AN: Thanks everyone for the supportive reviews, prepare for another long chapter. Also, I have no idea what the difference between PG and PG-13 is, but note the upping of the rating, just to be safe.

Oneiromancy

Part Six

Previously:

Luke was just waiting. Waiting patiently for what sometimes seemed inevitable and sometimes seemed unattainable. And while he was waiting, Nicole had appeared. So maybe it was time to move on.

*  *  *  * 

Lorelai was at Luke's wedding. He was standing at the alter looking handsome, but nervous in a tux. The town square looked beautiful all done up. Lorelai wondered briefly how Luke had convinced Nicole to go for a smaller wedding, and even use the chuppa, but there wasn't time to dwell on the topic because she was late. The other guests were already seated as Lorelai made her way down the center aisle. She smiled at Rory, who was standing across from Luke at the front holding a small bouquet of flowers. It was sweet of Luke to include Rory in the wedding, Lorelai reflected as she looked around for an empty seat. Everyone was staring at her so Lorelai looked self-consciously down at her outfit. White. Uh, oh. She knew better than to wear white to a wedding. Then she noticed that she was also carrying a bouquet. And her parents were sitting in the front row looking proud; Babette and Miss Patty were sniffling a few rows back; Rory was smiling at her encouragingly and Luke was giving her a look of pure love.

Uh oh.

"Luuuuke!" Lorelai yelled, sitting upright in bed. She threw back the covers, pulled on a chunky sweater and ugh boots and strode determinedly out of the house.

And all this living is so much harder than it seems

But girl don't let your dreams be dreams

You know this living is not so hard as it seems

Don't let your dreams be dreams

"Luke!" Lorelai yelled again, now standing in the street in front of the diner.

A moment later, Luke stuck his head out a window. "Lorelai? What's wrong?"

"I had a dream and it's all your fault!"

"What's going on?" A sleepy and annoyed-looking Nicole joined Luke at the window.

"Oh." Nicole had not been part of this plan. Not that Lorelai had a plan, other than running through town in the middle of the night to talk to Luke. "Sorry to wake you." Feeling incredibly foolish, Lorelai quickly ran back across the street.

"Lorelai, wait," Luke called. When she didn't stop he turned away from the window and began pulling on his shoes.

"Luke, what is going on?" Nicole asked crossly.

"I have to make sure she's okay," he said.

"I am getting really sick of this!" Nicole ran a hand through her hair. "You go after her and we're over," she threatened.

Wordlessly, Luke walked out the door.

*  *

He found her sitting in the still done-up gazebo, hot pink ugh boots on the bench with her, pajama-clad knees curled up to her chest.

"Hey."

"I'm sorry, you should go back to bed," Lorelai said, looking up as Luke sat down beside her.

"I'm up now. Tell me what happened."

Lorelai shook her head like a defiant six year old.

Luke gave her a look of parental disapproval.

Lorelai relented. "I had a dream I was at your wedding..." she trailed off. "Only it was my wedding too."

"Oh."

"I had a gorgeous dress and everything was perfect…" Lorelai continued. "But it was just a stupid dream. Go back to Nicole."

"She told me if I went after you it was over between her and I."

"She didn't mean that, she's just pissed off about being woken up in the middle of the night," Lorelai predicted.

"I think she's pissed off about a lot more than that." Luke sighed. "In a way I hope she did mean it. Might make things easier."

"Rory told me what she said," Lorelai admitted.

"I figured she would. Nicole was drunk," Luke said dismissively.

It would have been easy for them to leave it at that, but Lorelai couldn't play this game any more. "What's going on with us Luke?" she asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Luke's response was reflexive; after all, denial had worked for them this long.

But Lorelai wouldn't let him get away with it. "You do so. We can't keep pretending this dreaming about each other is normal."

Luke leant his head back and stared at the gazebo roof. "I almost called one of those psychic hotlines the other day," he admitted.

Lorelai snorted. "You did not."

"I thought about it. For about ten seconds."

"You don't need someone to interpret your dreams, Luke. I mean, if you're constantly dreaming about death by beef flavored ice cream, then maybe you have issues."

"Or you spend way too much time thinking about food," Luke interjected.

"That too. But your dreams are self-explanatory. You've got cold feet about marrying Nicole. Simple. You're having second thoughts."

"I'm having twenty-second thoughts. But that still doesn't explain why you're always the one telling me not to marry her."

