood there attempting to wrap her mind around this, he was here and cooking for her.

"Sit" Jess directed seeing she was still shock and pointed to the stood on the opposite of the counter

He glanced at her to ensure she understood and smiled as she sat down. He looked around the kitchen surprised at how big it was. He quickly went to the coffee pot and started a new pot knowing that coffee would help her. She was a Gilmore after all. He watched her eyes taking in her emotions as she shifted through them as he prepared her a cup.

"Here" He said setting it before here "I am guessing your addiction has not change"

"Gotten worse I am afraid" Rory said with a chuckle "Might be worse than my mom now"

"Now that would surprise me" Jess said in amusement watching as she savored her first sip, god he missed that

"Jess" She whispered after several moments and Jess could see the fear in her eyes

"No" Jess said reaching across the counter to grab her hand gently "We will talk about this over dinner when you have had time to process, I am going to cook. In the mood for anything?"

Rory took a breath looking at him seriously taking in his words. He was so different, more patient then before. She smiled and shook her head not able to think clearly right now. She was grateful that he was being so nice about this. He was being understanding and giving her time to process everything.

"Okay, I will think of something" Jess said beginning to look around to see what she had surprised to see she actually had food "I am surprised, thought that Gilmores didn't stock their kitchens"

"Not normally" Rory said with a laugh "I started cooking a few years ago and actually enjoy doing it"

"You cook?" Jess questioned in shock and she nodded with a smile "A Gilmore that can cook, now that is something I have to see. I can't wait to have you cook for me"

Rory blushed deeply at the statement "I don't cook often, and it is normally simple meals" Rory said in embarrassment

"Still something I look forward to" Jess said honestly causing her to smile

Jess set up cooking just taking through what he was doing just adding some sound keeping her focused that he was there. He enjoyed the feeling of her eyes lingering on him as he worked. He ensured to keep an eye on her glad to see that she was relaxing slowly showing that she was understanding what was happening. He ensured to refill her coffee when he noticed it gone. She was quiet but that was expected.

"Do you have wine?" Jess questioned her suddenly and she nodded motioning to a frosted glass door on the bottom of the row of cabinet off to the side "Red or white?"

"Red" Rory mumbled as he looked over her selection impressed and picked on that would go with the meal

Jess smiled pulled it out looking for two wine glassed and beginning to set the table in the dining room for them to sit next to each other. Rory watched him with a smile knowing that she could get use to this. She was grateful that he had given her time to sort through her thoughts and she was ready to talk about this seriously. She wanted to know what he thought and what he wanted to do.

"That's better" Jess commented looking back from the stove finishing the chicken seeing the calm settle in her eyes

"Sorry" Rory said with a sad smile "It was just a lot to process, you are here"

"I know" Jess said honestly "I knew you would need time. Now go sit at the table and I will bring the plates over"

Rory nodded giving him a smile before heading over to her table. She sat down as a plate that looked amazing appeared before her. She blushed when her stomach growled loudly, it was chicken alfredo, but it smelled so good. Jess chuckled in amusement as he poured them both some wine hoping it would take the edge off.

"This looks so good, thank you" Rory said softly looking at him with a bright smile

"Eat" Jess commanded with a smile of his own taking a sip of the wine

Rory was just as surprised as Jess at the normalcy of their dinner. It was weird considering how long they spent apart that it was still comfortable to sit there and eat. It was rather unique, and she enjoyed it. She looked up from her plate surprised to find him staring at her with eyes shining with happiness and peace.

"You are really serious about this, aren't you?" Rory questioned, and Jess nodded in confirmation "Are you sure?"

"I have never been surer of anything in my life" Jess explained honestly "I am aware that it won't be easy, but we owe it to ourselves to take the chance"

"It isn't simple, I love you, but it isn't just me anymore. I have to think about my own daughter as well" Rory said gently "I am willing to talk about this as long as you understand that she has to come first, and her happiness is most important to me."

"I am aware, I took a few days to think everything through. I even met her at the Inn and understand that she is special. I could tell that you have been an amazing mother to her" Jess said with pride looking at her as she blushed deeply

"You met Grace?" Rory said softly, and Jess nodded in confirmation "Wow, I am a little surprised, but I appreciate the compliment. She is truly special, I agree with you one hundred percent"

"Rory I want this" Jess said seriously taking her by surprise again "I want to get to know you again, date you properly. I want to get to know Gracie and find out everything about her. I need to see this through, I need to have a real chance to make up for all the mistakes I made years ago"

"Okay" Rory said after several moment sensing the honestly of his words "I think we do owe it to ourselves to give it a real chance. We are no longer teenagers and I can see you have grown into the man I always thought you would become"

"Thanks to you" Jess said with a smile causing her to blush "You won't regret this Rory"

"I know" Rory said honestly giving him a smile "We do need to talk through somethings"

"I am aware, I am listening" He said honestly letting her set the ground rules first seeing where she stands

"We have to take things slow, get to know each other again. I don't want Gracie to know about us and getting attached for something to happen. I am willing to let you near her since it is a small town but for now I want to keep the relationship hidden from her eyes" Rory said seriously knowing that he mother had done the same with her growing up

"I can understand that, you wish to protect her, and I will wait until you are ready" Jess said honestly "Anything regarding us?"

