Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys are great! J Here's part four, hope you like! (Oh, and thank you to the lovely J who betaed)
About Time
"I need a favor."
Jess almost jumped as he felt Luke grab his arm and drag him behind the counter. "Nice to see you too," he sighed.
"I need a favor," Luke repeated, looking him in the eye.
"'Hi Jess, how was your day?' 'Oh well thank you for asking Uncle Luke,'" he continued, talking to himself.
"Jess, every time I ask you that stuff you tell me to go away," Luke reminded him.
"I wouldn't today," Jess said, sticking his bottom lip out.
Luke sighed. "Jess, come on, I need a favor."
"Okay, I'm listening, what do you need me to do?"
"Get out."
Jess raised an eyebrow and frowned. "Now, I really don't know what I did to upset you Uncle Luke."
Luke groaned. "Not right now! Tonight," he snapped, lowering his voice.
"Oh," Jess nodded, as if he understood. "I still don't get it."
"You're doing this on purpose," Luke snapped. "Tonight, I need you to not be in the diner. You see, tonight is-"
"Oh!" Jess yelled. "So you asked her."
"Shh!" Luke ordered. "Do you have any idea what happens if this gets around the town?"
"Um, you're the center of attention and I'm highly amused?" Jess offered.
Luke glared.
"I'm gone," Jess said stepping back holding his hands up. "And I'm quiet."
"Thank you," Luke sighed with relief, and headed over to serve tables.
"Wait…" Jess mumbled. "Where am I supposed to go?"
* * *
"A date?" Rory folded her arms and looked at her mother, smiling brightly. "And who, may I ask, are you planning on going on a date with?"
Lorelai sighed. "Stop smiling, it's creepy," she ordered.
"You don't want me to be happy?"
"I never said that," Lorelai said. "I just said, I didn't want you to smile because you're getting creepy, as in Silence of the Lambs-"
"Stop changing the subject," Rory ordered. "Come on mom, I just want to know. I promise, no questions after that."
"You swear?" Lorelai demanded, eying her carefully.
"Have I ever broken a promise?"
Lorelai sighed. She would end up having to tell Rory sometime. "If you must know…."
"I simply must," Rory nodded.
"Simply?"
"Please continue," Rory said.
"No, no, I wanna know what's up with the word 'simply.' It's a 'simply' lovely word."
"Mom! Stop stalling!" Rory cried, giving her mother a soft kick with her foot.
"Okay, okay," Lorelai nodded, and took a breath in. "Are you sure you don't want to just live in ignorance?"
"Mom!"
"Sure?"
"One hundred and ten percent. Now, tell me," Rory pleaded.
"Okay, I am!" Lorelai said. "If you'd just stop interrupting."
Rory folded her arms and glared at her mother.
"Alright, calm down," Lorelai snapped. "I'm going on a date with Luke tonight," she blurted out, quickly, all at once.
"What?" Rory said, surprised. "I don't think I heard that."
"I said, I'm going on a date with Luke tonight," she repeated, speaking slightly slower.
"Really?"
"You said no questions, you promise no questions," Lorelai reminded her.
"I did, I did," Rory nodded. "Luke, you're really going on a date with Luke?"
"Yes, that's a question."
"You've known him for like 10 years, and just now, you're going on a date with him."
"Are you the narrator?" Lorelai paused, looking at Rory. She started to panic. "You aren't mad are you? This isn't going to make things weird is it? Oh, god-"
"Mom!" Rory cried. "Can I say something?"
"Of course!" Lorelai cried, her foot bouncing up and down uneasily.
"It's about time!"
Lorelai felt her mouth fall open. Okay, that's not what I was expecting. "What?"
"I said-"
"I heard what you said. I'm not sure I understand it."
"Mom, it was kind of obvious that you liked him…"
"Oh, no, my mother got to you to!" Lorelai cried.
"What, no. I figured it out all on my own," Rory nodded. "Promise me one thing."
"Select your words carefully my daughter," Lorelai warned.
"Promise me you two will stay friends, because if you fight, then we won't have any food."
"I've already thought about that," Lorelai reminded her. "So, you're not mad?"
