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*: Thanks to all of you who have been reading this GG fanfic loyally and have been excited for it. I especially appreciate the reviews and the guesses that people have been making (I won't say either it's right or wrong but I love them! Just you wait and see!)

I know it's an odd thing for this fic to be a kind of townie fanfic because there aren't that many out there. I just try my best to include everyone because they are the ones that make the show great. Also, I've notice some reviews about the Paris/Jess pairing. Even though this is an ensemble fanfic, it still has pairings and I just happen to really love the idea of Paris and Jess especially in fanfic so please keep reading it even if you are devoted Literati fans. I just needed to write this my way. That includes UC pairings. As you can see from this chapter especially, this is blatantly obvious. But as I say, anything goes with my stories, so just sit back and enjoy. There's only one more chapter left!

****

PART V – SURPRISE!

"It's wonderful to see you again Paris." Emily exclaimed with a smile as she looked over at Paris from across the dining room table. "It's always nice to have guests over."

"I second that." Richard replied as he smiled at Paris. For some reason or another, the moment he met Rory's classmate Paris, he had this immediate kindship with the young girl. It was odd but she reminded him of when he was a teenager: Eager and ambitious. " When Rory was accepted at Harvard, we were so happy but we were a bit concerned that she would be so far away from home. However, our spirits lifted when we realized that she would at least know one familiar face."

"Thank you Richard." Paris replied, as she nodded politely to him. "And thank you Mrs. Gilmore for inviting me to dinner. I hope it wasn't an inconvenience."

"Nonsense. You are always welcome at our home." Emily replied. "And please call me Emily."

"Don't worry Paris." Lorelai added between mouthfuls. "After having me as a daughter, they'd welcome you with open arms."

"Lorelai!" Emily exclaimed. Couldn't she behave herself for once? "We have company."

"What's the big deal mother?" Lorelai said with a questioning smirk. "She's been living with us for a week now. I think she's grown accustomed to our habits."

"Oh God, I had forgotten about that." Emily sighed as she looked over at Paris. "I am so sorry you've had to live with her this whole time. You're a brave girl."

"Hey!" Lorelai protested.

"It's not that bad." Paris replied with an awkward smile. Although she had slowly grown accustomed to Lorelai's and Rory's eating habits, she wasn't too comfortable with their family dynamics yet although this was a millions times better than the family chaos at her house. "My Christmas break has been great so far. Actually it's been exactly what I needed after those grueling midterms."

"How were your exams Rory?" Emily asked as she looked over to her granddaughter who hadn't spoken much. "Were they very difficult?"

"I'm sure she handled it fine Emily." Richard exclaimed. "She's always been able to keep up with her studies."

"I know Richard." Emily said with a sigh. "I just would like to ask Rory that question since she's been so silent tonight."

"I'm fine grandma." Rory insisted as she smiled at her grandmother. "The exams were hard but I think both Paris and I came out of it relatively unscathed."

"Yeah she's fine mom." Lorelai added. "So just relax and let her eat in peace."

"Fine." Emily replied as she paused for a moment and then began again. "Are you going to be here on Christmas."

"Yes mother, we will be here for Christmas dinner like you asked." Lorelai answered as she slightly rolled her eyes. "It'll be great."

"That's good." Richard added as he nodded his head with approval. "It'll be nice to have the family together."

"The family's together now." Lorelai remarked.

"I know that Lorelai." Richard remarked firmly. "You don't have to state the obvious. I just thought it would be nice to be together as much as we can seeing as Rory is home and it's Christmas."

"Oh." Lorelai said simply.

"So what are your plans for tomorrow?" Emily asked plainly as she took another bite of her salmon.

"Well… it's nothing." Lorelai answered quickly.

"Nothing? How could you be doing nothing on Christmas eve and when you have house guest no less?" Emily responded as she couldn't believe her ears.

"Actually grandma, the town's going to have a big Christmas celebration at night to end our town Secret Santa thing." Rory exclaimed as she looked over at Emily.

"Secret Santa? What Secret Santa thing?" Emily asked, clearly puzzled.

"The townspeople wrote their names in a basket and we each picked out a name and got them gifts throughout the week. And tomorrow we find out who was our mystery Secret Santa." Explained Paris.

"That sounds exciting." Emily said with fascination. "Doesn't that sound exciting Richard?"

"And intriguing idea." Richard answered as he went back to eating his salmon.

"So Rory, Paris, do you have any idea who has been sending you gifts?" Emily asked with a smile.

"Well I have no idea who's been sending me my gifts but I have a hunch on who is Paris' Secret Santa is." Rory said with a wink.

"Who?" Paris asked, as she herself was clueless on the matter.

"Jess silly." Rory exclaimed.

