Disclaimer: I own Natalie and Andrew. No one else.

A/N: This is set 17 years after the finale. In the events that the revival begins before I finish, just know that this and the revival will not be in the same "universe." Also, the beginning of each chapter will be in italics, and that's because it is excerpts from Jess' book "About You."

Chapter Rating: PG

I do things now.

This sentence is so very vague, and something that sounds rather lackluster. But, you would know exactly what I meant if you read this.

But for those who aren't you, what I mean is simple. When I was young, and stupid, and blind, I didn't do much. I didn't socialize. I didn't engage in pointless chitchat about the weather. I smiled less, and I steered clear of events where it would be expected of me to hold conversations for long periods of time.

Now that I've grown (and not just in the literal sense), I see the importance of the mindless discussions. I see the reason that you were always so friendly and open to people who approached you.

I do things now. I go to parties. I entertain guests. I laugh at jokes I don't find funny. And, it has honestly made me a better person.

I learned that from you.

As she aged, she found something incredibly attractive about the salt and pepper look.

He had it.

Though his hair was still mostly dark, he had it cut short enough to where the grey in his short sideburns were visible. He was smiling at someone, and she noticed the prominent crows feet around his dark eyes. His face wasn't cleanly shaven, but the stubble looked very well kept. The lines around his mouth promised her he had years of laughter and happinessAnd that's all she ever wanted for him.

As her feet stopped in front of him, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. "My God, it's like stepping into a time machine."

His head turned in her direction and when their eyes met, her stomach did a flip and her face grew incredibly hot. "Rory Gilmore," he said, and her whole body tensed up. How she loved hearing that again. His eyes fell to her hands to make sure he wasn't incorrect in his greeting. One year earlier, and he would have found a ring perched on her left hand. "You haven't aged a single day."

It was cliché, sure, but it sounded like an original line coming from his mouth. She learned rather quickly in her younger years that Jess Mariano wasn't one to give out many compliments—not that he wasn't thinking them, of course.

"You've just … aged really well," Rory replied with a laugh, earning a smirk from him as he turned his entire body to face her. "What are you doing here?"

"A signed copy of Withering is being auctioned off tonight," he began, using his free hand to gesture to the stage while his other was firmly clutched around a glass of what looked—and smelled, she noted—like bourbon. "They asked me to say a few words about it, show my face..." he trailed off, taking a swig of his cool drink in his hand. "I figured you would know that, Ms. New York Times."

"Oh no," she said with an amused grin, unable to help but beam with pride at his success. Jess Mariano, the established author. It gave her chills every time she saw his newest novel on best selling shelves. Sometimes she just wanted to grab the book and wave it in the air, yelling 'I know him! I dated him!' "I'm not covering this event. I am here as a guest."

"That's right," he chuckled, putting the rim of his glass to his lips before taking a long sip. She could almost see the liquid run down his throat as he swallowed, and it was surprisingly sensual—staring at his neck like that. "When you're at the top, you get to enjoy these types of functions—not report on them."

Rory pushed her hair behind her ear as pink rose in her cheeks. She was modest, and that was never changing, no matter how many kick-ass articles she wrote for The Times. "Yeah, well," she began with a shrug, "I'm not the only big shot in the room. When do you go give your speech?"

"They told me around eight-thirty," he replied, looking around to see if anyone may have been looking for him. "It's the thirty-sixth item to be auctioned, and we haven't even got pass ten yet."

"Oh, it is definitely going to be a long night," Rory replied with a laugh, finishing off the martini in her hand and placing it on the empty tray that flew past her head. Having nothing in her hands made her nervous, and she desperately looked around for another glass.

"Are you here with anyone?"

There it was. His curiosity of her relationship status. The smile she wore on her lips grew at the sight of a fresh tray of drinks floating her way. She gracefully plucked one from the waiter and nodded a thank you to him before taking a very generous gulp. After it burned her esophagus and created a bulge in her chest that felt like a ball of fire, she locked eyes with him once more. "I am not," she replied, pushing her hair behind her ear. "We don't really get the plus one option at the paper."

"What a treat for the eligible bachelors here tonight," Jess replied, chuckling softly at her attempt to cover up the fact that she almost choked on her drink. "I am flying solo as well. I had a date, but she backed out."