"No, I'm not mad," Rory shrugged.
"One last thing…"
"Yes?"
"Don't tell anyone!"
"Why, are you embarrassed?"
"No, I don't want to be the center of the town's gossip," Lorelai sighed.
"But then I'd be amused," Rory said.
"I'm leaving," Lorelai sighed, get up off the couch.
* * *
Rory found that walking into Luke's diner wasn't any different after finding out he and her mother were going on a date. Rory couldn't help but roll her eyes. At first, the thought of her mother dating Luke had been weird, when Lorelai had brought it up a year or so ago. But after watching them for the past year, it had become perfectly obvious that it wasn't just the coffee that kept Lorelai coming back to Luke's. Rory stopped her thoughts and turned her attention back to Dean. "So, what are you going to have?"
"Um, probably just a burger," Dean nodded, taking a seat.
Rory sat down across from him. "Me too," she nodded.
"Hey," Luke mumbled coming over.
"Hi Luke," Rory cried, energy in her voice. She looked up at him, and grinned.
Luke sighed. "She told you, didn't she?"
"Yup," Rory nodded. "Way to go," she added after a second.
Luke groaned. "You're just as bad as him," he said, jerking a thumb towards Jess. He didn't notice the look on Dean's face after he said that. "Two burgers and-"
"A coke," Dean added.
"I just had coffee, so, a coke for me to."
"One caffeine substitute for another," Luke sighed and went to place the order.
"So, after lunch what do you want to do?" Dean asked.
"Umm, I don't know," Rory said. "Maybe we could-" she began, but Jess rushed up behind her.
"If it isn't my very favorite person ever, Rory Gilmore," he said. Dean sighed. "I need a favor."
"What did you do now?" Rory asked.
"Hey, I didn't do anything," he protested. Then added: "Despot."
Rory rolled her eyes. "I don't like it when you call me that."
"Noted," Jess nodded. "Okay, anyway, I need a favor."
"I'm listening."
"I need to come over tonight."
Dean fumed. "What kind of stupid plan have you got now Jess?"
"Dean, please," Rory sighed. "I'll get to the bottom of this," she looked him in the eye and smiled. Then she turned her attention to Jess. "Why do you need to come over tonight?"
"You see," Jess said, trying to think of a way to get around the fact he wasn't supposed to be talking about 'the date.' "Luke doesn't want me around tonight. I don't think he likes me anymore…" He heard Luke sigh from behind him.
"Oh!" Rory cried. "Because of-"
"Right!" Jess nodded. "So, can I come over? I'll bring food."
"I guess," Rory nodded.
"Thanks…despot."
"Your welcome, Dodger," she said, smirking, remembering the name she'd once called him.
"Jess!" Luke yelled. "There are other customers! One's who haven't been served…"
"If I didn't know better I'd say you were hinting at something," Jess cried. He winked at Rory and left her table.
"Rory, what is going on?" Dean demanded. "First he buys that basket, and then I find him at your house, now you're inviting him over?"
"Dean," Rory sighed. "It's not, it's not what you think."
"Well, then what is it?" Dean asked.
"I-I can't tell you," Rory sighed.
"Rory!"
"I promised, uh, someone, that I wouldn't tell," Rory said, and then her face softened. "You understand, right?"
"I guess," Dean shrugged. He folded his arms and looked up at Rory, putting on a false smile, knowing he didn't really understand what was going on at all.
* * *
The red one or the blue one?
She sighed as she stood in front of a mirror. Usually, picking out clothes was the easier part to dating, but for some reason tonight she was having problems deciding on anything. "Rory!"
Rory came wandering in, wearing faded jeans and a blue sweater. "Yes mother?"
"Help!" Lorelai cried throwing two dresses in her face.
Rory nodded. "Umm, I like the red one."
"Okay…but which would Luke like?"
"Mom, I really don't think that Luke is going to care what you have on."
"Rory! You're not supposed to say that! You're supposed to say 'Oh dearest mother, who is the prettiest in all the land, I think Luke would like you in…'"
Rory nodded. "Okay," she said, chewing on her lip. "Oh dearest mother-"
"Skip that! I'm trying to hurry here," Lorelai said, bouncing up and down.
