Disclaimer: I just realized I never put a disclaimer on this story (rookie mistake). So just in case you were wondering, I don't own these characters. Bummer, I know; I treat them with ever so much care.

Chapter 7: As different as night and day!

Jess and Rory spent the afternoon pouring over Luke's old swimming strokes book. They quizzed each other on the timing of the kicks, arm techniques, and breathing. They started reading just about freestyle, but had moved on to the breaststroke by the time Luke came up to get them for dinner. By the time they were done Rory felt a lot better about her academic knowledge of the stroke; however, she was still nervous about her own execution of it.

"So what do you guys want to eat?" Luke asked Jess and Rory as they sat down at the counter.

"You mean I actually get to chose this time, Uncle Luke?" Jess asked sarcastically.

"Not anymore. Rory what would you like?"

"I'll have a cheeseburger," she said looking up from her menu.

"Ok," Luke turned to make her order.

"Wait! I don't even get to eat," Jess asked incredulously.

Luke just smiled as he went into the kitchen. A little later he reemerged with two burgers and plate of fries. Luke left them to eat as he made yet another familiar round of the diner floor. Jess and Rory finished dinner and retreated back upstairs to study; again Luke had to go retrieve them when it was time to take Rory home. She gathered up all her swimming stuff and the notes she and Jess had made complete with colored diagrams. They were just about to leave when Luke remembered Lorelai unique request; he turned dead in his tracks went behind the counter and filled the bigger take-out cup, he supplied, with coffee. Then they were off.

When they reached the inn Luke didn't know exactly where to head so he waited for Rory to lead the way. He found himself following Jess and Rory around the back of the inn, across the lawn, and to a fairly large storage shed at the far end of the property.

"This is it," Rory said as they stopped at the door of the shed, "our cottage."

As they stood there they could hear music coming from inside the shed. Luke tried knocking so they wouldn't interrupt whatever was going on inside. Needless to say there was no way Lorelai would have heard the knocks. They opened the door to find Lorelai "walking like an Egyptian"; she was dancing around the tiny room with her wet hair wrapped in a towel on top her head. It was easy to see she was expecting anyone to be watching. Rory went to turn off the cassette player. Lorelai froze; she slowly turned around to see the three new people who had entered the room.

Luke cleared his throat, "It's seven…and you said…I'm just…here's Rory," he stammered; he looked more embarrassed than she did.

"Thank you," Lorelai smiled, "Is that coffee?" she asked when she saw what he held in his hand, her smile getting bigger as she continued.

"Yeah," Luke answered momentarily distracting by her beautiful smile, "We should probably go."

"See you tomorrow," she offered an even bigger smile, if that was possible, after she took a sip of her coffee.

"Ok," Luke nodded unable to tear himself away from her smile until Jess poked him in the arm, "Right." Luke turned and started for the truck Jess following along. He turned to see Jess given him a weird look. "What?"

"Nothing," Jess muttered. He wasn't born yesterday; he had seen that look on his uncle's face when he looked at Rory's mom way too many times on his own mom. And Jess had yet to see one successful relationship. He was quite pessimistic about love for his age, but then with a mom who fell in and out of love as quickly as his, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jess was in a funk the next day when he met Rory before swim class.

"Hey Jess," Rory greeted him cheerfully; she was excited to see if their studying had paid off. She waited for his encouragement and turned when he didn't say anything. "What's wrong?"

Jess wasn't sure he should tell Rory about his theory, but then it did involve her too. "I think my uncle likes your mom."

"What?" Rory questioned unsure about how she felt about that piece of news, "Did he tell you that?"

"No, but I've seen it before," Jess answered knowledgeably, "My mom's dated a lot."

"Oh," Rory said quietly; she wasn't used to the idea of her mom dating anyone. "What should we do?"

Jess shrugged, "I guess just see what happens."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke arrived about three minutes late that day; apparently running on a Thursday makes you slower. He saw Lorelai drive up at the same time he's was jogging across the parking lot. "How could we be here at the same time again?" he muttered to himself. They reach a waiting Rory and Jess at the exact same moment.

"So did it go?" Lorelai asked hesitantly as she watched her daughters face.

