AN: Thanks to everyone reviewing and letting me know what you think of the story. It's my favorite to write; I find it challenging to keep up the quality. Hopefully I'm doing that. I might slow down the pace, as I've signed on to help out a Trory exchange fic. I'm a die-hard Lit, but I dabble in Trory's too, for those of you who swing both ways like I do. . . On with the story.

Jess reached his hand out and put it on Rory's denim covered leg. When she continued talking calmly to her mother, he moved it higher. A slight blush colored her cheeks, but she allowed him freedom of his limb movements. It wasn't until he got as high as he could possibly go and began to slip down into her lap that she had to bite back a squeak and grab his hand, forcing it down to her side to rest between them, holding tightly.

"So, Mom, you're sure tonight works for you guys?" she asked, ignoring his proud smirk.

Lorelai hadn't seen the hand action, but did know he was up to something due to the pleased look on his face. Turning her attention back to her daughter, she nodded. "I wouldn't miss it. It's your wedding day."

"Thanks, Mom. It means everything to us that you guys are there."

"Yeah, well," she checked her watch, "It means everything to me, too," she spoke genuinely as she refocused her attention back to Rory. Her daughter looked so happy, and no matter how much she wanted to dismiss this, she couldn't.

"Is Dad coming soon?"

"Yeah. I told him to meet us here."

"He isn't bringing that uptight--," Jess started.

"Sherry isn't coming, no," Lorelai smiled. It was the first time all visit that he'd made her smile genuinely. "Actually, he sounded weird about it."

Luke came out, to check to see if there was any bloodshed, and filled the girls' coffee cups, partially to keep the bloodshed down. He looked up as he saw a familiar man; one that he hated having in his diner or anywhere near this town, as he opened the door and looked around.

"Chris," Luke nodded before pointed at the table the others were at.

"Hey, Luke. Uh, thanks."

"Dad!" Rory exclaimed, waving him over. He leaned over to kiss her cheek, then Lorelai's. He nodded to Jess, his expression stilling.

"So, Dad, how's work?"

"Same," he said, giving a half smile.

"That's Christopher for 'boring'," Lorelai explained. Jess smiled, noting how Lorelai and Chris played off of one another. They couldn't help it; it was ingrained in their personalities. They were truly a part of each other. It reminded him of him and Rory. He snuck a look at Luke, knowing he must be hating this.

"Ah, so my boring life is amusing to you," Chris teased Jess.

"Hey, you want exciting, move to New York. Always something to do," he offered.

"I might be getting a little to old and crotchety for the big city life."

"So, Boston's what, a small hamlet now?" Lorelai snorted.

"Ever heard of moving?" he turned towards her.

"You're getting Sherry out of Boston?"

"No, Sherry is staying in Boston."

Rory and Jess exchanged a look, as Lorelai's mouth formed an 'O'.

"I'm sorry, Chris."

Jess became increasingly fidgety. Rory noticed, as her discomfort level rose as well. He knew what kind of a spin Chris could put on these women's lives. The last time he'd been around, Jess' whole world had turned upside down.

He stood off in the lush green grassy area off the main walking path, in the shade of two large oaks. She looked beautiful, in a dress that looked like it was made to fit her form. In all reality, it probably had been, by her mother. Her dress flowed beautifully around her legs as she walked. She was with a man, who looked to be about her mom's age. The man looked very familiar, though he couldn't place him. They stopped along the path, and she looked at him shrewdly before breaking into a large smile. She threw her arms around the man, and immediately Jess felt a tug at his heart. He could only hope for the same kind of greeting from her.

His eyes went directly to her wrist, now uncovered and fully healed. He'd never felt so helpless as he did the night of that accident. She pulled away from the man and he turned from her as he opened his cell phone. She stayed in place, doing a little twirl in place, swaying happily as she looked around.

And then she saw him. Their eyes locked and she gave one more look around. This look was different, it was guiltier, and for him. She was going to come to him. He watched her approach, as if in slow motion. He could feel everything stop, as she stood before him, just inches away.

"What are you doing here?" she couldn't contain her surprise.

"Hello to you, too." She looked so rattled, so out of her own skin. Trying to lighten the mood, he joked, anything to make her feel comfortable.

"Is everything okay?"

"You look nice." She really couldn't just relax. He had no idea what was going on, but now wasn't the time.

"Thank you. What are you doing here?"

"I moved back."

"What?"

"I moved back." He couldn't tell if she was in a good shock or a bad shock. He began to rethink his decision; she didn't seem as glad to have him back as he'd hoped. When she came to New York, he'd been sure she wanted him around, but now, that look on her face, her inability to form complete sentences. . .

"But – what – why?"

"Just wanted to." Keep it nice and vague, Mariano and maybe she won't--.

His thoughts were interrupted by the feel of her warm, soft lips on his. She was more demanding and it was needier than he'd imagined their first kiss being. And he had imagined it many, many times. He'd been half a second away before, as close to losing his self-control more times than he could count, almost resulting in their first kiss occurring before this moment. He moved his arms out, encircling her waist, willing her to slow down and enjoy the best moment of his young life. She slowed down with him, letting him savor the sweet taste of her for the first time, drinking her in.

Until she pulled away.

He was brought back to the current time and place by Rory's voice. "So, can we all head back to the house?"

"Sure, honey," Lorelai said, downing the last of her coffee before waving to Luke.

"Good, let's go."

Once back at the Gilmore-Danes house, Jess found his voice. Right after Rory elbowed him in the ribs, to be exact. He waited until Lorelai and Chris had settled themselves on the couch, and they were now watching the couple expectantly.

