As you may or may not have realized, I'm not following the exact timeline of events that took place during the show. But that's what makes it all so exciting, right?! Thanks again for the wonderful feedback, folks! And thanks to Filo for her awesome beta skills. Now, let's take a leap into the land of Stars Hollow. I hear it's lovely there this time of year…

Lorelai was silent for a long moment, contemplating an appropriate answer to Jason's question. Truthfully, she wasn't entirely sure why she hadn't consulted Jason over her money woes.

"I don't know," she finally said.

"Okay."

She looked at him, surprised. "Really? You're okay with that answer?"

He took a swig of champagne. "I am if you are," he responded casually.

Lorelai sighed. "I don't know why I didn't ask you, Jason. I guess I just didn't want to have something like that hanging over us, you know?"

"Why not? What's another dark cloud in the sky?" he said sarcastically.

"Dark cloud?"

"Have you told your parents about us yet?"

"Well…no, but I--"

"Dark cloud."

"Jason," she pleaded.

"It's okay, Lorelai. I have an umbrella. It's a really nice one, actually."

"Um…"

Jason stood up from his seat, and moved to the kitchen to refill his glass. "I gotta tell ya," he began, "Borrowing money from a friend...not a wise business move."

"Excuse me?" Lorelai sat up straighter.

"Norm and Harold, best friends since elementary school. Harold loans Norm fifty grand for a new business venture. Norm is through the moon, goes nuts, buys all the supplies to get started. Cheque bounces, Harold lands in the big house. Business goes bust." Lorelai rolled her eyes at the anecdote. Jason continued, "Clyde and John Baxter. Brothers, real close, weird close. Anyway, Clyde asks his brother to fund a research project. Johnny boy jumps on board, attends the meetings, get's the inside scoop. Steals the idea and books the next flight to New Guinea." Lorelai shook her head. "I'm just giving you my psychological analysis of the 'friend loan,'" Jason explained.

"Gee, thanks, Freud. But Luke and I have a very solid friendship. I don't foresee any encounters with the law, or spontaneous trips to island nations in our future."

"He was a coke head."

"Huh?"

"Freud. He did the heavy stuff. Happy powder, wacky dust, Aunt Nora, Mama Coca..."

Lorelai smirked. "I get the picture."

Jason returned to the couch and sat the near the edge of the cushion. He set his glass down and clasped his hands together. "I still don't see why you couldn't have at least talked to me about your financial situation beforehand. It just seems like something two adults in an adult relationship would discuss…"

"I just didn't want us to have to think about it," she reasoned, chuckling softly. "See how well that worked?"

Jason shook his head. "I know you, Lorelai. You and I are more alike than you realize. I think you deliberately kept me in the dark because you didn't want to create any loose ends before you cut your losses."

"What are you--"

"You don't take this relationship seriously, do you?"

"Jason, it's not like that at all." She sighed, her eyes moving to the corner of the room.

"I would have loaned you the money, happily. I'm good for it."

"I know you're good for it. Believe me, I do."

"Then why didn't you ask me?" he pressed.

Lorelai groaned, frustrated by the circular motion of their conversation. "God, Digger! You should be happy! I don't owe you any money, you don't owe me any money. We're in a debt-free relationship!" Her eyes focused on the corner again, her brow wrinkled with concern. "Are you sure he's breathing?"

"Cyrus, a little to the left," he commanded. The dog obediently adjusted his position. "Yep, he's still kicking," Jason concluded.

"He's like a statue."

"The monks of New Skete were very thorough in their training."

Lorelai nodded in agreement. They were both quiet for a moment.

Jason spoke gently, breaking the silence. "I'm committed to you, Lorelai. I'm committed to us. I am happy. I don't have that panicked feeling in my gut that I usually get at this stage of a relationship. I'm not bolting."

She smiled and said the first thing that came to her mind, "I'm not bolting, either."

"Good." Jason smiled, moving closer to her on the couch.

Together they relaxed deeper into the cushions. A peaceful silence took over the room.

