A/N: This is set during/after Rory kisses Jess in "I Can't Get it Started." Literati all the way! This is basically how I wished the third season went lol.

Chapter One

"Come here you." Christopher hugged Rory, and his phone rang. "It's probably work."

"On a Sunday?" Rory asked.

"Hey lady, I've got a lot of responsibility now okay?" Christopher said with a teasing smile.

"Okay." Rory relented.

"Be right back." Christopher left.

Rory turned away from her dad, and saw a familiar figure at the water, looking at her. Her heart leapt into her throat, as she started towards him.

"What are you doing here?" Rory said, trying not to give any feelings away, but failing miserably.

"Hello to you too." Jess said with a smirk.

"Is everything okay?"

"You look nice."

"Thank you. What are you doing here?" She asked him, moving towards him a tiny bit.

"I moved back." He said, completely serious. His eyes were searching hers intently, making her nervous.

"What?"

"I moved back." He was enjoying how cute she was when she was flustered.

"But..." Rory swallowed. "What- why?"

"Just... wanted to." Suddenly Rory couldn't control herself. She thought he moved back to be with her. She wanted him. She needed him. She threw herself at him, and kissed him with intensity. He was startled, but as soon as he realized what was happening, he kissed her back, matching her intensity, moving his hands up to cup her face. She started moving backwards, but he wouldn't release her lips. She pulled away. Jess was stunned but deliriously happy.

"Oh my god! Oh my god!"

"Rory."

"Don't say a word."

"Okay." Jess was confused but he understood at the same time.

"I have to go." Rory started running away. "Oh, welcome home!" She called over her shoulder.

(2 weeks later, Rory is in Washington, and Jess isn't with Shane yet)

Rory is sitting at her desk, with a letter on top. She re-read her letter.

Dear Jess,

I'm sorry for leaving right after I kissed you. Both running away, and leaving for D.C. If I had known you were coming back, I would've told Paris that I wasn't coming. I have decided that I would rather be with you than Dean. Dean is too comfortable, he doesn't make my heart race when I'm with him. I don't love him anymore, and I haven't for a while. The relationship is also quite unhealthy, and there are many red flags. I'm breaking up with him the second I get home. I'm sorry it took so long for me to write to you, but I was conflicted about how to handle the situation, and what to say. Hopefully you want to be with me, the way I want to be with you. Just write back if you don't feel the same way, so I know to avoid you when I come back to Stars Hollow. Even if you don't want to be with me, I'm still breaking up with Dean, but don't think I'll pine for you. You have one chance when I get back.

See you (hopefully) soon,

Rory Gilmore

Rory nodded once, and stood up. "Paris!" She yelled.

"What?" Paris's annoyed voice came from somewhere in the other room.

"I'm going to the Post Office! Do you want me to take anything there for you?" She called.

"No thanks! Now be quiet!" Paris shouted. Rory left, and she decided to walk the six blocks to the Post Office. When she got there, she put the letter in an envelope, and addressed it to Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Luke's Diner, Jess Mariano. She handed it in, and left with a sense of satisfaction.

(Three days have passed since Rory sent the letter)

Jess was sitting at the counter, reading a book. It was in between lunch and dinner, and only a few customers sat at the tables. The bell rang and he looked up. It was Kirk, dressed in a mailman uniform. Jess shot out from behind the counter. "Is there a letter for me, Kirk?" He asked. He was holding his breath. A little more than two weeks had passed since Rory left for Washington, and he hadn't heard anything from her. Kirk was looking through envelopes, and he took one out.

"Nope. This is for Luke though, from a company called Foodtopia Delivery." Kirk said.

"Are you sure?" Jess pleaded.

"Yep. Give this to Luke, would you?" Kirk asked, handing the letter to Jess. Kirk turned and walked out the door. Jess sighed. He was sure that Rory was going to try and talk to him, but as days passed, he was getting less and less sure that she was going to contact him.

"Luke!" Jess bellowed. Luke was in the storeroom, sorting through a new delivery.

"What!?" Luke shouted back.
"You got a letter! Something about deliveries." Luke came out of the storeroom, wiping his hands on his pants. Jess shoved the letter at Luke, and said, "I'm taking a break." Jess stormed out without looking back.

