A/N: Should I tell you again how amazing you are, guys? Thank you for the reviews, I can't believe this story that should have been 4 chapters long is now at 25 :). I love hearing that people still like it. Thank you again and I hope you enjoy this one.

Date, home, call

Later that night, Rory was in the kitchen, watching Jess cook.

"This never gets old." She smiled happily, standing up and wrapping her arms around him, kissing the back of his neck.

"What? Watching me slave for you?"

"I should get you an outfit. And a chef's hat. Definitely a hat."

"Only if you plan on eating take-away for the rest of the week. And getting one of those little French maid dresses for your birthday."

Kissing his neck again, she smiled, running her fingers across his abdomen. "As long as you don't expect me to do any actual kitchen cleaning. I hate doing dishes."

"Trust me…" He turned around, putting the knife down and looking at her. "If you were wearing that, cleaning would be the last thing on my mind." He kissed her, and she moved her hands up, her fingers playing with his hair.

"Really?" She smiled playfully, kissing the corner of his mouth. "And what exactly would be on your mind?"

"If you have any intention of having dinner any time soon, you will not ask that again. But be assured that as soon as this is over, I will demonstrate exactly what would be on my mind."

Hooking her fingers through the loops on his jeans, she pulled him closer, attacking his mouth. "Good." She whispered when she pulled back and he smirked, pushing her hair out of the way and quickly kissing her neck.

"Devil."

"I try." She smiled again, then let go of him, sitting back in her chair. "Now go on, finish dinner."

He chuckled, shaking his head and turned around, trying to focus on cooking. A few minutes later, Matt walked in the room, sighing and still holding the box of Kleenex.

"Sorry. I'm just here for the take-away menu."

"I'm making dinner." Jess turned around to look at him.

"I can see that. That's why I said sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

"As in 'I'm making dinner for all of us.' That includes you. Geez, this cold is affecting your brain."

Sitting down, Matt looked at Rory and smiled. "Can you move in with us? I could get used to this."

Looking at her over his shoulder, Jess smirked. "Told you so."

"Why do I have a feeling I'm missing something here?" Matt asked.

"That's because you are." Jess replied, moving in front of the stove.

"Aw, well don't I feel unloved."

"That's also because you are." He repeated, smirking.

"Rory, make him be nice to me."

"If only I had the power." She laughed, looking at Jess.

"I'll settle for having him make dinner in that case."

"Wise." She smiled again.

"So…Rory…" Matt looked at her, a playful smile on his lips. "Anything you can tell me about teenage Jess? Any stories that I can use to torture him for the next 10 to 20 years?"

"I'm afraid I cannot answer that…while he's in the room." She looked at Jess and he turned around, trying to stay serious.

"I think what you were trying to say is that you're afraid you can never answer that."

"Oh, no, I was trying to say exactly what I said. Mom says I need to get dirt on you."

"Matt, tell her anything and die. She will never use anything. Lorelai, however, will torture me for the rest of my life."

"You should not have said that." Matt grinned looking back at Rory. "We'll arrange a trade as soon as he's not here."

"I have a very good story involving swans." Rory grinned and Jess turned around again.

"How do you know about that?"

"Luke told mom. She shared."

"Remind me to kill him next time I see him."

"Oh, I need to know this! Must, must hear this story!" Matt leaned over the table, looking at Rory. "Swans?"

"And a ladle!"

"I will kill him." Jess sighed, running his hand through his hair.

"Hey, at least he didn't push you in the lake that time."

"Jess got pushed in a lake?"

Sitting down on a chair, Jess looked at Matt. "Yes."

"I'm just going to assume this one was because of your lovely personality."

"Why did he push you? I don't think I ever got that part of the story." Rory asked, squeezing his hand under the table.

"My lovely personality." He looked at Matt, smirking. "He was mad, I was mad, we both yelled, I ended up in the lake."

"He must have been disappointed when you didn't drown."

