Don't own Gilmore Girls.
"Merry Christmas, Mom!" Rory was leaning on Logan and had her mother on the phone, "what time should we be there?"
"Well, Luke is downstairs and getting ready to start breakfast. You two able to be here in thirty minutes?"
Rory turned to Logan and he nodded, able to hear the entire conversation, "Logan says yes, so we will be there in thirty minutes. Oh, and Mom, I need to visit with Lane today. I have a present for her."
"Sure, hon. After breakfast and gifts?"
"Yup," Rory popped the p while the smile on her face kept growing. She was looking forward to giving Lane the music store and house.
"Hey, remind them that we understand if they decide to leave before TJ, Liz, Doula, Jess, and Alicia show up," Luke called out.
"Hear that?" Lorelai asked.
"Sure did," responded Rory, "but we will stay. We are going to be a family in 2 days. Need to get used to calling him step-cousin." Rory teased.
Lorelai turned to Luke, handing him a coffee, "They are staying; we need enough food for eight people."
Logan wiped his mouth and put his napkin down, "Thanks, Luke, breakfast was great. You cook better here than in the diner."
Rory playfully smacked his arm, "Hey, don't tell him that."
"Why not?" Logan leaned over to kiss her and took her hand.
"I don't know, it just seems wrong. I like diner food."
Logan and Luke looked at her like she was crazy, but Lorelai defended her, "It is a different experience, and we can't have anything better than Luke's."
"You are crazy, you know that?" Luke stood up, grabbing plates. Logan joined him in clearing the table.
"Hey, Luke, anything I can do to help with dinner prep?" Logan asked. Luke looked a little defensive.
"I have it all covered." He growled.
"Ok, just thought I would offer. I'm not the best cook, but I can chop if you need it. Not like you are going to get any help from those two." Logan pointed at the two Gilmore Girl's backs.
"You have a point." Luke acknowledged. "But I did it all over the last couple of days. I have everything ready to put into the oven, and Liz is bringing a couple of items along. But thanks, I appreciate the offer."
"All right, then, shall we join them and open presents?" Logan put the last dish in the dishwasher.
Rory had settled herself by the tree and pulled out the presents while Paul Anka was lying with his head on Lorelai's lap while she was petting him. Rory read the first tag, "Rory love Mom. Ok, Mom, what is in here?" Rory opened her present to find her first AP article framed and a note written on it; 'Congratulations! Looking forward to reading more and working with you – Christiane Amanpour.'
Rory clasped her hand over her mouth, "Oh, my God, Mom, did you ask her for this?"
Lorelai had a tear in her eye, "No, she sent the article and note to the Inn. I have a note from her about how much she enjoyed staying with us and is looking forward to returning."
"Oh, Mom, thank you for framing this for me. It is incredible. It makes all that time on the road worth it."
"You're welcome, Hon. It seemed a bit lame since I only supplied the frame, but nothing else could compare. And, well, the best gift I am giving you this year is that you are my maid of honor at my wedding."
"You getting married is the best present I am getting this year." She looked at Logan with a twinkle in her eye.
"The next present is from Lorelai for Luke," she announced.
"I thought we said only small gifts?" Luke was looking at the box sitting in front of him. He opens it to find a hat with "I got a Gilmore" embroidered on a flannel shirt. "Seriously, Lorelai?"
"I wanted to make sure you have a clean shirt to wear on our honeymoon, and I just thought the hat was silly."
He put the hat on his head and adjusted the band, "It is perfect." He was grinning. "Rory, give your mother my gift."
Rory handed her Mom the box with Luke's name on it. She opened it to find a hat with "I love snow" written on it. She put it on her head and grinned, "I love it." She told him. He leaned over, and they kissed deeply.
Luke looked at Rory and nodded at the small box from him to Rory. She found her article on Oprah on the back of his menu. "Luke, this is so awesome. You guys are. Oh, Thank you."
Logan leaned down, "making my gift look pretty unimpressive here. All of these Rory first edition pieces." He handed her a box, which she accepted and opened.
"It is a Kindle? You got me a Kindle!? This is awesome!" Rory was bouncing up and down.
Luke and Lorelai looked at each other and then at Logan; Lorelai asked, "What is a Kindle, Logan?"
"It is a device that can hold up to 200 books. I thought that would help lighten the load in Rory's bag."