"No running" She said seriously "We both have done it enough, if this will work this time then we need to deal with it as it comes. No running or taking off just because we are afraid or overwhelmed unless we are next to each other and it is a mutual decision"

"I can agree with that" Jess said softly flinching slightly remember what he had done in the past "We have to leave the past in the past, from this point forward it is a new start. We look forward not back"

"Okay" Rory said in agreement before looking at him seriously "Communication, we can't hide anything from each other or shut down. We talk to each other when we have concerns. We need to be honest and open, we both made a habit of hiding those as well"

"Understandable" Jess confirmed before grabbing her hand "Patience, we need to be patient with each other. I am not good at opening, but I will try my best. I will be as patient as I can be, but I will need the same in return"

"I can understand that as well and agree with it" Rory said knowing that she was the same way "No allowing others to affect our relationship. I won't let people get in between us, the only person who opinions will matter is Gracie when the time comes"

"Then we are doing this, all in?" Jess said leaning forward and she nodded with a smile leaning in as well

"All in" She whispered shyly before he captured her lips in a kiss to seal the deal

She smiled against his lips before relaxing enjoying the moment. Jess pulled back leaning his forehead on hers looking her in the eyes "You are beautiful" He whispered before kissing her gently again

Rory sighed leaning into the kissed before he pulled back returning to the meal not releasing her hand. They enjoyed the rest of the meal in peace just talking about the recent books they had read up on. Rory enjoyed the wine and the meal that for once she didn't have to prepare, it had been years since she dated. She knew that there was still much to talk about but for the moment, she was enjoying this feeling.

"What happened to the New York Times?" Jess questioned after they cleared the dishes and she took a sip of the wine from the couch next to him

"It is a long story" Rory said honestly "I need a change and after Gracie it just worked out that way"

"I can understand that" Jess said knowing that one day she would tell him the story, but he won't push for it now "What do you do now? Besides writing"

"I actually own two newspapers now as well as opened my own business" Rory said proudly shocking him slightly "I opened RGM Publisher's three years ago and enjoy everything about it"

"Wow" Jess said in surprise looking at her with pride "Your business is one of the fastest growing ones out there"

"Just trying to keep up with you" Rory said with a smile having kept up with him "Truncheon is doing really well as well and I am so proud of everything you have done. I have read all of your books, you are an amazing writer"

"Thank you" Jess said shyly still uncomfortable with the compliments "Matt and Chris are all too happy to let me live here if it means me writing again"

"You are moving to Starshollow?" She questioned in shock looking at him with wide eyes and he nodded in confirmation

"Yeah, I will live in the apartment above the diner. I will have to go back to Philly at least once a month but most of the work I will do remotely. We are planning on expanding anyway, just looking into locations. I managed to talk them into Hartford for the second location, although Chris still wants his bar" Jess explained much to Rory's excitement

"That is amazing Jess" She said hugging him tightly "I am so proud of you, tell them that I am happy for them as well"

"I will" Jess said with a chuckle at her excitement "They will look forward to meeting you again"

"I can't wait" Rory said happily "I am happy that my second book lead you back to me"

"I am as well" Jess said before blinking in confusion "Second book?"

"Yeah, my first book was published a little over a year ago" Rory said softly blushing "It's nothing really just something I did to cope with everything"

"I want to read it" Jess said seriously before sighing "I wish I would have known that, I never heard of it"

"It wasn't a wide release" Rory said honestly shrugging "I can get you a copy"

"I would appreciate that" Jess said kissing her forehead putting an arm around her "What to watch a move?"

"Movie night?" Rory questioned trying and failing to hide her excitement much to Jess's amusement

"Yes, anything for my Gilmore Girl" Jess said with a chuckle causing her to smile brightly stealing his breath away "You are beautiful"

"Not so bad yourself" She said standing up throwing him a wink "I will get the snacks you pick the movie"

Jess smirked shaking his heading over to the shelves containing more movies then he had ever seen. She came back into the room with enough snacks to make the world overweight and he was taken back at how much he missed this, movie night with a Gilmore. After some debate she managed to talk him into watching Casablanca after she agreed to watch Almost Famous afterwards.

Rory chuckled as she tossed some popcorn at him for mocking the movie. She missed this, just being with him. She had missed everything and didn't know how she managed to survive all this time without him being here next to her. After the last movie ending she glance at the clock somewhat reluctant, but she needed to do this right.

"I am going to head back to the diner" Jess said kissing her gently "I will call you tomorrow"

"I will look forward to it" Rory said brightly letting him out of her house kissing him before shoving him slightly "Go before I change my mind"

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