A/N: Just an apology in advance for Sookie and Michel. I don't think I can capture them well but I'm trying! (Why are these characters too good for my writings? Lol)

I own nothing still. Besides the dvds and the majority of Alexis and Milo's careers on dvd. I also wish I owned the revival already but sadly I don't.

And MILO IS CONFIRMED FOR THE REVIVAL. Send help.

A loud knocking pounded on the door to the diner apartment. Rory awoke quickly and shook Jess out of his slumber. He made a noise and rolled over, obviously still asleep.

"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore!" Her mother shouted. "This is your wake up call!"

"What the hell?" Jess groaned as he woke up.

Rory got out of the bed and grabbed the first clothes she could find and threw them on. She noticed Jess covered his face with the blanket and heard the soft snore as he fell back asleep.

When she opened the door, Lorelai stood there in comfy clothes - sweatpants and a T-shirt and Rory let out a small laugh. "Aren't we formal today?"

"I wouldn't be talking," she said as she pointed to her daughter.

The youngest Gilmore girl looked down at her T-shirt thrown hastily over a pair of Jess' boxers. "I'm not the one who left their home like this."

"Yes, but you are," Lorelai told her. She laughed when her daughter gave her a stunned look. "Just kidding. Get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs."

"Will do," she nodded and her mother left. Rory turned back into the apartment and sat on the side of the bed Jess currently resided on. "Hey, wake up."

"I don't wanna," he muffled from under the pillow.

"I guess I'll just leave without you," Rory sighed and began to stand up when a hand grabbed her arm.

"Where are you going?" He asked and uncovered his face.

"Its Thanksgiving," she answered.

"And?" He waited.

"I told you me, my mom and Sookie are cooking," she replied.

Jess sat up. "You were serious? You and your mom are cooking? And with Sookie, the master of cooking?"

"Yes," she laughed. "Pay attention."

"You leaving now?" He wondered. "Or do we have time to just be here together?"

"We don't," she smiled regrettably. "Mom is waiting downstairs so I'm gonna take a quick shower and head out."

Jess smirked. "I can help with the shower part."

"No, you can't," Rory laughed and placed a hand on his bare chest. "That will take much longer than a quick shower."

"Fine," he pouted. "I'll just stay here. Come get me when its not 7 am."

"You're gonna stay here?" He nodded. "Naked, in this bed? And if anyone comes?"

"No one will come," he sighed and laid back down.

"Uh-huh," she nodded along. "Like Mom won't send anyone up here just to annoy you? Or send your own mom?"

His eyes widened in horror. "Fine. You win."

She laughed and jumped off the bed. In her hands came everything she wanted to wear for the day out of her bag. He watched her quietly until Rory finally noticed his eyes on her. "What?"

"Nothing," he shrugged. "Just wondering if you wearing my clothes can become a daily thing."

"Maybe when we're back in New York," her eyes sparkled.

"I'm counting on that," he grinned in return.

Rory took as quick as she could in the shower and rushed out. A towel in her hand as she dried her hair and a smile on her face as she saw Jess now wearing pajamas and holding coffee out for her.

"My god, you're perfect," she beamed as she took it from him.

"Say it a little louder," he said. "This town doesn't seem to think so yet."

"Well, that's their problem," she shrugged and drank some of the coffee. "I got to get going."

"When should I stop by?" He asked. "Before or after the firemen leave the premises?"

"Well, I'm going to the inn so if there's a fire, it will be a lot of trouble," she teased back.

Jess pulled her to him by the waist. "One more thing."

"What's that?" She raised her eyebrow.

He didn't answer. Instead, he kissed her deeply. Rory put her hands on his arms and almost as instant as it began, he pulled away. "Just something to think about while you're gone."

"Oh, trust me," Rory grinned. "I have quite the mental images from last night."

He smirked back at her and kissed her quickly. "Go on. Get out of here. I'm gonna go take a shower and I'll see you in a few hours."

"Yes, sir," she laughed and after one more quick kiss, Rory was out the door.

She came down the stairs and moved the curtain. Lorelai sat at the counter with Evan, staring longingly at her husband who held a pot of coffee. She noticed Babette and Miss Patty as well as Taylor with the reverend.

Eyes landed on her and she averted her eyes right to her mother. Lorelai looked up when Rory reached her. "Hey. You finally ready?"

"Don't say that like I took an hour," she teased. "I just had to take a shower."

Lorelai nodded suspiciously. "And a certain nephew of the diner owner didn't slow down getting ready?"

"As a matter of fact," Rory held her head up. "No, he didn't."

