Disclaimer: I own nothing and it is very depressing.

A/N: Set during 'Haunted Leg'. Let's pretend Lorelai went home instead of talking to Kirk. This is set after Rory and Jess' fight at the market. Jess might be a little out of character, but go with it.

After Regret Comes Passion

Rory walks into an aisle and sees Jess

JESS: Doing a little shopping?

RORY: Yes. Excuse me.

JESS: Why the cold shoulder?

RORY: No cold shoulder. I just have perishables here.

JESS: Oh yeah, you wanna get home before that beefaroni goes bad.

RORY: My mom's waiting for me.

JESS: How was Washington?

RORY: Fine.

JESS: Do anything interesting?

RORY: Nope.

JESS: Okay.

RORY: What about you?

JESS: What about me?

RORY: Anything interesting happen? This summer, I mean.

JESS: Nope.

RORY: Really?

JESS: Really.

RORY: So nothing happened this summer, at all?

JESS: It was hot. Two weeks ago there was a run on snowcones. Machine broke, people went crazy, Taylor tried to call in the National Guard, but –

RORY: I'm not talking about snowcones.

JESS: What are you talking about then?

RORY: Nothing.

JESS: Her name's Shane.

RORY: As in 'come back'?

JESS: Yup.

RORY: Well, great. That's great. Really, it's great.

JESS: So I've heard.

RORY: Well, it is.

JESS: Are you upset about something?

RORY: No.

JESS: I mean, me and Shane –

RORY: What about you and Shane?

JESS: I don't know, it didn't exactly bring a smile to your face.

RORY: Well, I'm still freaked out about the, uh, snowcone machine.

JESS: Okay.

RORY: I could care less about you and Shane.

JESS: Good.

RORY: It just surprised me, that's all.

JESS: Why?

RORY: Because.

JESS: Because why?

RORY: Because of what happened at Sookie's wedding.

JESS: Ah.

RORY: Yeah, so me coming back here and just seeing you with Shane just kind of threw me for a sec.

JESS: I'm sorry, did I hear from you at all this summer? Did I just happen to miss the thousands of phone calls you made to me, or did the postman happen to lose all those letters you wrote to me? You kiss me, you tell me not to say anything. . .very flattering, by the way. You go off to Washington. . . then nothing. Then you come back here all put out because I didn't just sit around and wait for you like Dean would've done? And yeah, what about Dean? Are you still with him? 'Cause last time I checked, you were, and I haven't heard anything to the contrary. Plus, the two of you walking around the other day like some damn Andy Hardy movie. Seemed to me like you're still pretty together. I half expected you to break into a barn and put on a show.

RORY: When did you see me with Dean?

JESS: At that stupid summer insanity plea the town put on.

RORY: Oh, I'm surprised you could see anything with Shane's head plastered to your face.

JESS: You didn't answer me.

RORY: About what?

JESS: Did you call me at all?

RORY: No.

JESS: Did you send me a letter?

RORY: No.

JESS: Postcard?

RORY: No.

JESS: Smoke signal?

RORY: Stop.

JESS: A nice fruit basket?

RORY: Enough!

JESS: Are you still with Dean? Come on, Rory, yes or no – are you still with Dean?

RORY: Yes, I'm still with Dean, yes!

JESS: Glad to hear it.

RORY: Glad to tell you.

JESS: See you around.

RORY: Whatever.

JESS: Right back at ya.

CUT TO OUTSIDE

Rory walks out of the market with a bag of groceries

As Rory left, Jess couldn't help but feel guilty for what he had said to her. 'It was a little harsh.' He thought to himself. He wondered how she felt.

Rory, on the other hand was thinking about why she didn't send Jess anything at all during the summer. She knew the kiss meant something inside and she couldn't deny it. She wondered if he was mad. 'He probably is.' She thought.

Soon after his thoughts, he ran outside to just catch Rory after finishing her own thoughts. He gently grabbed her arm and she turned around. "What?" she said softly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said." He replied sincerely. "Rory, your friendship means something to me and I hope you know that."

Now, she knew that Jess usually wasn't one for words but what he said right then really touched her in a way that Dean never had. Because she didn't respond, Jess started to walk away.

"Jess, wait." He turned around to find her lips crashing on to his. He quickly responded remembering the last time this happened, when he barley had time to respond. When they separated because of the lack of air, Rory was the first to speak. "Jess, I think I want to be more than just your friend."

"I do too, Ror." He said amazed.

"I think I'm gonna have to break up with Dean." Rory said.

"I think I'm gonna have to break up with Shane." He said. This time, he kissed her, with a lot of passion. After, they just stood there in a comfortable silence within each other's embrace.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow at the diner?" Rory asked eagerly.

"I guess so." He answered just as eager.

"Goodnight Dodger." She said.

"Goodnight Rory." He said and kissed her gently once more. They then separated and both turned around.

"I think I may love you." Rory said softly to herself as she walked away giddily.

"I think I may love you." Jess said quietly to himself as he walked away excitedly awaiting the next day.

The End