Hey! Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them up! *snaps out of cheerleader mode* So, in this chapter, Jackie's carefully constructed life comes undone as the gang emerges themselves into her town. What will Stars Hallow learn about Jackie? What will the basement gang? And who will Luke end up punching? Oh, and I know I said in Chapter 3 that Jackie met Luke on her first day in Stars Hallow, but I'm changing that. They met after she'd been in a few days. Read to find out? Disclaimer: Don't own either show, wish I did. Moving on.

The Independence Inn- Stars Hallow, Connecticut- August 18, 1990

Jackie went into her office and closed the door. Hopefully no one would bother her. She went behind her desk and sank to the floor, sobs escaping her mouth. Jackie couldn't remember the last time she had cried. The tiny brunette had promised herself she wouldn't look back after leaving Point Place. What was done was done, and she didn't need to revisit the past. Jackie hadn't cried when she heard her father had died in prison or when her mother had shown up and hit her up for money, and she certainly wasn't going to cry now. Still, something inside her had snapped after seeing her old friends, her old life. Jackie didn't long for that life anymore. She had a successful business, great friends, and an awesome town, but there was still something missing. Jackie had been unlucky in love, and after Steven she had sworn she would never fall in love again. Love had never benefited the loud midget. It had only hurt her. And while practically the whole towns tried to set her up, Jackie refused to go out on dates. She wanted to remain in control of her life.

Wiping away more tears, Jackie felt like she was back in Point Place again. She felt small and pathetic, the way she'd felt after Steven flaunted his stupid stripper wife in front of her. The way she had felt after Donna abandoned her for a friendship with Sam. You're not that girl anymore, Jackie mentally reminded herself. You're strong. You're worth something. It was something Jackie reminded herself over and over again in the past ten years. Her new therapist, Dr. Louvee, had told her it would help build her confidence if she reminded herself of it.

"Aunt Jackie?" a soft voice asked. Jackie turned around to see Rory looking at her with worried blue eyes. "Are you okay?"

Jackie cleared her throat, trying to get her strength back. "Yeah, honey, I'm fine," she reassured the little girl. Of course, Rory was wise behind her years, and she didn't buy her aunt's act for a second.

"What's wrong?" Rory pushed. Like her mother, she wouldn't stop until she knew what was going on. The little girl hated seeing her aunt sad. She just wanted to make her feel better.

"I'm just a little sad, that's all," Jackie explained to her niece. Rory nodded in understanding. Her aunt got that way sometimes, completely sad for no reason. She walked over to Jackie and gave her a huge hug.

"I love you, Aunt Jackie," Rory whispered. Jackie smiled. Rory always knew how to make her feel better.

"I love you too, kiddo," Jackie replied, her voice regaining its strength. "Want to go wake up your mom and get some lunch?"

Rory face lit up. "Is Luke going to have the chocolate pie today?"

"Yep," Jackie responded. Rory immediately got up and pulled on her aunt.

"Let's go!" the little girl shouted. Jackie laughed.

"Okay, okay. Let's go," she stated, grabbing her purse. The two headed out of the office into the reception area. The gang was still standing by the check-in desk, shell-shocked. Jackie turned to Michel, ignoring her old friends. "Where are Lane and Jess?"

"Duct taped together in the broom closet," Michel answered dryly. Jackie gave him a look. "They already headed to that disgusting dinner you love so much," he answered truthfully.

"Good. I'm going on my lunch break. Hold down the fort while I'm gone," she commanded with a smirk. Michel rolled his eyes.

"Like it will take that much brain power," he deadpanned. Rory laughed. Michel was making his annoyed face. It reminded her of a monkey.

"Watch out, Michel. I know where you keep your Prada shoes," Jackie joked before walking away. Michel actually looked scared. Behind them, the gang laughed. Jackie hadn't changed much. Now that they just had to convince her to talk to them. Like that's going to be easy, Hyde thought to himself. Jackie had every right to hate them. But she wouldn't hate the kids, he realized. And so Hyde's evil plan came into play.

