THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW.

CHAPTER 2.

PREVIOUSLY: He guessed it couldn't hurt to try. It couldn't hurt to tell Rory the truth, seeing as he was already going to lose her. He turned in the direction of the Gilmore residence and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

When he arrived there he noticed Lorelai sitting on the front porch with a drink in her hand. Images of his mother, a glass in her hand, flashed through his mind and he quickly pushed them to the back of it.

"What you drinking?" he said, forcing a cheerful tone into his voice.

Lorelai looked up and gave him a small smile.

"Oh, apple juice" she said, "It's frightening trying new things isn't it. My coffee's crying out in jealousy. It's very embarrassing to see to be honest"

Dean smirked and sat beside her on one of the white plastic chairs. "How are you lately?"

"Me? Just peachy. Just had a visit from my ever so sweet mother." She trailed off in her rambling kind of way, before speaking again, "how about yourself kid?"

Dean sighed. "I've been better to be honest. I just came to see if Rory was home. I get the feeling she isn't. Am I right?"

"Yep. You can go right on to the $1000 question now."

"And what's that?" he said, sinking back into the chair, somewhat defeated from all the courage he'd built up in order to talk to Rory.

"How are you crazy kids these days?" she smiled, and put her glass of half drank apple juice down on the table.

Unsure of what to say Dean put his chin in his hand and leaned over a ledge, refusing to look at Lorelai.

"That bad huh?"

He decided he was being kind of rude and sat up straight again. "It's nothing big. I think Rory is okay... I wouldn't really feel right talking about it with her mother. It just... seems... I don't think Rory would like it." He stared at his hands as he spoke.

"Okay Dean, you don't need to tell me if you don't want to... something seems to be bothering you though. Are you okay sweetie?"

Dean shook his head, her words reminding him of his mothers. "I, I can't even feel comfortable around you..."

"What?" Lorelai asked, the confusion evident on her face.

"It's not you... well it is..."

"Dean, now I know I look young for my age – but do you have a crush on mua?!"

Dean looked up, realising how he must have come across and began to shake his head. "No" he began, "...I mean, yes, you do look young for your age and no one would deny that you're very good looking, but... I wasn't meaning to sound like that, like this... Oh God, I just wanted to be honest with someone... But Rory wasn't here."

Lorelai took on a more serious expression as she saw how frustrated Dean was becoming. "Hold on there kid, it sounds like me you've got a lot you need to get off your chest."

He finally managed to get out some words and the words surprised Lorelai more than anything. "I wish you were my mother" he said.

Lorelai had her worried face on now. This was certainly an unusual thing for Dean to say. She hadn't heard much about his parents, but for him to deny his own mother, well it wasn't like the Dean she knew.

"My parents threw me out of my own house tonight..."

Lorelai's worried expression became even more exaggerated. "Why?"

Dean laughed, "you think I did something too..."

Lorelai shook her head, "No, I just... people don't generally just throw people out of their houses for no reason..."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. Just... it's been a strange day."

"Bad, strange?"

He fought the urge to say 'What do you think?' and replied with a weak nod.

"Well, I don't think Rory would think any less of you if you were to tell me what happened and why you're upset. It sounds like this whole thing is about your life, not you and Rory. What do you think kid?"

Dean raised a hand to mouth. "I guess so."

There was a long pause, until Lorelai interrupted the silence, "So...?"

Dean looked at her properly for the first time since he'd sat. "I've never told anyone before... you might look at me differently"

Lorelai felt this small stabbing pain in her guts as worry started to set in. "Dean, as long as you haven't hurt Rory or you're secretly Ted Bundy's great grandchild I'm not going to judge you okay? Do you believe me?" She reached out and touched his arm. He let her for a moment and then pulled away, nodding.

"My... my Dad isn't my real Dad. But nobody else knows..." He said matter-of-factly. He watched Lorelai's expression and it was consistently full of both concern and probably a little curiosity. "My real Dad... he, he... I haven't seen him since I was six years old" He pauses for a long time, tears threatening to fall. "He wasn't nice to my Mom... or me..."

"Dean?" Rory's voice echoed in his mind before he looked up at her. He rubbed at his eyes and stood.

"Hi" he began, "I just... I was just waiting for you"

"Dean, you should still talk about this" Lorelai cut in.

Dean nodded, "I know, but, but I think I should be going now... My Mom, she needed something from Dosey's anyways, sorry to leave so soon Rory, I'll see you tomorrow?"

Rory had the most puzzled expression on her face. Dean was behaving very oddly, but it had looked almost like he was having a real heart to heart with his mother. It always made her feel uncomfortable the way he got on with his mother. Dean walked by her, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving.

"I'm sorry" he mumbled again, looking from Lorelai to Rory.

"Mom?" Rory stood in front of her, "What was that all about?"

"I'm not completely sure myself, but I think you guys need a long talk..."

Dean sat on the ground, his back to the wall of Doseys. He thought about how things had changed so quickly between him and Rory. It didn't feel like it was that long ago he'd given Rory her first kiss inside Doseys. It took a lot of courage for him to do that. It always did when he liked a girl a lot, but with Rory, he liked that girl more than any other. He loved her. When he broke it down in his mind, he began to question why he loved her. What was it that he loved about her? Her gentle way? Her articulate banter? Her porcelain skin and vibrant eyes? Her concentration? Or maybe, maybe it was because she didn't force herself on him... she wasn't possessive and jealous and controlling and... all the things his mother and father were to him.

It felt like his heart had been breaking for a long time.

His bum was starting to get real numb from the ground. Frustration kicked in again. Nothing seemed fair – he felt like he was always walking on egg shells even with the people who lived in his own town and it was probably just because he was dating their beloved Rory, but he always felt it was more than that, like he just wasn't worthy of anyone's praise or positive attention. He figured it was just down to being a teenager and that things would change eventually. That one day he wouldn't despise himself so much.

He suddenly felt a surge of anger and took off down the street. 'I need to get out of this damn town' he said to himself as he headed for the nearest train station.

I hope this isn't too short and you enjoyed it. Reviews are very much appreciated and thanks for reading.

Thankyou very much DaiHinMin for your lovely review and as you can see I have taken your suggestion into account : ). I will however try to surprise you on occasion ; P

Regards,

~Lorelai Poulain