"Well, why not?" Miss Patty questioned from her table.

Rory's mouth dropped and she whispered to her mom. "Does she have super hearing?"

"I always hear when an attractive young man is being talked about, sweetheart," she answered.

Lorelai leaned forward and covered her son's ears. It resulted in him squatting her hands. "I'm going with yes."

"Rory?" Taylor asked.

She turned to him right as Luke handed her a coffee. She gave him a grateful smile and he smiled in return then walked away. Lorelai made a small whimper as the coffee left. "Yes?"

"You're really still seeing that young man?" He wondered and she nodded. "Oh, no."

"What is it, Taylor?" Rory asked politely.

"I had hoped Patty got it wrong," he sighed.

"What's wrong with Jess, Taylor?" Lorelai asked as she snapped out of her coffee dreams.

"Something's wrong with Jess?" Evan asked curiously of his cousin.

"Oh, where to begin," he replied when no one answered the child.

Rory shook her head. "You still think of him as that teenager he was, don't you?"

"He left quite the lasting impression," he said. "And that was the longest space of time I'd known him. He's done nothing to change the impression."

"Because he's been busy changing himself," Rory told him. "He's not some stupid kid anymore."

"That's for damn sure!" Babette nodded.

Lorelai rolled her eyes and moved to cover Evan's ears again with the same result. "And on the note of the two gossips joking in..."

"No," Rory shook her head and put her coffee down. "I have to say something."

"What's that, dear?" Miss Patty asked.

"Jess is a good guy," she started. "Yes, he made mistakes and pulled some stupid stuff back in high school. But its not who he is now."

Luke and everyone else, not only the three of them at the table paid attention. Lorelai waited and Luke handed her a cup of the decaf. She took it and made a face then proceeded to drink it.

Rory continued on. "The way I see it, if me and him can move on from the past, so should all of you. Its not like he never comes here. He did all through the years. Just accept that he's here and he's different already."

She turned to her mom who clapped. Babette joined in. "Wow."

"Now we can go," Rory told her mom and grabbed her coffee.

Taylor finally recovered from her speech. "Now, wait a moment, young lady -"

"It's a holiday," she said. "If you'd like to say something that doesn't have to do with bringing down my boyfriend, it can wait for another day."

She walked out of the diner without a second glance as Taylor sat there stunned. Lorelai stood up and grabbed her decaf and her son's hand with a smug smile. "That's my girl."

...

"There's my Rory!" Sookie crushed the young woman in question to her.

"Sookie!" Rory hugged her back just as excited. "Happy thanksgiving!"

"This is my favorite holiday!" Sookie gushed as she moved to hug Lorelai and then Evan. "We are gonna masterpiece that turkey!"

"No deep frying?" Lorelai teased, remembering a thanksgiving many years ago.

Evan looked between them. "What's deep frying, mom?"

"Something Sookie does not approve of," Rory laughed.

"Thankfully no," her best friend laughed and answered the question. "Though that patch on the lawn has finally recovered after all this time."

Rory now giggled at the memory. "What happened to his deep fryer?"

"I may have...thrown it out," Sookie said slowly.

"What?" Lorelai gasped in surprise. "Jackson loved that thing!"

"I told him it was what he had to do for me since he didn't get the vasectomy," she defended.

"How sneaky," Rory remarked.

"Speaking of vasectomies," Lorelai said and everyone turned to her, especially Evan. "Where are the kids?"

"Davey is shadowing Michel," Sookie counted off on her fingers. "Martha is in the sitting area over there. And Allie is with..."

Lorelai and Rory both noticed her hesitation. The older Gilmore wondered first. "With who?"

"You're gonna find out anyway," Sookie replied.

Rory spoke next now. "Find out what?"

Sookie led them towards the fireplace where four figures sat. Allie sat on the floor with a little boy. He looked about seven years old. Then Rory's eyes fluttered to the people in the chairs.

"What's he doing here?" Rory asked in a low voice.

"Visiting his family," Sookie explained. "He's staying here with his wife."

Lorelai crammed to see but had difficulty because Rory and Sookie were in front. "He's married again?"

Rory paled as she looked at the sight before her. She turned around quickly and walked right away. Lorelai followed and Sookie trailed behind her.

"What is it?" Lorelai asked. "Is it too weird that he's here?"

"No," she shook her head. "He has every right to be here and visit his family. Especially on a holiday of all days."

"Then what?" Sookie wondered out loud.

She sighed. "Me and Jess just got good again. Really good. Better than good."

"And?" Lorelai waited. "This is gonna mess it up?"

