AN: Thanks for the reviews. And by the way, anyone who thinks of something they want to happen, try and bribe Rory. It may be more effective than you realized.

Rory scowled as Lorelai ruffled her hair on her way over to the counter, before returning her attention to Jess. "So you're dad's coming?" she checked, making a mental note that this was the sixth day that the bag of Luke's coffee in the freezer had gone unacknowledged, but certainly not unnoticed. The amount in the bag was dwindling with each passing day, but despite its presence Lorelai was still coming to the diner.

"Yeah, mom said he called last night just before he was leaving Michigan. Got TJ on the phone,"

"How'd that go?" she asked, smiling at the idea of TJ speaking to his wife's ex for the first time. He could apparently be a very jealous man.

"Pretty well, actually. At least that's what she told me, and I wasn't woken up by any screaming, so I guess it was ok."

"Good. So, do I-"

"Please Luke!" Lorelai begged, loud enough for the entire diner to hear. "Just one, please."

"Your supply dried up already?"

"No. Just… I like it better here. The atmosphere you know?"

"You like the- Oh forget it. Here," he dropped a cup onto the counter, filled it to the brim and pushed it towards her.

"Have I met him?" Rory asked, turning away from the adults. More like children, she thought, they're worse than us.

"Well, I'm not sure. He was around, so I guess he'd know you, but, you don't remember anything do you?"

"Nothing before New York,"

"Oh, well, he'll probably fill us in on a few things. Share a mortifying anecdote or two. This visit's gonna suck."

"It's going to be great." She objected. "You love it when he comes to town, admit it."

"Yeah, I guess I kind of do." Jess smiled, thinking of how good it would be to have his dad around again, even for just a few days.

"See, I knew it. You're such a daddy's boy."

"Right. Ok, whatever."

"Oh, I think I'm getting 'the signal.'" Rory announced, standing up.

"What signal?" Jess followed her across the room.

"The 'get back to work, stop corrupting my nephew and please distract your mother or start looking for a new place to live' signal."

"Luke's signals have gotten very wordy of late, have you noticed that?"

"Yes I have."

"Hey honey. What are you doing?" Lorelai asked as Rory came and leaned against the counter beside her.

"I was summoned, I believe. Yes master?"

"Can you run this order over to the bookstore for me?" Luke requested, placing two bags on the counter.

"Sure. Anything else?"

"Sookie could probably use some help over at the inn getting ready for the big Christmas dinner, if you guys are up for it."

"Yeah. That sounds fun. How about I drive you to the bookstore," Lorelai suggested. "And then we can go and do whatever Sookie needs. I should probably be getting back there anyway,"

"Alright. But I'm going to need a little time off at some point before Christmas, ok? Gotta get to the shops, you know?"

"Yeah, yeah, tomorrow. Today can you just do this for me please?" Luke asked and Rory nodded.

"Okay. Come on Jess, you can come with us, make the work time a little more enjoyable."

"Actually, he can't." Luke interrupted, Rory turned back and glared. "I need him here to help me."

"Fine. Let's go mom." Lorelai jumped up and practically skipped out the door. Rory realized then how much easier it was to get through each day when everyone was getting along; when she was nicer to her mom, Lorelai was in a good mood, and when Lorelai was in a good mood everything was better, because when she wasn't then everyone knew about it and they suffered. But if I keep this up, she thought, things should stay in this good place, even get a little better with time, Rory mused.

"Did I hear you say something about Jess' dad?" Lorelai asked as they got into her car and fastened their seatbelts.

"Yeah, he's coming in to town in a few days. Spending Christmas with the family and all that," Rory explained.

"Cool. I haven't seen him in ages."

"You haven't seen anyone in ages. Remember? A decade and a half of hiding out from all those you held dear?"

"Thanks for the reminder."

"I'm just saying-"

"No. I know what you're saying. I just think… It'll be kind of cool to have Jimmy back here for a bit, the old team back together."

"The team?"

"Shut up."

"No, really, I wanna know. What exactly did you participate in as a team?"

"Oh, look, we're at the bookstore, maybe you should get that order out to your customers, wouldn't want to give the diner a bad rep, now would you?"

"Make sure you have an answer for me when I get back, ok?"

"Shoo!"

