A/N:  Thank you all for the great reviews.  I know the last chapter was really short, but it was bed time and I had a test the next day, so I hope you can understand why.  Now we're gonna get into it a bit more, so I hope you still enjoy, and KEEP THOSE REVIEWS COMING!!

xoxox ME

***

DON'T WORRY BABY

CHAPTER 2 – Questions, Dinner, and Princess Paris

Rory and Jess left the diner.  Hand in hand they walked around Stars Hollow until they came to the bookstore, and both went inside.  20 minutes later, they emerged with a pile of books.  They walked to the bridge and sat down; Jess sitting with Rory lying down with her head resting on his lap.  They began to read their books, until 10 minutes later Jess closed his book.  Rory looked up from her book, startled.

"Okay, I can't concentrate with you lying there like that."  Jess exclaimed

Rory smiled and kissed him.

"Okay, now I really can't concentrate."

Rory sat up and cuddled close to him.  "Jess, can I ask you something?"

"Well, you just did, but you can have one more question."

"My my, aren't we witty today."

"I try.  So what did you want to ask me Ror?"

She smiled.  "I know it's kind of out of the blue, but, ummm, as you know, it's senior year."

"I am aware of that."

She playfully swatted him and continued.  "Well, its senior year, and there's a traditional dance at the end of the year.  I'm sure you've heard of it.  It's sometimes referred to prom, and I was…"

"No."  Jess interrupted.

"No?"  Rory asked, pulling away.

"I don't do prom."

"But Jess…"

"No way.  I don't' dance.  I don't wear tuxes.  I don't do prom.  We're not going."

"Oh, so now you're making my decision too?"

"What? You still want to go without me?"

"I have to.  I'm vice president of Chilton.  I have to go.  I just thought it would be better with my boyfriend there with me."

"Rory, I just don't…"

"I'm sorry Jess, but I'm going.  With or without you.  Prom may not be fun for you, but it will be for me.  I want to dress up, I want to go, and I will.  And I'll have a good time."  She got up and started to walk away.

"Rory."  Jess sighed.  She stopped and turned to look at him.  "What day is it?  The prom I mean?"

"June 6th."

"What time do I pick you up?"

***

June came sooner than was expected.  Rory had been busy with planning prom and decorating.  Chilton looked great.  But by mid-afternoon on June 6th, Rory was panicking.

"Mom?"

"Yeah hun."

"Where's my dress?"

"In your closet."

"And my shoes?"

"With your dress."

"What about Jess's flower thingy?"

"In the fridge staying healthy."

"My jewellery?"

"On your dresser."

"Halle Berry?"

"Still trying to pry Adrien Brody's lips off of hers."  Lorelai laughed hugged her nervous daughter.  "Its time to get ready hun."

Since dinner would be served at 6, Jess was picking Rory up at 5.  So at 4:30, she and Lorelai were eating Chinese food.

At 4:47 Rory did a final check and was satisfied with how she looked.

At 5:02 the doorbell rang.

"Rory, go upstairs and when he's inside walk down."  Lorelai said.  Rory laughed.  "Hey!  I've always wanted to see that done in person.  They always make it look so good in the movies."

Rory did as she was told and Lorelai opened the door.

"Hi Jess."

Rory began her descent down the stairs.  Jess looked up at her and smiled.  She looked gorgeous in a simple light blue dress that really made her eyes stand out.  It was long, to the floor, and strapless.  It was very simple and very elegant.  She had strappy silvery sandals with heels on.  Her hair up in a French twist with a few loose pieces.  And she finished the look off with simple diamond earrings and matching necklace.

"You look great Ror."

"You don't look too bad yourself."  Rory was pleased.  Not many people could make a tux look cool, but Jess had managed.  He had ditched the tie and cummerbund.  His white dress shirt had the top few buttons undone, and his jacked was undone too.

Lorelai got the boutonniere out of the fridge and handed it to Rory.  It was a simple white rose.  She pinned it to Jess's jacket.

"Wow Ror.  I'm surprised.  No blood shed."  Jess joked.  Rory swatted him.  He took a corsage out of its box and put it on Rory's wrist.  It consisted of 3 white roses and some baby's breath.  The band on it was silver.  "I had some help from your mom."  He said as Rory smiled at her mother.

"Okay kids.  Picture time!"  Lorelai said as she whipped out the camera.  10 minutes (and 2 rolls of film later) she was satisfied.

Through tears, Lorelai looked at her watch.  "You guys better get going or you're gonna be late."  She said as she shoved them out the door.  "Eat lots. Dance lots.  But don't crush each other's feet.  Be home by 2.  Preferably alive.  And take lots of pictures!"  She handed the camera to Rory.

Rory and Jess made their way to his car and got in as Lorelai said to herself "My little girl's all grown up."

The mood in Jess's car was a bit tense and the car ride was pretty quiet.  Until Rory spoke.

"Jess?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

Jess smiled.  "We'll just have to think of some way for you to repay me for this…"  They both laughed.

By the time they reached the school they were both relaxed.  They walked in and took their seats at the table where Paris and her boyfriend Jamie, Madeline, Louise, and their dates were sitting.

"Rory!"  Paris exclaimed, standing up to greet her.  "You're here!"  Then she whispered so only Rory could hear.  "Thank god.  I don't know how much more talk bout Days of the Restless and Lives of the Young I could take."