"You can't always get what you want, now can you?" Jess chuckled again, standing up. Walking to Rory, he kissed the top of her head. "Please don't tell him about the swan." Looking at Matt as he walked to the stove again, he pointed his finger at him. "Don't say a word."

"How about if I 'aw' suggestively?"

"As long as you remember I have a variety of knives around me, sure. Go ahead."

"I'm just going to sit here quietly in that case." Matt decided.

"Good call."

A few minutes later, Jess turned around and looked at Rory. "Can you get some plates? Top left cabinet."

"Sure." She stood up and took out the plates, then walked close to Jess, putting the 4 plates next to him on the counter. He dropped the food in the plates and they each took 2, dropping them on the table. "Cutlery?"

"In there." He pointed to a drawer and she got out the forks and knives, putting them next to the plates.

"Aw, now that was cute."

"You're insane." Jess decided, then opened the door to the living room. "Chris, dinner."

"Really?" The young man asked, looking away from the TV.

"Are you going to question it or come eat?"

"I'm coming!" Chris shot up, walking to the kitchen and joining the other three. As soon as he sat down, Matt looked at him, a victorious smile on his face.

"Apparently Rory has dirt on him. And it involves swans."

"Shoot me." Jess sighed.

Later that night, back in Jess' bedroom.

Rory sighed happily, trailing kisses up his chest, stopping just before she reached his mouth. "I definitely missed this."

"Oh, yeah?" He smirked and she leaned closer, kissing him.

"Yeah."

He cupped her face in his hand, his fingers playing with a strand of hair. "What…no guys on that bus of yours willing to help?"

"None that I love." She smiled, placing another kiss on his lips.

"Good." He lifted his head and kissed her softly. "Otherwise I'd have to get very jealous."

"You have no reason to be jealous, I promise."

"Good." He repeated, smiling and she kissed him again before crashing back down and resting her head on his shoulder. After a few minutes of silence, he kissed the top of her head, his fingers playing in her hair. "What are you thinking about?"

"I just…" She looked up at him, then bit her lip. "Never mind."

"Say it."

"Nope. Just forget about it." She moved to the pillow next to him, running her fingers across his jaw. "It's nothing."

"Now I'm really curious." He leaned over and kissed her softly. "Say it."

"And you won't laugh?"

"I'll do my best not to laugh, how's that?"

"Good enough, I guess." She smiled. "It's just…you know we've never been on an actual date?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not really. I think it's odd, that's all."

"How about the Distillers concert in high school?"

"Doesn't count. You're supposed to get ready for a date, not wear earplugs."

"Depends on the definition of date we're using. The whole basket thing?"

"I was still dating Dean. I don't care what definition we use, you cannot go on a date when you're with someone else."

"Winter carnival?"

"To which you only agreed to go because you saw Dean? Sure, that's going to count."

"So you want us to go on a date?" He smirked, trying not to laugh.

"It's stupid, isn't it?"

"Yes." He finally started laughing and Rory picked up a pillow, smacking him with it.

"You don't have to be mean." She stuck out her tongue and he took the pillow away from her, throwing it on the floor, then grabbed her hands, pulling her on top of him.

"I wasn't mean." He kissed her quickly while she was unsuccessfully trying to pout. "However, I am willing to offer a compromise."

"Let's hear it."

"You don't tell the swan story and Friday night, we go out for a date. You, me, dinner, movie, whatever you want."

"Deal." She kissed him and he finally let go of her hands, tangling his in her hair instead.

"Would you care to explain where exactly this idea came from, now that I've agreed to it?"

"You'll laugh again." She smiled, kissing the corner of his mouth.

"There's a possibility."

"I just haven't felt pretty in a while. I want to get dressed up, wear a nice dress, maybe some make-up."

Chuckling, he pulled in for another kiss. "A short dress?"

"Very." She smiled.

"Then you could have just said that and I would have agreed."

Giggling, she leaned in and kissed him, catching his hand in hers and intertwining their fingers together. "The easy way? Never."

