A/N: Thank you for the reviews.

New York, New York

A couple of days later, they were walking down the streets, her arm wrapped tightly around his waist while his rested on her shoulders. Snuggling closer, she smiled, looking at him.

"You having fun?"

"I will as soon as you can explain to me why we had to leave the hotel room." Jess smirked back, placing a quick kiss on her lips.

"Food, you jerk. I love being in bed with you, but I need food to survive."

"Room service."

"Their pancakes suck."

"I'm sure they have something that doesn't suck on the menu."

"Baby wanted pancakes." She nodded solemnly, making him chuckle.

"Sure." He drew out the word, looking at her. "If that's the excuse you plan on sticking to."

"It is, thank you very much." She laughed, lifting her head and kissing him. "Plus there is no way in hell I will agree with spending every day in bed. We could have done that at home."

"We already went out once."

"Yes, because it was New Year's Eve. You may be a local but I want to enjoy the touristy things and seeing the ball drop was one of those things. I'm a small town kid, this is exciting to me."

Monday evening.

As the large clocks started counting down the last minutes before midnight, she hugged him closer, her mouth close to his ear so he could hear her over the madness of the crowd.

"Happy?"

"Wondering why you dragged me to this."

"Because it's fun."

"It's insane and crowded and people are shoving and pushing."

"You're being overprotective again but don't want to admit it, aren't you?"

"Well, admitting to it now would make no sense." He smirked, pulling back and kissing her quickly.

"You're insane."

"I don't want you to get hurt." He ran his knuckles over her bump quickly, his smirk changing into a soft smile.

"I'll be fine. We're standing to the side, away from people. Everything will be alright."

"I know."

"That doesn't mean you'll stop worrying, does it?"

"Nope." He agreed, hugging her closer.

"You're already super-dad and don't even realize it."

"No, I'm just concerned about your safety." He shook his head, kissing her. "I think they're getting ready to start the countdown, you might want to watch."

Nodding, she turned around in his arms, watching as everyone started counting down the last minute. Wrapping his arms tighter around her from behind, Jess leaned closer so he could see her, watching as she counted down with everyone else, a giant smile playing on her lips. As soon as they reached 1, she twisted her neck and kissed him, ignoring the happy people around them screaming and celebrating.

"Happy New Year, Jess." She whispered against his mouth, kissing him again.

"Happy New Year. I love you."

"I love you too." She smiled, turning around completely and hugging him.

"What do you know, the world didn't end in 2012." He chuckled, his hand cupping her face.

"Well, I'm sure that everyone that used to know you as a teenager might agree that you being married and a grown-up and all that is a sure sign that it's not far off."

"Oh, funny." He chuckled, placing quick kisses on her lips.

"I think I may have been gone for far too long to count as a local anymore."

"You still know all the good hangouts. Oh, I have an idea." She announced, taking his hand and starting to drag him towards the subway station in front of them.

"What, you want to venture the subway?"

"We need to go somewhere."

"Where? If I'm allowed to know and all that." He shook his head, laughing as they started going down the stairs.

"Record shop." Rory turned around and grinned, tilting her head to the side. "Remember? In high school, when I…"

"I know which one you're talking about. You threatened me with your withering stare; it's hard to forget death threats."

"You seem to have survived pretty well so far."

"Barely. Just barely." He laughed, placing a quick kiss on her lips before starting to head towards the correct subway line.

A bit later, as they were travelling towards their destination, Rory put her head on his shoulder, smiling. "I like watching you in New York. You fit here."

"What?" He looked down at her, rubbing her arm.

"It's just…I guess I always think of you when I think of New York. You know what you're doing and where you're going and…you belong."

"Want to know something?"

"Sure."

"I think a part of me always thought I'd somehow end back here."

"I kind of always thought you'd end up back here as well." She shrugged, sitting up and looking at him. "I didn't think you'd ever give it up voluntarily."

"Trust me, I didn't want to."

After a few seconds of silence, she looked at him, smiling. "We still have time to end up here. I mean you and the guys have been talking about expanding for pretty much ever and New York is the most rational place. It could work out."

"Ror, I…" He took a deep breath, still looking at her. "I..."

"This isn't only about you. The Times is here. That's still on the list."

"I know. But we both know it's not just us to think about."

"Would it be that horrible to raise the kid here?"

"I don't know." He shrugged. "It could work. Maybe."

"I'm not saying this is an 'any time soon' sort of plan. But we can think about it."

Standing up, he took her hand and waited for her to walk with him to the door. As soon as they were on the platform, he smiled, his arm going back around her waist.

"We'll talk about it again in a few years. It'll be more complicated to pack up and leave soon."

"I know." She rubbed her bump, smiling at him. "I'm sure we'll find a way."

"Worst that can happen, we add that to the already long list of reasons why that kid will need a therapist before it turns 5."

"Worst case." Rory laughed, kissing his cheek.

