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 IV – HEY! NO FAIR!

Paris rubbed her eyes and sighed. It was about seven o'clock in the morning and nobody was awake yet. As she looked over at Rory from the little roll out cot, she was still bundled up in her tightly, holding some kind of stuffed chicken in her arms. She looked closer to her and watched how she was sleeping, mouth hanging wide open. If she wasn't sleeping so soundly, she would have woken her up. I mean, she was drooling a little.

Stretching her arms a little, she yawned as she walked into the kitchen. The house seemed strange. Maybe because it is not often that there would be complete silence. After living with Lorelai and Rory for the past couple of days, she realized quickly that this was no ordinary house she had walked into. From their strange eating habits to their late night video rentals to their crazy, inane, albeit funny chatter, she knew one thing for sure: Stars Hollow was kind of growing on her. I must be turning into one of the town freaks, she thought to herself as she pour water into the coffee maker. But so help me god I actually like it here. As she was about to get coffee (extra strong cuz Lorelai demands it being no other way), she could hear a soft tapping at the door. Wow! somebody actually awake at this hour? She thought to herself. It must have been a miracle. As she opened the door, the person staring right back at her made her stop dead in her tracks.

"Oh my God!" Paris exclaimed as she tried to cover herself. In that moment alone did she truly realize she was wearing pajamas with monkeys on it and her hair was probably sticking every which way. As she was about to pat down her hair, she quickly realized that her hair was not the most urgent thing at this moment. "Heh heh." Paris chuckled. "This is some kind of joke right?"

"Why good morning to you too Paris." Jess answered as he stood by the door.

" Jess, when you said that you were getting into the Christmas spirit I didn't think you literally meant it." Paris exclaimed as she looked away so that he wouldn't see her laugh harder. "I mean I've never been much for these secular Christian holidays but isn't this taking it a bit too far?"

Jess was standing there, wearing a santa hat with bells on it and holding a tray of coffees in his hands, amongst other things.

"Just let me in will ya?" Jess asked her. "I mean, I thought you were nice. Nicer than those two eating machines you've been living with. Couldn't you give a guy a break?"

"Well not until you tell me why you're wearing a silly hat." Paris exclaimed as she shook her head and then touched his hat.

"Hey don't touch the hat!" Jess answered as he shrugged her away. "You know, I think living with Rory and Lorelai has been a bad influence on you."

"Talk about bad influence." Paris scoffed as she smiled at him. " I've heard you're not such a good boy either though looking at you here kinda makes me wonder."

"Do you talk about me?" Jess asked as he looked at her and then he suddenly realized that maybe Paris shacking up with Rory, his ex-girlfriend no less, wasn't such a great idea after all.

"You couldn't even imagine the things they told me!" Paris replied with a laugh remembering the stories. "You got your car deviled egged before?"

"Hey, you should blame the sicko who did that!" Jess protested. "My car smelt of eggs and paprika for two days!"

"The best one was this…hmm, let me remember now?" Paris asked herself as she pretended to ponder. "Oh yeah, that's right. Mr Cool, Rebel without a Cause here used to work at Wal-Mart!"

"Okay, that's it!" Jess exclaimed. "No more mister nice guy."

"RORY! LORELAI! OH RORY! LORELAI! GET YOUR ASSES OUT HERE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Jess!" Rory moaned as she rubbed her eyes walking towards the door. "What is wrong with..hahahaha."she said she burst out laughing. "MOM!"

"What the hell?" Lorelai grumbled loudly as she stumbled down the stairs. "When I am able to open my eyes, Jess, I'm seriously going to kill you."

"MOM wake up!" Rory said with a giggle as she smiled widely with Paris. "You have to see this."

"What?! What do you mean…hehhe." Lorelai began as she changed her tone completely. "Oh my God, my Christmas wish came true! Rory get the camera!"

"I'm way ahead of you!" Rory exclaimed as she ran towards her room to find her digital camera.

