Lorelai, Charlotte, Rory, and Lane were walking through the centre of town.

"Are you serious?" Lane asked excitedly.

"I am serious." Lorelai said.

"We can really rehearse in your garage?" She asked happily.

"In exchange for the promise that you never pose naked on the cover of Rolling Stone no matter how much trouble your career is in." Lorelai joked.

"I promise. I love you. Do you know how amazing your mother is?" Lane grinned at Rory and Charlotte.

"No. Tell them, would you? They forgot this morning." Lorelai said.

"Because hot water is enjoyed by all, not just by you." Charlotte commented.

"I wasn't in the shower that long!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"You really were." Rory said. "Man, it's winter carnival time again already." She smiled.

"Yep." Lane said.

"Are you going?" Rory asked.

"I have to. We are raising money for the marching band this year, mandatory booth manning is involved." Lane groaned.

"Wow Lane, marching band and rock band!" Charlotte teased.

"Music is my life." Lane nodded.

"Hi Mrs. Kim!" Lorelai called causing Lane to gasp and turn round.

"So not funny!" Lane exclaimed when she realised Lorelai had tricked her.

"What are you raising money for the marching band for?" Rory asked.

"Please let it be new uniforms." Lorelai quipped.

"It's for letters so we can finally have letter carriers. For some reason, the powers that be think that the reason we never win at competitions is because no one knows who we are. The fact that we suck has never occurred to them." Lane said. She then turned to Lorelai and frowned. "What's wrong with our uniforms?" She asked.

"Nothing." Lorelai said quickly.

"We look stupid, right?"

"No."

"The plumes are too big and it looks like big red fountains of blood spurting out of our heads." Lane said.

"I love the uniforms!" Lorelai said.

"It's bad enough I have to be in marching band at all without being mocked for what is mandatory for us to wear!" Lane exclaimed.

"No...I didn't mean...urgh, remind her that she gets to rehearse in our garage because I think I'm losing points here!" Lorelai said.

"Your uniforms are great and people knowing who you are can only help. Now let's just enjoy the snow, okay?" Rory said.

"Ok." Lane said.

"Good." Lorelai said relieved.

"Especially since some of us have been freezing since our showers this morning." Charlotte joked.

"I wasn't in there that long!"

"I'm sorry, can we get back to the band uniforms? Because on a scale of one to ten, how much do I not want to let Dave see me like that?" Lane asked.

"Ten." Lorelai, Rory and Charlotte said in unison.

"Ok, thanks." Lane said. "I have to go. I'll see you guys later.

"See you later." Rory smiled and followed Lorelai into the diner.

"Oh and Charlotte, let Jess know he can practise with us anytime!" Lane said.

"I will." Charlotte smiled.

"See you!"

"Bye!" Charlotte smiled.

****************************

After school, Charlotte and Jess were walking through the town square kissing as they did.

"You know what just occurred to me? That we are very fortunate to have good teeth." Charlotte said.

"Yes, very fortunate." Jess said.

"Can you imagine if braces were involved in this interaction?" Charlotte joked.

"It would be a bloodbath." Jess agreed.

"I can't catch my breath!" Charlotte laughed as she backed into the stairs of the gazebo, Jess still kissing her.

"You're not supposed to." Jess smirked.

"Hey, listen, Thursday night is the Stars Hollow High Winter Carnival..." Charlotte said.

"Oh yeah?" He said.

"Yeah, I thought we could go." She said. "Lane's going so Rory and I were going to go see her."

"Nope." Jess said he continued to kiss her neck.

"But it would be really fun. They'll have really bad games and really bad food and the marching band will play and..." Charlotte tried.

"Charlie, I'm doing some of my best work here and you're just talking right through it." He sighed.

"Come on, let's go to the carnival!" Charlotte said as they continued walking through the town, their arms round each other.

"I don't go to these stupid town things." He groaned.

"You went to the Bid-A-Basket festival. You went to the dance marathon or at least you sat and watched Rory and I try and help mom win at the dance marathon."

"Yeah but the Bid-A-Basket was because I had to apologise to you and the dance marathon was to mock you." He smirked.

"Come on Jess, please!" Charlotte said. "I'll let you continue kiss me if you agree." She grinned.

"Seriously?" Jess asked. "You're withholding kisses now?"

"Yep!" She grinned. "Come on, it'll be fun. Please?"

