A/N: So for this chapter, I'm attempting to do without flashbacks. I'll see how it works out and if I like it ;) And no, to the review that i don't know if I'll keep with it, I meant keep with not doing flashbacks. Don't worry, I'm still crazy devoted to writing this fic and if that ever changes, you all will be the first to know :) If anything, I'd wrap it up as best as I could instead of leaving it unfinished but I don't think that's going to happen because I'm still very invested in finishing this one :)

A loud knocking rapped on Rory's door and woke her up. It was past midnight she realized as she looked to the clock. Hesitantly, she stood up from her bed and walked to the door. "Who the hell is coming here at this time?"

When she opened the door, however, all annoyed feelings disappeared. Warm brown eyes looked into hers and Rory felt herself smile. "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" She asked in a low voice.

Jess shrugged. "Heard you were sick."

Her smile widened as she noticed the bag in his hand. "What's that?"

"Soup and medicine," he answered. "Heard you didn't have any of those, either."

"Jess," she said. She wasn't even mad anymore that her sleep was interrupted. She wasn't even tired anymore.

He smirked at her slightly, a smile ready to tug it away. "Surprised?"

"Very," she said.

"Good surprise?" He asked.

"The best," she nodded.

"Does that mean I can come inside then?" He asked. The smile had officially taken over the smirk.

"Of course," she moved aside to let him in and felt a rush of electricity when his hand touched hers as he entered.

Jess nodded and looked around when he walked in, putting the bag on the kitchen table. "So this is Rory Gilmore's home."

She shut the door and followed him inside. "Only for the past few months. Living here is still fairly new."

"Its nice." He inspected her living room bookshelf.

Rory picked up the bag he brought and pulled out the soup. "I have some in the bedroom, too."

"Are you inviting me in your bedroom?" He teased.

She blushed and ducked her head. "Not the way you're suggesting, Mariano."

He pouted then stared into her eyes. "I'll take it."

Rory walked over to the couch with her soup and undid the top, sniffing it. "It smells so good."

"Luke made it," he told her and came to sit beside her. "I wasn't gonna tell him about coming here in case he told Lorelai. We both know she'd tell you so it wouldn't be much of a surprise."

"But you told him anyway," she mused. "Thank you."

"Its nothing," he shrugged.

"Its something," she ate some soup then continued. "You came all the way from Stars Hollow just to give me soup."

"And medicine," he pointed out. She gave him a look and he sighed. "You're welcome."

Jess watched Rory eat her soup in silence. She finished not too long after starting and when she moved to get up, he stood and took it from her. "Such a gentleman."

He shrugged again. "I figure I got to make up for last time, right?"

"You don't have to make up for anything," she shook her head. "We're starting fresh."

"I know," he washed her spoon for her and Rory smiled at him. "But I like to think I've grown up. I want to be better."

"You are grown up," she agreed. "But you don't have to prove to me anything."

He turned to look at her, leaning against the counter. "I want to."

Rory stood up and walked over to him. "I'm just saying you don't have to. I already know what kind of man you are, Jess. I know we're both not those teenagers anymore. Hell, we're not even those 20-something year olds anymore."

"I want to be the kind of man you deserve," he told her in a whisper when she reached him.

"You already are." Rory wrapped her arms around his waist.

He shook his head. "Sometimes, when I'm with you, I feel just as I did back then. Like nothing that happened after happened and I'm gonna make the same mistakes."

She nodded, understanding. "I sometimes do, too."

His eyes stared into hers. They were so close now, their faces almost touching. Jess wasn't sure what to say, worried that he might say something stupid as he was sure saying his last remark was.

Rory spoke first. "But I think that's a good thing. Being together again, trying this out...its bound to be hard. Well, maybe not hard, but something like it. And I'd hope we don't make the same mistakes."

A smile played on her lips at her last comment. Jess' own mouth tugged at one. "Well, at least I can't not graduate high school twice."

"There's that positive thinking!" She laughed.

He laughed with her and the way their bodies moved while laughing leaned them closer. Jess turned his face towards hers, and she backed her face away. "What? Is something wrong?"

"I'm sick," she admitted.

He laughed again. "I kinda knew that."

She stayed serious. "I don't want to make you sick, too."

"Its a risk I'm willing to take," he told her.

Rory shook her head and unwrapped her arms from around him. He was faster though and his hand caught hers before she walked away. "Jess..."

He moved to stand right in front of her again, their hands still holding the other's. "I should get to choose if I get sick."

She moved her head away, a smile at the end of her lips. "I won't let you."

"I'll get you," he smirked. She kept moving her head away when he leaned towards her.