"What the hell!" Jess exclaimed. "It's just a hat! And it wasn't my idea in the first place!"

"Oh no Jess." Lorelai replied as she looked at Jess with a wicked smile. "That is not any hat. NO. It is the hat to which we will be holding over your head for the rest of your life. Whenever we feel bummed or have nothing else to do, or when we have relatives or company over, we'll whip out these pictures and proceed to laugh and laugh and mock you mercilessly. It's fun for the whole family."

"Got it!" Rory exclaimed as she ran back and started to click without end with her camera.

"Oh geez! Rory!" Jess exclaimed as he tried to walk away, trying to block the camera's lens.

"I think that's enough honey." Lorelai exclaimed as she walked over to Rory. "Enough to blackmail till the end of the century!"

"Come on! I brought you coffee!" Jess exclaimed as he held out the tray.

"Coffee? Did you say coffee?" Lorelai asked with wide eyes, jumping around like a excited kid on Christmas day.

"Wow!" Rory exclaimed in equal delight. "That's so nice of you!"

"Hey don't thank me." Jess explained as he watched Lorelai, Rory and Paris grab for the coffees.

"Thank your Secret Santa, well Lorelai's anyways. Luke told me that some kid came in and specifically asked for a coffee delivery to be sent to you and that he specifically asked for me to deliver it to you, which explains this stupid hat that I'm wearing."

"See? Isn't my Secret Santa the best?" Lorelai exclaimed triumphantly.

"Ooh, I haven't got to the best part." Jess exclaimed sarcastically, knowing he'd regret this day for the rest of life. "I've got to follow you around town all day to get you coffee. I'm your…oh god, I can't believe I'm saying this… coffee slave."

"Does life get any better than this?" Lorelai cried out joyfully.

"Hey," Rory asked with wonder. "How did you cave in so easily? I wouldn't never think that you would ever agree to this." As she chuckled some more.

"Tell you this: the pay sucks." Jess explained. "But let just say that Luke has more than a picture to hold over my head and the fact of the matter is: my twisted uncle would do anything to make me squirm. I swear, when I find out who your Secret Santa is, he's a dead man."

"Luke probably knows who he or she is!" Lorelai exclaimed. "Didn't he say it was a little kid? We could just find the kid and find out."

"Whatever." Jess shrugged as he was about to walk away. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot." As he picked up the packages that laid on the ground. "I found these two when I got here."

As he handed them to Rory and Paris, they began to rip into the packages immediately.

"What?" Rory moaned as she looked the box. "A travel kit with massage oils?"

"Hey don't forget the edible chocolate paint." Lorelai pointed so that Rory would notice. "I guess your Secret Santa is going for a love theme or something."

"Oh my God." Paris gasped as she looked at her gift. "It's a silver menorah." As she held up the tiny menorah, complete with tiny candles to light up.

"Wow." Rory exclaimed, clearly impressed. " That's so cool Paris. Look! There's a card with it. Just a little something to remind you of Chanukah."

"I mean, I didn't think I was going to do anything Chanukah-related this year." Paris explained, still mesmorized by the gift. "And it's not like I'm into holidays anyways but this is really nice… almost thoughtful."

"Well, you guys got way better gifts than I did." Jess exclaimed as he shook his head. "Someone sent a little hula girl."

"What is that for?" Paris asked.

"You know to put in your car so that when you drives, it starts doing a hula dance." Jess explained. " It came with a card saying You like to drive right?"

"Hey, hulla girls are very nice." Lorelai rationalized. "Anyways, maybe it's time to get dressed now. I've got to go to work."

"Yeah. I've got to brush my teeth." Rory agreed as she walked away.

"And I've got to get out of these monkey pajamas." Paris quipped in as she watched Jess give her an interested look. "Well not with you looking!"

