A/N:  Thanks again to everyone who reviewed.  It's great to hear feedback, so keep it coming please!!!  Sorry about the delay in updating, but exams are coming up in 2 weeks, so I'm a bit stressed.  Also, there was an incident at the store where I work where I could have been killed, so again, stress.  But don't worry, I'm okay and updates will happen.  ENJOY!!

DON'T WORRY BABY

CHAPTER 3 – hear ye hear ye

At 1:47, Jess pulled into the Gilmore driveway and walked Rory to the door, behind which they knew Lorelai was listening.

 "I had a great time tonight Mr. Astaire."  Rory said, smiling. (A/N:  as in the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers)

"Me too."  Jess replied. 

Rory laughed.  "Really?"  She asked skeptically.  He nodded.  "And Jess."  She paused.  "Thank you.  You were wonderful."

"I love you Rory."  Jess blurted.  It was the first time he had ever said those words.

Rory smiled, a bit startled at his outburst, and her insides started doing a happy dance.  "I love you too."

They kissed goodnight and Rory went inside a bit dazed.  Jess walked back to his car, smiling madly. 

When Rory walked inside, she saw her mother in the kitchen, trying (unsuccessfully) to look like she hadn't been listening.

"Hi mom."  Rory said, a bit dazed, a broad grin plastered on her face.

"Oh hi honey.  I had no idea you were home."  Lorelai smiled, remembering what she had just overheard. 'I love you Rory.  I love you too Jess.'

Rory laughed.

"So tell me all about your night.  I know grandma and grandpa didn't have you over for dinner, so I know that you enjoyed yourself…"

"Luke made pancakes for me again, gave me lots of coffee, and then lectured me on having so much coffee and having breakfast foods for dinner.  Then Sookie came over for a while and consoled me over the fact that my baby is all grown up.  And we ate tacos."  Lorelai smiled.  "You?  They didn't feed you caviar or vegetables or anything unholy like that, did they?  I don't want you contaminated with healthy food."

Rory laughed.  "Thankfully no.  The food was good and I ate lots of cake."

"Lots?  You promise?"

"Yeah.  Even Jess noticed that I ate a lot."

"He didn't?"  Lorelai asked, very amused.

"Yep.  He pointed it out."

"Wow."  They both laughed.

"Oh, and Paris was named a Princess."

"Wha?"  Lorelai exclaimed in shock.

"Yeah.  She was pretty shocked.  Oh, and I'm prom queen."  Rory said, holding out her tiara as if being named prom queen were the most normal thing in the world.

"Oh my god sweetie."  She said, hugging her laughing daughter. "Please tell me that I don't have to bow before you and act as your cook…"

"Cook no, bow yes."

"So what else happened?"  Lorelai asked, hoping for Rory to tell her about Jess.  A few weeks earlier, Rory had told Lorelai that she thought that she was ready to sleep with Jess, and after hours of being consoled, Lorelai had taken Rory to the doctor's and she was put on the pill.

"Well, I know that you heard Jess say that he loves me."  Lorelai looked surprised.  "I heard you giggle."  She added.

"Yeah I did."

"We need soundproof doors.  I mean what if I was saying that I was going to run upstairs and steal all of your shoes?"  Lorelai gasped.  "I mean, where would the fun be if you already knew?"

"But if we had soundproof doors, how could I know ahead of time and hide them all on you?"

"Okay, enough about soundproof doors.  I like our door.  It's pretty."

"Yeah.  Oh, and what's this about 'Mr. Astaire'?"  Lorelai asked.

"Oh."  Rory started to giggle.

"What is it?"

"Promise not to tell?"

"I make no guarantees."

"I'll tell you anyways."

"As you should."

"Jess used to take dance lessons."

They both laughed so hard that Lorelai fell off the couch.  "I can't wait to tell Miss Patty."  Lorelai said.  "She'll want to sign him up to teach classes."

"Mom, we can tease him, but let's not humiliate him.  I mean I love the guy.  I want him to go a bit longer without killing himself…"

"Oh alright."  Lorelai said, feeling defeated.  "But can I call him Fred or Mr. Astaire when we're at Luke's?"

"That you can do." 

Lorelai giggled.  "I can't wait for tomorrow now."

