Title: Secret Santa Stars Hollow Style

Feedback: Yes please.

Summary: After their first term at Harvard, Rory invites Paris to stay in Stars Hollow for the Christmas Break, smack dab in the middle of the town's first Secret Santa Christmas celebration. Craziness ensues as everyone (especially Lorelai) tries to figure out who's their Secret Santa.

Spoilers: Everything up till Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving.

Rating: PG-13

Pairings: definite possibilities for Paris/Jess, Luke/Lorelai, and other ships.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Gilmore Girls

Note: This is a first for me on many levels. Not only is this my first GG fanfic and the first fluffy fic but my first fic in answer to a challenge from Ditch the Logical. I was thinking about this as I came home from school and wondered what it would be like if Taylor made the whole town participate in a Secret Santa. And after much consideration, I decided to have it take place during Rory's first year at Harvard. Reason? Well, as much as I have no qualms about Literati, I wanted this to have Dipper goodness and open up the possibilities of other UC ships that I love on the show. I won't say anything more but the reason for this story isn't exactly as clear as you would think. (ie. It's not totally Paris centric but I wanted Paris there) It's a surprise! (this is totally an experiment cuz I don't know if I can write GG well enough…just try it)

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PART II- THE RULES OF THE GAME

RING! RING!

"PEOPLE! PEOPLE! ATTENTION PLEASE!" Taylor announced as he yelled into loud microphone which stood in front of him while ringing a old school bell that hung beside him. He was standing on the gazebo stage as he watched the townspeople chattering amongst themselves. Doesn't anyone listen to authority anymore? Taylor thought to himself as he became increasingly frustrated by the lack of attention, as well as respect he was getting. "PEOPLE PLEASE QUIET DOWN!"

"Taylor's getting angry." Rory muttered quietly as she sipped on her coffee.

"Look at how red he's getting." Paris observed as she stood beside her. "Does anyone listen to him?"

"We do eventually." Rory explained. It was nice to be able to enlighten someone about the ways of Stars Hollow. "After he turns several different shades of red."

"I can see that." Paris said with odd fascination. "He looks like he's about to burst."

"Yeah." Rory said with a sigh. "But isn't it fun watching him squirm."

"Where's your mom?" Paris said as she looked around for Lorelai. "I don't see her anywhere."

"She'll be here soon." Rory assured her. "She just has to…"

"Hey I'm here! I'm here!" Lorelai interjected breathlessly, as she came to sudden halt, dragging a sulking Luke by the hand, with Jess following behind, equally as unhappy as Luke was.

"…drag Luke here." Rory finished, as she watched Jess come to stand between her and Paris. "Hey."

"Hey." Jess said simply, as he nodded to Rory. "How's Harvard treating you?"

"Fine." Rory replied with a smile. "Jess, you remember Paris don't you?"

"Yeah." Jess replied as he looked over at Paris. "It's nice to see you again, despite the unhappy circumstances."

"Nice to see you too." Paris replied as she smiled at him. Although it had been more than a year since she had seen him, he was exactly as she remembered him. A little bit of a jerk at times, kinda sort on the small talk, but nevertheless strangely fascinating. "I guess you got forced into this too."

"Yeah." Jess admitted as he swayed from side to side with impatience. "I should have minded my own business and stayed upstairs. But no. I had to come downstairs and get dragged into their whole melodrama." As he pointed towards Lorelai and Luke.

"I can't believe I let you hussle me into this." Luke complained, as he put his hands into his jacket, hoping that someone could kill him now and put him out of his misery.

"Ah!" Lorelai scoffed. "I did not hussle you into this. You lost fair and square and now you're going to enjoy this happy holiday season like the rest of us."

"You cheated and tricked me into this. Don't roll your eyes at me Lorelai!" Luke said with a scowl. "You cheated and you know it."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Lorelai said nonchalantly, pretending she didn't hear a word he said. "Now hush!" she said as she hooked her arm around Luke's. "You're missing the best part! Just look at Taylor! I'm telling you Daddy's getting angry."

"Fine." Luke said with a sigh as he gave up. "Even though I know you're just saying that to distract me, the look on Taylor's face right now is enough to keep me sane. For now." He said as a last ditch effort of a threat before breaking into a smile.

"Hi Rory." Dean said as he approached her from behind.

"Dean!" Rory said as she gave him a quick hug. "I didn't know you were home!"

"Well I came home a week ago since my exams finished early." Dean explained. He had gone to a small community college nearby in Hartford and hadn't seen her since the summer. " I'm working for Taylor again to get some extra cash and he kind of forced me to sign up. Company policy he said."