Rory laughed and shook her head as she walked into the store and handed the food over to Andrew, the owner of the store. She took her money and returned to the car. "So-"

"I'm choosing to ignore you now. I just thought you should know that." Lorelai cut her off before putting the car into drive.

"Oh really? Hmm. Hey Rory, did you notice how weird mom's been acting lately?" she asked herself. "Oh yeah, very peculiar. What's up with that, do you think? Well, I'm sure I don't know. Maybe she's just reacting to the drugs in the town water supply, or maybe she-"

"Oh my god! Were you this annoying before you moved here? Is that why I got rid of you?" Lorelai demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I thought you were ignoring me, anyways."

"That's impossible when you talk so much. Geez."

"You can't fool me." Rory told her. "You know you love every word that comes out of my mouth."

"Well, not every word, but I've gotta say, I do prefer the days that you're talking to me, so I guess I'll just have to take what I can get."

"You certainly will." The pulled up in front of the inn and both climbed out of the car.

"Alright, I have to get to work, so tell Sookie that I'm around if she needs me, ok?"

"Sure." They walked through the front door together and then split up.

"I'm still amazed you asked for my help with this," Lane said again as she and Rory walked around the mall.

"Why? We're friends-ish, and you know these people, who better to ask?"

"Well, I don't know. I mean, sure, I've known them longer, but I have a feeling you know them on a… shall we say, deeper level, than I will ever reach."

"If you really want to move in to that tiny apartment with us, be my guest." Rory replied. "But I'm sorry; I refuse to share the kissing rights to my boyfriend."

"No, that's ok. Thanks. But I think I'll stick with what I've got, by way of living arrangements, and just leave Jess as my very good friend. Anything else would be so wrong."

"Well, good, I'm glad we could clear that up. But I still need your help. I figured out something for mom, Sookie and Jackson are covered. Liz and TJ are getting a gift certificate- very cheap option for the person with limited funds and no idea what she's doing. I'm volunteering at the inn, as my gift for Mia, which will also make mom happy, so really she gets two and she said she'll sort something out for Grandma and Grandpa. But I just don't know about Jess and Luke. You, by the way, will receive free coffee for the rest of your natural born life if this works out."

"That's nice to hear. Alright, let's try this again." Lane grabbed Rory's arm, and they turned in a slow circle, taking in all of the stores around them. "Oh! I've got it!" Lane cried out, yanking on Rory's arm as she took off.

"Where are we going?"

"Just keep up!" she instructed, picking up speed.

"You're crazy!" Rory laughed as they zoomed between the other harried shoppers.

Meanwhile at the inn, Lorelai raced through the door to the kitchen and stopped short. "Sookie?"

"Down here,"

"What happened this time?" Lorelai asked, coming into the kitchen to find her friend sitting on the floor again.

"Oh, nothing. I just… it's not important." She waved away Lorelai's concern as she was assisted in standing up. "You sounded like you had something urgent to say."

"Ok, well, I wasn't really going to mention this, on account of how I thought it probably, for now should have stayed between us, until I could work out what it meant, but I just… I can't so I need your help."

"What what meant?"

"Luke gave me coffee."

"Uh, yeah. He does that. He gives everyone coffee, you come in, order-""

"No. I mean, he came to my apartment and gave me a big container full of his coffee, so I could make it at home."

"Really? Wow. I didn't think he'd ever let that stuff out of there."

"Yes. So, at first I thought, 'wow, that's really nice', then I started to think, 'is this his way of telling me to come to the diner less?' But Rory and I went there the night after he gave it to me, and he didn't say anything. He grudgingly served us and went to bed."

"Okay."

"It's been a week now, and I know Rory noticed it, but she isn't saying anything either. And, Christmas is only a few days away, and I feel like I need to reciprocate before the window of opportunity slams shut. But the last Christmas present I gave to Luke was a photo album full of Rory, and I'm thinking that I need to come up with another idea."

"And you're asking me for gift advice? For Luke?"

"Well, you're his best friend, for all intents and purposes, so… help me."

"Sweetie, I don't know. Luke is the least materialistic person I've ever met. He's a pretty good gift-giver, but he's almost impossible to buy for. He likes baseball and fishing; and he's got a TV and a fishing rod, so, basically he's got everything he needs."

"That's it? That's all you can give me, fishing and baseball?"

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's ok. I mean, I knew that stuff already, but… Ok, I guess I'll go back to standing around and try to work it out myself."

