Title: The Coffee is Always better at Lukes

Summary: A story about a regular week in Stars Hollow which includes sprained wrists, shattered doors, ditching school, I love yous, fist fights and more. Reoccurring characters include Rory, Jess, Luke, Lorelai, and Dean.

Rating: PG-13 just to be on the safe side, for mild language

Spoilers: not really, perhaps some of season 3

Disclaimer: Oh yeah, forgot about this, we don't own Gilmore Girls, the characters, the actors, the writers, or the town. They all belong to WB or Amy Sherman-Palladino or some other company that we are not at all affiliated with.

Author's Note: HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

"Hmm...," She said, playing along. "I don't know...it might be a little small, with the brooms and other janitor stuff."

"Good point," Jess agreed, "how bout an empty classroom in that case?" he smirked at her, as he opened up the door to the truck for her and then shut it going around to get in on the other side.

Rory shook her head, "That doesn't happen very often. Let's stay away from Chilton today."

He smirked, "okay, so we won't ruin your reputation today." Jess agreed as he drove down the road heading for Hartford mall.

"Sounds good to me." Rory said looking out the window. "So...are you going to tell me where we are going yet?"

He glanced over at her, "well I guess it couldn't hurt at least to tell you where we are going at the moment," Jess responded trying to drag it out just to annoy her a bit, "well there's this place your mom occasionally raves about, bought Luke a ton of clothes there, I believe it was Hartford mall or something like that." Jess glanced back at Rory trying to see if this was a good idea or a bad idea.

Rory looked at him curiously. "Hmm...in the shopping mood are we? You know, you could use some new clothes..." She broke off with a grin on her face.

Jess looked at her like she had just sprouted another three heads. "You've gotta be kidding," Jess replied, "there is nothing wrong with my clothes." he said defensively, but after thinking on it for a few seconds he added, "why, do you really not like the way I dress?"

Rory rolled her eyes playfully. "I was just kidding. I love your clothes...so what are we going to do at the mall?"

"Did you forget to tell me we were playing 20 questions?" Jess teased. "Well I remember someone mentioning something about dragging me to an 'event' on Friday night so I figured you would need to do the whole new outfit and accessory thing, not to mention the mall has a book store, music store, and of course the carousel and food court."

Rory smiled, "I had forgotten all about that thing...and you don't think that you'll get to have a turn buying a whole new outfit?" She laughed, "The carousel, huh?"

"We'll just see about that new outfit," Jess responded, "and yeah the carousel, why you have something against wooden horses that go around in a circle?"

Rory laughed, "Well, I just figured that you probably would. You know...the whole macho thing."

Jess looked at her conspiratorially, "wanna know a secret?" he asked her seriously.

She looked at him amusingly, "Sure."

"okay, if you repeat this to anyone I will have to kill you," he said before he began, "my deep dark secret is..."he paused for dramatic effect, "I've always loved the carousels, of course I can only go on them when" he did the air quotes with one hand since he was driving, "my girlfriend wants to."

Rory smirked. "Oh well, then you should be happy to know that I love the carousel and I promise I won't tell...very many people," She glanced at him playfully.

Jess ignored her and decided it might be best to explain his love of the carousel so she wouldn't go on a tangent to Lorelai and Lane about Jess's obsession with wooden horses, or something odd like that, "I mean doesn't the carousel just seem...romantic," Jess couldn't seem to find the right words to use without sounding sappy, "I mean you ever see the older couples sitting on the benches in the carousel just riding along." Jess shrugged, "it just seems to be a nice concept, something I read in a play or a poem or somewhere. Just kinda stuck with me, y'know."

"Aww...my boyfriend the carousel rider," She glanced over at him, "That's cute...and I wouldn't have told anyone anyway."

"good, cause I'd hate to have to kill you," Jess teased. "Well looks like we're here," he said as he pulled into the parking lot and began the search for a perfect spot.

She looked out the window. "Oh! There's one right there!" She yelled and pointed to it.

Jess pulled the car into the spot and turned off the engine. He took a breath and looked at her, "I hope I'm not going to regret this," he teased as it seemed to him she had that shopping gleam in her eye.

Rory leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "We're going to have fun," She guaranteed.