THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

April's birthday party brings an unexpected twist that changes Luke's and Lorelai's lives forever. Late sixth season.

Disclaimer: Amy and Dan. Theirs. Not mine. None of it.

Chapter Fifty-four: Old Friends and New

Suddenly, it was upon them. Suddenly, there was only one week to go before the wedding and the pace of their lives increased dramatically. Suddenly there were dozens of things to remember, details to check, tasks to complete.

Emily's phone calls grew to five or six a day. Her lieutenants, Rory and April, became increasingly militant and bossy with their instructions and to-do lists for their parents. Despite their determination to remain calm, the bride and groom got caught up in the whirlwind, which added to their natural nervousness about the coming nuptials.

They were beginning to lie in bed every night, talking almost frantically about all the things they needed to get done the next day, as well as to continue working for as long as they could.

But in addition to the worry, there was pleasure and excitement in their anticipation of seeing old friends and family who had been missing from their day-to-day lives.

Tuesday afternoon, Lorelai was in her office at the inn, struggling to take Michel through another set of last-minute instructions when she heard a voice call from the front desk. "Excuse me! May I see someone from the management, please?"

"What now," Lorelai grumbled. She schooled her face into a pleasant expression and walked out of the room. "Yes? What can I. . ." She stopped short, her mouth dropping in surprise and delight.

There in front of the desk stood Mia!

Lorelai screamed, ran to her old mentor and they threw their arms around each other.

They hugged, laughing and crying at the same time, squealing half-finished sentences at each other. "You're here! Oh, you're here!" Lorelai got out.

"Of course I'm here!" Mia laughed.

"But we weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"Well, I finished up everything I had to do and decided to come early," Mia explained. She held Lorelai out at arms' length. "Let me look at my bride!" Tears came into her eyes as she regarded Lorelai. "Well, you're glowing. You look exactly right."

"I'm happy!" Lorelai cried. "I should be glowing!"

A scream almost matching Lorelai's made them jerk their heads to their sides. It was Sookie, who, obviously startled by Lorelai's cry and holding a huge butcher knife in her hand, had come running from the kitchen to defend her friend from whatever she was screaming about. Now she stopped short, jumping up and down and squealing.

When she started to run to Mia, Lorelai yelled, "Sookie! Freeze! Drop the cutlery!"

Sookie's gaze turned from Mia to Lorelai in surprise and with equal surprise she saw the knife in her hand. "Oh, yeah," she said and dropped the knife on the floor while she completed her run towards her former boss where they hugged enthusiastically. "Oh, Mia! Mia! You're here!"

"I am," Mia smiled. "Oh, look at you! Look at both of you!" Her eye fell on Michel, who was in the doorway of Lorelai's office, his face wreathed in smiles. "Michel! Come here, you!"

Michel hurried around the desk and submitted to her hug. "Hello, Mia. It is so very good to see you again," he purred.

"His accent hasn't gotten any better. I still can't understand him," Mia muttered to Lorelai, who snickered. "And you, too," replied Mia. "As dapper as ever, I see."

"Well, I try to maintain adequate standards," Michel said modestly. He caught sight of Lorelai and Sookie grinning knowingly at him and his smile faded. "Although doing so in this place can be almost impossible at times," he sniffed, his usual pained expression returning.

"It's good to see you, too, Michel," Mia said, squeezing his arm.

He only allowed her another tiny smile but his eyes were warm.

Mia turned back to the two women and threw an arm around each shoulder. "So. . ." Her eyes twinkled at Lorelai as she addressed Sookie. "She's finally bagging her diner guy, isn't she?"

"Finally," snorted Sookie. "The whole town was getting old, waiting."

"Oh, stop, you two," Lorelai chuckled. "It happened when the time was right."

"Well, listen to how philosophical you've become," Mia said approvingly.

Lorelai smiled. "Still growing up, I guess."

"Come on!" Sookie squealed. "I just took a batch of brownies out of the oven and there's fresh coffee brewing!" She pulled them in the direction of the dining room.

They sat for an hour, chattering non-stop while they enjoyed Sookie's snack. "When am I going to see Jackson and those little ones of yours?" Mia asked her.

"Oh, soon, I'm sure. We'll set something up."

