AN: Hey everyone. Sorry it took so long. The next one might be longer.
There is an important AN that I keep putting off writing. And I'm gonna put it off for yet another chapter.
Also, I have another project in the works that I'm really excited about and the first chapter should be up soon-so keep an eye out for that. Its something that I've never done before, but with the help of some very talented and more experenced writers I think its gonna be something really really great. So that should be comming soon.

Stew, Laura and Danyel-you know I can't do it without you.


Special thanks to Ivy who keeps posting for me because my comp is a bitch


Ok, so enjoy



and please review.






Chapter Seventeen



The bell rang, announcing a new arrival in the diner. Before Jess could look up, a familiar voice filled the room.


"Ladies and Gentlemen, prepare to worship me, I come bearing New York! HnH bagels, Ray's pizza individually wrapped for travel, seafood salad for Bree, giant pretzels ready to be heated, a year's supply of hot dogs from Pete the hot dog guy which Jess'll go through in a week, and four, count 'em, four sausage and pepper heroes from LnB's in Brooklyn - so come here and show me some love!"



Even as the shout faded, an unsuspecting Luke emerged from the kitchen. Startled by the focused silence, he stopped in his tracks long enough for Dom to jump onto his back.

"Okay, either this is Dom, or a really friendly mugger," he said categorically.

"Sexy flannel man!" Dom shouted, pressing the side of his face against the back of Luke's head.

"Nice to see you too," Luke responded, with a touch of genial sarcasm.

"There should be a comic book where the super-hero is 'Sexy Flannel Man'! We should write one like that. Jess, start drawing," Dom commented as he disembarked the would-be super-hero.

"I thought you wanted me to do the one where people get their superpowers from their extreme apathy," Jess said with a dry smile.

"You haven't done that yet? What are you waiting for? Chop-chop, boy. Frapido!"

"What is that in your mouth?" Luke asked, genuinely perplexed.

Dom grinned mischievously and proceeded to move in on him. Luke began to back up warily.

"What are you doing?"

All too soon, Luke's retreat ended with his back against the counter. Dom seized his chance, lunging forward to hold Luke's head still and lick the side of his face.

"Uggg!" Luke gagged, wiping off his cheek. He shook his head at Dom and went upstairs to wash, making a mental note to contain his curiosity in future.


All eyes were on Dom, who merely shrugged and brought a finger to his teeth in feigned innocence. "Aww, I made Luke go bye-bye."

"Yeah, I don't think that Luke is big on being licked," Jess laughed.

"All depends on where he's being licked and who's doing the licking," Bree corrected offhandedly.

"Yeah, well, I doubt Dom ranks high on that list," Jess snorted.

Dom dramatically brought a hand to his heart and gasped, "But I'm so pretty."

Jess and Bree exchanged dubious looks and laughed.

"Ok, so maybe I'm not. But I have excellent skills," Dom said, wiggling his eyes brows.

"Yes, yes you do," Bree confirmed, putting her arms around his neck giving him a short kiss on the lips. "Especially now that you've got your favorite prop back."

"Yeah, I did miss Jess..." Dom said, flashing him a smile.

"Don't go there," Jess spat before sharing a hearty laugh with Dom.

"But yes, I am happy to have my little buddy back," Dom said, flicking his tongue in and out of his mouth, showing off the stud pierced through the middle. "' Cause you know, the ladies love the tongue ring."

"I remember," Jess responded. "That's why I had one."

"I remember too," Bree interjected, laughing slightly. "Where's the stuff?"

"Movers should be right behind us," Dom supplied.

"'Us'?"

"Yeah, well, I would have taken the bus here, but, you know... Janis. So we hitched a ride with Mark Kransky who is on his way to Brown. He'll come in and say hi, he's just parking the car. Jess, I'm starving. Can you heat up the -"

"Two steps ahead of you, man," Jess said, retrieving some food out of the microwave.

"Make sure you got the -" Dom checked.

"Yeah, I know. Did you bring the -"

"It's in the second bag behind the -"

"Got it." Jess removed a jar from the bag and went to the back.

"That's my boy," Dom beamed proudly.

