A/N: I would like to dedicate this pivotal chapter to the awesome NotThereNeverAround. She sends me such great feedback and her own writing is amazing (I so need to find time to read more of it!), so this one is for her. This does not mean I don't appreciate all my dear readers and reviewers, because I totally do - thank you all so much for taking the time! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 16

Rory had talked it over with her mom last night. Well, that wasn't strictly true, because she certainly hadn't told her everything. She had mentioned to Lorelai about the drunken voicemail she had left for Jess, and some of their conversation in the morning. Mostly she told her mother that she was having strong feelings for Jess that she really needed to talk to him about.

"I think it's time we were honest with each other, about everything," she had said. "You think that's a good idea?"

"Hon, I think that's the best idea," Lorelai had assured her, hand squeezing hers. "Communication between people is so important, and I think maybe it was the lacking of the right kinds of conversation that didn't help you and Jess the last time."

"That's what I think."

"Well then, talking has to be of the good this time around, and honesty too. As much as it sucks that it ended the way it did, I'm glad I was honest with Jason. We just weren't suited in the end."

Rory felt bad for her mom when it came to the breakdown of her latest relationship, but she couldn't be too bothered by the loss of Jason Stiles from their lives. Not that Rory had to spend much time with him herself, which was probably why she wouldn't feel any loss. Besides, all the complications of Jason being Lorelai's boyfriend and also Richard's business partner, it made things so messy. Secrets and lies, the very things Rory wanted to avoid with Jess, that her mom had encouraged her to remove from their relationship. They never did any good and yet were exactly what Lorelai and Jason built their own relationship on. It probably was for the best that it was over.

Walking towards the bridge at a pace, sure she was going to be late, Rory passed by Luke's diner and saw him yelling at Kirk. She sighed and kept on going. Her mom had mentioned that Luke and Nicole were over too. That was sad, not because Rory had a particular liking for Luke's wife, but because it was putting one of her favourite people in a very bad mood.

Rory only ever wanted those she loved to be happy. There were times when she thought Luke and her mom would really work. They got along so well, it might be nice if they could make each other happy that way. It just always seemed to be that one of them was in a relationship whilst the other wasn't and vice versa. It never quite worked out where they were both available at the same time. Until now, of course.

Rory was still wondering about Lorelai and Luke when she came through the clearing and the bridge was suddenly in sight. All other thoughts went from her mind as she stared at Jess, sat in the centre of the bridge with his legs dangling over the side. He looked very similar to the day of the Bid A Basket event more than two years ago now, and Rory couldn't help but smile as she approached him.

"Hi," said Jess, as soon as he noticed her presence.

"Hey," she replied walking up to where he sat.

After a beat, she dropped down to sit beside him, her feet dangling close to the water too. There was maybe a foot of space between them, and they seemed to take turns looking up when the other wasn't paying attention. This went on for fully five minutes before it got the better of Jess.

"So..." he said, prompting Rory to say something, anything.

"Yeah," she replied, pushing her hair back behind her ear and staring into the water. "This isn't awkward at all."

"You wanted to talk," Jess tried again, hoping she might actually do so if he spelt it out.

"I did," she told him quickly. "I do, it's just... It feels strange." She looked up and met his eyes then.

Jess shook his head. "We could always talk before."

"Sure, about books and movies and stuff, that always came easy," Rory agreed, "but we never really talked about the important stuff."

Jess looked away then. "Probably my biggest problem," he admitted, fingers twitching as if he really wished he had a cigarette, which he probably did.

"Our problem," said Rory definitely, getting his attention back in a second. "I wasn't great at saying what should be said either, we established that a while ago," she reminded him, turning to face him with one leg tucked up underneath her now. "Jess, we were both to blame for what happened with us the last time, but if we can learn from that... Well, I don't know how long you planned to stay around Stars Hollow, but I like that you're here, and if you were planning on making it permanent, which I'm hoping you are?"

"I don't know," he admitted, shrugging his shoulders. "I mean, I can't live with Luke forever, but I was thinking about maybe getting a place of my own. I don't know, maybe around the New Haven area?"

He was putting himself out there and it was something Jess was neither used to nor entirely comfortable with, but he figured this was Rory and there was probably only one shot left to take.

"New Haven?" she echoed. "Because of me?"

He rolled his eyes. "No, because of some other woman I'm in love with," he blurted out.