"No, I hope not," she paled even more if it was possible. "But it might make this day weird."

"Hon, it's not like he'll be here at dinner," Lorelai explained. "Just tell Jess and tell him they're not gonna run intp each other. Which hopefully means no one's fist runs into the other's face."

"That won't happen," she shook her head. "Will it?"

"Tell him before he sees him is my only advice," Sookie added.

Rory's face clicked with remembrance of telling someone about something. "I actually have something to tell both of you, to everyone, actually."

Lorelai's eyes widened. "In connection to -?"

"No," she shook her head. "Not at all."

"Well, let's hear it," Sookie urged.

"Dinner," Rory replied.

They nodded in agreement and Sookie whisked Rory away into the kitchen. Evan looked up at his mother, curious about the person they'd seen with allie that made Rory turn so pale. "Mommy, who was that?"

Lorelai smiled slightly at her son and patted it hair. "That, baby, was Dean."

...

"Finally," Luke groaned. "I've been waiting for you."

"Had to do my hair," he mocked his earlier days as he stepped from behind the curtain.

He rolled his eyes at his nephew. "Your mom's gonna be coming."

"Then maybe I still need to fix it," he turned to go back upstairs.

"No, you don't," Luke said. "Rory told me to make sure you don't back out of dealing with your mom and her grandmother in the same room."

"I'm not," Jess shrugged. "I'm delaying."

"How come you can deal with Jimmy but not Liz?" Luke asked him.

Jess' face turned serious. "I don't know. Maybe because Jimmy left. Because I'll never known what he would have done this time or that time where I know exactly how Liz handled everything."

Luke nodded. He understood probably as much as Jess how Liz was before TJ. "So you're coming now?"

"Soon," he nodded then added when his uncle gave him a look. "Promise."

"Okay," the older man said. "Make sure you're at the inn later though. Rory may forgive you if you run in the other direction of Emily Gilmore but I won't."

Jess smirked. "You mean you don't want to do the same thing?"

He was answered by a smirk in return before Luke headed into the diner's kitchen. Jess ran his left hand through his hair and sighed. He looked around the diner at the small amount of patrons left. He didn't recognize the faces but he was glad for that.

Jess went back upstairs and grabbed a book. He stuffed it into his back pocket like he used to and went back into the diner and out the door. Headed for the direction if the bridge, he froze mid-walk. He saw someone he didn't expect to see at all and had hoped never to again.

Dean walked with a woman by his side. She had reddish-brown hair and was tall enough that he didn't look so giant. Jess shokt his head in disbelief as he watched them walk, hands clasped together, further and further away.

His first thoughts were about what the hell Dean was doing here. Then he realized, it was a holiday and maybe his family had still been here. Jess remembered briefly the little girl who had annoyed him at the winter carnival.

Once they were out of his line of vision, he changed directions from the bridge. Instead, Jess climbed into his car and drove down to the inn. His second thought had been wondering if Rory knew.

...

Rory laughed as her mother made faces while she stuffed the turkey. Sookie had instructed them on what to do as she made a quick run for more supplies. Lorelai, however, didn't like that she had any kind of turkey duty.

"That's not what you do!" Rory laughed and went to stand beside her mother. "Here."

"You're gonna do better?" Lorelai questioned.

"Anything is better than that," she laughed still and Lorelai pouted.

"Fine," she said and sat down. "Not because I believe you because I'm seven months pregnant and sitting down sounds really nice right now."

"Upside, see?" Rory grinned as she stuck her hand in the stuffing.

Just as she got her hands covered, Michel entered the room. His face looked bored as he informed them Rory had a visitor.

"Who?" She asked.

"That author hoodlum boyfriend," Michel answered. "He insisted he see you right away even when I told him you were busy."

"Jess is here?" Lorelai asked then snickered. "How romantic!"

"Shush," Rory laughed at her mom's childishness. She wiped her hands on her apron. "Where is he?"

"Standing by my desk and probably messing everything up," he replied. "Please come take him away."

"On my way," she nodded and took the apron off.

Michel followed Rory out of the kicten and Lorelai pouted as she looked st the turkey. "Guess it's just and me."

Somehow, Michel had gotten in front of Rory as they walked. He spotted Jess first. "I found her. Now can you please move away from my desk?"

"Yes, sir," Jess saluted.

Rory smiled when she saw him then froze. "Whoa."

"What?" He asked.

"Your beard -" she started. Lately, Jess had been sporting some kind of scruff. It wasn't a full out beard but it was enough she felt it scratch when her skin was near him.

"I know," he nodded.

"You shaved," she pointed out.

