Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. Please read and review this one as well! I don't own Gilmore Girls.

Time flew by and before Lorelai knew it Rory was getting on a plane to go to Europe with her mother. They had spent the day packing and Lorelai had to admit she was jealous that Rory was able to take five pairs of shoes with her overseas. Their previous trip to Europe revolved around backpacking and there was simply no room for extra shoes and Lorelai had to make due with sneakers and flip-flops.

"So, are you sure you're ready for this?" Lorelai asked as she folded a T-shirt and placed it in the suitcase.

"Yeah, I am," Rory affirmed.

"You're sure? Two weeks alone with my mother is a long time," Lorelai said. "A long time. I might have to start calculating your actual age in dog years after this trip."

"Mom," Rory scolded her mother. "I'll be fine. Grandma needs to get away and I want to get away. It's the best thing for everybody."

"I know," Lorelai replied grudgingly. "I'm gonna miss you though. I thought we were gonna have the summer together and by the time you get back we'll only have a few weeks."

"I'm sorry," Rory said genuinely. "But you have Luke, he'll keep you occupied."

"Yes, he just might," Lorelai replied with a sly grin and a raised eyebrow.

"Ew, gross," Rory said throwing a pair of shorts at Lorelai. "Look, I'm okay with the idea of you and Luke dating, but please don't talk about dirty things with Luke. I'm begging you."

Lorelai laughed at her daughter's obvious disgust over the thought of her and Luke doing "dirty" things made her laugh.

"Well Luke and I aren't doing dirty things," Lorelai informed her. "We're taking things slow."

"Right," Rory replied in disbelief.

"What do you mean? We're not rushing into anything," Lorelai defended them.

"Mom, you and Luke have been dancing around this non-relationship for years. Not to mention that seeing him every night for the past two weeks doesn't seem slow to me," Rory said.

"Uh I haven't seen him everyday," Lorelai replied. "I had to work Thursday night," she reminded her daughter.

"But you met him for lunch," Rory reasoned.

"So?" Lorelai asked dumbly. Rory responded with a pointed look and Lorelai sighed.

"So maybe we've been spending more time together. But it's not like we didn't see each other practically every day before," she explained.

"Hey, I haven't been neglecting you have I?" Lorelai suddenly asked.

"No, why?" Rory replied.

"Well I know I've been busy with Luke, but I feel like we've worked out everything with Dean and the little fight we had. We did right? We're okay?"

"Yeah, we're great," Rory sincerely responded. "I've gotten to spend a lot of time with Dad too and that was good. He's really changed."

"Yeah he has," Lorelai agreed.

"He seems more grown up. Like he's my friend, but he's got this official Dad vibe now," Rory continued.

"Yeah, he does, doesn't he?" Lorelai replied. She thought about how Christopher had really come through for them this time. He'd been so attentive and understanding with Rory and he'd helped Lorelai deal with the feelings that she had failed as a parent.

"Yeah," Rory said sitting next to Lorelai on her bed. "So he probably won't be here when I get back then," Rory said.

"Well I wouldn't think so hun," Lorelai replied. "He really has no reason to be here if you're not around."

"I know," Rory agreed hesitantly.

"What's that about?" Lorelai asked.

"Huh?" Rory replied.

"You seemed like you thought there was a chance he'd be here when you got back," Lorelai told her.

"I don't know," Rory replied sheepishly. "I kind of thought that maybe he might be."

"Rory, why would he be here when you got back?" Lorelai asked. She stood up and zipped her daughter's suitcase.

"Nothing," she replied. "He wouldn't be, it was stupid," Rory evaded.

Suddenly Lorelai started to put the pieces together. More than anything in the world Rory had always wanted her parents together. Ever since Lorelai could remember Rory had wanted them to be a family. Did Rory actually think it might happen now?

"Sweetie," Lorelai said walking over to her daughter and brushing her hair behind her ears. "I'm with Luke now. You know that right?"

"Yeah," Rory said averting her eyes from her mother's gaze.

"And I thought you were okay with that," Lorelai continued.

"I am," Rory protested a little too forcefully.

"So then why would Dad still be here when you get back?" Lorelai asked again.

"I don't know," Rory let out. "He just seems like he's really changed and now there's no Sherry and he loves you Mom. I know he does," Rory informed her mother. "Seeing you with Luke has killed him."

Lorelai was taken aback by Rory's full-blown honesty. "Rory," Lorelai sighed. "Your Dad and I are over. It doesn't matter if there's no Sherry because he had a choice to make and he chose her okay? He chose her over us."

