bDILEMMA/b Pairing: R/J/T, a little L/L Rating: PG Summary: Rory returns from Washington and thinks she is going to finally find happiness with Jess. Things change when Tristan returns from military school. Disclaimer: I own nothing. Obviously.

b[ at the bus stop ]/b

Rory: Mom!

Lorelai: You're back! You look mighty happy missy, for someone who loves to be away from her mother.

Rory: Well after all these weeks I've decided that there is someone more annoying then you... Paris.

Lorelai: Miss President, herself. Did you have a good time?

Rory: Define good time.

Lorelai: It couldn't have been that bad. You like all that historical stuff.

Rory: That part was ok. It was watching Paris become lovesick that was bad.

Lorelai: She met a guy? Another robot?

Rory: Yeah, his name's Matt. He's not as robotic as she is, but he's still really smart and focused. He wants to go to Harvard too, but his parents are aiming for Princeton. They seem like a match made in heaven. Or hell, considering Paris is involved.

Lorelai: Well, well, well. There's someone for everyone. Tell me more later though, I'm starving!

Rory: Okay let's go see Luke! I'm hoping you guys have made up by now.

Lorelai: Pretty much, considering that Joey Ramone is back.

Rory: (surprised look) Jess is back?

Lorelai: Yep. And we all know why.

Rory: He's a fugitive hiding from the FBI?

Lorelai: Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised. And he likes you.

Rory: We're just friends... he knows I'm with Dean.

Lorelai: Speaking of, I don't think he understands the whole 'Rory's out of town' concept.

Rory: Oh God. Was he stalking you?

Lorelai: Yeah, I was almost at the point of putting a restraining order against him.

Rory: He's been a little... intense lately, hasn't he?

Lorelai: That's the understatement of the century.

Rory: Do you think I should... no, never mind.

Lorelai: Break up with him?

Rory: Well...

Lorelai: This wouldn't be because of Jess, would it?

Rory: Um, well no. We're just friends.

Lorelai: Okay. So do you want to go to Luke's, or should we order food from Al's?

Rory: Luke's, definitely. Do you know how much take-out Chinese food I've eaten this summer in a tiny hotel room with Paris? Lo mein would give me horrible memories.

Lorelai: Luke's it is then. i(Opens door)/i

b[ at Luke's ]/b

Luke: Rory! How was Washington?

Rory: Hey Luke! It was pretty cool, but I was really homesick!

Luke: I'm sure you were. I'm guessing you drank coffee while you were away?

Rory: Of course, it's my life support.

Luke: Well, since your homecoming is a special occasion, I'll actually give you some, with no hassle today.

Lorelai: And what about me?

Luke: No.

Lorelai: Luke, please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Jess comes downstairs.

Jess: And ice cream in the middle?

Lorelai: Hey thanks, kid.

Rory: Jess!

Jess: Hey there, Rory. How was Washington?

iLorelai walks behind the counter and pours herself some coffee./i

Luke: What the hell do you think you're doing?

Lorelai: Relax. I'll pay you for it. Besides, it's against the law to withold service from people. Especially addicts.

Luke: Lorelai!

Jess looks at Rory.

Jess: You wanna take a walk?

Rory: Sure. Mom, we'll be back later.

Lorelai is holding the coffee pot above her head, smiling at Luke, whose face is red with fury.

Lorelai: Sure, honey. Take your time.

Jess: (smiles at Rory) I don't think she realizes that you're leaving with me.

Rory: Coffee, or lack thereof, has that effect on her.

b[ Jess & Rory are walking through town ]/b

Rory: So, um, should we um, talk about what happened at um Sookie's wedding?

Jess: What happened at Sookie's wedding?

Rory: Jess!

iJess smirks./i

Jess: I guess my literary charm, not to mention good looks, won you over, huh?

Rory: Do you like me?

Jess: As what?

Rory: As... I don't know, do you like me like I like you?

Jess: How do you like me?

Rory: Silent. I guess I should go.

Jess: Rory, wait up.

Rory: God, you're giving me Tristan flashbacks.

Jess: Who's Tristan?

Rory: Never mind.

Jess: I like you. I like you a lot. You're unlike any other girl I've ever met.

Rory: i(smiles)/i Is that so?

Jess: But what about the bag boy?

Rory: I think I might break up with him.

Jess: Really?

Rory: Yeah, there's just no... no spark anymore. He's so jealously overprotective of me.

Jess: It took you that long to figure that out?

Rory: First Tristan, then you...

Jess: Who is this Tristan guy?

Rory: It doesn't matter, he goes to military school in North Carolina.

Jess: Fun.

Rory: Why did you move back?

Jess: I told you already, I just wanted to.