Jess smirked at her. "I knew that, too."

"Why?" She asked. Rory had liked the scruff on him. She thought it gave him an older look, sexier.

He shrugged. "Figured it was a holiday. I'd clean up a little."

"Well, you do clean up pretty good," she smirked. "Clean down good, too."

"Is that a innuendo?" He smirked back. "Because I gotta say, so do you."

She blushed red and walked closer to him. "What are you doing here? Came to see the firemen come?"

"Wanted to see if any of them were checking out my hot girlfriend," he said which resulted in a hit on the arm.

"You have another girlfriend?" She teased, always modest about her looks.

"Come here," he smirked and kissed her sweetly. She leaned her forehead to his and smiled. Jess took a deep breath and pulled himself apart. "I came here to tell you something."

"Oh," her face fell seeing the look on his face. "Something bad?"

"Something...not good," he sighed. "Dean's here."

Rory's eyes widened and Jess thought it was because she didn't know. She felt herself worry because of their recent history and thought of how Jess had actually seen Dean and he didn't seem to have been in a fight. She decided it was best to be honest. "I know."

"You know?" He questioned. There was no accusation in his tone, just wonder.

Rory nodded. "He's staying here apparently. Sookie told me this morning."

"And?"

"And what?"

"How do you feel about that?" He found himself asking.

"How do I feel?" She wondered. "I don't know. Fine, I guess. She said he's here to see his family. Which he has every right to do."

"And there's..." He started then restarted. "There's no..."

"No what?" She asked.

Jess sighed. "No feelings."

"No," she said in her most serious voice. "There are absolutely no feelings."

Jess nodded quietly. "He was with someone."

"Sookie said he got married," she replied. "Has a kid, too."

"Oh?" His eyebrow rose up. "Bag boy has a kid?"

She laughed. "Yes. And you really are reverting to that nickname again?"

"I think I'm entitled to once in a while high school Jess," he teased and put his arms around her waist.

"As long as its the mature parts, I see," she teased back and kissed him lightly.

Both of them were glad they could now laugh at the high school days of their relationship. It used to be awkward or painful but since they'd talked about it and that letter he'd written, it was like they were finally able to officially move on.

Lorelai appeared around the corner, Michel on her heels. "I think I did something wrong."

Jess laughed, as if he predicted this. Rory turned in his arms so his hands were now wrapped around her from behind. "Oh boy."

"Sookie called and said she will be here soon," Michel informed them.

"Oh, thank god," Lorelai sighed.

"I guess I better get back in there," Rory said.

Jess let his arms go loose and she kissed him quick. "See you later?"

"Of course," he smiled at her. "And we're okay? Its not...weird, what I told you?"

Rory sighed thoughtfully. "No. I mean, yes. It could be weird if we interact. But so far, now, its not. And we're definitely okay."

"Good," he gave her hand a squeeze and she followed her mom back into the kitchen. Jess was left alone with Michel in the lobby.

"What was that about?" Lorelai asked her daughter.

"Jess saw Dean," Rory admitted. "And...he was surprisingly calm about it. Just wanted me to know."

"Oh," she was stunned. "I didn't expect that."

A laugh from the younger Gilmore. "Me, either."

"Guess that finalizes the nail in the Jess-grew-up coffin, huh?" Lorelai said and Rory stopped walking. She thought to herself how it really does and smiled as she began to walk again. "Hey, do you think Luke would mind bringing Paul Anka over to dinner?"

...

They followed their pattern from thanksgiving long ago, it felt like. First they had a special lunch at Luke's while Sookie stayed at the inn. Lorelai, Rory and Evan walked in. Jess was behind the counter with a pencil behind his ear.

Rory smiled and let go of her brother's hand as she sat at the stool in front of the counter. "Who do I have to sleep with to get some coffee around here?"

"I don't know," he smirked when he looked up from the book in his hand. "Why don't you start with me and I'll see what I can do?"

"Could you two be any grosser?" Lorelai asked as she went to a free table and sat Evan down. Rory stuck her tongue out at her mom. "Mature."

"Mommy," Evan pulled on her sleeve. "Tell daddy I want cake."

Luke heard that and came over to them. "You're raising him just like you."

"I can't help it if he wants cake," she gasped.

"Next he's gonna ask for coffee," Luke replied.

Rory turned to her mother and stepfather. "Actually, he did that already this morning."

Lorelai giggled and Luke rolled his eyes. "One piece of cake."

"Yes!" Evan cheered happily.

Jess smiled at his cousin and Rory noticed the smile. "I like that."

"What?" He asked curiously.

