Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls…Duh!

A/N: This is only my second GG fic, so, very little flames please! The story takes place in between Season 3 and 4, so read the story! It is before Luke and Nicole are married. And review, please review!

STOWAWAY- Chapter 1: Criminals and Explanations

Rory rocked back and forth; her mother's eyes followed her. Lorelai smiled at her, and Rory glared. "What!"

"Shhhh…It's just," Lorelai laughed, "You look like that boy from the sixth sense. 'I see dead people…'" She said in a mocking tone.

'This is so not funny! We're criminals" Rory loudly whispered. "Stowing away is not illegal!" Lorelai huffed. Rory shot her another deadly look. "Yes it is! It's your entire fault! You swore you saw Bono, and we missed the plane! You dragged us here, and pulled me onto this stupid cruise ship!" Every word of hers got louder.

"Just wait. When the ship is out far enough, we'll go out and pretend we're tourists. I'll even buy you one of those swirlie hats and a camera!" Lorelai joked, trying to get something besides a glare out of her angry daughter, but unfortunately, she did not succeed.

"Wanna play cards?" Lorelai asked, holding up a pack.

"No! Where did you get those?" Rory said.

Lorelai held up a bag but seeing the look on her child's face, she slipped the cards back into the side pocket.

"Where's your sense of adventure?" Lorelai mocked her.

"Back in that bar in Ireland, next to your wallet that you left on the counter." Rory said.

"Oh…that's where I left my money…" Lorelai said as she flopped back onto the bags they sat on.

Rory huffed and she lay back next to her crazy mom.

A few hours later, in the daylight, Lorelai and Rory came out of the cargo room, wearing their tropical attire. They headed towards the pool and Lorelai put her arm around Rory's shoulder. "Feeling better?" Lorelai asked.

"A bit…" Rory replied.

They walked to the pool and chose two beach chairs to sit on. "Where are we going to sleep?" Rory asked, turning to her mother.

"Hmm…I dunno…"

"What!"

"I have a plan! It will reveal itself in time!" Lorelai said, "When I think of it…" she mumbled.

They sat for about an hour, lying there, almost asleep. Lorelai blinked and turned her head to Rory. "Now……isn't this nice?"

"Well…I guess…" Rory answered.

Lorelai turned her head to the pool and smiled.

"That guy is hot! See the one in the blue shorts…Especially wet…" She motioned her head towards him.

Rory sat up slightly, and looked at him. "Figures…he looks like Luke…" Rory smirked and put her head back. "No he doesn't! And what do you mean by figures?" Lorelai demanded.

"Mom…" Rory said in a scared voice.

"What!"

"Mom, that…that is Luke…" Rory said.

Lorelai sat up and looked at the guy pulling himself out of the pool. "No it isn't! No! No……It is!" She said frantically.

"Oh no! He and Nicole are coming this way!" Rory frantically said. "What do we do?"

"Um…um…pretend we're look alike French women!"

"He'll know it's us…um…um…"

"Grr…Nicole…" Lorelai mumbled.

Luke and Nicole strode next to the pool, Luke was uncomfortably holding Nicole's hand. They were at the edge of the pool, and Luke turned his head, and he saw two familiar girls.

"Rory? Lorelai?"

"We can explain!" They simultaneously said before Luke slipped on the floor, into the water, and into unconsciousness.

"Lorelai?" Luke slowly blinked, and saw Nicole slightly flinch. Nicole and Lorelai were hovering over him, Nicole dabbing his hurt forehead.

"It was just a reflex, cause he saw me last…" Lorelai uncomfortably said. Nicole shot her a scary glare, and they both turned back to Luke. "Look! He's come too!" Nicole said.

"We need more bandages…" Lorelai said, holding up the empty box. "I'll go get some more…" She stood up.

"I'll get some…" Nicole huffed. She was angry that Lorelai was there, and even more angry that she was trying to take care of her boyfriend.

She walked off angrily. Lorelai leaned over Luke and dabbed his cut with some wet paper towels. Luke sat up, but Lorelai pushed his chest down. Her hand tingled where she had touched his muscular chest. "Don't…just lie down. You've got a pretty bad cut." Lorelai said. Luke put his hand to his forehead and felt his fingers get wet, but Lorelai gently pushed his hand away.

"What…what are you doing here?" Luke asked.

"Later…" Lorelai said.

"Where's Rory?"