"Jess!" She laughed and tried to walk away from him but his hand still held hers and even though it wasn't very tight, she didn't want to let go. "This is one thing I'm not budging on."

"Oh yeah?" His eyebrows rose in question.

"I don't want you get my cold," she told him, joking aside.

"Rory, I don't care," he told her. "I drove here in the middle of the night to see you and right now, I really just want to kiss you."

His eyes darkened over her and Rory could clearly see the want in them. His voice had lowered into a husky tone and she felt her knees go weak. This time when he leaned in, she didn't move her face but let him. They kissed slowly at first, lips softly touching but soon she felt Jess' tongue sweep over her lower lip.

Her hands gripped the counter behind her as she backed into it. Jess' hands went to her waist and pulled her closer to him. The kiss deepened and before she really registered it, he pulled Rory up on the counter. Her legs wrapped around his waist, hands curling into his hair now. His hands moved up from her waist to her back.

She felt his tongue now come into her own mouth and she moaned. The fast that it was a small moan didn't seem to matter, his body stiffened and she smiled against his mouth. He just pulled her closer to his body so they were chest to chest. Rory felt his fast-paced heartbeat against her pajamas.

She pulled away first and saw the lust clouding his eyes. "Whoa."

He smirked. "Definitely worth the drive."

Rory blushed and ducked her head. Her hands unraveled from their previous position while his stayed on her back. "If that doesn't get you sick, then I think you're immune."

"I don't care what I am as long as that happens again," he whispered in her ear.

She shivered from his breath, trying to move her legs around. She was extremely turned on right now and when he whispered in her ear, he didn't help lessen it. "I should..."

Jess watched her try to scoot down from the counter and grabbed her again, placing her feet back on the ground. "Better?"

Not exactly, she thought. The fact that her panties were soaked and all she wanted was for him to feel how wet was all that running through her mind. But she couldn't tell him that, not this soon. Rory plastered a smile on her face and nodded. "Much."

Jess looked at the clock and sighed. "Shit."

Her eyes followed his. "What?"

"Its really late now," he said. "I should get going."

"What?" She asked again. "You're leaving?"

"I have to get back," he explained and finally took his hands off her back.

"Not yet," she said. "You just said its late. So stay."

"Stay?"

"Stay."

A teasing look appeared on his face. "You want me spend the night? Wow, that kiss was even better than I thought then."

She blushed again, thinking how true that statement is. "Just to sleep. I don't want you driving back to Stars Hollow at one am."

Jess' eyes search her face and when he finds whatever he's looking for, he answered. "Okay."

She just nods and walks to a closet. Jess watches her pull out a blanket and pillow. Soon she comes back and hands it to him. "Do you want the bed or the couch?"

"The bed," he answered. "If you're there."

"Be serious!" She laughed. "You got your kiss, you're not sleeping next to the sick girl, too."

"Couch is fine," he shrugged. "It doesn't matter to me."

"Okay," she said.

Jess took the items from her and set them up on the couch. Rory watched him just as he had watched her get them. She found herself liking seeing him in her apartment, liking how he washed her spoon from the soup and just how right it felt. Quickly, she pushed those thoughts aside, shaking her head.

"Got it all right?" She asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. Should be fine."

"Okay," she smiled softly. "I'm just gonna grab the medicine you brought and go to sleep, if that okay?"

"Okay," he repeated her word, smile tugging on his mouth as well. "Night then?"

Rory walked closer to him and placed a chaste kiss on his lips, far different from the previous one. "Night."

The smile broke out on his face now and she started walking away to her bedroom. Jess was laid down on the couch when she called his name again. He turned to look at her.

"What took you so long to get here anyway?" She asked.

He made a face. "Waiting for Luke to make the soup and lots of traffic. Do you know how many people are on the road at eleven o'clock at night?"

Rory laughed. "I do, actually."

"Its insane," he commented.

She nodded at him and disappeared behind a door. Jess stared at it until she walked out and entered her bedroom. Oh yeah, he wasn't getting enough sleep tonight.

...

When Rory woke up in the morning, she almost forgot she had company. But after brushing her teeth and walking out of the bathroom, she spotted the couch. The blanket and pillow were folded on top of the cushions and the smell of coffee lifted through the air.

Jess appeared from behind the refrigerator door and smiled at her as she approached. "Morning."

"Morning," she looked around the kitchen. "What are you doing?"

"I'm making you breakfast," he explained. "Do you have pancake batter?"

"Um, its right in there," she pointed to a cabinet and he nodded, opening it and grabbing the box out.

Reaching the kitchen, she saw the coffee pot was full and brewing had finished. Jess watched her, a smirk on his face. "Is the inspection over?"

"Not inspection," she said. "I'm just...not used to someone cooking breakfast for me."

