AN- I was worried that Rory was a little ooc, but 14 reviews quenched by fears. Thanks for all the encouragement, I didn't think the prologue was Here's the next chapter. It is very loooooong. Not all the chapters will be this long (I've written ahead) but all so far are longer than the prologue.

Chapter 1

A little less than ten years later…

Jess was driving down the road in his SUV, snowflakes hitting the windshield. She looked at the young girl, his daughter, asleep in the passenger seat. Her curly, shoulder length, dark hair, with a reddish tint, fell into her faintly freckled face.

Jess did not want to go were he was ultimately going. Firstly, he had to drag his daughter away from home for the holidays, and, secondly, he desperately did not want to return to Star's Hollow…for several reasons. If only his agent, his stupid agent, hadn't booked his book launch their. Why did he tell her where his book was inspired from?

She had booked it with Taylor, none-the-less. The whole town probably knew he was coming by now. None of them knew that he had a kid, except Liz, he had told her, and the other her, Rory. Jess had half a mind to turn around now, but his agent had already got them reservations at, in her words, 'this quant little homey inn,' also known as The Dragonfly Inn, or the inn that was co-owned by Lorelai Gilmore-Danes and Sookie St. James, yet Jess called it morbidly in his mind, the inn that was likely to end his life, by either murder or suicide.

He drove by a sign that pronounced, "Welcome to STAR'S HOLLOW." Jess gave his daughter a light shove and said, "Wake up, Amber, we're here."

"Hey Luke," said Lorelai coming into the diner, and kissing over the counter.

"Hey, whatcha doing here?' Luke asked

"Do I need a reason to come and visit my husband?" she asked offended.

"You want coffee?' he asked dryly.

"Yeah, to go," Lorelai answered swiftly.

"Typical," Luke muttered under his breath turning away from her and filling a cup.

"And a doughnut," she added as he gave her the cup of coffee.

"You're gonna' die at fifty," Luke said giving one to her in a Luke's bag.

"And what a good fifty years they will have been. How much?"

"I'm not making you pay. You're my wife."

"No, I insist. This is a business and just can not go around giving out free food."

"Okay, you can pay, three fifty."

"Come here," said Lorelai becoming her hand towards herself.

"What?"

She just waved her had more urgently. Luke leaned across the counter and Lorelai stood and whispered in his ear, "Can I borrow three dollars and fifty cents."

"That's it. Get out of my diner," said Luke, pointing at the door.

Lorelai just gave him puppy dog eyes, "But I'm your wife."

Luke growled in frustration and turned away to tend to some other customers and then went in the back. He was surprised to Lorelai still sitting their, sipping her coffee.

"You got that 'to go' for a reason," he said grumpily, indicating to the coffee, "Is their something else you want.

"Jess is supposed to come into town today," Lorelai said seriously.

"Did you tell Rory?"

"Yeah, yesterday when I talked to her on the phone, she'll have a few days to prepare, though, she out on a business trip for a few days."

"Good."

"It's surprising isn't it. Him coming back to town, a successful author."

"It is, but I always knew he had the potential…What was even more surprising was Taylor's reaction."

"I know, he seemed ready to adopt Jess and I thought he hated Jess!" exclaimed Lorelai

"He did, but Jess is bringing in tourists."

"And Taylor loves you, just as long as you bring tourists to Star Hollow-,"

"And agree with and do everything he says," Luke interrupted.

"Anyway, the mystery is that Jess's agent called and reserved a bedroom," Lorelai paused for effect, "with two beds."

Luke was silent for a moment, "So…?"

"It means that Jess is bringing someone with him, but that person is not getting their own room, but is not sharing his bed," explained Lorelai with exaggerated hand motions.

"And this means…what?" asked Luke.

"I don't know what it means, it is a mystery. A mystery that today will be solved. Holy… is that the time? I need to get back to the Dragonfly." Lorelai stood up and took a step towards the door and then hesitated.

"What is it?" Luke asked.

"Can I –aaa- get another coffee?"

Amber fogged up the widow as her big blue eyes stared out it with her mouth a gape. "People actually live in places like this?" she asked indignantly. "It's so small and low and …"

"Picturesque?" Jess filled in for her.

"No, more like out of an episode of 'Leave it to Beaver.'"

Jess laughed, "You are a city slicker through and through, just like your dad. Born and raised in a big city and can't understand how anyone can live anywhere else."

There was a silence, "You actually lived here?"

"For a year or two," he answered.

"Did you like it here?"

Jess contemplated that question for a minute, "Not really."

There was another silence as Amber stared amazed at the town.

"I'm hungry," Amber commented.

"We just ate," said Jess in a matter-of-fact manner.

"We didn't just eat," Amber exclaimed indignantly.

"We ate like an hour ago."

"That is not 'just ate.'"

"Yes, it is 'just ate.'"

"Not."

"Is," said Jess firmly. Amber fell silent.

"Not," she added quietly, "Where are going anyway?"

"To my mother's," Jess answered shortly.

