A/N: This is nothing like the plan I originally had for the title. It was supposed to be all the next gen kids interacting at a young age, and then suddenly it was all of their parents instead, but the central theme remains the same. I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

17. Respect the Family - 4th December 2012

"Mom, what are you doing here?" asked Rory as she came face to face with Lorelai outside of the school.

"We got called in for a meeting with the principal," she explained, gesturing to Luke who was a pace behind her. "How about you guys?"

"Same thing," Jess told her. "Mrs R has the kids."

"We just dropped Billy off with her too."

"That's gonna be a handful," Rory said, considering the situation.

"You're not kidding," said Lane as she approached, her hand clasped in Zach's own. "We just tried to drop the twins off there, but she was kind of over-run so we left them with Mama Kim at the antique store."

"Is it, like, Parent-Teacher Night and nobody gave us any warning or what?" asked Zach curiously. "Because this is starting to get weird."

"Maybe we should head on in, see what's happening," suggested Lorelai, pushing open the door.

The next surprise was coming across Sookie and Jackson in the waiting area outside the principal's office, as another round of 'what are you doing here?' ensued. Thankfully, Davey, Martha, and Jaime had been left in the capable hands of Tobin, so Mrs R should still be alive when all this was over!

"We're gonna be asked to form some dumb committee, aren't we?" said Luke, running a hand over his face.

"Geez, I hope not." Jess rolled his eyes.

"Well, I can't imagine why we all need to be here, and without the kids," Rory considered. "It's so weird."

The door to the principal's office opened then and Mr Davies stepped out to greet them all. He thanked them for coming and then asked that they follow him to the gym.

"It's just, my office isn't quite large enough to accommodate everybody."

The adults, in all their pairs, followed on down the hallway and were soon gathered together in the gym, all perched awkwardly on chairs meant for children, which was just so much fun - not! Naturally, Principal Davies had a 'grown up' chair because that was just the way these things worked.

"So, first, I'd like to thank you all for coming," he said, smiling widely. "I have no doubt you can guess why you're gathered here?"

"Not a clue," said Lorelai, speaking for everyone. "I mean, we all have kids at your school and we're all kind of related, but that's not really a reason for us all being called here like this, right?"

"Actually, it is," Principal Davies explained, smile starting to slip now. "The fact of the matter is, your children, whilst all fine individuals and generally good students in class, they are... they are a very close-knit little community."

"They're family," said Jess with a look. "Some of them literally by blood."

"And those that aren't are just as included in the group," Rory insisted.

"It's how we raised them," said Lane. "We want them to be close."

"That is all very well, Mrs Van Gerbig, Mr and Mrs Mariano," he said to each of them, "but you must understand the impact this is having on the rest of the school."

"Impact?" echoed Sookie. "There's an impact?"

"Yes, in so far as your children are banding together in such a way as to make others feel... and I'm sure it's unintentional, really, but others feel almost inferior."

"Hold on a second," said Jackson, shaking his head. "You're saying our kids are giving other kids an inferiority complex by being so close? That's ridiculous!"

"Actually, it isn't," Principal Davies insisted. "But that's not the main problem. A group of friends and family this large, that extends across multiple grades, it can cause other issues. In fact, it already has."

"Jackson's right, this is ridiculous." Luke rolled his eyes. "There's no way it matters to your little school who is friends with who. That's crazy."

"I assure you, Mr Danes, it is not at all crazy," the Principal continued. "Why, just today we had an incident with all of the children forming what can only be described as a posse to go and confront another group of children who had upset one of their own."

"One of their own?" Jess echoed. "You're making our kids sounds like the Mafia."

"Hey, don't stop him now, that's actually kinda cool," said Lorelai with a smirk. "You think Billy's the Don?" she asked Luke then.

"Nah, it'd be Davey, he's the eldest."

"Really?" said Sookie, grinning wide. "You think my Davey is in charge?"

"Well, he is the eldest, kind of the patriarch of the clan," Jackson considered.

"I don't know, Jack always seem to take charge of things when they're together," considered Lane. "He's just that kind of kid, I guess. I know Steve wouldn't put himself forward to run a mob-like organisation."

