The Gilmore Girls and Boy

Chapter 2: Friday Night Fights

1430 Willow Tree Lane. Stars Hollow: Friday, December 31, 2020. Morning

"Mom?" Hayden yelled as he walked into his new house filled with boxes. "Mom!"

"In the kitchen." Rory yelled back.

Hayden made began making his way through the maze of boxes. Coming to a dead end, he sighed. "Umm, Mom, how am I supposed to get to the kitchen?" He asked.

"Make a right at the boxes labeled 'kitchen' and then a left at 'miscelaneous'." Rory shouted out quickly, making a mental note when she made her way to that same place.

Hayden followed her instructions and found himself in the kitchen with her. His mother was unpacking a few things. Setting the groceries down. He looked to her. "Wouldn't it be better if the boxes marked 'kitchen' were actually in the kitchen?" He said sarcastically. "Also, was the sole purpose of getting my license at 16, so I could run all of your errands?" He asked her.

"Pretty much." Rory said with a smile. "I made coffee." She said offering it to him.

"Ok, I'm over it." Hayden smiled as he took the mug and began drinking it. "So, looks like we have our work cut out for us." He said looking around.

"Well, I'd say moving our entire lifes in 3 days is pretty damn good." Rory said looking to him. She couldn't believe that she was back in this town. Her hometown.

"Yeah, and in one week, it's off to Chilton I go." Hayden said with a sigh. "You know how hard it's going to be to build the relationships I had with all my teachers back home." He looked to her. "You're talking primo ass-kissing is in order."

"That's my boy." Rory said with a smile. "Well, at least you won't be alone. I mean Davey and Peyton will be there." She stated.

"Can you tell me how that happened?" Hayden asked. "I mean, I love Sookie and Jackson, but they don't have the most money and both their children go to Chilton?"

"Well, I guess Jackson's great uncle left them quite a bit of money. She saw how well I did and wanted that for their kids as well. Just like I want for you." Rory stated.

"Well, I guess I'll know some people. But after the horror stories you told me, I don't know how I'll sleep at night." Hayden said with a wink.

"Go unpack your room. As soon as your done, we'll go have our first official lunch here at Luke's." Rory said with a smile. Somethings never changed she guessed. As much as she despised the idea of moving back her, giving her son everything she had, everything her mother had given her, would make him a greater man that he was now. She just has to make sure that he didn't screw up like she did.

Luke's Diner. Friday, December 31, 2020. Afternoon

Rory glanced around the town. It was amazing how much it hadn't changed. Even down to the colors of the various shops. Crossing the street towards the diner, she was stopped suddenly by a familiar face. "Kirk. Hey." She said with a smile. "It's me Rory." She moved into hug him, but was stopped by his hand gently holding her back.

Kirk looked to her. "It's nice to see you again, Rory, but before we hug, you must be sure to take it as a friendly hello, and not an invitation. I'm married now and have a child." He said motioning to his son, Kirk Jr., who was 13, now. "So I know that marriage has caused me to be irresistable, but I'm happy with Lulu."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Ok, Kirk. I'll supress my urges." She said giving him a hug. She knew that it was good intentioned and he didn't mean it to be mean, but it still hurt. It meant that when people looked at her, they saw a homewrecker. Someone they couldn't trust.

"That's all I ask." Kirk stated.

"This is Hayden, my son." Rory said motioning to him.

"Hi, Kirk." Hayden said with a small wave.

"Hello, young Gilmore." Kirk stated. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we Lulu is craving a dill pickle, rocky road icecream shake." He stated.

"Oh, is she pregnant again?" Rory asked.

"No." Kirk said passing them by and heading into Doose's.

Rory nodded and began walking again, leaving Hayden confused and having to run to catch up. "I don't know what's wierder. That fact that he's going to get the fixin's for a dill pick and rocky road shake for a non-pregnant woman, or the fact that it didn't faze you one bit." He said looking to her.

"I lived her for most of my life." Rory stated. "Nothing can really surprise me now." She said as she walked into Luke's diner, stopping dead in her tracks. "Jess." What was he doing back here? He was working. Was he living here now? Why didn't her mother tell her?

"Rory, hey!" Luke said motioning for them to come to the counter. Rory, blinked quickly as if she had just come out of a daze when she heard Luke's voice.

Jess' eyes shot up at the call of her name. What was she doing here? And why did Luke seem so non-chalant about her being back? Did he know? Did he just not want to tell him, knowing that it would freak him out the minute she walked into the diner.

Rory moved slowly over to the counter. Upon arrival, she was met with Luke's arms, wrapping her in a hug. "Hey, Luke." She said smiling as she hugged him tightly. "I missed you." She said as she took a seat.

Luke then looked to Hayden taking a double look. "Rory, he's a man now." He stated in shock. He held out his hand. "How are ya, Hayden?"

"I'm good Grandpa." Hayden said as he took a seat.

"Hey, Rory." Jess said to her with a small smile The last time they saw each other, Rory broke his heart by telling him that she didn't want to be with him.

"Hi." Rory said smiling the same smile he was. God, this was awkward. She hadn't seen him in 16 years. "So, what have you been up to?" Rory asked him.

"Not much. Taking some college coarses and managing the diner." Jess said with a shrug. "Your normal small town life."

"Yeah, I get that." Rory said with a smile. "So you're going to college?"

"Yeah. I take classes when I can. Hopefully one day, I'll get my degree." Jess stated.

"That's great, Jess. I'm so happy for you." Rory said with a smile.

"Can I get you some coffee?" Luke asked her.

"Sure." Rory stated.

