Title: Peer Pressure

Summary: Fourth installment in the WHW series. A Trory, of course. And, you know a billion other pairings.

Rating: T, for teen. Because there are so many of them running about.

"You're sure you're okay? Completely unscathed? No one convinced you I was the devil or on the lam or responsible for the Legally Blonde series?" Jess looked Gwen over, to make sure she had no apparent marks from her time spent 'in the trenches,' as he'd put it.

She smacked at his chest and giggled. "No," she paused dramatically, "Unless you're 'fessing up to one or more of those things. You do put up quite a bit of protesting for an innocent man."

"I admit to nothing," he smirked, pulling her close. "You really had a good time?" he sighed into her hair.

"I did. I even got a present."

"A present?" he asked with interest. "What kind of presents does one acquire at a bridal shower? Jordan almonds? Those tiny bottles of bubbles? Some kind of instructional guide for getting your man to commit?"

"Wow, you've been to a lot of bridal showers in your day, haven't you?" she teased, sliding out of his grasp.

"You aren't going to tell me?" his eyes widened.

"Not just yet," she bit her lip playfully. "We'll see if you earn it."

"Earn what?" he asked.

"It's no good, Jess, this one is too smart for you. We tried to tell her, but whatever poison you inject into your women to blind them to your faults has clearly already set in. Nothing we could do to save her," Lorelai said as she passed the pair.

"Mom, stop," Rory chided as she came down the stairs, Tristan in tow.

"You aren't allowed to comment, he got to you years before, and you're still nice to him. I don't know what I'll do with any of you," she threw her hands up in the air as she passed out of the room, in search of the bride and groom.

XXXX

"Okay, so then you turn and hold hands, then you'll recite your vows, kiss, and the minister will announce you husband and wife."

"Then we get out of here?" Dave asked.

"Well, you can't go far," Lorelai giggled. "Just head out the main doors, to receive everyone, so people can roam the grounds while we put finishing touches on the reception area. Which, we'll be needing everyone's help with, by the way."

"I thought that's what we did this morning," Billy said from his place next to Will in the procession.

"You got it mostly ready. There are some things we can't do until tomorrow."

"I hate weddings," Billy mumbled.

"Is that it, Mom?" Will asked, knowing the boys were all anxious to get the show on the road, and there was still dinner to get through.

"Yeah. Does anyone have any questions?"

She looked around the room, to see that there were already small discussion groups forming. Her son and Anna were making sickening glances at each other from behind the other wedding party members, Jess was making Gwen giggle by whispering in her ear, Rory was watching with Tristan's arms wrapped around her waist, supporting her from behind as they stood in the back of the room. She was ready to snuggle up with her man as well.

"Alright, dismissed to the dining room!"

The crowd slowly made its way in, where food had been placed ready for the taking. Only the bride and groom stayed behind, Mal looking over the décor and set up for the next day.

Will approached Anna, who'd been unable to take her eyes off of him the entirety of the rehearsal. He had to admit, he would much rather go home with her tonight than hit a strip club with his family and friends. And frankly, he didn't care if that made him whipped.

"Whatcha' thinking about?" she sidled up against him as they waited in the longish line for food.

"You."

"Hmm. Are you thinking good things?" she asked, Ella's idea still in her head from the shower.

"Very good things."

They shared a smile, and he leaned down to kiss her. Maybe the best man wouldn't be missed at the bachelor party. Maybe he could just sneak out with her, take her back to the apartment, without anyone being the wiser.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD EVEN SAY THAT TO ME!"

"Was that Mal?" Anna asked, already on Will's heels as they hurried out to see what the fighting was about. He shut the doors between the main rooms and held up his hands.

"What is going on here?"

Mal turned to Anna. "I told him about that book his mom got me, the, you know, sex book?"

Will's face paled, while Anna stifled a giggle. Will looked immediately to Davey.

"Oh my God, you told her? How dumb are you?"

"What? How was I supposed to know she'd react like this?"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Mal shouted again, glaring at Davey.

"Why would you tell her about us all going to a strip club tonight?"

"You're all going to a strip club tonight?" Mal and Anna asked, both of them crossing their arms over their chests.

"Thanks, man. Thanks."

"He told me he wanted four kids in four years," Mal narrowed her eyes at him. "Big chance of that happening if you're going to be going to strip clubs."

"God, you pig!" Anna yelled at her brother. "And you, you were going with this idiot?"

"Actually, I was going to," Will started, but the others had heard the scuffle and come out to voice their own concerns.

"I mean, it was your idea, right? The best man arranges all that stuff?" Anna asked knowingly.

"It was Dad!" he yelled.

"Yeah, like anyone believes Luke wants to go to a strip club," Rory scoffed at her brother, turning to Tristan. "You were going?"

"Maybe, you know, if Jess was," he coughed.

"Unbelievable," Lorelai looked at all the men that she thought were smarter than this. "So, you're having your bachelor party tonight? Well, then us girls will have to have a bachelorette party tonight too."

"But you guys just had a party, today," Dave pointed out.

"We had a bridal shower. We haven't had a bachelorette party. It's only fair, since you're having a bachelor party, right? It's not my fault you didn't have a groomal shower!"

"That's not even a word!" he yelled.

"Let's just see how we both feel in the morning, after we've had our fun."