"You mean Days of our lives and Young and the Restless?"

"Yeah.  That's it."

They both laughed.

"Paris, you remember Jess?"

"You're the guy from that day at Rory's house."

"Ummm. Yeah.  I am."  He replied, obviously uncomfortable within the whole prom scene.

"Glad you're here."

"Rory!"  Louise exclaimed.  "Hi.  Who's the dream?"

Jess looked embarrassed and Rory laughed. 

Jess was introduced and they were introduced to Madeline's date Paul and Louise's date Michael.  Compliments were also given to how everyone looked.

Shortly after, dinner was served and everyone was enjoying their meal.  They were all startled when Jess started laughing.

"What's he laughing at?"  Madeline asked Louise.

"I don't know."  She replied.  "Rory, what's he laughing at?"

"Oh, it's nothing really."  Jess answered for her.  "Well, Rory actually."

Rory stopped eating.  "What?"

"Nothing.  I'm just wondering how you manage to eat all that food, considering I know that you had Chinese before I picked you up."

"How did you…?"

"I just know you so well.  Plus the cartons were on the table."

Rory looked at him.  "Hey.  I like food so I indulge."  She returned to her food.

After dinner, the tables were cleared and the dancing began.  Immediately, Madeline, Louise, and their dates started dancing.  Paris and Jamie followed shortly.  Rory and Jess stayed seated.  When the first slow song came on, Jess took her hand and lead her to the dance floor.

"I'm not so bad at slow dancing, but I warn you that when the music changes, my tango and foxtrot aren't quite up to par."

Rory giggled.

After a short while of dancing, they sat down to take a break and Rory looked at Jess surprised.

"You're pretty good."

Jess sighed.  "Just don't tell anyone.  Especially Lorelai.  The last thing I need is for it to get around town that the resident bad boy used to take dance classes."

"I make no guarantees."

They talked some more, to be accompanied shortly by Paris and Jamie who joined their conversation on literature.  Then a voice came over the microphone.

"Okay everyone.  Its time to announce the prom court."  Came Francie's voice over the microphone, interrupting the dancing and conversations around the hall.  The chairman of the prom took the microphone from her.

"Let's begin with the princesses.  And they are."  He paused for effect.  "Madeline Lynn, Louise Grant, and Paris Geller."

Madeline and Louise walked up to the podium holding hands, and Paris stood up in shock.

"Was that my name?"  She asked a smiling and clapping Rory.

"Yes it was.  Now get up there Princess Paris!"

A shocked Paris walked up to the stage.  Next the Princes were named (Madeline and Louise's dates among them).  The prom king was announced next, and he walked to the stage smiling and took his crown.

"And your new prom queen is…. RORY GILMORE! "

Rory sat, shocked, as her name was called.  Jess hugged her and said "I've got my own little queen."  Rory slowly walked to the stage and the beautiful sparkling tiara was placed on her head.  She was still shocked.

"It's time for the King and Queen's first dance."

They danced and then Rory went back to Jess, who hugged his now smiling girlfriend.  "I don't have to worry about you being taken away from me by that king, now do I?"  He asked, only half joking.

She kissed him.  "Does that answer your question?"

"Congratulations Rory!"  Madeline and Louise said.

"Thanks.  You too.  And you Paris."

Paris was still in shock.  "How did this happen?"  She asked nobody in particular.  "People actually like me?"

"Of course they do.  Some of us love you."  She hugged her friend and looked at Jamie who kissed his girlfriend.  "You're a great person and you showed that this year."

Jess and Jamie laughed.  "You guys shoulda seen the look on that redhead's face when you guys were announced and not here.  She looked really pissed."  Jess pointed to Francie who was in a corner sulking.

Paris laughed.  "Francie's a bigger bitch than me.  Wish I was in a state where I could have enjoyed it."

Jess laughed.  "Thank god Rory's mom loves pictures."  He said, holding the camera.  "Because I took pictures of all of you, and I think she's in them too."

Paris was now relaxed.  "I need copies."  She told Rory.

"No problem."

Jess put his arms around Rory's waist.  "Can I have a dance with the Queen?"

"Why of course."

At 11:30, they left the prom and started home.

"Turn here!"  Rory told Jess.  He obliged.

"Why?"  He asked.

"There's a motel down the street.  We have a reservation."

Jess swerved over to the side of the road and slammed on the breaks.

"What?"  He asked, unable to believe what he was hearing.

Rory laughed.  "I said, There's.  a.  motel.  Down…"

"I heard what you said."  He interrupted.  "But.  What?"

"Jess, I think its time."  She said, emphasizing the last word, hoping he'd get the hint.  He did.

"Are you sure?"

"I've never been more sure about anything."  She replied.  Jess could tell by her voice and the look in her eyes that she was serious.

5 minutes later they were in a room which Rory had reserved under the name 'Virginia Twist.'

After asking her 3 more times if she was sure and getting the same response of 'yes' each time, Rory and Jess became as close as 2 people can possibly be.

***

A/N: Well I hope you guys liked it.  I didn't go to high school in the US so I didn't have prom, so I don't know how the whole prom king/queen thing is done – I just went with how they did it in the movie 'never been kissed.'  Don't forget to review!!  Constructive criticism is always welcome!