"Go with the blue one."
"You are sure?"
"Yes."
"You know he'll like it?"
"Yes."
"Sure?"
"Do you doubt me?"
"Yes, you're sure?"
"Mom!" Rory sighed. "I can't stand out here all night."
"Why, you and Dean have a date?"
"No."
"Oh, well then why?"
"Why what?"
"Why can't you stand out here and argue with me all night."
"I have things that I have to do!" Rory sighed, slightly blushing.
Lorelai nodded. "Okay."
"That's it, just okay?"
"Yes."
"Okay?" Rory cried.
"Yes, "Just okay." Now leave, I have things to do," Lorelai said, smiling and shut the door to her room.
Rory let out a sigh and headed back into her room.
* * *
"You gonna wear that?" Jess asked.
"What?" Luke frowned, looking down.
"That baseball cap and flannel?"
"What!"
"You do own something other than flannel and that suit you wore to the funeral?"
"Jess…"
"Okay, I just mean, if I was going on a date, a first date with a girl I'd really been in love with, I wouldn't have on the thing she sees me in everyday."
"And what are you suggesting I wear?"
"How should I know?" Jess shrugged. Then he grinned. "I'm going to go down and kick out most of the customers, alright?"
"Right," Luke nodded, looking clearly annoyed. He waited until Jess closed the door to the apartment before he started rifling through his clothes.
* * *
Jess found himself standing on the Gilmore porch at exactly 8:57. Which was of course, the moment that Lorelai was rushing to leave the house.
He laughed as he could hear two voices inside, yelling at each other.
"Mom! Have you looked at the time?"
"Oh crap!"
Jess wondered if he should just keep waiting out there or if he should ring the doorbell. Deciding, that for the most part, the Gilmore's were not fond of surprises, knocked gently on the door.
"Got it! I'm heading that way anyway!" Lorelai yelled, flinging the door open.
"Hello," Jess said.
Lorelai looked up at him, then down at the box full of food he was holding. "Hi Jess," she nodded. He smiled.
Rory came running to the door. "Hi!"
"Things to do?" Lorelai asked, looking at Rory.
Rory glared at her mother.
"Not inquiring," Jess nodded, stepping inside the house.
"Right, it's not good to meddle in other's affairs," Lorelai nodded to him. Then after a second she added: "Sometimes…"
"Right," Rory nodded.
"I have no idea what she's talking about," Jess shrugged.
"I'm sure," Lorelai nodded. She grabbed her purse and opened the door again. "Rory, I'm heading out now."
"Okay, you two crazy kids have fun," Rory nodded.
Lorelai smiled. "Don't burn the house down."
"Right," Rory nodded seriously.
"Hey, I'm not promising anything," Jess shrugged. Rory giggled. "Oh, and Miss-Lorelai, great dress, Luke likes blue."
Lorelai felt a smile creep up her face. "Uh, bye!" she cried, and headed out the door.
"So what was that about meddling in other's affairs?" Rory asked.
"Nothing," Jess shrugged. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving," he said, gesturing to the box and starting off towards the kitchen.
Rory nodded. "One more question. Does Luke really like blue?"
"I have no idea," Jess replied, pulling out a hamburger and handing it to her.
"Well, it's nice to see you being nice to someone else," Rory said, grabbing glasses from the cupboard.
"I'm always nice," Jess protested as she sat down across for him. "So, Miss Gilmore, what do you plan on doing tonight?"
"I plan on eating and then maybe watching some TV."
"So, wild party is out of the question."
"Not completely."
"Just checking," Jess nodded. "So, I tried to read The Fountainhead again."
"Tried?"
"Reached new record, page 42."
"Did you skip the speech at the beginning?"
"Not all of it…"
* * *
She felt oddly calm as she opened the diner's door. In the house she was jittery, slightly nervous, but usually right now was when she got really freaked out. But for some reason, she was calm.
