Authors Note: I planned out this story line, and I have a pretty good idea of how I want this to go, not that I won't need your imput!

Rory and Summer got ready together. Summer was deathly curious if Rory was going to stay true to Tristan and break a record or if she was going to find another guy at the party. Rory claimed that she wanted to stay with him, and everybody seemed to think that they really liked each other, but nobody was sure what was going to happen that night. She didn't make any effort to be modest, in a white V-neck thin shirt that went down to unknown depths, a denim skirt that was deathly short, cutting off so where you could see her bare ass. She put on red lipstick and curled her hair. She looked hotter than she had all week. She grabbed her white suit, in case they ventured to the pool or hot tub at Louise's house, where the party was. She wore white hooker boots that laced up and had high heels. She had a denim jacket on, but it would soon be disregarded. Louise's parties were always hot, with tons of music, alcohol and food. Summer and Rory picked up some coffee on their way, and then walked in. People turned their heads, and Summer was quickly off with her boyfriend, with one small note for Rory to be good, and remember she had Tristan.

Loud music was playing in the background, and Rory danced slightly, where she grabbed a wine glass and poured herself a drink. She sat down next to Joshua, a popular, and adorable freshman, who many people thought had a thing for Rory. She winked at his girlfriend, Shareise Samson, a short, petite blonde, who's hair was very short. The upperclassmen had taken to calling her Tinkybell, nobody knew why they all hated her, they just did. Rory smiled at Joshua, and tilted her glass to her mouth, she looked at Shareise, and whispered "Let's dance," into his ear. He was surprised, and definitely willing and eager.

No matter how pretty a guy's girlfriend was, they weren't retarded enough to refuse to dance with Rory Gilmore. He nodded his head, and she took his hand and they started dancing. People were watching her, to see if she would lead the young boy off into a dark corner, but she didn't. She didn't do anything except for dance with him, kiss his cheek, and move on. She didn't even get drunk, just a little tipsy. She danced, yelled at some people to fix the music, and watched some movies with other people. Then, Tinkybell approached her. Rory gave her some credit, it took a brave girl to approach Rory in the manner the girl was. She was acting like she was Rory's equal, or perhaps even better than her, so Rory knew this would be fun. "Uh, Rory?"

"Yeah Tinkybell?" The nickname rolled off her tongue casually, as easily as she would say her name.

The girl scowled, but tried to cover it with conversation, "I've heard rumors that you have a thing for Joshua,"

"Have the same people telling you these rumors not managed to convey the fact that I have a boyfriend?"

"Well yeah, but…"

"But what? Are you saying that you think I would cheat on my boyfriend?"

"Well I mean, you have before and…"

"Are you calling me a whore?"

"No!"

"That is what it sounds like. You should be more concerned with watching your boyfriend then me, bitch. I can't help it that guys like me, and it's not my job to ignore them all. If you get jealous over one little dance, then your just a little possessive whore, and the relationship won't last very long anyway, so why don't you get out of my face?"

She backed away, and Rory smiled. A few people gave her a thumbs up sign, or smiled at her. She was great entertainment when somebody tried to mess with her. Somebody poured her another glass full, and she leaned back in her chair and smiled. Summer saw her and came up, "Wow that was a great tongue lashing. You should give me lessons."

"I learned from the master,"

Summer smiled, "Thank you, thank you very much. Being good?"

"Why of course! Are you suggesting that I'm a whore?" Rory said teasingly

"Yes, you dirty whore,"

"Where's your boyfriend?"

"In their parents room, getting dressed."

"Ooooooh! The parents room… naughty."

"It's lasted a really long time for us, isn't it great?"

"Yeah, it is! I'm surprised you've lasted this long."

"Well, I really like him. How about you and Tristan, how's that going?"

"Good, what other guy has been able to manage to keep me good at a party where they're not even at?"

"Nobody. Wow."

"I know! Well maybe you should go find your boyfriend,"

"Yeah, probably. See ya later babe!"

"Have fun!"

"You too."

Rory rolled her eyes at the last comment. She needed Tristan to be there, parties sure weren't half as much fun without a hook-up. She bummed a cigarette off of somebody, and went into a dark room, with an open wall to smoke. She leaned against the wall, not bothering to turn the lights and lit up. She inhaled, and slowly calmed herself down. She loved her life. Somebody entered the room, but Rory didn't look up to see who it was. The person said, "Didn't know you smoked."

She recognized the voice, and looked up, both surprised and angry.

"Now you do, asshole."


It was Jess. He looked the same, the same as when he came between her and Dean, the same he did when he was her boyfriend, and the same he did when she caught him cheating on her. Yes, it was Jess. He never would change.

"Watch the language."

She glared. Nobody told her what to do. "What in the hell are you doing here? Your not wanted."

"Partying." He smiled that smile only he could pull off.

"Bullshit." She took a long drag off the cigarette, inhaling deeply and challenging him to reply.

"I came to find you."

"Why? Things not working out with you and Shane?" Rory Gilmore wasn't bitter over any of her flings, but Jess was supposed to have been different. She would always be bitter about a guy who found a ugly small-town skank better then her.

"I said I was sorry about that!"

"Whatever. Why are you here?"

"Let me take you somewhere, please, out for coffee maybe?" He said it obviously like it wasn't for a date, but conversation. Jess never seemed quite this serious.

"The last time a Stars Hollow ass took me for coffee we ended up at Luke's."

