A/N: Thank you so much for all of the reviews! You all amaze me by continuing to write them and care so much about the story! And I'm so glad none of you hate me! :P

Also this chapter is a tiny bit filler, stuff happens but not entirely big stuff for the first parts but it's a part of the story and I hope you like it :) Also, happy new year!

Rory stared off into space in her office. Jen sat across from her and was going over an article she had written. When she got no response to a question, she waved her hands in front of Rory and tried to get her attention.

"Rory?" She called. "Earth to Rory?"

She turned towards Jen and instantly felt guilty. "I'm sorry, what?"

Jen looked at her wonderingly. "Do you not want to do this right now?"

"What?" She shook her head and straightened up in her seat. "No. We can finish."

"Are you okay?" She asked. "Ever since your birthday, you've been distant. Is it the phone call? I'm sorry I called -"

"No," Rory cut her off. "Its not the phone call. Not entirely."

"Then what?" She questioned. "I tried explaining to Jess, too but he didn't let me."

That got her attention. "You talked to Jess?"

She was surprised how much attention that part got. "Only when he answered."

"Oh," she slumped in her seat.

Jen noticed the change. "Why? Haven't you?"

"No," Rory answered.

"But you live together," she argued.

She felt the pang at the words and tried her best at replying without any tears. "Not anymore."

It clicked in Jen's head and she let out a humorless laugh. Rory looked at her strangely before she spoke. "Of course he would do that."

"Its my fault," she groaned. "I didn't tell him and then I stupidly said we should break up when he suggested leaving."

"Uh-huh," the other girl nodded. "What was he more upset about, me or it being a secret?"

"I think it was the secret part," she sighed. "But it became more than that. Things were said, past things, not the total worst of it but bad enough."

"So talk to him," she shrugged. "Go down to Philadelphia and get him."

"That's the other thing," Rory sighed. "He's not in Philadelphia. He went to California."

"California?" She almost exclaimed. "Why did he go there?"

"His sort of family leaves there," she answered. "His dad and the woman he's been with for years. Her daughter, too."

"How long will he be gone?" She asked.

"So far its been a week," she shrugged. "So I'm guessing longer than that."

"So go get him," she nudged.

"What?" Rory laughed now. "How? I don't even know where."

"Where does his dad live?" She asked.

"Somewhere in Venice Beach," she remembered. "Luke could know where."

"So ask him."

"What if he doesn't even want to see me?"

"You're Rory," she rolled her eyes as if being Rory explained everything. "Of course he'd want to see you."

"I doubt it," she said. "You didn't see him. You didn't see his face when he was on the phone or when we got back to New York."

"Call him," she suggested.

"I did," she stared at her pen and tapped it on the desk. "I hung up the first few times and once he actually answered so I hung up again."

She made a face. "Didn't he know it was you?"

"I may have called from a payphone," she said in a low voice.

"Payphone!" Jen gasped and let out a laugh. "They still exist?"

Rory actually found herself laughing too. "They do! There's actually a few down by Times Square especially."

"I have to look for these," she shook her head in amazement. Her face softened then. "Look, I don't really know you. But I do know Jess and what he told me about you."

"What did he tell you?" Rory asked against her better judgement.

"That he was in love with you from when you met," she explained. "That your timing together sucked."

"Sounds right," she agreed, remembering his speech to her in her dorm room. That set off a whole new round of guilt. Her face fell.

Jen seemed to notice that. "What? Something I said?"

"Something I said," she whispered.

...

When Rory got home, she threw her purse and jacket down with a loud sigh. The place seemed so empty ever since Jess had left and it felt twenty times lonelier than when he went to Philadelphia.

She grabbed coffee and put into the pot, needing the familiar taste. While the coffee bewed, she went to sit on the couch. Rory soon got lost in her thoughts and her phone ringing brought her back to the moment.

For a second, she almost believed it could be Jess. He hadn't picked up his other stuff yet and she wondered if he wanted it back. When she saw the name on her screen, she almost sighed in disappointment and then guilt came.

"Hey, mom," she answered.

"Remind me why I am doing this again," Lorelai said.

Rory laughed. "Doing what?"

"Letting another human being take over my body," she answered simply.

