Disclaimer: I still don't own the Gilmore Girls. Although, I wish I owned Luke and Jess.

Chapter 9

Luke rolled his eyes as he listened to TJ, Jackson, and Bootsy argue. Why any of them assumed they would be his best man boggled his mind. Although, it did amuse him to watch TJ try to kick Bootsy as Jackson put him in a head lock and Bootsy pull at Jackson's leg, trying to get him to fall. It was so amusing he had Caesar snap a few shots before they realized how ridiculous they looked or they broke something, which ever came first.

"Hey Luke, do you have a minute?" Kirk asked as he approached the counter.

"Yeah, but make it quick. I think Jackson's going to body slam Bootsy," Luke joked.

"I wanted to give you this." Kirk handed Luke a piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"It's my application for the position as your best man, complete with references and…"

"Ok, ok. I'll look at it later and get back to you tomorrow. Hey, how well do you wrestle?"

"I'm not good at all. Why?"

"Because your head is gonna be under Jackson's arm tomorrow. Hey boys! We got another challenger in the running for best man position!"

TJ, Jackson, and Bootsy turned and stared at Kirk. The looks on their faces said 'fresh meat.' "Uh oh," Kirk said. He ran out of the diner with the other three men hot on his trail.

"Why are you doing that?" Liz asked from the table she was at with Lorelai and Sookie.

"Doing what?" Luke asked innocently.

"You're stringing those guys on."

"I am not. I never said I was going to pick one of them to be my best man."

"So why are you letting them beat each other up?"

"I needed some entertainment."

"I'm glad to know you find humor in other people's pain."

"Oh no!" Sookie gasped.

"What?" Liz asked.

"Jackson just tackled Bootsy into a rose bush."

"Luke, you have to pick someone before they kill each other," Lorelai chimed in.

"There goes TJ. He tried to tackle Kirk and hit one of those newspaper dispensers. Jackson's back up. Run Kirk, run!" Sookie said as she stared out the window.

"Why do these guys want to be my best man anyway? I think TJ's crazy, no offense Liz. I barely know Jackson, I hate Bootsy, and I used to beat Kirk up when we were kids," Luke remarked.

"I guess they like you beside the fact you're a grump," Lorelai said.

"They're headed for Doose's. I can't see what happens if they head to Doose's!" Sookie cried.

"I'm not picking any of those four loons to be my best man. I'll figure it out sooner or later," Luke said.

"It better be before the wedding," Liz teased. "Hey, are you inviting Paul and Jim?"

"No."

"What about Marc?"

"No."

"Who's Marc?" Lorelai asked.

"He's our cousin. He used to live in Stars Hollow and was best friends with Luke," Liz explained.

"Liz, that's enough," Luke said.

"How come I never heard of him?" Lorelai asked.

"It doesn't matter. I haven't spoken to him since he left the Hollow after high school."

"Oh my God Luke, I just figured out who you have to invite," Liz remarked. "The Colonel."

"The Colonel? Are you crazy?!? I am not inviting the Colonel!"

"Who's that?" Lorelai asked.

"My you're full of questions today. The Colonel was Dad's youngest brother. Liz, if I'm not going to invite Marc, what in the world makes you think I'm going to invite his father?"

"The Colonel is going to find out about the wedding and when he does, he's going to wonder why he wasn't invited. I know for a fact that'll be one confrontation you'll want to avoid."

"I'm not inviting the Colonel or Marc or Paul and Jim. I'm not inviting any of them. Buddy and Mazie, I will invite."

"He'll definitely find out if you invite them."

"You know Luke, you haven't told me who you are inviting from your family," Lorelai remarked.

"Easy. None of them."

"You're not inviting the family? You have to invite them!" Liz said.

"Why?"

"Because they're family!"

"They're not going to come. They'll make up some stupid reason not to come and I'll have wasted my time thinking they would."

"They'll come."

"They didn't go to your wedding."

"I don't want to hear Uncle Frank throw a fit because he didn't get an invitation to his favorite nephew's wedding. Besides, I'd have to explain to them why you don't want them there!"

"Uncle Frank is a crazy old man that calls everyone his favorite nephew. How are they going to hear about it anyway?"

"They're going to hear about this. Patty will call them."

"Just invite your family Luke," Lorelai pleaded.

"Invite your mom," Luke said.

"No."

"You don't invite your mom, I don't invite my family."

"That's no fair. Mom's one person."

"My family shares one brain. Even trade."

"Luke."

"I don't need any of them there. The only family I want at the wedding is Liz and TJ. I'm waiting to hear from Jess. Who, by the way, hasn't returned any of the five calls I left him this week. I have to get back to work now." With that, Luke walked into the kitchen.

The bell above the door chimed and Rory walked in. "Hi guys," she greeted.

"Hey Rory," they all replied.

"Hey did you see the chaos out side? Bootsy's in a rose bush, TJ took out a newspaper dispenser, Kirk and Jackson went through a Doose's fruit stand, taking Taylor out with them. Babette says he stepped right into their path and they almost tossed him through a window."

"I better see if Jackson's ok," Sookie said as she stood and headed for the door.

"I'm gonna check on TJ," Liz said, following Sookie out.

"Why don't you sit down kiddo," Lorelai offered.

"Thanks," Rory thanked, sitting down next to her mother.

"You ready to go back to campus?"

"Yeah. All my bags are in the car. Is Lane ready?"