"Where's Janis?" Bree asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Janis is stretching her legs and waiting for the moving van, and I'm gonna say the same thing to you that I said to her: be nice."

"Dom...." she whined.

"I don't wanna hear it. New place, neutral territory, you two are starting over. Now tell me you'll be nice. I want my two girls to get along."

"*She's* the bitch," Bree muttered under her breath.

"It doesn't matter."

"All right, all right, I'll be nice. Just make sure she will be, too."

"I've already spoken to her."



A young man dressed in cargo shorts and a Che t-shirt entered the diner and went up to Dom.


"Hey, I parked across the street. This old guy with a sweater was giving me nasty looks. He's not gonna break my windows or egg my car or spit on it will he?"

"No," Bree assured him. "He'll probably just stand there and glare at it."

"He might have it towed," Jess added, emerging from the kitchen and handing Dom a pretzel.

"Thanks." Dom took the pretzel from Jess. "He'll really have it towed?"

"He might," Jess nodded.

"Taylor wouldn't do that, he's...." Dom started, then looked down at his pretzel. "Jess, where's the -"

"Here," Jess said, handing Dom the mustard.

"Ahh, thank you." Dom looked back to the confused young man who was still trying to figure out the fate of his car. "Can't have a pretzel without real New York mustard."

The young man smiled through his discomfort.

"Oh, where are my manners?" Dom remembered. "Mark, this is Bree and my brother Jess."

"Hi," Jess greeted, shaking Mark's hand.

Bree did likewise. "Nice to meet you."

"Uh, yeah, I uh...I think we've actually met once before."

"Yeah, we may have," Bree admitted offhandedly, taking some pretzel from Dom.

"All right, so... I'm gonna take off."

"Yeah," Dom now shook his hand. "Thanks for the ride man."

"No problem. Jess, it was nice meeting you, and Bree, it was, uh, nice to see you again."

Bree raised her eyebrows, indicating the dirty and full mouth that impeded a proper good-bye, but she smiled and nodded her head in an attempt at the gesture. Mark smiled feebly and left. Bree went to get a napkin.


"He has the look," Dom said to Jess sidelong.

"Oh, he definitely has the look."

"What are you two boneheads babbling about?" Bree wondered, returning with a napkin.

"Nothing," Dom shrugged. "Just saying Mark had the look of somebody who's seen you naked."

Bree rolled her eyes.

"Bree..." Dom chided.

Bree thought for a moment and nodded her head.

"Kate Ashford's party, I think. So that would be... March, right?" she shrugged.

"Dammit, Bree, is there anyone left in the city that you *haven't* slept with?" Dom half-shrieked. It was only partly a joke.

Bree smiled wickedly. "Yeah: you." She proceeded to the back of the counter to get a drink, leaving Dom standing there tongue in cheek.

"Well, I walked into that one," he admitted, smiling sheepishly.

"Yeah," Jess commiserated, patting Dom on the back as they turned to follow Bree to the food.

"Hey, Jess," Dom whispered, "I don't mean to freak you out, but... Luke's got a bit of the look, too."

"Yeah, I know. I'll explain later."

"Am I the only one? God dammit!"

***********************************

Meanwhile, Rory was riding the bus to Hartford when her cell phone rang. She put down her book and fumbled for her phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, sweetie. Just thought I'd check in and make sure you were okay," Lorelai's voice came in sweetly.

"Yeah, everything's great." Rory responded sincerely.

"Really?" her voice dropped indetectably.

"Yeah. Um, do you think you'll be staying late at the Inn today?"

"Uh, I don't know. Why?"

"Well, I kind of made plans for tonight and I just wanted to know if I'd see you before then."

"Plans with Jess?"

"Yeah. It's our first date."

"Uh, I'll be home early."

"Okay. So I'll tell you everything then. This is my stop. Gotta go."

Rory hung up and scurried out of the bus. On the other end, Lorelai held onto the phone, befuddled.

********************************************

Jess, Dom, and Bree ate their meal at a table by the window.

"So where's the apartment?" Dom asked.

"Close by, actually," Jess supplied.

