A/N:  I'm really sorry about the lack of updates guys.  I hope you're all still interested in this story.  I had a bit of a lapse in brain functioning, and I've been working a lot lately too.  Forgive me??  *makes pouty face* Anyhoo, here's chapter 14.  Hope you enjoy it!

DON"T WORRY BABY

CHAPTER 14 – Heart to Heart

The next morning, a very nervous Rory walked into Luke's Diner.  When he heard the bell above the door, Luke looked up and wasn't sure what to expect when he saw Rory.

"Ummm, hi Luke."  She said shyly.

"Hi Rory."  Luke didn't know what to say.  What do you say to a girl who's like a daughter to you and you just found out is sleeping with your nephew.  He asked himself.  "Can I get you anything?"

"Umm, a coffee would be nice."

"Coming right up."  Try not to upset her.  Remember, she didn't do anything wrong.  "Here ya go."

"Thanks."  There was an awkward silence.

"Rory…"

"Luke…"  They smiled at their simultaneous outburst.

"You go first Rory."

"No, you go."  Rory urged him.

"Ummm, okay…  I guess… geez.  Rory, I'm worry for being such a jackass last night.  I didn't have the right to treat you that way."  Rory looked down.  "And I know that you're in love with Jess, and that he, well, he really does love you, but, I mean…"

"I know it was a bit of a shock.  But we were all pretty surprised with how you took it, and Jess and mom were really mad when we got home…"

"How is Jess?"  Luke asked.

"He's still a bit upset.  So is mom."

"You have to understand though that Jess isn't exactly the most reliable person in the world, and when the 2 of you admitted that you… well, that you were…you were sleeping together, I was just really worried that you'd get hurt."

"I know."  Rory smiled shyly.

"But I had no right to accuse him of the horrible things that I said last night."

"You didn't, but I understand where you're coming from, and I thank you for looking out for me."

"I… well, I've always kind of looked at you like a daughter."  Luke blushed and Rory smiled.  "So that's kinda where the overprotectiveness comes in."

"And you've always been a father figure to me Luke."

"If you don't mind my asking, how did your mother take the news?"

"Actually amazingly well.  She had suspected it, and when I told her, she smiled, told me she knew it, made sure we were safe, and asked lots of questions."

"So, so you were safe?"  Luke asked, nervously.

"Yes we were."

"Rory, I'm really sorry."

"Apology accepted Luke."

"And when you see Jess, can you tell him that he's welcome back any time he wants.  The apartment just isn't the same without his snores there to help me sleep."

Rory laughed.

"And if you could tell him that I'm really sorry and had no right to yell, that'd be great too."

"Actually, you can tell him yourself if you want."

"Huh?"

Rory laughed.  "He and my mother are upstairs.  They hatched a plan to sneak in and are trying to smuggle his clothes over to our house, since we had no idea how long you'd stay mad."

Luke laughed.  "Rory, can I…"  he opened his arms.

"Of course."  She got up and gave him a big hug.

"I love you Rory."

"I love you too Luke.  Can you refill my coffee and make me some chocolate chip pancakes please?"

"Good to know that you haven't changed."

***

Meanwhile, upstairs, Lorelai and Jess were moving quickly around the apartment, trying to gather his belongings before Luke came up for any reason.

"Hey Jess, did you see where mini-me ran off to this morning?"

"I really have no clue.  Probably to see Lane and 'girl talk'."  He made air quotes to emphasize his point.

They heard footsteps on the stairs.

"Shit.  Luke's coming."  Jess said as he ran to the window and started to climb down the ladder they had outside.

"Hurry Jess, hurry.  He'll…Oh, hi Luke."  Lorelai said innocently.  "Rory?"

Luke  and Rory laughed at the sight of Lorelai trying to hide Jess's belongings behind her back, and Jess half out the window.

"Get back in here Jess."  Luke said while laughing.  Jess looked at him skeptically.  "Don't worry.  I won't kill you."

Jess climbed back inside, having dropped half of his clothes out the window, and looked at Luke curiously.

"Jess, I'm really sorry about the way I treated you last night.  I had no right to accuse you of those things."

"No you didn't."

"I realize that you and Rory are in love and that this is completely normal for teenagers these days."

"Yeah.  I love her a lot."

"So do I, and I was just being really over-protective of her.  And of you." 

Jess looked up at Luke in surprise.  "Wha?"

"Jess, I know we've had some problems, and that you've gotten into a lot of trouble in your life, but the truth is that I don't want to see you get hurt.  I've gotten too used to having you around.  I guess what I'm saying is that I… well, I love you."

Jess looked at his uncle in confusion, and without saying anything, he smiled and nodded, which was his way of returning the sentiment.

"And Jess, if you want to come back, you can.  Whenever you're ready."

"You're letting me move back home?"  Jess's comment surprised everyone.  He had never referred to the apartment, or any place in Star's Hollow as home.

"Yeah.  You can come home."

Lorelai and Rory were on the verge of tears at this exchange of sentiments.

"Hey Lukey, don't I get anything?  You were mean to my daughter."

"I'm really sorry Lorelai.  Can you forgive me?"

"Ummm, only if you make me lots of chocolate chip pancakes and give me all the coffee I want for a year."

"What?  A year?  You'll die within a week!"

"Then you won't have to make as much after a week."  Luke looked at her.  "Please Lukey?"

"Okay.  But don't blame me if you die.  Oh, and I finally got that joke of yours."  They start walking downstairs.

"What joke?"

"A man walks into a bar.  What does he say?"

"OUCH!"  The 2 exclaim in unison.

"Hey Lukey, I was just thinking.  How can I blame you for killing me with coffee if I'm dead.  Oooh.  I know.  I'll come back from the dead to haunt you, and I'll make you make me lots and lots of coffee for ghost Lorelai, and…"

Jess and Rory put their arms around eachother. 

"When will they ever get a clue?"  Jess asked her, referring to the obviously in love couple in front of them.

"Who knows.  Hopefully soon."  They kissed.

 "Yeah.  But it's good to know that things are back to normal."

***

Meanwhile, outside, Kirk had noticed the pile of Jess's clothes and grabbed a T-Shirt.  "Yay!  New shirt for Kirk." And Miss Patty  recognized a certain pair of blue boxers with ducks on them and stuck them in her purse.  Things certainly were normal in Star's Hollow once again.  Well, as normal as Star's Hollow could be…

***

A/N:  Well, that's the end.  I want to thank everyone for sticking with the story, and I hope you all enjoyed it.  It was fun.  I'm going to do a shameless plug right now and say that if you want to read my other Gilmore Girls fic, it's called Undercover Lovers.  It's almost complete as well.  Ciao!!

xoxox Blondie