Author's Note: Never, never, never again am I posting something before I finish it. That's all there is to it. I have had a lot of trouble finishing this up, and I feel that it unfortunately shows in the last two chapters. I just wasn't feeling inspired, probably thanks to that other AU Lit. fic I'm working on right now. Um, not that any of you care. So. This is it. This is the end of The End. That's all she wrote in this series. And I know it's all saccharine and sweet enough to rot your teeth, but this is where it is. Enjoy.
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The End
Luke, Lorelai, Jess, Rory, and even Liz were on hand on opening day. The advertising had been extensive and thorough, so they didn't lack for customers. Rory and Jess ran the register, while everyone else pitched in where needed. Luke had made the shelves for the store, his gift to Jess. Liz had bought two bags full of books she said she's always wanted to read. And Lorelai badgered people into buying things.
"Welcome to Literati Haven," Rory said, smiling brightly to the new customers. "I'm so glad you guys could come." Lane grinned at her best friend, and grabbed her boyfriend's hand. At college, she'd finally gotten away from her mother, if not her insecurities. And since she was attending Boston college, she and Rory got together often to hang out. In fact, Rory had introduced Lane to Kyle, the music major at Harvard currently being dragged into the store.
"Like we would miss this," Lane said, smiling broadly at Jess. "I can't believe our own little rebel is a business owner."
"Maybe, maybe not," Jess said, and didn't have to force a smile as he dropped change in a happy customer's hand. "We'll see," he said.
"Yeah," Lorelai commented from behind Lane. "Most businesses go down in the first two years of business. At least, that's what the statistics say."
"Mom!" Rory hissed. "Stop that! You're gonna make him nervous."
"Hey, Rory," Jess said, and slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her to him. "If this doesn't work, I'll become a photographer and work with you. We'll go on assignments together." Rory smiled and kissed his cheek then went to the other register to check out a customer.
"So," Lane said. "You're going to be working here now?" She leaned on the side of the counter and looked at the covers of books as Rory expertly scanned bar codes and prices. "Well, if you do, at least it's something you like."
"And the boss can't be beat," she said, smiling at Jess. She turned that smile on the customer, and the cash drawer ching-ed as it opened. "Enjoy your books," she said to the young man. "And remember, you can trade them in again for a quarter credit. Yeah, I guess I am working here," she told Lane. "I mean, when I can spare the time. It won't always be this busy, right?" She turned to Jess as she phrased the question.
"I kinda hope it will be," Jess said. "But there's always gonna be down time. It's just, I love this location. There's not another used bookstore for a five-block radius. Plus it's the holiday season, and a big time for book publishing."
"Wow," Lane said, sounding impressed. "You certainly did your research, didn't you?"
"Only intelligent business owners do that," Jess said. "I can't imagine why you're accusing me of doing research."
"Quite fishing for compliments," Rory said, then added to Lane, "Go! Shop! Spend money!"
"What money?" Lane demanded. "Don't you know we're poor musician college students?" She pushed away from the counter, then apologized to the woman she crashed into. "I'll see you guys later."
"Hey, remember the party," Rory called after her. "Eight o'clock, our place."
Lane waved behind her to show she'd heard, and grabbed Kyle's arm to drag him out of there.
Rory hadn't believed that the place could get busier, but apparently a lot of people spent their extended lunch breaks checking out the new business in town. They were supposed to close at seven that night, but they didn't manage to usher the last satisfied customer out until seven fifteen.
Both Jess and Rory collapsed against the door, happy to have the lock turned. "So, what now?" Rory asked, after they both mustered enough energy to stand on their own two feet again.
"Now, we count out the till," Jess said, and began outlining the closing procedure. "We clean up, we lock up, and go home."
"To an apartment full of people waiting to celebrate with us," Rory said, groaning as she remembered.
"As long as they don't mind us sitting as we celebrate," Jess said, agreeing wholeheartedly with her exhaustion. However, he was far too happy as he counted out the cash register to be upset by this. He was doing it. He was running his own business. And who cared if it failed after a while? At least he was doing something, and he it was something he liked. And Rory was by his side.
They exited the store and climbed the stairs to what was still Jess' apartment. Inside, all the people they cared about were there. Luke, Lorelai and Liz had champagne, while Lane and Kyle had sparkling cider.
"We are going to celebrate from the couch," Rory said, and promptly collapsed, falling against Jess when he sat, also.
"Well, we're still having a toast," Lane said, and handed Jess and Rory their own glasses of cider.
"To Jess," Rory said, lifting her glass in the air. "Entrepreneur."
"To Jess!" everyone else chorused, then drank from their glasses.
"Stop, you're making me blush," Jess said, for once, not being sarcastic. He hid behind his glass for a long moment.
"And now, let's party!" Lorelai called, and headed for the CD player.
Liz came over to sit on the couch next to her son. "Jess," she said, then stopped, biting her lip. "I'm just…so proud of you." She took a deep, shuddering breath before continuing. " I never believed that you would do something like this. Not that you weren't capable," she added hastily, panic overtaking her features. "It's just…"
"It's just that I didn't give anyone the idea that I would ever do anything constructive," Jess said, and smiled at his mother. "I know, mom. I didn't even give myself that idea for a long, long time."
"But here you are," Rory said. "So there." The trio laughed, and Liz got up. "Well, my flight leaves soon. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, but…"
"I know," Jess said. "Business calls. Don't worry about it, mom. I'll call you on Christmas, okay?" Liz leaned down to kiss him on the cheek, then called goodbyes to everyone in the apartment.
