Incoming
Disclaimer: I don't own any of it. Not even the computer I wrote it on.
Summary: Jess shows up at Richard and Emily's vow renewal. Luke has something to say about it. Rory is less than happy. Lorelai has to deal with Christopher. And the day is definitely not everything Emily hoped it would be.
Feedback: Reviews are fun. Like a barrel of monkeys. Why anyone would put monkeys in a barrel…I don't know, but it's supposedly a lot of fun.
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Rory and Jess walked into Luke's just as Kirk was running out, yelling something about a love of pink. "What was that about?" Rory asked, as she sat at the counter, next to her mother.
"Nothing." Luke said, handing Jess a coffee pot.
Lorelai turned looked over at Rory. "Kirk is collecting the ribbons, and Lulu wants to keep hers."
'Oh," Rory reached into her pocket. "Speaking of ribbons..." She held out a pink ribbon.
Luke looked appalled. "You got a ribbon?"
"No, it's Jess's"
Lorelai smiled. " Aww, Jess was on my side. That's so nice."
They heard a scream, and turned to see Kirk outside, trying to pull Lulu's ribbon off her sweater.
Luke shook his head. "You know if someone opened a store in this town selling giant butterfly nets, they'd make a fortune."
Lorelai grinned. "Come on, the crazy need love too."
"Speaking of which…" He leaned over the counter and kissed her. "Welcome back."
"Nice to be here."
"Want some coffee?"
"Oh, say that again, slower and with your pants off."
Rory covered her ears. "I'm not loving where this conversation is going."
Luke shook his head. "Jess, come pour Lorelai some coffee."
"I'm not taking my pants off." He told her as filled her cup.
"No complaints here." She took a sip. "Mmm. I missed this stuff." She looked at her watch and downed the rest of it quickly. "Shit. I gotta get to the Inn." She leaned over the counter and kissed Luke. "See you later."
"Call me when you get a chance. I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Kay." She looked outside then turned back around. "Hey, Rory. Can you drive me to the Inn?"
"Sure." She hopped off her stool and followed Lorelai to her car. "Where's your Jeep?"
She walked to the passenger's side and got in the car. "I came over with Luke this morning."
"Right." Rory started the car, and pulled into the street. "So, why'd you really want me to give you a ride?"
"What's going on with you and Jess?"
"Nothing. We're friends."
"Last time we had this conversation things didn't end in just friends. And you guys did come into the diner together."
"We ran into each other at the bookstore. It wasn't a big deal."
"I didn't see any books."
"So?"
"So, you have never gone in a bookstore and not bought anything."
She pulled into the Inn parking lot. "We'll for your information I did buy a few books. They're in the back seat."
Lorelai turned around to look. "There's nothing back there"
"What?" Rory looked behind her. "Oh, right. We stopped at the house. They're on my bed."
She smirked. "Was Jess on your bed?"
"Please get out of my car."
"I'm just kidding." She got out of the car then leaned down to look at Rory. "Sort of."
"Bye Mom."
"Bye kid."
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"Luke's"
"Hi, this is Sissy. I'm looking for Butch Danes."
"Wow, two years later, and it's still not funny."
"Only from your angle. So what'd you want to talk to me about?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?"
"I was thinking that we'd go out."
"Oh, Luke. I can't tonight. I have to work. I'm sorry. Tomorrow?"
"I have an early delivery on Sunday."
"Sunday night?"
"Sounds good."
She smiled. "Great."
"Hey, I got customers so I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
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Jess was looking through his bag, for something to read, when he came across a folded-up piece of paper. He looked at and sighed. Now or never. He got up and walked downstairs. "Hey, Luke? Are you busy?"
He looked up from where he was wiping the counter. "What's up?"
"I need to show you something."
The bell above the door rang, signaling Rory's entrance. "Luke, can I get some coffee to go?"
"Yea, one sec." He turned to his nephew. "What's up Jess?"
He handed Luke a piece of paper. "Here."
He unfolded it and smiled. "Wow. When did this happen?" He handed it back to Jess.
"When I was in California, I quickly learned that anything is better than spending everyday with Jimmy."
Rory looked at the two of them confused. "I wanna know." She pouted.
Jess handed her the paper. "Oh my God." She said, looking it over. "This is great." She walked behind the counter and hugged Jess. "I'm so proud of you."
"Me too." Luke rubbed Jess's head. "My little graduate."
He took a step away from Luke. "Knock it off."
"Hey, it's not everyday you come home with a high school diploma. We should celebrate. We're going out to dinner tonight."
