~!~ Lily36: Bonjour! Je parle francais, mais je suis horrible, lol. Je suis pour javajunkie, aussi. Merci! :) ~!~ Hasapi: Thanks for all the reviews! And sorry if I went overboard with the Florida stuff. I'm a political junkie and I tend to get carried away ;) ~!~ Katie: Lol, sorry your brain is fried! Glad you liked it :) ~!~ JennerBee: Glad you liked the black angus thing, I was worried that it'd be too corny :) ~!~ Mysticgrl: Thanks for the honesty. I think this chapter is a bit of an improvement. ~!~ Bess: Yay! I love it when people say that! ~!~ Jazzymocha: Hee! Read on and you'll see what she says! And sorry I took so long to update! ~!~ Naveed: Yay! I'm so happy that you liked the cute parts. Not so much of that in this chapter. Aw, who am I kidding, it's a sap-fest! ~!~ Nickelbacklover: I dream about writing for the show. I take that as the highest compliment, thank you :) ~!~ Jewls13: Lol, I *am* going to continue ;) And here it is! Glad you liked that last chapter. Your opinion means a lot :) ~!~ artemis monshine: Nope. Never easy. Easy is boring :) Thanks for putting up with me and my evil ways ~!~ Katem-23: Lol, I know! When I started this fic, I had no clue that Rory and Dean would actually split up, and then I was like, 'crap, now my breakup scene will be compared to the one on the show!' but I guess it's okay :) ~!~ Briana: Hehehe. I knew I'd offend at least one Floridian ;) Glad you liked the last line, because I wracked my brain trying to think of how to end that chapter. ~!~ Christine: Yay for loving the whole thing! And bribes are always welcome ;) ~!~ Katie: You've got mail :) ~!~ Megs: Thanks! R/J is easier for me to write than L/L stuff, but that's probably because I'm Rory's age or something. However, I don't have my very own Jess, which I think is quite unfair, don't you? ~!~ Anonymousthinker: Your suggestion was very helpful :) And the Luke/Jess stuff is so fun to write! I'm planning on more of it later. Sorry it took me so long to update though! ~!~ Moswen: What a pick-me-up! Can I keep you at my house to boost my self-esteem? Seriously, you rock! ~!~ Night Angel: So do you!!!!!!!!! ~!~ Dodgerluv: Thank you! Gotta love a review like that :) ~!~ Chickadee: Thank you! Thanks for taking the time to read all 5 chapters at once! Hope you like this one just as much as the first 5 :) ~!~ And thanks to my 2 anonymous reviewers too :)

Okay, here's a little disclaimer. I didn't know that Rory and Dean were actually going to break up on the show, or that she and Jess would get together. I already had this fic planned out in my head, so please keep in mind that the reactions and attitudes of the characters will probably differ from what happens on the show.

That being said, here it is. Sorry it took me so long!

"What is this?" Lorelai said in complete shock.

"Mom!" Rory said again.

"Yes, that is me. I am your mother. But I forget, who's your boyfriend?"

"Mom—"

"*Dean,* Rory! Dean is your boyfriend. How can you keep doing this to him?"

"Mom, listen—"

"I mean, come on Rory. Dean is the guy who built a car for you. The guy who took you to your first school dance. The guy who's so crazy about you that he calls five zillion times a day! The guy who—"

"is my ex-boyfriend!"

Lorelai stopped short and blinked slowly.

"What?"

"Dean is also the guy who is my ex-boyfriend."

"What?" Lorelai repeated.

Jess sighed impatiently. "Maybe a diagram would help."

Lorelai and Rory chose to ignore him.

"I mean how, when, why?" Lorelai asked.

"He said 'I broke up with you,' about a half hour ago, and because I like someone else."

"Oh," Lorelai said dumbly.

"Yeah."

"So… now it's Jess?"

"Seriously, I think some flashcards would really make this easier," Jess offered.

"Jess," Rory said warningly. "Yes, Jess mom."

"Wow. That's a pretty quick rebound."

"What?"

"I mean, a half an hour after Dean you're with Jess?"

"Excuse me?"

"It just doesn't seem like you Rory. This seems like a pretty rash decision," Lorelai said.