"You're secretly in love with me."

Luke wished he could tell if she was joking. "Hey, you're the one who started this whole thing by dreaming about us being married with twins on the way."

"Okay, want to hear my next interpretation? This one explains my dreams as well."

"If I said no, would it make a difference?"

"Nope. I mean it, Luke, you have to think about this," Lorelai said. Luke saw the fear and nervousness in her eyes and knew she was serious. "Okay, here goes. This – us – is the longest relationship I've ever had. And I don't want it to change."

"I don't want our friendship to change either."

"Not friendship, relationship," Lorelai said firmly.

"Meaning?"
 

"Meaning we are as much like a married couple as anyone I know. Except for the whole sharing a bed part, that is."

"Isn't that what a friend is? A lover minus the sexual stuff?"

"No, it's not and we're more than that, Luke. More than friends. Think about it," Lorelai appealed. "You know where the electrical outlets are in my bathroom better than I do!"

"That's only because I've fixed them so many times."

"Exactly! You're my personal electrician! And plumber and all-round handyman," she continued. "You can recite every sweater I own, which pushes the creepy-stalker boundary." Luke felt his cheeks redden as Lorelai went on. "I'm the first person you think of calling when you want a second opinion on an apartment, you're the first person I call when a chick gets loose in the house. I dress you, you feed me. We bicker constantly, but mostly light-heartedly. Old married couple," Lorelai pronounced. "I don't know what it means, I'm just saying it's there. We don't acknowledge it, but it is." She finished firmly and looked at him expectantly for a response.

"No." Luke said suddenly.

Lorelai was taken aback. "You don't acknowledge it?" she challenged, half defensive of her theory, half afraid that he didn't feel the same way. This was her big revelation, how dare he not agree?

"No, I do. I hear what you're saying," said Luke. "And you're right, we're almost there. It's just that… I don't think we're totally comfortable with each other. I mean, we are, but, I don't know, I get the feeling that we're always on guard."

"Example?"

"Okay. You're a touchy-feely person, Lorelai. You and Rory are constantly hugging and kissing. You're always hugging your friends, and touching people in general conversation. But you hold back with me."

It was subconscious and Lorelai couldn't believe Luke had noticed, but she realized that a part of her was restrained around him. "I guess I'm afraid of getting too close. I don't want to lose you." Lorelai bit her lower lip, voice full of emotion.

"You think if you get too close you'll lose me?" Luke asked.

"If I get too close it will hurt more."

"I think I'm already too close," Luke admitted. Their faces had moved together throughout the course of this exchange and now lacked the personal space conversations usually entailed. For the briefest moment, Lorelai thought he might kiss her but Luke turned his head to look at the diner instead of her and suddenly his voice sounded as though it was coming from some place very far away. "For some reason I feel that I can't make a big decision without knowing where I stand with you," he confessed. "Almost like I need your permission to marry Nicole."

"You don't."

"I know."

"But you have it anyway."

"I know," Luke said again. "That's the problem."

"You want me to make the decision for you. I can't do that," Lorelai told him.

"It's okay, you helped already."

Somehow, without conscious effort on either part, his left hand found her right one and their fingers entwined as they lapsed into a contemplatative silence.

"So what now?" Lorelai asked finally.

Luke shook his head slightly. "I don't know."

"Me neither," Lorelai said with a sleepy sigh, leaning against his shoulder.

"We could start by getting some sleep," Luke suggested.

"Mmm-hmm." Lorelai's eyes were closed.

"Not here."

"Just a minute," she mumbled.

"Okay." Luke rested his cheek on her head and closed his eyes too.

Dream on together

Leaning against each other

However it happens I hope

It's whatever makes you happy

Whatever makes you happy

Lorelai lifted her head off Luke's shoulder. Rays of sunlight streamed through the trees and hit her face. Those were mighty tall trees for Stars Hollow, Lorelai thought, looking around to discover that she was actually in one of the trees, lying on a leafy bed nestled between the branches, with Luke curled up in a ball beside her. 