"What? That's impossible Rory!" Paris replied with astonishment.

"Jess as in your old boyfriend Rory?" Emily asked. "Are you still friends with that boy?"

"Yes grandma, we're still friends." Rory answered back and then looked over at Paris. "As for Jess being your Secret Santa, come on! Don't you think that there's a chance that Jess could be your Secret Santa?"

"There is no possible way." Paris insisted as she looked over to Lorelai for support. "Tell her that it isn't true. It can't be true, it just can't!"

"I'm sorry honey but I've got to side with Rory on this one." Lorelai said with a shrug. "It's definitely a possibility."

"Traitor." Paris said with smug look on her face

"And guess who mom is convinced has her grandma." Rory said with a devilish smile.

"Rory!" Lorelai exclaimed as she motioned her to keep quiet.

"She thinks Luke's been sending her all of her gifts." Rory exclaimed, ignoring her mother's protests.

"Luke as in the man who runs the diner?" Emily said, riveted to say the least. "Why is that Lorelai?"

"I don't know. All the clues point to him I guess." Lorelai explained with a sigh. " The candy, the coffee, and who else would know me well enough to send me a tape of E! True Hollywood Story on Saved by the Bell?"

"Saved by the Bell?" Richard whispered as he leaned over to Paris.

"It's an old tv show." Paris whispered back.

"Thank you." Richard replied with a smile.

"God, I don't even want to ask you about that one!" Emily said, clearly finding her social references completely strange. But as she went about concentrating on her supper, a knowing smile could be found on her face.

"What mom…" Lorelai exclaimed as she noticed immediately that look on her mother's face. "Aren't you going to say 'I told you so'."

"I didn't say a thing Lorelai." Emily replied without so looking at Lorelai once, as she concentrated on her meal.

"But you want to." Lorelai insisted. "I can see on your face.. Yes, I think that Luke is my Secret Santa. But that's it! How many times do I have to tell you that we're just friends?"

"I don't think screaming at grandma is going to convince her." Rory observed.

"Eh!" Lorelai scoffed as she pointed at Rory. "You. Not helping the situation here."

"I'm just sayin'." Rory replied as she clamed up.

"You can rant and rave all you want Lorelai." Emily said plainly, not ever looking up once. "I'm not saying anything except to say that I'm not going to be surprised if I see an impromptu wedding ceremony at a diner in your near future. And I'll be expecting that invitation in the mail too."

"Argh!" Lorelai cried out in frustration, as Emily still continued to eat calmly from across the table.

****

Rory laid flat on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She had just woken up but hadn't either moved or made a sound since she woke. She was too busy bundling herself up from the cold. She wasn't exactly sure but there was a big chance that the moment when she ever decided to move from this very spot on her bed that she would be freezing and regret ever waking up in the first place. Heck, she was already regretting being awake. She was in the middle of a great dream involving Tristan and now she couldn't remember it although she knew it was good. As she was about to close her eyes and try to remember again, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Rory, are you awake?" Paris asked.

"Yeah."

"I can't move."

"Me either."

"It's too cold."

"I'm with you on that one."

"You do realize that sooner or later we'll have to get out of bed, right?" Paris observed.

"Yeah I know."

"So who's going to get up first?"

"I nominate you."

"Hell no! Why don't you get up first?"

"Because I'm colder than you are…"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

After arguing for a few rounds, finally, out of frustration, Paris threw her blanket across the room and stomped out of the bed.

"Yeah, I won."

"Dream on Rory!" Paris answered back as she walked towards the living room. "I just got out of bed because I chose to. Doesn't count." She then let out a surprised gasp as she peered outside the window. "Rory! There's snow on the ground and tons of it."

"What?" Rory exclaimed as she jumped out of bed immediately and stared out of her bedroom window. "Wow, Snow! It's almost like a Christmas miracle," as she continued to stare at the incredible amount of snow that covered everything.

"Um..Rory." Paris said with hesitance.

"What Paris?" Rory asked her absentmindedly, still mesmorized.

"Why is Lorelai making snow angels on the lawn?" Paris asked, as she didn't quite believing what was before her eyes.

"Oh my god! The snow!" Rory exclaimed in realization as she sped towards the door, grabbing her coat and stepping into her shoes in the process. She flung the front door wide open and ran towards the steps. At least the steps which wasn't completely engulfed by snow.

"Mom! What are you doing?"

As she looked around the snow covered lawn, suddenly Lorelai sat up, her cap covered head popped right out from underneath the snow.

"Hey honey!" she said breathlessly.

"Yeah mom." Rory said as she looked at all the snow angels sprawled out in front of their house. "Are you having fun?"

"Come on Rory." Lorelai replied as she played around in the snow with her mittens. "You know what snow does to me."

