...can't think of anything witty to put up here right now. Sorry. Ummm, I don't own these characters. Duh. Oh, and support Great 8 Mandate!

Chapter 1

"What are you gonna do, sit at home, all alone?" Sookie asked Lorelai as they walked down the sidewalk.

"I won't be alone. Paul Anka will be there." Lorelai sipped her coffee.

Sookie raised her eyebrow at her. "But you've never missed any of the town functions! And it's the Spring Fling! You've always loved the Spring Fling."

"Sookie, this is the first ever Spring Fling."

"I know. But it'll be so much fun. The dancing and the music and the flowers."

"I just don't feel very springy this year. Or flingy."

"Well I don't think anyone really ever feels flingy."

"I did once."

"Wow. How was that?"

"Eh, I've had better moods."

"It'll be so much fun. You can get some food, mingle with the town folk. We can dance. You like to dance."

"What about Jackson? Isn't it kind of a date thing?"

"You can be my date. Jackson can stay home with the kids."

"Alright, fine."

"Oh good. We'll have fun, so much fun." Sookie smiled.

"What's the big deal with me going anyway?"

"Well, since Christopher left..." Lorelai cringed. Sookie patted her shoulder. "Sorry, hun, but it's just, since all that happened you haven't been yourself. You just mope around the inn then you go home and mope around the house."

"Ouch."

"I'm sorry, but someone had to say it. I'm worried about you."

"I just haven't felt like doing much lately."

"Well breakups can be hard."

"It wasn't just any breakup, it was THE breakup. I am now a divorcee. I can refer to an ex as my first husband."

"Well look on the bright side. At least now you know."

"Know what? That I'm not meant for marriage?"

"No, that Christopher wasn't the one."

"I don't think I've got one."

"One what? A one? Every one has one...one."

"Well see."

The town square was decorated with spring flowers and pastel colored streamers. Lorelai watched as couples danced, drank and kissed on private benches. It seemed like everyone in town was paired up with someone else. Spring was in the air after all.

"Aren't you glad you came?" Sookie asked.

"Yeah. Thanks for bringing me Sookie." Lorelai tried to smile at her friend.

"You want some food?"

"Sure." Lorelai followed Sookie over to the buffet table.

"This one is always hungry. I don't think I've ever eat so much in my life." Sookie rubbed her stomach. She seemed to be getting bigger every day.

"Do you know what it is yet?" Lorelai poured herself a cup of Miss Patty's infamous punch.

"Nope. We're gonna wait this one out. I figure surprise baby, surprise gender."

"Sookie!"

Lorelai and Sookie turned around to see Jackson walking towards them. "Jackson, what are you doing here? Where are the kids?"

"I'm sorry. I just, I heard the music and I missed you."

"Did you leave the kids alone?"

"No, I called a sitter."

"This was supposed to be girls' night out."

"I'm sure Lorelai doesn't mind. You don't mind, do you Lorelai?" Jackson asked.

"Nah. Go dance, have fun."

"Are you sure?" Sookie asked.

"Yeah. You kids go get outa here." Lorelai smiled as she watched Jackson lead Sookie to the dance floor. She saw Miss Patty sitting on the steps of the gazebo and walked over to join her. "Hey Patty," Lorelai said, sitting down next to the town's dance teacher.

"Hi Lorelai. I haven't seen you around town for a while. I hope you haven't been sick."

"No, no, nothing like that. I've just been in a post-divorce funk, I guess."

"Oh don't worry. I went through the same with after my third husband. You know how I got over it?"

"How?"

"My fourth husband. Nothing like a man ten years younger than you ex to really make you forget about a failed marriage." Patty patted Lorelai knee. "Don't worry about it. You'll find someone else, someone better."

"I'll drink to that," Lorelai said. She knocked cups with Miss Patty and downed what was left of her punch.

"Oh, by the way, you haven't seen Luke around have you?"

"No." Lorelai wondered if he was seeing someone, if it was serious enough for him to bring her to something like this. She suddenly wished she had more punch in her cup. "Why?"

"He sister was over here a little while ago looking for him."

"Well if he pops up I'll let him know." Lorelai looked into her empty cup. What am I doing here, she thought, sitting on a step with Miss Patty feeling sorry for myself, drinking so much of this toxic sludge punch. "I think I'm gonna head home."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm tired and Paul Anka's been home alone for a while."

"Alright. Have a good night."

"You too, Patty." Lorelai stood up and started to walk away.

"Lorelai!" Patty called. Lorelai turned around. "I'm glad you came out tonight."

Lorelai smiled. "Thanks."

As Lorelai walked across the square she glanced across the street. The light was still on inside Luke's Diner. She could make out his form, hunched over a table, watching his tiny TV. She stepped off the curb into the street, her heel giving out beneath her. "Damn it, damn it, damn it." She took her shoe off and examined the damage. The heel was completely snapped off. She took of her other shoe and ran across the street barefoot. She tossed the shoes into the trash can and tapped on the diner window.

Luke jumped in his chair. He squinted, trying to see who was at the window. Lorelai waved at him. "What the...?" He walked over to the door and stepped outside. "What are you doing? Where are your shoes?"

"I was walking home and I saw the light on and, I don't know, just wanted to say hi I guess."

"Are you drunk?"

"I think so. Maybe. Patty had some punch out."

"You're lip's all pink." Lorelai's hand went to her mouth self consciously. "What about the shoes?"

"One of them broke so I threw them away."

"And you're planning on getting home how?"

"Walking."

"Barefoot?"

"Apparently."

"Let me drive you home."

"Oh, no. I'll be fine."

"Here." Luke stepped out of his slippers. "Wear these home then."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"I'll bring them by tomorrow. So, what are you doing down here?"

"Oh, Liz and Doula are staying upstairs cause TJ's got the flu and apparently I snore and it keeps the baby up."

"Well you can get pretty loud."

"Apparently." Luke smiled at her. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah. Goodnight." Lorelai hesitated. She took a step closer to him and pulled his shirt collar down so she didn't have to stand on her tippy-toes to kiss him. She had forgotten how it felt to kiss him, how natural it felt. Suddenly she realized that she was standing in front of a diner in the middle of the night kissing her ex-boyfriend, ex-fiancé. "Oh God. I'm sorry." She ran down the sidewalk, trying not to trip in the slippers that were much to big for her feet.