"Can we eat their?" Amber asked hopefully.

"Not if you want to live."

"Are you joking?"

"No, I'm dead serious…no pun intended." Amber rolled her eyes at that. Finally they parked in front of a small off white house in the middle of a tree-filled neighbor.

"Does she know about me?" asked Amber quietly, looking up at her father.

"Yeah, she does. And she cannot wait to meet you," answered Jess and it was the truth. Liz had been one of the few people he had told. He had kept in contact with over the years, he owed her that much, but he had not visited for years, almost ten, to exact. He had not come back to Star's Hollow because of Amber and because he was running away.

Jess and Amber walked up to the door of the house, but before either could knock it was flung open and Liz's arms were thrown around Jess's neck.

"Oh, Jess, I've been waiting all day for you to show up! I thought you forgot, or got in an accident with the visual all obscured from the snow, but here you are, fine and safe." She leaned back from Jess and kissed him on the check. He stood stiffly, stunned

at her actions.

"Hi, Liz-um-Mom," he said, but she had already moved on to his daughter.

"You must be Amber," she said leaning over slightly so she and the younger girl were close to level. "This is the first time I've gotten to meet you. I'm Liz, your Grandmom, you can call me that if you like." She embraced the girl tenderly.

"I can see you in her, Jess," said Liz looking you for the hug. Amber looked up from it too and gave her father a look that clearly said, 'Is she sane?'

"Come on," Liz beckoned them into her house and into the living room. The father and daughter followed quietly. The sat down on a pinstriped coach as Liz sat across from them.

Liz sighed happily and then broke the silence, "You know, this is great, us all here together, "Me, my son, my granddaughter…it's perfect," she sighed again.

A silence filled the room again. Amber could here the ticking of a clock. She glanced sideways at her father, was he going to say anything?

"Well…um- it's good to see you," said Jess after a while. "I have something for you," he added, digging into his pocket. He leaned forward to hand Liz what seemed to be two pieces of paper, "Their VIP passes for the book launch on Friday, to make sure you can get in. One for you and one for…TJ."

"I get to be a VIP, wow. That is so thoughtful of you Jess. Your book launch has perfect timing too. You guys are gonna' be here for Christmas. The two of you just have to come over Christmas morning. Promise." said Liz, but did not give them time to, "Then for diner, there is this big bash going down Luke and Lorelai's. Sookie's cookin', the whole family is gettin' together. It's gonna' be great. I'm sure Luke is planning on inviting you as soon as you go to see him, but, of course, you've got an extra person he doesn't know about," ended Liz, eyes flashing over to Amber. Amber noticed it.

"So you haven't…?" asked Jess cryptically.

"No," answered Liz, "I have kept your secret. Which is harder said then done, this is Star's Hollow…" Jess held back a laugh. Liz continued, "You're the one, though who's going to have to let the cat, or the daughter in this case, out of the bag."

"Yeah," retorted Jess, "But I'm only going to have to tell one person before the whole place knows…"

After a lengthy talk at his mother's, Jess pulled up in front of the diner. He sighed, this wasn't going to be easy.

"Come on," he said to Amber, opening his car door, "You're gonna' meet my uncle."

Amber glanced out the window, "Why are parked outside a diner?"

"It's my uncle's diner. It's were he works, and there is apartment on the second floor were he lived before he got married. It's were I stayed when I lived here."

"You didn't stay with your mom."

"She didn't live here then."

"Oh," said Amber slowly, "Your mom, Liz, uh…, Grandmom, said that your uncle, um…Luke, that she never told him about …me, that she kept it a secret for you. Why?"

Jess bit the inside of his bottom lip before saying, "It's hard to explain, you would have to know Luke."

"But you told Grandmom," said Amber, every second getting more used to saying that word.

"Liz would understand, she would be more accepting, I mean, you met her. But, see, I have not been back here in a really long time and saying I have a daughter is not something you do over the phone, especially with Luke. He would yell at me and say I screwed up again, when it wasn't a screw up, it was the best thing that ever happen in my life. "

"Okay, don't get sappy on me."

"And telling him this way," said Jess, "He will probably still yell at me and told me I screwed up, but hey, if we both live threw that encounter, we'll eat, on me."

"Hey, 'eat' was the only word you had to say to get me out of this car."

She jumped out of the car, onto the sidewalk and Amber and her father walked into the building together. Thankfully it was in a lull of mid-afternoon. Too late for the regular lunchers, most now busy at work or school, but too early for diner or after school snacks. Only Kirk sat at a table with half finished food.

Luke was behind the counter, attempting to fix another toaster. He was never much good at that. He looked up as he heard the bell at the door jingle. It was Jess, he had been expecting him for a while now. Jess and him were on fairly good terms, as of the last time he left. He had not heard from him in some while, but when he did it was usually via Liz.

Jess walked up to the counter, Amber a half-step behind. He sat down on one of the stools, and his daughter followed the suit.

"Hey," he said in simple greeting.

"Hey," Luke replied, eyes darting over Amber for just a second, before returning to Jess.