Luke's Diner- Stars Hallow, Connecticut- August 18, 1990

Luke Danes walked around his diner, taking orders and pouring coffee. Personally, he hated coffee, but he was willing to supply it to those who did want to fry their nervous systems with caffeine. Luke's life had changed a lot in the past ten year. First, his dad had died from heart failure in late '79, leaving him the hardware store and almost no money. Luke had decided to convert into a diner. Hardware just wasn't his thing, and he was a good cook. Somehow, the bank had given him a loan and the work had begun. The diner was up and running by the New Year. Of course, Luke hadn't touched any of his dad's decorations; he even left the hardware sign in front of the building, only adding a small Luke's Diner sign on the side. The gruff young man knew it was stupid and that his dad would've called him a damn fool, but he didn't care. And so Luke moved into his dad's old office and began a new life as a hermit. Of course, that new life was disturbed the minute Jackie Burkhart moved to town.

He'd heard rumors about the tiny brunette around town. It wasn't hard considering Ms. Patty and Babette liked to have their loud morning gossip sessions at his diner. Apparently, she was Miss Mandy's grandniece who had recently inherited the old Independence Inn. Luke had laughed to himself. The girl would have a hell of a time fixing it. To his and the whole town's surprise, she persisted diligently, working herself to the bone to restore the Inn. Luke found himself impressed. Anyone with that much determination was worth knowing. And as fate would have it, she came into his diner a few days after arriving in Stars Hallow. Luke's first impression of Jackie was that she was not someone to mess with. Once he looked closer, though, he saw brokenness in the dark-haired beauty. The two had struck up a conversation, and they were friends two hours later. Jackie was a good friend. She understood his moods and knew when to just sit in silence. Luke saw her as the little sister he'd never had.

He also credited Jackie for the best thing that had ever happened to him: meeting Lorelei Gilmore. Jackie had brought the talkative brunette into the diner late January evening. He remembered how captivated he had been with Lorelei's natural beauty and stunning blue eyes. And at the same time, Luke also sensed the same brokenness he had seen in Jackie. And after seeing her daughter, Rory, he knew why. Luke and Lorelei became friends, but it was different than his friendship with Jackie. He was gruffer with Lorelei, and the two loved to spar back and forth. Jackie had seen the chemistry since day one and hadn't stopped trying to convince them to be a couple since. The small inn-owner knew Luke's secret: he had been in love with Lorelei Gilmore since the moment he met her. And her helping him adjust to having Jess around only added flames to the fire.

Overall, Luke had to say he was pretty happy with his life. He had great friends, a solid business, and kids he loved like his own, having taken over the father figure in Rory, Jess, and Lane's lives. Sure, Lane had both parents, but they just didn't appreciate their daughter. Which was why he was disturbed by the latest Babette-Ms. Patty gossip session.

"Did you hear?" Ms. Patty whispered. "Jackie's old friends from her Wisconsin town are staying at the Inn."

Babette gasped. "You mean the one who…" Ms. Patty nodded. There was no need to finish the sentence. It was no secret that Jackie had been a little broken when she came to Stars Hallow. Only a girl trying to run would through herself into so much hard work. No one in town really knew the details except Lorelei and Luke, but it wasn't that hard to fit together. Jackie never went on dates, and she never talked about home. The people she had cared about had hurt her somehow. "Poor girl. I'll have to stop by her house with some cookies later." Despite everything, Luke smiled. It was times like this he liked living in a small town like Stars Hallow. It was nice to know someone cared enough to drop off cookies at your house when you're feeling down.

Once the nice feelings went away, Luke found himself hot with rage. How dare they even step foot in Stars Hallow? He knew what they had done to her, and he was disgusted. Jackie was a good person, and they had treated her like some ragdoll to be passed around. If there was one thing Luke knew, it was that they were going to get what was coming to them. Even if he had to get back up to do so.