Jess' POV

Jess…what now?

"Now we…talk," I said simply.

"Talk?" she asked confused.

"Yea, we gotta know what we've been doing the past few months. Plus I want to know more about Jessie,"

"Okay…well, you want to go first?" she asked as she sat on the couch with Jessie in her lap.

"Sure. I wrote a book. A squeal to 'The Subsect.' That's part of why I came, to show you," I replied, sitting in a chair across for him.

"Really? Oh, that's so cool, I knew you'd do it! I knew you could make something of yourself!" she said, genuinely excited. "What's it called? I wanna buy it!"

"Well, it hasn't been published yet, I uh…see what you thought of the dedication before I sent it off to the publishers," I muttered, this was harder than I figured.

"What…? Why?"

I pulled the scrap of paper I used to write it down on and handed it to her silently.

To the girl who told me I could do anything, who made me go for more, who made me love.

I saw tears come into her eyes. I hated to see her cry, good or bad tears; I leant forward and brushed them away with my thumb.

"Jess…that's…that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me," she whispered.

She looked up at me with tears clinging to her lashes and my breath caught.

This is why I had come back.

For her.

For this.

I slowly leant forward and I felt more than saw her do the same. Our lips brushed and suddenly we remembered. She leant further into me and I parted her lips as our tongues dueled for control. We continued for a minute, but before we could do anything else a giggle interrupted us.

Jessie looked up at us and grinned, begging for attention.

Rory rolled her eyes but I chuckled and picked her up.

"This okay?" I asked as I set her down on my knee facing me.

"Yeah. She loves it if you bounce her a little too," Rory said, still blushing slightly.

"Tell me about her," I asked after I had been bouncing her lightly for a few seconds.

"Like what?"

"Everything. Anything. Labor, her full name, likes, dislikes, whatever," I said shrugging.

"Well, I was in labor for 13 hours and 27 minutes," she started.

"Who was with you?" I asked looking down, a little ashamed that I hadn't been there.

"Mom, I was there when her twins were born and she wanted to be there for me then,"

"I'm sorry," I muttered

"Jess, don't, you didn't know, it's not your fault,"

"What else?"

"Her full name is Jessica Lorelai Gilmore-Mariano, uhh, she hates formula, she gets about 9 hours of sleep a night and 10 when she doesn't nap,"

Jessie smiled at me and I grinned back as Rory paused for a second.

"What else? The twins love her, they like to help baby sit. Mom spoils her rotten, so does the rest of the town. Luke adores her but pretends not to,"

Rory paused again and I bounced Jessie a little faster and she giggled again.

"She hates rattles, loves her teddy bear, hasn't had her first word and should start teething in a few months," Rory finished.

"When did you start living here?" I asked, glancing around the apartment.

"Oh, when I was about five…six months, school was out, I needed more help and I wanted to be closer to mom. I took the next semester off though, I had just had her and I couldn't leave for so long yet,"

I nodded silently. If I had been there she wouldn't have to have taken off from school or move back here.

"But, I'm back now and I'm taking a couple extra courses so I'll graduate on time," she said nodding.

"Oh," I said quietly.

"Jess, really it's okay. It's not your fault, you didn't know,"

"I could have though! I should have supported you! I should have been in there with you!"

"Jess…"

"I should know off the top of my head whether or not she likes formula. I should know how long you were in labor, helped you pick out a name and should be there. For you and for her." I was so frustrated, not angry, never angry, not at her. But I didn't want her to think I let her down again or that she couldn't trust me.

"Jess! It's my fault; I decided not to tell you and I know it was a mistake. Yes, you'll have some catching up to do if you want to be in her life now but that has nothing to do with you." She stated firmly.

"I can be in her life now?" I asked

"Well…uh, don't you?" she asked hopefully and somewhat fearfully.

Instead of answering I held Jessie with one arm as I wrapped my other arm around her waist and softly kissed her.

"Okay then," she whispered after I pulled back, her eyes still shut and her lips parted.

I chuckled and stood gingerly, still getting used to carrying little Jessie. But it wasn't bad. I think I'd like having her, and Rory, to look after now.