Title: Letting Go

Feedback: Yes please.

Summary: (a Smallville/Gilmore Girls crossover) When Clark runs away from Smallville, where does he go? In a weird twist of fate, he finds himself in Stars Hollow, where Lorelai and Rory have just returned from Europe. What starts out as a coincidence slowly becomes a summer that they will never forget.

Rating: PG-13/R

Pairings: Clark/Rory, with Lex/Lana and Lorelai/Dean

Spoilers: Everything up to end of season 2 of Smallville and end of season 3 of Gilmore Girls. For those of you who are unfamiliar with either show, here's the breakdown: Clark runs away from Smallville after his alien father calls out to him and everything in his life had turned to a disaster. Despite his love for Lana, he still leaves without any explanation (along with his red kryptonite ring which turns him into bad Clark), breaking her heart. Lex, on the other hand, just got married but his wife supposedly tries to kill him and the season ends as his plane is crashing into the ocean. In Stars Hollow, Rory has just graduated and is about to go on the trip to Europe with Lorelai but she isn't as happy as she should be because Jess inexplicably left her to go to LA, while Dean, her other ex-boyfriend has just announced his engagement to Lindsay.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Gilmore Girls or Smallville.

Note: Okay, thanks again for the encouraging feedback. I'm glad that you guys are digging Clark and Rory. As for the very controversial Lorelai and Dean pairing, yes it's a little different but I have my reasons. Obviously there is an age difference but at a legal standpoint, Dean is 18 now and he's a consenting adult. Anyways, you know it's not going be that smooth sailing between them. I just think that this is my chance to explore this potential ship further.

****

Part V - Things we never say

"So how did you know I was going to show up?" Rory asked, slightly embarrassed as she looked at the ground as she smiled.

"I didn't actually." Clark explained. "I just thought that maybe you'd come here again and since I have nothing else to do..."

"So you have nothing better to do than to sit out on a bridge alone?" Rory said, not quite sure what to make of his gesture.

"What can I say?" Clark said with smile. "I have no life."

"Really..." Rory exclaimed as she walked over and sat beside him. She really wasn't sure if she could believe him. "Didn't you come out here with somebody?"

"Nope." Clark replied. "I'm staying at a friend's house but he's not living there, so it's just me."

"Must be lonely." Rory remarked as she watched him sitting there.

"It kinda is." Clark said as he looked out in front of him. " It makes me think of home. I miss it, but I'm glad I met you Rory."

"Me too." Rory said as she smiled at him as she settled herself. "So.... what do your parents do for a living?"

"Our family owns a farm." Clark explained.

"A farm?" Rory said in amazement. "I've never been on a farm before but I definitely know I could never work on a farm."

"Are you sure?" Clark asked. "It's pretty cool."

"I'm sure it is but..." Rory began. "Let's say physical activity is not my strong suit. You know when people say 'you run like a girl'?"

"Yeah." Clark replied.

"I'm a disgrace to women running everywhere. It's horrible." Rory replied as she looked at Clark and muscular arms. "But I guess that's not a problem for you."

"I guess not but I don't really play any sports except for a little basketball." Clark replied, knowing how much his father never wanted him to play on any team sports, fearing that someone would catch onto his secret powers or that he'd hurt someone. "So what does your parents do?"

"Well my dad is a computer software engineer and my mom used to be a manager of an inn before it burnt down." Rory explained. "But right now she's trying start a new inn. She's renovating this old building and everything."

"That sounds pretty exciting." Clark remarked.

"Yeah, but it's going to take a lot of work to get it all done and in September, I'm moving out so my mom's going to be alone." Rory explained.

"You're living on your own?" Clark asked, impressed. "I'm still living with my parents."

"Well I'm going to Yale in the fall so I have to live on residence." Rory replied. "It's still going to be close enough that I can visit whenever I want to."

"Yale? Wow." Clark said. He hadn't realized how old she really was.

"Are you in college now?" Rory asked.

"No." Clark replied, hesitating to tell her the truth.

