DISCLAIMER: Not mine. (Checks pockets for money). Nope. Not mine.

The kids went back to their normal routines of school and homework, preparing for final exams before classes let out for winter vacation. Parents went about routines of work and holiday shopping while their kids were too preoccupied with school to snoop for presents. Everyone was incredibly busy, including Jess, who on top of work and caring for his kids alone, had to wonder what the hell his wife was thinking. He had picked up the phone so many times, half dialing his in-laws' number, but felt that he'd probably just end up yelling, and hung up again.

It was on this day, day five of the standoff, that he had had enough. This had to end, in some way or another. With just a few weeks until Christmas, and his kids still tiptoeing around him, he needed normality. He needed to know where his marriage stood. He was still at work when he picked up the phone and dialed.

"Rory Dugrey."

"Hey, Ror, it's me. I need a favor."

"Shoot," she said, still typing on her computer as she talked.

"Can I drop the kids off for the weekend?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I need to go to Boston."

"Boston. Wow. Have you talked to her?"

"No. That would be the going to Boston bit."

"Right. Yeah, drop them off. We'll keep 'em fed and watered and all that good stuff."

"Thanks. I'll see you later."

"Right. Good luck."

"Thanks."

&&&&

That evening, Rory ordered several pizzas, and decided to have a slumber party of sorts. With all four kids on a Friday night, she figured they could use a break from the intense pre-final workload, especially Ambrose and Jules. She loved those kids as if they were her own, and she hated seeing them going through all of this. She honestly couldn't decide whether or not she wanted Jess and Erin to work it all out. On one hand, the kids needed a mother, but not one that would leave at the drop of a hat because she was bored of her life. She couldn't imagine being that irresponsible. Tristan got home, and helped her set up the living room with extra pillows and blankets, and of course a full-on buffet of junk food.

"I hope he knows what he's doing," she said, putting down the large bowl of popcorn.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. Just try not to worry about it."

"You don't know me at all!" she feigned hurt. He rolled his eyes and pulled her towards him.

"You guys aren't going to do that all night, are you?" Jake asked, coming downstairs into the living room.

"So what if we are?" his father asked. "Last I checked, your name was no where to be found on the deed to this house."

"Fine, but when you get old and senile, just remember who will be picking out which home you get sent to," Jake joked.

"Yeah, Shady Pines, Ma," Ella chimed in, also coming downstairs, ready for food.

"Such children we've raised," Rory turned incredulously to her husband.

"Horrible demon-children. We should probably start completely over. You know, they'll be gone from here in just a couple of years."

"We could have good kids, ones that will take care of us in our old age," her eyes glistened with excitement.

"They think they're funny, don't they?" Jake asked his sister.

"A laugh-riot," she affirmed, "You guys can't have more kids."

"Says who?" Tristan asked.

"You're old."

"What?" Rory scoffed.

"You guys are too old to have more kids. It would be embarrassing. It's bad enough you're always pawing at each other."

"Aw, honey, how do you think you came along?" Rory pawed at her daughter, in jest.

"Gross."

The doorbell rang, and Jake moved to open the door. "Saved by the bell," he uttered.

Jess was on the other side, Ambrose and Jules with overnight bags in tow. He let them in, and shut the door.

"Welcome to the baby-making factory," Ella said, hugging her godfather.

"The what now? Rory?" Jess asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Well, we have been challenged," Tristan tilted his head to one side, as if in thought.

"Ignore them all. You off right away or do you want to wait for pizza?" Rory asked Jess.

"I should get going. It's getting late," he shrugged.

"Alright. Drive safe," Rory hugged him, and he nodded to Tristan as he turned to leave.

"Do nothing to make them sorry they took you in," Jess ordered his children as he stood in the door, ready to leave.

"Bye," Ambrose said, having come down from throwing his bag in Jake's room.

"Bye," he said, closing the door behind him.

