Rory finished working and then grabbed her stuff and walked down to grab Sophie. Mitchum didn't bother me the rest of the day and I was happy for that. I took the stairs down to the daycare and grabbed Sophie. Mrs. Daniels came over to talk to Rory. Rory put Sophie into her stroller and then turned her attention to the teacher.

"Rory I need to talk to you."

"What about." Rory pushed the stroller back and forth so Sophie wouldn't squirm to get out.

"I think that you should start looking for another place to enroll your daughter due to the recent changes around here. I talked with Mitchum Huntzberger this morning and he said that we had until the end of the week. Basically what I am saying is that he is closing this place down by next week."

Rory was furious. All she asked of Mitchum was for him to keep the daycare open so Sophie would have a place to go and yet that was the first thing that he decided to cut. Rory nodded and thanked her for telling her and then she turned to walk home. Rory didn't think that her day could have gotten anymore stressful after her meeting that morning but the hits just kept coming. Jamie was fired, then she lost half of her staff, and now the day care was being closed. Mitchum had a plan for the paper alright and that was to watch it sink like the Titanic.

When Rory got up to her apartment she gave Jamie a call but there was no answer. Rory felt bad that her friend had lost her job but she would make a few calls in the morning to try to get her another job. Rory took Sophie out of the stroller and turned on her favorite movie while she went into her room to change.

She kicked off her heels and threw them into the closet and then changed into an old Yale shirt and a pair of shorts. She laid on her bed for a minute and then grabbed her cell phone from her purse and called Jess.

"Rory?"

"Hey Jess."

"What happened at work today that you are calling me?"

"Nothing good. Jamie got fired."

"No way."

"Way. Then half of my staff got fired. And the cherry on top was that he is cutting the daycare program so I need a new place to put Sophie."

"Well I can come up there if I need to. I mean I will be there Friday but say the word and I will be on the road to see you."

"As much as I would like that Jess I don't think it would solve anything. The daycare is going to be intact for the rest of the week at least and for now I have a job. I am just sort of stressed out."

"I bet. Maybe I should come early. How about I leave tomorrow morning and then we can have dinner and I can move in and Sophie can stay with me after that. How does that sound?"

"It sounds better but I don't want to rush you."

"You aren't rushing me. It will be fine."

"If you want."

"I do."

"Then that sounds great. Well I need to go check on Sophie so I love you and I will see you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Bye Ror."

"Bye Jess." Rory hung up the phone and took it out to the living room with her.

Sophie was busy watching The Little Mermaid so Rory just sat on the floor next to her. When Sophie saw that Rory had joined her she got up and climbed onto her lap and watched the movie. Rory ordered Pizza and it was delivered by the time the movie ended.

Rory paid for the pizza and brought it into the kitchen. Sophie was hovering by her legs like a dog waiting for its food. Rory cut Sophie's pizza into manageable bites and then handed her the plate. Sophie took it into the living room and sat on the floor. Rory was about to join her when her phone rang. She saw that it was Jamie and she knew that she had to pick it up.

"Jamie?" Rory was worried about her friend.

"Hey Rory. Sorry I missed your call."

"It's fine. How are you doing?"

"Well considering all that happened today."

"I'm so sorry Jamie. I knew that nothing good ever happens when a Huntzberger shows up."

"I should have figured. How many people did he fire today? I heard that I was not the only one."

"Lets just say that he fired one too many. More than half of the staff was fired. I have no idea how he is planning on running this paper but so far he is doing a lousy job."

"I agree. Anyway I just wanted to let you know that I am doing fine. You should get back to Sophie."

"Yeah but I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine. Now go enjoy your daughter."

"I will."

"Bye Rory."

"Bye Jamie." Rory hung up the phone and grabbed her plate and joined Sophie on the floor again.

Rory turned on a new movie while they ate their pizza. Rory finished her pizza and carried the plate into the kitchen and cleaned up from dinner. Sophie was curled up on the couch sleep so when Rory was done she took her into her room and changed her for bed. Sophie woke up and groggily said goodnight to Rory as she placed her in her bed and turned off the lights.

Rory walked into the living room and turned off the television and then went into her bathroom and got ready for bed. If the rest of the week was going to be anything like today she had a long week in front of her and she was going to need all the sleep she could get.

Rory walked back into her room and crashed on the bed and turned out the lights. She closed her eyes and feel into a deep sleep.