"I don't think we're in Kansas any more." Lorelai was suddenly very awake and wanted to get up and explore, but first she had to find out what happened to her clothes, because she was presently covered only by a flannel shirt that clearly belonged to Luke. She wondered where it had come from, as he'd been wearing sweats in the gazebo. Lorelai had always secretly liked the flannel. It was soft and comforting; yet somehow Luke managed to make it sexy and mysterious as well. She was always curious as to what was hiding beneath it. Looking around, Lorelai noted that the sleeping Luke was wearing pants, but there was no other clothing lying around their makeshift bed. All she could find was a bikini hanging from a tree branch, which would have to do. Lorelai made a mental note to pack something more substantial next time she planned on getting lost in the jungle.

Just as she finished pulling the bathing suit on, Luke sat up beside her. "Morning, beautiful." He hugged her close and drew lazy circles on her back.

Suddenly the rainforest didn't seem like such a bad place to be. Apparently she and Luke had spent the whole night doing it in a giant birds nest. Damn, thought Lorelai, you'd think she'd remember something like that. Luke was now kissing her neck and Lorelai brushed her hair out of the way to allow him better access. Thank god for repeats.

As his lips worked their way up towards her mouth, Lorelai was suddenly conscious of her morning breath. She pulled back. "Does this tree house come with an ensuite?"

Silently, Luke stood up, took her hand and jumped out of the tree.

Splash

The fall was short and they landed in a natural pool fed by a waterfall. Standing on the rocky bottom of the pool, the water was chest-level and the temperature was perfect. Lorelai stuck her tongue out to taste the clear water as it tumbled down on her, and then cupped her hands to catch a more substantial amount to drink. This was better than Evian any day, Lorelai thought as she soaked up the entire tropical atmosphere. Awesome.

*  *

Water cascaded over Luke's head and shoulders. He looked up at the waterfall, splashing over rocks. His arms were around Lorelai, her perfect body, clad only in a skimpy bikini, pressed against his. Luke brought his lips to meet hers in a passionate kiss. Her tongue slipped into his mouth straight away and her hands seemed to be everywhere at once, roaming all over his back and through his hair. Luke slid his hands below her waist and lifted Lorelai up to wrap her legs around his waist. She had on a very sexy bathing suit, but Luke decided she really didn't need to be wearing it right now. He began pulling at the strings of the top half as her tongue darted out of his mouth to lick the water off his cheek…

*  *

Okay, this was paradise, Lorelai decided as Luke pulled at her bikini top. Only the waterfall pounding them was dulling the sensation of Luke's kisses. No fair. She tugged at his shoulder, trying to get him to move them away from the spray…

"Ow!" Lorelai's head fell off Luke's shoulder as she shifted position. She awoke with a start and immediately a spray of water hit her in the face. The sprinkler system had activated.

"The waterfall," Luke mumbled groggily, still in the process of waking up.

How did he know that? Lorelai wondered as she grabbed Luke's arm and pulled him out of the gazebo. "Why are the sprinklers going off in the middle of the night?" she cried as they ran across the soaked lawn.

"Because logic dictates the square will be empty in the middle of the night."

"Since when has this town ever been run by logic?"

Luke and Lorelai collapsed onto the steps of Miss Patty's and wiped water off their faces. Their clothes were damp, but not soaked through.

"How long were we napping for?" Lorelai asked. The square was still lit only by street lamps, with no sign of morning light in the dark sky.

Luke checked his watch. "Less than an hour."

Lorelai nodded and looked at him curiously. "Ah, did you… Never mind" she blushed and ducked her head, not noticing Luke's cheeks turning equally red.

"I should get home. I have to talk to Nicole," Luke said.

"Right. I'll talk to you later?" It was a tentative question rather than an authoritative statement.

Luke nodded and they went their separate ways.

*  *  *  *

The next morning Lorelai awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

"Morning," Rory was sitting on the edge of her mother's bed waving a coffee mug under her nose.

Lorelai struggled into an upright position. "Morning, baby. Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Only every time I bring you coffee in bed." Rory handed over the mug.

"Which isn't nearly often enough." Lorelai took a sip. "So why this morning?"

"Do you remember last night?"

Lorelai nodded. "I was going to try and forget, but I talked to Luke."

"At the party?"

"No, later. I had a weird dream and Luke was in it so I went to talk to him."

"Need help with dream interpretation?" Rory asked.

"Nah, I think I've got it figured out. If I told you I had a dream that I was marrying Luke you'd probably tell me I'm jealous that he's getting married and not me, right?"

"Or it could mean you want to marry Luke."

"Why would you say that?"

