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A different way things could have happened. A different way her life could be.

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A Different Way

Rory and Will walked towards the front of the store. Will was holding a book tightly. Rory took it and handed it to John.

"That'll be nine eighty."

Rory handed him the money, John put the book in a bag, and handed it to Will.

Rory looked at the book that hadn't left her hand, "When is the author coming in?" She asked.

"He'll be here Thursday."

Rory nodded, "I'll see you later John." She said before taking Will's hand and exiting the store.

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It was Thursday. Rory was sitting in her car staring at the familiar book store. Then she saw him, he was walking into the store, and her heart was somewhere by the brake pedal. She some how managed to gather herself and get out of the car.

She was standing in front of the store, opening the door and stepping inside, all the while completely petrified. She stood there, staring at him. He looked good, he looked the same, but different. His hair was a little shorter, he was wearing jeans, no more leather jacket, and he was wearing the converse she wrote all over when they were together. The writing had faded, but she could still make out, "Property of Rory Gilmore" scribbled on the side.

She, at that point, realized he was looking back at her. She looked him directly in the eyes, and he returned the action. She suddenly became very nervous, she pulled her gaze away from his, and became very interested in her own shoes.

"Hey."

She looked up again, "Hey."

He smiled at her, "Its been a while."

"Yeah it has."

John walked up to Rory, "Hey Rory, where's Will?"

Rory suddenly felt all the blood leave her face, "Uh, oh, uhm, Alice should be uhm dropping him off soon."

"Oh, I got a new shipment in he might like."

Rory smiled at him, "Good. I'll tell him when he gets here."

John walked off into the back of the store leaving Rory and Jess alone again. Rory stood there waiting for the question she knew he would ask.

"Who's Will?"

And there it was. The question, the question she dreaded, the question she welcomed, the question she didn't know how to answer, the question she couldn't bring her self to answer.

"Uhm..." She couldn't find the words.

The bell above the door rang and Alice walked in holding Will's hand. Rory spun around to face them.

"Hey Rory."

"Hey Alice." Rory looked at Will, "Hey honey."

"Mommy!" Will shouted jumping into Rory's open arms, hugging her tightly.

This time it was Jess' turn to be speechless.

Rory turned back to Jess, with Will at her side. "Jess, this is Will, my son."

"Wow."

"It's been a while." Rory told him.

"Yeah. It has." Jess eyed the child, "Maybe we could talk."

"Yeah. That'd be good." Rory nodded.

"Maybe we could talk here."

"Okay." Rory knelt down to Will's level, "Hey baby, why don't you go into the back and find Mr. John, he said he had some new books for you to see."

"Okay." Will said, with his fingers in his mouth, before running to the back.

Rory stood up and looked at Jess who was staring at Will's retreating form.

He turned back to her and asked, "How old is he?"

"He'll be 5 in May." Rory answered, half hoping he would figure it out, so she wouldn't have to tell him, and the other half hoping he wouldn't, so she didn't have to tell him.

Jess nodded, looked down, closed his eyes, and shook his head. It was then Rory knew he had figured it out. What did she expect, he was always brilliant, and this wasn't that difficult to figure out.

"Jess." Rory said, not really having anything else to say.

Jess held up his hand, "Don't." He looked up at her, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I. I just. I don't. I mean. I just."

"Jeez you cant even come up with a good lie."

"Jess!"

"No Rory! I came back to you! Three years ago! You could have told me then! Why didn't you!" Jess yelled.

"Jess!" Rory shouted. "Not in here." She said quieter.

Jess nodded looking around the small book store. Rory walked outside, she trusted John with Will. Jess followed her still fuming.

As soon as they were outside Jess started in again, ironically quieter now, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't know. I just didn't."

"That's a really great reason Ror!" Jess yelled, his voice drenched with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry!" Rory yelled back.

"Well that's great Rory! "I'm sorry"! That really makes up for everything I've missed!" Jess screamed. "God Rory. I never thought you would be so self absorbed! I thought that you gave a damn about other people! I thought you gave a damn about me! Guess I was wrong!"

"Fuck you!" Rory screamed.

"Right back at you!" Jess yelled before walking away.

Rory sighed, that wasn't how that was supposed to go. She shook her head, what did she expect. She really didn't know how that should have gone, she let the thought that his reaction was justified slip quietly out of her mind, the way he acted made her angry, even though she knew he had every right to act that way.

Her conflicting thoughts were interrupted by her cell phone ringing.

She answered it, "Hello?"

"Hey Rory." The voice on the other end of the phone responded.

She sighed. "Hey hon."

"What's wrong? You sound upset."

"No. Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired."

"Well all right. What time do you think you'll be home tonight? And do I need to pick up Will?"

"Oh no. I got off early and Will is with me. We're at the book store."

"Oh always with the book store." He joked.

"Yes always with the book store." Rory smiled. "Well we'll be home soon. I'll try and tear him away from John."

"Alright. See you soon, babe."

"Bye Tony." Rory hung up the phone, let out another sigh and went back into the book store to retrieve Will.

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♥ Newtie ♥