IMPORTANT Author's Note: Hi, everyone! This is my first time writing fanfiction, and, really, my first time writing anything outside of research papers and essays for school; I'd appreciate feedback, but please don't be too hard on me, as I have little to no experience in writing. :) Anyway, this story is going to be a little different from the original Gilmore Girls series (which I, of course, don't own by the way) as far as timing. It is set when Rory starts dating Jess, but I am adjusting her age to make her a bit younger in order to have my story make sense. Everything in the series to this point has happened, except for the relationship with Dean. Rory and Dean had a thing, but they decided to be friends instead, so Dean is still in the picture, but not in the same way. He was her first kiss, but not quite her first love. For the sake of my plot, we'll say Rory is about to turn sixteen when she falls for the mysterious but totally sexy (don't even try to deny it) Jess Mariano. This brings us to our first chapter, set at Rory's Sweet 16.
Happy reading, my friends!

Chapter 1: The Happiest of Birthdays

"I can't believe you're sixteen," Rory hears from where she is standing in her closet. "I mean, seriously, sixteen? It's time to start partying hard and getting drunk and making out with hot strangers. What a time to be alive!"

Rory couldn't help but laugh at her friend's excitement.

"I don't think we're quite there yet, Lane," she replies. "I'll have to work on the whole 'not wanting to destroy my life before it starts' thing."

"Yeah, and I'll have to work on the whole 'mom wanting to send me to bible camp every time I put on mascara' thing," Lane says with an eye roll.

Rory takes a deep breath before exiting her closet.

"Well, what do you think?"

Lane turns around to see her friend in a beautiful dark green silky top with long sleeves and a low neckline. The dark green goes nicely with her pale skin and dark hair. Paired with the blouse is a pair of dark blue skinny jeans that fit to the ankle. Rory shuffles her feet nervously, waiting for a response.

"Wow, Rory! You look amazing! Lane says excitedly. Her eyes pause on an important detail."

"What is it?" Rory anxiously asks.

"You. Have. CLEAVAGE! This is the best! We're young and hot! Woohoo!"

Rory and Lane laugh and dance excitedly, happy to be sharing moments like these together.

"Did I hear something about cleavage?"

Lorelai enters the room in a plain black form-fitting dress, witnessing the ridiculousness of her teenage daughter. She loves seeing her so happy.

"Wow, hon. You look great!"

"Thanks, Mom!" Rory says with a smile. "You do, too!"

"Right?" Lorelai responds, spinning around to show herself off. "Speaking of cleavage, you'd best put it all on display, because Jess just pulled in."

"Mom!"

Lorelai exits the room with a smirk and hurries to the front door, hearing a knock.

"Hey..." Jess says, not sure exactly how to greet his girlfriend's mother. He isn't quite sure if Lorelai likes him yet.

"Come on in," Lorelai says, motioning to him. "Rory's in her room."

"Is it okay if I give her my present now? It's kind of personal."

"Yeah, of course," she replies with curiosity in her eyes. "You should be quick if you want it to be private, though. Everyone will be arriving any minute."

"Yeah, thanks," he says and heads toward Rory's bedroom.

He leans against the door frame, quietly watching Rory chatting excitedly with Lane. He feels a small smile make its way onto his face seeing his girlfriend happy.

"Hey," Rory says, finally noticing him.

"Hey," he says, entering the room. Jess puts his hands on Rory's waist and kisses her cheek. "You look amazing."

"Thank you," Rory says, a light blush heating her face.

"I'll leave you alone for a bit," says Lane awkwardly as she leaves the room and closes the door.

"I have something for you," Jess says, reaching into his coat pocket.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Rory starts. "We've only been together for two months and-"

"I wanted to," he says, instantly calming her. Jess pulls out a small gold box with a white ribbon and gently places it in her palm. "Open it."

Rory unties the bow and slowly opens the box. Inside is a silver charm bracelet with a single watercolor flower charm. She instantly recognizes the daffodil, as those are the flowers he brought her for their first official date. They've always been her favorite flower, and she now has even more reason to love them.

Rory remembers him telling her about the flowers.

"How did you know daffodils were my favorite?" Rory asks.

"It's a long story..."

Rory looks a little curious but doesn't push further.

"I can give you the short version."

Rory gives a small smile and a nod, signaling him to go on.

"Well, I knew I was interested in you pretty much since I met you. You were pretty and sweet and gentle, which were all things that I wasn't. I basically begged Luke to tell me everything he knew about you."

"Did he? Tell you everything, I mean?"

"No, not at first. I made a deal with him, though. I'd work in the diner, and I'd get paid hourly, but instead of getting to keep my tips, he'd tell me about you."

"But you guys make a fortune in tips at the diner; you've given that up...for me?"

"It was worth it," he says smiling. "He told me about your interests, where you go to school, and stuff like that. The one thing that really inspired me though was when he told me you love daffodils. That was the day, I decided. After my shift, I came and I asked you on a date. Afterwards, I sat in the field on the hill. I went beside the lake, beneath the trees. I sat for a few moments watching the yellow flowers fluttering and dancing in the breeze. They're beautiful and unique. They remind me of you, Rory."

Rory smiles, looking at the bracelet. Inside the box is a card. In black ink reads "Let's build a world of daffodils that never fades and never dies."

"Jess...wow," Rory finally says, taken aback. "This is beautiful. The card, the bracelet, everything. Thank you."

Rory puts her hands on Jess' shoulders and leans in, her forehead touching his.

"I'm glad you like it."

"I love it," she whispers and closes the gap between them.

The kiss is sweet, but a deeper, more passionate feeling lies beneath. Rory moves her hand to his hair, running her fingers through it before opening her mouth to invite him in. Their tongues touch and sparks fly. Rory feels pure desire in that moment. She moves a hand beneath his shirt and traces his stomach with her fingers. Jess gently pushes her away.

"Slow down there, tiger," he says with a smile. "We have a party to get to, remember?"

Rory giggles, but part of her wishes it could just be the two of them here. Another part of her is unsure of how she would feel if that were the case.

They hear voices outside the door, and they know that it's time to have some fun.

"Happy birthday, dear Rory; happy birthday to you!"

As everyone finishes singing, Rory can't help but feel perfectly content, enjoying being surrounded by the people she loves.

One pair of eyes catches hers as she blows out the candles, and her wish is that those eyes will stay in her life forever.