Title: What Sam Says

Lucky Chapter 13: Six A.M. Flight

A/N: Can I just say one thing?

I LOVE MY REVIEWERS!!!!!

Why, yes, last night as I was going to sleep, I was formulating this Author's Note…how'd ya know?

So, yeah, I was getting off the internet at two—I was supposed to get off early, but I suck at doing that, and I also hammered off my first song fic last night—and I got two reviews, and lemme just tell ya—they made my day!!!

Or, night, actually.

So, I thought I would say THANK YOU!!!!! to every single person who has ever reviewed, especially StephieM, Jacey925, Lieke, Emily Carol, and about ten others I can't remember right now.

YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST!!!!!!

Oh, and this thing's really close to being over, which I guess is kinda sad, but okay cause I can focus on my other, neglected story, and maybe get started on a new one that I've had in the works for a while (a long, long, while).

And, can I just say how much I love Letters to Cleo? They're a band, the band that's on the roof in the end of 10 Things I Hate About You, and I just read a story that kinda talked about one of their songs, and the singer is also the singer who sang all of Josie's songs for Josie and the Pussycats (which, even though it's a not-all-there movie, I like the soundtrack…and I'm cheesy, yes I know).

Sorry. Seriously. Time for the story!!

Okay, so I'm about halfway through, and I'm not sure if I like this chapter right now. Seriously. It's all…weird. If you hate it, just tell me. But nicely, you know?

Oh, and I meant to ask—all the CIA crap and Tristan having bullet wounds wasn't too contrived, was it? I mean, was it okay, or did it make no sense? I got one review that said it made no sense, but that's okay, cause most of the story doesn't make sense, but was it contrived and way too obvious?

*****

*******

*****

Rory and Lorelai made it all the way to the counter in Luke's and were even sitting around for about a minute before anyone noticed that the prodigal daughter of Stars Hollow had returned.

Luke walked up and asked for their order, hardly noticing Rory, or at least not registering the fact that Rory hadn't been home for a very long time, and was now pregnant.

"Two cups of coffee—one of the good kind, one decaf," Lorelai pulled a face, "and two cheeseburgers with chili fries." She turned to Rory. "Sound good?"

Rory nodded.

"You're actually drinking decaf?" Luke asked.

"No, not me, her," Lorelai corrected, pointing to Rory.

"Oh, okay, for Ror—" Luke had started to write the order down, but paused and looked back up with a shocked look on his face. "Rory. You're home." He sounded disbelieving.

Rory, for lack of a better thing to do, just nodded.

"And…you're pregnant," Luke stated, staring at her stomach. Then anger clouded his face and he looked up again with a scowl on his face. "It's not—"

"No," Rory finally spoke. "It's not his. Have you…talked to him lately?"

"Yeah," Luke nodded. "But if it's not his, whose…. Not that bastard you were dating?"

"No." Rory shifted a little as she felt the collective gaze of the town on her. "Listen, can I go upstairs? Maybe…have a little privacy?"

Lorelai, who had also noticed the town staring, nodded. "Yeah. Lemme show her up there, Luke, and if you would please bring our orders when they're up, we'll explain."

Luke nodded, and Lorelai followed Rory quickly up the stairs. Pretty soon, Luke was bombarded with questions, but all he could answer was, "I don't know. She just got home."

After ten minutes he finally made it upstairs, carrying two take-out boxes and two to-go cups, and somehow made it through the door to find Lorelai sprawled dramatically on the couch, a damp washcloth over her eyes.

"Where's Rory?" he asked, setting up the food on the kitchen table.

Lorelai made a show of pushing the washcloth onto her forehead—while Luke rolled his eyes—before finally answering, "She had a slight bout of morning sickness."

Luke just nodded, ignoring the fact that it was after six, and stepped back from the table. "Well, I guess I can go now…."

"No, stay," Rory commanded, walking from the bathroom.

"Oh, sweetie, you okay?" Lorelai asked, immediately in mother mode, as she got up from the couch and walked over to her daughter, who nodded slightly.

