A/N: Glad nobody was disappointed by the previous chapter - thanks for all the lovely, supportive reviews, folks. Here's hoping you like where this chapter goes too! ;)

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 27

Paris couldn't figure out if running into Madeline and Louise during spring break in Florida was the best thing ever or the worst. To be honest, she had drunk so much at this point, she barely remembered what any of those words even meant. At least she felt better about Doyle, mostly because she hadn't thought about him much in the last few hours as the world grew ever fuzzier. Jess sure looked like he was having fun too, crammed onto the bench seat with Louise on one side and Madeline on the other. They liked him before the drinking ever started, and the attention wasn't doing his ego any harm after Gilmore's attempts to crush it.

"I'm not surprised you and Mary broke up," said Louise, her fingers making patterns near Jess' knee. "She really never was your speed, was she?"

"I thought they were just about as smart as each other." Madeline frowned.

Paris laughed too loudly.

"Speed, Madeline. How fast a person is? From 0 to slutty in 3.5 seconds," she said with a significant look in Louise's direction.

"Just because we're not all prudes like you, Paris," she replied acidly.

"Hey, she's not a prude," said Jess, shaking his head. "She has this thing going for older guys," he reminded the girls, who both squealed and giggled at the prospect.

"Can it, Mariano!" Paris told him crossly, though not crossly enough because everything was coming out soft and bendy under the influence of the booze. "Anyway, you girls should really stop calling Gilmore by 'Mary'," she told them then. "Unless you plan on adding a Magdalene."

"What does that mean?" Madeline asked Jess.

"Nothing," he told her, emptying his paper cup one more time.

"It means that Rory has had a little trouble being faithful lately," said Paris, not caring anymore whether she was supposed to or not.

"Ooh, naughty Miss Gilmore!" Louise cackled. "Not that I understand why she would want to when she has you," she told Jess then. "Well, if she's going to play around, that gives you licence for a little pay back. I'm very good in that capacity... or I can be very bad, if that's your idea of fun."

Jess blinked hard, trying to look anywhere but at Louise's chest, which wasn't easy when she was making a point of pushing it in his face. She wasn't unattractive, he was all aware of that, but he did tend to prefer brunettes as a rule. Of course, turning away from Louise put Madeline in his line of sight. She was pretty and made a point of smiling at him a whole lot, not just tonight, but way back when they were at Chilton too. He had a feeling that if he really wanted to get his own back on Rory, she could help him out and he might even enjoy himself. As that thought lumbered its way through his foggy head, Jess started wondering why he had allowed himself to get quite this drunk.

"I shouldn't be here," he said, trying to move and finding it almost impossible, not only because the girls didn't really want to let him escape, but moreover from the effect of too many strong drinks on his system. "Paris, my legs don't work," he told her. "That hasn't happened in a very long time."

"You'll live," she assured him. "Just don't try to walk."

"It's not as if we want you to go anywhere," said Louise, leaning in close again.

"I'm comfy with you right here," Madeline told him, turning to lean on him some more.

"You've got eyes like stars," Jess told her, the words out his mouth before he really processed them, followed by a strange giggling sound as he realised how dumb that sounded.

"You really think so?" asked Madeline, fluttering her eyelashes, apparently not caring if he meant the compliment or not.

"Sure," he told her, not seeing why he should take it back anyway.

After all, it wasn't like he and Rory were really together at this point. He kind of wondered if they ever would be again, if they could be after what had happened. It hurt to think about it all even now, drunk as he was.

"You know, what?" said Louise, getting everyone's attention, as was her usual aim in life. "I think maybe Rory Gilmore needs to know that she can't treat our Jess this way. She ought to be told that maybe she's not the only girl in the world for him."

When Jess managed to focus his eyes on her waving hand he realised she had his cell right there between her fingers. When she leaned in before, she wasn't just being flirty, she was picking his pocket.

"What are you doing?" he asked, more than a little slow on the uptake thanks to the alcohol - it really had been a long time since he got drunk like this.

"Oh, just calling an old friend," she said, hitting the speed-dial for Rory's cell and waiting with the phone at her ear.

"Don't worry, Jess," said Madeline, her hand at his cheek as she turned his head until he was looking at her again. "You can do better."

Louise was laughing when Rory's voicemail kicked in and then she started to leave a message. Jess didn't catch all of what she was saying. One minute he was staring at Madeline, who was so close he could almost taste her, and the next she was practically in his lap, kissing him like her life depended on it.


"You know you really don't have to be involved in all of this if you don't want to," said Lorelai for what had to be the seventh time since she arrived at the diner.

Luke rolled his eyes and continued to review the guest list in his hand.

"I'm getting a little tired of repeating myself, Lorelai," he told her, without looking up. "It's fine. For the last time, it's my wedding too and I want to be a part of organising it. Besides, I'm used to running the diner. Your to do list for the inn is practically never-ending, so we'll work on the wedding stuff together, get it done in half the time, and save you the headache, okay?"

"Okay," she agreed again, though Luke had no doubt they would have the same conversation a dozen more times before the week was out. "I mean, I'd ask Rory for help with some stuff, but I'm just not sure I should. You know, it's kind of like rubbing her nose in our happiness when she's in such a bad place with Jess. This morning she didn't even want to get out of bed. She was still there when I left, which is so not like Rory."

"I know." Luke sighed. "The only issue with this list is her and Jess. I mean, as much as I don't hold with all these stupid traditions and customs, the best man and the maid of honour is kind of a traditional pairing, right?"

