Disclaimer: I own nothing but my imagination.

CHAPTER 8: IT'S FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE

"I look like a deranged penguin."

Lorelai studied Luke, who was busy frowning at his reflection, turning to the left and right, evaluating the tuxedo.

"No, you look like you should be dancing with Dick Van Dyke right now," Lorelai said, nodding seriously.

"Well this doesn't feel like a Jolly Holiday," Luke harrumphed.

"Hey, did you know that penguins are the only birds that can swim but not fly?" Lorelai said randomly.

Luke looked at her suspiciously. "Are you still keeping a drawer full of Snapple caps?"

"It's my only form of higher education after business school," Lorelai claimed in defense.

There was a long pause.

"Did you know that the Caspian Sea is actually a lake?"

Luke rolled his eyes. "No, nor do I care."

"What are you talking about! It's a misnomer, false advertising. Hi, I came to see the Caspian Sea. It's just a lake? I want my money back! Is there really a Prince Caspian or was that monkeyjunk too?"

"Ok, new topic; where do you want to go on our honeymoon?" Luke said, hoping for a subject change.

"Well, Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows coffee, Snapple Real Fact 138…"

"Logan!" Richard exclaimed, standing up from the table at the club where he was reading the Wall Street Journal.

"Richard," Logan said, shaking his hand.

"Sit, sit, sit," Richard insisted. Logan joined him and they ordered lunch.

"So, I'll get right to the point. Business first, golf later," Richard said firmly yet smiling.

Logan folded his hands in his lap, resting his elbows on the chair. "Fire away."

"I understand that while your father's condition is stable, he's not out of the water yet," Richard said.

Logan looked only slightly confused. "Yes sir."

"And if Mitchum remains in a coma, for the time being you will most likely have to take on a more prominent role in his business dealings, correct?"

"Most likely," Logan said, sipping his drink calmly, though he was shaking inside.

"That's a lot of responsibility for a young man," Richard said, watching Logan carefully.

"Yes, but it's a responsibility I knew I would have to assume eventually; of course, due to… unforeseen circumstances, I'll probably have to leave soon to babysit operations until his full recovery," Logan said diplomatically.

"I see," said Richard. He thought for a moment. "Logan, I just want you to know that we, Emily and myself, are aware of the presence of a certain young gentleman who is not over Rory, and I'm not sure you know their full history."

"Oh, really?" Logan said, his interest suddenly piqued.

"Do you remember that dark-haired young man at Lorelai's engagement party?" Richard asked.

"Yeah…Jess, right?" Logan said, his eyes darkening as he remembered the basket bidding challenge.

"Yes. Now, I know he's Luke's nephew, and in deference to Lorelai's relationship, we haven't said anything to him directly, but he broke Rory's heart once; he was no good for her, and now that he's back in the picture I thought you should be aware of it."

Logan processed this information. "Back in the picture, huh."

Richard waved his hand in the air. "Well, not back in the picture per se, but he's been hanging around an awful lot, more than would seem necessary for any wedding-related duties he's assumed."

Logan thought for a moment. "Richard, if you don't mind my asking, why are you telling me this?"

"Well, son, I'll be blunt. We like you, and see you and Rory as a favorable match, and if you're serious about Rory then this is information that you need."

Logan hesitated. "Well, Richard, I'm sure you know that my reputation precedes me, and I'm honored that you would place such trust in me." He paused, thinking, then appeared to come to a conclusion. "As for Rory… my intentions are honorable," he said significantly.

Richard looked pleased. "I'm glad to hear it, son, glad to hear it."

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" Logan said, getting up.

"Oh, certainly," said Richard. When Logan was out of hearing range, Richard picked up his cell phone and dialed. "Emily? Contact our realtor. Tell her we want to see what she has available in Cape Cod."

Rory and Lorelai stood outside the door to the Gilmore's house, both on the phone, neither quite ready to enter.

"I gotta go, Logan," Rory said. "Friday night dinner calls."

"Ok, well, I'll probably be back too late from the publishing thing to come over, unless you don't mind a 3 a.m. wake-up call," he said on the other end.

"Big no thanks! Besides, you'd probably trip some intruder alarm," she responded, then sighed. "Sounds like your party could be fun, though."

"Doubtful. It's mostly newspaper execs and some people from a magazine group we just acquired."

"Still," Rory said. "More interesting."

Lorelai put her hand over the speaker of her phone. "Hey, speaking of interesting, if Logan wants an interesting fact, tell him that Maine is the only state in the U.S. that has one syllable."

Rory just looked at her mother. "Did you hear that?" she asked Logan.

"Yeah, and now I'm wasting time going through all fifty states in my head," he said.

Rory laughed. "Call me tomorrow," she said.

"Will do. Night, Ace."

"Good night," Rory said, hanging up. She looked at Lorelai, tapping an imaginary watch.

Logan hung up his cell phone and took a look around. He scanned the crowd until he found who he was looking for. He strode over to a guy wearing black pants, a punk t-shirt and a fitted blazer. "Jess, is it?"