Her alarm went off at five in the morning. She sat up and rubbed her eyes check the clock to make sure it wasn't lying to her. She slipped her feet over the edge of the bed and then placed them on the carpeted ground. Rory shuffled her way into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee and then made a TODO list for the day. Wake up Sophie, take a shower, get dressed, wake Sophie up again, get her dressed, make breakfast, go to work, drop Sophie off at daycare, work, pick up Sophie, come home, make/order dinner, put Sophie to bed, relax with Jess.

She was excited about her last task of the day. Rory never thought that Jess would ever be on one of her todo list although she had hoped he would be. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took it into Sophie's room with her.

"Sophie it's time to get up." She lightly rubbed Sophie's back and she saw her shift in her bed.

Rory walked out of her room and into her bathroom. She turned on the shower and changed out of her clothes as the water warmed up. She finished her coffee and placed the empty mug on the counter and then climbed into the shower and let the warm water run down her back. Rory wanted to just live in her shower today but she knew that she was on a tight schedule so she hurried her shower along and then got out and dried off. She slipped her bathrobe on and dried her hair. She then went to her closet and took our a skirt and a blouse to wear today and changed into them. She looked at the clock to see what time it was.

"Five-fifty, right on time."

She grabbed her coffee cup and brought it into the kitchen and then put the pop-tarts on and went into Sophie's room to wake her up again.

"Soph." Rory rubbed her back and this time she sat up afterwards.

"Up." Sophie blinked her eyes and Rory picked her up and walked over to the closet.

She pulled out a red shirt with blue flowers on it and a pair of jean shorts for Sophie and then changed her into them. When that was done she pulled her hair into pig tails and put on her sneakers. she put Sophie on the ground and they walked into the kitchen to grab their breakfast.

Sophie devoured her pop-tart as Rory poured herself a cup of coffee to go. Rory ate her pop-tart and then looked outside to see that it was raining. She sighed and grabbed her car keys and then picked up Sophie's diaper bag and her coffee and then led Sophie out the door to the elevator.

They walked down to the car and Rory strapped Sophie in and drove to her job's parking garage. At least with half the people fired she wasn't going to have to fight for a parking spot. She pulled into one of the front spots and parked the car. She grabbed Sophie out of the back and then they walked into the office building. They were almost to the daycare when Mitchum came out of no where with Logan in tow. Rory gripped her daughter's hand tighter as Mitchum caught her attention and motioned for her to come over and join him.

Rory picked Sophie up and walked over to where they were standing. As she got closer she saw a ring on Logan's finger that made her relax a little. She stopped in front of them and felt as Sophie buried her face into her hair.

"Good morning Rory."

"It is the morning but I am not sure about how good it is going to be." Rory quipped back.

"Well I am sure you remember Logan."

"How could I forget the man who asked me to marry him."

"It's nice to see you Rory." Logan extended his hand to Rory and she shifted Sophie so she could shake it. "Who is this?" Logan asked directing his smile towards Sophie.

"This is my daughter Sophie."

"Well she is a cutie."

"Thank you." Rory shifted Sophie to her other hip and Sophie increased her hold on her mother.

"Anyway can we meet you in about ten minutes in conference room A?"

"Sure just let me drop Sophie off and I will be right up." Rory excused herself and walked over to the daycare.

Mrs. Daniels gladly took Sophie from her and Rory went upstairs into the conference room. Mitchum was nowhere to be seen but Logan was seated at the head of the long table. There was no one else in the room so Rory walked in and shut the door behind her. Logan got up and greeted her and they both sat at the end of the table.

"So what is all of this about Logan?"

"Well you know that everything is undergoing changes around here..."

"Yeah like firing one of my friends."

"It's not personal Rory it just needs to be done. Anyway My father and I were talking and what would you think about coming on to Huntzberger's team as vice president in charge of Merges."

"What would that entail?"

"Well when we buy a new company we will start by getting rid of the dead weight and then you will come in and rebuild the paper to Huntzberger standards. You would be in charge of hiring new personnel and training to make sure that they are up to standards. You would have the same hours you have now and you would be given a car allowance for travel expenses being as you might have to drive a little farther to work then you do now. Your new office would be at the main offices next to mine and my father's. What do you think?"

"Is that all I would be doing?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well I mean that I like writing and I am known for my writing..."

"That is why we want you to be the one working with the people at the papers."

"Yeah well I still want to write. I have readers that want to keep on reading my writing and if there is no writing for me than I am not interested." Rory crossed her arms in front of her and pouted like a child.