"Oh I'm sorry." Rory replied. "I didn't mean to assume that you have to go to college because I mean it's perfectly fine to work and all..." Rory wanted to bite her tongue. Already she was already sounding elitist. She didn't mean to be but it just came out that way.

"No that's fine." Clark explained. "I want to go to college, I do. I'll probably never get into a place like Yale but college is where I want to be....in a few years." he paused. "I don't know if this changes anything between us but...I'm still in high school."

"High school?" Rory blurted, not knowing what to say. "Are you going to be a senior?"

"Um...no...I'm going to be a junior." Clark said with a heavy sigh. Of all the things he could have said, he really wished that he didn't have to say those words. "I'm 16."

"Wow..."Rory managed to say. "I have to say Clark that you don't look 16 at all."

"Well I kinda wish I wasn't." Clark said dejectedly. "Here you are talking about going to Yale and everything and I'm still in high school."

"Hey," Rory said as she touched his shoulder. "It's okay, really. I'm just a little surprised, that's all."

"But it still changes things between us." Clark exclaimed, looking at her hand.

"So we can't be friends because you're 16 and I'm 18?" Rory replied.

"Are we friends?" Clark asked as he looked into her eyes.

"I hope so." Rory answered. "If you're okay with it."

"More than okay." Clark said with a smile. "So tell me, what are you going to major in at Yale?"

"Journalism." Rory replied. "I know it sounds weird but I kinda want to do reports all over the world like Christiane Armampour."

"Really?" Clark said with a laugh. "That is so funny because I want to major in journalism too. Find out the truth behind things, helping people. But I'm more of a newspaper man myself more than on-air reporting. I don't really like being videotaped. It makes me feel weird."

"Well it's one way." Rory replied. "I'm not so good with being on tv too. I was on C-SPAN once ..."

"You were on C-SPAN?" Clark repeated. "Very impressive."

"It was just a silly school speech." Rory insisted. "Anyways, I was scared out of my wits and the whole night turned out to be a kind of disaster." remembering the fiasco with Paris. "I really just like writing the articles, like when I was writing for my high school newspaper."

"I write for the school newspaper too!" Clark exclaimed with enthusiasm. "At least I used to. My friend Chloe is editor of the Smallville Torch and we sort of had a fight before I left and I got kicked off."

"Really?" Rory said with amazement. "My friend Paris tried to do the exact thing to me when she was editor. What is with people being editors anyways. They are just controlling!"

"You can say that again." Clark agreed as he grinned.

Rory smiled back and then looked at her watch. "Clark, I'm sorry for having to do this again but I really have to go. I bailed on my mom last night so I can't do that now." Part of her didn't want to miss movie night but another part of her didn't want to leave, especially since they were beginning to really have a connection.

"Hey it's fine." Clark said as he jumped to his feet. As he stood, he extended his hand so that Rory could get up. "Could I walk you home then? I mean, you'll be home safe and sound and we can talk some more. I just really don't want to stop talking to you yet."

"Me neither." Rory agreed as she stood up. "thanks."

"No problem." Clark replied as he walked and then suddenly he turned his head. "So where is home exactly?"

"This way." Rory replied as she walked ahead of him as he followed.

****

"I know this is supposed to be a surprise but don't you think this is a little much?" Lana asked walked blindly ahead of Lex. The moment she had gotten into Lex's Porsche, he quickly pulled off his tie to fashion it into a blindfold for her eyes. Up until this moment, she had willingly been a pawn in his so-called plan but this was getting ridiculous.

"Lana, trust me." Lex replied as he walked behind her, guiding her every step. "We're not too far now."

"Lex, this is nuts. You pull me out of work, made me wear a blindfold and now we're going God knows where." Lana complained.

"Cheerful aren't we?" Lex said teasingly.

"Why did I agree to this in the first place?" Lana exclaimed as she tried to follow Lex's instructions. "You know I hate surprises." It just made her remember her last surprise. Whitney had gone out of his way to surprise with the news that he was joining the army and now he was dead. From then on, she has had a distain for surprises ever since.