Logan then gave Lorelai and Luke their presents; they both got iPhones, so staying in touch with Rory as she traveled was easier.
Lorelai then reached behind her, picked up a box for Logan, and handed it to him. "Here, Logan, I thought you should. Well, you will see what it is."
Logan opened the box and found a mug with "Limo Boy" on it. Logan laughed, "Now I feel right at home."
He leaned over and kissed Lorelai on the cheek, "Thank you."
Rory was sitting on the sofa, looking at Lane and Zach's Christmas tree. "Remember when we were talking after my freshman year at Yale?"
"When you told me Jess wanted you to run off with him?" Lane asked.
"Yeah."
"Yup, I remember." Lane nodded
"Oh, right, well. I was thinking about what you said then; when I was with Logan at his parent's house at Thanksgiving."
"You went to Logan's parents' house?"
"Focus, Lane, I was talking about our conversation about Jess and Dean."
"Oh, right, sorry. Wait.' Lane grabs a container of Pringles and settles into the sofa to attentively listen. "go."
"I think that I was always meant to be with the safe guy."
"I do remember you preferring Dean; you liked being safe then. I thought it was so romantic that Jess showed up and just wanted you to run off with him," Lane said in a sappy voice.
"Exactly." Rory agreed.
"But now I get it. You can't have a relationship with someone who isn't there."
"Right"
"And Dean was there." Rory commented and then continued, "But he wasn't the right person for me. We argued so much about education and future goals."
"You don't argue with Logan?" Lane seemed surprised.
"Well, yes, but not about the big things."
"Ok," Lane is clearly confused about where Rory is going with this conversation on Christmas and trying to piece together exactly how she might be helpful.
"We want the same things out of life. I really miss him when I am on the road."
"So, you are saying it has been good to be with him these last few weeks?"
"It has; it has been wonderful." Rory looks a little misty-eyed as she leans back against the sofa cushions.
"So, I am not really understanding what you are driving at here Rory."
"Should I quit being on the trail and live with him full-time?"
"Rory!?"
"What, I miss him. I like safe." Rory had been thinking about the articles and the changes in the newspaper industry, and on the walk over, she had gotten to thinking about Logan's comments about her buying property in Stars Hollow. Was she yearning to be settled down?
"Logan is not going to leave you; he isn't Jess."
"I know he isn't Jess. Am I being Jess? Do I want to be more like Dean?"
"Rory, I am so confused. You need to talk to Logan about your future. Not me."
"What do you mean I have to ask him? I want your advice; what do you think?"
"I think you would regret not seeing your job through. But you are the pro-con list maker, not me. And honestly, the only person who can tell you if they feel like they are being ignored is Logan. My perspective is as your best friend, and don't get me wrong, I miss you like crazy, but I understand your career goals. I watched you work hard to get to Chilton and then Yale. You have always taken on more than anyone else I know. You will have the rest of your lives together, and you are together now. You don't want to be like me."
"You have a great life; you're married, the twins."
"Oh, I love the twins, and I love Zack, but I wanted to make a go of the band and play drums and, you know, Rock n Roll."
"OH," Rory suddenly realizes she had gotten so distracted by her thoughts about her and Logan that she had forgotten the point of the visit. She knew that Lane was experiencing regrets about starting a family so quickly and missing out on her band and Rock 'n Roll.
"It's hard," Lane confesses. "Really hard; I never pictured myself a Mom, and I sometimes wonder if I had rebelled against my Mom sooner, followed Dave. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mom; she has been amazing with the twins. I just had to put all my dreams on hold."
Rory felt like crying for her friend, "regrets?"
Nodding her head, Lane repeats the word "regrets." Rory hugs Lane
Pulling back from Lane, she reaches into her bag and is extra pleased that she decided to give this gift to Lane. Maybe it will help to undo some of the regrets. "I have something for you." Rory pulls out a large manilla envelope and a keychain with 2 keys.
"What is this?" Lane is trying to figure out how they went from this deep conversation to Rory producing an envelope. She leans forward and accepts the keychain.
A huge grin makes its way across Rory's face as she pulls the papers out, "It is the music store and a house."
Lane looks from the key to her friend, "What? What do you mean it is the music store?"
"I had asked Sophie to let me know if she ever wanted to sell. She decided to sell it. So, I bought it and put it in your name. No mortgage or rent, and it comes with all of the contents, including the instruments, records, and CDs. She is taking care of it for us until you are ready to take over. Just go in on Monday and make a plan."
