Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or the characters. The story's mine. Distributor: Talk to me first. Pairings: Literati (what else?), Java Junkie A/N:

Chapter 1-The Artful Dodger

Rory got off the bus and threw her bags over her shoulder. She was glad to be home for the summer, but being away from Stars Hollow and then returning on weekends and for breaks had shown her why Jess had hated it so much.

Jess. She was over him. She almost laughed to herself at that. If she let herself admit it, she would probably go straight to his arms if he was here now. He'd broken her heart but at the same time, never lost it. She frowned at the irony of it. Jess had chased after her while he was here, but now she wanted to chase after him.

Rory glanced in Luke's, but he was closed up for the evening. It was awfully early. She shrugged, then remembered her mom mentioning the town meeting. He must have closed up a little earlier than normal in preparation.

Rory smiled as she walked up the drive. She flung the door open and looked around curiously. Lorelai hadn't bounded out to greet her. She glanced in the kitchen and saw a bowl filled with fruit on the table, which was unusually clean. Rory heard a moan from the living room and turned around.

"Mom? Luke? My eyes!" Rory covered her eyes with her hands.

"It's okay, PDA is over," Lorelai said. Rory stared in shock at her mother and Luke, who was blushing bright red.

"Since when? How? Where? Tell me everything!" Inside, Rory was bubbling. Luke had always been like the father she never had.

"This sounds like girl talk, so I'll be upstairs watching TV. Nice to have you home for the summer Rory," Luke said, gruffly.

"Does he live here now?"

"If I said no, I would be lying," Lorelai answered with a grin. Rory dropped her bags at the stairs and then sat down on the couch beside Lorelai.

"Out with it."

"Well, [Flashback]

"How's Nicole?" Lorelai tried to be sincere but she truthfully hated the woman.

"Stop Lorelai. I know you don't like her." Lorelai feigned shock.

"What?"

"I'm not an idiot."

"So?"

"She's cheating on me."

"Luke! How'd you find out? Are you sure?"

"Well when I walked into the apartment and they were doing it on the couch, it didn't leave any questions."

"Luke, I'm so sorry. I really am." Luke glanced at Lorelai. He had to admit, she did look sympathetic. But maybe it was just his mind playing tricks, like it did all the times she flirted with him, the little moments when he felt like he could just lean forward and kiss her but he wasn't brave enough.

"Enough about my personal problems. How's things with you and," Luke winced slightly as he said it, "Jason?" He never liked the men Lorelai was with. Chris was an idiot to abandon Lorelai and Rory both. Rory was like a daughter to him. She was such a wonderful kid. Then there was Max, who Luke hated from the start. There was a slew of men that didn't deserve Lorelai. Not that he did.

"We broke up tonight. He was trying to bring down my dad." Luke's eyes widened.

"That's why you broke up with him?"

"Yeah. And he was boring as hell." Lorelai smiled wistfully. None of the guys she dated were ever the perfect guy. Rory deserved so much more than what she had. Tears burned her eyes as she thought of a little Rory, asking if Luke was her new daddy.

"What's wrong Lorelai?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking about how fast Rory has grown up. You know, when she was little, she used to ask every guy I dated if he was going to be her new daddy. I wanted so badly, and I still do, to find the perfect guy who's not a jerk. Somebody who can be good to me and good to her."

"Rory's the best kid in the world. She's got all she needs with you."

"I don't know Luke. Maybe I'm not looking hard enough."

"Maybe you're looking too hard. Maybe everything you've been looking for isn't that hard to find. Maybe you've just been looking in the wrong place." Lorelai's eyes drifted up to Luke's face. She had the sudden impulse to kiss him. She tried to sort out the thoughts racing through her mind. Taking a deep breath, she picked out the clearest one that said, "To hell with it, just kiss him." She leaned forward and kissed him hard.

Luke melted against her touch. This was everything he'd ever dreamed of. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. [End Flashback], so that's how it happened," Lorelai said, smiling as she remembered the first time they kissed. Rory grinned. Luke was the perfect guy for her mother.

"It would make a great movie. If only my love life could fall into place." Lorelai glanced at her daughter sympathetically. Rory hadn't truly been happy since that damn hoodlum had skipped town.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm over him!"

"Rory, sweetie, let me tell you three things. One, I'm a woman. Two, I'm your best friend. Three, Mommy knows everything." Rory sighed. She was past the tears, but the mere mention of Jess let a flood of memories course through her. Every time she saw someone with his dark hair, his eyes. Whenever she came across a Hemmingway in a bookstore. She hadn't been able to make herself read any of the books that he'd put notes in the margin. Oliver Twist brought back so many memories, good and bad. How hadn't she seen it? She bit her lip. He'd handled it all wrong. True to his name, he'd dodged his problems. Artfully. California was the farthest place he could go in the Continental US.

"Ror? You haven't said anything for about three minutes."

"What? Oh. Mom, I'm going to go take a walk, okay?" Lorelai nodded but hugged Rory tightly first. Rory hugged her back, then stood up. She walked away from the house in a hurry, towards the bridge. She stopped and stared. She had to be seeing things.

A/N: Please review! If you've got criticism, please make it constructive. Sorry if characters are a little OOC.