Lorelai and Luke were mapping out plans for the townhouse, while Jess unpacked the truck. Rory was studying at the library and promised to be home soon in order to help with all the work that lay ahead.

"Okay, let's go over this one more time." Luke began. "You and I will share your room. Rory will have her own room down stairs and Jess can stay in the basement."

"You make it sound like basement is a bad thing." Lorelai noted.

"No… No." Luke quickly objected. "Once we get it fixed up, he'll love it. It'll be like his own apartment."

"I'm sorry my townhouse isn't any larger."

"Hey, you're talking to the guy that lives in the apartment over his diner." Luke smiled.

Suddenly, a question crossed Lorelai's mind. "So what ever happened to the old house?" she asked.

Luke's smile faded. "I had to sell it a few years ago. I needed the money."

"Oh. Luke, I'm sorry."

"It's alright… That place was too big just for me anyway. Besides, a really nice couple live there now with their kids and they've really fixed the place up, so it's good to see it looking lively again."

"How much do you owe on your townhouse?" Luke randomly asked. He figured he'd start helping with the payments now that they'd be married.

"Nothing." Lorelai replied shortly.

"Nothing?" Luke repeated. "How can you owe nothing, you just bought this place like three months ago."

"I paid cash."

"Cash?" Luke's amazement was clearly noticeable. "This has to be a hundred thousand dollar townhouse…"

"A hundred and seventeen thousand." Lorelai added. "If you want to get technical about it."

Luke's eyes batted back and forth quickly. "How?" he finally asked.

Lorelai inhaled deeply. She knew that eventually she'd have to tell Luke about all the money that had been left behind to her and Rory. "Luke, you probably already knew this, but Trix was a very well off woman."

"I'd heard a couple of stories after you left." Luke replied. "Just small things, like she had a fancy home in London."

"Fancy is a bit of an understatement." Lorelai said softly. "She left a large amount of money behind in her will. Apparently, Rory and I were the only ones she cared to see prosper after her death."

"How much did she leave you?" Luke asked, hoping he wasn't prying too much."

Jess was carrying in the last box from the truck and was walking towards the kitchen to grab something to drink, but stopped as he heard the couple talking.

"Just a couple of million." Lorelai replied.

Luke nearly choked. "Just?"

"Most of it was left to Rory. All of Trix's estate and fortune will be hers when she turns 21."

"I can't even imagine how much money that is…" Luke replied distantly.

"The lawyer said it came out to around 121 million. That's including the property the house, and everything inside the house from antiques to curtains."

Luke placed his hand to his face in disbelief. "Holy crap." He mumbled. "Does she know about this?"

"No." Lorelai paused. "I want to keep it from for a while. Until I feel like she's ready to know. Right now she's happy right here in Stars Hollow. I don't want to burden with it."

"Burden?" Luke half laughed. "I'm sure finding out you have a 121 million dollars waiting for you isn't a burden."

"You don't know Rory that well. She'd be tearing herself apart wondering why Trix would leave it all to her, and then she'd be trying to think of what to do with all of it and what Trix would want her to do. It's just too much for now. I want her to stay carefree as long as possible, the world makes you grow up too fast as it is."

Jess couldn't believe his ears. His uncle Luke had married a millionaire. Furthermore, Rory would be absolutely loaded in a few years, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to be nice after all.

Jess made a loud noise from outside the kitchen to let Luke and Lorelai know he was coming in.

"Hey." He announced as he came into the kitchen and walked straight for the fridge.

"Did you unload all the boxes?" Luke asked.

"Yeah…" Jess replied as he grabbed a water. "I'm going on break, now." He opened the back door and walked outside.

Jess took a seat on the porch steps and opened his water. He noticed a young girl walking towards the house. This must be the infamous Rory he had heard so much about. As the girl came closer, Jess found himself admiring her looks.

"Hi." Rory greeted. "Are you Jess?"

"Maybe." Jess replied. "Are you Rory?"

"Maybe." Rory teased as she sat down beside him. "How do you like Stars Hollow?"

"It's pretty boring." Jess answered as he took a drink of water.

"I guess it can't compare to California, huh?"

"Not really." He paused. "Bet it doesn't compare to London either."

Rory nodded. "London was definitely different. But I love Stars Hollow. There's just something storybookish about it."

"Oh, so you're into fairy tales, huh?" Jess smirked.

"Not really." Rory answered. "It's just a comforting place to live. You feel safe…"

"I guess so." Jess shrugged.

"So… I've not seen you around school. You're a freshman, right?"

"Yeah." Jess replied. "I … I don't like school." He added. "If you want the truth, I usually skip. If I am there, I've got detention."

"School isn't that bad." Rory said as she gazed down at her books. "I mean, if you want to go to college and stuff."

"I don't."

"Then what will you do when get older? How will you make money and provide for a family?"

Jess stood from the porch. "Who knows." He replied. "Apparently, ditch digging is in fashion."

"Actually, I think that went out of fashion a few decades ago." Rory stood to her feet as well. "You could always work fast food though."

Jess caught himself smiling. He liked that Rory wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind. "Or, maybe I'll just live off friends and family the rest of my life and be a bum. Bumming never goes out with the decades."

Rory nodded. "Well, glad to see you have your future all planned out." She turned and walked inside.

(The inn)

"Well, you're definitely, qualified." Mia replied. "And all your references are good…"

Sookie smiled brightly. "So…"

"So, you're hired."

"Oh, thank you." Sookie spat with relief. She needed this job more than ever since she was trying to live on her own again.

"Can you start Monday morning?" Mia asked.

"Bright and early." Sookie replied.

"Good. Welcome to the Independence Inn."