"Well I'm glad you're back." Rory said sincerely. Although it was hard at first to get things back to the way they used to be between her and Dean after breaking up horribly and her choosing Jess over him, now they had gotten to a place where they both could be friends again.

"Thanks." Dean said with a smile. "Hi Paris. Nice to see you again."

"Hi Dean." Paris replied, as she turned her head to the side to smile at him. She then looked over at Rory with her pained look. From what she gathered, this whole reunion might not turn out so pretty.

As Dean looked over at Jess, the smile on his face faded. "Jess." Even though he had dealt with Jess and his relationship with Rory, every time he saw this guy, he just rubbed him the wrong way.

"Dean." Jess said with a smirk. "What's up big guy? Are you in the holiday spirit yet?"

"I got drag into this the same as you." Dean replied with a scowl. "So maybe you should be the one getting festive."

"Hey! I know!" Jess said sarcastically. "We could do it together! Better yet, we could be caroling buddies. Join hands and go door to door, rousing the townpeople with a hearty song. Can you see it now? We could sing 'Deck the halls with boughs of holly fa la la la la la la la la la' huh?" he sang, raising his eyebrows to annoy Dean further. Let's see what kind of maniac he'll turn out to be today, he thought to himself.

"Deck the halls?" Dean replied in annoyance. " I think I would rather frickin' deck you!"

"Hey! Hey!" Paris interjected as she blocked Jess, who was ready to rumble, as Rory held back Dean. "Maybe you save your homoerotic chitchat slash pissing contest for later. I think the guy on the stage is about to have a coronary." Paris added as she pointed to Taylor.

"WILL EVERYONE JUST PLEASE SHUT UP NOW!!!" Taylor yelled in a fury, making the microphone released a piercing noise, rousing everyone's attention as they held their ears in pain. "That's better."

The townspeople finally became silent as Taylor continued. "As you all know this is the first annual Stars Hollow Secret Santa event. I know you, as well as I have been anxiously anticipating this festive occasion."

"You bet." Lorelai whispered in agreement and looked over at Luke's unhappy expression.

"Shut up." He hissed back, folding his arms in discontent.

"The Secret Santa will run like this." Taylor explained. "For those of you who have signed up for this, I as well as Miss Patty have carefully written your names on a card, folded carefully and placed in individual envelopes. As you can see," he said as he held up one of the envelopes. "You cannot tell whose name is in each envelope as it is designed to not let anyone be able to read the card unless you open the envelope. Miss Patty will now circulate and give each one of you a envelope."

As Taylor spoke, Miss Patty walked carefully off the stage, holding the big basket of envelopes, prudently giving each person a card.

"Do not, I repeat do not open the card until…KIRK!" Taylor yelled.

"I just got so excited, my hands slipped." Kirk explained, as he quickly stuck the inside pocket of his jacket.

"As I was in the middle of saying, DO NOT OPEN…" Taylor commenced again.

"UNTIL WE'RE ALONE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH." Luke interjected impatiently. "Are you finished Taylor or are you going to keep yapping until we freeze our asses off."

"Well if you weren't in such a hurry to interrupt maybe I could finish." Taylor remarked as he watched several people, including Lorelai, trying miserably to hold back from bursting into laughter. "I mean, if only you people would have listened when I called you…"

"TAYLOR!" Luke yelled back. "GET TO THE POINT!"

"As I was saying, read the name in the envelope when you're alone and quickly discard of the card. Then you will be your selected person's Secret Santa for a week. Do as you wish with the time, giving them small little gifts or a big gift. It doesn't matter as long as you get into the holiday spirit and get them a gift. Please people, I don't stress this enough, this is a time of good will towards men and such so please be thoughtful. And to continue in this holiday festivities, I will also be hanging mistletoe in various areas and stores throughout the town…"

"Mistletoe?! Did you say Mistletoe?!" Kirk exclaimed, taken completely by surprise by the word.

"Do I have to repeat myself over and over again Kirk? Yes, mistletoe. I thought it would be a nice touch."

"That's a great idea!" Babette replied. "Maybe you can get some practice in the art of kissing in public sugar." As she looked over at Rory. The girl was a sweetheart, but she's a few lame-o kisses. Just got to give a little ummph.

"What?" Rory said in surprise and then looked over at Lorelai, who was holding her gut, pained by all the laughing. "Hey!"

