A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, it really means a lot!  To Billy Joel:  Billy Joel has great hands, I am actually learning to play Piano Man on the piano lol, but I'm really sorry, I don't know where the picture was.  I think it might have been a screen cap from the Rory/Jess kiss, where his hand is on her hip, but not sure, and I don't remember where it is, so sorry.  Anyway, this chapter is a little bit transitional, but not really, so just wait and see the ending…. Hmmm, and some people who have read and reviewed have liked the literary banter etc, so I tried to add some more in here.  And this chapter takes place from the end of the last one to like Christmas…lol, which is actually only like 2 months, but whatever. Um, you have to let me know if you like the pace and amounts of dialogue, etc, cause if you don't, I can easily change it.  Sorry it's so short.  Please review!  Thanks

~alex~

Disclaimer:  I don't own these characters.

Chapter 5:  The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

            Rory pushed open the door to Luke's and waited for her mother to pass through.  It was nice to enter the warm and cozy diner.  Winter was surely upon them, and coffee was exactly what they needed.  The two Gilmores sat down at the counter and waited for service. 

            "I'm here to serve."  Jess offered lightly as he came up to them with a coffee pot in his hand.  He smiled slightly at Rory.

            "Oh, so I can 'Consider myself at home'?" Lorelai joked and broke into a fit of laughter as Rory joined in. 

            "Ha ha ha."  Jess dead paned at the obvious joke pertaining to the special 'treat' he had left on Rory's bed.  "Rory! I can't believe you watched that with you mom!" He tone was fun loving though, and Rory played along.

            "I'm hurt!" She said in mock seriousness.  "Do you not know me at all? I could never deprive my mother of something so wonderful!"

            "Wonderful, meaning, I-will-never-let-Jess-live-this-down-wonderful."  Rory nodded.  "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it."  But Jess wasn't exactly joking anymore, and Rory sensed this.  He was truly glad that his offering was so pleasantly received, and he could tell by her thoughtful face that it had meant much more that it had meant to Lorelai.  Rory understood the deeper meaning. 

            Rory took something out of her jacket pocket.  "Here," She handed it to him.  "To ensure that the rest of Stars Hollow does not see.  God forbid your sacred reputation be tarnished with such innocence." 

            "Thanks."  He smiled slightly at her.  He was actually going to tell her to keep it, but decided against it for the reason she mentioned.  If someone with the wrong intentions saw that tape…it would be the end of him.  "Um, so, what would you like?"

            "Hot chocolate please."  Rory said and Lorelai looked at her shocked.

            "What's that?"

            "You heard me, Mom.  I'm gonna try something new, add a little variation.  It can't hurt."

            "Oh, on the contrary.  You'll be permanently scarred.  I can't believe you are doing this.  Totally going against your mother.  Fine, I don't even need you on my side any more.  More coffee for me."  She pouted in good fun.

            "Two coffees, Jess."  Rory changed her plans to pacify her mother, even though she knew that her mom wasn't in the least upset. 

            "Alright."  He poured the two cups and then went back to tending the other customers.  He had a break in fifteen minutes, and he hoped Rory would still be there then. 

            "Back to your old ways?" Lorelai smiled at her daughter.

            "Yeah, change isn't always a good thing."

            "I don't want anything to change."  Lorelai said seriously.  She liked things the way they were.  She didn't want Rory to go to college, move out, leave her.  She wanted it all to be the same. 

            The mother and daughter continued to talk for the next several minutes before Lorelai decided she would do some grocery shopping.

            "Wanna come with?" Lorelai asked.

            "Nah, I think I'll just stay here, avoid confrontation."  Rory said coolly.  Of course she didn't want to see Dean this soon, and she also didn't want to leave without talking to Jess for a little while.

            "Oh, yeah, forgot.  Well, I'll meet you here in an hour, okay?"

            "Sounds good, bye Mom."  Rory waved as her mother left the diner and entered the windy town outside.  She looked down at her empty coffee mug contemplating her current status.  Dean was gone, and she liked it that way.  She had more freedom and she wasn't afraid to talk to Jess anymore, no more fearing that Dean might find out.  But now, she was having these feelings, feelings that she shouldn't be having.  There was Jess, a few feet away, pouring coffee, looking good.  Looking really good.  She hadn't noticed that she was staring at him, until he smirked and came over to her.

            "It's not polite to stare."

            Flustered, she responded.  "I was seeing how long it would take for you to come over and offer me another cup."  She waved her empty mug at him, but he didn't fill it up. 

