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

Chapter 11

Logan parked his car in the first parking spot he saw. He had just gotten into town and he'd already seen half of it. He looked around at the place Rory had grown up. The place called Stars Hollow. She had left campus early because her afternoon classes had been cancelled, so he decided to surprise her to try begging for forgiveness one more time. He walked down the street. God he needed coffee. He scanned the area for a place that looked like it would serve coffee. Logan spotted Luke's Diner across the street and hurried over. He walked inside and sat down at the counter as he waited to be served.

Jess spotted the little rich boy sitting at the counter and rolled his eyes. With his ordering pad in hand, he walked over to him. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Coffee," Logan replied.

"Anything else?"

"No. Just coffee." Jess put a cup on the counter and poured Logan some coffee. "Thanks. Hey, you wouldn't happen to know…"

"Caesar, I'm taking my break," Jess said, interrupting Logan. He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the diner.

"What a rude jerk," Logan mumbled to himself. He finished his coffee, put money on the counter, and left. As he turned the corner, he bumped into someone.

"Ah jeez," Luke said as he dropped the papers in his hands. He bent over and gathered all his papers.

"I'm sorry about that sir. I didn't see you," Logan apologized.

"Don't worry about it." Luke looked up and looked at Logan. He was definitely an out of towner, no doubt a rich kid. "Just watch where you're going next time."

"I will." With a nod, Logan was off. He had just enough time to stop by a local place, grab some flowers, and head on over to Rory's house. He spotted some flowers outside a place called Doose's and grabbed a few. As he paid for the flowers, he spotted the bag boy. There was something familiar about him. Logan swore he had seen him before. Dean stared back at the man buying the flowers and thought the same thing. After getting the flowers, Logan headed for the Gilmore residence.

Minutes before Logan arrives…

Jess walked up to the house and took out his key. He went straight to his room and went to get the book he had come for. Right as he headed up the stairs, Rory pulled into the driveway. She got out of her car and walked in from the back. Just as she walked in, Jess walked out, missing each other by mere seconds.

As Jess headed down the porch steps, he looked up to see the rich kid from earlier. "Hey," he greeted in his usual monotone voice. Logan just stared at him. "Right." Jess moved past Logan and headed back to the diner.

Logan couldn't believe it. Rory was home, alone, with another man. The diner guy at that! How could she! He felt foolish. He turned on his head and headed back down the path before he made a complete fool of himself. He was half way down the path when Rory walked out the front door.

"Logan?" she called. Logan stopped and faced her. "What are you doing here?" He said nothing. Rory spotted the flowers in Logan's hand. "Are those for me?"

"Who was that?" Logan asked.

"Who was who?"

"Don't act dumb Rory. I saw that guy walk out of the house. The guy from the diner." Rory tried to figure out what Logan was talking about. She had just spoken to Luke."Fine. Act like that. I'm leaving." Logan dropped the flowers and headed back down the path. He stopped after a few steps and faced Rory again. "I can't believe you. I came to apologize to you only to find out you're cheating on me with some townie! No wonder you won't let me meet your parents. Diner boy's already got their blessing!"

"I'm not seeing a townie! I'm not cheating on you!"

"Then who was that guy?"

"I don't know!"

"So strange men just walk in and out of your house?"

"It wouldn't be the first time."

"Well when you figure out who the hell that was and what you want, give me a call. Otherwise, goodbye and good riddance." Rory watched as Logan left. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but Logan may have just broken up with her.

Rory walked into the diner and headed straight for the counter. She saw Jess headed toward her and before she knew it, he was dragging her off to the side. "What are you doing? Jess, let go of me," Rory said.

"Are they behind me?" he asked.

"Who?"

"Luke and your mom. Are they behind me?"

"No. Why?"

"I walked in on them."

"So?"

"I walked in on them," Jess said slowly, emphasizing every word.

"Oh. Oh! Ew! When? How? Ew!"

"Yeah. I was getting something in the storage room and...there they were. Man, I'm never going to look at pancakes the same way again."

"I don't even want to know."

"I wish I didn't." Just then, Luke walked out of the storage room buttoning up his shirt with Lorelai right behind him. They paused when they saw Jess. "Hey," Jess greeted, not looking at Luke or Lorelai in the eye.

"Hey," Luke greeted awkwardly. "Hey Rory."

"Hi Luke," Rory said, trying not to laugh. "Hi Mom."

"Hey sweetheart. Oh, did I tell you about dinner?" Lorelai asked.

"What dinner?"

"We're going up to Hartford tonight for Friday night ."

"You made up with Grandma?" Lorelai nodded. "Yay! I'm glad you did."

"Me too."

"Have a fun time with the in-laws," Jess teased. "Too bad I won't have to witness it."

"Oh but you don't have miss it. You're going," Luke stated.

"What?"

"Emily has a thing for re-meeting people. Go home, shower, and wear something nice. Dinner's at seven." Luke looked over his shoulder and saw Jess standing there. "What are you waiting for? I said get ready for dinner."

"Now?"

"No tomorrow. Yes now!"

"Alright. Don't have a heart attack." Jess went to get his jacket from the back.

"I should get home too. I have to get ready if we're going to be on time," Rory said.

"Ok sweetie. We'll see you in an hour," Lorelai said.

Rory and Jess left the diner at the same time. "Hey Lorelai, you told Rory Jess is staying with us right?" Luke asked.

"Of course I...uh oh."

Rory and Jess headed down the street together. "So you're back," she said attempting to make conversation.

"Yeah. I wanted to spend some time with Luke before the wedding," Jess remarked.

"How's that going?"

"It's ok. We're going fishing Monday."