"You hate bad surprises." Lex clarified her as he moved her forward. "I promise you Lana, this is a good one."

"Alright." Lana surrendered as she kept on walking. "How far do we have to walk?"

"We're almost there." Lex answered as he kept her walking on the right path. "Almost...okay here."

He slowly took her blindfold off and let her see.

"Lex..."Lana gasped. "This is huge." she looked speechless as she gazed on a immense stable. She had never seen one quite like it.

"Well I know that I took you on the tour yesterday, but I didn't have a chance to show you this place." Lex explained. "See I saw how bored you were, not to mention you were in your pajamas, I thought I'd take you today instead."

"I know you told me you had a stables but I didn't think..." Lana exclaimed as she looked on and then turned around. "So we're going riding?"

"I thought you needed the practice." Lex explained with a smile. "Ever since I got back from the accident, I hadn't seen you ride once. Maybe this could be your chance to start again. If you're up to it."

"I am." Lana said as she entered the stable. "So I can choose any horse?"

"Any horse." Lex replied as he began to walk ahead of her. "Although, if you want my advice, I think this horse would be the best for you." As he directed her towards the end of the stable, she stood there in shock at the horse he had pointed out. In his own spot, with his name plaqued up on the wall stood Tyson waiting for her.

"Tyson!" Lana exclaimed as she walked quickly towards him and gently touched his head. "How did you do this?"

"Well since you are living here, I thought it'd be best to have Tyson near you." Lex explained, happy to see her smiling again. "So I went over to the Kents and asked if they'd let me move Tyson here. They were more than happy to since they thought you might be have felt awkward about visiting the farm since Clark ran away."

Lana just stood there nuzzling Tyson. She turned to look at Lex. "Thank you. You have no idea how much."

"I'm just happy that you're happy." Lex explained as he walked towards Tyson. He patted him on the back and stroked his hair. "He's all saddled up if you want to go now." They both quickly directed him outside to breathe in the fresh air.

"Lex, what horse are you taking out?" Lana asked as she looked back at Lex.

He smiled as he pulled out a black horse. "Lana, meet Obsidian." Lex exclaimed he introduced him to Lana. "Obsidian, say hi to Lana."

"Hi." Lana replied as she stroked him. Obsidian responded and moved closer to her. She nuzzled him as she touched his nose.

"He seems to like you." Lex observed. "Shall we?"

She stood there smiling as he came near her and helped her onto Tyson and then he himself swung over to sit on Obsidian.

As Lex rode Obsidian to stand beside Tyson, he looked over at Lana. "So do you still hate surprises?"

"Yes, but I love good ones." Lana explained as she rode ahead. She just quickly gave him a sly grin before leaving him behind.

Lex just shook his head and then proceeded to try to catch up with her.

****

"LOVE SUCKS!" Lorelai cried out as she plopped herself on the couch, lying back in frustration.

"Lorelai?" Dean cried out from the kitchen.

"IN HERE!" Lorelai cried out as she looked at the ceiling. She had already gotten herself comfortable on the couch. She really was in no mood to move out of her spot at all.

"Hey I heard yelling." Dean explained as he walked in. "Is it another spider you want me to throw out? I brought pizza." pointing to the two pizzas he held in one hand.

"No it wasn't an..." Lorelai began but stopped mid-sentence when he uttered the magic word. "Pizza?"

"I know it's been awhile but it's everything on it right?" Dean asked.

"Aww I love you." Lorelai said with a grin as she bounded quickly up on her feet and grabbed them. "I'll just put them in the kitchen for now until Rory gets home. Then, we'll just heat them up in the oven."

As she walked in towards the kitchen, she quickly remembered what she wanted Dean to do. "Oh Dean?"

"Yeah?" Dean asked as he followed her.

"You know how much I love you right?" Lorelai said with a wink as patted his shoulders.

"Ye..yeah." Dean said hesitantly, trying to figure out what she had in mind.

"Well could you be a dear and..." Lorelai began.

