Chapter 155

"Paris!"

"Rory!" Paris smiled, walking over to give Rory a hug as she walked into the Inn. After a tentative moment, she gave Jess a small hug as well. He smiled, surprised.

"Good to see you, Paris," he said, "The Truncheon men send their regards."

"As does Hannah," Rory smiled, "She really liked you."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. She wants to know when you're coming back."

"Not until after the baby, probably," Paris said unhappily, "It just…wouldn't be practical. I'm already cutting it close with the wedding. But after she's here…I'd love to come back. If you wouldn't mind, I mean. I can stay at a hotel."

"Paris, you'll stay with us."

"With an infant?"

"…alright, maybe a hotel. But we'll figure it out. As soon as you feel like it, okay?"

"Okay," Paris smiled, grateful, "Thanks, Rory."

"So how's your visit been so far? Mom said you got in Thursday?"

"Yeah. I took a couple days off work," Paris shrugged. Jess raised his eyebrows. "Got something to say, Mariano?"

"…only that I feel like I've heard that one before," Jess answered honestly, casting a meaningful glance at Rory. Paris sighed.

"You didn't tell him, did you?"

"I promise, I didn't."

"I believe you. I guess this is the drawback of you dating men with an IQ higher than 7," Paris said, causing Jess to snort, "Yeah, fine, Kerouac…I'm not particularly happy with my work situation and I'm looking into some other ideas for once the baby's born."

"Not barefoot in Doyle's kitchen, I hope."

"…that visual is pretty much enough to ensure that Marie is an only child," Paris retorted, causing Jess to smirk, "Of course not. I have about a thousand interests. I just want to find something that feels more fulfilling and that allows me more flexibility. But I'm not intending on having a several-month-long existential crisis about it like your girlfriend here."

"Hey!"

"Not judging, just saying," Paris teased. Rory shared a good natured smiled.

"…fair enough. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help," Jess said.

"Thanks, Jess. Putting up with the visiting is much appreciated."

"I do what I can. And, for some inexplicable reason, our friends all like you. So I'm pretty sure you're welcome whenever," Jess said. Rory looked at him, surprised, and he met her eyes, nodding. Paris widened her eyes.

"Really?"

"Yup. I mean, a little notice never hurt, but our tiny above-bookshop apartment is your tiny-above bookshop apartment."

"Thanks, Jess. I really mean that."

"Of course," Jess said, rolling his eyes and smiling, as the sentimentality started to reach his outer limits, "But hey, let's go see Lorelai before she has another reason to think I'm keeping Rory away from her."

"Too late," Lorelai teased, walking into the room, "You guys took too long and Michel told me you were here. Loinfruit!"

"Mom!" Rory hugged Lorelai. "Thanks for having us!"

"Of course! And good to see you, Jess," Lorelai smiled, "Luke's over at the diner. I was going to suggest we all go over there after dinner for some coffee and donuts."

"That sounds great," Jess agreed.

Paris smiled at Lorelai. "Thanks again for having me, Lorelai."

"For the last time, Paris, you have to stop thanking me," Lorelai exclaimed, smiling, "You're welcome here anytime."

"A popular sentiment today," Rory mumbled, earning a look of amusement from Jess and a look of confusion from her mom.

"What do you…"

"I extended Paris an open invitation to visit us," Jess said, trying to quickly get to the point before it was drawn out. Lorelai raised her eyebrows, grinning.

"You did?!"

"Well, as awkward as this is, can we eat? I happen to know Sookie made an incredible rack of lamb," Paris said, changing the topic. Lorelai smiled.

"Only for you, Paris. I think she's starting to make your favorites."

"…keep this up and I'll never leave."

"Hey, from what I remember, babies keep inns rather exciting," Lorelai shrugged, causing Rory to smile.

"I always forget that you raised Rory at an inn when she was a baby," Paris said, smiling, "I mean, as impressive as that is, not so much in my plans. But good to know I'll have a sympathetic innkeeper when I bring her to visit and she's, you know, acting like a baby."

"Nonsense. Your baby will be perfect, just like Rory. And if she's not, we'll lie about it for years to come, out of our endless love for her. Just like Rory."

"Hey! I was a good kid."

"…yes you were," Lorelai said, winking at Paris, "Always quiet, never in the slightest bit disruptive or an impediment to the management of a business in an area you'd taken up as your personal playground."

"How's Mia, by the way?"

"Great, last time I heard from her," Lorelai smiled, "She's still in Charlotte. Still married. Still very happy."

"How nice for her," Paris mumbled, though only Jess could make out the words. Quickly, she shifted her expression back.

"Anyway…food? We don't want to keep Sookie waiting."

"No we don't," Lorelai agreed, leading them to the dining room, "Sookie!"

