Chapter 11

After touring the inn, Jess had learned a couple of things about the other Lorelai Gilmore.

He'd learned that she had no tolerance for laziness, and demanded efficiency from all who worked with her. Even though her demands were always issued sweetly and often with a flirtatious tongue, he could tell from the way she looked at people and the way they responded to her that she wasn't screwing around. She drank at least two cups of coffee in the hour they was there, but never asked anyone to get it for her, instead opting to run into the kitchen and pour it herself, rambling on to Sookie as she blew through like a hurricane. And, through all of that, he had realized that Lorelai Gilmore was perfect for her job. Not only was her personality tailor-made to own and operate an inn, but she also seemed to derive a sense of sustenance from it, and would seem more fulfilled and animated in every movement, not unlike Rory when she read or wrote. Or Jess, when he was at Truncheon.

She had showed him the property (cozy without being cheesy) and then reintroduced him to Sookie, who, after giving him the cold shoulder for five minutes when Lorelai left them to go handle a call, had immediately welcomed him back into her good graces when he asked to try one of the appetizers on the table. Soon enough he had a plate stacked as high as a Tolstoy novel with various pastries and appetizers, and having promised to make sure that Luke tried them because "change is good, he has to learn that you can't just keep making the same old burgers and fries, burgers and fries…". When Lorelai walked back in to see this she seemed infinitely amused, the reason for which eluded Jess until they got back into her Jeep.

"You know you have to eat all of those right now, right?" she said, unable to help herself from cackling like a madwoman.

He looked at her in shock. "What? Why the hell would I…"

"Luke'll kill you if you bring them into the diner. It's a rivalry thing. Like wearing a Yankees hat to a Red Sox game."

"I can't decide whether I'm more confused by your actual knowledge of sports or the fact that you think it's that serious."

"I follow general aspects of various sporting endeavors." He looked at her strangely as a smile lit up her face, one that he recognized as being Rory-driven. "But seriously Jess, last time I walked into the diner with one of her cupcakes he wouldn't give me coffee. For two days. I nearly died. And when he found out that Sookie had provided for me over those days he wouldn't speak to me!"

"Look, there's no way I can…"

"Just start shoveling it down your throat. Don't worry, your teammate's a world champion."

As they pulled into the diner, Jess finished the last bite of the second to last cookie, handing the remaining one to Lorelai. "Aww, Jess, you're giving me the last cookie! God, maybe you do have a soul," she smirked. Jess grinned. "Actually, I just figure that we're close enough that Luke could be lurking around somewhere and I'd rather you get in trouble than me." She laughed, then looked around very seriously as she shoved the entire thing in her mouth. Jess couldn't help it. He smiled, genuinely happy to be spending time with Lorelai Gilmore.

They walked in together, and Jess immediately went over to greet Luke. As the older man hugged him, he whispered, "You made it out alive?"

Jess smirked. "Somehow."

"So I see you didn't kill my nephew," Luke smiled at Lorelai as he poured her coffee.

"Nope. No pie in his hair even. Consider yourself lucky."

"Oh, come on," Jess smirked, "I'm pretty sure it just finally occurred to you that when he's not around, I can pour the coffee."

"Very true," Lorelai replied, taking another enormous gulp, "Which reminds me, Luke? Why do you not have a 'people sleeping with me can pour their own coffee' clause?"

"Because you're still a customer, not an employee. Regardless of our sleeping arrangements you are not an employee."

"Dirty!"

"And I'm out," Jess cracked, walking towards the door, "I'll be back in an hour or so to help out."

"Sounds good."

The next morning, Jess walked downstairs carrying his bag, a few books lighter than he'd brought it. He walked over to Luke and clasped his shoulder.

"Thanks for asking me to come," Jess said, his voice low but clear. Luke turned to him.

"Jess, you're always welcome here. And thank you for making the effort with Lorelai."

"Believe it or not, it wasn't actually that much effort," Jess admitted, "I thought it would be but I kind of understand her now. As much as someone that crazy can be understood."

"Speak of the devil," Luke muttered as the door swung open.

"Oh Luke! Darling, can I please get a refreshment? The heat out there is just glaring and I feel as if I may faint!" Lorelai sing-songed, dramatically fanning herself as she plopped down on the seat.

"Cool your jets," Luke snapped, "Or I'll bring you juice."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Made with fruit."

"Without even adding alcohol to make it palatable? My oh my, what ever could have induced my beau to treat me with such cruelty?" Luke turned his back and walked off towards the refrigerator, ignoring the many cried apologies that followed him.

Jess rolled his eyes. "I'll get it," Jess said, grabbing the pot and cutting Lorelai off before she could respond, "If and only if you stop acting like you live in an Edith Wharton novel."

"Was going for Austen."

"More Wharton."

"Fine," she sighed as he poured, "Thank you."

Luke returned with the glass of juice, slamming it down in front of her. Seeing the coffee his face became purple. "You guys are conspiring now?" He fumed and walked away, muttering, "What have I gotten myself into…"

Jess smirked and poured himself a mug. Impulsively he turned to Lorelai. "Hey, you know, you're welcome to come with him to Philadelphia if you want sometime. He has his own bed now. And I even have a privacy screen, though I still wouldn't advise anything above the Taylor's Curtain rating system."

Lorelai stared at him in surprise. "Really?" she asked, her eyebrows raised, "You're actually inviting me to stay with you in Philadelphia?"

"Can't be worse there than you are here," he grinned, refilling her coffee, "And at least there I have reinforcements, both in the form of Chris and Matt and in the form of libations."

"You're sure about this?" she asked one more time, "Because if you are I might actually take you up on it. I know it would mean a lot to Luke."

"How's next weekend?"

She started at him in bewilderment. "Jess Mariano, has your body become inhabited by a foreign spirit that has no understanding of the implications of his actions?"

"That was actually the former spiritual resident," he retorted, "Look, no joke, no catch, I don't mind spending time with you around. And I think Luke would like it. So, next weekend?"

"Okay."

"What's okay?" Luke asked, returning.

"Well, if it works for you, you and I are going to go to Philadelphia to see Jess next weekend," Lorelai said awkwardly, twirling her hair around her finger nervously.

"Wait, what?" Luke asked, confused, "Are you guys playing some kind of practical joke? What's she paying you?"

"Nothing besides a promise of appropriate shared-room behavior," Jess smirked, "If she's on the bed, you're on the chair."

"Funny, funny," Luke glared, "But seriously, what's going on?"

Jess sighed. "I seriously asked Lorelai if you guys wanted to come spend next weekend in Philadelphia and stay with me."

"And you're sure about this?" Luke said, turning to face his nephew directly, looking him squarely in the eye.

"Yes. I want you to come. Both of you," Jess responded definitively, not breaking his gaze.

"Okay."