"Did you really want him to choose us over Sherry? Because if he chose us then you would have said he wasn't being responsible. So he chose Sherry and then you said he broke your heart," Rory was getting agitated.

"Whoa, slow down," Lorelai said backing away from Rory. "Christopher had to go back to Sherry because I would never want her to feel like I felt when I had you. I was alone and scared and I had no one," Lorelai defended herself. "I wouldn't wish that on another woman."

"But Dad wanted to marry you. He asked you and you said no. Twice," Rory added.

"I know Rory," Lorelai sighed. "Jeez what do you want from me? I couldn't marry Christopher. He said he was ready, but he wasn't. I wasn't ready either. So would you be happy if we were divorced? Is that what you want? Divorced parents who hate each other? I loved him too much to screw it up like that," Lorelai admitted.

Rory seemed to calm down. She stared at the floor for a moment before she sat on the bed again. Lorelai seemed to calm down and she walked over and sat next to her daughter.

"I know you always wanted us to be a family," Lorelai finally spoke. "But we're already a family. We're just not a conventional one. I do love your Dad, but I think that ship has sailed. Have I really screwed you up?" Lorelai said.

"What? No," Rory said suddenly. "I'm sorry. I just see how much he loves you and I know that deep down inside you love him too."

"I do," Lorelai admitted. "But Rory, so much has happened. Things that can't be taken back."

"You love Luke," Rory replied quietly.

"I, uh, I don't know if I love Luke," Lorelai said. "I definitely have very strong feelings for Luke, but I'm just starting to realize what they are."

"I'm sorry I upset you," Rory said. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"Hey," Lorelai placed a firm hand on Rory's arm. "You should always say what you're thinking okay? Remember how we agreed to share our thoughts and feelings? We have to stick to that," Lorelai said recalling a chat they had after Rory slept with Dean.

"I know," Rory replied. "I just don't want you to think that I don't like Luke or that I'm not happy for you. I want you to be happy."

"Yeah and you want to be happy too," Lorelai said. "And deep down inside you've always wanted me and your Dad to be together."

"I guess," Rory replied slightly embarrassed.

"Rory, it's okay." Lorelai said. "I hate that I have to be one to tell you that it's not gonna happen, but I think we need to be honest."

"I know," Rory said. "I'm gonna miss you Mom."

"You bet you are," Lorelai agreed. "Especially after my mother drags you to every fashion show in Paris."

Rory nodded her head in agreement and gave Lorelai a hug. They finished packing and when Christopher got home from work they all set off to the airport to meet Emily.

"So, Rory is gone for two weeks," Christopher said as they were driving back to Stars Hollow.

"Yep," Lorelai agreed. "Two weeks with my mother. It sounds more like Nazi boot camp to me, but for some odd reason it seems to be the best thing for Rory."

"She'll be fine," Christopher said driving.

"Yeah she will," Lorelai agreed.

They drove down the highway in silence. Christopher wanted to approach the subject of seeing Rory on a more regular basis. Lorelai wanted to question Christopher about what he had said to Rory to make her believe parents might have a chance of reconciliation. Neither was brave enough to speak and so they drove in silence, the sound of the wind whizzing through the windows. They never could agree on a radio station.

Finally Lorelai decided she needed to talk things over with Christopher. "Hey," she said. "What have you said to Rory?"

"About what?" Christopher asked.

"About us," Lorelai replied.

"There's an us?" Christopher replied with a smile.

"Now is not the time for that smile," Lorelai stated. "What have you said?"

"Lore, I wish I could help you but I don't know what you're talking about," he evaded.

Lorelai shifted in her seat so that her torso was facing Christopher as he drove. "I'm talking about why Rory thinks you would be staying with me while she was gone. I'm talking about why she thought you might still be around when she got back. I'm talking about why she thought we might be together after her little European adventure," Lorelai told him.

Christopher looked surprised. "I, I don't know," he stammered.

"Chris," Lorelai said his name in a tone that he knew signified trouble. Big trouble.

"I might have asked her some questions about you and Luke," Christopher said.

"Some questions?" Lorelai urged him to continue.

"I may have asked how long you two were together. I might have also said something about missing you," Christopher said. His cheeks turned a light shade of pink.

"Chris, how could you do that?" Lorelai asked upset. "You know Rory has always had this idea of us being a family."

"Well I can't say I blame her," Christopher replied with renewed confidence. "I've always liked that idea myself."