"And Kwan only wants the lead if it's a rock band." Zach shrugged. "He's not the Marlon Brando type."

"That's true." Rory nodded.

"Please, please, parents!" Principal Davies called for their attention. "Please can we concentrate on this very serious issue."

"Oh, come on," said Luke, sighing dramatically. "You're talking about a bunch of kids, ages five through nine. Are you really trying to tell us that they're creating Little Italy in your playground at recess?"

"They may as well be," the Principal insisted. "And do you know what this latest situation was over? I'll tell you. Eight of your children confronted two others with threats and intimidation, merely because the pair in question had told the youngest of their 'gang' that Santa Claus does not exist."

"Oh, no!" Rory gasped, hand covering her mouth. "Oh, poor Tori. No wonder she looked so shaken up when I picked her up today, and she wouldn't tell me why."

"The little ass-clowns in this school!" Luke exclaimed. "I swear to God-"

"Calm down, honey," Lorelai urged him. "You're gonna give yourself a seizure over Santa Claus here."

"It's the principle of the thing, Lorelai, and I don't mean this guy," her husband told her, hiking his thumb towards Mr Davies with no lack of derision in his tone. "Tori was always so excited about Santa. She is barely five years old, we had all the other kids keeping their big mouths shut so she got one more magical Christmas and now some little idiots have ruined that."

"Well, that's not really the issue here," said Principal Davies, immediately wishing he hadn't opened his mouth when eight pairs of eyes glared at him. "I mean-"

"What you mean is that you called us here to tell us that our kids have been standing up for each other's rights and you don't like it," said Jackson, getting to his feet. "Well, I for one support the rights of my children to be good friends and decent human beings. It's a pity the other kids in your school aren't more like ours. Come on, Sookie, we're leaving."

"I'm with you, honey," his wife agreed, getting up and taking his hand as they turned to leave.

"This is the dumbest thing I ever heard," said Luke, getting up to leave also. "I'm leaving too."

"Right behind you," Lorelai agreed.

"Us too," said Rory, following them out, with Jess right beside her.

"Wait up!" called Lane as she and Zach headed for the door too.

Principal Davies tried to call to them all, but nobody turned back. It seemed the parents were as closely tied in thoughts and opinions as the children, and he hadn't a clue what he was supposed to do about it.

Out in the hall, the four couples talked animatedly about what just happened. They were all headed towards the doors to leave when suddenly Liz and TJ walked in, asking what was happening.

"You missed the world's most ridiculous parent-teacher meeting," Luke told his sister and brother-in-law. "Apparently, our kids are terrible people for standing up for each other."

"Oh, is this about the Santa thing?" asked Liz. "Doula just got done telling us about it. Poor Tori, is she heartbroken?"

"She's upset," Rory admitted, "but she'll get over it, I guess."

"That's not the point." TJ shook his head. "I'd like to knock those little monsters into next Thursday for being so mean."

"Yeah, well, apparently, our kids are in the wrong for sticking together against the common enemy," said Sookie. "The Principal was comparing them to the Mafia! Which was actually kind of funny," said said, giggling then.

"I still think Davey should be the Don." said Jackson, putting on a Brando voice. "Respect me, respect the family."

"Hey, I'm cool with anybody being in charge, so long as my Doula doesn't get that Sophia Coppola's role. My God, wasn't she awful in that movie?"

"Amen, sister-friend!" Lorelai agreed in overdramatic fashion, holding up her hand for a high five, glad when Liz didn't leave her hanging. "Hey, what say we continue this highly entertaining conversation at the diner?" she suggested then. "All this talk of Italians is making me hungry for lasagne and ice-cream"

"Well, shouldn't we go pick up the kids first?" suggested Sookie.

"Apparently, they can take care of themselves," said Jess, smirking hard.

"I love our kids," said Rory happily. "Every single one of them."

"We do have nine of the best kids ever," Lane agreed. "Though I will admit, a meal without any of them present might be nice, just this once."

To the sound of everyone's general agreement, the group of proud parents headed for the diner, not giving Principal Davies another thought.

A/N2: Next episode will be the last, and then I think it might be time to call it a day with this 'verse, at least for a while :)