Shoot the Breeze: Chapter Four

Gilmore Home: Christopher's Return: Night

"Watch it Lor, I've got my Offspring CD's in there."

"Oops." Said Lorelai as she purposely dropped Christopher's bag on the hardwood floor and kicked it.

"Very nice."

"Hey, you knew those CD's were in danger when you brought them with you, that was self-inflicted." Stated Lorelai matter-of-factly. Christopher just shook his head. He had missed Lorelai, her coffee addiction, and her hatred for Offspring. He was glad to be home. Hell, he was glad to have a place to call home.

"So where's our daughter?"

"She's out…saving the whales, feeding the poor, helping the little…midgets in wheelchairs walk again."

"Wow, she's very well-rounded." Replied Christopher while trying to keep the amusement of his face.

"I'm freaking out."

"You? Never."

"It's just, she's…me! She's me sixteen years ago and Jess is you sixteen years ago and she's going to fall for him and give up everything for him and…I want to kick his ass!"

"Did you get enough coffee this morning?"

"I should have told her that I didn't like him but no, I had to be the cool mom." She continued.

"Did you have too much coffee?" Lorelai stared at him blankly.

"You say that as if it's physically possible." She deadpanned.

"Right, what was I thinking?"

"This is stupid. I'm freaking out for nothing." Sighed Lorelai as she plopped down onto the couch.

"Exactly." Agreed Chris as he took a seat next to her.

"I think I know what I need to do."

"What?"

"I gotta find someone more cynical to talk to about this."

"Come on, the kid can't be that bad."

"That's exactly what my dad said about you and then I ended up sixteen and pregnant."

"Yeah but you can't just lock her in the laundry room until she's done being a teenager."

"Why not?" asked Lorelai innocently.

"There's probably some type of law against it." He replied as he snaked is arm around her shoulder. She just looked at him happily.

"I'm glad your back."

"Yeah?" She nodded. "Me too." He replied as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Luke's Diner: Later that Night

Jess sat up in bed, trying desperately to focus on the copy of Othello in his hands. But he knew it was pointless. There were too many thoughts swirling around in his head, most of a certain Rory Gilmore. The same Rory Gilmore who he had asked out and who had said yes.

Rory had said yes.

He just couldn't get his head around that fact. He had asked her out and she had said yes. Of course he had added the whole 'no pressure' thing but what did it matter? Rory Gilmore was going to go out with him. He fought the overpowering urge to go do a victory dance in front of Dean.

"What are you smiling at?" asked Luke, successfully interrupting Jess's internal happy hour.

"Well it seems your charming attitude is finally rubbing off on me. Good work, my mother would be proud."

"Real funny Jess."

"Oh stop it, your embarrassing me." Jess retorted, as he rolled his eyes.

"You know, she just broke up with Dean this morning."

"Huh." He replied shortly. Jess knew where this was going and he wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

"They were together for two years Jess."

"Look, I'm going to bed now alright?" He stated as he rolled over and shut off the light. Luke continued to talk in the darkness.

"You need to give her time to heal."

Silence.

"She loved Dean."

More silence.

Luke was getting annoyed. He knew Jess couldn't fall asleep that fast.

"Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?" When Jess didn't reply he picked up a pillow and whipped him in the head with it.

"What the hell was that for?"

"For being a pain in the ass."

"You need anger management." Mumbled Jess as he rolled over, pulling the blanket over his head.

Gilmore Home: Nighttime

Rory was walking on air as she reached her front porch. She could hear her mother's laughter from the living room. It made her smile. Everything in her life was falling into place. Jess had asked her out. Her dad had come to live with them. Her mom was finally happy. It was perfect.

"Oh my God." She tried not to laugh at the scene in front of her. Her mom and dad were sitting in front of the television with a pile of videos next to them. Popcorn lay strewn about the floor and in her mother's hands was a pillow held threateningly close to her dad's head. "What are you guys doing?"

"Nothing." Replied Lorelai innocently as she pelted him.

"That's it." He stated as he picked up another pillow off the floor. "This is war."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Wanna bet?" He replied daringly as he threw the pillow, missing her only by a few inches.

"Rory, you might want to leave the room. This could get ugly."

"Now Mom, violence is not the answer." Stated Rory as she walked over to her father. "Dad was merely defending himself."

"See, I always knew she liked me better." Stated Chris smugly.

"You wish."

