Gilmore-Buffy-Fan13- Yep, he's up there. And I think he does have a kid. Can you imagine how weird it would be to just turn on the TV and see Daddy and SMG bringing the house down::shudders:

Lalala, I've been meaning to mention for a couple chapters that- for all literati fans out there who are also SPUFFY! fans- I've got a semi-AU story going on the side of this one. I've got two chapters posted so far, and I can't make any guarantees when it'll be updated again, but I will say I'm working on it when I have LCA writer's block. Which is increasingly frequent.

And thank you so much for all the reviews! I love seeing the notices in my Inbox, and I do read each and every one I receive.

"I cannot believe you talked me into sitting through King Kong."

"I'm surprised myself. There was a point there when you were just standing, jaw dropped, looking at me, and I didn't think it was going to work."

"You're damn lucky you thought of popcorn."

"It was one of those random strokes of brilliance. Maybe next time I'll come up with a cure for cancer."

"Or an entirely new way to preserve real popcorn butter."

"I still think it's actually butter on the stuff."

"It's not, that's why it doesn't need to be refrigerated."

"Didn't stop you from grossly exploiting those free-refills." Laughing, Rory unlocked the car doors, and they climbed in. They'd shown up at the Mudhouse separately, so Jess's car was still in the parking lot several blocks away.

"So you've never been shopping with a woman before?"

"I have, and that's why I'll never do it again."

"Aww, did you have to carry her bags?" He nodded pitifully. "Watch her try on identical outfit after identical outfit?" Again, he nodded. "And, adding insult to injury, pay for it all?" He narrowed his eyes and nodded, no doubt recalling the painful experience. "You know book shopping is completely different."

"Maybe. Where are you taking me?"

"The House of Usher. It's this amazing little hole-in-the-wall that's actually comprised of three stories, all linked by spiral staircases, and the bookshelves are so full that it looks like one more tiny paperback would make the whole place explode. I've been going there since I was six; it's the best book store in New York, bar none." She spoke so passionately about the store that Jess couldn't help but get a tiny bit excited about the prospect of so many books in one place. But only a tiny bit.

"And it's still open?"

"It doesn't open until late afternoon, so it doesn't close until around three."

"We're NOT staying till three. We'll browse, go back and get my car, and then the night ends."

"We'll see." They parked on the street, grateful for the late hour's release from parking meter fees.

"Where is this place?" She pointed directly ahead of them to where a skinny, dirty brick building was squeezed in between two colorful redbrick shops. The sign was old and faded, so only "T e H o Ush " was visible, and it was the only shop on the street without a show window.

The bell above the door sounded remarkably similar to a cowbell, in Jess's opinion, and at first glance they were the only ones in the store. Upon further inspection, however, he saw a woman in a business suit going up the stairs, and a man wander in and out of site behind a row of bookcases on the second floor balcony.

"Yell if you find something good," she called behind her as she eagerly headed for the stairs.

"What if I don't want to share?" She didn't answer him, but smiled to herself. She headed towards a random area, somewhere she hadn't been in a long time, breathing deep the smell of books and organized chaos. Meanwhile, Jess went for the back of the first floor, sank into an overstuffed crimson armchair, and began pulling out the books within reaching distance and reading their jackets.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"Rory? We're being kicked out." Rory looked up from the book she was hungrily skimming, surprised to see Jess carrying not one book.

"What time is it?"

"3:15. The owner lady's been dropping hints that it might be time for us to go, and she's a big girl. I think she could take us."

"Fine, let me pay for these." Struggling to pick up the enormous pile she'd accumulated, she placed her latest find on top.

"What were you reading?"

"Cat's Cradle. You have to read it when I'm done."

"Already have. I'm a big Kurt Vonnegut fan."

"So are you getting anything?" she asked as they began moving towards the register.

"I left my stack somewhere around here. Too heavy to carry around looking for you."

"So, you are getting something. Meaning shopping with a woman didn't work out too bad for you after all."

"I haven't seen you for about three hours, we weren't shopping together."

"Then why'd you fight it?"

"Can we just pay?" Smirking, Rory turned her books over to the owner at the cash register while Jess went to pick up his selections. When he came back toting nearly twice as many as Rory, the owner's eyes gleamed, and Rory looked on triumphantly.

"And you just wanted to go to a movie."

"I can't help it, I'm like a kid in a candy store." Both paid for their respective purchases, and went back to Rory's car.

"I guess we chalk this up as a success?" he asked as they were driving back.

"I think so, we definitely got noticed in the coffee shop and the movie theatre. Mission status: completed."

"And as a perk, it was fun." Rory stared straight ahead as she tried to keep the grin from spreading across her face. "Glad to know you thought so too." Smirking, Jess pointed out his car in the parking lot they'd just entered, and she steered towards it.

