Note: I know I say it at the beginning of every chapter, but seriously, thank you for reading, reviewing and following this story. It means so much to hear what you're thinking about the story so far, and I love hearing what you want to see happen! In fact, I'm in need of some advice. After the chapter, I have some questions. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.

Chapter Ten

"Mom?" Rory shouted, as she closed the door behind her.

"Kitchen." Lorelai stood at the kitchen counter waiting for the toaster to pop. "Pop-tart?"

"Yes, please."

"You were up early this morning."

"I couldn't sleep. That couch is really, really bad."

"I'll have your bed cleared off this afternoon." Lorelai grabbed the pastries, and joined Rory at the table. "Where did you go this morning?"

"I went to the hospital." Lorelai smiled and nodded, causing Rory to clarify. "To see Luke."

"Really? How is my husband?"

"Fine. He was yelling at the nurses for checking his blood pressure."

"And how was Jess?" She asked in her sing songy prying voice.

"Exhausted. I drove him to the apartment to get some sleep."

"That was nice of you. So, do you want to tell your mother what's going on with the two of you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know what's going on or you don't know if you want to tell me?"

"Both." Rory smirked.

"Well, you obviously lied to me about being too busy at work to come home for Christmas."

"I'm sorry. I just had some things that I needed to work through before I came back home."

"And visiting Jess helped?"

"Yeah, seeing Jess helped a lot."

"Do you still have feelings for him?" Lorelai pushed, realizing that Rory wouldn't divulge more than she was asked.

Rory smiled, thinking back to that morning on the steps of the diner. "Maybe. I don't know."

"I knew it! Warning Will Robinson, you are now leaving the friend zone."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Can we be serious for a moment?"

"Serious, like you and Jess?" Lorelai pursed her lips and made kissy noises.

"Mom!" Rory chastised. "I need to tell you something."

"Sorry. I'll be good. Go ahead."

Rory straightened in her seat and tugged at the sleeve of her sweater nervously. "I'm leaving New York. I'm not happy there, and I really think..."

"Is this about Jess?" Lorelai interrupted. "Are you leaving New York for Jess?"

"No! This has nothing to do with him. It's just not working out for me. I need to figure out exactly what I want, but right now New York isn't on that list."

"Oh hon, you're just overwhelmed. You need to take some time off, recharge your batteries."

"Taking time off to recharge isn't going to fix it. I've already turned in my notice at the Times."

Moments passed as they sat in silence.

"Say something. Please." Rory begged.

"I don't know what to say, Rory. I hate for you to throw away your dream like this."

"It's not my dream anymore, Mom. It hasn't been for a while now."

Lorelai reached across the table and rested her hand atop Rory's. "I want you to be happy, kiddo, and I know I can't make your decisions for you. If you feel like this is what's best for you, then I trust you."

"Thanks, Mom."

"So if you're not going to be in New York, where will you be? And don't say your grandmother's pool house."

"Very funny. I was thinking about moving back to Stars Hollow, at least for a little while."

"Best Christmas Present Ever! Now let's go bring my husband home."

(3 1/2 hours later)

"You know why they're doing this right? If I'm here after 12 o'clock they can charge me for another day." Luke paced the length of his room, his good arm flailing around wildly.

"Calm down, hon. It won't be much longer. The nurse said they were going to get your discharge paperwork ready."

"2 hours ago! How long does it take to get a damn doctor to write his name on a piece of paper?"

"It could be her name." Rory pointed out.

"What?" Luke continued his pacing, pausing only to shoot a confused glance at Rory.

"Never mind." Rory chuckled in response to the slashing motion Lorelai made behind Luke. "Why don't I go see what's taking so long?"

Rory walked down the nearly deserted hallway to the empty nurses station. "Hello?"

"I'll be right there." She heard the nurse call from a nearby room. While she waited, Rory fiddled with her phone, wondering if she was receiving a signal at all. She vaguely remembered someone saying that the hospital equipment can interfere with the signal, or the concrete and steel, or something.

"Can I help you?" The nurse asked from behind the counter.

"I was wondering how much longer it would be for Luke Danes' discharge?"

"I have his paperwork right here. I'll be in as soon as I can. He is quite the impatient one, isn't he?"

"He is." Rory smiled, once again glancing at her phone. "Thank you." She walked back to Luke's room, finding him now sitting on the side of the bed, Lorelai's arm wrapped around him. She stood and watched them, unnoticed for a few minutes. Seeing them together like this never got old, and it reaffirmed Rory's belief in fate.

"The nurse said she'd be in as soon as she could." Rory announced, from the doorway.

"Thanks for checking, Rory. Come on in. There's plenty of room." Lorelai patted the spot next to her on the bed.

"Actually, if it's okay with both of you, I think I might drive around a little bit. Clear my head a little."

"Fine by me." Luke answered quickly, shooting Rory an all knowing smile.

The drive back to Stars Hollow did nothing to clear Rory's head. She found herself sitting in the rental car, behind Luke's truck, hoping that Jess had replaced the key above the door before he went inside.

She hopped out of the car and made her way to the door, happily finding that Jess hadn't locked the door at all before going upstairs.

It had been a while since she had been in the tiny apartment. After Jess left town, she had no reason to be upstairs. From the hallway, she could hear his music blaring from inside. She pushed the door open a bit and called out.

"Jess?" She paused for a minute, waiting for the response that never came. She pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped inside, finding him sound asleep on the couch.

She pulled up a chair from the kitchen table and watched him sleep, so tempted to wake him. She had so many questions, so many things she wanted to say, but she had encouraged him to rest. Finally the temptation became too much and she found herself sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"Wakey wakey, chocolate cakey." She whispered.

Jess smiled, his eyes still closed. "You just couldn't stay away, could you?"

Note, cont'd: I've been trying to figure out where I want to go, and I would pose these questions to those following and reading this story. Do you want Jess and Rory to revisit the 8 years of failed relationships as they catch up? Do you think that Rory should push for the Kate backstory, and should Jess ask Rory about those failed New York relationships? Let me know what you think.