"We can have our own fun." Jess suggested. "Your mom's probably going to drag Luke to the carnival. Which would mean the flat and your house will be empty." He smirked.

"Jess!" Charlotte laughed. "I can't miss the winter carnival."

"Charlie, come on." Jess groaned.

"Well, I never have before. I can't. Please come with me." She pleaded.

Jess groaned. "Fine but we're not staying long." He said.

"I love you!" Charlotte grinned.

"Am I allowed to kiss you now?" He asked.

"Oh be my guest!" She grinned and Jess resumed his kissing.

****************************

They entered Luke's and managed to tear their faces away from each other for a minute.

"So, do you want some help with your homework?" He asked.

"You're going to help me?" Charlotte asked raising her eyebrows.

"Yup." He said.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but how?" She smirked.

"Come upstairs and I'll show you." He smirked.

"Upstairs?"

"Yeah."

"Well, you know how important my education is to me." Charlotte smirked and started to follow him to the stairs up to the apartment.

"Yes, I do." Jess nodded.

Just then, though, Lorelai and Rory walked in with some shopping bags.

"Charlotte, hey!" Lorelai said. "Thank God, I need your help. Both of yours." She said but then noticed that her daughter had been heading upstairs. "Where you going?" She asked.

"Nowhere." Charlotte sighed.

"See ya." Jess said before disappearing upstairs.

"Were you guys going to go upstairs and kiss?" Lorelai teased.

"Wow, look at all the bags." Charlotte changed the subject.

"Yeah, I went shopping for my father's birthday present today which was great for about fifteen minutes until it all came back to me." Lorelai said.

"What?" Charlotte asked.

"The fact that I totally suck at buying my father presents."

"He'll like whatever you get him." Rory said as they all sat down at a table.

"If I slip him a sedative, he'll like whatever I get him." Lorelai joked.

"They're not that bad." Charlotte laughed.

"My intentions are always good and I never put a price limit on it. I even went so far as to follow older men around the store who kind of looked like my dad to see what they were buying, which didn't help me with ideas, but I did get asked to the antique car show." She said.

"Just show us what you got." Rory said.

"Fine. Option number one, a state of the art, high tech, titanium bathroom scale!" She said pulling it out of one of the bags.

"Huh." Charlotte said.

"What? He has weight." Lorelai defended.

"Yes, but I'm not sure that his birthday is the time to remind him of it." Rory smirked.

"Ok, option number two, a fabulous mechanical coin sorter. You put the coins in, it sorts them. What?" She asked when she saw her daughters' faces.

"Well, it's a little generic." Charlotte commented.

"Generic in a good way, or..." Lorelai said hopefully.

"What's the third option?" Rory asked.

"See, I should have pulled the coin sorter out last, because..." Lorelai sighed.

"Mom..."

"Ok." Lorelai sighed pulling out her third present.

"A tie." Charlotte smirked.

"Yes, it's silk." Lorelai said.

"It's nice." Rory commented.

"It is?"

"What's that?" Luke asked coming up to the table.

"It's a tie for my father's birthday." Lorelai told him.

"What, no Aramis this year?" He asked.

"No, he likes ties." Lorelai said.

"You know, if you get the big bottle, it usually comes with a tote bag and a soap on a rope." Luke smirked.

"Go away." Lorelai pouted. "My gifts suck."

"It's the thought that counts." Rory said.

"What did you get him?"

"We sort of got him a joint present." Rory admitted.

"Well what did you get?"

"Nothing big." Charlotte said.

"Well, what?"

"Just a thing." Charlotte said vaguely.

"What kind of thing?" Lorelai asked.

"Chuck Berry Live at the Fillmore on vinyl." Rory admitted.

"Oh my god, that's perfect! He loves Chuck Berry. How did you come up with that?" She asked.

"We called him and asked him what he wanted." Charlotte grinned.

"That's cheating." Lorelai pouted.

"Tough." Rory grinned.

"Well, now what am I going to do? I can't give him a tie when you give him the world's most perfect present we already know he likes." She sighed.

"You want us to go find something for you?" Rory asked.

"You would do that?"

"Sure. He gave us a couple other suggestions. We can go see if we can find one of them." Rory smiled.

"Urgh, I love you. You are my angels!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"Hey, you had one more that you didn't show us." Charlotte said spotting a fourth bag.

"Oh, yeah! It lights up and sings!" She grinned.