"Can I talk to you two?" he hated showing anxiety. He felt seventeen again, but with fewer defenses than he'd had in place back then. He felt naked. His only defense was Rory.

"I'll go make some calls," Rory said, exiting into the kitchen.

And then there were three. . .

Lorelai gave Chris a knowing look, and he put his arm around her instinctively. Jess bit back a comment, and moved to stand in front of them. He moved his hand to his front pocket, where he hoped to find cigarettes. No luck, she'd made him promise not to bring any. He made a mental note to run to Doose's if he escaped with all his necessary limbs.

"I, uh, wanted to talk to you, about the wedding."

Lorelai cocked an eyebrow and Chris tilted his head. They were serious, and neither was going to make this easy. He suddenly understood Rory's stubborn streaks and incredible determination. She learned from the best, evidently. He shifted his weight to his other leg and pulled his hands out of his jeans' pockets.

"I, well, we would really love it if you two would give us your blessing," he got all the words out in one long breath, managing to retain eye contact with Lorelai, but Christopher still looked a little too 'I'm a father with a shotgun waiting at the door to see if you bring my little girl home on time' for his taste.

"Our blessing?" Lorelai asked.

"Yes. You know, for you to be happy for us, Chris to walk Rory down the aisle," he continued.

"Really?" Chris and Lorelai both asked at the same time.

"Well, if that's what she wants. I just want her to be really, really happy. Lorelai, I know you think I'm the guy that ran off and broke her heart. She wouldn't be marrying me if she thought I was capable of that now. I want to be there for her, as long as she can stand me."

Lorelai couldn't help the smile that broke through on the last comment. "Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm pretty sure she's always wanted to put up with you. God knows why, but," she rolled her eyes.

"I really want to make this good. For everyone. I love her," he opened up his true intentions; he knew he had no choice. As much as he felt that what he and Rory had was theirs, he also knew he had to repair some bridges he'd burned long ago.

"I hate saying this, but I know you do. I've always wanted her to be happy, Jess."

He nodded. "So, you two are behind us?"

Lorelai looked at Chris. "Give us a second, okay?"

"Alright," he drawled, moving into the kitchen to find Rory. She was leaning against the counter, banging on the coffeemaker.

"You know, it works better when you treat it nicely."

"Violence is always the answer," she replied, continuing to pound on the appliance.

He moved past her, causing her to step away from the counter.

"It's broken," she pouted.

"It's not broken. Well, okay, it's broken, but I can fix it. Unless you'd like to throw it against the wall and render it completely useless. We don't need a coffeemaker, do we?"

A shocked hand flew to her mouth, as her eyes widened to join it in response. He rolled his eyes and turned back to the cherished appliance. She may not be able to cook, but the girl could make a damn fine cup of coffee.

"Toolbox," he requested.

"What?"

"It's in the hall closet."

"Tool-what?" she played dumb.

"Big box, filled with useful implements?"

"We have a box filled with tools?"

"Oh, for God's sakes," he moved past her to retrieve the hefty box from the closet. She gave him her most angelic smile.

"You need to join a gym, muscles."

"Hey, I can take you."

"Not true. I let you take me," he smirked at her as he adjusted some wires and turned the coffee maker on.

"It works!" she squealed, throwing her arms around him. "You're my hero!"

"I should hope so," he shook his head at her.

"I'm starting construction on the statue after my first cup," she kissed his cheek.

"So, how's it going?" she asked as she finally poured her coffee into a mug.

"Uh, not sure. They're talking right now."

"I have the coffee ready for my talk with Mom. Can you keep Dad occupied?"

He gave her a look, showing he'd rather walk back to New York barefoot. On a long road of nails. And broken glass. But she batted those eyelashes and bit her lip hopefully.

"Jess, please? I can't send him to the diner, Luke gets all testosteroney and weird around Dad."

"Did you actually say testosteroney?"

"You know what I mean," she cocked a hip and placed a hand there for effect.

"Sure, Chris and I will run out to get the new Oxford English Dictionary. Obviously you need to do some reading," he chided, and moved to miss a playful slap from his bride-to-be. 'Did I just have that thought?' he thought to himself, surprised, but pulled her in for a kiss after he caught her arm that was trying to wound him.

Lorelai looked at Christopher, trying to read his reaction to Jess asking their blessing. Their blessing to marry their little girl. Their perfect girl.

"So, do you still hate this kid?" Chris asked, his eyes dancing a little.

"You are so enjoying this!" she admonished him.

"She's old enough to make her own decisions."

"She ran off to be with him. I haven't seen her in four years, and she comes back to get married?"

"Lore, I know that it's been strained, with all of us over the years. But no matter how much time goes by or what happened, we're her parents, and she's our kid. And we love each other."

Her eyes teared up a little and leaned against him. "God, how do you do that?"

Chris smiled. "It's my superpower."

"I want to hate him. I don't want to like this."

"I know. But she's going to do it anyway."

"It could be worse, it could've been ten years ago," Chris pointed out.

"Fine. We're behind this."

"Looks like it."

"Go get him. And look scary."

"I'm on it," Chris said, moving off the couch to find Jess. He found Jess and Rory in the kitchen, laughing and standing about as close as two people could stand without being indecent.

"Jess, we've considered what you told us, and we want you both to know we support this."

"Thanks, Dad," Rory moved to hug her dad. "I'm going to talk to Mom, alone," she said, grabbing two mugs of coffee.

"So, girl time?" Chris looked at Jess, assuming he knew what was going on.

"Yep. I think we're supposed to make ourselves scarce."

"Are there bars in Stars Hollow?" Chris furrowed his brow.

"Follow me," Jess said, moving to the door. "You don't own guns, do you?"

Chris smiled, closing the door behind him.