CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH -- A SHORT WHILE LATER

RORY and JESS sit in the audience watching the nativity. RORY rests her head on JESS'S shoulder. RORY looks down at her stomach and is holding one hand on it. JESS is focused on SHANE and the nativity scene.

CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH -- LATER

People are getting up and leaving. RORY wipes tears from her eyes.

RORY: That was beautiful.

JESS: (quietly) Yeah, it was. Hey, I'm gonna go find out where the bathroom is, you gonna be okay?

RORY nods. JESS kisses her forehead and gets up. He makes his way through the crowd of people and approaches SHANE, dressed as Mary.

SHANE: Jess! I'm so glad you came! Did you like it?

JESS scratches his head nervously.

JESS: We should go talk outside.

SHANE: (looking confused) Okay.

CUT TO:

EXT. CHURCH -- MOMENTS LATER

JESS and SHANE walk slowly together as they talk.

SHANE: Once I found out you were back in town, I came by the diner a few times. I wanted to see you. See how you were.

JESS: Why?

SHANE: I read your book. I thought it was really great.

JESS: Sure you did.

SHANE: What?

JESS: You want a lock of my hair or something?

SHANE: What?

JESS: I know about the kid, I know what this is about. I'll take a paternity HYPERLINK "http/new. \l "doredir"test, I'll pay child support, I'll do whatever you want, just leave me and Rory alone.

SHANE: What the heck are you talking about? Do you think...

JESS: I saw him Shane. Don't play dumb with me.

SHANE: (laughs) You think you're his father?

JESS: Aren't I?

SHANE: Trust me. If he was yours I would have been knocking on your door three years ago when the strip turned pink.

JESS: Then who's the father?

SHANE: You'd kill me if I told you.

JESS: It's ancient history, I just wanna know.

SHANE: I didn't cheat on you, it was right after we broke up.

JESS: Just tell me.

SHANE: Chuck Presby.

JESS: What?

SHANE: I know.

JESS: I hated him.

SHANE: That's why I slept with him.

JESS: That guy is a jerk!

SHANE: You broke my heart Jess, what was I supposed to do?

JESS: Could have found a better guy to sleep with.

SHANE: Like who, you?

JESS: Anyone besides Chuck Presby.

There is a pause.

JESS (CON'T): So is he, you know, a good dad?

SHANE: (laughs) Hasn't paid me a dime. Wants nothing to do with me.

JESS: You got his address?

SHANE: Why?

JESS: Give it to me, I'll go knock some sense into him. You'll get a check every week.

SHANE: That's okay. I'm fine without him. We don't need his money. Thanks for the offer though.

JESS and SHANE smile at each other.

SHANE (CON'T): I almost wish you were the father. Then Gus would be smart like you and grow up to write books.

JESS: He'll be smart, just like his mom.

SHANE: You don't mean that. You used to always call me stupid in high school.

JESS: I was the stupid one.

JESS and SHANE look each other in the eyes.

JESS (CON'T): I'm sorry.

SHANE: Don't be. You ended up with Rory. You guys are like Romeo and Juliet. I'm glad you left me for her.

JESS: (shaking his head) I'm sorry I used you. It wasn't right. You're a great person. You didn't deserve that. Raising a kid on your own at this age- I have so much respect for you.

SHANE: That means a lot coming from you. I forgive you.

JESS: I don't deserve forgiveness.

SHANE: To err is human, to forgive is divine.

JESS: I think I read that somewhere.

They smile at each other.

SHANE: We should probably be getting back inside. Rory's waiting for you, isn't she?

JESS: Yeah, she is. Look, Shane, I may not be the father, but I could have been so easily. So if you ever need anything, anything at all, I want you to call me.

SHANE: I just might take you up on that.

JESS: Do me a favor?

SHANE: Anything.

JESS: (hesitantly) Don't tell Rory about this, okay? I didn't really tell her that I saw you and…now I feel like an idiot so…let's just keep this between you and me, okay?

SHANE nods. JESS and SHANE look at each other. SHANE extends her arms and hugs him tightly. JESS kisses her on the cheek. They walk back inside the church.

CUT TO:

INT. LIZ AND TJ'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM -- LATER THAT EVENING

The room is vivid and brightly decorated. There are many pictures of family on the walls and on the mantle. A Christmas tree with brightly colored rainbow lights and lots of tinsel sits in the corner. Many gifts with bright shiny wrapping paper sit under it. Renaissance art hangs on the walls and a few sculptures are scattered around the room. The vibe is vibrant and happy. LORELAI and LUKE sit on a love-seat together, TJ sits in an armchair, and LIZ, RORY, and JESS share a couch. There is a coffee table in the center with many bottles and glasses. The alcohol flows freely among them except for RORY who drinks a soda. Everyone is talking and laughing while JESS leans away slightly, relaxing and sipping a beer.