"She's getting some ice…"

"Oh…" Luke slightly nodded.

At that moment, Rory came up behind them holding a bag of ice.

"How is he?" Rory looked over Lorelai's shoulder.

"Fine…"

"Oh, he's awake!" Rory exclaimed.

"What happened?" Luke asked.

Lorelai sighed. "Well, you saw us, slipped on the wet floor, and fell into pool. You hit your head on the side or something." Rory nodded. "Mom was the one who reacted first. She saved you." Luke smiled at her just as Nicole came back.

"Oh, are you better?" Nicole sat down next to him. Luke nodded slowly.

"Can I…lie down a while?" Luke asked.

They all nodded, and helped him up, leading him back to his room.

Lorelai sat next to Luke, who was resting. Rory sat on the other side, reading. Nicole came into the room and picked up her purse.

"I'm going to the show, are you guys going to stay with him?" Nicole said.

"Yeah." Lorelai nodded, angry that Nicole was leaving Luke when he was injured.

Nicole nodded back, and left the room. Rory smiled slightly, watching Lorelai watch Luke.

"I'll be hanging out, outside, ok Mom?" Rory stood up.

"Yeah…" Lorelai nodded again, her eyes fixed on Luke. She smiled and stood up, heading towards the kitchen. Luke stirred and woke up, his head pounding.

"Lorelai?" Luke asked, sitting up slowly.

"Hey! You're up!" Lorelai smiled. "Beer?" She smiled, holding up two. Lorelai walked over to him, and Luke took one into his hand. She sat down next to him and smiled. Luke opened the beer and took a sip. "Where are Nicole and Rory?" Luke asked. "Oh, Nicole went out…somewhere…" Lorelai angrily said. "And Rory's…reading outside…" Luke nodded. "What time is it?"

Lorelai sighed. "Almost 8 at night…"

Luke sighed frustrated. "How did you get here…" Luke finally asked.

Lorelai sighed again, and began to explain about how they had stowed away after chasing Bono in Ireland. Luke nodded understandably.

"So, we don't know where to stay now…" Lorelai ended her long story.

"Stay here…" Luke said.

"What?"

"Here…you can stay here, stay on the sofa bed." Luke said as a matter of factly.

"Really?" Lorelai smiled and ran to Luke. She hugged him and smiled, and Luke smiled back.

Nicole entered the door and saw them tenderly hugging. She frowned, turned around and left. Rory watched as she left, and then entered. "Hey mom!"

"Hey hon, whatcha do?" Lorelai asked.

"Well, I just…hung around…" Rory said, seeing the smiling faces.

"Thank you so much for letting us stay here…that cargo room was so uncomfortable…" Rory thanked Luke. "Just don't ever stowaway again…" Luke said. Lorelai smiled at Rory, "Told you I had a plan!" Rory looked at her confused. "What plan?"

"A plan so we wouldn't have to sleep in the cargo room," Lorelai smiled. She turned down the covers on their sofa bed, and then frowned. Rory rolled her eyes at her mother's silliness until her mother sat down, frustrated. "Damn!"

"What?" Luke asked. "I got no pj's!" Lorelai said. Rory held up her small bag. "Told you to bring stuff, miss, 'We can go back…'" Rory mocked. Luke threw her a giant shirt. "Here, borrow this…"

"Aww, thanks! You're such a softy Luke!" Lorelai mocked as she entered the bathroom. "Hey! I needed to go!" Rory ran to the room and pounded with her fists onto the bathroom door. Luke looked around and wondered where Nicole was, but his thoughts changed as he heard Lorelai's wonderful laugh.

Luke sat up at the sound of rustling in the bathroom. He saw Rory and Lorelai peacefully sleeping, and stood up. He slammed open the bathroom door, and the brown haired lady in there jumped. "Nicole?"

Nicole slammed the cabinet shut and went back into the "living room". She picked up two bags that were next to the closet, and turned to Luke. "Sorry it didn't work out between us…" Nicole said.

"What? What are you talking about?" Luke asked, confused.

Nicole looked towards Lorelai and left without saying another word. Luke stood there for a moment, and then turned, smiling at the peacefully sleeping Lorelai. And at last, he understood.

A/N: Thank God! He understands now! Well, please review, there definitely will be more. Review and you get something! Anything edible, because I can cook! Well, I have money, so I can buy! So long and thanks for all the fish! Tell me where that's from, and you get a cookie!