Jess wasn't sure what made him do it. Maybe it was because Rory had pretty much invited him here to figure things out and start over, at least that was what she implied on the phone yesterday. Maybe it was exactly what he thought before, that this was the last chance and he had to put himself on the line or risk losing Rory again before he ever even really got her back.

"You've gotten really good at saying that lately," she muttered, looking away and visibly colouring in the cheeks the way she always did.

"About time, don't you think?"

Rory smiled at that. He had a point.

"Jess," she said, staring at him and waiting until he actually looked back. "I... I love you too," she admitted at last. "I think I always have, even before you left the last time, but I was too afraid of what that meant. You have this way of making me feel so safe and so out of control all at the same time, and it took me a while to be okay with that, and just when I was almost there, you were gone."

It all came out in true Gilmore ramble style and Jess would've smiled at the wonderful familiarity of it all, if he wasn't feeling like a louse over their previous attempt at romance. He really had screwed up royally when he left for California, and for several days and weeks beforehand.

"I'm sorry."

"No," Rory told him emphatically. "I don't want you to keep apologising. We covered all of that. You're sorry, I'm sorry, and that's great, but now we have to move on," she insisted, leaning closer. "I don't want to move on apart, I want... I want it to be us together, if that's what you want?"

Jess met her baby blues with his own dark eyes one more time and knew this was it, this was the moment when everything changed. He had a choice, walk away forever this time, or commit to really making it work with the only woman in the world he had ever felt this much for. He was not going to be a coward twice.

"Rory," he said, reaching out a hand to her cheek. "You're all I want," he promised her.

They were already so close, it was nothing to lean in just a little more until their lips met. It had been way too long since he kissed her. Jess took full advantage of the moment when Rory started to kiss him back with everything she had. They parted breathless, his fingers tangled in her hair, her arms locked around his neck.

"This is crazy," she breathed heavily. "I never thought-"

"Yeah, well, you think too much," insisted Jess, diving right back in.

Rory didn't protest at all. She had no reason to. All the talking had been done for now, all the apologising and the love confessions. The only thing she wanted in this moment was for Jess to be kissing her and he seemed more than happy to oblige. They were lost in each other for quite some time, speaking very little in the half hour that followed. Still, when given the chance, Rory couldn't help but confirm that this time was going to be different, that they were going to be okay.

"We're going to make it work this time, right?"

"I don't think we could screw it up any worse than last time," said Jess, lying on the bridge with his girlfriend wrapped in his arms.

Her head came up off his chest as she peered at him wide-eyed. He had not given the answer she wanted and they both knew it.

"Yes, Rory," he promised, meeting her gaze. "We'll make it work. I don't think I can handle losing you twice," he told her sincerely.

"Good," she replied, leaning over to lightly kiss his lips, "because I don't wanna go through that again either."

When she heard the front door, Lorelai naturally assumed it was her daughter coming in. Her mind was on so many other mostly inn-related things that she really hadn't considered Jess being with Rory.

"Hey, babe! So, I was wondering if you'd seen that blue skirt with the..." she began, stopping quickly when she reached the bottom of the stairs and found herself face to face with Rory and Jess, standing in the living room, hand in hand. "Well, hello, young lovers!" she greeted them.

"Mom, me and Jess have talked," said Rory.

"Just talked?" Lorelai smiled "'Cause this guy is wearing a whole lot of lip gloss right now, and I doubt he's going for the Bowie look."

Jess had the good grace to look just a little embarrassed as he rubbed at his mouth with the back of his hand. Beside him, Rory blushed furiously but determinedly answered her mother's question.

"Um, we figured some stuff out," she admitted,

Lorelai nodded her head. "And got back together. Well, can't say I didn't see that coming."

"Lorelai," Jess began. "I'm not-"

"Hey, you proved yourself, kid," she told him easily, waving away any concerns he had with a gesture of her hand. "You came back, you made your apologies, behaved like a man. We're past the crap from last time," she promised. "Fresh start, okay?"

"Thanks," he agreed, nodding his head.

Jess was just a little startled when he suddenly found Lorelai's finger right in his face as if she were angry, and yet her genial smile remained.

"But, I swear to God, Mariano, if you screw this up again, I will find a way to Marty McFly it back to two months ago and leave your sorry ass in that car to become Popsicle Boy. You got that?"

"I got it," he told her sincerely, "but I'm not gonna hurt her again," he swore, tilting his head towards Rory. "I can promise you that."

