A/N: Happy to say I definitely seem to have dug myself out of a hole on this fic, so yay for that. Thanks for all the support, reviewer folks. You rock! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 14

"Hey, kid? Is there something going on with you?" asked Lorelai.

She wasn't exactly watching Rory like a bug under a microscope or anything, but something seemed odd with her today. It wasn't a bad something, couldn't be because all her baby girl seemed to have done so far was beam like the sun, except for the few minutes when they were talking about Luke's dance marathon injury, of course.

"Like what?" asked Rory, looking anywhere but at her mother. "What would be going on?"

"Well, now I know something is, because you're doing that Peter Falk thing with your eyes," she said, making a gesture in front of Rory's face. "What's up with you?"

There was an idea in Lorelai's head that she wasn't quite ready to voice, lest she was wrong and only encouraged a certain behaviour in the future. She could be wrong, and yet...

"Um, I... Jess and I, that is... We, er... We might've stepped forward in our relationship," she said, making a leaping forward sort of a gesture with her hands.

Lorelai's eyes closed and she swallowed hard, fighting desperately to keep her composure. She had known this day would come, long before Rory ever mentioned it herself. The fact was, she never expected her daughter to be a nun or even a spinster her whole life. Of course she wanted her to experience love and all the things that came with it. Unfortunately, Lorelai wasn't quite ready for this moment just yet. She wondered if any mother ever was.

"Mom?" Rory prompted, letting Lorelai know she must have been collecting her thoughts just a little too long.

"Yeah. I'm just... processing," she said, her fingers moving next to her head in a way that suggested she was going crazy instead. "Um, so it happened. With Jess," she said, trying desperately not to wince.

"It did. After the Dance Marathon, or actually, during it. You and Luke were still there, me and Jess were... here," she ended lamely, not knowing what else to say. "You're not mad, right?"

"No, sweets, I'm not. I'm not mad," she promised, gathering Rory's hands in her own and holding on tight. "Seriously, if you were feeling ready for this and you were prepared and everything, then that's... It's your choice, and you made it."

"I did." Rory nodded. "We were careful and everything," she assured Lorelai with a smile. "I love him, Mom."

"Oh, I know you do, sweets." Lorelai smiled right back now that the aneurism-type feelings were starting to subside. "And I'm glad that it was like this for you, that you made a choice and that it was with someone you love and who loves and respects you. I believe that of Jess, I honestly do," she confirmed. "I just... I promise I'm not mad," she repeated. "It's just a lot for a mother to take in is all."

"I get it," Rory agreed, even though she couldn't entirely understand and they both knew it. "But you said you wanted to know and I was going to tell you later but then you asked so, now you know. I'm not sorry it happened."

"That's good," said Lorelai. "Um, one more question before we let this drop, and I don't want this to come out wrong so give me a minute," she said, thinking hard. "See, I am a woman, and I'm still young enough to remember that first time. It isn't a perfect moment for a woman, no matter what they show you in the movies," she said, with a jarring unnatural laugh. "Um, I guess what I'm trying to ask is, was it okay? Are you okay? Was it...? Oh, God, help me out here, kid!" she urged Rory desperately.

"It was... a little weird at first. There was a part... there was uncomfortableness for a while, which I guess is normal when you've never... Um, but then it was just... good," she said eventually, blushing profusely by this point and knowing her mother was doing the same even though they were barely looking at each other by now. "Jess was very nice to me, Mom. I swear."

"Well, that's good, babe," said Lorelai, feeling the need to hug her daughter then. "Because if he wasn't, I would tear off his kneecaps and feed him to the waste disposal," she said over Rory's shoulder.

After that, all either of them could do was laugh.

"You're goofy today," said Luke, staring too hard at Jess across the apartment.

"Says the guy who's walking like Long John Silver," his nephew shot back, watching with amusement as Luke moved towards him. "Tell me again how that happened?" he asked, smiling a little too much and he knew it.

It was easy to pass off his good mood as humour at what had happened to his uncle. Jess sure as hell was not going to tell good old Luke the real reason why he couldn't stop grinning. Seemed like a good way to lose an appendage he was way too fond of.

"You know damn well how it happened," said Luke, pulling open the fridge and almost toppling over since his left leg really wouldn't take his weight yet - it really was a good thing they opened way less hours on a Sunday. "I swear, it doesn't matter how much Lorelai pleads with me, I am never entering that Dance Marathon again!"

"You tell her, Swayze." Jess smirked terribly into his book. "I can't believe she convinced you to do the lift. That was only ever going to end one way."

"Yeah, well." Luke sighed, hobbling back to the couch and lowering himself down. "At least it was me that got hurt and not Lorelai."

Jess didn't have a smart alec reply to that one. He knew just exactly what his uncle meant. When it came right down to it, he would pretty much throw himself under a bus to save Rory from harm, if that was what it took. He wondered how much of his overt grinning was really because he got lucky last night. That sure didn't hurt his mood, but knowing Rory was his girlfriend and that she loved him enough for them to even get that far, that's what had him in the massively smiley place. She loved him and he loved her. Even after so many months it still felt like a strange and foreign concept to Jess, but he liked it, and he hoped it never went away like so many other good things in his life had.

"What is wrong with you?" asked Paris as she stared across the lunch table at a grinning Rory. "You haven't stopped smiling all morning. It's unnatural for a Monday."