Lane is practically jumping out of her skin, "are you serious?" a squeal comes out as she jumps off the sofa.
"dead"
Lane is jumping up and down, "Oh, my god. I can't believe you did this for me. Thank you so much."
"Hey, what are friends for? Oh, and thanks. It is hard, but you're right; I don't want to wonder what if when I walk down the aisle. I only want to be excited about what comes next."
'You will. Logan will always be there in that more than dependable way that you appreciate."
Teasing Lane, Rory asks, "Wait, are you saying Logan is my accountant?"
Lane chose to ignore her last question, just hugging her. "Thanks for the music store. Ack, I still can't believe you bought me the music store."
"Um, Lane." Rory poked at the second key.
"Yeah?" Lane looked at her.
"There is a second key." Rory reminded her. "It is to the house behind the music store."
"What? Rory, this is too much." Lane sat down on the sofa. "That is Sophie's house. It is a 4-bedroom house."
"I know. I bought that, too."
Lane hugged her friend. "Thank you. I can't wait to tell Zach."
Rory smiled and hugged her friend, "Oh, are you coming to my Mom's bachelorette party? Oh, Zach is invited to the bachelor party."
Rory and Logan are sitting on the sofa. Rory has her feet tucked under her, holding a mug of coffee and snuggling into Logan's shoulder, "So, what exactly are you planning for tonight?"
"Oh, not much. We will just go out and have a couple of beers. That is what Luke wants." Logan kissed her on the top of the head.
"Um, Logan, not talking about the bachelor party. I saw you talking with Kirk."
"Oh, well, in that case."
"Mhmm." Rory leans again and kisses him on the cheek.
"LDB." Logan starts
"LDB? Logan, we are not doing an LDB event. Wait, are we doing one for New Year's?"
Logan pushed a piece of hair back from her face, "I hadn't planned on doing an LDB event for New Year's."
"So, what does it mean? And why talk to Kirk about the LDB?"
"I didn't talk to Kirk about the LDB. I put Kirk in contact with people who decorate and organize LDB events with an event budget."
"Why?"
"For Luke and Lorelai's wedding. "
Rory interrupts, "Logan, they like simple."
"I know. But Kirk is trying to decorate the entire town square on his own. He is resourceful but has some extra hands and an enhanced budget."
"Logan?"
"Really, Rory, it will be tasteful, beautiful, and Kirk-designed."
"Logan, Kirk designed? It will be over the top."
"It won't be over the top. I thought it would be great for them to have a gorgeous wedding." Logan leaned over and kissed her forehead.
"We will see, but I am sure it will be over the top. " Rory kisses Logan, knowing that Kirk, with a big budget and extra hands, will create an incredible winter wonderland.
"Coffee, coffee, coffee."
"You had coffee at home."
"but it isn't your coffee."
"Yes, it is."
"But it is in a different mug."
"You're impossible." Luke pours the coffee as Lorelai sits on the stool in front of him, leaning across the counter with her lips puckered up.
"You're marrying me."
"Yeah." Luke smiles and leans across to kiss her again.
Kirk walks into the diner, looking anxious, and sits beside Lorelai.
"Luke, I need a coffee. When are you having your rehearsal?"
Luke pours Kirk a coffee, and Lorelai turns, telling him, "I am heading to the Inn, then coming back here for the rehearsal and dinner, six o'clock. Why?"
"Taylor put me in charge of decorating the gazebo, so I need to do that today. Do you want it done before the rehearsal?"
Lorelai, "Kirk, when I am preparing for a wedding, it is 90% done before the rehearsal, so yes, I want it ready by the rehearsal."
Kirk is still looking a little fidgety. Luke notices, "What is wrong, Kirk?"
"I just, I just want everything to be perfect for you. And this is good preparation for my wedding to Lulu. Just checking on the timing."
Luke turns to Lorelai, "What is wrong with him? He is acting squirrelly."
Lorelai reassures Kirk, "It is only lights and some flowers. No eggs this time. Execute."
"That is my line." Kirk shoots back.
"I thought it was better than take us out," Lorelai fires back.
"Still my line." Pointing at his own chest, "I'm Kirk."
"I fail to comprehend your indignation." Kirk just looks at Lorelai with confusion as she finishes with, "Then I'm Spock. See you later, Kirk."
