Every Second Counts

Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls property of whoever; story title property of Plain White T's.

A/N: Okay, so this picks up right after that scene in "Haunted Leg" (3.02) in Doose's where Rory and Jess have their screaming match right after Rory gets back from Washington to find Jess making out with Shane under a tree. As a refresher of the contents of said screaming match, the fic starts with the last part of their convo before we go into the wild and wacky world that is my imagination. Rory's thoughts in italics. Ooh, and look, we get to start with ranting Jess:

"I'm sorry, did I hear from you at all this summer? Did I just happen to miss the thousands of phone calls you made to me, or did the postman happen to lose all those letters you wrote to me? You kiss me, you tell me not to say anything. . .very flattering, by the way. You go off to Washington. . . then nothing. Then you come back here all put out because I didn't just sit around and wait for you like Dean would've done? And yeah, what about Dean? Are you still with him? 'Cause last time I checked, you were, and I haven't heard anything to the contrary. Plus, the two of you walking around the other day like some damn Andy Hardy movie. Seemed to me like you're still pretty together. I half expected you to break into a barn and put on a show."

"When did you see me with Dean?"

"At that stupid summer insanity plea the town put on."

"Oh, I'm surprised you could see anything with Shane's head plastered to your face."

"You didn't answer me."

"About what?"

"Did you call me at all?"

"No."

"Did you send me a letter?"

"No."

"Postcard?"

"No."

"Smoke signal?"

"Stop."

"A nice fruit basket?"

"Enough! "

"Are you still with Dean? Come on, Rory, yes or no – are you still with Dean?"

"Yes, I'm still with Dean, yes!"

"Glad to hear it."

"Glad to tell you."

"See you around."

"Whatever."

"Right back at ya."

Rory snatched up her grocery basket and stalked off. Who the hell does he think he is, questioning me like that? Of course I'm still with Dean! Dean is an amazing guy. Jess wishes he was that amazing. That's his problem - jealousy! He is so jealous of Dean, he can't even stand it! God, it's so freakin' obvious! And acting like since I didn't contact him, that somehow makes it okay for him to just move on like that... by any rational person's handbook, he practically cheated on me. I can't believe he's being such a hypocrite! You would never catch me being with one person and then just going off and kissing someone else-- oh my God. Oh my GOD!

Rory made an abrupt about-face and stared wildly back at Jess. He was right where she left him, staring straight back at her. Abandoning her groceries, she raced back to him and unceremoniously planted her mouth on his. He responded immediately, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him. And I thought the kiss at Sookie's wedding was good...

"Rory." He pulled away.

No, why is he stopping us? This was good, we were doing good--

"Rory!"

"What?"

"We can't just - is this gonna be your M.O.? Kiss me whenever you feel like it, and then just leave?"

Oh, I forgot to explain before I... man, why does my head get so fuzzy around him? "Oh, God, I'm doing it again..."

"That's exactly my point! I mean, to hell with hit-and-runs, Rory Gilmore's revolutionizing the world with kiss-and-runs!"

"No... that's not what I meant... I mean, I am doing that, too, albeit inadvertently, but I was actually referring to how I get really scattered around you - unfocused, rather, and I tend to lose my train of-"

"Rory."

"Right, yes, see what I mean? And that's what happened just now, I didn't mean to just come over here and kiss you, I was going to... say... stuff... first, but I just got sidetracked, but I am fully prepared to talk now, and I think that-"

"Rory, shut the hell up." Jess smirked, and bent down to capture her lips again. After a few enjoyable moments, it was Rory's turn to break the kiss.

"But I thought you were concerned we weren't going to talk -"

"I was. But then you assured me - in a charmingly incoherent way, might I add - that my fears were unfounded. And who am I to doubt your word?" There was that smirk again.

Oh, God. I'm never going to be able to say no to him. "You're just too damn adorable..." She muttered.

"Well, shucks. You're gonna make me blush, ma'am." He answered cheekily.

"Okay, now listen, mister. We are going to get this out of the way once and for all, and then we are going to be finished, and everything will be clear, and then I won't have to feel guilty about how easily you distract me!"

