Title: Always Leave them wanting more

Name: Emaline

Email: burgundymist6string@hotmail.com

Rating: it will probably be R eventually

Parts 1 and 2

story summary: This takes place near the end of Rory's senior year. There are some spoilers in it. Rory and Jess' relationship takes a serious turn, but they have to be careful in order to avoid heartbreak Pairs involved: Mostly Rory/Jess, maybe some Luke/Lorelai later

Part 1

Honey Pie

You are Making me Crazy

I'm in Love but I'm Lazy

So won't you please come home?

Rory Gilmore grinned hearing the vaudeville styled Beatles tune emanating from the newly opened Soda Shoppe. She shook her head, imagining how irate Luke must be about the level of volume. Thankfully, calming Luke and listening to his angry rants about Taylor's behavior wasn't generally Rory's responsibility. At least not anymore; not since she and Jess had gotten together. Now it was her mother's job to handle Luke, and Rory's job to keep Jess in check. Not that he'd needed much supervision lately; he'd mostly given up his hoodlum-like tendencies since that day in November when they'd decided to be together. He'd been far too busy spending time with Rory to smoke or drink or wreak his usual havoc.

Walking into the diner, Rory knew she'd been right about Luke's rant.

"It's not that it's a bad song or anything," he was explaining to Lorelai, whose eyes were following the coffee pot in his hand as cats eyes follow dust particles in the air. "It's just that I don't want to be hearing it through the wall at 8 o'clock in the morning. It never stops! It's on all day! I mean, am I right or am I right?" he looked at Lorelai expectantly, but she didn't reply. Her eyes were fixed intently on the coffee pot. Luke snapped in front of her eyes to end the trance. "Lorelai?"

"What? I mean- yes, exactly. I completely agree! Let's-burn him at the stake!" she sighed and waited for Luke's expression to change. Seeing he was unimpressed she added. "Damn Taylor with his- his MUSIC."

Rory sat in the chair next to her mother with a smile and whispered, "Nice try mom."

"Rory!" Lorelai exclaimed. "you're here! Tell him you find Taylor's music aggravating and disruptive to the diner's usually music free atmosphere!" Lorlelai leaned towards her daughter's ear and added under her breath. "Do it quick or he'll taunt you with the coffee pot."

Rory chuckled. "Actually, I don't mind it. It's not like he's playing annoying music or anything. It's certainly an improvement on "Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer." Besides this is a great song. It's the Beatles. You have to love the Beatles. It's the law."

Luke shook his head. "Yeah whatever. Rory would you go upstairs and get James Dean out of bed already? I'm starting to worry. It's 10:30. I mean what is he? Hibernating?"

Rory chuckled and headed for the stairs. "I'm on it." she turned back to Luke. "And for the love of God, give my mother some coffee! Look at her! She's ready to tackle you for it."

*******

Jess opened his bedroom window and the music from next door filled the room. It was an unusually warm May this year, and in the upstairs apartment with no air conditioning, he needed the windows open. He didn't mind the music though. It was better than Taylor's usual musical taste.

He reached over to his bedside table and opened the top drawer, pulling out a little photo album. He felt almost embarrassed, even though he was alone, to be doing what he was, but the moment his eyes fell on the first picture of Rory in the book, his embarrassment disappeared. He'd been collecting some miscellaneous pictures of her since they'd gotten together, and he kept them all in that book. He wasn't the type to put the pictures in frames all over the room. But he couldn't help how much he liked looking at them. So he kept them all in one easy access, private place. He went through them one by one taking his time, remembering the days they came from. The picture he'd taken of her with a disposable camera sticking out her tongue; the picture Lane had taken of them and the snowman Rory had somehow convinced him to help her make; the picture he'd taken of her wearing the bright blue wig they'd found at a vintage clothing store. But before he could move on to the others, he heard the door open. He quickly closed the book and put it back into the drawer before Rory opened the door to his room.

"Good morning you Lazy Punk," she said with a smile, walking towards the bed. He smiled at her.

"Same to you, annoying energetic early bird." He moved over on the bed. "have a seat."

Rory sat on the side of the bed. "Hey; how bad would you say your morning breath is this particular morning?" she asked. Jess chuckled.

"Are you implying that you wouldn't like me as much if my breath weren't constantly minty fresh?"

"Yes that is exactly what I'm saying," Rory smiled with sarcasm. "How bad is it?"

"No worries. I brushed my teeth already. Why do you ask? Did you have something in mind?"

"Yes; a morning full of breath smelling."

Jess laughed and sat up towards her, muttering, "Sarcastic book worm." Rory giggled and kissed him quickly.

"I resent that. You are a sarcastic book worm too."

"well then I guess we're just perfectly suited huh?"

"Yeah I guess so." She chuckled as Jess took his face in her hands and kissed her again, but they were interrupted by the sound of pounding on the apartment door.

"I don't know what's going on in there," Lorelai called through the door, "but I hear giggly noises and something that sounds like someone chewing gum really loudly, so I better see one of you downstairs in 60 seconds or I'll send Luke up with a baseball bat!"

Jess looked at Rory, confused. "Did that make any sense to you?"

"Luke's got her on a coffee withdrawal. I doubt it made sense even to her." Rory stood up. "I should go down there. I'd rather not have Luke beat you with a baseball bat. The bruises would look gross, and if you're not pretty anymore you're no use to me at all." She headed for the door, but stopped short when she heard his voice.

"Go to the prom with me?"

Rory stopped in her tracks and could barely bring herself to turn around. Every once in a while he would have these moments, when he sounded so completely vulnerable to her. It was flattering and amazing when he did that. but also far too familiar to her. Rory realized in those moments just how vulnerable she was to him too. And it scared her. She turned around, and saw him looking at her, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying so hard to keep his cool. But his eyes; they were so intense. That's what she was powerless against; his eyes.

"Of course I'll go," she said. She then added, trying to cover up the girlish, swoon-y sound in her voice, "I mean, what girl in her right mind would pass up the chance to see you try to dance in a tuxedo?"

Jess chuckled. "Don't count on the dancing, all right?" she grinned at him.

"We'll book you some lessons at Miss Patty's. I should go before Luke gets the baseball bat." She headed for the door. "See you downstairs!"

She walked down the stairs slowly, trying to wipe the insane grin off of her face. She knew she must look ridiculous and her happiness was completely readable. But she felt like she was walking on air.

***********

"Hey, Rory, how old is this thing in the aluminum foil in the fridge?"

Rory walked out of her room. "What do you mean? What is it?"

"Hey I asked you first," Lorelai replied.

"Thank goodness my mother is so mature," Rory said with a sarcastic smile, sitting at the kitchen table. "Just open it and see what it is."

"Why can't you just tell me how old it is?"

"Because I don't know what it is. For all I know there could be a year old piece of cheesecake in there, or it could be something from two days ago. But you know how we could find out really easily?"

"Um, by leaving it outside in hopes that some small furry animal will unwrap it and we'll go out tomorrow and see what it is?"

"yeah, or you could call Miss Cleo and ask her. She knows everything, you know."

"You know sometimes I think that I may have raised a sarcastic child."

"And sometimes I think my mother would probably get along best with preschoolers. Just open the thing."

"But what if it's old?"

"Then it will jump out and bite you, because everybody knows you never open mysterious tin foil covered objects in the fridge because it might take on a life of its own and attack you."

