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Jess scans the street. Luke is due to meet him on the corner before they find somewhere for lunch, the venue still undecided. Luke's only requirement was 'somewhere with real food', which made Jess chuckle, but he knows what his uncle means. It's a warm day and Jess unzips his jacket, feeling the spring air cool against his shirt. The sunlight is crinkling his eyes and Jess puts a hand over them as he hears a call and looks across the street. Luke is approaching and gives his nephew a quick hug, patting him on the back.

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself. Good drive?"

"Not too many morons which is always a plus. Where are we heading?"

Jess points to the right and the two start down the street, sharing smalltalk about Truncheon and the diner.

"This place serves real food, right?" Luke asks suspiciously as they approach the café and Jess sighs.

"Yes, for the hundredth time. Will you just trust me?"

"You moved to Philadelphia and have this artsy publishing house. How do I know your food choices haven't got all fancy?"

"I don't think you can call Truncheon fancy," Jess remarks, trying to keep a straight face. "Relax. I'm not going to start taking you somewhere with food in the title."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'll take you somewhere you can enjoy your lunch."

"It's not a fastfood joint though, right?"

"No, Euell Gibbons, it's not."

"Good to know your hilarity's still the same."

Luke follows Jess into the café and seems satisfied with the sandwich he orders. Jess has just taken a bite of his when his uncle says, "So you're back with Rory?", causing him to cough.

"What?" Jess asks, after managing to swallow, and Luke repeats, "I hear you're back with Rory."

"Did Rory tell you that?"

"No, Lorelai. Rory admitted something along those lines to her at Lane's wedding."

Rory admitted it. So she kept the night to herself? Jess isn't sure what to think of that so simply says, "Huh."

"That's it?" Luke exclaims. "Huh? Come on Jess, are you back with Rory?"

"I'm not sure yet."

"Something went on though, right? You left that part out in in your news."

"You're one to talk."

"What does that mean?"

"Got any other secret daughters hanging around?"

"Jess, what are you talking about? You met April at the open house!"

"Yeah, I met her," Jess says, leaning forward, "but you didn't tell me about her. Liz filled me in."

The annoyance fades in Luke's face and he sighs.

"Jess. I didn't tell anyone about April."

"You told Liz!"

"She's my sister!"

"And I'm your nephew!"

"Look, Liz was there," Luke says steadily. "It was Thanksgiving and she was there and I had to tell someone and I couldn't tell Lorelai and that's bad, I know it's not great by any means, but I was trying to deal with it and I couldn't deal with shaking her world up too. So I told Liz. She's family."

"I'm family too," Jess retorts. "Did you think I'd just make jokes?"

"What, like my paternity being confirmed on account of April being smart?"

"Yes," Jess admits. "But Luke, I would've listened. I thought we'd got past the whole hoodlum thing. You could have told me."

Luke nods and Jess takes another bite of sandwich, thankfully without risk of choking this time. Uncle and nephew sit in silence for a moment until Luke says, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"It wasn't because you're just my punk nephew. You've got your whole life out here."

"But you knew when you saw me, right? In New York?"

"Yeah," Luke admits. "I just…I was trying to deal with it on my own, which was stupid, and Jess, if Liz wasn't there I probably wouldn't have told her either. But I should have said something."

"It's okay," Jess says again. Luke nods, giving Jess a quick smile, and after he finishes his sandwich asks, "So what would you have said? You know, if I had told you?"

"I'd have said you don't need to sweat this," Jess says and, as Luke laughs, he says, "I mean, yeah, sweat it a little – it's a big thing to handle. But you don't need to worry about the father side of things."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Because you were like a dad to me," Jess says seriously. "And you did a pretty good job."

"Jess, I kicked you out!"

"True, but I don't think I'd have hung around Stars Hollow much longer."

"I was wrong to kick you out," Luke says and Jess nods before saying, "Yeah, but Luke, one mistake doesn't screw up everything else you did. And you did a lot."

"You were seventeen when you got here – how much did I do?"

"A lot. You gave me a home, you actually gave a damn about where I was going and what I was doing and you were there. You helped me when Rory and I lived in New York and were flat broke and you helped me when she left too. I know you're going to be good at this fatherhood thing because I've seen it."

Luke smiles, abashed, and says, "Thanks, Jess."

"I mean it."

They each take a sip of coffee and Luke coughs. "Boy, did we get close to being sappy there?"

"You can get sappy once in a while."

"Just don't tell anyone, it'll threaten my reputation as grouchy diner guy."

"I don't think you need to worry about that," Jess remarks. Luke laughs, sitting back in his seat, and then says, "April's a girl."

"Yes. And…?"

"And I've never been a girl. I was a boy, so when you came along I at least had some clue, but what do I know about daughters?"

"Doesn't matter. April's got her mom, right? And Lorelai. Once she gets to know her she'll help. Plus I think being a teenager sucks either way, so you've got that side down. And you helped Lorelai when Rory was a kid. I don't think April being a girl is as big a deal as you're making out."

"I hope," Luke says but he sounds brighter until Jess asks, "Hey, what does Lorelai think about all this?"

"She says she's okay with it."

"Huh. What does she think of April? I bet Lorelai can keep up more than you can."

"She hasn't met her yet."

"What?"

"It hasn't been the right time."

"Aren't you guys getting married?"