"Don't be mocking her!" Miss Patty interjected, as she looked over at Lorelai. "You could need some practice yourself sweetheart. No offense darling, but your track record in dating hasn't been best lately."

"Ha!" Rory shouted back.

"Hey! Not funny anymore!" Lorelai exclaimed, as she looked over at the people, heads down. "Sookie!"

"Honey, it's not so bad." Sookie replied apologetically as held onto Jackson's arm, who was looking away.

"That's easy for you to say. You've got Jackson." Lorelai pouted as she looked back at Luke. "What do you have to say?"

"Did I say anything?" Luke replied, as he shrugged.

"Well you better not." Lorelai warned him, as she held onto him and gave him her best threatening scowl.

"People! Can we get back to business?" Taylor hollered as he looked over to the commotion. "Did everyone get a card yet? Good. Anyways, the last thing is that the Secret Santa will officially end on Christmas Eve where at midnight, right here in the square, we tell who are Secret Santas are. Comprende? Everybody clear? Good. Meeting adjourned."

"Thank God!" Luke sighed with relief as began to sprint quickly away from the scene.

"I second that!" Jess agreed as he ran towards the diner at an even greater speed than Luke.

"So have you seen who you got yet Luke?" Lorelai asked innocently.

"How could I, with you looking over my shoulder the whole time!" Luke responded in annoyance.

"And don't you even think about getting near this baby."

"Come on! Let me see it! Lorelai pleaded as she began to chase after him. "Pretty, pretty please!"

"Hey, stay away from me!" Luke cried out, as he pulled away from her running faster so that she couldn't catch him.

"Gotcha!" Lorelai cried out as she jumped on Luke's back, trying to get her hands into his jacket pocket.

"What the hell Lorelai!" Luke cried out as she covered his eyes. "Haven't you ever heard of letting up?"

"Come on Luke…" Lorelai continued as she was still on his back. "I'll get you a toy… wouldn't you like a toy?"

"Fat chance of that happening." Luke retorted as he pushed her hands away from him. "I haven't even seen the other toy you promised me before."

"It's coming in installments." Lorelai explained. "Come on.. sooner or later you're going to give in."

"Pfft. Dream on!" Luke scoffed, as he managed to get himself back to his diner.

"Luke… please…" Lorelai pleaded.

As Rory turned away from the spectacle that her mother was having with Luke, she looked towards Paris, holding tightly the envelope in her hand. "Have you looked at it yet?"

"No." Paris admitted. "Kinda afraid to. What if I get a freak? The chances of that are pretty good. I mean this whole town is full of freaks, present company excluded." As she looked at Dean and Rory.

"Don't worry." Rory assured her as she began to walk slowly with Paris and Dean towards her house. "I mean they looked like freaks now but they're really nice people. Honest."

"If you say so." Paris replied, not truly convinced by Rory's words. "So, Dean, who did you look at your card yet?"

"Yeah I looked." Dean answered plainly.

"So who did you get?" Rory asked, clearly intrigued.

"Well you'll just have to wait and see won't you?" Dean responded as he began to walk away from them towards Doose's Market. " I have to go to work now so I'll see you later Rory. I'll see you too Paris."

"Aren't you going to give us a clue at least?" Rory inquired, becoming more curious by the minute.

"Let's just say that I know what I'm getting said person." Dean said with a smile.

"Darn." Rory exclaimed as she continued walking with Paris. "I wonder who he got."

"I don't know but I know who I got." Paris said with a sigh as she looked at the card and showed it to Rory. "Dean. At least he's not such a loser but what the hell do I get Prince William huh?"

"Don't worry Paris." Rory said calmingly. "You have me and I know Dean. Getting him a gift will be easy as pie. He'll be happy with anything you get him."

"What about you? Who did you get?" Paris asked, as she looked over at Rory. Clearly she was getting distressed.

"Oh no!" Rory moaned as she looked at the card and then looked at it even harder the second time around. "KIRK! I've got Kirk! What do you suppose I get him?"

"I don't know." Paris replied with a stifled laugh.

"Hey Paris," Rory asked nonchalantly. "Old buddy, old pal, do you think you'd switch with me would you?" as she batted her eyelashes.

"Hell no. I've got enough problems here with your ex-boyfriend here without weird guy Kirk there." Paris said firmly. "But just to clarify, is he as weird as he looks?"

"It's sad to admit but he's even weirder." Rory admitted as she tore the card into bits and threw it into the nearby trash can. "But I guess that's my luck. As they say, let the games begin."

TO BE CONTINUED.