Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who showed their support during the whole flame thing. It's resolved. No worries. I probably blew it out of proportion, but I felt fairly offended. Anyways, just wanted to put a little thank you up here. hugs everybody

Sorry about the wait. I was blocked, and then I went on vacation. This may suck, but... shrugs and points

Cordially Invited

The phone rang a couple of hours later, waking Rory up. She reached over Jess's sleeping form to the cordless phone that rested on the nightstand. She pulled the bed sheet closer to her neck as she clicked the phone on. "Hello?"

"I just remembered that you're on winter break!"

"Hi, Mom," Rory smiled.

"Jess there?"

Rory glanced over at Jess, who had rolled over. His bare back faced her and she ran a finger down his shoulder blade. "Sleeping."

"Ah," Lorelai nodded. "Is he here for your break?"

"I think. I was too busy pushing him into the lake to ask."

"What?!"

"We fought... more... and I got mad."

"And you pushed him into the frozen lake."

Rory sighed. "He's fine."

"So my mother says."

Rory blushed. "Grandma called you?"

"Oh, yeah," Lorelai said. "She asked me if I knew Jess was running around my house with no pants on."

Rory blushed a little deeper. "And you said...?"

"That you guys were probably just having some bondage fun," Lorelai replied in a chipper tone.

"His pants are in the dryer," Rory pleaded.

Lorelai sighed. "Well, I went with the bondage... It kept her mind off of my apparent desire to marry Luke, thank you very much."

"Are you bringing Luke as your date?"

"Yeah."

"Well, give him fair warning: Grandma gave Jess permission to invite the Danes/Mariano clan to the ball."

"Jess is inviting his family?" Lorelai asked, obviously surprise.

"Mhm. He'd never admit it but I think he misses them," Rory said, curling up against Jess. "Plus, he sees it as payback for Grandma not liking him."

"Y'know?" Lorelai commented. "That's not a bad idea. Let's invite the entire town!"

Rory snickered. "Grandma will kill you."

"She's gotta catch me first."

"She will, in the dress you plan to wear," Rory reminded. "I saw your lay-out. You're crazy."

"Crazy, but gorgeous in a dress like that."

At that moment, Jess rolled over. "Tell her to hold it down. Some people like sleep."

Lorelai snorted. "Tell him it's only three pm."

Jess narrowed his eyes at the phone. "Tell her-"

"Both of you stop it," Rory scolded. "God, I thought you were past this phase."

"Never," they replied in unison.

Rory stayed silent for a moment. "That was frightening... you're not even in the same room with each other and you're minds are in synch."

"Are not."

Rory's eyes widened. "There you go again!"

Jess grumbled and turned over.

Rory snickered. "I gotta go, Mom."

"Bye, Sweets! Give Jess a big, wet grandma kiss for me!"

"Bye, Mom." She hung up the phone and curled up against Jess's back.

He turned to face her and wrapped an arm around her.

"Are you warm, now?"

He nodded. "Much warmer."

Rory smiled. "I promise I won't push you into frozen water again."

"Thanks," Jess replied with a smirk. He sighed. "We're staying here the rest of the day?"

"Got any better ideas?"

He shook his head and held her closer.

"Hello, son."

"Dad!"

Jess smirked. "How are you?"

"I'm great, Dad," Jimmy replied. "I just got an A on my English paper."

"Congratulations, son." Jess plopped down onto the couch in Luke's apartment that evening with the phone to his ear. "How are you?"

"Disgusted with these fat free... low sugar... low taste...Jesus, they aren't even cookies," Jimmy grumbled.

"Well, now I know where I get my holiday cheer from," Jess quipped.

Jimmy didn't answer.

"Speaking of the holidays..."

They'd said it in unison.

"You first," Jimmy told him.

Jess sighed. "Rory's grandparents are having this... Christmas ball thing... they said it was okay if I invited family..." He shifted a little and cleared his throat. "I was wondering if you guys wanted to come."

"Oh," Jimmy said. "Well... we were gonna invite you and Rory over here..."

Jess blinked, surprised. "Huh."

"But... y'know..."

Jess cleared his throat. "Well..."

"Uh..." Jimmy sighed. "Hey, Sash! You wanna talk to Jess?!"

