Chapter Three: Cross This Bridge or Burn it Down

The door to the apartment above the diner opened. Luke, letting go of the doorknob, stepped inside, and Jess followed a couple of steps behind him. He looked around, lightly shaking his head. He hasn't been to this apartment in over two years, and still, nothing changed. Even in the last time he was there, everything was kept exactly the same as it was when he left. Everything else changed – from the town to himself and even to Rory, but in this very apartment, time stood still.

"That's basically it," Luke said with a sole nod. "I'm sleeping at Lorelai's, so you can go ahead and make yourself at home."

Jess took a few steps forward, passing Luke as he walked. He threw his duffel bag down next to his old bed and turned to face Luke. He nodded slightly, taking one more glance around. This place held so many memories. Too many memories, even.

"Thanks." He said.

The two stood in silence for a few moments.

"There's nothing in the fridge, really," Luke broke the silence, "so if you happen to hungry, just help yourself to anything downstairs."

Jess replied with another nod, not actually saying anything. Luke watched him for a few moments, not knowing if to expect any kind of additional response from his nephew. Ever since the last time Jess was in Stars Hollow, for his mother's wedding, things have gotten better for the two of them. He really noticed a change in Jess's behavior. He matured. He cared, and he tried. But watching him now, being in the same room with the same person he failed to educate a few years ago, he felt like nothing ever changed. Like this person in front of him was still the same 18 year old Jess Mariano who wouldn't listen to his uncle about going to school and who never bothered to say more than he had to.

Luke sighed. "Okay," he slipped his hands into his Jeans' pockets, "I guess I should be going now." He said, took another glance at Jess and turned to walk out.

"Hey," Jess's voice was suddenly heard, and Luke stopped walking. He turned to face Jess, a curious look on his face. "Need any help with the diner tomorrow?" He asked, catching Luke by surprise. Although he was pretty much speechless at that moment, Luke opened his mouth to speak, not able to stop a small pleased smile from creeping to his lips. "No, I don't think so." He responded, "But... thanks."

Jess just nodded again, and Luke turned to walk away again.

"Luke," Jess's voice stopped him in his tracked again, and he turned his head to look at his nephew over his shoulder. "Congrats." He said, and this time, it was Luke's turn to just nod and smile. He kept on walking and walked out of the room, and his hand lingered on the doorknob for a few seconds as he just remained standing. Maybe things really did change.

-

"So, Rory."

Luke headed over to the small dining table that stood in the kitchen of the Gilmore house with a frying pan in his hand. He poured an Omelet in three plates: Lorelai's, Rory's and his own. "What's new with your life?" He asked awkwardly, trying to form good conversation.

She looked up at him and shrugged. "Nothing much, really. Just college and stuff, I guess, and that's not really new either."

This was all a little new for her. She obviously had seen her mom with Luke before, but never at her house while having a sort of a family dinner. She saw them at the house before, and even had an uncomfortable incident when she came home earlier than expected, but now it was different. It was awkward, but she liked it. She liked the feeling of being in a family which has with both a mother and a father in it. The last time she felt that way was when her mom was engaged to Max Medina, only she hoped that this wouldn't turn out to end like the last one did.

Luke placed the pan back on the stove and sat down to the table. He looked at Rory and nodded. "Good, well, that's... good."

Lorelai chuckled, picking at her food. "That is good," she mocked, and Luke sent a short glare at her.

The table remained silent for a few moments. Even Lorelai was too busy eating. Luke, however, didn't touch his food. He just sighed as he left his fork and knife on his plate and looked back up at Rory.

"Do you have any... male.. friends?" He asked, even more awkwardly than before.

Rory looked up at him with a mouth stuffed of food and a face wearing a really confused expression. "Who, me?" She asked, sounding kind of muffled as she attempted to speak and chew at the same time. Getting an answer to her redundant question from seeing Luke looking at her, she swallowed the food that was in her mouth and wiped her mouth with a napkin before she attempted to speak. "Oh, n..not really." She replied, forcing an awkward smile. She loved Luke, she really did, but this was strange. Neither of them was used to seeing the other that way before.

He smiled and nodded, going back to concentrate on his food.

He hasn't told her about Jess being in town. Not even to Lorelai. He kind of hoped that the issue would just pass by them, however, he knew it wouldn't. But he had no reason to bring his nephew up at this point.

Actually, he had a reason. He knew that there's a chance for Rory and Jess to run into each other while they're both in town, and they will both kill him what that happens. Something happened between those two when Jess was in town before, he knew. Well, he didn't know for sure because Jess didn't exactly tell him what happened, but he knew that something must have happened. And considering none of the two brought up the other since, he knew it wasn't good. But he still just couldn't mention to Rory that Jess was here.

Then, he realized that their two different paths will cross for sure as both came to participate in his and Lorelai's wedding.

He sighed. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, he thought.

Lorelai chuckled, suddenly. "I can't believe you made salad!" She exclaimed.

Luke turned to Lorelai and frowned. "What's wrong with my salad?" He asked, eyebrows creased.

"It's vegetables. Name one person in his house who feeds on vegetables."

"I do." Luke started, and Lorelai rolled her eyes. "So what, every time we eat dinner at this house there's going to be salad on the table?" She asked, and Luke thumped his palms on the table and leaned forward. "Yes." He stated.

She gasped in disbelief. "You're going to make huge salads that only you are going to eat, even when it comes in expense of other types of food which-"

"Alright, that's it." Luke cut into her words and dug his fork deep into the salad bowl, taking some vegetables with it, and shoved it into Lorelai's open mouth.

Her eyed widened. "Oh, my god." She muttered, having no other choice but to swallow. "You fed salad to me!"

"Oh, did I?" Asked Luke, straight faced.

Rory watched the exchange with a grin, and Luke caught that as he glanced at her. Yup, he thought to himself again, cross that bridge when you get there. Or if things go real bad, burn it down.