A/N: This chapter got looooong which I hope you approve of, peops! I have plans for Lane and things are moving forward with both our favourite couples. Will you like the new turns of events? I really hope so. By all means let me know in a review! I have such big plans for this story yet and all your support means a lot to me - thank you! :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see Prologue)

Chapter 24 - Third Wheels and Big Deals

Even though he was concentrating on the book he was reading, Jess knew Lane was staring at him. She wasn't exactly being subtle about it, and before long he was going to have to tell her to stop. It wasn't just distracting for him, but other students in the Stars Hollow High cafeteria were going to notice soon and start thinking it was weird. The last thing Jess needed right now was more people talking about him. It didn't bother him most of the time, but he did have a tendency to get mad at people and lash out from time to time. Given how disappointed that always made Rory, and Luke, and Lorelai for that matter, he'd rather not be tempted.

"Lane, could you just look anywhere else for five seconds?" he urged her, though his eyes never left the pages of The Sun Also Rises.

"Huh? Oh, am I staring?" she checked, as if she didn't know she had been. "I'm sorry."

She immediately came over all guilty and stared down at her mostly eaten lunch as if it was just so interesting. Something was wrong with her, and in the past this was when Rory would step in for the girly chat and fix everything that was on Lane's mind. Since Rory transferred to Chilton it wasn't as if the girls never spent any time together, but Jess saw Lane every day at school and any problems that came up, she wanted to share with him. He didn't mind all that much when she was complaining about Mama Kim's rules or needed help getting a new CD from a store she could never get close to without being busted, but Jess had a feeling today was going to be one of those girly emotional problems that he'd rather not have to deal with.

With a heavy sigh, he closed up his book and leaned forward with his arms on the table, trying to catch Lane's eye.

"Hey," he prompted to get her to look. "Talk to me. Something is obviously wrong with you today, so just spit it out already."

Lane smiled at the fact she finally got his attention, and the way he was trying to be mad at her about it even though they both knew he wasn't. Jess was a much nicer guy than he liked people to think, and just a handful of people knew the truth. One such person was Rory, who he was now dating, another was Lane, who had played the part of pseudo-sister for years now.

"Okay, so you and Rory are dating now, and that's great, couldn't be happier for you," said Lane in a quiet voice. "I mean you know I look on both of you as siblings, to me not to each other obviously, because that would be gross..."

"Is there gonna be a point to this any time soon?" asked Jess curiously, since the rambling was becoming a little ridiculous.

"Yes, there is a point," she told him definitely. "I just... Well, I want you to know that it's not because I'm jealous of you guys at all, it's really quite the coincidence, and I didn't even know you knew the guy until yesterday..."

"What guy?" asked Jess, feeling lost already. "Lane, could you just get to the damn point already?"

Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she did exactly that, speaking in such a rush that if Jess hadn't been used to that kind of fast talking, especially from Rory and Lorelai, he never would've understood.

"I want you to introduce me to the guy I saw you talking to yesterday on the steps because I've loved him from afar since September."

Jess frowned as he thought about what she was saying. It wasn't crazy for Lane to have a crush on a guy, though most of her previous interests had been rock-stars and other such unobtainables. Finally it seemed she liked somebody within the school, which was more hopeful, apart from the fact Mrs Kim would skin alive any guy who went within ten feet on Lane. For now, Jess put that fact to one side and tried to recall who he was talking to yesterday on the school steps. The only person he could think of was Dave.

"You like Dave Rygalski?" he checked.

"Love. I love him," Lane corrected. "I mean, I never met him but I just... he's so nice to look at, and he always has on T-shirts with bands that I love, and one day I saw him writing down guitar tabs so I think he plays and..."

"He does," Jess interrupted "Play guitar, I mean. He's actually trying to start a band, that's why he was talking to me."

"You're not musical," Lane frowned. "I mean, you love music, but you don't play anything and I know you wouldn't be caught dead singing in public."

"Right on all counts, but Dave didn't know that," her friend explained. "He saw some Clash lyrics I had on the back of a paper in class, and he's seen my Metallica shirt. We've talked a couple of times before, solidarity in getting out of gym, that kind of thing. He asked if I wanted to be in a band," he shrugged.

Lane considered what Jess was telling her. Dave had to like him to ask him to be in a band, or maybe he was just desperate for people to play music with. That sounded unfair to Jess, but in fairness, Lane knew how tough it was for her friend to get along with anybody in school besides her, and previously Rory. Still, Dave and Jess got along, that was the point, and therefore she had every chance of getting an introduction to the guy of her dreams, quite literally in fact.

