DISCLAIMER: I own neither the show nor the characters of the Gilmore Girls. Just the messed up way in which I am portraying them.

AN: First of all, I started this chapter a long time ago, and then got stuck. Total writers block. I started a Trory to clear my head, and those ideas were filling my head for a while. Also, I wasn't getting much response to this fic, so I figured no one would mind if I took a little time off. So, sorry for the delay. I would like to say one quick thing, however. I love and appreciate all the reviews, whether positive or negative as long as they are constructive and pertaining to the story I am writing. I would appreciate random comments not pertaining to the story to be suppressed. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

"This isn't going to work," Luke pointed out, shaking his head at Lorelai.

"It has to work," she ignored his doubt.

"He's not going to fall for this," Luke tried again.

"Hey, you have the easy part, it's my part that's hard."

"Whatever. What time again?"

"Let's see. It's four now, how about seven? Make sure he doesn't eat a lot of dinner, either."

Luke rolled his eyes, but nodded at her. Her clothes now dry, she'd changed out of his clothes and was ready to go home and put her part of their plan in action. He was sorry to see her change; he had to admit he liked how she looked in his clothes. She almost swam in them; they were at least two sizes too big. But she still looked sexy in them.

She smiled at him, gave a little wave and was gone from the apartment. She had to get her mother up and out of bed. That was job one. The rest she'd have to make up by the seat of her pants. All she had to do was to get her mother to the bookstore. Well, to the bookstore and into storeroom. She scratched her temple, hoping something would come to her.

She found her mother in the living room, still in her pajamas, staring mindlessly at the television screen. She was rushing indiscriminately through the channels, barely turning before it changed yet again.

"What'cha watching?" she asked hesitantly as she slid down onto the arm of the couch by her mother's feet.

"Huh? Oh, I forgot what channel I was on, and now I can't find the program again," Rory said disinterestedly.

"Right. So, are you getting dressed today?"

Rory looked up at Lorelai and sighed. "I wasn't planning on it, no."

"Mom, why don't you just talk to him?"

"No, I've said quite enough."

"He'll get over this—you'll work through it. But not if you don't go over there."

She shook her head. Lorelai thought she'd at least try the easy route, but obviously it was going to be trickier.

"Well, I need to go get some more school supplies. Why don't you come with me, and I'll stop by and get us both coffee as a treat," she tried.

"You can go by yourself," Rory turned back towards the television.

"Mom—school supplies. You love school supplies. Rulers, legal pads, erasers. . ."

Rory looked back at Lorelai and gave a defiant face. She wasn't going outside. There was too big a chance of running into him out there. Then she'd have to see the hurt look on his face. She'd have to relive it even more than she was sitting on the couch, but all the more. . . vivid, seeing it reflected back through his eyes.

"Come on—I'll let you pick out my paper clips," she baited her mother.

"Fine. I'll go to the stationary store with you. But I'm not going in the bookstore," she reminded her daughter, as if she might forget.

"Fine. Go, get ready. You look like crap, by the way."

Rory glared at her daughter. "Thanks, for that. I'll be in the shower, then."

She threw the blanket off of her legs and moved her rubber ducky flannel pant covered legs over the side of the couch and made her way up the stairs. Phase One was complete; she had agreed to get out of the house. She made her way into the kitchen to get a snack, and wait on her mother.

Jess came back upstairs to see Luke watching television. He gave a look around and shook his head as he moved to one of the bookcases, in search of something.

"She's gone," Luke announced, without turning to look at his uncle.

"Huh," Jess muttered, still searching.

"We were just talking," he tried again.

"You don't say," Jess retorted, still uninterested.

"She was freaked out about the you and her mom thing," Luke rolled his eyes, not believing they were having this conversation. Well, that he'd been talked into trying to have this conversation.

"Look, Luke, just stop."

"Jess, come on. You like her, right? I mean, from what Lorelai said--," Luke sighed.

"No, we're not talking about this. It has no pertinence to my guardianship of you, and the matter is now closed. Are we clear?" He'd turned to face Luke, stopping his search momentarily.

"Fine, whatever you say," Luke said, turning back to the screen.

"Have you seen a copy of Brave New World?"

"What?" Luke furrowed his brow and looked up from the television again.

"Jeez, read a book sometime," he shook his head, moving over to another bookcase.

"I don't see where my reading habits are of any pertinence to my being your ward," Luke mocked.