LIZ: The food must be almost ready, I'm gonna go check on it. (to LUKE) You wanna help me, Bro?

LUKE: Sure.

LIZ: (smiling) Okay. We'll be right back.

LIZ and LUKE head towards the kitchen.

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

LUKE follows LIZ into the kitchen. A table is set off to the side with elegant silverware and plates.

LIZ: I'm so glad you could come, I know it was really last minute.

LUKE: We're all happy to be here.

LIZ puts on a pot holder and opens the oven. She pulls out a ham and places it on top of the stove.

LIZ: Look at you. My big Bro. Getting married. And the whole family in one house! I can't believe you got Jess to come. Could you get the rolls out of the fridge?

LUKE: Sure.

LUKE reaches in the fridge and pulls out a can of Pillsbury rolls and hands them to LIZ.

LIZ: Thanks bro. So how are things between you and Lorelai? She looks great.

LUKE: They're good. We've started to plan the wedding.

LIZ: Oh yeah? Set a date yet?

LUKE: No, no date yet, although we're looking at April or May.

LIZ: Oh, a Spring wedding! That'll be beautiful!

LUKE: Yeah, it will.

LIZ pulls out a cookie sheet and starts placing the rolls on it.

LIZ: So how's my boy?

LUKE: He's doing fine.

LIZ: That's good. Helping you out at the diner?

LUKE: He's a great help.

LIZ: That's my Jess. He was always a hard worker. So does he have any girlfriends?

LUKE: Jess?

LIZ: I mean, have you seen him with any girls?

LUKE: Just Rory.

LIZ: Oh yeah? I thought she had a boyfriend.

LUKE: She does. Or did. I'm not really sure, one way or the other.

LIZ: Oh well. We should go tell everyone to come sit down, it's almost ready.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

LIZ and LUKE enter the living room. RORY and JESS are gone. TJ is trying to make the lights stop blinking on the Christmas tree.

TJ: Hey Liz?

LIZ: TJ what the hell are you doing?

TJ: I'm showing Lorelai the lights on the Christmas tree, but they won't stop blinking.

LIZ: Let me see that.

LIZ reaches for the remote control to the Christmas tree in TJ'S hands.

TJ: No, I got it.

TJ presses a button and all the lights go out.

TJ (CON'T): Great. I broke it.

LIZ: Jess knows how to fix these things. Lorelai, where did Jess go?

LORELAI: He went upstairs to go show Rory where the bathroom was.

LIZ: Oh, okay. I'll go get him.

CUT TO:

INT. UPSTAIRS BEDROOM -- MEANWHILE

JESS leads RORY into an empty bedroom.

JESS: This is Liz and TJ'S room.

He flips on a light switch. The room has Renaissance art everywhere and the bed is King sized with a large canopy over it. JESS sits down on the edge of the bed.

RORY: It's beautiful.

JESS: (taking her face into his hands) You're beautiful.

He kisses her and pulls her down onto the bed. RORY pulls away.

RORY: Jess, not here.

JESS: Not here, not at your pool house, not at Lorelai's, not at Luke's.

RORY: We got caught by my grandmother!

JESS: Your grandmother's not here.

RORY: Your mother is here.

JESS: It's nothing she hasn't seen before.

RORY: I'm something she hasn't seen before!

JESS: Good, I get to be on top. If anyone walks in, they won't see you.

JESS smiles seductively and climbs on top of Rory and starts kissing her. The door swings open and LIZ enters. LIZ gasps and closes the door quickly.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

LIZ runs downstairs with a huge smile on her face.

LIZ: Rory and Jess are kissing upstairs!

LUKE: What?

LIZ: This is great, I'm so happy for him.

LUKE: I'm gonna kill him.

LUKE gets up and starts to head towards the stairs.

LIZ: No, Luke, sit down, they're just kids, let them have their fun.

LUKE hesitates, then sits down.

LIZ (CON'T): Did you guys know about this?

LUKE and LORELAI look at each other.

LORELAI: We may have known something.

LIZ: Why didn't anyone tell me?

LUKE: Liz, you know how Jess is. One minute he's here, the next minute he's in California. We didn't know if it was gonna work out, we didn't wanna get your hopes up.

RORY comes storming down the stairs with her arms crossed angrily. JESS chases after her.

RORY: I am never going in a bedroom with you again, ever, anywhere. I'm never kissing you again, ever, anywhere!

JESS: Rory!

RORY runs out the front door. JESS follows her.

TJ: Aren't they gonna be cousins?

