A/N: Right, so my little request in last chapter''s A/N didn't go too well, I got like two suggestions, so I took a little from each and blended them in, so congrats the two of you who left suggestions, you won! There, we're all winners. All's good. Moving on. I tried researching management transfer and how to take over a business, but Google didn't really give me any good results, so I'm whinging it (as usual).

Disclaimer: I, the author of this story, do not own any of the characthers associated with Gilmore Girls. That honor belongs to the wonderful Amy Sherman-Palladino. I have no intention of making any money on this (in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm losing money over it...).

17: A deal is a deal is a deal is a deal…

"You made a deal with Andrew?" Jess asked.

"Yes we did," Chris replied, smiling proudly.

"You never though about letting me in on the offer before closing the deal?"

"We didn't see you anywhere, and when we did, you were talking to some old guy, and from all of your warnings we thought it best not to interfere, so we shook on it with Andrew here just minutes ago."

Jess sighed, frustration clearly visible on his face, and turned to Andrew.

"Let's hear it," he said.

"I'm moving," Andrew replied.

"You're what?" Rory exclaimed. "You can't move!"

"Sorry, Rory, but I am. I inherited some distant cousin's house in Montana, and well, I've really wanted to live there, and I'm getting old, so why not? I've been trying to find a buyer for this place, but no one's been interested. Sales have gone down, especially since you moved, so that makes it even harder. Who'd want to take over a failing business?"

"This is where we come in," Matt filled in. "You know we've been talking about expanding Truncheon?"

"Yeah, but I was obviously naïve enough to think we were talking about expanding Truncheon within the Philadelphia city limits. I could've even extended it to Pennsylvania, but seriously guys… Another Truncheon in Stars Hollow?"

"Well, not exactly another Truncheon," Chris explained. "We'd keep it strictly literature and poetry from our own authors, perhaps try and cooperate with that… that movie theatre you've got."

"The Black, White and Read?" Rory said.

"Yeah, that one. With some marketing and advertising, it could be perfect."

"Fine, humour me, how would this be perfect?" Jess asked and waved his hands to indicate the bookstore.

"Bookstores are generally crappy places, no offense Andrew. Too many shelves stacked too closely, no space for enjoying the environment, perhaps sit down and read some…"

"No, because that's a library," Jess quipped sourly.

"Away with the tude and listen," Matt berated him. "I know you've got a library somewhere in this hole, but the books there are most likely of the kind that everyone know about, and you can't buy them."

"What we're suggesting is a combo of a library and a bookshop. We've got books that the libraries don't have, and authors who want their books to be read. Now, I hate to sound like a complete Ferengi…"

"A what?" Cammie interrupted.

"Incredibly greedy alien race of Star Trek fame, they're mainly concerned with making a profit," Matt replied automatically.

"Anyway, letting people just read for free won't give us a profit, so we're thinking we could have some sort of 'A buck a book'-kind of deal. One dollar to read the book in the facility, and if they want to buy it they can," Chris continued.

"You think people would pay to read?" Rory asked. "I don't know about you, but I think some of the more obstinate people in this town would claim that deal to be unfair, that books should be free for all to read."

"Hey, people buy books for insane sums. Why is it so insane for us to ask for one dollar and in turn they get to read? Besides, if they like it, they buy it and pay us a dollar plus full price for the book. If they don't like it, they pay us one dollar and save themselves x dollars for not buying the book. It's a win-win situation," Matt said, and shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"And who would run this place?" Jess asked after a moments silence.

Suddenly, Matt and Chris didn't look so confident, and they tried to look everywhere but at him. It didn't take him long to know what they had in mind.

"No," he said firmly.

"Why? It would be perfect!"

"No, it would not! I can agree that your deal isn't all too crappy, and that in some parallell universe it would actually work, but not with me standing behind the counter. People in this town despise me. They have a morosely selective memory, and only remember me as 'town hoodlum'. You think they'd come visit this shop if I ran it?"

"This town gets tourists, right?" Chris tried.

"All of whom Taylor, head of tourism services in this town, will warn about going into the bookshop run by a hoodlum."

"Jess, leave Taylor to me," Rory said, trying to calm him down. "I think this is a great idea, and you know you like Stars Hollow, deep down inside."

Jess looked grumpily at her, and she responded with a stern look.

"Fine," he then gruffed. "But that liking lies deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down inside, just so you know it."

"Great!" Matt explained, almost jumping now. "I knew you'd go for it. What do you think, Cammie?"

Cammie had been standing quiet almost the whole time they'd been in the bookshop, save for the question about what Ferengis were, and was now solemnly looking around the shop.

"I think…" she began, looking around before settling for a spot in the right corner. "I think I want my coffee stand to be there."

"Excuse me?" Jess hissed, almost choking.

"I want in," Cammie replied simply.

