One Less Mistake

Summary: What if Lorelai hadn't gotten pregnant until she was 20? What if she had agreed to marry Christopher when she did? AU.

Pairings: Rory/Dean, with Lor/Luke later on

Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB

Rory curled up on her bed, immersed in her book. She could hide here in her room until Dean was gone. It would be easier than facing him after running away the morning before.

"Rory?" or maybe not. "Topher told me where your room is."

"Oh."

"Well, I just wanted to say that I know you're not interested, and I get that. I mean, I am about four years older than you, so I get it, and I'm going to stop bothering you."

"I am."

"What?"

"I am interested."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And it's probably more like three and a half years. I turn eighteen in a month." he laughed. She walked over to him, and slowly turned her head up to look him in the eye, placing one hand gently on his cheek. He bent down as she rose up on her toes. Their lips were only inches away when Chris called out from behind them.

"Rory, how about you come down? I'll make you some coffee." they both whirled around to look at him.

"Chris, come on, Topher makes the coffee." Lorelai called from behind. "Let's go talk about...how much it'll cost to send Rory to Harvard, like she wants."

"We've looked at those numbers about ten times."

"Yes, but not how much it'll cost to send Topher to a fancy school at the same time. Let's go." she growled, dragging him away. She turned over her shoulder, giving Rory a look that said quite clearly "kiss him." Rory looked quizically at her mother, then kissed Dean on the cheek. "No, Rory, I meant on the mouth!" she yelled back at her, forgetting that she was trying to be subtle about hooking the two of them up.

"What!" Chris screeched, spinning around.

"Rory had a...a...thing on her mouth."

"Yeah, nice try, Lor. I thought you didn't want them together. You wanted to fire Dean to keep them apart, if I remember correctly."

"Come on, Christopher!" she snapped as she dragged him off.

"Your mom wanted to fire me to keep me away from you?" Dean asked.

"Yeah, I talked her out of it, though."

"When was this?"

"Awhile ago. She could tell I really liked you, and she thought you were too old for me."

"Oh. If she could tell, why couldn't I?"

"You haven't known me for seventeen years."

"True."

"And for those seventeen years, we've been really close. The two Lorelai Haydens. Dad and Topher were really close too, they're the two Christopher Haydens."

"Your parents named you and your brother after themselves?"

"Yup. And since I was her name buddy, and the person who knew her best, she usually knows exactly what I want. And sometimes, she can tell I want something, but I'm too shy to do anything about it, so she tells me to do it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really."

"And are you two feeling close today?"

"Extremely close. Possibly closer than ever."

"Good." he whispered, sliding one hand to the small of her back as he bent down to kiss her.