Better In Cones

A/N- Ok so this ones for .. Who asked for this to be updated quickly. Hope you all like it.

Chapter 21

When Rory and Jess slowly made their way back to the diner it was already dark, they'd sat down at the bridge for hours, mostly in silence and occasionally talking, there was an uneasy feeling that surrounded Rory. His words from earlier that evening playing through her head. "You're the only thing keeping me going" She's felt a chill run through her at these words, what was it he'd meant? How serious were those words? She closed her eyes and tried to shake the feeling away, but it kept a firm grip on her. She turned to Jess and kissed him suddenly.

'What was that for?' Jess smirked as she pulled away.

'I just wanted you to know how much I love you.' Rory said looking at him, their eyes locking. 'I wanted you to know that I'm always here and that if you ever feel…out of control, come to me and I'll help.' She started crying, not really sure why.

'Hey, it's ok. I know, Rory I know. I love you too.' He said wrapping his arms round her.

'You scared me earlier, saying I was the only thing…' She trailed off crying into his chest. 'I couldn't live without you Jess, please I need you to know that.'

'Rory I was in a really dark place earlier, whatever I said forget it ok. I'm not going anywhere.' Jess said holding her closely.

'Have you ever…considered it before?' She asked tentatively. Jess sighed deeply looking at the ground. 'No…yes, maybe I don't know. I may have considered it, back in New York I considered a lot of ways of dealing with Liz and the life I had there, most of them stupid, but Rory I haven't felt like that in a long time, not since I came here, not since I met you…' He sighed again. 'I was angry earlier, everything I'd left behind in New York just seems to be showing up and causing such a mess, but you have to know I'm stronger now than I was there, whatever I said earlier I didn't mean it. I mean, I meant what I said about you being what's keeping me going, but that's only because I love you and I don't want to loose you. I would never harm myself, so don't worry ok.' Jess kissed the top of her head and carried on walking with his arm round her waist. 'I'm not that guy anymore, I even gave up smoking for you.'

'Really?' Rory's eyes brightened.

'Really, and you know what I'm glad I did, I'm a lot less irritable now.' Jess smirked. He leaned over and kissed Rory again, she smiled against him and kissed back.

'I love you.' Rory said as they opened the door to the diner.

'I love you too.'

'There you are!' Luke said coming round from the other side of the counter, Lorelai spun on her stool and looked round at the pair of them, freaked out when she saw the tear stains on Rory's face.

'Hun are you ok?' Lorelai asked jumping up.

'Yeah mum I'm fine.' Rory said wiping the tears away. 'We just had a long talk and it got a little…emotional but I'm really good.'

'Ok.' Lorelai relaxed a little.

'Are you ok Jess?' Luke asked concerned.

'Yeah, I wasn't…' He glanced at Rory and they both felt the honestly and darkness in what that meant. 'But I am now.' He took Rory's hand and held it tight. 'So where is she?'

'Well, I drove her to a rehab facility in Hartford, she's there now. She wasn't happy about it but I think she'll stick it out.' Luke replied. 'So uh…you can stay here I guess, the house will be kept for if Liz cleans herself up.'

'Uncle Luke, why don't me and you just take the house, it would be much bigger than the apartment, and I might actually get walls round my bedroom.' Jess suggested.

'Yeah! That's a great idea because then you're just across the street from me.' Rory said eagerly. Lorelai and Luke exchanged glances as Jess wrapped his arms round Rory from behind.

'She makes a very good point.' Jess smirks.

'Well I suppose we could.' Luke considers.

'Or you could let me have the house to myself.' Jess suggested.

'How about we move in tomorrow.' Luke said. Rory and Jess laughed.

'We should go hun.' Lorelai said. Rory sighed but turned to face Jess.

'You going to be ok?' She asked lightly. He leaned his head down and kissed her.

'Does that answer your question?' Jess asked.

'I may have missed a bit.' She said as he kissed her again. 'Oh ok I get it now.' She smiled. 'See you tomorrow neighbour.'

'Yeah, see you.' He kissed her again. 'Beat it.' He smiled, Rory laughed and hugged him tightly.

'I love you.'

'Right back at you.' He said holding her tightly.

'Ok enough being mushy! Jeez, lets go already.' Lorelai complained, though she smiled as she said it.

'Ok, ok.' Rory said smiling at Jess. 'Call me in the morning.'

'I will.' Jess kissed the top of her head. 'I love you.'

'Love you too.' She smiled, walking away from him but still holding his hand till they were too far apart to hold each others hands anymore.

'So you're really good.' Luke asked. Jess kept watching Rory who was walking backwards so she could see him.

'Yeah I'm great.'

'You really love her huh?' Luke said watching his nephew.

'Yeah I really do. She makes me better.' Jess said turning away as Rory turned the corner. 'You have no idea how much she's fixed me.'

'You didn't need fixing Jess.' Luke shook his head.

'Yeah I did, I was so messed up back in New York. I didn't believe in love, I thought I wasn't good enough to deserve love…' He shook his head wondering why he was revealing so much. 'I'd never loved anyone and then I came here and I met her and it was like I fell in love instantly, and she actually loves me back.' Jess smiles to himself. 'I doubt I'd still be here if it weren't for her.'

'What here in stars hollow?' Luke asked. Jess just looks at him and shakes his head.

'Point is, Rory fixed everything for me, and now…I just want to be with her forever.' Jess said truthfully.

'Jess…you guys are only 17, it's a little early to be talking forever.' Luke warned.

'No…I know she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, but don't worry I'm not going to go and propose to her tomorrow, I know that neither of us are ready for that.' He smirked. 'But one day…' He shook his head, done showing his true feelings, he'd already said too much. 'I'm going to bed.'

'Yeah ok, night.'

'You seem awfully happy tonight.' Lorelai commented coming into Rory's room, Rory immediately snapped shut her notebook. 'What's in there?' Lorelai asked curiously, grabbing the book out of her hands and opening it up despite Rory's protests. She read aloud from the page. 'Mrs Mariano, Mrs Jess Mariano, Rory Mariano, Mrs Rory Mariano.' Lorelai laughed. 'Rory and Jess forever…Oh my…you've gone to the mushy side.' Lorelai teased. Rory glared at her and grabbed her notebook back.

'I can't help it, I love him…and this isn't just some stupid schoolgirl crush.' Rory shook her head.

'I know it isn't.' Lorelai assured her.

'I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him.' Rory said determined.

'Hun…he's only your second boyfriend, isn't it a little early to be talking about the rest of your life?' Lorelai asked.

'No I don't think so, I know he's the only one I want. I love him and I know this is real. I want to be with him forever, but don't worry I want to finish school and college before I even consider actually getting married, but that doesn't mean that I don't already know who I want to marry.' Rory smiled. 'I'm going to go to bed ok?'

'Yeah ok sweets.' Lorelai smiled kissing her head. 'See you in the morning.'

'Yeah.' Rory smiled climbing into bed. She picked up her phone as a message came through.

Goodnight beautiful, I love you…J

She smiled and wrote back.

Goodnight dodger, I love you forever….R

A message came back quickly.

And forever….J

Both of them fell asleep smiling.

A/N- Sorry if this seems in any way OOC, especially with Jess. Let me know what you think.