Lorelai just stared at Christopher horrified. She didn't know what to say. It was one thing for Christopher to wish they could be a family, but it was quite another to push this idea on Rory.

"I can't believe this," Lorelai muttered as she shifted back in her seat to face forward.

"Why? Why can't you believe it?" It was Christopher's turn to get irritated. "We were finally gonna put everything to together Lore. We were finally gonna try the family thing. And then Sherry got pregnant and I had to go back to her, you know that," he said. "But it's over with Sherry now and I'm here and you're here and I want to know why we can't try this."

"How about because I'm with Luke?" Lorelai shot back. "How about because when I found out Sherry was pregnant it broke my heart. How about because I had to stay at the hospital and watch her give birth to your daughter and you were happy?"

"Well things change Lore. You know that better than anyone," Christopher replied. "Don't you ever wonder what it would be like? How great it could be with us and Rory together?" he asked in a hushed tone.

"Sometimes," Lorelai admitted. "But that's over now. I don't think about it. And even if I did, I'm with Luke. I have feelings for Luke."

"That's obvious," Christopher agreed. "But tell me this one thing. Why don't you think about us? Because it's out of the realm of possibility?"

"No because it hurts too much to think about," Lorelai replied quickly without thinking. Once she realized what she said she tried to take it back, but Christopher wouldn't hear it.

"Christopher, I'm with Luke now. It's that simple," she tried to tell him.

"Fine. Tell me one more thing," he said. "Tell me that you love him and I'll drop you off and I'll leave you alone."

Lorelai just shot him a look. "You know I can't do that," Lorelai said quietly. "Luke and I just started dating, I don't know what I feel for him yet."

"You've known him for years," Christopher reasoned. "You don't already love him?"

"Yes I love him," Lorelai replied. "Am I in love with him? I don't know, but I want to find out. I'm not gonna play games with him."

At that moment Christopher pulled into Lorelai's driveway. They just sat in the car for a moment contemplating their discussion.

"Look, I never told you what I wanted," Christopher said.

"What?" Lorelai replied irritated.

"You bet me that I couldn't carry you all the way home and I did," Christopher explained.

"Your point being?" she asked.

"My point being, I want to stay here for one more night. I want to stay and talk this out with you tonight. Make me understand why this can't work and I'll go. Just give me one night alone with you so we can talk this out."

"There's nothing to talk out," she replied, knowing that she wasn't speaking the truth.

"Lore," he said and gave her a look. It was his patented puppy dog look that said, 'Take pity on me. Look at how cute and innocent I am.'

"Fine," she said. "Just tonight. We'll talk this out, but tomorrow you're on your way back to Boston."

"Thanks," he said with a smile.

"Yeah," Lorelai replied knowing that this decision might just be the worst one she'd ever made.

In order to live up to her bargain with Christopher Lorelai had to cancel plans with Luke for the evening. She thought it would be best if she told him she couldn't go out with him face to face. She opened the door to the diner and the few scant customers didn't seem to notice her presence, but Luke did. He looked up from the counter and grinned when he saw he walk in.

"Hey," he smiled as she approached. "You're early."

"Yeah," she replied.

"So Rory and your Mom are on their way to Europe?" he asked.

"Yep, two wild and crazy girls living it up overseas," she tried to smile. She didn't want to break their date.

She most especially didn't want to explain why she had to break their date and yet, here she was, proceeding anyway.

"Hey, can I talk to you alone for minute?" she asked seriously.

Luke's pleasant demeanor vanished when he realized that something seemed wrong. "Sure," he said putting down the coffeepot he had in his hand. "Come on," he said taking her upstairs to his apartment.

"What's wrong?" he asked concerned after he closed the door to his apartment.

"I have to cancel our plans for tonight," she said.

"Oh, okay," Luke replied sounding disappointed. He felt slightly let down, but they had seen each other everyday for the last two weeks and so he didn't want to seem to put out. "Do you have to work?"

"No," Lorelai replied. She still wasn't sure how she was going to tell him that she was spending the evening with Christopher. Part of her didn't want to tell him. Part of her screamed to lie and tell him that she did have to work. But the other part couldn't lie. Not to Luke.

"Oh. Alright," Luke replied dejected. She didn't have to work she just didn't want to be with him. It made sense. It was only his nightmare from hell come true.

"No," she said sensing his disappointment. "It's not that I don't want to go out with you tonight. I just can't."

"Something came up?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied.