"It makes you completely crazy and you lose all sense of reality." Rory replied, arms crossed because she was still in her pajama pants.

"I mean, it was snowing yesterday but I had no idea we'd have so much snow!" Lorelai explained. "Rory, something's going to happen today. I can smell it."

"And of course, only you and maybe dogs can smell this." Rory explained she rolled her eyes. "It's so funny that the only day you wake up early is a snow day."

"Yup, it's the only day there's a reason to." Lorelai replied as she stood up, wiping the snow from her jeans and then picking up a small amount of snow in her mittens. "I'm telling you Rory, it's going to be a magical day." And then she threw the snowball right at Rory.

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed as it hit her coat at her shoulder. "That's so not funny." As she began to walk inside.

"Oh come on Rory!" Lorelai exclaimed as she followed her in. "It's just a joke…it's just the snow…"

****

As Paris, Rory and Lorelai walked towards Luke's, they watched as the town was preparing its decorations, all being organized by a frantic Taylor running around, calling all the shots.

"Wow Taylor's going all out this year." Rory exclaimed as she looked at all the lights that were being put up.

"I've never seen such a big Christmas Tree up close before." Paris added as she looked at the tree that was place beside the gazebo. "Wow, is that Kirk hanging lights on the tree?" She pointed to Kirk, who had gotten up to hang more lights on the tree with a crane that lifted beside it.

"Wow. It looks like he's getting tangled in them." Rory observed as accidentally wrapped himself around with the lights. And what was worse was that the more he tried to untangle himself, the worse it got.

"Taylor!" Kirk cried out from above. "I need a little help here!"

"Hey Taylor, how's everything going?" Lorelai asked as she approached Taylor, who looked like he was about to cry. "Are you okay?"

"It's fine, just fine!" Taylor replied a little too defensively.

"Taylor you've got to relax." Lorelai said calmly. "It's Christmas Eve. You shouldn't be miserable."

"It's just that I planned this all so very carefully with the lights, and the tree and the sleigh rides." Taylor exclaimed as he watched Kirk struggle to get his attention. "But nothing's going as planned. The sleigh is late, the band I hired is missing and look!" As he pointed to the tree. "Even the tree hasn't finished."

"TAYLOR! LORELAI! RORY! ANYBODY!" Kirk cried out again as he slipped in the crane.

"In a minute Kirk!" Taylor yelled back, as the fact that Kirk was in a bit of a pickle was the last of his worries. "I'm telling you Lorelai, it's that no good nephew of Luke's that secretly sabotaging this. I know it's Jess, I just know it! Him with the police tape, the stoned kids, and now this! He probably kidnapped my band!"

"Slow down Taylor." Lorelai continued with a calming voice. "We need to stop with this Jess paranoia and focus. This isn't half bad. So the sleighs are a little late. We won't be using them until later. And the band, well you could call them and if it doesn't pan out then we can go without the band. Now I think what you should do right now is get Kirk down here so we can untangle him okay?"

"Fine." Taylor sulked. "But I'm telling you… that hoodlum kid is out to ruin my Christmas and I'm telling you this now. He's not getting the better of me!"

"Good!" Lorelai replied as she patted Taylor on the back. "Now we've got to save Kirk."

"For the love of God, could somebody please let me out of here!" Kirk moaned from the box on the crane.

****

"Hey mom." Rory asked as she walked closer to Lorelai. "So now that you figure that Luke is your Secret Santa, what are you going to do now?"

"Yeah? Are you going to tell him that you know or are you just going to pretend like nothing changed?" Paris asked.

"Just relax will ya." Lorelai said with amusement at the curious looks that both Rory and Paris were giving her. "Let me say that I've got some plans, but you two have got to quit it with the questions cause we're getting to the diner now and I don't want him to suspect a thing, okay? We've got to play it cool, right?"

"Okay." Rory agreed as Paris nodded.

"Hey you guys," Luke replied as they all scrambled into the diner. "I've saved you a table and ordered you two some waffles. And Paris, you can have grapefruit or cereal or oatmeal if you want."

"Waffles!" Rory said with glee.

"My, my" Lorelai replied with a terrible southern accent. "What hospitality!" as she sat down at her chair.

"Mom." Rory whispered as she nudged Lorelai. "I thought you were going to play it cool."

"Well can't I have some fun in the process?" Lorelai replied as she started batted her eyelashes at Luke and smiled like a Southern Belle.

"Whatever, but I don't think he's getting your so-called subtlety." Rory whispered as she secretly pointed at Luke, who was giving them weird looks as he brought out the waffles.

"Here are your waffles." Luke exclaimed as he looked at Lorelai, who was still batting her eyes as well as perch her chin on her hand, as if she was gazing at him.

