Note of appreciation: Thank you to all who continue to inspire me with their reviews. Thank you most of all the reader going by the name SolemnlySwearToManageMischief. Your review just invigorated me. I thank you so much for opening my eyes to what I was doing, because I really and truly had no idea that I was writing this story the way you said. I needed to see that because otherwise it would have dragged along and things would never get to where I want them to be. This chapter takes a really big leap towards where things are going, so I ask that you brace yourself for a little angst. It will be worth it, trust me.

Please keep the reviews coming. You never know when you might be the one to show me something that I hadn't seen. Don't be shy. Speak up and as always, thanks for reading.

Chapter Thirteen

"He just left?" Rory asked, as she listened to his cell phone ring on the other end of the line. "He's not answering his phone."

"You know Jess, Hon. This is what he does." Rory rolled her eyes, knowing that Lorelai was only trying to help. Unfortunately Lorelai had chosen the wrong words.

"There's nothing to worry about, Rory. I'm sure Jess is fine." Luke wrapped his arm around Rory's shoulder. "He just needed to clear his head."

"I'm not worried. I know exactly where he is. I just wish he didn't feel like he had to leave." She glared at Lorelai. "I'll be back a little later."

She parked her car at the high school, and took off on foot down the dirt road that led to the bridge.

"I found you." She sang, as she walked along the wooden planks of the bridge. The afternoon sun had been traded for the dim stars of twilight.

"So you did." He smiled, as he turned to face her. "What took you so long?"

"You had a pretty good head start, and you didn't exactly tell me you were leaving."

"It was too quiet."

"And it's not too quiet here?"

"No. It's different here. I can breathe. I can think. No one judges me here."

Rory sat down beside him, draping her legs over the side of the bridge. "I'm sorry about my mom."

"Don't be sorry. I'm not. I'd be concerned if Lorelai hadn't read me the riot act."

"That doesn't make it right."

"Maybe not, but she means well. She's just looking out for you."

"Are you okay? Where's your head right now?" She asked, noticing a hint of frustration in his tone.

"I've had time to think, too much time really. I have questions. Ones that I don't want to ask, and I really don't want to know the answers to."

"Ask." She told him, fearing that she wouldn't have the right answers.

"What's your plan, Rory? You always have a plan. What's the plan?"

"I don't know. I hadn't planned on any of this." Jess stood and paced to the opposite side of the bridge.

"But where do you want this to go? I don't just want to hang out and see where this thing goes. I love you, Rory. I'm not afraid to tell you that anymore, and I'm not running away. I want a future with you, but it can't be here. It will never be here." Rory stood and walked towards him. "You said it yourself. You've spent all your time in New York pining for Stars Hollow, but I'm not Stars Hollow."

"I don't...I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to tell me how you feel. How do I figure into your plans? Do I figure into them at all? Where are we on your pro/con list?"

She felt the sting of the tears that now brimmed her eyes. "I don't know. I don't want to fight with you."

"I'm not fighting you, Rory. I'm fighting for us." He wrapped an arm around her waist. "I want more for us, Rory. I want to be with you. I want you to go to New York, pack your things and come home with me. You can get your own apartment if you want, or you could stay with me."

"It's too soon." She cried, burying her head in his shoulder.

"It's not too soon. It's not. You're it for me. I love you, and it's okay if you can't say it back right now. I won't force you to say anything you're not ready to say, but promise me you'll think about it while you're in New York."

"I will." She took a deep breath in an attempt to keep the tears from falling. "Why does it feel like I'm losing you?"

"You're not losing me, but this is it. We're either going to make it or we're not. We're not going to have another chance." He took a step back, dropping the arm he had wrapped around her. "I'm going home. Luke and Cesar can run the diner. I'd just drive him crazy if I stayed. That's where I'll be when you decide."

He leaned in, brushed her cheek and kissed her goodbye. "Love you, Rory." He whispered. "Think about it."

They stood there for a moment in silence before he dropped her hands, turned and headed back towards town.

Rory sat back down on the cold wooden planks of the bridge and watched the reflection of the stars dance on the still water beneath.

Time had changed so much, but their bridge hadn't changed at all. It was still the place that Jess had chosen to bring her for their bid-a-basket lunch. The place where he found serenity in his otherwise chaotic life. It was the place where they both first admitted their feelings for one another, after her break-up with Dean. The place where their relationship had truly begun.

It somehow seemed appropriate that she start pondering their future in this place. She wasn't ready to face Luke and Lorelai. She knew that she wouldn't be able to explain what had just happened without free flowing tears.

"What had I expected when I showed up on his doorstep?" She asked herself, already knowing the answer. She had hoped that somehow he hadn't been able to shake the feelings that he had had for her, just the way that she hadn't been able to shake her feelings for him. She thought she had it all figured out, and she didn't understand the hestitation now. But she would do as he asked. She would tie up all the loose ends of her life in New York, but mostly she would think about her future and how Jess would fit into it.

Note cont'd: And I'm sorry. I had wanted to save this chapter untl I had written the next 2-3 chapters, so that I wouldn't keep you hanging. I just couldn't hold onto it. I'll get to working on Chapter 14 soon. Hopefully I'll have an update by the end of the week. Maybe sooner if I get some helpful feedback from my wonderful readers. (hint, hint).