A/N: This is pretty AU, but I promise, it will eventually be Rogan. It's a little different from what I usually write, but I like it, and I hope you all do to. I have most of the story written, so updates should come about once a week. This is just the prologue, the rest of the chapters are much longer. A big thanks to Fluf, she is amazing and helped me a lot with this story. Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I do not own Gilmore Girls.

Backstory: This is set right after "The Party's Over" when Dean breaks up with Rory, only she has never met Logan. Instead, Rory meets Michael, who she belives is the man of her dreams.

Prologue

Falling in Love

It was a cycle, an endless, broken sequence of events, like a scratched CD on repeat - the melodies were soft and beautiful, but the constant skipping ruined the vibe.

It hadn't always been that way.

Her eyes filling with tears, Rory headed back to the house, each step a little slower than the last, trying to buy as much time as she could. She didn't want to be seen like this, but she had no where else to go. Dean had broken up with her, leaving her all alone, and she didn't understand why. She was sure they were meant to be, he had told her they were going to be together forever. Didn't he mean it? Didn't he love her? Rory tried to choke back the tears, which were now coming at an increasing pace. Sometimes it was good to just let it all out, but now wasn't the place. She couldn't do this here, at her grandparent's house, in front of all those people. She would never live it down.

Pulling the curtains back, Michael looked out from the window, watching her ever move. He had seen the whole encounter, and his heart ached for the her. Michael had met Rory many times before, his parents were friends with Richard and Emily, but they had never really been that close. The occasional chit-chat here and there was required between the two of them at regular events, but they had never pushed their relationship to anything beyond that. Watching her from a distance over the years, he always thought Rory was perfect and had gained a great sense of admiration or her, seeing her like this was not something he was used to, and that seemed to pull him to her even more.

No one else had seen it happen, and he could tell that she wasn't ready to come inside quite yet, so he slipped passed the rest of the party-goers and met her outside.

Without a word, he pulled her into his arms, and she welcomed him right away. She craved comfort, even if it was from someone she hardly knew.

They stood in silence, holding each other tight, her crying into his comforting arms, she quickly soaked his shirt with her tears. Michael soothingly stroked her hair, telling her everything would be alright and whisperering conforting words into her ear. When she was ready, he wiped the tears from her eyes, and they headed back into the house, arm in arm, Michael supporting Rory as she leaned on him.

He led Rory back inside, into the study, and she fell into his arms once again. She was weak and vulnerable, and he was something strong to lean on. Her head was spinning with confusion, her surroundings were nothing but blur. Rory looked up into his eyes, and started to pull away. It just wasn't right, especially not in her grandfather's study. She started to speak, to protest, but before she could say a word, he pressed his mouth to hers, his hands grazing lightly over her reddened cheeks.

"I don't..." Rory muttered, her blue eyes still swollen with tears. But Michael quickly cut her off, wrapping his arms around her, leaning down to kiss her again. She didn't fight it this time, her body melting in his as she deepened the kiss, fully aware that there was no going back now.

From that day on, Rory and Michael were inseparable, practically attached at the hip, they were so perfect for each other it was sickening. He was her knight in shining armor, and she was the perfect girlfriend - smart, witty, and beautiful.

From afar they appeared to be the perfect couple, it was the kind of fantasy every girl dreams about, but the rest of the world only saw half of the story. From behind closed doors the sugary sweet fairytale quickly turned into a heartbreaking nightmare, spiraling downward and heading straight for the bottom.

"Never frown, even when you are sad...because you never know who is falling in love with your smile."