A/N: Okay, so it's been a long time since I wrote for this story. I thought I was done with it, but I couldn't resist. It's skipping ahead in the timeline, too. I'm saying about two years from the last chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Gilmore Girls, but I do own a house now! Yay me!

Ch. 16 - A Long Time Coming

Rory and Jess were strolling through Stars Hollow when they inevitably ended up at the bridge. They sat on the edge with their feet hanging off the side, for old time's sake.

"I should have waited and proposed here" Jess said absentmindedly.

"What? I loved your proposal" Rory insisted.

She had come home one day with a random book she found at a book fair. She knew he would love it. It was eccentric and unique, with an edge to the writing style. It was just like him. She had presented it to him with an excited grin and he looked over it thoughtfully, like he always did. He gave her a strange look and she instantly worried that he didn't like it, or that he had somehow already read it. He didn't explain his reaction, though. He just got up, went into the bedroom, and returned a few seconds later with one hand behind his back. He knelt down in front of her and presented the box without words. He didn't need words, his eyes said it all. She teared up and just nodded. He took the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger, and told her he loved her. It had been perfect.

"Yeah, but this is where it all began. I always thought I would ask you here, but I got impatient" he admitted.

"That's because you're the impulsive one and I'm the planner. Don't mess with the system" she joked.

"We do work pretty well together, don't we?"

"We sure do."


Rory's cell phone beeped, indicating that they needed to head back to the inn. They were on a strict schedule this weekend and Lorelai would have a complete melt down if they were late tonight. They had just stepped off the bridge when they heard someone call out behind them.

"You really like my sloppy seconds, don't you?"

Rory felt Jess tense up as he turned to face their verbal assailant. She reluctantly turned as well, her face unwillingly turning red.

"Excuse me?" Jess said warningly.

"You heard me" Dean shot back.

"Still stuck in high school, man? That's just sad" he responded with his trademark sarcasm.

"High school?" Dean questioned with amusement before directing his attention to Rory, "You didn't tell him did you?"

Rory blushed even more and wished she could disappear. She desperately grasped for a way to change the subject.

"I thought you moved away when you got back together with Lindsay. Why are you even here?" she asked with all the venom she could muster.

"Not that it's any of your business, but we brought the baby to see our parents" he answered smugly.

"You procreated? No wonder the world's going to shit" Jess laughed dryly.

"At least my kid's not a son of a whore."

"And you're implying what exactly?" Jess asked, genuinely confused about the target of that insult.

"You're girlfriend's a slut and a home wrecker" he said bluntly.

Jess looked to Rory, eyes blazing.

"Can I please hit him now?"

"Awww, do you need your girlfriend's permission to wipe your ass, too?" Dean asked patronizingly.

"No, I don't need permission from my fiancée," he stressed that word, "to do anything, but I would like her blessing."

Dean's face went pale. He looked like someone had just sucker punched him in the gut. His eyes flickered to Rory's left hand for confirmation of what Jess had said.

"You're marrying him?" he asked with disgust.

"Yeah. That's actually why we're in town" Rory answered, finding renewed strength with his signs of weakness.

"The wedding's tomorrow. We would have invited you, but let's face it - you're a complete tool" Jess added spitefully.

"In town? You don't live around here anymore?" Dean asked Rory, still stunned by the wedding revelation.

"We live in Philly" Rory explained slowly.

She was starting to feel sorry for Dean. He was obviously still not over their past. She could tell Jess wasn't through with him yet, though. She tugged gently at his arm to remind him that they really did need to go. He started to turn away from Dean, but stopped midway.

"Just for the record, I do know that you two dated again after high school. I also know that you cheated on your wife. I only meant that you still act the same as you did in high school" he said before finally allowing Rory to lead him away.


When they got back to the car, Rory turned to Jess before starting the engine.

"I'm sorry I never said anything" she said quietly.

"You have nothing to be sorry for" he assured her.

"So I guess Luke told you about me and Dean?"

"Yeah, on accident. We talked not long after the double date disaster. I asked about you and he went on a famous Luke rant about how he couldn't believe your mom was letting you date him again. He didn't mean to tell me about it, but you know Luke when he gets on a rant" he explained.

"Everyone was mad at me for that one. I was a slutty home wrecker" she mumbled.

"You weren't the one who was married. He's the slimeball in my book. Besides, if anyone in this car is a slut, it's me - not you" he insisted.

"You never slept with someone else's husband" she said miserably.

"No," he laughed, "but I did steal some asshole's girlfriend once. So I'm kind of a home wrecker, too."

"That just sort of happened" Rory protested, realizing he was trying to make her feel better.

"Oh I knew exactly what I was doing" he insisted. "I never claimed to be perfect, and I don't expect you to be, either. You can't beat yourself up over the past. Trust me, no good will come of it."

"I know" she said, still looking down.

Jess pulled her chin up so he could look her in the eyes.

"Rory, I don't give a damn about Dean, or Logan, or Jeremy. I only care about you and the life we're building together. I love you and I can't wait to marry you."

He saw the flurry of emotions flicker across her eyes as he talked. It still amazed him how many emotions she could feel at one time. He felt a small stab of satisfaction when she cringed at Jeremy's name. She didn't know he knew about that one. Lorelai had looser lips than Luke when it came to accidentally revealing secrets about her daughter. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her love for him finally outshine all the other emotions. Of course, then the panic flickered in as well. He had to laugh at that one.

"Well, don't just sit there, drive!" he told her.

"We are so late. Mom's going to kill us" she cried as she started the car and sped off toward the inn.

"She'll live," he reasoned, "besides, it's our rehearsal dinner. They can't start without us."

"We'll never hear the end of it" she groaned. "Oh, and I love you too, by the way."

"Yeah, I kind of figured that out" he said with a smirk. "Now pay attention to the road. Somehow it'll still be my fault if you wreck the car."

She smiled and slowed the car down to a reasonable speed. She made a promise to herself to enjoy the last day in this chapter of her life. Tomorrow she'd be a married woman. And she couldn't wait.

A/N: If I get enough reviews, maybe I'll feel compelled to write another wedding chapter(s)... I'm shameless, I know ;)