"Down the street. Here, let me show you where it is before the movers get here." Bree got up and wiped her hands.

"All right," Dom said, following.

"We'll be back in a few minutes," Bree told Jess.

"Jess, keep an eye out for the movers."

"No problem."


Bree and Dom exited the diner. Just outside, Bree walked up to a German shepherd cross that was sitting at attention. "Hello, Janis," she smiled coolly, trying to be civil.

Janis turned and looked up at Bree, then turned to Dom, who looked at her warningly.

"How was your ride?" Bree asked.

Janis barked twice.

"Yeah, I know how much you hate being inside," Bree sympathized. "Are you hungry?"

Janis barked once.

"I thought you might be. Here." Bree gave Janis some of a giant pretzel. "So, peace offering?"

Janis looked up at Bree and stuck out her paw. Bree shook it.

"It's nice to see my girls getting along," Dom beamed.

Bree plastered on a patently false smile.

"Jan," Dom addressed his other girl. "Why don't you go inside and get something to eat. We're gonna go see the apartment, ok?"

Janis barked once.


"Come on," Bree directed. They started towards the apartment, Bree looking at Taylor through the market's windows with a little smile as they went past.

"So, is everything all right?" Dom interrupted her musing.

"With...?"

"The apartment... money... Jess...."

Bree looked at Dom firmly. "Everything is fine. And I mean, *everything*."

"You sure?"

"Yes. If it wasn't, I'd tell you. Although I don't now why, considering that you don't know how to keep your mouth shut."

"That's not true. I can keep a secret," he protested.

"Why does Jess hate birds?"

Dom supplied unthinkingly, "Seagull stole a hot dog out of his hand at the beach... dammit! Try me again!"

Bree laughed and kissed him on the cheek.



Meanwhile, back at the diner, a customer entered the diner, and Janis slipped through the open door behind him, unnoticed. Going up to Jess, she pulled on his pant leg.

"Hey...." Jess knelt down and ruffled her fur in a friendly gesture. She licked his hands and enjoyed the petting.

"You want something to eat?"

Janis was about to bark, but Jess put his finger to his lips. "Shh. I don't wanna anger the ogre," he said, pointing to Luke. "So, are you hungry?"

Janis raised her paw and patted Jess's leg once.

"All right. I'll be right back. Hang by the window. Keep an eye out for the truck."

Jess went to the back as Janis stealthily mades her way to the window. At that point, Dom and Bree came in.


"Jess!" Dom called.

Jess returned from the back.

"Truck's here."

Jess put down what he was holding, took off his apron, and started walking out the door. Just then, Luke came out of the back as well.

"Janie, come on," Dom whistled.

Janis came out of hiding and walked out the door.

"What's that...?" Luke called after them, "What was that doing in my diner?"

"'That'," Dom began indignantly, "is Janis, and she's family. Come on, guys."

The four left. Luke stood baffled, then shook it off and sought the disinfectant.



"Where's the moving van?" Jess asked as they were walking down the street.

"I sent them to the apartment," Bree responded.

"So what did you think of the walls?" Jess asked Dom.

"He didn't see them," Bree cut in.

"Yeah, I just saw the outside of the place when we spotted the moving van. Why? What's up with the walls?"

"You'll see," Jess grinned.

"Ooo, I love surprises!" Dom clapped and ran ahead with Janis.


Jess and Bree lagged behind in companionable silence.

"So, how did the thing with Rory go?" Bree asked.

"Not bad."

"What did you pull out of your hat?" she teased now.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, did you go on the defensive? Did you blame her? Blame me? Break down in tears?" she laughed.

"I apologized, gave no excuses, and asked for forgiveness," Jess capitulated flatly.

"Ah, a classic," Dom commented, retreating from his head start.

"Guys, it wasn't like that." Jess protested lightly, trying to fob them off.

"There's nothing wrong with it," Bree stated. "You're forgiven for being a dick and you don't have to offer any explanation for it. Not that you really could..."

"Being an ass is kinda ingrained into your personality," Dom added.

"How did I go from dick to ass?"

"Oh, that's *too* easy," Bree laughed.

