"Mom, what exactly are you looking for?" Rory watched on as Lorelai opened drawer after drawer, rummaging through its contents but always coming up with nothing.

Lorelai let out a frustrated groan as she pulled open the refrigerator, scanning the shelves. "A check that I was supposed to mail almost three days ago for some supplies I need at the Inn. I've been so distracted by this thing going on with Luke that I guess I forgot."

Rory bit her bottom lip trying to hide the laugh that she desperately wanted to let out. "And you think it will be in with our refrigerated goods?"

"Don't mock me, kid. Last week I found my shoe in the cabinet underneath the sink, so I'd say anything is possible." She narrowed her eyes at the neatly organized binder of notes that Rory was looking over. "Look at you, all organized. How can you be my daughter? Hmmph. . . you organized people are just too lazy to look for things."

Rory rolled her eyes. "Way to put the blame on people who like to know where they keep their belongings so that when it comes time to mail a check, they know where it is."

"Be quiet, you."

"Did you check your room?" Rory asked, trying to be helpful.

"Of course."

"Did you check the bathroom?"

"Twice."

"Ohhh, what about the basket?"

"What basket?"

"The basket! Remember when you said that you wanted us to seem like a normal family, so you made a basket of 'odds and ends'? Remember, you put two spools of thread, a button, and a pack of gum in it? But then we ate the gum, so really, it was just a basket of thread and a button."

Lorelai rolled her eyes and sighed. "I think I would know if I put the check in the basket."

"Well it was just a suggestion." Rory got up from her place at the table and walked into the living room. "Mom!"

Lorelai followed the sound of Rory's voice, and smiled at what she saw. "You found it! Where was it?"

"In the basket," she replied dryly, her voice carrying a matter-of-fact tone.

"Smarty pants." Lorelai took the check out of her daughters hand and kissed it. "My sweet, sweet check. Let's go mail you before I find you in the laundry basket."

* * * * *

"Why don't you just go in? It's not like he can refuse your service." Rory and Lorelai stood next to each other on the sidewalk across the street from Luke's.

"Oh yes, he would. He would say 'I'm sorry, I don't serve people who try to ruin my relationships, why don't you try the other diner?' and when I say 'What other diner?' he'll say 'The one in Maine.'"

Rory cast a confused glance in her direction. "Why Maine?"

Shrugging, she replied, "I don't know, it was the furthest state I could think of. He would, after all, want me to be as far away from him as possible because he will probably tell Nicole what I said, and Nicole will be mad so I have more than likely potentially ruined his life." Lorelai shielded her eyes from the sun, trying to catch a glimpse of Luke through the windows of the diner. "Damn the sun for being so bright."

"You're so dramatic. . . the sun is supposed to make you happy. Last year you named the sun Sammy and declared him your best friend because he made you want to eat ice cream and play hopscotch."

"Yes, well now Sammy is blocking my view of. . . um, the coffee."

"The coffee, or the coffee supplier?"

"Both," she admitted meekly. "Rory, look what I did! I can't even go into the diner anymore. Our diner. We were his best customers, we were in there like twelve million times a day."

Rory nodded her head in agreement. "Yes. . . but we didn't pay for anything that much. So in reality, we were probably his worst customers. Besides, just because you won't go in there doesn't mean that I won't."

Lorelai gasped. "You're right you smart, smart child. I knew you were going to Chilton for a reason."

"Yes, I've learned how to state the obvious. My education is complete."

Lorelai linked her arm with Rory's, her eyes begging, and her lips forming a pout. "Please Rory? Mommy wants coffee. So you'll go in, and get two coffees, one for me and one for you, but you'll tell Luke that they're both for you because you're reeeeally thirsty. Then you'll come out, give me my coffee, and I will be a very happy girl."

"You know, just because we can't see Luke doesn't mean he can't see us. He'll definitely see you standing out here while I'm buying your coffee and you'll look like a really big moron."

"So I'll hide," Lorelai suggested.

"Why can't you just put pride on hold for one second and talk to him? You can sort this whole thing out. I mean, why do you have to make things so complicated?" Rory tried to compromise, exasperated with the whole situation.

"Okay Avril," Lorelai said, rolling her eyes. "I'm not going to go in there because I just don't want to. I've made a fool out of myself. I'm like the Stars Hollow village idiot."

"Fine, whatever," Rory responded, walking across the street in the direction of Luke's. "But I'm only doing this once because you need to grow up. You so owe me."

Lorelai stuck her tongue out and watched Rory open the door to the place where she so desperately wanted to go.

Rory approached the counter where Luke was in the process of putting on a fresh pot of coffee. Luke glanced up and smirked. "I didn't think you'd ever come in here."

Rory smiled. "I knew you would probably be watching us, I mean, we were standing out there for at least fifteen minutes. Uh, could I get two coffees to go please?"

Luke nodded and stared out at Lorelai who was pacing up and down the sidewalk. "So she isn't going to come in?" He tried to keep his voice nonchalant as he set two take out cups on the counter.

Rory turned and watched her mother as well. She shrugged. "Not anytime soon, I don't think. She's being pretty stubborn." She noticed a flicker of disappointment in Luke's eyes and went with it. "Why did you say those awful things to my mom?"

Luke sighed. "She told you, huh?"

"Of course she told me! I couldn't believe it when she did, though. Luke, you have liked my mother for years. I know it, Sookie knows it, Patty knows it, and since Patty does, everyone does. . . everyone except her. Or maybe she did know, but she wasn't ready to face her feelings. Anyway, that's not my point. My point is that she put her emotions on the line last week, and you rejected at her."

"Rory, I-"

"No, I'm not finished."

Luke held his hands up in front of his body in defense. "Sorry, continue." Customers in the diner were beginning to stare as Rory continued her rant.

"Lorelai has done nothing but mope around all week. She only changes out of her pajamas when she has to go to work, but other than that she just stays in bed or watches television. It's pathetic, and as much as I like you Luke, you did that to her. I'm just so mad that you two aren't together because you're so perfect for each other, but you are both so damn stubborn that you won't let it work." Rory let out a long breath and took the cups of coffee in her hands. "Thanks for the coffee, I'll see you later."

Luke sighed as yet another Gilmore walked out of his diner.

* * * * *

Lorelai stood in front of the microwave counting down with it, listening to the sound of the popcorn popping. "Twenty-two, twenty-one. . ."

"Mom, the previews are almost over!" Rory called from the living room where she had started the first of four Julia Roberts movies.

Lorelai grunted her acknowledgment and opened the microwave before it started beeping. She added some melted butter and turned to join Rory when she saw a face watching her from the window of the back door. Screaming slightly, she dropped the bowl on the floor, kernels scattering everywhere. "Dammit," she muttered under her breath before pulling open the door.

"Luke," she whispered.