It was physically wrong to lead a person on. He knew what he was going to do, but hadn't talked to his wife before doing so. He had this on his mind what he was doing, week after week. Distracted, knowing that one day he would become a father. That day had come and he was sitting in the middle of another airport, hard chairs and all.

This was not where he wanted to be.

Letting out a sigh, Jess reached into his pocket to check his phone. He had put in on silent for a reason.

Fifteen missed calls.

Six new messages.

He knew already without listening to the messages that they were all from Rory. He closed his eyes, trying to listen to the flight calls on the speaker echoing throughout the airport, but all he could see was her. He could see that she was desperate to know where he was, if he was okay.

Clicking into his voicemail, he listened.

"First new message." The automated voice prompted, pausing. He listened as his recognizable phone number played through, then who it was from-"Rory" her voice had chimed through in one short note:

"Hey you. I was wondering when you were coming home. I cleaned up the kitchen so I thought I could make that dinner I was going to make for our anniversary. So let me know when you'll be home. And I know that I haven't really told you this for awhile, but I love you."

"Next message." the voice offered after he clicked to the next available message.

"Jess? It's been two hours. Where are you?" Rory's voice sounded exhausted, so tired. "If you don't call, I'm calling over to your office to insist they send you home to your wife."

The next message came ten minutes after the first.

"Care to explain what the heck you were thinking? I called your office. The nice secretary told me that you didn't even come into work today. All your meetings, even your promotion for your book has been cancelled. You're not answering your phone. Please tell me that you didn't lie to me this morning when you kissed me goodbye this morning. Call me."

Jess shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was starting to think this whole trip thing was a big mistake. And then he clicked over to the fourth message.

He was greeted with a sigh on the other end, and then the message ended. Like she was desperate to leave another message, but she was more in the middle of trying to form the right words to say. The fifth and six were identical, except the last words on the sixth message were "I'm heading to your office." It was apparent that she had not gotten the message that he had left for her, taped to her computer.

"No more messages." The automatic voice prompted. "To.." Without much effort Jess pulled the phone away from his ear and clicked the end button. Promptly he closed his phone, looking around the airport; more particularly at the gate check in. He still found it empty, just like it had been thirty minutes ago. Delay in flights seemed like they lasted longer then they really had to. That's why he, Jess Mariano, hated them with a passion. But this time it was his only ticket out of here.

Picking up the phone he dialed his home phone number. Rory's last phone call had come about thirty minutes ago, so she was probably still around at the office. Although he couldn't directly talk to her right now until he had pulled himself together, in order to figure out exactly how to explain this to her; this would have to work.

"Hi you've reached Rory" His wife's voice came through the speaker. "...and Jess Mariano" he had chimed in after her. "We're not home right now." they said together, with a rather cheerful tone. "Please leave a message and we would be glad to get back to you."

Jess couldn't help but chuckle a little. All the times it had taken them to actually record the message without laughing or messing up, or being serious enough to do so. And just like then he had to compose himself enough to leave a message.

"Rory? Look I know you're not at home right now, but I need you to listen to me. I thought by now you would get the message that I left for you. I taped it just above your computer screen. It might not have been the best explanation, but please Rory, after you get home-you need to trust me on this. That there is a reason for my madness, and I never meant to worry you. That's the last thing I'd ever want to do to you. Look my plane is boarding now. I'll be home as soon as I can and then I will explain everything. I love you."

With that he closed his phone and stood. He must have been burning more time than he originally thought. It was now half past nine and his seat section had just been called to board the airplane. By the time he was seated, Rory would have just arrived home to listen to the message; his phone would be turned off, which would buy more time to gather an excellent explanation for not telling the plan.

She tried not to let herself panic at her husband's absence. But it wasn't like him to leave without calling. At least that's what she kept telling herself. He had promised her many times that he would never leave her. Never again. She couldn't let herself think that he had broken his promise. Rory shook her head as she stepped into the building her husband worked in. Ducking to the side she pulled out her phone, then had second thoughts and placed her phone back into her bag.

What she didn't need right now was her mom having a full fledged on panic attack of rage, but at first glance she couldn't help feel a tad guilty that she was leaving her mom out of the loop. Not to mention, Luke. But he was another story and he would be harder to stop, especially if he knew that she, Rory Mariano was pregnant. Drinking coffee in the first semester would be cake compared to what he would do if he knew.

"Can I help you?" A secretary voice echoed throughout the front room. She was talking to another client; tall, skinny, long brown hair pulled up into a ponytail. As for the secretary she wore black rimmed glasses, in her mid forties and had an hour glass figure.

"Yeah, I have an appointment with Joe Dominopolous." The client spoke, in a low spoken tone. Almost like she didn't want to be heard. But with the constant ringing of the phone, chattering in the room, it was only for the drawing out of her voice by the echoing that anybody could really hear her if they listened.

"You know it's not polite to stare." A familiar voice drawled behind her. Rory turned around, putting the voice to a name. If it weren't Joe Dominopolous, himself. "Hey Rory. It's been awhile since we've talked. How are things? I haven't talked with Jess or you for what seems like ages."

They could be better.

"Pretty good. I think things are genuinely moving along if you consider the business involved. How many kids do you and Sue have now? I saw at least two the last time we can over to celebrate Sue's birthday."

"Yeah, you saw Cindy, who's four now-and Kallie just turned two. Lilly who you haven't met yet has turned six months some time last week."

"Wow three daughters." Rory nodded uncomfortably, but Joe didn't seem to take notice. He was looking in the direction of the secretary desk, watching as the secretary nodded her head in the direction of some empty seats sitting against the wall and informed the lady that she could take a seat until he had arrived.

"That's my cue." He turned to face her, answering her earlier response. "They kids keep us busy that's for sure. You'll have to come by the office some time and I'll show you some pictures. I sware they grow like weeds. Probably have changed more than we all know." Nodding wordlessly, she could suddenly sense his rushing demeanor; quick words, fleeting glance.

"Well I should get going. I was just going to grab a book out of Jess' office before I went home." It took all remaining energy for Rory not to bolt away in the presence of Joe. Her mind was reeling for answers of her husband's whereabouts. Apparently Joe was probably out of the range of asking where her husband might be.

Handing the ticket to the person at the desk, Jess gave one last glance before thanking the person checking his ticket and headed to his seat on the airplane. Once there, he shoved his bag underneath the seat and laid back, repeating the conversation he had prepared to say to both his mother and father. Jess opened his eyes just in time to see a guy; built shoulders, forest green dress shirt and black slacks standing by the empty seat next to him.

"How's it going?" The man greeted Jess with a slightly gruff voice as he stuffed his own bag underneath the seat.

"Just dandy." Jess offered tiredly, knowing this was going to be a long ride until he touched landing.