A/N: So so so sorry! It's been sooo long since I've updated, finals is still on going, but I really want to finish this chapter and get it out of my head! Couldn't study at all without writing it out first, haha.. Also, I have added this 'end credit song' at the end of all the chapters (starting from this one). it's not my best or favourite chapter, but hope you guys still enjoy it! I guarantee, the coming chapters are gonna be something else.. :P

Anon1, thank you for your review! I'm glad I decided to put chapter 8 out asap. Haha! I laughed at the knocking out of the ball park comment! Thank you sooo much! It motivated me a lot! Hope you'll keep enjoying this story and tell me what you think of this chapter!

junienmomo, thank you for your review! I was really worried about the length of my chapters, but it seems like it's alright by the readers, so I'll continue writing in this length. Loved your comment on 'Luke is the king of eyerolls', haha, so true! Glad you also notice the little details like the three warnings! Hope you'll continue reading the story and tell me what you think!

Guest, thank you for your review! Hope this chapter didn't let you down! Wrote it in a bit of a rush, consider the time I have here with 3 more finals this week. Hope you'll keep enjoying the story and review this chapter as well!

Chapter 9: Beastie Boys, Pizza, 'Lucas' Part 4

Sunday 12:30 pm

After Jess finished the ice cream while tears gradually dried off, the three went back on to Luke's truck and headed to a bike shop 20 minutes drive from the aquarium.

'Can we turn the radio on please Luke?' asked Rory who was sitting in the middle of the two guys. Luke was focusing on the road, trying to ignore the small town traffic. Jess fell asleep as soon as he got on to the truck.

Luke nodded his head and switched on the radio and lowered the volume, not wanting to wake the tired boy up.

The traffic delayed the drive a little, but after 45 minutes, the trio finally arrived. Luke stopped the truck and looked on to his right. He had a small smile on his face. The two eight years old has fell asleep peacefully, Rory clinging on to her new dolphin and Jess's quiet but noticeable snoring and drolling a little on to his red and white baseball tshirt. The kids must be exhausted from waking up very early this morning, Luke thought. He tenderly shook the two kids by the shoulder, 'we're here kids, Rory, Jess.'

Rory rubbed her eyes and slowly opened them while Jess was stretching his arms and yawning before he opened his eyes. Luke got off the truck and opened the door on Jess's side and let the two kids hop off the truck before locking the car.

'Rory, I know it's not your birthday yet, but it's close right?' asked Luke while bending his knees to talk to the little girl at the side of the entrance to the store.

'Yeah, it's on the 8th of october, so it's soon.' Rory replied. 'But I want to buy you your birthday gift right now.' Luke said with a small smile while patting the girl on the head, 'you and Jess can pick a bike and that will be an early birthday gift from me, sounds good?'

'Yeah!' Rory squealed in excitement, 'thank you Luke!' Rory gave Luke a big hug before Luke led the two kids into the store.

The store was crowded as it was a Sunday, lots of family were there looking at or trying to buy new bikes. Jess and Rory walked quickly to the kids section bikes. 'Hi there, are you two looking to buy a new bike?' a salesman greeted the two kids then to Luke.

Rory nodded excitedly, 'yeah we are!' Jess ignored the guy and was looking at the bikes himself. 'Are you looking for anything in particular for your son and daughter, sir?' asked the salesman politely.

Luke scretched his head, thinking whether he should correct him on the 'son and daughter' part, but decided it's just a waste of time to do that and said, 'um yea we are, something durable, one particularly for beginners and the other one..' Jess cut off Luke's sentence, 'the other one would be the 1992 Dyno VFR black edition, do you have that?' Luke was puzzled at Jess's reply, his nephew never showed much enthusiasm over bikes, he was surprised he knows a specific bike. ' That's a very good choice, buddy. It's this year's newest and most popular model! Here I'll show you the bike.' The trio followed the salesman. While they were walking, Luke asked Jess, 'I never know you like bikes that much, Jess.' Jess shrugged and replied, 'this bike is on every boys' christmas list this year at school, it's the only thing everyone's talking about.' 'yea, Johnny is trying to break his bike on purpose so his dad will buy him this one.' Rory added. Luke chuckled, 'well Jess if you deliberately break the bike for a new one, you know it won't happen, right?' Jess smirked, 'I know.'

It didn't take long for Rory to pick a bike, all she wanted was a purple one with a little basket infront of the bike because she wanted to be able to put books and her stuffed toys while she rides around on her bike. Luke was shocked by the price of the two bikes, he didn't realize prices has gone up so much since the last time he had bought a bike which must have been like 15 years ago with his father. Ofcourse, Jess's new and hot BMX did not help at all. But all he can do was sigh with a smile and swipe his credit card, afterall, these are two of his favourite underaged human being on earth.

