A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews and good natured( if there is such a thing) death threats. :-D This chapter isn't my best, but I wanted to get it out as soon as I could. Stupid Algebra finals. Read and review.















Chapter 5

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Streams of sunlight came pouring in through the window causing Rory to awake from her fitful sleep. Groggily she ventured into the living room. Alex and Lana had fallen asleep at opposite ends of the couch, and scattered on the floor were the remnants of last nights stroll into the past. Watching Lana sleep she realized she could never break all ties with Tristan and forget about him, Lana was the constant reminder of that.



"Morning mom.", Lana said cautiously as she entered the kitchen to the sight of her mother making coffee.



"Hi babe. How'd you sleep.", Rory smirked.



"That was uncalled for.", Lana replied sternly.



"I think it was very called for."



"Mother."



"What? I'm just saying that...oh never mind.", she started, but then gave up. It was to hard to get it through to that girl.



"Hello wonderful daughter of mine what is it you've got there?", Lorelai said a she entered the kitchen eyeing Rory's coffee.



"I thought Luke had the job of resident coffee maker.", she replied grasping her cup tighter.



"Bah. He left early to go to the diner."



"You want any Lana?", Rory asked.



"Nah," she replied, Rory and Lorelai gasped dramatically and Alex sauntered into the kitchen, "I'm meeting someone for coffee at Luke's in a bit."



Alex's cringe didn't go unnoticed by Rory.



"And who might this 'someone' be?", Lorelai prodded.



"Travis.", Lana and Alex answered in unison, Alex's tone a little less enthused than Lana's.



"Well he hasn't passed the 'tests' yet.", Rory said, trying to subtly reassure Alex.



"Oh Luke and Lorelai.", sighed Alex, those were the hardest to pass and yet he had done it with flying colors.



"Be nice.", she addressed everyone, but was looking straight at Alex.



"Me? When have I not been nice?", smiled Alex in mock indignation.



"Oh never, only when you're around certain people.", Lana smiled back.



"Well I promised to help Luke today, something that was meant to keep me away from a certain person, so I guess I'll be seeing you there. Bye.", he waved and walked out the door before Lana could protest.



"I should go too, Travis will be meeting me there soon.", Lana announced calmly a few minute later and walked out the back door.



"Oblivious.", muttered Lorelai as she left.



"You can say that again.", added Rory.



"Oblivious.", she repeated.





Alex walked into the diner finding, fortunately, that his cousin wasn't there yet. But he didn't see Luke either.



"Luke.", he called.



No answer.



"Luke!", he called again. A man came out from the kitchen with his back turned to Alex.



"Your not Luke. Wait a sec...Jess?", Alex realized as the man turned around.



Jess just smiled, while Alex bombarded him with more questions.



"Why are you back? When did you get back and how long are you staying?"



"Calm down. You are spending way too much time around Lana. Speaking of which where is she?", replied Jess.



Alex winced thinking of her and Travis, but at least they

were coming here where he could keep an eye on his angel of a cousin.



"She is probably on her way her," he paused and Jess nodded, but then saw the look on his face.



"Well Travis should be on his way too.", he finished with a sigh, and stomach turning.



"You haven't told her?", he asked a little surprised



"Jess.", he stated trying to find away out of this little corner that he had backed himself into. He never should have told him.



"Alex.", he said in the same tone. Taking it as a no.



"So you never answered me. Why are you back?", Alex asked shifting subjects.



"What I have to have a reason now?", he responded deciding to give the kid a break.



Jess had grown up a lot from his sixteen year-old self, like everyone does. Stars Hollow

had changed him for the better, although he didn't like to admit it. He was much more articulate than his former monosyllable way of speaking.



Just then Lana entered the diner coupled with the devil himself. They hadn't seen Alex or Jess, but they saw them.



"That him?", whispered Jess.



"Yup.", Alex laughed bitterly.



