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

Chapter 14

Lorelai and Rory stepped into a diner full of Danes. They had arrived a day early and now Luke was busier then anticipated. Lorelai broke free from the family reunion when Rory called about her car breaking down, so Lorelai went to pick her up. "Oh my God," Rory gasped. "Are all these people Luke's relatives?"

"Yes and I have met almost every one of them," Lorelai replied.

"Funny, I thought Luke's family would be in flannel and backwards baseball caps."

"No, but cousin Lew wears pink pumps. He prefers to be called Peaches."

"Disturbing. I see Jess. I'll talk to you later." Rory made her way through the crowd to talk to Jess.

Lorelai spotted Luke and walked over to him. "Hey, flannel man. Got some coffee?"

"Wait your turn," Luke said.

"Hey, I remember this conversation. Should I follow you around the diner and bug you?"

"Not today Lorelai. I'm really busy."

"Aw come on. Play with me. I'll read you your horoscope."

"Later. I got more relatives for you to meet. This is Aunt Gertrude. Her son Jeff. That's Paul and Jim. Oliver is the one in the brown shirt. Next to him is Nancy. That's Ryan, Debbie, Shawn. Craig has the weird looking hat on. And that's Dominic behind Craig. Everyone, this is my fiancé Lorelai Gilmore."

"Hi," Lorelai greeted. "It's nice to meet all of you."

"She's a very beautiful young lady Lucas," Gertrude remarked.

"Isn't she?" Luke smiled.

"We didn't think he'd get married. The only other woman he was really serious with was Rachel," Jeff remarked.

"I thought he was gay for a while," Craig said.

"Oh Craig stop that. He dated pleanty of girls in highschool," Gertrude remarked. "There was that one girl. She was Taylor Doose's niece. What was her name?"

"Oh look Aunt Gertrude!" Luke interrupted. "Frannie's here and she brought Petey!"

"Good Lord, not that infernal bird."

"You dated Taylor's niece?" Lorelai asked with a chuckle as they left the table.

"Why do you think he hates me so much?" Luke replied.

"Oh my God. You're serious."

"I took her out on one date. No one asked her to the Homecoming dance freshman year and I felt bad so I asked her. I bring her home five minutes late and the next day, Taylor rips into me like I did something indecent to her. I've been on his bad side ever since."

"Hey," Rory said when she bumped into Luke and Lorelai. "I'm gonna go home for a while. I wanna take a nap before Grandma and Grandpa come over."

"Have you met everyone yet?" Luke asked.

"Not really. I've met Randy, Barbra, Randy and Barbra's kid, Maggie, Frannie…the bird! Oh my God, it's attacking Cousin Cliff!"

"What the? Frannie! Get that thing off of Clifford before I kill and deep fry it!" Luke ran across the room to deal with Petey.

"He has a cousin Clifford," Lorelai laughed. "It's like the big red dog."

"I guess Luke wasn't kidding when he said he and Jess are the normal ones," Rory said. "I met Peaches. He looks good in that dress."

"He really does. I wonder what size he is."

"While you ponder that thought, I'll be going. Bye Mom."

"Bye Sweets."

Rory stepped outside. She looked across the street and saw Dean and Lindsey. Lane had told her that they were working things out. Now that she was seeing it with her own eyes, Rory knew it had to be true. With a sunken heart, Rory started her slow walk home. When she arrived, Logan was yet again on the steps.

"I messed up," he said. "I really messed up Ace. I went home the other night and I realized how stupid I was. I'm not privileged. Not in the way you are. I acted like a jealous fool last time we saw each other. I said things I shouldn't have and I'm so very sorry for that. I'll understand if you'll never want to speak to me ever again, but I just needed to tell you I'm sorry and that I love you. I'll leave you alone now."

Rory grabbed Logan by the arm. "Why don't you come inside for a while?" she suggested. Logan nodded and followed Rory inside to her bedroom. "Do you want some coffee?"

"No, I'm fine." Then came the awkward silence. Neither of them knew what to say. Finally, Logan spoke up. "Rory, I…"

"Rory where's that book…" Jess interrupted when he burst into Rory's room. He froze when he saw Logan.

"Jess, you can't just barge in here. You have to knock," Rory said.

"Sorry. I didn't know you had company. Luke said you went home and I wanted the book you said I could borrow while I was forced to be in the same room as idiots."

"It's on the table, so leave."

"This is the guy I saw the last time I was here. The diner guy. Who is he?" Logan asked.

"I'm Luke's..." Jess started.