Mia turned to Lorelai. "And where's your fella? Flipping burgers, I would guess."

"That's where he's scheduled to be," Lorelai agreed. "Although both our schedules have been pretty erratic this summer. We'll head over there soon. Hey, you're still staying with us, aren't you?"

"If I won't be in the way."

Lorelai scoffed. "As if you could be!"

"Well, I'm early. You might not be ready."

Lorelai laughed. "You'll be the first guest in our brand-new guest room. Rory had it fixed up for you days ago."

"Oh, how is my little girl?" Mia asked longingly.

"She's great," Lorelai smiled. "All grown up now."

"I can hardly imagine it," Mia said. "And how's Luke's daughter? April? You were having some problems with her, I remember you telling me earlier in the summer."

"We were, but she's much better now," Lorelai assured. "She's adjusting well now. She's in the wedding party and she's very excited."

"Mia, wait until you see the house," Sookie enthused.

"Oh, I can't wait!" Mia said, excitement evident in her voice. "I always thought that place was wasted with only old Mr. Twickham living there. This new arrangement is so much more appropriate. So," she added briskly, "How are the wedding plans coming?"

"Very well," Lorelai smiled.

"Well, I'm yours for the week," Mia declared. "Anything you need me to do, just tell me and it's done."

"Aw, that's sweet of you," Lorelai began, "but you don't have to. . ."

"Of course I do," Mia interrupted. "Two of my favorite people in the world are getting married. Two of my kids," she added, a hint of tears showing in her eyes. "I want to help any way I can. I may go have dinner with friends a few times this week, but other than that, I'm yours."

Lorelai smiled. "Well, you may reconsider when you hear that my mother is handling a lot of the last-minute stuff. Decorations and things."

"Well, that's wonderful," Mia declared. "That's exactly as it should be. So things are better between you?"

"Worlds better."

"It's really amazing," Sookie chimed in. "They talk on the phone like old buddies now. Without screaming," she added impishly.

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Except right now she's calling me eighteen times a day and I'm working overtime at being nice," she snorted.

"Now, now. It's still good. Isn't it?" Mia coaxed.

"Yeah, it is," the bride smiled.

After a while they left to take Mia home and go to see Luke. "You're having dinner here some night before you go," Sookie commanded Mia.

"Of course! I'm looking forward to it," Mia smiled.

Mia had rented a car at the airport for the week and she followed Lorelai in the Jeep back to the house. They hurried up the front stairs, giggling and talking and burst in the door.

"Rory! April! Anybody home?" Lorelai yelled as they came in.

"Coming!" Rory yelled back.

Lorelai gestured to Mia to step back in the foyer. She stood in the hallway waiting for Rory to descend the stairs.

"Hi! What's up?" her daughter inquired as she came towards Lorelai.

"I've got a surprise for you," Lorelai said, her smile glowing.

Rory stopped. "Okay," she said with resignation, used to her mother's sometimes odd ideas of surprises.

Lorelai made a dramatic gesture to her side. "Ta-da!" she cried. Mia stepped to her side, grinning widely.

"Oh, my God!" Rory squealed and ran to the older woman's arms.

"Oh, look at you! Look at my baby!" Mia said, her voice thick with emotion.

The three swept into the living room, laughing and talking non-stop. After a little while, Lorelai and Rory remembered that they were hostesses and took Mia up to her room to leave her suitcase and freshen up. "Do you want to rest a little while?" Lorelai asked.

Mia whirled on her. "No! I want to go see your groom!" she cried with mock sternness. "And then I want a tour of this wonderful house."

The three set off for the diner. "Luke should be almost done for the day," Lorelai said as they paused on the steps. She looked inside. "He must be in the back."

Lane looked up as they came in. Her eyes lit up and she was opening her mouth to give Mia her greetings but Lorelai quickly gestured for her to remain silent. She shut her mouth tightly and nodded, still smiling, and pointed to the back. "Hey, Luke!" Lane yelled. "You've got customers out here!"

"Well, can't you get them?" they heard Luke reply.

"No, they specifically asked for the owner," Lane called again.

"All right, all right, keep your shirt on," Luke grumbled.