"Ok I am decidedly ending this ridiculous conversation by throwing away the mystery food." Lorelai tossed it into the trash.

"Now was that really so hard?" Rory asked with a smile.

Lorelai sighed. "You are SO in charge of cleaning out the refridgerator from now on until forever." Rory chuckled and opened up the newspaper, starting to read. Lorelai watched her daughter curiously. Ever since that morning, she'd been acting. different. She had this weird glow. And she couldn't stop smiling. Of course, Lorelai was generally used to this; Rory always had that look after she'd seen Jess. But usually it went away within a couple hours; today it was constant, and much more intense than usual.

"Hey Rory hun?" Lorelai said, sitting across the table from her.

"No I will not fish through the trash and open the mystery foil covered food for you," Rory replied automatically, not even looking up from her page.

Lorelai sighed. "I was SO not gonna ask you that."

"Sure you weren't," Rory replied sarcastically, and turned the page.

"Seriously, Ror," Lorelai started, waving her hand in front of her eyes to catch her attention. "I need your attention for a minute, cuz I have a legitimate question for you."

"Ok," rory said, looking up at her mother. "I'm all ears. Shoot."

Lorelai giggled. "What is up with you today?"

Rory looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Lorelai stood up and proceeded to imitate Rory, quite badly, in a high pitched breathy voice. "Hi, I'm Rory, I've been walking around in a daze all day long with a goofy smile on my face and I blush every time somebody mentions my boyfriend's name-"

"Oh my God, stop it would you?" Rory cut her off, pulling her by the arm back into her seat. "I maintain my theory about your compatibility with preschoolers."

Lorelai giggled, "Seriously, babe, what's going on? You've been all smiley ever since this morning. What'd he do, propose?"

"Oh yeah," Rory retorted. "We're eloping next weekend."

"Ok that's it!" Lorelai said. "I hereby ban sarcastic comments from this house. until further notice because eventually I'll run out of non- sarcastic things to say." She paused. "Now tell me, seriously, because you live here, and I will find out."

Rory sighed. "He asked me to go to the prom with him."

Lorelai's heart melted. She hadn't liked Jess at first, but when she realized how much her daughter cared about him she'd warmed up to him, and pretty much gotten used to him. She didn't have the same kind of comfortable relationship with him that she'd had with Dean, but she was used to him, and he knew he was welcome in her house. He came over for movie night sometimes and was becoming sort of a regular addition to the Gilmore household, just like Lane and Sookie were.

But she hadn't ever given much thought to how serious his relationship with Rory was. She'd sort of assumed that Jess and Rory did their book-worm-y stuff together, and occasionally kissed, but for some reason, she never would have thought that he was so serious about his feelings for Rory. And for some reason, imagining Jess working himself up to ask her daughter to the prom? He might as well have told her he loved her.

"What?" Rory asked. "What's wrong? Say something, mom, you freak me out when you're silent! You're never silent."

Lorelai smiled. "Oh, hon, I am so happy for you!"

Rory looked confused. "You are?"

Lorelai chuckled. "Well yeah! I mean, do you realize how much this means?"

Rory guessed. "It means I get to wear a really pretty dress and listen to bad music in a gym for 4 hours?"

"It means you must be really important to that boy. I mean stop a second and think about Jess. Bad boy, rebel, does whatever he wants to, will do nothing that seems even remotely cheesy to him-"

"Yeah, Jess, my boyfriend, I vaguely remember him. what's your point?"

Lorelai laughed. "Try your hardest to imagine him going to the prom last year."

Rory paused a minute. and soon began giggling. "He looks pretty silly and he's trying to spike the punch."

"Exactly!" Lorelai paused and used a more serious tone. "Rory, that kid would not go to the prom if he didn't really, REALLY care about you."

Rory sat for a moment and considered these words, and knew that they were true. She and her mother didn't have to say anything, but they both knew what the other was thinking.

Jess is in love with Rory.

**************

"Are you renting a tux, or does Luke have one stashed up in his closet for God knows what reason?"

Jess rolled his eyes at Lorelai and chuckled. "Luke in a tux? Yeah I'd pay a lot of money to see that. He doesn't own one. I'm renting."

"Oh no Mom," Rory said. "We must warn him."

"Warn me? Warn me about what?"

Lorelai sighed. "I really hate to have to be the one to tell you this, kid," she began, popping a mini-marshmallow into her mouth, "But there's a guy in town who frequently rents tuxes and has been known to go commando in them." Rory giggled at her mother.

"And on that note," Jess said, taking another piece of pizza from the box, "I will be renting from a store out of town."

"Wow, cute AND smart," Lorelai said to Rory, "You, my dear, have found yourself a good catch."

Jess chuckled to himself. Movie night at the Gilmore house always guaranteed to be filled with interesting, and occasionally nonsensical, conversations. The movie, conspiracy theory, had been over now for about 15 minutes, but the pizza had arrived late so they remained there on the couch, eating pizza and junk food and talking about nothing. Jess had been over for movie night with Rory and Lorelai several times since he and Rory had gotten together, but he'd sensed that for the past couple weeks, Lorelai had been acting different towards him. And not in a bad way. She was being even nicer to him than before, giving him the benefit of the doubt, treating him more like her own friend, like she did with Lane, than her daughter's boyfriend. And Jess really liked it.

Rory, though, had been acting different too. And with her, Jess couldn't really tell if this new behavior was an improvement, or a developing problem. Ever since that day he'd asked her to the prom, she'd been obviously very pleased, and excited about it. But she always got uncomfortable when they were kissing. at least, when they did it in private. It was understandable, he supposed. He had trouble controlling himself around her. But she was more skiddish than usual, and the big problem was that she was denying the fact that anything was different. Jess wasn't that worried. He knew Rory had every right to freak out every once in a while; she had gone out on a major limb when she'd decided to be with him, and she had given up a lot, and risked everything. He couldn't help smiling at this thought. He'd never meant enough to anyone in his life for them to make any sacrifices on his behalf. But here is Stars Hollow, both Rory and Luke had done that. Maybe that was the big perk of small town life.

As movie night came to a close, Lorelai excused herself, and not all too subtly, and went to bed, leaving Rory and Jess to say good night alone. They headed out onto the porch, knowing that Lorelai had a nasty habit of eavesdropping on conversations in the living room. Before either one said a word, Jess pulled her gently toward him and kissed her. It was more gentle than passionate, but even so, after a few moments, Rory pulled herself away.

"Wow," she said, playing off the awkward silence. "That was um. nice." She avoided Jess' gaze, and sat down on the bench near the door. Jess turned toward her. "Alright," he said. "What's the deal?"

Rory tried to play innocent. "What? I don't know what you're talking about." Unfortunately, playing innocent was not one of Rory's strong points.

"Come on, Rory. If there are any two people in the world you can't fool or lie to, it's your mother and me. What's up with you?" he sighed and finally let his vulnerability show, which he seldom did. "Why are you pulling away from me like this?"