Rory laughed angrily. "And you're the role model for cautious relationship decisions? Remember that spontaneous road trip we took last year? It's not like Dean and I were engaged, mom."

"Hey," Lorelai snapped back. "This is completely different. I am an adult. I had a lot to think about."

"Right, and you were so stable at my age? Maybe dad could help me answer that one."

"Listen Rory, we're not talking about me, okay?" Lorelai said. "We're talking about you and I'm just surprised at this sudden turn of events."

"You just have something against Jess!" Rory accused.

"Yeah, well think about it Rory, who would any mother prefer? Dean or Jess? The kid who changes the water bottle consistently or the one who smokes, drinks, and goes to school when he feels like it?"

"You know, I'm sitting right here," Jess interjected angrily.

Lorelai looked down at him.

"Don't make me push you off the bridge," she said, half serious.

"Whatever, I'm going for a walk," he answered, getting up and brushing himself off calmly.

"Wait, I'm coming with you," Rory said, glaring at her mother as she stood up to join him.

"Fine," Lorelai said. "I'll be waiting at home."

Rory didn't answer. She linked hands with Jess and the pair walked briskly away. Lorelai sighed and silently wished that she had pushed Jess off the bridge when she had the chance.

"I'm so sorry about my mom," Rory said, looking anxiously at Jess.

"Hey, it's fine. But when I come over, can you at least get her put away the various burning effigies of me? I mean, they do help me find your house, but…"

"I'll try, but she's quite attached to her little Jess voodoo doll. She gave it a mini pack of cigarettes and everything."

"Wow. Now that's really giving it her all."

They continued to walk silently for a moment.

"Hey," Rory said, holding up her hand to stop Jess.

"I really am sorry," she said.

"Like I said, it's fine."

"No it's not. My mother has no right to treat you that way. She was being—"

"She was being overprotective of her only daughter. It's understandable. I mean, you go from the Boy Scout to… well, me. Must be a big disappointment."

"Only for her," Rory said, looking up at him.

Jess gave her a little smile and put his hands on her waist, pulling her closer.

"Ready for some magic?"

"Ah, my little prestidigitator."

"Wow, big fancy word. They teach you that at your school?"

"Nah. Me and Lane were bored the other day so we took out some trivial pursuit cards."

"Ah, I see."

"Hey, guess what Ernest Hemingway novel was published after his death."

"I don't know," he said, smiling.

"Oh come on, guess a book."

"Fine. Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood."

Rory frowned.

"That wasn't a guess. That was a mockery of a guess. A mock-guess if you will."

"Hey, remember me with the magic trick?" Jess asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but don't you want to know the answer first?"

"Just let me do my trick."

"It's killing you, isn't it?"

"No. Trick time."

"Spoil sport," Rory replied, sticking out her tongue.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Okay."

Slowly, Jess brought one hand back in front of him, opening it up to show her that it was empty. He then did the same with his other hand. Rory watched with a smile as he reached one hand back behind her ear.

"Please don't pull a quarter from my ear."

"How about a dime?" Jess asked, smirking.

"How about no."

"Well this is better than a dime or a quarter," He replied, pulling his hand away from Rory's ear, fist clenched tightly, concealing whatever he was holding.

"Let me see," Rory said, prying at his fingers.

"You're gonna love this one," He said back, not loosening his grip.

"Come on, open up," Rory said, giggling.

Suddenly, Jess opened his hand to reveal… nothing at all.

"Hey!" Rory said, staring at his empty palm. "You fake! You—"

But Jess cut her off with a kiss. Magic trick quickly forgotten, Rory wrapped her arms around Jess' neck and closed her eyes. As suddenly as he began the kiss however, Jess ended it, pulling away.

"Okay, it's killing me. Which book," He said in frustration.

"I don't know if I should tell you," Rory said. "You were quite rude a minute ago."

"Oh really?" Jess said. "I'm sorry, did I offend you?"

He leaned close and whispered in her ear. "What if I apologize very nicely."

Rory smiled.

"Well, I guess I can let it slide, just this once. It's 'Islands in the Stream.'"

"Good to know," he said, moving back to her lips. They focused their attention on each other again. By the time Rory got home, Lorelai was already asleep.