The park was not far away from the store, Luke carried Rory's bike and holding her hands while Jess rode on his bike towards the park.

'Okay now, Rory, I'm gonna try pushing your bike from behind and you'll try riding it on your own. You were doing good just now, you'll be more than fine okay?' Luke said while holding Rory's bike from behind. Rory panicked, 'No Luke! Please don't let go! I'm scared!' Luke assured Rory, 'It's going to be okay, I won't let you fall at all. I will lift the bike up before it even falls okay? I just want you to try, and I'm confident you can do it!'

'Yea you can do it Rory!' Jess added while showing off his little biking tricks, jumping off from the bottom stairs with his bike and then riding it with no hands, 'see! In no time you can ride like me!'

Rory pouted a little, she's scared of falling off and Jess's riding the bike like it was nothing, really was making it worse. 'Alright, don't be scared ok? I'll right here behind you!' Luke assured again. Luke slowly pushed Rory's bike forward, ' don't look down ok! Look straight in front of you Rory!' Luke let go of the bike and Rory was just pedalling and pedalling, Rory finally knows how to ride a bike.

Luke was ofcourse running behind Rory, he promised not to let her fall, and he was not going to break his promise.

'You did it! Rory! Good Job!' Luke said proudly while stopping Rory's bike. Rory was sweating and her face was red like an apple from the sun but she was really happy, she finally knows how to ride a bike. Jess was speeding his way up to where Luke and Rory were, he was as well sweating. 'Uncle Luke I'm really thirsty, can we buy some drinks, please?' Luke smiled a little, so proud of his nephew for starting to remember what he said about 'please and thank you.' And very proud of himself of doing not a bad job on this parenting thing. 'Yea sure, I'll go buy some drinks over there, you two stay here, don't go anywhere until I come back understand?'

The two sweating kids nodded.

'Rory do you want to see me riding on the bike with no hands and standing up at the same time?' Jess asked excitedly.

'No, don't. Luke said we should wait here.' Rory reminded him.

Jess whined, 'come on, it's not like I'm going too far!'

Rory frowned at Jess, ' I will tell everyone at school that you cried and was snuggling Luke like a baby if you don't stay here and wait for Luke to come back!'

'Hey!' Jess yelled, ' don't you ever say that to anyone! It's a secret okay?'

Jess raised his pinky finger out, Rory replied with her arms around her chest, 'only if you promise not to ride your bike until Luke comes back.'

Jess sighed defeatedly, 'fine.' The two made their pinky swears.

The two kids were in the middle of the biking trail, talking about the book that they both really wanted to read so badly, not noticing some kids around 11 years old were doing a race on their bikes. The winning kid was looking behind and making funny face to his friends who were losing. He did not realize the two 8 years old were not far infront of him. It was the sound of the kids shouting and laughing loudly that caught Jess's attention. The bigger kid was about to crash on him and Rory. It was happening so fast, there was not enough time to run, Jess pushed Rory on to the side, hoping she would land on the grass and did not get crashed by the older kid while he just stood there with the two bikes.

BAM!

The kid's bike crashed onto Jess while the kid fell of the bike and on to the ground, whincing at the pain. Rory was fortunately, like Jess hoped, fell onto the grass and was not hurt at all. But Jess was less fortunate. Luke was just in time to saw the whole scene, he ran to the trail. Jess was lying on the side of his body on the ground, trying to get up, his knees and elbow were covered in blood, and his chin was scratched, soon turning to a scar. Rory ran over, 'are you okay Jess?' she looked so worried, the blood was scaring her a little. Luke help lifted up the bikes and slowly carried Jess to the side, where the grass were. ' Uncle Luke, I'm okay, don't worry, it's just a scratch.' Jess said simply, he did not have a single tear on his face. 'Are you okay Rory?' asked Jess who now has a worried face, he promised Lorelai he was going to protect Rory from anything and anyone, and he was not about to break his promise. Rory gave Jess a small smile, 'I'm more than fine, thank you for pushing me.' ' That a boy.' Luke patted Jess on the back, so very proud of his nephew for being brave and protecting his little friend. 'We should go home and clean that up. Now in the mean time, let me just pour some water on your knees and elbows to clear the blood off first okay?' Jess nodded. When Luke went to get some tissue paper while the two kids sat on the grass, Rory gave a quick kiss on Jess's cheek and whispered, 'thank you.'

