A/N: Thanks so much to my betas, LegalBlonde and carrielynn!

Downstairs she found Luke serving coffee. "This looks oddly familiar," she pretended to ponder his helpfulness.

"Just helping Sookie out since her crew quit," he said when he found her staring.

"Thanks," she said, trying not to blush and turning quickly to make the rounds yet again. She had pulled up her hair and was wearing her more casual outfit—a khaki-colored skirt and a dark red shirt. Sookie tapped Lorelai on the shoulder after a minute and nodded towards the kitchen.

"Where did you disappear to last night?" She questioned as she hurriedly stirred the batter for the pancakes and watched an already full skillet on the stove.

It was an innocent question but Lorelai panicked and tried to keep her voice steady. "When?"

"Right after Kirk had his night terrors."

"Oh, I just ran home for a few things. Talked to Rory, I'll tell you about it later. I don't really want to get into it right now."

"Sweetie, what's wrong?" Sookie frowned, wiping her hands on a towel to give her friend a quick hug. "Is something going on between you and Luke? I heard you all talking in his room last night."

Damn it, Lorelai cursed herself. She'd forgotten Sookie and Jackson were right across the hall. "How—um, what did you hear?"

"Oh I wasn't paying a lot of attention, but I heard you knock on his door and ask to talk. I just wondered."

Lorelai sighed. She couldn't keep everything from her best friend, she had just been hoping it would come up during a time where they could sit down and talk about it.

"Well, I think Luke and I are dating."

Sookie almost dropped the skillet of done pancakes. "What? When?? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was going to! I was, Sook, don't give me that look. I just wanted to have time to talk to you about it!" Lorelai wrung her hands.

"Well, when?"

"Not really at a particular time. We went to his sister's wedding together, he asked me to a movie, he brought me flowers—ah, I guess it would be when he thought I was still dating Jason last night."

"What? You told him you weren't, right?"

"Of course!! And then, we, well, kind of kissed." Sookie poured a little too much batter onto the skillet.

"Lorelai!"

"I know, I know." She blushed.

"How was it? Good?" Sookie glanced up. "Ugh, not so good. Did he go for the tongue too soon?"

"Sookie!" Lorelai swatted at her friend. "No, it was, uh, nice." Just then, the door swung open and Luke walked in the kitchen. Sookie beamed and stared at Lorelai to gage her reaction.

"Do you have another pot? And do you have any flavored creamer? Taylor is complaining that he only likes flavored creamer in his coffee."

"Uh, no, we don't. Taylor will have to do without. Tell him we have milk, half and half, sugar, chocolate syrup." Sookie ran down the list of things as Luke grabbed a mug out of the dishwasher and poured a cup of coffee, handing it to Lorelai.

She beamed. "Thanks."

"No problem," he eyed her as he exited the kitchen with a new pot.

"Oooh," Sookie squealed as he left the kitchen. "You can totally tell. The way you two look at each other!"

"Do you think it's that obvious?" Lorelai worried.

"Uh-huh!" Sookie crooned.

Lorelai shook her head. How was she even going to make it through the day without everyone noticing?

Lorelai excused herself from Sookie's grasp, promising to catch her up later. When she returned to the dining room, Luke eyed her and asked if she was okay. She reassured him that she was but couldn't help but notice the look Babette exchanged with Patty. Suddenly feeling like goldfish in a bowl, Lorelai headed out to the porch.

"Lorelai," Luke sounded frustrated as he followed her outside. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm just worried about Rory." Lorelai clinched her teeth—that was only partially true.

"Oh. Alright, well, I'm glad you came out here. I wasn't sure how I was going to ask you what movie you want to see in front of everyone."

"Movie?" Lorelai frowned. "Oh, Luke, I'm so sorry!" She buried her head in her hands. "Tomorrow night, right?" Luke nodded.

"I could just come over and we could watch something if that's easier."

Lorelai sighed. "That would be great, except I don't know about Rory. Maybe we could go to Hartford and catch something?"

"Alright." Luke wondered why they had to go so far for a movie, but he wasn't going to pick a fight over it. "Well, I'll see you later, I guess." He backed off the porch, trying not to feel hurt that Lorelai barely looked at him. Maybe she was having second thoughts after last night? He hoped she was just worrying about Rory and the inn, because he knew the opening would be stressful for her. He wasn't going to bug her, she had enough on her mind.

Lorelai finally made it home, exhausted but pleased on Sunday afternoon, after the guests had raved about the inn and the test run was complete. Rory was curled up on the couch with a book as usual.

"So how are you doing? We can do some serious wallowing this week."

Rory smiled. "I've been doing some of my own. Why do you think I didn't show up at the inn all weekend? And hey, what were you saying the other night when you came in? Something about Luke and Kirk?"

"Oh!" Lorelai paused for a second, unsure about the timing but figured Rory could use a good story. "We kissed."

"Kirk kissed you?" Rory's face scrunched up.

"Ew! No," Lorelai grinned as Rory started yelling.

"OhmyGod, ohmyGod! You kissed Luke!" She shrieked as she tackle hugged her mother.

"Oof!" Lorelai laughed. "And yes, yes I did. Well he kissed me and then I kissed him but--"

"There was more than one?!" Rory squealed.

"Oh God," Lorelai covered her ears. "Please never make that sound again."

"Sorry, I just can't believe—and—wow, Mom!" Lorelai laughed at the pleased look on her daughter's face. Anything that made Rory smile was good.

"Take a breath, it'll be okay," she soothed.

"And look at you, you can't stop smiling." Lorelai hid her face in her hands but realized it was true, she couldn't.

"So you're still going to a movie with him tomorrow, right?"

"Well, I wasn't sure how you--"

"Oh, mom, don't be silly! I'll be fine. I like having some time alone—not that I didn't miss you, but I was fine this weekend. I got to sort out my thoughts and this is Luke, Mom, you can't stand him up!"

She hugged her daughter tightly. Thank God for you, she thought. "If you say so. Are you going to help me pick out what to wear?"

"Yes, but I'm sure he would love you in anything. Ooh, do you have any flannel?" She followed her mom up the stairs, giggling.