A/N: Just for the record, the episode "Swan Song" did happen. Emily is being Emily and trying to make it seem as if she really does like Jess, but her feelings towards him are exactly what she expressed in that episode. She just doesn't want to screw things up with Lorelai again.

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

Chapter 12

Lorelai hurried into the living room. She was already late and Luke wasn't with her. The quicker she got into that room, the quicker the lecture would pass. "Hi Mom," Lorelai greeted. "I'm sorry I'm late. The inn was..." Lorelai was silenced when she saw a familiar face sitting on the couch next to Emily.

"You're late," Emily said as she stood. "When one makes an appointment, one should be there on time."

"No coffee...inn busy." She was too distracted to make a complete sentence.

"Where is your fiancé?"

"Huh?"

"Your fiancé. You know, the man you plan to marry. He's the guy living with you."

"Busy...no coffee."

"Honestly Lorelai, your manners are appalling. Do try to make a complete sentence. I'd like you to meet Rachel. She's a photographer. Rachel, this is my daughter Lorelai."

"Hello," Rachel greeted. She was just as shocked to see Lorelai as Lorelai was to see her.

"Hi," was all Lorelai could get out.

The doorbell rang and a minute later, Luke ran into the room. "Sorry I'm late," he said. "The diner was busy and we ran out of coffee. And that nephew of mine is no help at all. He just sat there. Lazy son of a...ah! Jesus Christ!" Luke yelled when he saw Rachel.

"What's the matter?" a concerned Emily asked. "Are you ok Luke?"

"Yeah, I just saw my life flash before my eyes."

"Oh. Rachel, this is my daughter's fiancé, Luke Danes. Rachel is a photographer."

"Hi Luke," Rachel greeted.

"Hey," Luke said.

"Where is Richard He knew you'd be here by now. Where is that man? I'll be right back, I'm going to get him." Emily left the room.

"Guess who I spoke to today," Luke stated as he took off his jacket.

"Who?" Lorelai asked.

"My cousin Randy and Barbra. They've got the kid that plays rugby. They wanted to know if I knew a good place to stay while they're in town for the wedding."

"They're already thinking about reserving a place?"

"They need to since they're coming up next weekend. Oh and they're not the only ones. No, no, no. They're all coming."

"What?"

"Each and everyone of those nut jobs are coming to Stars Hollow this weekend for our wedding that is in three months! I told you inviting them was a bad idea."

"Ok. We can handle this. All we need to do is put them somewhere for...three months."

"No, all we need to do is get them the hell away from us. Lorelai, Cousin Frannie's planning on coming."

"And why is that bad?"

"She wants to bring Petey with her and the damn thing hasn't learned any new words. I'm not putting up with three months of 'Gorgeous Petey. Gorgeous Petey'."

"God that's disturbing. But if they're planning to come already..."

"Gorgeous Petey. Gorgeous Petey!"

"Luke, stop..."

"GORGEOUS PETEY!!!!"

"Ok, ok! I'll put them in the inn and you will tell them they could only stay for the engagement party. Whoever doesn't have a permanent place to stay will have to go home and come back for the wedding. I'm so excited. I get to meet your family!"

"I'm sure they'll like you. I told them about you. Paul and Jim got you a fishing pole and tackle box. Cousin Steve already has your name in the family tree. And I'm sure the rest of them have gifts for you."

"Feel honored Lorelai, he never lets anyone meet his family," Rachel teased.

"You met my dad once," Luke said.

"For two seconds. Then you pushed me out of the hardware store."

"It was dangerous. Things fall."

"You've never let anyone meet your family?" Lorelai asked.

"I was always afraid they'd scare off my girlfriend. It happened with the first few. But you wanted to meet them so you're meeting them."

"Thank you Luke."

"You're welcome." Luke gave Lorelai a kiss on the lips. "Just promise me one thing."

"Anything."

"Promise me you won't leave me for a sock guy."

"Of course not. I'm more of a belt kinda gal."

"Lorelai."

"I promise I'll never leave you. You're turn."

"I'll never leave you. You couldn't get rid of me if you tried."

"You said we would discuss it on Friday when they came over for dinner," Richard said as he and Emily walked into the room.

"Friday night dinner is most certainly not the time to discuss wedding plans," Emily stated. "Do you expect them to run back and forth between the pool house and the main house each time one of us says something?"

"Let's just get this over with. I have a meeting in half an hour. Hello Rachel."

"Hello Mr. Gilmore, it's nice to see you again," Rachel greeted.

"You too. So, what were you all talking about before we walked in?" Richard asked as he sat down.

"My family's coming to town and we're figuring out what we're going to do," Luke replied.

"You know, we haven't met much of your family. We would love to meet your parents. Do you think they could join us for lunch sometime?"

Luke bit his lip and lowered his head. "Dad, don't," Lorelai pleaded.

"Lorelai, your father and I just want to meet Luke's mother and father," Emily said. "It's proper that we meet your future in-laws."

"You can't meet my parents," Luke blurted out.

"I beg your pardon?" Richard asked, stunned by Luke's outburst. He put his glass down and leaned forward. "And why not Luke?"

"Dad, please. Don't push this," Lorelai pleaded.

"I want to know why Luke does not want us to meet his parents!" Richard yelled as he jumped out of his seat.

"Because they're dead," Luke said. "My mother died when I was young and it's been about sixteen years since I lost my father."

The anger in Richard faded and he sat down. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry about your parents Luke," Emily said. She needed to change the subject and fast. "So, have you seen Rachel's portfolio? I've seen it. It is beautiful."

"I'm pretty sure we'll hire her," Luke remarked.

"And what makes you so sure?" Lorelai asked. "Luke, we have four other candidates."

