Disclaimer: I wish I did, but I don't. Don't sue me please. It wouldn't do you any good. I own a gel pen and a box of poptarts. And the poptarts are stale.

Distribution: Just let me know first. Shan21@twcny.rr.com

Rating: Just PG for now. Maybe PG-13 later

Summary: Set a few months after Take the Deviled Eggs. Lorelai is back together with Max, and Luke isn't happy. Rory is forced into another car ride with Jess, and he makes her ask herself what she really wants.

Lorelai took her first opportunity to escape from work. She ran to Luke's Diner and collapsed into a seat. Work had been hectic. There was a big retirement party planned for that evening, and this was no small deal. The man being honored had not missed a single day of work in his 25 years with his company, and to show their appreciation, the employers were holding what Lorelai considered to be the most ridiculously elaborate and large retirement party in the history of man.

She ordered her coffee, chose a spot on the wall to focus on, and let her mind drift. A little while later, a voice jolted her out of her daze.

"Lorelai."

"Max?" Lorelai looked up at him in surprise. She wasn't expecting him today. Especially not in Luke's diner. She had told very few people that they were back together. It was safer that way, she thought. They had agreed to keep things subtle and simple this time.

"Sookie said I could find you here," he said, smiling.

"You came to see me at work?" Lorelai asked, eyes nervously darting around the room searching for a hint of plaid.

"Well, I had to find you and tell you right away."

"Tell me what?"

"I just found out that Rory is under very close consideration for the top scholarship at Chilton. It's extremely difficult to get, and extremely rewarding."

"Oh my god, really?" Lorelai asked excitedly.

"Now nothings for certain yet, but it's looking good. I just wanted to share the news. And see you of course." He smiled again. Lorelai smiled back at him. They looked into each other's eyes and couldn't stop smiling.

Luke thought he might be sick.

"Max." he said gruffly.

"Oh, Luke. I didn't see you there. Nice to see you again," Max said politely, but clearly he was not happy to see Luke at all.

Luke just glared at Lorelai until she cleared her throat and turned back to Max.

"Well thanks for the message Max. This is really exciting for me, and I can't wait to tell Rory."

Max looked at Luke's angry expression and his own soured.

"Yes well, I guess I'll just be going now."

"Yeah, why don't you do that," Luke said in a hard voice.

"Okay Max. See ya."

"Bye." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek before leaving. Lorelai pretended to be very busy examining her coffee cup. Luke was still staring at her.

"Lorelai, what the hell are you doing?"

Lorelai looked up from her coffee. "Um… trying to remember the name of that last dwarf. I can always remember six. Why does that damn seventh one always escape me?"

"I mean," Luke began impatiently, "What were you doing with ihim./i

"Happy, Dopey, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Doc… Damn!"

Luke started to speak when Kirk approached Lorelai's table.

"Lorelai, I noticed you speaking with that Max guy, and I just want to let you know that if you two work things out, I'm still available to take pictures at the wedding."

"Kirk," Luke said in a warning tone.

"I mean," Kirk continued, oblivious, "My mother took away my camera, but I'm sure I could find a worthy replacement by the time—"

"Kirk!" Luke shouted.

"Yes?"

"Leave."

Kirk stared at Lorelai and mouthed a "We'll keep in touch." Lorelai nodded and waved goodbye to him.

"Lorelai, what's going on with you and him?"

"Kirk?"

"Lorelai," Luke growled.

"You caught me. I've begun a dangerous liaison with Kirk. Last week he took me to dinner on his scooter, but his mom called and he had to leave early. It was hard on both of us, but he promised to contact me on the walkie talkie he gave me."

"Lorelai."

"His mom doesn't like him using the phone at night."

"Lorelai, what are you doing with Max," Luke shouted, exasperated.

Lorelai sighed in frustration. "What do you mean what am I doing with him?"

"Well, are you dating?" He forced the last word out with thinly veiled disgust.

"Yes, okay? We're seeing each other again."

"When did you start seeing him again?"

"I don't know. A week or two ago."

Luke's eyes flashed. "Well thanks for mentioning it to me."

Lorelai stared at him in disbelief.

"Uh, gee dad, next time I promise to tell you when a guy asks me out."

"It's just… why didn't you tell me?"

"It didn't come up, and you never seemed very fond of him, so I just figured you didn't need to know."

"Well I was going to find out eventually," Luke said angrily.

"Yeah well congratulations, you found me out. Are you going to ground me or something?"

"Stop it."

"You stop it."

"Okay, now I might have to ground you. You're acting like a kid."

"Me? iI'm/i acting like a kid? You're the one who's getting all worked up over this."

"It's just… Lorelai, come on. Why are you back with him?" Luke looked at her pleadingly.

"What is your problem? Ugh. We started to talk again at Rory's parent teacher night. We both said that we made some mistakes, but that we still have feelings for each other, and maybe if we took things slower this time, we could make it work."

"Lorelai, you don't love him and you never will. Why waste your time?"

"Luke, when did you become the relationship expert? If I'm not mistaken you haven't had a steady relationship since Rachael."

"We're not talking about me."

"Yeah, well I think a change in subject is in order, so let's talk about you."

Luke stood up angrily and glared at Lorelai.