"change the water bottle?" Dean finished, finally onto her game.

"Please, pretty please?" Lorelai asked through her toothy grin.

"Fine." Dean replied as he walked over to the water cooler.

"Thank you." Lorelai answered sweetly as she watched.

Dean took a good look at it and turned towards her. "When was the last time you changed this thing?"

"I don't know." Lorelai admitted, feeling caught. "I can't remember exactly."

"So when did you plan on changing it anyways?" Dean asked he began to unscrew the empty bottle.

"Actually I waiting for the best water boy ever to change it for me." Lorelai answered enthusiastically as Dean shook his head at her, not buying into her sucking up.

"Alright!" Lorelai exclaimed as she began to confess. "It's just that no one could change it like you could. Luke would never do it unless it's my birthday and even then it was just okay. Kirk came over once when you were gone and almost twisted his ankle doing it and Jess...well Jess just sulked his way through it so he was never going to do that again."

"Jess huh?" Dean replied as he opened the kitchen door to fetch the new bottle. Even the sound of his name still irritated him to this day.

"Yeah, Jess." Lorelai said as she thought about it. "Wow. It's been a long time since that name has been said in this house."

"I heard about him skipping town." Dean explained as he walked back into the house. "Couldn't say that I was sad about him leaving but for Rory's sake, I wished the asshole hadn't gone. Just left without saying a word? That's pretty low, even for him. I warned her about him...you know that..."

"... he'd be a jerk and break her heart in the end?" Lorelai replied. "Hey, you know that I had a bad feeling about him just like you did but Rory has to make her own mistakes, even if you knew exactly how it was going to end. I'm just sorry that she had to fall in love with him and break your heart too."

"I'm not going to say that it didn't hurt like hell seeing her choose him over me." Dean replied as he picked up the bottle to settle unto the top. "But maybe it was for the best. I don't know...I just know that I really didn't like the way I was when it ended. Being jealous and paranoid all the time. Questioning her and myself about everything. I mean you saw it."

Lorelai nodded, just feeling for him.

"I just think maybe it's better for us this way." Dean explained as he tested the water to see if the cooler worked. "Me and Rory as friends."

"I'm glad that you two made up." Lorelai remarked. "She really did miss you Dean...." As he stood up, she looked on. "So...what's the verdict?"

"It's done." Dean replied as he began to clean his hands with a tea towel. "Now all you have to do is wait for another clueless schmuck to buy your sob story and change it for you the next time you're out of water."

Lorelai just began to beam as she she ran towards him and gave him a hug. "Why do I need another schmuck when I have you?" She smiled as she still had her arms around him.

His arms was wrapped around her as well as he began to feel awkward. Lorelai wasn't hugging too tightly that it was cutting his circulation but it was close enough that his nose could detect the faint smell of her shampoo from her hair and see the smooth nape of her neck. He closed his eyes for a second without thinking to take her in but panicked when he realized what he was doing. Lorelai on the other hand, could notice the strength in his arms as well as his slim yet well toned physique. She hadn't noticed it before but it was the first time they had ever been such close proximity to each other. She had always wondered why she had never hugged Dean before and now she knew why. The awkwardness was building between them but neither one knew whether to break free. As the tension between them grew unbearable, Lorelai patted him gently on the back twice before releasing her arms.

Even though Lorelai had moved back from him, Dean couldn't helped but still feel uneasy. He could feel his cheeks begin to redden while the sweat began to build behind his neck and on his forehead. If only Lorelai would say something again. There was just too much silence in the room with him standing there like a stupid kid with his hands stuffed in his pockets and his head looking down at his feet.

Lorelai began to squirm at the sight of Dean just standing there. It was easy when him and Rory were dating. All she had to do was leave the room, walk away or leave them at the door and they could just do their thing. End of story. But now, without Rory there, the boundaries of their relationship was very murky. Even as experienced as she was in relationships, Lorelai herself didn't really know how to deal with this. In the end, she leaned back to strategy that has stood the test of time: Interference with a dose of utter denial.