The four women stood waiting, trying to smother their giggles until Luke came from the back, wiping his hands on a towel. "All right, what's the. . ." He looked up and caught sight of their beaming guest. "Oh, my God!" he shouted and strode to Mia, smothering her with a hug.

"Aw, Lucas," she murmured, hugging him back. They held each other for a while and then he set her back from his arms. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow," he said happily.

"Well, I was too excited to wait another day. Let me look at you," she smiled. She looked him up and down and studied his face for a long moment. "Being in love suits you," she said softly.

A blush rose to Luke's face. "Aw, come on, don't start. . ."

"No, I mean it," she interrupted, patting him firmly on his broad chest. "I've never seen you look so well or so happy."

"Well. . ." He glanced at Lorelai and Rory. "I've got a lot of good reasons to be," he said gruffly, but still smiling. "So. . .have you been to the house? Have you met April?"

"We've been home but April wasn't there," Lorelai explained.

"I think she went over to Melissa's," Rory put in.

"I can't wait for you to meet her," he told Mia.

"We'll go home as soon as you finish up," Lorelai told him.

"Coffee in the meantime?" he offered. "And do you want anything to eat?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear, Sookie already filled us up," Mia said apologetically.

"No problem," Luke said and went to pour their coffee.

Lane, who had been watching, finally had her chance to greet Mia, who she had known all her life. "And I have to give you my best wishes, too!" Mia cried. "When am I going to meet this new husband of yours?"

"Oh, he's coming in for the evening shift. Mia, thanks again for your wedding present," Lane smiled. "It was great."

"You're very welcome, dear. I'm sorry I couldn't come."

"Lane, tell Mia your latest news," Rory prompted.

"Oh! Yeah!" Lane looked at Mia proudly. "I'm pregnant. With twins!"

Mia shrieked and burst into tears, catching her old friend in her arms.

The four women sat at a table chattering while Luke finished his work in the back. A few townspeople came in, those who knew Mia greeting her joyously. Caesar, Sam and Zach came in for their shifts and Mia met Lane's new husband. Finally Luke came out and joined them. "Shall we?" he smiled.

They walked home, Mia still being greeted by townspeople she knew. They entered the house and Luke called for April. She came out of the library with Paul Anka at her heels, although as soon as he saw Mia, the dog scurried up the stairs towards her room.

"April, c'mere, honey," Luke called and she walked up to them smiling but looking curious. "April, this is our dear friend Mia," Luke introduced. "Mia, my daughter, April."

April immediately put on her best grown-up manners and extended her hand. "Hello. It's nice to meet you," she smiled.

"April, it's wonderful to meet you, too," Mia told her, adopting a similar formal tone.

"Thank you. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I know. I was so excited about being here that I came early," Mia told her. She studied April's face for a long moment until the girl began to blush nervously. Lorelai and Rory glanced at each other, puzzled but Luke stood quietly watching them, a tiny smile on his face.

"Oh, Luke," Mia said softly at last, looking up at him.

"Can you see it?" he asked, his smile growing broader.

"Oh, yes. Absolutely." Mia looked back at April. "I'm sorry, dear, I don't mean to stare. But you look so much like your grandmother," she said emotionally.

April relaxed. "Really? My grandmother Danes?" She turned and looked at Luke. "You never told me," she said, with a slightly accusing edge to her tone.

"I wasn't really sure," he said apologetically. "I didn't see it when I first met you, except for your hair color, but these last few months. . ." He shook his head. "I've been seeing it more and more as you get older. I just wasn't sure enough to say anything." He looked at her anxiously. "Don't be mad."

"I'm not," April assured him. "I'm just glad to know that I look like somebody. Mom always used to tease me that I was a genetic anomaly because I didn't look like anybody in her family."

"She didn't think you looked like your father?" Mia asked.

"Well," April considered. "I didn't know who my father was until last fall, when I did the DNA test, and apparently Mom didn't know either. But no, she never said I looked like my father." She twisted around to look at Luke again. "I don't see it too much."

Mia slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Ah, but I knew your father when he was your age. I see a lot of him as a boy in you."

"Really?" April brightened. "Will you tell me some stories about him as a kid?"

"You bet," Mia chuckled.

"Hey, we want in on those, too," Lorelai put in.

"Aw, jeez," Luke moaned.

