(for disclaimer, etc. - see part 1)

Part 3 of 3

It was like a riot, and certainly not a quiet one. Zoe had started to wonder if they had made a big mistake the night before, when they set out the table and saw the number of place cards that needed laying down had reached ridiculous proportions. Still, she had to admit, as she looked around at all the smiling faces at the table on a beautiful sun-shining Christmas Day, she really had no regrets at all.

Seventeen people. It definitely was a lot, but nobody seemed to mind how crowded in they were, and there would be plenty of food and drink to go around. The great present swap had gotten a little crazy, all the kids getting well and truly spoiled, but that was okay. Nobody was complaining and there was not one face without a smile on it, not even Luke's daughter, April, and she had been a worry for a while.

Zoe had a feeling that had something to do with April and Rose going out together for a while last night, though Ms Hattenbarger had been more than a little cryptic about what exactly went on there. No doubt the truth would out eventually.

Now it was nearing time to eat and everybody was gathered around the table, some already seated, others hunting down their assigned places.

"Momma, look!" Eve said, almost smacking her brother in the face as she reached past him to show off the gift she had brought with her.

"I know, sweetie, it's really great, but you need to put it down now, because the food is coming out in a second."

The kids had been asked to put all their gifts off to the side when they came to the table, but it wasn't surprising that a couple of things had been smuggled over. Zoe got up to take Eve's chalkboard set and put it aside, realising on the way that Lavon was trying to get a puzzle out of Ava's grip and Rory was attempting to convince Ritchie that now wasn't the time for Legos either.

"Hey," she shouted over the noise, "anybody holding a Christmas present right now, on the count of three, I want you to race right over here, put it down, and get right back to the table. First one to complete the task gets an extra big piece of pie for dessert. One, two, three, go!"

The kids were so enthused, they all got up and ran, even those that had not brought their gifts to the table. It didn't matter, they all had fun with the race, which was declared a huge draw by all the amused parents, and at least it resulted in the table being clear of distractions when Wade and Luke finally appeared with the food.

There had been a slight concern about having enough to go around, but Zoe soon wondered why they ever thought that might be a problem. She had never seen so much food in all her life, including both meat and vegetarian options, plus a whole lot of side dishes. Wine was being passed around the adults, with soda choices for the kids. She suddenly worried about Earl and looked further down the table to check nobody from the Stars Hollow side had accidentally passed him the wine bottle. She smiled when she realised April had it under control.

"No, thanks," she said politely, shaking her head when Lorelai proffered the bottle at her, around Will's back. "I think I'll stick with this sparkling water. Mr Kinsella seems to be enjoying it," she said, smiling at him on her other side.

"Oh, well, you don't have to keep off the booze on my account, young lady," he assured her.

"Honestly, I'm happy to skip it today. Cheers," she said offering him a water-based toast.

"Cheers to you, Miss April," he replied happily, clinking his glass against her own.

Zoe sighed with relief. Usually, Jesse was pretty good at being on Earl watch when she and Wade were caught up with the kids or whatever, but he was abroad for work this year, with no chance of getting back for Christmas. Honestly, Zoe would like to be able to say she missed him, but in this crowd, it was tough to notice anyone was missing.

"This all looks so amazing, Wade," she told her husband then as he returned to his place, two seats down from her, the kids in between them.

"Wasn't all me, doc, but I thank you for the compliment. Luke really helped, plus Lemon did her part," he said of the blonde to across the table.

She probably would've preened a little at that remark, if she wasn't trying to figure out why her son was poking her in the arm.

"Well, what's up, buttercup?" she asked him curiously, leaning down so she could hear his soft-spoken answer. "Well, I'm sure she's not starin' at your sister in a bad way," she said, even as she frowned a little and looked between Rory's daughter Mia and her own little Ava.

"I was just thinking how pretty her dress was," said Mia, shrugging her shoulders, "and how I had a Christmas dress like that once, when I was smaller."

