Aloha all my lovelies who love me. This is my second chapter but I'm not completely sure about it – so feedback is even more welcome than usual. However there is one thing I do know – the grammar on this is a hell of a lot better than normal – and for that I would like to thank my betarer – potostfbeyeluvr – I LOVE YOU. Thanks for reading I love you all. Lovelil.

Welcome to Dante's 2

Rory's non-rice cake crush

The three girls sat around the Gilmore's kitchen table, Rory doing her homework and occasionally joining in conversation and Sasha and Lorelai simply drinking coffee and chatting.

"Oh, so I forgot to ask. Is Jess coming to diner tomorrow night?"

"Yeah – at least I'm pretty sure he is."

"So what's the deal there anyway?"

"The deal with Jess or with Jess being here?"

"Let's start form the beginning and cover all we know." Lorelai decided.

"Well Jimmy went out for diapers and between the diapers and the hospital he came across a baby store. He thought it would be nice to get Jess something. He started going through stuff and one of the women asked if he needed any help. Jimmy explains he was there to buy something for his newborn son. As she was showing him stuff, she was asking questions. How big was he, what name, blah, blah, blah. It freaked him out. He realized he couldn't remember what pant size he was, how was he supposed to remember what size his son was? Especially with the nosy sales clerk, who was looking down on him as far as he was concerned. So anyway, as he and this girl had discovered he had no sense of Jess' size and couldn't get Jess any clothes he got him a blanket. He left and was walking through the hospital lobby but ended up turning around and walking straight back out. "

"He didn't see the kid again until a fortnight before Jess showed up. He couldn't take it anymore. Went to New York, rang Liz as a hope to see the kid. Turns out, she sent him to his uncle's almost two years before hand. Couldn't deal with him, I'm not sure what that was about. So Jimmy goes to Stars-Hollow. Spends a day drinking coffee in Luke's, the uncle's, diner and ends up leaving his wallet. Luke yelled at him some. Anyway, at some stage in the five days he spent in the town, two of which he didn't leave his hotel room in sheer fear, he talks to Jess. Explains that he just wants to get to know him, wanted to see how he was, whatever, he ended up suggesting Jess come stay or drop by or whatever. Anyway, apparently Jess was failing because he wasn't attending enough classes. He couldn't take the town anymore so here he is."

Lorelai nodded after awhile "Is he staying?"

"Jimmy thinks they had a good talk on the board walk" Sasha glanced at Rory "he'll be around for awhile. We're not sure. We thought maybe he could get a job at Dante's or something."

Sasha then fully turned to Rory who had not done homework for the last ten minutes or so. "So, you spoke to him that night, huh?"

Rory raised an eyebrow "His first night?"

Sasha simply nodded. "Bob asked me who your new boyfriend was. When I asked for more information he said the guy and you looked comfortable over some egg rolls and rice cakes."

Lorelai gasped. "You shared rice cakes?" Then in a more singsong voice, "Rory's got a crush – Rory shared her rice cakes Rory and Je-"

"No!"

"Oh please h-"

"I didn't share my rice cakes! Egg rolls yes, rice cakes no. I only had two. I was between Kim's and Laverne and Sophie's" record store when I saw the end of their…conversation. Waited a bit then went and spoke to him."

Both women nodded before asking. "What did you talk to him about, Rory?"

She shrugged her shoulders and began to flip through her schoolbooks again

Lorelai got up to refill her cup declaring that "Even without the rice cakes, Rory's got a crush."

After a few minutes of the two talking about a wedding between her and Jess, Rory decided to make her escape. "So I'm going to go write up the roster at Dante's for the next week. Did you want me to put Jess down for a few shifts?"

"Oh, we haven't really spoken to him about it enough to put him down yet."

"Well, I could go talk to him about it before I write it up."

Lorelai grinned. "Yeah babe. You go do that. Will the two of you be working the same shifts?"

Sasha smiled. "That would be good. Are you sure there's enough work to put him on the books?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah. Luke Mitchells who works out back asked us to cut his hours for exams and so did one of the waitresses. I'll get him to do a bit of both if he wants, if not, Sam can be permanently one or the other. That boy never cares were I put him."

Lorelai smiled "Rory – you do know why Sam doesn't care where you put him right?"

"'Cause he gets money either way?"

Both elder women laughed before Sasha asked "Rory how many of his shifts are under you?"

