A/N: I'm so so excited as I write this chapter, I couldn't wait to get to it so I hope you like it as much as I do! This chapter is an important one too so I really hope you think its good :)

And I answered this review but am answering here now too - Rory didn't turn down the proposal from Logan at the end of season seven, she says yes after she thinks it through ;) no getting back together, that's why I call it sorta AU because that's the only canon I changed and I really should have said this sooner or put it into the fic so I apologize for that :)

"No," Rory shook her head. "You didn't."

Lorelai looked at her daughter sheepishly. "I did."

"Why?!" Rory exclaimed. "Mom, how could you?"

"Well -"

The younger woman didn't let her finish. "This is payback, isn't it? I told Grandma about your pregnancy so you're trying to force me into time with Jess, which I'm actually shocked you're doing, by the way."

"No ones more shocked than me," Lorelai pointed out. "But no. Its not payback."

"Then why?" She looked at her mother questionably. "Why did you tell him to bring Doula over and babysit Evan with me?"

"I thought it would be nice," Lorelai answered. "After what you told me -"

Rory put her head in her hands. "Please do not tell me you're doing this because I told you that?"

"You mean that you might never have fallen out of love with him?" Lorelai asked.

"Ssh," Rory lowered her voice and raised her head back up.

"He's not here," the older woman said.

"I know," she sighed. "Its just...saying it out loud -"

"I know," Lorelai mirrored her daughters words. "It's only a couple of hours. Just be with your brother, occasionally talk to Jess and see Doula. If it's un-doable, I'll tell him to forget it right now."

"Don't do that," she groaned.

"You sure?" The look on her face was wondering and curious.

"Yes," Rory nodded. "If you tell him that, he'll wonder why I don't want him there. And besides, you're right. Its only a couple of hours. It's not gonna be hard or anything."

"That's what he said," Lorelai laughed. Rory gave her a look and she stopped with a pout. "Fine. I'll be serious...for now."

Rory looked defeated. "I want to be friends with him again. Really, I do. Its just feeling this way took me by surprise."

Lorelai looked at her daughter sadly, remembering how back in high school when she had first realized her feelings for Jess, she'd denied them. She was glad Rory was openly talking to her about them now. She pushed aside that it could be Lorelai actually liked Jess now. "And you're not still mad at me for tonight?"

"I wouldn't say I was mad," she replied and turned to her mom with a small smile. "Upset, maybe. Shocked."

"Okay," Lorelai nodded. "If you say so."

Rory smiled at her. "It'll be fine. I won't make any big love confessions either...I hope."

Lorelai laughed at the look on her daughter's face. "Just don't do any karoke, okay?"

Rory got up and stood by the doorway of the upstairs apartment. "We're babysitting. Why would there be karaoke?"

"Maybe Evan will want to sing," she suggested.

"Don't yoy dare suggest that to him," she pointed her finger at her.

Lorelai held her hands up in surrender. "Promise."

She smiled again, nodding. "I'm gonna go see Lane now. The boys are gone to school and Christina is only there. Be good while I'm gone."

She turned the doorknob and Lorelai shouted, "I'm not making any promises!"

Rory laughed again as she shook her head, walking down the stairs into the diner. She could do this, she thought. She could spend a few hours with Jess and her brother and his little sister and be friends with him.

Luke smiled at her when she appeared from behind the curtain. "You leaving?"

"Just to see Lane," she nodded. "Then I'm babysitting for you tonight."

"Oh really?" He asked. "I didn't know we had plans."

"I think she's surprising you with the specifics," Rory explained. It figures Luke didn't know but she was also a little thankful for it.

Luke looked at her suspiciously. His eyes showed he knew something was up but he said nothing. "Okay. Have fun tonight, then."

"You, too," she smiled and walked outside into the nice sunny air.

Rory stuffed her hands in her pockets and began walking at an even pace to her friend's house. She saw Taylor staring at her from near the gazebo. She wasn't sure why but he had a look on his face. The one he gets before he lectures or brings up a topic no one agrees with in town meetings.

She considered walking to him but a voice behind her stopped her in her tracks. "Taylor still hates me, huh?"

Turning, Rory came face to face with Jess. She tried to ignore her heartbeat that she told her mom about on the phone and smirked her way into their usual kind of banter. "I think he's still mad about the fake dead body in front of his store."

