A/N: Thank you for the for the delay in posting this but Easter has been stressful.

The next two months passed, with daily phone conversations and emails, whispered 'I miss you's and random text messages during the day, sweet reminders of being in the other one's thoughts.

It was Monday before Christmas and Lorelai and Rory were in Lorelai's car, heading back from the airport.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come home earlier…I had to go to the stupid staff party."

Lorelai took her eyes off the road and squeezed her daughter's shoulder reassuringly.

"It's ok. You're home now. And, hey, look on the bright side. Now I can blackmail you with this for the rest of your life."

"Great."

"Yes, I know, it's fantastic."She replied, grinning. "By the way, we're having Christmas dinner with the grandparents tomorrow."

"Isn't it too late for that?"

"What do you mean? Christmas isn't until tomorrow."

"Yes, but they usually have it weeks ahead of time." Rory clarified.

"Oh, they did. But since I just had to plan my wedding around Christmas time and they couldn't get out of town they're making me pay. With multiple dinners. I swear I would have killed her if she hadn't promised me the apple tarts will make an appearance again. And I won't even have Luke there to keep me sane."

"No, but you will have me to deflect all questions. Luke's coming back Wednesday morning with April, right?"

"Yep. If they hadn't sprang this on me last week I would have sworn he was just doing this to avoid being there. And how do you plan on deflecting questions? Telling them about Jess?"

"I'm…thinking about it. I have to tell them before the wedding. You don't suppose there's any chance grandma forgot who he is?"

"Is there any chance the third Godfather was just a bad nightmare? Because I think the two are pretty much at equal odds."

"Oh, well…" Rory sighed. "I'm sure it won't be that bad."

"Did you get hit over the head lately? Because there's no way you can actually expect you telling my mother that you're dating Jess will go over well."

"You know, you're supposed to encourage me. Lie if you have to!" Rory grinned.

"Then of course it will go over extremely well, sweetheart. I'm sure mom forgot all about your boyfriend showing up at dinner with a black eye, not to mention all the other charming things he did when you dated him in high school. She will start planning your wedding next. Will pink work for the bridesmaid dresses?"

Rory laughed, picking up her coffee cup from the cup holder and sipping from it.

"Good job. Now let's talk about the most important thing this week, after the wedding. The bachelorette party! It kind of sucks that I won't get to be an internationally known international supermodel this time."

"If it makes you feel any better we could call you Waffle the entire night."

"Yes, so much better."

"And anyway, you're getting too old to be a supermodel. By now your career has tanked, you have resorted to doing commercials for obscure Japanese sodas and you're just coming out of rehab for the third time. We're hoping it will stick."

"You are seriously disturbed, you know that?"

"I blame my mother." Lorelai grinned, pulling into the drive-way of their home.

The next day, the girls were sitting in the living room, waiting for time to pass so they could head out to dinner.

"It's creepy, I tell you." Lorelai chimed, opening her purse again and checking its contents. "We can't be ready on time. Simply can't."

"I know. You've never once been ready on time."

"Hey!" Lorelai yelped, trying to sound hurt. "I resent that. I can recall at least three occasions when we were late because of you."

"Did any of those times happen because I had to help you find your stuff and that's why I couldn't get ready myself?" Rory asked, smiling at her mother.

"Could be. So what do we do now?"

"Wait? Unless you'd rather leave now…?"

"Bite your tongue! I will not make this night longer then it has to be."

Rory tried to answer but her phone rang and she picked it up, looking at the number. "It's Jess. I'll take it in my room." Lorelai nodded and put down her purse, picking up the remote.

"Hey, Jess. Merry Christmas!" Rory said, walking to her room and shutting the door behind her, then sat on the bed.

"Merry Christmas. Is this a good time?"

"We have some time before I have to go to dinner."

"Good. So…how's everything?"

"Same as yesterday. How's everything there?"

"Same as yesterday." He mimicked her reply, smirking at the other end of the phone.

"How did the e-zine go?"

"All done and up on the website."

"And you're still coming tomorrow?"

"Breakfast and then I'll be on my way. I'd leave tonight but I'm exhausted and the guys want to head out for drinks."

"Less than 24 hours left. Could this be real?"

"I'd pinch you to make you believe it, but it's hard to do it over the phone. Can I get a rain check?"

"Depends. Do I get to pinch you back?"

"Nope. You get to kiss me back."

"I'll take that." She smiled, playing with the hem of her dress.

"So, how are things around town? Do I have to wear body armor for when people see me?"

"Nope. They all seem…ok with it. Well, other than Taylor, but he's insane. And Kirk. I think he's still scared of you."

