A/N- I hope that all my shipper hearts out there like reading this one as much as I liked writing it. Granted, this story moves slowly and will continue to. That's just how it works. But the little moments are what we really remember, aren't they? I know they are with me.

Anyway, please read, review, recommend if you're so inclined. I do not own Gilmore Girls or any of its characters or concepts.


Chapter 39

The next night, Jess was on the phone with Luke, in a full panic.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Jess exclaimed, "I feel like I'm going crazy."

"Okay, first slow down and then tell me what the hell you're talking about," Luke sighed, sitting down.

"Well, I'm like you, in that I don't like or need people around. I like my space. You follow?"

"Yes, I know all this," Luke answered, already knowing where this was going.

"And now, suddenly, after one week of having her in my apartment, the place feels like a ghost town! I can't sleep right, I'm being an ass for no apparent reason, drinking twice as much coffee as I usually do," Jess complained, "And it's not like there's anything even romantic going on. I get missing…that. But there's none of that happening."

"Jess," Luke groaned, "Has it ever gotten through that thick skull of yours that maybe companionship is just as intimate as those things?"

"Yes," Jess rolled his eyes, "Luke, I write books. The idea of more than one form of affection isn't lost on me."

"Well," Luke continued, "Even though you aren't in a relationship with Rory, you're getting a lot of the perks. Someone to sleep near, wake up with, make coffee for in the morning. Those are things that attach you to someone and become a part of your daily functioning, and once something's in your routine we both know it's odd without it."

"But I'm not like that in other relationships," Jess replied, "At least, I didn't used to be. I didn't attach like that."

"Some people, you just do," Luke said simply.

Jess sunk down on his bed and inhaled deeply. "So what am I supposed to do?"

"Here's a crazy thought," Luke rolled his eyes, "Come here. At least be in the same town as her. It'll help."

"But I don't want to infringe on her time with Lorelai," Jess aid apprehensively, "She really needs that."

"Well you'll stay here, and she'll stay there, but you'll see each other periodically. Trust me, she's probably feeling like you right now anyhow. Have you heard from her?"

"No," Jess answered, "But I haven't wanted to…"

"Call her. Now," Luke implored, "Just do it, okay? Don't make it more complicated than it has to be."

Jess took a breath. "Alright. Thanks, Luke. I'll be in tomorrow night."

"Looking forward to it," Luke replied gruffly, hanging up the phone. Jess quickly dialed Rory's number before he lost his nerve. She answered on the first ring.

"Hey," she breathed quietly. He smiled automatically.

"Bad time?"

"No, Mom just fell asleep after stuffing her face with about 30 Malomars," Rory grinned, walking into her bedroom, "I can't believe you found them!"

"I keep a stash," Jess admitted, "I'm surprised you didn't find it before."

"Well…"

"Really?" Jess walked over to his closet and grabbed the box from the top shelf, "Holy shit."

"I'll help you replenish it," Rory said sheepishly as Jess cracked up.

"Damn right you will," Jess smirked, "So how are things there?"

"Good," Rory said quickly. Too quickly.

"So…"

"No, everything's good with Mom. Really. I'm just not sleeping too well."

"Sorry to hear that."

"Not your fault." Jess smirked again, regaining his composure before continuing. She could sense a smirk even in his tone.

"Well, as it happens Luke needs some help at the diner this weekend. Would it be a complete buzzkill if I came into town tomorrow night? I'm staying at his place so it's not like you'll have to see me much, other than whenever you need coffee."

"So basically on an hourly basis."

"Essentially, yes."

"Actually, that'd work out great," Rory replied, her voice perking up significantly, "Plus, then I actually have a ride home. Hopping in Mom's car seemed like a great idea until I realized that I'd have to Greyhound my way back to Philadelphia."

"Yeah, your experiences with the public bus system left a little to be desired, if I remember correctly."

"Spit. Can. Spit can, Jess."

"And you left the Go-Go's. Really, one would think the exhaust got to your brain."

"So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"If you're around the diner around 9. I can't take off from here until 6 but if you want to make a coffee run for you and your mom, I'm sure I can send you back with a late night movie marathon round."

"God, she wasn't kidding when she said you read her like a book," Rory laughed. Jess grinned.

"She actually said that? God, I'm going to be mocking her mercilessly all weekend."

"I'm sure you would've found your own material even if I hadn't provided it."

"Writers can always benefit from outside sources of inspiration."

"So I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Rory."

Rory smiled widely in spite of herself. "Goodnight, Dodger."

Jess hung up the phone and walked over to the dresser, changing into his boxers and getting into bed. Only one more night of awful sleep, with the promise of improved (though probably still mediocre) sleep just on the horizon. He could handle that. At least for now.

Back in Stars Hollow, Rory was following her own nightly routine. She went to her backpack to grab a book to read in bed, the Subsect, when suddenly her hand came across something soft. She pulled it out of the bag and her entire face lit up. It was Jess' plain black tee shirt, from the day she'd visited ages ago. She immediately changed into it and snuggled into her comforter, about as happy as she could be given the three hours keeping her from a legitimate night of rest.