Wow, thanks to everyone for the reviews. I've never gotten so many for one chapter before. Ever. It was awesome. Here's the next chapter, I hope you all like it.

On another note I apologize for my attempt at Australian slang. I'm Canadian. Enough said, right?

And on yet another note, to Bloomin Daisy, I'm sorry that you feel I stole Holden's name from you. I can honestly say that I've never read one of your fics, so I couldn't possibly have stolen the name from you. (Does that sound really rude? I didn't intend for it to turn out that way...)

I did in fact steal the name though, so to JD Salinger, I'm sorry. Your property.

"Is that him?" Lorelai was practically pressed through the front window of Luke's Diner. She watched as a beautiful blonde woman emerged from the car carrying what looked like a mini-Jess. Then a taller, more mature version of Jess Mariano got out of the car. He opened the back door and came out with the most adorable little girl Lorelai had ever seen. Besides Rory, of course.

She had long curly, strawberry blonde hair pulled back into pigtails and was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a matching jean jacket, and a pair of white and black Converse shoes. She had an enchanting smile and her blue eyes shone adoringly at Jess.

The four started towards the diner when the little girl shouted something that caused her and Jess to head back to the car. The blonde and mini-Jess entered the diner just as the mini-blonde and Jess emerged from the vehicle. Jess was triumphantly holding a stuffed pink bunny. The little girl laughed and hugged the man tightly around the neck. Jess tried to maintain his tough guy image, but Lorelai could see the smile play across his features.

"My Bella's got him wrapped around her little finger."

Lorelai turned away from the window at the sound of the accented voice, red faced. "Oh, I wasn't-"

The blonde laughed, shifted the little boy in her arms and held out a hand to Lorelai. "Natalia Madison."

Lorelai smiled sheepishly and shook Natalia's hand. "Lorelai Gilmore."

"You're Lorelai?"

"Umm, yes…"

"Jess has told me about you."

"He has?"

Natalia nodded. "Yeah-"

She was cut off when Jess and Bella entered the diner. "Mummy! Da found Grandma!" The little girl held the pink bunny out proudly.

"Did he now?" Bella nodded happily. "That's lucky, isn't it?"

"It was under Holden's blanket, behind the diaper bag." Jess explained.

"There's a sentence I never thought I'd hear Jess Mariano say."

Jess turned in surprise. He hadn't noticed the brunette. "Lorelai."

"Jess."

Jess shifted Bella on his hip anxiously. "You know where Luke is?"

"He went to Doose's."

Jess nodded. "Oh."

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Lorelai motioned to Bella.

The little girl smiled brightly. "I'm Bella."

The older woman smiled back. "Hi Bella. I'm Lorelai."

Bella held out her stuffed animal. "This is Grandma."

"Grandma?" Lorelai asked curiously.

"My real grandma died. She gave her to me."

"Oh." Lorelai nodded. "That's a good name then."

Bella nodded again. "Holden's lion is named Sid."

At the mention of mini-Jess' name Lorelai looked over at him. As soon as she did he jammed a thumb into his mouth and hid his face behind Natalia's shoulder. "Sid?"

"Yeah. Sid Viscous."

"Sid Vicious, Bella." Jess corrected.

"Sid Vicious?" Lorelai cocked an eyebrow at Jess. "You let your kid listen to the Sex Pistols?"

Jess shrugged. "They're his favorite. At least he doesn't drink coffee."

Lorelai held a hand over her heart. "Your child hasn't tasted the elixir of life?"

"Mommy!" Lorelai looked to the door as Luke and Liam entered the diner.

"There's my boys." She kissed Luke's cheek and scooped up her sandy haired son. "Liam, this is your cousin Jess. And this is Natalia, and their kids Bella and Holden."

"We're not-"

"They're-"

"Hi. You're my cousin?"

Jess nodded. "I'm Jess, but-"

"Mom!"

"Rory!" Lorelai handed Liam over to a passing Luke before rushing her daughter. "Sweets, you're here!"

Rory laughed as her mom hugged her. "You remember Finn, right mom?"

"Of course." Lorelai said haughtily. "What do you think I am? Old?" She then nodded at the Australian, who stood next to a stranger.

He was tall, taller than Finn- who was pretty damn tall, probably about 6'6". He had a deep tan, sun streaked blonde hair, and pale blue eyes. He smiled charmingly at Lorelai, revealing a deep dimple on the right side of his mouth, then lifted her hand to his lips. "Colby Sullivan, at your service."

Lorelai looked over at Rory, who was wrapped in Finn's arms. "You're right about the Australian thing, Kid."

"What Australian thing?" Luke asked making his way back to the group. He glared at Colby, as he was still grasping Lorelai's hand. "You. Who are you?"

"Colby Sullivan."

"I don't like you."

Finn laughed at his friend's stricken look. "Don't worry, mate, it's not a short list."

"Da." Bella whispered, tugging on the collar of Jess' leather jacket. "I'm hungry."

"Me too." Holden said quietly, still sucking on his thumb, grasping Sid tightly with his other hand. There were too many strangers for him.

"Okay guys." Jess reached over and ruffled his son's hair, earning him a tired half smile. "Luke." Jess tried to get the diner owner's attention.

"Un'ca Luke." Holden corrected quietly.

"Uncle Luke."

Everyone turned to look as he used the title.

"Jess."

Jess froze, uncomfortable with all the attention. Bella was pressing herself as tightly to him as she could, while Holden was hiding his face behind Lia's shoulder again. Lia placed a hand on Jess' arm, prompting him to speak. "Could we get some food?"

