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, Lor/Luke/Chris

Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the W.B.

AN: I feel like I made Lorelai the "bad guy" but I didn't mean to. I need her and Rory to be at odds, and her to be in Stars Hollow for a couple scenes.

AN #2: I'm confusing myself with the dates of everything, so here's a timeline (it's for me as much as everyone else, but since I'm making it, I might as well put it up for everyone:

Early 9/06.- story starts

10/4/06- Rory and Dean start dating

11/6/06 -Rory's 18th birthday

11/7/06 -Lorelai moves out

11/15/06 -Rory gets sick

11/18/06 -Rory tries to make up with Lorelai

12/5/06 - this chapter (and I'm writing this on 12/5/05)

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Emily dialed the number again. "Hello? Yes, yes, I understand. But now would be a really bad time. Yes. Lorelai just left Chris. You didn't know that? Well, of course, Rory is a total wreck. She was so worked up over her mother leaving that she almost failed half of her couches, and collapsed. She was sick in bed for almost four whole days. Well, yes, I suppose that Lorelai did leave almost a month ago. So sometime soon. Maybe, in about two weeks. December 17th? Oh yes, that sounds fabulous. Wonderful talking to you. See you on the 17th."

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Over the past week and a half, ever since Rory had gone to patch things up with Lorelai, Dean had become a part of the Haden family. Topher had forgiven him for introducing Lorelai to Luke after he chose to stand by Chris, and Rory had been more than thrilled to have her boyfriend around more often. If it weren't for Lorelai, the thousand-pound elephant in the center of their lives, the Hadens would have had a perfect life.

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Lorelai and Luke were the exact opposite. Lorelai had rushed into the relationship to cut the pain her family had left out of her life. She was missing her husband, son, and precious daughter. She should have been miserable, and she would have been if she had stopped to think. But she hadn't. She had her relationship with Luke. She had a new job, running a quaint little inn called The Independence Inn, and a new best friend, the clutzy chef, Sookie. Whenever she wasn't working, or with Luke, she was joking with Sookie and her husband Jackson, or making a splash at the town meetings. She already knew who the town gossips were, who the town busybody was, and how incredibly nosy small-town life was. She'd found happiness, or something like it.

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"Dean, I'm so glad you could tear yourself away from your girlfriend to talk to me, your humble friend," Jess said sardonically as he sat down across from Dean in the quaint little café.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, she made you turn your back on Luke after everything he's done for you."

"How much do you know about that?"

"Not much. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Okay. Shoot."

"I want you to be my best man."

"Aren't you supposed to ask people someone this more than a week and a half before you get married?"

"Probably. But screw that." Dean laughed.

"Well, I'm there."

"And, I was kind of thinking, well, actually Lindsay was thinking that maybe Rory would want to be in the wedding, too."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I don't know how she'd feel about that. I mean, I don't know if she wants to go anymore. The whole thing with Luke and her mother, she's just not cool with that. And Luke will be in the wedding, right?"

"Yeah. Well, He'll be there, he won't really be in the wedding, though. It would just be you, Lane, Rory and Lindsay's dad."

"I could ask her. We haven't talked about it since...right before she found out about her mom and Luke. But I'll be there, even if Luke and I aren't on the best of terms. And maybe Rory will."

"Okay. Just call me within the next day. Lindsay's kinda pissed about the whole 'rush' thing."

"Will do."

"Dean?"

"What?"

"You knew that Luke was dating Rory's mom before she did. Why didn't you tell her?"

"I thought it was a phase. I thought she should hear it from Lorelai. I hate to see her sad, especially when I'm the one making her sad. There are probably a million reasons, some that I don't even know. Plus, I didn't know for sure. That was the first time I saw Luke after Lorelai left. I didn't want to break her heart over a hunch."

"You're a good man, Charlie Brown."

"Funny."

"I thought so."

"Have you heard from April lately?"

"Nope. I guess she decided to lie in wait for Luke's next girlfriend before she'd strike again."

"Great. She knew exactly how to get rid of Rachel. She'll probably get rid of Lorelai right when Chris is over it enough to let her back in, but not moved on, and then she'll break his heart again."

"Probably. And she'll laugh when she does it."

"I bet she'll set a webcam up in the Haden's house, so she can watch the whole thing."

"A webcam? Come on, she'll probably slip a computer chip that she designed herself into the lining of Lorelai's purse, where it will stick until it gets near some sort of wood that all rich people have in their houses. It'll tell her, and show her exactly what's going on. It'll probably even be able to pick up brain waves, and she'll be able to know what all of you are thinking."

"Jess. Nothing like that exists."

"But I'm sure darling April could design it."

"Oh, of course. It's April, after all."

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"Dean! Guess what?"

"What?"

"I got an A! On a huge test!"

"Rory. You always get As."

"No. I haven't gotten an A since Mom left. I think I can finally do this."

"What is 'this?'"

"Live. Without her. Be me without her," his face fell slightly, "what is it?"

"Nothing."

"No, tell me."

"Okay, well, you remember how I was telling you about Jess and Lindsay's wedding?"

"Of course."

"They want us to be in it."

"Me too?"

"You too."

"Really!"

"Yes."

"Well, what's the problem then?"

"Luke is Jess' uncle. He'll be there with...her.

"Oh."

"Are you okay with that?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"You don't have to go. I do. But you don't."

"No. I'll go. I want to be with you."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! Do you not want me there?"

"Of course I want you there. I just don't want Jess and Lindsay to be in the middle of your family problems."

"You think I can't handle it?"

"Did I say that? Of course I think you can handle it."

"What then?"

"I just...even if you can handle it, and she can handle it, and Luke can handle it, and I can handle it, it will be there. And you should only come that won't bother you."

"I'll be there." He grinned and lifted her up, spinning her in his arms and kissing her.