Is this what you're supposed to feel? She'd always been the first to admit she was horrible when it came to dating. She wasn't sure if you were supposed to feel your heart leap out of your chest, or if you were supposed to be comfortable.
"Hey," she said, sitting down at one of the many empty tables.
"Hey!" he said, sounding slightly nervous. She felt her heart speed up.
"It's weird to see the diner look so empty," she said as he closed the blinds and the door behind her. Having Taylor peak in right now was not how either of them had imagined it. "I mean, I'm so used to having strange people shout things out while I'm in the midst of a conversation."
He laughed, sitting across from her. "Well, I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have sitting in the diner." Then he blushed. "That was, slightly cheesy."
She smiled. "No, it was fine. I mean, when you start quoting lines from Lady and the Tramp then I'll have you carried away."
Luke nodded. "I can assure you there will be no Disney quotes tonight."
Lorelai sighed in relief. "Okay, so what's on tonight's menu."
"What ever you want," Luke nodded.
"Burgers?" Lorelai offered.
Luke groaned. "That's what you always eat."
"But they're special tonight," Lorelai pouted.
"Fine," Luke nodded.
"You have to eat one to!" Lorelai added.
Luke nodded. "Only if you have a salad."
"It's a fair deal," Lorelai nodded. He got up to put the burgers on. "So…"
"I'm really bad at small talk, especially on dates," Luke added. "Usually I don't know the person, but you come here everyday."
"Right, which means we can skip the awkward "You like what movie now?" part of the conversation," Lorelai nodded. "I'm bad at date small talk to you."
"But you seem to enjoy talking so much," Luke nodded.
Lorelai smiled and moved from her seat at the table to the counter, where she could talk to him better. "Yeah, but on a date it's different. Everything's so…"
"Different?" Luke offered.
"Yes!" Lorelai cried, nodding. "Exactly. Nice to know someone else gets it. We should start a club."
"A club?"
"Yes, with a funny acronym and buttons and stuff!"
"Matching buttons?"
"Well, a clubs not a club if you don't have matching buttons."
"My mistake," Luke nodded. "So continue."
"Right where was I?"
"Something about matching buttons?"
"Oh! Anyway, yes, the buttons have to match. It would defeat the purpose if they were all different."
"So, then after the matching button's we have matching sweaters?"
"No. Matching sweaters? Now, Luke, that's just silly."
"Right, and matching buttons aren't?"
"Exactly!" Lorelai nodded. "They done yet?"
"Patients."
"Patients stinks, I'm hungry," Lorelai protested. "Invent a super fast grill!"
"Right now?"
"Sure, why not! While we wait
for the food to cook," Lorelai nodded.
"I don't know how to invent a super fast grill."
"Oh," Lorelai sighed. "I guess we're stuck waiting then."
"Yes, the tragic five minute wait to the grill."
"But I'm so hungry," Lorelai whined. She drummed her fingers on the table for a second before jumping up. "Let me help prepare."
"Prepare what?"
"Anything!"
"Okay…" Luke nodded, as she wandered behind the counter. "Here, plates."
"Got it," she cried, neatly putting them on the table. She started fishing through drawers for silverware. "You'll have to have me reorganize these one day."
"Why? I know exactly where everything is."
"You have no system though," Lorelai said as he placed the burgers on the two plates and pulled out the salad.
"I have a system, it's 'put everything where you can find it.'"
"That's not a system."
"Yes it is," he said, as she
placed two salad plates on the table. "I can find things can't I?"
"Well I can't!" Lorelai protested.
"You seemed to find the silverware and the plates and the glasses fine," Luke said, pointing to the well set table.
"Well…"
"And you did just finish running the diner," Luke pointed out.
"I did!" Lorelai nodded. "Is the food ready?"
"Yup," Luke nodded and sat at the table. Lorelai slid across from him.
"At last," she grinned picking up the burger.
"You've been waiting 10 minutes."
"And…?"
Luke shook his head. "Wow, these burgers turned out okay."
Lorelai nodded. "The salads good too."
"You should eat it more often," Luke said, smiling.
"Don't push your luck," Lorelai said, smiling back at him. "So, what did you do today?"
"I fed crazy people."