"So," she started as she stopped the car.

"Sew buttons."

"I'm glad you decided to keep me company tonight." A beat.

"Me too." This time she had no control whatsoever over the smile that graced her face, and when she dared to look back at Jess, he was mirroring it.

"Goodnight kiss, in case anyone's watching?" No one was around, the lot was deserted.

"Good idea," Jess quickly agreed, his eyes sweeping the empty surroundings. Slowly they unbuckled and leaned towards each other, Jess's eyes focused on solely her while Rory's glance flipped from glove compartment to windshield to headrest. She tasted like coffee. He tasted like cinnamon. Rory didn't know why.

She stopped averting her eyes and closed them, as he pulled her face closer with his hands, and she took the opportunity to press more of her body against his chest. When the finally broke apart, they were both panting a little harder than they'd like.

"Right. So I'll be going. See you around." He smoothly opened the door, took his bag of books, and climbed out, closing it with his foot as he walked away. Almost slamming down on the gas, Rory sped out of the lot before he could get in his own car and leave. For some reason, she felt like she'd have trouble fighting the urge to follow him, see where he lived.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"I had a great time tonight." Smooch, smooch.

"Me too." Smooch, smooch. Rory walked up to her door, stopping when she saw the couple kissing against it.

"Uh-hem," she cleared her throat as loudly as she could without disturbing the neighbors. Luke and Lorelai broke apart, looking guilty.

"Oh. Hi you."

"Hi Mom. Hi Luke. I take it you had a great time tonight?" She grinned as Luke blushed furiously.

"That we did. Are you just getting home?"

"Yea, and I'm pretty beat, so if you could just make a space that'd be great."

"I'll do better. Bye Lukie." Lorelai gave him one last kiss and waved him away as she began to unlock the door. "So, what'd you do tonight?" Both Gilmores deposited their purses, shoes, and jackets in the front hall and walked towards the kitchen.

"Jess and I went to the Mudhouse, the movies, and then the House of Usher. We saw King Kong, and it sucked, but I have to admit Jess is a pretty adequate basher." She smiled at Lorelai as her mother began boiling water. "We had fun."

"It sounds like it. So between the two of you, are there any more books left in that hole?"

"Quite a few actually." Rory got out four little packets of cocoa mix (because just one per cup isn't sweet enough) and two mugs. "What'd you and Luke do?"

"We kissed a lot. He's a good kisser."

"I bet Jess is better." Giving her mother an evil smile, she dug through the cupboards looking for mini-marshmallows.

"Is not." Lorelai stuck her tongue out. "And when did you guys kiss, cause you kinda left that out of the playback."

"When we went our separate ways. In case people were around."

"Were there people around?"

"No." Rory blushed.

"You go girl. Damn, why can't water boil faster?"

"Something to do with science, whatever that is."

"Do you think it'd be faster if we put it in the microwave?"

"I strongly suggest you don't put the tea pot in the microwave."

"You're right. It's cute and pink and it has Hello, Kitty on it. We don't want to melt Hello, Kitty."

"I'm gonna go put my pajamas on, I'll be right back. Oh, and a little advice. A watched pot never boils." Grumbling, Lorelai turned around. Peeking over her shoulder, she saw the kettle let out a small wisp of steam.

"I saw that!"

Five minutes later, the Gilmores were both sipping hot cocoa on the couch, in their pajamas, watching Crossroads.

"I feel like we should just send Britney a thank you note for making something so mock-worthy. I mean, I've lost track of the hours we've spent laughing at her expense."

"Okay, thank you note for Britney Spears. Going on the list after Mariah and Madonna."

"I'm so glad tomorrow, or today actually, is Sunday, because there's no way we're getting to sleep before five."

"Sunday is the day of rest, after all."

"Luke is so a better kisser than his nephew. More years to practice."

"It took you all this time to come up with a reason, did it?"

"No, I just forgot we were discussing it up until this point."

"No offense, but Luke probably hasn't actually been using those many years to do much practicing. He's still a bachelor, after all."

"Hey now, play nice. At least my guy likes me back." Instantly, the content look on Rory's face was replaced by an upset one.

"Good point," she said as she drained the rest of her hot chocolate and stood up. "Well, I'm off to bed."

"No, hon, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that, it's-it's just late, and I'm getting defensive, and we're watching Britney Spears. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to be that cruel."

"It's okay. You're right, anyway. This is just The Plan to him, after all."

"Do you want it to be more than just The Plan?"

"I don't know anymore Mom. You're right, it's late. I'll see you in the later morning."

"Okay. 'Night, bunny." Lorelai sadly watched her daughter walk to her room and shut the door behind her with her foot.