"So, you're friends?" she double-checked.

"I don't hate the guy," Jess shrugged once more, leaning back in his seat again and opening up his book to continue reading, his feet propped up on the table.

"But you could introduce me?" she asked next, smacking his feet when he didn't answer. "Jess! C'mon, I'm dying here!"

"Geez! Yes, okay?" he said, clearly exasperated. "After school, I'll introduce you if you really want me to. Just please, can I finish this chapter already?"

Lane tried to stay quiet and calm to let Jess read. After all, he was going to do her this huge favour, so she really should do what he was asking of her. Still, it was hard to keep from bouncing in her seat and squealing with joy. She was finally going to meet Dave Rygalski, a guy whose name she hadn't even known until now, and she had an easy in via her friend.

Jess held his book a little closer to his face, determined as he was that Lane would not see the smirk on his face. Honestly, he kind of loved that he could make her so happy just by promising to introduce her to a guy. It was all a little too Jane Austen for his taste, this feeling that a girl couldn't talk to a guy she liked without a formal introduction, but Lane was oddly old-fashioned and socially awkward for a rock chick. Jess supposed that's just how a person would turn out if they were born of and raised by Mrs Kim. He had to wonder how Lane planned to date Dave, or anybody for that matter, with her mother as strict as she was. He decided not to ask for now. Lane was so very happy, he didn't want to bring her down.

Jess was only half looking where he was going as he came around to the front of school to head home to the diner. There was a smirk on his face that he couldn't help as he glanced back a moment at the couple he had left behind. Not that they were an actual couple yet, but he'd done his part. Dave and Lane now knew each others names and that they liked each other. Jess had pretty much said exactly that as his simple introduction, and then he walked. From here on out, they were on their own. By the time he hit the row of benches outside Stars Hollow High and actually started paying attention again, Jess was surprised to find somebody waiting for him, and not just anybody.

"Hey," he smiled as Rory hopped up from the bench and went willingly into his arms.

"Hey," she replied, planting a kiss on his lips.

"Not that I'm not thrilled, obviously, but how come you're here?"

"Last period kinda didn't happen. Stomach flu has infected the teacher's lounge."

"Delightful," said Jess with a grimace, though he was soon back to grinning like an idiot.

Rory was slightly confused.

"Is all this smiling just for me or did you do something awful to somebody you don't like?" she asked curiously.

"Huh," he remarked, eyebrows raised at her high opinion of him, not that Jess could really dispute that he could be that way. "For your information, I just did something nice for somebody we both like," he told her, poking his finger gently into her shoulder as he emphasised his point.

"Lane?" she guessed, since nobody else at the high school came to mind.

"The very same," he confessed, smirking all the more. "C'mere."

He grabbed Rory's hand then and pulled her behind him, hurrying back around the side of the school. Just when she thought her arm was going to come out of the socket, Rory saw what all the fuss was about. Lane was in animated conversation with a tall, dark-haired guy. He looked sort of nerdy but he had a sweet smile. Rory couldn't deny, the pair looked good together, even if they both looked pretty nervous somehow.

"You threw Lane at a guy?" she checked, a little confused still.

"I introduced her to the guy who apparently she is in love with," said Jess quietly, mindful that even at this range Lane might hear or notice them - she probably wouldn't be happy about the spying.

"Oh, that's the guy!" said Rory excitedly then, socking Jess in the shoulder in her enthusiasm without even thinking. "She didn't even know his name before. You know him?" she grinned.

"That's Dave," Jess nodded, rubbing his shoulder which Rory dutifully kissed better when she realised what she had done. "The guy who asked me if I wanted to start a band," he explained.

"Dave is Lane's guy," Rory realised, just now putting it together. "I did not see that coming, though I guess it makes sense," she said thoughtfully, leaning against the wall as she looked across at her friend and the mystery guy again. "Lane did mention rock band T-shirts and stuff."

"Well, now they can be rock fans together," said Jess. "And maybe then we won't have to worry so much about our Little Miss Kim being the third wheel."

Rory smiled at that, not only because she was happy for her best girl-friend, but also because she didn't have to feel guilty anymore. It wasn't as if Lane would ever want Rory and Jess to feel bad that they were dating. They had always been that little bit closer to each the than they had been to her, not deliberately, but just because that was the way things worked out. Still, it would be nice for Lane to have a guy of her own, not least because she and Rory could now swap stories about their boyfriends and all, well, if things worked out with Lane and Dave, of course. Rory and Jess themselves had only been together a couple of weeks, and even then, they hadn't had a real date yet.

