Title: Bright Lights

Rating: T for possible later teen elements

I own nothing if I did I probably would already have that ipod I've wanted

The characters belong to Amy P. and The WB

The song is property of Matchbox 20

Ok, so enjoy!

Bright Lights by Mochamint19

"She got out of town, on a railway New York bound, took all except my name, another alien on Broadway. There are somethings in this world you just can't change." Based off the song "Bright Lights" Matchbox 20. Rory is off to New York to find someone that should help her understand why she can't change her fate.

Isn't it funny, Ironic even Rory Gilmore thought to herself as she stepped off the greyhound bus and was swallowed in by this big new world. How one simple yet satisfying action can change you forever or even change you into someone you never thought you could be. It had been two months since she had seen him, the love of her life, with a suitcase in each hand and a tattered letter, an address scribbled in blotchy black writing on a envelope. She headed towards a fate the waited intently for her.

Flashback

Almost as soon as Jess came up the driveway nineteen-year-old Rory ran outside and onto the porch of her simple Connecticut home. They were going to spend the entire day together just happy to have found one another. No sooner had she ran onto the porch that he saw her and smiled, it had been three years since he had moved to Stars Hollow and each day he seem to enjoy it more, but he was never going to let anyone know that. At his first glance he assumed Stars Hollow was a crappy town full of weird people and a useless waste of his time, that was until he met Rory. His memories of that particular day would be forever vivid in his mind. It was his second day in Star Hollow and his Uncle Luke had volunteered him to go to a "welcome party" he called it, that was where he found his angel. Rory was a simple girl with piercing blue eyes and pretty brown hair grown past her shoulders. Somehow this tough guy didn't feel so tough around her. He took one look at her and knew she was the one. He would always remember the book she was reading, Pride and Prejudice.

"Hi I'm Rory," she said excitedly.

"I figured" he had responded sounding more bored than he intended to.

That day was magical, they went to the bookstore, the movies and even to Luke's for lunch and much needed coffee. He was sure going to miss this place, but most of all he couldn't help thinking how much he was going to miss Rory, that sweet innocent face that was going to be heartbroken by this news. He knew that he needed to tell her, the sooner he did the sooner it could happen. They had been traveling around Stars Hollow for hours when they stopped at the bridge, which was their favorite place to spend long summer days.

"You seem kind of quiet", Rory said

"I'm sorry, I guess my mind is off somewhere else.

"Oh, Could I maybe..." she said soothingly.

After quite a long silence he finally spoke the words he dreaded to say, "I'm leaving for New York tomorrow."

Speechless was all that Rory could manage. Trying to be brave she said the first thing that popped into her head, "When will you be back, will you be back?"

"My mom is really sick," He said with fear quivering in his voice, "of course I would never abandon you, but the minimum could be six months", he said speaking softly almost unaware of the reality that was happening.

Rory nodded still in a trace.

"Well then, you should go help your mother, she needs you," she said half-calm, half wanting to cry. "Don't worry about me."

"I do love you Rory, don't forget that, it is going to be so hard to leave you," Jess said with a comforting smile. Those were the last words he said before he left.

End Flashback

So there she was, in New York, to see the man she loved and cared for most in this world. Was she prepared to do this? It was such a shock for her, what would it to mean to him? She was going to have a baby, he was about to become a father, and their lives were going to change forever. Would he still love her as much as he said?

Pneumonia he had written in a letter about two weeks after he had left, that is where she had gotten the address. Rory was so nervous, she stood there frozen in time, maybe it would all be alright, but then again Jess never was the one to step up to the plate. Maybe she would just go to the hotel her mother suggested and just think for the night.

Though her mother disliked Jess from the first moments she knew in her heart that he needed to know, or more that Rory needed him to. Lorelai was at first disappointed with her daughter, but knew that she was in no position to judge. So she supported her daughter's decision in an all too familiar de JA vu scenario. She wanted to go with Rory, to protect her little girl from the cruelty of the world, but Rory insisted that she stay and tell Luke. Lorelai wanted so bad to pick up the pieces for her daughter, but knew too well that Rory needed to pick up her own pieces in order to coup.