He nodded, a question on his tongue he rather not ask. "And?"

"I like it," she turned to him with a smile. "I like you."

"Well that's good," he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Because I like you, too."

It was her turn to lean up and kiss him. Jess turned his face away this time just as she had last night. Rory eyed him suspiciously. "Don't tell me morning breath because I brushed my teeth."

He smirked down at her. "I was actually going to ask if you were still sick."

"Oh." She turned red. "I don't think so. I took the medicine and I slept pretty well...after."

He nodded. "So, you're better?"

"I haven't coughed or sneezed," she answered proudly.

"That's good," he laughed and she laughed with him.

Rory leaned again, this time actually reaching Jess' lips. They were soft and moved right with hers. She tried not to deepen it but they were doomed as soon as their lips touched. The kiss quickly progressed close to the previous night's kiss and neither seemed to mind.

Sighly contently, Rory moved away first and leaned her forehead to his. She didn't open her eyes yet but instead let the moment last. She felt happy, really truly happy. She hadn't felt this way in a long time, she thought to herself. Jess' voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Now it really is a good morning."

"I'll agree when I have those pancakes," she teased.

They let go of each other and he went to work on her breakfast. She bit her lip to hide her laughter when she heard Jess mutter, "Gilmores."

...

After breakfast, Rory went to take a shower which left Jess wandering her apartment. He searched her bookshelf again, laughing quietly when he saw Hemingway next to Rand. Now that was a surprise. The sight of his own books beside Ernest's work stopped him short. She put him next to Hemingway?

It shocked him to see she had kept track of his work through the years. All three of them were lined together in order of release. Jess wasn't really sure what he thought of it. On one hand, he wanted to scream out loudly that she had thought of him over the years, thought of him enough to purchase all of his books. On the other hand, she thought of him all that time yet didn't reach out unless she had to.

What did that mean? Or was he reading too much into this? Jess shook his head, trying to chase the cobwebs away. He was being stupid. What does matter and mean something was what was happening between them now. The rest was the past and he really needed to stop thinking about it and just enjoy what they have going now.

Rory came out of the bathroom all dressed and ready for work. "How do I look?"

"Gorgeous," he answered as he took in her outfit. It was simple yet professional. A maroon button-up top with a matching skirt. "Sexy."

Rory blushed and he smiled, vowing to keep making her do that. "I mean, do I look like I slept the whole yesterday away because I had a cold?"

"Nah," he shook his head. Jess put his arms around her and she put hers around his neck. "You look perfect."

"You sure?" She asked, he nodded. "Okay."

Jess kissed her quick on the lips. "You know you always look perfect."

Another blush erupted and he realized how much he loved the color red and how much her face matched her outfit. "Thanks."

He kissed her again in response. "What time do you have to be in?"

Rory looked at the clock. "Soon, actually. I have to go now."

"Kay," he murmered and kissed her again.

"If you keep kissing me, I'll never leave," she teased.

He smiled. "That's okay with me."

She laughed and untangled herself from him. Jess let her go as she grabbed a bag that looked big enough to fit her own computer. Before opening the door but with her hand on the doorknob, Rory turned to face Jess. "I really like having you here."

"I like being here," he replied.

They shared a silent exchange with their eyes and she was gone. Jess sat back down on the couch and wondered if Luke would understand if he didn't return until tonight.

...

On her lunch break, Rory resisted calling Jess and checking if he was still in her apartment and called her mom. Lorelai was more than happy to hear from her daughter. "So he just came in the middle of the night?"

"Yep," Rory beamed. "It felt like something out of a movie or a tv show. It didn't feel real."

"How come?" Her mother asked. "Did you not like the surprise?"

"I loved the surprise," she answered. "It was incredibly sweet and romantic."

"Then what is it, sweets?" Lorelai asked. "If you loved it -"

"Are we moving too fast?" Rory interrupted, her thoughts that plagued her since waking up finally voicing themselves. "It shouldn't feel like this, already right?"

"You two have been in and out of each others lives for the past fourteen years," she replied. "Wow. I feel old."

"Mom," Rory laughed. "Tell me what you were going to say, please."

"I think...that you are going too slow," Lorelai admitted.

"Excuse me?" Rory joked. "Did I just hear you say me and Jess are moving too slow? Maybe I wasn't the only one who was sick."

Lorelai was probably makinf a face on the other hand before replying. "Don't make me say it again."

Rory nodded. "Explain, then."

"You two were infatuated since the night you met," Lorelai started. "This is a turtle pace, babe."

"Hmm," she mused. "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I am," she said. "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Rory laughed. "Right. How could I forget?"

"So he stayed over all night?" She asked, her tone was teasing and she could almost see the eyebrow raise.