"What's the frown for?" asked Jess, as they set off walking.

"I don't know," Rory shrugged her shoulders beneath his arm. "I just... well, we're supposed to be dating, and so are my Mom and Luke, but neither of us have actually been on a date yet."

"And we all know why," said Jess knowingly. "They don't trust us, Ror. I mean in everything else, yeah, but being alone now we're together? Not a chance."

She blushed at the implication, knowing they had to have this conversation, knowing that she brought it up because it was important. At the same time, she really wanted to avoid it. It wasn't as if she was repulsed by the idea of getting closer to Jess, that she had never thought about him in a sexual way since they started the new phase of their relationship. The problem was it made her so nervous to think about taking such leap with anyone, even her best friend in the world. She trusted him, of course she did, but it was still a big deal.

"Hey," he tried to get her attention when she seemed so determined to look away. "Rory, there's no pressure, okay? Just because Lorelai and Luke think we're going to leap right into... everything," he said with an expression that said it all, "I'm not pushing for that. This is a whole new thing for us, and it's fine. I don't expect zero to sixty in three and half seconds."

Rory smiled at how wonderful Jess always proved to be. It wasn't as if she had to be afraid that he was super experienced or anything. She wasn't absolutely certain he never went that far with another girl. That was just about the one topic even these best friends never discussed, being as they were of opposing genders and the same sexuality. She was just nervous because this was all so new, not just being with Jess but dating in general. It was such a relief to hear him say he wasn't desperate to get her into bed.

"Okay," she smiled up at him. "You know you're amazing, right?" she checked at which he laughed a little.

"That's a minority opinion," he told her, awkward as ever when paid a compliment.

Rory chose not to press the point, just cuddled in a little closer as they walked towards the diner. They almost got to the door when suddenly Luke appeared, looking flustered.

"You're here," he said pointlessly. "Good, that's good. Um, we're going to your house," he told Rory. "Your Mom is there, we're... um, well, just get in the truck, I'll drive."

Jess and Rory shared a look of confusion but then dutifully followed Luke to the truck and climbed in. It was a bit of a squeeze with Rory stuffed in between Luke and Jess, but she didn't mind. It was only a short journey, and they were soon outside the Gilmore house, though when Luke stopped the truck he made no move to actually get out.

"What is going on?" asked Jess eventually. "Did somebody die?"

"No! Why would you say that?" asked Luke, almost laughing at the apparently ridiculous suggestion "Why would it be something serious like that? Why can't we just all be here spending time together?"

"Because it's a weird time of day for that?" said Rory with a frown. "Mom should be at work, and so should you, and I wouldn't normally even be back from Hartford yet except for the fact I got out of last period."

Luke listened to her ramble on til she was done and still didn't move. When Jess and Rory both continued to stare at him he realised he was going to have to either explain why they were here to just get out of the truck and go inside already. He chose the latter.

"Come on!" he called to the young couple.

"I think he finally lost it," Jess muttered as he hopped out the passenger side and held the door open as Rory got out too.

They went inside to find Lorelai pacing the living room. She was smiling way too much and Rory felt strange. Something weird was going on, she just didn't know what it was. The fact it wasn't just her and her mother was odd to begin with, and Luke was being so jumpy. At least Jess was as in the dark as she was, that was something - she wasn't alone.

"Hey kids!" Lorelai grinned. "Er, come in, sit down," she urged them.

Rory and Jess complied, sitting themselves down on the couch, as Luke walked over to Lorelai and they spoke quietly to each other. Something big was going on, something awkward and big. At least it seemed as though the truth was going to out pretty fast.

"Okay," said Lorelai then. "So, Luke and me have been talking, about this whole thing that's started between you guys and between us," she said, making large gestures with her arms between Rory and Jess, then herself and Luke. "Um, see, the thing is, we kind of want to go out on a date, and I'm thinking that's probably a plan for you two too," she smiled. "Ha, I said tutu, like ballet."

"Off topic," muttered Luke, urging her back to the point.

"Yes, sorry," Lorelai shook her head. "Well, the point is, when you guys were just the best of friends, we would leave you alone together and not even think about it, but, well, now you're closer, and there's kissing..."

"Mom!" Rory groaned putting her face in her hands.

"Oh, honey, I know this is embarrassing, believe me."

"You're not wrong," Luke agreed, shifting awkwardly, adjusting his hat for something else to do.

"We have to do this!" said Lorelai in a harsh whisper before turning back to the kids.