"If I think of anything, or, anything's, I'll let you know. I'll have to keep something to myself, you know?"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks anyway." Crestfallen, Lorelai walked back out to the lobby and returned to her post behind the desk.

"Ugh, finally!" Michel exclaimed.

"What,' finally'? I was gone five minutes."

"However long you think you were gone, is of little importance to me. I am now going on my ten, so you can deal with the stupid people for now, alright?"

"Say that a little louder, Michel, I don't think the guests in room fourteen heard you." Lorelai called after him as he walked away.

"What is Kirk doing?" Rory asked as she and Jess walked by Stars Hollow high later that day. The man in question had a table set up, with something spread all over it. A line had formed and he was handing things over to people who were giving him money and then walking away.

"Selling somethi- is that mistletoe?"

"Oh, it is. Come on!" Rory grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the end of the line and they waited for their turn.

"Seasons greetings my young friends, how may I help you today?"

"How much is the mistletoe?" Rory asked.

"Three dollars a piece,"

"I'll take…" Rory dug in her wallet and poured some coins out onto the table. "Two please." She finished counting out her money and pushed it towards Kirk, who counted it a second time and then handed over her purchase.

"Have a very merry Christmas."

"Oh, I'm sure I will."

"What are you doing?" Jess asked as they continued to walk along in the direction they'd been headed.

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

"You're buying mistletoe from Kirk, what for?"

"Well, are you aware of the significance of a piece of mistletoe hanging from a doorway, or ceiling fan?"

"Yes."

"Then why would you need to ask? If you know what it's for, then-"

"You don't need that stuff." He interrupted. "If you want me to kiss you, all you have to do is ask."

"Ah, well, as nice to know as that is, this is not for you."

"It's not?"

"No. But I could use your help putting it up, if you wouldn't mind."

"Only if you fill me in on the genius plan you've crafted in that pretty little head of yours."

"All in due time, come on." She commanded, taking his hand and pulling him in another direction, away from the diner, where they had planned to go earlier.

"Would you look at this? The gangs all here!" Jimmy Mariano called out as he and Liz walked through the door of the diner, his arms spread out wide. Lorelai, Sookie and Rory were taking a break from preparations at the inn. They'd practically had to wrestle Sookie out of the kitchen in order to get her to come to the diner, but they'd finally calmed her down enough to enjoy her lunch. Luke came out of the kitchen to see what the interruption was, but after a short wave to Jimmy, turned and headed back to work.

"Dad, you're here." Jess jumped up and moved to hug his father.

"How're you doing, kiddo?" Jimmy asked, hugging him back. Jess stepped back and Jimmy looked around the room, his arm around Jess' shoulders. "Can you explain to me, what Lorelai Gilmore is doing here?" he whispered, but not too quietly.

"Nice to see you too, Jim." Lorelai returned, standing up.

"Hey, I didn't say it wasn't nice to see you, just, weird. How come no one mentioned this?"

"We didn't think you'd believe us until you saw it for yourself," Liz explained.

"Plus, my presence is still something of a new development; I suppose everyone is still getting used to things. But I'm here."

"So you are, come 'ere," he stepped away from Jess and pulled her into a quick hug. "Sookie, how's it going?" he asked, turning to the other woman.

"Hi Jimmy. I'm great, how are you?"

"Well, I could complain, but there probably isn't really anyone who would want to listen, so…"

"So, you're good?"

"I'm good."

"Hey, Jimmy, you remember Rory, right?" Lorelai asked, grinning.

"You're daughter, the tiny little girl who was in love with my kid? Yeah, I vaguely recall,"

"Well, look, she grew up. But it turns out she didn't grow out of her affections for that child of yours."

"This," he pointed at the girl sitting beside where his son had returned to. "Right here, this is Rory?" Lorelai nodded, her grin growing even wider. "Wow, she did grow up."

"Oh my God! Kill me now; my father is hitting on my girlfriend." Jess groaned, banging his head on the table as Liz just laughed.

"Hitting- No! I just… I was just saying, last time I saw her- Last time saw you Rory, you were about this high," he indicated about two and a half feet off the ground. "And now you're… A teenager. What are you guys doing here, anyway?" he asked, returning his attention to Lorelai as Rory sat back, shaking her head.