"Jess, are you coming in?" Lorelai asked him nonchalantly. "I mean you are my coffee slave for a day so…"

"Fine! But let the records say that I'm doing this under protest." Jess insisted.

"Duly noted." Lorelai replied as she nodded her head. "Now get your ass in the kitchen. I need more coffee!"

"You just had some!" Jess argued as he pointed to the cup in her hand.

"Well if I'm going to have a guy giving me coffee all day, I'm sure as hell going to use it to my full advantage." Lorelai pointed out. "How often in life does one get a coffee slave? Not often enough my friend, not often enough."

"Whatever," Jess scowled as he walked in the door. "but I'm telling you right now the coffee's gonna taste like decaf."

****

"How come you guys can eat like this every single day?" Paris asked as she watched Lorelai and Rory begin to devour their breakfasts in an instant, just seconds after Luke served it to them.

"This?" Lorelai asked between mouthfuls as she pointed to the eggs, bacon and pancakes on her plate. "This is nothing. You should have seen us at Thanksgiving."

"Last year, we went to four Thanksgivings." Rory explained as she chew on her bacon. "Well, actually three if you don't count my grandma's house."

"Three?" Paris said in astonishment. "I can't even eat through one Thanksgiving dinner without feeling sick. Juice and cereal's enough for me. If you want to get real fancy maybe a bagel, some fruit or a muffin but pancakes are pushing it."

"But they're so good." Rory protested as she waved a piece of pancake on her fork around. "Just try it."

"No thanks." Paris exclaimed. "See? I'm already eating a grapefruit. Yum." As she pointed to the pink grapefruit she had in front of her sprinkled with a little sugar.

"Grapefruit? Ha!" Lorelai intervene as she scoffed at the fruit. "That isn't breakfast."

"Don't argue with them." Luke interjected as he walked by the table to serve his other customers. "They'd eat junk food forever if they could. Breakfast is the only sort of nutritious food they get in a day. They don't get fruit like we do." But then he stopped in his tracks when he saw the sugar on the grapefruit. "Geez! You're not supposed put sugar on it! It takes away from its real taste!"

"But it's too sour." Paris argued. "It tastes much better with the sugar."

"But come on! Sugar?" Luke moaned as he pointed to the sugar.

"Let her eat her grapefruit in peace Luke." Lorelai said in Paris' defense. "She's still much healthier than we are."

"Don't let me get started on you two." Luke said as he pointed to Rory and Lorelai. "Both of you are a lost cause."

"Thank you!" Lorelai said with a prissy voice and then looked over to her coffee cup. "Hey coffee boy! Need a refill!"

"No need to holler! I can hear you fine from here!" Jess replied as he walked over to her. "Hey, this coffee cup is half full!"

"And I say it's half empty." Lorelai said with a smirk. "Just keep it coming and be quiet."

"Nope. No can do." Luke interjected as he walked over to them.

"Oh come on Luke!" Jess protested as he gave Luke a glaring stare. "You can't be serious…"

"What?" Rory asked as she watched the commotion unfolding in front of her. "What do you have to do?"

"He didn't tell you this?" Luke said with a smile. "Figures. The kid who paid for Jess ordered that whenever he pours you a cup of coffee, he has to…hehe…sing a Christmas song." As he said through stifled laughs.

"A song?" Lorelai said, compeletely amazed. "This just keeps getting better and better…well, Jess, start singing."

"what?!" Jess cried out, "That's it! I'm done!" as he started to march away.

"No, no, no." Luke replied as he blocked Jess and pushed him back. "You're not going to chicken out of this one unless you know what's good for you. Now start singing."

"You're sick, you know that." Jess said with a scowl. "Fine…jingle bells, jingle bells." He began to whisper.

"I can't hear you." Lorelai said as she pretended not to hear. "Can you hear something?"

"Nope I don't think so." Rory said with a smile.

"Me neither." Paris added as she looked over at Jess, who was giving her a desperate look. She almost felt sorry for him. Almost.