"I'm going to call Rory and see what's taking her." Lorelai blurted out suddenly as she rushed towards the living room.

"Good idea!" Dean agreed as he let a sigh of relief once she left his sight.

****

"So what is it like just living with your mom?" Clark asked as he walked beside Rory. "Do you miss your dad?"

"I do miss my dad a lot." Rory admitted. "But my mom is the best. It's been the two of us ever since I was born. I don't know any better." She looked over to him. "And she's like the coolest mom I've ever known."

"My mom isn't the coolest mom but she is the best mom ever." Clark said with a smile. "When she smiles, you just want to make her proud. And even if you disappoint her, you know that she still loves you. Even though I was adopted, she never made me feel like I was second best. You know what I mean?"

Rory just nodded. "You really love your mom don't you?"

"Yeah I do." Clark replied but then his expression changed. "I miss her a lot but I haven't talked her since I left."

"How come?" Rory asked, a little surprised.

"Before I left, I kind of messed up a lot of things." Clark explained. "My mom was having a baby and then she lost it. I had never seen my parents so upset in my whole life. My mom was crying and my dad couldn't even talk to me. I just didn't know what to say so I left."

"Clark, it wasn't your fault that you mom lost the baby." Rory explained.

"Rory, you weren't there. You didn't see it." Clark explained. "It was my fault. It couldn't be anyone's fault but mine."

"Clark, I know I wasn't there." Rory said as she turned to face him. "But even if I was, I would still tell you that it was an accident. It's nobody's fault."

"That's what Lana said before I left." Clark said.

"Lana's your sort of girlfriend right?" Rory asked.

"Yeah. " Clark nodded as he looked onto the ground. "We were almost going to make it and then I messed that up too."

"Sometimes relationships don't work out." Rory remarked. "When Jess and I were dating, I thought we'd be together for a long time. I loved him and one day he left. No explanations, no goodbyes. He just took off. For awhile, I thought it was my fault. Maybe I drove him away but I realized that I couldn't keep blaming myself. I didn't leave."

"But Rory, I did." Clark said with regret. "I left. Lana kept asking me why I was leaving and I just left her there. She was crying and I took off. I'm just as bad as Jess! Maybe even worse."

Rory stood there in silence and then looked up to him. "Why did you leave?"

"I just couldn't keep ruining everybody's life. I felt like I was a curse there. Life was just so good for one moment and then it was all gone." Clark explained as he bit his lip. "And with Lana, I couldn't tell her the truth. I couldn't open myself up to her. As much I loved her, as much as I still do, I couldn't live up to her idea of the perfect boyfriend. I couldn't be the person that she wanted like I wanted her."

"Why didn't you just talk to her?" Rory asked as she tried to look into his eyes. "Tell her how you feel."

"There is just so much about me she doesn't know." Clark replied with a heavy sigh. "There's so much that I can't ever tell her and I don't think she can accept that."

"For someone who's can't open up, you sure told me a lot." Rory observed. "Clark, don't be afraid of the truth. Take it from me. If you keep hiding from the truth, it usually blows up in your face."

"Maybe the truth is that even though I want it," Clark said as he closed his eyes. "even though I've dreamt about it all of my life, maybe we can never be together."

****

"It's so beautiful here tonight." Lana exclaimed as she looked up towards the sky. The moon was up but the sun had not set completely. Instead of a darkness, the horizon was multicoloured, with muted colours of purple, pink, rose, orange and brown. " I know I've seen it before but somehow it always surprises me."

"When was the last time you rode Tyson?" Lex asked. They had gotten off their horses and started walking towards the mansion.

"I was with Clark." Lana answered, thinking about that day. She remembered the trees, the way they were in each other's arms, the stillness of it all. Everything seemed perfect, but even then she could sense something stirring inside of him. She wanted it to be a fleeting thought. That it was something she had pretended to see. How could she have known what would happen next. "It was the day before your wedding...we were so happy."

"I'm sorry Lana." Lex began, regretting the question. "I didn't mean..."

