Luke woke alone. That was surprising, seeing as he woke at six in the morning, and in all the time he had known Lorelai, he had never known her to be out of bed before at least eight when there wasn't an emergency. So he dressed quickly, and walked downstairs in search of his wife.

He found her on the couch, sound asleep, holding Rory. Rory was still in her prom dress, her hair was still curled and she was still wearing eyeshadow and all her jewelry. Her shoes were on the floor next to the couch, and Lorelai was still wearing jeans and her blouse from the day before.

They were both peaceful in sleep, though Luke knew they would invade the diner, begging for coffee and complaining of various aches and pains as soon as they woke. Sleeping on the couch couldn't be good for them, and he knew he'd end up listening to them whine for the rest of the day.

Which meant he was tempted to carry them to Rory's room so they'd wake up feeling better. He considered that option while he drank his morning cup of tea and ate a bowl of fruit salad. He sighed, walked back into the living room and scooped Rory up. Even in pregnancy she was light, and he had her tucked into her bed within two minutes. Lorelai was slightly heavier, being much taller than her daughter, but was also light and easy to carry. Once Lorelai was lying next to Rory, he closed the door, and left the house, leaving his family sleeping. He knew the boys would be up relatively early, and would wake their mother and sister as soon as they were.

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Jess was serving the morning crowd when Luke arrived. He did not look happy about it either. His hair was messy, as if he hadn't had time to even comb it, and he was wearing jeans and a huge sweatshirt. Luke choked on his tea when he looked down and saw that Jess was walking around in nothing but socks.

"What the hell happened to you? Shoe fairy take everything?"

Jess growled, and walked behind the counter to pick up plates. "Kirk started pounding about five, demanding breakfast and coffee. Said that his mother wanted him ready to leave to visit his grandparents by nine, which meant if he wanted to spend his typical three hours over breakfast that he had to start at five. He wouldn't stop, so I gave up, let him in and cooked. The next thing I know, the whole damn town is in here for an early breakfast. Caesar isn't here, I'm cooking and serving, and I didn't get in until after midnight, which means I've had less than five hours of sleep."

Luke took the coffee pot from his nephew. "Go get dressed and cleaned up then get back down here."

"I'm going back to bed, Luke. I'm exhausted."

"You're up, you're gonna work." Luke tucked his tongue in his cheek, tempted to laugh at his nephew. He knew he was being mean, but couldn't help it. After the years of teenage delinquency he had had to suffer through, he was entitled to a little payback. "Go get ready and be back down here in ten minutes or I'll drag you down."

Jess started up the stairs. "That's what you're gonna have to do." He disappeared into the apartment, took five steps and collapsed face down on the bed. He was asleep in seconds.

And true to his word, ten minutes later, Luke marched up the stairs, grabbed Jess by the waistband of his jeans and dragged him out of bed. He grabbed two sneakers, handed them to his nephew and shoved him down the stairs. Jess was swearing the entire way down the steps, but he put on his shoes and picked up a coffee pot.

"I swear to God, Luke, you're gonna pay for that one."

"Just feed Kirk."

"Kirk can feed himself."

Luke turned around and watched Jess sit down behind the counter and pull a book from his back pocket. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Not working."

"If you're going to make me be down here at six thirty in the morning, then no, I am not going to work anymore than I have to. Everyone has food, they all have coffee, and you're here to help them if they don't."

Luke walked behind the counter and into the kitchen. "How'd everything go last night? I meant to ask you about that."

"Good."

"Give me more than one syllable here, Jess. Did she like it?"

"Yup."

"That work was even shorter than the one before it."

"So?"

"Are you trying to annoy me on purpose?"

"It's a natural talent."

"That was more than one syllable. Seriously, though, how did it go?"

"I told you. It went good. We ate, we danced, I took her home."

"And I found her still in her dress, sound asleep in Lorelai's lap this morning. They slept on the couch."

"When I dropped her off, she was crying, and Lorelai thought I'd done something."

"Rory was crying!" Luke stormed out of the kitchen and stopped inches away from his nephew. "You drop her off in tears and call it a good night?"

"They weren't sad tears."

"You'd better explain that, and fast."

Jess reached into the pocket of his jeans, handed his uncle a folded up sheet of paper with lyrics on it. "I played her this song. And she cried."

Luke scanned the lyrics, and Jess could see his face soften. "Well then, that's okay I guess. Sorry."

Jess nearly laughed. "It's okay."

"So it went well? Lorelai didn't chase you back here with the pitchfork she made me buy in case you screwed up last night?"

"Lorelai made you buy a pitchfork?"

"Yeah. But I had to hide it. Paul Anka isn't fond of it."

"Who's Paul Anka? I know you don't mean the actual person."

"The dog. Lorelai got him a couple years ago. He doesn't come out when there are strangers. He hides under Garrett's bed."

"I'll have to go up and meet him later." Jess paused. "Wait. Did Lorelai get this dog before the two of you got married?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"So she cared for a living animal all by herself?"

"It was while Rory and living with Richard and Emily. She needed something to take care of. So she adopted Paul Anka. He is the strangest dog that has ever been born."

"Why's that?"

"He likes broccoli, has to eat off a plate or in the dark by himself, locks people out of cars, is scared of mailboxes and peas, strangers, Emily, and couches."

Jess lifted his eyebrows, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. "The only person on the face of the planet that could find a dog like that is Lorelai Gilmore."

