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On Friday night Rory's cellphone rings, making her jump. She's just got out of the shower after her stint at the cafe and cautiously she answers, "Hello?"

"It's me," comes Paris's voice. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I - what about you?" Rory demands, her surprise giving way to laughter. "I thought you were in England!"

"I'm back for a week. Asher has a conference and I thought I'd swing by Stars Hollow, see if there's any pig races going on."

Rory's laughter fades and Paris presses, "Rory? I thought we could get coffee. You know, between the latest town crack-up."

"I think the latest town crack-up might be me."

"What?"

"I'm not in Stars Hollow."

"Well, spit it out!" Paris says impatiently. "Are you bunking with your grandparents? I know you're used to a slow pace of life but I have places to be!"

"I'm in New York!" Rory says loudly. "I didn't go home for summer, I went to live with Jess in New York! Happy?"

Rory lets out some weighted breaths and notices a stunned silence at the end of line. She wouldn't have imagined that stunning Paris was possible but is too nervous to feel proud. Finally her friend answers, "You're kidding."

"No, I'm not."

"You ran away with the last wannabe Beats writer?"

"Paris..."

Her friend's voice is back to its usual sardonic tone but Rory thinks she can still detect some shock underneath. Steadily, Rory says, "It's for summer."

"Really?" Paris says, sounding suspicious. "Where are you living?"

"Manhattan."

"I could come to New York for the day," Paris offers. "If you want to hang out."

"I - sure."

"I mean, it's more interesting than Stars Hollow, right?"

"Oh yes," Rory says, looking around the apartment. "It's definitely that."

When Jess gets back from the restaurant Rory is already in bed. She's half awake but as he quietly climbs into bed she tells him, "Paris is coming over tomorrow."

"Huh."

"Mm," Rory says, already drifting off. "Might be cool to see her."

"Sure. I'd say we should clean the place but there's not a whole lot to improve."

Rory laughs and starts to sleep but there is a hesitant feeling all through her dreams. She hasn't mentioned it to Jess but her period was due today and it hasn't shown up. They've been doubly careful, Rory is sure it must be fine, but she sleeps uneasily and the knowledge of Paris visiting doesn't help. Rory wakes early, Jess fast asleep as she carefully gets out of bed. She pours herself a glass of water and drinks it slowly, staring out of the grimy window at the equally grimy street below. Putting the glass down, Rory goes to the bathroom and lets out a yelp of joy. She's got her period and relief courses through her. Part of her imagined that it wouldn't happen, that she'd have to tell her mother. I told you, Rory imagined Lorelai saying. Didn't I warn you? Rory sits back for a moment until her relief is replaced with remembering that she doesn't have any pads. Rory can already hear Paris's running commentary and wonders if she'll be able to pick some up before she arrives. Hopefully there's a lone one somewhere in her bag.

Stuffing some toilet paper in her underwear, Rory washes her hands and goes back into the bedroom. As she rummages through her things Jess wakes up and observes her sleepily, shifting up onto an elbow.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"You seem pretty busy for nothing."

"I got my period," Rory tells him. "I need a pad."

"Oh."

Jess sounds a little uncomfortable but Rory doesn't feel shy. She never discussed it with Jess when they were dating before, nor anyone else, but guesses it wasn't too relevant then. She used to imagine dying of embarrassment if asked about it. Triumphantly, Rory discovers a pad in her backpack and heads back into the bathroom before getting into bed with Jess. She gives him a kiss and Jess remarks, "You're cheerful this morning."

"I'm just so relieved."

"We were careful."

"I know, but I was still nervous. Imagine if -"

Rory's cheerfulness dims slightly. Mentioning that possibility makes the morning more serious, but Jess jokes, "I guess my reputation wouldn't be helped if that happened. I can see the lead story in the Stars Hollow Gazette - Local Hoodlum Knocks Up Town Princess."

Rory laughs but she feels sombre and Jess says, "Hey, I'm kidding."

"I know - it's just scary to think about."

They look at each other and Rory bites her tongue, wishing she'd never brought the subject up. She doesn't even want to think about what they'd do if that happened. Rory supposes neither of them would live long enough to find out if Lorelai knew and smiles grimly.

"What?"

"Nothing," Rory says firmly. She pushes the covers back and says, "Do you want coffee?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

"I always want coffee."

"I've noticed," Jess says, feigning innocence. He smiles and says, "Want me to make it?"

"No, I'm good. When's the earliest stores open around here?"

"Nine, something like that," Jess answers. "How come?"

"I just want to pick up some things before Paris gets here."

Jess nods, sounding a little tired as he says, "Right. Is she coming over?"