Lorelai gets one more kiss, grabs her bag, and heads out the door.
Luke looks at Kirk, "Definitely not Vulcan." Nodding his head at his retreating fiancé.
Kirk turns back to face Luke, "Bachelor party starts at nine?"
"What party?" Luke fires back.
"Bye." Kirk gets up and leaves.
"Kirk, get back here!" demands Luke, but the door closes.
Jess is walking toward the diner when he sees Kirk on the sidewalk. He attempts to get past without any interaction, but Kirk keeps calling his name.
"What is it?" irritation is apparent in Jess's voice, but to Kirk, he sounds normal.
"He knows."
"Knows what?" Jess stops, eyes narrowed.
"About the bachelor party."
"Yeah, I know."
"Wait, he already knew?" Kirk thought it was a surprise and that he had ruined it.
"Yes, he knows. That doesn't mean he wants one, though." Jess turns away from Kirk and walks into the diner.
Jess sits at a table, pulls out a book, and starts reading. While Luke continues to wipe the counter and clear tables. Eventually, Luke makes his way to the table where Jess is sitting and pulls out a chair to sit down. Jess glances up, then returns to his book. The two men sit in silence for a few minutes. Without taking his eyes off the page, Jess inhales sharply, "What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Then why are you sitting there?"
"My diner," Luke responds.
"There are plenty of open tables. Don't you have prep to do for dinner?" Jess inquires, but still using his exasperated tone.
"Caesar is taking care of that." Luke stood up and pushed in the chair. Through the window, Luke can see Kirk working on stringing up lights.
Jess pushes in his chair and walks out the door, talking to himself, "Well, that was helpful."
Walking past Kirk, he can hear him also talking to himself, "Okay, Kirk, you can do this. You've decorated for events before. This is just... a wedding. Lorelai's wedding. No pressure."
He hangs a string of fairy lights along the edge of the gazebo, carefully securing them in place, as Jess walks past, ignoring Kirk's continued muttering, "Lights... check."
"Mom, if the actual ceremony goes like the rehearsal."
"I'll be married," Lorelai was looking around.
"Hey, Lorelai, it wasn't that bad." Logan says, trying to distract her from the lack of flowers, "And I heard that putting out flowers this early, well they will freeze. Kirk still has some time."
"Where is Kirk?" Lorelai still looks around, "Logan, thank you for trying to protect Kirk. We are having a wedding tomorrow; he will only have a few hours. There are so many things still to be done."
Luke walked over, giving Logan the I've got this look, "Lorelai, it will be perfect."
"How can you say that?"
"Because as long as you are the one standing up there with me. It will be perfect."
Lorelai turns to look fully into Luke's eyes, "Thank you. That is truly lovely." She hugs and kisses him while scanning the square for Kirk.
A couple of hours later, the women are at the Dragonfly Inn. Lorelai is satisfied that everything there is prepared for the reception. At least her mother won't bite her head off over the reception, just the wedding. Why did she leave Kirk in charge? Rory and Logan kept reassuring her that everything would be fine, but she was worried. Accepting a martini from Rory, she decided it was time to let it go and just be excited about marrying Luke.
"Luke, hey, have a beer." TJ was passing out beers to the men sitting in his house. A poker table was set up, and the place was stocked with beer and alcohol. Luke knew that Logan and Jess had made the arrangements. They knew he would not want to go out to a bar.
"Thanks, TJ." Luke accepted the beer.
"This way, you can sit," TJ said, drinking his beer. Not getting a response from Luke, "No lap, not that there is a lap."
"Right," Luke remembered the inane conversation from TJ's bachelor party. He quickly decided it was Jess who planned this. Jackson, Taylor, Morrie, Jess, Zach, and Logan were already drinking. He went in and sat next to Jess. "Thanks"
Jess looked at him, "For what?"
"No laps."
"No problem." Jess grinned, and the two men tapped beer bottles.
The poker game was in full swing. Logan excused himself to get a drink, and Jess followed him, "Hey guys, deal out of this hand."
Logan went to protest but saw Jess looking at him and nodded in agreement.
"Jess? What's up, man?" Logan felt like they were getting along, but he still didn't know where he stood with this guy.
"Rory says you are good at grand gestures," Jess said, handing him a bottle.
"Yeah. But I generally just do them for Rory. You aren't expecting anything here. Right?" Logan asked hesitantly.
