AN: So, as you can probably tell, I've given up on the naming-each-chapter-after-a-song thing, at least for the moment. That was really hard, and unlike the lucky bastards at One Tree Hill and Grey's Anatomy, I don't have a team of geniuses around to help me. So until I have a chapter and find a song that perfectly match, I'm going back to making up my own sucky titles. Thanks for the reviews, I own none of this stuff besides the plot and it's making me sad, so please, improve my mood with a review.

Rory watched Luke go into his room with the phone and close the door. Only then did it occur to her that in the eleven days that her mom had been in town, there had been no phone calls. Well, there were calls, just no I'm-sneaking-off,-thinking-you-won't-notice-my-absence-and-put-two-and-two-together calls

But Lorelai had left a day or so ago, and now Luke was holed up in his room. Two plus two, did not equal five, it definitely came to four.

Luke's secrecy hadn't bothered her before this. What business of hers was it, how he spent his time? Who he spoke to? But now that these thoughts had come to her mind, she was wishing there was a second phone in the apartment she could pick up to listen to the voice of the person not in the building.

Even if Luke were calling a psychic hotline or some creepy erotica thing, if she knew, that would put her mind at ease.

Jess wasn't home to talk about it either. He was studying in Hartford, cramming with some other kids from his school, for a big Latin test. So that left Rory to her lonesome.

Suddenly getting an idea, she headed downstairs into the dark diner and reached for the phone. Rory quickly dialed the number for her mother's apartment, but it didn't ring, instead her ear was filled with a busy signal and she hung up. She'd never really been that big of a believer in coincidences, but there was evidence backing this one up. Returning to the apartment, she weighed up her options.

I could bust into his room and snatch the phone off him, she thought. Or Star 69 when he's done.

But by the time she got back to the couch, she decided to do nothing. I'll leave it for a while. It really could be nothing, I'll just wait.

"I think I can do this."

"Do what?" Luke asked, glancing nervously at the door. He always half expected Rory to burst thrugh the door and catch him during these calls.

"Be a mom. I think… I know Rory has slowed down a lot since she moved in with you. And I've improved too, don't you think? From all the things you've heard."

"Of course, Lorelai. But do you really think that's a good idea, with Chris and all?"

"Chris is gone. He won't bother any of us again."

"Well, what about school, her friends?"

"I made her leave those things to go to Stars Hollow. I'm sure she'd like to get back to her old friends, her school."

"How happy do you think she'll be to leave her boyfriend?"

"Are you trying to say, without actually coming out and saying it, that I can't do this? If that's what you think, you should just tell me."

"I'm not saying that, no. All I'm saying is, do you really think this is the best time?"

"There will probably never be a good time. But I'm her mother. And I can be her mother now, I know what I have to do, and I'm handling things a lot better than I was."

"What happens when she comes back and things start to go back to the way they were?"

"That won't happen! Why are you saying these things?"

"I'm trying to help you here; that's all. I don't want you to get in over your head."

"I can't believe this… She was right. How did she know this would happen?"

"Who was right? What are you talking about?"

"My mother said that having Rory live with you was a bad idea. She said you were probably holding a grudge against me and waiting for the perfect time to hurt me, using Rory. This is unbelievable."

"Lorelai I'm not-" Luke stopped, aware that his voice was getting a little louder than it should. If she were listening, Rory might be able to hear him. "I'm not trying to hurt you. I told you, I want to help, that's all this is. I do agree that things have improved; I just think that it's possible for them to get a little better still. Do you understand that?" she was silent on the other end. "Did you hear what I said?"

"I'm going to call Rory tomorrow and talk to her about coming home." Was all that she said before hanging up. Luke sighed and put the phone down.

Why the hell did i just do that? He wondered. Since the night Lorelai called and Rory was out, picking up a few things from Doose's they'd been talking, on a semi-regular basis. At first it had been as uncomfortable as the early conversations they had while waiting for Rory to come to the phone and save them from any further interaction, but gradually things had gotten better.

Luke had wanted to put the past behind him and move on. It had been difficult, with all the years he'd had to think up things to say to her and because of all those years there had been a screaming match or two, while Rory was out of the apartment. But after that, they'd managed to be civil towards one another.

Now he feared he'd ruined all of that.

Standing up, he made his way out of the room to find Rory on the couch, reading. "Is that something for school?"

"Nope."

"Well, shouldn't you be reading something for school?"

"I already did. Now I'm reading something for me." she replied, yet to look up.

"Rory, can we... I need to talk to you for a bit." Luke explained, coming over and sitting in the chair beside the couch.

"Do we have to do that now? I'm kind of busy with this."

Before he answered, Luke looked her over, trying to work out if she had actually heard. Maybe she had and she was mad about not being informed. Then again, maybe she was just in a bad mood. That's normal for teenagers, isn't it? "I'd prefer to do it now, actually." Putting the book down, Rory looked up at him, waiting. "Well, I, um… I was just on the phone. To your mom,"

"Hmm,"

"We've been talking… For a little while, trying to clear the air, I guess."