CUT TO:

EXT. LIZ AND TJ'S HOUSE -- MOMENTS LATER

RORY is standing outside, shivering without a jacket on. She tries to warm her arms up. JESS comes outside carrying her jacket. She turns away from him. He hands her the jacket.

JESS: Here. It's cold.

RORY takes the jacket and puts it on but does not face him.

JESS (CON'T): I'm sorry. I didn't know she was gonna walk in.

RORY: Your mom saw us kissing on her bed.

JESS: I know.

RORY: She must think I'm slut. I wanted to make a good impression.

JESS: She doesn't think that. Liz is a hippie, all peace and love, she thinks sex is a natural expression between two people.

RORY: Did she tell you that?

JESS: When I was twelve.

RORY: Wow.

JESS: She's probably in there making out wedding invitations right now.

RORY: We were just kissing.

JESS: She's never seen me with a girl before.

RORY: No way.

JESS: I've never brought one home.

RORY: That's impossible. You had so many girls in New York.

JESS: And by the time she came home they were gone.

RORY: Why?

JESS: They weren't good enough.

RORY: (smiling) And I am?

JESS smiles and kisses RORY. They kiss for a moment and he pulls back.

JESS: Whose car is that?

RORY turns to face the driveway. There is a black car.

RORY: (quietly) Merry Christmas.

JESS: Rory...

JESS is speechless. He walks over towards the car and looks at the license plate. He looks more carefully at the car.

JESS (CON'T): (quietly, with disbelief) My car.

RORY: I fixed it up.

JESS: How did you do this?

RORY: Gypsy helped.

JESS: You painted my car?

RORY: And fixed the engine, changed the oil, fixed the carburetor, fixed the breaks, put in new seats, new carpeting, a new steering wheel, fixed the dents, new tires...

JESS: (in shock) How did you afford all this?

RORY: If I tell you, you'll be mad.

JESS: Tell me.

RORY: Logan bought me a car...two cars, actually, and I sold one so I could fix up your car. I gave the other one to Lane. I knew you wouldn't let me buy you a new car, so I thought this was the next best thing. And you can't refuse it, because it's your car.

JESS: You really got under the hood and worked on this car?

RORY: Gypsy has pictures to prove it.

JESS: You did all this for me.

RORY: (cutely): It was nothing.

JESS grabs RORY and kisses her passionately. She kisses back. They wrap their arms around each other tightly. RORY pulls away slightly. They rest their foreheads against each other.

JESS: (quietly) What's wrong?

RORY: (pulling away slightly) Nothing. It's just...

JESS: No good?... Too much tongue?

RORY: No, no...just enough...it's just that...everything feels so new with you...but when I kiss you...it feels like you never left.

She touches his face gently and kisses him. RORY shivers.

RORY (CON'T): It's so cold.

JESS: Not as cold as my hands.

JESS slides his hands up the front of RORY'S shirt. She gasps.

RORY: (giggling) Jess stop!

JESS: You really want me to stop?

RORY: No.

They kiss.

CUT TO:

INT. LIZ AND TJ'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM -- A SHORT WHILE LATER

TJ is still standing by the Christmas tree trying to fix the lights. LIZ is on the couch showing RORY and LORELAI a photo album. LUKE and JESS sit off to the side.

RORY: (giggling and pointing to the photo album) Is that Jess?

LIZ: Yes. When he was seven, these girls from school came over and asked me to borrow some make up. I thought they were going to play house or something. When I came back, they had him dressed up like Madonna!

RORY and LORELAI laugh hysterically. JESS shakes his head.

JESS: It was awful.

LORELAI: Wow, Jess, you look just like a virgin.

LIZ smiles and closes the photo album.

LIZ: I think it's time for presents.

LORELAI: Oh, presents! My favorite part.

RORY: Forgive my mother, she has no concept of the spirit of giving.

LORELAI: Not everyone can give their boyfriend a car.

LIZ: You gave Jess a car?

RORY: I just fixed up his old one.

LIZ: Wow. Why didn't you tell me things were getting so serious between you two? I feel like I've missed everything.

JESS overhears the conversation and walks over towards them. RORY and JESS look at each other.

RORY: It's just been...complicated. We didn't wanna tell you before we knew for sure it was going to work.

LIZ: (to JESS) So does that mean you're...

JESS: Staying.

LIZ hugs JESS with joy.

LIZ: Oh, my baby's staying! In Stars Hollow!

JESS hugs her back and smiles. Everyone sits down to open presents. JESS hands TJ a present.

TJ: My step-son gets me a present. I wonder what this could be.

He opens the present.

TJ (CON'T): An etch-a-sketch! How did you know!

