A few interesting facts: I'm normally much heavier on the dialogue than I have been in the last two parts. I'm starting to get back to that here, but its mostly out of necessity. My goal is to make this more of a character story. Anyway, enough rambling. I just wanted to give a huge shout out to everyone who reviewed, it really encouraged me to get this part out faster! The lyrics this time are from Yellowcard's Ocean Avenue.

There's a piece of you that's here with me
Its everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight...
That you're here tonight...

Chapter Two: Make Believe
"I never want to move again."

"That's going to make running the inn a little difficult."

"Stop with the sense making."

"Isn't that why I'm getting a fancy education?"

"You're getting a fancy education so you can get a fancy job and shower your mother with money and presents in her old age."

"Okay, as long as we have our priorities."

With great effort, Lorelai pulled herself out of the overstuffed armchair. "The test run was a huge success."

"It was." Rory nodded her agreement. "I even overheard Taylor saying he was surprised he didn't have more to complain about."

"He only filled out about three dozen comment cards! Lucky Michel gets to go through all of them tomorrow."

"He's going to be thrilled."

"Well, I suppose we should get our stuff together and back home." Lorelai looked skeptically at neatly packed suitcases sitting beside the bed. "You already packed..."

"Yeah." Rory shrugged. "I figured you'd be tired after working for two days straight, and I didn't really have much else to do..."

Lorelai sighed. "You're okay with going home now, right?"

"I guess. I can't exactly stay here, yknow?"

"No, but if you're not ready... I mean, if you want to talk about what happened..."

"No." Rory trained her glance to her shoes "I mean, I do... I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to say. There isn't exactly a guidebook on what to say to your mother after you give your virginity to a married man."

"You should write one." Lorelai's laugh was forced.

"I screwed up. I'm sorry about how I spoke to you, I really am. I know you were just trying to be my mother." Rory looked at her then, holding her gaze. "I was unfair to you, throwing Dad in your face like that."

"I didn't handle it any better than you did, Rory." Lorelai sighed, sinking back into the armchair. "I panicked a little bit."

"I won't hold it against you."

"Good."

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Are we okay?"

Lorelai smiled at her. "We're fine, Rory."

Relief washed over Rory and she crossed to the armchair and hugged Lorelai tightly. "I hate it when we fight."

"So do I, so do I."

Rory had been steadfastly ignoring her bedroom from the moment they arrived home. The test run of the Inn had been a success in more ways than one, as it had given her an excuse to avoid going inside. Sometime over the weekend her mother had come home and changed the sheets and disposed of the garbage, but to Rory the room still felt all wrong.

Now, her mother having left to get them dinner, Rory found herself standing in the doorway. She swallowed, glancing around. The biggest change the room had gone through in her entire life was the redoing of the Harvard board, and that had been fine by her. But now, everything felt wrong.

Gripping the doorframe, Rory forced herself to step inside. It wasn't that hard... at least, that's what she kept trying to tell herself.

Force of habit kept Luke from locking the door when he flipped the sign to closed. He hadn't been doing it for years, waiting until the last moment when he was all tidied up and heading for his apartment. Sure enough, twenty minutes after his scheduled closing time, she came in.

Laden with bags of takeout, Lorelai dropped them unceremoniously onto the nearest table before flopping into a seat. Luke didn't say anything, just brought her the last cup of coffee, he'd been secretly saving in hopes that she'd stop by.

"Oh thank god." She grabbed the cup, finishing half of it instantly. "You're a saint."

"I try." He shifted awkwardly, trying to decide how to proceed. She still looked tired, but not quite as stressed as she had seemed before.

She beat him to the punch, though, and rested her head on the table. "Rory slept with Dean."

Luke sat down on the nearest chair.

"He's married, and they slept together... And she's my little girl, she's not supposed to..." Lorelai sighed. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to say to her."

Uncomfortable with the subject, Luke cleared his throat before speaking. "It was, um, her first time?"

She nodded. "I mean, I knew it would happen eventually. I'd actually thought about what I'd say to her, but nothing applies in this case, you know?"

