Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls and all it's characters and situations are property of Amy Sherman-Palladino and The WB/The CW. I do not own anything and will not make any profit from this story.

A/N: The huge part in italics at the bottom is a flashback.

A/N: This is obviously Literati centered but I'm gonna add stories from different characters too (Luke, Lane, Lorelai, Sookie, Kirk, …). And thanks for all the reviews!

Takes place a couple years after season 7. This is "season 8" but forwarded about 3 years after season 7 (Kinda' like what they did with One Tree Hill). So Rory and Jess are 25. Jess is a writer. After finishing the Obama Trail, Rory returned to Stars Hollow and started working for the Stars Hollow Gazette, that's why they live in SH now.

"Jess?!" Luke yelled as he opened the back door to his nephew's house. "Jess?!"

"I'm coming!" Came a reply, followed closely by thuds which Luke assumed could only mean Jess was making his way down the stairs.

"What's up?" He asked.

"Oh, nothing really, just wondering how the dinner went." Luke fidgeted with his hands. He had gotten better, but never quite gotten the hang of the whole heart-to-heart concept.

"Do you want something to drink?"

"That bad, huh?"

"Coke? Juice? Water? Beer?"

"Jess, you do realize you act evasive when something goes bad."

"It went fine."

"Just fine?"

"Look, I went, ate dinner, made small-talk, it was fine." Jess picked up a book from the table and headed for the living room, his uncle trailing behind him.

"Jess, you're not seventeen anymore. You can tell me if something's bugging you."

"If I do, will you shut up?" He asked, getting frustrated.

"I will." Luke replied solemnly.

Jess sighed. "It was okay… just… some of the things Emily said affected me a bit more than I would've liked. It… hurt… a bit." He stared at the floor, unable to look his uncle in the eye. Jess wasn't good at talks, not unless they were with Rory or about books or something random and platonic.

Luke nodded at Jess' previous statement. "And Richard? What did he say?"

"He was okay. He's a nice man."

"How did Rory and Lorelai react?"

"Hell hath no fury like a Gilmore girl pissed."

"That bad, huh?"

"Oh, yeah. I didn't think Lorelai had it in her to defend me like that."

"Well, you've grown on her." Luke shrugged.

"The cease in glares and putting the blame on me for everything that went wrong kind of tipped me off but thanks anyways, Horatio."

Luke rolled his eyes. His nephew was just fine.

"So, you're okay, right?"

Jess dropped the book he'd been fiddling with on the coffee table and glared at his uncle.

"No, uncle Luke, I did not book a ticket to California if that's what you were wondering."

"No, Jess-"

"Look, all I want is for the town to stop seeing me as the hoodlum I never was."

"No one sees you like that Jess."

"Please, yesterday Taylor 'shadowed' me in Doose's to make sure I actually paid for my beef-aroni. And you and Lorelai apparently still see me that way. Isn't that what this little interrogation is about? You guys think I'm gonna bail again."

"No, we don't." Luke said, trying to calm down his nephew. "We were worried you might be more hurt than you were letting on. We were concerned, okay? Besides, Lorelai knows you've changed. I always knew you were a good kid, Jess. So did Rory. And everyone else here knows too. They're just too insane to show it."

"This whole town's an experiment gone wrong." Jess said, slowly growing less agitated.

"But we love it all the same."

"Yeah." Jess said absentmindedly.

He shook his head, realizing what he had agreed to. He shoved his uncle. "Thanks a lot."

"What'd I do?" Luke asked, truly confused.

"We've become part of the experiment now, I hope you know that."

"Jess! Hurry, we're going to be late." Rory stood at the bottom of the stairs, impatiently waiting for her fiancé.

"I'm coming!"

She heard him thundering down the stairs in an effort to hurry up.

"Jeez, it's just a town meeting, we're always late, why break the tradition now?" He hurriedly put on his shoes.

"Because you know the town, especially Taylor, Babette and Miss Patty. Any minute we're not there is a minute more they'll try to plan our wedding. Without us."

Jess quickly grabbed his car keys. "Enough said."

--

"Okay, now as I said before being so rudely interrupted by Lorelai," Taylor said, throwing a glare the woman's way, "No matter how symbolic the bridge may be in Rory and Jess' relationship, we cannot use it."

"What, the tarp hasn't been doing it's job?" Luke replied, slightly agitated. He and Lorelai had gotten there extra early because they knew Rory and Jess would be late, and even they knew that the fate of their wedding was at stake.

"Au contraire, Luke, it has been doing it's job splendidly, however, the bridge is just not practical."

"Aww, come on, it'll be cute. Don't ya think, doll?" Babette said as she turned to Miss Patty.