"Luke taught me how to fish once. Well, he tried to at least."

"Didn't work out huh?"

"Not really. I kept making mistakes. I think I'm getting better at it though."

"Cool." They walked silently the rest of the way to the house.

They both turned into the path to the house, shocking Rory. "What are you doing?"

"Going inside."

"Why?"

"Because I'm staying here."

"What?"

"Your mom offered me the guest room so I wouldn't have to live in my car for three months. Is that a problem?"

"No. No problem." Rory opened the door and walked in. She was going to kill her mom when she got home.

"Be on your best behavior," Luke said as they all got out of the Jeep.

"Ok," Jess replied.

"I'm serious Jess. No messing around. Be courteous, mind your manners, and watch your mouth. No smart ass remarks or profane words. And nothing about the diner."

"Why not?"

"Because it's rustic. And no truck talk either."

"Why? Is it antique?"

"No. Well, yeah. But no. Just don't talk about the damn truck. Oh and when they ask you what you want to drink, don't say beer. No beer tonight. It's nitwit juice." Luke rang the doorbell. "And fix your tie."

The door opened and they were greeted by the new maid. After handing their coats to the maid, they went into the living room where Emily was waiting for them.

"Oh, you're here!" she said excitedly. "Richard! They're here!"

"Grandpa's here?" Rory asked.

"Ah, there you all are," Richard smiled as he entered the room.

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

"Tonight is a very special night Lorelai. My only daughter is getting married and officially announcing her engagement and bringing her fiancé to the family. It's proper procedure that I attend this momentous dinner."

"But you already know we're getting married."

"Yes I know, but now it's official."

"So it wasn't for the past two weeks?"

"Lorelai, there are certain ways things are done. Tonight Luke Danes is introduced to the Gilmore family as your fiancé. And now it is official."

"I still don't get it."

"You don't have to. Now, we've tried this once before. Let's see if we can get it right this time. And who would this young man be?"

"Oh. Richard, this is my nephew Jess Mariano. Jess, this is Lorelai's father Richard Gilmore," Luke introduced.

"Hey," Jess greeted. Luke elbowed Jess in the side. "I mean hello Mr. Gilmore."

"Hello Jess," Richard greeted, extending his hand to the young man. Luke gave Jess a look and Jess shook Richard's hand. "Nice to meet you young man."

"I hope no one minds, but tonight we're going to have dinner first," Emily said.

"No drinks?" Lorelai whined.

"Drinks will be served after dinner," Richard sighed. "Come on, dinner is almost ready."

"Now that is the dad I remember," Lorelai whispered jokingly to Rory as they followed Richard and Emily to the dining room.

Behind them, Luke was whispering to Jess too. "You better quit," Luke whispered.

"What I do?" Jess asked.

"You don't say 'hey' to a man like Richard Gilmore! I told you not to be rude."

"I think that baseball cap permanently cut off the oxygen supply to your brain."

After dinner, they all retreated to the living room for drinks. "And now for the moment Lorelai has been waiting for," Richard joked. "What can I get everyone to drink?"

"Gin martini," Lorelai. Rory, and Emily replied at the same time.

"Martinis for the ladies," Richard laughed. "Luke, would you like a beer?"

"I'll have whatever you're having."

"Whiskey it is. Jess, can I fix you a drink?"

"A be...I'll have whiskey too," Jess replied, remembering what Luke said about beer.

Richard returned with a tray of drinks for everyone. He took his glass and sat down. "So Jess, I hear you lived with Luke a couple of years ago," he remarked.

"I did. When I was seventeen, my mom shipped me off to live with her big brother Luke in Stars Hollow." Luke shook his head at Jess's response.

"You don't call Luke 'uncle'?"

"I asked him not to," Luke chimed in.

"Are you in college?" Richard asked.

"Yes," Jess replied.

"You are?" Luke, Lorelai, and Rory asked at the same time.

"I was accepted into UCLA last year. I'm on a partial scholarship from the company I work for."

"Where do you work?" Emily asked.

"Wal-Mart. While I'm in town I'm going to be working for Luke."

"Luke, your nephew is a charming young man." Lorelai sighed. She had to call him charming. "Is something wrong Lorelai?"

"No Mom," Lorelai smiled. "Well as fun as this has been, we really need to be going. Luke has a...thing to do in the morning."

"What are you...ow! What was that for?" Luke yelled when Lorelai stomped on his foot. She gave him a look, pleading him to get them out of there. "Oh! That thing. Yeah. I have a...thing...in the morning."

"Then we should call it a night. We can't have you late for your thing," Richard said. They all stood to say goodbye.

"This was a wonderful evening," Emily commented. "I'm so glad you all came."

"It was nice being here. We should do it again sometime," Luke said. He grunted when Lorelai stomped on his foot again. "We should go."

"What the hell is wrong with you?!?" Luke yelled once the front door was shut. "Why did you keep stomping on my foot?"

"I was trying to get us out of there. And what was with that 'we should do this again' crap? We are not doing this again!"

"I was trying to be polite. You could have just said 'Luke, I'd like to leave now.' You didn't have to dig you six inch heel into my foot! I can barely feel it. You're driving home!"

"Oh give it a rest you big baby."

"Six inch heels!"

"I'll drive," Rory said, snatching the keys from Luke. "Get in the car and no fighting."

They all climbed into the Jeep. Luke and Lorelai sat in the backseat and Rory and Jess in the front.

"She started it," Luke mumbled.

"Did not," Lorelai retorted.

"Did too!"

"Hey! Don't make me come back there," Jess warned. He faced forward again and turned on the radio as Rory began to drive. "Kids, go figure."