"Why is this so difficult? It shouldn't be this difficult. She's my sister. I should know where my sister is or at least be able to find her. But, no, not Liz. Can't find her. My sister takes off and it's like she's fallen off the face of the earth," ranted Luke, pacing back and forth across the bedroom.

Lorelai sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, listening to Luke's tirade against Liz. She tracked him carefully as he moved around the room. The more he ranted, the angrier he got and the angrier he got, the faster he paced. He kept moving even after he stopped ranting, his breath coming in short, shallow pants. Just as Lorelai was about to propose a possible solution, Luke stopped abruptly, pivoted to face her, and exclaimed, "It would take a damn act of Congress to find my sister!" He was practically seething.

"Or an act of Richard Gilmore," countered Lorelai cautiously.

"What do you mean? What could your dad do that I haven't already done?"

"Hire someone."

"You mean like a private detective?"

"Probably," Lorelai confirmed with a shrug. "I'm not really sure, but I bet he knows someone who would be able to find Liz."

"Do you think he'd be willing to help me?"

Lorelai hesitated briefly before saying, "Yeah, I'm sure he would."

Luke was confused by Lorelai's hesitation. His eyes narrowed and his head tilted to one side as he tried to determine the reason for it. Unable to understand her reluctance to answer, Luke prompted, "But?"

Sighing heavily, Lorelai rolled her shoulders in an attempt to ease her inner tension. "I'm a little worried about the cost."

"Maybe he would consider it a loan?"

"No, I didn't mean the financial cost. I don't think my dad would make us pay like that at all. I'm talking about the emotional cost. I'm worried about what my mom will do or make me do when she finds out."

"Do you not want me to ask?"

"Of course, I want you to ask. I'm just not looking forward to being blackmailed by my mother. It's selfish, I know," Lorelai conceded with an embarrassed shrug.

"I thought things were getting better with your mom."

Chewing on her bottom lip, Lorelai reluctantly admitted, "They're starting to. We're talking. Barely. And I guess she's been trying to be civil."

Luke sat down next to Lorelai and rested his hand on her knee. "I won't talk to your dad, if you don't want me to," he promised.

"I want you to. I definitely want you to," Lorelai stated firmly. "My selfishness shouldn't keep your dad from seeing Liz."

"Lorelai, it's not selfish to be worried. Especially where Emily Gilmore is concerned."

"You're sweet. How about you talk to my dad and we'll deal with my mother later?"

"Sounds like a plan." Luke took his hand from Lorelai's knee and slid his arm around her back, pulling her close. When she laid her head on his shoulder, he kissed her hair.

L&L L&L L&L

A few days later, Luke came home to find Lorelai washing dishes at the kitchen sink. He walked up behind her, placed his hands on her hips, and nuzzled her neck. Smiling, Lorelai let go of the plate and the sponge she was holding, letting them float free in the soapy water. She turned around and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. "Things went well?" she asked.

"Things went very well," confirmed Luke, a wide smile spreading across his face.

"Tell me, tell me, tell me!" Lorelai demanded, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

"Relax. I'll tell you, but it's really not that big of a deal."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "You know it is."

"I just met your dad for lunch."

"And came home happy," she stated bluntly.

"Your dad says he knows a private investigator who should be able to find Liz. Your dad's firm has used this guy and always gotten good results."

"That's great!"

"Yeah, he's going to call the guy and let me know what he finds out. That's not the best part though."

"What is the best part?"

"After we talked about Liz, we talked about your mom."

Incredulous, Lorelai asked, "Talking about my mother was the best part?"

"Mhmm."

"Okay. I'll bite. How was that the best part?"

"I told him you were worried your mom would use the fact that he was helping me to force you to talk to her."

Pulling away from Luke and moving to the other side of the kitchen, Lorelai groaned, "Dammit, Luke. You weren't supposed to tell him that."

"Why not?"

"Because he'll tell my mother and she'll use that to her advantage and whatever she does now will be so much worse than whatever she would have without knowing."

"If I thought that might happen, it wouldn't have been the best part of the conversation."

"Fine," Lorelai sighed in frustration. "What did my dad say?"

"In short, that your mother won't be a problem."

"Why not? Did he finally have her fitted for a choke collar?"

"I don't think so," Luke replied dryly.

"So how does he plan to keep my mother from making our lives miserable?"

"You're a drama queen. You know that, right?"

"Yes, but I can't seem to find my crown. Have you seen it?"

"No," Luke responded, chuckling.

"Darn. I guess you'll have to answer my question then."

Shaking his head in amusement, Luke mumbled, "So much work." Lorelai grinned, but stayed silent, waiting for Luke to finish telling her about his meeting with Richard. Finally, he said, "The plan is simple really. Your dad isn't going to tell your mom that he's helping me."

Lorelai was rendered speechless and her mouth dropped open in shock. Luke took the opportunity to move close to her, sliding his arms around her waist. When she recovered her ability to speak, Lorelai asked, "How did you convince my dad to keep a secret from my mother?"

"It wasn't that hard. I told him you were worried and that I think it is better to let you and your mother work things out without you being forced into something you aren't ready for. Your dad agreed."

"He agreed," she repeated, stunned.

"He loves you, Lorelai."

"I guess so," Lorelai said, her voice barely audible.

After giving Lorelai time to come to terms with the idea that her father loved her, Luke kissed her cheek and then shifted his mouth to her ear. "Now, about that missing crown?" he whispered seductively.

Lorelai moaned in pleasure. "Help me find it?"

"Happy to," Luke murmured, kissing his way down her neck.

Lorelai tugged impatiently on Luke's hair and dragged his mouth to hers. "Thank God," she moaned against his lips.

L&L L&L L&L

Breathing heavily, Lorelai collapsed onto Luke's chest. A moment later, she slid off of his chest to lay next to him with her head resting on his shoulder. Luke curled one arm around her and tucked the other behind his head. He let himself get lost in thought, while rubbing her bare hip lightly with his fingertips.

Eventually, Lorelai became annoyed by Luke's lack of attention. She tapped her fingers on his chest until he looked at her and commented, "I'm naked and you're distracted. Why?"

"Just thinking about something your dad said."

"Should I be concerned that you're thinking about my dad right now?" joked Lorelai.

"No."

"Good. So, what did my dad say that's got you so distracted? Did you forget to tell me something?"

"Not really. He just mentioned that he was sure Liz could be found, but he wasn't sure how long it would take."

"Oh."

"I was hoping to find her soon and convince her to come home for Father's Day."

"That would have been a nice surprise."

"I thought so, but your dad isn't sure that a month is enough time because she's been gone for so long."

"I'm sure William will be happy to see her no matter when she's found."

"I just hope we find her before…" Luke let his words fade away, unable to give voice to the inevitable.

Lorelai nodded against his shoulder. She understood what he was thinking, but couldn't say it out loud any more than he could. Instead, she simply said, "Me too."