"He works for my dad at Luke's diner. His name is Jess," Rory interrupted. "He comes here a lot and he was just about to go home."

"What are you talking about?" Jess asked, confused. "I live he..."

"Jess, can I talk to you outside for a minute? Good. I'll be right back." Rory pushed Jess out of her room and shut the door.

"Luke's not your dad and I live here," Jess remarked. "And who's Richie Rich?"

"Shh! His name is Logan and thinks Luke is my biological father. Luke and Mom don't know about him. Jess, you have to promise me not to say a word to them."

"Whatever. I gotta go." Jess headed to the door. Rory knew he was angry, but she had Logan to deal with right now. She returned to her room and she and Logan started to talk. Minutes later, Rory heard a car pulling into the drive way. Oh no, she thought. Luke.

"Oh no!" she panicked, jumping off the bed.

"What? What's wrong?"

"He's home. What's he doing home?!?"

"Who's home? Rory, what's going on?"

"My dad. You have to hide." Rory's heart began to beat faster when she heard Luke's heavy foot steps on the front porch followed by Lorelai's petite ones."Get under the bed."

"What? Rory, I don't get what the big d…"

Rory forced Logan to drop to the floor and get under her bed. Just as she stood up, her door swung open and Luke appeared. "It's just one afternoon!" he yelled to Lorelai, who had gone upstairs to pout.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Some of my cousins and I are going out with Max for some beers."

"What's up with Mom?"

"She's doesn't want me to be Max's friend. Which is really immature of her!" Luke yelled the last part out the door so Lorelai could hear him.

"So what's getting drunk with Mr. Medina have to do with me?"

"Dinner at your grandparents' tonight. Another reason your mom is mad. She thought we were skipping this week since they met Buddy and Mazie on my birthday."

"Mom always looks for those loop holes. Well, if that's all, I guess you'll be going. Have fun getting drunk and don't drive. I'll see you and Mom later."

Rory tried to rush Luke out of her room, but he wouldn't leave. He walked toward the bed. His foot stopped on Logan's hand. "So, how do you like my family?" Luke asked.

"They're…nice," Rory replied uneasily.

"They really like you and your mom. It's funny because they don't like anyone." Luke sat on the bed. His weight brought the mattress down onto Logan, whose hand was still under his foot. "Rory, come here and sit next to me for a minute. I wanna talk to you."

"I'm fine standing."

"Suit yourself. I know you saw Dean and Lindsey earlier. They got back together. No one wanted to say anything to you because they thought it'd hurt your feelings. It's not big secret I hate Dean for what he did to you, but I respect him for trying to make things work with his wife. I just wanted to be the one to tell you they're back together since Lorelai won't. But Dean isn't who I wanted to talk to you about. This is about Jess. I know you and him didn't end things on very good terms, but I was hoping you two could put it behind you. I want you two to get along, but if that's going to be a problem…if he is going to be a problem, I'll ask him to leave. I don't want to see you hurt and I would hate to kill him. It'll be a big mess to clean."

"You're not going to have to kill him," Rory laughed.

"I better get back to the diner. We left Jess in charge and God knows what he's done to it by now." He moved to hug Rory, getting off Logan's hand, but dropping his wallet.

"I'll get it," Rory said, trying to pick it up for him.

"Don't worry. I got it." Luke bent down to pick up his wallet. He froze when he saw something under the bed move. "What was that?"

"Huh? Oh. Nothing. Probably just a mouse or a cat or a…" Rory stopped when Luke pulled up the skirt of the bed. "Or a blonde haired boy."

"Rory, what is this boy doing under your bed?" Luke didn't take his eyes off Logan.

"Playing hide and seek?"

Luke reached under the bed and yanked Logan out, nearly flipping the bed. "Try again."

"He's uh…he's a um…"

"I'll ask you one more time, who is this young man and what was he doing under your bed? And Rory, I suggest you tell me before I brutally murder him."

"His name is Logan. He's a friend from school."

"A friend that hides under your bed?"

"He's a stalker?"

"Hello sir," Logan greeted, still in Luke's grasp.

"Hello Logan. Perhaps you can tell me why you were under that bed. Answer quickly or I'll introduce you to Nemo."

"The fish?"

"My sledgehammer."

"He's my boyfriend," Rory interrupted. "He came to see me and I freaked out when I heard you coming so I shoved him under my bed. Let me explain before you call..."

"Lorelai!" Luke called, letting go of Logan.

Lorelai came running downstairs. "What's the...oh hello," she said when she saw Logan. "Who's he?"

