Chapter Four:

"That was so much fun, Dean,:" Rory gasped as they got to her house. " I never knew you had it in you. I thought you hated dancing."

Dean shrugged. "I had to make it up to you somehow. And anyway, it wasn't so bad. Like old times," referring to dances they had attended together and the time she was a debutante and he was her escort.

They had gone to a dancing school and taken all sorts of classes, only taking breaks to eat and catch their breaths.

"Thanks for taking me out tonight. I had a really good time," Rory turned her hand on the doorknob, but Dean gently turned her back to face him.

"Thanks for going out with me, Rory." He leaned in closer, and Rory closed her eyes. Such an amazing kisser, he was. Just like old times.

Suddenly, her eyes popped open and she pulled away at the last minute. "Dean, we can't! You and Lindsay are engaged," she reminded him.

Dean only shook his head sadly. "That fight Lindsay and I had this morning? She broke it off."

"Oh." That was all Rory could think to say. "I'm sorry." That, too.

He leaned in again, and this time they kissed. What seemed like a minute later, the door opened and Lorelai stuck her head out.

"You two have been making out on my porch for the past fifteen minutes. Find a room or tone it down," she chided them, but in a good-natured way. Rory could tell that her mother was pleased. Lorelai had really liked Dean, and had always thought Rory and him would one day marry, or so Rory suspected.

Once Lorelai had gone back inside, Rory focused her attention on Dean. "So does this mean we're back together?" She asked him.

" Do you want it to mean that?" He asked her. Rory thought for a brief moment and nodded. "Yes, I do. I do want it to mean that."

"Well then we're a couple again." Dean kissed her once more.

"I should go," Rory told them after their kiss ended. Dean nodded. "So then I'll see you tomorrow?"

Rory told him yes and then, after watching him leave, went inside her house.

Lorelai hounded her as soon as she stepped inside. "What happened?" She pressed Rory for information, who smiled.

"We're back together."

"Everybody in Hollywood can now go to sleep at night knowing that their beloved Britney and Justin are on again," Lorelai put a hand to her forehead, acting relieved. "But what happened with Lindsay?"

Rory shrugged. "All I know is they got in a fight and split up."

"No kidding! Have you seen Dean this morning?" Lorelai cracked. She and Rory settled on the couch with plenty of junk food, and had a night of girltalk. **************************************************************************** ***************************************************** The next day, Jess dialed the phone number and waited for it to be picked up.

"Luke's Diner," the gruff voice answered.

"Hey."

"Jess? Where are you? Do you know how worried Jimmy and Sasha are about you?" He sounded alarmed.

"Huh. How about that," Jess replied. "And here I thought they were waiting to throw me a bon voyage celebration."

"Jess, what are you talking about?" Luke immediately knew that something had happened.

"Let's just say that it's not turning out like The O.C." He filled his uncle in on what had happened a couple of nights ago.

"Dammit, Jimmy is such an asshole," Luke cursed a few other things that even Jess himself would've been too embarrassed himself to say. But it also made him feel kind of good, knowing that his uncle did care for him.

"Where are you going to live now?" his uncle asked him.

That evening, when he knew that they had all gone to Bessie's, Jess snuck into Jimmy's house for the last time. What he didn't expect, however, was for Jimmy, Sasha and Lily to be there.

"What the hell are you guys doing here? Shouldn't you be at Bessie's? Laughing at me in her big lodge?"

"Watch your mouth in front of Lily," Sasha snapped. Her eyes had widened at Jess's question.

Jess shook his head in disgust. "Whatever. Like you should tell me what to do." He looked at his father. "How'd you know I'd be back today?"

"I didn't," his father replied. "But I used to do the same thing. You and me, we're a lot alike, son."

Jess narrowed his eyes. "It's a little too late to be pulling that 'son' shit with me. What, do you expect us to become best buddies? I remember you leaving. And growing up hating you, yet wanting to see you, to have a father. And these past months, I've tried to forgive you, and I almost have, but I learned I'm not welcome here. Stupidly, I thought I was. So fuck you, Jimmy, for abandoning me, and fuck you for fooling me here." He spun around, trying not to cry. As he gathered his things, he felt a slight tug on his sleeve, and turned around to find Lily sadly gazing up at him.

"Jess, are you leaving for good?" She asked in a small voice.

He nodded, his heart aching. He had become attached to his half sister during his stay here, and didn't want to leave her. But he had to. "Yea, kiddo. I'll send you a letter, though." He ruffled her hair, and Lily wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly. Her action touched his heart, and a tear slid down his face, which he wiped away after a moment.

As he walked out the door, he didn't hear Jimmy snap at Sasha, "what the hell was that all about?"

"Watch your language in front of Lily. Jeez Jimmy, you really are just like your son."