"Sing it louder." Luke ordered. "And with feeling please."

"FINE! 'Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh much fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh' satisfied?" Jess said as he sang it as quickly as possible.

"Hey Rory, Lorelai, Paris." Dean exclaimed as he walked into the diner and towards their table.

"What's going on?" As he looked over at Jess, still wearing the santa hat.

"Fuck!" Jess exclaimed as he saw Dean walk in.

"Hey Dean! Do you want see Jess sing?" Lorelai said with a smile. "Come on, sing it again Jess."

"No fucking way." Jess exclaimed. "One song per cup of coffee. That's it."

Lorelai then proceeded to gulp down her big coffee cup and then wiped her lips. "Refill please. Maybe you could sing 'Feliz Navidad' next."

"How about 'Deck the Halls' Jess?" taunted Dean as he sat down at their table.

"Oh my god! I can't believe you drank it all!" Jess looked at her with disgust and then he looked over at Dean "You must be loving every moment of this. Could my life get any worse?!"

"YOU!" Taylor yelled as he burst in, pointing his finger furiously at Jess.

"What the hell did I do now?" Jess said in annoyance as he turned around to face Taylor.

"You're the hoodlum that sent them to my house!" Taylor accused, still pointing his finger straight in Jess' face. "I know it!"

"Sent who to your house?" Jess asked.

"Those kids with the skateboards." Taylor explained. "Just as I was about to exit my house, what do I see but a bunch of long haired street hustlers from out of nowhere starts setting up camp right there and skating up and down the block."

"What does that have to do with me?" Jess demanded, as Luke, Lorelai, Dean, Rory and Paris tried their hardest to conceal their laughter.

"The whole thing just wreaks of you. When I asked them what was the meaning of this, they told me some kid gave them some money to skate there… they even wrote: To Taylor, from your Secret Santa with chalk all over the road. They graffitied the street for goodness sakes!" Taylor cried out.

"First of all, did they give you a description of said kid? And second of all, it's chalk for god's sakes- it'll wash away!" Jess replied with equal annoyance.

"When I asked them for a description, they couldn't remember. Probably because they were all high out of their minds from narcotics or something." Taylor rationalized. "But I know you did it. I just know it. The stunt you pulled with the police tape and now this? Give me a break and just confess!"

"Face it Taylor, you've got nothing! You just want to pin this on me because you're pissed off that your Secret Santa is a jerk off." Jess yelled back. "Well, I'm sorry to say but that jerk off ain't me!"

"Taylor, just lay off of him, will ya?" Luke said rationally, as he finally stopped laughing. "You've got nothing on him alright! This is a place of business! If you want to take this up with him, I suggest you two take it outside."

"I'm done here." Jess said, as he walked away from the scene and stormed into the kitchen.

"Don't defend that hoodlum nephew of yours!" Taylor cried out as he pointed to Luke. "You know he's been trouble ever since he got here. Need I remind you of all the damage he has caused in the past? I mean, who else do you think would have stolen police tape just laying about?"

"I don't need to defend Jess cuz you don't have anything." Luke exclaimed clearly getting pissed. "Now if you don't have any solid proof he did any of it, I suggest you leave this instant!"

"But Luke!" Taylor insisted.

"Get out, get out, get out!" Luke demanded, as he shoved Taylor out the door.

"Mark my words Luke, this is going to be taken up judiciously at the next town meeting, you'll be sure of that!" Taylor exclaimed. "He's ruining the spirit of Christmas, I'm telling you!"

As Taylor stormed away, he accidentally bumped into a FedEX delivery guy, obviously frazzled by the whole commotion.

"Is this Luke's Diner?" the delivery guy said timidly, frightened by Luke's menacing appearance.

"Yeah." Luke replied. "I'm sorry about the commotion."

"Is there anyone here by the name of Lukas Danes?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, I'm Luke Danes." Luke answered, puzzled by the FedEx guy's appearance.

