A.N. If you're new here, welcome and if you've been here since the beginning, you're gonna notice some changes. Chapter 13 goes into more detail, but I'm revising each chapter, so I encourage everyone to go back and read the whole story.

This story focuses on my two favorite boys, Jess and Uncle Luke in season 2. I've never thought Jess got enough screen time so we're delving deep into this complex character. Enjoy! Drop me a review if you like it, or if you don't, but after you have your say, keep your peace.

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own these characters.

Luke Danes never thought himself to be the father type. He had never been married, the thought of kids rarely crossed his mind. Especially the thought of raising his own kid. The man was used to his own space. His apartment above the diner was small, but it comforted Luke to know that nothing would change up there. The last thing he wanted to do was take care of his sister's screw up, but being Liz's constant hero, he had said yes. So Luke found himself picking up a seventeen year old boy at the Stars Hollow bus stop.

"Jess," Luke stated when he saw the kid.

"Luke," Jess returned with a slight nod.

That was the beginning to something resembling a relationship.

"Jess!" Luke stormed into the shared apartment to see his nephew smoking a cigarette, on his makeshift mattress.

"Hey uncle Luke," The kid said casually, returning to his book, blowing out a puff of smoke.

"You've got to be kidding. Jess are you seriously in my apartment smoking?" The older man said, appalled.

"If I say no, can I keep reading?" Jess asks, leafing through the pages lazily.

"I came in here to have a decent conversation with you, but now I have to yell," Luke said, making purposeful tracks towards his nephew.

"You don't have to," Jess mumbled.

"Yeah I do. You're cutting school, you're smoking and God knows what else you do. But it's going to stop."

"is it?" Jess replied, smacking his lips together in boredom.

"That's it," Luke said, hauling the kid off his bed. He roughly set him down on the kitchen chair.

"The hell?!"

Luke situated himself on another chair, ignoring his nephew's outburst.

"No, my turn to talk. You're gonna stop cutting classes, you're gonna stop smoking. I'll get you the gum, the patches, whatever," Luke said in a near growl.

"And what if I don't?" Jess challenged, meeting Luke's eyes.

Luke sighed. Getting up, he grabbed his nephew by the arm and pulled him up. Luke raised his hand and gave Jess ten sharp smacks over the seat of his pants.

Jess flinched, but otherwise showed no emotion. He quickly grabbed his jacket and walked out the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Out." Jess grounded out.

"Well at least I asked," Luke said to himself.

Rory headed out of the book store when she spotted him. The new kid, walking aimlessly around stars Hollow.

"Hey," Rory greeted, pulling her coat a little closer to combat the cold.

"Hey," Jess returned quietly.

"You okay?" Rory asked, noticing his uneasiness around her.

"Yeah, fine."

"Sure," she said disbelievingly.

"Luke yelled at me," Jess said. He hadn't planned to tell her, it just kinda slipped out.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Rory said, unsure of how to respond.

"Hey, I probably had it coming." Jess shrugged.

"Well, I better get going. My mom's waiting," Rory said.

"Sure, I'll leave you with a magic trick." Jess reached into his back pocket and pulled out a book.

"Hey that's my book. You stole my book," Rory said in confusion.

"Borrowed. I just wanted to write some things in the margins for you."

"What? I thought you said you didn't read much."

"What is much? Good night Rory," The strange boy replied, turning away.

"Good night Dodger," Rory returned with a raised brow.

"Dodger?" Jess asked amused.

"Figure it out," Rory instructed smiling.

"Oliver Twist," Jess said, turning back to face her.

Rory grinned, but didn't say anything else before walking away once again.

"Luke?" Jess called softly as he opened the apartment door.

"I'm still here kid." Luke returned carefully, he wasn't entirely sure how Jess was going to react.

Jess shuffled his feet a bit before saying, "sorry for being a pain in your ass uncle Luke."

"Yeah, well guess we're even." Luke smirked.

"Not funny," Jess said, annoyed.

"Do your homework."

"Whatever." Despite his words, Jess did open his textbook.

Luke never planned on smacking Jess, but for the first time in a week, he actually apologized. Maybe a little discipline would help the kid. Luke knew when he took custody of the kid, that he was responsible for him, but what he didn't realize was the overwhelming thought, that he's the only one who gives a damn about the kid.

"So how's parenthood?" Lorelai teased the next morning.

"He's actually doing better," Luke said, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Oh, what changed?" Lorelai asked, intrigued.

Jess was pouring coffee at another table and shot Luke a warning look.

"You know, I just told him what was expected of him and he seemed to understand," Luke said, giving Jess a "don't worry about it" look of his own.

"Oh, that's gonna work great. I bet he's turning from his wicked ways now, all because of you telling him what was "expected" of him. Really Luke, that's all you did?" Lorelai said in proper Lorelai fashion.

That's it," Luke said, dismissively.

"Later," Jess said, putting down the pot of coffee down and slipping out the diner door.

"Oh yes, glad you sorted that kid out," Lorelai said sarcastically, sipping her coffee.

Luke shook his head and walked into the kitchen.

That kid seriously has a death wish! Luke seethed as he walked towards the school. Fighting another kid in Stars Hollow? You might as well have kicked Elmo.

Jess emerged from the high school just as Luke got there.

"Oh jeez. What are you doing, following me now?" Jess accused, exasperated.

"Jess, a fight really?" Luke asked, just as on edge as his nephew.

"It was no big deal," Jess said, walking off.

"No big deal, he says," Luke mimed sarcastically, stalking after Jess.

"Look man, I didn't ask to come here. I didn't ask for you to be around. So just get off my back already," Jess says, nearly yelling now.

"You know what, fine," Luke said, fed up.

"Get out of my way." Jess presses as they near the bridge.

"I'm going this way."

"Fine."

"Fine."

The pair walk over the bridge, chests heaving from the argument. Luke having lost all sense, promptly pushed Jess into the lake.

"Dry off some before you come back inside," Luke said over his shoulder.

Jess flipped his now sopping wet hair out of his eyes, and when Luke turned away, gave him a vulgar gesture with his finger.