"Oh, hush up, you," Mia scolded him. "It's my prerogative as a lifelong friend to do that. So hold your tongue and show me around this fabulous house."

Luke sighed, submitting himself to the inevitable. "April, would you like to serve as tour guide again?" he asked.

"Certainly, Father," April said with a grin.

They toured the house with special attention to Lorelai's closet, as usual. When they reached April's room, they just caught a glimpse of a shaggy tail disappearing under the bed as they walked in.

"Excuse me, but am I seeing things?" Mia asked. "Or is there a dog around here?"

"There is, indeed," Lorelai chuckled. "His name's Paul Anka and he's kinda shy."

"Oh, how nice. Was he your dog before you came here, dear?" Mia asked April.

"No. He was Lorelai's," April explained.

Mia whirled back to Lorelai. "You had a dog?" she said in worried amazement.

"Oh, not this again," Lorelai groaned.

"You had a dog?"

Lorelai grinned. "Yes, I had a dog! All by myself!"

"And he lived to tell the tale?"

"Oh, my God," Lorelai moaned.

"I was there, Mia," Luke put in. "I saw it with my own eyes. She spoiled the dog rotten," he grumbled. "But she took very good care of him."

"Well, I'm relieved to hear that," Mia said. "But why is he hiding?"

"He's bashful with strangers," Lorelai explained. "He's pretty much April's dog now, but he's still hesitant about new people."

"Maybe we should do the sugar thing," April murmured thoughtfully.

"The sugar thing?" Mia echoed.

"Long story. We'll tell you later," Lorelai chuckled. "Besides, I don't think it's necessary, April. He's adjusted to lots of strangers the past few weeks. He just needs a little time."

"Okay. May I?" Mia asked, gesturing to the bed.

"Be our guest," Lorelai shrugged.

Mia actually got down on her hands and knees and peered under the bed. "Oh, he's very handsome," she said. "Hello, Paul Anka. It's very nice to meet you." She looked up at Lorelai. "I assume you named him."

"Darn right."

April joined Mia on the floor. "It's okay, Paul Anka. Mia's a new friend."

The two continued to peer under the bed. "Well, I got a tail wag," Mia finally reported as Luke helped her up.

"Ah. The rest will come in good time," Lorelai assured her.

Dinner that night was a happy affair as they talked non-stop about old times and new, with April asking interested questions. True to her word, Mia told them a few stories about Luke as a boy, despite his constant blushes and they teased him mercilessly about the things she told them.

"So you knew Dad as a boy," April summarized later. "And you were Lorelai's boss?"

"That's right," Mia smiled.

"My first boss. And my savior," Lorelai said fervently.

"Oh, now," Mia said modestly.

"I mean it, Mia. I thank the powers of the universe every day that you had a job available and you decided to give me a try. Lord only knows what would have happened to us otherwise."

"Well, once I met you, I wasn't going to let you go someplace else and get into trouble," Mia chuckled. "I wasn't about to let you two out of my sight. I had to keep you safe."

"What do you mean?" said April with interest.

"I was running away from home and I needed a job. I saw a job in the paper for a maid at Mia's inn," Lorelai began.

"I was at my front desk one day when this beautiful teenage girl walked in with a gorgeous baby in her arms," Mia remembered. "She marched right up to me, looked me straight in the eye and said, 'I'm here for a job, any job. I have to support my daughter.' She certainly raised my curiosity. So we talked for a while and I decided to give her a try. I liked the set of her jaw," she teased. "I knew she'd work hard for me."

"Aside from the fact that you decided then and there to mother us," Lorelai reminded her.

"Oh, yes. Aside from that."

"And did you?" April asked breathlessly.

"She did everything for us," Lorelai said. "She mothered us, gave us a home, helped raise both of us. She taught me, loaned me money, explained the world when I didn't understand it, protected us, babysat Rory, gave me advice, supplemented my meager offerings for Rory's Christmases and birthdays. . .she did everything. I don't think we'd be here if it wasn't for you, Mia," she added fervently.

Mia smiled her thanks. "There's just one thing I always wish I had done," she said, a twinkle in her eye, including Luke in her statement. "I wish I had introduced you two long before you did meet." She shook her head. "I don't know why I didn't think of it. I don't see how you two didn't cross paths before you did, all those years you were both living in Stars Hollow."

