Disclaimer: I don't own them. I wish I did, but sadly, they, along with the basic plot belong to someone else. Pity.

Author's Note: Rory might seem a tad out of character, but I don't think she is. This is set somewhere in the 3rd season after Christmas, but "They Shoot Gilmore's Don't They" didn't happen. I know this is a little different, but please, give it a try.

Rory Gilmore had always prided herself on being responsible. She knew what she was doing and what she wanted out of her life. She had a plan. Or well, she'd had a plan. Things had been running smoothly, and Rory hadn't even realized anything was missing from her life until Jess Mariano had strolled into town with his jet black stare, dark good looks and a book in his back pocket. From that moment-the instant they had met Rory's world had begun changing. And now, the boy who no one could tame, the bad one, the loner, the one she shouldn't trust… he was all she could think about.

Still awake in the middle of the night, Rory was torn between laughing and crying. There were so many things running through her mind. How could she have thrown all of her stability away in one night? How could she have been so careless? Her stomach twisted. How could she have done something that would hurt Dean so much? Suddenly it occurred to her that it didn't have to happen. She sat up straighter in the bed and reached to grab the phone from the floor. She could tell Jess that what had happened between them meant nothing to her. Then everything could go back to normal. But slowly the thought of Jess filled her mind and her heart twisted. No. She couldn't break it off. Not until she knew. She had never experienced this level of… emotion before and she wasn't prepared to give it up until she knew what it was. The phone rang below her fingertips and she answered it quickly.

"Hello?" She whispered, pulling back the light brown strands of her hair which had fallen onto her face.

"Rory?" The voice sent shivers down her spine, and a light blush of pleasure spread across her cheeks.

"Jess." She responded lying back on the bed, all her troubles falling away, Jess the only thing in her mind.

"So, would you care to explain to me what last night was?" Rory gulped, but the hazy feeling had yet to leave her.

"Last night." She responded stretching in a way that was so utterly feminine and sensual that it was evident that in some way, Rory had changed. The grin on her face could have also lit several bonfires. "Last night changed everything I ever thought I knew." What had possessed her to admit that? She clamped her hand over her eyes.

"Well yeah. It was a pretty big step. The losing virginity thing." Rory's cheeks flamed, and panic surged through her. What if it had been a big mistake? Her head was spinning. But she knew, even in her panic that Jess would never do anything to hurt her. No matter how much she hurt him.

"Jess I…" She couldn't breathe. The room was spinning. How could she have done this? She was going to have to get down on her knees and beg for forgiveness from Dean, How could she explain-

"But the thing is, no one knows. So despite your response this afternoon in the affirmative, if you don't want anyone to know, they won't. There's only one mistake marring your perfect record, and no one ever has to know about it. " His voice was distant, but Rory could hear the ice, the preparation, the pain. Her breath caught as she realized that he was giving her an out. An answer to all of her problems. Her lips parted to sadly whisper of hope and longing, and what could have beens, but she could only softly whisper,

"But what if I want them to?" And wait for his answer.