The next morning, Lorelai went to the diner for breakfast. She woke up earlier than usual, so she let Rory sleep in and went alone. When she arrived at the diner, she noticed that it was pretty packed. She saw Luke at one of the tables, refilling a customer's coffee. She took a seat on a stool at the counter and waited for him to come to her.

Luke noticed her after he finished wiping down a different table. He walks over behind the counter.

"Hey. What can I get you?" He asks with an affectionate look.

Lorelai smiles softly. "Hey. Um… pancakes, bacon, hash browns and coffee please."

"Okay. Comin' up," Luke tells her with a nod. He goes to the kitchen to give Caesar the order. He comes back carrying two plates of food and Lorelai watches him carry them to a table and place them in front of two customers. When he returns to the counter, Lorelai asks him:

"So would one be a good time for you to come with me to talk to my mother?"

Luke nods. "Yeah, there's usually a bit of a lull at that hour."

"Okay, but are you sure you want to come with me? I could probably talk to her myself, save you from the wrath of Emily Gilmore." Lorelai mutters.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. We should do this together." Luke replies.

"Okay." Lorelai just nods.

Luke goes back to serving customers and Lorelai waits for her food for a few minutes. She has barely started eating when the diner door opens and she hears footsteps heading to the counter. She lifts her head up and sees Emily and she almost chokes on her food.

"Mom?" Lorelai manages to get the word out before Emily is next to her.

"I thought you'd be here. I went to your house and you weren't there. Then I went to the Inn and you weren't there. I tried your cell phone, but it went straight to voicemail." Emily says.

"Oh, sorry, my phone is charging at home. Why are you here?" Lorelai responds.

"Well, you didn't come to Friday night dinner last night and Rory gave the sorry excuse of you being sick. You don't look very sick to me." Emily frowns.

Luke notices the commotion and he heads over to the counter. "Hi, Emily," He politely greets her.

Emily looks at him for a second before she turns her attention back to Lorelai. "Lorelai, I want to know what's going on." She says frankly.

Lorelai glances around the diner to find everyone looking at them. She sighs softly, "Okay." She turns to Luke: "Can we go upstairs and talk in private, all three of us."

"Sure. Head on up I'll be there in a minute." Luke tells her.

Lorelai gestures for Emily to follow her and she does so without speaking. They walk upstairs and Lorelai is relieved to find the apartment door unlocked.

"Why are we up here?" Emily asks when they step inside. She looks appalled.

"Because I didn't want to talk in public, this isn't a conversation I need people to hear." Lorelai explains.

"All right, but we could have gone somewhere else." Emily says in a low voice. She looks Lorelai in the eye. "I want to know what's happened between you and Luke since we last spoke."

"I'll tell you. Just wait until Luke comes up. I want him to be a part of this." Lorelai says.

Luke walks in seconds after she says that. He walks over and stands next to Lorelai.

"Okay, do you want to sit down Mom?" Lorelai asks.

Emily looks around again, "No. Just tell me what's going on between you two." She looks back and forth between them.

Lorelai glances at Luke before she speaks and he nods, encouraging her. "Well Luke and I are doing better. We've talked a lot and shared our feelings. We've put everything out on the table so to speak. And we've decided to stay together. I've spent some time with April recently and… I'm happy with where we're at right now."

"Well that's a relief." Emily lets out a breath.

Lorelai and Luke are both surprised by her reaction. They share a smile.

"I was wondering if I was going to have to talk some sense into you, Luke." Emily glares at Luke. "It took you long enough, but you finally did the right thing and let Lorelai in. I hope you realize that you hurt her by not letting her be involved in your daughter's life."

Luke exhales, "Yes, and I hate that I couldn't see that she was hurting. But I am going to stay by her side and we are going to get through this. I am really trying my best to be a good father and a good partner." He tells her.

Emily nods. "All right, I'm happy to hear that." She looks at Lorelai and she notices that she isn't wearing the engagement ring. "Lorelai, where's your ring?"

Lorelai flinches. "Um, well I gave Luke the ring back when we took a break and he wants to wait until things are settled with April and her mother before he gives it back to me. We're still getting married, Mom, just not anytime soon. Luke is going to give me back the ring when he's ready to set a date."

Luke nods, "Right. I've still adjusting to having April in my life and Lorelai is still getting to know her too. I think it would be best if I wait until I'm ready to set a date and start planning the wedding to give Lorelai the ring back. I just think that's the right way to do this."

Emily presses her lips together, "But what about the house your father and I want to buy for you? We can't hold onto it forever."

"I know, but Luke and I are doing this the right way and we don't want to rush anything. If you lose the house, that's all right. We don't need that house as soon as we get married. My house is big enough for now." Lorelai says and she gives Emily a gentle smile.

"Yeah, and while I appreciate the fact that you want to buy us a house, I think it's a bit too extravagant of a gift." Luke admits.

Emily looks like she wants to disagree, but what she says surprises Luke and Lorelai once again. "I guess that would be fine. I think we can still hold onto the house for a while longer…if you change your mind. We could probably even find another house, although I think that one suits you." She lets out a breath. "You're eventually getting married, that's what's important. Please let me be involved with the planning this time. I don't want to be left out like I was when you were engaged to that other man."

Lorelai nods and smiles softly, "Sure, Mom. And thank you for listening and supporting us."

"It's nothing. I want you to be happy, Lorelai." Emily says sincerely.

Luke smiles and wraps his arm around Lorelai. Lorelai gives Emily another smile and Emily actually gives her a small smile in return.

"I have to head back to Hartford." She says quickly.

"Okay, bye Mom." Lorelai says.

Emily just turns around and leaves. After a minute passes, Lorelai speaks:
"That went well."

"Yeah, it did. Better than I expected it to go." Luke replies.

Lorelai sighs contently and wraps her arms around Luke, buries her face in his neck.

Luke holds her close and kisses the top of her head. They both feel relieved. Lorelai pulls back after a bit and quickly kisses his cheek. She grins and he can't help but grin back. They head back downstairs and Lorelai finishes her breakfast, even though it had gone cold. They share an over-the-counter kiss before she leaves.

Author's note: I just wanted to mention that Rory knows that Luke and Lorelai are staying together; I just didn't write that conversation in.