Preamble: This is a Rory/Jess fanfic. He is my favourite Rory love affair person. I think Jess really understands Rory best than the others. But I don't think you'd want to read me talking anymore so I'll stop.

Welcome Home, Rory

Rory graduated from Yale University. She is working for an online magazine for about seven months now following and reporting on Barack Obama's campaign trail. It seems to be going good. He still has months of campaigning left.

Christmas is near and they're going on hiatus. Tomorrow, she's going back to Stars Hollow and she's really excited about seeing her family and friends soon. She has been sending post cards and emails and phone calls to every one who are dear to her. That means, there are a lot of post cards, emails and phone calls. She is basically using 5% of her salary on post cards and phone calls.

Rory was lying on her bed, trying to sleep. She was recollecting the events that happened the last time she was home. She had been wondering if she'd made the right decision. She was glad though that her mom got back together with Luke. Maybe they'll even plan a wedding soon. I just hope they won't elope like what mom and dad did. That really upset me that I wasn't there when they got married, she thought. Logan looked really depressed when she rejected his proposal. Maybe I should go see him. She paused, contemplating if she should. No, I should just go to sleep. Tomorrow, I'm going back to Stars Hollow. I should be happy. I'm going to see my mom and Luke, Zach and Lane and the twins! And Grandma and Grandpa, Babette, Miss Patty… and the list goes on and on. By recounting who she will be seeing tomorrow, she was happier and fell asleep in the middle of her thoughts.

Rory woke up quite early, 5:47 a.m., to be exact. It was now 6:15 and since she woke up, she has been packing her clothes and valuables and of course, souvenirs on her bed. Which works well as Christmas presents. The sun was just about rising and a little ray of sunlight entered through her window. She heard a knock on her door.

"Rory?" the voice from the other side of the door said.

"Oh, come in," Rory said and she continued to pack.

The door opened and a man wearing glasses and a polo shirt poked his head in. "Oh hi, Paul," Rory greeted him.

Paul came in and closed the door behind him. "Hi, Rory. I just wanted to say good bye and Happy Holidays before you leave."

"Aww, thanks Paul, you're a doll."

"So, you seem pretty excited to go back home."

"Yeah, I miss my mom and the small town. I'll probably get trampled when I get home. But it's okay. I'm being trampled for a good thing."

"Well, they like you a lot. Anyway, I better go now. Oh, by the way, can I borrow some stamps? I really need to send a couple letters here and there."

"Oh sure, they're over there at my desk."

He walked over to the desk to grab some. "Okay, got 'em. Bye Rory."

"Bye, Paul. Happy Holidays!" Paul walked out of her room and Rory kept on packing.

____________

It was quite a busy day at Luke's. Mostly, people were talking about how Rory was coming back for Christmas. The usual people were in there. Babette, Miss Patty, Kirk and Lulu, Taylor and many more. Lorelai came in. Everywhere people jumped at her and asked her questions about Rory.

"Umm. Wait… HEY!" Lorelai shouted. Everyone went quiet. "Okay, I can't answer your questions all at once. You know who I think you should ask? Rory. She will gladly ask your questions when she gets here." Lorelai smiled.

"As town selectman, I believe we should hold a town meeting where Rory will be our special guest. She will stand at the podium and people will ask questions one by one. If things get out of hand she will bang the gavel and you are expected to be silenced. That way, it would be more civil and orderly." Taylor declared.

"I think that's a great idea. You know, more orderly and civil because there's nothing I like more than civility and order." Lorelai said. Internally, Lorelai is laughing at this. Something to mock Rory for! She thought.

"Okay, what time will she come?" Miss Patty asked.

"Uh, she will come at around 3:30." Lorelai answered.

"Oh sugar, I'm so excited to see our little reporter!" Babette exclaimed.

"Yes, it is exciting. I assure you that she has not added any new tattoos or any other piercings besides her ears. Anyway, I'm gonna.." pointed toward the stool by the counter and walked towards it.

"Okay, we'll talk to you later, sugar." Babette said.

She sat down in her usual spot at the counter. Luke emerged from the kitchen and greeted Lorelai, "Good morning."

"Good morning. How come you left me at home? I could have come with you. Do you know how it made me feel when I woke up without you by my side?" Lorelai said.

"Well, I want you to be well rested when you see Rory. Also, I wanted to get a head start on Rory's Welcome Home feast. You know, fries, burger, mac and cheese, pancakes, doughnuts and many more of her unhealthy favourites."

"Aww, that's sweet that you're doing that for Rory. Do I get any of those unhealthiness?"

"Normally, I would say no because I want you to live to the day when we plan our wedding but sure. I'll get you some pancakes and bacon."

"With a side of danish?"

"Coming right up."

"And eggs, sausages, toast and muffins! Oh and hey, you forgot to pour me coffee!"

"Go ahead and pour your own coffee!" Luke replied from the kitchen.

Lorelai went behind the counter and took the coffee pot and she poured her own cup. She also grabbed a slice of peach pie.

A man came in to Luke's. He sat on the table near the window that's directly in front of the counter. Lorelai grabbed an apron, baseball cap, a pad and a pencil and went over to the person who walked in. "Hey, can I take your order?" Lorelai asked him.

"Do not take orders!!" Luke yelled from the kitchen.

"Oh come on! I used to take orders here before when you needed help!!" Lorelai yelled back. The man sat there quite uncomfortably

"No, I don't want you to do anything. I want you to sit and relax and eat your pie!!"

