A/N: Wow, that last chapter kind of got away from me there, I wanted to do the open house and didn't realise how much writing that would take. Anyway, I promised a few chapters today so onto the next.

Rory enjoyed the company of Matt and Chris, they were funny and well-read, even if they insisted on Hemingway being one of the best authors, much to Jess's delight. They talked well into the night and Rory found it refreshing to notice they each only had two beers before switching to soft drinks, after the fast paced and constant drinking of Logan and his friends. It was only when Matt looked at his watch and noticed with shock that it was gone midnight that the group broke up, Matt and Chris both giving Rory a small hug before leaving them. She noticed Matt leaned in to whisper something into Jess's ear, to which he seemed shocked and pushed him away.

"Come on, let's get back to my place?" He stepped towards Rory and lightly placed a hand on her arm.

"Yeah, let's go"

They talked little on the walk back but Rory was very aware of how close Jess was to her, she could feel the heat of him next to her even though the night was a chilly one. It was a short walk back and they were soon back at Truncheon where Jess unlocked the door and held it open for her to go inside in front of him. He locked the door behind her and turned around to see Rory had already focused her attentions back onto the bookshelves that were around the walls. He watched for a few minutes before she started to feel his gaze on her and she turned.

"Sorry."

"What are you apologising for?"

"It's late and I'm keeping you up by staring at books that I've seen all night." She looked almost nervous and as she spoke a blush came up her cheeks.

"You never have to apologise, I've always known your love for books, I find it calming to just be here, surrounded by books sometimes." Rory smiled at that, he knew her well enough to know she felt the same way about being around books.

"Well, we can't stay here all night, we both need sleep if I'm going to be leaving at a reasonable hour tomorrow."

"That's true enough."

Jess's apartment was small and tidy, he didn't keep many personal items laying around but the ones he did have there meant something deep to him. As Rory looked around she saw books in small piles, clearly sorted somehow, the ones that couldn't fit on shelves, she saw a couple of picture frames sat near the window, one of a young blonde girl, she figured was Doula, and one of Jess with Luke stood next to him. That made Rory quietly chuckle under her breath, they both looked awkward and unhappy at having a picture of them taken but with them both in the same pose, they looked so alike. The surprising thing she found was a book on the coffee table in front of the couch, The Fountainhead, she picked it up and flicked through to see how far he'd made it, it was easier to see by the notes, they stopped about half-way through the book.

Jess just stood by the door and watched Rory as she walked around, he wasn't surprised to see her look at the pictures and chuckle, seeing him and Luke like that had made him laugh too when he had first seen the picture. He noticed her attention had been caught by the book on his coffee table, he was never going to hear the end of this one.

"Decided to try again, not finding it much better."

"Uh-uh, I'll make you see my way one day, I can see you aren't hating it though, you're notes show that."

He moved up to her to take it from her hands and put it back on the table, he noticed this was as close as they had gotten all night. So close he could have kissed her. The thought had shocked him, he'd kept those thoughts buried deep for quite some time now. He ran his fingers through his hair as he moved away from her.

"The bedroom is this way." He walked her through a door into a small bedroom, it had a double bed, bedside table and some drawers but nothing else in the way of furniture. Books littered the floor in here too. "Here, you can wear these tonight if you like, I guess you didn't bring anything as you weren't planning on staying, I have a new toothbrush that you can use in the morning, the bathroom is the next door along."

He had grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a Metallica t-shirt for her to sleep in from the drawers, he'd grabbed a pair of sweatpants for himself to wear as well.

"Thanks, I feel bad for making you sleep on the couch, it doesn't look particularly comfortable or big enough for you to sleep on." She really did feel bad for kicking him out of his own bed, even if only for a night.

"It's fine really, I've slept on there before and it's only for one night." He ran his hands back through his hair again, he couldn't get rid of those thoughts now that they had re-entered his mind, he had to get out of the same room as her so he could straighten his thoughts.

Jess had seemed odd with her since coming back into his apartment, she thought for a moment that he was going to kiss her earlier but he quickly put distance between them and had kept it there since that moment, Rory couldn't find it in her to be happy for the distance, she wasn't sure what she wanted at the moment, her recent break-up was probably messing with her emotions, she hadn't felt this way about Jess for a long time. She got into the clothes he had gotten out for her and lay in the bed. It felt cold and big, it was no bigger than her bed back home but for some reason it felt that way. She couldn't sleep no matter what position she lay in.

Eventually she decided to go and get a glass of water, she knew she would have to make her way through the living room again, with Jess sleeping on the couch, but now the idea was in her head her mouth felt increasing dry. She opened the door and looked out into the living room, she saw a shape that must have been Jess on the couch under blankets, he seemed to be asleep so she left the bedroom as quietly as possible and made her way over to the kitchen area and the sink to fill a glass with water.

She hadn't heard him move but suddenly a hand was on her lower back, she jumped slightly but she recognised the touch instantly as Jess and felt herself lean into it, further back until half of her back was against half of his torso which she was surprised to realise wasn't covered, she felt his arm move around her waist, to her lower stomach as she leaned back. Silently they stood there embracing, neither wanting to move and the glass of water now forgotten on the counter. She was surprised to feel Jess's lips against her hair, then temple, she felt his head slowly move and then lips again on her neck. Without thinking she moved her head to give him more access to her neck and shoulder, he took advantage of this move by move his lips back and forth along the exposed skin. His hand held stronger now, holding her to him, his lips more insistant against her. Rory couldn't help the light moan that escaped her lips at the feel of his lips against her, when he heard it he froze for a second before turning her in his arms and finally taking her mouth by his. The kiss was firm but gentle against her and she could feel every inch of him flush against her body, and his hand made its way to the back of her neck, her hand ran along the length of his body, while the other ran through his hair at the base of his head, bringing out a small groan from his lips. The noise brought Rory back to her senses in a rush, she pulled away and moved out of arms reach in one movement.

"What are we doing, Jess?"