"Rory!" Lorelai called and walked through the kitchen to her room.

She found her there on her bed, face down in her pillow.

Lorelai sat on the bed next to her.

"Rory, I'm sorry about it all. I'm sorry about Dean, and that school was difficult for you this year, and I'm really sorry I'm sick."

Rory turned over to look at her mother, and swiped at her face.

"None of that is your fault," she sniffed.

"Well, I'm still sorry," Lorelai insisted. "I'm sorry this has to be hard on you. I'm sorry that you're unhappy."

"I'm sorry too, Mom—about it all. And talking to Luke that way... I shouldn't have done it. Geez, how am I gonna face him tomorrow when I start work?"

"You just will," smiled Lorelai, "You could bring him roses, he'd love that."

"Yeah, right," said Rory doubtfully. "I don't understand how you can just make jokes about all of this."

"This?"

"The illness—everything." Rory explained.

"Oh honey, you know me better than that. What else am I going to do? You guys are all miserable enough for me. I have to keep going and, besides, I really want to keep going. The way I see it, I am still who I was, I just get to rest more—a lifetime excuse to nap whenever I like."

"Mom, that's crazy."

"Well, consider the source."

"Oh. Right," Rory nodded.

"Rory, I have a good life. I like it. I've got you. I've got the Inn..."

"You've got Luke?" asked Rory hopefully.

"We'll see," said Lorelai.

"Mom, he loves you."

"I know, poor slob."

"It is hard to resist your charms," Rory admitted with a small smile.

"Oh, I know. I think the permanent imprint of a lettuce crisper on the forehead---my signature look now, by the way---is going to be lauded in the next issue of In Style magazine."

"Do tell!"

"Oh yes, my friend, soon you'll see Nicole and Halle, and even Barbara Bush sporting the lettuce crisper imprint."

"Like tattoos?"

"Yes indeedy!"

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lorelai opened her eyes groggily into a new morning. These mornings were starting to feel far too much the same now. She needed to do something about that.

So she got up and showered then and put on her favorite jeans and a red low-cut knit top. Because it made her feel better. A little make-up too. What the hell?

She went downstairs to find Rory munching on a poptart.

"Hey," she said to her daughter and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Rory looked up from her newspaper and regarded her mother a moment, "You don't think you're going out, do you?" she asked, her eyes narrowed in concern.

"No," Lorelai replied and joined her at the table. "I was just tired of being so sloppy."

"How do you feel?"

"I feel great this morning," Lorelai smiled.

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Well, good."

"So what's the schedule today, Rosalind Russell? Are you hustling to meet deadline? Elbowing the other guy out for the big interview? Gonna have a hot tryst with the hot editor in the copy room?"

"Mary White?" asked Rory

"Go with me on this," snapped Lorelai.

"No, Cary Grant, I'm out to get the scoop," said Rory sarcastically.

"Ooo! Can I call you Scoop Gilmore now?!" asked Lorelai excitedly.

"Yes, that's exactly what I want you to call me now," said Rory as she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. "Goodbye!"

"'Bye Scoop," laughed Lorelai, as she heard the front door open.

She sipped her coffee happily for a bit and began wondering how she should begin her intended torture of Michel via the telephone today.

"Mom?" she heard instead.

"Yikes! Rory! I thought you'd left." Lorelai sputtered into her coffee.

"I think you need to see something."

Lorelai got up and curiously followed Rory into the living room and looked out the front window into the yard.

"Oh, Geez, what is he doing?" asked Lorelai as she watched Luke bent over the ground with a shovel of some kind in his hand.

"From the evidence before me, I'd say that he is putting in a front walk in our yard. And that he has been at it for some time now," deducted Rory.

"Nope, that's not what he's doing," Lorelai shook her head.

"It's not?"

"No."

"What is he doing then?"

"Working it out," sighed Lorelai, "literally."

"Ah," Rory acknowledged, "Too bad I gotta go. This should be good."

Lorelai pulled away from the window and walked determinedly to the front door with Rory trailing behind. She pulled it open and walked out onto the porch.

