A/N: Thanks for keeping all those lovely reviews coming, reader peops. Now, how about a little more spring break fun with Rory & Jess? ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 25

Spring break was almost over but Rory couldn't really complain. She had spent most of the week with Jess in Stars Hollow and had absolutely no regrets about not hitting Florida with her friends. She had hung out at the diner apartment with her boyfriend, and in the diner itself with Luke too. Her mom had even come with her a couple of times to see her own boyfriend when she wasn't snowed under at the inn. Rory and Jess spent some more time with Hep Alien and found she had plenty to talk to Lane about, which was pretty cool too. What she hadn't done in all this time was let her grandparents know where she was going each day.

"So, they think you're where exactly?" asked Jess curiously.

"Um, specifically today? Hanging out with a girl-friend," she said, squirming a little on the bench next to him. "It wasn't a complete lie. I did see Lane today."

"For around ten minutes." Jess smirked. "Where else have you told them you've been? Come on, I'm intrigued."

Rory sighed. "The library, shopping, running non-specific errands, helping out Mom at the inn," she listed off on her fingers. "Well, parts of it are true... kind of."

"Kind of." Jess nodded his agreement.

"You know this isn't about you, right?" she told him then. "I mean, not you specifically. I really never talked to my grandparents about anybody that I dated or anything. They're a little... intense and kind of judgemental about that stuff."

"I get it," her boyfriend assured her. "I'm not offended."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"Okay, good, because it is not you."

"Rory, I get it. It's not me. Let's be fair about this, I didn't exactly tell Luke about you until I had to," Jess admitted then. "And that wasn't about you either. It was just... I don't know, I guess I don't feel the need to report back on everything."

"Exactly," Rory agreed. "Also, after the whole Logan thing, the dating topic of conversation is best avoided at home in general right now."

"Rory, stop," Jess urged her. "You don't have to keep making excuses to me. Tell your grandparents whatever you want, I don't care."

He really did look and sound as if he meant it, so Rory decided she could probably afford to let it go. It wasn't as if Jess was really a secret in her life anymore. Her mom knew all about him, Paris too, and though the rest of her friends hadn't physically met him, they were aware he existed. The grandparents were just a whole other story.

"So, since this is your last day hanging out here before Yale is back in session," said Jess then, shifting closer, "I was thinking-"

Before he could get any further, a yell went up across the square and Rory turned to see who could possibly be bellowing her name like that in the middle of Stars Hollow.

"Oh my God!" she gasped in shock when she realised what was happening.

Jess looked kind of surpised too. "Is that-?"

"Logan? Yes, it is," Rory confirmed, hardly able to believe it herself as the limousine continued to head their way down the street with the Huntzberger heir visible through the sunroof. "And not just him apparently," she realised, as another person appeared next to Logan and a third hung out of the back window.

Jess' eyes were pretty wide when Rory looked his way then, meaning to tell him the other people he could see were Madeline and Finn, but now she was more worried about how her boyfriend was going to react to most of her friends descending on his town this way. Actually, she wasn't even sure how she was going to react to it herself but knew she ought to figure it out fast as the limo pulled around in front of them and parked up.

"What are you doing?" she asked, looking up helplessly at Logan.

"Hey there, Ace," he said, grinning wide, "Ace's boyfriend," he added, nodding once to Jess. "We figured that maybe you guys had enough quiet alone time, you might appreciate a little company, the chance to cut loose and party a little."

"C'mon, Gilmore," Finn encouraged her. "The gang's not the same without you."

"Guys." Rory shook her head. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm kinda busy right now," she said with a pointed look, the hand that gripped Jess' own rising to show them the evidence of their connection.

"If you really wanna go..." her boyfriend told her.

"Hey, I think we have a misunderstanding here," said Logan then. "This is strictly an invitation for two," he insisted. "Come on, what do you say, Ace? Give us a chance to get to know the new man in your life. You're not allergic to fun, are you, Jess?" he said, glancing between the two.

Rory looked to Jess and tried to read his expression. The smile didn't exactly look forced, and yet, she could hardly imagine that he really wanted to hang out with Logan, of all people. On the other hand, he had said he wanted to get to know her friends, and this was most of them all at once.

"If you're okay with it?"

"Sure." Jess nodded. "Why not?"

Hand in hand, they rose from the bench and approached the car. Logan seemed pleased by the decision and the whooping and calling from inside the car when the door finally opened proved everyone else was equally happy.

Rory slipped inside the limo with Jess following behind her. They were greeted by Madeline, Louise, Finn, and Colin, plus Logan as he dropped back down through the sunroof and introduced them to Marie, a new friend, as he put it.

Jess did seem a little apprehensive at first and Rory had a death-grip on his hand as they sat in the back of the car with all her friends staring at them. After all, these were the people who knew Rory best and had known her the longest too. They could say anything about her. Perhaps the worse thought was what they might say about Jess.

"Well, I have to admit," said Louise, looking him over, "I can see the attraction."

"I thought you were supposed to be all bookish and nerdy?" said Madeline, frowning some.

"Really?" said Jess, smirking as he looked to his girlfriend beside him.

Rory squirmed. "I never said nerdy," she promised.

"To be honest, she didn't say much at all." Logan shook his head. "And since we certainly don't want to be the Spanish Inquisition here, I only have one question for you, Jess. Are you ready to party?"

Honestly, Jess was looking across the limo at Logan trying to figure out if he was being played. If he had to guess, he would say that Logan was at least half way drunk and more than a little full of himself, but as far as Jess could tell, he was also serious. There were no tricks here, as far as he could tell, no sarcasm, no undercurrent of anything. It seemed as if he and Rory really were being invited to go have a good time with her friends. For her sake, if not his own, Jess knew he couldn't object to that.