She pointed to his mouth. "That smile. Its sweet."

"I smile around you," he said.

"Yes, but this is a different smile," she remarked. "An Evan smile. A smile for kids."

"I do like Evan," he reminded her.

"I know," she said. "But this is different. Do you...Oh my god, Jess. Do you like kids?"

"No," he replied too fast. Maybe I don't hate them. Some of them. Lane's kids, Evan. Kids like them."

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "You like kids."

"Yeah, well, I'll make up for liking them when I have to punish ours," he said.

Both of them froze as he registered what he had just said. Jess tried to think of a way to take it back or explain himself but he came up blank. Rory didn't know what to say either. Neither spoke until Luke came back from the front with Evan's cake and Lorelai's decaf.

"What is that?" He pointed to his wife's hand beneath the table.

She pulled her hand from underneath. "Flowers."

"Why did you bring flowers?" He asked.

"I always bring flowers," she defended.

Luke sighed. "I still don't have a vase."

"I gave you a vase tears ago," she replied.

"A vase that broke," Luke said back. "Remember?"

"Oh, yeah," she said. "But its tradition."

"We're married now," he said.

"Yes?" She waited for wherever he was going with this.

Luke realized she wouldn't catch it. "I'm not just a person you stop by to see on a holiday anymore. You don't have to bring my flowers."

"But I want to," she pouted.

"Just let her give you the flowers," Jesse said as he watched them. Luke took the flowers from his wife and Lorelai grinned in triumph.

...

Next to everyone had arrived for dinner. Emily had come shortly after the diner lunch, along with Paris, Doyle and their kids. Lane, Zach, Mrs Kim, the twins and Christina were there. Brian and Kyon as well as Gil and his family was there. Liz, TJ, and Doula were among the early guests.

The dinner had actually not turned out bad, despite what people may have thought. At one point, Jess pretended to choke and Rory hit him hard on his arm after that. She'd seen a shadow of wonder on her grandmother's face and remembered she hadn't told her they were officially back together.

To everyone's surprise, Emily had offered to say grace. She blessed everyone at the table, lorelai's unborn child and commented how Richard would have loved to be here. Lorelai and Rory both teared up at that part and they moved on quickly to prevent breakdowns on all of their parts.

After dinner, Rory roamed around the inn and looked at the walls. There was a picture on the wall of her mom, Sookie and Michel with shovels. It looked like not too long before the Dragonfly opened and she smiled.

"Hey," a voice said behind her.

She turned to the sound and came face to face with Dean. "Hi."

"I didn't think I'd see you here," he shuffled. "If I'd known, I'd have stayed somewhere else. Make it easier."

"Theres nothing to make easier," she replied. "We can be friendly, right? It doesn't need to be bitter ex's."

"Right," he chuckled. "Did you meet Claire?"

"Claire?" It clicked in her head. "Oh, your wife."

"Yeah," he nodded. "And Matthew."

"No, I didn't meet them," she said softly. "Maybe later."

"We're gonna be here a few days," Dean told her. "What about you? Aren't you here with Jess?"

Rory smiled despite herself. "Yeah, I am."

"I'm glad things...I'm glad they worked out for you," he told her. "For both of you. Really."

"You are?" She asked and he laughed. "Thanks. I'm glad they did for you, too."

"Thanks," he said back. "I should actually go back. Claire asked me to bring her water."

She waved him off. "Yeah. Go ahead."

"Bye, Rory," he said as he began to walk off.

"Bye, Dean," she told his retreating figure.

She heard another pair of footsteps behind her and Rory turned to see Jess there. "How much did you hear?"

"I think I passed out because I could have sworn I heard him say he was happy for us," Jess answered.

"If you did, I did," she laughed a little.

"Not weird?" He asked and she shook her head. "Good. I promise I won't rip his head off, either."

"Good," she repeated his word. "Wouldn't want you getting in trouble."

"Trouble's my middle name," he explained.

She squinted her eyes suspiciously at him. "I thought it was William."

"I have two middle names," he then replied which made Rory laugh for sure.

"Hey, Jess?"

"Yeah?"

She walked closer to him and hugged him to her. "I'm ready to go home now."

A/N: in case you're wondering why I brought Dean in, its because they felt like they needed an ending where they were happy for each other. Not Dean pining over her still and both moved on and happy. I also promised no more lit drama so I'm not doing a dramatic triangle thing of them ha.

The ending seems rushed but I really wanted to get this up and I figured it might be better to just tell you who was at dinner than really write everyone eating dinner and making small talk. I hope you still like it though and thank so much for sticking with me!