Jess leaned back on the couch with a smirk to end all smirks on his lips. This was weirdly amusing. He and Rory both knew what Lorelai and Luke were getting at, the exact thing he had told her was the problem. The adults were worried the kids were going to have sex when their backs were turned. It was a little insulting not to be trusted, but mostly Jess just found it hilarious that they were getting so messed up over talking about it.

"You can take that look off your face right now, Mister!" Luke told him then. "This is serious."

"Well, gee, Uncle Luke, I'm plum confused," replied Jess, playing earnest, sitting forward again with his elbows on his knees. "I mean, what could possibly happen between me and Rory when we're left alone together?"

"You know damn well!" his uncle half-growled at him, making Jess want to laugh all the more.

"Look, Jess, Rory," Lorelai took to sitting on the edge of the coffee table so she could reach to pull her daughter's hands from her face. "It's not that we don't trust you, you know that, but you're teenagers with hormones and feelings... Things have changed a lot lately," she sighed. "I just..."

"Mom, I get it," said Rory, feeling her face burn as she focused her eyes entirely on Lorelai, pretending Jess and Luke weren't there for the moment. "But we're not going to... to do that just because you're not here."

"Exactly," Jess cut in. "And hey, it's not like we'd need you guys to go out on a date to give us time to do it."

"Can you hear yourself?" Rory snapped as she looked at him. "You're not helping, not at all!"

"I was joking," he promised her, serious in a second when he realised she was getting genuinely upset with him. "Seriously, Rory, I was kidding."

"Oh, you'd better be kidding, young man," said Lorelai definitely. "Now you know how much I care about you. In spite of the trouble you've gotten yourself into sometimes, I have been there for you and I have trusted you to be the good person I know you are underneath the James Dean 'tude you like so much," she reminded him. "But, that doesn't mean I won't hunt you down and cause you untold damage if you upset my daughter or hurt her in anyway, capiche?"

"I got it," he nodded once, knowing she was serious and that she only had Rory's best interest at heart, just the same as him. "But y'know, I could say the same. You break my uncle, I'm gonna be mad. He's the only one I got," he smirked annoyingly.

"You think you're so smart, Mariano," she smirked right back because she just couldn't help it.

"Yeah, well, it's that smart mouth of his, amongst other things, that make me think we're crazy to do him any favours," said Luke, folding his arms across his chest. "You still think we made the right decision here?"

"Decision about what?" asked Rory, once again confused by what was happening here today.

"Babette called me today," Lorelai explained. "She and Maury have some event to go to, and that means leaving her new kitten alone in the house. She wondered if maybe one of us could go over and sit with Peaches tonight."

"Oh," said Rory. "Sure, I could do that," she smiled.

"We figured," Luke told her. "We also figured that Jess would probably want to come with you, so Lorelai and I are going to be right here next door."

"We're not spying!" she clarified quickly. "We kinda want to spend an evening just the two of us, and we thought you could too, in the safety of Babette's house."

"I will be leaving here by eleven, and I will be taking Jess with me," Luke confirmed.

His nephew bit back another smirk, now wasn't the time to look too amused. To his mind it was a little pathetic since the adults were kind of giving him and Rory licence to do whatever in somebody else's house, complete with bedrooms and such. On the other hand, they were choosing to put their trust in two 'kids' that had been all over each other these past few days. That was kind of nice really.

"Thank you, Mom," said Rory with a grin, because she knew what a big deal this was.

Lorelai had gotten pregnant with her at sixteen thanks to her fast-moving relationship with Christopher. A fear lived in Lorelai that the same thing was going to happen to her baby, even though she wanted to trust both Rory and Jess. This was a very big step for everybody.

Luke decided now was the time for him and Jess to leave then and they set off after arranging what time they were coming back for their respective dates. They were by the truck when Luke started hemming and hawing again.

"Hey. Look, I know you're a good kid," he told Jess, "and I don't really think you would... But it's Rory and... Teenage boys and girls..."

"I get it, Uncle Luke," his nephew smiled genuinely. "I promise you, it's cool. I'm not gonna screw up, not with Rory... or with you."

That meant a lot to Luke, to know that his opinion mattered to Jess. It wasn't always obvious, but in the end, they were buddies, and they did love each other, in a very manly way, of course.

"C'mon," he smiled, encouraging Jess into the passenger side. "I'll make you a sandwich while you do your homework."

"Gee, Uncle Luke, that'd be keen," his nephew joked.

They both laughed at that, and everything felt just a little less awkward and a little more normal than it had before.

To Be Continued...