"It's fine Lex." Lana said as she shrugged her shoulders. "How could you have known?"

"I wish I was there for you." Lex exclaimed. "I wish I was there for the both of you."

"You had more than enough on your plate." Lana answered. "You were getting married, you were going on your honeymoon."

"And my wife also plotted to kill me in my sleep." Lex added, with a sarcastic tone. "Don't forget that."

"Lex..." Lana said as she looked skeptically at him.

"What?" Lex, pretending not to notice. "I'm just saying that I should have seen that there was something wrong with Clark. He was my best man. He's my best friend. Maybe I could have stopped him...done something..."

"Lex, you couldn't have done anything." Lana insisted. "The moment I found him before he took off on his motorcycle, he had already made up his mind. I pleaded, begged for him to stay but he didn't listen. There was nothing I could do...nothing that could be done."

"Don't get me wrong." Lex said with a sigh. "I love Clark, I do, but I will never understand why he left. He's wanted, loved you his whole life. I mean, from the moment I met him, the only thing that he thought of was you and when he finally had you, he up and leaves? It makes no sense. How could ever someone like you?"

Lana smiled as she looked at him pensively. "At least you didn't leave."

"Well I was stuck in a hospital bed after the accident." Lex rationalized. "I couldn't leave if I wanted to."

"I'm serious Lex." Lana insisted. "This whole summer...you've been there for me. I mean, when Whitney died, I was so convinced that Clark would be the one person to stand by me, no matter what and then, like everybody else, he leaves as well. But what it made me realize is that he's not the one who's been there....you are."

"I couldn't leave you." Lex explained.

"And you didn't. From the moment you met me, you've been there for me. Even when you let me stand on my own, even when I hated you, you've always been there on the sidelines, looking out for me...."Lana replied. "I think...I think it's because you know what it feels like to be abandoned. I mean, all throughout our lives, we've been abandoned or left behind. It's probably the worst feeling in the world to be left alone, to be forgotten."

Lex just nodded. He knew.

"But between us, it's different." Lana said with a smile. "You know how I feel because you've felt it too. We're kindred spirits, you and I. You'll always be there for me like I will always be there for you." As she said those words, she reached out for his hand and clasped it tightly.

Lex just looked at her in surprise and smiled. He didn't know what to say except to squeeze her hand.

Hand in hand, they walked home in silence. There were no need for words. There was nothing else to say. The warmth each other's palms was enough.

****

"What were you saying before?" Dean asked as he sat beside her on the couch. They had been sitting there, watching mindlessly at Back to the Future but neither of them had said a word. After a half hour of this, Dean couldn't stand it anymore. Somebody had to say something.

"What?" Lorelai exclaimed, not paying attention.

"Remember when I came in here?" Dean explained. "You were yelling something."

"Oh..."Lorelai exclaimed, remembering. "I was yelling 'Love sucks.' "

"Love sucks?" Dean repeated. "I mean it's not like I'm fighting you on this but..."

"I broke up with Alex." Lorelai explained.

"I'm sorry..."Dean began. "...um...who's Alex?"

"A really nice guy who I drove away." Lorelai said with a sigh. "God I'm so sick of relationships!"

"You and me both." Dean exclaimed, empathizing with her situation. "Tell me. Does it ever get any better?"

"Sadly, it doesn't." Lorelai sighed. "But whenever you start, you always believe it's going to be great."

"Kinda like me and Rory." Dean said.

"Like me and Christopher." Lorelai added, "You know my whole life I've never not been in a serious relationship."

"Really?" Dean asked, "Never?"

"Well I've had a date once in a while but I've never been in a relationship that was purely casual." Lorelai explained.

"I think I've always been in a serious relationship." Dean remarked. "But then I've only been in three relationships my whole life."

"You'll have plenty more Dean." Lorelai answered. "And I tell you, it never gets any easier."

"Another thing I can look forward to." Dean said sarcastically as he sank his head back into the couch. "Thanks."

"You're welcome!" Lorelai said with a smile as she let her head sink back as well. "This whole dating thing would be so much better if it was just casual and fun."