Jess gave her his own smirk in reply. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She crossed her arms across her chest. "Funny because if I remember right, you all but admitted to doing it."

He shrugged, still smirking. "Maybe someone else wanted him to go nuts."

"You mean besides Luke?" She asked. "You two always did have that in common, you know."

"True," he agreed then decided to change the subject on her. "So did your mom tell you yet?"

"About tonight?" He nodded. "Yes, she did."

"Is it gonna be weird?" he asked. "You and me?"

"It's not weird right now," she laughed.

"Good," he nodded. She stopped laughing when he still looked serious. "Because I don't want us to be. I mean that."

"I don't want us to be, either," she replied honestly.

He nodded and stuffed his own hands in his pockets. "I'm going to Liz's now so I'll bring Doula by later."

"Sounds good," she smiled.

Jess started walking away but turned back to her. "Good luck with them, by the way."

She looked at where he meant. Taylor now had a crowd around him including Kirk, Miss Patty, Babette, Morty, Gypsy and a bunch of others. "Thanks."

"See you later, Gilmore," he smirked as he left.

She smiled. "Later, Mariano."

He put his head down, shaking it with a smile on his face. She thought it was adorable and sexy at the same time and her thoughts abruptly stopped. She couldn't be thinking anything like that if she wanted to be friends with him. The only way they can remain friendly is if they stayed on the safe side.

Interrupting her thoughts, footsteps came towards her. Rory sighed, getting ready. It wasn't Taylor as she had feared but it was Babette and Miss Patty. "Hiya, sugar."

"Hi," Rory smiled. "How are you?"

"Oh, we're fine," Miss Patty answered for both of them. "We're more concerned with how you are, young lady."

"Me?" She asked. "Why me?"

"Are you falling back into the Jess hole again?" Babette asked.

"The Jess hole?" Rory questioned.

Miss Patty nodded. "Darling, we know he's gorgeous. And he's certainly grown up very well."

"But we just want you to be safe," Babette added.

"Safe?" Rory asked. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me."

"That may seem like it now," Babette replied.

Miss Patty cut in next. "But a girl needs to make sure her heart isn't thinking for her brain."

"Or anywhere else," Babette nodded.

Rory wanted there be a hole in the ground to come and swallow her up. "There is nothing happening between me and Jess besides friendship, Babette and Miss Patty."

"Sure," Babette winked. "Whatever you say."

"We know about the sleepovers," Miss Patty told her. "You need to be careful, sweetheart."

"A man like that probably has capability to knock someone up faster than anyone else," Babette explained.

"Oh my god," Rory said. "You think -"

Babette and Miss Patty nodded. "We know, darling. You don't have to keep it from us."

"Um..." Rory definitely wanted a hole to swallow her up now. She wondered how red her face must be. "We're not sleeping together. We're really just friends."

They gave shocked expressions, mouths opening and closing. She could see thoughts forming and connecting all through the looks on both of their faces. Miss Patty spoke first. "You mean you're really not?"

"No," Rory said. "We are really not."

Babette exclaimed next, "Well, why not?"

"I thought you just said I shouldn't," Rory said confused.

"That's when we thought you were!" Babette half-yelled.

"Why aren't you?" Miss Patty asked loudly. "You're not joking with us?"

"No jokes," Rory confirmed. "We're really not."

"Why?" Miss Patty asked again.

"Because we're friends," she answered.

Babette stared at her. "So?"

Rory wanted to laugh at their insistence. "Doesn't sleeping together mean more than friends?"

"It means you're getting good sex," Miss Patty nodded. "And Jess looks like he for sure gives that."

Babette nodded while Rory wanted to run screaming away. She tried to escape right to Lane's. "I have to go."

"All right, doll," Babette said. "You'll let us know if you and he ever -"

She made a suggestive face and Rory's eyes almost popped. "Uh..."

"Babette, let the poor girl breathe," Miss Patty smiled. "If she wants to tell us, she will."

"I really do have to go," she said. They finally let her go and she walked as quickly away as possible.

...

The Christmas tree lit up the Dragonfly inn magnificently. The room was bright with festive colors and sublte decorations, all thanks to one Lorelai Gilmore. Rory looked around the room contently, smiling at the gathering of people she loved. Her mom was talking with Luke and Evan sat in her lap as they looked down at their infant son. They looked so happy which made her smile grow brighter.