"Well, I didn't go into town too much," Lorelai said.

"You went in enough. You went to Rory's school."

"I was away doing construction during the day a lot after Dad died and before I opened the diner," Luke mused. "And I didn't come into the inn very much. You usually came to see me," he reminded Mia a little gruffly.

"You came sometimes," Mia told him.

He looked thoughtful. "Actually, I think I might have seen Rory at least once back then."

"You did?" Rory asked in amazement.

"Well, I remember going to the inn once and seeing a little girl sitting at the front desk coloring," he recalled. "I thought she was a guest's child, but maybe it was you, Rory."

"That sounds like me," she said eagerly. She and Lorelai looked at each other. "So close," Lorelai commented sadly.

"So near and yet so far," mourned Rory.

"All, right, stop that," Luke said. "Don't get all maudlin."

"Actually, I've wondered myself why we didn't meet earlier," Lorelai told him. "We'll have to talk about that sometime. But, utilizing my new philosophy, I'm thinking now that we met exactly when and how we were supposed to."

"Amen to that," Luke smiled.

Dinner concluded and after they moved to the living room, the wedding book was brought out and the details shared with their old friend. April's bedtime came and she excused herself to go upstairs, hugging her new friend goodnight as she did. Luke had been up early for a delivery and excused himself shortly after and Rory followed a little while later. Lorelai and Mia were left sipping the last of the coffee at the kitchen table.

Mia smiled and took Lorelai's hand. "I mean it about Luke. I haven't seen him this happy since. . .well, I think before his mother died," she said, growing serious. "When she did. . . it was like a light went out in him. He got more reserved from then on. After William died, he damn near shut himself away entirely."

"He told me about that," Lorelai agreed. "He said something in him died when his father did. He was afraid to care about anybody because he was sure they would leave him."

"I thought it was something like that, even though he never said," Mia murmured thoughtfully. She suddenly did a double-take. "Wait a minute, he told you that? He just opened his mouth and told you?" she said in amazement.

Lorelai chuckled. "Yeah, he did." She sighed deeply. "April appearing in his life was a kind of crisis for us," she explained. "He shut me out for a while after they met and didn't let me get acquainted with her or even meet her. I was just starting to make a fuss about it when Anna and April had the accident and Anna died. That. . ." she stared into space for a minute. "That really changed everything. We began to talk, really talk, about how we felt about things and about each other. That's when he told me about being afraid of losing any more people," she explained. "I've really learned—and I think Luke has, too—about how deeply emotions can run and the crazy things that they can make you think and believe and how. . .poisonous those ideas can become if you don't get them out in the open and talk about them. Luke and I have had a lot of talks like that this summer. Even my mother has opened up a lot, indirectly because of April."

"How did she react to April moving in with you?" Mia asked. So Lorelai told her the whole story of Emily's trick, the confrontation that followed and Emily's subsequent soul-searching. "Our relationship has become entirely different," she concluded.

"Wow," Mia breathed. "After all these years—finally."

"Yeah, finally." Lorelai grinned mischievously. "Remember how she was always after me to get back together with Christopher?"

"Oh, yes," Mia remembered. "Is she still doing that?"

"Nope. Just the other night, she helped me put him off when he was making one final play for me."

"Really?" Mia. "That sounds like a story in itself."

"Ohhhhh, it is," Lorelai laughed and told Mia that story, too.

"Huh," Mia said, impressed. "Lorelai, it sounds like your mother is finally accepting who you are. Just as you are."

"I really think she is," Lorelai told her softly.

Mia smiled. "I'm glad. You deserve to finally have some peace with your mother."

Both were yawning widely by then, so a short while later they retired. "I'm so glad you're here," Lorelai murmured as she hugged her friend good-night.

"I'm so glad to be here," Mia told her.

Early the next afternoon, after the lunch rush, Luke was in the diner, waiting for his replacements to come in so he could go to the jewelry store to pick up the wedding rings. He had his back to the door when the bell rang, warning of a customer.

"Be right with you," he called over his shoulder.

"Hey, what does somebody have to do to get some service around here?" a deep voice said sarcastically.

Luke turned, ready to give whoever it was a piece of his mind. But there, smiling sardonically at him was Jess.