"I don't know - maybe. Probably. We're going to go for coffee."

"What's her opinion on all this?"

"I don't think she has one," Rory says and laughs as Jess remarks, "It's impossible for Paris not to have an opinion."

"True. I guess I'll find that out over coffee."

Rory makes a quick run to the grocery store and then waits nervously for Paris to call. She sent her the address and, an hour earlier than Rory expected, there's a banging on the door.

"Jeez!" Jess exclaims, going over. He carefully opens the door and then says to Rory, "It's for you. Hey, Paris."

"Jess," Paris says, stepping inside the apartment. She looks hot and sweaty from the drive, her blonde hair trailing on her neck. Paris scrapes it back as Rory goes over, smiling nervously. She's starting to sweat a little too.

"Paris! You made it!"

"Barely," Paris retorts and Rory frowns.

"You're here an hour earlier than you said."

"Mapquest estimates are always way off. People drive like wimps. I would have been here sooner only some asshole officer tried to tell me I'd parked badly. Me park badly?! This is New York!"

"Did he give you a ticket?" Rory asks and Paris snorts.

"Like he would have dared. So this is the place, huh?"

"Pretty much it," Rory agrees. She follows her friend's eyes around the room, taking in the sight of the bed and chairs and the boxes scattered around. Rory feels a twinge of embarrassment, she should have made the place look more inviting but she can't think of how that could've been accomplished. She shifts slightly and says, "Do you want some coffee?"

"I thought we were going out for it."

"We are - I just thought - forget it."

"I'll use your john," Paris says cheerfully. "There's no cockroaches, right?"

Rory and Jess exchange a look and when Paris comes back out she says, "So what are you doing these days, Jess?"

"Working in a restaurant, running messages...basically this," Jess tells her, gesturing at the room and Paris nods.

"Done with the Kerouac thing?"

"For now," Jess says. Rory looks at him, wondering if he means something by it, but he just adds, "I'm reading more than Hemingway, you'll be pleased to know. Expanding the genre."

"Ecstatic," Paris says. "You're certainly embracing the lifestyle."

"Well, it has its moments."

He and Paris give each other smiles and Rory glances back and forth. They sound almost tense but their expressions are friendly, and Rory jumps when Paris says, "I feel like Godot with this coffee thing."

"See you later," Rory says to Jess and he lifts his hand in farewell, watching as she and Paris leave the apartment and head out of the building.

Rory takes Paris to a small coffeeshop a few blocks down. She's always thought it looked inviting but hasn't found time to check it out. Inside are some easy chairs and some vases on each round table, the air fragranced from the sprigs of flowers inside. It seems incongruous with the rest of the neighbourhood and Rory makes a mental note to come back alone some time. She and Paris order two coffees and it's only until they're sat down that Paris remarks, "So you've shacked up with your ex-boyfriend. I have to hand it to you, Mary."

"Um thanks, I think."

"Looks a little sparse but guess you guys just need the bed. Hope it's a firm mattress."

Rory reddens at that and stares at the flowers in the vase, not commenting either way.

"Didn't think you had it in you," Paris adds. "Pretty different from Stars Hollow. It's certainly no clam bake, huh? So to speak."

Their coffees are brought over and Rory delays responding by taking a long sip. She closes her eyes in bliss, unable to remember when she last had such a good coffee, and splutters when Paris asks, "So how is he in the sack?"

"Excuse me?"

"I always wondered. You are having sex, right? I mean, I'm assuming this isn't a chaste living situation."

Rory pauses and then mumbles, "Yes, we're having sex."

"How is it?" Paris asks. Rory blushes and Paris rolls her eyes.

"Oh, come on, Mary."

"Quit calling me that."

"All I'm asking is how Jess is! He looks like he'd keep going for a while, you know, but know what he was doing. Jamie was nice but it was never that exciting...you've got to have some variety, you know? It was just the same position, same stuff each time. I bet there's no issue on that front. Or his front."

Rory tries to shrug, red in the face, and obliviously Paris chatters on, "So are you going to bring Jess back to our dorm room? Because I'm betting those walls are thin and I don't want to hear you."

"Hear me?"

"You're quiet but quiet girls can be barnraisers and I bet he makes you go through the roof."

Rory dares to glance around. A couple of people are looking and then cough and Rory looks back at her friend, whispering furiously, "Could you be a little less loud?"

"That's what I'm asking you! I've got noise reducing headphones, all I need to know is when to put them on."

Rory focuses on drinking her coffee and Paris follows suit. After a moment she puts her cup down and says, "You're still coming back to Yale, aren't you?"