"Luke, what the hell are you doing?" she called.

"You need a front walk," he said without looking up from the cement he was mixing in his wheelbarrow.

"Well, I'm off to the Daily Planet!" said Rory as she slipped past her mother and walked out to Luke.

"Luke?" she paused before him.

He looked up at her, "Yeah?"

"I really am sorry about yesterday," she shifted uncomfortably.

"Don't worry about it. I had it coming," he shrugged and went back to his mixing.

"No, you didn't," Rory went on. "You have always been there for us... like... I mean even my dad never made us a front path or helped mom the way you do... or anything," she finished and looked at her shoes.

Luke looked up at that, "Well, I'm sure he wanted to."

Rory smiled a little, "I'll see you at the diner later?"

Luke smiled a little too, "Yep."

Rory turned to go, and then turned back quickly, "Would it be too weird if I gave you a little kiss now? I mean I know it's mushy but I'm feeling a little mushy right now."

He stood and turned his cheek to her, "Mush away," he said gruffly and she pecked him on the cheek. He waited until she had stepped away before smiling again.

"Luke, I'm still a little confused," Lorelai called out to him.

"What else is new?" he responded, as he knelt again to set the next course of molded-forms onto the path.

"I resent that! I am rarely confused."

"Okay."

"Except for that one time," she frowned in remembrance.

"I'm going to regret hearing this, I know it," he said, though no one was listening to him.

"It was in London at this Dog Pub," she began.

"Dog Pub?" asked Luke caught up as usual in spite of himself. He scooped out some additional wet cement and tamped it down into the form.

"Yeah, Dog Pub," said Lorelai as she sat on her porch swing.

"They have pubs for dogs there?"

"No, that would be silly."

"Right."

"It just had one of those dog names. You know like all the pubs there: 'The Goat and Boot' the 'Fish and Anvil', or whatever. And this one had a Dog name."

"Dog name. Got it." Luke scraped off the excess cement with a trowel.

"The Hound and Hydrant—or something like that," she pondered.

"But no dogs actually in the pub."

"Oh, there are always dogs in the pub. The British love their dogs. And this one was decorated to the teeth or, I suppose, to the fangs, in doggy decor."

"Is there a point to this story?" asked Luke as he went for another scoop of cement.

"I'm telling you about the time I was confused," she explained.

"Right."

"So, anyway, Rory and I had an ale..."

"You let Rory have an ale?" he looked at her in surprise.

"It was England Luke, it was perfectly legal," she assured him.

"Oh," he shook his head in confusion, "of course."

"So, anyway, you know the natural result of drinking beer?" she asked.

"The need to eat nuts?" he guessed.

"No, the bodily need after drinking beer?"

"Oh, Geez."

"So I get up to go to the loo—that's what they call it in England..."

"Fascinating."

"And I get to the back where the two doors are, and that's when I got confused."

Luke looked up at her, eyebrows raised, waiting.

"So I walk back to Rory, because I'm, you know, in a hurry..."

He sighed at that.

"And I ask her, 'Hey Rory, am I a Pointer or a Setter?'" and here Lorelai threw back her head and howled with laughter.

Luke ducked his head to avoid being caught in his own smile.

"Oh boy, what now?" asked Lorelai as she looked up to see her mother's car pull into the driveway.

Emily emerged and went to open her trunk and pull out several shopping bags.

Luke got up without a word and went to help her.

Lorelai watched as Emily smiled at him and handed the bags over.

"Lorelai, you're dressed! And what are you doing outside?" Emily demanded as she approached the porch.

"I was just bored. So I got dressed. I promise I am still resting."

"You're not out here digging in cement, I hope?"

"No, Mom, just watching Luke."

"Well, I think it's a very good idea to finally put a walk in," said Emily as she climbed the porch stairs.

Luke set the bags down and went to lay another course of the walkway.

"What's with all the bags, Mom?"

"Well, I've got the sheets I bought you..." said Emily and pulled out several sets for Lorelai's approval.