Lane and Zach sat by the tree with Steve and Kwan. They looked like they were reading to their twins, probably out of a rock magazine she assumed. She was thankful that her present to them - play drums - was sealed up at home right now. Her Grandma would have a fit at hearing them play for the holiday so she was waiting for after they leave the inn.

Logan was talking to Sookie, which surprised her. Sookie was laughing about something and she wondered what. It was nice to see him getting along so well with her Stars Hollow friends and family. Jackson was nearby with Davey and Martha. Number three was asleep for a nap.

Rory walked through the other halls in the inn, smiling at the other decorations. You could tell Michel's desk from a mile away because it was the only one not decorated. Even that made her smile right now. The front door of the inn opened and she turned to see who it was. Jess walked in with an overnight bag and his leather jacket. She thought her heart stopped when he looked up and saw her.

"Hey," he said when he noticed her staring.

Rory snapped out of her daze. "Hey. Did we know you were coming?"

"No," he answered. "Luke asked. I wasn't sure."

"Oh," she nodded and walked over to Michel's room book. "That means you don't have a room."

"Nope," he answered. "Are there any? I could always just go crash at Luke's if not."

"Um..." She scanned the list. "I think there's one left."

"One will do," he nodded and took his jacket off. She watched him and turned her head away. Why was she looking at him like that?

Footsteps came walking through and she panicked at first. Then Michel came into sight and she relaxed...almost. "What is he doing here?"

"I was invited," Jess told him.

Michel looked at him. "I do not remember that."

Rory interrupted. "It was last minute."

"Fine," he looked bored and Rory moved aside so he can see his book. He wrote something in the book and grabbed a key. "Do not mess anything up."

"Okay," he smirked.

Michel walked away in a huff and Rory laughed. "Gee, do you think he remembers you?"

"Nah," Jess smiled. "Must be someone else."

She walked back to the book and snickered when she saw what he wrote. Jess walked to her and smirked when he saw it. "He wrote hoodlum as the occupant."

"I guess that's me," Jess replied.

"Not anymore," she told him honestly.

"What's going on here?" A voice asked and Rory almost jumped out of her skin. The two of them looked in the direction to see Logan standing there watching them.

"Logan," she said and moved from behind Michel's desk. "Jess just got here and we were looking at what Michel called him in the reservation."

Logan nodded and looked at Jess. "And what did he call you?"

"An old nickname," Jess just shrugged.

"Hoodlum," Rory said. "Everyone here called him it back in high school."

"How nice," Logan remarked. "Come on, Ace. Your mom is asking where you went."

She nodded and her husband put his arm around her. "Okay. Nice seeing you, Jess."

"You, too," he nodded, still standing behind Michel's desk.

Rory and Logan walked away together, his arm still slung around her. When they're far enough away from both Jess and the party, he asks, "What's he doing here?"

"Luke invited him," she states. "He is his nephew."

"And trust me, I know that," Logan almost growled.

Rory stopped walking and went to face him as they talked. "What does that mean?"

Logan scoffed. "It means I know he's family. You don't have to remind me."

"What? You have a problem with Luke now, too?" She asked sarcastically.

He shook his head. "Not Luke. Just his...family."

"So, Liz too?" She asked. "TJ? Doula? Or is it just Jess?"

"Rory..."

"I thought you'd be over this," she sighed. "We're married. I love you. Do you really have to do this?"

"Do what?" He snapped. "Dislike a guy my wife used to date and still has in her life? Or how about this - the guy my wife idolizes?"

She shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No?" He asked. "So his books - you don't take them everywhere you go?"

"I don't," she said. How did he know The Subsect was in her luggage at her Mons house right now?

"Uh-huh," he said. "Right."

She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time since he interrupted. "You've been drinking, haven't you?"

"Only a little," he replied. "Don't change the subject."

"Logan," she sighed. "You need to get over this. I'm with you, not Jess. I can't believe you're even doing this right now. Especially after this morning."

His expression changed into a much softer one. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Logan wrapped one arm around her, his palm on her back. The other went to her stomach and he smiled. "We're gonna be a family. You, me and baby."

"I love you," he said and kissed Rory lightly on the lips. "I'm sorry."

"I love you, too," she smiled.

...