Rory looked up when she heard the last phrase. His voice was different; softer, but also realer. No more attitude, no sarcastic wit, no image to uphold. Just Jess. She sighed. "Ok," she said, "You're right. I can't lie to you. I'm sorry." She paused. Jess sat next to her on the bench. She broke the awkward silence tentatively. "I don't want to pull away like that, if it's any consolation," she said. "I mean, it's not like there's anything wrong with the kissing. In fact, there is nothing wrong with the kissing. The kissing is good, with you. I mean, it's great. Better than great. Amazing. Hurray for- you and I and the kissing." Jess chuckled.

"So the kissing's ok?" he asked sarcastically. "'Cuz you really didn't make yourself clear."

Rory didn't laugh. "I just." she began nervously, staring at her hands. "I just don't really trust myself around you anymore." she stopped and buried her face in her hands. "I cannot believe I am saying this to you!"

Jess took her hands from her face gently. "hey," he said quietly. "Come here." He lifted her chin and kissed her softly on the lips before replying, "I don't trust myself around you either. If that's any consolation."

Rory smiled a little, but still felt tense. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do here. I mean. we can't stop the kissing, because the kissing is something I think we both really enjoy."

"I concur. I completely and totally concur."

"But at the same time, this same good, enjoyable kissing. really makes me want more." she trailed off. Jess sighed and looked at the ground in front of him; he had the feeling that she was about to give him the classic, 'We need to slow things down a little' speech. He never expected to hear her timid voice say, "But then again, maybe that's not such a bad thing."

He looked up and met her gaze. She looked confused, almost surprised at the words that had just come out of her mouth. But she didn't look upset, or tense anymore. He didn't know what to say or think. "Are you saying- I mean, are you telling me what I think you're telling me? 'cuz I-"

"I don't know, Jess," she said, standing up. "I just. I mean, I have to think about this." She suddenly seemed flustered, and hurried, but still not upset. More like. surprised, relieved, and even, dare he say it, excited. She rushed to the door, went inside and slammed the door behind her. "Rory?" Jess said, standing up, contemplating whether or not to follow her. He was completely bewildered; he didn't know if any of this was good or bad.

Moments later, the door reopened, and Rory stuck her head out with a smile. She ran to him and kissed him quickly before saying, "Bye Jess!" and running back inside. Jess sighed. 'Ok,' he thought, 'This is good. This is definitely good.'

************

"Ok so what exactly are you saying to me?" Lane asked Rory with a smirk.

"Gee could you talk a little louder? Because I really want all of Stars Hollow to know about this," Rory said quietly. The two of them were walking through Doose's market, trying to secretly get Lane something sugary before heading back to Rory's house for a movie. Rory was going to try and tell Lane at her house, but she couldn't guarantee that her mother wouldn't be there to "overhear" their conversation.

"Well God, I'm sorry Rory, but when you speak all cryptic like that, it allows a girl's imagination to wander, and when this girl's imagination wanders to the places I think you're trying to steer it, she has trouble controlling her volume!"

"Just try and keep it down ok?" Rory pleaded. "I promise I'll cut it with the mystery, just try and be discreet about this? I mean God knows where Miss Patty's informers are lurking around this place."

Lane sighed. "Ok. Start over, and be explicit about it!"

Rory sighed. "Ok." She gathered herself and tried her hardest to look as though the subject of their conversation was the least interesting thing in the world. "So I was talking to Jess the other day-"

"Alone or in public?"

"Alone. We were on the porch, my mom was in bed. Anyways. you know how he asked me to prom?"

Lane pouted. "Yes, I know, and I'm extremely jealous that your mother is actually letting you go. Dave wants to take me but we're still trying to figure out a fool proof way to convince Mama Kim that I'm actually going with somebody else-"

"Lane!" Rory said. "Focus, please."

"Right. Sorry. Jess asked you to the prom and.?"

Rory sighed. "I don't know, ever since he did. it's just painfully obvious to me that now this is more than just a high school romance, you know? It's serious. REALLY serious. But once I realized that, I started feeling like. it just got MUCH harder to control myself when I was alone with him. And I talked to him, and he said he felt the same way."

"Ok," Lane said, anxious. "I'm with you so far, continue."

"I wasn't completely sure at first, but I've been thinking about it for a couple days now and I've made a very serious decision."

Lane stared blankly at Rory for a couple moments before her eyes began to widen and her lips parted in an excited smile. "Oh My God, are you saying-? 'Cuz if you're saying-. What are you saying?"

Rory took a deep breath and grinned. "I'm ready."

The girls hugged with a squeal. "I am so jealous," Lane swooned as they rounded the corner into the candy aisle. "It's so classic! Bad boy meets good girl, entraps her in his world, they fall in love; God I bet he's an amazing kisser. Is he?"

"Is who what?" The girls turned to see a curious Dean stalking shelves with a slight smile. The both looked shocked and wide eyed. Lane tried to smile and play it cool, but Rory couldn't look Dean in the eye. She just kept thinking how close he'd been to overhearing the whole thing, and how much that would have hurt him.

"What's the matter?" he said with a nervous chuckle. "You guys look like you've just been caught red handed. Did I interrupt some girl talk or something?"

Lane tried to cover for Rory. "Oh yeah!" she lied awfully. "Just girl talk, you know. Brad Pitt this, Lifetime that. Girl talk."

"Well sorry to interrupt," he said. His eyes shifted to Rory. "Movie night tonight?"

Rory snapped out of her trance. "What?" she asked.

Dean gestured to the bag of videos in her hand. "The movies. What's the feature presentation this evening?"

"Oh," Rory said, obviously uncomfortable. "Um, Outbreak. The one with that virus that's like- unstoppable and somehow a monkey is responsible. I don't know, we caught the end on cable a couple weeks ago, and it confused us, so we decided to see the beginning and try to figure it out."

"I see," Dean said, obviously sensing Rory's discomfort. He added awkwardly, "Who's coming tonight?"

Lane spoke for Rory, seeing clearly that Rory was flustered. "Oh just me, and maybe Lorelai depending on how early she gets back from the inn. It'll be a fun evening full of girl talk. plus killer monkies and flesh eating viruses and Morgan Freeman."

Dean chuckled. "Well, have fun. And uh, take another bag of M&M's, there's a two for one sale today."

Rory forced a smile. "Thanks Dean. See ya."

"Bye."

Lane and Rory headed to the counter to pay for the food. Even though Rory felt awful about Dean, within minutes she had completely forgotten. Her mind was completely occupied with the idea that she was ready to be with Jess. She hadn't spoken to him in a couple of days, what with school and everything, and she knew he must be going crazy. But she'd tell him soon enough.

******************

Holy Shit, he thought.

This was the absolute embodiment of his worst nightmare.

Jess stood in front of his mirror wearing his rented tux. It was ridiculous. He'd put on the whole thing at first, and it took approximately .003 seconds to decide it would not do. He nixed the tie, and the weird thing around his waist, and he tried unbuttoning the shirt a little. But he still looked like the most uncomfortable person on earth. The phone rang, and he sighed. 'That'd better be Rory,' He thought, 'I am in serious need of a reminder of why I'm doing all of this.'

"Hello?"

"Hey there, Dodger." Rory was nervous, and she knew Jess could hear it in her voice, but she couldn't help it.

A slight irrepressible smile played on Jess' lips. "Well if it isn't little miss kiss-and-run," he joked.

Rory giggled. "I resent that! I don't ALWAYS run away after." she paused. "I'm pretty sure there's been a couple times I haven't-"

"No worries, Rory. It adds to your aura of mystery. You know what they say, always leave them wanting more."

