Disclaimer: Plain and simple, I don't own Gilmore Girls

A/N-One more chapter after this! Please review, I want to break 100!! I'll explain to you more about my idea for a period piece in the next chapter. Enjoy!

-Chapter 12-

"Hey Luke." Rory entered the diner and looked around anxiously.

He frowned at her as he watched her search. "He's not here."

Her gaze jerked to him. "Do you know where he is?"

"Do I ever?" Luke asked.

Rory forced a small laugh. "Thanks anyway, I'm sure I'll find him." She replied before heading out the door.

"Rory, hun!" Lorelei called quickening her pace to catch up with her daughter. "What's wrong?" Her voice changed to concern when she took in Rory's face.

"Stuff with Jess." Lorelei nodded. "You look smug." She pointed out.

Lorelei shrugged. "I knew he was bad news, I warned you he'd hurt you."

Biting back a laugh, she shook her head. "He didn't hurt me mom. I hurt him." She told her sadly. "Now I have to find him and explain."

"What happened?"

Rory sighed. "He saw me hug Dean and jumped to conclusions. We were just saying goodbye, finally getting some closure, but Jess saw and now he thinks, well he thinks what anyone would think after seeing that."

"That you and Dean were gonna try again."

"Right, but we weren't, we're not, and now I need to tell Jess that, but I don't know where he is." She could feel herself growing frustrated and didn't know how to stop it.

"Deep breaths, hun, deep breaths." She paused for a moment. "Now, if you were Jess where would you go?" A small smile spread over her face and Lorelei knew she had thought of the answer. "Go find him!" She watched Rory hurry in the opposite direction and entered Luke's. "Coffee?" Her voice was childlike as she stuck out her lower lip in a pout.

Changing the subject, he didn't even reach for the coffeepot. "You just missed Rory."

"No I didn't, I saw her outside. Coffee?" She repeated.

"How do you think things are going with her and Jess?"

"They're going through a slightly rough spot, but I think they'll bounce back. Coffee?"

Luke draped a towel over his shoulder. "She's good for him."

"Only the Pope could be a better influence. Now I'm not kidding anymore, coffee? Please? I said please."

"I heard you."

"So." She drew out the word.

He rolled his eyes, but relented. "You will die very young, remember that." With that said, he poured her a cup.

"At least I'll die happy." She retorted after taking a long drink.

"That's one way to look at it."

Lorelei grew thoughtful. "Would you miss me?"

"Huh?"

"If I died, would you miss me?"

His eyes met hers briefly, "Yeah, I'd miss you."

`````

Rory stopped just short of the bridge when she saw him sitting there, his feet dangling over the edge, his eyes fixed on a point straight ahead. With a deep breath she approached him and dropped onto the bridge next to him. His body tensed up slightly at her presence, but no other emotion showed. "Hi."

He refused to look at her, but answered shortly. "Hi."

"I've been looking for you."

"Wanted to make things final?"

The coldness in his voice made Rory flinch, both inwardly and externally. "No, I wanted to explain to you what you saw."

"I'm not blind Rory."

"You saw me hug Dean, but it wasn't what you thought. We aren't getting back together. I don't want to get back together with him." Jess remained silent. "I'm with the guy I want. I chose you, remember?"

Jess finally met her gaze. "People change their minds everyday."

"I haven't." A thought crossed her mind and it was her turn to look away. "Have you?" Her voice was small.

"No." His answer was simple, one small word, but it was all she needed to hear.

"I'm sorry about what you saw."

"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, but I know what you two had. You were the great love of Star's Hollow."

"Were being the key word there. I'm not with Dean anymore, we're friends, but that's it. I have a new guy in my life. He's pretty cool too."

"Cool, huh?"

"Oh yeah," Rory smiled. "He's into music, and books, and he's surprisingly smart. Not to mention the whole thug appeal, which I find very attractive."

"Call me Jess Master J again and we're going to have some real problems." He teased.

Rory smile widened. "Don't blame me, I didn't come up with it."

"Well, you know what they say about payback."

"You think you can get back at my mom? Now this I gotta hear." Jess put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.

"We start with a nickname and go from there." He began.

`````

"I take it all is good?" Lorelei asked as Jess and Rory entered the diner hand in hand.

"Very good." Rory answered, letting go of his hand and sitting by her mom. "But now I'm in desperate need to of coffee."

"You do realize she'll die young too?" Luke questioned.

Lorelei nodded. "When I go, I'm taking her with me." Jess smirked and poured Rory's coffee as Luke walked away shaking his head.

"How sweet." Rory's voice was sarcastic. "So, mom, got a date for the big charity thing?"

Lorelei caught sight of Luke out of the corner of her eye. "Not exactly."

"You'd better hurry before Grandma sets you up with a lawyer or an accountant or something equally as bad. What about Alex?"

"Oh, he'd work, if we were on speaking terms."