Lorelai nodded, apparently believing him as she backed off. "Well, now you know the price if you do," she told him, smiling more genuinely now, more so perhaps when she looked at Rory. "Well, I wish I could stay and celebrate the happy reunion, kids, but one busy moment leads to another. Have a good day, hon," she told Rory, leaning in to kiss her cheek before breezing past and right out the front door.

Rory and Jess both watched her go, letting out an audible sigh each.

"That went better than I thought," admitted Jess.

"And now we're alone," said Rory, turning to face him.

"For an hour anyway," he agreed, now holding both of Rory's hands in both of his own, "then I have to be back at the diner."

"An hour," Rory echoed. "Hmm. I'm sure we can find some way to fill the time."

She was smiling as she leaned in to kiss his lips and Jess responded eagerly. This was far from a bad way to kill time.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Miss Gilmore?" he asked between kisses, finding himself a little startled when Rory suddenly backed up out of his embrace.

"Oh, um. Jess, I can't..." she trailed off, shaking her head.

Jess mentally face-palmed. "Hey, relax," he urged her, reaching for her hands again. "I didn't mean it that literally. I'm sorry."

Rory sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I... Well, you were the closest I ever came to..." she said pointedly, "and since you, there hasn't been anybody to speak of."

"Rory, it's fine," he promised her. "I don't expect us to get back together and jump into bed all within an hour. I'd like to think we both have a little more class than that."

"Okay," she said with a sigh of genuine relief. "But I really do love you, Jess."

"Likewise," he told her with a smirky smile that was beautifully familiar.

This time he went in for the kiss first and Rory didn't mind at all.

"So they're back together?" checked Sookie, grinning big.

"Yup, seems that way," Lorelai agreed, sipping her coffee. "I know I was down on the kid before, but Jess is... I don't know he seems to have grown up these past few months, figured out that maybe he's not quite as smart as he thought he was, maybe. I don't know, but I'm not freaking out so much this time, so that's progress."

"Aaaw, I think it's adorable!" Sookie sighed happily. "I mean, I never knew Jess all that well and I know he did some questionable stuff, but he and Rory always looked so cute together."

"They do that," admitted Lorelai. "I just want my Rory happy, and if Jess does that for her, I can't be mad about it. I just wish it was as easy for me."

"For you?" asked Sookie, before literally face-palming. "Oh, of course, for you! Honey, I'm so sorry," she apologised, rubbing Lorelai's arm from around the table. "You'll find the right guy eventually. Just because Jason wasn't it, somebody will be."

"What if somebody already is?" she asked then, obviously being too cryptic for Sookie to follow, so she explained further. "The thing is, me and Luke, we kind of had this weird moment, in the diner yesterday."

"You and Luke? Well, sweetie, isn't he still married to Nicole?"

"Apparently it's over," Lorelai explained. "So Luke said, and I'm telling him that me and Jason are over and he's telling me how he and Nicole are over. We were saying how it's so hard to find the right person and he was leaning on the counter and my hand was on his arm. I don't know, it was just this... moment," she recalled with a smile on her lips that seemed to have more control over her face than she did suddenly.

Sookie stared at Lorelai, who in turn stared into space, and a giggle escaped her unbidden.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, hands covering her mouth in a second. "Oh my... It's finally going to happen isn't it? You and Luke, it's finally going to happen!" she exclaimed, like a giddy child.

"No," said Lorelai immediately. "Or, I don't know, but I doubt it. I mean, it's me and Luke, I can't... We're not... Sook, I don't know!" she declared suddenly, head dropping onto the table hard.

"Oh, sweetie, don't!" Sookie told her, trying to get her to look up. "Lorelai, you know I always thought you and Luke would be so perfect together, and now you're finally both in the same place at the same time."

"What a place and what a time!" Lorelai exclaimed, lifting her head up so fast she made her friend physically jump. "Both of us just getting out of serious relationship, his being an actual marriage. Him investing in my business? It couldn't be worse timing."

Her head returned to the table and Sookie winced at the sound the hit made. Reaching out a tentative hand she stroked Lorelai's hair and rubbed her back, hoping it was all in some way comforting.

Maybe it wasn't quite so easy for Lorelai and Luke to just get it together, but Sookie really wished it was. She loved Lorelai like a sister, and Luke was such a nice guy underneath all the grumpiness and flannel. They both needed and deserved each other, and Sookie was just certain they could make each other happy. Of course, Rory and Jess had proven today that even the rockiest relationships could work out in the end, given half a chance. Maybe Luke and Lorelai would get their shot given time, but Sookie figured now might not be a good time to talk about it any more.

Maybe tomorrow.

To Be Continued...