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

Chapter Eleven: Apple Cider's Better

"It's fun picking paint with someone who actually knows what colors work together," Rory said, as the trio left the paint store, loaded down with supplies for Luke and Jess.

"I know! The salesman didn't cry once, and even approved of the soft grey Garret picked for the walls. We'll drop this off at home, and grab some boxes," Lorelai said. "Unless you're hungry? Are you hungry?" she asked Garret. He wasn't sure if she was serious or not. They'd only eaten breakfast two hours ago, and he didn't think he'd ever eaten so much at one time before.

"Um, no?" he said, watching Lorelai and Rory's faces fall. "But I'm thirsty, I guess," he added. Both women jumped at the idea, and after dropping off the supplies, headed to Luke's for coffee and a little something to tide them over to lunch. While painting together, Jess took the opportunity to talk to Luke.

"You're sure, right? 'Cause if you're not, then let Rory and I do this instead. We'll fight whatever battles we need to so Garret has a home," Jess said, putting the finishing touches on the white ceiling. Luke glanced over, and went back to edging the room in the grey.

"I'm sure. I wasn't when Lorelai brought up the idea of adoption before our wedding. I wanted to have a child with her. Seeing her pregnant with my child was always a dream of mine, and I had to give it up. We wasted too much time, and it was my fault. All my fault. If I would have asked her to marry me three years ago, or better yet, not been an idiot about Anna and April, I could have had the family I wanted. So the more I thought about adoption, the better it sounded. I can't imagine dealing with a pregnant Gilmore's food cravings. You should've seen Jackson with Sookie, and she's a normal eater. Plus, it's what Lorelai wants. She's scared. So many things can go wrong, and I don't know if we'd survive losing a baby. It would break her heart, which would break mine. That's the main reason," Luke said. Jess nodded.

"Losing a baby would break your heart too, you know. You may act like you don't like babies, but I remember you with Doula. Why adoption?"

"In the end, it's family. It boiled down to wanting a family with Lorelai. You, Rory and April are great, but we want to build something together, at the same time. We picked up information on adoption and foster care last month. We already know about the classes Benjamin mentioned, we're signed up for them. Then this came up, and it feels right. For both of us, and for Garret. Paul Anka even seems to approve," Luke added with a gesture at the dog in the doorway. He had a pack of pencils in his mouth and a coffee cup at his feet. Jess and Luke stared at the strange canine. Jess smirked. It was Paul Anka's version of "Help! Timmy's in the well."

"The dog's right. They're going to give Garret coffee," Jess said. Luke put down his paint brush.

"I think the ceiling needs to dry a bit before we do the walls. Come on, let's get there before they corrupt my new kid," he said, bolting out the door to the diner.

"You know Luke would say no to this idea," Rory said, as she stirred coffee into a mug of warm milk and sugar. Lorelai laughed.

"Which is why we're doing it now, before he finds out," she replied. Garret wasn't sure. Their coffee smelt bitter. He didn't think milk and sugar was going to make a difference. He looked down into the mug as the colors blended and raised it to his lips, taking a small sip. The women looked at him, waiting for him to realize it was nectar of the gods and gulp it down. He took another sip, and set the cup down, glancing around the diner. Everyone was waiting for his response, including Jess and Luke who were now standing in the doorway. Luke looked worried, as he adjusted his hat and crossed his arms across his chest. Garret shrugged his shoulders.

"It's okay, I guess. I like apple cider better." Jess and Luke began clapping, while Lorelai and Rory made exaggerated sad faces.

"Tea's good too," Jess said with a smirk at Rory. Luke brought Garret a piece of apple pie.

"Here, you might want something to wipe the taste out," he said with a frown at Lorelai.

"We're going to have to set some rules. You can't be corrupting him. I won't have my son living on junk food and coffee," Luke said with a glare at the two women. Rory teared up, and reaching across the table, took her mother's hand.

"Did you hear it? He claimed Garret," she said, causing both women to burst into tears, and stand to hug each other. Jess took control.

"Jeeze. Hold it together people. Don't you have some packing to do? Finish your pie, Garret. You're going to have to take charge when you're done. Remind them to leave the diner. Otherwise, you'll be here all day." Garret grinned at Jess.

"I can do it. I was getting worried we'd be here forever if I didn't agree to take a sip. You don't think I made Luke mad do you?" he asked with a worried look Luke's direction. Luke was still laying down eating and snacking rules with Lorelai, while Rory looked on snickering at her mom's easy consent. Luke answered him.

"No, Garret. I know exactly where the blame lies. Gilmore girls can be very persuasive. We'll talk about their tricks later." Rory and Lorelai gave Luke appalled glances which morphed into pouts. Luke narrowed his eyes. "Don't you have more errands to run? Since you are now done with your pie? Your last pie of the week if you aren't careful."

"Maybe we should get going, mom," Rory said, grabbing Garret's hand and tugging on Lorelai's sleeve. "I don't want to risk losing pie for dinner!" she mock whispered. Jess laughed and pushed them out the door. His laughter faded as he watched them walk away and a worried expression took its place.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked, joining Jess outside.

"Garret's going back into his grandma's house, and we don't know what he went through there. What did she do to make him run away? Or before?"

"Do you think he'll be okay?"

"I don't know. He might have trouble coping, and Rory and Lorelai might push. Then again, Rory reads me, she always could, and she's learned not to force me to talk. She knows I'll disclose on my own. She'll know not to push him too," Jess replied.

"And Lorelai will take her cues from Rory since the two of you know him better. She regrets it, you know," Luke said. Jess didn't know what he was referring to, but Luke wasn't done talking. "She regrets the way she treated you. She knew you were wounded, it was in your eyes, but she didn't take it into account. Just thought you should know. She'll be different with Garret."

"I think the meet and greet was too soon after my arrival. I was too angry. I put on a tough guy mask and didn't know how to take it off. I was a punk. Garret might have the anger, but he doesn't show it. He's adapted to the town too. He fits here," Jess said as he and Luke walked back to the house.

"You fit here too. Really, you always did. Crazy kid, reading on benches instead of playing ball. You were as much an odd-ball as Kirk. You didn't want to admit it," Luke said.

"Huh."

"You've been one of the town's crazy characters since the beginning," Luke added. Jess smirked.

"If I am, so are you."