If I owned this, do you think we would be heading in the direction that we are! DO YOU!

Author Notes: First things first, many thanks to everyone that reviewed. I am sorry it took so long to update, but life sucks and then you die. In other words, I had issues and couldn't write. Secondly, everyone needs to thank GG1979 for her help with Lorelai, words, conversations, and the turtle. Lord knows I needed it. Everyone go to her fics and review. They rock and are worth a read (or multiple reads). Unto the words, please let me know what you think.

Chapter 3: How Many Lies Can I Make

Jess walked up to the diner and saw that it was in the after lunch lull, with only a few customers at tables and at the counter. He knew he would have to talk to Luke alone and that for him to actually listen to what he had to say, Luke needed to get mad. With a deep breath, Jess opened the door of the diner, slammed the door and yelled, "EVERYBODY OUT!"

Luke ran from the storage room at the voice telling his customers to leave. He entered the main part of the diner to see his customers leaving, as well as Lane and Caeser, Lane giving him an apologetic look as she ran out.

"What the hell do you think you are doing? Who the hell do you think-Jess?" Luke thought the voice sounded familiar.

"Yeah, I don't mean to be all Joan Rivers but 'can we talk'?"

"Are you in trouble? Are the cops after you? The feds? The mob?"

"I'm not the one in trouble here Luke. I am minding my own business in Philly, working and trying to write a little more, when I get a call from a little birdy telling me I need to get myself to Stars Hollow and kick some Luke ass."

"Who…wait…kick my ass?"

"Yeah and believe me I do not want to be Dr. Phil in this scenario, but what the hell are you doing?" said Jess, throwing his bag on a table and pacing around the counter.

"What are you talking about?"

"What the hell are you doing to Lorelai? Do you want to lose her, drive her away, because that is what you are going to do."

"What are talking about? Everything's fine…"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes" Luke said now a little insecure, curious what Jess knew that he didn't.

"So Lorelai is okay with postponing the wedding?"

"She's the one who suggested it."

"…And she's okay with your long lost daughter who just miraculously shows up from now where"

"Yeah…" Luke shrugged.

"Man you really are clueless," Jess scoffed.

"Jess, she isn't mad about April, she told me she is fine with it. With everything"

"Yeah, she's fine with the fact that you have a daughter, she is even fine with the fact that you postponed what I heard was a magical, perfect wedding. I also heard that she hasn't met April yet. Jeezus Luke, even I met the kid and I live like 200 miles away! So what the hell is your problem!"

"She knows about her, I talk about April to her all the time." Luke said, finally sitting at the same table, hands over his face.

"Does April even know about Lorelai? Isn't she curious about her step-mother-to-be?" asked Jess, calming down slightly, joining his uncle at the table.

"Of course April knows about Lorelai!" Luke yelled, hands still over his face.

"Doesn't she want to meet her?"

"I'm not ready," mumbled Luke.

"You're not ready? Not ready for what?"

"To show Lorelai that I am a good father; I mean I can't even help the kid with her homework. I'm not good enough yet."

"Have you told Lorelai this?"

"I told you, Lorelai is fine with everything. I ask her almost every day and she says she's fine. She hasn't said anything about wanting to meet April, so I figured she isn't ready yet either. I mean I lied to her and she just needs time. I still need time."

"Luke, it's only fair that she meets your daughter, that she starts forming a relationship with your daughter. I mean you've known Rory for years, you have a good relationship with her. Are you sure she's okay with postponing everything she's planned and hoped for, with the fact that you still haven't moved in; you are absolutely positive that she is perfectly kosher with everything?"

"I think I know her a little better than you."

"Jesus Christ Luke! Don't you get it! I am sure you used to know her, but I don't think it is the case now. You know, Liz was right; you are a stubborn little cuss. I'm leaving before I do something I would regret and that would send Lorelai after me. I need to be back in Philly by 6 for work and Rory wanted me to come by Yale. If I were you, I would seriously reconsider how well you know Lorelai, because I don't think she is fine at all." With that, Jess rose from the table, grabbed his bag and started walking toward the door.

"You better not mess with Rory's head again."

Jess stopped and turned towards his uncle. "Worry about your own woman! You better not jerk her mom around with your processing and thinking and retreating. I'm not the one giving up everything I ever wanted. By the way, I found this outside Lorelai's house when I went looking for you today," he said tossing the muddy, ruined dress towards Luke. "I know I am no relationship expert, but you're fucking this up and royally. Get a grip on yourself and wake the hell up." With those last words, Jess walked out the door leaving his uncle sitting at the table, staring at the ball of material in his hands.


Jess pulled out his cell phone as he walked to his parked car slightly thankful that his mom hadn't decorated it with swirls and flowers and dust to represent his 'wandering ways' while it remained parked in her driveway. He called a familiar number and sighed in relief when Rory picked up right away. "Hello?"

"Okay you have official bragging rights, let's hear it"

"What?"

"The 'I told you so'. Come on."

"How bad?"

"Well, all is not well in Whoville; you might want to call your mom, I think I struck a nerve and she might be more open to talking to someone."

"Well, the point is to get them talking. I'll call her tomorrow; it'll give her a chance to think about what's happening without distracting her. Maybe she'll get worked up enough to talk to Luke." Rory sighed, "So, when are you coming?"

"I'm leaving now to drop off those books, but then I have to get on the road. Traffic is going to be heavy and I need to be back at the coffee shop to read by 6."

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah, whether it did any good or not, I don't know."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing much, just called him an idiot."

"I don't think that will help."

"I had a useful prop."

"A prop? Jess tell me you didn't beat him?"

"You know, that Huntzberger really messed with your head."

"Jess I told you…"

"I know you weren't on a break. You are starting to sound like a messed up Friends episode, I hope you realize this. You didn't call him either, how was he supposed to know you still wanted him."

"You just don't get it."

"Rory, I don't know what else to tell you. You have told me the story at least 1,000 times. I agree with Logan, if you didn't call me or talk to me for almost 3 weeks I would assume we were broken up. If you love the guy, work it out. If he isn't worth it, join a convent. What is with everyone thinking I am suddenly the next big relationship expert?"

"Are you going to bring the books or rant more?"

"I'm coming. What is with people today?"

"I'm hanging up before you say something to piss me off."

"You know if they get married we will have dated our cousin."

"Hanging up!"

Jess smiled as he got into his car. He was glad that Rory worked out her issues and still wanted to be friends. He still has yet to meet a girl that reads as much as she does. His girlfriend loves books and Hemingway, but lacked the same passion he and Rory have for good books. It was good that after all the shit that happened between them, they could be friends.


Luke sat at the table, clenching the perfect, now soiled dress in his fists, staring blankly at the diner door. Whether he sat there for 10 minutes or 10 hours, he didn't know. He kept rolling Jess words around and around in his head. That he didn't really know Lorelai; that she was hiding how she really felt, that he was breaking her heart. With that last thought, the thought that he was breaking Lorelai's heart, he jumped up from the chair, not caring that it crashed down to the floor. He was going to have an honest talk with Lorelai, whether she wanted to or not.

AN: Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Let me know!