Luke regarded him, a big smile on his face. "Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."

Jess smirked. "It's good to see you, too, Uncle Lukey."

Luke came around the counter and caught the young man in his arms. They hugged and slapped each other's backs. Luke moved back and grinned at his nephew. "So you came."

"Yeah. I had to see the world's crankiest and most confirmed bachelor finally get reeled in," Jess replied.

After Caesar had come in and greeted him, Luke took him up to the apartment above the diner where he would be staying. Jess looked around with his usual sardonic expression. "A few changes up here," he observed.

"Yeah. Some of the stuff got moved to the new house."

"Including the trophies, I see."

Luke shrugged. "Lorelai insisted."

"I'll bet," Jess grinned. "So where's the family?"

"Oh, here and there. Some of them are probably home. Mia came last night," Luke explained.

"Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me about her. So, everything all set for the big shindig tonight?"

"As ready as it's going to be."

Jess shook his head. "I can't believe it, even from you. A bachelor's party with no strippers and no dirty movies. What are we doing, anyway—having a tea party?" he smirked.

"We're just going to P.J.'s. Liquor, pool, darts, maybe some poker."

"And I suppose the girls are going out on the town."

"You suppose wrong," Luke told him. "Neither one of us wanted anything too wild or gross, and we insisted with our friends when they were planning it. Lorelai and the ladies are staying in at our house. It's going to be so tame that April's even going to be there for part of it."

"But they have a TV at home," Jess pointed out. "Dirty movies."

"Maybe naughty ones," Luke conceded. "And I think I heard something about some naughty presents, lingerie and that sort of thing. But we've just got too much going on and too much to do getting ready for the wedding to knock everybody out of commission with a night of partying."

"Face it, Luke—you're whipped," Jess grinned. "You've been tamed."

"Like I was so wild to begin with." But Luke grinned back at him. "Maybe so. But if that's the case. . .I like it."

"By the way, about the wedding," Jess added. "Now that I'm here, count on me to help however you need me to. I'll even cover for you in the diner if you need to go do something. I'm supposed to go see Mom tomorrow, but other than that. . ."

"Thanks, buddy," Luke said. "You want some lunch?"

"No, thanks, I'm all set."

"Okay. Come on over to the house then."

They arrived to find Lorelai, Mia and April around the kitchen table, finishing lunch. Luke strode to the door and without preamble said, "Hey, look what I found."

Lorelai peered around his shoulder to see Jess hesitating there. "Hey, look! Luke brought us home our very own punk!" She went to Jess, smiling broadly. "Hiya, Jess."

Jess smirked. "Hi, yourself, Auntie Lorelai."

"How are you?" she asked softly.

Jess nodded. "I'm good. Very good."

She put her arms around him and hugged tightly. To her surprise, Jess, squeezed back. "Good to see you."

"It's good to be here," Jess murmured.

She backed away to smile again and was surprised again to get a genuine smile in return.

"April, you remember your cousin Jess?" Luke called to her happily.

"Of course. Hi, Jess," she said brightly.

Jess jerked his head in her direction. "Hey."

There was a silent pause. April looked at Luke and said, "Still not very talkative, is he?"

"That's the Danes men for you," Luke shrugged.

"Oh, I'd quarrel with that. Your father could talk plenty when he wanted to," smiled Mia.

"Jess, I think you met our old friend Mia a few years ago," Lorelai put in.

"Oh, yes, I remember." Jess walked to Mia and offered his hand. "Nice to see you again."

"You too, Jess," she smiled, taking his hand and squeezing it.

"So, sit," Luke said. "Want some coffee or something?"

"Sure," Jess said, sitting at the table and looking around the kitchen. "Nice place."

"Thanks," Lorelai told him. "We've been working on it. We'll give you the grand tour later. So how are things going?"

"Great," Jess said, nodding his thanks as Luke set a mug in front of him. "The bookstore's really doing well. We've been getting a lot of attention in the papers lately and more artists are asking to display their work with us, and then they bring their friends. It's going great."

"How's your book selling?" Luke asked.

"Well, not so well in the other bookstores yet, but it's doing well in our store," Jess explained. "We leave copies out and people browse through it and end up buying it."