"Wonderful."
"Rory, you can come with us if you want."
"Actually, I have Friday Night Dinner. But we are definitely celebrating tomorrow. If it's okay with you."
"Of course. You can have him all day."
"Great. Can you have him ready by eight?"
"Whoa." Jess said. "Eight o'clock in the morning. You don't even get up at eight on Saturdays."
"Well, I am tomorrow. Just for you."
"I feel so special."
"You should." She smiled at him. "Now if I could get some coffee, I'll be on my way."
"Right. Sorry." Luke said, grabbing a to-go cup and the coffee pot. He filled her cup and snapped the lid on. "Here ya go."
"Thanks." She pinched Jess's cheek. "I'm so proud of you." She said before heading out to her car.
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Luke leaned on the counter listening to Lorelai talk about Michel's trip to California.
"…and he won like 100 thousand dollars in prizes, but all I got was a smog globe. I mean it's not like it even gets that smoggy. How unfair is that?"
"I can not imagine Michel on The Price is Right."
"I have the video back at the Inn. We'll watch it sometime." She pushed her plate to the side. "Hit me with the pie."
"What pie?"
"The boysenberry pie."
"We're out of boysenberry pie."
"How can you be out of boysenberry pie?"
"Because someone ordered the last piece."
"But I specifically asked you to save me a piece of boysenberry pie."
"Uh, no you didn't."
"Uh, yes I did."
"When?"
"I left you a message."
"I never got a message."
"I left it on your cell phone."
"Oh, is that what that annoying beeping sound was?"
"Yes. It was telling you that your girlfriend called and asked you to save her some pie."
"Well, I don't know how to use the voicemail."
She laughed. "You don't?"
"Or anything else on this stupid thing. I know how to make a call and answer a call and then I'm out".
"Give me that. You have got to learn how to use this thing because it is very powerful and wonderful, and it will change your life." She took his phone and started pressing buttons.
"What are you doing?"
"I am putting my number on speed-dial, so all you have to do is press one, see, like I'm number one." She raised her hand in the air and held up one finger. And then…" Her cell phone started to ring. "…oh, I wonder who that could be?" She pulled it out of her purse and answered it. "Hello?"
"Give me." He took his phone back from Lorelai and talked into it. "No cell phones in the diner." He hung up and put the phone in his pocket.
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Jess walked downstairs and saw Luke putting the chairs on the tables. "What are you doing?"
Luke looked up at him. "Cleaning up."
"Why are we closing so early?"
"Because we're going out to dinner."
"You're serious? Aren't you doing something with Lorelai tonight?"
"She has to work."
"I'm your replacement date?" He said, pretending to be appalled.
"Jess."
"I don't put out on the first date, so don't get any ideas."
Luke grabbed his arm and pushed him out the door. "Let's go." He turned the lights off and followed Jess to the truck.
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Rory was driving to her grandparents' when her cell phone started ringing. She looked at the caller ID and answered it. "Hey Mom."
"Hey. How would you feel about doing a little shopping tomorrow?"
"Hurt. Confused. A little dirty."
"I need to get a new getting-back-together-with-Luke dress for my back-together-with-Luke date."
"Oh, crap. It would have to be before eight"
"Not a problem."
"In the morning."
"Well, maybe a little problem. What's going on tomorrow?"
"I'm supposed to spend the day with Jess. He got his GED when he was in California so Luke's taking him out to dinner to celebrate, and I told him since I couldn't go with them today, we'd do something tomorrow. But I'm totally free all day Sunday. We can go shopping all day until your date."
"Alright. I guess we can shop on Sunday. So why couldn't you go tonight?"
"Mom."
"What? Are you driving? Sounds like you're driving."
"I am driving."
"You are? Where are you going?"
"You know where I'm going, Mom."
"Disneyland?"
"Nope."
"Puppy world?"
"You're so immature. You're going to make me say it?"
"Say what?"
She sighed. "I am on my way to Friday night dinner."
"Ah-ha-ha! That's right. You're on the road to Hellville."
"Do not gloat."
"I'm not gloating. I'm gloating with hand gestures."
"Bye."
"And a little soft shoe."
"Got to go."
"Listen, enjoy your glazed woodcock with a side of truffled goose head."
"Oh, what a shame, I'm here."
"You are not."
"See you tomorrow."
"Oh, Rory, wait. I'm gloating with jazz hands."
"Bye, Mom."
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Jess shot Luke a glare when he saw where they where. "Why are you doing this to me?"
