Thump, thump, thump.

Luke cautiously cracked open the door to his upstairs home above the diner. There was obviously an intruder there and he was ready to pounce. His face registered with surprise as he swung the door open only to discover an old resident.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Your stupid radio is not working" he answered, not turning around.

"What are you doing here, Jess?"

"Just stopped by for a visit - "

"I'm not even gonna bother asking how you always get up here without anyone ever seeing you." Luke sighed. "What's going on?"

Jess replied, rather annoyed "Hoover put a hit on me. Thought I'd lay low here."

"She's here."

Jess paused in his fruitless attempt at fixing the old boom box. "I don't know what you're talking about." It even sounded unconvincing to himself. He fixed his eyes on the floor. "How long is she in town for?"

Luke looked smug. "Who? I thought that you didn't know who I was referring to."

"Oh, are you Red Skelton's newest joke writer?"

"Spring Day Fever." At his nephew's quizzical look, he elaborated; "she's here for the annual Spring Day Fever. How can you have forgotten about that yearly circus?"

"I've tried to block a lot of this town's memories out." There was an uncomfortable pause. "Is she still with - "

" - Logan? Yeah, she's still with him."

"Huh."

"She seems to be doing really good. She's back at school, she's editor of the paper."

"Well, we can't all be talented at slacking." He was making his way toward the exit when Luke stopped him.

"Do you know what you're doing?" his face was showered with concern.

Jess gave him a simple "No idea" as he headed out of the door.

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Jess passed the old gazebo. His mind felt muzzy. It seemed as though this town only intensified his befuddlement and he was hoping the clear air might shed some light on his problems. He sensed someone following him so he glanced over his shoulder and groaned.

"Jeez, do I have to sign another autograph for you?"

"I just, I just wanted to ask you to be careful."

"Well, thanks uncle Luke, but I learned how to cross the street a few years ago. So, all of this hand-holding that you seem to want to do, well, you should go find Kirk. He loves your tuna melts, so maybe he'd be willing to do a favour for a favour; if you know what I mean."

"Wow, I had almost forgotten how much I missed your constant sincerity. Look, I only meant don't do anything stupid." His nephew gave him a withering stare. "I know that may be a foreign concept for you."

"Shouldn't you be on your leash following Lorelai?"

Luke was reaching the end of his fuse. "Oh yeah, you're real superior aren't you Jess? You have a lot to be smug about. I mean, you don't have to 'be on a leash', do you? You're free. No one telling you what to do. No one that you have to answer to. Must be nice to go home every night and not have to worry about anyone waiting up for you or asking you how your day went. Yep; total freedom. Nice. Wow, you really dodged the bullet with Rory, didn't you? I mean you could have gotten stuck there. But you don't have to worry about that. Logan is taking good care of her. Now he's the one who gets to talk about books with her and hold her. You should thank him. You should - "

"You should shut the hell up."

"Can't we get along, can't we all just get along..." the town troubadour strummed as he walked by.

"You're gonna get a neck brace if you don't keep it moving, freak."

"...Uncles and nephews, need to combine...uncles and nephews, make a peace sign..." the bohemian strolling musician sang on. He faded away in the background as he headed toward Gypsie's shop.

"Are we done here?"

Luke sighed. "Yeah, we're done."

"Good." They parted ways and the dark haired young man continued his aimless journey. He found himself approaching the Gilmore residence. He walked straight up the door, then changed direction bearing toward Rory's window. He knew if he paused to think he would turn around and chicken out. Here goes nothing...he let out a breath that he didn't even know he was holding.

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