"Ooh, like escaped mental patients?"
"More like Kirk and Taylor."
"Can't be worse than the guy I had in the Inn today."
"No one is worse than Kirk and Taylor."
"This guy was!" Lorelai cried. "First thing when I get to the desk, and I'm telling you, it's like 8 in the morning…"
At first, the fear of a beautiful friendship being ruined was all they could think about. But they both realized, sitting in the small-town diner, everything was going to be okay.
* * *
"Oh my gosh!" Lorelai cried checking her watch. "It's 11, we've been sitting here for two hours."
"Oh geez," Luke mumbled.
"It's not that I want to go, it's just, I have to work tomorrow. And Rory's at home."
"Yeah, and I have to open this place at 7, and who knows what Jess is out doing."
"Oh, he's at our house."
"Really?" Luke frowned. "It's not my fault if your place is burned down."
Lorelai laughed. "I'm sure it's fine."
A slightly pause in the conversation followed. After a second Lorelai broke the silence. "So, I'd better be going."
"Right, right," Luke nodded. "Wait,
did you walk here?"
"Uh, yeah. I figured it wasn't
that far away, even in heals," she nodded.
"Well, let me walk you home at least. There's strange people out at night."
"This is Stars Hollow."
"I rest my case," Luke nodded.
Lorelai smiled as they headed out the door. "Oh, hey, did I mention you looked nice tonight?"
"Yeah, I think you did," Luke nodded as they headed past Taylor's. "You look really great. The dress looks nice on you."
"Oh, thanks. Wasn't sure if I should get really dressed up or not…"
"Naw, it's not a big deal," Luke said. Then he felt stupid. "I mean, not that this isn't a big deal to me, it's all I could think about all day. I spilled coffee on some guy I was so busy thinking about it. I just meant you don't have to dress up for me, I mean you can if you want to. But I think you look great in the daily jeans and t-shirt."
Lorelai nodded. "You were really thinking about it all day?"
Luke shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah."
"I was too," Lorelai nodded. "I was so busy thinking about it, I hardly thought about anything else. I mean, I didn't spill coffee on anyone, but I didn't drink all that much coffee today, come to think of it."
"We should do this more often then," Luke said.
"I have to agree with you on that,"
Lorelai nodded, grinning. She stopped in front of her house. "Uh, okay, this is
my house."
"I know, I fixed your steps
last week."
"Oh yeah…" Lorelai nodded, she walked up the steps slowly. "They're very sturdy now. Quailty…step fixer. You could start your own business, Luke the step fixer."
"I have my own business now," Luke reminded her. "So do you."
"I do," she said stopping in front of the door. "I guess…this is good night."
"I guess," he nodded.
She turned slowly, facing him completely. He looked into her eyes and leaned forward gently. She placed his hand on his arm and closed her eyes. Then-
Jess flung the door open. Lorelai and Luke jumped, backing up. "I'm telling you Rory, someone is out there, I- Oh…whoops," Jess mumbled looking and them.
Lorelai ran her hands through her hair. "It's okay."
"Yeah, it's fine," Luke nodded. "We were just saying good night."
"You sure? 'Cause we can all pretend I never opened this door and-"
"Jess!"
"Sorry," Jess mumbled.
"Hi mom!" Rory cried running forward. "I told him not to answer the door. I thought it was just an animal. Or a serial killer."
"Serial killer?" Luke frowned. "Anyway, we should go."
"Right, I should sleep, too," Lorelai nodded.
"Come on Jess," Luke snapped and pulled him out the door.
Lorelai stepped inside the house. "So, um…"
"Good night," Luke nodded, smiling warmly at her.
"Right, see you tomorrow," Lorelai nodded and closed the door.
Luke walked down the steps, glaring at Jess.
Jess ignored him. "You have fun?"
Luke nodded. "We had a good time."
"Don't lie, you loved it," Jess nodded. "Stop glaring! I didn't know it was you guys."
"Jess…"
"Seriously, if I had known, I probably wouldn't have opened the door."
Luke sighed. "Jess, next time, wait five minutes," he ordered.
"Noted."