"Did you see yourself last night? With the flirting and the skimpy, come-hither top that you were supposedly saving for a special occasion?"

Lorelai winced. "Did I look really skanky and obvious? Was it a Demi Moore in Striptease moment? How much therapy will you need?"

"None, and you looked great," Rory assured her.

"Well I did consult my etiquette book. The rule is about not upstaging the bride on her wedding day; the engagement party is never mentioned."

"You are in love with Luke," Rory declared. "You upstage his fiancée, you dream you're getting married-"

"Slow down, Little Missy!" Lorelai cut her off. "Last time I dreamt about Luke we agreed it was a Chris and Sherry thing. This does not mean I'm in love with him. It could just be a reaction to what Nicole said last night. Dreams are strange things. Friends appear in bizarre situations all the time. Like once, I dreamt that Sookie was a dolphin trainer and we were at Sea World watching her show. She made Jackson act as her assistant, you know, the guy who stands in the water and hold up his arms for the dolphin to jump through. Only the dolphin didn't make it and ended up head-butting Jackson. Or nose-butting." Lorelai laughed. "Anyway, I think the dream was a product of Sookie's argument with our supplier about dolphin-friendly tuna. Hey, I'm getting really good at this analysis stuff!"

"Mom!" Rory said impatiently. "What happened when you talked to Luke?"

"We acknowledged it!" Lorelai said happily.

"Acknowledged what?"

"Our unhealthy co-dependence."

"I thought I was your unhealthy co-dependant?"

"Oh you're still my favorite, baby."

"Thank you. And congratulations on the Luke thing. So what does that mean exactly?"

"I don't know."

"Well what happens now?"

"I don't know," Lorelai repeated.

"But you feel good about this?"

"Yes, I do." Lorelai smiled. "I thought if we ever said anything we'd, like, screw up the whole universe or something."

"I can't believe Luke finally admitted how he feels about you."

"He didn't."

Rory's face fell.

"Well, sort of," Lorelai amended. "But it wasn't a big mushy love scene. We basically just agreed that we have a unique relationship. It was actually closer to a let's-be-best-buddy's kind of thing."

"But you recognized your Madonna/Rupert Everett connection?"

"Whatever happened in that movie?" Lorelai asked suddenly.

"I don't know, we walked out halfway through," Rory reminded her.

"Smart us."

"If we were really smart we wouldn't have bought the tickets in the first place."

"True. But that means we don't know the connection."

"What about a Julia Roberts/Rupert Everett connection?" Rory tried.

"Okay, we really have to stop comparing Luke to Rupert Everett," Lorelai decided.

"I'm sorry! But straight best friends always end up together," Rory said. "Are you and Luke going to get together?"

"I don't know." Lorelai buried her head in a pillow. "I don't even know if that's what I want," she said in a muffled voice before sitting up again. "Besides which, he's engaged."

"Not for long, by the sounds of it."

Lorelai shook her head firmly. "I'm trying not to read too much into this. It could mean nothing."

"Or it could mean everything," Rory gave her a meaningful look. "Are you sure nothing else happened with you and Luke last night?"

"We just talked. Then fell asleep in the gazebo and I had another dream."

"Ooh, what was this one about?"

"This was the kind of dream that you really shouldn't hear about if you ever want to be able to look and Luke or I in the same light again."

Rory appeared grateful. "'Nuff said."

"The really freaky part is I think he had the same dream."

"No way. I don't believe that," Rory said firmly.

"Well I'd get you some proof, but I don't really want to walk into the diner and say 'Hey, Luke did you have a dirty dream about us having wild sex in the middle of the jungle?'"

Rory made a show of being suitably grossed out by that admission before giving Lorelai a teasing grin. "You're in luurrrrve."

Lorelai set her coffee cup on the bedside table, pulled the pillow out from behind her head and hit her daughter with it.

"Hey!' Rory grabbed another pillow and hit Lorelai back.

Thirty seconds later they were both collapsed on the bed.

"We need to work on our stamina," Lorelai mumbled into the mattress.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?" Lorelai rolled onto her back and hugged her pillow to her chest.

"Why the jungle?"

Lorelai threw the pillow at Rory.

*  *  *  *

Luke was watching Nicole wake up. She had been fast asleep when he returned to the apartment last night, so Luke had decided to wait until morning to have 'the talk.'

"Hey," he said when Nicole opened her eyes.

