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)

****

PART III- LET'S PLAY

Lorelai yawned as she walked slowly towards the mailbox outside. People should not be forced to wake up this early, she thought to herself as she continued to walk closer to it. Her eyes were barely opened as she walked crookedly towards it, opening it up. But as she pulled down the mailbox hatch, what she found made her widen with delight. Inside was a relatively good size bag wrapped in ribbon filled with chocolate bars, candy, and all of her favourite sweets. Looking at the card, with a pretty penmanship, it was clear that it was sent to her.

As she walked back towards the door, she noticed two other packages laid out on the porch. While she busily opened her own package of goodies like a crazy little kid, she put the other two packages under her arm and proceeded to rush into the kitchen.

"Hey girls!" Lorelai called out, as she peeked into Rory's bedroom. "I don't know about guys but I totally scored with having the best Secret Santa."

"What did you get mom?" Rory asked as she approached her. "Candy! You're so lucky."

"Hey, don't worry girls." Lorelai exclaimed between mouthfuls of chocolate. "You guys got packages too. It's probably not as awesome as my gift but looks like it's got potential."

"Wow." Paris exclaimed as looked at the careful wrapping of her gift. "I've never gotten a gift before from a stranger. I wonder what it is." As she pulled away at the wrapping, she smiled widely. "Pride and Prejudice. How did they know that I love this book?"

"I got a book too." Rory said with not as enthusiasm as Lorelai or Paris. "Just not the kind of book I'm used to reading."

"The year of Dating Dangerously:1001 ways to please your man and keep him." Lorelai recited as she held back her laughter. "Not exactly what you would call a Pulitzer Prize winner."

"What am I going to do with this?" Rory asked them as they smiled.

"Now you know how to please your man." Lorelai replied.

"I don't need to 'please my man', thank you very much." Rory insisted. "Besides I think he likes me just the way I am."

"That's because he's crazy about you." Paris replied, walking away as she stared at her book. "He's always have."

"Tristan's not crazy about me." Rory protested and then stopped. "Do you think he's crazy about me?"

"Sure he is honey." Lorelai replied as she began to suck on a lollypop. "Not only did he make you miserable in high school but he's been calling the house constantly since you came home. He's perfect for you."

"He's perfect." Paris agreed as she began to flip through her novel. "I mean I should know. I was crazy about him for the longest time."

"When do I get to meet this Lothario?" Lorelai asked Rory, as she started towards the stairs. "I mean I've heard of him so much about him over the years, I would like to sometime put a face to the person I keep taking messages from or the mystery guy who is dating my daughter hmm?"

"I showed you pictures." Rory exclaimed in defense. Ever since she started dating him, she had been sending pictures back to her mom. How could she expect to see him so soon? They had only been dating for two months, while only meeting each other again at Harvard a month into school. It was still a relatively new thing.

"Pictures ain't the real thing honey." Lorelai explained as sucked on her lolly a little harder. "I need to see the real deal."

"Well he can't just yet." Rory explained to Lorelai, hoping that Lorelai would stop prying soon and deflect her attentions onto the candy. "He's gone skiing with his parents in Vermont for the holidays so there wouldn't be any chance of him coming back in time to visit. But I promise. The next time I come home, I will definitely bring him back with me."

"Alright then." Lorelai agreed as cracked her teeth on the lolly. "Cool. Bubblegum! So do you guys want to meet up for lunch later?"

"Sure." Rory replied as she started to flip through her book. That picture on pg. 140 looks interesting…

"Right, I'll see you guys later at Luke's at around 1 okay?" Lorelai replied as she rushed up the stairs. "I've gotta go upstairs and change now, so you guys do whatever…"

"Yeah…" Paris and Rory said absently mindedly as they both sat on the couch, clearly occupied by their respective books.

****

"Hey Luke." Rory exclaimed as she approached his counter at Luke's. "Did you get anything yet from your Secret Santa?"

"Yeah. I woke up this morning to find a baseball bat in the front of the door with a message saying like the better to whack people over the head my dear and this poster." Luke replied as she pulled out the poster from beneath the counter.

"Come one, come all: cell phones welcome here." Rory read out loud as both her and Paris sat on stools. "That's funny!"