Jess turned around and found himself face-to-face with Rory's boyfriend. "That's right," he said. "What was your name? Boy, I keep forgetting," he said sarcastically.

"Logan. Logan Huntzberger," he said, oozing charm.

"That's right; you know, the name never seems to stick," Jess said, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Hm; funny, that," said Logan, only revealing slight annoyance.

"Isn't it just?" replied Jess. They stood there for a moment, sizing each other up.

"So," began Logan, "how exactly do you know Rory?" he asked easily.

"Oh, we go way back, but we've been getting…reacquainted," Jess said cockily.

"Huh, very interesting," Logan said.

"Oh, gee, I sure think so," said Jess. "Look, does this conversation have a point in sight?"

"Actually, it does," said Logan.

"Well I'd sure like to hear it."

Logan finally looked perturbed. "Just so you know, I've got your number," he said knowingly.

"Oh, well call me sometime and we'll make a play date."

Logan's eyes narrowed. "Listen buddy, I'm not gonna play the simpering jealous boyfriend role. I'm sure it's been done before, and I'm sure you're tired of it."

"Oh, how refreshing; so are you just going to back off and let me have her, just like that?" Jess said caustically.

"Not on your life," Logan said, taking a step closer, "because Rory Gilmore is worth fighting for, and I'm pretty sure this is a battle that I can win."

"Don't be too sure," said Jess. "See ya…Logan, was it?"

Jess walked away, leaving Logan seething with anger.

"So we're debating," Rory said, eating a fry.

"About?" Logan asked.

"Whether or not the Bangles are appropriate reception entertainment," Lorelai said.

"I'm not dancin' to the Bangles!" Luke hollered from the kitchen.

"He's so cute when he's grumpy," said Lorelai.

"Besides, could you even get the Bangles?" Rory asked reasonably.

"Karen got J-Lo for her reception," argued Lorelai.

"That was on Will and Grace, mom," Rory said. "TV. Not reality."

"Well don't they have famous surprises like that on reality TV?" Lorelai asked hopefully.

"Missing the point!" said Rory.

"Do you know Oprah?" Lorelai asked Logan.

"Um…not really," he said.

"Well, you're no help," Lorelai said, leaning back in her chair.

"Come on," Rory said, standing up. "Let's go before she gets completely insane and asks if you know - "

"The Cure!" shouted Lorelai.

"No!" yelled Luke from the kitchen.

"Hey, it's Friday, and I'm in love," Lorelai yelled back.

"Bye, Mom," Rory said with emphasis.

"Bye, Lorelai," Logan said, suppressing a grin.

They exited the diner and walked to Logan's car.

"Ok, so I'm gonna be gone for at least two weeks, maybe more," Logan said, leaning against his car.

"Oh, well I promise to miss you," Rory said matter-of-factly.

Logan rolled his eyes. "Hey, being quasi-serious here," he said.

"Ok, ok," Rory said. "But I really will miss you," she said seriously. She hesitated.

"What?" he asked.

"Well, I mean, you know how I never verbally responded to the un-Logan-like thing you said," Rory began.

"Yeah?" Logan said slowly.

"Well, I just wanted to say…um…that I do too," she said quickly.

Logan's face lit up. He pulled her close. "Well, that's very good news," he murmured, pulling Rory into a deep kiss.

"I'm sorry I have to go," he said, finally pulling away. "But I promise, I will more than make up for it when I get back," he said with a mischievous gleam in his eye.

"Mm, will that be in sexual favors, or what?" Rory said softly.

Logan laughed out loud. "Let's just say," he said, lowering his voice, "that it will be something infinitely better," he said, nearly whispering.

"Well, my jaw drops," Rory said, curious.

Logan laughed and kissed her nose. "See ya later, Ace."

"Hey, where is everyone?" Jess said, walking into the diner.

"Oh, you just missed them," Luke said, wiping down the counter. "Lorelai's back at the inn and Rory went home after saying good-bye to Logan."

Jess raised an eyebrow and tossed an apple in the air. "Why the special goodbye?" he asked, catching it.

"He's got to take care of his dad's business for awhile until everything settles, I guess," Luke said, continuing his cleaning.

"Huh," said Jess. "I'll be upstairs," he said.

"O-k," said Luke, still not looking up.

Rory heard a knock on the door to the pool house. She threw on a bathrobe over her pajamas and went to answer it.

She opened the door, and found Jess on the other side.

"What, Jess?" she asked tiredly. Before he had a chance to say anything, she continued. "Look, I don't have time for this." Rory started to shut the door again, but Jess stopped her.

"How about a peace offering?" he suggested. He thrust a bottle of wine through the opening. "I promise not to make any more moves on you, and you promise not to gleefully continue the Mexican hat dance you so love to do on my heart, deal?"

Rory looked at him warily, but nodded and let him in.

"I propose a toast," said Jess. Rory raised her glass dubiously. "To friendship, and new beginnings," he said. They clinked glasses and took a sip.

"So, what fun plans did I interrupt this evening?" Jess asked.