"It's hard, isn't it?"

"What's that?"

"Dating," Rory replied, as if it were obvious. "I mean I think it's hard to date at our age."

"At our age," Jess repeated in a mocking tone, smiling a little at her as he did. "I didn't think I was old enough to be categorized that way."

"We're forty!" The brunette exclaimed, laughing at the notion that Jess could possibly be one of those people who didn't accept their aging.

"I know full well how old I am. I just happen to think it's still a bit young. I mean, I don't need any help from a prescription, yet," he teased, winking suggestively which made her entire body jolt awake.

It was like her flushed cheeks were a permanent part of her appearance, because every word he spoke kept them a bright shade of pink. "Give it time," she replied with a smirk.

His laugh was real, and it sounded like an old mix-tape she pulled out from her past. It made her happy. His laughter used to be rare, a chuckle was normal, but getting a real, full laugh out of him was not. It was only when they were alone. Either in the car, on the dock, or the moments they spent tangled up on the couch, watching movies.

"Do you want to sit with me?" Jess asked her, taking a shot in the dark. She did say she was alone.

Whether or not this flirtation with Jess was a good idea, she couldn't help the side of her that needed this attention—especially from him. "You know," she began as she took another sip of her drink, finishing it off. "I would actually love that."

"Good to hear," he replied as he nodded over to his table. "Follow me, m'lady."

Once she made it to his table, she smoothed the dress out underneath her and sat down. Her eyes scanned the room from where she was sitting before they fell back on Jess. "Nice table," she replied, a small part of her feeling a tad jealous. She certainly didn't get one of the good tables.

"There's a difference in them?" He asked her with a smile, looking around the room. He was just told where to sit, having no idea there was a system. But, the fact that she noticed did make him feel slightly important—and she could tell.

His naivety was so pure, it made the smile on her lips grow. Without any prompting, she was served a drink and she thanked the waiter before downing it. "There is a big difference," she began, pointing around the room at the other tables that were spread about the room. "You have the best view of the stage, you aren't sitting by speakers, and you're on the opposite side of the room from the bathroom. No unwanted scents."

"You've been to many functions," Jess noted, smirking a little at her description. He glanced around to notice his surroundings and smiled more—she was right. This was a damn good table.

"That I have," Rory confirmed, leaning back a bit in her chair. She took a deep breath and shrugged her shoulders a little. "So, how's your daughter?"

"Natalie? Great," Jess said with a nod, looking down at the brown liquid in the glass in front of him. "Fourteen, so at that really awkward age where she is actually outsmarting me in everything."

"Fourteen, wow," Rory commented, shaking her head. "I forget how old she is. I've seen pictures, and she's an absolute beauty."

Jess smiled a little and nodded to her, "thank you."

"I can't believe you have a teenage daughter," Rory spoke out loud, laughing a little at that. "And a gorgeous one at that. It's karma."

"Oh I have no doubt it is," he replied, glancing down at the almost empty glass in his palm. "She just started high school and she's already got guys calling my house at all hours of the evening when she comes to stay with me. It's a little ridiculous."

"I am definitely not looking forward to those days. Andrew is ten, and I want him to stay this little adorable dorky age forever," she said, shaking her head as her hair fell into her eyes. "We have kids."

"We have kids," Jess said, looking back at her for a moment with the same smile on his face. After a silent moment, he glanced up to the stage. "So we're on auction item number 27, and I am going to have to get ready to get up there. Before I inevitably lose you in this crowd, can I go ahead and ask if you want to get dinner tomorrow night?"

She almost choked on her wine, not expecting him to be so forward. He never was before. She looked at him after she got her drink down and laughed a little. "I'm sorry about that," she said, gently patting her chest. "Absolutely. I'd love to catch up."

"Great," he responded, standing up and taking one final gulp of the drink in his hand before he was to leave and actually speak in front of people—something he had yet to master. "Don't leave and when I get back we can exchange numbers and get our plans in order."

She felt her heart speed up at the opportunity of a date with her high school bad boy sweetheart. She briefly wondered if he still owned that leather jacket she vividly remembered pressed against her skin in their most intimate moments. "I'll stay right here."

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