"We can use our cell phones here?" Kirk exclaimed as he began to whip out his own cell phone.

"NO CELL PHONES PERIOD!" Luke lashed back as Kirk retreated his phone back into his pocket. "And it's not like you have anyone to call to except your mother!"

"Hey! That was uncalled for." Kirk insisted as he sank into his chair. "I was only asking. I mean, you shouldn't put up a sign like that if you don't mean it."

"It's not a real sign Kirk! It's a fake!" Luke yelled back. "I swear Rory. My Secret Santa is messing with me. And if I find out it's Taylor or Kirk, I swear…they're dead. DEAD! YOU HEAR ME? DEAD!"

"Hey chill out Unkie Luke." Jess exclaimed as he appeared downstairs. "You might frighten away potential customers. Hey Rory, Hey Paris, did you get any fun gifts today? I mean, I wouldn't want to start ranting like a lunatic like some people."

"Shut up Jess." Luke said with a scowl. "And it's LUKE. You got that smartmouth?"

"Aye, aye captain." Jess said as he saluted Luke.

"Don't salute me." Luke yelled. "Just get to work."

"Luke, don't get so worked up over the sign." Rory insisted. "I mean, at least you're not Taylor. Did you hear someone decorated his Christmas tree outside with police tape? He was so crazy, he's been ranting all over town."

"I've heard." Luke said with a smile. "Just to see Taylor all rised up like that makes my day a little bit brighter."

"You know what keeps crossing my mind?" Rory said suspiciously. "Where did he get the police tape. Do you have any idea Jess?"

"Hey! Don't look at me!" Jess insisted as he raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm as clueless as the next guy."

"Sure, sure you are." Rory said, not truly believing in him.

"So Paris, what did you get today?" Jess asked Paris, desperately trying to change the subject.

"A book. Pride and Prejudice." Paris replied with a smile. "I got off pretty light unlike some people." She said as she pointed at Rory.

"My Secret Santa sent me a self-help book on dating and 'pleasuring my man', whatever that means." Rory said as she showed the book to Jess.

"Huh…this might have come in handy while we were dating." Jess replied casually. "I guess we missed the boat on that one right?"

"I guess so." Rory replied with a look of skepticism. "So, smart boy, what did you get today?"

"Surprisingly enough, a book." Jess replied.

"Wow. Stars Hollow townspeople sure are original with their choice of gift aren't they." Paris remarked.

"Yeah they sure are." Jess agreed. " But what I got was a doozy. A piece of American literature that will truly make you think." As he plopped the book onto the counter.

"Betty and Veronica." Paris read with a smile. "Can't say it isn't a classic."

"Sure is. A double digest." Jess said with sarcasm. "It came with this note: You like to read, right? What am I going to learn from this? How to choose between Betty or Veronica? Who was the bigger chump? Archie or Reggie? Or was Archie really a closet homosexual male after Mr. Weatherbee, Mr. Lodge and Jughead."

"Hey, don't mess with Betty!" Kirk interjected. "She was the hot one and Archie kept dumping her for Ronnie. That bastard!"

"I've always kind of liked Veronica." Paris admitted. "Betty was the innocent blond twit who kept mooning over Veronica's man. Okay, Archie was a moron but Veronica still had him wrapped around his fingers right?"

"Exactly!" Jess exclaimed in total agreement.

"Ah! You two!" Kirk scoffed as he got up from his chair in disgust. "I'll pretend I didn't hear you say that" he said calmly as he walked casually out of the diner, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I can't believe I was just talking about who was the better woman for Archie." Paris said incredulously. "I feel so dirty."

"Here, read this." Jess replied as he whipped out a copy of Salinger's Nine Stories. "This will cleanse you."

"Promise?" Paris asked.

"Promise." Jess insisted.

"Hey guys!" Lane exclaimed happily as she walked through the door, hand in hand with Dave.

"Wow Lane!" Rory exclaimed as she jumped off her seat to greet her. "I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too!" Lane replied happily as she hugged her best friend tightly. "How have you been?"

"I've been good." Rory answered. "You know Paris right?"

"I remember." Lane replied as smiled and waved. "Nice to see you again Paris. This is my boyfriend Dave."