"Me too, please." Hayden stated.

"Not you, too." Luke said with a sigh.

"Sorry." Hayden said with a smirk.

"God, your grandmother has really been..." Luke was interupted.

"...a good influence and should be made ruler of Stars Hollow." Lorelai finished his sentence as she took a seat next to Hayden. "That's what you were going to say, right?"

"More or less." Luke said with a wink as he leaned over and gave her a passionate kiss, causing Jess, Rory, and Hayden to turn away.

"Ok, you two crazy kids, let's stop the tonsel hockey." Sookie St. James said as she came in behind Lorelai. "Rory!" She said as she made her way over to her, but knocked over a few chairs. "I'm alright, I'm alright."

"Sookie!" Rory said as they both embraced. "God, I missed you." She said almost crying.

"I missed you too!" Sookie screamed as she saw Hayden. "Oh my god! You're huge." She said as she hugged Hayden as well.

"Hey, Sookie." Hayden said with a smile as he looked behind her to see Davey and Peyton. Wow, Peyton had grown up since the last time he had seen her, but he had too.

"Hayden, you remember Davey and Peyton." Sookie stated.

"Yeah." Hayden stated. "Hi, guys."

"Hi." Davey and Peyton said in unison, both of them rolling their eyes after they did so.

"Isn't this a family reunion if I've ever saw one." Luke said sarcastically. "So, when are we leaving for dinner tonight?" He asked Lorelai.

"In a few hours." Lorelai said with a smile. "Enough time for us to get home and take a shower." She said giving him a wicked grin.

"Jess, you have things handled, right?" Luke said as he grabbed Lorelai's hand and headed for the exit. "See you guys later." And they were gone.

Rory smiled. She had never seen two people more in love than her mother and Luke and she was happy for her, even if she had trouble talking to her mother still, she loved her, she hoped she knew that.

"Well, I have to get back to the Inn." Sookie stated. "You kids should hang out. Get to know each other, after all, you guys do go to the same school." She said with a small chuckle as she walked out of the diner. "Rory's back!" She shouted in excitement once more.

Rory smiled as she looked to Jess, who smiled back at her. It was a bit uncomfortable, but seeing him again, definatly wasn't a bad thing.

"So, you guys wanna hang out or something?" Hayden asked looking to Davey and Peyton.

"Sure." Peyton stated.

Hayden turned to Rory. "I'll be back in a few hours." He stated.

"Be careful." Rory stated with a smile. "Be back by 6."

"Ok." Hayden responded as he, Peyton, and Davey filed out of the diner leaving Rory alone with Jess.

"So, Rory, what have you been up to?" Jess asked.

"Do you have 16 years?" Rory said with a smirk.

Emily Gilmore's House. Friday, December 31, 2020. Night

"I can't believe you had the maid make us chili burgers." Rory stated to her Grandma.

"Well, I know you girls love diner food, so I thought for our official Friday night dinner back, it should be special." Emily said wih a smile. "So, Hayden, are you excited about starting Chilton?"

Hayden took a small sip of his soda and looked to his great grandma. "Yeah. I'm a little nervous about starting in the middle of the year, but they said my grades transferred, so I should be fine." He said with a smile.

Rory and Lorelai just picked at their food in silence. "Is there a problem with the food?" Emily asked looking to them.

"No, Grandma, it's great." Rory said with a small smile.

"Yeah, great." Lorelai stated.

"Then why are you two so quiet?" Emily asked. "You'd think with the move and everything there would be a lot to talk about." She said.

"You'd think so, huh?" Lorelai said bitterly. Luke's head rubbed against her neck.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rory said looking to her mother.

"Come on, Lor. Let's just get through this meal." Luke stated.

"What's that supposed to mean. We haven't seen you in almost a year, Rory, and you haven't said so much as a word to me since the funeral." Lorelai stated getting angry.

"What am I supposed to say?" Rory asked. "Thanks Grandpa for manipulating me and bribing me into coming back to Stars Hollow. Just what I've always wanted. I didn't come back here by choice. I did what I had to do for my son, that's it."

"That's it?" Lorelai stated. "You know what, fine." Lorelai said as she got up. "Well, I'm sorry that me wanting to know about my daughter and grandson is such a burden on you." She stated with a sigh. "It won't happen again." Lorelai said as she stormed off and out of the house, Luke going after her.

"Well, this is a lovely evening isn't it?" Emily said sarcastically.

Rory slumped in her seat and silently finished what she could of her meal.

About a half hour later, Rory and Hayden came walking out of the house towards the car. "That was fun, huh?" Rory stated.

"You didn't have to be that mean to Grandma." Hayden stated. "I know there's some bad blood between you guys, but this is why great grandpa did what he did...to get you guys together again."

"I know." Rory stated sullenly. "I know, but it can't happen over night, and I'm not sure if there's even a relationship to fix." She said with a sigh.

"Promise me you'll try." Hayden stated. "We have three years at least in Stars Hollow, and I don't think you or I want them to be filled with arguments and crying."

"I promise." Rory stated. "Now let's go home. We can have a movie night." Rory said with a smile.

"Can we tomorrow night?" Hayden asked. "I kind of told Davey and Peyton I'd go to the movies with them tonight." He said looking to his mother.

"That's fine." Rory stated. "I'm glad you guys are hitting it off." She stated as she got into the car.

"Yeah, it's cool to have some friends right off the bat. A lot easier than having to make them." Hayden stated.

"Yeah." Rory said softly, realizing that all the friends she once had in Stars Hollow had been severed when she left without even a goodbye. Putting the car in drive, she drove off towards home.