A/N: This is the last chapter of this story, and I wanted to thank everybody who's reviewed. I hope that you'll like this chapter :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls.

Strawberry Gashes

Chapter 5

The warmth of your embrace
Melts my frostbitten spirit
You speak the truth and I hear it
The words are I love you
And I have to believe in you

--

Rory paced the room for almost 20 minutes, trying to decide whether to go down or not. She could hear soft Indie music play downstairs, the buzz of many people talking at the same time, and a strange feeling came over her.

"It'll be fine, no one will know," she muttered, wringing her hands. Her knuckles cracked and she sighed. "I'm going," she was determined, and walked quickly downstairs before her nerves got the best of her.

She kept her head down as she walked, and pulled down the sleeves of her shirt further, making sure that she was fully covered. Thankfully, no one looked twice at her, and she felt herself grow more comfortable and confident. She smiled when she saw Jess, and started to walk over to him, but her smile faded when she saw how he was talking to.

"Luke," she said, and both Jess and Luke turned around.

"Rory," Luke stated, looking a bit surprised. Not that he should be, he'd been there when Rory and Jess drove to Philadelphia. "How are you?"

She hesitated. To say that she was fine was an overstatement, but to say that wasn't fine wasn't true either. "I'm not not fine. But I'm not fine either," she paused, thinking over what she'd just said. She gave a small laugh. "That was confusing,"

Luke smiled. He could see that she was better already. Her eyes held some of the old spark in them, and she wasn't as pale as before. "I understand what you meant. I hope Jess is treating you alright,"

She nodded. "Yeah, he is. He even let me order Indian food for lunch," Jess snorted, and gave her an amused look.

Luke let out a laugh. "That's good, that's good. I was just saying to Jess that I should get going,"

"Oh, okay," Rory fidgeted. "Tell mom I said hi, okay?"

Luke nodded, a weak smile on his face. "I will kiddo, I will," he turned to Jess. "Than's for having me here,"

"No problem. You should swing by some other time, just let me know,"

"I will. Bye," Luke left, and Jess looked at Rory, touching her shoulder gently.

"Are you okay? With all the people I mean,"

"Yeah, it's okay. Aren't you going to show me around?"

"Yeah, come on,"

He led her around, showing her the different paintings and making jokes just to hear her laugh. His hand rested on the small of her back the entire time, as a comfort in case it got too much for her. Soon, she had relaxed completely and was almost back to her old self. Then, her cell phone rang, and when she looked at the Called ID she nearly had a heart attack. Logan.

"I've gotta take this, I'll be right back," she told Jess and walked upstairs, answering at the same time.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ace, it's me. Where are you?"

"You're not my boyfriend anymore Logan, I don't have to tell you anything," she said calmly, sitting down on Jess's bed.

"Your grandmother told me to call you, but I don't know why,"

Rory felt rage build up inside of her. Off course Emily Gilmore had something to do with this. "Tell her to mind her own business, and that I'm not gonna leave Philly,"

"Wait, Philly?" he paused. "You're with him, aren't you?"

"That is none of your business. I just wanted to tell you that I regret dating you. You never noticed how I was feeling,"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you saying that not one time when you touched me you noticed the scars?" she couldn't believe that he could be so ignorant.

"Which scars?"

"You know what, I don't want to talk to you anymore. Don't call me again, and don't try to see me. I'm done with you," she hung up, and looked up when a voice was heard from the doorway.

"You okay?" it was Chris, and he looked concerned at her. "Jess told me to go check if you were okay. He tried to get away, but couldn't,"

"Yeah, just an ex-boyfriend,"

"I know that you don't know me that well, but you can talk to me if you want to," he smiled and Rory gave a small one herself. "Plus, any girl in love with that loser is alright in my book," he left, and Rory was left behind in shock.

In love? Was she in love with Jess? She had feelings for him, she knew that, but was it love? Was she capable of love? The answer hit her like a brick wall.

"I'm in love with Jess," she spoke out loud, before a small grin covered her face. Standing up, she dropped her phone on the bed and walked downstairs again. She couldn't wait to tell him.

She found him standing in a corner, looking at an abstract painting. She came up behind him, raising her hand to grab his shoulder. He turned around, and smiled when he saw her.

"Hey. You okay?"

She smiled big. "I'm great," he gave her a confused look, and she figured this was now or never. Walking in close to him, she wrapped an around around his neck before kissing him. His lips felt so right on her own, and she ran her tongue across his lower lip asking for entrance. He opened his mouth and pulled her near as their tongues danced. It wasn't so much a dance for dominance, but more a dance of belonging, knowing exactly what to do. She pulled back, and looked deep into his eyes.

"I love you," she whispered, and his eyes got wide, disbelieving. "I love you," she repeated, stroking his hair with one hand and touching his cheek with the other.

"I love you too," he replied, his voice low. "I love you so much," he leaned down to kiss her again, and she smiled again his mouth. It seemed that finally, finally, her life had a meaning again. And that meaning was Jess. Forever.

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