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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rory and Lorelai were sitting on the couch a little before nine, waiting for Jess to get there. "I'm nervous." Rory said, fidgeting with her purse. "Is that crazy? I mean I've been on a date with Jess before."

"Well, it's been a long time for you guys." Lorelai said. "It's okay to be a little nervous. I was nervous during my first date with Luke after we got back together. And we were only broken up for two weeks."

"So not crazy?"

"No. I bet he'll be nervous too."

"When have you ever seen Jess nervous?"

"Well…never." She lied.

"You saw nervous Jess? When?"

She grabbed Rory's hand. "It was after the wedding thing. We'll talk about it when you get home tonight. Or in the morning. Or the afternoon. Or tomorrow night. Or-"

"Mom. Stop."

"Sorry. Just trying to be 'cool mom'. I'll stop."

"Thank you."

They heard a car pull up and Lorelai jumped off the couch and went to the window. "It's him." She told Rory. "You ready?"

"Hair. How's my hair?"

"Good. Hair's good. Make-up's good. Girl's perfect."

Rory nodded and stood up. "Let's hope Jess agrees."

There was a knock on the door and Lorelai grabbed Rory. "Go upstairs."

"Okay…why?"

"You don't want him to think you were waiting for him."

"Right. Okay."

Lorelai waited until Rory was out of sight before going to the door and pulling it open. "Jess. What are you doing here?"

"I…Rory…we're going out. Did she not tell you?" He asked, sounding upset.

"Jess, I'm kidding. She's upstairs. Come on in. I'll go get her."

He nodded and followed her inside. "Thanks."

She ran up the stairs calling her daughter's name until she saw her at the end of the hall. "Hey."

"So?"

"He's totally nervous. He thought you didn't tell me about the date."

"Why would he think that?"

"Cause I pretended I didn't know about the date."

"Mom."

"Hey, I gotta torture him a little. We need to ease into the whole not completely despising each other thing."

"Oh yea. Reputations. I forgot. Can I go downstairs now?"

"Give it another minute." Rory shot her a look so she relented. "Fine. Go date. I'll be here…all alone."

"Until Luke gets here."

"Yes, then we're gonna-"

Rory clapped a hand over her mother's mouth. "Don't say it. I'm gonna take my hand away and you're not gonna say anything. Okay?" Lorelai nodded so she pulled her hand back. "Now I'm gonna go downstairs and you will not yell anything dirty. Understand?" Another nod. "Good. Now say bye to your favorite daughter."

"Okay. Send her up before you leave."

"You're so funny."

Lorelai smiled and kissed Rory's forehead. "Bye, kid. Have fun. Love you. And I don't want any late night calls from the hospital."

"What if there's a furry thing?"

"Kill it."

"You're cruel."

"I know. Now get downstairs. Your date's waiting."

She hugged her mother quickly before running down the stairs. "Bye Mom."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jess stopped his car in front of a pizza place in Hartford and turned to Rory. "Is this okay? Pizza?"

"Are you seriously asking me if pizza's okay? You do remember me right? Rory? Rory Gilmore? Daughter of Lorelai Gilmore? Ringing any bells?"

"So pizza it is." He got out of the car and waited for her to follow. "Don't know what I was thinking."

"Momentary insanity." She decided, as she walked over to him.

He reached out and took her hand in his. "That must be it." He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.

She stepped in front of him and smiled. "I'm glad we're here."

"At the pizza place?"

"No. I'm being sappy. Just go with it."

"Sorry." He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Me too. I missed you."

She smiled and pulled him towards the restaurant. "I kinda figured." She teased.

"Oh yea?"

"Well, you came to my grandparents wedding and I doubt it was for the nice atmosphere. Or because you were invited." She opened the door and they walked inside, both smiling.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"No."

"No?" She narrowed her eyes. "You can't say no."

"Why not?" Jess asked as he took a sip of Rory's milkshake.

"Because you said you didn't want to be Lorelai and that you weren't helping. That means you can't say no."

"You're just doing this because you know I can't stand her."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"The Uncharted Forest? That's from an Ayn Rand book. That woman is insane."

"Cause when you think Ernest Hemingway you think normal. You said I could name it and that is what I'm naming it. So there." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Oh, very mature. Isn't Yale supposed to make you grow up? You know, prepare you for the real world." He teased.

"Nothing can erase eighteen years with Lorelai Gilmore. For example, right now I really need some coffee." She nodded. "It's a fate I've accepted."

"Well, I just happen to have a thermos full of Luke's coffee in the car."

Rory smiled. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

"Oh, I see how it is. I'm just your supplier."

"Damn. I was hoping you wouldn't figure it out."

"Hmm." He said as he stood up. "I was gonna let you have that coffee, but now…"

"Jess." She whined.

"Rory." He said in the same tone.

She got up and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Please. I promise I don't like you just for your coffee." She pouted.

He smiled and was about to kiss her forehead but suddenly she jumped back. "What?"