"Could you sign here please?" he said, as he pulled out a small clipboard.

As Luke took the clipboard, the delivery guy scanned the package and then handed it to Luke.

"Thanks, I think." Luke replied, as the delivery guy quickly scurried away, trying to get into his truck as fast as possible.

"Hey Luke!" Lorelai cried out as she jumped out of her seat and got closer to him. "What do you think is inside huh? Maybe it's a bomb sent by Taylor."

"It's not ticking so that's probably not the case." Luke said as Lorelai crowded around him. "Just give me some space will ya?"

"Come on, open it!" Lorelai pleaded as she jumped up and down with anticipation.

"Yeah, Luke, open it!" Rory chimed in.

"Will you cool your jets for a second?" Luke exclaimed as he look at the two of them. "Can't you see I'm trying to open it?"

As Luke struggled with the wrapping, Lorelai grabbed it from his hands and mauled at it in two seconds flat. "There!"

"Yeesh, you're impatient." Luke responded as he looked at Lorelai. As he opened it up, he

groaned. "What the hell is this about?"

"Oh my god!" Lorelai squealed. "Rory, it's a William Shatner t-shirt!" as she held up an iron-on t-shirt with a picture of William Shatner as Captain Kirk sprawled across it.

"No way!" Rory said with amazement, with a bewildered Dean and Paris looking on.

"Ah geez!" Luke continued as he looked at what was left in the box, and handed it to Lorelai.

"Hey it's the return of Butch Danes." Lorelai exclaimed as she held up the picture of Luke in high school.

"Butch Danes?" Dean quipped in, clearly confused by it.

"So that's Butch Danes!" Paris exclaimed as she took a glance at the photo. "my, are those really short shorts."

"Hey! I think I've seen this picture before." Dean added as he squinted to get a closer look. "This was you?"

"Don't ask." Luke said with a scowl.

"Isn't it an ad of some sort?" Rory asked, as looked at the writing on it.

"MISSING," Lorelai read outloud between giggles. "My dignity. If found please call 555-4231" as she scrolled down the page, she noticed more writing. "this poster was brought to you by Luke's Secret Santa. Enjoy!"

"JESS!!!!" Luke cried out from the top of his lungs.

"I DIDN'T DO IT!" Jess yelled back from inside the kitchen.

****

"What did you get Jackson?" Lorelai asked as she sat on the stool, talking to Sookie.

"I got him a Santa suit, with the beard, boots and everything." Sookie replied in her usual cheerful giggle, as she continued to stir the soup that she was preparing. "You should have seen the look on his face, he was so happy."

"So what are you getting him next Secret Santa?" Lorelai asked with a smile.

"I got some sexy red lingerie." Sookie said suggestively. "And I thought that I could and then he could put on the Santa suit and I could pretend to be Mrs. Claus and then…"

"Okay, too much information there Sookie." Lorelai said as she pretended to cover her eyes. "And he doesn't even know it's you?"

"He doesn't suspect a thing. He's too busy shopping around for Morey's gift. He's been searching around everywhere for some cool jazz sheet music for Morey to play on the piano." Sookie said with satisfaction as she took a taste from the soup and then directed to Lorelai. "Taste please."

As Lorelai took a taste from the spoon, the expression on Lorelai's face was all that was needed. "It's perfection once again Sook."

"Thanks." Sookie answered with a smile. "So what are you going to get your special someone huh?" she said with a wink.

"Oh don't you worry. It's all taken care of." Lorelai said as she nodded knowingly. "Oh almost forgot. Hey Jess!" she yelled towards the doorway. "Need more coffee?"

"You hollered?" Jess replied as he walked into the kitchen.

"You know what to do." Lorelai said simply as she pointed to the coffee cup.