"And I actually enjoy this kind of abuse?" Jess asked of himself.

"You're a masochist, babe," Bree said, jumping on his back.

"Whips and chains," Dom amplified, complete with imagery.

"That's *you*, man," Jess rebutted.

"Oh, yeah," Dom smiled. "Sticks and stones may break your bones -"

"- but whips and chains are in your future," Jess and Bree chorussed.

Dom skipped ahead, singing badly. "Teach your children well..."




The three laughed the rest of the way to the house. Upon arriving, Bree pulled out a key. Dom clapped behind her.

"I wanna see my surprise."

"All right," Bree said. "You two go. I'll talk to the movers."


She unlocked the door for Dom and Jess and retreated in the direction of the movers. As they walked into the house, Dom surveyed the apartment... and stopped when his eyes caught the wall on his right.

"Oh, my God," Dom whispered through the lump in his throat. Jess smiled.

Dom walked cautiously, mouth slightly open, surveying the wall. Wide-eyed, he went to touch it, then looked at Jess hesitantly.

"It's dry," Jess nodded.

Dom touched the wall and softly traced the lines with his finger. Touching it, he let out a sigh, relieved to know the apparition was, in fact, real. "How did... when did you...."

"Bree and I did it all day yesterday and all night."

Dom walked along the wall, the tips of his fingers tracing the lines. He was mesmerized and overwhelmed.

"So, you like it?" Jess asked, scratching the back of his neck to mask his anxiety.

"Jess, this is... wow." Dom had yet to recover his speech.

Jess smiled nervously. "Yeah?" he asked, child-like in his uncertainty.

Dom turned around to face Jess and smiled warmly. "Yeah." Dom said reassuringly, "You did an incredible job, Jess."

Jess beamed sheepishly. "Figured we could all use a reminder of home."

They looked at each other. An unspoken appreciation hung in the air. Bree walked in, in the middle of it. "So... what do you think?"

Dom walked up to them. "I love it." It was his first complete sentence since sighting the mural.

He kissed Bree on the lips. She responded by wrapping her arms around Dom's waist from behind and resting her head on his shoulder. Dom rested his elbow on Jess's shoulder. They stood there and looked almost in awe... of the map of the New York City Subway system.




"All right," Bree clapped her hands. "Let's get busy."

Dom retrieved a list from his bag and handed a copy to Jess and Bree. "This is everything we should have."

"You numbered the boxes?" Bree asked.

"Yep. So, Jess, just go through the boxes, check off the things on the list, make sure each box has what it should. I'll help you in a few."

"Got it," Jess nodded.

Bree and Dom went over to the movers.

"So, guys," Dom began, "you know the drill. Don't break, don't steal, don't fornicate. Well, who am I to tell anyone not to fornicate? Just, make sure you do it in the bathroom and clean up."

Bree continued to deal with the movers while Dom went to help Jess.

"Hi," Bree said, coming up to one of the movers.

"Hi," the burly mover said, smiling - leering - at Bree.

"What's your name?"

He winked at her. "Eliot."

"Well, Eliot, come over here, will'ya?"

Eliot came over, a box in one hand while he kicked another box at his feet.

"Eliot, what does that box say?" Bree asked, indicating the box he'd just done a Pele on.

"Fraggil," Eliot responded.

"No. That's 'fragile'. Do you know what 'fragile' means?"

Eliot shrugged.

"It means, 'don't kick me, you stupid jackass, or you're not going to get paid.' "

Dom came up to them and, feeling empathy toward his fellow blue-collar brother, whispered an aside to Bree. "Hey, chill."

A moment later, he noticed the same Eliot pulling a lamp across the room by the plug. Bree raised her eyebrows in a silent 'I told you so.'

With a long-suffering sigh, Dom gathered Eliot and the other movers. "Listen up. I got an idea. For every one thing of ours that breaks, I break one of your fingers. How does that work out for ya? Huh?"

The movers stifled laughter, confident in their size, but Dom silenced them with a look that could have struck the fear of God in anyone. It was Bree's turn to play the good guy, and she flirted with the movers to ease the tension. They worked harder, partly to make Bree happy and partly to keep Jess and Dom from hurting them.