"Mom decided she couldn't handle me, so she sent me to live with Luke." Rory explained. "Then she decided she couldn't live with out me and followed. We live here now."

"Huh."

"I see where you get it from," Rory observed, looking back at Jess. He just shrugged.

"Yes, the monosyllabic gene definitely comes from the males in the family." Liz agreed. "You could never shut me and mom up, but dad and Luke were pretty much silent all the time. Jimmy fit in well with those two."

"The only reason the three of us were so quiet, was because between the two of you and them," he pointed at Sookie and Lorelai, "we couldn't get a word in edgewise."

"Sure, that's what you say now."

"Because that's how it was. Luke, man, back me up on this one, would you?" he called out, and the man came back out of the kitchen.

"He's got a point Liz. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, even if we could have spoken, the four of you still would have drowned us out, competing for the loudest voice possible."

"These men, they just have no appreciation for us," Lorelai grumbled, before her cell phone began to ring. "Oh. It's the inn. Michel needs help, you think?"

"Outside!" Luke bellowed, on his way passed, delivering some plates.

"What?"

"No cell phones in the diner," Rory explained for what she guessed was probably the one-hundredth time.

"That is a stupid rule. Do you have any idea how cold it is out there?" Lorelai protested gathering her things and hitting the accept button. "Hello? Mich- Michel, I can't- Calm… calm down would you? I don't- Ok. I'm coming!" she yelled, finally succeeding in cutting him off. "Yes. I'm coming now, relax and stop screeching. You sound like a howler monkey." After hanging up, she dropped her phone in her purse and pulled on her coat. "Well, it looks like my break is over."

"Oh, I'll just-"

"No. Sookie, I have to go back. But your staff s fully competent, they're fine. From what I could tell, Michel was feeling a little overwhelmed by the number of guests checking in, so I've got to get over there and lend a hand, before Mia rethinks her generosity and snatches my job away from me."

"Ok. If you're sure."

"I am. It was great to see you Jimmy, we'll have to catch up later. Thanks for your time, everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the show. Luke?"

"What?"

"Me and my phone are going to leave now, so your peace and quiet will no longer be disturbed, ok?"

"Good."

"Ahh, yes. That's the small town charm I've been missing oh so much. Alright, I'm off." And with that, Lorelai raced out the door.

On Christmas day, the diner was just as busy as ever, possibly even more so, but Rory didn't mind, she was there with Jess, Luke, her mom, Lane stopped by after church, and Liz and TJ popped in a few times, as did Jimmy, Sookie, Jackson and Mia who was leaving town again after the new year.

When they closed after lunch, she collapsed into one of the chairs and dropped her head onto the table.

"How many times do I have to tell you," she began, attempting to glare at Luke, without lifting her head. "You need to find yourself a new business if you expect me to continue working for you."

"If you don't like it, go ahead and find something else. I can't imagine how many people would be willing to give you a job in this town though."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong, my friend. Those people out there, they like me now. I'm just as good as all the rest of you, so there."

"It's true Luke, they do like her." Jess agreed. "I've seen it."

"Fine. Go, find yourself another job, see if I care."

"You would care. You would miss bossing me around, admit it."

"Go upstairs and change. We leave for Sookie's in half an hour,"

"See? You can't even get through one conversation without dishing out orders."

"Go." Rory pushed herself away from the table and dragged herself up to the apartment to change.

She'd stayed at her mom's for the night before coming to work. Next they were all going to Sookie and Jackson's for a big Christmas dinner and presents. Rory couldn't help getting excited, this was the first time she was going to have a big family Christmas, and she was getting along with her mom, she had a boyfriend, friends. Life is definitely looking up, she mused.

"I can't move."

"I don't think I'll ever be able to eat again."

"There has never been so much food in my stomach, I swear."

"Stop it." Sookie objected. "I didn't make that much."

"Gotta say, I'm suddenly very glad Mama Kim prevents me from coming here too early," Lane added. "I started way later than all of you and I still feel like I've gone up about four dress sizes."

"Fine. Next year, I won't cook anything. You can all just have Hungry man dinners and store bought pudding, with crappy brandy flavored custard. How does that sound?" Sookie snapped.

"Don't!" Rory begged. "Please, no more listing of foods. I can't take it."

"We're only joking, sweetie." Jackson told his wife. "We all love your food, don't we?" Rory whimpered at the F-word, but everyone else managed to make an affirmative sound and put a smile back on Sookie's face.