"Why thank you sir." Lorelai said sweetly as he placed the plate in front of her.

"Mom! Look at the waffles! They have powdered sugar on them shaped like snowflakes!" Rory exclaimed with glee. "Thanks Luke!"

"Yeah you're welcome." Luke said sort of absentmindedly as he still stared at Lorelai and then looked towards Rory. "What the hell is the matter with your mom today? She's acting weirder than usual." as he looked towards Lorelai. "Do you an eye twitch or something." With those words, Lorelai's expression changed back to normal as she began to frown slightly.

"It's just the snow Luke." Rory said with a smile, trying to cover for Lorelai. "You know how she gets this time of year."

"She gets even more crazier than usual." Luke agreed, remembering the effect that snow has on Lorelai. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I'll get you some coffee. Maybe it'll bring you back to your senses."

"Whohoo!" Lorelai said in her usual tone. "You better get me a big cup Luke cuz you never know what crazy, whacked out things I might do."

"And you Paris?" He asked Paris as she sat there silently while smiling at Lorelai. "What will you be having today."

"I think I'm going to be adventurous and go with the waffles as well." Paris replied as both Rory and Lorelai cheered. "I mean, hell, you only live once."

"Not you too!" Luke said with a disappointed sigh. "See, I knew it was not good for you to be shaking up with those two. Sooner or later, you'll be exactly like them."

"Yup! She's come and joined the dark side where sugar, coffee and junk food rule." Lorelai replied. "Come on Luke, join the dark force." She said in a low voice.

"Ugh. I'm leaving before you taint me too." Luke said as he began to walk away. "I'll get you your waffles Paris."

"Come on Luke!" Lorelai cried out. "Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader… or maybe you want to be Hans Solo."

"I'm not listening to you anymore!" Luke cried out from the kitchen.

"I think you've annoyed him more than you've attempted to flirt with him." Rory observed with a mouth full of waffles drenched in syrup.

"It was worth a try." Lorelai explained as Jess appeared and came towards them. "Hey Paris, maybe you can ask him if he's been lurking about the house late at night being a door to door latkes salesman."

"Quiet!" Paris hissed. "He's coming!"

"Hey." Jess said as he nodded at Lorelai and Rory and then looked over at Paris.

"Hey." Paris replied as casually as she possibly could be.

"Hey Jess…"Rory asked nonchalantly as she looked at Paris, who looked mortified. "Where were you Wednesday night? You wouldn't have happened to be near our house by any chance were you cuz me and Paris were at home and we were going to call you to come hang out with us."

"Rory…"Paris mouthed from behind Jess. "I'm..going… to…kill… you"

"You should have called. I would have come over." Jess replied as Rory started to smile. "But unfortunately, I was stuck here all night playing referee to those two!" as he pointed to Luke who was walking out of the kitchen with Paris' waffles and Lorelai, completely entranced by her waffles.

"Whah?" Lorelai said with her mouthful.

"Those two couldn't stop yapping and arguing all night." Jess exclaimed with a look of disgust.

"Why don't you two just get a clue and get a room for goodness sakes!"

"Hey!" Luke protested as he looked menacingly at Jess, who didn't budge an inch. "You watch your mouth."

"Are you going to spank me uncle lukie?" Jess asked as he got into Luke's face.

"What are they talking about?" Lorelai whispered.

"Jess just told us he was stuck here on Wednesday night babysitting you and Luke." Rory explained as she looked over at Paris' slightly disappointed face.

"Oh yeah. Sorry Paris." Lorelai said apologetically to Paris but then suddenly got the implications of what Rory had just said. "Hey!" as she pointed at Jess. But he didn't notice as Jess and Luke was already in a heated discussion.

"How many times told you it's Luke!" Luke said angrily.

"Well maybe I'd listen to you if you'd listen to me every once and while." Jess lashed back.

"About what?" Luke asked with a glaring stare.

"About what?! You… her…god, forget it!" Jess said as he gave up. If he couldn't see it by now, why bother? "I'm outta here" and then looked over at Rory and Paris. "I'll see you guys later okay?" As he marched back up to the apartment.

"What Jess, what do you have to say huh?" Luke said angrily as he followed Jess. "Don't you walk away from me!"

Jess just motioned Luke away from him as Luke stomped right behind him.

****

"I'm sorry about Jess." Rory said apologetically as she walked with Paris. "I just really thought he was…"

"It's fine Rory." Paris said with a shrug. " I mean I told you that I didn't believe it and I was right…"

"I'm still sorry." Rory said. "But maybe you could still ask him out."

"Rory." Paris said as gave Rory a look. "He's not interested in me. I can tell. And it's not like I'm interested in him either. We're so different."