"I just wanna show you off a little. And tomorrow I'm gonna go buy a frame so I can hang your diploma up in the diner. I'm thinking next to the dancing pork chop."
"I hate you."
"C'mon." He pulled Jess through the back door of the Dragonfly, into the kitchen. "Hey, Sookie." He called.
"Luke?" She walked over to where she could see them. "Hey. Lorelai's at the desk."
"Actually, I wanted to know if you had any free tables tonight."
"Oh, yea. I think so. What's the occasion?"
"We're on a date." Jess said.
"Jess got his GED. We're celebrating."
"Oh, that's great. Congratulations."
Jess nodded. "Yea."
"Okay, so just go out front. Tell Lorelai or Michel you need a table. I'm making you guys a special dinner."
Luke thanked her as he and Jess headed towards the lobby.
"Hey." Lorelai said when she saw them walk out of the kitchen.
"Hey." Luke kissed her quickly.
"I can't believe you just did that." Jess said. "I should walk out of here right now."
"Huh?" Lorelai asked.
Luke shook his head. "He thinks we're on a date."
"Oh. Of course." Suddenly her face lit up. "Ooh. C'mere." She ran over to the desk. "Close your eyes." She told Jess.
"Why?"
"Just do it."
He hesitantly did what he was told.
Lorelai grabbed something from behind the desk than walked back over to Jess. "I wasn't gonna give you this till tomorrow but I guess since you're here now…" She gave him the present then turned him so he was facing the mirror. "Okay."
He opened his eyes. "Oh my God." On his head was a graduation cap with a ton of shiny ribbon sticking out of the top. "I am not wearing this."
"Oh yes, you are." Luke said, trying not to laugh.
"Wear it today or wear it all day tomorrow." Lorelai said. "Rory will make you wear it. So, your choice."
"Fine." He grumbled.
Lorelai grinned. "Great. So let me show you to your table." She waited until Luke and Jess started towards the dining room, before turning to Michel. "You, lots of pictures. There's a camera under the desk."
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Richard, Emily and Rory were sitting around the table waiting for the dessert to be served.
"So, Rory. What are you plans for spring break? Are you going anywhere with Paris?" Richard asked her.
"No. I'm staying in Stars Hollow this year. Last year when we went to Florida we decided the Spring Break life was not for us. So, I'm just going to hang out at home."
Emily smiled. "Well since you're not going anywhere, maybe you'd like to come have tea with me tomorrow." She looked up at Olympia as she set the dessert on the table. "Thank you, Olympia. Could you check reheating instructions for the goose?"
"Actually I have plans tomorrow. I promised my friend we'd spend the day together."
"Oh. Lane?"
"What?"
"Your friend. Is it Lane?"
"No. Well Lane is my friend, but no."
"Well, then who is it?"
"Jess."
She frowned. "Jess, your ex-boyfriend?"
Rory nodded and took a bite of her dessert. "Mmm Hmm."
"He's the one that likes books, right?" Richard asked, not noticing how tense Emily had gotten at the mention of Jess.
Rory smiled. "Yea. He's the only person I know who reads more than I do."
"Well, if you have time tomorrow, why don't you bring him over to look through my library?"
"That would be great, Grandpa. Jess would love that."
"Good. I should be home for an hour around three, but two you can stay as long as you want to. Just make sure you write down which books you take."
Rory got up and walked over to her grandfather. "Thank you." She said as she hugged him tightly.
Emily looked over at the warm smile that spread across Rory's face as she hugged Richard while she thought of how cold her granddaughter been acting towards her and had to force herself not to cry.
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Emily pushed the door shut behind Rory then turned around and leaned against it.
Richard smiled at her. "Well, that was a pleasant evening."
"Really? What dinner were you at?" She stood up and walked into the sitting room.
"Well, we weren't exactly sure she was coming, Emily."
"I was sure. I don't understand it. Why wasn't she here?" Before he had a chance to answer she spun around to face him. "And what is this thing with Jess? She can't seriously be back with him."
"Why not? He sounds like a perfectly respectable young man."
"Just because someone knows how to read, Richard, it doesn't mean they are 'perfectly respectful'. You weren't here when Rory brought him for dinner."
"I heard the story, Emily. Maybe the boy just had a bad day."
"He showed up with a black eye."
"You don't know that it was his fault."
"Why are you defending him? You don't even know him."
"No, but Rory does. And I trust her judgment. I know you don't like him Emily, but we'll lose her and Lorelai forever unless we let them make their own decisions."
"Fine." She turned and walked towards the stairs. "I'm going to bed."
