Chapter 6: Kiss from a Rose

[Dean]

"And we're done," Dean said, getting up from under the sink. A bunch of pipes had broken under the sink yesterday after he had fixed the one and now he was finished.

"Is it really fixed this time?" Lorelai asked.

"Try it," Dean said.

Lorelai turned on the sink. No water sprinkled out.

"I LOVE YOU!" she said, flinging her arms around him.

"Okay, please get off," Dean said. "This is weird."

"Sorry," Lorelai said. "Yeah, this is weird. You're getting a raise."

"Thank you," Dean said.

Rory walked in the door looking all frazzled.

"Hey, Dean," Rory said. "Mom, Paris is coming."

"What?" Lorelai said. "The wedding's not for a week."

"I know," Rory said. "But, she wanted to be here for the preparations."

"How did you put up with her in college?"

"Mom, shut up. She's going to be here in ten minutes."

"Okay, I'm going to the desk. SOOKIE, BRACE YOURSELF! DRILL SERGANT PARIS GELLAR IS COMING!"

Lorelai walked out of the room. Rory shook her head and walked over to the coffee machine to get herself some coffee. She was wearing a pantsuit. She never wore pantsuits. They made her hips look big (those were her words).

"Why are you wearing a pantsuit?" Dean asked.

"Paris would make some comment about how I'm 'trying too hard,'" Rory said. "The last thing I need is her criticizing my outfit. This is going to be a really annoying week. Paris is like a drill sergeant. She wants everything perfect."

"You must really hate Paris," Dean said.

"Paris is one of my best friend," Rory said.

"But you just said-"

"We've been friends through college. We've gotten really close."

"That's good."

"She's going to have some things about you, too."

"I can't wait."

Lorelai poked her head through the door.

"Rory, get out here," she said. "And Dean, there's a leg that wobbles on the couch by the desk. Can you fix it?"

"I'll see," Dean said, following Rory out of the kitchen.

Dean headed over to the couch and started working on the leg. He heard snippets of Rory's conversation with Paris. He didn't understand why Rory liked her. They were enemies in high school and now from what he heard, she was still the same way.

Rory must have high tolerance, Dean thought. Honestly, there was nothing she couldn't do. She seemed to be good at everything she did. She's some woman, Dean thought.

A few hours later, someone kicked him in the shin.

"Take a break," Lorelai said.

"I'm not done with the leg," Dean said.

"You'll get back to it," Lorelai said. "Sookie's got leftovers from last night's banquet that my parent's had here. She's letting the staff take some. Take advantage of it."

"Okay," Dean said.

"I'll leave some food at the bottom of the refrigerator so no one takes it."

"Thanks," Dean said.

"No problem."

[Rory]

Rory and Paris sat in the lobby going over the wedding plans. They had spent the whole day walking around the premises and discussing the whole wedding. Now, it was nine o'clock at night and they were just going over some last minute details. Lorelai had gone home (if she didn't she would've told Paris where to go).

"Madeline and Louise hired a DJ," Paris said.

"You're kidding," Rory said. "You don't want a DJ."

"They think that without a DJ the reception will be boring," Paris said.

"You hired a jazz band who are also playing music that we like," Rory said.

"They want music that they like. Meaning Britney Spears, 50 Cent, and Stagga Lee."

"They can play those at their own wedding."

"The juggle so many guys I don't think they'll have a wedding. The DJ will be here at 5:00."

"I will tell him that the wedding was cancelled."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So, have you found a date?"

Uh-oh, Rory thought. She'd forgotten about it and it never occurred to her that she needed to find a date.

"Actually, no I haven't," Rory said.

Panic was written across Paris's face.

"Rory!" she shrieked.

"I'm sorry," Rory said. "I've been really busy and I haven't had time to find a date."

"You have to get a date!" Paris said. "I can't have my maid of honor looking like a wallflower while my bridesmaids have dates!"

"Paris, relax," Rory said in a calming tone. "I will get a date."

"How?" Paris asked, clearly panicking. "How are you going to find a date in a week!"

Paris had a point. There was no way Rory could get a date in a week.

"It'll be no problem," Rory lied. "I will get a date and your wedding will be perfect."

Paris calmed down. "Thank you, Rory," Paris said, getting up. "I have to call Jamie."

"When's he coming?" Rory asked.

"Thursday morning," Paris answered. "I call at nine o'clock and then we talk for two hours and then I go to sleep."

"That's romantic," Rory said.

"Yeah," Paris said, smiling dreamily and disappearing up the stairs.

As soon as Paris was out of view, Rory lay down and stretched across the couch. She closed her eyes and put a pillow over her face. She was so tired and now she was going to be pressured to get a date. How was she going to get a date?

"Hey," said a voice.

Rory lifted the pillow briefly to see that it was Dean and then she put it back over her face.

"Hi," she said.

"Playing hide and seek?" Dean asked.

"Well, you found me," Rory said. "So, game over."

"You mind if I sit with you?" Dean asked.

"You mind if I put my feet on your lap?"

"No."

"Then, no."