"I'm hungry." Bella said, addressing Lorelai.

"Uh, yeah."

Finn nudged Rory subtly as Jess ushered the blonde and two kids to a table, followed by an uncharacteristically emotional Luke. "Who's the bloke, Ror?"

Rory blinked and looked to her mother "That's Jess. I thought you said son, mom." She looked over at the table where Jess was speaking lowly to the blonde and unconsciously settling the little girl into a booster seat. "That looks like more than a son."

Lorelai shrugged. "That's what Luke told me. But when he got here he was with Natalia and Bella too."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Lorelai raised her hands in her own defense. "They got here like five minutes before you did."

Rory looked back at the table just as Jess reached across it to ruffle the little boy's hair. Then he laughed and leaned over to whisper something in the blonde's ear. She turned to Finn and pleaded with her eyes. "Do you think we can hit Al's and head back to the house?"

"Sure, love. Colby?"

The blonde Australian shrugged. "No worries Finn, as long as there's food."

"Are you sure you won't stay Rory?" Lorelai asked. "I know Luke and Liam-"

"I can't stay here with him, mom."

"Rory-"

"Look, you know he's going to start something as soon as he gets a chance."

"I don't know, Ror-"

"It's Jess, mom."

"There's something different about him. I don't-"

"You're defending him now?"

"Rory, would you let me-"

"I can't do this mom. I'm going home."

"Rory…" Lorelai watched as her daughter stormed out of the diner leaving a confused Finn and bewildered Colby. She shook her head at the questioning Australians. "Go with her. And Finn?" The brunette looked up at his girlfriend's mom. "Don't push it. Just make sure she's okay."

Finn nodded and left, followed closely by his friend.

Lorelai sighed and headed to the counter, where her son was seated and munching happily on a piece of blueberry pie. "Luke! Pie me!"

"I can't believe him!" Rory muttered angrily, stabbing repeatedly at her Thai food.

"What's wrong, love?" Finn asked cautiously, "What's this Jess bloke done to you?"

Colby, sensing the gravity of the coming conversation grabbed his beer and food and headed for the front porch. He nodded to Finn, who shot him a grateful look. "What's he done? What hasn't he done?" Rory slammed her utensils onto the coffee table and started pacing the room furiously. "I put all I had into our relationship! I gave him everything! He was going to be my first… I put my relationship with my mom aside to be with him. And Lane. The whole frickin' town… They all told me too… They told me he was no good, that he would break my heart." Rory was in tears at this point and Finn was resisting every urge he had not to touch her. Or to head back to the diner and punch the bastard's face in. "He just left." Rory continued. "He didn't say a word. And I was the last person to know… That's what hurt the most…" Finally, unable to say anymore Rory threw herself into Finn's arms.

"Shh…" Finn soothed, stroking the sobbing girl's hair. "It's okay, baby."

Rory just wept. Heartbroken, pent up tears. Harsh, wracking sobs. "I loved him."

Finn kissed the top of her head. "I know." He murmured into her hair. "It's alright, love." Rory, putting all her weight on Finn finally dragged the two of them down to the floor. She cried, harder and more passionately than she ever had before, thankful for Finn. Finn: her best friend, her unconditional love, the man who cradled her as if she were the most precious thing in the world, while she cried bitterly over another man.

"I wouldn't go in there, Sheila." Colby said taking another pull from his beer.

Lane looked at the uber-relaxed blonde quizzically. He had his chair tipped back on two legs and his feet were propped up on the porch railing. "Who are you? And who's Sheila?"

The blonde turned his head from where it was leaning against the side of the house and cracked an eye open. He looked at Lane appraisingly and let his chair drop back onto all four legs. "Colby. And you are."

Lane shook her head. "My name's not Sheila."

"You're not Sheila, you're a Sheila. You know, a girl. Anyway, Sheila, I wouldn't go in there."

"Why not?"

"Rory's spewin' over some wanker at the diner. Finn's with her though, so she'll be right soon enough."

Lane shook her head. "I've talked to Finn before and I've never been this confused."

Colby shook his head in mock sadness. "It is sad really, the bloke's lost the Aussie speak."

Lane shook her head again. "So why shouldn't I go in there?"

"Rory's mad."

"Mad."

Colby nodded. "Some Jess bloke we saw at the diner."

"Jess?" Colby nodded again. "Jess is here?"

"Yes. With some blonde Sheila and two little ankle biters." Lane looked expectantly at him. "A blonde woman and two kids."

"Kids?" Lane screeched. Colby nodded once again. "Jess? Jess and kids?" More nodding. "Kids with Jess? Jess Mariano? His kids?"

"At least one of them." Colby said tipping his chair back again. "But it could be both."

"Is she okay?"

"Finn's with her."

"So who are you again?"

"Colby Sullivan. You?"

"Oh, I'm Lane. Lane Kim."

"Well, Lane Kim, drink?"

"Drink?"

Colby held his beer out to her. "Oh, no. I don't drink… Alcohol. I drink, I don't drink alcohol."

Colby looked at her again. "Go on, give it a burl- try. Give it a try."

"Not thanks." Lane declined. "Really."

The blonde shrugged and closed his eyes again. "Suit yourself."

The Korean girl sighed and sat on the porch stairs. "How long have they been going at it?"

Colby shrugged again. "'Bout twenty minutes, I suppose."

"Want a tour of the Hollow?"

Colby dropped his chair again and set down his beer. "Lead on Ms. Kim."

Lane blushed and stood up "Um, okay."