AUTHOR'S NOTE: I am definitely not going to tease you guys. This chapter is going to be pretty intense. It'll be long, because that's what you guys want. And Jess will meet Lori and Logan, officially. Remember, this is slight AU if you want to call it that because Jess never made that appearance in season 6. So without further ado, on with the story!
Chapter 7
Rory, Lori and Loralai walked into Luke's Diner talking a million miles per hour like they usually did when together. They came in and took their usual table waving hello's to everyone they knew. All the patrons in the diner crowded around Lori; because they knew she'd be gone for two weeks. They loved her just as much as they loved Loralai and Rory.
Rory couldn't help but feel sad at the thought that her daughter wouldn't be there in the next few hours.
"Lori", Ms. Patty was saying, "I want you to practice your dance steps while you're in California. Just because you're not here, doesn't mean you can just slack off."
"Yes Ms. Patty."
"Oh I'm going to miss you darling", she hugged the little girl.
Kirk and Lulu came by their table next. They hugged Lori Gilmore and wished her a good trip. Every one in town loved this little girl and protected her as if she were their own. Even Taylor came by and patted her on the head to wish her a safe trip. By the time Luke came around, Lori was near tears whispering to Rory she didn't want to leave.
"Baby", Rory soothed, "daddy's already on the flight to get you… everyone will still be here when you get back…"
"How about I make you your favorite food as a sort of bon voyage", Luke smiled.
"Pancakes", Lori beamed.
"Whatever you want", he insisted.
"Thanks grandpa", Lori hugged him tightly.
"Thanks Luke", Rory said.
"Yeah thanks Luke", Loralai smiled, "you know how I like my pancakes."
"You get no pancakes", Luke ordered, "you promised to start to eat healthy."
"I'll start Monday."
"Loralai…"
"But its Lori's bon voyage."
Luke glared and Loralai covered her eyes while turning to Rory.
"Is he glaring", she asked.
Rory smiled. "Yeah."
"Make him stop."
"Loralai", Luke scolded.
"Fine", Loralai sighed, "I'll have a nice grapefruit…"
"Thank you."
"You're welcome… dad…"
Loralai smiled with her comment for effect. Luke pulled back his glare and smiled at her.
"I love you", he said.
"I love you", Loralai beamed.
He kissed her gently causing Rory and Lori to gag.
"Gross", they both said simultaneously.
In that moment Jess Mariano walked down the stairs into the diner. Everyone stared at him and then at Rory; back and forth. One would have thought they were watching a tennis match. They townspeople held their collective breaths when they saw Jess walking towards Rory.
"Hey Rory", he smiled cockily.
"Hey Jess", she smiled coyly.
"How are you", he continued politely.
"Good and you", she followed his lead.
"Very good", he said looking around the diner making eye contact with a few people gathered.
"Jess, I want you to meet my daughter Lori", Rory said, "Lori this is mommy's old friend, Jess."
Lori immediately looked at Luke remembering their promise. Luke smiled and only then did she greet Jess.
"Hi", she said shyly.
"Hey", Jess greeted.
"Honey", Rory saw the exchange between her daughter and Luke and found it weird, "is there a reason you needed approval from Luke for anything…"
"No", the little girl defended.
"Loralai Emily Gilmore", Rory stressed.
Luke had walked off to another customer by then so Lori confessed.
"Ok, but please don't tell grandpa I told you", Lori said.
"Fine, now tell me", Rory said.
"I met Jess Wednesday", Lori whispered.
"Honey, is that all", Rory asked softly.
"Yes, and grandpa told me I shouldn't tell you until he did."
"I understand", Rory smiled, "now don't you think you were a bit rude to Jess."
"I'm sorry", the little girl apologized to Jess.
"It's not a problem", Jess said, "Hey if your mom says its okay do you want some ice cream? We've got cones…"
"Cones", Lori asked surprised, "grandpa never has cones…"
"Nonsense", Jess smiled at Rory, "ice cream is always better in cones, right Ror?"
"Right", Rory smiled at the memory.
"I got some last night from Doose's", Jess continued and spoke to Lori, "so you want?"
"Mommy", Lori asked.
"Sure", Rory said, "just this once because you know you can't have ice cream for breakfast."
"Yey", Lori smiled.
"Come on", Jess said, "Let's go get you some ice cream…"
The little girl grabbed Jess' hand, mostly out of habit. Rory noticed and looked at Jess to make sure it was okay. Jess smiled, so she knew it was. He and her daughter went behind the counter. Jess picked Lori up and sat her on the counter, giving her rules and telling her to be careful and not to fall. Rory smiled from her seat across the diner. If someone told her ten years ago that Jess Mariano would be bonding with her daughter she would have laughed.
Loralai was watching the entire exchange while sitting next to her daughter. She couldn't help but smile, knowing the young man in front of her was not the same boy who walked out on her daughter ten years ago.
"Its funny how things change", Loralai mentioned to Rory.
"Hmm", Rory mumbled still watching Jess interact with her daughter.
"If someone would of told me ten years ago Jess Mariano would be bonding with my granddaughter I would of laughed at them", Loralai commented.
"I was just thinking the same thing", Rory turned to her mom.
"Its weird", Loralai nodded her head.
"Definitely weird", Rory agreed, "but a good weird."
"Definitely a good weird", Loralai agreed.
For the first time ever, mother and daughter agreed about something on Jess Mariano. That did not go unnoticed by both parties.
They continued to watch the scene in front of them unfold.
