"Did you manage to get to sleep?" Jess inquired when they sat down.

"Yes, as soon as my head hit the pillow."

"That's good."

"Thanks for the apple."

"I had to listen to Taylor rant about why I was back in town for five minutes."

"Then it's a very special apple." Rory smiled. "What did you tell him?"

"That it was a free country and if I didn't inquire as to why he wore those awful sweaters then he shouldn't inquire into my living arrangements."

"What did Taylor say?" Rory inquired.

"He got very red and called me an insolent fool."

"Harsh words. Luke would be so proud."

"You didn't hear he was throwing me a party." Jess said sarcastically.

"My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail."

"So have you got planned for today?" Jess inquired.

"I was going to finish reading the Maltase Falcon. Then I have to make another attempt at reducing the pile of books I can't live without taking to Yale. The last few attempts the pile has grown. Then I thought I'd go and get some school supplies before going and having dinner at Luke's."

"Sounds like a busy day."

"Do you have plans?"

"Other than bringing you an apple I didn't. But then I spoke to Lorelai."

"You spoke to Mom?" Rory questioned. "I didn't think she was going to the diner this morning as she was running late."

"She didn't, I called her."

"Voluntarily?" Rory looked shocked.

"I just wanted to know if you would be up."

"So you called my Mom?"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Next time just walk over here, if my bedroom curtains are closed I'm asleep." Rory agreed.

"Okay." Jess scratched the back of his neck.

"So what did Mom say to you?" Rory inquired.

"The water bottle needs changing and the rain gutters need emptying."

"Well the water bottle does need changing, and I wouldn't know about the rain gutters but I thought Mom was going to have Luke take care of it."

"She said something about them having plans tonight." Jess told her.

"Date night. I forgot."

"Date night?"

"Mom and Luke have date night once or twice a week. Caesar closes up and they go and do something. Although Mom usually spends the night afterwards." Rory explained.

"That's a mental image I didn't need."

"Along with remind that Luke's apartment doesn't have any walls."

"Ah jeez Rory." Jess scowled.

"Don't worry if Luke brings Mom back, your grandfather's boat is available."

"Boat?" Jess questioned.

"Apparently your grandfather had a boat he was restoring, Luke was paying to keep it somewhere but when Mom found out about it she told he him could keep it in the garage for free. Feel free to go and take a look, I don't think it's sea worthy or lake worthy for that matter but Luke loves it so by extension Mom loves it."

"Thanks."

"Luke will probably just sleep over here once I'm back at Yale."

"You don't have a problem with it?" Jess asked.

"Mom had this rule no men sleeping over while I was growing up, the one time Max slept over just before the wedding that wasn't she came and slept on my bed. As long as they are happy and I only know about it in the abstract, I don't mind. Besides Taylor has a plan if they should split up."

"Taylor has a plan?"

"He called an emergency town meeting, he had charts and graphs and he'd divided the town up. Luke apparently wasn't happy about it."

"I'll bet."

"Well I have one more chapter to go, so if you want to change the water bottle that would be great and then you can help me with the pile of books."

"What about the rain gutters?"

"I think the rain gutters can wait for a while. Lunch is also in our future."

"Is there any edible food here at all?"

"Of course. We have tatter tots, and soup and a lasagne in the freezer that Sookie gave to Mom, if there was just someone who knew how long to heat it up for."

"I think I can manage that." Jess agreed. "Water bottles still in the same place?"

"Of course."

TBC