Author's Notes: An kinda AU where Jess and Rory actually meet before Jess is forced to move to Stars Hollow. Its a moment Five-Year-Old Jess will never forget, even if five-year-old Rory will.

"This is silly." Five-year-old Jess complained as his mother dragged him by the arm down the walkway leading to the Independence Inn. "Why can't we just stay in the City for a night? It's better than this stupid town."

"Be nice, Jess. We're just here for one night while David gets all his stuff out of the apartment, and then we'll be back in the city. Luke told me we could stay here. Look, there's a lake. Go walk along the edge of the lake, and come back in a little while, okay?"

Jess wandered away from his mother and started to follow the edge of the lake. As he walked, he kicked a small pebble along and muttered to himself. "Stupid David. He wanted me to call him Daddy. Yeah right. I knew he would leave. Just like Paul, Phillip, Steven, and James. They all swear they'll be my Step-dad, but they're all just idiots."

With a burst of anger, Jess kicked his pebble towards the lake. It went a good foot or so before it hit the water and created a series of ripples.

"Wow. Not bad for a kick." Jess turned to see a little girl sitting at the base of a nearby tree with a book on her lap. "Now, if you had thrown it, I would say it was pathetic; my mom can get a good long spot by tossing it. But since you kicked it, that was good."

"Excuse me, but who are you?"

"Why are you so mad?"

"I asked first." Jess crossed his arms across his chest.

The girl seemed to think for a second. "I'll answer your question, but only if you promise to answer mine."

"Fine."

"I'm Lorelai Leigh Gilmore." She announced in that proud manner that only a five year old could pull off. "But everyone calls me Rory. So, why are you mad?"

"David left, so we have to stay here for a night instead of in our own apartment." Jess took a few steps toward Rory.

"David?"

"Mom's boyfriend, and my 'potential step dad.'"

"Oh? I'm sorry."

"Don't worry. He's my fifth potential, and the fifth to leave."

"I'm still sorry. I'm still waiting for my potentials to introduce themselves to me. Right now, it's Earring Dude, but I don't think he'll last long. Mom says I'll only meet a potential when he's really, really, REALLY, good."

"Where's your Dad?" Jess finally sat down next to the girl, eager to hear from someone else without a dad.

"Somewhere in Maine...I think. He moves around a lot, and rarely calls, but I'll see him again soon. He normally shows up for my birthday. How about yours?"

"Dunno. He left minutes after I was born. But my uncle says he was a loser anyway, and I'm better off with just my mom."

"Oh. Okay then." Rory fidgeted with the edge of her book, then spoke up again. "Do you read?"

"I can, yes, but I don't read often."

"You should read, you know. Whenever I feel like I am losing something without my dad, I read. It doesn't matter who lives with me when I'm in a story."

Jess didn't say anything for a minute. She had a point. "Okay. I'll start to read."

"Rory? Come on, I've finished. Let's go find some dinner." Jess turned to see a young woman coming towards them.

"My mom." Rory said, getting to her feet. "Here. You can read this. I've read it a hundred times." Rory dropped her book onto Jess's lap. She hurried off to her mother, and the two of them walked away, hand in hand. Jess looked at the book that had been dropped in his lap. He smiled a little, and headed back up towards the inn. He met his mom half-way.

"Good news, Jess. David got his stuff out quickly. We can head home now."

"Cool. Could we stop at a book store on our way? I think I should read more."

"Of course. You are my smart little boy. Now, let's go home."