"Really? According to my mom, what they always say is 'Wherever you go, there you are'."

Jess laughed. "Slightly irrelevant."

"Yes, but also always true in every situation."

Jess sighed. "So. long time no see. What've you been up to?"

Rory smiled. "Thinking," she said. "Lot's and lots of deep thinking. and it paid off because I had a revelation."

Jess' heart jumped. He had a feeling he knew what was going on. "Did you really? Care to enlighten me?"

"Sure thing," Rory said. "Meet me at the bridge at 7:30." And before Jess could say a word, she'd hung up. He shook his head with a smile.

"Always leave them wanting more."

********************

PART 2:

I never cared much for moonlit skies

I never wink back at fireflies

But now that the stars are in your eyes

I'm beginning to see the light.

Rory hummed along to the Ella Fitzgerald CD as she spritzed on some vanilla scented perfume. It was almost 7 and soon she'd have to leave to go meet Jess at the bridge. Half of her was nervous; she had to tell him something that was embarrassing and awkward. But then the other half of her. the other half was absolutely in heaven.

Lorelai peered into the room with a girlish smile.

"Whatchya doin'?"

Rory smiled, rolling her eyes. "I'm getting ready to go meet Jess, Mom."

Lorelai giggled. "Well aren't you just the cutest thing I've ever seen," she said with a fake southern accent.

Rory took her focus off the mirror and walked over to her mother. "Ok, mom, cut it out. You're starting to sound like Delta Burke and it's freaking me out."

Lorelai sat on Rory's bed. "Well gee, sorry, Crabby Mc-Crab-er-son."

Rory smiled, amused. "Creative, mom."

"Thank you, I like to think so." Lorelai watched as her daughter got out some silvery eye shadow that matched the silver design on her blue shirt. "So what's the special occasion? It can't be an anniversary. Your anniversary is on the 14th of the month. Today's the 21st."

Rory put down the eye shadow. "Ok suddenly I'm very frightened of the fact that you seem to know almost as much about my love life as I do."

"Yes well, being the over-the-hill old maid that I am, I've got no life, which of course leaves me with nothing to do except live vicariously through you. When you leave me after college I'll die of boredom."

Rory fished through a drawer in her desk. "No you won't. You'll have Luke to entertain you, and we're getting Cinemax next month so you can live vicariously through hundreds of characters in hundreds of movies who probably have slightly more exciting lives than mine." She handed her mother a brush. "Would you mind fixing my hair?"

"Of course not, babe." Lorelai stood and began brushing through her daughter's long hair. "So seriously, what's the special occasion?"

"There is no special occasion. Why would there be?"

Lorelai laughed. "Uh, because."

"Wonderful argument, Mom, you should be on a debate team."

"Rory, if there's no special occasion, why are you getting yourself all fancy schmancy and putting on makeup and all that girly stuff?"

Rory sighed. "I'm going to see my boyfriend. Call me old fashioned, but I was raised to believe that one shouldn't want to look like the wicked witch of the west before a date."

"Honey, you see Jess everyday. In fact, you tend to see him in the mornings because he lives where the happy coffee is, and he supplies you with it. Therefore, this means Jess has seen you at your very worst hours; the hours which come after being woken at 5:30 AM and before your semi-daily coffee treatments. You could be wearing a paper bag and clown makeup and Jess would probably still like you."

"Yeah well the paper bag's in the wash, and what can I tell you? Clown makeup just tends to run more expensive than Sephora."

"If there's nothing special happening then what's with the music?"

"What's wrong with the music? It's Ella. I'm in a very Ella-ish mood."

"No, my friend, it is common knowledge in this house that all of the following qualify as romantic, pre-special-date music: Frank Sinatra, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, The Chicago soundtrack, Nora Jones, and ELLA FITZGERALD!!!!!"

"How did the Chicago soundtrack work its way into that mix?"

"It's a musical. Full of happy lovey dovey musical songs."

"It's about women who are in jail for murdering their husbands."

"Hush little one." Lorelai handed the brush back to her daughter.

Rory sighed. "Mom, there is no special occasion. I just haven't seen Jess in a couple days and. I don't know. I guess I kinda miss him."

"Awwwww!" Lorelai taunted. "Isn't it just so dreamy? You're so lucky to have a steady like Jess! I bet he likes to- hold hands and-take you on picnics and- tell you how pretty you are-"

Rory lead her mother to the door. "Ok that's it. I am hereby banishing you to the living room until further notice!"

"What? But- but I-!"

The door closed. Lorelai stuck out her bottom lip and went into the living room to channel surf. Rory sighed and turned up her music with a smile.

****************

"Luke I'm outta here!" Jess called, throwing his apron towards the stairs.

"Where ya' goin'?" Luke asked, pouring coffee for a customer.

Jess rolled his eyes. "I gotta meet Rory, if you must know."

Luke looked at him, suspicious. "Somethin' goin' on with you two? She hasn't been by in a couple days."

"Oh, trouble in lover's paradise?" asked Miss Patty, sitting nearby with Babette.

Jess winced. This was unbearable, cruel humiliation. "No, nothing's wrong, but something will be if I don't show up on time. Can I just go?"

Luke nodded. "Just come back earlier than you did last time!"

********************

As Jess walked up to the bridge, he could already see Rory sitting at the middle, her legs dangling over the side. She hadn't brought a book. She was just staring into the water. 'She looks so amazing,' he thought to himself, before laughing at his own sappy thoughts. She was totally ruining his image. But he just couldn't seem to care.

His footsteps on the wood snapped Rory out of her daydreams. She looked up, saw him, and smiled before standing up.

"Hey," Jess said, still walking. "Sorry I'm late, Luke-" he didn't get a chance to finish before Rory grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. He loved it when she did that. After a few moments she pulled away with a smile to see a dazed look on Jess' face.

"Whoa," he said. "And that was for.?"

Rory's fingers played with the collar of his denim jacket. "Consider that my apology for not calling you the past few days."

"Well you're completely forgiven," he said, leaning in for another kiss. However, as the passion grew, he had to pull away. "Hold on a second, just let me ask this before I get too caught up. Can I assume that your issues with the "enjoyable kissing", as you put it, have passed?"

"Yeah." Rory smiled slyly. "I guess you could say that." She leaned in for another kiss, but Jess stopped her.

"Hold on," he said. "You're being cryptic again. What's going on?"

Rory sighed. "I guess it's confession time now, huh?" Jess nodded. She held his hands and tried to work up the courage to say something that would change their relationship forever. Once those words were out, there was no turning back. She sighed, and looked at him with puppy dog eyes. "Could we maybe just try and carry on a regular conversation for a bit? It's just- it's too awkward-"

"Enough said," Jess laced his fingers through hers. "We'll sit. We'll talk. No problem."

They sat on the side of the bridge, facing one another. Jess tried to break the awkward silence. "So, I'm thinking about trying the Fountainhead again."

Rory sighed, relieved, with a smile, and fell comfortably into their usual banter.

"You'll be the better for it, I promise you," Rory said.

"Yeah sure," Jess said with sarcasm.

"What? You don't trust me? How can you not? I've been told I have a very trustworthy look about me."

"Yeah well I should know better than anybody that your looks aren't all there is to you."