Jess and Rory sat on the couch, holding hands and basking in the contentment of a good day. He caught her yawning about nine, and ordered her to bed. "Come on," he said. "You've been up since six, and considering what time your first class is, you aren't used to that. And despite the fact that your blood is ninety percent caffeine, you're still tired. Go to bed."
"I'll help her," Lane said, and put her arm around her best friend's waist. "Come on, Rory," she said coxingly. "Time for bedy-bye."
"Stop talking like that," Rory snapped around a yawn. "I'm not two again, you know. I'm just tired. You'll join me soon, right Jess?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Of course," Jess said. Lane and Kyle said another congratulations and then goodbye, leaving Jess, Luke and Lorelai alone. "You guys headed home tomorrow?" Jess asked.
"Yep," Lorelai said, flopping down on the couch next to him. "Early, tomorrow, if your uncle has his way," she added, glaring at Luke from her half-prone position.
"I'll drive, you sleep," Luke said tolerantly.
"And you'll dress me, feed me and carry me to the car?" Then she smiled. "Hey, that sounds kinda nice. Do you think you could—"
"No."
Jess snickered. "Hey, Luke, could you do me a favor and start loading up the fridge?" He wanted to talk to Lorelai.
"Yeah, sure," Luke answered, casting a suspicious eye at his nephew and fiancé.
Jess caught Lorelai looking at him sideways. "What's that all about?" she asked him.
"I have a proposal for you," Jess stated.
"Isn't that what you should be saying to my daughter?" Jess looked at her innocently, and she sighed. "Fine. Speak."
"How much do you need to start up your inn?"
Lorelai was caught flat-footed—not an easy thing when you're sitting down. "Uh, well…"
"I mean, you and Sookie have looked for properties around Stars Hollow for a while, right?" Lorelai nodded. "And Rory tells me you've found a good possibility."
"Yeah. It's this old Dragonfly Inn. The nice old lady who runs the bakery owns it, and is still in the process of considering letting us rent-to-buy, as long as it remains an inn." Lorelai smiled at that. Then, the expression was gone from her face. "With the sale of the Independence Inn at hand, it's a good thing, too."
"Yeah, I keep meaning to ask, who's sniffing around about that?"
"It's a spa, if you can believe that," she said. "At least it won't be some big chain of hotel for competition. I've been meaning to approach the new owners to talk about a discount for our customers at the Inn."
"So, what do you need?" Jess asked again. Lorelai looked at him again, even more wary. He sighed. "Look. I need an investment, right? I'd like to invest in you and Sookie's inn." All he got in response was blinking. "Lorelai?"
"You…want to invest in…me?"
"And Sookie. And your inn."
"Why?"
"Multiple reasons, really," Jess said, trying to sound knowledgeable. "For one, that area needs a hotel-type business. The closest one is in Hartford, and it doesn't have nearly the surroundings that Stars Hollow does. For another, I know how well you and Sookie ran the Independence Inn. Last, I know you, and I know how badly you want this. And how badly Rory wants this for you. She wants you to be happy and have your dreams come true."
"So what are you asking in return?" she asked, business back in her tone.
"Partial ownership," he said.
"How partial?"
"Twenty percent."
"For how much money do you get twenty percent of our business?"
"How much do you need?"
Lorelai rolled her eyes as she tried to do the math required. She finished muttering to herself, and said, "About twenty thousand."
Jess nodded. "And for twenty thousand, I get twenty percent of the business. No say whatsoever in how it's run or anything."
"You want to be our silent partner?" Lorelai asked, screwing up her face.
"Kinda," Jess said, nodding. "My broker called me today. I've made a few thousand in the market all ready, so I've got some to send your way. Why don't you go home, talk to Sookie, and think about it. Call me in, say, a week?"
"Are you serious, Jess?" she asked, turning to look him full in the face.
"I'm always serious," he said. "But specifically about this, yes."
"Why?"
Jess looked at her in contempt. "I told you this."
"I know. But now tell me the real reason."
"You're Rory's mother. I'm hoping, someday, you'll be my mother-in-law as well as my aunt-in-law. Happy?" Jess turned away.
"Boy, if you don't know the story, that sentence sounds really wrong," Lorelai said. She bit her lip. "Okay. I'll call you in a week. Luke!"
"Yeah?" Luke said from the kitchen.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah." He appeared in the doorway.
"Bye, Jess," Lorelai said, and then went to say goodbye to Rory, in case she was still awake.
"See ya, Luke, Lorelai," Jess said, giving no indication that there was anything going on between himself and Lorelai. "Call when you get home."
"Rory said that," Lorelai told him. "And we will."
Lorelai and Luke headed down to their car to drive to their hotel. "You raised a good kid, Luke," Lorelai told him. She kissed him on the cheek, then buckled her seatbelt.
Luke didn't know what to say, so he didn't even try. He just started the engine, and said, "What say we drive back now?"
"We all ready paid for the hotel room," Lorelai said.
"We'll live," he said. "I want to get back home."
Lorelai shrugged. "Fine. You're driving. It's a good amount of hours. We won't get home until two or three in the morning. Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Luke said. "Caesar can open in the morning. We'll sleep in."
Lorelai smiled at her fiancé. "I like that idea. Okay, let's go."
And they drove home to Stars Hollow.
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The End. Utterly. Really. That's it. Go home. And thank you, fervently, for reading.