Rory closed the door quietly behind her as she entered her house.

"Is that you Rory?" Lorelai called from her spot on the lounge. "I wasn't sure how long you'd be so I kinda started watching a movie without you but..." her voice trailed off as she turned to see her daughter's face.

"I think I'm just going to go to bed. It's been a long day. I'm done with it." Rory prayed she'd just let her go and wouldn't try and make her talk now. She felt sick to the stomach knowing Jess was very likely reading her words right this moment.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen with Jess? He didn't hurt you did he that little..." Lorelai started.

"Nothing happened with Jess Mom, I'm just tired." Rory's voice was flat, her eyes defeated, as she cut her mother off from another potential hoodlum rant.

"Well, okay, if you're sure. You know you can talk to me if you want to, that's what I'm here for." Lorelai knew better than to push her daughter right now. Rory had her thinking face on and experience told her she'd tell her about it tomorrow when she was ready.

"Maybe tomorrow?" Rory offered with an attempt at a smile.

"I'll supply the coffee," Lorelai assured her.

Rory walked the remaining steps to her room feeling her mother's eyes on her the entire way. She would talk to her tomorrow but right now she just needed to process this on her own. She closed the door behind her, leaning her back against it as she slid to the floor. Looking around her room she saw so many parts of her personality on display, her dreams pinned to the walls, her collection of friends aligned neatly in her bookcase. Suddenly it all seemed so small, so limited, so sheltered. Was she really ready for the potential implications of her letter? She really was just a small town girl and Jess, well Jess was the opposite of small town. He'd likely experienced things she'd not ever even contemplated. He'd almost certainly experienced more than she ever had with Dean. Rory groaned inwardly as she rose from the floor and changed into her comfy pjs.

"What about Dean Rory? Are you still with him?" Jess's voice echoed in her mind.

Dean. What about Dean? She began to ask herself the questions she'd been unable to find answers for in Washington. How do I tell him I don't love him anymore? Not the way he wants me to love him anyway. Not the way he loves me. How do I tell him I'm bored and suffocated? How do I tell him I want to move on with my life without him? Regardless of Jess's response to the letter she had to end it with Dean. He deserves to be with someone who wants to be with him.

Rory looked herself in the eye in her mirror as she brushed her hair, trying to soothe some of the tension of the day away with long firm strokes. She promised her reflection she'll end it with Dean tomorrow then put down her brush and climbed into bed.

She didn't know how long she'd been laying there, only that sleep was refusing to come to her aid, leaving her thoughts to run wild as she contemplated all the possible outcomes of Jess reading her letter. A gentle tap at the window startled her and her heart began to race as she untangled herself from her covers then pulled aside the curtain to reveal the face of her late night visitor. She couldn't help but smile as she saw his eyebrow rise in a silent request to come in. Obligingly she opened the pane and stepped back to give him space to climb into her room.

Once he'd found his feet Jess reached out to take her hands in his, looking deeply into her eyes as if searching for something. She could feel the blush rising up her neck and into her face. She couldn't think of a single thing to say but she needn't have worried about that. It was Jess who had come to her and it was his turn to answer her question.

"I came back for you." Jess whispered into the dark room before closing the distance between them and kissing her the way she'd spent the entire Summer imagining.

A/N I'm still not sure how far I will take this story but I have at least one more chapter ready to post and another in mind at this stage. Thanks for reading. I'll post the next chapter soon to make up for this one being so short.