A/N: This story takes place during the latter stages of Season Four. The Dragonfly Inn is in a state of progress, and money issues are still very present for the budding entrepreneurs. However, the entire dinner scene involving Gran and the Gilmores did not happen. In other words, there was no "haemorrhaging money" conversation. Also, the story hops around a bit, between the past and the present. All I ask is that you try to keep up – and enjoy the show!

Huge thanks to Filo, my fantastic beta!

The Dragonfly Inn was entering its final weeks of construction. Stress levels were at an all time high. There was still so much to do, and so little time to do it. It wasn't exactly a secret that the owners were running short on the green, either. Rumours to that effect began to spread the instant Tom's crew stopped keeping up appearances. This was crunch time. They needed help. They needed a hero.

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April 3, 2004…Dragonfly Inn

Lorelai burst into the kitchen, a worried expression on her face. "Sookie, I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure, sweetie. What is it?" Sookie asked, genuinely concerned.

"I have a bit of a problem."

"Oh? What about?"

"Well, I'm thinking about changing my lipstick shade to something more provocative. Does 'Streetwalker' make me sound cheap?"

"Um…" Sookie's mind began to wander someplace dark.

Lorelai snapped her fingers, regaining Sookie's attention. "Sook, it's about a man."

Sookie's ears perked up and her eyes sparkled as they usually did whenever a dose of gossip of the manly variety was promised.

Despite her friend's amused expression, Lorelai pressed on, "I…I've been having these feelings."

"Feelings?"

"Yeah, feelings."

"Okay." Sookie nodded, encouraging Lorelai to elaborate.

"I mean, not that there weren't feelings before, but now they're more, I don't know, intense."

"Your feelings have intensified," Sookie regurgitated. "Is that what's troubling you?"

"No, not exactly." Lorelai sighed. "It's not the feelings themselves, Sookie…it's the person that I'm having these feelings for."

Sookie couldn't even pretend to follow along.

Noticing her friend's cloudy expression, Lorelai decided to just spit it out. "It's Luke," she said.

Sookie stared blankly ahead for a few seconds. Suddenly her eyebrows hit the ceiling. "Oh my god! Luke!" she squealed.

Lorelai smirked. "My sentiments exactly."

"When did this happen? How did this happen? Does he know?" Before Lorelai had a chance to respond to the flurry of questions, the chef was hit by a wave of reality, her voice becoming soft, yet concerned. "But, Lorelai..."

"I know," Lorelai cut in.

"He's married," Sookie continued.

Lorelai's shoulders slumped over and her head dipped to her chest as guilt took shape. "That's the problem."

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March 17, 2004…Dragonfly Inn

"So, did you talk to Luke?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I invited him to dinner at Silvano's."

"And you're going to ask him about…"

"Yes, Sookie, I'm going to ask him about the money. I might as well kiss all my pride good-bye right now."

"Aw, honey. It won't be so bad. You know he'd do anything for you."

Lorelai frowned. "That's what's so bad about it. He'll feel obligated. I don't want him to feel obligated." She paused in thought. "Is this really our last resort?"

Sookie wrapped her friend in a soothing hug. "If we want this inn to open…then yes, this is our last resort."

Lorelai huffed. "All right, fine. Wish me luck."

Sookie stepped back and grinned. "Just wear something tight."

Lorelai shook her head and walked towards the foyer. She took a deep breath. This was going to be a long night.

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That evening, Lorelai made a quick pit-stop at Doose's to grab a bag of marshmallows for the short ride to Silvano's. She always found that eating helped to appease her nerves.

When she exited the building, she noticed Luke heading to his truck, dressed very smartly in a tailored shirt, black trousers and his leather jacket. She loved a man that could pull off leather. Luke certainly fell into that category.

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked towards her dining companion. "Hey," she said.

Luke glanced up, startled to see Lorelai. "Hey. I thought we were meeting at the restaurant."

"Well, I just happened to be in the neighbourhood." Lorelai smiled.

Luke looked down at her hand. "What's in the bag?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing special."

"Oh yeah? Let's see," he said, reaching for the bag.

Lorelai grinned. "Luke, I had no idea you were so interested in feminine products."

His face turned a crimson red and he stepped back about six feet from both the bag and its owner.

Lorelai laughed. "Relax! It's not a pipe bomb."

Luke grunted, abruptly changing the subject, "So, we might as well ride together. You wanna take my truck?"

"Um, yeah. Sure. That would be great."

Luke walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for her; a true gentleman. Lorelai smiled in appreciation. She watched as he once more rounded the truck and sat behind the wheel. She had to admit that he looked good. He noticed her eyes on him and gave her a questioning look.

"I don't mean to stare, I'm just not used to seeing you without your trusty sidekicks, Mr. Hat and Mr. Flannel," she admitted.

Luke chuckled.

"I hope you aren't suffering," she added.

"Huh?"

"From the separation anxiety," she explained. "I'm here if you need to talk about it."