***

The next morning, Rory and Lane met before breakfast and Rory filled her in on all the details.

"Oh my god.  You're prom queen?"  Lane asked.

"Yeah."  Rory replied, smiling.

"And that Paris girl is a princess?"

"Yeah, that happened too."

"Oh my god."  Lane said.  "So you actually…"

"Yes."  Rory cut in.

"And was it…"

"I'm not going to go into details Lane, but he was great."

"Oh my god.  And he told you that he loves you?"

Rory smiled at all the memories of the previous night.  "Yeah."

"Jeez, here you are, in a perfect relationship, and I can't even convince mama to let me go on a date with Dave."  Lane said.  "I mean, we've gone on dates and everything, but if mama knew…"

They both laughed.

***

Rory made her way to Luke's diner and found her mom sitting at the counter.

"…Please Mr. Astaire.  Please…"  Lorelai was pleading.

"No.  In no way, shape, or form will I teach you to dance."  Was Jess's response.

"Hey."  Rory interrupted.

"Rory, Fred here won't dance with me."

"Well Ginger, that's because I'm not a rentable dancer.  I won't dance with just anyone."

Lorelai gasped.  "I'm not just anyone.  I'm the mother of your girlfriend."  She turned to Rory.  "Rory, your boyfriend is mean and won't dance with me."

"Well then Ginger, I guess that we'll just have to find you another partner."  Rory replied.  "Why do you want to dance anyways?"  She asked out of curiosity.

"Because your boyfriend knows how, and therefore it's his duty to dance with the mother of his girlfriend."

"Riiiiiiight."

"And I still need my coffee.  Oh coffee boy!!!"  Lorelai called.

"What do you want crazy person, besides to annoy the local diner guy?"  Was Luke's response from the kitchen.

"I'm going crazy out here.  Jess is being mean and I need caffeine.  And pancakes.  With chocolate chips.  And some for my daughter."

"AURGH!"  Luke exclaimed.  "NO!"

"Hey.  You will not act that way in front of your queen."  Lorelai said.

"Did you just call yourself my queen?"  Luke asked.

"No, but I am the queen mum…"

"I'm not following."

"Need me to spell it out for you diner man? Rory.  Was.  Named.  Prom.  Queen.  Last.  Night."

Luke looked at Rory who was looking embarrassed.  "Is that a big deal or something?"

"Is that a…"  Lorelai started, then shook her head in disbelief.  "Jeez."  She turned and faced everyone in the diner.  She cleared her throat loudly and everyone looked at her.  She took the tiara out of her purse and put it on top of a very embarrassed Rory's head.

"Mom…"  Rory started.

"Shhh mini me.  Mommy's making you the center of attention now."  She cleared her throat again and stood up.  "HEAR YE HEAR YE!  QUEEN RORY IS HERE!" 

Miss Patty and Babette seemed to be the only 2 people to get the meaning of what Lorelai was saying and ran over to Rory and started kissing and hugging her.  They even hugged Jess Then everyone else in the dinner understood and came over.  They were calling them Star's Hollow's own little King and Queen, though Jess insisted he had nothing to do with this.  They ignored his protests and wanted Taylor to hold a festival to celebrate them.  After 5 minutes of insisting that it wasn't necessary, Miss Patty and Babette finally gave up and went back to their table, as did everyone else..

Lorelai turned to Luke, smiling.  "See?  I told you."  He just shook his head.  "Now kind sir, if you would be so kind as to get the queen mum and her royal highness their coffee, it would be greatly appreciated."

Luke rolled his eyes.  "Sit back down.  Coffee's on the way."

"Why I dost thank thee kind sir."

"And if you stop speaking like that, I'll make you your damn pancakes too."

"Thank you coffee man."  She called after him as he went into the kitchen.

Lorelai turned to her daughter, who was busy with Jess.  "Haha!  Rory!  It worked!"

"You mean…?"

"Yep.  Chocolate chip pancakes."

A/N:  I know this chapter had a lot of Lorelai in it, but I felt like doing that.  I hope you like it so far.  If not, REVIEW so that I can know.  And if you do like it…REVIEW so I can know.  Thanks for all the feedback everyone!!

xoxox Vanessa