"Oh, have the aliens returned?" Rory teased.

"Don't joke with mommy." She imagined her mother pouting on the other end. "I can barely see my feet."

"You're not that big," she tried to make her feel better.

And it didn't work. "'That big'. Meaning I am big, just not 'that big'."

"Have you had decaf today?" She asked.

"I didn't," Lorelai told her.

Rory shook her head. "Maybe that's the problem."

Lorelai gave a 'ha' on the other end. "Or decaf is the problem."

"You'll have coffee soon enough," Rory said. "Maybe let Luke give you the limit. Make yourself stop after."

"Oh, honey," she said affectionately. "You're so cute when you think mommy can only have a limited amount of coffee."

"How can I be cute if you can't see me?" She teased again.

"Because you look like a little kid when they go to the mall to see Santa," she answered.

"Oh!" She laughed. "Well, that explains it!"

"Besides Luke told me he wouldn't because I might sneak more," she said defeated.

"Poor baby," Rory curled her legs underneath her on the couch. "So he knows you. Imagine the surprise."

"Hey, you think maybe Jess would convince him for me?" She asked excitedly. "They're close, funnily enough. Maybe he'll listen to him."

"I wouldn't know," she said. "Jess isn't talking to me."

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked, instantly turning out of joking mode and into mother mode.

"Remember my birthday?" She asked. "We kind of fought after we got back."

"You fought?" She questioned. "How bad?"

"It went from Jess telling me when he started sleeping with Shane to e telling him about Dean," she cringed at the memory.

"Oh, hon," Lorelai whispered.

"He left," Rory admitted. She had delayed telling her mother about it. Partly because Jess wasn't just a boyfriend, he was family, sort of. The other part was she hoped he would come back.

She heard her mom make a noise on the other end. "Where did he go? He's still in New York or -"

"No," she said. "He's not in New York."

The older woman sighed. "Well where is he?"

"California," she mumbled.

"Excuse me," she said. "Did you say California?"

Rory was about to explain how he told her he'd go see Lily, his kind of sister when a new voice came on the line. "Jess went to California?"

"Yes," she let out a breath. "He did."

Luke cursed under his breath. She imagined her mom being proud of his swearing. "I'm gonna kill that kid."

"Luke," Rory tried. "He didn't do anything."

"He left!" His voice rose. "I can't believe he did this. Again."

"He only went to visit Lily," she cut in.

"What?" Luke asked. He had heard about Lily before but was still surprised to hear about her. "That's all?"

Lorelai must have grabbed the phone back from her husband because she spoke next. "Is he coming back?'

"Probably," she pulled at the toes of her sock. "He still has work."

"Not to Philly," Lorelai explained. "To New York."

"I don't know," she answered truthfully.

"Hon," she started. "Do you want to talk?"

"Not really," she shook her head for no one. "I want to talk to him."

"So talk to him," she urged.

"He's gone," she said.

"So go down to California and talk to him," Lorelai suggested.

"You are not the first person to suggest that," Rory told her.

"All the more reason to do it," there was a smile in her words.

She considered that for a moment. "Put Luke back on?"

...

Jess walked along the boardwalk by himself. The day was cool out and it just felt nice. He had left his phone back at his hotel room and stood nearby a bench. It was the most freeing he felt since getting here.

A voice called his name and he looked over in the direction it came. Lily walked up to Jess with a big smile. "Guess what?"

"What?" He smiled back at her.

"Brandon is coming to dinner tomorrow night," she beamed. "And you can meet him."

"That's great," he told her. Brandon was Lily's boyfriend of five months. Sasha had tried to meet him sooner but Lily was too afraid the combined parenting of Jimmy and Sasha might scare him away. "What makes this time different?"

"You're here," she smiled. "Itd be nice to have my big brother there."

"You do remember I'm not your brother, right?" He teased her.

"Shut up," she hit him. "You are, okay?"

Jess started walking and Lily linked his arm with hers. "Does this mean I get to see Jimmy be protective?"

She snorted. "Probably. He's still in denial I'm older than twenty."

"Well, that could be fun," he smirked.

"So you'll come?" She asked excitedly. "You won't stay in your hotel room and brood?"