"One. We have one other candidate."

"I'm pretty sure we have four."

"No. We have one. Kirk."

"What about the guy before him?"

"He hit on Rory."

"The guy before him?"

"He hit on you."

"What about the first guy?"

"He hit on me. I'm not letting some guy that hits on you, Rory, and especially me to be taking pictures at our wedding. All we'll get are butt shots."

"I like your butt."

"Ah jeez. Do you really want to see Kirk's stuff again? Especially that picture?"

"Oh God no! I saw it twice!"

"What picture?" Emily asked.

"Kirk, the other photographer, had a picture and it was…"

"He was naked," Luke interrupted.

"He wasn't naked. He was wearing a Speedo."

"Well hey, if you want to show your mother naked Kirk, be my guest."

"Rachel, you're hired."

"Thank you," Rachel laughed.

"I feel bad about the 'meet the in laws' situation," Luke remarked. "You guys have been so great, you should meet someone. There has to be someone. Lorelai, help me out."

"Liz and TJ?" Lorelai suggested.

"They met them last week. Buddy and Maisy! They practically raised me. They'repractically my parents. Your parents could meet Buddy and Maisy!"

"That's a great idea!" Lorelai smiled. "Why don't you two come to our house Friday and we'll take you to Buddy and Maisy's?"

"We could do that," Emily said. "We'll be at your house Friday at seven."

"Great. Seven it is. Well, we should get going," Luke said. "We have work to do at home."

Luke and Lorelai said their goodbyes and walked outside with Rachel behind them. "So Rachel, when did you get back to Connecticut?" Lorelai asked.

"About a week ago. I had a photo shoot for Yale alumni and your parents were there," Rachel replied. "I didn't think you owned shirts that weren't flannel Luke."

"Very funny," Luke said.

"How long have you two been together?"

"About a year and a half now," Lorelai replied. "Where you headed after the wedding?"

"Actually, I was thinking about moving back to the Hollow. Permanently," Rachel replied.

"Yeah, right," Luke laughed.

"Luke," Lorelai scolded. "Rachel, why don't you have dinner with us tonight?"

"That would be nice," Rachel smiled. "Eight sound good?"

"Eight is perfect. Hey, Michel and Sookie are fine taking care of the inn and Rory won't be home until tonight. Why don't you and I spend sometime together before dinner?"

"Sure."

"Great. Luke, we'll see you at home." Lorelai kissed Luke on the cheek and she and Rachel went to her car before Luke could say anything.

"I really need to start putting my foot down," Luke sighed

Luke walked into the diner and hung his jacket on the rack behind the counter. When he looked up, he noticed Rory sitting at the counter. "Hey," Luke greeted as he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt. "I thought you weren't going to be home until tonight."

"I decided to come up earlier. Jess and I have work to do," Rory replied. "Where's Mom?"

"Out. With Rachel."

"Rachel? Your ex Rachel?"

"Yup."

"When did you see her?"

"At your grandparents'. She's going to be the photographer for the wedding."

"Weird."

"Tell me about it. She and your mom are out spending time together."

"Hey," Jess greeted as he came downstairs. "How was the thing?"

"Fine." Luke noticed there was half a pot of coffee. "Jess, did you get coffee?"

"Yeah. The dance lady was bugging me so I went and got a few cans. No big deal."

"Thanks."

"Whatever."

"I'll be back. I forgot my wallet in the car," Rory said.

"Not like you pay for the food here anyway," Luke teased. Rory stuck her tongue out at him. He turned around to refill the pot, then heard the bells above the diner door chime. "That was quick. Did you park across the street or something?" He looked up to see Max Medina at the counter. "Hello."

"Oh, hello," Max greeted uncomfortably. "I needed coffee and this was the closest place."

"Coffee's gonna be a minute. Have a seat."

Max sat down at the counter and waited for his coffee. "I wanna apologize about the other night. I didn't know you and Lorelai would be there."

"Don't worry about it."

"Emily Gilmore suggested the restaurant to the faculty for the dinner."

"I know." Luke handed Max his coffee.

"It was a goodbye dinner."

"For who?"

"Me. I taught a class in LA last semester. They offered me a job as a Literature professor so told Chilton. I go back to UCLA and find out they gave someone else the position. By then, Chilton had already found a new teacher and I was suddenly out of a job. I took the first one offered to me."

"Good for you."

"I don't want there to be some kind of weirdness between us because of Lorelai and all. We can still be friends right?"

"We were never friends to begin with."

"We can be though. Right?"

"I guess."

"I mean we're going to run into each other."

"I wouldn't count on it."

"Oh I would. I'm here because I'm moving to Stars Hollow."

"What?"

"I was offered a job at Stars Hollow High." There was an uncomfortable silence between the two men. "So…how's Lorelai?"

"She's fine."

"Good. That's good. Are you two…seeing each other?"

"Kinda. We're engaged."

"Oh. Well, congratulations."

"Thanks." Again, the silence.

"Well I should get going," Max said. "It was nice seeing you and thanks for the coffee." He took out his wallet.

"It's on the house."

"Thank you." Max headed for the door.

"Hey Max," Luke called. "Do you wanna get a beer or something?"

"Right now?"

"Sure."

"But the coffee."

"Don't worry about it. Besides, it was on the house remember?"

"Right. Ok. Let's go."

"I'm gonna get my jacket. I'll meet you outside." Luke disappeared behind the curtain.

Max took a deep breath and headed for the door. Just as he was walking out, Rory was headed back in. They stared at each other awkwardly for a minute.

"Come on," Luke said, putting his hand on Max's shoulder and leading him out. Rory stared in shock as she watched the two men walk down the street.