She held up his keys and waved them in front of her. "Ha."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Now who's the cheater?"

"That would be me."

"Fine. Go have your coffee. I need to go pay for your food."

"Okay" She leaned forward and kissed him, making sure to hold the keys where he couldn't reach them. "I'll meet you in the car."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lorelai was sitting on the front steps of her house bored out of her mind. Luke had called fifteen minutes after Rory and Jess left to tell her that a big group of tourists just walked in for dinner and that he would be late. He'd apologized profusely, but she told him it was okay, that she'd find something to do, but after ten minutes of watching television she got bored and wandered onto the porch.

"Hey, sugar." Babette said as she walked over, about an hour later.

Lorelai looked up from her beer and smiled. "Hey Babette." She moved over so she could sit down. "What's up?"

"Me and Morey saw ya sittin' all alone out here. You okay, sugar?"

"Yea. I'm just bored. Rory's out with Jess. And Luke has to work late."

"What else is botherin' you?"

"I…I'm an awful person." She put her head in her hands and sighed. "I don't know what Luke sees in me."

"Oh, baby. What are you talkin' about?"

She looked up at Babette. "We were talking about Rachel earlier today…me and Luke…and he said she left because she knew he had feelings for me. And I was just thinking that…I knew too. But then I got engaged and practically paraded it in front of him. And there was Christopher, and Alex, and Jason. Oh, and we can't forget about that guy from my business class. And through all of that, no matter how much I hurt him, Luke was there for me and Rory. God, I hurt him so much, but if we needed him, he was there. Remember when Rory had the chicken pox and for a week she would only eat mashed potatoes? He brought them over every day. Middle of the lunch rush, he stopped what he was doing and walked the potatoes over. And when I got engaged, he built me a chuppah. It must have killed him, but he just wanted me to be happy. And he taught me how to fish, and he helped me and Rory move her stuff into her dorm, and that stupid mattress, and he invested in the inn when I ran out of money, and he fixed our porch and our roof…and what have I ever done for him?"

"Sugar, you really don't know?" Babette smiled at her. "You woke him up."

"What?"

"Luke was really close to his dad, ya know. So it was really hard on him when he got sick. And after he died, Luke kinda shut down. Liz and Rachel were both gone, and he had to deal with all of it by him self. Poor kid was too young to deal with that on his own."

"Babette." Lorelai said, trying to get her back to the point.

"Sorry, sugar. So, Luke stopped living when Will died. He went on auto pilot. He got up, did what he had to at the diner, then went to bed. He was grumpy all the time. He didn't smile, he barely even talked to his customers. But then one day this girl showed up, and I don't know what she said to him, but when she left he went to the window and watched her until she was out of sight. And the whole time he watched her, he had a huge smile on his face. For a while, the only time he smiled was when you came in, and then Rory could do it too. And all of a sudden he was smiling and laughing again and he was going to town meetings and yellin' at Taylor and he was just happy. And it was because of you. I don't know how you did it, baby, but you gave him a reason to live again."

"Wow." She wiped tears from her eyes and breathed out. "I told Rory that he was the one."

Before Babette could reply, Luke's truck pulled up in the driveway, and he got out. "Hey." He greeted them.

Lorelai smiled at him and Babette stood up. "I need to get home. Morey's gonna play for me."

"Night Babette." Luke called as she started across the yard.

Lorelai looked at her then at Luke. "I'll be right back." She ran towards Babette and stopped her before she got to her house. "Do you think we could keep all that between us for now? I don't want Luke to hear what I said from someone else."

As much as she loved to gossip, Babette knew where to draw the line, so she nodded. "Of course. I'll see you tomorrow sugar."

Lorelai hugged her and smiled. "Good night." She said before walking back to Luke.

"What was all that about?" He asked as he walked up the front steps.

She shrugged and followed him into the house. "Babette thought she'd keep me company while I was waiting for you."

When they got to the living room he nodded and turned towards her. "You hungry?"

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Uh-uh. I already ate."

"Thank God." He backed up until he felt the couch behind him then let himself fall backwards, taking Lorelai with him.

"Tired, baby?" She asked as she ran her fingers over his face.

"Mmmm." His eyes drifted shut and he mumbled something about hating tourists.

Lorelai laid her head on his chest then reached down to lace her fingers with his. "I told Babette all the things you did for me and Rory, like with the mashed potatoes and the chuppah and the Yale mattress." She saw a faint smile cross his face when she mentioned the mattress and brushed her lips against his before continuing. "And I was wondering, what do you get out of this?"

His eyes shot open and he sat up a little. "Lorelai…"

"I mean, you're amazing for putting up with me and all my baggage, but why would you ever want to be with me?"

He tangled his hand in her hair and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "Where is this coming from?"

She tore her eyes from his and ran her hand down his chest. "I don't know. I've just been thinking about it since…"

"Since we broke up. Lorelai, I thought we got past this."

