Jess stood shaving in front of the shared bathroom mirror when Luke came up from the diner Thursday in the early afternoon.  "About time you got up here," Jess commented, "we have to be at Lorelai and Rory's by one."

"Um, Lorelai doesn't want me to drive over with her," Luke told him, "She wasnts me to come later with Sookie and Jackson."

"It'll blow over, you know," Jess assured him.  He could tell Luke was hurt by Lorelai's request.

Luke sighed, "I know.  I really thought yesterday was the day, but nothing.  How about Rory?  I haven't really talked to her at all."

"She's dealing with it better than Lorelai, I'd say.  She's cried a bit, we talked about her grandparents.  I helped her write the eulogy for Mr. Gilmore last night," Jess updated.

"Rory and Lorelai really switched role here, hmm?" Luke observed.

"Definitely a freaky Friday moment," Jess agreed, "but I think this is Lorelai's weird attempt to protect Rory."

Luke shrugged and altered to subject a bit, "So you and Rory, huh?  Where does that stand?"

Jess wiped his chin with a towel, "No where.  I'm not putting any eggs in the basket until things settle down for her.  I'm just glad she called me."

Luke removed his shirt and moved to reapply his deodorant, "Me too.  I'm glad you had your act together enough to be able to help her."

Jess paused in the act of exiting the bathroom and looked in Luke's eyes, "And I have you to thank for that," he said seriously.

Luke blushed, "Jess, you don't have to…"

"Yeah, I do," Jess interjected, "so let me say it.  Things like this make you sit up and take notice, how short like is and it makes you appreciate what you have.  If you hadn't thaken me in and seriously kicked my ass, I wouldn't have made anything of myself. So, I know I was a pain in the ass, but thank you, Uncle Luke."

Luke stared at Jess dumbfounded.  He knew Jess appreciated it, but the way he vocalized  it was so mature and heartfelt.  Jess really had grown up.  Luke reached over and embraced Jess in a manly hug, "I owe you a little bit too.  That tie did the trick."

Jess laughed and busied himself with putting on his shoes, "Say Uncle Luke, you need any extra worked downstairs," Jess asked.

"Um, not really. I've got Caesar and Lane, why someboday need work?" Luke replied.

"Well, I was thinking of maybe moving back here going to the community college.  Jess told him, "and I'll need a job to help for it."

"You want to go to college?" Luke replied, "Did you finish…"

"Got my diploma at Adult School," Jess answered, "But the tuition is $4500 a term."

Luke shook his head, "Jess, if you want to go to school, the money's yours.  But you have to go to school, Jess."

"Luke, I want to do this," Jess assured him, "bit I don't want a freebie."

"We'll work it out, "Luke told him, tying his tie, "now you better get over to Lorelai's."

Lorelai answered the door when Jess knocked some minutes later.  Rory was in her room and called out, "That better be a stocking or panty hose salesman."

"Hi, Jess," Lorelai greeted then called over her shoulder, "No such luck.  It's only Jess."

"Should I ask?" Jess inquired raising one eyebrow.

"I wouldn't," Lorelai advised, "Come on in."

Jess went inside and leaned over to give Lorelai an awkward hug, "I'm really sorry about your parent.  I don't know if I said that."

"Thank you, Jess," Lorelai replied, "and thank you for taking care of Rory."

"I promised her she could count on me," Jess said, "and these days I'm keeping my promises."

Lorelai nodded and shut the front door just as Rory came out of her room dressed in her funeral dress, basic black but long and modest, not short and sexy.

"Hi, Jess," she greeted with a half smile.

"Hey, you look pretty," he complimented.

"So do you, I mean, I've never seen you in a tie before."

Jess shrugged, "Yeah, well it seemed appropriated."

Lorelai went to get her purse, leaving Rory and Jess alone for a few moments, "Where's Luke?" Rory asked.

"At the apartment.  Your mom didn't want him going over with us," Jess explained.

"I don't understand her.  I know she loves Luke," Rory declared, "I don't know why she's pushing him away."

Jess put his arms around Rory and held her to him, "For the same reason you're pulling me in," he replied, "it's the way in which you manage grief.  And that can't be criticized."

Rory nodded, "I just know how much better I feel with you her to hold me," she whispered against Jess' chest.

Gently he stroked her hair, "Rory, your mom will open up to Luke and when she's ready he'll be waiting."

"Luke's a good man," Rory stated.

"I know, he's become my guidepost in a lot of way," Jess confided pulling back from Rory so he could see her eyes, "I want to be more like him I've decided to move back to Stars Hollow go to college, and make something of myself," Jess told her.