Lorelai watched in amusement as Rory picked up the pillow from behind him and smacked in the side of the head. This was definitely her daughter.

"Traitor." He muttered as he rubbed the side of his face.

"I've taught her well. Convincing isn't she?"

"Terrifyingly so." He replied as he found his way to the couch. Rory just smiled, pleased with herself.

"So, you're happy. Did you and Jess make out again?" asked Lorelai, trying not to laugh at the shocked look on Christopher's face. One minute she was telling him how horrible the kid was and now she was being completely open about the whole situation. It fascinated him.

"We did not make out! We didn't even kiss." Defended Rory, while trying to hide the blush that threatened to creep across her cheeks.

"You actually studied the whole time?" She nodded. "Sometimes I wonder if you actually are my child. If it wasn't for your insane coffee addiction, I'd think you were switched at birth."

"No, she's definitely your daughter." confirmed Chris as he looked at Rory fondly.

"So if you didn't make out, what happened?"

"Nothing really." She replied evenly. "There was this incident with a towel and then he uh..he…heaskedmeout."

"Towel incident?" questioned Lorelai, as she lifted an eyebrow.

"Never mind." she said quickly, he cheeks turning redder, much to her parent's enjoyment.

"Oh no. You don't just say something like 'towel incident' and then let my mind wander. That's just cruel."

"And believe me, letting her mind wander is never a good thing." Warned Chris. Lorelai glared.

"Fine. I went up to Luke's apartment and he answered the door in a towel. Happy?"

"Extremely. So, was he…?" asked Lorelai, watching as the comment accomplished it's desired effect.

"Mom!"

"Come on, I know you looked!" accused Lorelai as she watched her daughter blush a deeper red.

Chris as he shook is head disapprovingly. "You're going to get arrested for sexual harassment."

"Can we change the subject?" asked Rory.

"Sure, let's discuss the little jumble of words you threw in at the end there. I believe, when translated into English, they went along the lines of 'He asked me out."

"Yeah, um…he asked me to go out to eat with him sometime…and I kind of said yes."

"He didn't waste any time did he?" interjected Chris as laid back on the couch, his arms behind his head.

"It's not like that. Were just going to go eat something and then…" She trailed off.

"Make out." Added Lorelai.

"We are not going to make out!"

"Sure, you say that now…"

"I'm serious, me and Jess will never make out, ever!" exclaimed Rory stubbornly.

"Can I get that in writing?" asked an extremely pleased Lorelai.

"Your impossible."

"Amazing women isn't she?" Threw in Chris proudly. Rory glared at him and then threw a pillow in his direction.

"Did you see what your daughter just did?"

"Yeah, she has violent tendencies." Stated Lorelai as she picked up another pillow and advanced towards him. "I think she gets them from my side of the family."

And another pillow flew in his direction.

"You guys are not going to get away with this." He replied as he rolled of the couch.

"Oh yeah? What're you gonna do about it?" she replied as he picked up the fallen pillow and threw it, hitting her square in the face. "Come on Rory, your father's going down."

Let the pillows fly.

Kim House: Nighttime

Lane lay on her bed, a pillow wrapped tightly around her head. Zoo slept next to her, snoring loudly in her ear.

"Can't you get him to stop?" asked an annoyed Mae from the bed.

"No." she answered shortly. It seemed that even the tiniest remark was getting on her nerves. They had spent the last hour arguing over the bed and she was sure that the next hour would be spent arguing over Zoo's loud snoring.

"Stick a blanket over his head." Said Jin from the floor.

"He'll suffocate."

"Well at least he won't be able to snore anymore."

"Okay, I'm ignoring you now."

Silence.

"I can't sleep." Lane fought the urge to pummel him into the ground. He was too outspoken for a fifteen year old. "Are you guys asleep?"

"No we're not asleep."

"Good, let's talk about something."

"It's 3 o'clock in the morning." Lane stated matter-of-factly.

"Don't you want to know why were here?"

"I bet you'll tell me whether I want to hear it or not." She replied as he sat up in bed.

"Okay, yesterday we were eating dinner and dad got a call from someone. Then he got all mad, threw the phone down and told us we were coming here."

"That's it?"

"Pretty much."

"Can I sleep now?" she asked hopefully.

"How can you sleep through that snoring? It's like a pig on steroids."

Lane just groaned and wrapped the pillow tighter around her head.

To Be Continued...