"You do?" Chris and Matt asked simultaneously.

"Sure. Philly can do without me, and this is a fun place."

"But your coffee shop?" Rory asked.

"It's a franchise, they can find someone new."

"You don't know anyone here," Jess persisted.

"Sure I do. I know you and Rory, and I know Luke. Maybe I can swing some of his coffee to this place…"

Jess looked like he was about to explode, and he turned on his heel, leaving the bookshop with a strained "Excuse me". Rory looked at the guys with an apologetic look.

"I'll go after him, just… stay here."

Rory followed Jess to the bridge, where he was sitting, angrily throwing pebbles into the water.

"Jess…" Rory said hesitantly.

She didn't get any answer, her fiancé was looking straight ahead, fully concentrated on following the pebbles' path from his hands and down into the water.

"Jess, it's not such a bad idea. I know Matt and Chris, they can manage in Philly, despite what you think. You and Cammie could do wonders for that place, you with the books and she with the coffee."

"Who would come?" Jess asked bitterly. "The entire town still sees me as the no-good troublemaker that faked a murder, kidnapped a gnome and then ran away, leaving their precious town princess with a broken heart."

"Get over yourself Jess, and stop worrying about those people!" Rory told him angrily. "You are better than that, and you know it. Taylor is a schmuck, and this could be your chance to redeem yourself in the town's eyes. You have come so far, done so much and managing this bookstore is a fantastic opportunity!"

"What about Philly?"

"What about it?"

"You have a bunch of job opportunities lined up there."

"I can work long distance. I applied for jobs that wouldn't necessarily force me to work in Philadelphia. Plus, mom's pregnant, and I want to be here and give her support and run interference when she tries to kill Luke out of caffeine-deprivation."

Jess smirked, having no trouble imagining a pregnant, frantic Lorelai chasing a scared, coffee pot-hugging Luke through the streets.

"Where would we live?"

"Luke will probably live with mom in the house, so I think we have a fair shot at scoring the apartment upstairs from the diner."

"Cammie," he finally said.

"Cammie is a big girl."

"With red and purple hair."

"Kirk has night terrors, Miss Patty is a notorious succubus, Babbette names her gnomes, Mrs. Kim is crazy about tofu and Taylor is a megalomaniac. She'd fit right in," Rory calmed him.

"She's…" he began.

"She's your friend, and you're worried," Rory finished. "It's sweet, but I think she'd find it slightly condescending. Take this chance, Jess, please. This could be good, real good."

He stopped throwing pebbles, letting out a deep sigh before turning to her.

"I swear, you should be a hostage negotiator."

"Oh, I am. I once negotiated on behalf of all the hideous clothes is my mom's closet."

"Do I even want to know?"

"Rummage sale. I told her to clean out anything she'd be ashamed to wear in a car accident. Half of the closet was saved thanks to my skilled techniques," Rory smiled. "Now come on, you've got a deal to say yes to."

Jess got up, and together they walked back to town and into the bookstore.

"Can we afford it?" Jess asked the guys when he'd entered.

"Technically, you wouldn't have to buy it from me. I could just name you and the young girl my succeedors. Since you would be in charge, you have the right to make whatever changes you want to the shop," Andrew replied.

"You're the best Jess, seriously, this could be good. With advertisement we could get people from Hartford to come here. That town selectsman slash tourism dude of yours should be thrilled," Matt beamed.

"Where do we sign?" Jess asked, ignoring Matt.

"I'd have to talk to my lawyer, name you and..?" Andrew said, looking questioningly at Cammie.

"Cammie Rose, pleased to meet you," Cammie said, extending her hand to greet Andrew.

"…you and miss Rose here my succeedors, get the papers in order so that Taylor can't nail you for anything."

"Like he won't try anyway…" Jess smirked.

"Yeah, but you will have it on paper that you are the managers of this store legally, and as such, can make any changes you see fit to keep the business running."

"I'm beginning to like this more and more," Jess mused. "I have a chance to nail Taylor with actual paper work."

"I'll contact my lawyer, and I'll try to have the paper work ready in a week. Leave your number, and I'll contact you."

The door behind them opened as Jess scrawled down his cell number, and they all turned to see Kirk enter. He stopped dead when he saw the group of people standing in front of him.

"Why are you here?" he asked dumbly.

"What do you want, Kirk?" Andrew sighed.

"Kirk?" Matt exclaimed and took a couple of steps forward. "The Kirk? Like the captain Kirk of this place?"

"Why is he doing that? Is he a danger?"

Rory, Jess, Cammie and Chris all smirked at Kirks increasing panic.

"Wow, I've heard so much about you!" Matt ranted on. "Well, not really that much, but dude, you're sort of famous, right?"

"Am I hallucinating him? Does anyone else see a rabid young man in here?"

"Why no, Kirk. Are you seeing things again?" Jess teased.

