A/N: Final chapter. Seems abrupt, I know, but after this week's tragic end of the Lit relationship . . . I felt the need for a nice, happy ending. So . . . I hope this helps satisfy your obvious need as a Lit for some good fluff right now.

Thanks so much to everyone who's read and reviewed along the way. Thanks especially to Joan, Lauren, Summer, Helen, Loz, and Katherine. You guys are great inspiration.

Onto the end!

Chapter 9

"Yes," Jess said the following morning on the phone. "I'll have that piece in this afternoon. My intern is editing it for me." He replaced the phone on its cradle.

Rory stuck her head into the door. "So do you need that piece on the Democratic gubernatorial candidate back?"

Jess smiled slightly. It was almost like ESP. "Yeah," he said. "Are you done with it yet?"

She held up a sheaf of papers. "Completely." She walked over, set the papers down on the desk, and turned to walk back out.

Jess found himself saying, "Wait." He decided it was now or never.

Rory faced him. "Yes?"

He stood up. "Look. I know you're my intern, and I'm your boss. And I know that our first couple of meetings were not indicative of anything more than a simple work-related relationship." This was the hardest time he had ever had forming sentences. "But . . . there's something here. Between you and me. And I know I feel it." He paused. "Do you?"

Rory had a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face. "I, um . . . I . . ."

"It's okay," Jess reassured her. "I told you how I feel. Just tell me how you feel."

She shifted her eyes downward. "I feel it too."

Jess' heart leaped into his throat.

"But," she went on, "we can't be together. We work together. And we're related!"

"Distantly. By marriage," Jess reminded her.

"It's still relation."

Jess shook his head. "No. You're just scared."

"Scared of what?" Rory asked.

"I don't know. Maybe you've been hurt before. Maybe you're commitment-phobic. I don't know a lot about you Rory, and I'd like to know more. I just know that right now, you seem to be searching for ways to justify us not being together."

"I'm not commitment-phobic," Rory insisted. "I just went on a date last night."

Jess rolled his eyes. "One date does not by any stretch of the imagination constitute commitment."

"Well, maybe I am scared," Rory said defiantly.

"What are you scared of?"

"The fact that I like you so much," she admitted. "Despite first impressions, I don't think I've ever felt this way about anyone instinctually. Not even my only serious boyfriend in high school, Tristan. It's almost as if I like you too much."

This time, he couldn't contain his smile. "That's not a problem, I assure you."

Rory smiled back. Then she looked at him. "So . . . what do we do now?"

Jess thought for a minute before answering. "We give it a shot."

"And if we miss?" she asked, taking note that he was moving closer to her.

"Then we miss," he said, closing in on her. "But I have a feeling we're right on target."

And finally, he kissed her, and she didn't move away. She helped him seal the coffin on their professional relationship.

And it felt completely right.