Chapter 176

"So when do you guys leave?"

"Around 6 tomorrow," Rory answered, "We'll get in late. But Paris and Lane should already be there, they'll be able to leave a little earlier."

"Did Lane find someone to help with her Mom?"

"Theoretically, Zack. But in reality, Sookie's going to bring the kids over and stay the weekend. They posed it as more of a fun for the kids thing, but I don't think Lane's comfortable leaving the kids with him for a weekend so quickly after he last took off."

"…has he had any more work trips?"

"He's cancelled them. He's been pissed about it. He does have a big one coming up in like two months, and it's a big bone of contention. Lane wants to go with him and bring the boys, and Mom offered to stay with Mrs. Kim, since she'll be back from her honeymoon by then, but he doesn't want her to go. He's annoyed that he doesn't trust her."

"I mean, I'd kind of get it, if only he weren't actively doing a bunch of crap to undermine her trust."

"Exactly. He thinks she should just forget it happened and move past it. Even when he's clearly unhappy being there, and he talks about the next trip like some kind of salvation."

"I still don't understand why you'd pursue those kind of things if you didn't enjoy them."

"What kind of things?"

"Marriage, kids…Paris had a point the other day. Those things aren't for everyone. Say what you will about Matt, but at least he has the self-awareness not to do it."

"I guess," Rory shrugged, "I mean, obviously I agree about those things not being for everyone. And he doesn't seem interested in those things at all. But honestly, he hadn't really dated anyone he wanted to keep around for long before, so I'm not sure how he'll feel down the road."

"…do you really think he feels that way about Jane?"

"…I don't know," Rory said noncommitally, "Honestly, you guys I'm sure know that we talk about you sometimes. In a harmless, fun, girly way. But really, Jane doesn't say much. It doesn't seem like she's expecting marriage or kids to happen, but she kind of just seems…satisfied."

"Well, that's good, right? That it doesn't bother her?"

"I guess," Rory shrugged again, "It's just…weird. He's so passionate, and she kind of…fades."

"…you don't like her?"

"I like her fine! That's not what I meant," Rory tried to explain, "I get along better with Hannah, though. She's a little more…"

"Actually, yeah, I get what you mean," Jess admitted, "She's got more personality. But at least Jane isn't a fembot Mussolini."

"…and for small miracles we are grateful," Rory smirked. She looked at Jess. "That'll be another nice thing on the trip…getting to know Jane better. Maybe she'll come out of her shell."

"Yeah, maybe. I don't think anybody really has a choice about that when they're spending a lot of time with Paris."

"True. Even the milder version of Paris is still pretty intense for most people."

"Yep."

"So what about you? Did Luke say he could come?" Rory asked a few minutes later, getting up to get herself another cup of coffee. It was the weekend, and they were both working in the living room on the couch together. They didn't usually work much on the weekends, but with how crazy everything was at each of their jobs at the moment, they'd made a rare exception. Still, they had decided to do so together.

"He'll be here," Jess nodded, "Lorelai's gonna have the house to herself."

"He'll come back to it covered in takeout and looking like a hurricane came through."

"Well, the vegetables will survive, since she won't go near them. And that's all he cares about." Rory laughed.

"You guys gonna do anything while he's here?"

"Yeah, actually. Matt and Chris want to grab dinner, so we'll do that. We're actually thinking about surprising him with his bachelor party early."

"Really?"

"He didn't want one in the first place," Jess pointed out, "And no one sent the invites yet. He couldn't figure out who he wanted to invite, or how to exclude TJ, among a bunch of other things." Rory grinned.

"Well, that sounds like a great idea. He gets along with Matt and Chris, right?"

"Really well," Jess admitted, "He got to know them well once I came out here, and they always liked him. Obviously, they're not in the wedding, since he's not having groomsmen…"

"He's not?"

"Just a best man," Jess shrugged. "Which I told him he didn't need to do." Rory rolled her eyes.

"He wanted to."

