A/N: Enjoy! (----) ( Those denote the beginning and end of a flashback.

Chapter 8-Homecoming

"Flight 47 to Hartford will be departing in 10 minutes. Please board at gate 10."

A calm female voice boomed over the loudspeaker. She listed the times and the gates for each of the flights departing and arriving. Lorelai had tuned it out after the first 5 times she heard it. Rory was asleep on the seat next to her. Listening only vaguely now, she heard Hartford called.

"Rory, that's us. Let's go." She tapped her sleeping daughter. Who nodded semi-coherently and followed her mother. Lorelai presented the tickets to the stewardess.

"Thank you, and enjoy your flight." She smiled. All her pearly white teeth shone like tiny little diamonds in a dark black cave. After she was out of audible distance Lorelai nudged Rory.

"Did you see her perfect teeth?"

"No." Rory replied.

"They were like screaming how attractive she is." She started to mock the woman. "Oh, look at me and my pretty beautiful teeth. I travel around the world for free and get to sleep with all the men I want. I don't have a single thought in my pretty blonde head."

"Mom, I think the sleep deprivation is getting to you. She seemed nice enough."

"That's just what she wanted you to think." Lorelai retorted. The exited the concourse and entered the plane.

"Here are the seats." Lorelai pointed to two seats a few rows up."

"What seats do we have?"

"We have window, and middle?" Lorelai answered with a confused look.

"We got middle? Who gets the middle seat?" Rory replied.

"People that need a lot of room for their food."

"Other people need their trays as well, you know."

"Don't ask me." Lorelai answered as they sat down. Lorelai took the window seat, and Rory got the middle.

"Why do you get the middle?" Rory asked.

"I'm your mother, don't ask questions. I know what is best."

"Okay, whatever you say, but I'd have to disagree." She grabbed her bag and threw on her CD player headphones, and pressed play. She had her Tapestry CD.

*But you're so far away,

doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?

It would be so fine to see your face at my door

Doesn't help to know you're so far away *

Her mind spun through so many different thoughts on the way back home. She'd been gone for a month and a half. 'I've been gone, so long.' She thought. 'I hope everything isn't different.' She thought about Jess, she thought about her father, she thought about being a sister. Would she be able to get Luke to tell her where Jess was staying? How was the giant gorilla doing? Were Lane and Dave still good?

She felt out of touch and she hated that feeling. She slept a little on the way there. It was a pretty long flight. Mostly she thought about her life. She still had college to think about. How could she expect anything to happen with Jess, when she had to go off to college? 'I need to stop now.' She thought to herself. Leaning back, she let the music soak into her soul and carry her away.

*Travelin' around sure gets me down and lonely

Nothin' else to do but close my mind

I sure hope the road don't come to own me

Yet so many dreams I've yet to find*

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The drive home from Hartford was nice enough. It was a sunny, Friday mid- morning. Not too early for coffee that was for sure.

"Mom, can we go to Luke's?"

"That was the plan, dear. Do you think I could spend another day away from my coffee?"

"You had coffee on our trip."

"I know it's just not Luke's coffee."

"You want to see Luke, don't you?"

"I want to see Luke with the biggest cup of coffee he can find in his hand."

"Right, I see we are still in the denial stage."

"Nope, there are no stages because there is nothing to deny. Besides, he's with Nicole."

"Who knows? It's been a month and a half. Lots could have happened since we left."

"Sure."

They pulled into Luke's a few minutes later. He was filling coffee mugs when the little bell over the door rang. Without looking up he continued to fill cups.

"Okay, I guess we'll just find our own table." Lorelai replied noticing his disinterest. He stopped in mid-pour almost overfilling the cup.

He spun around to see Lorelai and Rory standing in the doorway.

"Lorelai! Rory! How are you doing? Sit down." They sat and he stood up with his order pad ready.

"We're good. How are you, Luke?"

"Well, fine. I got you "delivery" for you." He said sarcastically.

"Oh yeah? How'd you like it?" She retorted.

"A gigantic monkey in an ice cream man suit? I mean why does that remind you of me, and what on earth would possess you to get a giant monkey in the first place?" He questioned.

"Okay, so maybe it wasn't the best idea. But he was cheap, and he reminds me of you because he has that whole banana thing and, well, it made sense then."

"It really did." Rory added smiling.

"Okay. Whatever. It's your life. What can I get you?" He asked enthusiastically.

"Two coffees as big as you've got." Lorelai answered.

"And two stacks of pancakes, with bacon on the side." Rory added.

"Good choice." Lorelai nudged her daughter.

"Typical." Luke replied. "It's nice to have you home though." He smiled. "I'll be right back with your orders."

"Take your time!" Lorelai shouted.

They sat in silence, both thinking.

Rory sat in the quiet diner, and she saw the night of the first time she and Jess truly kissed. Not just her kissing him.

---- "I'll finish it. Hi, hi, hi. I'm getting the coffee." Luke stated slightly annoyed.

She just sat looking at her new boyfriend.

"I've gotta run out and get a part for my car." Jess told Luke.

"Get a receipt this time."

"I'll be back." He had said to her.

She followed him, figuring it was a clever ploy for them to get away. He said gypsy had just forgotten the part, but she knew there was never a part. He held a cigarette in his hand. It wasn't a habit she liked, but she couldn't very well stop him from doing it.

"So tell me, what's your decision on smoking that depending on?" She asked.

"On what's gonna happen."

