3 out of 3

Rory sat at the counter of Luke's diner with her mother. She'd just got home from the campaign trail. Both girls were getting ready for her welcome home party that night. As well as starting to plan Lorelai's upcoming wedding to the love of her life Luke Danes. Who was watching the girls banter from the opposite side of the counter. It felt just like old times. The two of them rambling away. Him watching amused. At this precise moment they were arguing over the colour of the bridesmaid dresses. Lorelai was teasing Rory saying she was going to get bright pink, with bright red spots. Saying she had to make the bridesmaids look bad so she'd look better. The bell above the door rang loudly. Rory, presuming it was Lane who was coming to discuss music for the wedding, swung around. It wasn't however Lane, who stood in the doorway. The sight she saw caused her to jump so much, that she fell off her stool.

'Honey! What's up?' Lorelai asked looking down at Rory who'd landed on the floor. There in the doorway stood. Dean, Logan and Jess. All together. Logan looking smugly at the other two. Dean moving to help Rory up, and Jess smirking his usual smirk. They all thought it was them who'd had that effect on her. Except Jess who knew after they're last meeting at Truncheon that Rory was over him. After all she had kissed him then ran away. Back to Logan. The three of them had all bumped into each other in the town square. All heading for the diner.

'What...I mean why?' Rory couldn't form full sentences. She shook off Dean's hand as he tried to help her up. She stood on her own. Lorelai looking between the group of guys and her daughter. She decided to take charge.

'Right Logan let's start with you. Why are you here?' Lorelai demanded. Luke coming to her side to support her. Knowing this was tough for both the Gilmore girls.

'Your Grandma told me about your welcome home party. I was stupid to let you go Rory. I want to try again.' Logan said directing his answer to Rory. Dean scoffed beside him. Rory was unable to answer. She just stood there staring.

'Right. Dean, same question.' Lorelai said turning to the tallest of the group.

'I got divorced. I'm moving back here and I want to get back with you Rory. I love you and I know you love me.' Dean said looking over at Logan and then to Jess.

'Uh-huh. Jess how about you?' Lorelai asked.

'I just came to see Luke. I need his help. So unless you have further questioning for me. Could I talk to you Luke. In private.' Jess answered. Not looking at Rory. Her eyes drifted to him. He felt her gaze on him. Needing to escape it, he walked past her. Through the curtain and up the stairs.

---

'So Jess. You came here to see me? Not Rory?' Luke asked as he got upstairs.

'Yeah I did. Besides the whole coming back to be with Rory seems a little over done today.' Jess scoffed. 'I came because I need to ask a favour.'

'Well OK then. Ask away.' Luke said sitting at the table opposite his nephew.

'I know you've already done so much for me. So I completely understand if you want to say no.' Jess started. Then hesitated.

'Jess. You can ask me anything.' Luke reassured him.

'The book store in stars hollow is for sale. Andrew is moving to Indiana, so he's selling. I want to buy it. Now all I need is for you to co sign a loan.' Jess explained. 'Would you? I promise I will make all the repayments. I've almost finished my second book, when it gets published I will get a big payment, and royalties. I have money from truncheon.'

'You want to come back to stars hollow?' Luke was baffled.

'Yeah.'

'Why?' Luke asked. 'You couldn't wait to leave when you lived here.'

'I finally realised this is my home. I want to come back.' Jess shrugged his shoulders.

'This has nothing to do with Rory?' Luke asked him. 'You're not still in love with her.' Jess avoided his gaze.

'Jess?'

'Of course I still love her. But that's not why I came back. I didn't even know she was in town. I thought she was away still. I'm not going to hurt her. I won't try anything, I know she doesn't want to be with me. She doesn't love me. Besides I don't want to be part of the ex-boyfriends club she's got going on down there.' Jess said going over to the fridge. Pulling out a beer and drinking a sip of it before setting it down.

'Right. Well then of course I'll sign the loan. I'm proud of you Jess. Not just for you moving back. Or writing a book. But for how you've turned your life around.' Luke said watching as Jess moved around the apartment. It was as though he'd never left. 'Have you got a place to stay?'

'Figured I'd get an apartment in town. I hear peach is good. Or plum. Basically any of the fruit named streets.' Jess smirked remembering what Lorelai had said all those years ago. When Luke and him had been looking for a new place.

'Yeah.' Luke laughed. 'Well you're welcome to stay here.'

'Thanks. I'll get my stuff later. I really don't feel like going down there with Logan and Dean there. They aren't exactly my favourite people.' Jess said sitting back down.

'Jess. I don't think she'll take either of them back.' Luke said knowing why Jess was reluctant to go downstairs.

'She's done it before. Both of them she's taken back. She never gave me that chance. I'm OK though, I've learnt my lesson.' Jess said pulling out a book. He began to read.

---

'This must be some kind of a joke.' Rory finally found her voice. She looked at the 2 remaining ex-boyfriends. Shaking her head.

'Rory. I wasn't happy with Lindsey. We thought moving away from here would make things better. It never did work though, It wasn't right. I always knew you were the one for me.' Dean spoke first.

'Rory, when you said no to my proposal, I was stupid to say it had to be all or nothing. I shouldn't have let you walk out of my life. I am miserable without you.' Logan said. Rory just shook her head.

'What makes you think you can just show up here and get me back?' Rory demands. She's getting angry. At this point Lane walks in. Her face in shock as she sees the 2 guys there.

'Whoa! What have I missed?' Lane asks walking over to the girls.

'This is nothing. Jess is upstairs.' Lorelai said somewhat amused, also concerned for her daughter.

'No way!' Lane said.

'I want you both to go! I need to think.' Rory said looking down at the floor.

'Fine. We'll let you think.' Dean said going out the door. Both of them left, going opposite directions.

'Details please.' Lane said as soon as they'd left. Luke came back down the stairs at this point. Concerned at how pale Rory looked.

'Apparently the 2 of them want Rory back. You know sweets, I always knew you were special but this is getting crazy, 2 guys hung up on you.' Lorelai joked.

'Not Jess then?' Lane asked, trying to wrap her head round it all.

'Jess came to ask Luke something.' Lorelai replied. Turning to Luke she added. 'What did he want?'

'He wanted me to co sign a loan. He's moving back here and buying the book store.' Luke said watching Rory carefully for her reaction. She didn't react. She just stood there thinking one thing. Jess doesn't want me back. He doesn't love me any more. She fell to the floor crying. Lorelai, Luke and Lane all presumed this was because Dean and Logan had shown up, hoping to get her back. None of them guessed the real reason.

A/N- Couldn't get this out of my head so I had to write it down. Despite already having 2 fics on the go. Let me know if you want me to continue with this one. Tell me what you think. If I get enough reviews telling me to continue then I will.