"It went worse. The coach literally had to pull me aside and explain the stroke to me. And I still didn't get it," Rory exclaimed.

"Oh," Lorelai answered, "Maybe it will go better tomorrow."

"I need a lot of practice," Rory said hanging her head.

Luke and Jess just looked along as they watched the girls' faces fall. Jess gave Luke an expectant look.

"What?" Luke giving Jess a look of his own.

Jess shook his head in disbelief. "Why don't we all go to the lake and practice this weekend?" Jess asked the group; Luke had mentioned the idea as something to do this summer earlier in the week.

Lorelai latched onto the idea immediately hoping to make her daughter forget her troubles, if just for a while, "Yeah we could have a picnic, get a tan, and race to the dock. It'll be like the fourth of July without the fireworks and Miss Patty's lighter fluid."

Rory frown started turning up as she listened to her mom describe the possibilities of what the weekend could hold. "Ok."

Luke silently watched as he saw his weekend being planned before his eyes. He would have objected right then and there if it wasn't for the smiles everyone else seemed to be wearing. Just then Lorelai caught his eye.

"Are you ok with this?" she asked realizing they had like of shanghai him.

"Sounds fine," he answered trying not to be the wet blanket. He had promised Jess a good summer and he wanted to keep that promise.

"Great! So we'll figure out the details tomorrow," and with that Lorelai and Rory left to return to the inn leaving Luke and Jess alone.

"So what was that?" Luke asked Jess.

"Nothing," Jess answered trying fake innocence.

"Right," Luke said playfully pushing Jess while he walked in front of him.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the day went quite slowly for Rory and Jess; neither had realized just how close they had become in just the past few days. They both tried reading, but felt guilty that they would be ahead of the other. So Rory followed her mom around the rest of her shift; they did however start to plan their Saturday during this time.

Jess was also following Luke around in a much more silent way, but after he ran into his uncle's legs for the third time Luke whipped around, "What's up, Jess?"

"Has my mom called yet?" Jess asked the question that had been bothering him for the last week.

Luke looked down at Jess wondering the best way he could explain to the young man that his mother hadn't taken the time to check up on him yet.

However, Jess knew his answer as soon as he looked at Luke's face, "It's ok; it's not your fault."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So Rory and I have tomorrow all figured out," Lorelai started talking before Luke even reached her. Lorelai had arrived early and was waiting for him on the bench. Rory had already told Jess the plan before they jumped into the pool. "Mia's already given me the day off, so I thought we could leave around eleven. Giving us plenty of time at the lake to get a tan or swim. Oh, and I would offer to make food, but I wouldn't want to subject you to it," she explained with a smile.

"I can bring food its no problem," Luke answered her quick explanation.

"Good, so we're set."

Just then the class was released; Rory and Jess were the last to come out.

"So?" Lorelai looked at her daughter hopefully.

"Let's just say it's good we're going to practice tomorrow," Rory answered.

"Ah, Hun. It's get better," Lorelai consoled her daughter, "and if not at least we can get killer tans tomorrow."

"Killer is right," Luke muttered to himself thinking only of the sun burn and skin cancer part of a tan.

"What?" Lorelai questioned not hearing his reply.

"Nothing," Luke answered in true Jess form.

"So we'll see you guys tomorrow bright and early?" Lorelai tried.

"Early? I thought you said we we're picking you up at eleven?" Luke answered

"Anything before twelve on a Saturday is early," Lorelai explained in a "duh" tone as she and Rory walked away.

"Right," Luke deadpanned.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke and Jess arrived at the inn a couple of minutes early complete with picnic food; Luke wasn't a basket guy so lunch was tucked away in his camping cooler. However, they ended up waiting outside the shed for about ten minute, while they could hear Lorelai and Rory running around trying to get ready.

"Ok, I think we're ready," Lorelai said coming out the door.

Luke was trying to be a gentleman, but truth be total he was very distracted by Lorelai's long legs in a very short pair of shorts. He cleared his throat and his mind. "Let's go," he answered taking Lorelai beach bag from her.

Lorelai smiled at this gesture; she wasn't used to gentleman.

They filed into the cap of Luke's truck; it was a tight fit, but they weren't going to far. Fifteen minutes later, they pulled up to the far bank of the lake. Jess and Rory ran to the edge of the lake. Lorelai calling after them; "Don't get yet!"