"I just wish the morning sickness would go away. I thought it was supposed to let up after the first trimester."

Lorelai shrugged. "He must get that from his father's side of the family."

"Who would be?" Luke asked, intruding on the family moment. Neither girl cared, however, and Rory decided to tell him.

"I was artificially inseminated," she said, just launching directly into the story. "For…many reasons, one of them being Jess."

"And how badly should I hurt him?" Luke asked.

"Don't hurt him. It's not bad, what he did, and I couldn't handle it if you hurt him."

"Speaking of, shouldn't you call the airport and book your flight soon?" Lorelai asked, rubbing a hand on Rory's arm.

"Oh, I should. Luke, can I use your phone?"

Luke nodded and waved vaguely in the direction of the phone; Rory found it quickly and started dialing.

"She's so grown-up," Lorelai observed, standing next to Luke as they both watched Rory on the phone.

"With a baby on the way," Luke added. When Lorelai nodded sadly beside him, he sighed and turned to her. "What exactly has she been doing in the last five months, and where does Jess fit into all this?"

Lorelai smiled tightly. "It's a long story. But, the gist of it is, she's learned that men can't control her life. She's become entirely self-sufficient, and she has fallen head over heels in love, I believe."

"Oh," Luke said softly.

"Yeah. So she's flying out to see him tomorrow, hoping that he comes back."

"He hasn't mentioned anything about her when he calls, other than to ask how you and she are doing."

Lorelai nodded. "He's learned how to censor himself, I think. From what I heard in the story, he's pretty good at molding himself into different characters."

"What is this story?"

Lorelai just smiled. "I'll tell you after she leaves. Privately."

Luke's cheeks reddened.

"We can't have the town overhearing," Lorelai added, unaware at the drop of Luke's face.

"How is Timmy boy doing, by the way?"

"Tom," Lorelai stressed for what had to have been the ten thousandth time in the last three weeks they'd been dating. "And I guess he's okay. I've been so caught up in all of Rory's stuff, that it seems like I haven't talked to him for ages."

"Oh. Things going okay for you two?" Luke asked, hoping and cursing himself for doing so.

Lorelai sighed. "You know, I thought they were. But then, I see her," Lorelai waved at Rory, still talking on the phone, "and I see what true love really is, and then I think about Tom, and…realize we don't have any chemistry."

"Ah."

Lorelai turned to Luke and opened her mouth to say something, when Rory interrupted them.

"Okay, I have the first flight out in the morning. Six a.m."

Lorelai blanched. "You're getting up on your own."

"I figured. I also figure that since I had very little sleep last night, I should eat and head off to bed, seeing as I have to be at the airport by four or so."

"I'll drive you," Luke offered suddenly.

"Thank you, Luke. I appreciate that. And you can make me some decaf coffee before we leave, although what good it'd do, I dunno."

"Well, I'll make it anyway." Luke smiled at Rory, who smiled back, before heading to the kitchen table and digging into her food, exclaiming how good it looked. Lorelai stared at Luke with an astonished expression on her face.

"Wow."

"What, Lorelai?" Luke sighed.

"I just…never realized how much you do for us. How much you care for my little girl. Thank you."

Luke blushed. "It's nothing," he said roughly.

"You're blushing!" Lorelai exclaimed, pointing at his face.

"I've gotta get downstairs. When you leave, you can go out the back way, and I'll try to ward off the angry gossip mob."

"You are!" Lorelai yelled, still pointing at his face, a gleeful expression on her own.

"I am not," Luke argued, turning to leave.

"Luke is blushing, Luke is blushing," Lorelai sang as Luke ducked from the room.

"Mom, you could leave him alone every once in a while."

"What's the fun in that?" Lorelai asked, walking over to the table to eat her own food.

*****

*******

*****

A/N: Okay, so I'm a big ol' softie, and Luke is, too, and this is veering quickly away from the mystery/angst piece it originally was and becoming a slight romance.

Well, if you hate romance, don't read the next chapter, where ROMANCE gives the story a big old fashioned goodbye…maybe.