The little bell above the door dinged as he entered. It was the same as he remembered. Of course it was, Luke's Diner, nor Luke, ever changed. The tables were still mismatched, the paint on the walls (although painted fairly recently) were still the same hues, and the aroma that hung was still the same.

Jess lifted the plastic covering off the doughnut case and helped himself to one with sprinkles and headed upstairs. Every step was predictable, every little squeek that Luke had never gotten around to cleaning. For being such a handy guy, he didn't always get around to fixing his own stuff.

He casually pushed open the door that still described itself as an office...and froze. His mind locked up and he stared openly, in complete shock.

"Jess!" his uncle yelled angrily.

It was enough to make him turn, covering his eyes and immediately head back downstairs.

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He found a stool at the counter and sat down, waiting for Luke. He didn't really feel like staying after what he had seen, but he needed to tell Luke he wasn't going to continue trying their "Save Rory" campaign. Plus...he was hungry. A ham and cheese omelet with some crispy bacon on the side sounded good. Maybe some sausage links, the maple kind and a tall glass of orange juice and--

His glance down the counter made the raise on the back of his neck raise instinctively. However, he couldn't resist.

"Dean," he said with sly relish. "Lookin' spiffy today."

Dean gave him what Jess could only describe as "Dean's patented death glare". He wasn't scary, but it was amusing to see him try.

"So...how's the missus?"

"Like you don't know, Jess," Dean snarled.

"Never been married, so I guess I wouldn't."

"Just shut up, Jess. Let me eat my breakfast in peace."

"Ooh, or what?"

Dean tried to ignore him, but he hadn't been able to in the past and he wasn't able to now. Dean was easily provoked and angered, much to Jess' entertainment.

"You're here for Rory again." It was a statement.

"Ahh, still that one track mind, Dean." Jess didn't bother denying it.

"Just leave her alone, Jess."

"What are you, her keeper?"

"No, just giving you some friendly advice."

"Oh, we're friends? When did that happen?" he challenged.

"Knock it off, guys," Luke commanded. "I've got a diner to run."

He hadn't even noticed his uncle move behind the counter. He couldn't look him in the eye. He noticed Luke couldn't do it, either. Finally, Luke broke the silence.

"We were...rehearsing for a play."

"I don't wanna know, Uncle Luke."

"It wasn't what you're thinking."

"I don't care."

"Well, I just don't want you thinking it was some kinky thing--it was for a play."

"Okay. I believe you...Tarzan."

"Oh, shut up."

"Tarzan want Jane." He puntuated the statement with the Tarzan call.

"It was for a play!"

"You know, Luke, these boxers just don't breathe the way I'd like them to, do you mind if I borrow that loincloth?"

"Get out."

"No sense of humor." He changed the subject, having had his fun teasing Luke, but not wanting to relive it. "So, what's with Dean?"

"Dean? Oh, he works with Tom now in construction and moved back in with his parents. He's saving money to go to college." Luke turned suspicious. "Wait, why?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "He got a little defensive when I mentioned his wife, and well, I guess you just answered that question."

Luke looked away hastily. It was obvious there was something else to this from the way Luke was jittering about with coffee now.

"What'd I miss?"

Luke hesitated, then said, "Rory."

"His wife--"

"Lindsay."

"She broke up with him because she thought Dean still had feelings for Rory?"

"Not exactly...she divorced him...because he'd been having an affair with Rory."

Jess blinked rapidly. "Did I hear that right?" He glanced down at Dean, not knowing whether he should feel sympathy or disgust.

Luke nodded solemnly.

"This is exactly what I was coming to talk to you about, Luke!"

His uncle stared at him.

"Her! Luke, her! She's not the same Rory anymore."

"Of course she is, she's just...lost."

"Lost doesn't cover it--and you haven't told me everything. She broke up a marriage, got arrested for stealing a yacht--"

"That boy was influencing her."

"You get my point, though. This is not typical Rory stuff, and on top of that, she's become this snotty, elitist--"

"Enough, Jess. What happened this morning? What did she say?"

He heaved a black sigh. "She defended herself and said she wished everyone would leave her alone and then took off in her car to meet yacht boy."

Luke balked. "And you didn't try to stop her?"

He hesitated. "Uh, I was indisposed."

Luke gave him a scolding, demanding look.

"How were you indisposed? Don't tell me she clubbed you over the head."

"I was...slightly...semi-nude."

"Jess!"

"I was wearing a sheet and--"

"Unbelievable! Un-freaking-believable!" Luke had popped his top and was now ranting on and on about "the plan". He tuned him out until it was residing.

"Luke! I couldn't get through to her."

"Did you try talking to her?"

"Of course I did."

"Well, obviously talking between the sheets isn't very effective." Luke started to fume again. "I can't believe you slept with my future stepdaughter--Boy, that sounded weird."

"Yeah, it did," he agreed.

"Oh, Luke!" It was Taylor Doose. "I was wondering if--"

"No, Taylor."

For the first time ever, Jess was glad to see Taylor, who was the perfect target to take Luke's aim off of him. He watched amusedly as Taylor huffed and puffed and Luke got more surly. Stars Hollow and it's small-town charms.

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More to come. Hope you enjoyed. Feedback appreciated and again, LET ME KNOW WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE STORY GO.