"You'd really be ok with us living here? Raising this kid here?" He looked at her as they were walking down the street and she shrugged, smiling.

"I told you, this is about more than you. It would be for me as well. Plus, we'd be closer to Stars Hollow."

Chuckling, he kissed her quickly. "We'll talk about it again someday."

Walking inside the small shop, they started leafing through the stacks of records.

"Must we do this?"

The next day, Rory was dragging him through a park, making him grumble. Reaching the end, she put her hands on her hips, looking disappointed.

"It's not here."

"Wow. Shocking. A hot dog cart is not in the same place it was 10 years ago."

"But…" She pouted, looking at him. "Ugh. Not fair."

"Does this mean the stupid tour is over or do you plan on dragging me to the freaking bus station as well?"

"No bus station." She turned around, starting to walk slowly towards one of the benches. "I can't even remember which one it was." She shook her head disappointedly, looking at him.

Rolling his eyes and sighing, he pointed to one. "That one."

"How do you remember?"

"I spent a shitload of time on that bench."

Walking to the bench, she sat down on it, looking up at him. "I swear I'm done now."

"It's ok. I've always been told you have to pacify the crazy." He smirked, crouching down in front of her. "You happy now?"

"Yes." She nodded, grinning. "Very happy."

"Good." Cupping her face in his hand, he caressed her cheek gently before standing back up. "Come on, let's find another hot dog stand. You can pretend."

"Thank you." She jumped up from her place, hugging him tightly. "I love you."

"Yeah, yeah." He kissed her temple, running his hand up and down her back, trying to warm her up. Turning around, Rory took her camera out and snapped a picture of the bench before looking back at him, kissing him quickly.

"You have to promise you'll lie to the kid and tell her that that was the actual hot dog stand."

"Why would our kid give a crap about any of this?"

"Because little girls like hearing about this sort of things."

"So you've already decided it's a girl?" He cocked an eyebrow, smirking.

"At least this week it is. And if it's not or just doesn't care, then at least I'll have the pictures and be able to look at them when we're old and gray and I hate your guts and remember that there was a time I actually liked you."

"So you plan on hating me when we're old?"

"Bound to happen, really." She laughed, kissing him. "Go on, food."

Putting his arm on her shoulders and pulling her closer, he started walking in a random direction, trying to get out of the park.

"I cannot believe you've never been to the top of the Empire State Building!" Rory exclaimed later that night, laughing. "You lived here for ages."

"It's for tourists." He shrugged, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her.

"But it's in every famous New York movie ever made!"

"Yes…hence the 'it's for tourists' thing." He smirked, looking at her as she took a small step towards the edge. "You scared?"

"No!" She answered quickly. "Warhol's Empire! An Affair to Remember! King Kong, Jess! King Kong!" She accentuated the last two words, looking at him like he was crazy.

"Yes. And?"

"It's just…how did you never come here?" She took an even smaller step away from him as he watched her, amused.

"Just didn't." He walked to her, taking her hand again as she finally walked to the edge. Leaning to look down, she squeezed his hand tightly as he watched her, smiling softly at her enthusiasm.

"It's perfect." She grinned, turning around and hugging him. "Thank you for indulging me."

"It's fine."

"No, today has been so perfect that I have to thank you for going along with my madness." She whispered in his ear before kissing him.

"It was nothing." He hugged her closer, running his hands up and down her back. "I'm sure I'll get something out of it." He smirked and she pulled back, slapping his chest.

"Sure. You get the amazing privilege of rubbing my feet tonight."

"I'm a lucky man."

"Very lucky." She smiled, kissing him. "Let me take a couple of pictures and then we can head back to the hotel."

"Preferably before we freeze to death."

"I'll try." Giving him another quick kiss, she turned around, pulling out her camera.

A while later, back in their hotel room, Rory looked at Jess, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, flipping through the channels on the TV. Moving closer to him, she started rubbing the back of his neck, kissing his shoulder.

"Jess…?"

"Yeah?" He answered mindlessly, closing his eyes to focus on her hands.

"Can I ask you for a really big favor?" She slid closer, kissing his shoulder again.

"How much am I going to hate it?"

"Probably a lot."

"How much hell will I be in if I say no?"

"No hell." She smiled, running her hands down his back. "It's just…" Biting her lip, she hugged him, a hand playing in his hair. "You know how we really don't have much planned for Friday and I was kind of thinking that we could…um…" She hesitated again, making him twist his neck to look at her.

"We could…what? Because if this is about to turn dirty, I promise I'm not going to hate it."

Laughing, she shook her head. "No. I wanted to…you know what? Forget it." Changing her mind, she pulled back, starting to massage his neck again.

Rolling his eyes, Jess lifted his hands, taking hers in his and moving them away before turning around, putting his legs on the bed. "Say it."

"Jess, it doesn't matter."

"Uh-huh."

"It really doesn't." She tried to argue, smiling. "It was stupid and I am going to forget all about it now."

