A/N: So, Logan showing up is causing some worry in the reviews. C'mon, guys, you know Rory & Jess will always be together in the end, no matter what happens in between. Yeah, that's not really as comforting as it should be, is it? Sorry? Anyway, in the meantime, I may have got a little distracted from the titular 'kids' for the larger part of this chapter. Sorry. Again!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 7

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"For the hundredth time, Gilmore, I'm fine!" Paris snapped at her friend. "God, I'm taking a break in a relationship that wasn't working. This is a positive step for Jamie and me, so stop acting like it's a tragedy."

"You're right. I'm sorry, Paris," said Rory, nodding once.

Of course, the fact that Paris had spent most of the weekend alternately crying and getting mad about the whole situation with her boyfriend seemed to have been completely forgotten when Monday morning dawned and classes needed attention again. Rory and Jess spent a lot of time with her, trying to sympathise and lift her spirits both. It wasn't an easy job, or a fun one, but she was like a sister to them both at this point, so it was kind of their job.

"Anyway, the fact that you're spending so much time with me doesn't say much for your relationship either," said Paris then. "Personally, I don't think it's natural-"

"Hey."

Rory was as startled as anyone to realise that another person had cut into what Paris was saying. Few would dare to interrupt Miss Geller even on a good day, and this was far from a one of those for her.

"I'm sorry, are you talking to us?"

"Well, actually, I was talking to Rory, but I don't believe I've had the pleasure," said the blond smoothly.

Rory rolled her eyes. "Paris, Logan. Logan, Paris," she introduced quickly.

"I know who he is," said Paris, narrowing her eyes. "Huntzberger, right? Son of media mogul Mitchum. I don't think there's a single person in this school that doesn't know you."

"Always nice to be noticed". Logan smiled. "Excuse us, Paris," he said then, taking a hold of Rory's arm before she could protest and steering her away.

"What are you doing?" she asked crossly, pulling her elbow free.

"Actually, what I'm trying to do is apologise," he assured her. "It's been pointed out to me that whilst I was for the most part defending myself the other day, against a truly impressive dressing-down I might add, I probably could have been a little more gentlemanly about it."

"I really don't care what attitude you have with me," she told him, hugging her books to her chest. "You seem to have missed my entire point, which was your attitude towards people in general."

"People?" he echoed.

"People who don't have as much money as you do," she insisted. "You really weren't listening at all, were you?"

"I swear that I was," he told her, smiling too wide and dodging into her path when she tried to get away.

"I need to get to class."

"And I respect that, I was just trying to say I'm sorry."

"Fine, you're sorry. Apology accepted. Can I go now?"

It was odd to look up and meet his eyes only to realise how pretty they were. That wasn't a thought Rory often had about guys, but with Logan, it was hard to miss, at least now she'd stopped being hopping mad at him.

"Be my guest," said Logan, moving aside at last. "Always a pleasure, Rory."

"Likewise, I'm sure," she replied as she disappeared from his sight.

Neither of them knew they were being watched. Logan certainly never noticed as he turned and walked away with the biggest grin on his face. Jess knew what classes Rory and Paris had first this morning and had come by to check that they were doing okay after a fairly trying weekend. He was running a little late thanks to his meat-head room-mates who seemed hell-bent on getting in his way this morning, and had arrived just in time to see some blond dick bothering Rory.

Of course, it occurred to Jess to swoop in and ask what was going on, but then he'd seen the look on her face, that girlish smile that women only got when they liked a guy. Not that Jess thought for a second that Rory would cheat on him, she just wasn't that girl. Didn't mean he had to like this guy that seemed to have an idea of getting close to her, and Jess didn't like him, not at all.


"I still can't believe that's how your parents found out about our being engaged," Luke declared, walking past Lorelai with more than one plate in each hands.

"God, how many different ways can I say that I'm sorry?" she asked him desperately. "I was getting Rory out of a jam. Like you wouldn't have done the same thing, for Rory, for our Rory," she said with a look, practically chasing her fiancé around the diner as he served.

"You know I would do anything for Rory, but that's not the point," he reminded her. "We were supposed to wait, that was your idea, and then we were going to go to them together and do it the right way."

"As if there is even a right way with my parents!" Lorelai rolled her eyes. "And if there were a right way, it would probably change at random intervals just to stop me from ever truly knowing what it was, such is the nature of my mother and father!" she insisted, trying to get in his way when he made to breeze by her. "Luke, honey, come on. You've been like this all weekend. You cannot stay mad at me forever, can you?"

She turned on the big eyes and the pouty lips, lacing her fingers behind his neck and holding him still. All the fight went out of Luke in an instant and he sighed.