"Okay, everyone get drinks, pizza should be here soon!" Rory called out as she moved to answer the ringing phone.

"Hello?"

"Rory?"

"Oh my God! Paris, how are you?"

"Look, Rory, I know it's been a while, but I'm really swamped and have no time to do the idle chitchat right now," Paris told her bluntly. "I need a favor."

"O-kay," Rory drawled, figuring Paris just had to be Paris.

"Look, Jane got into four different colleges out there, and she needs to go tour them to make up her mind. I tried to talk her out of it, telling her that if you've seen one brick and limestone hallowed hall, you've seen them all, but no, she just keeps talking about getting a feel for the place. I swear, Marty put her up to this," Paris droned.

"Paris, what schools?"

"Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Brown."

"Wow, impressive."

"Yeah. Have you heard about Ella yet?"

"They're rolling in. We've got Yale, Princeton, and Harvard, we're waiting for Sarah Lawrence and UNC."

"Tell me she isn't considering UNC."

"Yes, Paris, she's considering them all until she hears from them all."

"Well, there is no way Ivy League schools are going to accept her and state schools aren't."

"Technically, she'd be out of state, so it's a bit harder, but yeah, I'm not worried. Well, I'm worried that she'd choose it."

"So, can you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Take Jane."

"Well, when would she need to come out here?"

"Next weekend. I have her flight information right here, do you have a pen?"

"Paris, what if we have plans? You can't just," Rory started.

"Rory, come on! I can't send her off to stay with my folks! They're freaks. It's bad enough she's got this carefree 'People are good and the world is my oyster' attitude from her father."

"You married him," Rory laughed.

"Well, I didn't say I didn't love him, I'm just saying he's crazy," Paris smiled.

"Right. Well, I guess we can arrange something. Maybe she and Ella can hit some places together, while she's deciding too."

"Great," she paused, "Damn, there's my pager. I'll call you later with details."

"Great," she said sarcastically before her friend hung up.

"Hey, who was that?" Tristan asked, coming into the kitchen with a stack of pizzas.

"Dr. Death," Rory rolled her eyes.

"How is Paris?"

"She's shipping young Jane off to us, to help her choose colleges."

"When?"

"Next weekend. Hope she likes Stars Hollow."

"So, you're going to be able to leave by next weekend?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah, I can definitely bring what I don't get done with me from work, besides, I think Ella might murder me in my sleep if she doesn't get back soon."

Tristan shook his head and laughed as he opened up the pizza boxes and grabbed a couple of slices for himself as the kids filtered in to get food as well.

&&&&

Will came home after his last Friday class, ready to just relax at home. He'd been going non-stop all week with school, plus he'd agreed to help his mom set up for some wedding this week at the Dragonfly. He hadn't been this tired in a long time. Not only were his days busy, but also he just couldn't rest at night. He worried about Anna. She hadn't answered his emails or returned his calls. He got her roommate a couple of times, but he felt bad for hounding her like this. Tonight, he was just going to forget about everything and relax. He even had the apartment to himself for a while, as Dave was already out with Mallory.

Relaxing on the couch, he called for a pizza and flipped on the television. He'd just about glazed his mind over watching old Seinfeld reruns, when the phone rang. He reached over into the couch cushions where the ringing was emanating from.

"'Lo?"

"Will Danes?"

"This is he."

"Oh, good, Will, this is Sarah. We talked earlier this week, I'm Anna's roommate."

He sat up straight, trying to brace himself for whatever this girl might say.

"I think you should come. I didn't know who else to call, her parents don't seem to be home, and I found your number in her cell phone. Can you come?"

"What happened?" he asked, already pulling on shoes and grabbing his keys.

"She hasn't left her room in two days. I've brought food for her, and offered to do everything under the sun for her, but she won't talk. She's just laying in bed, crying."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Just, keep watching her," he instructed, hanging up the phone and heading out the door. He couldn't think about anything other than getting to her as quickly as he could.