Disclaimer- Gilmore Girls and the characters associated with the show are not mine.

Chapter Seven: Doose Saves the Day

At the strategy luncheon, Luke's fears of Richard franchising his diner were put to rest, and there was no mention of golfing. Richard got right to the point, as Sookie bustled about delivering their food and drinks.

"Last night we had friends over, and I very carefully steered the conversation around to literature, knowing my dinner companions were avid J. Mariano fans, and they wouldn't be able to resist discussing his newest book. Emily, having never read his books, was left out of the conversation to begin with, but the most odious woman alive, roped her in, as I knew she would."

"Dad, you know who J. Mariano is, don't you?" Lorelai asked.

"I didn't, until Rory confirmed it for me," Richard replied. "Emily does not, as of yet. Luke, some of the conversation last night revolved around the feeling the author of these books had a rough childhood. Is that accurate?" he asked. Luke shifted in his seat before responding.

"I tried to help when I could find them, when I knew there were problems, but yes, I know Jess had a rough time of it," Luke replied, wondering where this was going.

"I believe Rory and he have strong feelings for each other, and I want to smooth the way with Emily. I started the process last night, and we're attending an event tomorrow where I'm sure the conversation can be brought around to publishing. Not only is he an accomplished writer, his little company has done very well in this chaotic publishing climate," Richard added.

"So your plan is to make him socially acceptable?" Lorelai asked, "Do you think it will work?"

"If our friends are talking about him positively, if he has cachet, she will have a hard time dismissing him. But there's more. You may not know this, but your mother loves underdogs. In the last several years, her charity work has been turning away from the standard arts and gardens variety toward children's issues. Rory writes about them, and because of it, Emily becomes involved. Organizations like CASA, Angel Tree, Back Pack Program, charities for inner city scholarships, and so forth. So I want to emphasize Jess's rise from hardship, and Luke, I'll need your help. The charity event this week means you have almost two weeks to prepare. I want you to tell us about his childhood. What he went through. Specifics. Can you do it? I'd like Emily to have his background before their relationship comes out," Richard added.

"Yes, for Rory and Jess, I can," Luke said, "what I know anyway, from the bits Jess let slip, from the trips I took."

"For Rory," Lorelai, and Richard said together.

Emily tapped her fingers on the armrest; she had only enough time to get the books signed for Richard and visit her favorite store before heading back to Hartford for Friday night dinner. She was in a hurry, but since she wasn't driving herself, she had to stay quiet. The driver had already threatened to leave her on the side of the road once. Who knows, the degenerate would probably do it too. As if sighing was a sin, something to be frowned upon. The man drove like a turtle. It would make a saint sigh. After arranging to call the driver when she was ready to be picked up, since he refused to drive around the block till she came out, Emily entered the store, only to find the signing was over.

"What do you mean the author is done signing? Is he here? If he's here, he can sign this book!" Emily told the clerk. Jess could hear it clearly from the back of the store where he was packing up. The voice was familiar, more the condescension and rhythm of the speech than the voice itself. It had haunted his "what ifs" for years. Swearing under his breath, he moved to the front of the store before the conversation escalated, and as he heard a cold "Do you know who I am? I could buy this store," Jess interrupted.

"Hello, Mrs. Gilmore, let's have a seat over here in the coffee shop, you'll be more comfortable. Would you like a cup of coffee while I sign for you?" Jess asked, figuring as a Gilmore, coffee would be a safe bet.

"Yes, thank you. I brought your books with to have signed for my husband. He's been an admirer of yours for several years." Emily said, as she looked the young man in front of her over, assessing the quality of his shirt and tie. He was familiar, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"You don't remember me, do you?" Jess asked, placing the coffee in front of her. Emily narrowed her eyes as recognition began to dawn. He could see when it came to her by the tightness around her mouth, the flush working its way up her cheeks. Sitting down, he reached across and picked up the books she brought. He was surprised to see The Subsect among them and idly wondered if Richard enjoyed it.

"How long have you and Rory been dating again?" Emily asked. Jess glanced up from his book, meeting her eyes, not giving an inch. He knew he wouldn't win a battle of wills against Emily Gilmore, but he'd be damned if he backed down. Picking up a pen, he replied.

"We've been talking on the phone for a couple of weeks now, and plan on seeing each other next month when she's in Concord. You should know, I have no intention of letting you or anyone else come between us. I realize I'm not the man you want for your granddaughter, but if I'm the man she wants, I'm not letting her go this time. Would you like these all signed to Richard?" Emily was silent, appraising the young man's quiet confidence. Trying to reconcile him with the hoodlum who visited her house, and she could see why Rory was attracted to him as he met her look for look.