Jess averted his eyes, "Amber," he stated, "This is my uncle, Luke. Luke this is Amber…, my daughter."

Luke was silent for a moment only you ask, "Your…what?"

"My daughter," Jess repeated steadily, though his heart was beating crazily in his chest. He willed Luke not to yell, especially in front of Amber. He could deal with yelling, but he didn't want to Luke to call Amber a mistake, when, as he said in the car, that wouldn't be true.

Luke reaction, however, was not as expected.

Amber watched with her wide blue eyes the uneasiness between the two. She was good at that, looking at others faces and being able to tell what they were thinking or feeling, or even if they were lying. She had gotten this gift threw years of practice and years of being a silent little kid, watching her father dealings in business. This man was obviously angry, detectable by the several shades of red his face was turning, but he was attempting to control it. This was a shock to him and he was thinking it over, in a prolonged uneasy silence, contemplating what to do next.

Luke's eyes darted between the two a few times. He let out a deep breath he had seemed to be holding. "Your daughter…wow!" Luke said less then enthusiastically, but clearly trying.

Jess raised an eyebrow at the reaction and commented, "Either you've gone soft old age, Uncle Luke, or Lorelai has done a real number on you."

Luke glared at him, but otherwise ignored him, "So that make me a great uncle…jeez, I'm already a great of somethin'…that makes me feel old…"

At that remark it took Jess great restraint to not say, 'That's because you are.' It would have been funny, but because Luke was had not already exploded at him, it was better not to tempt fate.

"So…," was all Jess said instead, trying to break the uncomfortable silence.

"So…," repeated Luke, "It's-um, good to see you again...," he continued awkwardly, "And to meet my great niece…for the first time," he added pointedly. "Would you like anything to eat," he asked her nicely.

Amber gave him a look as to say thank you. "I thought you'd never ask!" she said, diving into a menu.

As she was distracted reading the menu Luke turned to Jess and said quietly, "Can I talk to you in the back?"

Jess whispered back, "I'd rather stay out here…where there's witnesses…"

Luke scowled and said forcefully, "Back. Now." He turned on his heel and walked determinedly into the store room, not even glancing back to see if Jess was following.

He did. Jess got up and walked around the counter, scolding himself mentally to not have noticed it was too good to last.

Luke was waiting for him. He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, as though thinking out every word before he said it, "I'm not going to yell at you for having a child that I assume that is illegitimate and unplanned, because let's just face it, is would be hypocritical of me."

"Oh, big word," said Jess sarcastically (which is another big word).

"Jess," growled Luke.

"Sorry. Continue," said Jess in mock seriousness, but Luke continued anyway, as though there were no interruption.

"I mean, I'm married to Lorelai for one," Jess nodded in understanding, "And we can't forget the whole April incident," Luke grimaced.

"Well, that's great to know," said Jess, turning to leave.

Luke grabbed the back of his shirt to stop him, "I'm not done yet."

"Here's the catch," Jess muttered to himself, facing Luke, who was stern-looking, but not explosion angry, which was a good sign.

"But I am going to bust your chops for not telling me. Why wouldn't you tell anyone about this?"

"I told Liz," Jess muttered, not looking Luke in the eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Luke madly, but turned to an offended tone, "Why didn't she tell me?"

"Because I asked her not to," said Jess.

"Why?" asked Luke uttered confused.

"Because you'd yell at me," Jess answered simply.

"I'm yelling at you now though, aren't I?"

"I just wanted to put it off as long as possible."

Same time, different perspective…

Amber tapped her fingers on the counter at which she sat. She knew what she wanted to order. She could hear the muffled talking coming from the back room, but could not distinguish any words. Gosh, she was hungry, couldn't they hurry up back their.

She sighed and hopped off her stool and walked around the counter to the back knocked on the door frame, stuck her head inside and said, "Hey, nine and a half year old starving out here."

Both Jess and Luke turned to look at her. Luke couldn't help but smile as he looked at Amber. She looked like Jess. She had his hair and face and demeanor, but something else, something familiar clung to her features as well, but he couldn't place it.

"Yeah, sorry," said Luke and lead the girl out of the room, leaving Jess in the middle of a conversation.

Jess rolled his eyes and followed him into the main part of the diner, were Amber was returned to her stool and was giving Luke her order.

"I'll have cocoa, with the fries and the fried chicken sandwich, but can you take off the lettuce and tomatoes and pickles…"

"So basically a piece of fired chicken in between two pieces of bread?" asked Luke.

"Basically," confirmed Amber.

Jess sat done next to her daughter and added, "Do you any vegetables back their, add them on." Amber wrinkled her nose in disgust. Jess just shook his head and said, "Don't give me that face. You're eating your vegetables."

Luke observed the why Jess smiled at his daughter as she huffed. At first Luke had thought Jess had messed up again, but maybe this was good for him.

"Anything for you?" Luke asked Jess.

"No thanks," he answered, leaning his head on one hand, "I just ate."

"We didn't just eat," mumbled Amber