Like Mother, Like Daughter.

Jess Mariano walked up to Rory Gilmore as she was sitting on the bridge. Dean had just broken up with her in front of everbody at the dance-a-thon, all because of Jess.

"Dean's a jerk." Jess said. "Yelling at you like that, breaking up in front of everybody. . .the guy's a total jerk."

"No, he's not. He's right. Everything he said. All those things about you and me, all those things about me lying to him, and messing with his head. He was right. Well, wasn't he? Fine, he was right about me, then. Now go away."

"I broke up with Shane."

Rory didn't say anything.

"Rory?" She looked up. "I love you."

He sat down on the bridge next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned into him. "I love you too, Jess."

Rory walked into her house a while later where her mom was waiting for her.

"Rory! Where have you been?"

"I just needed some time, mom. Dean broke up with me."

"Oh, hon..."

"I was just at the bridge."

"Alone?"

"...no."

"With who?"

"Jess."

"What did you do?"

"We...talked."

"Is that it?"

"...no."

"Did you..."

"Yes."

"Rory! I can't believe you would do that! first, you know I don't like him, second, you know he's not good for you, and third, do you really want to end up like me? Knocked up before high school graduation, with no father to your child?"

"No, but mom, I love him."

"So? That's not gonna make him stay, or make him help you, or make him love you back."

"He does."

"How do you know, Rory?"

"He told me."

"But how do you know he means it? He probably just said that after you did because he didn't know what to say."

"He said it first."

"Look, Rory, I don't want to argue with you, but you need to understand."

"I do, mom." Rory sighed. "But he really loves me."

"How can you tell for sure, Rory?"

"When he looks at me, or talks to me, his eyes shine. He's only nice to me, and to everyone else he hardly talks, or when he does he's rude. He came back to Stars Hollow after the accident, why do you think that was? Because his mom sent him here? No, he chose to come back. He even made a deal with Luke. If he graduated, he could stay here. You know how little Jess cares for school."

"How do you know all this?"

"It's a small town, mom. People talk."

"He didn't tell you?"

"Actually, he did."

"He told you that he came back because he loved you?"

"Yes. And you know it's true, mom."

"And you love him back?"

"Yes."

"Were you safe?"

"Yes, mom, We were."

"Good. Go to bed."

"Goodnight, mom."

"Goodnight, babe."