It was 8pm. Luke took care of the blood and injuries on Jess and made dinner for the three of them. After dinner Rory and Jess sat on the couch watching TV silently. Jess didn't know what to say or how to talk to Rory after she kissed him. He had never been kissed by a girl, yes ofcourse his mother, and all those women in starshollow who found him cute and adorable, but, no not a girl of his age. He didn't know what that means. Does that means Rory likes him, is she his boyfriend now? Rory was also awfully quiet, this was also her first time kissing a boy, she remembered Lane's mother told her kissing a boy will lead to terrible things and she will go to hell soon. But she couldn't help it at that moment, she was really glad that Jess saved her without any hesitation. Jess was her friend, her best friend.

Luke was washing dishes while he heard a knock on the door.

He opened the door,

'Hey!' he greeted the beautiful blue eyed woman.

'Hey Luke! ' said Lorelai giving him a friendly hug.

'Come in!' said Luke, 'they're just watching TV.'

'I hope Rory wasn't too much trouble today.'

Luke scratched his head, he didn't understand why he was suddenly so nervous around Lorelai, a woman, a customer, a friend , that he sees every single day. 'Oh no, not at all. Come on in, I'm sure Rory is excited to see you.' Luke gave her a half smile.

The two adults walked in and saw the cutest scene ever.

Jess and Rory fell asleep watching scooby-doo. Rory's head was resting on Jess's left shoulder and their little hands were holding together. Luke was chuckling silently looking at the sight while Lorelai was at awe.

'Camera! Camera! Luke!' Lorelai whispered excitedly to the man standing next to him.

'For what?' asked Luke but went on searching for his camera.

Lorelai rolled her eyes, 'for blackmailing ofcourse! When they grow up and we will use all these blackmail photos against their rebellion act, you know! Like the in diapers photos, silly christmas dance video, you know!'

Luke sighed, disapproving all this and handed her the camera. Lorelai took a picture, and said, 'They are so cute together. I could totally see them as highschool sweethearts and then getting married and then..'

'Ah jeez! They are eight years old for god sake, Lorelai!' Luke ranted while trying to keep his voice as low as he can.

'you never know.' Lorelai replied in her confident voice, giving him a gentle smile, looking into Luke's eyes.

Luke zoned out when he saw those crystal blue eyes and that pretty face, the two were standing closer and closer face to face. Luke suddenly held Lorelai's hands. He was nervous, he had no idea what he was doing, it just happened.

Luke said to himself, Luke, this is the moment! Come on! Man up!

Is he going to kiss me?! Wait, what he likes me?! Oh my god Lorelai calm down! If we get married, I'll be Lorelai Danes? Danes? That sounds weird.. no it sounds nice, no.. stop it Lorelai! Focus! Focus!

'Mommy!' squealed Rory who jumped off the couch. The two adult jumped and instantly seperated themselves when they heard the little girl's squealing.

'Hey baby! I missed you so much!' hugging and kissing her daughter. Luke was standing behind the mother and daughter, he gave out a sigh of relief and adjusted his baseball cap.

What the hell was that! Holy shss.. you hold her hands, and you tried to kiss her! What were you thinking! You should just fall off a cliff and die, now she'll never come back to the diner, you'll not ever be friends with her anymore! Wrong move Luke Danes, Wrong move!

'Luuuuuke!' Lorelai repeated, patting Luke on the shoulder, Luke jerked a little, he didn't hear Lorelai calling him multiple times at all.

'Huh! Yes?What?' Luke blurted out,

Lorelai giggled a little, 'It's getting late, we're gonna head home now.'

'Oh! Yeah! It's late, I should uh probably go to..' Luke had no idea what he was talking, 'to uh finish the dishes.'

'Okay… Have fun cleaning the dishes! Rory say good bye and thank you Luke for taking you out today.' Lorelai said, pretending that she was all calm and had forgotten about what happened previously.

Rory said her goodbyes and the mother and daughter left the apartment.

Luke closed the door and gave a hugh sigh before turning back.

Jess opened his eyes, he was pretending to be asleep, he smirked and gave Luke a wink, 'Luke and Lorelai, sitting on the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!'

End Credit Song: Crossroads by John Mayer

A/N: Hope it's not too bad of a chapter.. reviews and comments will be greatly appreciated! While I was supposed to be studying hard, I had planned and figured out the whole story basically, like the plot, the ending etc. But suggestions will be greatly appreciated and welcome! You guys have amazing ideas! name of the next chapter: ORANGE vs BLUE. Till then, stay tuned :)