Flipping them around, he kissed her softly, squeezing her hand. "You are beautiful, you know that, right?" He whispered softly, the flirty tone in his voice being replaced by a more serious one.

"I love you." She replied, her voice equally serious and he just kissed her, squeezing her hand again.

The next afternoon, Rory walked into Truncheon, finding Matt sitting at a desk, a red pen in his hand and looking over a stack of papers.

"Hey." She smiled softly, looking at the young man.

"Hi." He looked up, putting his pen up. "How was work?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. I see you're still working."

"I find the downstairs way less distracting. No TV in here." He smiled.

"I know that feeling."

"Jess is upstairs." Matt smiled, knowing who she was looking for.

"Thanks. I'll let you focus on that then." She started heading towards the stairs but Matt's voice stopped her.

"Any chance I can hear that swan story right now?"

"I've been bribed not to tell you." She replied, laughing.

"Damn."

"Sorry." She smiled again before heading up the stairs. She walked in the living room and saw it was empty, then turned around and saw Jess standing in the kitchen, looking at the coffee machine. Walking to him, she wrapped her arms around him from the side, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Trying to will it into making coffee faster?"

"And I suppose you've never tried that." He smirked, turning his head around and placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Hey."

"Hi. So what's with the desperate need for caffeine?"

"Not enough sleep last night." He looked at her, pulling her in front of him. "You might have something to do with that. And people are annoying."

"Bad day at work?"

"Is there ever a good Monday at work?"

"Don't think so." She smiled and kissed him, her fingers playing in his hair. "This is nice, though."

"What is? Me trying to win a staring contest against the coffee machine?"

"Coming home from work and having you around. I could get used to it."

"Home?" He smiled, cupping her face in his hand.

"Hey, I've been living in hotels for almost a year now. Any place that doesn't have pillow mints is home. And I didn't mean anything by it, Jess. Please don't think that I'm trying to do anything or force too much commitment…"

He cut off her rambling with a kiss. "It's nice to have you here as well after a day at work." He hugged her, kissing her temple. "I like that you feel at home here." He admitted and she smiled, kissing his cheek quickly.

"Coffee's ready." She pointed to the coffee maker and he let go of her, picking up two mugs from the sink.

"Wild, crazy guess here but I'm going to assume you want some."

"Me? Coffee? Never!" She laughed while he poured coffee in the two mugs.

"Isn't denying your coffee addiction breaking one of the Gilmore rules?"

"Don't tell mom." She smiled as he put the two mugs on the table and sat down. Kissing him one more time, she sat down next to him when she finally realized something. "I forgot to call mom yesterday."

"And she hasn't called you?"

Rory picked up her phone from her pocket. "Nope."

"Weird. Go ahead, call. I'll drink my coffee and try to enjoy the fact that I have 15 hours straight of not dealing with printers and writers and bookshops and a whole other variety of whack jobs."

"Ok." She pushed the speed dial number, waiting for the her mother to pick up.

"Oh, look she is alive!"

"I'm sorry. So, so sorry."

"It's ok." Lorelai smiled at the other end of the phone. "I was young and in love once. How's being with the hoodlum?"

"He has a name, you might remember. I know you're growing old, mom, but really now. And it's great. Really great." She smiled at Jess and he smiled back.

"Ah! First forgetting to call and now telling me I'm old! I'm just…I have no words."

"That would be a first."

"Why are you being mean to your mother? I have done nothing but to love you and sit here patiently waiting for your call."

"You're going to use this one for guilt trip purposes for the next 10 years, aren't you?"

"Well, you were otherwise a very good child. I have very few things I can use."

"I don't know if I should apologize or not for that one."

"Hm…I don't know either. I'll think about it and get back to you. But for the most important question- have you gotten any stories about Jess?"

"Nope."

"I have taught you nothing. I think I need to have another child now just to make sure I do a better job!"

"Hey!" She protested.

