Disclaimer: First name = Amy. Last name = not Sherman-Palladino. Therefore, I own none of these lovelies. *grumpy face.*

Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for reviewing, and to "Luke Rules", who gave me the idea to continue this story. I was actually going to leave it at one chapter, but what the heck. I had some ideas that didn't make it into the first chapter, so I put them in this one. Enjoy!

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The next morning, Rory woke up smiling. This was unusual, because it was Monday. Maybe it was because it was the first day of summer holidays. Or maybe it was because she had spent two hours on the bridge with Jess, not speaking, but just floating in the pleasure of being with him. As she inhaled, Rory could almost smell him.

Reaching up, she touched her lips. The lips that yesterday (was it only yesterday?) had kissed Jess twice. Rory's smile grew as she stretched. The entire summer unwound before her; blank days to be filled with books and lazing around and more importantly, Jess. Blinking twice, Rory realised that it was pointless to try to go back to sleep. Thoughts of Jess had driven all the tiredness from her body. Getting out of bed, she went to the kitchen and turned on the coffee maker. As the coffee percolated, Rory went out to the front porch. Outside, everything seemed new. The birds were singing for her, the sun was rising on her, and Dean was coming up the path.

Suddenly, Rory's world of happiness collapsed. Dean. Bag boy at Doose's. Her boyfriend.

"Rory? What are you doing up?" The surprise was evident in Dean's voice. He quickly put his left arm behind his back, trying to conceal the boquet of flowers that he had picked for her before she saw it. He wasn't quick enough.

"Dean. Um, I forgot that this was the first day of holidays. What with the wedding and all… anyway, I set my alarm, and I woke up and – I assume you're here to give me those flowers?"

Dean's eyebrows kinked together. "Well, I was going to leave them on your doorstep for you to find later, but since you're awake, I can give them right to you." He walked up the steps and bent down to kiss her, but she pulled away. He pulled back quickly, a question written on his face. Rory scrambled for another lie. "Um, I haven't had my coffee yet. I can't kiss until I've had at least one coffee. Usually two." An awkward silence followed.

"Well, I'd invite you in, but Mom's still asleep." Dean nodded in agreement and handed the flowers to Rory. With a nod and a wave, he turned and left. Rory escaped back into the house. She'd completely forgotten about Dean. Which didn't make sense, because she still loved him. Rory sighed in consternation. After she put the flowers in a vase, she grabbed her mug and poured herself a coffee. The summer was going to be long.

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"So, daughter of mine," Lorelai said as they approached Luke's Diner, "I have some news for you which will likely require three coffees and a full-frontal lobotomy to get over." Rory looked over at her mom, who's face didn't give away any details about her apparently awful news. Rory had a feeling that the news was about her now-you-see-him-now-you-don't father. Before they entered the Diner, Rory stopped her mom.

"I have some news, too, and you should know it before we go in. Jess is back."

Lorelai stopped walking. "Jess, Luke's nephew? Juvenile delinquent of Star's Hollow?" Rory nodded. The look on Lorelai's face was now easily readable: she was less than happy about the news. In fact, she was downright angry. "How do you know this?"

"Um, he came to Sookie's wedding. Just for a little while, to tell me that he was back for good."

"Oh, he's back for good. Hooray." Rory couldn't have missed the sarcasm if she was deaf and blind. "How do you feel about going to Al's Pancakes for breakfast?"

"Mom. You said I would need three coffees to handle this news. I'd need 10 of Al's coffees, and my bladder just can't take that. Besides, it's Monday. Luke puts cheese in his scrambled eggs on Monday." Rory didn't really care about the cheesy eggs; she just needed to see Jess again. "Also, what would we eat at Al's? He hasn't served pancakes in years. We could have steak for breakfast, but we'd have to wait till 11:00."

"Ok, fine, we'll go to Luke's."

"Is this still about the fight you had after the accident?"

"No! Well…no. It's about a whole bunch of things. But that doesn't matter. It's probably better that you hear this in a comfortable environment, anyways."

"Ok, Mom, now you're starting to scare me. How bad is this? Like, scale of one to ten, one being Elvis in a bathing suit and 10 being The Strokes breaking up."

"What's nine?"

"Nine is… Richard Simmons."

"You'd call a Strokes breakup worse than Richard Simmons?"

"Mom!"

"Well, it's definitely a nine."

"Oh." Since the conversation seemed to be over, Lorelai opened the diner door, and she and Rory walked in. Sitting at their usual table, Lorelai waved four fingers in the air. Without needing to ask what she meant, Luke brought mugs and a fresh pot of coffee to their table.

"Instead of coming back and forth to give you the four coffees that you want, I'm just going to put this pot on your table, and let you serve yourselves. That way, I can care for the customers who are actually paying for their food."

"Thanks, Luke. But what happens if it gets cold?"

"You know the way to the counter. Bring me the pot, and I'll give you a new one."

"You are a smart man."

"Yeah, well, don't tell that to my nephew. He'd probably die laughing, and he's actually pretty useful around here, when he bothers to show up for work. Oh, Jess is back in town."

"I know; Rory told me." Luke only looked slightly surprised at this news. "So, he found you then, Rory?" Rory nodded, blushing faintly. Both Luke and Lorelai noticed this, but after looking at each other quickly, decided not to question her. Luke moved back behind the counter, grabbed another pot of coffee, and went around the diner refilling cups. Lorelai looked around the diner furtively, and then leaned closer to Rory. Unconsciously, Rory copied her mother's gestures. Lorelai took a deep breath, and laid all her news right out.

"Sherry's pregnant. Christopher is moving back in with her. He's finally decided to be a father." This last statement was delivered through a very brittle, unreal smile. Rory didn't know how to react. Should she yell? Start crying? Begin damaging property, like she'd told her father would happen if he broke their hearts?

Instead of doing any of these, she grabbed the coffee pot, poured herself a mug full, and began drinking.

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A/N 2: Ok, Erin wanted to read another chapter tonight, so I ended here. There will be another chapter, possibly tomorrow.