"But you both love books." Rory insisted. "And you don't have to be alike to like each other. Opposites attract you know. And I saw it. He likes you."

"But come on Rory." Paris exclaimed. "You forgot about a little thing called reality. Even if hell freezes over and for some crazy reason he had the tiniest bit of interest in me, and I can't that ever happening but if it did, you forgot that the fact that he lives in New York and we live Boston. It would never work out."

"Paris, you never know…" Rory said.

"No Rory. Jess and I is something that will never happen. End of story." Paris said firmly.

"Okay fine." Rory said, as she closed the book on the subject. "So do you still want to enter into the snowman building contest?"

"Yeah, sure." Paris said with a smile. "It's not like there's so much you can do in Stars Hollow."

"Okay. We'll just go get Lane and Dave." Rory suggested. "They should be finished their bible study at her house by now."

"Yeah." Paris agreed.

"Mom?" Rory called back at Lorelai who just came out of Luke's. "We're just going to Lane's house to get her and Dave so we can enter the snowman building contest okay?"

"Sure honey." Lorelai replied as she motioned them to go on without her. "I'm just going to see if Doose's is still open. I want to buy some candy canes other stuff to tide over tomorrow. If we're going to my parents' house tomorrow, I think I'm going to need a lot of spiked eggnog to tide me over."

"Mom." Rory gave her mother a look. "We'll meet ya later, okay?"

"I won't get that much eggnog I promise." Lorelai insisted as she waved at Rory and Paris as they walked away and then proceeded towards Doose's Market. As she walked in with her head down as she rummaged through her purse. SMACK! She ran right into someone. As she looked up she noticed it was Dean.

"I'm sorry Dean!" Lorelai said apologetically as she touched his arm. "I didn't mean to run right into you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." Dean said with a smile. "Just didn't expect to bump into here. Happy Christmas Eve, I guess."

"Happy Christmas Eve to you too." Lorelai replied back as she wondered strangely at the saying.

"Hey, why are you here anyways? Do you have work today?"

"Not yet but eventually." Dean said with a sigh. "Taylor just wanted me to come to say that I have to close Doose's today."

"On Christmas Eve? He's going to keep it open all day?" Lorelai said in shock.

"Yeah, up until midnight." Dean explained. "Don't ask me the logic in that. I think he's going insane with what his Secret Santa been doing to him. He's been muttering all morning about looking out for Jess and I guess I can't blame him. If you think Jess is after you, then you do get a little paranoid." As he smiled.

Lorelai smiled knowingly back to him. She was glad he was now able to joke about Jess, especially after the Jess and Rory ordeal that went on over a year ago. "Man, that must suck. Especially since you are going to miss most of the party outside later."

"It's okay Lorelai. Really. I'll still make it for the Christmas Tree lighting and everything." Dean insisted. He always thought it was nice of her to be concerned for him even after he had broken up Rory. "It's not like I haven't experienced a Stars Hollow Christmas blowout before."

"But this year's different. We have the Secret Santa thing." Lorelai said. "So have you figured out your Secret Santa yet?" she said with a wink.

"No," Dean said as he looked at her strangely. "But from the look on your face, I'm guessing you know who it is. To whomever has been sending me these gifts, just tell them that they've been great and the gifts were awesome."

"Will do." Lorelai said as she walked over to get a basket and started to pile boxes of candy canes in it. "I promise that you'll like who your Secret Santa is."

"How about you?" Dean said curiously as he followed her around the store. "Have you figured out who your Secret Santa is?"

"I've had my hunches and gone over several suspects thoroughly." Lorelai said as walked over to the fridges to get at the eggnog. "But between you and me I'm pretty sure it's Luke."

"Wow." Dean replied as he helped to put in the eggnog into her basket. "You sound pretty convinced. How did you figure that one out?"

"I just figured that the person who's been sending me these gifts must know me really well and once Jess showed up at my doorstep with that Santa hat, getting me coffee and singing Christmas songs, well that sealed it for me." Lorelai as she smiled. "I mean, that story about the little kid paying him to do it was so lame. Total cover story."

"I guess Luke couldn't stump you." Dean said with a laugh. "Man, seeing Jess with that hat really made my day, I'm telling you."

"Yeah it wasn't half bad for me either." Lorelai admitted, as she got closer to Dean. "Let's face it. It was the best present ever."

"Well, if you see Luke later, tell him I said thanks for the Jess thing." Dean said with a smile.

"I'll do that too." Lorelai said as she handed him her basket and pushed him. "Now help me find the rum will ya?"

****

"So what do you think?" Rory asked Paris, as she stood back from the snowman. "Do you think it looks like him yet?"