"You haven't changed have you Ace?"

"It's Rory and I have changed I just don't back down from my principles."

"I can leave you as a columnist on this paper if you would like but the rest is as is."

"I'll take it." Rory uncrossed her arms and shook his extended hand.

"I will have the paperwork to you this afternoon. How do you feel?"

"Like I just sold my soul to the devil."

"Welcome to Huntzberger Publishing Company." Logan smiled and stood up.

Rory laughed and walked to her office. She closed her door behind her and sat in her chair. This was a horrible job that she had just excepted but it was what was best for her at this time. She knew that if she had turned the job down she wouldn't have a job and with all of the writers now without a job the options she once had were diminishing. Rory looked around at her office and saw everything that she was going to have to move. She took a deep breath and pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jess.

Can't wait to see you tonight. It might just be the highlight of my day.

Rory put her phone on her desk and opened a blank word document to start working on her latest addition to her column.

Usually there was no problem with thinking of a topic for Rory to write about but for some reason she just couldn't think of something to say. She heard her phone vibrate so she minimized the document and looked at her phone.

Bad Day? I am just about to leave. I can't wait until I can hold you in my arms, well you and Sophie. I hope this will make your day a little better.

-Jess

Rory just smiled and then went back to the document. She kept thinking about the text she had just gotten and an idea struck her. She decided that she was going to write about the theme for her past few days. She put her fingers on the key board and words flew onto the page.

She was just about done when a light knock on the door interrupted her progress. She looked over at the clock in her office and saw that it was three.

"Come in." Rory finished her last sentence and then saved her document.

Logan walked into her office with a bag of food and the contract in his hands.

"I thought you might want some lunch." He held up the bag so she could see.

"Sure. Did you bring the contract?"

"My dad wouldn't have allowed me to see you without it. What have you been doing?"

"I was finishing my column for the week." Logan sat down across from her and then unpacked the bag of food.

He handed the contract to Rory and she browsed the terms and upon finding them expectable she signed her soul over to the Huntzbergers and then handed the contract back to Logan. He pushed it aside and handed her a togo box of food. She opened it and found a juicy burger surrounded by a mountain of fries.

"You remembered my favorite?"

"It's kind of hard to forget. So there is no ring on your finger, are you seeing someone?"

"That was a blunt question. Why are you thinking of cheating on your wife?" Logan looked down at his hand and smiled.

"No I was just curious about how your life had turned out in the last few years."

"I am dating someone, Sophie's father actually. Tell me about your wife."

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything you are willing to tell me. You could start with her name."

"Her name is Annah. I met her in California while my father was trying to get me to sign with the company. She is about your height but she had blonde hair and green eyes. She writes books for a living and she loves it..."

"What are the titles, I might be familiar with her work."

"There's Something About Me, Just The Way You Are, and her most recent work is Better Than Yesterday."

"Seriously? I have read those and they are marvelous."

"She loves it."

"You seem to really love her."

"I really do. So who is this guy you are dating?"

"Don't hate me but Jess."

"Wait Jess Jess?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't see that one coming."

"We hooked up a few years ago and I got Sophie and we just started dating but it seems to be going well."

"So are there any wedding bells in the future?"

"Maybe. Speaking of weddings when were you married?"

"Four years in December."

"Any kids?"

"Not yet but we have been talking about it recently and maybe soon. How old is Sophie?"

"She is three but she will be four soon."

"Any plans to have another one?"

"Plans no but may it happen yes."

"So you are more like if it happens it happens but no plans to try?"

"Pretty much."

Rory and Logan finished their lunch and then Logan took the contract and the trash and left Rory to finish the rest of her column. It was five when she had finally finished writing and proofing the article. She sent it to who it needed to be sent to and then shut her computer off and went to get Sophie. After she grabbed Sophie she went to the car and drove to her apartment.

When they got to the apartment Rory took Sophie upstairs and she changed into some sweats. She was just about to crash on the couch when she got a call from Jess. She eagerly answered her phone.

"JESS!" Sophie heard who she was talking to and perked up.

"Daddy?" Jess had told her to call him that.

"Yeah it's daddy." Sophie clapped her hands together and squealed with delight.

"Sorry Jess what were you saying?"

"I was saying that I am parking my car right now and I will be on my way up in a few minutes. I think that I will just leave most of my stuff in the car for right now and then I will get the rest of it tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me. What do you want for dinner?"