"Well, almost all of them. Jimmy stresses a bit to much for him and well…he's a friend so I'd rather sic Jimmy on Lydia. That girl is evil. She's good at what she does though."

Lorelai shook her head. "And you don't see another reason that he wants to spend all his shifts with you?" This time adding a little eye brow wiggle so that Rory got her meaning.

"Mom! No…he's... we're not like that!" And with that, she picked up her bag and walked out the door.

Entering Jimmy's she found Jess watching muted news with music on in the background.

He nodded in greeting.

"Hey – can I talk to you?"

He shrugged his shoulders and turned to face her a bit more.

"Ok so I was just speaking to Sash and apparently you're thinking of getting some work?"

"Well I was thinking about it, yeah."

"Ok, so, a few people at Dante's want me to cut back their hours, and so I was thinking, could you take them over?"

"Sure. I take it Jimmy's cool with it?"

"Apparently they've spoken about it in passing."

Jess nodded. "Ok, so there's time available in the front and back so did you want to be a waiter or a dish pig or a combination because I can work around whatever you decide."

"Whatever. So long as someone tells me what I'm doing I'm good."

Rory nodded "I'll make sure I'm the one in charge for your first shifts…just so you don't have someone stressing at you."

"Wait – you're in charge?"

"Well I used to work when someone called in to late to be replaced or whatever then I got a job and whatever so I've been around enough to be senior staff. I just help out…so long as I don't cook were all good."

Jess nodded. "So how many shifts you want a week?"

"I got nothing better to do."

"So you'd be cool with, um, 4?"

Jess again just nodded.

Rory smiled "when do you want to start?"

Jess just shrugged "whenever."

Rory nodded. "Well I've got to go fill out some stuff at Dante's. I was thinking maybe we could eat while I'm there. Sasha's at my place with Mom, Jimmy's working and Lily's out so I'd rather know that you've eaten."

Jess nodded and stood up "ill get my jacket."

Rory smiled and made her way back over to the door.

A half hour later they were sitting at a table with drinks in front of them and Jimmy had walked over and pulled up and extra chair for a talk "so we've got that wedding on Saturday…are you cool to host? Rick can't be here and I don't really want Janet in charge out back for a main event."

Rory nodded and made a note on the bit of paper in front of her. "Hey Jimmy when you leave again can you grab me the time book?"

Jimmy nodded and gleaned at Jess "so you're going to be at tomorrow's diner?"

Jess shrugged "I guess so; I mean what else would I do? Order pizza and eat it in the other room?"

"Oh no – I mean it's at the girls place so I wasn't sure if you had plans or were staying home or if you were coming."

"Who would I have plans with Jimmy?"

"Oh –good point I guess – I mean it's a family thing so I know Rory will be there –"

"Oh! Family!" Rory cut in "I forgot to tell you your mom called this morning."

"Oh god. She's not still coming down is she?"

"I believe so. She asked about the weather."

"Because it ever changes." Jimmy sighed. "It's the beach. In summer. What does she expect? Snow?" he stood up. "I'll get you that book Ror, and then I guess I should call her back."

Rory smiled sympathetically as he walked off. He then glanced back at Jess who looked confused

"I take it you've never met Grandma Mariano hey?" Jess shook his head.

"Well…it's a ride. That's for sure. At least she takes Jimmy on one. She absolutely loves me and Lilly."

One of the waiters came by. "Hey Ror – want to order?"

"Sure, I guess matt – ill have the combination …like I normally do annnd…and the chicken and avocado for a starter."

"Dessert?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet. Jess?"

He glanced at the menu once more "chicken salad for a starter and the parmigiana."

He nodded, taking away both of their empty glasses. "Another round, Ror?"

"Thanks Matt."

The young man, a year or so older than them, came back with their next drinks. "Oh and Ror?"

"Hm?"

"I know its not date conversation, but Greg and I was talking – can we both not work on Thursday? And can we switch shifts on Friday?"

"Only if one of you will work Wednesday for me and it's not a date – this is Jimmy's son."

Matt glanced at him "Jimmy as in 'Rides my ass about the way I breathe in this restaurant Jimmy?'"

"That would be the one."

Matt glanced over at him again. "Huh." And with a slight nod, he walked back away.

What do you think? Sorry it took longer than normal. Thanks for reading, please reply, lovelil.