Rory slid into a window seat and Dean sat next to her.
"Is this okay?" he asked cautiously. "I mean, since we-"
"Its fine," she smiled weakly. "Just one thing. Can we switch spots? Window seats kinda make me feel claustrophobic now."
He nodded and they switched.
"Can we talk, Rory?" he asked as the plane made its ascent. She gripped the armrest but nodded grimly.
"About what?"
"Us."
"Dean, I admit that it was hard at first," she sighed. "But I don't hate you for breaking things off with me."
"Rory, I know that you don't," he argued. "But I was thinking, that night, after I left, before your mom called. Just because you're career-oriented doesn't mean you don't care about me."
"I-"
"Hold on. There's something else," he continued. "I realized, too, as soon as I had said those fatal words, that I'd made a mistake. A huge one. I know now, Rory, that you're the only girl for me, however cliched that may sound. I just hope you haven't changed your mind."
Rory's heart lifted to a point of elatedness and she scooted closer to Dean.
"Its not too late, Dean," she assured him. "I love you, you idiot."
"And I you."
Then they kissed and made up.
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"You didn't...um...you know...with him, did you?" Max pressed Lisa. She shook her head fiercely.
"No. I didn't. He was just screwing with you, Max."
"I know, I know, its just that if he had, I'd never be able to live with myself."
"Why? Its not like it would be your fault."
"I know," he repeated. "But after what you said on the phone..."
"Oh."a flushed.
"Did you mean it?"
Lisa didn't answer. Max took her hand and gently touched her chin.
"Leese?"
"Yes, Max," she finally snapped. "I did. And I still do. I made a schoolgirl idiot out of myself, happy? Does that bring you joy?"
He raised an eyebrow. "The only joy I feel is in the comfort that we share the same feelings."
"You mean you-"
And then he silenced her with a kiss.
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Lorelai awoke around nine at night and abandoned all hope of having a normal sleeping pattern that night. Her mouth felt dry so she padded downstairs for a drink. As she clicked on the kitchen light she screamed and grabbed an umbrella from the stand by the door. Instantly Jackson flew at her and twisted it out of her hands.
"Babette!" she screamed to her neighbor for help, but Jackson clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Good to see you, too, Lorelai," he greeted coldly. Jess stood and handed Jackson the duct tape.
Jackson pushed Lorelai into the kitchen chair and quickly and roughly bound her arms and ankles. Then he ripped a piece off and held it out.
"Now, its up to you if you want to scream or not," he informed her. "But if you do, on comes the tape and it'll probably be painful."
"I'll pass, thanks," Lorelai replied coolly. "Are you going to tell me why you're here or are you just going to play hostage thriller the whole time?"
Jackson slapped her and Jess turned away. Even though Lorelai hadn't been exactly cuddly to him when he'd dated Rory, he still didn't want to see her hurt.
Lorelai didn't break. She rarely cried, only did when she was alone or with Luke and Rory. She just calmly sat and raised her head high despite her stinging cheek.
"So, long story short, sweetheart, we're holding you here until Rory and Lisa arrive," Jackson explained. "Because they will."
"Go to hell," Lorelai snarled. Jackson's temper rose and he hit her harder this time, so hard the chair toppled over, taking her with it. He crouched down and whispered in her ear.
"I'll give you a piece of advice, Lore," he whispered patronizingly. Jess left the room. "Don't piss me off. After all, you see what it got Lisa? If she'd just complied on that flight, I'd have walked out of her life. But no, she had to try and be a heroine and you see where it got her? I came back for her. Now I don't want to kill you. But if you don't be a good girl I'm afraid all your boyfriend will find of you is your mutilated corpse."
Jackson hoisted the chair back up and placed the tape over her mouth. She began silently crying, praying to God to protect her Rory.
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"Good to be home," Rory hopped out of the car and stretched. Luke cut the engine and frowned at the house.
"She must be sleeping," he shrugged. "Because if she were awake the tv or music would be blaring."
"Well, she had a long night last night," Lisa agreed as Max helped her out. She smiled at him as Dean barreled out behind her. They began making their way inside but at the door Dean realized he'd forgotten his bag and ran back to get it.
"Mom?" Rory cried excitedly, flinging open the door. Luke, Max, and Lisa entered behind her, listening to silence.
"Lorelai?" Luke cautioned.
"Lorelai," Lisa called in a singsong voice, walking into the kitchen. Max and Luke followed but when she stiffly stopped short they plowed into her.
"Leese...?"
"If you want Lorelai to live, don't move a muscle."
