A/N: This is my second "Gilmore Girls" fic, though the first was actually a songfic, so in my opinion, it doesn't count. This is going to be a long one, and probably a little confusing, but bear with me.
To Literati (R/J) Fans: PLEASE do not be turned off. Even if Rory and Tristan do get together, I promise I will make a spin-off type thing where Rory and Jess get together, but you have to read this fic for it to make sense.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: R/T, R/J
Disclaimer: I do not own "Gilmore Girls." That is owned by Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB. I do, however, own most of this storyline (some was taken from previous episodes), so steal that and I will haunt you for the rest of your life.
On with the story.
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"Please?"
"No."
"Oh, come on. One cup of coffee."
"It'll kill you."
"At least I'll die happy."
"You sound like Lorelai."
"And you sound like Luke," Rory Gilmore laughed.
Jess Mariano sighed. She never gave up. And he always gave in. He wasn't in the mood for verbal sparring, though, so he picked up the coffeepot and poured Rory a cup.
"Yay! Coffee," she said, downing half the cup in one gulp, "is a life-force, and as you are the supplier of that life-force, you are a god."
Jess laughed. She never failed to do that. Make him laugh. She was the only one who could.
"Mommy!" A twelve-year-old girl bounded into the diner and collapsed in a chair next to her mother. "You won't believe what I just saw!"
"Was it Taylor giving someone mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?" Rory replied, smiling at her daugher's antics.
"Eww. Mom," the girl groaned. "No, it wasn't. Mr. Legano was proposing to Miss Patty!"
"You're kidding," Rory deadpanned.
Jess paused in wiping the counter and listened to Rory's daughter.
"No, I'm not. And," she paused for emphasis. "I think Miss Patty said yes!"
"She's going to tie herself down to one man?"
"I guess so. She was putting the ring on, and Mr. Legano hugged her and then," the girl paused, wrinkling her nose, "he kissed her."
Rory laughed, "It's about time."
Yes, Jess thought. It was. It was about time a lot of people thought about getting married. Rory was thirty years old, with a twelve-year-old little girl, but she hadn't gone on a date in … what had it been? Eleven years since he had last seen … him. The father of Rory's child. Tristan DuGrey.