LUKE'S face becomes worried.

LUKE: (whispering to JESS) That's what I got him!

JESS: Something tells me he'll use them both.

LIZ: Rory?

RORY: Yeah?

She scoots closer to LIZ.

LIZ: I have something for you. I've been thinking all week, 'What can I get for you', but now I have the perfect thing.

She takes an ornament off the Christmas tree and hands it to RORY. It is a paper plate with a finger paint hand print on it of a child's hand. In messy children's writing, it says, "This is something to remind you, when I have grown big and tall, that I was once very little, and my hand was very small. Jess." As RORY reads the ornament, her eyes well up with tears.

LIZ (CON'T) I smoked a lot of pot when he was a kid, but I still have so many memories of his childhood. You should have it. Jess has never brought home a girl before...you're very special to him. I want you to have this.

RORY: (choking back tears) I know...It's perfect. Thank you.

JESS: (to LIZ) (embarrassed) What are you giving her? She doesn't want that.

RORY: Yes I do.

LIZ and RORY hug. RORY shows JESS the ornament. He rolls his eyes, then smiles and kisses her on the forehead. LIZ hands JESS a present.

LIZ: Merry Christmas, Jess.

JESS smiles softly and opens the present. It is an Apple Laptop.

LIZ (CON'T): I thought you could use it to write your next book.

JESS: This is too much.

LIZ: No, it's not. Every author should have a laptop computer. Lorelai helped me pick it out, she says it's the same one Rory has, but the latest technology. It has a word processor and everything you need.

JESS smiles and puts the computer down.

JESS: (very quietly): Thank you, Mom.

LIZ is silent for a moment.

LIZ: (quietly) What...what did you call me?

LORELAI and RORY smile at each other as they watch. JESS looks down, then back up.

JESS: (hesitantly) Mom.

LIZ starts crying and hugs JESS tightly.

LIZ: You haven't said that since you were ten years old.

JESS hugs her tightly.

JESS: Please don't cry.

LIZ pulls away and wipes her eyes.

LIZ: I love you Jess.

JESS: (quietly, hesitantly) I love you too.

JESS and LIZ hug. JESS looks over her shoulder at RORY. She smiles at him.

CUT TO:

EXT. LORELAI'S HOUSE -- EVENING

The house is brightly lit and decorated. A big red bow with a sign that says First Place is tacked to the mailbox.

CUT TO:

INT. LORELAI'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM --MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

The house is dark and silent. All the presents are under the Christmas tree.

CUT TO:

INT. RORY'S BEDROOM -- MORNING

RORY and JESS are lying in bed in pajamas, holding each other tightly with the covers tangled around them. RORY stirs and wakes up. She gently sits up, trying not to wake JESS. She yawns and rubs her eyes. She looks around her room. There are racks of modern looking clothes everywhere, mostly polos and jeans. RORY stares in awe. She shakes JESS with one hand. He stirs and opens his eyes.

JESS: (groggily) Did Santa come yet?

She kisses him.

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

LUKE, LORELAI, RORY, and JESS are all sitting under the Christmas tree opening presents. PAUL ANKA sits happily on his new pillow with a new bone in his mouth.

LORELAI: (reaching for some presents) And one for Rory, and one for Jess, and one for me.

She hands out the presents accordingly. LUKE opens a long box with some new fishing poles in it. He kisses LORELAI.

LUKE: It's just what I wanted. Ooh, open that one, you'll like it.

LORELAI opens the box. Her eyes go wide. She takes out matching jogging suits, one large and one small. The large one is navy blue and says Luke. The small one is baby blue and says Lorelai.

LORELAI: (quietly) The whole package with matching jogging suits.

LUKE: I figured since we have Paul Anka, we didn't really need the Golden Retriever.

LORELAI: Thank you seems so meaningless right now. Luke, I don't know what to say.

She puts her face close to his.

LORELAI: Have I ever told you how much I love you?

LUKE: (smiling) I love you too.

They kiss. RORY and JESS smile at each other.

RORY: Open yours.

JESS: Open yours.

RORY: Fine, we'll open them at the same time.

They both open their boxes. Both presents are a pair of black Converse sneakers.

LUKE: Looks like we won't be the only matching couple.

RORY smiles.

RORY: I'm gonna go get something, I'll be right back. (to JESS) Don't open anything from me without me!

JESS: I won't.

They kiss softly. She gets up and walks towards her room.

CUT TO:

INT. RORY'S BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

RORY closes her bedroom door tightly. She opens a drawer and pulls out a paper bag. She closes her eyes tightly and pulls a used pregnant test out of the bag. She opens her eyes and looks down. There is a plus sign.

FADE OUT.

(End Credits)