"Have you seen your own face today?" her friend countered. "Not exactly frowning."

The formidable force that was Paris Gellar actually seemed to blush at that remark, something Rory had previously thought was impossible without some kind of drug being administered. Jamie made the difference. Paris in love was a whole different animal, and actually, it was pretty cool to see.

"I did have a pretty great time with Jamie this weekend," she admitted. "I don't know what it is about that guy. Somehow he is one of the smartest people I ever met, and he looks like he stepped out of the pages of a catalogue, plus he likes me. He actually thinks I'm cool and attractive and... and I don't get it, but I actually love it."

"You should love it," Rory said definitely. "Paris, you are so lucky to have found a guy like Jamie, and if he likes you and you like him, then I say go for it. What do you have to lose?"

"My self-respect and all the free time that I should be dedicating to academic pursuits and the road to Harvard?" she guessed, smile wavering slightly. "Am I crazy?"

"Crazy in love maybe?" her friend guessed. "Trust me, Paris, you can have a boyfriend and get into Harvard. I've been doing all the same stuff you've been doing - homework, extracurriculars, The Franklin - and me and Jess are fine. Better than fine," she added, smiling almost too much again.

Paris was starting to wonder if she knew just exactly what had Rory so giddy today, but lessons from her friend and her brother in the art of subtlety meant she didn't just come out and ask in front of the whole cafeteria this time. Yanking Rory up from the table by her elbow, she rushed her out into the hall and practically threw her into the nearest girls bathroom. A cursory glance under the stall doors and all around proved the room was empty and then the question came.

"Did you have sex?"

Rory was taken aback though she knew she shouldn't be. Paris had always been blunt, maybe just slightly less the last few months, but still. If she wanted to know something, she asked, and didn't pull any punches. Maybe Rory just hadn't been quite ready to discuss this with anyone that wasn't Jess or her mother. Apparently, she didn't get a choice.

"I guess I should be glad you actually took us somewhere private before you asked," she muttered. "Yes, Paris. Jess and I had sex," she said aloud, for the first time since it happened as it turned out. "Happy now?"

"Happy is pushing it," Paris considered, apparently missing the sarcastic undertone. "I mean, if you're happy then I suppose as your friend I'm happy for you. Same with Jess since I do look upon him as my brother still, in some strange way," she considered. "You realise that I don't require any details for that very reason?"

"Wasn't going to share any," Rory assured her quickly, making for the door.

Paris blocked the way.

"I'm not... I don't have sisters, or even a mother to talk to about these things. Liz tried and I told her I was up on my birds and bees. I mentioned it to my Portuguese nanny once and she didn't stop crossing herself for two days," Paris explained quickly. "What I'm saying is... Was it okay? I'm guessing not exactly like the movies, because hell, what is? Am I right? I mean, they say there's pain, that's to be expected, different muscle groups are being exposed to-"

"Paris!" Rory cut her off quickly with a cutting motion of her hands as well as yelling her name - she really couldn't listen to anymore. "If you must know, it was... It was good. It's an amazing feeling that is really difficult to explain, and yes, at first, it kinda hurts a little, but you forget that pretty quickly, trust me."

Paris nodded that she understood and then looked almost as awkward as Rory felt. They both stood there a moment, being awkward, and just when Rory was going to ask if she could get back to her lunch already, Paris broke the silence.

"It's not like I'm planning on diving into bed with Jamie," she said fast. "We've been on exactly two dates and hung out for a weekend. This does not a romance make," she said, just in case Rory wasn't aware, which of course she was. "I'm not Meg Ryan in some lame 90s movie. I have standards and more important things on my mind than sex."

"Of course you do." Rory nodded.

"Not that I'm judging you for your choice. I know how much you love Jess and he clearly worships you, which he should. Besides, every woman gets to make their own decision in these things and shouldn't be looked down upon for it."

"Agreed."

"I just... I wanted to know, just in case, y'know?"

"I get it," said Rory with a reassuring smile. "Now, do you think we could get out of the girls bathroom and back to the food? Maybe with a significant change in subject?" she tried.

"Yeah, sure," Paris agreed, moving aside so they could exit the room. "Where is Jess anyway?"

"He had to stay behind after chem, finish something up with his lab partner," Rory explained. "He's being a little more studious this year. I guess... Um, it's probably a good thing," she said eventually, realising she almost screwed up.

Paris was still in the dark about Jess applying to colleges. How she hadn't gotten that information out of him yet, Rory couldn't say, but she had promised not to tell and she was determined to keep the vow. At some point, Paris would find out, but Rory was certain it would be from Jess and not from her.

"So, my Dad is away on business again, and quite honestly, the house was feeling a little big and empty anyway. It has ever since Liz and Jess moved out," said Paris as they returned to their lunch. "I was thinking maybe you and Jess could come by this weekend, maybe stay over? We could study, watch movies, whatever you want."

"Sounds great," said Rory, smiling widely once again.

If anyone had asked her a year ago if she would happily be agreeing to spending a weekend at Paris' house, the answer would've been 'hell, no!', but then she might've had a similar reaction if someone asked her if she thought she would be broken up with Dean by now. Things sure had changed in the life of Rory Gilmore lately, but all for the better as far as she could tell.

To Be Continued...