"Enough said." Charlotte smirked.

****************************

Lorelai was in the kitchen at the inn when Michel walked up with the phone. "Your mother is on the phone." He said.

"Oh, can you take a message?" Lorelai asked.

"You mean, do I have the physical and mental capabilities to take a message? Why, yes, I do, however..." He said dryly.

"I got it." She rolled her eyes, taking the phone. "Hey Mom." She answered.

"She wants to meet Luke and girls' boyfriends!" Emily exclaimed.

"What?" Lorelai said confused.

"Next Thursday in the after the girls finish school!" Emily exclaimed.

"Ah, Gran." Lorelai said suddenly understanding. Trix had arrived unexpectedly last night for her father's birthday, much to Emily's horror.

"Yes who else would I be talking about?!" Emily exclaimed. "But I want to meet them first. It's only right that Richard and I meet them first so you're to come tomorrow for dinner."

"But tomorrow isn't Friday." Lorelai said.

"Lorelai!"

"Mom, what's the big deal? Why can't you meet them when Gran meets them?"

"Because she will know! She will know I haven't met them and revel in the fact!"

"You can't expect them all to be free two evenings this week. It's not fair." Lorelai tried, already dreading the meeting. She knew her mother wasn't exactly Luke and Jess' biggest fan.

"I'll call you later to confirm the times. Tomorrow and Thursday, Lorelai." Emily said firmly.

"Mom, no!" Lorelai tried to protest.

"I'll call later. Goodbye Lorelai." Emily said before hanging up.

"Mom! Mom, wait!" Lorelai exclaimed but groaned when she heard the dialling tone. "Great..." She muttered thinking about how on earth she was going to tell Luke and the girls.

****************************

The following evening Lorelai, Luke, Charlotte, Jess, Rory and Tristan were all stood on the porch step of the Gilmore Mansion.

"Have I apologised enough for this?" Lorelai asked Luke.

"It'll be fine." Luke said.

"Have I apologised enough to you?" Charlotte asked Jess.

"You'll pay." Jess smirked.

Just then, Emily answered the door. "You're here!" She said.

"We didn't even ring the doorbell yet." Lorelai said.

"I know but I heard voices and I was near the door so I thought I would come and check." Emily said. "Well don't just stand there. Come in."

"Yes mom." Lorelai sighed and they all went inside. "So where's Gran?" She asked looking around.

"Out with some friends. Apparently she will be a few hours." Emily said.

Lorelai just nodded. "So..uh..this is Luke..." She started to introduce.

"Tristan! It's so lovely to see you." Emily smiled warmly at him, ignoring Lorelai.

"Oh..uh..you too, Mrs Gilmore." Tristan said politely.

"Richard enjoys playing golf with your grandfather a lot." She smiled sweetly.

"Likewise." Tristan nodded.

"Uh..mom..there are others here as well, you know." Lorelai said annoyed.

"Yes I know that, Lorelai. I was just greeting Tristan. We do know his family, you know." Emily said.

"Sure." Lorelai said holding her tongue.

"Luke, it's nice to see you." Emily smiled politely at him. "And you must be Jess..." She said turning to Jess.

"Yep." He said. "Nice to meet you." He nodded, holding out his hand.

Emily stared at his hand slightly in surprise but also disdain but she saw Charlotte smiling at him so she shook his hand quickly. "You too. I've heard a lot about you." She said stiffly.

"I'm sure." Jess said dryly.

"Why don't we go have some drinks?" Lorelai suggested trying to ease some of the tension.

"Of course. Come on in." Emily said leading them into the living room.

They were sat down at the dining room table for dinner where Richard had joined them.

"So, how are your parents?" Emily asked Tristan.

"Uh...they're good." Tristan replied politely.

"Great people." Richard commented, smiling.

Tristan just nodded.

"Oh yes, they're lovely. We love your family. Proper, upstanding folk." Emily enthused.

Lorelai and Charlotte exchanged a glance but bit their tongues. Charlotte glanced at Rory and Tristan and they were looking uncomfortable as well.

"And you work at a diner, Luke?" Emily questioned, trying but failing to hide her disdain.

"I run it, yes." Luke nodded.

"I've been there. It's nice. Very rustic." Emily smiled sweetly.

"Thank you." Luke said, knowing rustic meant something different, but holding his tongue.

"And what do you do Jess? You don't go to Chilton, do you?" Emily asked.