Luke came around some time later to offer a hand, but was surprised to find everything under control. He sought desperately for something to move, a nail to hammer, a contraption to set up. He often followed Bree to rescue her from heavy loads, but even Bree was more than competent in that field.

"Why don't you clean the windows? I don't do windows," Bree suggested.

Dom came over with a feather duster and a frilly apron and offered them to Luke. "I'd give you a French maid outfit, but I donated it to charity."


Kirk and Miss Patty suddenly appeared at the door. On seeing all the big men hard at work, Miss Patty began to fan herself. Kirk began to inquire of the movers how much they were being paid. Soon, other members of the town began to trickle in to watch and comment and critique. Finally, inevitably, Taylor pushed his way through the crowd, toting a muffin basket and a manila envelope.

"People, people. What is going on here? Is this the way we welcome new residents to Stars Hollow? Unless, of course, you have sufficient reason to be here, I insist you leave at once and allow our new neighbors to settle in. Now, where are they?"

Bree came up to him thoroughly amused.

"Oh, are these for me?" she asked, indicating the muffin basket.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Well, what does it look like we're doing here?"

"It looks like you're moving in, which you can't be doing because I already rented this apartment to a lovely young couple from...." His voice trailed off as Dom came up and put his arms about Bree's waist. Bree and Dom smiled.

"No!" Taylor shouted, confused and horrified in equal measure. "I spoke to a man over the phone... Mr. Cohen and he -"

"- Is my business manager," Bree finished. "Bill takes care of my accounts, my money, and all matters pertaining thereto, amongst them my various real estate holdings - which now include this lovely little place right here in Stars Hollow."

"Well, I still own this property and I have discretion as to whom I rent it to."

"You're kicking me out?" Bree questioned, smiling.

"That's right," Taylor nodded firmly.

"Ok, but before you do that, why don't you read addendum C in that lovely little contract that you signed." She smiled smugly, expectantly.

Taylor, eyes blazing, took out the contract and started to read it to himself.

"You'll see," Bree guided, "that it states that while I can leave with a moment's notice, you can't kick me out without just cause. And you know who will decide what that just cause is? A judge. Now, you might think 'is this little place worth all that time and money and effort'? No. But the look on your face is. And it's been a long time since I've sued anyone. And I don't know what it is, my pretty face, my team of lawyers, or the fact that my name carries a lot of political weight... but things always seem to go my way."

Taylor glared at her and then back at the contract in his hand.

"I know: all those zeroes and you forget to read between the lines," she said, with all semblance of understanding and sympathy. "Oh, and I *did* promise I'd tell you when I knew what was going on. Well, I'm staying - at least for now." Her lips curled into a smirk as her eyes shined. "And there's not a damn thing you can do about it."

Taylor seemed almost about to combust with the overflow of emotions: fury, fear, sadness, frustration, anxiety, and bitter impotence. He muttered incoherently and pushed back through the crowd, dropping the muffin basket on the floor. Janis immediately ran to the gift, but Dom stopped her.

"Ah ah. What did we say about sharing?"

Janis relented and picked up the muffin basket by the handle with her teeth and started walking about, offering them to the people standing around.




Outside, Luke and Dom drank Gatorade in the breeze of the descending sun. Jess came out of the building.

"What are you guys doing? There's still stuff in the truck."

"Federal law allows us a fifteen minute break," Dom retorted.

"Dom was just telling me how he tried to pass Janis off as a seeing eye dog," Luke said as the three walked to the truck.

"Again?!" Jess shook his head.

"It almost worked this time! I swear, I was this close," Dom swore, illustrating with his fingers.

"What happened?"

"This beautiful woman... ok, so it was a pretty ugly woman, but she had the nicest ass," he corrected, holding his hands up to illustrate a plump behind. It took him a moment to regain his train of thought. "But, anyway, she walks by and of course... you know how strong the 'stop and turn' instinct is. It's unbeatable! There is no defense and no good ever comes from it! But we as men, we simply can't help ourselves... am I right? You know, I'm right. Don't you? Come on." He looked to Luke and Jess for agreement as they mounted the truck. Neither said anything, but picked up the remaining furniture.