"I don't know." Paris said as she stared at their creation. "Something's missing. I don't know. It still doesn't feel right. But look at theirs!" She pointed at Lane's and Dave's snowman. " I know I've only seen her once but it sure does look like her."

"Yeah, it does." Rory agreed. "I mean, I know it's a snowman, but it sure does gives me the creeps with its realness."

"Well, in this case, it's a snowwoman." Lane said as looked over Rory and then at Dave. "I mean we've got to be politically correct right?"

"Anything you say sweetie." Dave said with a smile as he continued to pat down the snow. "But I must say that our snowm.. I mean snowwoman is turning out be pretty good. I mean, it really does look like your mom."

"Yeah it does, doesn't it?" Lane said with smile as she took a step back to look at it. "I mean, she's even frowning and got that disapproving look on her face. Rory, can't you see it stirring the fear in hearts of Korean children everywhere?"

"Yeah." Rory agreed as she stared at it further. "the Bible in her hands was a nice touch too." As she pointed at Dave's bible which rested against Snowwoman Mama Kim's arms, which they made it sturdy enough to hold it. "But the wig is the best. Where did you get it?"

"From the beauty salon." Lane said with satisfaction. "I thought it would the pièce de résistance as they say."

"What do you think your mom will say when sees it?" Paris asked as she looked at Lane. "From what I could see, she is not the most pleasant woman in the world, no offense."

"None taken." Lane said with a smile. "She prides in instilling fear in everyone she meets. I think she'll find it a loving tribute to her. And if all else fails, Dave can sweet talk her to believe it. He can basically talk her into anything, within reason of course. Can ya, honey?" as she walked over to Dave and gave him a loving kiss.

"She isn't that bad." Dave insisted as he smiled at her.

"Well she isn't bad to you to because she actually likes you." Rory insisted. " I mean, she still thinks that my mom and I worship the devil. And you…you're…"

"…the perfect Christian Korean boy minus the Korean." Lane said as she finished Rory's thought.

"I don't know about you Rory but I think our snowman is totally going to beat the pants out of yours."

"Don't be so sure." Rory said with a calculating stare. "If I'm not mistaken, our secret weapon has arrived."

"Yup. Here he comes." Paris said as she smiled at Rory.

"I can't believe you called me to come out for this." Jess said as he shook his head.

"Hey no complaining." Rory ordered. "We needed you to give us what we needed for that extra leverage. I mean, Kirk's own snowman of himself is not half bad…"

"What are you talking about?" Kirk exclaimed as he heard Rory's comment. "It looks just like me with the stare" as he pointed to the blank, serious stare he had created for his snowman, "the sweater and I even got him a mini statue just like mine."

"It's good Kirk." Rory said apologetically as she nodded to him until he was satisfied by her apology and went back to working and then looked back at Jess. "And Lane's and Dave's…"

"Holy fuck." Jess replied as he was taken aback by the snowwoman. "It looks so much like her, it's fucking creeping me out. Rory, face it. Theirs is totally going to win."

"Well not if we can makes our better." Rory insisted. "I mean, did you get all the stuff we asked."

"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses will ya." Jess replied as he reached into the plastic bag that he carried. "It wasn't that easy to sneak this out of the diner, I'm telling you. Luke was watching me like a hawk after that blowout at the diner this morning." As he pulled out a baseball cap and a blue plaid shirt.

"And we appreciate it." Rory replied as she looked at Paris. "Don't we Paris."

"Thanks." Paris said simply as she gave Jess a small smile and he smiled back at her.

"See? With the cap and the shirt, it's really starting to look like him." Rory said with smile as she place the cap on top of the snowman's head and began to drape the shirt around him as well. "I even think he's got that signature Luke Danes grumpy stare."

"Wow." Lorelai exclaimed as she and Dean approached them. "That's so good babe. It really does look like Luke." And then she looked over at Lane's and Dave's snowwoman. "Oh my God, that's awesome you two. It's even scaring me."

"Traitor." Rory replied, as she pretended to be hurt and then picked up some snow and proceeded to throw it at Lorelai.

"Hey! What was that for?" Lorelai said as she looked at her coat.

"What do you mean?" Rory said, incredulous that Lorelai couldn't remember. "Remember the snowball you threw at me this morning? Now we're even."

And then Lorelai picked up some snow and threw it at Rory. "Now we're even."

"Mom!" Rory exclaimed as she looked down at her chest where the snowball hit her. "You got me wet."

"Serves you right." Lorelai replied with a smile.

"Rory, it's only snow." Jess interjected as he rolled her eyes at her.

"Like this?" Dean asked as he threw a snowball at Jess.

"You did NOT just do that." Jess said with an angry stare.

"Here." Dean replied as he hit him again. "Are you imagining things now?"