"Nope. I go to the school in Stars Hollow." Jess said.

"How nice." Emily said imperiously.

"He works in the diner and in Wal-Mart as well." Charlotte said, giving Jess a supportive smile who returned it.

"How conscientious." Emily commented. "And how do you do in school?"

"I get by." Jess said, biting his tongue.

"What does that mean?" She asked.

"Grandma..." Charlotte begged.

"You like to read, don't you Jess?" Richard asked.

"Uh..yes sir." Jess nodded.

"I remember. We were talking about Hemingway that day in the diner when I came to Stars Hollow." Richard smiled.

"I remember." Jess said.

"I assume you have yet to persuade my granddaughters to read him." Richard joked.

Jess smirked. "Not yet."

"I gave him a try!" Rory exclaimed.

"And I'm not a bookworm like you. Give me a break!" Charlotte quipped but smiled gratefully at her grandpa for changing the subject.

Dinner soon came to an end and they all left feeling exhausted.

"I thought you were exaggerating." Luke joked as they got back to Stars Hollow.

"Oh no, I never exaggerate about my parents." Lorelai joked.

"Grandma was definitely on fine form." Charlotte sighed.

"Wouldn't expect anything else." Lorelai said.

****************************

Thursday early evening, they were yet again back at the Gilmore Mansion, sat in the living room with Trix.

"So Lucas, I've heard from Richard that you own a diner in that town that you and Lorelai live in?" Trix said whilst sipping her drinks.

"Yes I do." Luke nodded, waiting for the same disdain that Emily had.

"And Jess, you're Luke's nephew, is that right?" Trix questioned.

"Yes." Jess nodded.

"Do you work in the diner when you are not at school?"

"Yes." Jess answered.

"And Wal-Mart." Charlotte added. "When he's not working at the diner, he's working at Wal-Mart."

"And you keep up with your schoolwork as well?" Trix asked.

"I feel like I do, yes." Jess said.

"Good. Education is important as well. But it's always good to get experience working as well." She said. "And Lucas..." She continued.

"Please, it's Luke. Only my mother called me Lucas." Luke said.

"Very well." Trix said. "Luke, you built the diner up yourself?"

"Yes Mrs Gilmore. It used to be my father's hardware store but I was never really into the hardware business like he was so I turned it into a diner." Luke explained.

"And it does well?"

"Very well, Gran! It's packed everyday. Everyone in our town loves his food." Lorelai said. "And his coffee!" She grinned.

"Oooh especially his coffee!" Charlotte grinned.

"And pie!" Rory grinned.

"I see." Trix said with an amused smile.

"It pays the bills." Luke said humbly.

"Well that's always a bonus." Trix commented.

"And this is Tristan, Mom, Rory's boyfriends. You know the DuGreys?" Emily interrupted, not liking the fact that Trix obviously approved of Luke and Jess.

"Yes. I know the DuGreys." Trix said stiffly. "Do you work out of school, boy?" She asked Tristan.

"Uh..no ma'am." Tristan said uncomfortably.

"Mm..of course not." She said. "Kids who are born into families who have money and high status seem to think they don't need to work."

"Gran, that's not fair. Tristan works hard. And remember, I was born into money and society." Lorelai said trying to defend Tristan and received a grateful smile from Rory in return.

"Yes but you got out of this world and worked hard and you now run that inn." Trix commented. "Now let me guess, Emily approved of you?" She directed her question at Tristan.

"Uh..." Tristan said not really knowing what to say.

"And tell me, what has Emily said about you two?" Trix asked Luke and Jess. "I bet she was all superior and didn't approve of what you did or where you came from."

Luke and Jess exchanged a glance as they saw Emily look awkward and uncomfortable.

"Don't worry about her. Tell me, I'm dying to know. I know Emily prefers men with money but I myself prefer men who like hard work and aren't afraid to work all hours to make a living." Trix laughed. "I have to say, I'm surprised you lasted here under your mother's control for as long as you did Lorelai. Well done for escaping her."

Everyone was silent as they took in what she had just said. Luke glanced at Emily who looked hurt and then at Richard and Lorelai who actually looked shocked. He then looked over at Jess and then back at Trix. "Actually, Emily has been nothing but accommodating and welcoming." He said, surprising everyone in the room, most of all Emily.

"Please! I know Emily. How much did she pay you to say that?" Trix said.