"I do not brood," he defended.

That only made her laugh more. "Yes, you do. You did then and you do now."

"Do not," he kept arguing.

"You know you do," she teased. "Rory?"

"Yep," he said.

"But you were back together!" She exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Seems the past doesn't want us escape it as much as we try," he said.

Lily stopped walking and stood in front of him. "What did you do this time?"

"I didn't do anything," he answered. "She's the one who said we should break up."

She gasped. "No! Why? You love each other!"

He shrugged. "Guess that's not enough."

"You are such an idiot," she shook her head.

"Gee, thanks," he said sarcastically. "Got any more compliments?"

"Do all the synonyms for stupid count?" She wondered out loud.

"They just all equal stupid so no," he said.

"How about this one?" They began walking again down the boardwalk. "You're as stupid as your dad."

He laughed. "Okay, that hurts."

"He did this exact thing with my mom," she explained. "He continuously let her break up with him years ago. It was so infuriating."

"How many times did they break up?" He wondered.

"I think five times," Lily nodded. "Yeah, its got to be five."

"And?" He asked.

She rolled her eyes. "And they got back together. Obviously."

Jess leaned towards her and messed up her hair. "You remind me of me, you know."

"Watch the hair," she patted it down. "And why? Warn me before the boyfriend comes."

"Smart mouth," he answered.

"Huh," she grinned.

He poked her now. "That, too."

...

After dinner that night, Jess offered to help Sasha clean the dishes. He stood there in the kitchen with her as she stared at him wiping off a plate. "What?"

"Just wondering," she shook her head.

Jess turned the water off and faced her. "Wondering what?"

"Why you're really here, first of all," she started.

"I came for a visit," he explained. "Work let me have some free time."

"You've been here a week," she noted.

"And?" He waited.

Sasha was used to this kind of an attitude. She looked toward the door to the dining room table where the source of it was. "And you don't really come here much so why now?"

"No reason," he shrugged. "Just wanted to see you guys."

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "Now tell me the real answer."

He didn't fall for it. Jess was used to this, too. "How about you tell me the rest of the things you're wondering?"

She smirked back at him. Sasha's smirk could revil his own. "Why you don't stay here with us instead of a crummy hotel."

"I'm not gonna stay here," he told her.

"Why not?" She crossed her arms. "You did before."

"I was eighteen," he defended. "With no money. My only possessions was in a duffel bag."

"Hmm," she uncrossed her arms and nodded.

"What?" He asked. "You want me not have money?"

"No," Sasha shook her head. "I was hoping you'd just want to stay with us."

"Okay," he said after a minute and in a low voice. "I'll stay here then."

...

The next morning Jess was awoken to dogs barking. Last night, after dinner, he went back to the hotel and told them he was checking out. They were surprised at first but let him. Sasha had welcomed him back with open arms. Jimmy grumbled a hi.

He groaned at the sound, hoping whatever made them bark would stop. When it did, he heard the front door open and the distant sound of voices. Jess got out of bed and walked toward the voices, believing this to be a dream.

His breath almost stopped when he reached the door. Jess stood frozen as he looked at his father than back to the person that caused the dogs to get excited. Her blue eyes stared right back at him.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," he replied.

Jimmy looked between them. "I guess I don't have to tell him you're here."

"You could give us some privacy, though," Jess told him.

The older man laughed. "My house."

"You want to be the one that tells Sasha I went back to the hotel?"

"Not really, no," Jimmy stopped laughing. "She'll give me that look the first time you stayed here."

"Then I guess you better go," he told him.

"I don't wanna be a problem," she said.

"It's fine," Jess shrugged. "We can go in my room."

Rory started to walk into the doorway and began to follow Jess when Jimmy shouted, "I better not hear any loud noises from in there!"

Jess closed the door behind her and she looked around the small room. The bed was about the only real piece of furnirure in the room. There was shelves and his duffel thrown on the opposite end. "So."

"What are you doing here, Rory?" He asked.

Her mouth opened and closed. He had been teasing out there with his dad and with her, his expression turned hard. It almost looked like he had built his walls back up. "I wanted to see you."

"I thought when you break up with someone, it means you don't want to see them anymore," he retorted.