"I never did anything to him."

"I know, but you have to keep in mind that Kirk is scared of twelve year olds."

"Way to make me feel manly. I'm at the same level as a twelve year old boy."

"I never said boy." She replied, laughing.

"So much better. How about everyone else?"

"They haven't said much. I don't think they'll believe it until they see it."

"Huh…and the grandparents? Still planning on telling them tonight?"

"I have to. I'm dreading it, but I will do it. But I would wear that armor under your tux at the wedding, if I were you."

"I have the special bullet proof Bond edition tux. I'll be safe."

"I don't think bullet proof is synonymous with Emily proof. I want you alive."

"Then, seeing as you're so passionate about me staying alive, you'll have to run interference for when she sees me and comes lunging at me."

Rory giggled at the mental image. "That I can do."

"Rory, we have to go!" Lorelai yelled from the other side of the door, knocking softly.

"Just a second." Rory replied.

"I guess that's your cue to leave."

"Guess so. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yes, you will. Good luck."

"Thanks. I'll need it. Bye, Jess."

"Bye."

She hung up her phone then put it back in her purse, opening the door to find her mother grinning on the other side.

"Your 'no, you're prettier' conversation officially made us one minute and twenty six seconds late. The tradition still stands! How's the hoodlum?"

"Jess is fine, mom." Rory sighed, smiling at her mother's pet name. "Well, shall we go before we're even later?"

"Fine." Lorelai grumbled, heading towards the front door.

Later that night, they were sitting in the elder Gilmore's dining room, eating quietly.

"So, Rory how's your friend Jess? Will we be seeing him at the wedding?" Richard asked smiling and putting his glass back down on the table.

"Jess? Is this the same Jess you were dating in high school, Rory?" Emily chimed in from the other end of the table, suddenly interested in the conversation. "How do you know him, Richard? And Rory, why are you still hanging out with that…delinquent?"

"Calm down, dear. I met him at Rory's birthday party. And she hasn't yet confirmed that we're talking about the same young man."

"It's the same man, grandpa. And yes, he'll be at the wedding."

"He's the best man, he better not miss it!" Lorelai said from her seat.

"What? How could you make him best man? He's nothing but trouble!" Emily asked, indignation in her voice.

"Hey, not my choice!" Lorelai lifted her hands up in defeat. "That's Luke's decision. And I would watch my words if I were you, mom, before you said something that really hurt someone's feelings." She accentuated the word 'really', looking her mother straight in the eyes.

"And whose feelings might that be, Lorelai? Luke isn't here and even if he were, he deserves it for making Rory have to go through the ceremony and reception near that…individual, after everything he did to her."

"Mom, stop now!" Lorelai warned, looking at her daughter's angry expression.

"Luke has the right to chose whomever he wants to stand up for him, grandma." Rory replied trying to stay calm. "I am no longer twelve and don't need to be protected. What happened with Jess was a long time ago and I don't appreciate you talking about him like that, when you don't even know him. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to be alone for a while." She finished her sentence and stood up, heading towards her grandfather's desk. She slammed the door behind her, leaving the three people silent at the dinner table.

Lorelai looked at her father. "I'll go talk to her."

"Can I give it a try first?" Richard asked. "I promise that if she wants you, I'll come get you." Lorelai looked at the door again, then nodded softly.

Richard walked to his study and knocked on the door.

"I'll be out in a second!" Rory said from the other room.

"Rory…it's your grandfather. Can I come in?" He asked, opening the door slowly.

"Sure, grandpa." She replied from her seat, whipping her face. Richard sat down in the seat next to hers.

"What's wrong?"

"I just…hate that she talks about Jess like that."

"Rory…your grandmother is concerned about you. We'd both hate to see you get hurt."

"But she doesn't know him. She formed her opinion based on one dinner, almost five years ago and she can't seem to understand that people change or grow up."

"Can I ask you a question?"

She nodded, waiting.

"There's something more than just friendship happening between you two, isn't there?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because, while I know you have a big heart, you wouldn't get this upset if your grandmother was only talking about a friend. And I've seen the way you look at each other. So care to confirm my suspicions?"

"We're dating." She whispered softly. "I wanted to tell you tonight at dinner but…that happened."

Richard placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently.

"Well, I for one am happy for you. As for your grandmother...I think it's best if I'm the one to tell her."

Rory nodded, smiling weakly. "You don't have to. I can."

"I know. But after almost 43 years of marriage, I think I know the best way to deal with Emily. And this way, we're not risking another fight between everyone. Ok?"

"Ok." They both got up but before he could walk out, Rory hugged him. "Thank you, grandpa."

"Anytime."