Disclaimer: I own the storyline... That's all folks.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Here is the next chapter! It took so long because I couldn't find the right way to make this chapter. Should I leave it a happy ending? Or have a few more chapters after this? So I guess you have to read and find out! Thanks for all of the reviews!!

"I'm sorry… I don't think I heard you right… what did you just say?" Rory shifted her weight from the right foot to the left and looked down at the puddle under her feet.

"I love you, Rory… I do. I have been in love with you since you gave me a chance to show you I was different than what everyone thought."

"You proved me wrong." She mumbled under her breath, and then looked up into his dark brown eyes, "You can't say that."

"Yes I can. Because it's true. I've never been surer about anything." Jess reached forward and took her hands in his, "I'm sorry."

Rory shook her head and jerked her hands away, "No! You said we weren't meant to be together! You said you wanted to get away! You don't love me! You'll just run again…"

"What's it going to take for you to trust me?!" He yelled, exasperated, "This morning you were begging me to stay with you! And now you are pushing me away when I am trying to do what we both want!"

Rory scoffs, "This isn't what you want! This morning you were the one saying you wanted to get away from me! And now I am trying to give you what you want and you won't let me!" She sighs, "I want you to be happy."

"If you would just… if we could just be together. I would be happy."

She sighs and meets his eyes, "Jess, I know what you are doing. You are trying to make me happy by telling me exactly what I want to hear even though you don't mean it. Go, Jess. Leave Stars Hollow and I promise you… I will never try to contact you again. I'll let you live in peace."

"No!" He runs his hand through his hair in frustration, "No. I don't want to leave. I mean, yes, I want to leave Stars Hollow, but I don't want to leave you."

Rory bit her lip and just looked at him. It was so hard to tell if he was telling the truth or not. She wanted to believe him, but she didn't want him to be unhappy. Maybe he was doing this out of guilt. She felt a lump in the back of her throat and her vision got blurry. Before the tears could fall and Jess could see that she was crying because of him, she turned and started walking away.

Jess stood, watching her retreating back. He wanted to shout for her to come back, but it probably wouldn't do any good. So he just watched her walk away from him and told himself to stay here as long as he could. Just to get her back. He hated himself for realizing that he loved her too late. He hated himself for making her cry. After standing there frozen for what felt like eternity, he walked the other way.

Watching him walk with his head down, Liz knew that things didn't go as she hoped it would. She walked over to him, "You broke her heart, didn't you?"

"Have you ever thought for one second that maybe she broke my heart?" Jess said, furiously, "Maybe I was the one whose feelings were torn to shreds! Did you ever think that?!"

"I'm so sorry, Jess, do you want to talk about what happened?" Liz put a comforting hand on her son's shoulder.

"No." He stated in a cold tone before shrugging off her hand and walking away.

Liz watched him go and felt someone come up behind her after he was out of sight. She turned and was met by two extremely blue eyes.

"Thank you for trying, but honestly, I think your son and I are just… Out of each other's reach. That probably doesn't make any sense, but if you were in my head right now…" She paused and collected her thoughts before continuing, "Jess needs someone who won't get in the way of his happiness, and as much as I would love to be the girl for him… I can't. We're two very complicated people and we both need someone who is simple to make the relationship less complex."

She should be mad at this girl. She should hate her for finally getting Jess to let his guard down and then breaking him. But all she can do is sympathize her. This girl is in love with her son and her son is in love with this girl. Neither of them are brave enough to do anything about it again. Both hearts have been ripped out.

Liz just nodded, "I hate that, Rory. I really do, but I understand." She smiled, "If you and Jess are meant to be… in the end… you will be." She said repeating almost exactly what Rory had said to her mother.

Rory smiled a weak smile towards Liz, "I'm going back to Yale, tonight, but it was good meeting you."

"You too, sweetie." Liz gave her a hug and Rory hugged back, tightly.

They stepped out of the embrace and Rory walked to her mother to say her goodbyes.

The whole ride back to Yale seemed longer than it really was. She was upset and really just wanted to be in the comforting arms of Jess. She wonders why she didn't just say 'I love you, too' and then maybe they could live happily ever after. But that's just why, who knows if there is a 'happily ever after' with Jess.

When she reached her dorm room, she pulled out her key and unlocked it. Walking in, the breeze caught her by surprise and she shivered. Why did Paris keep it so damn cold? She thought before taking off her jacket and turning up the thermostat by the door. She walked into her bedroom and clicked on the portable heater on her desk. Where was everybody? She sat on her bed and pulled out 'The Great Gatsby' and finished reading.

It hadn't been long after she fell asleep when she heard banging on the bedroom door. She jumped up and ran to the door, when she opened Paris stood in front of her looking slightly pissed.

Rory smiled, "Hey Paris."

She didn't crack a smile, she just pointed to the area that we called our living room. I followed to where she was pointing and saw Jess standing there, looking slightly scared and very tired.

"I'll handle it, Paris, just go back to bed."

Paris stomped back into her room and Rory walked towards Jess as if he was armed and dangerous. She stopped when she was about three feet away from him, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm not leaving until you tell me what you really feel about us, Rory." He sighed, shaking his head, "I know leaving you wasn't the best thing to do, but it wasn't because of you. It was because… of school… Luke… Jimmy. But not you."

"It still affected me." She stated.

"I'm back, now… and say the words and I am back for good. But I need to know if you want to be with me."

"Jess…" She started, but was cut off.

"No. Just tell me how you feel."

Rory took a deep breath and rubbed her face with her hands, "Okay, here is what I feel. I feel that if I give you another chance, you'll leave. I'm scared to trust you, but then again I feel as if I need you. Jess, you telling me you love me… makes me unbelievably happy, but I have to know if you really mean it."

"I do. I won't leave you again if you give me another chance, I promise." Jess' face softened.

She bit her lip, again. That was something Jess noticed she did when she was nervous, uncomfortable, or just in deep thought. Rory swallowed hard and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, "I love you, too."

Jess sighed a sigh of relief and stepped towards her. Rory smiled and crashed her lips upon his. The kiss was slow and gentle. She pulled away and looked up into his eyes, "You promise?"

He was confused at first, but understood the meaning of the question, "I promise." He said before kissing her lightly on the lips again.

A/N: Okay so one more chapter after this and this story is done. I loved writing the story… it was one of my favorites to write. This chapter wasn't as long and… wasn't as good to me as I thought it could be. But… here it is! Review!!