Time After Time - A Gilmore Girls Fanfic #1

Chapter 25

"Just remember, you asked for it." With a laugh, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hopped on his back. He straightened, hooking his hands under her legs to secure her around his waist before starting back down the hall.

"Just so we're clear, not everyone gets to ride the big boss," he said with a smile in his voice.

"Duly noted. And appreciated." She leaned into him, relishing the feel of his muscular body beneath her. She had seen him naked, had felt the weight of him on top of her, but she still found herself marveling at the physical change he'd undergone over the years. The Jess of today was built like a brick wall, secure and solid.

With a happy smile, she set her chin on his shoulder and nuzzled his neck, surprised to feel him flinch. "What do we have here? Is Mr. Big Boss ticklish?" she asked, doing it again and eliciting the same reaction.

"It's just itchy," Jess said, tipping his head to protect his neck from further ambush. He chuckled the next time she did. "My hands are slipping, Rory," he warned.

"Then let me go."

He adjusted his hold on her legs. "Not a chance."

Jess carried her through the dark building, finally setting her down inside his office. He turned and flipped the switch to reveal an eclectic office. The room was laid out like most offices, with a desk in the middle of the room, and while it definitely had a masculine air with its leather chairs and dark wood furniture, it was also unexpectedly cheerful. The dark eggplant walls were adorned with colorful art arranged in a thoughtful way. There were original paintings on canvas, framed prints, movie posters, an antique telephone, battered license plates, vinyl albums, and sculptures. She didn't know how, but he'd managed to take many different colors, textures, and shapes and made them belong together.

Rory walked over to one wall and touched a carved wooden mask that hung between a framed subway map of Manhattan and a lithograph print of a swan. "I did not expect to see all of this."

Jess sat down at his desk and turned on the computer. "No?"

"Well, for one thing, it's not dark and brooding enough," she said. "Did Emmeline help you decorate?"

He snorted. "Emmeline's office is all glass and chrome and completely devoid of color."

"Oh." Rory continued walking around, pausing at each piece, wishing she could hear the story of each one. She'd always wondered what Jess had done over the past decade and here, right in front of her, was the answer, all of his thoughts and dreams on display. "Did you paint or draw any of these? Take the photographs?"

"No. I just collected them over the years. From art festivals, galleries, friends." He stopped and pointed to three small frames grouped together. Inside were ink drawings of buildings on heavily textured paper. "Those are from a homeless man selling his napkin drawings outside the Melrose Diner."

She looked back at the drawings, surprised to discover that, yes, they had indeed been done on napkins. "Did you keep in touch with him?"

"Yeah," Jess said with a nod. "Word is he still sells his napkin drawings, but now he has a steady job and an apartment."

She paused, looking over at Jess. "He works here now, doesn't he?"

He shrugged and forced his attention back to the computer.

She made her way to his desk and sat on his lap, unable to keep the smile from taking over her face. She said nothing, only looked at him while he typed up an email.

"What?" he asked.

"You're sweet."

He sighed through his nose. "So I gave the guy a chance, like someone else did to me when I needed a job. I was just returning the karmic favor. It's not a big deal."

"It kind of is," she said, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

He kept his eyes fixed on the monitor, but she could see the tiny smile he was trying to hide behind the stubble. "Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Looking at me like you want to pinch my cheeks."

"Can't I just pinch it a little?" she asked with her finger and thumb held up.

He fixed her with a wary look. "No."

"Fine," she said, pressing her lips to his cheek instead. "You're a good guy, Jess Mariano."

He turned to her, a thoughtful look on his face. But as indifferent as he pretended to be, in his dark hazel eyes she saw traces of lingering doubt. Because even after everything he'd accomplished, despite all his hard work and good deeds, he still wasn't sure if he'd done enough.

"You are," she repeated. "One of the best I know."

He gazed at her for a long, quiet time. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he began to nod. "Okay," he said, clearing his throat. "So I've cleared my calendar for the next three weeks. I'm good to go."

"It's not too late to back out of Nantucket," she said, giving him one more chance. "Last call."

He wrapped his arms around her waist and shook his head. "Nope. I am in," he said. "Got my boxing gloves tied and my jockstrap on. It's time for a Gilmore Christmas."