Disclaimer: I don't, although I plan to in the near future, own anything pertaining to this story other than MOST of the plot lines.

A/N: I hope you like this. I just, and I mean JUST finished watching Last week's tights, this week's fights, and I am soooooo mad! Rory made the right choice, but the question was stupid! Mwahahahaha! sorry…Also, I must say that I HATE Dean! So for Dean lovers: LOOK AWAY!

"So, thanks for saving me from the date from hell. I'm so glad you could make it," said Rory to Dean as they walked back to her dorm. They were the only people left at Rory's building.

"It was no problem, really."

They paused their speech as they made the remaining way to her door.

"So, this is my dorm."

"It is."

"That's right. You've been here before."

"That I have."

Another long pause.

"Hey, Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Where does Lindsay think you are?"

"Out."

"Doesn't it matter to her that you're out, though? Does she know you're with me?"

"No, she doesn't know, and it doesn't really matter. Our marriage isn't working out too well lately, anyway."

"Okay…"

Pause.

"So, goodnight, Dean."

She was about to turn and unlock her door, but…

"Wait, Rory."
"Yeah, Dean."

Before she could finish her sentence, Dean had grabbed a tight hold on her.

"Ouch, Dean, let go!"

However, Dean, instead of letting go, leaned down and began kissing Rory intensely.

"Dean, stop! Let go," she cried, despite the fact that Dean's lips restrained her petition.

Dean paused for a moment, but only to say, "No, Rory, we belong together."

"No Dean, we don't! You belong with your wife!"

"But I love you, Rory, not her."

"It doesn't matter! You broke up with me a long time ago."

"Only because of Jess!"

"That's just it Dean, I loved Jess, not you. And of the latter my mind hasn't changed about you Dean. I don't love you anymore!"

"Then I will make you love me."
Rory cried as Dean proceeded to kiss her, but before he could go beyond kissing, the door opened and in came Jess.

The moment he realized Dean was there, and he saw just what he was doing to her, he ran up to them. He had been waiting for the perfect excuse to knock the crap out of Dean, and now was the perfect time.

"Leave her alone, you shit head!"

Dean jumped back, regained his composure and pulled his arm poised his arm in a position that said, 'Get out or you're dead.'

Unfortunately for Dean, Jess was quick to realize this, and Jess took the first move by punching Dean in the stomach.

Dean flew back, and before he could get back up, Jess wrestled him into a full nelson.

Dean cried in defeat, and begged for mercy.

Jess Mariano had yet again made a grown man cry.

"Go home to your WIFE now, Dean!"

Jess backed off and stood up.

He kept his careful eyes on Dean as he too stood.

Dean glanced viciously at Rory, but then turned to leave.

When he was gone, and Rory overcame her astonishment, she sunk to the floor and cried.

Jess watched her, unsure of what to do, and then he slowly made his way over to where she sat.

He sat next to her and, to his immense revelation, thinking he was the very last person she wanted to see right then, she hugged him. In fact, she hugged him tight, like she would never let go, and she just cried.

However, knowing she would have to say something sooner or later, she stifled a, "Thank you, Jess."

They sat like that for a long time, but she fell asleep in his arms and he knew very well that they couldn't stay like that all night.

He positioned her in is arms carefully, and stood.

He tried to open her door, but it was locked, so he carefully searched her pockets for her keys. They were, to his great relief, easily found. He unlocked the door, found her room, and placed her in her bed.

He wanted to stay so badly, but he knew she wouldn't want him around. He was just in the right place at the right time. He kissed her on the forehead, knowing that sadly, it would be the last time.

A single tear fell from his eye as he stood to walk away.

"Goodbye, Rory."

"Jess?"

He must have woken her.

"Jess, don't go."

He looked into her eyes as they opened. 'Why does she have to be so damn beautiful?'

"Stay with me tonight."

He nodded and walked over to Paris' old bed.

"So, what did you want to talk about," questioned Rory, no longer sleepily.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you certainly didn't come to my dorm to save me from Dean."

"Oh, that."

He paused and gave a deep sigh.

"I just needed to see you, talk to you."

She gave him a confused look.

"I wanted you to come with me to New York for the summer."

She nodded understanding.

"But now, I just want reciprocation from you. I was stupid, Rory. I was afraid that I would fall in love and hurt you, but running from my fears only made them a reality. I made a huge mistake and I just want forgiveness."

Rory's eyes teared at the memory of hurt he had given her. She nodded.

"Okay."

"Okay? I'm forgiven?"

"Well, you'll have to answer my questions first. Truthfully."

He nodded. He had already given up everything for this girl; he could risk his pride, too, for it had been shattered already. It was the least he could do for reciprocation.

He looked deeply into her eyes as she began her interrogation.

" What really happened to your eye when you came to Friday Night Dinner with me at my grandparent's house?"

"A swan beaked me."

"A swan?"

He looked helplessly into her eyes.

"Okay, okay."

There was a pause.

"Um, Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"When did you know you loved me?"

He let out a sigh.

"When I bought the basket from you at the auction. I'd loved you all along, I just didn't know it."

Pause.

"I have a few questions for you, too, Rory."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

She nodded.

"When did you know you loved me?"

"After Friday Night Dinner, when you told me the supposed truth about your eye."

He raised an eyebrow.

"It's true. That morning my mom asked me if I was to busy to think about sex, and I said I was, but after that, I told her I wasn't. It's kind of weird, but it's true."

They paused again.

"I have another question."

"Yeah."

He sighed.

"What are we, Rory?"

"What do you suggest?"

"Well, we aren't exactly Norman Rockwell material. I mean, boy meets girl, boy takes girl from other boy, boy and girl fall in love, boy leaves without explanation, boy comes back, boy says, "I love you," boy beats crap out of other boy, boy asks forgiveness, boy gets it, boy tells truth, and here we are."

Rory gave a slight nod and smile.

"I guess were friends. Unless…"

"What?"

"Never mind. We can talk in the morning. Goodnight, Jess."

"Night, Rory."

A/N: So what'd ya think! I know it's a little fast and some of the parts are a little OOC, but it has to be that way for some things to work out. RR!