            "I'm on my break now, wanna go read?"

            "Ok, but it depends."

            "What depends?"

            "What are we reading?"

            "I have two books on my list.  I read one, you read the other.  Hawthorne and Eliot."

            "Mmmm, The Scarlet Letter and Silas Marner.  Two classics with a common theme; acceptance into foreign settings.  Societal prejudices.  Is there a particular reason for your choices?"  After all, Jess was the bad boy who wasn't exactly welcomed into Stars Hollow.  Sure, there were very plausible difference, but still, there was a small weaving thread to form this particular relationship. 

            "No, not at all.  Just two very complex authors, with classical interpretations."  He actually hadn't noticed the tie between them and himself.  Rory was so…enlightening.  And gorgeous. 

            "Well, I call Hawthorne."

            "Deal."  He put down the coffee pot.  "I'm going on break, Luke." He called to Luke who was serving customers near the entrance.  Luke nodded in response so Jess led Rory upstairs. 

            "Here," He handed her his very worn copy of The Scarlet Letter.  She flipped through the inside.  It was as she had expected.  Jess had made notes in the margin.  Maybe he would expose her to new, unfathomable ideas.  She sat down on the couch and Jess collapsed down next to her.  They both began reading.  They weren't exactly interacting, like most normal teenagers would do when they hung out, but this was….

            ….nice.

            After about an hour, Rory looked up from her book to find Jess staring at her. 

            "You finish Customs House yet?" He asked when he noticed she had looked up.

            "Yep, just did.  That's some pretty tough stuff."

            "Yeah, not the most interesting."

            "I agree.  But now I've gotten to the good stuff."

            "Yeah, you have."

            "So, has Eppie arrived yet?"

            "Of course."

            "So, do you see it?" She looked at him and smiled.  It was sly smile. 

            "See what?"  He put the book down on his leg. 

            "The relationship between the two books?"

            "Love conquers all."  He stated, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

            "It does." She almost felt as though she needed to convince him. 

            "I'm not disagreeing."  Simply stated, full of meaning.

            "All Hester needed was Pearl to keep her alive.  All Silas needed was Eppie.  The two little girls showed them all the love they needed."

            "True."  He nodded.  "But…Pearl was obligated to love her mother.  And Eppie had no one else."

            "I see your point but Pearl and Eppie still loved them with all of their hearts.  That's what made the difference.  All you need is love.  Even if it's not passionate love."

            "Like between Romeo and Juliet."

            "I didn't know you're a Shakespeare aficionado."

            "I'm not." Jess told her.  Rory looked at him, straight into his eyes.  'Love conquers all' she repeated to herself.  All you need is love.  Someone to be next to you…

            He could feel her blue eyes boring down on him, and suddenly he felt shy.  He didn't want to pick his book back up; she was watching him like a hawk.  He stared down thoughtfully at his untied shoelaces, pretending to care.  But he knew she was having a moment.  One of those 'wow' moments when you realize something is so clear.

And then came his relief. 

"Rory?"  Lorelai shouted from the stairs. 

            "I guess I should go now."  He broke her stare and handed him the book.  "Thanks, interesting notes.  Never thought about it that way before."  She smiled and suddenly, something came over her.  She patted his head.

            Oh my God, did I just pat his head? She thought, supremely embarrassed.  How moronic.  She quickly left the apartment and met her mom at the door.

            Did she just pat my head? He thought.  It was cute.  Weird, but endearing, in a very, well, weird way.  But that's the way Rory was.  Quirky.  It wasn't above Rory Gilmore to pat people on the head.   

************

            Rory watched each snowflake flutter to the ground and cover Stars Hollow with a blanket of white.  It was the first snow of the season, and Rory was pleased it would be a white Christmas after all.  Such a great time of year.  Rory looked over at her mom, who walked beside her, and smiled.  She had no complaints.

            "Ahh, the Gilmores, just who I was looking for!"  Taylor surprised them from behind on their walk to Luke's. 

            "Oh, Taylor."  Lorelai feigned excitement, all the while knowing she would soon be roped into some crazy stunt.  But she would bring her daughter down with her.  Ha ha, it would be fun…in a deranged sort of way.

            "So, Lorelai, I was wondering if we could have a big Christmas bash at the Inn this year.  What do you say?"

            "Well, I'm guessing if I say 'no', I'll have to reconsider.  So… I'll say sure."  She wasn't too excited about it though.

