AN: Back again. As promised, here are the dates. Well, sort of part one of the dates. Thanks to all who are reviewing, hope you enjoy this installment.

Dave pounded on the bathroom door, eager to eject his friend so he could use the facilities as well. Usually they had no problems in sharing the single bathroom. But then again, Will have never spent over an hour at a time in there. Especially when Dave had to pick up Mallory in less than an hour.

"You aren't the only one with a date tonight, you know!"

Will opened the door, and stuck his well-groomed head out. "It's not a date."

"You shaved for the second time today, put gel in your hair, and are wearing a nice sweater, all to do what then?"

"We're just going to a movie."

"So, you aren't serious about my sister?"

Damn. Trying not to make this blaringly obvious and keeping the pressure to a minimum was failing quickly.

"What?"

"I know it's a date, Will, it's me. I heard her end of your phone call yesterday, and I saw her afterward."

"Is she excited?" he couldn't help himself.

"She was prancing around the house," Dave rolled his eyes. "The question is, are you excited? Or do you just have a new obsession with your reflection?"

Will sighed, and leaned into the doorframe. "So, it's a big deal. I admit it. I'm freaking out here, Dave."

"Why didn't you guys tell anyone?"

"We may as well have, as well as the secret's been kept. We just thought it would be best if we didn't have everyone scrutinizing our every move."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, my parents are clueless."

"Well, that makes one set."

"Lorelai knows?"

"And she told Dad. But she swears she won't tell your mom."

"Lorelai knows Mom would have the wedding planned by tomorrow morning."

"That's what she said."

Dave nodded. "Well, you smell pretty good, Dude."

Will looked at his friend strangely. It was by far the weirdest thing Dave had ever uttered in his presence.

"Just trying to be encouraging," Dave explained.

"Right. You don't have to do that."

Dave nodded, and Will went down the hall to retrieve his jacket and keys. He was holding his keys in his hand when it hit him.

"Damn it!"

Dave now stuck his head out the door, toothbrush in his mouth. "What?" he managed through a paste-filled mouth.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"What?" His friend appeared to have lost all knowledge he'd ever had in his head. "You mean like what to do on a date?"

"No, I mean we never decided on if I'm picking her up, or if she's coming here," he explained.

"So, call her."

"I'll look stupid."

"She already knows that," Dave said before disappearing back into the bathroom.

Will decided calling her was better than showing up at her still somehow unknowing parents' house, and took out his cell phone to finalize their plans.

&&&&

Jess sat across from Gwen at one of the nicer restaurants in Hartford. She was talking animatedly about the crazy old lady that lived down the hall from her. It turns out that she actually lives just down the block from him. She was proving to be as funny and nice as he'd first thought. She finished her story and took a drink of wine.

"So, you mentioned you were visiting family with your kids? How old are they?"

"Fifteen and fourteen."

"Wow. You do not look old enough to have two teenagers."

He smiled and nodded. "Full-on suck up mode, huh?"

"I'm just stating the obvious."

"Right. Well, I'm not that old. They keep me on my toes."

"Do you raise them alone?"

He paused, and found himself playing with his wedding ring with his thumb out of nervous habit. This was honestly the first time he'd realized the fact it was still on. He was wearing his wedding ring. On a date with someone who wasn't his wife. Luckily his hand was under the table, resting on his leg. He wondered if he should take it off—had she really not noticed it? He couldn't take it off; that would be a misrepresentation of the facts. He was married.

"Uh, no."

"Joint-custody?" she sounded hopeful.

"Not exactly. Look, there's something I need to tell you."

She looked worried suddenly. "Oh God. You're married."

"I'm, well, yeah. I am. Separated, but still married."

"Which is it?"

"What?"

"Separated or married?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it matters! One makes me the other woman, unknowingly and pissed off about it I might add, and one makes you not a slime ball!"

Other people were beginning to stare as her voice rose.

"Calm down, please just let me explain," he began, and she crossed her arms and cocked her head. She was going to let him explain. "My wife left a few weeks ago, after a lot of conversation between the two of us. We decided it would be better to try a separation, so she could move to California."

She nodded, and uncrossed her arms.