"Casual and fun huh?" Dean said as he turned his head towards her.

"Yeah...two people in it for the same deal. All the fun, no strings attached." Lorelai explained.

"I could go for that." Dean exclaimed as he looked up to the ceiling. At least it'd be a change from the angst-filled year he just had. In both of his relationships with Rory and Lindsay, he couldn't remember a moment where he really had any fun. Not in the past year.

"Me too." Lorelai sighed as she looked in his direction. She was 34. Didn't she deserve a moment of pure abandonment and pleasure without having to think about broken hearts and heartache? If she was going to take a risk in her life, this was her chance. Rory was about to go college so she didn't have to worry about her too much. She was on her own again. Could she have a life beyond Rory?

Dean suddenly turned his head to face her as well. Lorelai stared at his eyes closely as his own were locked intensely on hers. She had never seen his face up so close in her life. Did she ever notice his brown eyes before? Had she ever seen the little marks on his face or how smooth his face was for guy his age? Staring at his lips, she had noticed how pink they were. They were completely closed as she could feel and hear him breathe heavily.

His head went blank as he looked at her. He wanted to look away but it was as if his eyes could only be fixated on her. Why hadn't he noticed her blue eyes, the way her brows were perfectly arched, the tip of her nose, the way her lashes curled and went on forever? He could feel his heart beat wildly as his eyes shifted its focus to towards her full, smooth lips. She had no lipstick on but natural pink of it was making his heart palpitate. God, if only one of them could just say something, he thought to himself. His brow began to furrow as he was trying to understand it all. However, instead of thinking, his head just arched forward, closing the gap between them as his lips reached hers. He could tell that his move had completely taken her by surprise. Her lips were frozen on spot as his lips touched hers, but as he moved in closer, he could feel her lips starting to relax and move with his. Her breath started to quicken as a little dart of his tongue reached in. For a moment there, the spell had been cast between them. Neither one was in control. All they could follow was the movement of their lips. However, Lorelai's eyes quickly blinked open and reality sank in. Panic-stricken, she quickly pulled away as she sat up on the couch.

She glanced at him for a moment in realization of what they had done. "Oh God!" she muttered under her breath.

"Lorelai..." Dean began as he tried to explain.

Just the way he looked at her, she knew it was no dream. "Oh God!" she repeated, as she covered her mouth with her hand, knowing what she had done. "Dean, don't say a word."

"But..."Dean insisted as he moved closer to her.

Lorelai bounded from the couch and began to walk backwards. She had kissed a boy! Not just any boy but her daughter's ex-boyfriend. She could just imagine the years of therapy Rory would have to endure if she ever found out about this.

"Lorelai I'm sorry." Dean apologized. He closed his eyes in regret. What was a moment of chance was slowing turning into his own personal nightmare. In a few seconds flat, he had screwed up everything between them.

As he walked closely, Lorelai just shook her head and put her hand up, pleading for him to not come any closer. "You kissed me!"

"It just happened." Dean rationalized. "I don't know why but it happened and I'm sorry."

"Oh I've really fucked up this time." Lorelai exclaimed as she shook her head in despair. "I can't believe I let a boy kiss me!"

"Hey, don't call me a boy!" Dean said suddenly.

"Honey, face it...you're still a boy and I've gone all Mrs. Robinson." Lorelai explained, trying to think of how this could have possibly happen.

"Well..." Dean began, now getting upset. "this boy kissed you and you kissed back!"

"I did not!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Did too!" Dean yelled back.

She was getting aggravated. Not only had her daughter ditched her out of nowhere, now she was stuck arguing with her daughter's ex over a kiss.

"So where do we go from here?" Lorelai demanded.

"I don't know!" Dean yelled.

"I don't know either." Lorelai spit back. She didn't want to fight with Dean, but she couldn't just back now. Especially the repercussions of it looming over her head. She didn't know what she feared more: the fact that Dean had kissed her or the fact that she liked it.