"Nothing happened," Rory felt heat tempt to rise to her cheeks. "He brought me supplies."

"Dirty!" Lorelai gasped.

"Healing supplies," she defended.

"Still sounds dirty," Lorelai added.

Rory shook her head, fighting off the blush as she remembered the way he kissed her, the cold countertop underneath her, his hands on her back. "There may have been kissing."

"Aha!" Lorelai gasped. "I knew it!"

"It wasn't as dirty as you're thinking," she lied. She still remembered how hard it was to fall asleep while thinking of how he was just outside the door.

"Fine," Lorelai whined. "It was innocence that would put Snow White to shame."

"Thank you," Rory laughed, grateful for their usual conversation to take its place.

...

"So you're not coming back until tonight?" Luke questioned.

"If that's okay," Jess subtly asked.

"Its okay," Luke agreed. "Its not like I expected you to go there for a night and come back immediately."

"Thanks, Uncle Luke," he smirked. The nickname always got on Luke's nerves since he was seventeen years old. He could imagine the glare.

"So how is she?" Luke asked his nephew. "She still sick?"

"She says she feels better," Jess answered. "She seemed it, too."

"Good," Luke said. "Maybe it was a bug."

"Maybe," he nodded. "She liked the soup, by the way."

"She did?" Luke was surprised. "I'm glad. It's hard to get either of them to eat stuff like that."

"I think she was really feeling sick," Jess joked.

Luke made a sound that sounded like a laugh then went back to the first topic. "So when will you be back?"

"Dunno," he shrugged. Hints of his teenage self were breaking out again and he wasn't sure how he felt about it. "I figure I'll ask Rory if she wants to get dinner then we'll figure it out."

"Okay," Luke said. "You know, the whole town is talking about you two."

"Still?" He groaned. "Man, they don't quit."

"They're wondering if you left to go on a romantic getaway," Luke adds.

Jess groaned again. "Jeez."

"Oh, it gets better," his uncle replied. "Babette thinks you're eloping. That all the years apart made you two realize how much you're destined to be together and that you want to be married."

"Wow," he said. "They make it so much more than a guy brings his sick girlfriend soup, don't they?"

"It's Stars Hollow," Luke excused. "Its what they do."

"Well said," he agreed.

Luke added more to his thoughts though. "Well, they've been obsessed with you two again since you came back. I'm sure spying a nighttime make-out didn't help."

"Please," Jess scoffed. "We were not making out."

"That's not how it was described at the town meeting," Luke agrued while holding in laughter.

"Jeez," he repeated. "I should have expected this."

Luke agreed. "Probably."

Jess rolled his eyes. "Not even Lorelai's pregnancy announcement took center of gossip."

"Because they know we're together," Luke said. "They're wondering about you two because you haven't been."

"Because that's the only reason," Jess replied.

Luke just laughed. "Gosh, I can't wait for you to come back."

Jess groaned once again.

...

Rory walked into her apartment and smiled. Jess was on the couch reading a book and it was a really nice sight to see. "I'm home."

He looked behind him and smiled back. "Welcome back."

Jess walked over to her and kissed her quick. "Well, this is very welcoming."

"If you think that's a nice welcome..." He suggested.

Rory slapped him playfully on the chest. "Shush."

He put his hands up in surrender. "Fine. How was work?"

"Good," she nodded and out her coat up. "Wasn't as behind as I expected since I got emails yesterday."

"That's great," he told her. "I know you don't want to be behind on work."

She smiled at him as he walked back towards the couch. Jess turned around and noticed her staring. "Sorry. I was just..."

"Staring?" He asked with a smirk.

"Liking having you here when I come home," she answered, choosing not to comment on the smug look on his face.

"Its nice to wait around for you," he admitted. "I wasn't sure if I was supposed to stay."

"You could do whichever," she told him and finally followed him towards her couch. They sat down beside each other. "But I am glad you stayed."

"Me, too," he agreed.

He kissed her lightly, lips barely brushing but still enough to ignite sparks. "We're gonna be okay, right? We're not diving into something that's gonna end up a total mess?"

"We're gonna be fine," he told her.

"Promise?" She asked.

"Promise," he repeated.

Rory leaned her head on his shoulder and Jess put his arm around her. He kissed her hair and she smiled, perfectly content with the way things were at that exact moment. After a few seconds of sitting there together, Jess spoke again.

"Dinner now?"

"Oh, god, yes."

A/N: so what did you think of a chapter without flashbacks? I kinda like it but like I said, it won't be gone for good and there will still be flashbacks just not as frequent and I really love writing present day now that lit is together. But I want your opinions too so leave a review and let me know what you think :)