"She got a job offer, through this guy she used to work with. It turns out he was more than just a co-worker, however, so she's out there, with him. Meanwhile, I'm here, staying with my uncle for the holidays with my two kids, and then you show up."

"You are good," she ventured, biting her lip. "You're making me feel bad for you."

He pulled his left hand up to take a drink of his wine.

"Oh God. Yep, there it is," she motioned to his ring finger.

"Yeah. It never even occurred to me to take it off. It's never been off."

"So, this must really be hard for you."

"It's not easy."

"I went through this three years ago. No kids, thank God, but my ex-husband left me for another woman."

"Now, there's an idiot," he offered.

"Do you want to get back together with your wife?"

"I don't know," he admitted honestly.

She nodded. "Can I ask you one more question?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Why did you agree to go out with me?"

He smiled at her, and thought for a moment. "I hadn't had that much fun in a long time, as I had when I was talking to you."

"Wow. There's a compliment."

"I just figured even if it turned out, well, like this," he gestured, "that it would be better than sitting around wondering if some other man was fucking my wife."

"You like the graphic images, don't you?"

"Yeah, well."

"Besides, this isn't so bad."

He looked up in surprise. "No?"

"Oh, trust me. You should have seen me, on my first date back after Eric left," she cringed.

"What happened?"

"Well, my date ended up with my dessert all over his head, I cried 75 percent of the evening, and ended up with the world's worst hangover the next morning."

"Pleasant."

"Yeah. Not one of my finer evenings."

He took another sip of wine, taking in the atmosphere. It really was a nice place she'd suggested. He wasn't sure if this really would go anywhere, but he figured at least they'd probably be friends. She lived so close to him in the city, and that alone cemented their ability to stay in touch.

"Thanks," he said suddenly.

"For what?"

"For being understanding, for not storming out—and especially for keeping all your food off of my head," he snickered, and she threatened to launch some of her food off her spoon at him.

&&&&

Will sat down with the largest tub of popcorn the movie theater sold. Anna had saved their seats while he ran to the concessions stand. They'd just had dinner, but he figured having something to do with their hands couldn't hurt. Dinner had gone really well, at least, after she came over to the apartment and they got into his car from there. Dave had already left to get Mallory, though he warned Will he'd be back that night. As if Will would honestly try anything on the first date. Especially with what she'd gone through recently. It occurred to him then that a physical relationship with Anna might have to be put on hold indefinitely, depending on how she was recovering. That aspect had never really entered his mind before—he'd been concerned for her, but her willingness to get intimate with a guy again hadn't been his business. Until now, that is.

"Hey, is this for us, or our row?" she whispered, leaning over into his ear. The previews were just starting, and she hated people who talked loudly once the lights dimmed.

"Hey, only the best for my girl."

"Well, this girl is going to bust if I eat half of that," she giggled.

He smiled at her, and noticed her hand resting very close to his leg. He wondered if this were some sort of go-ahead to hold her hand. Suddenly he second-guessed all contact that she might not welcome. Luckily for him, during the second preview, she moved her hand to cover his, and he took her hand in his, as he'd done in the car the day before. Maybe it wasn't quite as difficult as he thought. Letting the girl lead in the physical areas had always been his style—something he'd picked up from sage advice from Jess and Tristan, not to mention his father. Respecting women was a part of how he was raised. And if there was anyone he respected, it was most definitely Anna.

&&&&

"Where's the kung-pao?"

"Where is the remote?"

"Is it the green peppers or the red peppers that make your head explode?"

Rory and Tristan worked at passing around the dozens of boxes of take-out as everyone attempted to get situated for food and games. All the teenagers, including Ella, Billy, and Jane—newly returned and starved from their road trip—had assembled just ten minutes earlier at Lorelai's house.

"Why do you need the remote?"

"I was going to play the movie trivia game," Jake explained.

"Try the couch cushions," Rory instructed.

"Did it."

"Under the coffee table?"

"Nope."

"On top of the television?"

"Why would it be on top of the television?"

"Just, humor me."

He moved through the crowd, and found the remote on top of the television, behind a candle that was perched on top as well.

"What good is a remote if you have to get up to get it?"

"We need to form teams," Tristan reminded, as there were only four game pieces and nine of them.

"Guys versus girls!" Ella yelled.