"Hi, nice to meet you." Paris exclaimed as she extended her hand.

"Hi to you too Paris." Dave replied as he shook her hand. "Rory, you look good."

"Thanks." Rory said with a smile.

"Hey man!" Dave exclaimed as he waved towards Jess.

"Hey yourself!" Jess replied as he shook his hand and patted him on the back. "You've been good."

"It's been great." Dave said with a smile. "Lane and I have been loving the sunny weather at UCLA."

"It's so great down there." Lane exclaimed. "You've got to come visit sometime."

"I still can't believe that you're living in California." Rory exclaimed as they all sat down by a nearby table. " And Mama Kim let you go off there."

"I can't believe it myself either." Lane said as she held onto Dave's hand. "But don't forget: I still have to major in Theology while majoring in Music. That bites sometimes."

"But at least you're living your life." Rory exclaimed. "And Mama Kim likes Dave too."

"Yeah." Lane said with a smile. "But who wouldn't love Dave? Look at how cute he is?"as she touched his face and gave him a quick kiss.

"Hey don't make me blush here Lane." Dave replied. "So what's happening with you guys? I heard from Mama Kim that you guys are all doing this Secret Santa thing?"

"Yeah, and some of us are not doing this by choice either by the way." Jess explained.

"well, it sounds like fun." Lane exclaimed.

"It's okay for now but it's still too soon to tell." Rory replied. "But just the fun of seeing Taylor getting mad over his Christmas tree makes you think that it's worth all the trouble."

"I heard about that!" Lane exclaimed in shock. "So it's true?"

"Completely." Rory replied.

"Man, I always miss the best parts!"

****

Kirk began to brush his teeth as he looked at himself in the mirror. So much for getting a good Secret Santa he thought to himself. His completely sucked. For the whole day, all that everyone could ever talk about was what gift they got from their Secret Santa. Miss Patty had gotten a CD of her favourite songs, while Jackson got a deepfried turkey. Babette found new gnomes in her yard and Sookie got a mock newspaper review exclaiming that she was the best chef in the world. Even Stock boy got something from Secret Santa and what did he get? Nothing. Nobody ever sends Kirk something nice. Nope, nobody cares about Kirk. Except maybe his mummy but that doesn't count. For once, could someone please think about Kirk for a change?

As Kirk was about to tuck himself into bed, still pretty upset by his stupid Secret Santa, whoever he was, suddenly he could hear some noise from outside his bedroom. The noise, whatever it was, was getting louder and louder. As he pulled open his window, he recognized the tune but it was still too unbearable to stand.

"Hey! People are trying to sleep here so could you turn that down?" Kirk cried out as he stuck his head outside the window. "Hey! I like the Rocky theme song as much as the next guy but could you turn down the music?"

As he protested, the music became louder and louder as the neighbours began to complain as well.

As the tune continued to play, the volume becoming louder and louder, finally, out of despair, out of anger, Kirk jumped out of his bed, and ran toward his door.

"Yes mother, I'm trying to get those jerks to stop playing their music" Kirk yelled out as loud as he could. As he stuck out his head out of door, he used all of his might to yell as loud as he could. "COULD YOU PLEASE SHUT THAT MUSIC OFF?!!!"

Finally, silence came. Kirk took a giant sigh of relief as he heard nothing but the crickets in the air. "FINALLY!"

As he was about to close the door, suddenly, Kirk stopped dead in his tracks. He couldn't feel his limbs move an inch and he wasn't quite sure, but there was a remote possibility that his mouth was hanging wide open. There, in plain sight, was his beloved dancing trophy that he had won last year.

"BABY! Where have been all this time? Daddy's missed you so much! Yes he has, yes he has!" He exclaimed as he held it tightly in his arms." Daddy's never going to let you go. Ever. Never ever again, you hear?"

As he took a better look at the trophy as he noticed a note stuck on it. Just reading it made him smile brighter than he had in a while. He didn't care where it had went, where it stayed and with whom it was staying with. She was home and everything was perfect. He read the note once more just to make sure he was right. There was no mistake. I found something that belonged to you, Love , your secret santa.

TO BE CONTINUED.