"Good for you."

"I didn't think we really needed to tell you yet, but she said something just now that I think you should know about. Maybe we were wrong not saying anything, are you ok?" she didn't look happy to hear this, but she didn't look shocked either.

"Fine. What did she say?"

"Well, since things have been going so well for the both of you, lately, Lorelai has decided that it's time for you to come home. She's going to call tomorrow and talk to you about it, I just thought you should have a head's up." Luke explained. Rory didn't say anything and he moved to get up after a moment of silence, but then she called out and her voice caused him to stay put.

"I don't want to." Rory replied. "I wanna stay."

"You what?"

"I want to stay." She repeated, louder, more clearly.

"Stay here?"

"Yes."

"You want to stay here, in Stars Hollow?"

"Yes."

"With me, in this apartment?"

"I've said that a million times already."

"I'm just trying to keep up here, ok? You were the one fighting against this for so long, and that means you don't get to be James Dean this time. Now, one more time, you wanna stay here instead of going home to live with your mom?"

"I do. I want to stay here."

"Why? You know she's been doing better. She's working really hard, and she knows how to take care of you now. You've come a long way too."

"I know all that, but I still want to be here." Luke shook his head, confused. Not five minutes ago, he'd been trying to talk Lorelai out of taking Rory back home, now he was trying to talk her into going. What am I doing? "My life has sucked, for as long as I can remember. Mom was never really there for me, and we all know what a winner my dad was. But then she sent me here. Granted I hated her for it, because I didn't understand why I should be punished for her short comings, but, now, I... I'm just not ready to go yet."

"Is it because of Jess?"

"No. Well, maybe a little. But I like this place, it's quirky and weird. The people are all pretty much freaks, but they're nice freaks. I feel like I can actually do something when I'm here. In New York people made it pretty clear to me that I was never going to amount to much, but that's not how it is here. And I've got my grandparents; they may be about as scary as Charles Manson at times, what with Emily's bizarre plan to have me move in. But they're my family and I want the chance to get to know them. That would be a lot harder from New York."

"Emily wants you to move in? To their house?"

"That's what she said at dinner. But I told her no, because I don't want to go changing things. And Mom knows that too, so I don't know why she would suddenly decide that this was a good idea now."

"Alright, we're going to have to talk to Lorelai, and it may take some convincing, but if you tell her everything you just told me, she'll probably let you do what you want. Maybe leave out the bit about how she-"

"I know, be nice. Don't tell her what a lousy job she did. So that means you'll let me? I can stay as long as she agrees?"

"Yeah, for now. I've gotten used to having you around." He replied, trying to sound as if he was joking, but it was true. He'd missed her, and it was nice having her back in his life.

"Thank you so much!" Rory gushed, jumping up and throwing her arms around him. Luke hugged her back lightly and then stepped back, a little uncomfortable. That was still a little weird for him. The only person he ever hugged was Liz, maybe Sookie occasionally, but no others until Rory. "Ok, I'm going to go, finish my homework."

"I thought you said you'd already done that."

"Well, I was pissed off; didn't think you really deserved the truth."

"You knew about the calls?"

"I had an inkling. But, I guess it's not the worst thing in the world. I'll go now. Maybe by the time I finish Jess will be home."

"It's a school night. When he gets home, he's going to bed."

"No problem," Rory replied, with a little grin before moving into the bedroom to get some of her books. Jess had only moved a few of his things in, and they were sharing the storage space. It was just the sleeping arrangements that had been an issue for anyone.

"I can not wait for Liz to get home," Luke muttered before walking into the kitchen area.

"So she's not leaving?" Liz asked, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice.

"No. It took over an hour; Luke and Rory constantly switching on the phone, but Lorelai finally agreed to let her stay until at least the end of the school year. Then they'll meet up again and reassess."

"Well, that's good sweetie." Luckily, Jess was in too good a mood to notice her lack of enthusiasm on the subject.

"Yeah, so how are things going there?"

"Really good, I'm so glad you asked because there's something I want to run by you."

"I don't mind staying here for a bit longer. I should probably switch with Rory and let her have the room if this is going to continue though."

"No. That's not it. We're coming home."

"Oh, cool. Why would you need to run that by me though? It's your house; you can come back to it whenever you want. Or not. But if you're planning on getting the Bangles to reform, so you can tour with them, let me know ahead of time, please. That way I can be ready when Lane attacks, demanding she be allowed to join you."

"I'll be sure to do that. But what I wanted to talk to you about actually concerns the house among other things. And it's our house, ok? That's why I have to ask, how would you feel about TJ moving in?"

"Moving in?"

"And, also, me getting married." She added in a rush. Jess was silent for a moment, running the words through his mind again. Did she really just say..?

"You're getting married?"

