CHAPTER 3

"Luke, you coming down? Lane's by herself serving and everyone seemed to come in for breakfast," Caesar said over the phone.

It's about half past six and Luke cannot believe he slept through his alarm clock. His body clock usually gets him up by five, and yet, Lorelai made him so comfortable, he didn't want to get out of bed.

"I'll be there in a few, Caesar. Tell Lane to try and get everyone a table and give everyone free coffee if things get hairy," Luke instructed.

"Will do, boss," Caesar responded before hanging up.

Luke hung up. He took a deep breath before looking at Lorelai slumbering beside him. Her luxurious dark hair fanned the pillow she rested her head on. He can get used to this really quickly. Smiling, he got out of bed and headed for the shower.

Lorelai woke up to the sound of humming. She got up to a sitting position and tired to find her bearings. She looked around the sun-filled room and realized that she was in Luke's apartment. She ran her fingers through her hair; surprised at how well rested she was.

"Morning," Luke greeted her as her rubbed a towel through his damp hair.

"Hmm, you can say that again," Lorelai said as she flashed him a smile.

Luke's heart did a back flip as he stared at her doe shaped eyes. He can stare at them forever.

"So, what are your plans for the day?" he asked as he shrugged into his flannel uniform.

"The usual: table dancing at ten, maybe a drug deal before midnight. The usual stuff," she itemized.

"Cute," Luke said sarcastically. "You want to come down for breakfast?"

"Tempting, but no," she replied. "I'm not in the mood to be part of 'coffee talk'."

"You sure?" he teased.

"Yeah, too addicting even in the absence of saccharine," Lorelai said. "However, I will come back for my coffee after a fresh change of clothes."

Luke walked toward the bed and gave her a morning kiss. "I'll be waiting."

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Rory was sitting by the dining table when her mother walked in.

"What's up, cupcakes? Sleep well?" Lorelai asked was she laid a kiss on the crown of her daughter's head.

"Had better days," she said. "How's grandpa?"

"The doctor is going to decide today if dad is getting a stent in his heart. Mom's really stressed about it," Lorelai informed her daughter as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Is that good?" Rory asked.

"It's an invasive procedure but the doctors have a lot of experience doing it. I just hope that dad's okay with it," Lorelai said.

"I don't think they'll give him that option," Rory said.

"You just don't know how stubborn your grandfather can get," Lorelai said. "So, where's Tristin?" Lorelai asked as she peeked into Rory's room and the living room for a quick inspection.

"He went home early this morning," Rory responded without emotion.

Lorelai raised an eyebrow. "I sense there's something more to this."

Rory looked at her mother apathetically. "I-we..."

"I need more than vowels, Vanna," Lorelai said.

"We kissed," she confessed.

"That's good, right?" Lorelai asked.

"I called him 'Dean'."

"You did not!" Lorelai said, incensed.

Rory did not like the way her mother's tone sounded.

"How could you let that happen?" Lorelai asked.

"Well, we fell asleep.. And then he and I started making out... and I called him Dean," Rory explained poorly.

"What? Of all the dumbest... How could you let this go so far?" Lorelai grilled her daughter, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Rory, you have to let go."

"Let go of what, mom?" Rory asked, rinsing her empty cup under the tap. "This has been a real emotional rollercoaster for me too, you know."

"Rory, I know when I taught you about the birds and the bees, I definitely didn't include wasps," Lorelai said. "And I hate to point this out, but as a kid going into an Ivy League school, you sure aren't the brightest bunny in the forest."

Rory let out a sigh. "Mom, what happened between me and Dean stays between us."

"And Lindsey. Don't forget that she's Dean's other half," Lorelai pointed out.

Rory remained quiet.

"He may have said that he loves you but that point is moot," Lorelai drilled into her. "He made his decision to marry her."

"But they're not happy together," Rory whined.

"And it's not your job to decide that for them. And even if Dean says otherwise, he knows how to rectify the situation," Lorelai said.

Rory was not in the mood to hear her mother's sermon. She started walking out of the kitchen.

"I'm not done with you yet, young lady," Lorelai said sternly.

"Mom, don't you think I'm too old to be scolded?" Rory said childishly.

"Apparently not. You may be nineteen but you seemed to have reverted back to juvenile behavior," Lorelai said with anger in her eyes.

"Drop it, mom. I promise you that I won't do anything stupid," Rory said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, what are you going to do about Tristin?" she asked.

Rory looked at her mother. "I don't know."