Luke had started unloading the cooler from the bed of the truck; Lorelai decided to help grabbing her own bag and a blanket she assumed was to sit on. She spread the blanket where Luke had stopped quickly making herself comfortable. "What did you bring?" she asked trying sneak a peek at what was inside the cooler.

"A couple different types of sandwiches, chips, carrots, donuts, water, some drinks Jess threw in," Luke described the contents of the cooler distracted by Jess and Rory playing so close to the water's edge on the dock. He then turned back to look at her.

She starred wide-eyed at him.

"And…" he pulled a thermos from his own bag, "…coffee for the lady."

"You are god!" Lorelai exclaimed taking the coffee from him.

Luke gave her a hint of a smile and went back to watching the kids.

They sat there in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, mostly because Lorelai was busy drinking her heavenly coffee, before Lorelai exclaimed, "That's an excellent impression of a statue you're doing there!"

"What?" Luke answered already lost.

"Sit down," she commanded.

Luke starred her straight in the eye, and proceeded to sit.

"Much better," she breathed out going back to enjoying her coffee, "When do you think we could eat?" she asked eyeing the cooler.

"Whenever Jess and Rory and get back I guess," Luke shrugged.

"So if they were to come back now we could eat?" she hinted.

With that Luke let out a shrill whistle and motioned for Jess and Rory to come over.

"Who are you Captain Von Tramp?" Lorelai asked.

"Who?"

"Captain Von Tramp from the Sound of Music," Lorelai answered clearly surprised he didn't know.

"Never seen it," Luke said simply.

"What? You're never seen the Sound of Music. That's blasphemy," Lorelai exclaimed. "Oh my God! I have a terrific idea. We should have a movie night!" she shrieked, "Because everyone should see the classics at least a few hundred times."

"Yeah," Rory agreed having heard her mother's idea.

Luke looked doubtful, "We'll see; for now just let's eat."

They settled on the blanket and enjoyed the picnicking feast Luke had prepared.

"You want a chip?" Lorelai offered Luke, who had been only eating only the healthiest of choices available.

"You want a carrot?" he retorted.

Jess and Rory were watching them closely throughout the picnic as if they would proclaim undying devotion for each other after every bit. However, everything seemed pretty normal; Lorelai was loud and Luke was monosyllabic. So they decided maybe it was just a false alarm.

After they all had eaten and taken the recommended thirty minutes break, which Luke insisted on; Jess and Rory got in the water. They splashed around for a time before they started practicing. Luke was sitting up on the blanket watching them, while Lorelai lied back stretching out her long legs out and flipping through a magazine. Luke couldn't help but notice Rory's struggle with her stroke; she really was magnificently uncoordinated. He turned asked Lorelai, momentarily distracted by her legs again, "Would it be alright with you if a offered Rory a few tips?"

Lorelai looked out at her daughter's fight, "If you think you can help; be my guest."

"Alright," and with that Luke walked up to the water's edge, "What exactly are you doing?"

"The crawl stroke," Rory answered sheepishly.

"Would you like some help?"

"Yes," Rory exclaimed.

"I'm just going to…" Luke started to explain to Lorelai as he pointing to the lake. He then took off his shoes, flannel, hat, t-shirt, and pants all of which were covering his swim trunks.

"Thanks," Lorelai answered as she inadvertently watched him peal of his clothing. She wasn't surprised to see he was in great shape given that she knew he ran daily. She was, however, surprised how hard it was for her not to stare as he headed into the water. She was twenty-two and a mom she didn't have crushes anymore, right? She put her magazine down and started watching the lake; I'm just watching out for my daughter she told herself.

Luke swam out to Rory and Jess and started explaining the stroke in simple English, unlike the book or her coach had; he also used Jess as an example and thrashed his arms around a bit. This made both of the kids laugh. Rory continued to struggle for a while, but slowly got the hanger of it. After an hour the three were successfully swimming to the dock and back.

"Did you see me?" Rory called to her mom.

"I sure did; that was awesome," Lorelai yelled loudly form the blanket.

After a little more practice the kids were exhausted, and the three of the swimmers headed back to the shore.