Luke just nodded. Why did it seem that he was getting involved in discussions on the sex lives of everyone in town? He briefly entertained the thought of Taylor running in to discuss just that... then he mentally shuddered at the image that provided. Thankfully, his foray into disturbing mental images had only lasted a split second and he was able to reply to Lorelai without missing a beat.

"I'm going to kill him."

She sighed. "No. You're not going to kill him. While I'm not entirely opposed to the idea, and wouldn't mind assisting you, it wasn't just him. Rory is just as much at fault."

"Can I maim him?"

She laughed a little at that and Luke's heart swelled, thankful he was able to cheer her up the smallest bit. It was apparent that this situation had thrown her completely off balance. For a few moments they sat in silence. Lorelai with her coffee cup and Luke watching her. When she finally broke the silence, she sounded tired.

"I'm sorry, Luke."

"Why?"

Lifting her head from the table, she rested her chin on her arms "Because it's Sunday. We were supposed to see a movie."

"That had actually slipped my mind."

"No it hadn't." She smiled at him. "You're just too nice and don't want me to feel guilty.

How was a guy supposed to respond to that? Thankfully, Lorelai pulled herself up and grabbed her takeout bags. "I need to get home, we can reschedule as soon as I get everything sorted out, okay?"

"Yeah." He nodded, standing up and helping her with her bags "There's no rush, whenever you're ready."

"I'm ready right now, Luke. I've just got so much to deal with. Besides," She smiled at him, then "I can't help but feel it would be grossly unfair of me to engage in behaviour that would make me so happy when my little girl is hurting so much."

Luke smiled back. Although it hadn't been strictly necessary, he was thankful for the reassurance her words provided. The last shred of doubt disappeared. He couldn't say he was thrilled with the way things were progressing, but they key point was that they were. It might be at a snails pace, but at least that was better than nothing.

His hands, while rough against her skin, spoke of an infinite gentleness. There were no slow languorous movements, no subtle build up. Just an intensity born of desire.

Her fingernails bit into the skin of his shoulders, her legs in a death grip around his waist. There was nothing dreamy and serene about this joining, only muffled groans and the sound of skin against skin.

There was no slow build, no steady rising of the feelings inside her. Everything was fast and harsh and passionate, and when everything crashed behind her eyes, he buried his face against her shoulder and she cried out.

"Jess!"

Rory awoke with a start, glancing around in confusion. She was on the couch, curled against the arm. The house itself was quiet, indicating her mother had gone to sleep.

After their dinner from Al's pancake world, Lorelai had filled her in on the happenings with Luke. Normally, Rory would've been equal parts thrilled for her mother and worried about the outcome. Unfortunately, her mind was elsewhere.

She hadn't intended to fall asleep on the couch, she'd just been reading.

"Wow, aren't we hooked on phonics?"

"Oh, I read a lot."

No. No no no no no no. She wasn't going to think. Not about him, not about the dream, not about any of it. Pushing herself off the couch, Rory grabbed the blanket she'd been sleeping with and headed outside.

It was a quiet night in Star's Hollow, but Rory wasn't sure there was any other kind. At least, not in this particular town. Sighing, she sat down on the steps.

It wasn't that she'd gotten over what had happened with Dean, she hadn't. To Rory, the act itself was, in her thinking, so tied to the previous week's confrontation with Jess that the two went hand in hand. In the last 48 hours she had, albeit reluctantly, come to terms with the fact she'd slept with Dean to prove something to herself.

To prove she was over Jess.

The only problem with that theory was, and she knew this now, she wasn't.

That left her with a question. What was she going to do about it? It would be easy to ignore it... or maybe call her grandmother and see about going to Europe... Or she could stick to her original plan and get a summer job, spend the break saving her money and catching up on her recreational reading.

Seeking him out was not an option. Absolutely not. She forced herself to think of all the crap he'd put her through. Reminded herself how he'd left, how he always left...

But somehow, for the first time, that wasn't enough to dull the longing.

If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away

AN2: I didn't lie! He did come back! it was just in a dream sequence. (Yeah, I'm kinda evil, apologies) Anywaym what happened was I cut this chapter sooner than I'd originally planned, so I promise he'll actually be here next time :)