"Huh. You're right, you did," Jess agreed with his little girl as he looked at Ava.

"You have good taste in dresses, Mrs Hayes," Mia told her politely.

"Well, thank you, sweetheart, but Little Miss Ava picked that one out herself, didn't you, baby?" she said to her daughter.

Ava looked bashful at all the attention and hid her face in Lavon's sleeve, which he found all kinds of amusing. She definitely took after her daddy by way of being a little shy sometimes. It was her brother, Elijah, that was more like Lemon, happy to be the centre of attention whenever he could. Something he proved then, by flipping a forkful of mashed potatoes up in the air for all to see.

Lemon looked mortified, but Jess had to hide his laughter in his napkin. He turned to talk to Zoe for a minute, with a question he had been meaning to ask anyway.

"Did your friend Rose say anything to you about her night out with April?" he checked in a low voice.

"I haven't actually talked to her yet today," Zoe confessed, "but she said she would probably drop in later, so I can ask then, if you want. You shouldn't worry too much, Jess, I'm sure they didn't do anything they shouldn't. Rose isn't a wild girl."

"Neither is April," he assured her, "but she's had a rough time lately and... well, she may be my cousin..."

"But you do a good impression of a big brother for her," said Zoe with a smile. "Yeah, I picked up on that already, but I'm sure she's fine. Look, she seems to be having a great time."

Zoe had a point and Jess couldn't deny it, so he gave up worrying for the time being. That didn't mean he didn't feel the need to keep a close eye on April in general. She may be old enough to take care of herself at this point and he may only be her cousin by blood, but Zoe had a point about the big brother thing. He did feel the need to look out for her and for good reasons.

"Everything okay?" Rory asked him then, staring worriedly over the heads of the kids.

"It's fine," Jess promised. "Honestly, I'm in awe of this food. No offence to Sookie..."

"But we are never telling her about this amazing stuffing or how the pigs in blankets are just so incredible."

"Agreed!" Lorelai yelled from further down the table. "It would break her heart and we cannot do that to Sook."

"We outdid the chef lady from Connecticut?" Wade checked with Zoe. "Alright now." He grinned at his wife who couldn't help but laugh in response.

They really were a happy crowd, all tucking in to the best food in Alabama, talking about anything and everything, most especially sharing stories of happy Christmases past. The romance of Zoe and Wade first getting together on Christmas Eve 2012 had all the girls swooning, while the tale of the Bracebridge Dinner of Stars Hollow in Christmas 2002 brought forth laughter aplenty. There was so much to share, so much to smile and laugh about.

Before long, the kids were all done eating and, tired of sitting still, went forth to play with their toys and dance to the music that Lemon put on for them. The adults continued to sit around, enjoying good company, good conversation, and a few more drinks. Some of them even got up to dance after a while, as the day wore on.

It was late in the afternoon when Rose showed up and the kids were all thrilled to see her, though perhaps not quite as thrilled as April, which seemed a little odd at first.

"Exactly how close have they got in two days?" asked Lorelai suspiciously. "I mean, I know April is mad at guys right now but..."

"Lorelai!" Luke snapped at her.

"What? It'd be a valid life choice."

"It would be," Zoe agreed, "but Rose is definitely a guy-loving kind of a girl."

All eyes were in the direction of the two younger women, giggling together like teenagers, though none of them could hear what was being said. They might have been surprised if they could.

"You know, I didn't come here alone, right?"

"What? No!" April gasped. "How...?"

"Hey, it wasn't my idea. He came ringing on my doorbell, asking if I was going to see you today and if he could tag along when I did."

"So, where is he?" asked April, looking around the for guy in question.

"Right outside. Weirdly enough, he didn't want to walk into this whole mess and face the potential wrath of paternal figures galore," said Rose, rolling her eyes.

April moved as if to rush by her to the door, then stopped, doubled back to give Rose a hug, then ran off at speed. It was up to Rose herself to explain to the wide-eyed people at left behind.