"What is this, your thousandth cup?" Jess said as he looked at the empty cup. "Do you ever let up woman? I mean, you do realize I'm wasting my whole day just bored out of my mind, waiting on you. And if I have to hear Michel bitch one more time…"

"Less talk, more pouring." Lorelai ordered, ignoring Jess' complaints.

"ooh, ooh, ooh." Sookie exclaimed as she got excited. "You're going to sing again aren't you? Can we sing to lead you in?"

"We could be your backup singers." Lorelai suggested cheerfully.

"No thanks, can I just get it over wi.."Jess replied.

"It'll be fun." Sookie said with a giggle as she nudged Lorelai. "Come on Lorelai…one two three."

" 'Dashing through the snow, in one horse open sleigh," Sookie and Lorelai sang cheerfully, making hand gestures as they sang. 'over the fields we go, laughing all the way, ha ha ha"

"Oh crap…" Jess sighed as he shook his head, looking down in embarrassment as the assistant chefs around the kitchen started to stare and laugh. "will you guys just stop it." He muttered under his breath.

" 'tails on bobtails ring, making spirits bright," Sookie and Lorelai continued, ignoring him completely as they got into it even more. " 'what fun it is to laugh and sing this sleighing song tonight oh…." They dragged the last note as they waited for Jess to chime in.

"Don't look at me." Jess said as he shook his head. "I'm not going to make a complete ass of myself again."

"Oh you're no fun." Sookie replied, as she gestured Bob to come and prepare the soup for presentation.

"Talk to me about fun after you've spent half a day wearing this stupid hat," Jess said as he pointed to the santa hat still on his head. " and tailing her around. It's not pretty." As he was about to leave, he looked over at Lorelai and stopped. "Weren't you wearing something else before?"

"Yeah I changed." Lorelai replied as she looked down to her red ensemble.

"Expecting someone?" Jess suggested.

"You could say that." Lorelai exclaimed, a bit hesistant with the answer.

"When is he getting here?" Sookie asked as she looked at Lorelai.

"Anytime now." Lorelai answered, as she looked at her watch.

"There's that annoying man outside looking for you." Michel exclaimed with a smug look on his face as he suddenly appeared.

"He's here." Lorelai said as she bit her lip.

"Who?" Jess asked as he looked at Michel.

" If he wasn't so boring and utterly repugnant, maybe I would remember." Michel replied as he began to walk away. "Just get him away from me. He's making me nauseous."

"Fine." Lorelai answered as she began to exit the kitchen.

"Good luck on your 'date'." Sookie mocked.

"Shh Sookie!" Lorelai whispered as she motioned Sookie to pipe down. This was already hard enough as it is.

"So who's lucky guy huh?" Jess asked, as he followed behind her and then stopped, mouth wide open, blinking his eyes to see if he was dreaming. "You've got to be kidding me…Him?"

"If you don't shut up right now, you're going to be pouring coffee and singing all day." Lorelai muttered in a threatening tone as she elbowed him hard in the stomach. "Hey Kirk."

"Hey Lorelai." Kirk replied, as he walked closer to her, grasping his trophy tight in his hands. "I got a message that you wanted to see us."

"Yeah Kirk." Lorelai said nervously. I can't believe I let Rory talk me into this. "Your Secret Santa wanted to surprise you. Surprise! Today you're having lunch with me."

"Lunch with you?" he repeated as he looked at Lorelai. "My Secret Santa actually convinced you to go on date with me?"

"Not a date Kirk." Lorelai explained, trying not to sound mean. "Just lunch as friends."

"You say tomato and I say tomaato," Kirk replied. "As long as I get a free lunch, it's fine with me."

"Great." Lorelai replied as she gestured him towards the dining room, as Jess watched from afar.

"You're my Secret Santa right?" Kirk whispered to Lorelai. "You don't have to pretend anymore."

"Sorry Kirk." Lorelai replied. "I'm just here as a present capacity."

"Hey Lorelai." Jess cried out. "Mistletoe." He then pointed at the mistletoe that hung above them.

