A/N- Hello lovely readers! Here is a longer chapter, as promised. I really appreciate everyone's understanding with my lack of posting the other day, and if I have a chance I will try to post an extra chapter this week to make up for it. Health-wise, I'm doing okay, and thanks everyone for your concern. I was really touched to see that you all thought of me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this bit. Please read and review, as reading your reviews is absolutely crucial to building my rapidly-inflating ego :) As always, I do not own Gilmore Girls, but I do own over 150 pounds worth of stuff that I have to lug over the Atlantic Ocean in three days. Yeah, I think ASP wins that round.

PS: Jake in that one chapter was meant to say Luke. I was just in a medicine and tiredness-induced coma when I wrote it. I still can't figure out how to change how it shows up on the story but I will do that ASAP and fix it.


Chapter 81

At 6:00 PM sharp Rory and Lorelai pulled into the driveway of the Gilmore house. Rory parked and turned off the radio, ignoring her mother's continuous stream of complaints.

"But Rory, I really shouldn't have to tell her, because we were already engaged and technically I never told them that we were un-engaged, and were we even really un-engaged? See, so actually, I shouldn't tell her, in fact, it would be wrong to tell her, because I wouldn't want her to be misinformed or confused, like I am. Plus, the rock kind of speaks for itself, doesn't it? So if there's a message, can't I let the pretty jewelry deliver it to her for me?"

"You're a child," Rory shot her mother an annoyed glare as Luke and Jess pulled in behind them, "No. You have to tell them. Especially because of how you've handled it in the past. But at least now you'll get to find out what her wedding present was for you."

"Do you really think she saved it?"

"Nope. Probably discarded it years ago."

"With the hopes and dreams."

"Little later. Probably closer to when she discarded her expectations."

"That'd make sense."

"Nothing you two say or do makes sense," Luke cut in, approaching them. Jess smirked at Rory.

"Hey! You're my fiancée. Doesn't that require you to be nice to me?" Lorelai pouted at Luke.

"Nope," Luke answered, "Actually, all it means is that I have to stick with you even when you're a pain in my ass."

"Which never happens anyway," Lorelai grinned and Luke rolled his eyes. Rory laughed.

"Luke, haven't you learned not to argue with her by now? It's pointless," she chided him, "She always wins."

"You must get it from her then," Jess challenged. Rory narrowed her eyes.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Ayn Rand?"

"That's not fair. I didn't write the book."

"Winter carnival."

"You won and then changed your mind!"

"Friday night dinners."

"You made the choice to promise to go to another one. I didn't ask you to."

"See? You always win!" Jess gloated triumphantly. Rory crossed her arms across her chest and rolled her eyes, trying not to smile.

"So shall we?" Luke asked, gesturing to the door. Lorelai sighed deeply and met Jess' equally reluctant eyes.

"Do we really have to…"

"Yes, Mom, we do," Rory cut her off, "You have to tell them you're engaged, and they have to meet Jess. Grandpa still hasn't really officially met him."

"Wasn't he at the Bracebridge Dinner?"

"But they didn't meet there."

"Close enough," Jess mumbled. Rory turned to him

"Jess, I know that meeting my grandmother wasn't necessarily a fond memory." Jess snorted. "But my grandfather is an amazing man, and I'm very close to him. I really think he'll like you if you just give each other a chance. And either way, it means a lot to me that you try with him. Okay?"

"Alright," Jess agreed, walking over to her and taking her hand, "I'll try to make a good impression. No jail references or gang stories."

"That'd be appreciated," Rory smiled, kissing him on the cheek. Lorelai looked at her curiously.

"Are you planning to tell them tonight?"

"No way," Rory immediately straightened up and let go of Jess' hand, "I mean, I won't lie to them if they ask. But I figure one bombshell's enough for now."

"So you're making me sacrifice myself on the altar of their disapproval without a soul to stand by me?"

"You have Luke!"

"It's not the same!"

"Gee, thanks," Luke grumbled and Lorelai smirked, grabbing his hand. "Okay, really, we're gonna be late."

The group approached the door and Rory looked at Jess expectantly. He sighed and rang the doorbell.

Immediately a maid opened the door.

"Hello! May I take your coats?" the maid asked, holding out her arms. They immediately shimmied out of their outerwear and passed them to the woman, who quickly hung them in the closet. "Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore are waiting in the next room."

"Thank you," Rory smiled at the woman, and the group quickly walked in the indicated direction.

"I spy our coping method," Lorelai whispered to Jess, flicking her eyes at the drink cart. He smirked.

