A/N: See how fast I updated! Even I'm impressed!

Fall Out

Lorelai sat at the counter in Luke's, drumming her fingers impatiently on the counter as she complained, "How are you out of coffee?"

"I am not out of coffee," Luke replied gruffly.

"I don't see any if front me. All I see is an empty cup that should be holding coffee because you, the provider of coffee, are standing in front of me. This is wrong. Like the Grease prequel."

"Keep your pants on. You just caught me mid-brew."

"Fifteen years that I have been coming here, and not once have I caught you mid-brew."

"Well, it's your lucky day."

"More like unlucky," Lorelai tossed back, turning idly on the bar stool and glancing out the large windows. She spotted Rory over by the dance studio, pressed into Logan's side. She had to admit- that Logan guy wasn't too bad. It was clear that he adored her daughter and she was of the stance that anyone who adored her daughter was in her good graces.

"They're a bunch of idiots out there," Luke said behind her, hands resting on the counter as he leaned forward. "I mean, look at them."

"It's nice," Lorelai answered. She had always enjoyed the strange dedication that Stars Hollow residents had to their town—Luke being the exception, of course. The strangely symbiotic community had made her feel accepted from the start, something that she appreciated after spending so much of her youth feeling out of place.

"Who's that guy with Rory?"

"That would be Logan."

"New boyfriend?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah."

"And?"

Lorelai looked back at him and chirped, "And what?"

"What do you think of him? You always have some opinion on Rory's guys."

"I do not," Lorelai gasped. "I most definitely do not have opinions on Rory's guys."

"Really," Luke said, raising his eye brows. Lorelai frowned at the tone of his voice and argued further, "Yes, really. I trust Rory and I'm sure if she likes the guy that he will be worthy of that liking."

"Whatever you say."

"No, not whatever I say. That makes it sound like I don't mean what I'm saying. And I do."

"Hey, something's going on over there," Luke said, staring at something over her shoulder. Lorelai turned around and frowned when she saw the space that had fallen between Logan and Rory. His face didn't look too pleased as Rory's pulled with strain. It was clearly an argument, made no better when Rory grabbed his arm and pulled him out of sight to a less public area.

"You still have no opinion on him?" Luke asked.

Lorelai sighed, turning back to Luke. "You better get another coffee mug out."

Rory pulled Logan behind the dance studio, thinking it preposterous that they were having this conversation when she was is period costume. "Logan, please just listen to me."

"Why would you do this?" Logan demanded. "Why would you agree to write a story on the Life & Death Brigade?"

"It's not on the Life & Death Brigade," Rory reminded him. "That was the original pitch but I changed it to secret societies at universities. The Life & Death Brigade is barely mentioned."

"But it is mentioned. You told me that you talk about it in the article, right?" He was looking at her so intently that she had to avert her eyes, staring at the spot of grass beside his shoe as she nodded. "Yeah," she said toward the ground. "It's in it."

"Rory, that goes against everything that the Life & Death Brigade stands for. You're practically outing us!"

"I'm not, though," she insisted, looking back at him again as she tried to make him understand. She hadn't revealed anything that was incriminating; she had made sure of that. "Everything I included is circumstantial at best."

"When does it come out again?"

"Tuesday." She stepped forward, trying a hand on his arm. He didn't pull away and she moved one step closer. "Logan, please try to understand."

"I do," he sighed, exhaling sharply as he took a gentle hold of her waist. "You really couldn't have found another career making lead?"

"Glenn already has a capital on illegal trafficking."

"I really hope you mean as a story."

"I wanted to tell you before the story came out. It's been awful keeping this from you."

"The Life & Death Brigade is not going to be happy."

"Yeah, I sort of figured that," Rory said.

"They're going to be angry."

"Sort of figured that, too."

"They'll get over it, though. I'll help in whatever way I can. Try to deflect some of the uproar, if I can."

"I'm sorry that I'm pulling you into this," Rory said, realizing that her telling him now made him a sort of accessory. "You don't have to say anything. Isn't part of being a journalist dealing with the people you upset?"

"Believe me, you will want my help."

"Thank you," Rory said, feeling ridiculous for the wedge in her throat. "Thank you for not pushing me away, for understanding."

Logan leaned down and kissed her lightly, resting his forehead against her he murmured, "This next week is not going to fun."

"You know, this coffee is even better when I catch you mid-brew," Lorelai mused. "It's stronger."

"First cups usually are."

"When does this mid-brew generally happen? Maybe I can catch it again."

Luke refilled her cup and answered, "Around 5 AM."

"Huh, you know, it actually doesn't taste that different."

"Right."

The door opened behind her and Lorelai turned, smiling toward her daughter. Rory sat down beside her and she delicately asked, "Where's Logan?"

"He headed out early." Luke passed her a cup of coffee and she said, "Thanks Luke."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. Well, as fine as it can be."

"Whatever it is, he's in the wrong," Luke said, slinging a dishtowel over his shoulder. "We saw you guys go off on your own."

"You were watching us?" Rory said. She knew that Stars Hollow was possibly the nosiest place on the earth, but she didn't like seeing it in action.

"No, we just noticed you," Lorelai said. "And then continued to notice you until you guys walked away."

"Ridiculous," Rory said. "There is no privacy in this town."

Lorelai shrugged and reminded her, "You were at a very public festival."

"It's fine. I told him about the article."

"And?" Lorelai prodded gently.

"He was upset, but he eventually came around. He said he would help with the others."

"Aw babe, that's good. See, you had nothing to worry about."

"I still have to deal with everyone else, though."

"Well, as long as there are no firearms involved I think you'll be fine."

"Can I just stay here until it's all over?" Rory mused, propping her elbow on the counter and resting her head on her hand. "They can't find me here."

"You'd have to go back at some point, though. Unless we work a fake-death in there somewhere. But Logan does complicate things."

"I have to go back, don't I?"

"Yeah babe, you do."

"Oh well, it'll be okay," Rory said with forced frill. "We'll all get past it."

Lorelai slid an arm around her daughter's shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze. "That's the spirit." Lorelai glanced over her shoulder. "Looks like the apple bobbing is starting. Want to watch it? Kirk always ends up knocking over the barrel of water at some point."

Rory grinned. "Let's go. Thanks for the coffee, Luke."

"No problem."

"You want to come with?" Lorelai asked, hopping from the stool.

"No, it's fine. I need to take care of the diner, anyway."

"Are you referring to the empty diner?"

"People will probably come soon. Stop in for food or something."

"There is food out there. At the festival. See, where all the people are?"

"Fine, I guess I can step out for a bit."

"That's the spirit!" Lorelai trilled. "Meet us outside. We'll be where the good sight lines are."

Luke smirked. "Alright, I'll see you there."

The two girls wandered out to the apple bobbing and Lorelai slipped her arm around Rory's shoulders. "From this moment on, stop thinking about the article. There's nothing you can do about it."

Rory nodded, watching Kirk submerge his head rather forcefully into the barrel filled with water. When he emerged with an apple wedged in his mouth she murmured, "You know, I think there is more than enough here to distract me."

A/N: Hello abrupt ending. Gotta admit-I had no idea how to close this chapter. Hope you don't have too much whiplash from the sudden jump to A/N. Next chapter will be the story's big reveal. Look forward to a very pissed off Australian.