"Get off me, fiend!" Kirk cried, trying to push Matt away.

Matt, who found this display of nuttiness completely fascinating, continued to harass Kirk with inane questions, like had his mother watched Star Trek when she was pregnant, and was it true that he needed a new play mate. Kirk's expression turned more and more frantic, until he rushed out of the shop, wildly screaming for his mother, accompanied by the laughter of Jess, Cammie and Chris.

"I like him!" was all Matt said.

"You know Taylor will get you for this?" Rory told Jess.

"Not as much as I will get Taylor when this place re-opens."

Rory rolled her eyes at him.

"Come on, it should be lunch time at the Dragonfly. Sookie makes the most incredibly food."

"Food!" Chris yelled. "Where's the food?"

"Wow, I'd completely forgotten how food crazy he was…" Rory noted. "Come on."

"See ya Andrew!" Matt and Chris said as they left the book shop.

"Wow, this is incredible, we have another bookstore," Matt said for the fifth time.

"Not yet," Jess pointed out, also for the fifth time.

"Buzzkill."

"Jerk."

"Guys!" Cammie yelled. "Enough, you're giving me a head ache."

"I'm right there with you, sister," Rory whined.

"Rory, doll!" a voice then called behind them.

Rory and Jess stopped dead, the others stopping to see who was calling for her.

"That wouldn't be..?" Jess asked in a low voice, his back still turned away from the callers.

"Mm-hmm," Rory replied. "Miss Patty and Babbette."

"Can we hide somewhere?"

"I doubt it."

"Can we save Matt and Chris?"

"We can try."

"Okay," Jess said and turned to Matt, Chris and Cammie. "Cammie, pick either Matt or Chris."

"Why?" she asked, looking questioningly at him.

"Just do it?"

"Fine, Chris."

"What? Why didn't you pick me?" Matt prostested.

"Because you'd just pinch me in the ass and take full advantage of the situation."

"Okay, Cammie and Chris, you're my friends from Philly, and you're together."

"What?" both of them exclaimed.

"What about me?" Matt asked. "I feel very unsafe right now!"

"With Cammie, Chris is less likely to get molested. With one less to worry about, Jess and I can concentrate on keeping Matt from becoming Patty's next husband." Rory quickly explained.

"Next husband?" Matt echoed, panic in his voice.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just try to keep from walking in front of Patty. This should be a bit easier since they're both sober…"

They could hear the steps of the two women coming closer behind them.

"Smiles on," Rory ordered them.

They turned around, looking all happy and pleasantly surprised.

"Patty, Babbette!" Rory said.

"Hiya, doll!" Babbette greeted in her characteristic, shrill voice.

"Hello there, darling," Patty said, quickly noticing the male company. "Well, well, well, what handsome strangers have you brought to town, Rory?"

"Um… Well, you know Jess, he's… well, you know him. This is Matt and Chris, Jess' friends and co-workers from Philadelphia, and this is Cammie, she's Chris' girlfriend," Rory introduced them.

"I am Patricia LaCosta, but you can call me Patty," Patty said, adding in a rather seductive tone and with a pointed glance to Matt: "Any time you like…"

"Babbette Dell, Rory's neighbour. Wow, you are one fine looking group. Bold choice with the colors there, I remember when I tried to dye my hair red one time, turned purple on me, and then my hair started to fall off…" Babbette rambled.

Rory discreetly peeked around. Matt looked positively terrified, and Cammie and Chris tried hard to keep up the façade of being a couple.

"Are you on your way to the Dragonfly?" Jess intervened.

"Why yes, we heard Sookie's making her famous risotto," Patty replied. "Truly a wonder-risotto, if you ask me. What about you?"

"Oh, we're going too," Rory said. "Soon. Um… Jess just remembered he left his… his wallet in town!"

"Well, we'll see you later then, doll!"

The two women began walking again, and Miss Patty turned around, and looked longingly at Matt for a couple of seconds before following Babbette.

"Don't be a stranger," she called over he shoulder.

"I never want to come back to this town," Matt said once the ladies were out of earshot.

"Dude, agreed," Chris added.

"Wow, she's cool!" Cammie said.

"Babbette or Patty?" Rory asked.

"Both of them!"

"Only you could think that…" Jess told her.

"Come on, we need to hide," Rory said.

"Hide?"

"You want our story to hold? We can't go to the inn now, when Patty and Babbette think we've gone back to town."

"Thank God we have you to keep our minds focused."

"I feel violated," Matt whined.

"I feel dirty," Cammie chimed in.

"I told you so," Jess said in matter-of-fact tone as they walked back a bit.

"That food better be worth it…"

A/N: Kassandra wanted some more Kirk and Miss Patty/Babbette action, and I'm such a sap, so she got it. Hope you all enjoyed it. Show it by reviewing, keep the green-ish button happy!