Rory couldn't help but smile, "Jess, that's terrific.  I know you'd come to your senses. You'd be so great at college."

"I'm glad you're happy about it, Rory.  It's good to see you smile." He leaned over to kiss her.

Lorelai rejoined them just as the kiss broke, "Everybody ready?"

"As ready as I'll get I suppose," Rory replied, "Do you want Jess to drive?"

"No, I'm fine," Lorelai replied, taking her keys and heading for the Jeep.

Christopher was all ready in the parking lot when Lorelai pulled up with Rory and Jess. He greeted her with a quick hug and peck on the cheek.  He did the same with Rory and shook Jess' hand.

They walked into the funeral home.  Lorelai first, Christopher directly behind her, with Rory and Jess brought up the war.

Jess knew Rory never had the experience of losing someone close to her, and he wanted to prepare her for the mental shock of seeing her grandparents in caskets. He pulled her arm to halt her, "Rory before you go in there, I just want to prepare you," Jess began, "this experience will be unlike any other you've had so far.  It's going to seem real and unreal all together, and it's going to be eerily quiet."

Rory nodded, "Jess, I've been to wakes before."

Jess shook his head, "Not someone close like this you haven't," Jess replied, "It's very different, but I'm here.  You ready?"

Rory nodded and Jess let her go into the hugs funeral room.  He hovered just behind her.

Lorelai had all ready said her prayer and now sat on the settee in the front of the room.  Christopher sat just behind her in the first row of mustard colored chairs.  Lorelai hadn't reacted at all to the sight, she just numbly moved away.

Rory approached the caskets steadily; shoulders squared head held high Jess was not even a foot behind her, quietly prepared.

Rory knelt on the kneeler, and then rose quickly studying her grandparents.  They looked asleep, the looked at peace, yet they were eerily still.  She examined her grandmother, hair and make-up still perfect, nails still unchipped. Then she studied her grandfather.  He still had such presence.  She'd miss him.

Lorelai, Chris and Jess watched Rory like she was a ticking bomb.  One's reactions to this sight were typically very violent when they came, each wanted to be prepared.

Jess noticed it first, the slight quake in Rory's hand as she raised it to her mouth.  Lorelai was next, when Rory's shoulder slumped and her knees collapsed.  It finally hit Christopher when Rory hit the floor.

Jess joined her down there immediately, wrapping his entire body around her quaking form, pulling her close to him, "Ssh, it's okay, Baby," he crooned, "It's okay."

Lorelai knelt with Jess and stroked her daughter's arm, "Let it out, Rory," she told her, "It's okay.  They're at peace and they're together."

The ringing of a bell signified it was two o'clock and other mourners would be arriving, Jess shifted Rory so he could left her off the floor and carried her to the settee where he sat holding her on his lap.

Luke was the first to arrive after the door opened and after a prayer of respect to Emily and Richard, he went to Lorelai, "Hey, Lor," he greeted kissing her lips lightly, "the flowers are beautiful."

"Yeah," she replied, "white roses are very appropriate for funerals."  It shocked her how much she'd sounded like Emily.

"Um, Sookie and Jackson are outside with Michel," Luke told her, "They'll probably be as many people from Stars Hollow from Hartford."

Lorelai shrugged, "Probably. Um, I have to speak to Tom about something," Lorelai said her voice growing thick, "Could you check on Rory? Seeing them in the…it shocked her.  I'll be right back."

"Sure," Luke said, "do what you need to do."

Lorelai nodded and hurried away.  What she needed to do was cry and she knew it.  She just couldn't allow it.  She had to be in control, emotionless.  Things had to be done correctly and emotion could never enter into one's social obligations.  Where had she heard that?  Her parents.  That was the easy question. The harder one was when had she started to believe it?

Luke sat down next to Rory, who'd moved off of Jess' lap and composed herself.  "Howy you doing, Kiddo?"

Rory sniffed, "All right.  I'm glad you're here.  So is Mom."

Luke quickly hugged Rory, "I know.  Uh, there's Miss Patty."

It started then, on after another groups of mourners came to pay their respects.  Miss Patty and Taylor, Sookie, Jackson and Michel, the Kims, Kirk, Bootsey, Andrew, numerous business associated of Richard's, and endless socialite friends on Emily's.  By the end of the night both Lorelai and Rory were ready to scream from hearing endless platitudes.  None of those things made it easier in fact; they made it harder to bear.  But such was the way of wakes.  It was only with Jess and Luke's silent support that they made it through the Thursday.  Nothing, however could prepare them for Friday.