"Right." Lorelai nodded her agreement. "It seemed so perfect when we decided on it, but now? I just really hope they work things out, somehow."

"Me too. I mean, I know Rory did wrong and as much as I love her, that's not okay, but at the same time, a couple of lousy kisses that were almost definitely that rich kid's fault? I don't know why Jess can't just forgive her already."

"Come on, Luke," said Lorelai, shaking her head. "You honestly think you'd be so quick to forgive me if you found out I kissed another guy? I'm not so sure I'd be okay with you kissing another woman."

"I know," Luke agreed, sighing one more time. "I just want one of them to find a way to make it okay, you know? Screw logic, I just want them happy."

"You and me both, babe," Lorelai agreed. "You heard from Jess at all since he and Paris went to Florida?"

"Not a word, but then I don't exactly think kids on spring break make regular calls home to their worried parents and guardians." He rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, I'm still having a little trouble with the idea of Jess and Paris going wild for the week."

"Hopefully not too wild," said Luke with a look. "You know what they say, when the usually quiet people suddenly decide to go crazy, they go really crazy. I just don't want either of them doing anything too stupid."

"I'm sure they'll be fine. They're both good kids." Lorelai smiled, putting her hand over Luke's own on the counter. "Speaking of good kids, Lane seems to be doing better. She has her own place now, you know?"

"I know." Luke nodded, putting the guest list down and leaning closer to Lorelai over the counter. "I'm just glad Mrs Kim thinks greasy food is borne of the devil. Means she never comes in here asking me any questions about how Lane's living now. Can you imagine how crazy she's going to go when she hears two guys are living in the same apartment as her daughter?"

"Yeah, there's gonna be Big Trouble in Little Korea when that one gets out," Lorelai agreed. "Still, I think Lane can handle it. She's really grown up these past few weeks. I guess she's had to. Speaking of Lane and her new room-mates, you think we should talk to the band about playing at the wedding?"

"Lane's band?" asked Luke, blinking hard. "I thought you'd want, like, a string quartet or something fancy like that."

"Maybe for the walking down the aisle type of a thing, but a rock band might be cool for the reception."

"If that's what you want." Luke shrugged. "I'm easy."

"Only for me, I hope." Lorelai winked at him, loving that she was still the only woman in the world that could make him blush like that. "Anyway, can you imagine how much my mother will hate it?"

"Book Lane's band," said Luke definitely.

Lorelai giggled and leaned in to kiss his lips.

"We make the perfect team."

"Yes, we do," he agreed, kissing her this time. "So, are you inviting the band to the ceremony too?" he checked then, looking back at the list of guests.

"Hmm, I guess we could," Lorelai considered. "Having it in the square was such a good idea. At least this way we don't have to stick to a certain number of people, unless Taylor finds a by-law that says we do."

"You leave Taylor to me," said Luke definitely. "We will plan this wedding exactly how we want to have it and if he doesn't like it, he'll have me to deal with."

"My hero," said Lorelai girlishly, hands clasped together as she looked at him adoringly. "And hey, if you can't get Taylor to give in, from what I hear, we can always set Paris on him."

Luke grinned. "Now, that's actually not a bad idea."


Rory just couldn't summon the energy to get out of bed. Given that it was spring break, she didn't really have anywhere pressing to be, and though there was some studying she would have to do at some point, it wasn't so desperate that she must get to it today. Her mom had offered to take her to the diner for breakfast or to meet her for lunch later if she wanted instead. Breakfast was never going to happen and now the clock said past twelve. She could get up for lunch, but Rory didn't really want to.

If anybody else had behaved this way over a guy, Rory knew she would call them pathetic, behind their back if not to their face. Sure, she had hurt Jess and he had every right to be mad at her, but she shouldn't allow herself to wallow like this just because of that. A part of her actually wanted to go to Florida and track him down, make him talk to her. Surely, she at least deserved a conversation, even if all Jess did was yell at her or break up with her. This living in limbo, not knowing what might happen next, it was killing Rory by degrees.

Maybe running off to Florida was a stupid plan. After all, she didn't know exactly where Jess and Paris had gone. That didn't mean Rory couldn't call. Maybe Jess wouldn't pick up if he saw it was her, but there was a chance Paris might. It was a vague chance but still.

Rory started to think of what she could say that hadn't already been said. Sorry was the obvious choice, but she had apologised to Jess at the time of her confession and afterwards via text. She had tried to get Paris to plead her case but she refused. Rory supposed she couldn't really blame her. Jess and Paris might not be related by blood but they were brother and sister in every other way. Family came first, that was just the rules, but Rory wished right now that it wasn't.

Reaching for her phone on the nightstand, Rory switched it on, surprised to realise she had one new voicemail message. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered if it might be Jess that had tried to call. If she missed him, she would kick herself, but it would be a good sign at least if he had wanted to talk.

Putting the phone to her ear, Rory's nervous smile gave way to a frown when the message began to play. A terrible cackle of laughter that she thought she should recognise assaulted her ear and then a voice she definitely knew, though it was not Jess' own.

"Hey, Mary, it's Louise," she said, sounding as mean as she had ever tried to be. "I'm here in Florida with Madeline and Paris and a certain guy that I think you used to date. Well, we just wanted you to know that we know you cheated and that Madeline plans on making sure Jess gets his own back on you. Ooh, in fact, I think they started already - woohoo!"

There was a cacophony of drunken laughter and then the line went dead.

To Be Continued...