"Ah, Rory told me." Jess started.
Logan interrupted this time, "Told you what."
"Look, Richie Rich." Jess started again
"No, Rory told you what?"
"Geez, let me finish. Rory told me you are good at grand gestures. She also told me that Kirk isn't here, and everyone has to be away from the town square until the ceremony because you guys ordered extra lights for him to put up."
"Oh, right." Logan looked a little more relaxed and then tensed up again, gripping the bottle a bit more, "You know. I am doing this for Rory. She wants her Mom to have a great wedding. And, it will keep Emily from being angry that they didn't use her people."
"What are you talking about, man?" Jess was genuinely confused.
"Kirk, decorating the town square." Logan started.
"I don't care about that. Luke would be happy just having the chuppah with flowers and lights on it." Jess was annoyed and needed to steer the conversation back to his question. He was pretty sure he should have just asked Luke.
Logan was genuinely confused. Why is Jess asking about grand gestures, "So, why are you asking me about grand gestures?"
"I want to propose to Alicia." Jess blurted out.
Logan grinned, "Congratulations. That is awesome. She is great. Is she going to say yes?"
Jess was pleased with the positive response, "What do you mean is she going to say yes?"
Logan went to tap him on the shoulder, then thought better of it. "Make sure she knows what you are thinking about. Not just vague hints but clear comments and signals. Like, telling you her ring size." Logan remembers Rory's face at her graduation party. He thought they were on the same page, but she was thinking 5 years in the future while he had been thinking 5 months.
Jess nodded his head, "I think we are in sync. We went ring shopping. She picked out what she wanted, and I just finished making the last payment and picked it up. I don't want to distract from Luke and Lorelai's wedding. So, I was thinking New Year's Eve."
Logan was thinking about how Jess had done that part better than he had. "You're ahead of me then. Does she like parties and public, or is she more interested in it being just the two of you?"
Jess thought for a moment, "She likes public stuff. I am the private one."
Logan thought for a minute, "then create something intimate for the two of you. Go back to the first spot you knew she was the one. Recreate the mood in some way. But then make sure you are attending something public afterward. That way, you can feel confident with the proposal since you like private, and she can show off the ring and tell the story. So, where did you know she was it?"
"The bookstore." Jess
Logan smiled, "we have a type."
Jess cocked his head, "huh?"
"I fell in love with Rory when she sniffed a book at the library. I didn't know it, but she was comfortable being herself and not trying to impress me. I never had anyone who just. This isn't about me." Logan stopped himself. "So, you were in the bookstore, assuming Alicia was not sniffing the books."
Jess grinned, "No, she didn't sniff the books. I know Rory loves books, but she really sniffs them?" Jess asked. Logan just nodded and waited for Jess to continue. "Alicia, right. Well, as I told you at Thanksgiving. We met in the bookstore; she came there looking for medical textbooks. On her third visit, I had the books she needed." Logan looked quizzical, " I had gone to the Penn Med bookstore and bought the books. Jefferson's bookstore was out of stock."
Logan grinned, "Man, I got it." Jess looked at him.
"It isn't extravagant; it is a gesture, though. Find out which books she is going to need for her next year of medical school. Have them ready for her, along with a dinner and soft lights. It will show her that you are committed to supporting her medical career. It is common knowledge that doctors are always studying and rarely have time to take care of themselves because they are so busy caring for others. Make sure that your gesture tells her you are there to help take care of her and support her." Logan feels good about this and can picture the scene. "Ask Andrew if you can use the bookstore. Set up the books in there. String lights, bring a good meal – like a Sookie one."
Jess wasn't sure, "How do I know what textbooks she will need?"
"Call and ask." Logan was so used to getting all of the details.
"Who do I call?"
"Seriously, man, call the Jefferson medical bookstore." Logan replied, "And then call the Yale medical bookstore or UConn's medical bookstore and ask them to hold the books for you so you can pick them up."
"I guess I can do that."
"Do you want the girl to say yes?" Logan was a little incredulous.
"Of course I do," Jess replied.
"Then call Jefferson tomorrow." Logan saw Jess wasn't sure about this, "Look, man, I'll help. You get the list of books and I will get them here to Stars Hollow for you. Oh, and contact Andrew about using the bookstore."
"You are better at planning this stuff than I am," Jess said. He hoped Logan understood that as his thank you.