Ok, this has been rattling around in my head so I decided to write it down.

This is an adult story (eventually) with adult language (not much) and situations so no kiddies please!

First chapter is a little short but others will get longer (but not too long).

Please review. I already have a good part of chapter two written but I am not sure if anyone will like it.

Setting: Season 4 after Nicole, no Jason, and the Inn is not open yet.

Small Town Charm

Lorelai walked down the street breathing in the fresh spring air. She loved this time of the morning. She walked past Taylor's soda shop. Yes, the sun was shining, the birds were singing….

"Taylor, I swear one day I am gonna kill you," Luke declared literally erupting from the shop.

….and the townsfolk were fighting. Yep, another glorious day. Lorelai stopped to watch.

"Luke, you don't have to display anything," Taylor argued following him out. "Just participate. As part of the town's business community, it is your duty to do this."

"Taylor, I didn't even go to the crazy town meeting where you proposed this harebrained stunt. I have never participated in these things. What makes you think I am going to now?" He noticed Lorelai standing off to the side watching the argument with a slight smile on her face. Her smile got bigger when she realized he was looking at her.

"Nothing like a town rant first thing in the morning," she interjected with a grin.

"Don't," Luke warned her, knowing her stance on town events.

Lorelai knew exactly what he was ranting about. She had attended the town meeting where Taylor proposed having a Stars Hollow Trivia contest. The meeting attendees unanimously agreed it might be fun and Taylor quickly defined the contest. He had compiled a list of questions ranging from legend to actual history, current events and past happenings and events in the town. Whoever had the highest score would win. Taylor proposed silly prizes like free ice cream for a month or the keys to the city but he emphasized it would come down to bragging rights by one person in the town.

Certain establishments in the town would be "testing centers" where people could spend time taking the test. Luke's being one of the more popular places was immediately suggested. Even though most of the town were dead certain that Luke would not want his place of business used for a town event, Taylor had been sure he could convince him.

Taylor was wrong.

"I can't believe you thought I would go along with this," Luke ranted at Lorelai as he made his way back to the diner. She trailed after him. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"Well," Lorelai admitted, "one, it's always fun to see you and Taylor go at it. I could sell tickets. Two, your rants are legendary. Sometimes you outdo yourself. I try to predict how high your blood pressure goes when you are screaming at Taylor. It reminds me of those things that pop out of turkeys when they are done."

"Your concern for my health is touching," he said sarcastically. They entered the diner and Lorelai sat at the counter as Luke rounded it. He grabbed a mug, slammed it down and filled it with coffee before she could say a word.

"What no lecture on coffee intake today?" Lorelai asked.

"Hell, if you are gonna watch me rant myself into an aneurysm, I am gonna take you down with me by feeding you coffee. Then we'll be even," Luke declared.

"Sometimes you can be so dark," Lorelai quipped. "I like it."

"Thank you."

Lorelai sipped her coffee. "Are you sure you don't want to do this?" she asked.

Luke leaned over the counter until he was at eye level. "Have I ever participated in one of this town's crazy events?" The full force of Luke's eyes unnerved Lorelai.

"Well, no," Lorelai admitted, then perked up. "Okay so you don't allow people to take the test here. Will you at least participate? Flex that mighty brain and show people how smart you are?"

"Answering questions about this crazy town, its history and the stupid legends hardly proves me to be smart," Luke disagreed. "It's useless trivia."

"Fine, so you're not a font of useless trivia. You're not a veritable cultural wasteland of unnecessary information," Lorelai chided. "But it wouldn't hurt you to break out of your hermit hole and actually have some fun."

"I have fun," Luke pointed out. "Just because I don't parade around with the townspeople does not mean I am dull. I can have fun by myself or in smaller groups."

"Okay, fun by yourself--dirty!" Lorelai said laughingly then conceded. "If you want to be like the Unabomber, go right ahead. I won't stop you. You go ahead, distance yourself from everyone in the town."

Luke threw up his hands. "I don't want all those people in here. Most of them aren't going to order anything so they'll just take up all my tables."

"Fine," Lorelai soothed him. "You don't have to offer your diner as a testing site. We have K.C.'s and Weston's."

Luke snorted and turned away as Miss Patty entered the diner. She sashayed up to the counter and observed Luke slamming things around behind the counter. She sat down next to Lorelai.

"I told Taylor he'd refuse," Miss Patty sighed shaking her head. "Maybe if you talked to him…"

"He already shot me down," Lorelai confirmed. "But I am trying to get him to at least take the test for fun."

"Oh Luke," Miss Patty pleaded. "You have to at least do that."

"Sorry, Patty," Luke replied as he walked over and gave her a menu. "There's nothing you can do to change that."

"Well," Miss Patty shrugged. "We won't make you do it if you don't want to." She gazed at Lorelai who had half her attention on her coffee, the other half on Luke. "You'll be there at K.C.'s on Saturday won't you Lorelai? And maybe bring Rory?"

"I'll be there but Rory probably won't be coming home this weekend. You know how it is with finals coming up in a month," Lorelai said.

"I'm sorry she won't make it," Patty said sadly. "But I'm glad you'll be there. Since Rory has been at school and you've been working to get the Inn together, we hardly see you anymore. It's like you've become a hermit."

Lorelai nearly spit out her coffee hearing Patty call her a hermit. She had just called Luke the same thing not five minutes earlier. She glanced at Luke and seeing him smirk, knew that he was thinking the same thing.

"I know I haven't been out much lately but I've been busy." Lorelai stared right into Luke's eyes as she stated, "But you can count on me, I'll be there."

"Good, good," Patty nodded, noticing the look between Luke and Lorelai and wondered about it. "I'll think you'll have a good time."

Lorelai continued to stare into Luke's eyes, almost daring him to show up Saturday. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

tbc