"I mean, I even got the swan story for you and you just…I'm disappointed, Rory."

"You'll live. And I will try. I still have time."

"You better get me something good that I can use. Otherwise, I'll have to get a pet swan and have it follow him around every time he's in town."

"I said I'll try."

"Good girl. I might even forgive you for calling me old."

"Anything new going on Stars Hollow?"

"Now that you mention it…guess what's going on this weekend?"

"I don't know. What did Taylor plan? Please tell me he gave up on the idea of a Walk-a-thon."

"Yes, he has. No, this is an established event, with a great tradition."

"I…" She paused, trying to think of all the possibilities. "…have no idea."

"The Bid-A-Basket!"

"Wasn't that supposed to be a couple of months ago?"

"But if we organize it in February it's way too close to the Winter Carnival, Lorelai, and do you have any idea how bad that is for the town? The tourists won't know when to come!" She tried to sound as much like Taylor as she could. "And this way we cover April nicely because I really couldn't stand having an empty month after we had the misfortune of having to cancel the tulip show!"

"You sound just enough like him to make me worry."

"I've heard this lecture about ten times already. And you know what the best thing about this is?"

"What?"

"This year, I have a husband that I can force to participate! This is it, I now have a man to buy my carefully prepared basket!"

"Yes, only said husband is not supposed to prepare it as well."

"He's a multitasker."

"Aw, man, I can't believe I'm going to miss it!" Rory sighed, making Jess look at her.

"Miss what?"

"The Bid-A-Basket festival."

"When is it?"

"This weekend. Taylor moved it."

"And ruined tradition? I'm disappointed." He smirked.

"He's failing in his old age."

"Hey!" Lorelai cried over the phone. "You were talking to me! He gets to see you and talk to you way more than I do! I demand all your attention!"

"Sorry." She returned to her phone conversation.

"Better."

"So how did you convince Luke to take part in this?"

"I haven't yet but I have my ways. They involve begging and a really annoying voice."

"More annoying than usual?" She smiled.

"Ok, now you are officially being mean! The hoodlum is a bad influence."

"Are you ever going to stop calling him that?"

"I can switch to punk, if you prefer?"

"Not really."

"Teenage delinquent? My mother seems to be quite fond of that one."

"How was Friday night dinner?"

"Still awkward. But hey, what else is new? She'll get over it eventually. She got over me marrying Luke. Now she even talks to him. And has not made a comment about the truck or the diner in months!"

"Grandma's finally learning to play nice?"

"I believe she's just tired of being passive-aggressive. Don't worry, she'll turn around on Jess as well. It will just take her…oh, 10 or so years."

"So I shouldn't hold my breath?"

"Not unless you want to turn an unattractive shade of purple."

"I'm kind of used to this being alive thing."

"And we prefer you this way."

Rory sipped from her coffee mug. "Even when you think I'm being mean to you?"

"I haven't seen you in a long time and I miss you. I shall forgive your moments of weakness."

"How nice of you. And I miss you too, mom." She smiled sadly and Jess squeezed her free hand.

"Well, I am a very nice person."

"I'm pleading the fifth on this one."

"That settles it, you are awful. And my husband is now home and I have to talk him into that thing we talked about earlier and I think he heard that and now he's glaring at me, say 'hi' to Rory, Luke!" Lorelai rambled quickly and Rory heard the man's voice at the other end of the phone. "Ok, he says hi."

"Say hi back."

"She says hi back."

"Good. Now go use your charm on him and convince him to make his basket and eat it too!"

"Heh…maybe I should make him bake a cake as well."

"You're pushing your luck. Bye, mom."

"Bye, sweets. Remember to call."

"Will do."

"Great. Bye." Lorelai turned off the phone and Rory put hers back on the table. Standing up, she walked to Jess and he stood up as well, pulling her into a hug, while she wrapped her arms tightly around him. Looking at him, she smiled sadly.

"I love my job but sometimes…I really hate it."