She seemed please to see him. "I wasn't sure if you'd be here when I woke up."

"Where else would I be?"

Nicole shrugged. "It was a weird night." She got out of bed and padded toward the bathroom.

"We need to talk." Luke said.

"One minute." Nicole needed to pee, brush her teeth and swallow half a packet of aspirin before she could face this conversation.

Luke was sitting on the bed, waiting, when she finished in the bathroom and Nicole sat down beside him. She considered giving him a kiss, but the look on his face told her he had something more important on his mind. The feeling in the pit of her stomach warned her that she might not like what he had to say, so Nicole got in first. "I didn't mean what I said last night," she said quickly. "I was really tired, just forget it. And while you're at it, can we please forget everything I said at the party as well?"

"It's not really about any of that. Nicole, why are we getting married?" Luke asked.

"What do you mean why are we getting married?" Nicole began listing reasons. "We like each other, we get along well, the timing's right..."

"What do you mean the timing's right?"

Confession time, thought Nicole. She took a deep breath. "Okay, ever since I was 17 I've had my life all planned out – law school, job with a good firm, professional life on track. Family-wise, I'd be married by 30, work part time for a year while I had my first and only child then go back to work and make partner by 36."

"So whoever you're dating at 30, that's it? Music stops, and you happened to be stuck with me?"

"Of course not, Luke. We've been together for six months with no problems. We work."

Crunch time, thought Luke. He shook his head. "I don't think we do. Not any more."

"I shouldn't have told you."

"It's not because of that. It's not because of anything you did."

"'It's not you, it's me,' right?" Nicole asked with a disgusted glint in her eye. For a moment she felt the urge to blow up and turn this into a fierce screaming match, but forced herself to remain calm.

"It's both of us," Luke said firmly. "We would have had a sucky marriage, Nicole. Was divorce by 34 in your plan as well?"

"You'd be a good husband, I can tell. Loyal, caring-"

"But don't you want the chance to find someone you really love?"

Nicole was offended that he apparently thought so little of their relationship. "Do you think I'm so desperate I'd just pick up anyone off the street to marry? I do love you, Luke."

"I know, I didn't mean it like that. I mean really love. Not someone you happen to be dating when it's time for stage three of your life plan."

"You make it sound so cold."

"It feels cold." Luke had finally figured it out. "We're convenient. Which is maybe okay when you're looking for a date on Saturday night, but not when you're looking for someone to marry. We took it too far."

"This can work," Nicole pleaded, but her heart wasn't really in it. He was right, she didn't love him enough. Tears began sliding down Nicole's cheeks, but they weren't tears of hurt and anguish, they were tears of regret and sadness. "I'm sorry."

Luke was uncomfortable with the crying. He wasn't sure whether to look away or hug her, but they'd never really had that kind of affectionate relationship so Luke just patted her on the shoulder somewhat awkwardly. "Hey, don't cry. And don't apologize, I didn't mean to make you feel guilty. It's not your fault."

Nicole nodded and wiped her face. "Let's just call it even," she suggested. "I really care about you, Luke, but you're right. I should find someone I can love in a way that I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without him. We both deserve that chance. You're just lucky you already know her." Nicole squeezed his hand. "I should go."

"Stay," said Luke. "You probably shouldn't drive home yet. I'll bring you up some breakfast."

"Thanks," Nicole said gratefully. "I wouldn't mind taking a shower."

"You know where everything is." Luke stood up and headed for the door. "I have to get downstairs."

Nicole nodded. "Luke?" she called suddenly, just as he was opening the door. "You know why I proposed, but why did you say yes?"

Luke stopped and turned around. He didn't have an answer but Nicole didn't appear to require one. "Just something for you to think about," she said.

Just what he needed, something else to think about. "So what do you want for breakfast?"

*  *  *  *

"Bacon and eggs. With extra bacon, and extra toast, and extra egg too," Lorelai ordered.

The diner was packed, but Rory and Lorelai managed to grab two seats at the counter for breakfast.

A harried-looking Luke barely glanced at Lorelai as she placed her order. He set the coffee pot on the counter in front of them. "Help yourselves to coffee, I'll take your orders after I've done the bill for that huge table over there."

"Feel the love," Lorelai said dryly as she poured coffee for Rory and herself.

"Who's feeling what love?" Miss Patty, who happened to be sitting beside them, asked.