"No," Jess replied as he hit Dean back with a snowball of his own. "I guess that means that" as he pointed to Dean's wet coat. "wasn't in your head either."

"Stop it!" Paris exclaimed as she hit Jess with the snowball. "You two are such babies."

"He started it!" Jess exclaimed as he looked at Paris. "Hey!" as got hit with a snowball. "What did I do to you?"

"I've just always wanted know what it felt to hit you with a snowball." Lane replied simply as she tilted her head and smiled smugly at him.

"Well how did it feel?" Jess asked back.

"Pretty good actually." Lane replied.

"How about this?" Jess asked as he hit her with a snowball of his own.

"Don't throw snowballs at my girlfriend!" Dave cried back as he picked up some snow and threw it at Jess.

"Well she started it." Jess said as he threw one at Dave.

"Shut up Jess." Lorelai replied as she threw one in his direction, but instead it hit Dean in the process.

"Hey!" Dean exclaimed as he picked up some snow and threw at Lorelai.

Within seconds, what was a simple exchange between a mother and daughter, quickly became a free for all, bonafide snowfight, where everyone could be the victim.

"Hey people!" Kirk cried out as he watched the battle and tried to block his beloved snowman. "Just stay clear of snowman Kirk." And instead of a civil reply, all of his protests garnered this simple response: A snowball to the face.

The battle became so fierce that suddenly Luke marched out of the diner, after witnessing the intense fighting and started screaming. "Hey stop it! Or someone is going to get hurt."

"Yeah Unkie Luke?" Jess mocked as he threw a snowball at Luke. "What do think about that?"

"ALRIGHT! You asked for it smartmouth!" Luke yelled as he grabbed snow from the ground and proceeded to pummel Jess with snowballs, releasing all the anger that had been building up towards him the whole day.

As the battle raged on, it became less about revenge than it was about just laughing and having fun. Dean and Lane tagteamed behind the gazebo as they were on guard, watching if Paris, Rory or Dave would peep out behind the trees to attack them, Lorelai and Luke began to gang up on Jess until Lorelai switches alliances and joined forces with Jess to get Luke. All the while, Kirk laid on the ground, helpless as they ran by him.

"Somebody help me!" Kirk said weakly as he raised his hand to show where he was lying. "Can't somebody stop the madness?"

The townspeople just watched excitement at the craziness. It had been the most exciting thing they had seen all week so who were they to stop it? Others, as they looked on, found the whole thing appealing and started a snowball fight of their own. It was only until Taylor was aware of the situation that there was any hope of the battle to end. He quickly ran towards the gazebo where he had already set up the sound system for the night's event and began yelling into the microphone "STOP IT! STOP IT ALL OF YOU!!!"

And then everyone stopped as Rory and Dave peered out from their hiding place behind some benches, and Dean and Lane slowly stood up from behind snowmen. Lorelai, on Luke's back, was in the middle of smoshing snow into Luke's face. As they both heard Taylor's fiercesome voice, they both hit the ground, lying next to one another. Jess had been throwing snowballs at Paris, who was walking backwards throwing snowballs of her own. As they heard the piercing screech of the microphone, Paris began to lose balance. Jess tried to hold onto her hand but instead fell down with her, him lying right on top of her.

"Oww!" she cried out his head hit hers.

"Are you okay?" Jess said as he touched her forehead.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Paris said as she rubbed her forehead herself. "I'm just wondering what Taylor's going to do with us when he finds us. Are you okay?"

"Nah, I'm fine. No cuts, maybe a little bruising but other than that I'm okay." Jess said with a shrug and then looked into her eyes.

Paris looked back at him she felt a pained feeling in her gut. His head were so close and his lips just hung over hers. "Hey…" she whispered as those were the only words she could muster.

"Hey…" he whispered back as he brushed some hair from her face and touched her face and bent down gently to kiss her.

The kiss was so gentle and sweet that Paris thought her heart was going to skip a beat. She held onto the back of his neck as she eagerly kissed him back. The kiss would have lasted longer if Taylor's menacing voice hadn't startled them.

"YOU PEOPLE BETTER HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR ALL OF THIS!" He cried out as you could hear the groans from everyone around as they knew a bitter lecture was about to follow.

Jess and Paris just sat up and stared at one other, without having to say a word. The moment spoke for itself.

****

"Explain me this." Paris asked as she looked over at Rory, who sat beside her. "Taylor just gave us a talk about the rules of the town, yet he let into his soda ice cream shop?"

"I know it's confusing but as long as Taylor gets to say what he wants, he'll still give you service. I mean we are paying customers." Rory explained as she sipped on the foamy hot cocoa.