Rory smiled. "So I have a story to tell you, and I've been wanting to tell you for the past couple days."

"Really? It must be a good one, then."

"Well you'll just have to listen and see. So remember how the other day my mom was telling you about the tuxedo rumor? Well I remembered that wedding last month, when I was talking to Kirk at the inn, and I realized; Kirk is a frequent renter of tuxes, and when I think about it, Kirk certainly does seem to be constantly lacking underwear lines-"

"I love you."

Jess had been laughing, and said it so casually, that Rory almost continued on with her story without even noticing what he'd said. But she did notice, and her eyes went wide. There was a prolonged silence before either one of them said anything. Jess tried to cover up his embarrassment. "Whoa, I'm sorry. I- I didn't mean to let that come out- I mean-! I didn't mean to say that, I just-"

Rory smiled. "Jess, it's ok." She paused. "I love you too."

The silence was awkward, but not altogether unpleasant. It was relieving; satisfying. Jess finally gave in. "Hey," he said softly, "come here." Taking her face in his hands he kissed her, and for the first time in weeks, it was completely perfect. Neither one of them had to pull away, nothing was forced, or awkward. After a few minutes, Jess began kissing Rory's neck, and suddenly Rory didn't feel as scared to tell Jess about her decision.

"I'm ready," she blurted out. Jess halted mid-kiss.

"Ready for what?"

Rory blushed a little, avoiding his eyes. "For. YOU KNOW WHAT." she glanced at him to see if he caught her meaning, and from the shocked look in his eyes, it was pretty clear that he did. "Well," she sighed. "Why don't we just revel in this new awkward silence for a while?" she giggled nervously to cover up her embarrassment.

"Are you sure?" Jess was totally bewildered. He'd had a feeling that Rory was considering this, but when she was sitting right in front of him, saying that she really was ready, it was just completely overwhelming. "I mean, are you totally, completely, 100 percent, final answer on who wants to be a millionaire, really sure?"

Rory laughed a little. If there was anything in the world she could count on, it was the sarcastic wit her friends always seemed to voice at the perfect moments to make her less nervous. "Come on, would I seriously have just said that aloud to you if I weren't really sure? You saw me the other day when I was trying to tell you that I wanted you. I buried my face in my hands for god's sake, you KNOW I'd be a total wreck right now if I hadn't thought this through thoroughly."

Jess smirked. "And made pro and con lists."

Rory's eyes widened. "I did not- I-!" she sighed. "You know me way too well." They sat in silence for a while, staring at the creek they'd so often met by.

"So what does this mean?" Jess asked. "Do you have to- I don't know, get pills and all that preparatory- stuff, I mean- what do we do know?"

Rory sighed. "I don't know. I mean. I don't wanna do it RIGHT NOW." she sighed. "The moment has to be right, ya' know?" Jess smiled.

"Yeah, I know. It's a big deal." He smiled slyly. "So you just let me know whenever it IS right, and I'll drop everything." And on that note, they spent the rest of the evening kissing, and laughing. It felt so right, knowing that everything was gonna work out ok. Around 9:30, they started walking back to Rory's house, Jess' arm lovingly draped over Rory's shoulders. It was that perfect climate just before Summer really starts, when everything's warm, but the breeze tickles your skin and sends tingles up your spine. When they reached Rory's door, they shared another kiss, and exchanged I Love You's one more time before parting. It was almost too perfect. They should have known that nothing that perfect stays that way for long.

Rory walked into her room in a daze. Her mother had fallen asleep on the couch, obviously having tried to wait up for her. But Rory didn't want to wake her up and talk right now. She'd talk to her in the morning, no doubt.

She was so happy she was barely even concerned about how weird it was going to be, keeping this all a secret from her mother. She'd contemplated telling her about it, after she made her decision, but decided against it. Lorelai was just starting to really like Jess. This close to graduation, Lorelai was NOT going to "let Jess jeopardize her future", as Lane had put it. Maybe a couple months into the summer, once graduation was all over and done with, she would tell a slight fib and tell her mother she'd been considering it. Then she could go on the pill, and be totally safe about it all. However it turned out with her mom, the night with Jess left Rory with a sense that no matter what happened, everything would be alright. She changed into her pajamas and turned on her David Gray CD.

This year's love had better last Heaven knows it's high time And I've been waiting on my own too long But when you hold me like you do It feels so right I start to forget How my heart gets torn When that hurt gets thrown Feeling like you can't go on

Turning circles when time again It cuts like a knife oh yeah If you love me got to know for sure Cos it takes something more this time Than sweet sweet lies Before I open up my arms and fall Losing all control Every dream inside my soul And when you kiss me On that midnight street Sweep me off my feet Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last This years love had better last

So who's to worry If our hearts get torn When that hurt gets thrown Don't you know this life goes on And won't you kiss me On that midnight street Sweep me off my feet Singing ain't this life so sweet

This years love had better last This years love had better last This years love had better last This years love had better last



******************

Lorelai shook Rory awake gently. "Rory, hon?"

Rory rolled over grumpily. "What do you want, crazy lady?"

Lorelai giggled. "Well let's see. there's a lot of stuff. Money, true love, world peace, and I always wanted a pony, but I should probably ask for a barn too 'cuz where else would we keep Napoleon?"

Rory sighed. "Napoleon?"

"That's the pony's name."

"Mom, what do you want?"

"Well besides all that other stuff, I'd want my daughter not to be skipping school for the second time on Jess's account."

Rory sat up. "What are you talking about?"

"You did it once last year, and you almost overslept today because you two were out so late last night." Lorelai stood and headed for the kitchen. "No worries, breakfast is on the table, along with coffee, and your uniform is wrinkle free and hanging in the bathroom. You got half an hour to get out the door. I'm warning you, don't be late again; they might make you sit on a stool in the corner with a big pointy hat that says "Dunce" on it, and they'll make you sit inside during recess. What a drag THAT would be..." Lorelai walked out and Rory reluctantly stood up and headed to the bathroom to shower. After the hot water woke her up, all her memories of the night before came rushing back. How Jess had said he loved her; how she'd said it back, never having to wonder if she really meant it or not; how she'd told him she was ready; and most of all, how great he'd been about it. He'd kissed her; it always felt good when he kissed her, but last night it was better than their usual kisses. She always sensed in his kisses the fact that he WANTED her. in a physical way. But now that she was just within his reach, it was less of an urgent lust and more like. absolute ecstasy.

But now came the tough part; waiting. Rory had a particular time in mind when she thought it would be perfect. but now that they both knew they were just waiting, it could be potentially torturous. not to mention awkward. She tried not to worry about it too much, and just focus on school until the end of the day. But as she got to school, and tried to pay attention in class, she just found herself daydreaming constantly. and not about good things. What if he didn't want to wait? What if he turned out to be one of those guys who refused to wear protection? No, Jess may have questionable grades, but he was anything but stupid. He wouldn't do that. But then what if someone found out after they did it? And what if word got around to her mother?

"Hello? Earth to Rory!" Rory looked up and saw Paris' impatient face staring down at her. Looking around, Rory saw all her classmates headed out the door to the hallway. The bell had rung and she'd barely even noticed.

"What is up with you today?" Paris continued. "You're like some ditzy character on Dawson's creek day dreaming about her dreamy boyfriend."

Rory sighed, standing up to walk to Spanish class with Paris. "It wasn't too noticeable, was it?"