"Yup. She brought her bags in with her this morning and stashed them upstairs. I think it's great that Lane is spending the week with you. It seems like you two never hang out."

"I know. When I'm here, I only see her when I come here."

"You're sure Paris won't mind?"

"She won't I double checked this morning."

"Hey Rory," Luke greeted as he walked out of the kitchen.

"Hey Luke. You missed the Taylor take down," Rory said.

"I did? Damn. Was it good?"

"So I hear. Hey, where's Lane?"

"In the back. Lane! Your ride's here!"

Lane came running out of the back. "Rory! Ok, I just have to get my bags and then we can leave," she said quickly.

"I'll go help," Rory said. She stood and followed Lane upstairs.

A minute later, Taylor came limping into the diner. Luke looked up and tried to contain a laugh. "Nice trot you got there Taylor," Luke teased.

"Don't give me that young man. I know you know what happened to me," Taylor said as he took a seat at the counter.

"Answer me one question Taylor. You saw those guys trying to murder each other. Why in the hell would you walk through them?"

"They were headed straight for the stand! I though I'd try to stop them. Who knew they would be moving so fast or hit so hard?"

"Obviously, not you. You want some coffee Taylor?"

"Yes please."

Luke turned around and prepared a new pot of coffee. He didn't look when the bells above the door chimed again. "Coffee's gonna be a minute."

"Why don't you get some help around this place? The service is slow," whoever walked in said.

"Hey buddy, if you don't like it you can just..." Luke turned around and stopped talking when he saw who walked in.

"Hey there Uncle Luke," Jess smiled.

"Jess," Luke smiled. He put the coffee pot down and ran over to his nephew, giving him a big hug. "I can't believe you're here!"

"I got your messages and headed out here as fast as I could. Hi Lorelai."

"Hello Jess," Lorelai smiled from her table.

"So why are you here?" Luke asked ash he and Jess headed to the counter.

"My uncle's getting married. I had to come," Jess replied.

"The wedding isn't until February."

"I thought I'd stop by for a visit."

Luke took out cups for Taylor and Jess and filled them both with coffee. "For three months?"

"A long visit."

"Where you staying?"

"Uh...in my car."

"What?"

"Mom doesn't know I'm here and I really don't want to stay with TJ anyway."

"Well, I don't want you staying in your car for three months." Luke leaned over the counter so he was closer to Jess and no one could hear him. "I'll talk to Lorelai later and see if I can get you a room at the inn."

"You don't have to do that."

"I want to. You can work here to pay off the bill and so you'll have a few extra bucks."

"Thanks Luke."

"Ok, we're ready to go," Rory announced as she stepped out from behind the curtain with an armful of Lane's bags. She looked up and froze when she saw Jess sitting at the counter.

"Do you want some help Rory?" Luke asked. Rory didn't move or say anything. "Right. Jess, go help Rory with those bags."

"Sure." Jess got up and most of the bags from Rory.

All the while, she stood there, completely still, and watched him. She couldn't believe he was really there. Rory looked at Lorelai, not too sure what she was looking for. Lorelai just smiled. Oh this was going to be very interesting.

Lorelai walked into the living room and handed Luke a cup of tea. "Thanks," he smiled.

"You're welcome," Lorelai said. "So, that was one surprise Jess pulled on us today."

"Yeah. Thanks for inviting him to dinner."

"You're welcome. I thought it would be a good idea to catch up with him."

"It was nice wasn't it?"

"Mm hm. Where is he now?"

"He's heading over to see his mom."

"So, did you ask him?"

"Ask him what?"

"To be your best man. And don't say you weren't going to ask him. I know you were. That's why you've been so hesitant to choose from the other four."

"Yeah, I asked," Luke said as he walked into the room and got into bed.

"Oh by the way, if you're wondering, I heard from Sookie. Jackson walked out of the hospital with twelve stitched. Liz said TJ suffered a very mild concussion. And Patty says Kirk is sore, but fine and Bootsy is going to have to sit on one of those doughnut things for a while."

"Wonderful. Hey, I was wondering. Do you think you can get me a room at the inn?"

"Planning a night out with your mistress?"

"It's not for me. It's for Jess. He's staying in his car and I thought he might be able to stay at the inn while he's here. He doesn't feel comfortable staying with Liz and TJ and I don't feel comfortable with him staying in the apartment above the diner."

"Luke, I can't let Jess stay at the inn."

"Lorelai, please. I know you don't like him much, but it would mean a lot to me."

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I want him to stay with us."

"What?"

"Yeah. That way we won't have to worry about him being uncomfortable and you can keep an eye on him twenty-four hours a day."

"What about Rory?"

"She'll be at school most of the time."

"What about Thanksgiving? And Winter break?"

"Then she'll deal with Jess being here for the few weeks she is. No big deal."

"You're sure about this?"

"Positive. He can stay in the guest room."

"Alright. I'll tell Jess tomorrow."

"Great." They turned off their lights and laid down. "Hey Luke."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what's an interesting type of music?"

"What?"

"Country."

"Country?"

"Yeah. I think it's pretty cool. What about you?"

"I guess it is."

"Yeah. And Gary Allen. He's pretty good."

"You think so?"

"Yeah. Well, good night sweetie."

"Night." Luke lay awake for a while longer, trying to figure out what Lorelai was hinting. He came to a conclusion. First thing tomorrow, he would go see Patty.