"Then humor me by telling me what it was so I can laugh at it with you." He smiled back, cupping her face in his hand.

"I don't think it's funny."

"Ror, tell me." He leaned over and kissed her, his thumb caressing her face.

"Show me." She whispered, holding her breath.

"What?" He looked at her, slightly confused.

"Show me what your life was like. Before you came to Stars Hollow."

"What do you want to see?"

"Where you used to live, libraries, book shops, anything that mattered to you."

"It's not pretty." He shrugged, looking into her eyes.

"Would it bother you?"

"Only because it means that I wouldn't get to spend Friday in bed with you either." He smirked, making her laugh.

"How about we skip the museum tomorrow and stay in bed instead?" She offered, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"Offering to skip over important cultural activities to get me in bed…really now, Miss Gi…" He started saying but shook his head, realizing his mistake. "…Mrs. Mariano?"

"Honestly, you'd think you'd know your wife's name." She laughed, cupping his face in her hands before kissing him. "So?"

"We can go." He placed a small kiss her palm, smiling.

"Thank you."

Shooting from his place, he pinned her down between him and the bed, making her laugh. "However, I reserve the right to complain about being out of bed."

"You complain any time we're out of bed."

"What, you going to blame me?" Sliding his hands under her shirt, he smirked, kissing her neck. "Plus look how ridiculously overdressed you are. You really should work harder on making sure I'm happy."

Lifting her head, Rory kissed him, laughing. "I'll give it my best try, husband."

Friday morning, they got out of a cab in a run-down area. Taking her hand, Jess started leading them towards one of the buildings in the back. When they reached it, he stood in front of it as she wrapped her arm around him, looking at him.

"So…"

"This is it." He pointed to a window. "Over there. For about 3 years."

"That's not long."

"Longest I lived in one place before Philadelphia."

"Home?" She tightened her grip on him, looking up at the window.

"Maybe." Shrugging, Jess kissed her cheek. After a few seconds, he looked back at her. "Can we go?"

"Why?"

"Because we're staring at a window." He chuckled, moving in front of her and placing a quick kiss on her lips. "I have a bookshop for you to see."

"This is…" Shaking her head quickly, she forced a smile, kissing him again.

"This is a shithole. Yes, I'm aware of that."

"Jess, I…" Hugging him close to her, she ran her fingers through his hair. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. Books?" He offered again, tilting his head in the direction of the street the cab had left them on.

"Yes."

Starting to walk again, Jess looked at her, smiling. "Why are you so quiet?"

"It's nothing, Jess." She smiled back, leaning over and kissing his cheek. "Really nothing."

"Rory…"

"I'm just…I don't know." Shaking her head she looked at him. "I'm sorry."

"For?"

"For your life having been this way."

"Ror, you lived in a freaking shed. Trust me, this wasn't all that bad." He pointed out, trying to make her smile.

"Yes, but it's you and yes, it was a shed but mom was there and the Independence and everything and it wasn't that bad. And I really want to not be here right now."

"We can skip the bookshop."

"Is there some place to have coffee instead?"

"None that I'd take you too. Let's cab it out of here."

"We don't have to."

"Hey, this was your idea. However, I'll be damned if I'm going to watch you get all sad because of this on our honeymoon. So we're going to go find a nice place, grab some coffee and something to eat, then buy more books and pretend we don't have a book problem."

"Jess…"

"No more Jess-ing me." He smirked, flagging down a cab down and giving it the address of their hotel. Hugging her in the back seat, he smiled, kissing the top of her head. "It wasn't bad."

"It wasn't what you deserved."

"You're biased."

"I love you, I have to be."

"Rory, you've known for a long time that my life wasn't perfect. It's pretty damn close to that now though, so I don't have any complaints." He smiled, rubbing her arm.

"You're a better person than I am because I'm just…ugh."

"No, I'm not." He chuckled, kissing her head again.

"Sometimes you are." She smiled, remembering the conversation she'd had with her mother about Jimmy. "Sorry about that." Lifting her head, she kissed him.

"About what?"

"Going all sad back there and…ugh, I thought I'd be better with it but I guess I'm just not. Maybe I'm too hormonal to deal with it."

"Then I'll have to make sure I keep you away from things that might potentially make you sad until the kid's born."

"Jess, the cover of your book almost made me cry last week."

"I'll cover them with paper bags then." He offered, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Feeling better?"

"Give me five minutes." She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed the top of her head again, looking outside the window as the car drove around the city.

"Ror?"

"Hm?" She mumbled, looking up at him.

"Why'd you want to see that?"

"Curious, I guess. You know everything about my childhood, I wanted to see more about yours."

"You knew about all those things too."

"Yes, but I'd never seen them. Thank you for taking me there."

"I'm not sure you have anything to thank me for."

"Yeah, I do." She smiled, looking at him. "Thank you."

"Crazy." Jess chuckled, kissing her softly.