Dean lifted Rory's legs and sat down then put them on his lap.

"You looked exhausted," Dean said.

"I am exhausted," Rory said. "All day, walking around talking about the wedding. I don't think I'll ever get up again."

"Who's Paris getting married to?" Dean asked.

"Jamie," Rory responded.

"Her first boyfriend?" Dean asked.

"Yup," Rory said.

"Didn't she dump him for the old professor?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

Rory sighed. She didn't mind telling the story, but she was tired and she didn't have the energy.

"Long version or short?" Rory asked.

"Whatever," Dean said.

"Can I give you the short version?" Rory asked. "I'm really tired."

"You don't have to tell me at all, you know," Dean said.

"No, it's fine," Rory said. "Paris finally dumped Professor Fleming because in her sophomore she saw how much fun everyone was having and she felt that Professor Fleming was holding her back. So, she ran into Jamie and at a party and I think there were drinks there. They got drunk and spent the night together and then in the morning they got to reminiscing and they got back together and now they're getting married."

Rory exhaled. She told the entire story in one breath.

"It's not a very romantic meeting, but it's nice," she said.

"I thought you said it was a short version," Dean said.

"The long version is the dates and everything," Rory said.

Rory didn't know why, but she couldn't think about the story. She barely even heard herself talking. All she could think about was how Paris freaked out about Rory not having a date. She normally didn't want to have a date if it was optional, but now she needed a date for Paris's sake.

"Rory, where did you go?" Dean asked. "You seem like you're a million miles away."

"I have a pillow over my face," Rory said. "How can you tell?"

"You didn't speak for ten minutes," Dean said.

Rory sighed. "I'm a little frazzled," Rory said. "I'm Paris's maid of honor and she really wants me to get a date and I don't think if I'll be able to get one in such short notice."

"I wish I could help you," Dean said.

An idea came to Rory's mind. She removed the pillow from her face and sat up.

"Hey, maybe you can," Rory said. "Can you be my escort for the wedding?"

[Dean]

Dean couldn't have heard her right. Did she really ask him out? Well, it wasn't technically asking him out but she used the word date.

"Dean, are you having an Embolism?" Rory asked.

Dean suddenly came back to Earth.

"What?" he asked.

"I wanted to know if you'd be my escort for the wedding.," Rory said.

"I don't know," Dean said. "It would be kind of awkward."

"Please, I need to do this for Paris," Rory begged. "If one detail goes wrong with the wedding, she'll flip. We'll have a lot of fun. We'll mock people. We'll eat. Please, do this for me. Please."

Dean didn't know what to do. They would probably have fun, but what if the huge wound that they sealed four years ago opened because of the wedding?

"I don't want things to get opened up," Dean said.

"What things?" Rory asked.

Dean gave her a look that said, "You know what things." Rory got the message.

"Ah," she said.

"Yeah," Dean said.

"Dean this isn't even a date," Rory said. "It's just something that appears like a date, but it's not. It's just us hanging out in fancy clothing at a wedding. Nothing will happen."

"Promise?" Dean asked.

"I promise," Rory said.

Dean was actually kind of excited. Maybe he and Rory would have a good time. Maybe they could actually talk about what did happen four years ago. Plus, Rory always made things fun.

"Okay," Dean said. "I'll come."

"Thank you," Rory said. "You won't regret it."

[Rory]

"What do I have to wear?" Dean asked.

"I'm getting a déjà vu," Rory said.

"I know," Dean said. "Me, too."

"It's black tie optional," Rory said.

"Then you have to give me a raise."

"Why?"

"I don't have any money for a tux rental."

"Just wear a suit. Jamie is."

"Okay. Thanks."

Rory closed her eyes. She was really comfortable. She didn't want to get up. She slowly felt herself drifting off to sleep.

"I should get going," Dean's voice jerked her awake.

"Okay," Rory said, lifting her legs up so Dean could get up.

"You want me to get you a blanket or a pillow or something?" Dean asked.

"No, thanks," Rory said. "I've got to go home sometime."

"Okay," Dean smiled and started walking away.

"Dean, can you pull me up?" Rory asked, stretching out her hand.

Dean chuckled and walked over to Rory. He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the couch.

"Thanks," Rory said.

"No problem," Dean said.

There was a pause. Rory got a glimpse of Dean's eyes. Since he'd grown his hair out it had been a while since she had seen them. They were nice eyes.

"I should go home now," Dean said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," Rory said. "Me, too. The wedding is Friday. The ceremony is at 5:00. Don't be late."

"I won't," Dean said.

Dean walked out of the inn. What was that about? Rory thought. Did I just marvel over his eyes? Rory, however, felt a little excited about the wedding for the first time. She and Dean were going to have fun. She knew it. He knew it. They always had fun together.

"Baby,

I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray.

Ooh,

The more I get of you,

Stranger it feels, yeah.

And now that your rose is in bloom

A light hits the gloom on the grave"- Seal

To Be Continued.........

A/N: I couldn't think of a better song for the chapter. If you can think of a better song, let me know. But, I love Seal. Chapter 7 is coming soon.