"Oh please," Paris retorted. "You've walked straight into three people today, one of them being a teacher. You kept getting the answers wrong in math; what's wrong? You're off your game. It's freaking me out. You're always the focused one."

Rory forced a smile. "Well I will try extra hard during Spanish to take lots of notes and answer all the questions right if that would make you happy."

Paris examined her face, looking for something. "What are you so worried about?"

Rory tried to play innocent. "What are you talking about? I'm not worried about anything."

Paris laughed. which, granted, was slightly out of character for her. "Who the hell are you fooling? It's written all over your face. Fess up!"

Rory rolled her eyes. "Paris it's none of your business." They both headed into their Spanish class, where Rory proceeded to add three more 'What ifs' to her list of worries, and not even notice when her teacher asked her a question.

***************



Rory walked into Luke's greeted by the familiar banter between Luke and her mother.

"Come on, you can't tell me you don't like a single flavor," Lorelai said as Luke reluctantly poured her a refill of coffee. "Not even rocky road or cookie dough. or fish food! Now that is a good flavor! All the grossly unhealthy things you can think of all mixed together in one big cardboard pint. Chocolate, ice cream, caramel, marshmallow-"

"Oh God," Luke said, glaring at her. "Stop. You're gonna make me sick."

Rory sat next to her mom on a stool by the bar. "Well please, if you're gonna be sick, have the courtesy to remove yourself from the customer's dining area."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Lorelai, I think your sarcasm's rubbed of on your daughter."

"Sarcasm?" Lorelai asked. "What do you mean sarcasm? When have you ever known me to be sarcastic?"

Luke ignored Lorelai and turned his attention to Rory. "You want coffee?"

Rory smiled. "Luke how long have you known me?"

"All your life."

"Enough said."

Luke poured, and handed the cup to Rory who gulped almost half of it down in one long sip.

"Wow," Lorelai commented. "Long day, huh?"

Rory nodded. "You have NO idea." Just as she was taking her second sip, she saw Jess rounding the corner into the diner from the stairwell. She nearly choked on her drink. Wide-eyed and inexplicably embarrassed, she put her cup down and stared at him. And though she wasn't sure why, he returned the same awkward, self-conscious stare.

He took a few cautious steps toward the bar. "Hey!" he said, a little too enthusiastically.

"Oh!" Rory said, feeling put on the spot. "I- um- I mean- Hi. there."

Lorelai glanced at the two of them. "Wow," she remarked. "It is really time for you two to expand on your conversational vocabulary." Rory exchanged a knowing glance with Jess. "What happened between you two?" Lorelai continued. She snickered at her own humor, adding. "I mean, what? Did you walk in on each other naked or something? Cuz I have only known people to act the way you guys just did after they've seen each other-" Lorelai stopped short. Her eyes widened. Rory's stomach was in her throat. Jess's eyes widened.

"You know," he said awkwardly. "I just remembered that I- forgot something upstairs."

"Book?" Rory asked him, suggesting with her eyes that he'd better get lost.

"Right," Jess said. "Bye." He bolted up the stairs.

Lorelai was in a complete state of shock. Rory tried to fix things. "Mom? Are you ok?"

"Well that depends," Lorelai responded, her eyes never leaving their fixed spot. "I'm not really sure, because I've never had a stroke before, but I'm pretty sure that this is what it feels like."

"Mom-" Rory started, but Lorelai got up and walked away from the table. "Mom where are you going?"

"Well," Lorelai said, "Unless you had your heart set on discussing this in front of the whole diner, I thought we might have this conversation someplace a little less public!"

Rory stood and grabbed her mom's arm to pull her back. "Mom stop! There's no discussion to be had, ok?" she paused, and added quietly. "Nothing happened between me and Jess. I swear."

Lorelai eyed her daughter, but couldn't seem to find any of the tell tale signs that meant Rory was lying. "Well then what's with the monosyllabic exchange back there? 'Cuz let me tell you that was chalk full of post sex awkwardness."

Rory sighed. "Mom, it was nothing. Just." she sighed and lowered her voice. "Sit down. This is the kind of information I don't think Jess would want spread around town." Lorelai sat and eagerly listened. Rory took a deep breath and smiled. "He told me he loved me."

Lorelai gasped. "WHAT!?!?!?!?!" Rory widened her eyes in warning. Lorelai slapped her hand over her mouth apologetically. "I'm sorry, that sort of called attention to us didn't it?"

"You could say that, yeah," Rory replied. Lorelai's shocked expression faded into a smile.

"Babe, that is so great," she said, more quietly this time. Rory smiled.

"Well thank you. I thought so myself."

"Well did you say it back this time?" Lorelai asked. Rory giggled.

"Of course I did. I mean. I know with Dean I wasn't that sure, but- this is different. It's been several months, all without big serious fights or problems. I don't know, it just felt right. It was surprisingly easy to say to him."

Lorelai giggled. "Awwww. How cute. It's like Happy Days! I mean, Jess does bear a remarkable resemblance to what's-his-face Fonzarelli!" Lorelai chuckled at her own joke. "What with his attitude, and the gelled hair and the-"

"Ok Mom," Rory said. "I get it. Now could you maybe make an effort to be serious, please? Just for a little while, I promise."

"I'm sorry hon," Lorelai said. "And please don't mistake my using humor as away to cover up for embarrassment as insensitivity." She sighed. "I'm sorry that I spazzed out on you like that. If I'd known it was just because he said those three words, I would never have acted that way. Really, I'm still kind of reeling from my temporary Emily-Gilmore-like behavior."

Rory smiled. "It's ok, really."

Lorelai grinned. "Good. Now I want details! How'd he do it, where, when, no need to say why, 'cuz I mean duh, look at you!"

Rory went on to tell her mom the selective details, being very careful to leave out all talk of their plans for the near future. After a few minutes, Lorelai was satisfied, and somewhat giddy for her daughter, and before long she was on her way back to the inn for a special dinner. That was when Rory made her way upstairs.

She found Jess, as usual, reading a book. She snuck in quietly and crept up behind him.

"The fountainhead, huh?"

Startled, Jess turned with a jump, then sighed. "Oh, it's you. Good. I mean- better you than your mom with a steak knife ready to kill me." He smiled awkwardly.

"Yeah," Rory said. "I mean- I agree. It would be bad if my mother tried to kill you."

Jess nodded. "So should I be watching my back for crazy women with steak knives? Or am I off the hook?"

"You're off the hook. I told her nothing happened. I had to tell her- what you said last night, though."

Jess looked shocked and confused. "You told her that I said I'd be ready to- to DO IT whenever you were? Have you lost it? I mean I know you're not the most sane of all people, but-"

"No, Jess!" Rory said. "I told her. the OTHER thing you said."

Jess' face relaxed. "Oh. You mean the thing I said about- about how I. you know, how I feel about you."

"Yeah, that would be the thing I told her about." There was a prolonged awkward silence.

"Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this as awkward for you as it is for me?"

"If not more."

Jess tapped his fingers on his book nervously, and suddenly blurted out, "I really do love you. I mean, in case you didn't really think I meant it last night or something." Rory's gaze met his, and she smiled.

"And I really do love you too. In case you didn't think I meant it."

Jess smiled. "Why would I ever think that? You've never lied to me."

