Disclaimer: Nothing's mine.

A/N: I just love Paris with Rory. Scratch that. I love Paris period. Hope you enjoy! Your reviews matter :)

They were sitting on a bench, watching as Josh and Aiden tried to wrestle Tristan down to the grass. Cerberus was running around the boys nuzzling their feet, occasionally letting out a cheerful woof. It was one of the last warm sunny days before autumn let go and the air started to get a crisp of winter. Paris and Rory had decided to spend the day outside, taking to-go coffee and sandwiches to the park. It was nice to be in the open for a change.

A kid about Josh's age approached the guys, asking them something. Tristan replied, regarding the boy with a beaming smile, making the kid's mom knee-weak as she arrived after her son, seemingly apologizing for his intrusion on them but soon ogling Tristan helplessly. Tristan was probably saying something polite back when the boys used the moment to tackle him down in the grass, climbing all over him with triumphant cries.

'From one to ten, what's the level of awkwardness between you and Jess?' Paris asked matter-of-factly, making Rory choke on her coffee.

'I saw you at at wedding last Saturday,' Paris continued. 'And then I didn't see you, so I drew the most obvious conclusion.'

'If you're okay with that, spare me the details,' Rory rose her hand, palm out.

Paris rolled her eyes.

'So, how is make-up sex these days?'

'Oh boy,' Rory started wiping the freshly spilled coffee spot from her jeans, still coughing. 'You were such faithful jeans,' she spoke to her right thigh 'until this debauchery witch came and broke it between us. I'll miss you forever, promise,' Rory said stroking the spotted place.

'You did the deed didn't you?' Paris asked coolly, lifting her sunglasses over her eyes to put over her head.

'Sheesh, Paris,' Rory shook her head. 'Not that I owe you an account, but ah,' she sighed and squeezed her eyes with embarrassment, fighting the words out of her mouth, 'I've been involved in no funny business whatsoever.'

'Really?' Paris asked disbelievingly.

'Really.'

'Oh. Okay.'

'We went out for a walk, watched some skyscrapers. Talked a while. Then I went home. Home meaning my apartment, alone.' she added as she saw the flash in Paris' eyes. 'God, Paris,' Rory shook her head.

'So, where does that put you on a scale of one to ten? Are you ten - 'I switched from loving to hating you' super awkward, or one - 'I'm gonna jump your bones any moment now' negligibly awkward?'

'Jeez, I don't know,' Rory let out a small chuckle at Paris' take on the situation. 'I guess it's an eight. Or seven. Ish.'

'Oh. He's trying to make it better between you, though. Right?' Paris asked.

Rory sighed.

'I can see that. I just... Do you think I'm being difficult?' she asked, feeling a tightness in her throat. Just great, now there were Paris' expectations to disappoint, too.

Paris' brows arched and she folded her arms before her chest.

'You mean, after being a trauma survivor and going through hell for the man you love only to have your heart stomped over multiple times, do I think you're being difficult? Let me think, I damn hope you are, because I'm not going through another crisis-handling domination war with your mother,' Paris said, referring to the month Rory spent in her apartment, staying in bed for days moping around, feeling useless. This was as close as one got to being clinically depressed without reaching the point where they needed professional help to get back to functioning properly.

'What was with the make-up sex then?' Rory asked.

'I'm just checking on you,' Paris shrugged. 'You get that dreamy-eye look when you think he's not watching. I just want you to be okay this time,' she said.

Rory turned to give her best friend a look. She found Paris looking back at her, her expression dead serious.

'I don't ever want to see you like you were after Jess left,' Paris said, her voice uncharacteristically soft.

Rory chewed on her lip, giving her a nod.

'Me either.'

They stood for a while, watching the boys trying to get bodylock over a sitting Tristan, struggling to bring him back down to the ground.

'What was with the awkwardness level?' Rory asked.

'We're throwing you a surprise birthday party Friday night. Dugray let it slip in front of Jess while they were rolling over the wrestling mat. I'm not sure whether to ward him off or invite him in. Any thoughts on the matter? I don't want you to feel ambushed.'

Rory fought a smile but lost the battle and let it slip up the corners of her mouth.

'God, Paris,' she let out a low chuckle, sliding her palm down her face. 'You're something else, you know that?'

Rory expected Paris to reply something along the line of 'Duh. I'm golden. I can include you in the preparations of your own surprise party and pull it off,' but she didn't. Instead, she watched Rory with a peculiar expression on her face.

'You're smiling again,' Paris said.

Rory's brows furrowed.

'I've been known to smile, Paris.'

Paris shook her head.

'Not lately. You weren't into it. You're looking more like yourself today,' Paris said seriously. 'It's good to have you back.'

Rory remembered how, a couple of months ago, she was the one who observed the positive change in her friend and commented how good it was to have her out from under her rock. Paris had gone through a major life crisis getting through her divorce. She had been in a bad place. She had come out of it alive and whole and was currently doing much better than she'd thought possible. And so had she, Rory Gilmore. She had been through hell but she hadn't lost what truly made her who she was. Rory bit back a shy smile, letting the smallest bit of pride to enter her body and fill her chest. It had been the longest time since she'd last felt proud of herself. She turned to meet Paris' eyes still on her.

'You'll be around, right?' Rory asked, her voice a mixture of timid and hopeful.

Paris touched her hand, letting her fingers linger over Rory's, giving them a slight squeeze.

'With a chastity belt after swallowing the key. Always.'

Rory let out a breathy chuckle, followed by a relieved smile.

'He can come.'

Paris gave her a nod and retreated her hand.

'Do your best to look surprised, though. Dugray is so overtly excited about orchestrating a surprise party. I had to slap clowns versus strippers ideas out of his head so I hope you take the situation in all its seriousness.'

Rory drank the remains of her coffee, feeling a newfound ease. Smiling didn't cost her so much effort today. And for that, she felt grateful.

TBC