A huge thanks to my beta: BrokenDaisy

Sorry this is a wee bit late. I'll try to get a quicker update next time.

So, thanks for reviewing, alerting, and favoriting last chapter. I do not own these characters. And thanks for reading.

Drop a comment if you can!

GG

1994…

Rory wore a solemn look as she walked into Luke's diner. She also had a pair of angel wings (feathers and all) on her back, but Luke was willing to look past that little tidbit. With a mother like Lorelai, he was surprised the youngest Gilmore didn't wear weird stuff like that more often. He was more worried about the expression on her face.

"Hello Luke," Rory said very formally, sadness seeping into her words.

"What's wrong?" Luke questioned curiously.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a question."

"You know you can always ask me anything," he replied gesturing to the stool across from him. Rory nodded in thanks and clambered onto the stool, clasping her hands and resting them on the counter.

She was quiet for a moment, but finally took a breath and said, "There has been a death."

"Who died?" Luke furrowed his eyebrows, trying to recall who had died in town. If he wasn't mistaken (and with Babette and Miss Patty gossiping in his diner every, single morning he knew he wasn't), the last death had been Miss Fredrick, the old music teacher at the elementary school.

"My caterpillar," she said softly. "He went peacefully during the night. I wanted to have a funeral for him, and you're invited of course, but I was also wondering if you could build him a coffin. Nothing fancy, but I just didn't think it was right to bury him in a tiny, cardboard box.

"But if you don't want to that's fine. I can always bury him in a box, it won't hurt him or anything, and I think I can find…"

"Hey," Luke said softly, cutting the little girl off. She looked up, her blue eyes full of sorrow, but still gave Luke her undivided attention. He gave her a small smile and said, "I might have a tin box you can use. It's not much…"

"Can I see it?" she asked curiously and Luke nodded. He left Caesar in charge for a moment, waited for Rory to get off the stool, and led her upstairs. Jess was lounging on his bed, reading a book when they stepped into the apartment, but he threw the book to the side when he noticed Rory's face.

"Samsa died?" he asked slowly.

"Yeah," Rory replied nodding.

"At least he had you."

"Thanks," she muttered smiling.

Luke left the kids to talk as he dug around his closet. He found the tin box in the back, buried under a few things, and backed out of the closet. He handed the box to Rory and said, "Is that big enough?"

"It's perfect," Rory replied and gave Luke a quick hug. "I'll see you two at the funeral."

GG

Present Day…

Luke looked up as the door opened and smiled when Rory walked inside. At the look on her face, his smile wilted and worry settled in the pit of his stomach. He watched as she approached the counter and took a seat on an empty stool.

"Coffee?" Luke offered wanting to get that disgruntled look off her face.

She shook her head, crossing her arms on the counter and resting her chin on her right hand. She stared at the wall, quietly contemplating whatever was going on in her head. Luke wondered just what she was thinking and thought about hers and Lorelai's argument from last night. Were they still not talking to each other? Did Luke need to be worried about the Gilmore Girls?

"I think Mom asked my grandparents for money," Rory said softly, startling Luke. "I can't be one-hundred percent sure, but it's the only explanation as to why we are mysteriously having dinner tonight. Mom never goes over there unless she absolutely has to and unless I missed the new holiday in September…" Rory shook her head. "She didn't have to do it, you know? If she did. I don't need to go to Chilton to get into Harvard. Ellie Hamilton went to Yale and she graduated Star's Hollow High."

"Is that what you were arguing about last night?" Luke asked cautiously. He knew he had to trek carefully when dealing with an angry Gilmore. Their words were more vicious than ten thousand fists.

"It was nothing," Rory insisted sitting up. "I'd better go," she said getting to her feet. "Thanks for listening Luke."

Luke watched her leave, not at all surprised she had figured her mother went to her grandparents. Rory wasn't stupid, it probably didn't take her long to figure it out, and Luke would wager a guess that she would be singing a different tune about Chilton when her suspicions were confirmed.

Luke had to admit, it took a lot of guts to do what Lorelai did. He knew just how stubborn she was, and asking her parents for money was equivalent to getting a root canal in Lorelai's book. Though, the root canal was most likely less painful.