            "Ahh, great.  I knew I could count on you!  I'll drop off a list of the essentials tomorrow, giving you a week and a half to get everything ready.  I'm sure the town will be very helpful though."

            "Oh I am sure." She said sarcastically, looking at Rory, exasperated.  This was going to be…interesting, to say the least.

            "Ok, great, and Rory, don't think I'm leaving you out of this.  We have costumes for the both of you!"  He offered a cheery smile and walked off in search of some other unsuspecting victims to rope into the party. 

"Costumes? Did he say 'costumes'?"  Rory sighed. 

            "Costumes. Yuk.  Well, hopefully they won't be so bad."

            "Mom, the word 'costume' entails 'bad'.  Especially when they are Taylor's costumes."

            "True that, sister."  She winked at her daughter and they continued walking.

            "Well, what do you know?  Taylor was finally able to get Luke decorate."  Rory pointed out the semi-festive diner not a hundred feet away.

            "Wow, Luke must have really been out of it when he agreed to that.  But I've got no complaints." 

            "Me neither.  Looks nice."  Rory said and Lorelai nodded.  The two of them entered the diner and breathed in the sweet aroma of pie.

            "Me want pie."  Lorelai joked as she sat at the counter.

            "Stop it, Lorelai." Luke warned.

            "Me want pie too!"  Rory played along.  Luke sighed, and gave up.  He went to get them some pie.  When he returned, he placed them down on the table in front of the girls.

            "Wow, Luke, you are really caving!  First Taylor's decorations, now this!  Should I shoot for some coffee? Or quit while I'm ahead?"

            "No coffee."

            "Darn.  Should have quit."  Luke poured some coffee for the both of them.

            "Only one cup."

            "Alright, thank you Lukie."

            "Don't call me 'Lukie'." He was stern, but that was just the way he was.  That was Luke, and it didn't bother Lorelai one bit.

            "So, what made you cave?"  She motioned to the lights and garland.

            "I made Taylor sign a contract.  Since I decorated for Christmas, he won't bother me for Easter or Thanksgiving next year." 

            "Sounds like a fair deal."

            "I like to think so."  Luke offered a rare smile and Lorelai figured he was hiding something.  She would figure it out eventually, though, so she didn't really care right now.

            "How's the pie?"  A familiar voice from behind Rory caused her to turn around.

            "It's good.  You make it?"  Rory asked Jess.

            "God no.  I'm no Betty Crocker."  Rory smiled at him, and he smiled back.  There was another one of those moments.  She'd been having a lot of those lately.  She and Jess had been hanging out a lot; reading, music, the bridge.  And in almost every encounter, she felt it again.  Like a little flutter.

            "Listen," Jess continued. "I've got a book I want you to read."

            "It had better not be Hemmingway."

            "Nah, it's not."  He smirked.  "It's better."

            "Alright, cool, what's it called?"

            "Sophie's World."

            "Ahh, Jostein Gaarder."

            "Oh, you've read it?"  He was slightly disappointed.  He had hoped to find a book she'd fall in love with.

            "No, just heard of it."

            "History of philosophy."

            "Should be fascinating then."  Another flutter.  She had to stop doing this.

            "Jess!"  Luke shouted.  "Get back to work."

            "Alright…Uncle Luke." He muttered and smiled before he left Rory to help the other customers.

            After twenty minutes, Lorelai and Rory decided to get home before the snow-storm got too rough.  They put on their winter garments and were about to head out the door.

            "Rory, wait!" She felt an arm on her shoulder and she turned around.

            "Yes, Jess?"  His arm was still on her shoulder.  Another flutter.

            "Here's the book.  Tell me what you think."  He handed it to her.

            "Thanks.  Will do."  She smiled.  Flutter.  Her smile disappeared for a moment as she looked up.  She didn't know what compelled her to do so, but something did.

            It was mistletoe.

            Jess looked up as well.

            Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter. 

Rory couldn't control it.  Not one bit.  She smiled shyly, looking directly into his eyes.  He stared straight back at her and leaned in a little bit.  He had been waiting a long time for this moment…She leaned, he leaned.  And they were close.

Flutter.  Flutter.  Flutter. 

Just inches.

'Cause I need to be next to you

I need to share every breath with you

I need to know I can see you smiling each morning

Look into your eyes each night

For the rest of my life

A/N: Ok, so I hope yall like this!  Please review!  I'll try to have more action next time! Thanks for reading and reviewing!