And yet Rory was still here, the lion's den, standing on steps looking almost as tattered as the letter she held in her hand and close to her heart. She decided to give him time before she rocked his world, to give her time to think of something tangible to say that would make at least a little sense to him. So she called herself a taxi and left only looking back once. When she got to the hotel she got into her pajamas and went straight to sleep, she had a long day ahead of her.

In the morning she woke up early and dressed, as much as she wanted to postpone this longer, she knew that she couldn't, she owed to her child and to her boyfriend. Instead of taking another crazy taxi ride she decided to walk, it was a nice day and it was only two blocks from his apartment. She had all of the necessary precautions, pepper spray and cell phone, plus she needed more time to think of what to say to Jess. As she was walking she spotted a small bookstore and coffee shop. Immediately she was drawn to it like a moth to a flame, she really needed some coffee. So she ordered a small chocolate muffin and a cup of coffee, decaf of course. While sitting there she let the warmth of the coffee calm her, there was something about how the coffee seemed to make her feel protected. All the shielding in the world could not change the fact that the month was August and she would be starting he freshman year at Yale in only four weeks. Why was she being so silly, I mean straight forward Rory Gilmore was procrastinating? At that moment she stood, threw her empty cup away and walked the rest of the way to the apartment, she was determined to do this.

She walked up the stairs to level 5, apartment 12 and softly knocked. For some reason she wasn't surprised to see a nurse, it was probably because just a month earlier Luke had talked about how he could help and discussed that very possibility of that.

" Is Jess Mariano here?" she said almost not finding her voice.

"Oh Mr. Mariano is sleeping right now, should I wake him up?"

"No, that won't be necessary, I'll come back later."

"He's a sweet boy isn't he." She said to Rory's retreating back.

Rory turned around and smiled, she nodded in agreement.

The older redhead continued, " You know by the look of that kid you'd assume he was just another troublemaker, but he is such a responsible young man, even going to night school and working two jobs to help pay for things for his mother."

A single tear rolled down Rory's cheek she knew that as much as Jess's mother drove him crazy, he would do anything for her.

" Come in dear." The redhead insisted.

" Well if you don't mind" Rory said uncertainly.

"No I don't sweets, but maybe you can help me? Mr. Mariano wants me to pick out a gift for his girlfriend, I have never been good with picking out romantic gifts, but I found this catalog and there seem to be some nice things to choose from."

"Yeah of course" Rory said with a twinge of pain, had Jess already found another girlfriend?

"Oh thank you sweets, he sure loves her too, talks about her all the time, lives in this small town called Stars Hollow, have you heard of it? I myself have only driving through there once, it's a nice little town, she's a lucky girl."

"Oh", Rory said feeling very foolish; a small smile played across her face, why would she ever think Jess had a new girlfriend?

"Hey Marie, is someone here?" Rory heard an oh to familiar voice with a yawn."

"Yes, Mr. Mariano, um I didn't get your name?"

Then suddenly they were face to face and two months melted away within two seconds.

"Rory what are you doing here?' kissing her before she even had time to answer.

"Well I thought I'd see how you were doing, how your mom was." Rory said shyly.

" My mom is getting better, it's amazing, she's progressing well, still bedridden much to her displeasure, but she is so much better than two months ago."

"She is thankful, so am I." He said with a touch of irony.

"But anyway, I'm so happy you are here, come in the kitchen, I was just about to make lunch."

"Wait Jess," she said biting her lip.

" There is something really important I have to say to you, about our future." With an unknown burst of strength, there was no time like the present right?

"Your breaking up with me aren't you?" he said cautiously.

" Well no, but you might want to break up with me." She uttered with tear rimmed eyes.

"Why would I ever want to do that?" he said fearing the worst.

"Because I'm going to have a baby!" She finally blurted out.

End of Chapter 1