Understanding dawned on Rory. "Oh yeah. Well then, how about." She raised her eyebrows in Luke's direction.

"He'd say yes." Jess pointed out.

"No," She shook her head at the teens, who looked unconvinced. "It's not like that with Luke and I. We're just friends."

"With benefits." Rory added.

"No! There are no benefits, where'd you get that dirty little head of yours? Nevermind, don't answer that. The point is, I'm not asking him."

"Then say hello to an evening with a guy named Herbert or Blithe."

"I personally like Blithe." Jess commented.

Lorelei glared at him. "And I personally like it when you shut-up and mind your own business."

"Touchy touchy." He held his hands up and backed away.

"Going to do some work for a change?" She called after him.

Rory waited until her mom looked at her. "You don't know things won't work unless you try."

"I never thought I'd see the day that my teenage daughter was giving my love advice."

Rory reached for a muffin before responding. "You're extremely bright teenage daughter who has a very good track record for being right. Besides, what's the worst that could happen."

"Great!" Lorelei exclaimed. "Now something terrible is going to happen and it'll be all your fault."

"Go!" Rory pointed towards Luke and watched as her mother slowly made her way over to him.

`````

"Hey there." Lorelei greeted.

"Hi." He replied punching some numbers into the cash register. "Can I get you something."

"Maybe." He looked up at her and waited. "Well there's this thing, a big dinner thing, and I need a date. Know anybody who'd be willing?"

"No."

"Oh, I see. Well, I actually had someone in mind."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, actually it's you. Would you go with me? I know I'm asking a lot, but I'd really appreciate it. I don't want to go alone and give my mother the opportunity to gloat."

Luke frowned. "What's in it for me?"

"The pleasure of my company."

Luke chuckled softly. "So an evening of torture then?

"How rude!"

"Relax Stephanie Tanner, I'll go, but you owe me big time."

"Nice Full House reference," She commented. "I'll see you Friday and don't forget to wear a tux." She started to walk away, but he called after her.

"Hold it right there. A tux?"

"Yeah."

"No."

"Come on Luke, you already agreed to go."

"That was before I knew about the tux."

"You're going."

He sighed in defeat. "I know."

`````

Rory pulled away from Jess' embrace slightly and looked up at him. "You really don't have a problem with PDA do you?"

"Considering we're making out in the middle of town, I'd say no." He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers once more.

"I have a problem with it." They broke apart to see Taylor standing in front of them. "This is a public place, not a motel room."

"There's a difference?" Jess asked.

Taylor turned angry eyes on him. "Listen to me you little hoodlum, this town has rules and morals and this behavior you two are exhibiting goes against both."

"I'm sorry Taylor." Rory told him. "We didn't mean to offend you."

"Well, having your hands all over each other is offensive."

Jess smirked slightly. "We were just kissing, it isn't a big deal."

"We'll see about that."

Rory looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"This," He motioned between her and Jess, "Will be addressed at the next town meeting." He told them and stalked off.

Jess laughed and Rory swatted him on the arm. "Don't laugh, this is serious." She forced herself to keep a straight face as well.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, we're a public nuisance." She paused and studied him. "Well, you've always been a public nuisance, but now you're pulling me down with you. You are a bad influence."

"Next thing you know, you'll be littering."

"Or jaywalking."

"Heaven forbid!" He placed his hand to his heart in mock horror. Rory laughed, before wrapping her arms around Jess and pulling him towards her for another kiss.

"I can still see you!" Taylor called from across the street.

Rory released Jess with a sigh and took a hold of his hand. "Walk me home?"

"Sure."

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Rory finally spoke. "So, you ready for tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow? What's tomorrow?" He joked with her, but at the worried expression on her face, he answered seriously. "Yeah, I'm ready. You think your grandparents will like me?"

"No."

"I bet they loved Dean."

A laugh escaped Rory's lips. "Hardly, they both disliked him immensely. Which means, they'll hate you."

"No one good enough for their little grand baby?"

"That and they've been led to believe you broke me."

"Huh?"

Rory held up her arm that had been in a cast months ago. "Remember my fractured wrist? To them you broke my arm in a horrendous car crash."

"I see."

"Yeah."

Jess was the one looking a little worried now. "Any advice on how to make them hate me less? Tips of the trade if you will."

"Umm, be polite to my grandmother, remember your manners, and try talking to my grandfather about something intelligent, like literature, but avoid talking about your future. He'll grill you on where you want to go to college and what you want to be when you're done with your schooling."

"So I need to appear to be a courteous scholar?"

Rory nodded. "Something like that. I'll try to help you if I can, but do not, I repeat do not, spend anytime alone with them, especially if my mother is around."

"This dinner is sounding less and less fun."

"Who said it was going to be fun?" He frowned at her. "Get through this one night and the rest will be smooth sailing."

"Really?"

"Not a chance."

Jess muttered softly, almost under his breath, but Rory heard him and smiled. "The things I do for you."