"Those are really nice, Mom," Lorelai offered. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," smiled Emily. "I think they'll make you much more comfortable."

"I'm sure they will," nodded Lorelai. "So why don't you have a seat, Mom?"

"Well, actually, there's something else..." Emily trailed off uncomfortably.

"Oh?"

"Yes, something else I bought..."

"Oh Mom, we agreed on the sheets and mattress, that's all," Lorelai told her firmly.

"I know. It's not something for you. I bought something for myself... and I want your opinion on it."

"You want my opinion?" asked Lorelai in surprise.

"Yes."

"What is it?" she asked curiously.

"A dress."

"You want my opinion of a dress you bought for yourself?"

"Yes. You see your father and I are going in to New York tonight. To a cabaret...."

"Really? A cabaret," grinned Lorelai.

"And I bought a new dress... and it's not something I usually wear and so... well, I thought..."

"Ooo!" Lorelai clapped her hands together, "Go try it on, right now!"

"Really?" asked Emily with a smile.

"Yep. I'll wait right here and you come give me a fashion show."

"Well, if you're sure..."

"Go, go..." Lorelai urged her. "All right," smiled Emily, "I will!" and she snatched up her bag and hurried in.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Wow," said Lorelai when Emily stood before her.

"No good?" asked Emily, her expression fallen.

"No, Mom, it's wonderful! Turn around." Emily pivoted obligingly. "I've never seen you wear something like this before," Lorelai noted in wonder.

"Too young? It's too young, isn't it? I was afraid of that. I haven't worn anything sleeveless in years and the slit is a little high."

"Mom, look at me." Emily did so. "It is fabulous. You look absolutely gorgeous in that dress!"

"Really? Because I've never done emerald green."

"Mom, trust me, Joan Collins would knock you right in the swimming pool."

Emily smiled shyly. "Well, thank you."

"Dad is going to flip," Lorelai added, "But it looks like the hem is coming down a little in the back."

"It does?" Emily turned to look, "Damn it. Is there a seamstress in this town? I really want to wear it tonight."

"Relax, Mom, the finest seamstress in town is seated right here."

"Oh Lorelai, I don't think..." Emily demurred.

"Go upstairs and change and then bring me my sewing basket from the dresser. It'll take me ten minutes, I promise."

"Are you sure you're up to it?"

"Absolutely," Lorelai nodded.

"All right, then," Emily smiled and went in.

Lorelai directed her gaze back down to Luke who was nearly at the end of his path now. She saw him smiling.

And that made her feel so good that she smiled too, and even better when he lifted his eyes to meet hers.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::

"Here you go, Mom," she said as she tied off the last stitch, "Now it's perfect."

"That looks wonderful," said Emily in surprise.

"Go hang it up now, so it won't wrinkle."

She turned to look out at Luke again when she saw Sookie and Jackson pull in behind Emily's car.

She waved and then grinned as she watched Sookie unhook Davey from his car seat.

"Watch this!" Jackson yelled as he set the infant down on the ground.

Lorelai clapped happily as Little Davey, clasping his father's forefingers in his stickly fists, took a few stumbling steps forward.

"Oh that is wonderful!" she called out. "Look how big he is!"

Sookie came up and sat next to her on the swing then. "Hey, sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Never mind me," Lorelai waved herself aside, "What is in that tupperware?" she demanded.

Sookie giggled, "Oh, nothing but—Chocolate Pudding Cake!"

"Woohoo!"

"I told you it was a better choice than the raspberry tarts," she told Jackson as he and Davey came up the stairs to join them.

"But the early raspberries are so perfect right now," he disagreed.

"Sookie, Jackson, hello!" said Emily as she stepped through the door. "Why don't I make everyone some tea?"

"Oh, you don't have to do that, Mom."

"Nonsense, I want to."

"I'll come help you, Emily, we can cut the cake too," said Sookie as she got up and went in as well.

"Let me at him," Lorelai said to Jackson then and stretched her arms out for Davey.. "Hey, sweetie," she baby-talked him. He drooled a big one in return. "Are you working on teeth, are you?" she smiled. Davey grunted at that.