After Jess left Liz's, it was about five pm. Lorelai said to be at the apartment around six so he took his little sister to the park across from the diner. She pulled on his sleeve. "Push me on the swing!"

"Okay," he laughed. "Get on!"

Doula climbed on the swing, smiling widely. "Ready!"

"You do know you're eight right?" He asked from behind her. "You could push yourself."

"It's more fun with you," she replied.

He smiled a genuine smile and stood behind her. "Ready to go?"

"I told you I was!" She laughed and held onto the metal handles of the swing.

Jess started pushing her and at one point he actually tried getting Doula to push him. She laughed and told him, "You're too heavy!"

When enough time had passed, Jess grabbed his sister's hand and they walked together to the diner. He unlocked it with the same key he usually would go in there with when he was a teenager. Lorelai and Luke were still upstairs with Rory and Evan when he got up there. Luke gave Doula a hug when they entered.

"I get to stay here, Uncle Luke?" She asked.

Jess smirked at the nickname. Luke glared at him. "Yeah, you do. You're staying with your cousin."

"Rory?" She asked. Rory almost choked at hearing it said that she's Jess' sister's cousin.

"Evan," Luke corrected. "But Rory will be here, too. And your brother."

"Where are you going, Mommy?" Evan asked.

Lorelai looked down at her son and ruffled his hair. "A very special place me and Dad haven't been to in a while."

She looked over at Luke with a smile. Rory smiled seeing the two of them look so in love and Jess coughed. "Maybe the lovebirds should head out to dinner before all of us feel like a third wheel."

"You're right," Luke said. "Partly."

The two of them said goodbye to everyone and as Lorelai walked out, she gave Rory a look and mouthed 'No karoke.' She was glad no one else noticed the exchange.

Once they were gone and out of the diner's sight, Jess turned to the three of them. "So...what should we do?"

...

Jess was left alone in the inn's entrance, looking at where Rory and her husband had disappeared to. He would never understand why she actually married him or more so, why she was still with him. He left from behind the desk and caught a glimpse of them huddled far from everyone and it looked...intimate. He urged his eyes away and walked to find Luke or Liz.

Liz caught him first and hugged him tightly to her. "Here's my baby boy!"

"I'm not a baby anymore, Liz," he said but it was no use. She still held him to her.

"I thought you weren't gonna make it," Luke said.

Jess used his uncle's presence as reason to get out of his mother's hug and hugged Luke instead. "I almost didn't. Matt and Chris were driving me nuts."

Lorelai laughed. She held Evan in her arms and leaned in to give Jess a short hug. "Can't be worse than them."

He looked to where she pointed to and saw Rory's grandmother standing there with her husband. He laughed. "Possibly true."

"Did you get a room?" Luke asked.

Liz got excited. "Please tell me you're staying for Christmas!"

"I am," Jess nodded. "But not long after."

"As long as I get a holiday with my son," she replied. "I'm gonna go get TJ and Doula!"

Luke rolled his eyes at his sister and took Evan to get changed. Lorelai smiled after her husband and before she could turn to go, Jess touched her shoulder.

"Is everything all right with Rory?" He asked.

"Yeah," she nodded then panicked. "Why?"

"Its nothing," he shrugged.

She still looked worried. "No, what is it?"

"I saw her when I came," he explained. "Then Logan came. And I don't know, something seemed different when I saw them talking."

"Different how?" She questioned.

Jess was quiet for a second. "Its probably nothing. I'm probably reading into it. Don't even listen to me."

He started to walk away but now she touched his arm. "Jess. If something is wrong with my daughter, you have to tell me."

"Then you'd have to ask her," he answered. "Because unfortunately, me and her don't talk much anymore so if something is wrong, I'm the last person she'd tell."

"Okay," she said, defeated. She let him walk away this time. Jess went outside and stared at the cigeratte pack in his pocket. He threw it down into the snow and sighed. He promised her he'd quit, even now he would keep that promise. With one last sigh, Jess walked back inside to celebrate with the people of Stars Hollow.

A/N: and what do you think? A new discovery about RL too, right? We're finally going to dig into their marriage and ending by the way and I'm kind of excited to write that since they got past the show stuff so it's got to be interesting. And next chapter is the babysitting! I'm really excited to write that too :) I hope you liked this and I'm gonna try to get another up asap! Thanks for reading, reviewing, following and favoriting!