Jess was telling Lori about Ayn Rand and what a political nut she was. He begged her not let her mom make her read The Fountainhead.
"I read it", Lori said.
Jess was taken aback. "How old are you", he asked.
"I'm six", she said eating her ice cream cone.
"And you read that book", he asked.
"Yeah", Lori said, "mom said it was her favorite so I tried reading it. Mom helped me. She'd read to me when I got stuck. We read it over Winter break this year."
"You're smart", Jess said, "just like your mom."
"Thank you", Lori smiled.
"You're smart too", Lori said, "You like books."
"I work with books", he told her.
"What do you do", she asked.
"I own a publishing house", he stated, "I wrote a book."
"Did people buy it", Lori asked innocently.
"Yeah", he smiled, "Weird huh?"
"Very", she said, "but good weird."
"I agree", Jess smiled.
If someone would have told him ten years ago he'd be bonding with Rory's kid he would have growled at them and told them how much he hated kids. This one wasn't bad. It was like talking to a mini Rory, and suddenly he was launched back to ten years before when Rory and he sat on the bridge talking about Rand and Hemingway.
"Do you like Ernest Hemingway", Jess asked anticipating the answer.
"I like him", Lori said, "The first book I ever read was The Old Man and the Sea."
"One of his bests", Jess stated.
"I agree", Lori said, "the way he conquered that fish is kind of how we conquer our goals and dreams in life."
"How very philosophical", Jess smiled.
Lori stared at him with a blank face. "I'm six."
"Philosophical just means that you are perceptive and you use knowledge for your wisdom. You're a smart kid, just like your mom."
"Thanks", Lori said, "Daddy says so too."
It was the first time the little girl had mentioned her father. Jess didn't want to pry, but he'd probably get the most honest response from the child sitting in front of him finishing up her ice cream cone.
"Who is your dad", he asked.
"Logan Huntzberger", Lori stated, "him and mommy broke up before I was born. But he visits a lot. He's coming to pick me up later; I'm going to California for two weeks."
"Very nice", Jess said, "I spent some time out there when I was eighteen."
"Did you like it", she asked.
"I'm not a beach kind of guy", he stated, "but it was nice."
"I know I'm going to like it", Lori said, "Daddy is taking me to Disneyland."
"Disneyland is cool", Jess said then realized how much cool points he lost with that comment. He immediately hoped no one heard him.
"It is", Lori asked.
"I took my little sister a few times when we were out there."
"Cool", Lori said, "I can't wait to go."
---
Rory was shocked that her little girl could hold the attention of Jess for this long. Back then no one could hold his attention this long, well except for her. But she definitely used different tactics. Rory looked out the window, but noticed a figure she recognized coming towards the diner. It was still too far away to see who they were so she paid no mind. It wasn't until they came closer that she noticed it was Logan Huntzberger. By then it was too late and he was already walking into the diner.
"Hey Rory, Loralai", Logan said as soon as he walked in, "where's the munchkin."
Lori heard the voice of her father and turned around, "Daddy!"
With help from Jess she was able to get off the counter. She ran into her father's arms. He picked her up and washed her with kisses.
"Logan", Rory was a little shocked, "what are you doing here… I wasn't expecting you for another couple hours…"
"I was able to get an earlier flight, and here I am."
"Great", Rory smiled awkwardly.
"I hope its okay", he said, "I just couldn't stay away a while longer from my princess."
"I missed you daddy", Lori said.
"I missed you too", he said and kissed her cheek.
"It's definitely okay. What time's your flight", Rory asked.
"Eight O'clock", Logan stated, "that gives us the day…"
"Nice", Rory said, "we were just finishing up breakfast."
"Oh I can join you", Logan was already sitting down with Lori on her lap, "I left home before sunrise and didn't eat. We both know airline food sucks."
"It does suck", Rory agreed.
"Well Logan", Loralai was tired of being ignored, "have breakfast and then we can all go to the house."
"That sounds lovely, Loralai", Logan said.
In that moment Jess came by to offer coffee.
"Coffee", he asked.
"Oh yeah thank you", Logan said without really acknowledging him.
"Dad", Lori said, "This is Jess… he's my new friend."
"Hey", Logan said.
"He and mommy used to be friends a long time ago."
"Oh yeah", Logan said smiling at Rory; "you guys date?"
"Yes", Rory answered, "we used to date."
"It's nice to meet you man", Logan stretched out his hand and shook Jess'.
"Same here", Jess said.
"Well, can I have some eggs Benedict, toast, sausage and bacon please", Logan ordered.
"Sure", Jess repeated the order back, "eggs Benedict, toast, sausage and bacon, coming right up."
Rory watched Jess for any signs of him being uncomfortable. He didn't show any, so she relaxed.
He walked off to place Logan's order with Cesar.
"So, Logan", Rory started trying to make small talk, "how was you're flight."
"Long", he said and then looked at his daughter eating her pancakes, "but completely worth it."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, the only reason why I'm updating again today is because I've had an extremely wonderful day today. My church youth group had a car wash and we raised $277 for an event we're having in January. That was so amazing and I thank God! So you guys get another chapter. This one is also a bit longer and definitely not a filler, like the last one was. Logan will not be a jerk. He'll have his jerky moments, because that was his character on the show. Very cocky and liked to throw around the fact he had money. But do not expect the same encounter between Logan and Jess, which the show gave them. That was a completely different scenario. Logan and Rory were together and he was jealous. Think of Logan as this fic's Christopher. With that said, remember reviews equal love. The more reviews I get the faster I'll update. Until next time, stay thirsty my friends…