"Of course I'm coming back to Yale," Rory says in surprise. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know," Paris says, sipping more coffee. "You seem to have a whole new living situation. What are you doing for money?"

"I'm working as a waitress."

"A waitress?" Paris echoes. "I can't picture that."

"Trust me, you don't want to. Anyway, it's just for summer. Hey, you've spent all summer in England and I'm not asking if you're moving back to the mother country!"

"So Jess is staying in New York when you move back?" Paris asks. "What's he going to do?"

"I don't know. It's Jess, he'll figure something out."

Paris grunts in acknowledgement and asks, "Didn't he take some kind of Kerouac quest?"

"It wasn't a quest, he just...Paris, that was last year! He's here now. He can come visit me, I can visit him...we'll work it out."

Paris nods, her expression impassive, and takes a bite of the cookie which came with the coffee. Rory wonders about next year, how often Jess will be able to come see her. They'll have weekends, she reasons. They'll figure out a plan. She starts chewing her own cookie and coughs on a crumb as Paris asks, "So what kind of birth control are you using?"

"What?" Rory asks, reaching for her glass of water, and Paris says, "Hey, I don't want you and lover boy slipping up and you coming back with a bun in your oven!"

"Paris!"

"Because if you're expecting me to be Bette Midler in this you can forget it."

"Excuse me?"

"You know, that movie Beaches?" Paris says impatiently. "Where Bette Midler winds up raising her friend's kid after she kicks the bucket? I am not going to be your nanny."

"I'm not - when did you watch Beaches?" Rory demands and Paris almost blushes.

"I was sick one day, it was on cable...I don't know, it was easy to watch. I kept falling asleep."

"Right," Rory smirks and Paris goes on, "You get my point."

"Yes, I get your point. Relax, I've got it covered."

"You definitely have it covered?" Paris asks, making Rory roll her eyes. "All of it?"

"Yes, all of it!" Rory declares and her eyes widen as Paris reaches into her purse and slaps a large packet of condoms on the table. "What are those?"

"Rory, if you're asking me what those are then what the hell have you been covering it with?!"

"Why are they on the table?" Rory hisses, swiping them onto her lap and Paris says, "I have a whole drawer of them. When you told me you were hooking up with Jess I thought you could use a box."

"Well, that's very, um, thoughtful, but you didn't have to."

"You'll thank me later," Paris says confidently. "All I'm saying is you don't want him to shoot and score."

"I'm really fine. I've got my period anyway, if it makes you relax. Plus I'm on the pill."

"Just take them," Paris says briskly. "They're ribbed for your pleasure."

"Um, thanks," Rory says. Her face is feeling so hot she's pretty sure it would heat up what's left of her coffee. She drinks it in silence and Paris remarks, "I'm glad you're with Jess."

"You are?" Rory asks, putting down her cup and Paris says, "He's so cute and he knows books, even if his taste leaves a little to be desired. I could stand hanging out with him, you know? There wasn't much to talk about with Dean."

"Right," Rory says, and she smiles. "You can come over again, if you want."

"I'm heading back to England next week."

"Well, when we're back in school then. Jess can come over and we can all hang out."

"That sounds nice," Paris says hesitantly. Rory smiles at her and relaxes until her friend asks, "How often do you bang him anyway?"

Paris pays for their coffee and shakes her head when Rory weakly protests. "I've got it," she says. "It can be my treat. You know, along with the actual gift." Rory doesn't want to show how relieved she is and settles for a smile, saying, "Both are good." Rory walks Paris back to the car and notices with a pang how undamaged it is. She hasn't even begun to think about repairing hers. She and Paris awkwardly hug in farewell but when her friend asks, "Is it all going okay?" Rory doesn't mention the car.

"It's going great."

"How'd Lorelai take it?"

"Not so great."

"Bet that's an understatement."

"Definitely." Rory doesn't want to linger on that. "The rest is fine, I swear."

"No one's tried mugging you? I was thinking of taking self-defence classes. You definitely should."

"It's really fine," Rory promises and honestly says, "I'm happy living with Jess."

Paris nods, pauses and then asks, "What made you go with him?"

"It was a chance," Rory says slowly. "I don't know, I just...I wanted to do it."

"Not because I gave you a hard time about being single? Because talk about going from zero to a hundred!"

"Of course not," Rory laughs. "It's Jess, Paris. We were together before."

"It just seems sudden, I guess."

"Maybe, but so what?" Rory says defensively. "We're happy."

"Okay," Paris says. She still looks like she has something to add but she simply says, "I'll call you soon."

"Good. Have fun in England."

"I will," Paris promises and, as she ducks into the car, calls back, "Have fun with the gift I gave you!"