"So, when we went out last night, April kind of made a connection... with Cody."

"Who's Cody?" asked Luke and Jess almost as one, while Zoe and Wade both gasped with surprise.

"Hey, down boys," Lorelai encouraged both her husband and son-in-law. "I'm sure he's a nice guy, right?" she checked with the Bluebell crowd.

"Cody wouldn't harm a fly," Wade assured her.

"Pretty sure he wouldn't know how if he even wanted to," Lemon pitched in. "He is not exactly what you'd call the brightest bulb."

"That's true." Zoe nodded. "But he's such a sweetheart. You really shouldn't worry about April at all."

"You absolutely shouldn't," Rose agreed. "They got pretty well-acquainted last night... in a public place. That kind of acquainted, not the other kind, geez," she explained fast, realising how that had clearly sounded to Luke and Jess. "I can't say for sure they won't be making good use of any mistletoe that might be hung up outside, but that's probably all."

The guys didn't look too thrilled even with that, but they also didn't seem like they wanted to kill anybody, so that was something. Rory and Lorelai were quick to take evasive action just in case, encouraging their husbands to get up and dance with them already.

It seemed the jukebox had just hit on some kind of ultimate Christmas medley that had all the kids jumping and spinning, pulling an enthusiastic Earl into the middle of their fun. The adult couples soon joined them, with Will even getting his head away from his tablet long enough to ask Rose if she would dance with him. The way he blushed when he said it certainly suggested he was developing a crush, which was kind of adorable, so she couldn't help but say yes, even if she was twice his age. One dance, with everybody from his family present, was pretty innocent, after all.

"So," said Lorelai from within the circle of Luke's arms, the two of them dancing much less crazily than most of the others, "you still think it's too hot here?"

"Yes, I do," he told her smartly, "but I'll be honest, I'm starting not to care. It has been a really great Christmas. You were right, it was a good idea to come here. Not that I'm surprised. I mean, when are you not right?"

"Almost never," she said modestly, reaching up to kiss him.

"Aww, cute," Zoe observed from a short ways away. "And that is just so sweet," she said of Rose and Will dancing together. "Pretty sure he has the biggest crush ever on her."

"They obviously start 'em young up north," said Wade thoughtfully.

"Yes, because I'm sure you weren't chasing girls when you were thirteen," she said with a look.

Wade smirked terribly. "Now, that would be tellin', doc."

"Shut up," she told him, laughter in her voice as she kissed him to make sure he did exactly that.

Rory smiled on seeing the happy couples all around her, then looked back at Jess and frowned. "You're thinking about April, aren't you?"

"No. Maybe," he corrected. "That Cody better not-"

Before he could get any further, Rory kissed him into silence. "It's Christmas," she said when they parted. "Good will to all men, including Southern gentlemen who like your cousin. Let her have some fun, Jess. They're not going to come to any harm. In fact..." she trailed off, gesturing for him to look as April and a guy that must be Cody walked in hand-in-hand and joined in with the dancing. "See, no problem. One happy, smiley April."

Jess sighed. "Fine. She's happy, then I guess I'm happy too."

"And your kids are happy, and your wife is too," she assured him, smiling widely. "This has been the most amazing Christmas. Like no other Christmas I ever had, that's for sure."

"I'll agree with that. It has been fun."

"And it's not over yet," Wade promised as he and Zoe danced by, looking past the other couple then and tipping a wink to someone else.

As Rory and Jess looked over, they saw Lavon helping his daughter to pull a handle, and the next thing they knew, balloons and streamers and glitter were falling from the ceiling over everybody. The kids squealed and ran around like crazy, while the adults all laughed.

"Merry Christmas, y'all!" Wade yelled over the noise.

A resounding 'Merry Christmas' came back to him from everybody present.

It really had been the most amazing occasion. A truly merry Christmas for every single one of them.

The End

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight ;)