"This is Logan. He's a friend of Rory's from school who hides under her bed."

"Mom, it's not what you think," Rory said in her defense.

"So we're imagining the blonde boy Luke found under your bed?" Lorelai asked in a very sarcastic tone.

"Ok, it's exactly what it looks like. But nothing happened. I swear Mom, we were just talking. Mom, say something."

"Dinner's at seven." With that, Lorelai left the room.

"That's it? That's all she's going to say to me? She didn't even sound mad at me."

"She's not mad. She's hurt," Luke sighed. "I'm going to take her back to the diner and talk to her there. Richie Rich here is obviously more than a stalker so you'll introduce him to us and your grandparents at a more appropriate time. Like let's say Thanksgiving. He is to be gone by the time we need to leave for your grandparents'. I'm putting Babette on watch duty so I'll know the minute he leaves and if he tries to come back. If he attempt to return to this house, I will run him over with my truck. Have I made myself clear young lady?"

"Yes." Luke turned to leave. "Please don't be mad. I wasn't lying. We were just talking."

Luke stood still for a minute and took a deep breath. "Dinner's at seven," he said, following in Lorelai's lead.

"He's more than just the guy that works for your father isn't he?" Logan asked suddenly.

" Logan," Rory pleaded.

"Why do you keep doing this Rory? Tell me now, what's the deal with that Jess guy?"

"He's Luke's nephew and my ex boyfriend."

"You dated your cousin?"

"No. Luke isn't my dad. Biologically, that is. But in every sense of the word, he is."

"I see. I have to go. Call me later."

Rory watched as Logan walked out of her room. She felt like crying. She never felt so horrible in her life.

Luke and Lorelai didn't speak to Rory the rest of the day. She didn't even ride with them to dinner. Luke suddenly decided to take his truck, probably by Lorelai's persuasion, so Jess had to drive his car, automatically getting Rory as his passenger. When they had drinks with Richard, Luke and Richard actually talked about business with Lorelai chiming in here and there. At dinner with Emily, they only spoke when they were spoken to.

It bothered Rory so much, she couldn't sleep. It was nearly two AM when Rory got out of bed to make coffee. She needed something to calm her nerves. When she opened the door, she came face to face with Lorelai.

"I couldn't sleep," Lorelai said.

"Me neither," Rory said.

"Can I come in for a while?" Rory nodded and Lorelai walked in. There was silence.

"I'm sorry," Rory apologized suddenly. "I was going to tell you guys about Logan. I swear I was. Things just started moving so fast and with the wedding and…"

"Rory," Lorelai sighed. "It doesn't bother me and Luke that you have a boyfriend. You're young, but you need to realize the rules about boys still apply in this house. You can't have a boy in your room when the house is empty. Especially since Luke lives here now. We're just looking out for you Rory."

"I don't need to be Mom. I'm an adult now."

"I know. But it doesn't mean we can't protect you. Luke and I just want you to be safe."

"I am safe."

"Good. And Ror, cut Luke some slack. He's new to this full-time dad business. Start him off slow next time. The boy under the bed is too extreme."

"I will," Rory laughed.

"Hey Rory? Do you know what Luke does?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's been getting up early lately and goes somewhere."

"Well what's early? His early and your early are two totally different earlies. Maybe he's just opening the diner. It is always open before we go there."

"I don't think he opens the diner at four thirty in the morning."

"Four thirty? Man, that's early."

"Oh! And he hums."

"What?"

"He hums. The other day, I went to the diner and he was working."

"Of course because he works, he has to be a hummer."

"I heard him humming."

"There's no connection between Luke's humming and his leaving at four thirty in the morning."

"The humming didn't start until his late night adventures."

"How do you know he didn't hum before?"

"Did you ever hear him hum?"

"He could have."

"Honey, it's Luke."

"Oh yeah. Right. What was he humming?"

"I'm not too sure. Hey, maybe we could stay up and wait for him to leave. That way we could follow him and find out where he goes."

"When was the last time we stayed up until four thirty?"

"Does a peach fifties dress and matching pumps ring a bell Donna? If you don't, I have the pictures to remind you."

"One, please burn those pictures. And two, we stayed up till three and that was only because we couldn't find Apricot."

"Come on. Let's give it a try. I bet we could do it. It'll be fun."

Rory stared at her mother. "You're tried already aren't you?"

"What can I say? Luke sure does know how to wear a girl out."

"Ew. I'm going to sleep. I suggest you do the same. Night Mom."

"Night Rory."