Disclaimer: Don't own them. You know who does.

A/N: Sorry its been so long for this chapter, computer issues. I am hoping to speed up the time line on this story in the next couple chapters.

When she got to the Inn Michel was waiting. 'Lorelai, we have problems.'

'No we do not, we took care of the problems yesterday and the day before and the day before that. We went over everything. We have no problems.' she said firmly.

'Fine. We have new problems then.'

'What's wrong?'

'There is an odor coming from the stable.'

'Gee Michel, could it be the horses?'

'No, because I know what horses smell like.'

'Well what is it?'

'I don't know what it is. That is why it is a problem.'

'Of course. What else?' Michel gave her a blank look. 'You said problems. Problems meaning plural, meaning more than one.'

'Ah yes, Sookie.'

'Sookie? Sookie is not a problem.'

'Not until you talk to her.'

Lorelai walked into the kitchen and said, 'Sookie, what is wrong?' Sookie turned around. 'Oh no, you look terrible.'

'I feel terrible, Davey is sick, Jackson is sick, we are all sick! What am I going to do?'

'We'll take care of it.'

'Who will, how?' Sookie cried.

'What still needs to be done? Write a list and then go home and rest, if you go now maybe you will feel better to come in tomorrow.'

'But...' Sookie protested.

'Sookie, we have your menus and recipes and you have a great staff of people to make everything. We can do it.'

'But we need to make a good impression on our first guests.' she sniffled.

Lorelai smiled at her and put an arm around her shoulder. 'I know but if we make everyone sick how will that be a good impression?'

'You are right, I'll start the list now. You dropped Rory off at your moms?'

'Yep. She should be boarding any minute, three weeks with my mother. God speed Rory.'

Lorelai tried to help in the kitchen as much as she could but it took her so much longer to do anything, she decided to take on a supervisory role after she cut her finger chopping parsley. It was a hectic day, which was good because it kept Lorelai's mind off the fact that Rory would be gone for three weeks. And that the official opening of the Inn was tomorrow. Finally at nine she sent them home and decided to clean up the kitchen herself. She had forgotten about the smell by the stables until everyone left. Lorelai walked out by the stables, all she could smell were the horses, then she turned a corner and the smell hit her, she thought it smelled like skunk but she was not sure.

'Lorelai?' said a voice behind her.

'Dean. What are you doing here?'

'I wanted to talk to you. Lorelai, I'm really sorry, about Rory, about everything.'

'Rory left with her grandmother for 3 weeks, did she tell you?'

'No, we haven't talked. We thought it would be good for us to stay clear of each other for a while.'

'That's smart.'

'I came to apologize to you, that's all.' He looked down at his feet. 'It's hard not to talk to her.'

A truck drove past, Luke. Lorelai waved.

'I'd better go, thanks Lorelai.'

Luke walked up to her. 'Was that Dean? What is that smell?'

'It was him. I don't know. I can't think about it right now.'

'Was he looking for Rory?'

'He said he wasn't. She is an ocean away now so he can't get to her if he wanted to.' She gave him a hug. 'Let's get back to the Inn. I'll have to make sure to keep the guests on the other side of the stables until I can figure out what the smell is.'

As they were walking back to the Inn Luke said, 'I think that smell are those bushes over there, there are some near the cabin I stay at when I go fishing, they bloom this time of year and smell for a couple weeks, I'll come back and look at them in the morning.'

'How was your day?' Lorelai asked.

'It was good, how is yours going?'

'OK, only one little disaster.'

'What was that?'

They walked into the messy kitchen. 'This.'

'Where is Sookie?'

'She went home sick, the flu we think. Jackson and Davey have it too.'

'Is everything ready for tomorrow?'

'Almost,' she said. 'I sent the kitchen staff home about an hour ago. I was no help at all. She held up a finger. 'I can't even chop parsley without hurting myself.'

'Let me look at that.' He took her hand.

'Ouch! OK doctor. We cleaned it up and put some stuff on it, which hurt worse then the actual cut. It will be fine.'

Luke and Lorelai started to clean up the kitchen. 'Thanks Luke, though I don't think you came over here to help me clean all of this.'

'I came here to spend time with you, it doesn't matter what we do.'

When the kitchen was in order they walked to the front of the Inn, Lorelai locked the door and sat next to Luke on the steps.

'Luke?'

'Hmm?'

'Will you come home with me?'

He turned to look at her. 'Are you sure, Lorelai?'

'Yes I am.'

They slowly got up and walked to their cars. 'I'll meet you there.'

==== Sorry it is so short, next couple chapters will be ready soon.