"What ever you want is good with me."

"So if I make some chicken you will be good with that?"

"Wait you make chicken?"

"It is the one thing I know how to cook. Well that and stuff like pop-tarts and cereal."

"Okay then I will have Rory's chicken."

"Do you like mac and cheese?"

"Of course."

"Good. Now get your butt up here."

"Yes sir!" Rory laughed as she hung up the phone and put it on the counter and then made her way into the kitchen to start making dinner.

"Is daddy coming?" Sophie came into the kitchen and sat on a stool.

"Yes he will be here in a few minutes."

"I'm excited."

"Me too Sophie." Rory went over to the fridge and pulled out some chicken and then set it on the counter.

She pulled out a dish and put the chicken on it and put salt and pepper on each piece and pre-heated the over to 350 degrees. She then went to the door and opened it so that Jess could just walk right in. She was on her way back to the kitchen when his voice caused her to turn around.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Rory turned to see Jess walking in and closing the door behind him.

He placed his suit case on the floor by the door and lifted Sophie up into his arms as she ran over to him. Jess gave her a big hug and a kiss and then placed her on the floor. She grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her room so she could show him around. Rory just smiled as she watched her daughter drag him around to show him the house. Rory went back into the kitchen and put the chicken in the over and shut the door. She set a timer for thirty minutes and then pulled out a pot and the rest of the stuff to make macaroni.

She turned to see Jess coming out of Sophie's room and coming into the kitchen. He came over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her.

"I think of everything I missed about last week you were on the top of that list." Jess pulled away and then went into the kitchen to take over the cooking process.

Rory took Sophie into her room and let her pick out a book to read until dinner was done. Sophie picked out one of her favorites, Charlotte's Web. They went into the living room and cuddled up on the couch Rory opened to the first page and Sophie started to read with a little assistance from Rory. Jess looked over at them and smiled. His girls were all snug on the couch reading a book while he fixed dinner for al of them. He had always wanted a life like this but he didn't expect it to all come at once, although in some ways he was glad it did but he wanted another chance to be there from the beginning. He knew that he had missed that chance with Sophie already but if they had another kid he would make up for lost time.

Jess called them into the kitchen when he was done with dinner. Rory bookmarked the page that they were on and placed it on the table and then carried Sophie into the kitchen where there were three plates with food on them.

"I'm sorry I didn't make dinner." Rory apologized as she grabbed two plates and headed over to the table to eat. She put the plates down and then helped Sophie into her chair.

"Don't be sorry I had fun finishing what you made and really the chicken was all you, I just pulled it out when it was done." Jess gave her a kiss and then sat down at the table with them.

When they finished eating Rory and Jess changed Sophie into her pajama's and then read her some of Charlotte's Web until she had fallen asleep. Rory placed the book on the night stand by her bed and then took Jess's hand and led him into her bedroom. She took him over to the bed and started to kiss him

"Rory I want to talk to you about something." Rory kept kissing him and he started to kiss her too.

"What about?" Rory started to remove her shirt and they kept talking.

"It's about us." Jess started to remove his shirt and then started to unbutton his pants as the kissing increased.

"What about us? This is us. I mean we're dating, we have Sophie, eventually we will talk about marriage and well the rest will just happen." Rory slipped off her sweat pants and then laid on the bed as Jess crawled on top of her.

"When you say that the rest will just happen what do you mean by that?" Jess talked to her as she kissed his neck and chest.

"I don't know, the rest." Rory put her hand behind his neck and pulled his face close to hers.

"Rory I want more kids." Rory stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes.

"So do I but I kind of want to be married first. I mean not a big wedding, maybe just at city hall. You know no ceremony just sign the papers and be done with it..."

"Let's do it." Jess pushed him self into a sitting position.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Let's get married, tomorrow."

"I have to work tomorrow."

"Then let's do it on your lunch break. I will make an appointment in the morning and then we will be married by lunch. What do you say?"

"Jess are you asking me to marry you?"

"I am." Rory smiled and then pulled him on top of her again.

"Let's do it."

A/n: So I am not going to make that many more chapters. I am thinking of wrapping this story up soon being as I start summer classes soon and I won't have time for 4 stories. I hope you have enjoyed reading and I will end sometime after their marriage. There may or may not be a sequel, it just depends on what my time looks like and what sort of response I get. Anyway thank you to everyone who had read this story and well please review and let me know if you think I should cover something before I stop!

-Katie