Chapter 2: White Christmas and Unexpected Visitors

The Gilmore girls strolled along the streets of Stars Hollow taking in the gorgeous scenery of the late spring that would soon turn to summer.

"Okay so for tonight, " Rory was saying, "were having a musical marathon."

"Right," replied Lorelai, "you know, the usual: Singin' in the Rain, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, White Christmas…"

"Too bad its June and almost summer Mom." Rory laughed at her mother.

"So? That doesn't mean that I'm not… dreaming of a white Christmas…" Lorelai started singing in a squeaky, off key pitch. Shaking her head, Rory briskly walked away from her mother and into Luke's, swiftly closing the door behind her so that Lorelai's singing disability would not follow her.

"Luke save me! She's singing," Rory exclaimed with a laugh just as Lorelai burst into the diner with a theatrical swing of her arms.

"And may all you Christmases be whiteeeeee!" Lorelai finished with a
"ta-da!" and wiped her brow. "Whew, it's hard work being a talented singer!" she exclaimed, taking a seat at the counter.

"Oh and you would know because… you've interviewed one recently?" Rory retorted smartly, raising an eyebrow. After immaturely sticking her tongue out at her daughter, Lorelai then turned to Luke, who had been absently watching their immense displays of affection.

"Coffee. Now. Please," Lorelai demanded, smiling angelically at the man in the baseball cap. Sighing heavily, Luke removed the pot of freshly brewed coffee and poured Lorelai and her daughter steaming hot cups of java.

"You know one these days you're going to drink much coffee that you'll explode and I'll have to clean up the mess," Luke said, hiding his smile extremely well.

"So if I were to explode, all you'd care about is the mess?"

"If you stained my wall with coffee, yes," he replied, folding his arms smugly. "You'd care too… you're the one who painted them!"

"True," Lorelai pondered, " but if it's just the matter of ruining a paint job, then I prefer to drink a lot of coffee."

"You forgot the whole exploding thing," Rory pointed out.

"Oh yeah, well… you win some, you lose some. I can deal with exploding if it means lots and lots of coffee." Lorelai smiled and took a sip of her coffee. "Ah… yup… definitely worth an explosion."

"It really is amazing how a single comment can turn into a huge ordeal with you two," Luke added before he went to tend to another customer. Lorelai and Rory glanced at each other and giggled.

After a moment or two, Luke returned to refill the already emptied coffee cups.

"So, what prompted the singing of White Christmas?" Luke asked, "Did you get confused about the seasons or something?"

"What's with the anti-Christmas spirit?" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Uh well it could be that it's June," Luke answered matter-of-factly.

"So? Your point being?"

"Oh never mind. You're impossible."

"But I'm cute."

"That doesn't mean you're not impossible."

"So you think I'm cute?"

"Well yeah. I mean no. I mean. Well. Um," Luke stammered, his cheeks slightly flushed. The three of them sat there in a moment of silence, Luke looking embarrassed.

"Luke thinks my Momma's cute!" Rory teased, a playful smile flying across her lips. Before anyone could reply, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Well I think you're cute." Rory whipped her head around in excitement.

"Logan! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, standing up to hug her boyfriend. Their relationship, though in the early stages, was going exceptionally well and Rory was delighted to see him.

"Well I know we were supposed to see each other tomorrow night, but this whole not seeing you every day due to summer vacation thing was killing me. I just missed you that's all," he said, smiling down at her.

"How sweet, " she said, standing up on the balls of her feet to kiss him. Rory then settled back down into her seat and Logan took the stool next to her.

"Hey Logan," Lorelai said smiling warmly at the tall blond.

"Nice to see you, Lorelai," he replied politely.

"Logan, this is the infamous Luke," Rory said, introducing the two.

"Finally I get to meet you, "Logan said leaning over and shaking Luke's hand firmly, " thanks for supplying her with all the coffee when she comes back to town. She's completely dysfunctional without it, I'm sure. I don't think I'd ever like to find out for myself," Logan laughed.

"It's no problem. I figure the world is a lot better off with coffee filled Gilmores… even if it does stain my walls," Luke said slyly, glancing at Lorelai, and leaving Logan slightly confused.

"Don't ask, " interjected Rory, "hey, let's go take a tour of the town!"

"I'd love to," Logan said standing up from his seat. "Nice to meet you Luke. See you later Lorelai."

"Bye mom," Rory added, kissing her mother on the cheek, "thanks for the coffee Luke."

"Anytime replied Luke, smiling as the couple turned to exit.

"Bye guys," Lorelai called after them as they left, hand in hand. Lorelai leaned against the counter and rested her chin against the palm of her hand.

"He seems very nice," Luke commented.

"Yeah, he is. And he's been good for Rory," Lorelai replied, smiling. "Okay, so back to you thinking I'm cute." Lorelai's angelic smile turned to a devilish grin.

"I never said that," Luke exclaimed defensively.

"Oh come on, you know I'm right. Just say it!" Luke said nothing. He just gave Lorelai a coy smile, and walked into the kitchen.

"You're going to answer me sooner or later. And I'm not leaving until you do!" Lorelai called after him. Hearing the echo of her voice, Luke smiled thinking that wasn't a bad idea at all. Little did he know that Lorelai was thinking the same exact thing.


Outside, Rory and Logan were strolling around the town square, seeing the sights of Stars Hollow.

"Hey Miss Patty," Rory called as they passed her dance studio.

"Rory! Hello!" catching sight of Logan she added, "hello handsome! And who might you be?"

"Logan Huntzberger," he quickly replied, shaking her hand in the process, "nice to meet you."

"No honey, very nice to meet you," Miss Patty said, raising an eyebrow.

"I was just showing Logan the sights," Rory explained.

"Okay you kids go on. Hope to see you again, very soon." Miss Patty turned and sauntered back into her dance studio. Logan wrapped his arm around Rory's waist and kissed her on the top of her head.

"Sorry about that. Miss Patty loves men. Especially cute men. It's what she lives for."

"That's fine. She was sweet. A tad forward, yet sweet," Logan laughed, but got no response. He suddenly realized Rory had stopped dead in her tracks and was staring at some unknown object. Following her shocked gaze, he saw the thing that had gained her undivided attention. There stood a male with dark, unruly hair. His skin was tanned and weathered and he wore faded jeans, a black "Ramones" tee shirt and a beat up old pair of Vans.

"Rory? What's going on? Who is that guy?" Logan asked, a tone of concern in his voice. For a few moments, there was complete silence. Rory continued to gaze at this unknown boy with a look of immense disbelief on her face. Then in a hardly audible whisper, she managed to let one word escape from her lips.

"Jess."