"Yes. Maybe. Only if you're ok with it. TJ asked last night and I tod him that I'd have to talk to you about it before I give him an answer. So what do you think?"

"You've only known this guy a couple of months, how can you be thinking of marriage already?" Jess asked, when really he was thinking, what about Dad?

"We've only been dating a few months, I've known him for a lot longer than that though. Jess, I want you to seriously think about this. We both have and neither of us wants to do anything you're not happy with."

"I should go."

"Honey? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just... I've gotta go."

"But you'll think about it? Let me know?"

"Sure. Night Mom." He hung up hurriedly and his eyes went directly to one of the few photos Luke had around the apartment. He stood between his parents, outside the house, next to a 'Sold' sign. It had been taken the very day the bank accepted Liz's loan application and she bought the house.

But they hadn't been a real family then, - not a conventional one. And they weren't one now, wouldn't be anytime soon either if she went ahead and married this guy.

Timing had never been on their side, it seemed.

When Liz had found out she was pregnant, Jimmy – understandably – freaked out. The night he was born, Jess knew, because of the pictures that his father had been there, but in the months before and after, his presence had been sporadic at best. Things improved a little in the years that followed, but it seemed Liz was now punishing Jimmy for his past actions; she constantly kept him at arms length, when it concerned her, but continuously encouraged his relationship with Jess.

"No chance of them becoming a reality now, I guess." He muttered to himself, getting up off the couch to go brush his teeth.

Rory I can do it now. I'm better. Please just let me prove it to you.

Her mom had sounded so small, so pitiful, Rory had almost given in. But she held out for a little longer, until Lorelai conceded. Luke took the phone back again and they hammered out the details. Their conversation sounded clipped and awkward, the way they used to. Not, she was sure, how they had been a few days before when the subject of her homecoming came up.

So she was staying and in a few days Jess would be going home. That was alright though, better than Jess staying and her going home.

When he asked why she was so insistent, she just shrugged. "She might be ready to try again, but I guess I'm not. I just... I like it here." He nodded, accepting her answer and she smiled, grateful that he didn't push. That was one thing he and Luke had in common; they never pushed too hard for information.

"You know, I still can't understand what you see in that dork." A voice announced and Rory looked up. And up.

"He's not a dork." She replied, rolling her eyes at Dean, It seemed she'd gotten too soft, he was no longer afraid of her like he used to be. "He just has a brain. I like my guys with a couple of brain cells; it makes life a lot more interesting." Rory turned her gaze away from Dean, scanning the school hallway for someone to distract him. Anyone.

"I just think you'd enjoy yourself a lot more here with a guy who knew what he was doing." Dean replied, suggestively and Rory shuddered.

"Ok, I might be mistaken, because Lord knows you shouldn't be allowed near anything female with a pulse. Clearly. But, don't you have a girlfriend?"

"You say the word and I can remedy that."

"Word," Rory was beginning to get amused by this conversation, his arrogance.

"So you do like me?"

"I'm just trying to help Lindsey out. She may have a few flaws – I mean, choosing to date you, there has to be something wrong with her, or maybe she's just suffering side effects from some weird alien experiments. But no matter what, she doesn't deserve such a major ass for a boyfriend." Rory began to quicken her pace but then changed her mind, turning back to face a quietly stunned Dean. "And by the way, I am an excellent teacher. So don't you worry about me and Jess,"

Rounding the corner, Rory came face to face with Lindsay. She looked about as amazed at the things Rory had said as Dean did. "Oh, great. So, I'm guessing you heard all of that, right?" the blonde nodded, mutely. "Well, it's true. He is an asshole, and you should know that now, before you do anything you'll regret. I may not know anything at all about you, but I do know that there is better out there for you."

"I know."

"Good," Rory nodded and started walking again, but Lindsey continued, walking beside her.

"When Dean first asked me out, Jess tried to talk me out of it. But I didn't want to listen to him."

"You and Jess were friends?"

Lindsey nodded again. "Lane too. And I threw away two eight year old friendships for a guy. A stupid guy no less."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Rory smiled at the idea of having another person she could get info on Jess from.

"End it."

"That sounds like a superb plan. After class I'll find Lane, you can crush Dean's heart and we'll all have lunch. What do you think?"

"I'm in."

"I'm glad." Rory grinned at the girl before continuing down the hall to her class room. She had first arrived in the stupid Brady Bunch-esc town, thinking she would do anything to get out of there. But now, after she'd been given the chance to flee, she was staying, putting down roots and forming relationships that would tie her there for, hopefully, a long time to come. "I really have gone soft. God, I need to go back to the city." But even as she muttered those words to herself, dropping into a seat in her classroom, she knew that she wouldn't. Not any time soon anyway.

Rory's a marshmellow! Ok, so that comment probably elicited a few confused looks, but hopefully some of you understand my absolute weirdness. I hope you enjoyed, let me know how much, k?