"Um, not much, really. I was just watching TV," Rory replied.

"Thrilling," said Jess drolly. Rory made a face at him.

"Well what else is there to do?" she posed.

Jess looked around the room. "Well," he said, "at the risk of sounding adolescent, we could play a drinking game."

"You know, I never liked quarters," Rory mused.

"Why not? Don't you have the skills?" Jess teased.

"Oh, I can bounce with the best of them," Rory said with mock seriousness, "but I think it's gross. I mean, where have those quarters been, y'know?" she complained.

"No, I know what you mean," Jess agreed. "And beer pong." They shared a look of disgust.

Rory flipped channels, finally landing on the Turner Classic Movies channel. "Ooh! Casablanca! Classic."

"Hey, now there's a drinking game we could play," suggested Jess.

"What do you mean?" Rory asked.

"You know, like every time Sam plays "As Time Goes By" you take a drink."

"Oh right! Ok; well you have to take one every time Rick says 'here's looking at you, kid,'" Rory said.

"Well in that case, I think we'd better switch to..." Jess said, surveying the selection of liquors at the pool house bar, "...this," he said, picking up a bottle of tequila. Rory grinned.

Two hours later, they were a bit drunk. "We'll always have Paris," Rory quoted along with the movie. She was splayed out across the couch.

"At least you will," Jess quipped from the floor.

"That's right!" exclaimed Rory. She cocked her head to one side. "I love Paris."

"In the springtime?" offered Jess.

Rory paused. "Huh?" she asked, confused.

Jess laughed and turned off the TV. "Nevermind. So, what next?"

Rory paused to think. "Ooh, we could play 'Never Have I Ever,'" she suggested.

"Doesn't that only work with groups?" wondered Jess.

"Well we'll just pretend. You start."

Jess scratched his head. "Ok. Never have I ever…gone bungee jumping."

"Sad. Me neither," said Rory. "Although…"

"Although what?" Jess asked, interested.

"I'm not at liberty to say," Rory said loftily.

"Oh really?" he said sardonically. When it was apparent Rory wouldn't discuss it further, he thought of a new one. "Ok. Never have I ever…had sex in a public place," he said, challenging Rory.

Rory merely smiled and took a drink.

"Rory, Rory, Rory!" said Jess. "Sweet, innocent Rory!" Jess was shocked.

Rory merely smirked. "Miss Patty's," she offered mysteriously. "My turn! Never have I ever…been to Milwaukee."

They both sat there. "Milwaukee?" asked Jess, laughing. "Come on, Rory."

"Ok! Fine! Never have I ever min to Borocco," she slurred.

"O-k, you're cut off," Jess said, taking her glass away and making his way to the kitchen.

"No! Morocco! Morocco, darn it!" Rory weakly protested. She followed him, reaching for her glass. She lost her balance, falling onto Jess. He kept her from falling.

"Whoa, there. Oh man, I think I need to sit down," Jess said, sliding down onto the couch. Rory slid down next to him, her face pressed into his neck. She mumbled something unintelligible.

"What?" Jess asked.

Rory sat up straighter. "I said you smell very Jess-y."

"What, were you smelling me?" he asked incredulously. "Freak," he tossed at her.

"I am not," she said defensively. "I was just remembering. You have a particular Jess-smell."

"That's pheromones, baby," he said, grinning.

Rory smacked his arm. "No, I mean, the kind of soap you used, and the hair gel, although you never wore sleazy cologne or anything, but your aftershave had this clean smell and it all combines to make a Jess-smell," she explained.

"Well then, I guess you have a Rory-smell too," Jess smirked.

"Really?" she slurred.

"Well, yeah. I mean, there's your signature perfume, and, of course, your shampoo," Jess said, gently touching her hair.

"Hey," Rory said, suddenly sitting straight. "Remember that movie where the guy drinks his ex-girlfriend's shampoo to see if he's immune?"

"That sounds stupid," said Jess.

"Well, it did have Freddy Prinze, Jr. in it," remembered Rory.

"Well, that says it all," countered Jess.

They sat in silence for a moment. "Do you still have the mints?" Rory asked randomly.

"Mints?"

"Yeah, the mints because you would smoke but I wouldn't kiss you if you tasted like cigarettes," Rory explained.

Jess reached in his pocket and pulled out a container of mints. "These, you mean?"

"Yeah, those," Rory said, awash with nostalgia.

Jess pulled one out suggestively. Rory rolled her eyes. "Hey Rory," he asked, popping a mint in his mouth, "you want a mint?"

"Actually, yeah," Rory said, holding out her hand. Jess put the mints on the coffee table. Rory was only allowed a moment's confusion before Jess kissed her, passing the mint from his mouth to hers. He pulled away, looked at her surprised face, then kissed her again.

"Wait, what are we doing?" Rory said in a haze.

"This," said Jess, lowering her onto the couch.

And before I get yelled at for out-of character behavior on Rory's part, might I remind you that Rory does something very un-Rory-like at least once per season; it's called ratings, people. :) Read on!