"No one," Lorelai said quickly.

"Unless you count mom's newfound love for the rainforest," Rory smirked. Lorelai elbowed her.

"Okay, I'm back." Luke pulled out his order pad. "Lorelai wants bacon and eggs, what about you, Rory?"

"Pancakes, please, Luke," Rory requested.

"And mine was extra bacon and eggs," Lorelai reminded him.

"Yours is always extra."

"So, Lorelai, any particular reason for this new love of the rainforest?" Miss Patty asked.

"No. Just, you know, the, ah, trees, and, um…"

*cough* "Tarzan fetish" *cough*

"Did you say something, dear?" Miss Patty asked Rory.

Lorelai and Luke both understood perfectly and exchanged panicked glances before fixing glares on Rory.

"No," Rory smiled innocently. "Coffee just went down the wrong way."

Luke took the mug off Rory. "Wouldn't want that to happen again."

"Hey!" she protested. "Mom, you can't let him get away with that."

But for once Lorelai was on Luke's side about the confiscated coffee. "You can have it back when you've finished with the Jungle Book references."

Miss Patty looked perplexed, she'd been hoping for gossip from the party last night.

"But I haven't even started yet," Rory complained.

"Did you ever think that maybe you trained her too well?" Luke asked Lorelai.

"Frequently."

*  *

After breakfast Lorelai and Rory were about to leave when Luke pulled the elder Gilmore aside. "Can I talk to you? It'll only take a minute."

"I'll be outside," said Rory.

Lorelai stood expectantly in front of Luke, but he was just staring at her hair, fascinated; wondering how could it be so dead straight today after being all curly last night.

"Luke?" she prompted, waving a hand in front of his face. "Did you want to tell me something?"

"Uh, yeah. I just wanted to tell you that Nicole and I aren't getting married anymore." He said it as casually as if he were reciting the daily specials.

Lorelai gave him a look of sympathy and concern. "Are you okay?"

"Sure. But hey, I'm sorry about all the trouble you went to with the engagement party."

"It's no trouble."

"Well, you know, all that effort just seems like kind of a waste now." Luke looked out the window where the clean up team was working.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lorelai asked.

"Oh, absolutely. I'm fine." Luke shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans

"Okay. Well do you want to do something tonight? Rory's got plans with her friends, so you could come over and we could have something to eat, maybe watch a movie, talk, whatever."

"Uh, thanks, but I have to work."

"It's Sunday. Quietest night of the week."

"Still." Luke rocked backward and forward slightly, avoiding her gaze.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you around then." Hurt, Lorelai turned and walked out of the diner slowly, pausing momentarily at the door in the hope that he would call her back. She looked over her shoulder, but Luke had disappeared into the kitchen. With a disgruntled sigh, Lorelai pushed open the door and joined Rory on the street outside. "Do I have idiot stamped on my forehead?" she asked her daughter, who pretended to inspect.

"No, but you are getting a zit," she said helpfully. "What did Luke say?" Rory asked as they began walking down the street.

"They're not getting married."

"And this upsets you because?"

"He didn't want to talk to me," Lorelai complained. "I mean, I don't think he broke off the engagement just because of me. I would never want him to do that. But, I don't know, he made this decision after we talked so I though that might have had something to do with it."

"Not an unreasonable assumption."

"Thank you. But evidently not because he's all 'here's your coffee, oh; by the way, I've just broken up with my fiancée. That's $1.50, have a nice day.'"

"Maybe he just needs some time," Rory suggested.

"You're right," Lorelai agreed. "Of course you're right." She frowned. "But I'm still hurt. If nothing else, I'm his friend, Rory. I thought we could be there for each other at times like this." Lorelai was gesturing expressively as she spoke and failed to pay attention to where she was walking. Rory had to pull her out of the path of a tree.

"Hey George, watch out for that tree!" she said with a smirk.

Lorelai grimaced. "How long are you going to milk that for?"

"I figure it's good for a least three more days."

"Evil child!"

They continued down the street with Rory humming the George of the Jungle theme.

*  *  *  *

TBC

Lyric credits: Jack Johnson and Powderfinger

Author's Confession: Uh, that's pretty much all I had. There is a tiny bit more written, but it needs to multiply by at least five to become a fully-grown chapter. So I'm just gonna sit here and wait for inspiration to smack me in the head. Feel free to help it out.