"You feel guilty about being distracted by the thought of making out? Wow, that sounds like some serious therapy material. You should really see someone about that, preferably someone well-versed in Freud, since this really has me wondering if maybe he was right about all that everything-is-motivated-by-sex stuff."

"Jess..." Rory squirmed, a half-smile on her face.

"See, case in point! My enormous amount of sex appeal is making you uncomfortable. I apologize."

"Jess! We're in Doose's!"

"I know, I'm sorry, I would tone it down if I could, but to quote someone who's giving off quite a bit of sexiness themselves right now, 'You're just too damn adorable.'"

"Jess..." She was really smiling this time, a tinge of red evident on her face.

"Ok, Ok, I'm sorry. You wanted to talk. Go ahead, you have my undivided - oh, great. Can't wait to hear this one."

Jess' eyes had snapped to something just behind Rory. She turned around to see what he was staring at, only to come face-to-face with-

"Mom!"

"Hello, dearest child, fruit of my loins. Mind telling mommy what's going on here? See, I was just waiting outside for you in the freezing cold-"

"Mom. It's seventy degrees outside."

"Okay, fine, but still, I had been waiting for you for a long time, an especially long time considering the fact that I had just had a very uncomfortable conversation with Kirk, and I needed comfort-"

Jess cleared his throat noisily. Lorelai gave him her patented killer-death-glare. He turned to Rory. "Is that anything like that withering stare you keep promising to show me? Because if it is, maybe you were right about the whole potential injury thing."

Rory smiled at him before turning back to Lorelai. "Mom, I'm sorry, I got a little sidetracked. I really think I need to take care of this right now. Considering some of our past... discussions on the subject, I'm sure you can understand my need to have this resolved ASAP. So why don't you retrieve the food and I'll meet you at home?"

Lorelai shot Jess another suspicious glance. "Well, yes, I think you should get this taken care of, but I can wait. Really. I'd be happy to. In fact, I could stay right here and act as a referee, so in case anyone, oh, I don't know, suggests a drive-"

"Mom!"

"Fine, I'm gone, I'm gone." Lorelai backed her way up to the checkout counter and grabbed the bag of groceries from a very confused Miles-the-bagboy. "But can you try to be home within the hour, hun? Because as much as I love and respect and trust you, much longer than that and I'm gonna have to call out the bloodhounds."

"Okay, Mom, fine, just go before you say anything else that will make me want to revoke your rights to pick the car CDs, and then use my newly-acquired rights to play nothing but Sugar Ray for the next year."

"You wouldn't!" Lorelai gasped.

"You really wanna push this?" Rory thought she heard a snort of laughter coming from behind her after she said this.

Sure enough, Lorelai's eyes narrowed at Jess one last time before she reluctantly exited the store with a parting cry of "One hour, Rory!"

Rory shook her head as she turned around to face an extremely smug-looking young man. "What?"

Jess shrugged. "I just feel very honored."

"What do you mean?" Rory tilted her head slightly, waiting for his answer.

"Well... you kinda just picked me over your mom."

Rory stared at him for a moment and then smiled one of her slow, shy smiles. "Well... temporarily... I guess I did."

Jess' jaw dropped open. "Wow, we're actually admitting to it? Who grew some balls in Washington, Sue Thomas?"

Rory shook her head. "Hey, now, no need to get anatomically incorrect with our analogies here." Smiling, she continued, almost flirtatiously. "So... since you're so 'honored' by my decision, we should probably make the most of it." She paused and ducked her head a bit. "I'm all yours, Mr. Mariano. The question is, what are you gonna do about it?"

Jess stared at her, speechless and beyond turned on, and then captured her lips once more before replying. "Well, I guess we should go have that talk, Miss Gilmore." And with that, he put his arm around the girl that, until tonight, he had never thought he would stand a chance with, and led her out of Doose's market onto the streets of Stars Hollow, the town he was beginning to lo- lik- tolerate.

A/N: So, what do you think? I was just watching this episode tonight and this rabid little plot bunny wouldn't leave. Tell me if it's a good thing I listened to it! Press everybody's favorite magic button and review!