Dave, Lane, Jess, and Dean were all sitting on the stools by the counter of Taylor's soda ice cream shop, while Luke grudgingly went back to work and Lorelai went home to put away her groceries.

The soda shop had opened in the summer, much to Luke's endless protests as his begrudging landlord. Even though the shop mainly specialized in ice cream sodas, it also served hot beverages to have business during the winter months. The place looked exactly like a 50's diner with its gleaming red counters, silver stools with matching red seat cushions, diner booths and to top it all off, a jukebox on the side playing only 50's music. It was cute and wholesome. It was exactly the type of feeling that Taylor wanted to encourage in this town.

"He's just a crazy freak who thinks he owns the town." Jess added as he drank his cocoa.

"With those warm and fuzzy feelings, no wonder he thinks you're out to get him." Lane observed as she gave him a look.

"Hey, I did not do any of those things he's accusing me of." Jess defended.

"Like you didn't draw that chalk body and put police tape around his store." Dean said.

"Or stole Babette's gnome." Rory added.

"Or harassed Miss Patty's dancers." Lane added further.

"You did all of that?" Dave asked as he looked to Lane for clarification.

"Okay, I admit I did do all of those things." Jess replied as he looked at their accusing stares. "But I'm not his Secret Santa, I swear."

"Whatever, it's not like he's going to believe you." Dean exclaimed. "Even if you didn't do all of that stuff, you're still a jerk."

"Whatever Dean." Jess scoffed back. "It's not you were welcome into this town with open arms. Rory told me."

"Did Rory tell you that I could beat the crap out of you?" Dean yelled back. "Cuz I'm pretty sure that hasn't gotten through to your thick skull."

"Hey guys." Dave said rationally. "Just calm down you guys."

"Shut up!" they both yelled simultaneously.

"You want to get into this?" Jess asked menacingly as he got out of his stool. "Fine! Before I wouldn't beat your ass cuz of Rory but I don't have that anymore so I've got nothing to lose. And beating you here, in Taylor's shop, makes it even sweeter."

"Good." Dean spit back as he jumped from his seat and faced him head to head. "I don't have Rory to hide behind and neither do you."

As Jess and Dean were about to throw punches, suddenly Paris began to scream, stopping them both in their tracks. "WILL YOU TWO FUCKING STOP IT? I've had it and everyone has had it too! You both are fucking babies and you just can't stop until one of you wins in this so called pissing contest. Just get over it! You don't have Rory to fight over anymore so move on! Are you guys so pathetic that you're still mooning over her? Well get what? She's moved on so you should too." As she stared at Jess.

"Paris…"He said as he tried to explained.

"Don't even talk to me. Just hit Dean and let Dean hit you and then let be over with." Paris said sternly, not even looking at him anymore.

"I've got a better idea." Rory exclaimed as she looked over at Paris and then at Jess and Dean. "They should just kiss and make up. Literally."

"What?" Dean said with a questioning stare.

"You heard me." Rory said simply and then pointed to the ceiling. "Mistletoe."

"Oh hell no!" they said simultaneously as they looked at each with disgust.

"I'm not going near that son of a bitch." Dean spited out.

"And I'm not kissing that bastard." Jess added, folding his arms in protest.

"No buts." Rory said simply. "You know the rules. You two stood underneath the mistletoe so you have to kiss. Rules are rules, right Lane?"

"Yeah." Lane replied with satisfaction. "It's only a kiss. I mean you were both willing to beat the crap out each other, so why not a kiss?"

"We certainly won't question your manliness." Dave added.

"Didn't we just tell you to shut up Dave?" Jess said with a scowl. "I don't care. I'm not going to kiss that idiot. Never."

"Just kiss him." Paris said sternly. "Kiss him and let it be over and done with. Forvever."

He stared at her as he saw the graveness in her voice and the serious look on her face. He remembered how she looked lying underneath him and how her eyes were striking at that moment and how they were striking at this moment too. But he had a feeling that if he didn't listen, he would live to regret it.

Suddenly he pounced onto Dean, grabbed his face in his hands and kissed him fiercely on the lips.

"What the fuck?" Dean said as he pushed him back hard, wiping his lips and spitting.

"Just an early Christmas gift Dean." Jess replied. "Or should I say loverboy." And then looked over at Paris.

"Oh my God!" Lane said, completely speechless. "Did I see what I thought I saw."

"Yes." Dave clarified, clearly put off by the strange moment. "Yes indeed."

"Aww." Rory interjected with a smile. "You made up."

As Dean and Jess looked at each other, they both finally realized the reality of the situation, they looked at each other in horror as they both ran. Jess towards the washroom and Dean rushing out of the shop, leaving the rest of them barreling over in laughter and Paris smiling quietly.

TO BE CONTINUED