"Darn, I forgot that was there." Lorelai said as she looked up towards the ceiling and then gave Jess an evil scowl. Damn him. Then she looked at Kirk, who was eagerly awaiting his kiss. She then had no choice but to move closer and peck him quickly on the cheek.

"Wow." Kirk replied as he touched his cheek. "A free lunch and a kiss? My Secret Santa rocks." As began to walk again, he whispered to Lorelai. "you're hot for me aren't you?"

"Kirk…" Lorelai answered as she followed him.

****

As Rory and Paris sat on the couch, playing crazy eight countdown just for the heck of it, they chattered on incessantly.

"So what did Dean tell you?" Paris asked as she placed down a card. "Did he like what I got him?"

"Of course! He loved the Special Edition DVD of 'The Lord of the Rings' " Rory insisted. "Now if you can get him preview tickets to the last one, you're set." She reminded her. "I know he'd kill to see it. Last card."

"You think?" Paris asked, still uncertain.

"Absolutely." Rory replied, as she put down her last card. "I won."

"Oh crap." Paris exclaimed as she looked her hand. " I had two left. Two left!"

"Touch luck." Rory answered as she gathered up the cards.

"So," Paris asked with a questioning look. "Who do you think is your secret santa?"

"I have no idea." Rory admitted. "I just know that they have some weird fascination with my love life."

"Maybe it's Jess or Dean." Paris suggested in a half mocking tone. "Maybe they both realize how great you are and want you back."

"No way." Rory scoffed as she looked at Paris. "Dean and I are so old news and Jess… well everybody thinks that Jess is their Secret Santa so I don't think he has room for more."

"You never know." Paris insisted. "I mean, come on, everybody falls in love with you. They can't seem to get enough of your doe-eyed, helpless, innocent girl look you have."

"Oh come on." Rory answered back as she heard the phone ring. "Guys like you too."

"Yeah sure." Paris said with a laugh. "that's really accurate considering I have no boyfriend to speak of and you have, well, you have Tristan."

"You'll find somebody." Rory replied as she picked up the phone. "Don't sell yourself short." As she heard the voice on the other line, Rory began to smile. "Hi! I've missed you!"

"Speak of the devil." Paris said with a shrug, as the doorbell began to ring frantically and Rory quickly became preoccupied by Tristan's phone call to notice. "I'll get that."

She walked slowly to the door, shaking her head. When she opened it, there was no one there.

"AREN'T WE MATURE!" she yelled as she looked around the porch. Then as she was about to close the door, she noticed a large plastic Tupperware laid out on the floor with a little card with her name clearly scribbled on it. She picked it up and curiously wondered what it was. "Couldn't find sour cream or applesauce so you're on your own with that. From your secret santa" she read. She opened it up and gasped at the contents of it. "Latkes!" she exclaimed. She hadn't one in so long and now here they are, so many of them stacked up one on top of the other. She walked out onto the porch, holding onto the still warm plastic container in her arms, looking all around to see if her secret santa was still lurking about. As she turned her head all around, all that she could see was Babette, standing on her own porch.

"Babette, did you see anybody out here?" Paris asked.

"I'm sorry sugar, I just got outside a minute ago and I didn't see anybody." Babette replied. "What have you got there honey?"

"A present from my Secret Santa." Paris replied.

"That's nice." Babette replied sweetly. "You can't go wrong with Tupperware. Morey got some new music to play and I got a membership to a fruit of the month club."

"Great." Paris said. "Well, it's getting cold out here so goodnight."

"Night sweetheart." Babette cried out as she waved goodbye.

As Paris politely walked away and closed the door, she could still hear Rory chattering away on the phone from her room. She then walked into the kitchen, wondering where to put the latkes. As she sat down at the kitchen table, she smiled quietly to herself and wonder what her Secret Santa was going to send her next.

TO BE CONTINUED.