Rory sighed. "I guess I deserve that."

He crossed his arms expectantly. "Come on, Ror. Why are you here?"

"We have to talk," she could only come up with. On the plane over, she rehearsed many different ways this could go. None of them prepared her for how nervous she felt.

"If you're gonna put more vivid pictures I don't want in my head...," he said. "Then I'll pass."

"That's not what -" she stopped and mentally kicked herself again. "I'm sorry I told you about that."

"I deserved it," he confessed. "I was being a dick."

"You were," she agreed. "But it was a low blow. I know everything with you and Dean and I should have just kept my mouth shut."

"So you were trying to hurt me," Jess said in a calm voice.

Rory just nodded. "A little."

"It worked," he told her. "I'm having a little trouble getting it out of my head now. Just seeing you standing in front of me, I can't help but think of him touching you the way I did."

"Jess -"

"What?"

"Come back," she said.

He didn't think he heard Rory right. "What?"

"Come back," she repeated. "We don't have to work it all out now but I'd like to be on the same side of the country, at least."

"I'm not coming back yet," he shook his head as he looked down to the floor.

Rory stepped closer which made him take a step back. "Why not?"

"You broke up with me," he replied. "Remember that?"

She nodded. "Yes, but I didn't mean it."

"How do you not mean telling someone you shouldn't be together?" He questioned once his gaze was back up.

Rory shuffled her feet. "I was mad."

"I guess that makes it all okay, right?" He asked.

"No, it doesn't," she agreed with that, too. "But I still didn't mean it and I still want to talk."

His face softened and lost the sarcastic look. "I don't know if I can."

This time when she stepped closer, he didn't back up. "Why?"

"Because it seems like no matter what we do," he explained. "No matter how much we love each other, how much we don't want to hurt the other, we always do."

She lifted her hand and put her calm to his cheek. Jess leaned onto it and she was reminded of years earlier. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Neither do I," he agreed.

Rory let her hand go free and backed up, towards the door. "I'm not leaving here yet. I'm staying until we talk."

"What about work?" He found himself asking.

"I told the other boss - the male one," she said. Jess knew little of the guy boss. He had heard more about Leslie. "I asked for a few days then they're gonna send me stuff."

He shook his head. "Just go home, Rory."

Her face fell at his words but she remained strong in front of him. "No."

"Rory..."

"No," she repeated. "I didn't come here just to go back. I came here to make you talk to me."

"And what if it just makes everything worse?" He stared at her.

"I don't know," her fingers gripped the doorknob. "But maybe if we get it all out, it could make things better."

With that, she opened and shut the door. Jess tried to follow her out despite having told her to leave. Rory walked right out the front door and past Jimmy and Sasha on the couch. They seemed as surprised as him.

Jess went slowly back to his room and shut the door behind him. He couldn't wrap his brain around what was happening. She had come after him. Rory Gilmore came after him. She had never done that before. If it wasn't so hard for him right now, he would love her even more for it.

There was a knock on the door then it opened slowly. Jimmy stood there in the doorway. "So that was the infamous Rory."

"That was her," Jess sat down on the bed.

"She's pretty," he commented.

Jess nodded. "That she is."

"What happened now?" Jimmy asked. "She why you're here?"

"Pretty much," another nod.

"And you just let her leave?"

"I had to."

Jimmy waited. "Explain."

Jess sighed. "If I let her stay, if we talked, then we'll make up and I don't know if I can do that right now. We tried brushing the past aside and somehow secret keeping brings it all back up."

"So maybe that's a good thing," he added.

"Its not," he shook his head twice. "I rather us fight now before it gets any worse then continue the fight so that we never want to speak to each other."

"Maybe that won't happen," the older man replied.

"Or maybe its already in motion," Jess countered. "Maybe just the thought of her is killing me right now and her being here is making me feel even worse."

"She just wants to see you," he supplied.

"Or she wants to break me," he added. "She's done it before with a visit."

Jimmy doesn't get the chance to reply because Jess has grabbed his jacket and walked around him to get to the door. He doesn't care he's wearing pajamas. He won't go far. Outside, he puts his jacket on and pulled put a cigarette.