"Sure," he said eventually, nodding his head. "Where are we headed?"

"The question is, mate," said Finn, reaching for a beer bottle and tossing it into Jess' hands, "where aren't we headed?"

It had been a while since The Life and Death Brigade had one of their wilder weekends, and while this last day of spring break was not an official LDB event, it felt more than a little like that to Rory. There had been paintballing, dancing, prank pulling, and drinking, plus a whole lot more. It had actually been fun, and Jess had kept up with the rest admirably well. It was such a releif to see him fitting into that part of her world as much as she had fit into his these past few days in Stars Hollow. It was a complete change of pace, but strangely, it had worked.

The sun had set by the time the limo returned to the Hollow to drop Jess off outside the diner. Rory got out of the car with him and closed the door behind her so they could say goodnight in peace.

"That was... surreal," said Jess, glancing back at the car. "Your friends are really something."

"They can be a little overly much," Rory admitted, "but they're not bad people."

"I get that." Jess nodded in agreement. "I actually did not expect to be that accepted. I should probably apologise for that, right? Pre-judging your people."

"My people?" Rory laughed lightly. "You make us sound like an alien race."

"The high life is pretty alien to me, but today was actually fun. Not quite what I had planned for us, but-"

"Oh, you had plans" said Rory, suddenly looking concerned. "Alone time, romantic plans?"

"Kind of." Jess nodded. "But it's fine, Ror, honestly. Today was good."

He was smiling like he meant it and Rory couldn't possible accuse him of a lie. If Jess didn't get along with her friends he would say so, but all evidence suggested that they all got along surprisingly well. The girls thought he was just dreamy and the guys thought he was cool too. Jess was quick to accept a challenge but never stupid enough to fall for their pranks and dumb jokes. Basically, he really fit in well with Rory's friends, which was as much of a surprise to Jess himself as it was to Rory.

"So, you're headed back to Yale this weekend?" he checked, studying her hands held in his own.

"I am." Rory nodded. "But I'll call you as soon as I know what free time I have."

"Sounds good." Jess smiled, pushing her hair back off her face and leaning in closer.

Their lips met in a sweet kiss that went on until the calls from the car grew loud enough to be noticeable. Rory turned around fast to see that Colin had the window half open now and Logan was whistling too.

"I'm sorry about my friends," she said as if to Jess and yet loud enough for them to hear. "Apparently, they're all twelve years old!"

Jess glanced into the limo for a second, meeting the challenge head on, before he pulled Rory back around to face him and kissed her again with all the passion she deserved. It got a reaction from her friends, but then it was supposed to. More importantly, it left his girlfriend giddy.

"You're as bad as they are," she said breathlessly, pressing her forehead against his own a moment, "but I don't mind," she admitted.

They parted then, Rory getting back into the car and waving goodbye to Jess before the tinted window was duly closed. With a sigh, Rory leaned back in her plush leather seat, a huge smile on her face.

"You have fun today, Ace?" asked Logan with a look.

"Actually, I did," she told him easily. "Thank you, guys, for being so nice to Jess."

"Why would we not be nice to Jess?" Colin shrugged. "He's cool."

He could have no idea quite how happy it made Rory to hear him say that. It wasn't as if she needed their approval of her boyfriend, or Jess' approval of her friends, but it sure did make life easier if they all got along.

By the time they arrived at the Gilmore house, it was well and truly dark out, Rory was more than a little tipsy, and she had to admit when asked that she really had enjoyed the day. Thanking Logan and then everybody else for a great time, Rory staggered a little getting out of the limo then took a moment to wave goodbye as the driver pulled away at last.

Heading up the driveway to the house, there was no removing the grin from Rory's lips. She couldn't wait to get inside and tell her mom what a really great day she had and how nice it was to have all her friends and her boyfriend getting along so well. Unfortunately, as she reached the front door and lifted her key to the lock to let herself in, she realised maybe now wasn't a great time for a smile and a happy story. Frowning by now at what appeared to be raised voices, Rory slowly eased open the door, immediately wincing when she heard her grandma yelling, followed by her mom.

"Lorelai, I cannot believe you are this naive!"

"I don't see it as naive, Mom! I'm dating a really nice guy and so is Rory. Why is that so wrong?"

Rory walked into the scene and immediately wished she hadn't as all eyes turned to her. Clearly, somehow, the truth about her dating Jess and her mom seeing Luke had come out and, as expected, Emily wasn't happy about it at all.

"You have plenty to answer for too, young lady!"

"Grandma." Rory sighed, her hand going to her forehead. "I know you think it's a problem for me to date someone from a family you've never heard of but-"

"There are no buts, Rory," her grandmother cut in, even as Rory glanced at Lorelai and saw her mouth 'I'm sorry.' "This is absurd, the two of you running around with people like that!"

"Like that?" Lorelai echoed immediately. "Mom, you don't even know them!"

Just as Emily opened her mouth to yell some more and Rory opened hers to make a defence, they were both stopped in their tracks by Richard, who had been silent up to now.

"You're quite right, Lorelai," he said, rising from his seat. "We absolutely do not know these men at all, and so, I think we only have one option open to us," he continued, a self-satisfied grin coming over Emily's face, until her husband made his judgement. "Lorelai, Rory, you will invite both Luke and Jess to dinner, this Friday evening."

"Richard, you're not serious!" Emily exploded, while Lorelai and Rory shared a look of equal parts amazement and horror.

"I am perfectly serious," Richard insisted, "and I am adamant in my decision. Any objections?" he asked, barely waiting a beat before he went on. "Good, then it's settled. Friday night, seven o'clock, dinner for six," he said with a smile, exiting the room before anyone had a chance to say another word.

To Be Continued...