"Five against four, that's fair," Ambrose said smugly.

"Yeah, see how hot you are after you lose," Jules shook a chopstick in her brother's face.

"Hey, no eye removal via chopstick," Rory warned.

"Sorry," Jules smiled sweetly at Rory.

"Can I not play?" Jane asked.

"Why not?" Ella asked, sighing dramatically. Her actions caused Billy to laugh, and Tristan shot him a look. He'd noticed a closeness in the few minutes they'd been back that hadn't existed when they left. It was as if a sort of an unspoken conversation was constantly going on between them. He wasn't a big fan of this newfound closeness.

"I haven't seen a lot of movies, I won't be much help."

"There's a wide range of types of movies represented."

"Mom only lets me watch documentaries. Are there a lot of those on there?"

"Oh. My," Rory said, turning to Tristan.

"Hey, why don't you just be in charge of the remote, and if you feel like you want to play later, you can," he delegated.

"All right," she shrugged.

Everyone rearranged so the girls were on one side of the food-filled coffee table and the boys on the other, so they could confer in their groups. Jane sat at one end, in an armchair as she ate her steamed vegetables, remote in hand. Rory was relieved she'd remembered her dietary needs at any rate. Once they all got settled, the games began.

&&&&

Luke and Lorelai had enjoyed a lovely dinner. Over the years, as their businesses flourished, they'd never really taken to going out for fancy dinners. They continued going to tried and true favorites, but tonight he'd surprised her by taking her out to what had to be the nicest restaurant they'd ever frequented. It had a dance floor with a band in tuxes and everything, and that was where they currently were. She pulled in closer to her husband, enjoying the freedom from the hectic goings on in their lives. Tonight there were no kids, no marital strife, or grandchildren seeking out colleges (just in order to make her feel older than she was, thank you). Tonight it was just her and her favorite guy. If only she could quit talking about all of those things.

"Do you think the date is going well?"

"Ours? Yes, quite well," he tried to steer her away from where he knew she was going.

"No, Will's. How do you think it's going?"

"I'm sure it's fine. Quit worrying."

"Did you talk to him?"

"Lorelai, stop."

"This is huge—he hasn't been on a date since Bree."

"I highly doubt he's got her on his mind."

"I hope not. I feared she'd ruined him, at least for a while."

"Lorelai?" came Sookie's voice.

Lorelai turned away from Luke, to find her best friend. Sookie and Jackson came over to them, and as they made their way over, Lorelai leaned in to Luke.

"Mayday," she whispered.

"I know," he assured her, and they smiled at their friends.

"What are you guys doing here?" Lorelai asked.

"Jackson surprised me, isn't this place romantic?"

"Yeah, it is. Enjoying the childless night?"

"Completely!" Sookie giggled. "I feel bad for Rory and Tristan, though."

"Hey, they offered. She wants to grill Ella about colleges, anyhow."

"She still hasn't made a decision yet?"

"Not that I've heard of. How's it going with her and Billy?"

"Well, he's not very informative about it, and Jackson won't bug him about it," Sookie shot her husband a look before turning her attention back to Lorelai. "He calls her every other night, though, it's so cute!"

"It's expensive, that's what it is," Jackson corrected.

Luke nodded in agreement. Fathers tended to worry more about the financial aspects of these things, while the mothers enjoyed the cute factor.

"I just hope he's getting the college bug himself," Sookie sighed.

"He can't afford it, what little money there was is going to the phone company," Jackson interjected.

"I'm sure it'll kick in," Lorelai assured her.

"Yeah, even Jess went to college. If he can after his miserable excuse for a high school career, anyone can," Luke offered.

"Oh, yeah. I'd forgotten. And he turned out okay, didn't he?" Sookie sounded relieved.

Lorelai didn't have the heart to explain what Jess' current situation was. Sookie knew about Erin of course, but she feared talking about his date tonight would just bring up yet another discussion of separation, bring down the happy crowd—and worse start them talking about first dates. Any possibility of the topic of Will and Anna being brought up needed to be averted. Sookie would rightfully be excited at the prospect, but Lorelai had to respect this wish of her son. The two couples fell into a comfortable silence as they continued to dance to the live band in a state of 'away from the world of worries' bliss.