"When?" She asked as she inched closer.

"Now." He replied stepping closer. He put a hand on her right arm and they both stepped closer. He put his lips to hers, and she forgot everything else. It was magical. By the end she had broken from her daze and felt she had to apologize to Dean. Jess didn't understand why she had to leave. She just had to. He kissed her softly again and let her go.

----

Lorelai was thinking of other things. She thought about how Rory had been teasing her over Luke. She remembered all the times that Luke had been there for her. The time when her father was in the hospital, was one she remembered in particular. She had just gotten her Santa burger from Luke, when her cell phone rang. She took it outside at Luke's request, he had pointed at the sign. She came in devastated and Taylor was arguing with Luke.

---- "Well we were caroling around town, and we got a bit chilly and we thought maybe we could trade you a song for some hot chocolate." Taylor said.

"You want free hot chocolate?"

"No, no, we'll sing for it, any tune you like."

"And then I give you free hot chocolate." Luke replied.

"Yes." Taylor retorted.

"Tell you what, you can have your hot chocolate, and pay for it, then go next door and sing for the marshmallows." Luke was just angry now.

"Oh, my God!" Lorelai gasped.

"These are your neighbors Luke!" Taylor was rambling. Luke wasn't interested in that anymore.

"Shut up Taylor. What's going on?" He asked Lorelai.

"My father's in the hospital."

"What?" He stammered.

"Yeah, he collapsed or something. I don't know. I need a cab. I need to call a cab. Where's the phone? I need - can anyone give me - I'm holding a phone."

"Whoa, calm down." Luke had been there.

"No I can't calm down. I need a cab. What's the numbers? God, its something- cabs, cabs-something-something, 1-800-cabs? Can somebody tell me the damn number of the cab guy?!" She was clearly panicked.

"I'll drive you." Luke offered.

"But there's food and there's people and there's a burger with a face."

"Ok, everybody out! We're closed, let's go. Food's on me." He turned to Lorelai. "Put on your coat and get your stuff." Then he turned back to Taylor. "Taylor, have your hot chocolate then lock up." He motioned to Lorelai. "Come on, my truck's out back." They finally reached the hospital and found Emily. They had to wait to see her father. She had sent Rory off to get coffee and when she returned she had let her daughter go and she him first. She talked with Luke for a while, and then she went in. When she came out she found Luke was still there even though he had a great dislike for hospitals.

"I heard, everything's ok." Luke said.

"Yeah, yeah. They're going to keep him over night but - but he's going to be fine." She gave up holding back her tears.

"Hey." He said, and took her into a hug. "Ok, see here's where the guy is supposed to give the girl his handkerchief but I don't have one.and plus I find the practice a little revolting so."

"No, I'm ok..." She said unconvincingly

"You sure?" He asked, concerned.

"Yeah."

"Alright. Oh hey, I got this for you." He handed her a cup of coffee.

"Ah, where'd you get that?"

"Nurse's lounge." He smiled.

"Uh-huh." She smiled

"What? You're not the only one who can flirt." She laughed. "The door was open." He admitted.

"Thank you." She replied sincerely.

"Anything else I can do?"

"Could you take Rory home?"

"Yeah sure. What about you?"

"I'm gonna stick around here for a while and make sure everything's are settled you know. You take her and I'll drive the jeep back."

"Okay." He replied. ----

He had always been there for her. So strong, so sweet. Then she had one of those light bulb moments. 'I am in denial' she realized.

Both were awoken from their dreamy states by Luke bearing drinks and food.

"Girls? You all right?"

"Yes." They replied in unison.

They ate and got up.

"Let's go Rory." Lorelai got up and pushed in her chair.

"I'm not done, plus I think I'm gonna spend a little time here, maybe look at the bookstore. Okay?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

Luke joined her.

"So how was Europe?"

"Good. I missed everybody though."

"Well, we missed you too." He smiled and picked up Lorelai's plate.

"Can I ask you a question, Luke?" He turned around.

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Walking in the town part of Venice beach, Jess saw a tiny little park, kind of in the middle. It had a few trees and grass. It was green. A pretty rare color it seemed her in California. Mostly brown. It was depressing, but it fit his mood most of the time. It reminded him of when he came back to Stars Hollow. At the wedding, that was where it had all started. He remembered it like it was yesterday. She kissed him, and ran away. He was as surprised as she was.

He had come back then and things worked out fine. If he went back now, would they work out again?

*Calling out around the world

Every heartbroken boy, every lonely girl

Take what's right and forgive what's wrong

I'm calling all hearts to come back home

To every soul who's lost their way,

come back home

Yeah the wait is over, today's the day

come back home

Come back home*

A/N: Hey! Let me get the lyrics credits out of the way first. The first set (the ones with Rory) was "So Far Away" by Carole King. The second set, right above here is "Calling All Hearts (Come Back Home)" by Diamond Rio. Okay, I have a confession. I've not heard all these songs. I've just looked up several that work for the story. That was my confession. Now, on to comments. I'm sorry for the length. I'm so wordy sometimes, and I know this chapter was not exactly very progressive but the next ones will be. I had to get this whole Lorelai and Rory on their trip resolved so I could finally work on Jess and Rory. Did you get the homage to Milo? Where you ask? Why, the middle seat of course! If you don't get it email me, I'll explain it. I am actually glad that this chapter is over. The flashbacks get kinda hard to fiddle with after a while. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it. See you soon!