Rory: Okay, you always told me about how much you wanted to get out. You finally got your chance, and you came BACK?

Jess: I guess I decided there was something here that I didn't have in New York.

Rory: And that is?

Jess: People who care about me.

Rory: Luke?

Jess: Yeah. And you.

iRory and Jess smile at each other./i

Rory: I think I'm gonna go see Dean now.

Jess: Sounds good. I'll catch up with you later. After all, I do have the coffee.

Rory: I'll come in for dinner later. While the War of Juan Valdez was raging, we slipped out and I never got to eat.

Jess: Okay so come in later and I'll make you a clown burger.

Rory: How about a Bjork burger?

Jess: I'll see what I can do.

iJess walks away./i

b[ at Dean's house ]/b

Dean: Rory! You're home!

iDean leans in to kiss her, but she pulls away./i

Rory: We need to talk.

Dean: Uh, that doesn't sound good.

Rory: We've been dating for a long time now. But no matter how close we are, you never seem to trust me. You get jealous everytime I talk to a guy that isn't you, and I can't take it anymore. Am I supposed to completely cut myself off from the male species?

Dean: Are you breaking up with me?

Rory: By George, I think he's got it.

Dean: But I love you! And I thought you loved me too.

Rory: i(sighs)/i Dean, you were my first boyfriend and I did care about you. A lot. But I don't know if it was love. I'm not sure what love is.

Dean: i(yelling)/i You said you loved me!

Rory: Yeah, you pressured me into saying it. I cared about you and didn't want to lose you, so I said it. But now I'm not sure that I meant it.

Dean: Whatever. This is just because you like Jess, and he's back because he likes you.

Rory: I do like Jess. We have a good time together. He's a really good friend. And you know what? I went to see him in New York. Because I liked him, and I couldn't see him with my jealous boyfriend around.

Dean: Can we start over?

Rory: No way in hell, Dean. I'm sorry.

Dean: You played me anyway! I'm better off without you!

Rory: It's over. Good-bye Dean. And stop stalking my mother and I, we'd both appreciate it.

iRory walks away./i

b[ back at Luke's ]/b

Lorelai: Hey babe! Did you go to see Dean?

Rory: Oh, I saw Dean alright.

Lorelai: Well that doesn't sound too good.

Rory: We broke up.

Lorelai: Wow. Well, you don't seem too upset.

Rory: I'm not. He's a floppy-haired, jealous stalker boy.

Lorelai: Do you need to wallow?

Rory: Are you crazy? I dumped him!

Lorelai: Ok, babe. Well I need to go see Sookie, I'm helping her re- decorate her house. Jackson said it was too frilly for him. I'll see you at home later for a movie, have dinner and call my cell if you need me.

Rory: Ok bye Mom. Tell Sookie and Jackson I said hey.

Lorelai: I will. Bye babe.

iJess comes over with a plate. On it is a burger with a face and black licorice around it to look like hair./i

Rory: My Bjork burger! Thank you Jess!

Jess: No problem. I like to give my creativity new outlets.

Rory: So we broke up.

Jess: It's about time. Didn't you get bored of that guy?

Rory: That was one of the problems.

Jess: You're not eating.

Rory: It's just too pretty to eat.

Jess: Wait, I'll be right back.

iJess gets up and returns with a Polaroid camera./i

Jess: Ok burger buddy, say cheese.

iJess takes the picture and then hands it to Rory after it's developed./i

Rory: Thanks. I guess I can eat it now without feeling too guilty.

Jess: I like people to enjoy my art.

Rory: Where's Luke?

Jess: On the phone with his supplier. While he was taking orders from customers, you're mom went into the storage room and hid all the coffee.

Rory: Oh jeez, she didn't take it with her, did she?

Jess: No, she asked me to put it in our refrigerator upstairs.

Rory: So now Luke is ordering new coffee?

Jess: Yeah, he's gonna be pretty mad tonight when he opens the fridge for some iced tea and twenty-five bags of coffee fall out.

Rory: Ah.

Jess: So, um... what are you doing tomorrow night?

Rory: Let's see, tomorrow's a Friday. Going to my grandparents house. Why?

Jess: I thought maybe I could take you out to dinner and we could see a movie. Starbuck's would be involved.

Rory: I'd really love to, but this would be my first dinner with them since I got back.

Jess: It's ok. Maybe some other time.

Rory: Yeah, definitely.

Jess: Ok, well you know where I live.

iRory's pager goes off./i

Rory: It's Lane. I promised her I'd see iDivine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood/i with her tonight.

Jess: There's a winner.

Rory: Ok well I guess I'll see you later Jess.

Jess: Bye Rory.