"Donuts!" Lorelai shouted, running down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Made fresh, right in your own kitchen!" Max said, grinning. He was once again wearing the oversized chef's hat. Lorelai was actually growing quite fond of it. He had a pot of boiling grease on the stove and was expertly dunking his dough into it.

"There's a fresh plate of the first few in the batch over on the table. Powdered sugar is already set out for you, but I decided to hold off on the coffee making. I saw that grimace you were trying to contain last time I tried to make it."

Lorelai gave him innocent eyes.

"What grimace? That wasn't a grimace! That was the face I make when tasting a fine cup of coffee. I'm like one of those wine tasters. They always look sort of like they're in pain when they swish the wine around in their mouths."

"Uh huh, nice try Miss Gilmore. But I think I know a grimace when I see one," he said with a smile.

"Oh, caught me. Should I stay after class for some sort of punishment?"

Max rolled his eyes and laughed. "Eat your breakfast."

"Yes sir!"

Lorelai saluted and sat down at the table, powdering her donuts. She took her first bite.

"Oh my God Max! These are great. Seriously, top notch artery clogging food!"

"Glad to hear it," he answered. "I hope Rory thinks so too."

"Speaking of Rory, any more news on that scholarship?"

"Well, actually yes. She's one of only two students left under consideration for it. It's pretty close. Could go either way."

"Whose the other kid?"

"Paris Geller."

"Oh wow. Very interesting. There could be bloodshed in the future."

As if on cue, Rory emerged from her bedroom, fully dressed and primped with her school bag on her shoulder. She walked past Lorelai without acknowledging her and approached Max.

"Hi Max. Donut please?"

"They're on the table."

Rory grabbed a donut quickly and took a bite.

"Yummy! Thanks Max," she said, smiling. "Bye!"

"You're leaving already?" Max asked.

"Yup. Going to meet someone at Luke's. I don't think mom wants to come," she answered still without looking at Lorelai. She quickly left the house.

"What was that all about?" Max asked, looking at Lorelai who now had a powdered sugar mustache.

"Ugh. Major blowout last night."

"Oh?"

"Rory and Dean broke up."

"Really?"

"Yup. And Rory is all of a sudden dating Jess," she said in disgust.

"Who's Jess?"

"You know Jess. He's Luke's nephew."

"I see. And this led to a fight between you and Rory?"

"Well let's just say that I'm not Jess' biggest fan and he's not mine."

"Gotcha."

Lorelai sighed and ran her fingers through her tangled hair, getting powdered sugar in it in the process. She growled at the sugar and grabbed a napkin to wipe off her hands.

"Well," Max began, "I guess you really can't fault her though. I mean, she had lost interest in Dean apparently, and she shouldn't stay with someone she doesn't really care for anymore. Especially if she was starting to like someone else."

Lorelai paused, taking in these words.

"Yeah. I guess you're right."

They were both silent for a few minutes. Max finished his frying and sat down at the table with Lorelai. Suddenly Lorelai spoke.

"I don't know if this is right."

"You don't know if what's right?" Max asked, confused.

"This. Us."

"What? Where did this come from?"

"Well last night I was at the diner and I just—"

"Wait, you were at the diner?" Max interrupted.

"Yes."

"Okay, I get it."

"What?"

"Did Luke have anything to do with this thinking of yours?"

"No," Lorelai quickly answered, unconvincingly. She stared at her plate.

"Lorelai?"

"Okay, he just mentioned how we don't have that much in common and it got me thinking—"

"Hey, we have a lot of things in common! We both like… um… Rory!"

They both paused.

"Okay, so maybe we don't have that much in common, but they say opposites attract," Max said.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just… well in our fight last night Rory said that I make rash decisions when it comes to relationships and she sort of cited our engagement as an example. And I'm just worried that… I don't know… I might make the same rash decisions again and—"

"Lorelai," Max said, trying to calm her down, but she was on a roll.

"And I just couldn't live with myself if I disappointed everyone again, and… Max, why are we back together?"

"Lorelai, what?" Max asked, exasperated.

"I mean, is it because you want to try the whole engagement thing again? Is that expected now? Is this supposed to lead to marriage again?"

Max took Lorelai's hand and looked her in the eye.