"I think it would be wonderful, Taylor."

"I- I do have to agree with them on this one, Taylor." Kirk added.

Taylor shook his head. "No, you people have to understand that it just won't work-"

"How about we let Rory and Jess decide?" Lorelai said loudly.

"Please, that hoodl- I mean, fine boy," Taylor quickly changed his words when Luke and Lorelai shot him death glares, " make a decision like that?" He scoffed.

"Jess isn't five, Taylor. He can make rational decisions. Does it all the time."

"Yeah, and my daughter has a good head on her shoulders too, always has."

"I'm not questioning their common sense-"

"You should question your own." Luke muttered under his breath, loud enough for only Lorelai to hear.

"- I am merely worried that while they are blissfully in love, they are not able to think clearly."

"What do you think is gonna happen?" Lorelai asked.

"I think I'd like to hear this also."

"Well, we all know- Luke, your grass has grown higher than and inch and a half and I simply will not condone it." Taylor cleared his throat as the two latecomers entered the room, this causing him to abruptly change the statement he was going to make. "Jess, Rory, hello. There are two seats in the back."

"Thanks, Taylor." Jess said as he took Rory's hand and guided her towards two chairs in the front.

"You came right on time." Lorelai whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Lorelai, what are you talking about?" Taylor covered badly.

"Yeah, mom, what are you talking about?" Rory asked, even though she had a nagging suspicion.

"Yeah, Taylor, what are you talking about?" Babette asked, playing along.

"Yeah, Taylor." Everyone else chimed in.

"Why are you turning against me?" He questioned, getting flustered, especially since Jess was staring him down.

"It's fun to see ya squirm." Babette said simply, shrugging her shoulders.

"I agree." Jess added.

"You be quiet." He pointed his gavel at the young man in front of him.

"Taylor, put the gavel down," Rory said, putting a protective hand in front of Jess, "And tell us what's going on."

"Luke's grass was more than-"

"He won't let you hold your wedding on the bridge!" Lorelai yelled out.

"Lorelai!" Taylor yelled at her, slamming down his gavel five times to emphasise his anger at her.

"I'm sorry, but she's my daughter and I will not let you plan her wedding. If we have it your way the party will end at 7 and everyone will be in bed by 8."

"Hey, I go to bed at 9."

"That's not much better." Kirk chimed in. Taylor stared him down.

The whole town soon started shooting off their suggestions and arguments.

"But why not-" (Babette)

"It'll be fun-" (Morey)

"It'll be romantic-" (Sookie)

"I like the idea-" (Lane)

"We cannot-" (Taylor)

"Let them decide-" (Lorelai)

"It's not-" (Taylor)

"Their wedding, their choice-" (Lorelai)

"I will not allow-" (Taylor)

"It's simple-" (Lorelai)

"You are so-" (Taylor)

"Their wedding-" (Lorelai)

"Out of line, young lady!" (Taylor)

"Their choice!" (Lorelai)

Miss Patty took Taylor's gavel and banged it three times. Rory had enough. She stood up next to Taylor and shoved him to the side, something that earned her a proud smile from Lorelai.

"Look, Jess and I will plan the wedding we like, we will have the wedding where we like, when we like, and if you guys don't like it then just go ahead and pay attention to your own lives because we are not changing a thing."

Kirk raised his finger. "Yes, Kirk, you are all still invited." Rory said before he could open his mouth. "Thank you." She said before sitting back down next to Jess.

"Nicely done." He whispered in her ear.

"I do have my talents." She replied cheekily.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, this meeting is now dismissed and will continue next week." Taylor announced, flustered, banging his gavel once again.

--

"And once again nothing productive was discussed during this meeting." Luke said as he Lorelai, Rory and Jess entered the diner.

"The tradition still stands." Jess replied, heading behind the counter with Luke while the two ladies sat down.

"By the way, honey, way to stand up to everyone. I didn't think you had it in you." Lorelai said proudly while her daughter cringed.

"I was mean, wasn't I?"

"No. No, you weren't. This is your wedding and you were right, it's up to you and Jess, not Stars Hollow, to plan it."

"I agree." Luke said, bringing over some coffee while Jess arrived behind him with the french fries.

"I just don't get why they care so much." Jess said, taking a fry.

"Because they do." Lorelai shrugged. "They love you guys." Jess snorted.

"They do." She insisted. "Both of you. And they just want it to be perfect."

"Yeah, well, although their input is touching, I think we'll pass." Rory said.

Jess nodded. "But the bridge was a nice idea." He added.

"Yeah." Rory mused, deep in thought.