"Look, April has her own life," Luke says defensively. "She has her own world with her mom, school and whatever science experiment she's cooking up next and I don't want to change it more than I have. Anna, her mom, wants to go slow with it."

"Okay, I get that, but Lorelai's going to be in her life when you get married, so why not make an introduction now?"

"I will soon," Luke says in a voice which closes the discussion. Jess puts his hands up, drinking more coffee, and laughs when Luke says, "April's turning thirteen next week. Any thoughts on presents?"

"Does she like reading?"

"Not unless it's a heavy textbook."

"Then I'm out of ideas."

"Thanks for the help," Luke grumbles. He takes a grouchy sip of coffee and asks, "So what about you and Rory?"

"Oh jeez," Jess groans and closes his eyes as Luke says, "We did the whole Doctor Phil thing with me. You're up."

"We're figuring it out."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means we're figuring it out!" Jess exclaims. "And you know, Rory and I are adults. We don't have to sneak around."

"If you don't have to sneak around why won't you tell me?"

"Because I have something called privacy, if you've heard of it."

"Fine, you have privacy."

"Thank you."

"But remember just now when you said you're not just my punk nephew? I'm not just your clueless uncle. I'm not going to start barking ground rules out to you."

"Be kind of weird if you did."

"So?" Luke asks, putting his cup down. "Can you tell me if you're with Rory again?"

"It's new," Jess says after a pause. "I don't know, and I swear that's not a line."

"Do you want to be with her again?"

"Yes," Jess says. He doesn't have to think about it. "But like I said, we're figuring it out."

"Jess, are you sure about this?"

"See, this is why I didn't tell you!"

"Whoa, where's that coming from?" Luke exclaims. "You don't even know what I'm going to say!"

"Yes, I do! You're going to say I hurt her, back when I left town and after she left New York, that I was wrong to ask her to live with me and I could mess it up again."

"Jess –"

"Luke, we don't need to get into it. Lorelai's dug out that shovel with my name on already, right?"

"Jess, would you stop?" Luke says in frustration and Jess acquiesces. "I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say you two have a history, which could complicate things."

"The history I just talked about?"

"A history, but I didn't say you'd hurt her. I don't think that. You're right – it was a mistake for to ask her to live with you. You were both stupidly young and you didn't have any money and it was bound to fall apart."

"Gee, thanks."

"But that was a while ago," Luke continues. "You've grown up since then and so's Rory. I figure it's going to be more complicated than if you were dating someone new, but I don't think you're going to mess up. Are you thinking that?"

"No," Jess says, after a long pause. "I think I'm doing well."

"You are."

"I guess I'm afraid of losing her again," Jess says honestly. "I don't know why, for whatever reason, but I don't want to lose Rory."

"That's the chance you have to take," Luke says, looking into Jess's eyes. "Nothing's guaranteed in this world, least of all loving someone. All you can do is love them and hope. You have a shot but you won't if you're too afraid to be in a relationship."

"That love book made an impression, huh?" Jess jokes but he's sincere as he says, "Thanks, Luke."

"Not just the book," Luke retorts. "I've learnt a few things."

"I'm sure." Jess drains the last of his coffee before saying, "I'm not afraid of being in a relationship. It is what it is, me and her. I just…I don't know. I want us to do it better."

"I'm sure you will. Just don't get so stuck worrying about how you are instead of actually talking."

Jess nods and laughs as his uncle adds, "This coming from the communication expert."

"It makes sense. Thanks."

"Anytime." Luke smiles and asks awkwardly, "This fulfil our annual advice talk?"

"With time to spare."

Luke pays the bill, refusing Jess's offer of treating, and the two head outside.

"Thanks for lunch," Jess says and Luke gives him another hug.

"I enjoyed it. Good to see you now and then."

"I bet," Jess teases. "What's the plan now?"

"The store, God help me. I want to try and find something for April."

"Want me to help?"

"I thought you said you were out of ideas?"

"I am."

"So you'd be completely useless."

"Yeah, but we'd be useless together."

"Thanks for the offer, but that's okay. You have to get back to work, right?"

"Back to the salt mines," Jess agrees. "We'll talk soon, right?"

"Sure."

"Hey, Luke –" Jess hesitates. "I know we're done with the annual advice but I really think you should talk to Lorelai about April. At least let her pick out a gift."

"I will," Luke says shortly, but he nods. "Right after I convince her to put that shovel away that has your name on."

"Practical. Any chance it could be the other way round?"

"I'll do my best."

The two wave and Jess makes his way back to Truncheon. He slips inside, glad that Chris and Matt are busy on the phone and don't notice him go upstairs. They gave him a hard time when they found out Rory spent the night, teasing Jess and making jokes about young love. Jess humoured them but brushed it off. The night still feels theirs, even if it's no longer secret and Jess wonders if that's why Rory admitted rather than told Lorelai about it. He hopes that's why. A flicker of fear starts in his chest that maybe Rory is regretting it after all. Maybe she's starting to run. It's not as if neither of them have that history, but Jess refuses to give into that. They aren't kids anymore and he picks up the phone to call her. Rory answers on the first ring, her voice happy, and Jess relaxes.

"Hey. How're you doing?"

"Good, but I want to see you."

"Same here," Jess tells her. "Hey, are you around tonight? You could come over, or I could go see you?"

"I'll come to yours. I think I need out of Stars Hollow tonight."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. I promise all the details."

"Good." They talk a little more until Jess hangs up with a smile. They're already good.