"How did you know that I took pie?!"

"Two words says it all: Lorelai Gilmore."

"Oh." Lorelai now started to talk in a whisper, "Don't listen to him. Now tell me, what would you like to eat?"

"Uhh, I would like," the man started to say but was immediately cut off by Luke saying, "Lorelai! Put the apron down and sit back on your own seat!" Luke yelled again.

"Fine!!" Lorelai pouted and sat back down. Luke emerged from the kitchen and he walked over to the guy Lorelai was trying to take orders from.

"Hi, sorry about that. What would you like to order?" Luke asked him. The guy told him what he wanted and Luke said, "Okay, I'll be right back with your order."

Luke went to the pouting lady and asked, "How are you doing?"

"You're mean! You wouldn't let me play!" Lorelai said. She pouted again and crossed her arms.

A bell rang and Luke went back to the kitchen. And Lorelai continued to say, "I never want to see you again! I will shun you to nonexistence! I will throw out all your stuff out my window! I will.."

By that time Luke brought out a plate filled with eggs, pancakes, sausages, bacon, danish, toast and muffins. All steaming with unhealthy goodness. And Lorelai says, "I love you. I will set up a shrine for you."

"Well, build a shrine for me later. Eat."

Lorelai dug in. Not surprisingly, she consumed all the copious amounts of food on her plate, including the peach pie.

____________

Lorelai got to the airport at 2:30 p.m because she could not contain herself. She and Luke were sitting in the waiting chair the closest to the gate Rory will come out from. Every now and then she squeezes Luke's hand. Sometimes, a little too hard.

"Ow! That was harder than last time!" Luke exclaimed.

"Sorry! I'm just so excited!! In a few minutes I'd be able to see my child, my offspring, the fruit of my loin, my daughter. I cannot contain myself." Lorelai replied.

"I should have gotten you a stress ball on the way over here."

"Do you not like my squeezes of love?"

"I do not mind the squeezes. I mind the pain. You know I run a diner and my hands are very important to me."

"Fine. I'll try to squeeze a little lighter this time."

Lorelai squeezed again. Luke twisted his face in pain. He decided to give up and he just let her squeeze as hard as she could.

It's 3:30 and people started emerging from the gate. Lorelai gave Luke a final squeeze and stood up. So many people that aren't Rory, Lorelai thought. Not Rory. Not Rory, Not Rory… She thought as the people who were not Rory passed by.

Then finally, someone she recognized arrives. She was kind of struggling with her luggage. Lorelai picked up a card that says "Welcome to Stars Hollow, Rory Gilmore!!" The card was decorated with baby pictures of Rory. She held it up and Rory saw it and a huge smile appeared on her face. Rory started running towards her mother. She dropped her luggage and hugged her mom. Lorelai squeezed tight.

"Ow, mom, I can't breathe. You're squeezing too tight. You should really have a stress ball." Rory gasped.

"Yes, I know that's what I said." Luke said.

Lorelai released her grip and Rory said, "Air!"

"Oh hush! I missed you so much Rory!!! How could you do this to me?! Making me miss you as much as this! You should be punished!" Lorelai said.

"Well, I can tell you missed me so much by the pressure of your hug and I love the card. I will forever resent you for this. What should be my punishment?"

"Well, you don't resent me for many things, so this is once in a blue moon. Your punishment is that you must spend every waking hour with your mother whom you've abandoned for seven months now. And the start of your punishment is from this poster. I will hold it up for everyone to see."

"I'm going to be so humiliated! Fine, I will spend my waking hours with you. But I will do it with resistance!"

"Okay, let's go home. Be prepared to be trampled and asked questions."

"Is this part of my punishment too?"

"No, believe it or not, it's not a punishment. The town just loves you in the most dangerous of ways."

Luke and Lorelai grabbed her luggage.

_____________

As Luke's truck came closer to the town square, there was a crowd gathered at the gazebo. As they got closer to Luke's, the crowd started following is truck.

"Oh my goodness! There's a crowd out there! Luke, slow down and be careful!!" Rory exclaimed.

"Crazy town people!!" Luke yelled.

"Hey, Rory, you're the town's Beatle. Okay, here's the thing, when we get to Luke's I want you to get out, run in to the diner, and into Luke's apartment as fast as you could!! Lock the door when you go in!" Lorelai said.

"I'm really scared!" Rory cried.

"Don't be! Just follow what I said."

Luke's truck stopped in front of his diner. "GO!!" Lorelai ordered.

Rory jumped out of the car and ran towards the diner. The crowd ran after her. In the crowd, she heard "WE MISSED YOU RORY!!!" Rory ignored it and climbed the stairs towards Luke's apartment. She closed the door behind her and locked it. She turned around, leaned her back on the door and sighed. She closed her eyes and she just tried to catch her breath.

"Hey, Rory, I didn't know you were coming back," a voice says from within. She was very shocked to hear someone's voice. She opened her eyes to look at where or whom the voice came from.

"Jess?" Rory said as she saw who it was. She walked towards him as she was trying to make sure that it wasn't fake or a hologram.

Luke and Lorelai came in the apartment and lugging up Rory's luggage. Lorelai was saying, "Man that was crrazy! Rory, you've got to stop having that impact on people, otherwise, we might get trampled to death……" Lorelai trailed off as she saw who the unexpected guest was. "Jess?"

"Jess? What are you doing here?" Luke asked.

To be continued…