Rory giggled. "Um, don't flip out or anything, but yeah I have. Several times."

Jess laughed. "I'm aware, Rory. See that previous statement, we would call that sarcasm. Perhaps you're familiar with it."

Rory pouted. "You know, most girls really don't appreciate it when their boyfriends make fun of them. Especially not right after they tell them they love them, it sort of-"

"Rory?"

"What?"

"Shut up."

He kissed her, and they backed up to the wall. He moved on to her neck and Rory sighed. "It's nice to be back to our normal routine huh?" Jess chuckled in agreement. Rory continued. "No more awkward cautious kisses, no more worrying we're gonna get too caught up. I mean-"

"Rory, come on."

"Right. Sorry. I'll shut up." They went on kissing for a few more minutes before finally taking a break.

"Hmm." Rory smiled. "That was nice." Jess laughed.

"Yeah, you could say that."

Rory sighed. "I feel much better now. I mean, before, I felt all icky and nervous. I mean- I don't know, seeing you, I felt like everyone could read on our faces 'They're gonna do it!' and then when my mom said what she said. it kinda freaked me out a little."

"Well that's certainly understandable." He paused, and added cautiously, "So you're still sure that you wanna. you know."

"Oh yeah! I mean- yes, definitely. I just. I gotta make sure my mom doesn't find out. She'd flip out."

Jess smiled. "Ok, good. Cuz I'd just hate for your crazy mom to interfere in our relationship. at least, not anymore than she already has."

Rory giggled. "She has not interfered that much-" she was interrupted by another kiss.

"How soon before you have to get home?" Jess asked.

Rory smiled. "Well I do have homework. but hey, it'll still be there in a few hours."

"That's what I like to hear."

*******************

Lorelai let out a deep breath and turned to her daughter. "You nervous?"

Rory smiled a taunting smile. "Why should I be nervous? You're the one who insisted on asking her."

"No no! don't you go blaming this on me! It's for YOUR prom."

"It was YOUR idea. I said I'd raise some money of my own, but you, I repeat, INSISTED on asking her."

Lorelai pouted. "I gotta get myself a daughter who's stupid with a bad memory." She rang the doorbell to her parents' home, and waited for the door to open, no doubt by yet another completely different maid. And how right she was.

"Hi," Lorelai tried to smile a comforting smile to the frightened looking frail woman who opened the door. "We're the daughter and the granddaughter." She paused, waiting for a response, but the maid looked even more scared. "We're here to rescue you from the wrath of Emily Gilmore," she added. The maid smiled slightly.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Please come in." she spoke in a very quiet voice, but lowered it to a whisper for her next comment. "I was terrified when you said you were related. I was afraid maybe you had inherited more from Mrs. Gilmore than just her looks."

Lorelai chuckled and turned to her daughter. "I like this one. I hope she stays." Rory rolled her eyes and looked to the maid.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Rory, and this is my mom, Lorelai."

The maid smiled. "I'm Nora. Nice to meet you. Here, let me take your coats."

As Nora was hanging Rory and Lorelai's jackets, Emily made her way to the door.

"Oh Good! You're here!" Emily smiled at the two girls, then turned to Nora sharply and said, "It's almost 7 o'clock Nora. Do you remember what that means, or should I arrange to have it tattooed on your hand to remind you?"

Nora gulped and looked at the floor. "Dinner will be ready at 7." And with that she scurried out of the room. Emily turned back to Lorelai and Rory.

"Goodness that girl. I don't know what I'm going to do about her." She turned on her heel and headed towards the living room. The girls followed.

Lorelai smiled, somewhat amused. "Well gee Mom she seemed perfectly nice to me. What's the problem?"

Emily went to the table to get drinks. "What do you mean? Didn't you see the expression on her face? Ever since she got here she's had that look of disdain; she won't even look me in the eyes. It's completely disrespectful. Now what would you girls like to drink?"

"Mom, are you kidding me?" Lorelai asked, with a look of complete confusion. "That's not a look of disdain or disrespect, that's the facial expression generally used by us humans to show terror!"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Don't be silly, Lorelai, it certainly is not. Rory would you like a soda?"

"Coke, please?"

"Mom!" Lorelai started again. "I don't believe you don't see how scared she is of you! I mean seriously, next time she comes in, take a good look at her face, because I guarantee you it will more than slightly resemble the facial expression of a deer trapped in the headlights!"

"Mom, please," Rory pleaded under her breath. "Just keep in mind that when one has a plan to ask someone for a really big favor, it's not really in one's best interest to start an argument with the aforementioned someone. Ok?"

Lorelai sighed. "Damn. Why'd I have to get a smart kid?"

"Champagne, Lorelai?" Emily asked. Lorelai plastered a fake grin onto her face.

"Oh yes, that would be lovely Mother!" never relaxing her smiling face, she asked Rory under her breath, "Am I overdoing it?"

"I'd take it down a couple notches if I were you."

********************



Dinner was served at 7, as promised. Throughout the salad, Lorelai's comforting smiles and words in the maid's defense kept Nora calm and able to perform every obsessively precise task Emily demanded. However, Lorelai's courage was dwindling. Rory tried to remind her mother subtly every chance she got, but somehow Lorelai just couldn't work up the nerve. Finally, half way through the main course, Emily relieved her of the responsibility of bringing it up.

"So Rory," Emily said with a curious grin. "I read in the Chilton newsletter that the preparations for Prom are coming along excellently. Are you looking forward to it?"

Rory looked to her mom, awkwardly. "Oh, um. actually, I'm not really-"

Lorelai went to her rescue. "Rory's not really going to the Chilton prom, Mom." Emily's eyes widened.

"What do you mean Rory's not going to the Chilton Prom?" she asked, alarmed. "Rory can't miss her prom! These are the kinds of things that you'll regret missing for the rest of your life, young lady-"

Lorelai interrupted. "Mom, she's going to A prom. Just- not the one for Chilton. That's all."

Emily looked confused, and turned to Rory for an answer. "What does that mean?"

Rory tried her hardest not to look guilty. She knew she had to avoid the subject of Jess being her date. Ever since the Friday night months ago when he'd met her grandparents, she'd known better than to bring him up. Emily did not like him. At all. "Well, Grandma," she began, "I'm sort of planning on going to the prom at Stars Hollow High. I mean- most of my close friends go there. All the kids from Stars Hollow are going there. Especially Lane; Lane's my best friend, and I just know we'd both have more fun if we went to the same prom."

Emily's face relaxed slightly. "Well. I suppose that makes sense enough." She paused before asking with a curious smile, "What are you planning to wear?"

Rory and Lorelai exchanged nervous glances. "Well, mom," Lorelai began with a fake smile, "That's something that I wanted to discuss with you. You see, I would normally make Rory's dress for her, but. I just feel like the prom is something- special, and Rory should have the perfect dress."

"I agree," Emily said. "What are you getting at?" Lorelai worked up her courage.

"We don't have the money to buy a gorgeous dress she'll only wear once," Lorelai said. "So I was wondering if you might. I don't know, contribute any money to the 'Rory's perfect prom night' fund?"

To Lorelai's surprise, Emily smiled pleasantly. "Why I'd love to! In fact there's a place near Richard's work that has the most lovely display of formal gowns; I'll get Rory an appointment there for this weekend if she'd like."