"An emergency?" he asked and suddenly the strangest sense of déjà vu overcame him.

"No, no emergency," Lorelai said. "I have to talk to Christopher tonight. We're having some issues with Rory and we need to talk them out before he leaves."

Luke just nodded his head quickly. It wasn't a good sign. "So Christopher is sticking around," Luke surmised.

"Just for tonight," Lorelai said. "He leaves tomorrow morning, bright and early."

"Hmm," was all Luke said.

Lorelai could tell Luke wasn't at all pleased with this turn of events. She didn't know what to do or say to make him understand. She wasn't even sure she understood her unreasonable pull to Christopher.

"So Rory is gone," Luke finally spoke. "And Christopher is staying."

"Right, but just for the night," Lorelai reminded him.

"I thought he was here for Rory," Luke asked.

"He is—was," she replied. "We just have some issues to discuss. That's all I promise," she reiterated.

"The issues you have to discuss, they have anything to do with the thing that happened that you won't tell me about?" he asked.

"Sort of," Lorelai lied.

"So he's staying for the night and Rory is gone?" he asked a third time just to be sure.

"Yes, but it's innocent. We just have some things to discuss and then he'll be gone," Lorelai willed him to understand.

"Please nothing is innocent when it comes to Christopher," Luke spat.

"Excuse me?" Lorelai mood shifted as quickly as Luke's had.

"He still loves you," Luke told her. His words stung. It wasn't that she didn't already suspect it, but the fact that Luke also picked up on it made her feel guilty.

"He has some unresolved feelings, maybe, but he doesn't love me," Lorelai replied.

"Lorelai I'm not a stupid man. I've seen him look at you. He looks at you like I've looked at you for the last four years!"

Lorelai was astonished by Luke's reply. Luke had always been observant, but how was it that everyone seemed to know how Christopher felt for the last two weeks and she was clueless?

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"It means he loves you and he wants you back," Luke said. "You said he was here for Rory, but is that true? Is he really here for Rory or is he here for you?" Luke bellowed.

"He's here for Rory," Lorelai shouted back.

"Then why is he staying at your house tonight?" Luke asked exasperated.

"He wants to talk," Lorelai said.

"He wants to talk about getting back together with you," Luke mumbled unaware that he had completely hit on the precise reason for Christopher's stay.

"Look I don't have to explain myself to you," Lorelai said. "I'm a big girl and I can make my own decisions. We're not even--I don't even know what this is between us. We're supposed to be taking this slow and you're acting all domineering, king of the jungle on me," Lorelai replied.

"I didn't ask you to explain yourself," Luke said. "I'm sorry if I'm not taking this as well as you'd hoped. I just find it odd that you had a fight with Rory and you called him. You called the same guy that let you down over and over again," Luke said.

Lorelai flinched. Luke was getting too personal for her liking now. So what if she called Christopher? He's Rory's father and she needed help.

"That isn't any of your business," Lorelai shot at him. "We needed Christopher around and I can't explain why, but we did. You're just upset because I can't tell you why we need him around."

"No, that's not why I'm upset," Luke replied eerily calm. "I'm upset because I thought we were on the right track. I ignored his looks and I let it go when he'd wait for me to leave before he'd throw his arm around you or carry you home, but I can't pretend that I understand what the hell you're thinking. Everyone in this town has been giving me the 'Poor Luke' look for weeks and I tried to ignore it, but I can't do it anymore," he ranted.

"So what does that mean?" Lorelai asked.

"It means I can't do it," Luke said forcefully. "I waited. Four years I bided my time waiting for the moment when you'd get it and I thought you finally understood how I felt about you. And maybe you do, but you don't feel the same way about me," he told her. "If you felt for me what I feel for you, you'd never ask me to sit by and watch this happen."

"Watch what happen?" Lorelai asked her voice full of attitude.

"Watch him take you away from me," Luke said simply.

"That's not what's happening," Lorelai said bitterly.

"We'll see," Luke said. With that he maneuvered around her and reached for the door to go downstairs.

"So that's it?" Lorelai stopped him. "If he stays you're done with us?"

"I guess so," Luke hoarsely choked the words out.

Lorelai bit her bottom lip to keep the tears she felt welling at bay. "That's great," she said. "Just great," she whispered as she reached passed him and opened the door.

Luke just stood in his apartment and watched Lorelai's back as she descended the stairs.

TBC

A/N: JavaJunkies please don't hate me. I always have a plan. I'm not quite sure what my plan is yet, but trust me there will be one! :)