Thought I'd spoil you with two chapters today seeing as I had a few days off! ;) Enjoy! :)

Chapter 38

Lorelai walked into the diner after dropping Rory off at school. "Coffee, coffee, coffee!" She said as she went up to the counter and took a seat.

"And what if I say no?" Luke said.

"You wouldn't!" Lorelai gasped in mock horror.

"Try me." Luke smirked.

Lorelai pouted. "If you don't give me coffee, I won't marry you in two weeks." She tried.

Luke smirked. "Ah pulling out the big guns are you?"

"Did it work?" Lorelai grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes but got out a mug and poured her some coffee. "As if you'd let me actually not give you some coffee."

Lorelai grinned and drank the coffee thirstily. "Thanks hon! So can you believe we're actually getting married in two weeks? I'm going to be Mrs Lorelai Danes."

"You're changing your name?" Luke asked surprised.

"Yeh. Isn't that what you do when you get married?" Lorelai asked.

"Well yeh but some people don't. I just assumed that you might want to keep your Gilmore name." He said.

"I think Lorelai Danes has a ring to it, don't you?" She smiled.

Luke smiled. "Yeh it does."

"Anyway got to run. My shift starts in a bit." Lorelai said getting up. "Are you ok collecting Rory from school? I have a meeting 3-4." She said.

"Yeh that's fine. Will she be ok hanging out here?" Luke asked.

"You're really asking that?" Lorelai joked. "I think she enjoys hanging out with you more than she does with me." She laughed.

"I'm sure that's not true." Luke smiled.

Lorelai shrugged. "I don't mind. I always got worried that she would get bored at the inn every day. Now she's got a choice." She smiled.

"So see you at home this evening?" Luke asked.

"Yeh see you then." Lorelai smiled. She was about to go when she turned around again. "Hey, have you heard from Liz yet?"

"Nope. The phone's still disconnected." Luke sighed. "I was thinking I might..uh..go up to New York at the weekend. I want Jess at the wedding and I want him to know that."

Lorelai nodded. "Ok. So see you later?"

"Yeh see you later." Luke smiled and he watched her go.

Lorelai crossed the square to get to her jeep to then drive to the inn. She saw a bus arrive at the bus stop. She was about to get into the car when she saw a familiar figure get off it with a book in his hand. She slowly walked over. "Jess?" She said.

Jess turned round and gave her a small smile. "Hi.." He said.

"What...What are you doing here? Is your mom with you?" She asked.

Jess' smile faded. "She didn't want me again. She met another guy and apparently I got in the way so here I am." He said quietly.

Lorelai couldn't believe it. What kind of mother would make their kid feel so unwanted? "Oh Jess..."

"I can stay here right?" He asked hesitantly. "You're a much better mom than she is." He said quietly.

"Oh Jess come here." She said holding his arms out. Jess went towards her and into her embrace. "You're always welcome. You're part of our family." She said sincerely. "We've missed you, kid." She said.

"I've missed you too." Jess admitted.

"Come on, let's go give Luke the surprise of his life." Lorelai smiled. "He's going to be made up to see you." She said taking hold of his hand.

Jess took it and let Lorelai lead him to the diner. They went inside and found Luke cleaning the counter. He looked up and froze when he saw who it was.

"Look who showed up." Lorelai smiled.

"Wha...Jess..." Luke said quietly. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know if Jess hated him or not. He quickly got the answer to that when Jess suddenly ran around the counter and hugged him tightly. Lorelai smiled as she saw Luke reciprocate the hug and ruffle his hair at the same time. "Where's your mom? Does she know you're here?" He asked.

Jess nodded. "She changed her mind again. Apparently I get in the way of her new relationship." He said quietly. He looked up. "Lorelai said I can stay. Can I?"

Luke felt his blood boil at Liz's neglect again. He looked down at his nephew. "Of course you can stay. And I'm going to make sure you can stay this time, I promise." He said.

"I've got something." Jess said taking his bag off and taking some papers out. He handed them to Luke.

"These are custody papers." Luke said surprised. "How did you get these?"

"My friend's dad is a lawyer. He helped me get some." Jess said. "I refused to leave unless mom signed them. All you have to do is sign them and I can stay with you permanently."

Luke was surprised. "You got her to sign them..." He then frowned. "Jess, these are joint custody papers..." He said, glancing up at Lorelai whoc came over to the counter to have a look.

"Uh yeh..." Jess said looking down at his shoes. "I thought..uh..maybe you could both be my legal guardians. Since you're getting married..." He said quietly.

"Jess, I don't know...uh..." Luke said adjusting his cap not knowing what to say. He looked up at Lorelai to try and gauge her reaction.

Lorelai looked at Jess who was still staring at his shoes. "You really want this?" She asked.

Jess looked up slowly and nodded. "I want a good mom. Not a rubbish one." He said quietly.

Luke looked at her. "Lorelai..."

She smiled. "Where's the pen?" She said.

"Really?" Luke asked.

"He's part of the family." Lorelai said. "He wants this. This way, we'll both be part of his life like you're going to be with Rory."

"This is big..." Luke said.

"So's adopting Rory.." She pointed out.

"But.." Luke said worried that Lorelai was feeling forced into this.

"Luke, you said that you wanted Rory to be happy and feel safe right? That's why you agreed to adopt her?" She said.

Luke nodded. "Yeh.."

"Well I want Jess to be happy and feel safe too." She smiled. "Now where's that pen?"

Luke finally gave her a smile and handed her a pen. "Here." He said. He glanced at Jess who was smiling as he watched Lorelai sign the papers. It was then his turn to sign them. He then sealed them in an envelope.

"Give them here. I can post them on my way to the inn." Lorelai said. "I really need to get going now or Michel will be having a tantrum."

"Oh yeh sure." Luke said. "Thanks." He smiled.

Lorelai smiled. "You guys have fun. Good to have you back Jess. This one's been pining without you." She winked at Luke.

Jess grinned as Luke rolled his eyes.

Luke took a deep breath and turned to Jess after Lorelai left. "So fancy helping me out today and we can get you back to school tomorrow?"

Jess nodded.

"Jess!" Rory squealed as she came down the school steps and saw Luke and Jess waiting for her.

Luke smiled as Rory launched herself down the stairs and hugged Jess nearly knocking him over. "Ok easy there! We don't want to kill him just as he's come back." He chuckled.

"Sorry.." Rory grinned sheepishly, stepping back.

Jess smirked. "Hi."

"Hi!" Rory grinned. "Are you staying?" She asked. She then turned to Luke. "Is he staying?"

"He's staying and he's not leaving again. We're making it legal." Luke smiled.

Rory grinned. "This is so great! Have you told him about the wedding yet?"

"Not yet. I have to get back to the diner though so why don't you tell him on the way?" He said.

"Ok!" Rory beamed.

Luke smiled as they walked ahead of him to the diner, Rory telling Jess every little detail of what was going to happen at the wedding. He saw Jess smile as he listened to her. He let out a breath. Everything felt right again. In two weeks, he was going to marry the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with and who he loved so much, he was going to adopt a girl who he adored and now Jess was back and he was staying. Life was great.

So Jess is back! Are you happy? :) Review and let me know what you think! :) Just to say I will probably finish this story soon, there shouldn't be too many chapters left but I already have ideas for the sequel and you won't have to wait long for that! :)