"Where did you learn all that?" Lorelai asked Luke as he walked up.

"I took classes when I was a kid too," he explained as if it were nothing.

"I guess it's just something you don't forget," she replied.

Luke just shrugged and took a sit. "Ready to go?" he asked Jess, who had basically collapsed beside him.

"Can't move," came an answer from Rory on the other side of the blanket.

"So we stay," Lorelai stated leaning back herself.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luke was the first to wake up an hour and a half later. He looked at his watch and saw it was already five-thirty. "Lorelai."

"Five more minutes, Rory" Lorelai groaned.

"Lorelai," Luke growled.

With that Lorelai's eyes were wide open; her daughter didn't ever sound like that. Lorelai quickly looked around and realized where she was, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

"It's five-thirty"

"Wow, I never thought I've sleep that long on the ground anywhere," Lorelai laughed. She turned to Rory gently shaking her, "Baby, it's time to get."

"Is time for school?" Rory asked sleepily.

Lorelai laughed at that. "No baby, we fell asleep after you were swimming," Lorelai explained to Rory while petting her head.

"We?" Rory wondered as she sat up and saw Jess, who was still sleeping and snoring a little. She started to giggle at the sight.

"Do you want me to wake Jess up?" Lorelai asked as Luke started walking the cooler back to the trunk.

"You could try," Luke smirked. He put the cooler in the back of the trunk and went back to collect the blanket and the rest of the group.

"Are you sure he doesn't have a reboot button?" Lorelai asked Rory, "I've tried everything short of hanging him by his thumb nails."

"I got it," Rory said, and she picked up the rest of her water bottle and dumped it over Jess's head.

"Ahhhh!" Jess woke up with a start.

"I should remember that one," Luke said watching the girls plan play out. "Get up," he directed to Jess.

"Mean," Jess muttered as he stood.

They gathered the blanket and started back for Star Hollow. Luke decided to drive them all back to the diner since it was so close to dinner. When they got there Lorelai, Rory, and Jess took a sit at an empty table, while Luke ran upstairs to change his clothes. Miss Patty was in the diner when they had returned and she was enjoying the fact that Luke hadn't put his jeans or flannel back on since his swim way too much.

"Oh my! The ass on that one," Patty leaned in and told Lorelai, "If I was a few years younger watch out."

"I thought you were," Lorelai replied.

"Oh hunny," Patty laughed, "Well I guess I should get back to class; enjoy the show while you can."

Luke came to the table just as Patty left. "See anything you like?" he asked Lorelai since it was her first time at the diner for a meal.

Lorelai blushed as she looked up at him, "I need another minute," she tried, "but I'll take a cup of coffee now."

"Why I'm I not surprised," Luke replied, "You guys want another minute too?"

"I'll take a cup of coffee too," Rory stated in a very grown-up fashion now that she felt more comfortable around Luke since their swim lesson.

"No. Anything else?"

Rory started pouting.

"Sorry," he shrugged and went to get Lorelai cup of coffee and check how the afternoon went. When he came back with Lorelai's coffee the entire group order burgers and fries, "Health," he stated as he went back to make their meals. They all enjoyed their burger immensely especially Lorelai, who had taken it upon herself to express her enjoyment anytime he was within hearing distance. He had lost count of the number of times he had rolled his eyes that night.

Once they finished dessert Lorelai walked up to the counter where Luke was working; she tried, "So movie time?"

"What?"

"Sound of Music mister," she reminded him smiling, "You promised."

"I'm pretty sure I said well see," Luke answered still cleaning the same spot on the counter.

"I think that spots good," Lorelai told him.

"What?" he repeated as he looked up.

"Please," Lorelai started pouting and Luke saw where Rory had learned that look she had given him earlier, "Pretty please."

He looked straight into her baby blue eyes and heard himself saying, "Give me ten-minutes."

"Yea!" Lorelai jumped and ran over to tell Rory and Jess the good news.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The foursome crowded around the TV in the "cottage." Jess and Rory were lying on the bed with their feet facing the pillows, while the adults hit the dirt. Luke and Lorelai were leaning against the bed with Rory and Jess's heads sticking out between them.

Before the movie started Lorelai explained the movie night rules: No stopping the movie because it ruins the flow, no phone calls, no large movements, so get comfortable, and no talking.