Rory smiled. "Yeah, I'd love to. Could Lane maybe come along and help me pick a dress out on Sunday?"

"That sounds perfect. Lorelai, I'll write out a check for you after dinner."

Lorelai grinned triumphantly at Rory. "Well this is working out perfect! Now you and Jess are all set for outfits and as long as you can keep him from wearing a Metallica tee-shirt under his jacket, we can count on some prom photos suitable for display in the house!"

Rory's heart sank. Emily's face went pale. Richard narrowed his eyes. Lorelai slapped her hand over her mouth. "I wasn't supposed to bring that up, was I?"

"Jess?" Emily asked. It wasn't so much a question as an accusation. "Jess, the boy who came to dinner here a few months ago with a black eye?"

"Yeah, Mom, that'd be the one," Lorelai said. "Rory, hon, why don't you go on in the kitchen and use the phone to call Lane about Sunday? Quick before Mama Kim makes her go to bed."

Obediently, Rory stood and left the room, but didn't go so far that she couldn't hear the discussion at the dinner table.

Lorelai sighed. "Ok, Mom, I know you're not incredibly fond of Jess-"

"Not incredibly fond of him?" Emily asked. "I'd say that's an understatement!"

"Mom, you can't get upset about this. You don't even know the boy-"

"I know he's not suitable for Rory. I mean for God's sake, Lorelai, he speaks like an ex-convict!"

"How can you say that Mom? You've never even met an ex-con, how should you know how they speak?"

"He's been in trouble."

"Every kid his age has been in trouble before! It hasn't been anything major, at least, I mean just kid stuff- like- he stole a gnome from our neighbor's yard."

"A gnome?"

"Long, LONG story."

"He fights."

"How would you know?"

"He came to dinner here with a black eye and he wouldn't tell Rory how he got it!"

Lorelai tried to stifle chuckles in her explanation. "Well actually, Mom, as it turns out, he got that from- well, long story cut short, he got it from a swan, if you must know-"

"Oh please!"

"What?! I'm serious! He did!!!"

Emily sighed. Lorelai continued. "Look, you knew Rory was with Jess; we never said anything about a breakup. Jess is like. he's a work in progress, the way I see it. when he first came to Stars Hollow, yeah, I'll admit, he wasn't exactly full of sunshine and good behavior, but since he's gotten to know Rory. she's had a really good affect on the kid. And as it turns out, under all the defensive layers that Rory somehow managed to peel off of him, he's a pretty great kid. I mean, I even really like him. Considering he's the reason Rory missed my graduation and got her wrist fractured. that's saying a lot for him." Lorelai watched her parents' faces for signs of acceptance. Seeing that some of the color had come back to her mothers face and her father's eyes had softened, she continued. "Things are good between them. They're overcoming obstacles left and right, so you can bet that even if they don't get your blessing, they will go to the prom together, and they will remain a couple." She paused. "Jess loves Rory. And Rory loves him right back. Now you can argue with me about him, but I won't let you pester Rory about it, and I won't let you stand in the way of them for the life of me. So if you would kindly try to mask your disdain for the boy for the rest of dinner, I would greatly appreciate it."

There was a long silence before Richard finally spoke. "Oh come on, Emily, just accept it. I had to hold my tongue when Rory was with that Dean fellow, and it turns out he wasn't all that bad. You're not going to get anywhere working against the boy. Rory's stubborn. Even more stubborn, I dare say, than yourself."

Emily took a sip of champagne. "Well I suppose you're right. But I'd like to propose a compromise."

"I'm all ears, Mom."

"If Rory insists on going to the prom with this Jess character, than I will pay for her dress on one condition. She can go to the Stars Hollow prom if she would like. but she must also attend the Chilton prom. How does that sound?"

"Well," Lorelai said, "it doesn't sound impossible, but considering Rory's rocky history with Chilton kids and Chilton dances, I'll have to ask her first."

"That's fine," Emily said. She picked up her glass and added with a smile before taking a sip, "Also, I insist that Rory not fall asleep somewhere with this boy rather than returning home." Lorelai smiled at her mother.

"That sounds reasonable to me. I'll go get her from the kitchen." She stood and walked out of the room, trying desperately to suppress her proud smile.



**************************

"Wow," Lane said. "It's. well it's intimidating."

Lane and Rory stood in front of a designer store, the name of which neither knew how to pronounce, staring at the mannequins in the window, dressed in detailed, elegant, expensive looking formal gowns. Rory sighed. "Well. I guess we better go in. We do have an appointment." The girls exchanged skeptic glances, and proceeded up the stairs into the store.

After checking in with the woman at the register, they went up the stairs to look at all the dresses. There were racks and racks full of frills, satin, sequins, lace, and velvet in every color one could imagine. "It's all very overwhelming," Rory commented. "Good thing we're not on a tight schedule."

Lane turned over a price tag and gasped. "Oh My goodness. That kind of pricing should be illegal. I think this dress costs more than it costs to feed me for a year."

Rory sighed. "Well that's Emily Gilmore's taste for you. Only the finest for a Gilmore." Rory paused. "God, you're so lucky you already got your dress and everything."

Lane giggled. "Yeah well it wasn't exactly easy to find a prom dress that was completely satisfactory to Mama Kim. Nothing with low neck-lines, low cut backs, no lengths that made my legs at all visible, nothing strappy or without straps, nothing that shows my stomach, nothing with visible buttons or zipper, or anything that implies in any way that a boy will be attracted by said dress, or attempt at any point to remove it from my body." Lane sighed. "I envy you. You get to go to the prom with a guy who loves you, and has told you so, and who you're ready to do it with should the moment arise, and to top it off your mom even seems to like him."

Rory smiled to herself. "Yeah, well lets just hope my mom remains as fond of Jess as she seems to be now. Friday night at my grandparents' house, my mom actually defended Jess to Grandma. She sent me out of the room and everything. It was very impressive. She came off quite maturely." Rory giggled.

Lane lowered her voice. "So, just for the sake of clarity, tell me; are you thinking you and Jess are gonna. on prom night?"

Rory couldn't help grinning. "Well. yeah I was considering that night more than any other." Lane giggled, totally giddy. "But you have to swear not to act weird around him that night, or around my mother, or anyone else for that matter. I'm already nervous enough as it is."

"I swear on my CD collection, I will control my level of weirdness. But you gotta promise to tell me everything afterwards!"

"Of course, Lane, you're my best friend. Who else would I tell?"

Lane didn't answer. In fact, she began to walk away from Rory, determined. Rory followed, confused. "Lane? Did you hear me?"

Lane walked to a rack, blocking Rory's view of the object of interest. "It's perfect," Lane whispered.

"What is?" Rory asked. Lane turned around, holding up a gorgeous dress. It was a beautiful shade of ruby red, with a satiny, flowing fabric. It was strappy with a graceful flowing boat neck and a full skirt. On one side of the torso was a gorgeous silvery beaded pattern. Rory fell in love with it at first sight. "Oh my God," she exclaimed. "It's so beautiful! I love it."

"Aren't you glad you brought me along with you?" Lane asked with a proud smile.

Rory tried the dress on, and it looked fantastic on her; she looked just like a princess. She bought the dress and could hardly wait to see the look on Jess' face when she answered the door the next Saturday evening wearing it. It would definitely be a night to remember.