"So did I. But since this morning when you said that Rachel knew how you felt about me almost five years ago, I've been wondering why you would ever want me. I'm horrible. I ignored every sign you gave me for eight-"

He pulled her head down and crushed his lips against her. "Lorelai, baby." He whispered. "Don't do this to yourself. You are an extraordinary woman and an incredible mother, and I don't know what I would do without you in my life. I was a wreck after we broke up. And I know you were just kidding when you said I was lost without you, but I really was." He reached up and brushed a few stray tears off her cheeks. "You saw the CD."

She rested her forehead on his chest for a second then looked up and beamed at him. "Thank you"

"Every word of that was true."

"You called me baby."

"I know."

"And what are the odds of you calling me that in public?"

"Don't push it." He put his hands on her hips then slid them around to her back where he started tracing circles with his fingertips.

She reached up to turn the light off then laid back down on his chest. "Mmm, tired."

"Go to sleep, baby." He said deliberately.

She let out a soft giggle. "Night, Luke."

He continued moving his fingers and kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight."

"Oh, by the way, I told Rory that we were gonna have sex before her and Jess got home, so we're gonna need to do that later."

"Okay."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Rory!" Lane yelled when she saw her and Jess walk into the club they were playing.

"Lane!" She ran over to the stage, pulling Jess behind her.

"Hey." Lane leaned down to hug her best friend. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Well, it was actually Jess's idea, but I haven't been to one of your shows in forever so…"

She looked over at Jess then back at Rory. "Oh my God. Are you on a date?"

Rory didn't get a chance to answer, as Zach ran over and grabbed Lane's arm. "Where the hell is Brian? We have to go on in twenty minutes."

Umm, I think he's outside, waiting for his parents."

"Hi Zach." Rory called. "How are you doing?"

"Are you enjoying this? Do you think this is funny? Twenty minutes." With that, he stormed off to find Brian.

"He seems a little stressed." Rory commented.

Lane shrugged. "He gets like this before shows. Being late because your bassist is waiting for his parents is not rock and roll. Now if we were late because our bassist was scoring in the bathroom, which we have all given up on, that would be rock and roll."

"Huh. I'll have to get Zach to explain all that to me sometime."

"Oh, yea. It's potentially very interesting. Probably not logical, but interesting."

She nodded. "Sounds very rock and roll."

"And very Zach."

"What's the difference?"

Zach walked onto the stage again dragging Brian with him. "I don't care if they told you to wait outside. Your parents know what a door looks like. They can figure it out." He looked at Lane. "Sixteen minutes. Go set up." And then he was gone again.

Lane looked back and Rory and shook her head. "I really don't see one."

"You better go set up before Zach gives himself a stroke."

"Yea, I'll see you guys after the show." She waved then went over to her drums, stopping to pat Brian's shoulder on the way by.

Rory watched Zach run across the stage again then turned back to Jess. "You're very quiet."

"Didn't want to intrude on…whatever the hell that was. I don't remember Zach being so…"

"Kirk." She supplied.

"Yes. I don't remember him being so Kirk-ish."

She grinned and leaned against the wall behind her. "I've heard that Kirkism is contagious. It's supposedly really bad in the Pacific."

"Yea, Jerry Lewis had a telethon for that the other night."

She nodded and poked him in the chest. "I like you."

"I've heard rumors. In fact, I heard that you might want to go again on Saturday."

"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves? This date isn't even over yet. I mean, for all I know you could hate Almost Famous, or be an awful kisser."

He leaned down to kiss her but she stopped him before his lips reached hers. "Uh-uh. You don't get to kiss me until the end of the date."

He sighed and leaned his head against hers. "You know I already kissed you."

"That was pre-date. It doesn't count."

"You are impossible."

She grinned. "But that's why you love me."

He wrapped his arms loosely around her waist and kissed her temple. "Mmm-hmm." Knowing it wasn't the time or place to get into that, he pulled back and grabbed her hand. "C'mon. I'll buy you a drink."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the show ended, Rory and Jess talked to the band for ten minutes about how great the concert was, then said there goodbyes and left. Of course, not before Lane had convinced them both to buy a Hep Alien shirt.

Rory looked at the t-shirt as they headed back towards Stars Hollow. "Ya know," She said to Jess. "I have about twenty more of these in my closet."

"You should give them to people at Yale. I'm sure the band would appreciate the publicity."

"I just…she's my best friend. I have to support them. So now I have collection of shirts, most of which aren't even my size."

He glanced at her for a second then looked back at the road and laughed. "There are less expensive ways to support the band."

"Yea." She smiled. "It is kinda stupid." She yawned and leaned her head on Jess's shoulder. "Mmm. What time is it?"

"About one-thirty. We should be back home by two."

"Okay." She reached down to intertwine their fingers. "Wake me up when we get there."

He waited until he was sure she was asleep before lifting her hand to his lips. "I love you, Rory."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I would like to thank Krista for suggesting the name The Uncharted Forest.