Shaking his head, Luke grabbed his order book just as the diner door opened. He gestured to the customers to sit wherever as he headed towards Kirk who had been pouring over the menu for the past half an hour. Luke had to stop thinking about Lorelai and take Kirk's order.

GG

It wasn't as awkward as Jess thought it'd be. Him and Dean sat at a corner table, both going over their algebra homework. For a while they were quiet, but eventually Dean looked up and said, "Do you and your uncle watch any sports?"

"Luke's a huge baseball and football fan," Jess replied as he worked on a math problem. "He's a big fan of the Yankees and the Giants. I tend to root against the opposite teams just to tick him off." Dean chuckled, looking down at his math book. Jess cleared his throat, "What about you?"

"My dad and I watch football," Dean replied slowly. "He's a Bears fan…" the taller boy trailed off, chuckling again. "I'm, as he jokingly says, a traitor to my city."

"Why?"

"I root for Wisconsin."

"The Packers?" Jess made a face. He then shrugged and said, "It could be worse. My uncle probably won't like you anymore, but again it could be worse."

"If it helps any, I like the Cubs," Dean said slowly.

"It won't," Jess assured him and both boys laughed. It was then that Luke walked into the diner wearing a nice shirt and slacks. "I didn't know you had a date," his nephew said studying his uncle. "What's her name and when can I meet her? Will I have to stay at Dean's place tonight?"

"Very funny, smart ass," Luke said checking his watch. "I had to go to the bank and they like collars."

"And it's killing you to be wearing that isn't it?"

"How's things, Dean?" Luke asked turning away from his nephew.

"Fine. Things are fine," Dean replied trying to keep a straight face. "I heard you're a Yankees fan."

"Oh, you watch baseball?"

"Not closely. My dad and I are more football and hockey type people, but I'll catch the occasional game."

"And who do you…?" Luke trailed off when the doors opened. Lorelai and Rory walked in and took a seat by the window. The latter vaguely waved Dean and Jess' way before turning back to her mother and continuing to talk to her.

"I-I should go," Dean said getting to his feet. "See you later, Jess."

"Bye," Jess replied nodding.

"Nice seeing you again, Dean," Luke said smiling. Dean nodded and headed towards the door, flashing Rory a quick smile before walking outside.

As Jess began collecting his books, he watched his uncle approach the Gilmore's table. "Wow, you look nice," Lorelai said, no doubt surprised to see Luke in something other than flannel and jeans.

"I had a meeting earlier at the bank," Luke said clearly uncomfortable. "They like collars." He was still uncomfortable and Jess tried really hard not to laugh. "You look nice, too," he muttered trying to change the subject.

"I had a flagellation to go to," Lorelai replied and Jess noticed the look of understanding on his uncle's face. They must have talked earlier today.

As Luke took the girls' orders, Jess walked towards the counter and cleaned up the plates. He put them in a gray tub and carried the tub over to a table near the girls'. As he continued to clean up dishes, he heard Lorelai teasingly ask, "Was that the guy? The tall, dreamy one who smiled at you?"

"Mom," Rory said exasperated. "That's so Nick at Night."

"Well, I'm gonna find out," Lorelai insisted leaning back in her chair.

"How?"

"I'll spy."

Their conversation was cut off when Luke returned. He placed their orders onto the table and said, "Coffee… fries…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "I can't stand it! This is so unhealthy." Jess knew this was coming. Luke had the same blow up once every few days. "Rory please put down that cup of coffee. You don't want to grow up to be like your mom."

"Sorry, too late," Rory said smiling.

"Yeah Luke, it's a losing battle," Jess responded and Luke glared at him. "What? I'm just being honest."

Luke shook his head and stalked away. Jess' smile stayed in place up to Lorelai said, "So, tell me about the guy."

"Check please," Rory called jokingly, but her smile wasn't hard to miss.

Jess walked away, carrying the plastic tub. He didn't want to hear anymore, but he couldn't help hearing Lorelai say, "No, really, are you embarrassed to bring him home?"

"I'm not embarrassed."

"Does he talk at all?"

"No, Mom, he's a mime."

Leaving the two girls to their bantering, Jess left the plastic tub on the counter, grabbed his back pack, and rushed up the stairs without a backwards glance.