"Well then. I'm going to have some fun.", he said mischievously. He was still the old Jess at heart.



Travis and Lana were laughing and talking when he came over playing waiter.



"Hello. What can I get you today?", he asked with his best Luke imitation.



Without realizing who was taking her order she automatically said, "Coffee. Please."



"I'll have cappuccino.", replied Travis condescendingly, he had yet to meet Jess.



"We don't have cappuccino.", he replied annoyed at this preppy little punk's attitude.



"Fine than I'll have a coffee.", he said coldly.



"I'll be right back with that.", Jess said walking away.



Lana was off in another world completely. She tried to keep her mind from wandering, but it was no use. Here she was having coffee with this incredibly cute guy and every time she would remind herself of that she thought of how much a family resemblance there was between him and Alex.



* I did not just think that. I couldn't have. He's...he's...Alex. Way to state the obvious Lana. Why does my subconscious sound like my mother? I need to stop this. *, she thought while pretending to be interested in what Travis was saying.



She still had yet to notice Jess, who she had known forever and was practically family.





"Here comes the fun part.", he told Alex while pouring the coffees, filling one to the brim.



He walked over to deliver their order. Then he 'accidentally slipped', coincidentally the spill happened to find it's way directly into Travis' lap. Travis shot up screaming obscenities in every direction, while Lana laughed and finally realized who had been the 'clumsy waiter'.



"Oh I am so sorry. Did I do that? Are you...okay?", Jess asked sarcastically.



"Jess!", Lana exclaimed running up and hugging him.



"Hi Lana. Finally back down to planet earth?", Jess asked.



"Funny."



Alex was double over laughing at the sight of Travis ranting and raving about speaking to the manager. After composing himself Alex decided to go help his cousin, he was family after all.



"Here cuz.", he said icily, throwing him a towel.



"Oh thank you so much.", he replied sarcastically.



"My pleasure.", Alex said walking over to join Jess and Lana's conversation.



"So Jess has Taylor seen you yet?", Lana asked. Taylor had always hated Jess. She heard it had something to do with a chalk outline.



"He's still alive?"



"Well you know what they say the miserable stay alive the longest to make us all miserable.", Alex cut in.



"Where is Luke? I need good coffee. You think after how many years of living with me my daughter woul know how to make coffee without grinds.", muttered Lorelai walking into the diner, Rory in tow. Coffee was really an excuse to see Travis, who until now Alex had managed to keep away from Stars Hollow.



"Auntie Lorelai.", Jess greeted.



"What?", her and Rory said simultaneously, and turning around to face Jess.



"Oh my God Jess?", Rory said startled that her old friend was back. He always had perfect timing.



"Jess. Don't ever call me that again.", snapped Lorelai. She still didn't like him, well maybe a little, but she would always deny it.



"Whatever you say."



"What are you doing here?", asked Rory good naturedly.



"Did you lose that job in New York already?", bit Lorelai. Although she was starting to warm up to him she wasn't as forgiving as her daughter, and could really carry a grudge.



Rory glared at her and Lana decided to step in.



"Um...Grandma, mom, this is...Travis. Travis this is my mother, Rory Dugrey, and this is my Grandmother, Lorelai Gilmore-Danes.", she said biting her lip. Maybe it was too soon to have him meet my parents.



"Hello, Rory Lorelai.", pretentiously.



"Hello.", Rory greeted quickly, she too had heard the rumors, Tristan hated him, and so had Alex, and Alex likes almost everyone.



"Call me Mrs. Danes.", Lorelai replied.



* Uh oh. This is bad. Grandma tells *everyone* to call her Lorelai. She even tried to convince me to. She hates him, she has to. Grandma even let's Jess call her Lorelai. *

























A/N: I know what you're thinking. Really I do, mind reading skills. I added Jess into the mix more as a tool to help Lana and Alex and less as a possible R/J. But you never know. :-) I change my mind a lot. Don't hate me.