"Yeah, I heard about that. Listen, I promise I won't take you out of Hartford."

"I'm having fun here."

"Please, it's important. I'll take you home whenever you want."

"I don't even want to go"

"Please? This is really important to me, and it won't take long unless you want it to.

She sighed, she wasn't really enjoying the party without Tristan there anyway. "Ok, fine. Whatever."

They walked to his car, which looked out of place amongst expensive vehicles. They got in, and they talked in the car. He didn't turn the radio on. This talk would require quiet.

"Rory, I'm not even going to lie. You need to come home."

"I don't want to."

"Your mom needs you,"

"She can take care of herself,"

"No, she can't."

"This is where I belong, Jess."

"I don't think so."

"Guess what? I do, and I get to make that decision."

"That I understand."

"Why the sudden rush to take me home?"

"Lorelei said she wanted it to be your decision."

"Well I've made it."

"She didn't want you to know why you need to come home."

"Why do I need to come home."

"You really want to know? I'm not so sure you can handle it."

"I can handle anything."

"She has cancer. We just now found out. It's not fatal yet, but it's something that's really hard to face, especially without anybody there. Especially knowing your daughter hates you."

Rory was speechless.

"Nobody was supposed to tell you," he continued, "but we visit her at home, sometimes in the hospital and bring her Coffee. She looks so upset Rory, and I decided that you needed to know. She always said that she didn't want it to be the only reason you came home, but her stubbornness was only hurting her. I'm already the most hated boy in Stars Hollow, might as well pull off another thing. Especially something I know needs to be done." He looked at her kindly and harshly in the same moment, condemning her for leaving, but also welcoming her home.

Rory stared at him, and then spoke, "Oh. My. God."

"Yeah, still hate her?" His sarcasm hit it's mark, and he almost felt bad as their eyes met, and he realized the hurt she hid behind her makeup.

Rory looked away, she was crying. She picked up her cell phone and dialed Summer. She didn't answer and Rory left a short message after the beep.

"Summer," she said trying to conceal her tears, "this is Rory. I have to go to Stars Hollow tonight, I'll explain later. Call Tristan and tell him. Thanks, Bye."

They drove towards Stars Hollow, in almost complete silence.

"So when did they find out?"

" Just a little while ago. The day she was diagnosed she came up to see you, but you wouldn't talk to her.

Rory covered her mouth, and looked away from him in tears. This wasn't supposed to happen. Rory Gilmore didn't have feelings, especially ones that would bring her back to the town she claimed to despise. She watched the world of Hartford, the world of the bad Rory Gilmore fade away as a person who had a hand in taking her out of it chauffeured her into her past.

Jess knew when to keep his mouth shut, or maybe this was just a special occasion. He just drove, and watched the girl he had once known as innocent. She looked good, obviously, but she seemed unfitting to be crying. He had never seen Rory that unclothed. He had been her boyfriend, and now everybody who would see her would see more than he ever had, more than he expected Dean ever had.

Dean and Jess still weren't friends, but they both wanted to get Rory home. Dean especially was hit hard by "bad" Rory, and Jess too, because he was afraid that it was his fault. The ride was pretty much a silent drive, uncomfortable and depressing.

They arrived in Stars Hollow, and Rory ducked down, almost ashamed to be in the outfit she was, in the town she was, when everybody could only see her as the daughter who left her mother. Shame wasn't a feeling Rory was used too, and she kind of ducked. Jess pulled right into Lorelei's, and once Rory's driveway, and paused for a second.

"Do you want me to go in?"

"Please?"

They went in slowly, and Rory heard the sounds of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory echoing from her living room, and a huge wave of homesickness hit her, like it had been building up for a long time.

"Luke? Jess? Willy? Who has my coffee?" came the voice of Lorelei.

Jess replied, "It's me, and I bear coffee!"

The entered the room and Lorelei hit pause on the video screen, freezing the Ooompa Loompas mid dance.

"Rory!"

"Hey mom." She was crying."

"What's wrong honey?" she asked, then stole a look at Jess, "Oh god, Rory, Jess told you?"

Rory nodded, hugging herself, and letting the tears flow unshamefully down her cheeks, her makeup was almost gone now. If she was anywhere else, she would be shocked at how she was letting herself look, but she was home, with her mother, where the world was far far away. Especially the world Rory had newly flung her self into. That world, Chilton, Summer, and even Tristan were just far enough away where she could cry freely, and not hold onto her image of the Rory who never cried.

"Honey, I' m going to be okay," Lorelei said comfortingly, as though she had simply fallen down the stairs and was icing the bruised knee.

Rory sat down on the couch with her and hugged her, now she was bawling. She felt terrible, and so confused on what way to act.

"Wow, that's a short skirt," said Lorelei trying to lighten the mood.

Rory blushed, "I know."

Just then Rory's cell phone rang and she answered it, "Hello?"

"Rory? This is Tristan."

"Hey."

"Where are you? What's wrong?"

"I'm in Stars Hollow with my mom."

"Why?"

"Tristan, I'm going to come home sometime soon, and we can get together and I'll explain all of this. I have to go, babe."

"Okay Rory. Love you."

"Love you too."

Nobody noticed that Jess had slipped through the back door, leaving them together, the way everybody knew things were supposed to be.

Rory went back into her mother's arms, and together they watched their movie, Willy Wonka, for the first time in a long time. It wasn't a sad movie, but neither could stop crying.