"You know that I love you, and I think that you have some pretty strong feelings for me too, but I'm not trying to push you into anything. We said we'd take things slow this time, and I just want to see where things go. I'm with you because… because I really like being with you Lorelai."

Lorelai smiled.

"Okay, I'm getting sick here."

"Too sappy?" Max asked.

"No, too much powdered sugar," Lorelai answered, smile growing.

Max laughed.

"Okay, well I guess we both have to be leaving for work. Sorry about the lack of coffee."

"Hey, no problem. I don't have time to stop on the way, but Sookie will have some ready for me. Thank you for everything. You're amazing."

"Aw, I bet you say that to all your boyfriends."

"Pretty much," Lorelai said, grinning.

They both left the kitchen and grabbed their things before heading out the door. As they were getting into their cars Lorelai called out to Max.

"Hey, one more thing!"

"What?"

"Where did you get that hat? I'm thinking of getting one for myself!"

Max laughed and took the chef's hat off.

"No really!" Lorelai continued. "It's sexy! Very Pillsbury Doughboy-esque."

"Yes, and we all know what a sex symbol the pudgy cartoon spokesperson for baking goods is."

"It's that coy giggle that really makes the ladies swoon."

"Goodbye Lorelai," Max said, shaking his head.

She blew him a kiss and drove off. Max drove down the rode as well, but instead of heading towards the school, he made his way towards a certain diner.

"Save me?" Rory said, giving Jess puppy dog eyes.

"You could always skip classes today."

Rory rolled her eyes.

"What? You did it once before to see me," Jess said smugly.

"Hey, that was different. I missed you. You had moved away and I didn't think I would have too many chances to see you."

"And now that you know I'm staying I'm not worth skipping for?"

"Sorry, you no longer justify truancy. I have to go catch my bus," she said, getting up slowly.

"Goody-goody."

"That's me. You know you love it."

Jess smiled. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss.

"So I'll see you after school?"

"Yup."

"Good."

He kissed her once more before handing her her book bag. Rory headed for the door, and as she pulled it open to leave, was surprised to see another figure entering.

"Max?"

"Oh, hi Rory."

"What are you doing here?"

"Just stopping for a cup of coffee."

"Oh. Well, don't be late to class," she said jokingly.

Max smiled. "I won't be."

He made his way to the counter and sat down just as Luke exited the kitchen with two plates of eggs in his hands. Not seeing Max, Luke walked right by him and set the plates down in front of a pair of customers. He returned to the counter and wiped his hands on a rag. Max cleared his through loudly. Luke looked up.

"Max?"

"Coffee please."

Luke grunted and began to fill a mug for him.

"So Lorelai and I had an interesting conversation this morning," Max said casually.

Luke glanced up at him. "Really?" he said, trying to keep his tone neutral, although inside he was cheering. Lorelai had broken up with Max. She had actually done it.

"We're still together."

Luke's heart sank.

"Good to know," Luke said stoically.

"I just thought that might come as a surprise to you, seeing as how you gave her some strange ideas last night."

"Don't know what you're talking about," Luke said, wiping down the counter.

"I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, and I think it's really pathetic."

"Oh you do?"

"Yeah," Max said angrily. "It's sad that you have to try to sabotage all of Lorelai's relationships from behind the scenes just because you're too scared to just ask her out yourself."

"Max," Luke said in a harsh tone. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Max smiled. "Of course not. You have no interest in Lorelai whatsoever."

"Of course I have an interest in her. We're good friends. I like to see to it that she doesn't get hurt."

"Why can't you just admit it? You like her and you don't like to see her with anybody else."

Luke didn't respond.

"Well either do something about it, or leave me and Lorelai alone Luke. I mean it."

Max threw a few dollars on the counter and stood up.

"Maybe I will do something about it," Luke said to himself as he watched Max walk out the door. Maybe it was time to stop working behind the scenes and work up the courage to try to start something with Lorelai. After all, it wasn't crazy to think that she had feelings for him too. Didn't she say something about his coffee being better than Max's? Surely that was figurative language. Surely she was implying that he would be a better match for her. Surely he would kill the customers now complaining about their eggs. Damn Caesar. He really had to teach that guy how to make them fluffy. Luke sighed and walked over to the egg table to calm his belligerent customers.