"Well, anything you guys want, it's up to you, don't let Taylor tell you otherwise." Luke said.

"When have we ever?" Jess asked.

"Well, you not, but Rory might just be nice enough to do what Taylor wants."

"Gee, thanks uncle Luke. I'm sure there's a compliment in there somewhere."

"You know what I mean."

"We know, Luke. Thanks." Rory quickly said, trying to avoid a fight.

Their table was a mess. Papers were strewn everywhere, there were markers of various colours and lengths littering the table and the floor, countless candy wrappers were strewn across the entire kitchen almost resembling the bread crumbs Hansel dropped in the forest.

Jess rubbed his forehead wearily. "Okay, so we have about 50 guests, right?" He asked, looking at the papers strewn across their kitchen table.

"Where's the list?" Rory asked from the counter where she was pouring herself more coffee. It was nearing midnight and she and Jess had been busy the entire afternoon finalising the guest list and trying to track down everyone they might want to invite.

"I'm looking for it." He replied, moving about papers, rumpling a few in the process.

"Watch it!" Rory cried as she sat down. God forbid one of her precious lists was damaged.

"I am. Geez, Hitler, chill."

"Oh, very funny."

"I thought so." He pulled out a paper and held it up in the air triumphantly. "Got it."

"I'm not Stevie Wonder here. I can see."

"Antsy tonight, are we? You ready?"

"Hit me."

"Lorelai, Luke, Emily, Richard, Christopher, Liz, TJ, Jimmy, Lily, April, Sasha, Taylor, Kirk, Babette, Morey, Miss Patty, Pete, Paris, Lane, Zach, Bootsy, Matt, Chris-" Jess rattled off in one breath.

"Never mind, I get it. All of Stars Hollow basically."

"Yep." He replied, popping the p. He glanced at the list and then at Rory who was fiddling with her sock, trying to think of someone they might've forgotten.

"Rory?"

"Yeah?"

"Okay, I have one more name, but don't get upset, okay?"

She shot him a wary look. "Okaaaay." Her answer was hesitant.

Jess breathed in deeply before plunging in. "Maybe we should invite Dean." He said tentatively.

Rory looked at him like he had just become a republican. "Excuse me?"

"Well, I just thought, he's your friend, and, he does still live here, it would be a bit rude to invite the whole town and not include him." Jess answered quickly.

Rory smiled. She was touched that he would do that for her. "But you hate him." She replied, remembering their memorable fight about a year and a half ago.

*Flashback*

"Will you please stop hiding behind the Dean excuse?!" She yelled at him.

"It's not an excuse, it's the truth!" He yelled back.

"That was years ago!"

"And yet he keeps on rearing his ugly head back in the picture."

"Oh my God, Jess! Are you honestly still threatened by him?!"

"Rory, during our entire relationship, you always treated me like the bad guy, and Dean like the good guy. Everyone saw it that way! Everyone! After Kyle's party, who do you think was blamed for the damage caused by the fight?! It sure as hell wasn't Dean!!"

"You can't blame me for that!"

"Please, Rory! He punched me for no reason at all, I defended myself and you blamed me for it!"

"I did not blame you!"

"Rory, the way you looked at me when the cops arrived said enough!"

"Oh, and the way you looked at me was all pure love, right?!"

"What did you expect?! He made it seem like he was defending your honour, and you made me feel like crap!"

"Gee, I didn't know you were so miserable the entire time we were dating."

"I was not miserable! The point is that you would always compare me to Dean, and no matter what I did, no matter how much I loved you, you would always love him more."

"Take that back." She was livid now. "How dare you even suggest that?!"

"Fine! You were in love with the idea of him, then!"

"Oh, please."

"Well, you did date that blonde dick from Yale."

*End Flashback*

"Rory, I did hate him, and we're not going to be best buddies, but I think it's time to let everything go. That's the main reason we failed last time. Everything came out." He took her hand. "I don't want us to fail this time."

Rory smiled at him, before leaning in to kiss him. It was times like these she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Jess was a great guy, he didn't let many people in and he showed even fewer people the side he was showing her now, and the fact that he let down his guard with her made her feel special. Something she hadn't felt from anyone other than her mother.

"You're a stand up guy, Jess Mariano. You know that, right?"

"Hold on, one second."

"What're you doing?"

"I'm gonna get a tape recorder."

"For what?"

"To record that last bit." He smirked.

She swatted his arm. "And then there's that." She replied, standing up to put her mug in the sink.

During the town meeting, I added the names of the people saying it so you guys could imagine it better.

Please review. Jess was happy with the last chapter's reviews but he wants more.

xD