Luke rolled his eyes and started the engine, pulling the truck into gear. This was going to be a long night.

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Three minutes into the ride, Lorelai was already tearing into the marshmallows.

Luke shook his head. "Feminine products, huh?"

Lorelai grinned. "Tricked ya."

"What are you doing eating, anyway?" he wondered. "We're going out for dinner."

She looked at him blankly.

"Right, I know. Stupid question."

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Pulling up to the restaurant, Luke let out a sigh of relief. Another marshmallow in the face and he would have turned the truck around.

"We're here!" Lorelai cheered.

"Thank God for that," Luke muttered.

She nudged him in the arm. "I heard that."

Luke parked the truck. He helped Lorelai out of her seat and they walked side by side to the entrance of the restaurant.

Their table was in an intimate corner of the restaurant. Candlelight provided the ambience. It also sent Luke into a full-blown rant about the lack of sufficient illumination and his inability to see the prices of the menu items.

Soon they were eating and chatting very amicably. There was no weirdness. Lorelai was so sure that there would at least be sporadic moments of weirdness. But she hadn't yet brought up the subject of money. That was the next topic of discussion. She ordered cheesecake for the occasion.

"So…Luke," she began. "I guess now's as good a time as any to talk business."

He nodded, leaning forward on his hands, giving her his undivided attention.

"Well, as you know, the Dragonfly has been under construction for quite a few months, and we're quickly approaching our opening deadline." She paused and took an anxious breath. "Opening an inn is a tricky thing. There are so many hidden expenses…and construction delays…It's, uh…"

"Tricky," Luke supplied, smirking.

"Yes," she agreed. "And terribly costly." She started fidgeting with her hands, her nerves getting the better of her. "I can't do this," she barely uttered, a look of panic on her face.

"Do what?" he asked, concerned.

She took another heavy breath. It was now or never. "Okay. I'm only asking you this because my back is against the wall…and I have no one else to turn to for help…Well, excluding my parents, but you know what my relationship with them is like, and this would just be another thing that they could hold over my head. And the inn is set to open in a few weeks and we're running out of time, and I…"

"Lorelai," he graciously interrupted. "Just ask me." His voice was very calm and reassuring.

She immediately relaxed. "I wondered if I could borrow some money."

Luke didn't appear to be phased by the statement. "How much money do you need?"

She bit her lip. "About thirty-thousand dollars." She searched his eyes for any sign of hesitation. But there was none.

"Okay…um, thirty-thousand dollars. I think I can swing that."

Lorelai stared at Luke, open mouthed, for longer than was necessary. She just couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was music to her ears. Altruistic music to her ears. Sookie was right. This man would do anything for her. "Are…are you sure, Luke?" she finally managed to say. "I want you to be one hundred percent sure before you agree to this."

"I'm sure," he said with complete sincerity.

She breathed a sigh of relief; of gratitude. "Okay." Lorelai beamed, thrilled. She was quiet for a moment, just taking it all in. And then practicality set in. "So, um, we'll need to work out a payment plan. I intend to pay back every cent, with interest."

Luke smiled. "You can pay me back, but there won't be any interest. That's a deal breaker," he insisted.

She shook her head, still in utter disbelief that this was really happening. The cheesecake had arrived at the table minutes earlier, but she was blind to it, her mind reeling with joy and utter amazement at the man sitting across from her.

She had found her hero.

"I don't even know what to say to you, Luke. I can't even begin to thank you." There were tears in her eyes.

He instinctively touched her hand. "Lorelai, seeing you finally realizing your dream, is thanks enough for me. I know how important this is for you. There are so few people in this world that would ever even attempt to accomplish something so big. You're an inspiration." His eyes sparkled with admiration; his smile was open, sincere, and confident.

He'd never looked more attractive to her.

If his intention was to abate her tears with his speech, he failed miserably. The tears started flowing with no sign of stopping. She laughed at herself, blubbering like an idiot. But she was so happy, she didn't know what else to do.

He rubbed her hand gently.

"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I know you hate crying."

He chuckled. "Tears of joy, I can handle." He was absently massaging her individual fingers now. "I meant every word I said," he added.

Her nerve endings sparked in response to his words, his touch. Suddenly she forgot about crying, and money. She watched his fingers dance around her own. The warmth she felt inside was something that both frightened and impassioned her.

Luke stopped his ministrations briefly to take a drink. Lorelai instantly missed the contact. This was bad. She needed to get out of there.

"Um…so, you ready to go?" she asked Luke.

He gestured to her uneaten cheesecake. "But you haven't even taken a bite of your…"

"I'll just have it wrapped up," she interrupted.

Luke gave her a puzzled look. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, much better than okay. Things are great…fantastic, even." She grinned.

"Okay," Luke said, not entirely convinced. "Sure, we can go if you'd like."

Lorelai nodded. "Just so we're clear, dinner's on me," she said firmly.

"I won't even put up a fight." Luke smiled.

"Good man."

TBC…