The Other Woman
I own nothing. All characters belong to ASP and the WB. This is just a quick one-parter (maybe two) with Rory's thoughts and the situation as I'd like to see it in this season's finale.
DEAN'S WEDDING
She wasn't planning on going. In fact, she'd planned on being as far away from the center of Stars Hollow that afternoon as was humanly possible, but the fact Luke had been so insistent on her staying away only made her want to be there. After all, what was going to happen? She wasn't planning on recreating "The Graduate". She and Dean had very different lives now, but they still remained friends.
When she got near the church, she found her resolve weakening and was only able to lean against a tree and watch the wedding party arrive. Rory felt that it was wrong somehow for her to be there. Though she'd tried to lend her support to Dean, it was hard to support the idea of a friend's marriage when she didn't even know the person he was marrying. Lindsay seemed so uninteresting. The few times she had overheard snippets of Lindsay's conversation, all the girl talked about was the wedding and buying a house. In general, all Dean's future wife talked about related to what he would be providing for her. It made Rory very sad.
She heard the sounds of cheers and looked up to see Dean and Lindsay arm in arm, heading into a crowd of well wishers, townies and flying rice. Both were smiling as they made their way to their friends and family and Rory's heart felt instantly a thousand pounds heavier. She knew him - knew every nuance of his face and this wasn't the Dean she'd spent two years with. He looked like he was playing a part on stage.
Rory fidgeted, kicking around some imaginary acorn. It was impossible to stand still. It was even harder to keep herself from crying. This didn't make any sense, but she honestly believed that this was her true letting go. And she didn't want to do it.
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Dragonfly Opening Day - Late Afternoon
"Rory, I get it. You guys have some things to work out."
"No, there's nothing to work out. He's gone. He's not in my life anymore."
They walked into her bedroom. Rory had offered to lend Dean her copy of the latest Patti Smith CD.
"Are you Ok with that?" he asked. "I mean, he must have meant a lot to you."
"Not as much as you'd think."
Both stood in silence for a moment. Rory thought she was having a heart attack.
"Dean?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry you're not happy."
They locked eyes as he took a step towards her. "It isn't your fault. This marriage was my choice and my mistake; a situation I created. I'll be happy again."
He was so close to her. Their foreheads touched and it took her back to that day in Chilton. It was the first time she'd told him she loved him and he'd kissed her. The memory of that kiss was relived because he was so near, so physically close to her.
Not another word was said as they began to kiss. It had been such a long time since she'd felt truly wanted. His hunger for her awoke some dormant longing. Instinctively, Rory knew she wasn't going to stop him....... Dragonfly Opening Day - Evening"Rory, come on!" Lorelai cried out as she raced through the house,"You're missing everything. Sookie's made this incredible mousse and Michel's fighting with Cletus. It's Green Acres meets-"
She was struck dumb by what she saw. Dean and Rory walking out of her bedroom in an obvious state of dishevel.
She was struck dumb by the appearance of her mother. In the heat of the moment, she'd forgotten about The Dragonfly's grand opening that evening. Now the three of them would always remember that night as associated with something completely different.
"I should go," he whispered to her. "I'll call you in the morning."
"Okay," she whispered back.
There was no measuring which was worse - her sense of anger or the intensity of disappointment.
"Rory," she began quietly,"What's going on? He's married."
"I know that," she said defiantly,"but he's Dean. My Dean."
Lorelai shook her head. "He's not your Dean anymore. He's married. You're the other woman."
Rory knew she was about to cry and she didn't care. She also knew that what had happened between Dean and herself was wrong, but she didn't care if it was or not. It was so emotionally weighing to always be alone, to have lost the right guy because of the wrong one and to always need to measure up to an irrational level of perfection. It was too much too take.
"Mom," she whimpered, tears flowing down her face,"I love him. I. Love. Him."
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"But the other woman will always cry herself to sleep
The other woman will never have his love to keep
And as the years go by
the other woman
Will spend her life
alone"