"Yes please, Richard has been following your career from the beginning. Has he always known you were Rory's ex-boyfriend?" Emily asked, taking a different tact.

"Rory told me her Grandfather didn't know until after my newest book came out and he received a copy from a friend. This book," Jess said as he pulled one out of his messenger bag and signed it. It wasn't included with the ones she had brought. Jess passed it back, open, so Emily could read his written Thank you for all of your support under the dedication to Rory.

"I didn't realize Richard could be as devious as his daughter. I should have known, of course. Tell me; are there anymore plans to spin your persona? I've had to sit through several conversations about your company and writing at social events. From all accounts, you've done quite well for yourself. Richard said you're being courted by several entities who want to invest and expand your company. He also said one of them was a shark, so be careful who you pick."

"At this point we're not interested in outside investors, but I know who he's talking about, and if we do change our minds about taking in an investor, I might give your husband a call for advice. I can admit when I'm out of my depth, and the couple of business classes I've taken won't be enough. I believe the plan was to make me socially acceptable. I told Rory it wasn't possible," Jess replied with a wry smile.

"Do they really believe I'm so shallow? You're obviously a different person from the delinquent who came to my house with a black eye. Tell me, in your second book, your chapters through the child's eyes were sad, but detached, as if you couldn't get close to the subject, I came away with the impression your childhood was difficult." Emily said. Jess reeled at the change in subject and almost stood from the table to leave; his childhood was not something he wanted to discuss with Emily. Forcing himself to stay, he gestured to the waitress for another cup of coffee and sipped it before answering.

"I wasn't aware you read my work."

"My friends recommended you for our book club. I thought I should preview one. I can see why Richard enjoys your writing. There is a substance and depth missing from most contemporary writers," Emily said. Jess knew, from Luke's rants, that a brief acknowledgement from Emily Gilmore of a job well done didn't mean you were in her good books. Even so, he felt he should give her something in return.

"Rory gave me a heads up, tonight at your dinner; Luke is going to talk about what he knows of my life. He doesn't know much, but I think I'll let him tell it. The child was hard to write, because other than a few exceptions, my life wasn't as good. I didn't have a point of reference to draw from," Jess said. "Truthfully, I tried to channel Rory and what I imagined her life to be like."

"I wasn't around for Rory's childhood, as Lorelai took her away to Stars Hollow, but I imagine it was happy," Emily said.

"With someone as insane as Lorelai, could it have been anything else?" Jess smiled at the thought. A real smile, not a smirk.

"Be wary, Lorelai is an expert at twisting what you say, and using it against you." Emily replied. Rather the pot calling the kettle black, Jess thought, but wisely didn't voice. No need to rock the boat when you only had the slightest grip on it anyway. He knew then he needed to wrap this up, Emily had driven him to thinking in bad clichés.

"Oh I'm very aware. That black eye? Well, Luke told Lorelai the truth about how I got it, and she waited. Years in fact, before letting me know she knew."

"How did you get the black eye? I remember Rory being quite upset about it at the time," Emily asked, and Jess smirked before replying.

"I was attacked by a vicious swan, it beaked me while I was walking around Stars Hollow one day. When Luke mocked me because of it, I took off after the swan with the first thing I could grab from the diner. A ladle. It was gone by the time I got there, but Luke told Lorelai about it. She carried a ladle around with her in her purse, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, and I don't get to Stars Hollow often. I was taking my sister to the park, and the swan was out swimming. Lorelai ran up, pulled the ladle out of her purse, and yelled 'Don't worry Jess! I'll protect you!' I've taken my revenge though. Not against Lorelai. No, I took my revenge out on the deserving party, Luke. I only wish I could be there to see it play out."

"What did you do?"

"I put a scene in this book where 'Duke the Diner Guy' is attacked by a duck and 'Tyler the Town Mayor' saves him. It will drive Luke nuts to have Taylor save him, even if it is in fiction." Jess said.

"If you mark the page, I'll have Luke read it out loud at dinner tonight, and my maid can snap a picture for you." Emily suggested, smiling at the thought. The sight of her smile scared Jess more than anything else in their brief conversation, but for a picture of Luke reading Doose Saves the Day? Priceless. He'd get it blown up and have it framed. Give a copy to Luke for Christmas.