"Well, good. Because I don't think I could have let you do that. But next year I'll try and tone it down a little. I was just so excited, you know? Lorelai and Rory are back, this is our first Christmas as a married couple, Liz and TJ's too. Mia's here, and Jimmy. I'm just so… I- it's just-"

"Sookie?"

"Sook, what is it?"

"I… I don't…"

"Oh my God!" Lorelai jumped out of her seat, her gaze darting between Sookie and Jackson.

"What?" everyone else at the table asked.

"Oh my God!" she repeated, before Liz narrowed her eyes and gasped.

"Oh my-"

"What the hell is going on here?" Luke demanded.

"You're pregnant?!" The two women yelled at the same time, rushing around to Sookie.

"I'm- I'm pregnant!" she cried out. The three of them jumped up and down, squealing and hugging, apparently having forgotten about how full they were just a few moments earlier.

Within seconds, everyone was jumping and hugging, congratulating Sookie and Jackson, and then they all collapsed into the lounge chairs, exhausted, and full again.

"So, I know, there's probably nothing that's going to top that news, but, what do you say we do presents now?" Lane suggested, slipping from her seat to land on the floor beside the tree where all of the presents had been piled when everyone arrived.

"Why not?" Jess asked. "At the very least, it should keep the happy mood going for a bit."

"Ok. Great. Um… the first one is for… Mia, from Luke." Lane announced, handing over a brightly wrapped package.

"Well, that was a great day, huh?" Lorelai asked, stopping out the front of the diner, Luke and Rory both nodded.

"Yeah. But I'm beat, I'm gonna go to bed. Night you guys."

"Night,"

"See you tomorrow honey."

"She seem ok to you?" Luke asked as Rory disappeared up the stairs and he lowered one of the chairs off of a table for Lorelai to sit on.

"Yeah, I think so. Why?"

"Just… I kind of got the impression she wasn't all that happy about Jess' present."

"Oh, no, I'm sure she loved it. She's very into confusing authors. Russians, Czechoslovakians, they're all good."

"Hmm, if you say so."

"Actually, I have something for you as well,"

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"No. I know. But I thought, after the coffee, I should… do something. It's nothing much, but… Just wait here a second, ok?"

"Sure." Lorelai raced out the door and pulled a bag out from behind the driver's seat.

"Here," she handed it to him and Luke looked inside. "I just thought, you know, God forbid something happens to that one, you might need a spare." She explained as he extracted a blue baseball cap.

"Thanks."

"Here, let me," she put it on him, facing forward and then grimaced. "Does that look wrong?"

"Let me just..." Luke took it off, turned it around and adjusted it, until it felt right. "There."

"Much better,"

"Do you want a coffee?" he asked, turning away from her and moving over to the coffee machine.

"Sure."

"Oh, damn, I'm out. I'll have to get some from the store room."

"I can do that. I know where you keep it, remember, I spent a few hours as an unofficial employee?"

"That's right, you did. But, you probably shouldn't be going back here, anyway." He explained, following her into the back. "Unofficial employees aren't covered on the insurance."

"Luke, it's- Oh. Dear."

"What?" he followed her gaze up, half hoping she was watching a sack of potatoes fall, but discovered instead a small piece of mistletoe hanging above their heads. "Huh, well, I wonder who's responsible for that."

"Three guesses." Lorelai returned. "We'll just… pretend that it wasn't there and… go on with the-"

Luke cut her off, crushing his mouth against hers. She responded within seconds, bringing her arms up to circle his neck, before he stepped back and walked over to where the coffee was stored.

"Just a stupid holiday thing. Doesn't matter." He explained as she stood frozen, running a hand through her hair.

"Uh huh."

"Got the coffee,"

"Um, that's ok. Actually. I think I might just… I'm going to, I'll skip it. Thanks. Bye." Lorelai raced out the door and Rory jumped up and scampered up to the apartment, after having seen the whole thing. Just like we planned.

AN: No bribes necessary this time, I guess. Well, for now anyway. I may change my mind later and demand something, but, for now, let's just call that an extremely early Christmas present shall we? Or, maybe that can be my wedding present for Kat and Jim, who have no idea what this is, and none of you know who I'm talking about, so we'll move on. There should have been more Jimmy and Mia, but that will come in the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed. Review!