"Tell me about it. And the boys love him, so we're stuck with him indefinitely."

"Sucks to be you."

"I wouldn't say that. Rory got her apartment in that building partly because it's pet friendly. She wants her own dog."

Jess was shaking his head before Luke even finished the sentence. "No way. We cannot handle a dog."

"Actually, I think it would be a good idea."

"WHAT!"

Luke smothered a laugh at Jess's shocked expression. "You know, something to keep her company during her maternity leave."

"That would be the baby."

"Something to protect her if you ever have to go out of town, to let her know if someone's trying to get in."

Jess couldn't protest those benefits. He would have to occasionally travel for his job. He was working in the music industry. Most of his work would be done inside New York City, but he'd known when he took the job that there would be times when he would have to take short trips to California. And he certainly didn't want anything to happen to Rory while he was gone. He looked up at his uncle, curiosity on his face.

"How much trouble is a dog?"

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Rory and Lorelai arrived at the diner at eleven thirty that morning. When they got there, it was closed, and no amount of pounding on the door got them in. In fact, the diner remained dark, and neither of them could see anyone inside.

"Where could they have gone?" Lorelai whined as she and Rory leaned on each other, both in desperate need of coffee.

"I don't know. Should we go to the Inn and let Sookie give us coffee?"

"She fancies it up too much. She scowls when I want it black. It has to be fancy with many ingredients other than coffee beans and water to qualify as Sookie coffee."

"We can go to Al's."

"Nah. The coffee there is water."

"Should we try to make it ourselves?"

"And walk all the way back to the house?"

"Good point." Rory looked at Taylor's ice cream shop. "I bet he has coffee."

Lorelai looked at her daughter. "Blasphemous creature! Who are you and what have you done with my daughter? We do not drink Taylor coffee."

"Have we ever tried it?"

Lorelai thought for a minute. "Luke won't let us."

"Luke's not here."

"We do have a long day. Packing the rest of your stuff so we can move you in tomorrow. Jess's stuff is already there, but we have to unpack his stuff tomorrow too."

"So…?"

"Taylor's coffee it is."

Rory opened the door and they walked up to the counter. Taylor appeared moments later in his customary checked vest. "How can I help you two this morning?"

"We're gonna need four large coffees to go."

Taylor nodded and walked to the machine. "Sugar or cream?"

"Sugar."

"Taylor? Do you think you could make mine half decaf and half regular? Too much caffeine isn't good for the baby, but I can't function without at least two cups."

Taylor nodded, putting the lids on the first two and handing them to Lorelai. "Sure thing. Can't have the newest Gilmore turning into a caffeine addict like it's mother. So why aren't you two at Luke's?"

"He isn't there. And neither is Jess."

Rory took her coffees and got out her wallet to pay for all four. "That hooligan probably killed Luke and is off dumping the body somewhere."

Lorelai reached over and grabbed Rory's wrist before her daughter could say anything. "Thanks for the coffee Taylor." She dug a five out of her pocket, tossed it on the counter and dragged Rory out. "Sorry, babe. Couldn't have you dumping coffee all over the man that provided us with it this morning. You know Taylor doesn't like Jess or Luke."

"I know. But why can't anyone ever give him a chance?"

"They will. They are more now than they used to. It'll get better." Lorelai tossed an arm around Rory, nearly spilling coffee. "Ready for the move tomorrow?"

"Yeah. As ready as I will be. It's scary, but not as bad now that I'm living with Jess. Though are you sure Grandma's going to survive having the boys for a week?"

Lorelai grinned. "She'll appreciate me more afterward."

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Jess studied the display of collars at the pet store. "Which do you think?"

"Well, the dog's a girl. Should we get it a girl collar?"

"Do they have girl dog collars? I thought they were all unisex."

Luke shrugged. "Lorelai always gets Paul Anka his monthly collar."

"He gets a new one every month?"

"He can't take wearing the same one for more than that. He's a fashion conscious dog."

"Please tell me that's Lorelai's phrase and not yours."

"Don't worry. They all look the same to me."

"Which one screams Rory to you?"

"You aren't putting the collar on Rory."

"No, but she'll want the dog to be like her, so we should get the collar that Rory would pick."

Luke's eyes fastened on the one dotted with coffee cups. "That one."

Jess grabbed it. "Great. Now, what else does a dog need?"

"Leash, bowls, bed, toys, food."

"Right. Do they have a matching leash?"

Luke walked to the next aisle and picked one up. He handed it to Jess and headed toward dog beds. "How big of a bed does this dog need?"

Jess looked toward the truck where the dog was in the front seat. It was an Irish setter that had been left when it's owners had moved. She was about sixty pounds, red, and had a ton of hair. Rory would have a blast with her. "I don't know. A big one. It's a big dog."

"What are you going to name it?"

"That's up to Rory."

"Oh God. You're going to end up with a dog named Ayn Rand."

"No. I'll put my foot down there. The worst I'll let her name it is Jane Eyre."

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Lorelai and Rory raced to the porch when they heard Luke's truck pull up. They both stopped in their tracks when they saw the dog sitting next to Jess and Luke loaded down with several large bags. Rory looked at Lorelai.

"She looks like a Bunny to me."

Rory nodded. "Looks like it to me too." She ran off the porch, dropping next to the dog. "Hi, Bunny, I'm your Mommy."