"No, I'm not... I'm really not mad at you," he promised her, hands at her waist as he leaned in to plant a kiss on her lips. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry, just be Luke," she insisted. "What's up, Diner Man?"

Something was wrong with him, and if he was just using the engagement announcement to cover it, deliberately or not, then Lorelai hadn't a clue what the real problem was.

"Nothing is up," he told her. "I'm fine. C'mon, what's not to be fine about? The diner's good, your inn is going well, the kids are doing good at Yale."

"Yes, but something is on your mind," she said, following him when he pulled away and disappeared behind the counter again. "A fiancée knows these things."

Luke did at least smile at her use of that word and the way she flashed her engagement ring around when she said it. One thing he couldn't worry about was his commitment to Lorelai or hers to him. As much as he felt weird at one time about her proposing to him, rather than the other way around, he didn't care anymore. They were engaged, they were going to be together for the long haul, and that was all that mattered. Of course, Lorelai wasn't he problem, but she was right when she insisted that he had one.

"I just... I don't know, I'm a little worried about Jess," he admitted at last, leaning over the counter to speak quietly to her where the gossips hopefully wouldn't hear.

"Worried how?" asked Lorelai curiously. "Rory didn't mention anything."

"No, he's not sick or in trouble or anything bad like that," Luke insisted. "He just... He didn't come home this weekend, again."

"Well, babe, Rory didn't come home either. From what she told me, they were taking care of Paris. You know, she and Jamie are kind of on the rocks lately."

"I heard something about it." Luke nodded. "But it's not just this weekend, it's... I can't explain it, I just feel like something is wrong. Call it uncle's intuition."

"Uncle's intuition?" Lorelai echoed, trying not to smile too much. "Really?"

"Hey, all the weird things you say, I can't say one that doesn't make absolute sense?" he checked, smirking because he knew she had a point.

"You know, I'm sure Jess is fine. Yale is a big adjustment, especially for the kid who always thought college wasn't an option. He's just getting used to it all, same as Rory and Paris. I'm sure they'll all be fine," she said, squeezing his hand. "And hey, if they have any problems, they have us to run to for help. That makes them the luckiest kids in the entire known world," she promised happily.

"I love you, Crazy Lady. You know that, right?" he said, smiling fondly at her.

"Sure, sure. I guess you're kind of cool too," she replied with a cheeky wink, pulling her ringing cell from her purse.

Before Luke even had a chance to point her towards the door, she made to leave, blowing him a kiss with her free hand then picking up her 'to go' coffee on the way out.

"Hi, Mom. Everything okay?" she said into the phone.

"Yes, Lorelai, everything is absolutely fine," Emily assured her, in a tone too chipper to mean anything good. "Are you having a pleasant day?"

"Uh, sure, yeah," Lorelai told her warily. "Busy with the inn and all, but y'know, pretty good."

"That's wonderful," her mother said, with an over the top smile that Lorelai could just picture inside her head. "Well, I don't want to take up too much of your time, I was just calling to say we won't be able to have you over Friday night this week."

"Oh, really?" Lorelai checked, doing some semblance of a happy dance on the diner doorstep. "That's a real shame."

"Yes, well, I am sorry, but your father and I are hosting a Yale Alumni event, and I really don't think you would have a good time."

"No, you're probably right. Well, I guess me and Rory'll see you the week after then?"

"Oh, well, actually, I was thinking of inviting Rory along," said Emily then. "I don't know, I just thought it might be good for her to meet some of the former students, and they might bring their children along, so Rory might even be amongst her fellow Yalies. Can't hurt to broaden her horizons in society."

Lorelai winced at the very idea of subjecting her daughter to that kind of party, but then she remembered how Rory sometimes actually enjoyed spending time that way and she relaxed again.

"Well, obviously, you'll have to ask Rory is she wants to go. I, for one, am so jealous that I'm not invited, but I guess I'll get over it," she said, with a level or sarcasm that even Emily couldn't fail to notice.

"Yes, well," she replied coolly, "I assume you will be more than happy to spend extra time with your fiancé," she said pointedly.

"Oh, Mom, you are not wrong," she replied, looking in through the window at her man.

Moments later, Lorelai rushed back into the diner, not bothering to move further than the open doorway since she was already running late.

"Luke, Friday night, my house, date night," she insisted.

"Friday?" he said, frowning, clearly confused as he knew Fridays were always spent in Hartford.

"My mom cancelled. So, it's a date?"

Luke smiled. "It's a date," he promised.

Lorelai grinned. "I love my life," she declared, turning to leave and actually going this time.

"Yeah," said Luke to himself. "Me too."

To Be Continued...