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, he's doing none, and isn't it just you for your Mom?"

"Yep. Me and Sookie, actually," Rory said, "So that should work. Though we're still doing a bachelorette for her with a bunch of us, I think."

"Was that what she was talking about the other day?"

"Yeah. She wants me to invite basically everyone who's coming this weekend, and of course, we'll have Sookie, and I think Mia was invited, though I'm not sure if she's able to come."

"Who was Mia, again?"

"She owned the Independence when Mom ran away, and gave her the job and let her live there. She was basically our fairy godmother when I was a kid. We went to her wedding a couple years ago. Once she sold the independence, she moved to Charlotte and married someone there."

"Oh, yeah, I think I met her once."

"You did. She made fun of Luke."

"Then I'm already a fan."

"I know she's coming to the wedding. But I'm not sure if she's able to make it for the bachelorette."

"Is your grandmother coming?"

"That's a question I've studiously avoided asking."

"…yep. Also, aren't we overdue for Friday night dinner?"

"Don't remind me. I've gotten three angry phone calls about it in the last month, and that's not counting the disappointed one from Grandpa."

"Seriously? He was just here."

"I think that helped stave them off, but they're determined. I think we'll have to get a couple in while we're in Stars Hollow doing wedding prep."

"…man, we should really enjoy our time here. We may never see our home again," Jess joked. Rory smiled.

"I know you're kidding, but maybe we should say goodbye to all of our favorite furniture, just in case our endless stream of commitments keep us from ever enjoying this incredibly comfortable couch again."

"Speaking of enjoying the couch…"

"Jess!"

"What? You made an excellent point. We should appreicate these opportunities while we have them," he smirked. Rory laughed, leaning in to kiss him.

"So, you guys are staying at some fancy hotel. What are your other big plans?" Jess asked.

"I think we're going to see a show, though we're just gonna decide once we're there and get cheap tickets at the TKTS booth. We have a list of diners we want to try, and then at least one night Paris booked some super fancy dinner for us. She's also gonna show us the college where she works. I told her I've seen Columbia, which did not go over well, so now we're all apparently getting a tour of Barnard."

"So she likes the new job?"

"It really seems like she does," Rory said, smiling, "I mean, I guess I never saw it for her, and I still don't get the appeal of the school, but…she seems really happy about it."

"And the rest of stuff?"

"…she's been cagey. I'm guessing we'll learn more this weekend."

"Is she staying with you guys?"

"Yup. She told Doyle it was a girl's staycation weekend so that he'd be on board."

"…she actually used the word staycation?"

"Yep. It felt desperate to me."

"Seems like it was."

"She said he was cool about it."

"Well, that's good, at least. Anything else?"

"Um…no clue. I'd guess some drinking, and I know Paris wanted to do a massage or spa type of thing."

"That sounds expensive."

"Yeah. We'll see what happens. She's usually pretty aware of what other people are and aren't up for, but she also tends to get pretty great deals sometimes, so it might be one of those things."

"So, no library on the list? Bookstores?"

"Only if I can steal away to do it," Rory said wistfully, earning a laugh from Jess. "But no, in all seriousness, I think we're gonna do some of that stuff the last day- Hannah, Paris and I want to get to the bookstores, Lane and I want to go to the record shops…and I think Jane wanted to get a hot dog in the park?"

"…seriously?"

"…we'll see. Again, maybe she'll open up."

"…I hope if so, she wants to do something crazy."

"What's crazy in New York?"

"Circus? Dungeon? Queens?"

Rory laughed. "Well, I guess we'll see what sort of underlying interests she has. Either way, I'm sure we'll have a good time. But I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," Jess said, smiling, "I left something for you to pack." Jess gestured to the dresser. Rory looked over and smirked.

"Are those your t-shirts that I keep stealing?"

"Yup. Black is the official fashion color of New York, so I thought you could use some extra wardrobe options."

"…well, there's no such thing as too many clothes."

"Your mother is a terrible influence."

"Yes, she is."