"Man, tough room." Dom scratched his head and picked up a dresser. They dismounted with the furniture from the truck.

"So, the ass walks by...." Jess prompted.

"Jess, no no no. It was a WOMAN with a great ass. Women are not simply their parts. They are people. With feelings and emotions and minds, and needs. Oh, those needs," he sighed lustily.

"Since when?!"

"Since when do woman have needs? Oh, my poor baby, have I taught you nothing?!"

"I mean, since when are women anything more to YOU then an ass, a rack, a mouth" (Dom smiled dreamily at this) "and a....a...."

"Kootch?" Bree supplied, meeting them at the door.

"That'll do," Jess nodded.

"Jess, much has changed over the past year. I am no longer the king of the one-night stands," Dom professed.

"You never were. You were the king of making out with the more inappropriate people in the most inappropriate places. Bree is the king of the one-night stand."

Luke looked at Bree as she smiled and shrugged.

"She can't be the king. I have a penis!"

Everyone inside stopped and stared at Dom. He was unfazed.

"Thanks for the info," Jess said. "I didn't already know that."

"Well, it was for your benefit. Anyway, I am no longer looking for just a good time. I want a relationship." Dom smiled proudly.

Jess's eyes widened in shock and he looked over at Bree for confirmation. She nodded. "It's true. He's going for long term."

"My whole world is askew," Jess said, shuddering.

"'That's not askew, that's cockeyed!'" Dom chimed in beaming.

"Dom, stop quoting Buffy," Bree chided.

"I'm not quoting Buffy, I'm quoting Xander," Dom corrected.

"So, you're looking for a long term relationship?" Jess refocused the conversation.

"Yup. I wanna be in love." He glanced at Jess and then at Bree, "I wanna find my soul mate."

"So, no more seducing valedictorians?"

"He's fooled around with every valedictorian six years running." Bree explained to the onlookers.

"Yup," Jess said, almost proudly. "Everyone from Natalie Wolicki to James Hudson."

The eavesdroppers looked at Dom in shock. He shrugged. "I was on a roll, I couldn't stop the streak. Consistency is key."

"No more planning your schedule around the 1:30pm intermediate aerobics class?" Jess prodded.

"Yeah, that was always a bitch. I'd go watch the later class, but the advanced students are way too disciplined for me."

"No more yoga classes to audition who's the more flexible?"

Dom smiled fondly. "Yeah, it ended up being a mostly lesbian class, which made it harder. Although, it did result in that one night that was the highlight of my teenage life. I got a groin pull that night like you would not believe."

"So, all that... gone? Over?"

"Well, not entirely. I mean, I'll still follow a nice ass to Jersey... but I'm in it for something else now."

"Wow. So, wait, Bree, what about you? Are you now like, celibate and in AA?" Jess gauged his friend to see just how much had changed in their time apart.

Bree and Dom laughed, and Bree gave him a fond look. "Oh, honey, God, no. Some things just don't change."

"Thank God," Jess exhaled.

"A great man once said, 'love is the answer, but sex raises some pretty damm good questions'," Dom quoted.

"Bree, who said that?" Jess called out.

"Woody Allen."

"He married his hot Asian daughter. A great, great man," Dom mused. Then his gaze locked on something down the street. "Oooh, cute Asian chick! Excuse me!"

With that, he set off in hot pursuit of said cute Asian chick, dropping his end of the dresser. Right on Jess' foot.

"OUCH!" Jess yelped.

"You ok?" Luke asked.

"Oww. Yeah," Jess said, massaging his foot.

"Isn't that Rory's friend?" Bree questioned looking after Dom.

Luke looked over at Dom. "Yeah, that's Lane," he said off-hand. After a moment, he added a soft groan of, "Oh, God...!"

They all watched as Dom came up behind Lane and got a closer look at her butt. He turned and made a 'thumbs up' sign to Jess before tapping her on the shoulder and saying hello.

Jess smiled. "He hasn't changed *that* much."