They talked a little while about the store and Jess revealed that he was working on a new book. "This one's a little more mainstream, I think. Another local publisher, a bigger one, saw a few pages and wants me to contact him when it's further along."

"Jess, that's great," Luke said happily, slapping him on the back.

Jess took a sip and looked around the room. "Missing somebody?" he smirked.

Lorelai understood his question. "She's down at Yale, doing a tutoring session. She'll be back soon," she told him. He nodded but said nothing.

A little later, Luke pushed back from the table. "Well, I have to go pick up the rings. Want to come?" he directed to his nephew. "We need to stop and get your tux fitted, too."

"Sure," Jess replied. He nodded to Mia. "Nice to see you again." To April: "See ya, cousin," with a small grin. "Lorelai, see you later, I guess."

"Bet on it," she smiled.

On the way to the jewelry store, Luke and Jess talked further. Jess was surprisingly forthcoming about how his life was going. But after a silence, he suddenly asked, "So how's Rory?"

"She's good," Luke said carefully.

"She still with that Logan guy?"

"Yeah. But he's in London for the summer, working for his father. She doesn't talk much about it," Luke responded in the same careful tone. He glanced at his nephew. "Is. . .that going to be a problem while you're here?" he asked.

Jess shook his head. "No. We talked a little when she was in Philadelphia and she made it clear where she stands. It's not what I'd want, but I respect it. I just like having her as a friend. And pretty soon, I guess, as a cousin," he grinned at his uncle.

Luke smiled. "Pretty soon."

"In case I don't get another chance, Luke, I just wanted to tell you. . ." he paused.

"I know, Jess," Luke said softly.

To his surprise, Jess shook his head. "No, I want to say it. I think this is really great, Luke. Really great. After all that time, you finally stepped up to the plate and got what you wanted. I give you a lot of credit."

"Thanks," Luke said softly.

A teasing tone came into his nephew's voice. "And now look at you. . .the old hermit turned family man."

Luke laughed. "Yeah. Quite a transformation."

"You happy?" Jess asked softly.

Luke turned quickly to look at him and smiled broadly. "Very."

"Well, that's what counts," Jess said, settling back in his seat.

By the time they completed their errands and returned, Rory had come home. She and Jess greeted each other warmly and almost immediately fell back into their old teasing, banter-filled relationship. But Luke and Lorelai both sensed an edge to their cordiality.

There was little time to dwell on it, however, as shortly afterwards the Phelans arrived. Ed and Nancy were coming to join in the bachelor/bachelorette festivities and Molly came along to keep April company. To April's disappointment, Sean had opted to stay the night at a friend's house. The plan was for Molly to stay overnight with April while Lorelai had booked a room at the Dragonfly for her parents in case the evening ran too late.

So there was a great flurry of greetings and introductions. They settled down to a light supper, the nine of them squeezing up to the oak kitchen table and then they began to move in different directions to get ready for the evening to come. Jess returned to the apartment and Ed and Nancy took over April's bathroom to freshen up after their long drive.

Rory was leaving the living room when she stopped short and peered out the front window. "Hey, Mom, Grandpa's car just pulled up," she reported.

"Oh, jeez," Lorelai groaned. "They're really early. I hope they don't expect us to entertain them for the next hour." The doorbell rang and since Lorelai was halfway down the hall, she called, "I'll get it."

She opened the door to her parents standing there. "Hello, Lorelai," they said, almost in unison."

"Hello, parental units," Lorelai responded in like manner.

She noticed immediately that something seemed to be up. Richard was positively beaming and Emily was almost shooting out sparks of excitement. "Lorelai, we have a surprise for you," her mother said, seeming about to burst at the seams.

"Oh, okay. Something good?" their daughter asked.

Her parents gave each other a conspiratorial look and moved to one side. From the other side of the door stepped a woman to stand in their place in the doorway. She was petite and slender, with dark red hair peppered liberally with white, cut in a stylish way. Her cinnamon-brown eyes sparkled with life. "Do you recognize me, Lorelai?" she said in a husky voice.

Lorelai stared at her, a vague memory stirring. She looked into those brown eyes. They reminded her of someone. . .of. . .of. . .

Her eyes widened. "Aunt Hope?" she cried incredulously.