What's Next?

The Morning After

Rory awoke to a pounding headache. She looked around, she wasn't in her room. "Mom? Luke?" She called out but no one was there. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she realized she was at Luke's. "Luke?" She called out again.

"Oh, hey Rory." It was Jess.

"Jess? What am I doing here?"

"Well, you came home from the hospital about 4 hours ago. You were in the diner, then passed out so I brought you up here."

"Where is Luke and my mom?"

"Right there." Jess pointed as they walked in.

"Hey, you feelin' any better hun?" Lorelai sat down beside Rory.

"Um, yeah I guess. I don't really know what happened. I feel so tired."

"Here, let's let her sleep." Luke offered.

"That's probably best." They all left and let Rory go back to sleep.

She was standing alone. She didn't know where. She looked around: her old Yale posters and flags were all over.

Where am I? She thought. My old room? Why am I here?

"Rory!" A voice called out but Rory couldn't quite tell who it was.

"Hello? Who's there?"

"It's me!"

"Who's me?"

The figure walked closer in till it was visibly Jess.

"Jess? What are you doing here?"

"Don't you remember? I'm picking up my things, I'm leaving."

Rory was confused. "Why would you leave? I thought you liked me..."

"You? Hah!" Jess began laughing. "You think I liked you? You were no more than a good sex, you're pregnant now. Goodbye." Jess left and kept laughing.

"Wait, Jess! Jess, come back I'm sorry!!" Rory was pleading. Tears were flowing like a flood out of her eyes as she continued to scream.

"Jess! Jess-"

"Jess! No!" She jolted up in her bed, breathing heavily and sweat beginning to form on her temple. She looked around then heard the door crash open as Jess came running in.

"Rory! Are you alright?!"

"Jess!" She jumped out of the bed practically fell into his arms.

Jess held her tight for about a minute before leaning back and taking her face in his hands. "What's wrong? You were screaming my name."

There were still fresh tears resting on the apples of her cheeks. "Do you still like me? Do you hate me because I'm pregnant? I'm sorry, I'm sorry I wish it was yours instead." She rambled before realizing what she actually said.

"Woah...Rory, where's this coming from?"

"You were gonna leave, gonna leave without me. You said you d...didn't like me." Rory's lips were quivering.

"Rory, I don't like you."

Rory's heart shattered, her chest began to hurt and her eyes began burning.

"You d...don't?"

"No." Jess leaned closer. "I love you."

Rory felt butterflies in her stomach, or was it just indigestion from the baby?

"You do? You really love me?"

"Rory, I've been madly in love with you for over 10 years. I've been waiting for the day to take you into my arms and call you my wife."

"You're w..you're wife?" Rory was speechless.

"Yes. Damnit, I love you."

"I love you too."

"Now kiss me." Jess grabbed Rory roughly, but not too rough; just enough to arouse Rory as they engaged in a long kiss.

"Mmm." Rory pulled back. "That was good."

"Why stop?" Jess went right back to kissing her and they tripped backward onto the bed and under the sheets.

*****

Rory looked around, know knowing where she was. She looked to her left and saw Jess, she also looked to the ground and saw her nightshirt on the other side of the room and her pajama pants on the other side.

Oh no, did me and Jess... Rory began panicking. Did me and Jess have sex...

"Jess!" Rory yelled.

Jess almost fell out of the bed. "What's wrong?!"

"Did we have sex last night?"

"Um, I think we did yes." Jess cocked his eyebrows. "Why? Are you regretting it?"

Rory laughed. "Ohhhh no. Definitely not, I remember now. Oh yeah, I sure remember." Rory smiled widely.

"Someone's excited" Jess smiled as well and pulled Rory close. "Now shh, it's only 6 a.m we need sleep."

"Okay." Rory laid back down. It took her about 5 minutes before she jerked back up again. "Wait!"

"What now?" Jess looked agitated.

"Where are Luke and my mom?"

"Is it just me or am I having Deja vû?"

"They're gonna wonder where I was! Oh no, Jess-"

"Shhhh...Rory calm down. It's going to be okay. Lorelai and Luke know you're okay. It's fine." Jess knew Rory was under a tremendous amount of stress, with the pregnancy and all. "Lay down, get some sleep sweetheart."

"Okay." Rory rested her head on Jess's chest as went to sleep. That was the first peaceful sleep she had in days.