Ok, so it's been 3 years. I just wanted to give this another try. I've been reading some stories lately and it's really made me want to finish some of my own. I edited chapter 3 and now let's see if I can pick up where I left off…. Please review if you read this, I would really like to get back involved with this and reviews are amazing motivation. This chapter's short, but the next one will involve Jess's family swarming in to NY so it seemed like a good place to stop.

Rory had fallen asleep first, with Jess following about three shots later. When his eyes opened next, he was greeted with the familiar site of Washington Square Park in the early morning. He could hear the noise of the usual daytime activity off in the distance, however, no one could be seen from where they lay. Jess stayed where he was for what seemed an eternity, awkwardly leaning against a tree with Rory's head fast asleep in his lap. He was too afraid to move, too afraid to face the day, too afraid that Rory would disappear if he woke her, too afraid of his own frailty. Instead he focused on the throbbing pain in his hand and the matching pain in his head. These things at least seemed real to him.

When Rory finally woke, she immediately bolted upright. She flinched from her very own hangover and shielded her eyes from the sun. For a few minutes, the pair just stared at each other trying to digest all that had happened in the past twenty four hours.

Rory spoke first, when their silence had finally become too loud to bare. "So… We have a lot to do today, we should probably get started." She reached for her bag, dug around and produced a bottle of Advil. "Ok now we can get started."

Jess gave her a small smile and accepted a few of the pills. "To be honest, I don't really know where to start. I never met any of Jimmy's family. I guess I should call Liz. She'll probably want to know, even if she shouldn't really care."

"I'm sure she'd want to know, after all, Jimmy was a big part of her life. She might even know some family members of his."

Jess studied her intently. Wouldn't her grandparents miss her? Was it really ok to let her help? He didn't want to push her away, she seemed to need to help him through this almost as much as he needed her to. Instead of questioning her, he decided it was time to call Liz. Surprisingly, he was more nervous as he waited for her to answer than he had been in calling Sasha.

Luckily, Liz answered. A conversation with TJ may have just pushed him over the edge.

"Hello?"

"….Hey… Liz." He couldn't quite keep his voice steady, but Liz didn't seem to notice.

"Hey Jess!!! TJ- it's Jess!! How are you? It's been a while! Are you coming to visit? You have to come visit."

It took everything he had not to hang up the phone and try again later.

"Liz.. look I'm actually calling to tell you something.."

"Well what is it? You know you can tell me anything… not that you would… you're just like your grandfather that way. What were you going to tell me?"

Afraid that any more lead-ins would send her on another tangent, he finally just said it.

"Jimmy's dead."

Rory's head snapped up, surprised by his direct approach. She quickly looked away and began searching through her phone in order to seem busy. She knew that he didn't need his conversational skills to be judged at a time like this.

After a few moments of silence, Liz finally spoke. Her tone now quiet and serious, a tone that Jess didn't think she possessed.

"How?"

Jess cleared his throat, trying to match her calm.

"A car accident. Here in New York. He was drunk."

After another few moments of silence passed, Jess continued.

"Anyway, I thought that you should know. Is there any family of his that maybe should be told? I have to go back to the police station today and finalize the paperwork and tell them what to do with the… um .. Jimmy."

"It's been a long time but I think I still have the number for his mother. I'll take care of it. Jess go back and sign what you have to sign. Tell them that his mother will be making the arrangements. You don't need to be doing this. I'll call you back after I talked to her."

"Ok.. I'll talk to you then."

Hanging up the phone Jess glanced over at Rory.

"So how about we don't go to the police station on an empty stomach?"

As expected, Rory jumped at the chance to eat.

Jess raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm. "You haven't changed as much as you think, you know."

Rory looked up at him and smiled.