Thanks for the reviews. Much appreciated. This is the next chapter. Enjoy.

Lorelai's POV-

"I think I may have made a mistake. A big mistake." Luke barged into the room.

"Well, what's wrong? What did you do?" I asked.

"I think I may have invited Jess to the thing tonight."

"Luke! No! Why would you do that?"

"Because Liz asked if he and TJ could come. She said we and I didn't know that her 'we' included Jess. Should I uninvite him?"

"No. I just have to tell Rory. And I dunno about you but I think that Logan seem like the type to throw down. Just tell Jess to keep in line when he gets here." I got out of bed, got dressed and walked down stairs. Luke was right behind me.

"Do you want me to tell her?" he asked.

"Nah, I can handle in. You should probably hide out at work for a while though. I don't know how she's gonna take it."

"Thank you. I'll see you guys for lunch?"

"If Rory hasn't killed me." I gave him a kiss and he left. I let out a long sigh, not really wanting to discus Jess ever. I knocked on the door. "Hey Rory! Can you come out for a sec?"

"I'll be out in a minute." She yelled back. I took a seat on the couch.

"What's wrong? That's not a good face."

"I happen to like my face, thank you."

"Mom?" Rory sat down.

"We have a slight problem with the guest list for tonight."

"Why? What's wrong?" she demanded.

"Luke invited Liz and TJ. And they're bringing Jess."

She fell back against the couch. "It'll be okay. They are technically family. So, I'd have to see him at the wedding anyway. So… I guess… I'll live."

"Thanks but that's not exactly what I'm worried about. You need to try and keep Logan in line. He seems like the 'defending your honor' kinda guy, so if Jess gets outa hand you need to let someone know."

"We wont ruin tonight for you mom. I promise."

"Oh, I know sweetie. Thank you. You can go back to lover boy and explain what's going on."

"Thanks for the heads up." She kissed my cheek and retreated to her room.

Rory's POV-

"We need to talk." I sat on the bed, cutting to the chase.

"Wow. What did your mom want?"

"My ex-boyfriend is Luke's nephew. He's invited tonight and I need you to behave yourself."

"Wait. You dated Luke's nephew? How long ago?"

"Like two years ago. But he took off and ran away to California. Then he came back, told me he loved me and left again."

"Oh, boy."

"That's not the best part. Then, a few months ago, he came to my dorm and wanted me to run away with him."

"And you're telling me not to punch him, why?" he sat up in bed.

"If it were anywhere else, I wouldn't care. But not tonight. Its mom and Luke's party. If he starts something and he's still here tomorrow, knock yourself out."

"So what am I supposed to do tonight?"

"Nothing. Leave it to me. I know how to deal with Jess." I lied down in bed and pulled him down with me.

"You're not gonna decide to go with him, are you? " I looked at him and he looked so small.

"No, I'm really not. I promise. He bailed on me twice and you're still here. I think my choice is obvious. I held up my left hand and he smiled.

"So are you sure your mom would be against me punching him in the face?" he laughed.

"We should start getting ready. I need to find a dress. Do you have a suit on you?" I asked.

"I just came back from a three day business trip with my father. Do you think I have any suits?"

"Well, when you put it that way." I laughed. "Do any of them need to be dry cleaned? I have to go into Hartford in a little while."

"You don't have a dry cleaner in Stars Hollow?" he laughed.

"We have a laundry mat but no, no dry cleaner. So, I ask again. Do you need anything dry cleaned?" I started to change. I put on some jeans and Lane's Clash T-shirt, slipped my feet into my Converse and turned to Logan.

"You look adorable. What was the question?"

"Logan! Dry cleaning?"

"Yes. I'll get it." He walked to his suitcase and pulled out a black jacket. "The pants are fine."

"Okay. I have to leave after lunch. Luke and I are going to get mom's ring today."

"So, you wanna head to the diner for lunch? I could make you something here if you don't wanna leave yet."

"We have cereal and poptarts. Neither of which require any actual skill to make."

"Well, good thing for you I don't have any skills. Will you let me make you cereal and poptarts, Ace?"

"Sure get dressed first." I left the room and let him get dressed. A few minutes later he appeared looking spiffy.

""Dressed to kill, huh? The party's not for a while. You can just wear sweat pants."

"I wanna make a good impression."

"On who? You're going anywhere. You're vegging here today while I'm in Hartford."

"Don't want me to go outside? Afraid I'll run into someone?"

"No. Who would you run into? You still have his stuff in your room."

"When did you get a chance to snoop? I've been with you the whole time."

"There's a picture of him on your dresser. Well, there's Dean, Tristan and some other guy, I'm assuming is Jess."

"How do you know Tristan?" I was amazed because I had just been thinking about him yesterday.

"He's my cousin. Where'd you think he got his boyish good looks?" he laughed.

"Wow. How is he? Do you talk to him?"

"What's the fascination, Ace? How'd you know him?"

"He went to school with me. He had this need to prove I would go out with him. But when his dad sent him away to military school, I never heard from him again. I was just wondering what happened to him."

"Oh, so you're Mary huh?" he smirked at me.

"Yeah. Why? You've heard of me?" I grabbed the cereal and poptarts out of the cupboards.

"That boy was infatuated with you. You were the reason he broke into that safe."

"What? No way. He was just with a bad crowd." I poured my Coco-Puffs into my cat face bowl and he put the poptarts into the toaster.

"No, Ace. I've heard the story. But that's the past. To answer your question, he's doing fine. He's a Marine." I gasped, knowing the situation with the war. "He's fine. He's a recruiter just outside of Hartford. He's not over there. He's okay."

I don't know why but I really wanted to see him. I missed him, to tell the truth. "Do you see him?"

"Not much. He's at the obligatory family gatherings. Not because they're nice either. They're still assholes, as you can tell by that encounter with my father yesterday. But both of our favorite of the clan is a small girl named Cassie. She's my cousin, his sister. She's 12 years old. Really adorable."

"Would you mind if I went to see him?" I asked quietly.

"No, I wouldn't mind at all. I mean, don't run off now but I'll give you his number."

I pulled out the poptarts and took a bite. "There are stale. I'm sorry. We have no food." I laughed and through away the poptarts.

"It's okay. I was actually thinking of going over to the Inn. It would help get me on your mom's good side. And I'm sure they wouldn't try and poison me with stale poptarts there."

"I'm sorry; I really have to leave now. Luke's expecting me at the diner. You think you can get to the Inn by yourself?"

"Sure. If I have a problem I'll call you, okay."

"Good. I have to go. Kiss." He kissed me and I drove to the diner. As soon as I walked in Jess was filling coffees and waiting tables.

"J-Jess?" I stuttered, not expecting to see him until tonight.

"Rory." He ignored me and went on filling coffee cups. Luke appeared from the back.

"There's kind of a rush. You're welcome to eat while you wait."

"So, Jess is really here?" I took off my scarf and coat and put them on the school next to me.

"Yes, he's really here. His mom told him to come help me out. I can send him away if you want."

"No. He's family now, I guess. Which is a little weird, but its okay."

"I'm really sorry about springing this on you last minute. He's only here for a little while."

"Maybe I should talk to him. Burger and fries please?"

"Anything. You can drag him upstairs if you want. This is more important than business."

"Thanks." Jess walked back to the counter with a pot of coffee. I grabbed him by the arm and led him upstairs.

"A little violent, aren't we Gilmore?" he asked.

"Don't be a smartass, Jess. I really need to talk to you."

"I'm standing right here, talk."

"Well, last time you ran away like a little girl. So, stay put this time."

Hope you like it my darlings. There is more to come.