Previously...

"Well, Luke and I want to talk to you about something when you get here."

Rory was quiet for a second. "Are you engaged?"

"God no!" Lorelai glanced at Luke, who was right beside her on the couch, wondering how much he could hear. Luke bit his tongue to keep from laughing and Lorelai slapped him on the arm. "We have plenty of time for....all those things," she continued vaguely, throwing Luke a look.

Part 13

They stopped at an Italian place Rory had been to for dinner. While Rory was in the bathroom, Lorelai leaned over to Luke. "Let's tell her the plan."

"Hey, I just go along with the plan. You're the master of the plan." He tried to act serious but Lorelai could tell he was biting back a smile. She loved when he looked at her that way—like she was crazy and annoying but he loved her for it anyways.

"Mistress," Lorelai corrected.

"Yeah, yeah."

When Rory returned, they discussed Emily for awhile. "So she told you she was going home?"

"For now. I don't know what she meant by that, if she was going to talk to Grandpa. I didn't pry." Rory shrugged.

Lorelai nodded, biting her lip. "Okay."

"Hey hon? Remember I told you we had something to tell you when you got back?"

"Oh," Rory couldn't keep her eyes from traveling to her mom's hands. Luke couldn't help it, he choked on his drink and started laughing. Rory giggled.

"Oh not again! Stop it you two!" But Lorelai sat back and watched them for a second. This, she thought, is a family. It's perfect.

"Sorry, sorry." Luke coughed.

"Yeah, go on." Rory begged.

"We're going to tell the town. About us," Lorelai gestured. "Hang up big banners. Strike up the marching band."

"Can we have flyers? Balloons?" Rory chimed in.

"Sure, it'll be our own festival!"

"Oh God no," Luke moaned, head in his hands. "Can't we just run into Miss Patty or something?"

"How have you kept this a secret for almost three months?" Rory asked in amazement.

"I have no clue," Lorelai shook her head.

"Well, I agree with Luke. Running into someone sounds easiest."

Lorelai pouted. "You're no fun."

But to Lorelai's surprise, things were made even easier when they got home. Babette was outside when they pulled up in the Jeep.

"Rory, doll! You're back!"

"Hey Babette!" While Rory talked to Babette, Lorelai hung on Luke's arm.

"Oh my God!" Babette exclaimed a second later, breaking past Rory. "Are you two crazy kids finally together?"

"Yeah," Lorelai ducked her head. "We are."

"Wow, wait until Patty hears this! I kept seeing Luke over here but I thought he was just helping you out while Rory was gone. Oh, Morey will be so thrilled. We've had money riding on you kids a long time."

"Money?" Luke frowned.

"Yeah, the town has a pool to see how long it would take." Babetter said it was like the most normal thing in the world. It was Stars Hollow.

"To get together?" Lorelai's mouth fell open.

"Yeah!" Babette was already on her porch and barely inside before Rory started laughing.

"You knew about this?" Lorelai asked her, still standing there in disbelief.

Rory shook her head. "Too funny," she choked out.

"Oh my God!" Lorelai looked appalled. Luke smirked at her.

"How's your plan going there?" Luke chuckled.

"Ah, be quiet you," she stomped up the porch steps. "Come on Rory, inside!"

Rory smiled. "Alright, alright." Her mom unearthed pie from the refrigerator and they all watched a couple episodes of The Outer Limits before Rory stood and stretched. "I think I'm gonna unpack some stuff before bed."

"Ok, sweetie. You need any help?"

"No, you stay here." Rory added quickly, smiling as she saw how her mom was curled up next to Luke.

"Okay," Lorelai watched Rory disappear into her room and step back out to the hall a minute later.

"Surprise!" Lorelai called, Luke smiling behind her. Lorelai had figured that Rory wouldn't want to come back to the same room she had left, so without redecorating it, she and Luke had made some adjustments.

Rory smiled as she looked back at her room. A huge "Welcome Back, Rory" banner hung over her bed, which was now cattycorner. On the wall where her wardrobe had been, a new bookcase was in place. Rory's overstock of books was placed carefully on the shelves. And on her night stand, Rory found a new picture frame holding her favorite picture of her and her mom and a new picture she'd never seen, one of her mom and Luke, taken on the porch of the inn.

"Thanks mom." Rory walked back to the living room to give her mom a hug.

"Luke helped." Her mom pointed.

"Thanks," Rory smiled and Luke nodded.

"No big deal." He shrugged. She returned to her room, her eyes wet with tears and a minute later, Lorelai knocked and came in.

"You okay?" Rory had gotten quiet after the Babette incident. "It doesn't bother you that Luke's here, does it?"

"No," Rory smiled wistfully. "In fact, it makes me a little sad. Tonight it was like we were a family. I mean—you and I always--"

Lorelai squeezed Rory's hand. "I know. I felt it too."

Rory hugged her mom for a long time. "It's great to be home."

"It's great to have you back." Lorelai yawned, glancing at the clock. "It's late, kiddo. I better go get Luke," she nodded back out to the living room.

"Hey," She stopped at the doorway. "Don't send Luke home tonight. He can—let him sleep on the couch." Rory was sure he had slept elsewhere while she was gone but one thing at a time.

Lorelai felt her heart break as she looked back at her daughter's hopeful face. "Are you sure? This isn't too much too fast?"

Rory shook her head. "No, it's nice having him around." She hugged herself. "I feel safe." Even if she hadn't felt that way, the look on her mom's face would have made her give in.

Lorelai smiled. "Me too, sweetie. Just tell me if it gets too weird, okay?"

"Mom, I'm not 16," she started to object but caught the look on her mother's face. "Promise." She crossed her heart as she used to do when she was little.

"Thanks hon."

"Mom?" Rory stopped her again.

"Yeah?"

Rory searched her face for a minute. "You've changed. Tonight with Grandma and then Babette, you seemed so much...older." Rory practically whispered.

Lorelai scrunched up her nose at this. "Ugh, really?"

"Not in a bad way, just—you seemed really at peace. And there's something about you..." Rory trailed off, unsure.

"I glow?" She guessed.

"Yeah," Rory cocked her head. "How'd you know?"

"Sookie tells me that every time I see her." Lorelai shifted in the doorway, rubbing her arms slightly like she was cold. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." Rory stood up to give her mom a hug again. "Night mom. Tell Luke good night for me."

"Night, kid." Lorelai shut the door softly behind her.