****

"So this is where I live." Rory explained as she pointed towards the house nearby.

"It looks like a nice house." Clark observed. For only two people, it sure did look like a big place from the outside.

As they walked up towards the front porch, she couldn't help but turn towards Clark. "You know, you're turning into a big celebrity around here. All day, everybody's been talking about the 'mysterious guy on a motorcycle'."

"Just tell me this..."Clark asked with a laugh. "Is the concept of a motorcycle completely foreign to you people? The whole time, everyone's been staring at me, watching my every move...it was like I was on the America's Most Wanted list."

"Motorcycles aren't something normal and of the everyday in Stars Hollow." Rory explained as she couldn't help but smile at Clark's comment. "Anyways, not everyone hates you. You sure did make at least one person happy. Miss Patty was the one spreading the word about your arrival. She completely adores you."

"And she scared me in the supermarket." Clark noted. "I thought she had gotten hurt when I crash into her but she ended up freaking me out a little. "

"Miss Patty just has a weakness for men...all men." Rory said with a laugh. "But she means well."

"So I heard." Clark replied as he stood there on the steps. "Thanks."

"For what?" Rory asked.

"For listening." Clark explained. "I had a lot on my mind and you're the first person I've been able to talk to..."he paused. "I don't know why but I feel like I like I could tell you anything."

"Me too." Rory agreed as she walked to the door. "Maybe it's because we only knew each other since yesterday and we don't have any expectations about each other."

"Maybe." Clark replied as he followed behind. "Or maybe I just like talking to you."

"That could be it." Rory giggled as she looked at Clark grinning widely. "I would ask you to come inside if my mom wouldn't go crazy on you. She's great but I don't know if you're ready to meet my mom yet."

"Hey that's cool." Clark answered as he stood beside her. "So do you think I can see tomorrow?"

"I think that can be arranged." Rory said nonchalantly, trying to hide her smile. As they stood there, suddenly the door burst open as Lorelai stood behind it.

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed as she jumped up in surprise.

"Rory? What are you doing standing out here?" Lorelai asked. As she turned to see Clark, everything became clear. "Hey." recognizing immediately the kid with the bike.

"Hi." Clark said awkwardly as he stood there, his hands stuffed into his jeans.

"Hey Rory." a voice came from behind Lorelai. His head poked out to reveal himself. He then looked over to Clark as well. "Hey."

"Hi." Clark said quietly, remembering him from the grocery store.

"Dean..." Rory exclaimed, not knowing how this night had gone so wrong. As she looked over to her mom's questioning expression, she looked over at Clark. "Oh mom, this is Clark...Clark, this is my mom, Lorelai."

Lorelai extended her hand as Clark shook it. "Nice to meet you again Clark."

"You too." Clark replied with an awkward smile.

"And that's Dean." Rory showed Clark as he shook Dean's hand as well.

They four of them just stood in silence not knowing what to do next. It had been awkward before but this just made it a million times worse.

"We were just going to watch a movie." Lorelai blurted out suddenly. "You're welcome to join us Clark."

She could see from Rory's pain stricken face that maybe it wasn't such a good idea.

Clark just stood there confused, not knowing what to say. He wasn't completely certain but "Okay sure." were the words that came out.

"I'm just going to leave now." Dean began as he was about to push his way through the door.

"You can't leave Dean." Lorelai exclaimed as she blocked his way. "You'll miss the Back to the Future marathon and you can't miss that can you?" She looked at his with wide eyes as he watched her in confusion. Only moments ago they had decided that he should leave and now she wanted him to stay? As she motioned her head towards the living room, he just furrowed his brow.

"Silly me. I guess I can't miss that." Dean replied as he walked back into the the living room.

"So, Clark...Rory...are you coming in or not?" Lorelai said with an odd cheerful tone.

Rory made a sour face as she reluctantly gave in. "Yes mom." she replied as she looked over to Clark. With an apologetic look, she slowly walked into the house, with Clark following behind.

"God, this is going to be a long night!" she thought to herself as she shut the door.

Part VI