My apologies. It's been awhile. And I'm feeling moody and girly, so I'm not my usual gorgeously funny self. But just be thankful that I was in the mood to write something, at least... regardless of how long it took. Again, my (not-so-sincere) apologies.

Chapter 11

It felt like any other day for Luke – he was just making coffee when Lorelai came in, earlier than usual. It was almost 10:00... on a Saturday. He frowned and leaned on the counter.
"Hey," he said in his usual disgruntled manner. He tossed a used cloth over his shoulder in a very cliche diner way. He didn't notice the subtle look of worry in her face until she came closer. It would have been unnoticeable to anyone else, but not to Luke. "Something wrong?"

"Where is Jess right now?"

He frowned. "Upstairs, why?"

"Asleep?"

"Yeah."

"Good." She slumped her jacket and purse recklessly onto the counter seat next to her and sat down. Lorelai sighed heavily and looked at him. She gave him a weak smile but it didn't reach her sad, beautifully blue eyes. Luke could feel his heart break for her. "Something's wrong," she said.

"Lemme guess—"

"It starts with a 'J' and ends with an 'ess'."

He nodded, and looked down at the counter her started cleaning with the rag, just for an excuse not to look at her. "Whadda 'bout him?" He grunted.

"Luke, you know him better than anyone." He looked up. "You need to tell me – is he serious about changing?" Then, she waited for him to respond; her pleading eyes looking at him expectantly as he took his time to respond.

"I don't think I'm the one to answer that."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not the one who knows him best."

She groaned. "God doesn't count, Luke," she joked, though acted totally serious.

"Rory." This time it was Lorelai who looked down at the empty space in front of her. Luke stared at the top of her silky haired head.

"Maybe," she said, looking up, "Maybe not."

He sighed. "Look, I don't know if he is, either. But I trust he'll do the right thing."

"Why's that?" She asked, a brow raised.

"Doesn't matter."

"What?"

"My opinion doesn't matter," he said, dropping the rag on the counter. "Rory's opinion is the one that matters." Lorelai sighed, but he pretended to ignore it. "If she trusts him to stay and to change, then something tells me Jess will."

There was a long deafening pause while Lorelai thought. "I don't trust him."

"But you trust Rory."

She smiled genuinely. "I do."

"Then you should trust Rory's opinion. Neither your opinion, or mine matters, right now."

Lorelai looked into his eyes, and actually saw him. Her aqua eyed stare looked so caring and loving in that moment, which is when he turned away. He began pouring her a cup of coffee to go, long enough for his cheeks to stop flushing and for his gaze to go back to stern and unapproachable. This is what he did whenever he was with Lorelai, whenever he felt himself get too close; too personal; too... unfamiliar.

When he turned back around, she was standing with her coat back on and her purse slung over her shoulder. He stopped himself from smiling as he handed her the coffee. For a second he thought he could see sadness in her eyes; like she wanted the coffee to be in a mug, and not a to-go cup. The hopeful thought went away.

"Come again soon," he said.

"Thanks." She walked away and opened the door; that stupid bell jingling. "...And Luke," He looked up, "Your opinion always matters."

And then she left.

Later that morning, Jess stomped in his usual demeanor downstairs, tightening the straps of his watch. "Hey," he muttered to his dear uncle, walking past him to the coffee machine. "Since when do you drink coffee?"

"Since..." He didn't say anything as he started pouring the coffee into a to-go cup, and a flashback of Lorelai leaving came to Luke's mind, showing a tinge of sadness in his eyes. "...Since I decided I wanted every normal move I make to be questioned by overprotective uncles." Luke sighed, Early morning sarcasm... Glad to see nothing's changed. Luke ignored his slacker ways and began cleaning the counter again, though it needed no cleaning. "Going somewhere?"

Jess's jaw flexed and he swung his hear around, staring irritatedly at his prying uncle. He looked at his with a raised 'woah, step back' kind of brow. "Fine, sorry I asked."

Jess swiftly picked up his coffee and sauntered off towards the door, with the tinge of an angry strut. "I'll be back in a few hours." Luke merely grunted, obeying his nephew's wishes

not to pry. Jess paused, with a remorseful glance towards the counter, where his uncle stood, cleaning the same spotless bench. "I have a job interview," he confesses. Luke looks up, surprised, making Jess regret saying anything. The look on Luke's face actually seemed to hurt Jess – he could feel it in his chest; in his heart... or whatever it was that pumped that black gunk through his veins.

"I'm surprised." He said.

"I can tell," Jess said, then added with a sneer, "Who would ever think that Jess Mariano could be capable of change." He reached for the door, hearing the annoying bell of the door dingle away. Another flashback. He watched sadly as Lorelai walked through that door – he wasn't gonna do the same with Jess.

Luke smiled, actually showing some of his pearly whites. "No, I'm surprised you're wearing that to the interview."

Jess ignored the... good feeling rise in his chest, and looked down at his Metallica t-shirt. His lips curled into a wry smile and he looked up. "It brings out my eyes," he said, like he had last time.

Luke dropped the rag, said nothing more then "Come on," and made his way swiftly upstairs, assuming that Jess would follow like a trained lap dog.

Jess sighed, glared ahead and considered leaving. Then, well against his nature, followed the man upstairs, practically biting his tongue.

Maybe he is capable of change.

When he entered the apartment, a shirt and something else was thrown at his face. "Wow, geez," Jess muttered in surprise.

"Wear that."

Jess looked down at the shirt tossed at his face: a white button-up. With a blue tie.

No.

"No. No way in hell am I wearing a suit."

"You will if you want a job," Luke's muffled voice said from inside his closet. He could hear the clacking of the plastic hangers hitting each other.

"It's a job interview as an assistant book salesman, it's not like I'm running for congress." Luke walked over to him and held up a blue suede jacket, trying to avoid smirking. "Thank God for that."

Jess glared at him, then the two began what seemed like a very powerful staring contest until Jess caved. "Fine." He pulled off the shirt, revealing a firm, toned torso with a slight tan to it. It's no wonder what Rory saw in him. The kid started buttoning up his uncle's shirt, which was about three sizes too big for him, then the jacket – refusing to look Luke in the eye out of embarrassment. Cute.

As Jess began doing up the tie pathetically, he muttered something that was almost impossible for Luke to hear.

"Do you think I can change?" Luke stares down sadly at his nephew, who felt so vulnerable and exposed at that moment as he fumbled with the tie. Jess never had a father to teach him how to properly tie one. "Do you think... that I can give Rory what she wants; that I can do the right thing?"

Luke sighed, batted his hands away and began doing it for him. "No one's capable of change, Jess." In that moment, Jess almost vowed never to be vulnerable again.

"...But you will do the right thing." Jess looked up, hopeful. And Luke stared into his scared, hazel eyes – something he hadn't really seen before. "This thing you're doing with Rory right now, isn't changing."

Jess scoffed, looked down and said, "Hard to believe..."

"Jess, you haven't changed – you are just owning up to who you really are." The boy looked back up at him as he continued on his tie, almost as crappy at doing it up as Jess was. "You were always capable of goodness; of doing the right thing. You aren't changing; this is who you are – who you always were."

The two remained silent. Luke finished with Jess's tie and then patted him on his shoulders. "Thank you, Luke," he said, but he obviously wasn't talking about the tie. With that, Jess walked out the door, and Luke smiled proudly.

"Don't screw up the interview," he shouted after Jess.

"Whatever," he muttered in reply, letting the door close shut behind him, and on the rare heart-felt moment they were sharing.