A/N: Here's the next chapter...hope you enjoy. Big news is coming soon, in just a few chapters, I swear. And speaking of news...

For those who've been asking, I AM in fact going to start the Paris/Rory-centric fic. Hopefully this week, but I'm in the midst of exam revision so no promises. It's going to start from the moment Paris and Rory break up with Doyle and Logan, respectively. And it will turn out to be a Literati fic. So when I start it, I'll let you guys know in one of these author's notes, so if you want (hopefully!) you can check it out.

I do not own any of these characters or concepts (thanks to ASP, and also thanks to the reviewers that compare me to her. Seriously. I can't even explain how much of a fangirl I turn into when I read those comments, and my heart swells 10 sizes, like the Grinch on Christmas). I do, however, own about 16 magazines at the present moment, which is a plight I think Squeegee Beckenheim could empathize with.


Chapter 112

"So basically Raj managed to get a really scathing quote from the guy with the fish, and Taylor has perfect shots of the compound…I just can't believe we're going to pull it off!" Rory exclaimed, helping Jess shelve the last few books from the box on the ground.

"I still can't believe you're going to do an exposé one week into your new job," Jess smirked, "Careful. They might think you're a conspiracy-catcher. Send you after Bigfoot. Or kill you."

"Bigfoot isn't in Pennsylvania," Rory rolled her eyes, "And come on. It's drugs. And fish! A conspiracy like that deserves publicity."

"You sound like you admire them."

"Fish-smuggling, Jess. Fish-smuggling."

"Technically it's still drug-smuggling, the fish are just the smugglers."

"It's still ingenious."

"Psychotic."

"Often come in the same package."

"Can't argue with you there. Ginsberg certainly wasn't the most sound of mind," Jess replied, looking at the cover of the last book, "He'll never lose his appeal, will he?"

"Not to you and your Beatnik sensibilities," Rory teased, "I'm not surprised you decided to publish the guy."

"It's a great work!" Jess defended, "You read it! It's among the five best analyses of the relationship between his works and his personal life that I've ever read. You know I'm right."

"Didn't say you weren't. I loved it," Rory admitted, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips, "But I have a soft spot for the Beats too."

"My negative influence?"

"Almost totally. Before you I kind of agreed with Paris."

"You thought they were self-indulgent?"

"Yeah."

"Well, they are."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they aren't brilliant."

"Again, not mutually exclusive. So fish-smuggling?"

"Basically the story's going well. Eliza's really happy with it. Even Alex is reluctantly pleased."

"Did he say something?"

"Not to me, to Taylor. I happened to find out about it."

"You have spies already."

"Intelligence is one of the most important and underestimated assets in war. Ask Sun-Tzu."

"Oh god, please don't tell me you're taking management tips from Paris."

"No way. After what happened at the news…"

"I would've paid to see that..."

"Look, she's good at almost everything. Everyone has to have a weakness."

"No, only humans have weaknesses. I maintain that Paris is a robot." Jess grinned, "That's the last of them. I think we're done for the day. Thanks for your help."

"Anytime," Rory laughed, "But where's my tip?"

"Don't offer labor without negotiating compensation first?"

"I'm pretty sure I can get a good deal."

"With those negotiation skills?"

"I'm pretty persuasive."

An hour later they walked downstairs, hiding their grins.

"We really have to stop doing that."

"Why? We aren't married yet."

"Jess!" Rory chided, turning pink, "I meant sneaking off together when the guys are still here, not being together generally."

"So you confirm that if we were married we wouldn't have sex? That might be a deal breaker…"

"Ignoring you now," Rory rolled her eyes, "Matt? Chris? We're heading out for a beer if you want to join us."

"I'm in," Matt called back, "Chris?"

"As long as the lovebirds keep their hands to themselves," he smirked, emerging from the office, "Give me two minutes, I've got to get my shit together."

"That's more likely to take a few years than a few minutes," Matt retorted, walking over. Chris shoved him before returning to the office to grab his things.

"So tell me," Matt grinned, nodding gratefully at the bartender as she handed him a beer, "How's the working life?"

"Not as fun as it was at Truncheon," Rory smirked, taking a sip of her drink, "But for a job job, it's great."

"She loves it," Jess added, "Trust me, when you guys aren't here I can't get her to shut up about it."

"That's not…"

"Three hours yesterday," Jess said flatly, "I mean, I know your rants, but that's a monologue of epic proportions even for you."

"So I guess that means you're whipping them into shape," Chris added.

"They don't need much direction, actually. The people I work with are great," Rory responded, "It's a bit intimidating, since it's a new job and all, but I think it's going well."

"And on that note, enough shop talk," Matt smiled, "I have an announcement."

"That you had to announce?"

"One generally announces announcements."

"Or once just says whatever the fuck they're planning to say."

"Have we lost all appreciation for the art of ceremony?"

"Please, you're talking to Jess. He's always been of the spit it out school of thought."

"And before that gets inappropriate…"

"You were announcing?" Rory cut them off, giggling.

"Yes. Thank you, Rory," Matt faux-bowed, "I have news."

"We figured." "What with the announcing." "Just tell us already, Jesus. This isn't Dancing With the Fucking Stars."

"Touchy, touchy! Alright, fine. I met someone. And she's…amazing."

"So…competent?"

"Has a brain?"

"Not a fascist?"

"All of the above," Matt smirked, "She's a regular human being. Except way hotter."

"Glad to see you haven't gone soft," Jess smirked, "So she's been around how many hours?"

"Whatever 24 x 28 would be. I'm not Stephen Hawking," Matt replied, taking another gulp of beer. They all looked at him in shock.

"Four weeks! How is that…possible?"

"In a row?"

"How haven't you mentioned her?" Rory demanded.

"I didn't want to jinx it," Matt replied, "And yes, in a row. We've been seeing each other a little less than a month."

"That's serious," Chris said, attempting to keep a straight face.

"Hey, be fair," Jess chided, "A month in Matt months is like 8 for the rest of us."

"I feel like I should be offended," Matt shook his head, smiling.

"That's great, Matt!" Rory replied, "So when are you going to introduce her to all of us and inevitably ruin it?"

"I was thinking pizza this weekend. Maybe Chris could bring Hannah, too. That way when these two do their bit to screw it up, you and Hannah can be damage control."

"Smart plan," Jess nodded, "But I'm not sure even Rory and Hannah can mitigate the fascist ex story."

"You wouldn't."

"You made us keep Sanders for eight months," Jess said seriously, "Mussolini's a small price to pay."