"I disagree," Jess said, having found the book and throwing a copy of The Catcher in the Rye at Luke before disappearing out the door again.

Lorelai and Rory strolled through town, heading in the direction of the stationary store. Rory glanced at the bookstore, though she couldn't really see what was going on from this distance and Lorelai continued to check her watch.

"Are you late for something?" Rory asked, turning her attention to her daughter.

"What?"

"You keep checking your watch."

"I do not."

"Hey, you don't have a watch. That's my watch!"

"It is not!"

"It is! Why did you take my watch?"

"I didn't take your watch," Lorelai rolled her eyes, pulling her arm out of her mother's grasp.

"What are you doing wearing a watch? You hate watches."

"I don't hate watches. I just like to know the time."

"You're crazy," Rory said, opening the door to the store. She ushered Lorelai in, dropping the watch questioning for the time being. They argued about which highlighters Lorelai needed, and how many. Rory caved on the purple notepad issue, but insisted that she get the butterfly paperclips. Once they had bought about five times the amount of supplies that she had originally needed, and they headed slowly in the direction of the bookstore. Lorelai checked her watch carefully, seeing that it was now almost seven o'clock, and edged her mother as close to the store as she could.

Rory stopped in front of the adjoining store, and Lorelai turned to look at her.

"You're going to wait here?"

Rory nodded.

"You just want a regular coffee?"

Rory nodded again and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Fine. Wait here," Lorelai instructed, turning towards the entrance.

"WAIT!" Rory called, but didn't move.

"You want to come in?" Lorelai smiled, turning back to her mother, leaning towards her a little bit.

"No, I just wondered if you'd look to see if he got in a copy of--," she started.

"No, no way. You get coffee, but no books. Not unless you go in yourself."

"Fine, then just coffee," Rory pouted, leaning against the building.

"Fine," Lorelai retorted in just as pouty a voice and moved to the entrance before her mother could say another word. She walked into the store, not seeing anyone for a moment. She needed to kill some time, and more importantly, she needed to find Luke. Ducking her head down some of the stacks while lugging her purchases around, she hoped he was down here. After all, he needed to get Jess in the back for her. She just hoped he had access to the keys for the storeroom.

"Hey."

She jumped and turned to see Luke standing directly in front of her. She swung her heavy bag around to hit him in the hip and he glared at her.

"What the hell was that for?"

"You scared me!"

"Geez, sorry. Where's your mom?"

"Outside. Where's Jess?"

"Storeroom."

"Perfect. Does he have keys?"

"Doesn't matter. It only locks from the outside. But I did snag a copy," he said, smiling as he held them up for her to see.

"Perfect. So, now we just have to get Mom in here."

"How do we do that?"

"Well, I figure, I go upstairs, and you run out, telling Mom to come quick, I fainted or something, and push her into the storeroom, saying that's where I am," Lorelai explained, beaming from pride as she explained her master plan.

"Why are you in the storeroom?" he furrowed his brow, looking down at her.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Okay, first, if you say I fainted, she's not going to get picky about details. Second, just say I was bugging you to get coffee for me."

"Fine. Go upstairs," he pointed as he commanded her.

"Bossy," she complained, putting her hand on her hip.

"Just go, I can't keep him in there all day," he instructed.

"Fine. Just remember, I fainted and get her in the storeroom. Don't go in first, or one might slip past you. Shove and lock, shove and lock," she said, gesturing as she moved towards the stairs.

"Now!" he waved her on, glancing into the storeroom before slipping out the door quickly. He looked around, to see Rory leaning against the storefront of the next business. Why this town needs a commemorative plate store was beyond him. He'd never heard of such a monstrosity. He felt a little bad for scaring her like this, but it was Lorelai's idea after all, and seemingly for her own good. He moved quickly to her and grabbed her by the arm.

"Rory, thank God, come quick!" he said excitedly, trying to fake panic, pulling her to the door.

"Luke, slow down, what's wrong?" she asked, pulling back from the door.

"It's Lorelai, she's fainted!"

"Oh my God! Where? Is she okay?"

"She was in the storeroom with me, and she just, passed out."

Lorelai passing out. 'She could be anemic, have the flu, be pregnant. . . No, that's not possible,' she thought to herself, moving with Luke's proddings now. She didn't care that Jess might be in the store; she just wanted to get to her daughter. She raced ahead of Luke into the storeroom and swiftly heard the door shut and lock behind her.