(Two weeks after Rory sent the letter- Kirk never delivered it- but you already guessed that)

"Come on Jess! You can't wait around for this girl all summer!" Shane whined.

"Go away."

"No! It's nothing serious! Just a little fling." She said provocatively. Jess paused. At this point, he was almost sure that Rory didn't want to write to him, and that the kiss meant nothing. Shane took his silence as a yes, and leaned over the counter, and kissed him cautiously. He didn't return the kiss, but he also didn't push away. When she pulled away, he sighed.

"Look, Shane. One more week. Then we'll do whatever." He said. Shane gave him a smirk, and walked out the door.

"What was that?" Luke asked curiously. Jess rolled his eyes.

"Nothing Uncle Luke." He responded with mock obedience.

"What about… Rory?" Luke asked tentatively.

"What about her?" Jess snapped. Luke's eyes widened in surprise at the harsh tone.

"Nothing! You just seemed really happy when you came back from wherever you went during Sookie's wedding. I assumed you talked to her." Jess scowled at his uncle.

"I'm taking a break." Jess pushed past Luke. He needed to find Shane.

(The week Rory is supposed to get home)

Rory was excited to go home, after six weeks in Washington. She had a very thrilling and educating trip, but she couldn't wait to go home. She wanted to see her mom, and Luke, and Jess too. She also wanted to end things with Dean. Rory had felt weird trying to write Dean, when she knew she was going to break up with him. She was trying to keep it to trivial things, and she stopped signing her letters with "with love, Rory." He sent a letter last week asking why she stopped, and she didn't want to answer it. He would understand soon enough. Her and Paris are sitting next to each other in the airport. Paris is listening to a Walkman, and Rory is trying to figure out how to break up with Dean. She decided to be direct, and not lead him on. She would tell her mom, and then find Dean. Then she decided she would find Jess, and tell him she dumped Dean. He hadn't written her back, so hopefully that was a good thing.

"Now boarding, Flight 401 to Hartford, Connecticut, now boarding, Flight 401 to Hartford, Connecticut." The flight attendant said over the loudspeaker. She nudges Paris.
"We're boarding." The girls board the flight together.

Rory stands up, and stretches her legs. She grabs her carry-on duffel bag, and walks off the plane. She collects her bag, said goodbye to Paris, "yes, Paris, see you in three days. I will be at the Franklin meeting. And the student council meeting." As soon as Paris left her eyesight, Rory sighed from relief. She liked the girl now, but six weeks can be a bit much. She rounds the corner, and looks around for her mom. She spies her. "MOM!" Rory shouted, ecstatic about seeing her mother again. They ran towards each other, and collided, falling to the ground. Rory laughed. They caught up on everything, and Rory conveniently forgot to tell her mother she was going to break up with Dean.

(They are back in Stars Hollow, and the festival is in full swing)

Rory took a deep breath. "Mom, I think I am going to go see Dean."

"Oh, I get it. Haven't seen each other in a while, maybe do some kissin'?" Lorelai teased.

"Umm, about that. When I was in D.C, I did a lot of thinking. We also did a seminar about unhealthy relationships. And I realized that Dean… checks a lot of the boxes."

"What?" Lorelai couldn't believe her ears. "Dean loves you so much! It's not unhealthy."

"But it is. Remember when Dean called fourteen times in one night? That's creepy." Rory said. Lorelai still thought it was harmless.

"But that's because he loves you, sweets." She said.

"Mom, I'm breaking up with Dean, and you can't do anything about it. Besides, I kinda… did something bad."

"What?" Lorelai asked worriedly.

"Um… I cheated on him." Rory said very fast and quietly.

"Sorry sweets, I didn't catch that."

"I cheated on him." Rory looked down.

"Oh no!" Lorelai gasped. "You didn't sleep with someone in D.C did you!?"

"Eww, Mom. No, I didn't sleep with anyone!" Rory replied, looking grossed out. "But, uh, I ... kissed Jess." Rory said this last part very fast. Lorelai couldn't speak, her daughter, her perfect daughter, cheated with a mother's worst nightmare of a boy.

TBC

Until next chapter! Reviews are always welcome!