Jess sighed and sat back. "Hold on a minute, Jimmy, I've got call waiting."

Jimmy laughed. "You've got call waiting?!"

Jess growled and clicked the flash button. "Hello?"

"Hi, Sweetie!"

"Hey, Liz," Jess sighed. "Can you hold on? I've got Jimmy on the other line."

"Oh, well tell him I said he's an asshole," Liz replied.

Jess squinted. "Why?"

"Just because."

Jess rolled his eyes and clicked the flash button again. "Hey. Liz is on the other line. She says to tell you you're an asshole."

"Excuse me?"

"Aw, Jeez!" Jess yelled. "Not you, Sasha! Jimmy! Jimmy's an asshole!"

"Okay," Sasha said slowly. "Tell Rory's family we'll be at their party."

"You're coming?" Jess asked with a hint of surprised.

"We're coming," Sasha confirmed. "We'll work out the details later, okay?"

"Okay," Jess nodded. "Bye." He clicked the flash button once more. "Liz?"

"Hey!" she cried cheerfully. "What are you and Rory doing for Christmas?"

Jess sighed.

"A ball?"

Rory nodded as she and Lane walked through the towns square. "A ball."

"And... I'm invited."

Rory smiled. "You are. As is Dave. And Zach and Brian if you like."

Lane smiled dreamily. "Really?"

"Yes, really," Rory replied. "Are you in?"

"Of course I'm in!" Lane cried. "Do they need entertainment? We'd play for free! I'd kill to have that kind of exposure."

"I'll ask," Rory said. "Though somehow I don't think my grandparents will be too keen on having a rock band."

Lane shrugged. "You never know... hey... is it true your mom and Luke are dating?"

Rory nodded. "I think so."

"Isn't that... weird?"

"Yeah," Rory shrugged. "Kind of. But it's also kind of cool... I mean...it's been coming for a long time, and my mom seems really happy."

Lane smiled. "That's awesome. They should have hooked up years ago."

"You're taking longer than I do!" She called from the diner counter.

"I'm primping!" Jess yelled back from the apartment.

"Well, hurry up!" Rory laughed. She took a seat and sipped her coffee.

"Hi."

She looked up, but said nothing.

Dean sighed. "Is this seat taken?"

"Afraid so," she replied. "You'll have to stand."

"Right," Dean nodded. "Can we talk?"

She lapsed into silence again.

"Listen: I'm sorry about what I did," he told her. "I shouldn't have freaked you out like that."

She nodded.

"I'm staying with Lindsay," he went on. "We're having a baby."

"I heard."

He sighed and sat down. "I still love you, Rory."

"That's seat's taken," Rory said quickly.

Dean got up again. "Sorry."

Rory frowned. "I love Jess. I'm sorry. Congratulations on the pregnancy." With that, she got up and walked out to the car.

Dean watched her with a sigh, just as Jess walked down the stairs. He narrowed his eyes at Dean. "Where's Rory?"

"Outside," Dean spat.

They stood glaring at each other for a long moment.

"I hope you're very happy," Dean scowled.

"As a matter of fact," Jess replied, running a hand through his hair. "I am pretty happy. Thanks."

With that, he walked out the door.

"Surprise."

Sofia shook her head at her grandson from the inside of the apartment. "You don't even like surprises."

He shrugged. "You do."

"I'm old," Sofia replied. "No old person likes surprises."

Jess rolled his eyes. "Can we come in?"

Sofia nodded and let him through, kissing him on the cheek before giving him a good shove into the apartment. She smiled. "Rory, it's so good to see you."

"Hi, Sofia," Rory smiled, giving the older woman a hug.

Sofia pulled back and gave Rory a once over. "You look well."

"Thanks."

"What brings you two here?" Sofia asked as she closed the door. "And in this weather. They say it will snow again."

"We'll deal with it," Jess replied. "Is Gloria around?"

"No, she's outside with Jamie," Sofia replied. "Trying to sober him up... again."

Jess smirked and shook his head. "Welcome home, Jess," he muttered.

"You still haven't told me what you're doing here," Sofia pointed out.

Rory smiled brightly at her. "What are you doing for Christmas?"