"If that's our coping method we're gonna come out of the evening with the need for a twelve step program," he replied, earning a huge grin from Lorelai.

"Sacrifice for a noble cause."

"Lorelai, when you're done mumbling, you might consider actually greeting us politely," Emily trilled, her voice annoyed. Lorelai rolled her eyes to Jess and Rory before turning around and flashing a fake smile towards her mother.

"Sorry, Mom. How are you?" she asked, taking a seat on the couch. Luke immediately sat down next to her, and Jess next to him. Rory took a chair next to where her grandfather was reading the paper.

"Richard!" Emily snapped, "Put that away right now! We are in the middle of drinks."

"Actually, we are just beginning to have drinks, Emily," Richard corrected with a sigh, folding the paper, "Just because I'm reading doesn't mean I've gone deaf to the world around me."

"You may as well have," she muttered.

"Rory! How are you?" Richard greeted her heartily, with a kiss on the cheek. "And I don't believe we've met. You are…"

"Jess Mariano," Jess stood and shook Richard's hand, "I'm…Luke's nephew."

"You remember, I told you about Jess," Emily added, her voice venomous, "The one with the black eye."

"I'm sure you did, Emily," Richard said, bored, "But the name does sound familiar."

"I've mentioned him to you, Grandpa," Rory interjected, "He reads. And writes."

"Oh! The writer! Yes!" Richard replied, brightening quickly, "Rory tells me you've written a short novel."

"It's nothing, really," Jess said humbly, "Just a small novella I finished a few years ago. Self-published, only put out in a few independent bookstores."

"It's amazing, Grandpa," Rory endorsed, "He's just modest. You have to read it."

"I'd love to," Richard smiled at the two of them, "Perhaps you can send me a copy through Rory? Or the next time we see you?"

"Absolutely, sir." Jess answered. Emily narrowed her eyes and Jess quickly looked down.

"Um, Ms. Manners? Isn't it past time for you to offer us libation?" Lorelai called, staring at the drink cart, "Because I could really use a martini."

"For goodness sake, Lorelai, the level of obsession with cocktails that you display whenever you come here would lead people to believe you were an alcoholic," Emily shook her head. "Martini?"

"Yes please," Lorelai grinned. Emily sighed. "Rory? The same?"

"Sure, Grandma. Thank you."

"Luke? A beer?"

"No, a scotch would be fine, Emily."

"And Jess? How about you? Would you like a beer?"

"Actually, just a soda, if you have it." Emily shot him a glare and a saccharine smile.

"Of course we do, Jess. But are you sure you wouldn't like…"

"I'm sure, thank you," Jess answered, "I might drive back to Philadelphia tonight so I'd rather wait on that."

"Very practical," Richard nodded, "Oh! Philadelphia! Didn't Rory say you had some sort of bookstore there?"

"Kind of," Jess admitted, "It's actually a small independent press and publishing house, as well as a bookstore. Nothing fancy, very small."

"Well, quality trumps quantity," Richard responded, "Right Emily?"

"It depends on the subject matter," she sniffed, "If you don't have enough product to sell it doesn't really matter how good what you're putting out is. That's just practicality." She smirked at Jess, who lowered his eyes to the floor.

"Emily, I'm sure his business manages just fine," Richard sighed, "And some of the best literary history was created in small, independent bookstores."

"We're in a new century now, Richard," Emily exclaimed, "This is the era of technology, as you all seem so insistent on proving to me. If that's the case, it seems highly impractical to waste one's time and effort on a venture that has little to no appeal to the modern…"

"Hey! Look at my hand!" Lorelai said quickly, after receiving a swift pinch and gesture from Rory. Rory smiled at her gratefully and Jess nodded at her in appreciation as Lorelai held up her left hand. Her mother looked on in confusion.

"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore, if this is some kind of…"

"It's not. Luke and I are engaged."

"Weren't you already engaged?" Richard asked, confused. Lorelai smiled and Rory glared at her.

"Yes, but then we broke up and he proposed again a few nights ago so now we're engaged again."

"Lorelai, one does not announce an engagement by pointing to a piece of anatomy."

"I don't know. In some species, that might…"

"Lorelai!"

"Alright, Mom, I'm sorry for not announcing it properly. Mother, I would like to inform you that I am engaged to be married to Mister Lucas Danes of Stars Hollow, Connecticut."

"Really, Lorelai, you can't take anything seriously," Emily huffed, "I have to go check on dinner. Congratulations," she offered stiffly. But as she turned around and headed toward the kitchen, Jess caught a hint of a smile lighting up the older woman's face.