"Fine, I'll drop it. I hope your happy with him. I'm happy for you. Very happy in fact." He said through clenched teeth before he turned to leave.

"Riiiight."

"No, forget it Lorelai. I give up. I don't care. Be happy. I'm fine with it."

"So I'm guessing that you're heading back to the kitchen to do the secret lumberjack dance of joy to celebrate my getting back together with Max?"

"Well I used to do the dance in the middle of the diner, but it frightened the children and Miss Patty kept trying to pinch my ass so now I try to stay in the kitchen," Luke said, perfectly deadpan.

"Must be some dance. Poor Caesar."

Luke just grumbled and walked away. Lorelai watched him disappear into the kitchen and looked toward the door when she heard someone walk in. Rory breezed in, looking disheveled.

"Hey sunshine, what's up?"

"The price of gas. And my stress level," Rory answered.

"Oh no! Stress level growth?"

"Yup. It's up a million percent."

"Yikes. That's a lot of percents."

"Yeah I know. I just heard myself say it," Rory said with irritation.

"Okay. Sorry. I think coffee is needed."

"I'm sorry. I'm just grumpy today," Rory said apologetically.

"Aha! The seventh dwarf!"

"Huh?"

"Oh, uh, nothing. So, is this going to be a late night? Lot's of brain-hurting things to do?"

"Huge history test. The teacher just sprung it on us like, 'Oh, and I might've forgotten to mention this last week, but you have your unit test tomorrow. And haha, it counts for a quarter of your grade.'"

Lorelai made a noise of disgust. "I can't believe that! Did he actually say 'haha'?"

"Mom," Rory moaned as she sprawled out across the table.

"Sorry. This stinks big time honey. I'll help you study."

"You have to do that thing at the inn tonight."

"No I don't. It's not that important."

"Mom! Yes it is. Big important people are coming for that retirement party, and you have to be there so it runs smoothly."

"Well it doesn't start for another," she paused to look at her watch, "Ah! One hour!"

"Go ahead. I'll just start the studying here. If I'm not home when you get done, come here and look for my lifeless body, surrounded by dozens of coffee mugs and all the hair that I tore from my head."

"Lovely imagery," said Lorelai, wincing. "But I have a few minutes to help. Get your stuff out."

Rory opened her bag and began to rummage around. Her rummaging grew more frantic and culminated in a loud angry groan.

"I can't believe this! I left the stupid thing at school!"

"Left what at school?"

"All of my notes. I thought my bag felt light!"

"Okay, okay. Don't panic. I'll take you there."

"You can't! You have to be at the inn!" Rory said, now panicking.

"I'll just call Sookie and—"

"No mom, don't worry about it. I'll page Dean. Have fun at the retirement."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Now off with you! I'm gonna flag down Luke and order pie. It's a pie kinda day."

"I understand completely. Pie needs are not something to be ignored."

Lorelai grabbed her purse and gave Rory a kiss on the forehead before leaving the diner. Rory paged Dean and waited anxiously for him to call her. She turned on her phone the second she heard it ring.

"Dean?"

"Yeah, Rory. What's up?"

"I need you to take me to Chilton."

"What? Why?"

"I left some school stuff there and I really need it for tonight."

"Oh man Rory, I can't."

"What?!" Rory yelled, causing some of the other customers to look up.

"I'm so sorry Ror, but I have to take my sister to her Brownies meeting."

"Can't you drop her off early and take me?"

"I wish I could. My whole family is going. It's the big award ceremony, end of the year thing. She's getting badges and stuff. She would never forgive me if I missed it. I'm so sorry."

"Argh. Okay, I'll find someone else."

"Good luck. I love you."

"Love you too. Bye."

Rory turned off her phone and looked around franticly. That was when Jess walked in. It took Rory a moment to remember that Jess had a car. She went through a silent inner struggle before deciding that she had to get her notes, no matter what, and she walked up to him.

"Jess."

"Rory. You look awful."

"You're so sweet."

"Sorry."

"Forget it. I need a favor."

"A favor? Is it a dirty favor, because I really don't think that would be fair to Dean. Poor kid seems a little more paranoid than usual these days. His hair seems extra floppy, wouldn't you agree? Or have you just not noticed?"

"Jess, shut up. I need you to drive me to Chilton. I left some stuff there and I really need it."

"You want a ride," he said in disbelief.

"Yes."

"In my car."

"Yes."

"With me."

"Yes."

"With me behind the wheel?"

"It's not like I have a choice here Jess! I need help, you're the only one who can take me right now, so please, I am asking you, give me a ride to my school."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay," Jess repeated matter-of-factly.

"Okay then."

"As great a word as 'okay' is, I'm going to have to break the pattern."

"Okay," Rory said. "Oh. I mean—"

"Should we leave right now?"

"Yes please."

"Okay," he said, smirking at her.

"Shut up."

"Okay."

She punched him lightly in the arm, glaring at him. She grabbed her bag and followed Jess out the door toward his car. This was going to be a long trip.

TBC… probably. Reviews will help me brainstorm the next chapter. It's like magic! In my head so far I see more R/J banter in the car, and some more intervention from Luke. He might just have to prove to Lorelai that Max isn't the best guy for her.