"Was it the talking key?" Jason asked suddenly. "Is that why you didn't approach me about the money?"

"Gah!" Lorelai shouted, irritated. "No, it wasn't the talking key!"

"Okay, okay." He relinquished, satisfied with her answer. "Umlauts," he added with a smirk.

She glared at him.

"Just getting you back for the Digger comment."

------------

April 3, 2004 Continued…

"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."

Sookie frowned, desperately searching for something constructive to say. "Lorelai, is this about the money that he loaned us?"

Lorelai looked up, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Because it's natural to feel sentimental over something like that," Sookie continued.

"No, Sookie, it's not about the money…it's not just about the money. I mean, yes, I started to realize how incredible and selfless a person he truly is around the time that he gave us thirty-thousand dollars. But that was the kind of kick in the ass I needed." She paused, taking a breath. "When we went out for dinner and he looked deep into my eyes and told me that I was an inspiration? How could I not melt? And it's all spiralled from there," Lorelai revealed.

"Wait…did you say that you had feelings before?" Sookie was finally catching up.

"Sorry?"

"Earlier in the conversation, you said your feelings have intensified…indicating that you had existing feelings."

"I had…curiosities."

"Lorelai! How could you not tell me? How could you not tell Luke?"

"I don't know! I guess I thought that I was being crazy. And we have this great friendship. I was afraid of losing that. I was afraid of rejection."

Sookie gave her a questioning look.

"Okay, so he probably wouldn't have rejected me."

"He would have welcomed you with open arms."

"Well, he could have made a move, too. Nothing was stopping him."

Sookie shook her head. "You crazy kids."

Lorelai sighed. "What am I gonna do, Sook?"

She responded immediately, "You're going to wait."

"Wait?"

Sookie nodded. "He waited for you, Lorelai. He waited years. If this is right, and Lord knows it is, then he'll come to his senses. But for now…you wait."

"I wait."

Sookie nodded.

"Could you make me some coffee while I wait?"

She giggled. "Anything you want."

------------

March 20, 2004…Dragonfly Inn

Lorelai had spent half the morning signing her name on incoming shipments and outgoing order forms. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome was no longer 'just a term.' Her right arm was about ready to fall off. When the sounds of her grumbling stomach became too distracting, she allowed herself a brief recess. And even then, she was shuffling through receipts with one hand, while taking intermittent bites of a less than appealing ham sandwich with her other hand.

Tom and the boys were working upstairs. The sounds of their busy hammers and drills pierced through the air, providing a wonderful migraine-inducing atmosphere. Michel had disappeared when the new stationary arrived. Lorelai was starting to regret her bright idea of granting Sookie a three-day weekend.

"I officially hate Saturday!" Lorelai shouted over the competing noise.

"That's against your religion." She heard a man's voice respond from the entrance.

She looked up and smiled at her visitor. "Hey," she said, blushing slightly.

Luke walked towards Lorelai, dropping a paper bag on the desk in front of her. She was grinning from ear to ear as she revealed the contents of the bag: a burger, fries and a milkshake from the diner. "Still hate Saturday?" he asked a moment later.

Instead of responding, she took a mammoth bite of her burger, desperate for the sustenance of real food. "Saturday has been redeemed," she eventually forced through her full mouth.

He chuckled. "I figured you could use a little energy boost."

"You are a lifesaver," she told him. "In so many ways," she added, sincerely.

"I like to help the people," he returned. "Especially the crazy ones. They need extra attention," he teased.

She grinned. "Remind me to build you a shrine." She took one last bite of her burger and dusted the crumbs off her hands. "So, shall we take a stroll outside? We can inspect the work that's been done on the exterior of the place," she suggested.

Luke nodded. "Sounds good."

"I told Tom how impressed you were with the banister," she said, winking as they walked out the door.

Luke rolled his eyes.

"He really values your opinion. Don't be surprised if he offers you a spot on the team," she continued to poke, as their voices faded in the distance.

TBC…