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Italicized words are from the episode There's the Rub.

[/Rory walked into the living room after Dean left through the back door. Paris was sitting on the couch putting her books in her backpack.

"What was that?" Paris looked up at Rory.

"What?"

"That. The story, the save; you helped me. Why would you do that?" Rory questioned. Paris stood up and faced Rory.

"I don't know. It just came out."

"You have no idea what you did." Rory stated matter of factly.

"It was no big deal." Paris turned to grab her coat off the back of the couch.

"No, it was a very big deal. It was a huge deal." Paris put on her coat.

"Well, you helped me tonight when you didn't want to, so I owed you."

"Thank you." Rory nodded.

"You're welcome." Paris picked up her stuff. "Okay, well, I'll let you get back to your alone night." Paris walked back Rory, and she turned to her.

"You should stay." Paris stopped and looked at Rory.

"Stay?"

"Yeah, we could hang out. Maybe watch some TV; you could even spend the night if you don't want to drive all the way back to Hartford."

"Spend the night? Like a slumber party?"

"Sort of."

"You're just doing this because I lied to Dean for you, right?"

"I'm doing this because it's what you do with friends."

"We're friends?"

"I'm not sure if there's an exact definition for what we are, but I do think it falls somewhere in the bizzaro friendish realm." There was a pause. "Come on stay."

"Okay." Paris replied with a smile. "But if you're doing all of this so you can freeze my bra, I'll kill you." Paris walked out of the living room.

"Duly noted," Rory replied.

/\/\/\/\

The next morning, when Rory woke up Paris was sitting at the table. Rory's hair was all over her head, and she was still wearing her pajamas. But Paris was sitting at the table in her clothes from the night before.

"Paris, why didn't you wake me up?"

"I didn't want to take you from your sleep. I know in small towns you take your time doing everything." Rory sighed softly.

"We can go to Luke's. He's doing work on the diner, but we can go anyway." Rory nodded.

"Sure, that'll even make things look better." Paris said and Rory tilted her head.

"What?"

"Jess; we want Dean to believe he's was at your house because of me. If we're at the diner and I talk to Jess, then it'll make things look that way." Rory smiled.

"You'd do that for me Paris? Why?" Rory questioned.

"I don't know, I guess I'm feeling generous. Maybe on the way home I'll make a small group of elementary school children cry."

"Paris!"

"I wasn't serious Rory."

"Okay." Rory nodded. "Let's go." After Rory dressed, they walked over to Luke's and found a table. Jess walked over to them.

"What do you want?"

"Coffee, lots and lots of coffee," Rory smiled.

"I'll have a cup of coffee too." Paris replied. Jess nodded.

"Two coffees coming up," he walked away from the table as Dean walked into Luke's.

"Hey Rory," he smiled and leaned down to kiss her. He looked at Paris and his nose scrunched up. "Paris." Rory could tell Dean was still couldn't believe the thought of Jess and Paris being together.

"Dean," she smiled.

"Where's Lorelai?" Dean asked Rory.

"Oh mom went to a spa with grandma." Dean laughed.

"Your mom and your grandma are at a spa together? Whose idea was it?" Rory frowned.

"I think it was grandma."

"I'm sorry, but I can't imagine Mrs. Gilmore and Lorelai could do anything together."

"Last time I talked to Mom it wasn't going that well." Dean nodded. Jess walked over and put the cups of coffee in front of the girls.

"Hey Dean," He mocked.

"Jess," Dean responded irritatedly. He looked at Rory and then back at Jess. Paris stood up.

"Could you help me get a doughnut Jess? I'd really like it." Jess looked at her with a confused look, but nodded.

"Yeah, come on. Luke doesn't like anybody touching the food besides Caesar, me, or him anyway." They walked away and Rory watched them in amazement. She couldn't tell what Paris was saying from across the diner, but as she watched Dean look at them, she knew he was buying it.

/\/\/\/\/\

"Hey Rory," Paris said walking up to her after school. Rory stopped in her tracks and turned around. Things had been pleasant with Paris lately and she wasn't ready for that to change. Rory turned around and looked at her.

"What Paris?"

"I'll ride the bus with you back to Stars Hollow."

"You want to come to Stars Hollow?" Rory asked. "Without being forced, you want to come to my town?" Paris nodded.

"I just think that if I spend some time in Stars Hollow it'll make things look real to Dean and then he'll leave you alone."

"I don't know how to thank you for that." Paris shook her head.

"Don't thank me yet. I just don't want him to catch you in that lie." Rory nodded.

"Thank you anyway." Rory stated, but then she paused, "do you want to walk to the bus with me?"

"We don't have to act like we're the best of friends Rory. I told your boyfriend that Jess was there for me and then I stayed at your house. We don't have to tell anybody that we're just so close friends." Paris pulled the strap of her bag closer to her shoulder. "Be on the bus and don't be late." Paris walked away and Rory scoffed. Any time it seems like they are moving one step forward, Paris rips them back to square one. But an afternoon at Luke's with Paris and Jess wouldn't necessarily kill her. It would be interesting, but it's not going to hurt her.