"Hi guys!" Sookie said, greeting them as they sat at a long table, "I made lamb."

"We heard," Lorelai said, raising her eyebrows appreciatively, "Are you tailoring all of our menus to Paris' personal tastes now?"

"No!" Sookie said, defensively, "…not really, anyway. Regardless, I think you'll all really like the rack of lamb, but you also have to come back in the spring, when it's seasonal. Maybe for Easter!"

"Mom may be on her honeymoon then," Rory pointed out, as Lorelai brightened. "Have you guys figured out where you're going?"

"I mean, Luke didn't want to go far," Lorelai shrugged, "But the other day he told me he'd figured it out, and planned everything, and it was a surprise, and I wasn't allowed to know."

"What?!" Rory said, incredulously, both surprised, impressed and dismayed, "How are you supposed to prepare?"

"And shop?!" Sookie added. Paris looked at Jess carefully, who was studiously avoiding all of their eyes.

"You know, don't you?" Paris asked. Jess sighed. All eyes at the table turned to him. "Jess! You can't…"

"Look, haven't you guys tried the food? It's delicious. Don't want it to get cold," Jess said quickly, cutting into his lamb. "Sookie, this is incredible."

"Thanks! I used a dijon balsamic…hey! You're trying to distract us!" Sookie realized. Paris smirked.

"Not a bad effort, I'll give you that."

"I have some practice."

"So…?"

"What on earth makes you think I'd tell you, even if I knew?"

"Because there are four of us and one of you?"

"And what's unusual about that?"

"Jess!"

"Rory, I'm not telling you guys."

"Then how is she supposed to…"

"Pack pretty, girly shit."

"Beach stuff?"

"Maybe."

"Skiing stuff?"

"Maybe."

"Tundra stuff?"

"Maybe."

"Jess, be serious!"

"I am," Jess said, "I'm not telling you guys a damn thing. When it gets close, I'll give Rory the information she needs to help you pack and shop. But just…let yourself be surprised, okay?"

"But what if she hates it?" Rory asked.

"She won't," Jess promised. "Lorelai- you're going to love it."

Lorelai smiled. "Well, now that I simultaneously hate and am impressed by you, I suppose it's time to get over to Luke's so we can move onto him."

"Seems like a great idea," Jess agreed.

"Rory, are you guys staying here at the Inn, at our place or at the diner?"

"What works best for you?"

"I'd say our place. Luke and I will stay at the diner since he has to open early tomorrow."

"Sounds great then," Rory agreed.

"It'll be the most space we've had in weeks," Jess joked.

"Yeah, you guys are very popular right now," Lorelai replied, "Have you guys thought about getting a bigger place? Or being less likeable?"

"Being less likeable is definitely the more cost effective option," Rory replied jokingly. "But…yeah. It's come up."

"I think it's something we're thinking about," Jess said.

"You think you think?" Paris teased.

"You know what I mean," Jess rolled his eyes.

"Well, let's head to the diner. Since it's about closing time I think we'll get dibs on all the leftover donuts." Paris smiled and nodded.

"Paris, we can drop you back here on our way to Mom's later," Rory offered. Paris smiled gratefully.

"Thanks, Rory. That'd be great."

"Good to see you guys," Luke smiled, pouring them each some coffee, "Donuts are on their way."

"You gonna sit down with us?"

"Yep. Just as soon as I get those."

"Thanks, Luke," Rory smiled.

"Of course," Luke nodded, heading to the counter. Lorelai turned to Rory.

"Hon, would you mind if we did some wedding stuff at my house tomorrow? Just you and me."

"Of course!" Rory nodded.

"I need to talk to you about some of it too," Luke said, remembering, "But maybe tomorrow afternoon, after the lunch rush?"

"Of course."

"Lets meet at the Inn, if that's okay."

"Works for me, then I can get some work done in the morning."

"Mind if I work with you?" Paris asked Jess tenatitvely, "I have a couple things I need to get in tomorrow, so I'm gonna have a couple hours on my laptop."

"Sure," Jess shrugged, "As long as you don't mind me not talking."

"If I minded that, we wouldn't be friends," Paris joked, not realizing her words until she heard them come out. Jess smiled, and Rory grinned broadly.

"Fair point," Jess nodded, "We can work in the lobby tomorrow."

"Ooh, we have coffee, and I can make snacks…" Sookie started off, as Lorelai grinned and Jess rolled his eyes.

"Sookie, we'll be…"

"Just let her. It brings her joy."

"…that'd be great. Thanks, Sookie."

"I feel like a teenager with an overenthusiastic mom and a group project," Jess whispered to Rory. She smirked.

"Well, as a writer, I think it makes sense for you to try to experience things you otherwise couldn't relate to."

"So…tomorrow?" Paris asked.

"Tomorrow," Jess agreed.