This is How it Should be:
Disclaimer: Own nothing.
Summary: Alright, alright. I have decided to take season 3 into my own hands because the more I watch it the angrier I become. This takes place right after my one-shot "Perfect Timing at the Oasis". A few things from the series will be dropped in but nothing after "Eight O'clock at the Oasis" exists.
A/N: I don't know how long I'll make this or how often it can be updated, I'm an incredibly busy person. But I feel it must be done.
Chapter 1:
She had made her decision. She was going to break up with Dean. Rory knew she had been wrong to continue to lead him on after all these months. If she was really being honest with herself, things hadn't been the same since Jess came to town. She couldn't explain it. Suddenly falling for someone after meeting them once? Sure, that's how it started with Dean, one reference to a classic movie she and her mother both love and she was hooked. But things were different with Jess. It wasn't just the books, it was something more. There was a pull in her gut telling her that this was right, this was her person. That pull took on a mind of its own the second Jess came to save the day at Dwight's. It would no longer stand to be ignored and Rory was no longer willing to ignore it.
"It's all going to be okay." Lorelai was rubbing Rory's back, waiting on the last of the tears to fall. It was so hard to see her one and only precious daughter this upset. It was even harder to accept why she was this upset. Rory was a smart girl, the smartest girl in all the world, she wouldn't make the wrong decision. But Dean was so reliable, such a great first boyfriend. The first boyfriend every mother dreams of. Jess. Just thinking his name brought a bad taste into Lorelai's mouth. But she loved Rory and she wouldn't do anything to break the bond the two of them have. So if Rory's choice was to end things with Dean to be with Jess, she wasn't going to stand in her way. She could learn to love Jess. No, no love was not the right word. Tolerate. She could definitely learn to tolerate Jess.
Jess found Shane leaving the beauty supply store. It was 6:30pm and the place was closing up for the night.
"Hey!" She caught sight of him and immediately went to connect her mouth with his.
Jess put his hands up in front of him to keep her at bay.
"Uh.." Jess scratched the back of his head. He was never good with break-ups. Usually, when he was done with a girl, he'd dodge all her calls and never answer the door. Stars Hollow girls were not New York girls. Shane may not be a Gilmore girl but she still deserved a proper break-up.
"So, this has run its course. We're done. Later" Jess turned to walk away, thinking that would suffice. He got about five steps away when he heard Shane's voice over the chomping of her bubble gum. He made a mental note to ask Rory to never chew gum in his presence.
"You'll be back. Guys like you? You don't deserve girls like her."
Jess turned around to say something, but she had her back turned and was walking away. He thought it best not to shout what had come to mind and instead made his way back to the diner. He bit back the goofy grin that fought to play on his lips. Rory was finally going to be his.
Luke was in the empty diner wiping down tables when he walked in.
"What's with you?"
"Gee Uncle Luke, great to see you too." Guess he wasn't biting hard enough and the grin escaped.
"You come in here two hours ago, soaking wet, say nothing, leave twenty minutes later looking as if nothing happened, and now you show up with this shit-eating grin plastered on your face. What gives?"
"Well, Uncle Luke, if you must know, there was a sale at the collectible plate store and I'm done with my Christmas shopping!" Jess may have been in a good mood, but he still couldn't resist messing with Luke.
"I don't know why I bother." Luke looked up, exasperated, and went back to wiping down the counter. "Why aren't you out with what's-her-name?"
"That's done." Jess would say no more on the subject. He made his way to the curtain to head upstairs.
"WHAT? You were just eating her face at the counter this morning? What happened?"
"Got bored. Can we be done with this now?"
"I don't know why I asked. Have a good night. Make sure no one is stuffed in the closet by the time I come up."
"And on that note…" And Jess went behind the curtain and up to the apartment. On his way up, away from Luke, he was able to let the grin loose. It was finally going to happen. He may have told her he wasn't pining for her, but he was. Since his first night here, he had been waiting for her to be his. Finally, someone he could have intelligent conversations that he could call his own. His person.
The next morning Rory woke up extra early. This was the day. She wanted to do it last night, but Lorelai insisted she sleep on it. Rory had never been more sure of anything in her entire life, but she didn't want to upset Lorelai any more than she already was.
Rory quietly went into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee before getting in the shower. She opened her door and saw Lorelai already at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee.
"Mom, what are you doing up already?"
"I couldn't sleep, sweets. I want to be so happy for you but…"
"You don't want me to get hurt." Rory cut Lorelai off, knowing where this conversation was going.
"Mom, Jess isn't dad. He isn't going to get me pregnant and leave. He isn't going to hurt me again. Why can't you see that?" Rory didn't want to start her day off crying but Lorelai's refusal to accept what was happening was making it difficult.
"I know, Ror! You know how I feel about Jess. I can't just learn to unhate him over night! It's going to take a lot, and I mean A LOT, of time. Time that could possibly be shortened with coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. How much pull do you have with diner boy?"
Rory was happy that her mom could start joking halfway through a serious conversation. It was a good sign. She sighed.
"I am sure I can convince Jess to give you all the coffee your heart desires. But before I can do the convincing we both know there is something I need to take care of. So please, let me shower and get ready so I can go break the heart of the best first boyfriend any girl has ever known."
And with that Rory went off into the bathroom, stood under the hot water, and cried at the loss she was about to endure.