Luke wasn't sure about the movie when he had first heard the name, but was clearly wondering if he'd even live through it when in the first two minutes Lorelai and Rory started singing along to movie. However, it was amusing that they had already broken one of the rule, and they had just started the movie. He learned that was only the start.

During the intermission they were given permission to move, which was quite important for the adults since their lower extremities had fallen asleep and were in need of renewed blood flow. After settling back down, they finished the movie.

Luke and Jess didn't leave the "cottage" until after eleven that night. Luke was practically carrying Jess as he guided him back to the trunk.

"That was fun," Rory yawned as they watched the boys leave.

"Yes, it was," Lorelai smiled.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the next day, however, the fact that they had had such a great time on Saturday was all but forgotten. It was Sunday, but not just any Sunday you see, this was Father's day and each of them had a different reason for feeling a little out of sorts. While most normal families were sharing breakfasts in bed, calling love ones promising to visit soon, or just enjoying a day to sleep in, Lorelai, Rory, Jess, and Luke were struggling with a missing piece of their lives. Whether their fathers' were just absent, clouded by disappointed, or actually gone they were all grieving on this day.

That morning Rory had tried calling her father, Chris; on the last working number she had only to be met by the more familiar voice of the operator. When she was younger she had once called this voice daddy, not knowing any better.

Lorelai, however, was able to reach Richard and they had an awkward ten-minute conversation, which left Lorelai feeling like a disappointment again. This was a common occurrence after spending time or even just talking with her family.

On the other hand, Jess didn't have anyone to call. His biological father had left before he turned one, and he never heard from his ex-stepfather. Although Jess was only seven, he tried to pretend that he didn't really care about fathers anyway. Why should he spend time caring when it was easy to see they didn't?

Luke had it the worst of all. This was only his second father's day without his dad; in this case the kids around him were more experienced. Luke and his dad had been extremely close and on days like this the pain was palpable. After last year, watching the whole baby him he had the foresight to take the day off. This year he took Jess to his grandfather's grave where they paid their respects. Luke and Jess then walked around for a while ending on the bridge. They sat in silence for a really long time just watching the water. Finally, Jess took a chance and asked Luke a question about his grandfather. Luke started out slowly, but ended up telling Jess stories about his childhood and William, his dad, Jess's grandfather. It was almost dark before both men started walking back to the diner. For some reason Luke felt a little of the pain or burden he had been carrying for the last year and half lift as he shared stories with Jess. In turn, Jess felt closer to both his grandfather and more importantly his uncle. They had a trust thing going on.

That night no one slept well, but Luke slept and that was new for him on anniversaries such as this: Father's day, his dad's birthday, and his dark day, the day his father passed away.

Ok, so that chapter kind of ended on a downer. However, it was huge and had many happy parts. I was trying help the story progress just a little bit fast; I may have only succeeded in making a really long chapter this time. But have no fear Underdog is here! Check this chapter for subtleties; it's full of little looks.

Thanks again for all the review peoples. I got the most reviews yet for the last chapter. Thank you! I get so excited when I read each one; I'm talking cartwheels down the hallway excited. I should be studying right now, but writing is so much more fun than studying about nitrogen acquisition and light and dark photosynthesis. Anyway…

Question time: I have no idea how old Luke is; I know I've seen a three or four year difference used before (in other stories), and just decided to go with that. Hope that's acceptable for everyone. Most would agree that Luke is definitely older, but by how much could be debated until we all turn blue in the face. One giant blue man group!

Tunes: (confession time) I've been listening to this new song I downloaded by Mika the entire time I was writing this chapter. It's called "Grace Kelly"; it is either one of the most embarrassing songs I've ever loved or pure genius. I can't decide.

Now for a question (or rant I guess in this case) of my own: Has anyone else noticed the shear volume of Rory and anyone (?) stories? They are like the only ones getting written and published right now! (There's absolutely nothing wrong with it). I was just wondering if I missed something besides Lorelai going totally crazy (dumping Luke, marrying Chris, etc.) over the last year or so… hey wait did I just answer my own question. Anyway….

Thanks again for reading and please, pretty please review. This was a long one (dirty).