"Mal," he reached out for her, but she pulled back.

"Go on, go watch the sleazy girls and their poles and disease-ridden plastic-enhanced bodies dance for you. See if I care. We're going out," Mal informed him.

"Drinking," Lorelai said.

"All night long," Rory smirked.

"But you can't do that," Tristan pulled her close, talking low. "You know how you get when you drink."

Rory simply smirked at him. "Well, you should have thought about that before you agreed to go watch the other women strip. I'm sure I'll find my way home before dawn."

"Anna, I really need to talk to you a minute," Will pleaded.

"It can wait 'til tomorrow, I'm sure," she snapped.

"No, it can't," he pulled her outside, away from the bickering that was going on between couples and filling the Inn.

"Will, let go of me, now!" she ripped her elbow from his hand. "Are you insane?"

"I wasn't going to go! I was going to ask you to come back to the apartment with me," he insisted.

"Sure, Dave seemed to know all about that plan. And is he insane, with four in four?"

"I didn't know about that, either. Dave never shares his life plan with me," he shook his head. "You have to believe me. I didn't even want to go!"

"Well, don't let me stop you. I mean, we're just dating, it's not like you're as bad as Dave, who is engaged, right, or the other guys, who are all married. You're the only bachelor here," she informed him.

"Ann, don't do this."

"Don't do what? What did I say that was false?"

He looked at her for a beat, willing the words to stay down. A fight wasn't the time to do this. "Please, just come back to the apartment with me. Don't go with the girls, I won't go with the guys, please."

He could tell she was on the verge of tears, he just couldn't tell if she was going to agree or not. He reached out for her again, softer this time. He found her hand and pulled her toward him.

"Please."

"I think we should just take a breather for tonight. Go with the guys. We can talk after the wedding."

"Ann, please, that's not what I want."

"Well, I need time to think, okay? So, just go," she urged him.

He looked at her for a beat before turning around and walking away, out past the stables, leaving her to stand in place, alone as she'd requested.

XXXX

Rory came back down the stairs to meet the rest of the girls for their night out. She was dressed to the nines in a little black dress and the highest heels Lorelai owned. Her hair was upswept, and she was securing her small clutch as she descended. Tristan was sitting with Jess and Luke, also ready to leave when the rest of the boys showed up. He stood and moved to her, his eyes already filled with remorse.

"Please, please, please, don't go out tonight."

She giggled. "Now, you boys have fun tonight, okay?"

"At least go change."

"Why?"

"You look hot. You're gonna get hit on."

"So?"

"Rory, come on!"

"I'm a big girl, and I'm taking my mommy. I'll be fine," she teased, kissing him on the cheek.

"I hate this," he groaned, running his hands down the side of her body.

"Well, I must say, I'm having loads of fun so far," Gwen announced, also coming down the stairs all dressed up. It was Jess' turn to groan.

"You're punishing me, too?" he asked.

"That depends, how bad do you plan on being?" she smiled.

"Once you get home? Or before?"

"I like that answer."

"You don't mind me going out tonight?"

"Why would I care? I know who you're coming home to, right?" she whispered in his ear.

"See, now this is why I love you," he held her tightly against him for a moment before he realized the words that had eased out so quickly. "I mean, I," he stumbled.

"Shh," she urged him before kissing his cheek, leaving a faint lipstick reminder. "Have fun tonight, okay?"

He nodded, looking at her in wonder as she moved over to join the other women. Luke looked at his watch as Davey came in.

"Anyone seen or heard from Will?"

"No," he replied, looking at Anna. "You?"

She shook her head, pretending to check her purse. "We should go, though. We just have to pick Mom up. I'll go get Mal and meet you guys at the car," she said, moving upstairs to get the bride.

"Shit," Dave slumped down next to Luke as his own father came in.

"I can't believe you let the four in four and the strip club drop in the same night," Tristan laughed. "That's the kind of ammo you let loose over three years, not three minutes."

"What's wrong with four in four?" Jackson asked.

"Idiots, all of you," Luke shook his head. "Come on, let's go. We'll find Will and get the hell on with this," he announced, moving out to catch up with Lorelai before the women pulled away.

"Hey!" he called out, causing his elegant-looking wife to turn around.

"I'm sorry, I've decided to talk only with men wearing G-strings that let me tuck dollar bills into them tonight."

"I'm not going to wear a G-string for you."

"Don't be so sure about that, mister, you have some 'splaining to do."

"I'm not going to talk with the Richardo accent, either."

"It's like you've learned nothing, in all these years," she shook her head. "Don't wait up!"

"Lorelai, hang on," he said, causing her to turn once more, her face serious.

"What?"

"Just, I'm going to try to straighten the boys out. This was my idea, and I will fix it. Just, work on calming down the girls, will you?"

She narrowed her eyes at his sincerity. "Yeah, okay. But you will be providing me with some amount of amusement for all this. I may require the G-string with the Richardo accent."

"To the Moon, Alice," he smirked.

"It's better with the impression."

"The reference is enough."

"Only in your world," she bantered, disappearing behind the steering wheel and starting up the car, giving him a wave as the car full of dressed up women hit the town.

"I hate weddings," he grumbled before turning toward the car of men that was ready to set off in search of his son. And he knew just where to look.