Shooting Gilmores Again

Chapter One

"Come on Luke, please?"

"I said no. And how many times have I said not to come around behind the counter to get your own coffee?"

Lorelai continued to pour her coffee, set it on the counter and then got herself a donut. She then went back around to the customer side and sat back down on a stool.

"Why can't you ask Rory? I thought you two were a great looking couple, and you almost won."

"Yeah we would have, too, if it hadn't been for that whole Dean and Jess thing."

"Well, they're both out of the picture now, so ask her."

"I did. But once again I forgot about the Runaround, but not Rory."

"The what? The Runaround?"

"Yeah, you know. Taylor blows that stupid horn of his and we have to run around the floor until he thinks everyone is ready to throw up. And then he graciously gives us a ten minute break."

"Oh, right. I forgot about that, too. Uh, NO!"

"Lu-u-u-ke! "

"Lorelai, there's no way I'm going be able to hold you up for twenty-four hours and dance around, and run laps around, that stupid high school gymnasium."

"But you're the strongest man in Stars Hollow! I need someone who can support me and carry me."

"Lorelai . . . ."

"You've got those great hiking boots so your feet shouldn't start hurting. Oh! And you used to run track! You've got stamina, and staying power --ooh, dirty! And I need that. Oh, dirty again!"

"Did you not hear what I said? Besides, I have a diner to run. And if I participated in that stupid marathon, not only would I have to leave the diner for those twenty-four hours, but for another eight or ten hours after that just to catch up on my sleep."

"You know very well Caesar and Lane can handle things. They do it all the time."

"How many times and how many ways do I have to say no?"

"You know," Lorelai continued, "if you do this for me now, that will be one less thing I'll nag you about after we're married."

Luke took a deep, tired breath.

"And this will be the last, the VERY last time I'll have to hear about it?"

"Absolutely."

"Fine. Sign us up. Jeez, I must be out of my mind."

Lorelai stood up and leaned over the counter to take his face in her hands and kissed him.

"It'll be great, you'll see. This year, Kirk's going DOWN!"

TBC