"Hey, Luke!" she called. "Come take a break with us!"

Luke looked up thoughtfully, then came up and sat down on the top step of the porch.

"Are you guys letting him have chocolate cake yet?" she asked Jackson as Davey tangled his fists in her hair.

"Oh yes, he already has quite the sophisticated palette," bragged Jackson.

"Do you want some Chocolate pudding cake, Davey? Do you?" she cooed. Davey squeaked in response, causing the adults to laugh.

"Well, he wouldn't be Sookie's baby and not know that word," said Jackson.

Lorelai stole a glance at Luke, he caught her eye silently for the second time that morning and smiled. It filled her up, that smile. Just filled her up and tingled down her spine, and she happily let Luke see that in her eyes.

She hugged Davey close, "You feel good," she told the little guy.

"Here we are," announced Emily as she came onto the porch carrying a tray of ice tea, Sookie in tow with cake and plates.

They all sat happily then, eating and talking about the cake and the walkway, and watching Davey eat cake with his fists. Then Lorelai closely questioned Sookie on all the Inn doings.

"So Michel has it all under control?" asked Lorelai.

"Honestly, Lorelai, we don't need you at all," said Sookie.

And a cold pause came over them all at that as everyone turned to look at Lorelai in sympathy. The blissful moment spoiled.

"Oh... No, that's good... I'm glad Michel can handle it..." she stammered.

"Lorelai, I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I just didn't want you to worry," said Sookie as sorry as she could be.

"Honey, it's okay. I understand."

They all paused awkwardly then.

"So, Lorelai," Jackson broke in and cleared his throat. "I want to talk to you about the hedge maze."

"Oh, right," said Lorelai attentively, glad to have a new focus.

"I know you wanted to have it all in place before the Jane Austen people arrive on Friday."

"Right."

"And I think I could have done it, but..."

"But what?"

"I've run into a problem a the nursery," Jackson explained.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, the cost for the rosemary was mis-calculated by about fifty percent."

"Damn," said Lorelai. "I really wanted to do this, but there is no way if it's going to be that much more expensive."

"No, you don't understand," Jackson clarified. "I was overpriced. I can get twice as many bushes for the same price."

"So that means..." Lorelai calculated.

"That we can have the maze twice as large as we planned originally."

"Ooo! I love it. That is so cool!"

"But it still leaves a problem: The workers."

"Right," nodded Lorelai sad again.

"What do you mean 'the workers'?" asked Emily curiously.

"Well see, originally, Emily, Lorelai and Jackson were going to put the shrubs in themselves. But now with twice as many shrubs, and Lorelai home, and no extra money for garderners..." Sookie explained as she wiped at Davey's hands.

"Oh, I see," frowned Emily. "Well... What if I give you the money, Lorelai?"

"No mom, absolutley not," said Lorelai firmly.

"Why not?" demanded Emily.

"I don't want your money co-mingling with the Inn," insisted Lorelai stubbornly.

"I don't see why it shouldn't. It's just the same as any other money," sniffed Emily.

"No, Mom." said Lorelai feeling the uncomfortable eyes of her friends on her during this exchange.

"Well, it could be a loan, then," offered Emily. "I want to help."

"You do, Mom. You help by being here and making ice tea and getting me sheets, but no money for the Inn."

"Fine. If you're going to be that way."

"I am, "said Lorelai and sighed.

And they all sat in the thick quiet yet again.

"You know," said Lorelai tiredly. "I... I really think I need to lie down for awhile guys. Sorry."

They all looked at her in concern then and started moving to help her.

"No, no, I'm fine... I'm just going to go up for awhile," she said and walked herself to the door.

When she got there, she turned back to her mother, "Mom?"

Emily looked up in concern, "Yes, Lorelai?"

"Will you stay until I wake up?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, of course," softened Emily.

"Good," she smiled. "Okay guys, thanks for everything. I'll see you later," she said as she went in, deliberately avoiding Luke's eyes.