Previously..."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.

Part 14

"You look happy." Luke commented as she sat back down. He brushed a hair out of her face.

Lorelai sighed and smiled back at him. "I have my daughter back. She looks and sounds so much better. The couple times she called, she just sounded so....sad." Luke pulled her towards him. She lay her head on his chest and let her eyes close.

"So no sleeping over tonight I guess?" Luke queried, his deep voice vibrated his chest and Lorelai snuggled closer.

"Not the kind you're thinking of." Lorelai giggled. "But she did say you could sleep on the couch." She looked up to see whether he would veto this idea.

"Really?" Luke's voice was raspy. He glanced toward Rory's room. "Wow."

"She's a big kid. And she knows I'm happy."

"So am I." Lorelai kissed him softly.

"There are more blankets in the hall closet if you need them."

"Okay. Well my bag's upstairs."

"Oh. Right."

Luke slipped into the bathroom upstairs and Lorelai brought down a better pillow. He appeared on the stairs in a gray shirt and navy blue sweatpants.

"No boxers?" Lorelai pouted.

Luke blushed at this. "I thought they were inappropriate, ya know, with Rory here."

"You're so modest," Lorelai laughed. As Luke got comfortable on the couch, Lorelai kissed him again. "Love you."

Luke still got a chill every time Lorelai said those words. "Love you too. Good night, crazy lady."

"Night, Burger Boy." She smiled and clicked off the lamp. Luke watched her silhouette move up the stairs and he sank back on his pillow, feeling the happiest he had in a long time.

Rory woke the next morning to sounds of Luke in the kitchen. Then to her surprise, she heard her mother's voice and her step on the stairs. "Luke?"

"Morning," he said and there was quiet for a minute.

"Was the couch okay?"

"Yeah," he replied, the sound of the coffeemaker gurgling.

"But not as good as my bed?" Lorelai teased.

"Hey!" Rory opened the door and her mom and Luke jumped apart. "Keep your voices down." Lorelai laughed as Luke looked horrified.

"I'll get out of your way." He smiled at her and Lorelai followed him to the door.

"I didn't mean to embarrass Luke." Rory apologized.

Lorelai giggled again. "He's used to it, I'm sure." She yawned. "I'm going to shower and then we'll head to the diner in a little while."

Rory nodded. "I can't wait to see Lane."

Lorelai smiled before she headed upstairs.

An hour later, Lorelai still wasn't ready. Rory sat impatiently on the couch. "Mom! I'm starving! Just put something on, you look gorgeous." She stomped up the stairs where her mother was staring at her closet, already in a blue sundress. "What's wrong with that?" Rory objected.

"Too fancy." She made a face.

"No one will notice. Put on your sandals and let's go!"

"Okay, okay. Someone's grumpy this morning."

"And someone's paranoid," Rory shot back.

"About what?"

"Mom, you've changed like twenty times. I know going to the diner today will be quite the show, but you're the prettiest girl in town. You have nothing to worry about."

"Aww, thanks. But second prettiest." She winked at her daughter. Rory blushed and followed her mom downstairs.

Lane came running across the town square as they were heading to Luke's.

"You're back!" Lane cried, hugging Rory close.

"I'll leave you two out here to catch up," Lorelai turned but Rory caught her sleeve.

"Oh no, no, no. I want to see this."

"See what?" Lane asked, confused.

"Everyone finding out about my mom and Luke." Lane looked incredulously from Lorelai to Rory.

"You and...oh my God!" Lane jumped in the air and gave Lorelai a hug. "But why am I the last to know everything? I mean I work there and I didn't know."

Rory shrugged as they walked the short distance to the diner. As soon as they walked in, the room fell quiet.

"Wow," Lane was in awe. They sat down and everyone pretended to go back to their food and conversation.

Luke came over a minute later. "Hey," he greeted. He leaned down a little. "Can you believe this? I should kick them all out for sticking their noses in other people's business!"

"There's the Luke I know!" Lorelai smiled up at him and Rory and Lane nodded in agreement.

The three of them ordered Luke's special chocolate chip pancakes. When Luke departed, Lane leaned towards Lorelai. "This is so exciting! I've been saying for years you two should get together."

"You have? To who?" Lorelai frowned and glanced at Rory, who was pretending to look innocent.

But she just laughed and swilled more coffee hoping the familiar feeling of trepidation rising in her throat would be tamed by Luke's special brew.

Lane went to discuss a shift change with Luke so Rory leaned over. "Are you doing okay? You look a little pale."

"No, no, I'm fine. Just what am I supposed to do?" She gestured towards the almost full diner of people sneaking glances at their table. "This is worse than Ben and J.Lo's paparazzi!"

"I've got an idea." Rory said devilishly.

"Ooh, I like that look. You got it from me." Lorelai leaned in to listen to her daughter's plan. "Brilliant! Now if only Luke will follow along. He's going to be stuck here all day with these people."

"And unless you move, you're stuck with them for the rest of your life."

Lorelai held up her hands. "Alright, alright." Just then Lane and Luke returned to the table, carrying three plates piled with pancakes. Lorelai clamped onto Luke's wrist. "I have an idea how both of us can make it out of here without getting rotten tomatoes thrown at us."

Luke chuckled and heads turned. He scowled and turned back to Lorelai. "Well I'm here all day, so what's this grand plan of yours?"

Luke rolled his eyes as Lorelai explained but he nodded reluctantly and returned to his place behind the counter. He watched as Lane, Rory and Lorelai devoured their pancakes and walked by several times to refill their cups. Mostly, he was trying to figure out how long he could hold off on the "plan." Maybe some of these people would clear out by then. There was Miss Patty and Babette by the window, Lulu and Kirk in the corner, Taylor and Andrew at the counter discussing something, and Luke swore he saw his seventh grade teacher come in the door. Ah geez. He noticed Rory and Lane getting up from the table and he walked down to meet Lorelai at the register.

"Coffee to go?"

"No, but I might need something else."

"Donut?"

"Uh-uh," Lorelai shook her head, tossed her hair and made her way around the counter. Luke's hands were shaking as he moved to hug her but they steadied as he pulled her to him and his lips met hers. When they broke apart, there was complete silence in the diner, and Luke rolled his eyes but smiled at Lorelai.

"See you later, crazy lady," he whispered.

"Good luck. Call me if you need to yell at someone."

Luke smirked at her. "Alright, it's a deal. Bye."

Lorelai squeezed his hand before she headed out the door. On her way out, she could hear the sudden uproar and Luke yelling above the din, "Alright, enough. Shut up or I'll kick all of you out!" Taylor started to object but Luke just growled at him.

Rory and Lane were standing just outside and they laughed when they heard Luke.

"You! Just wait, both of you." Lorelai pouted.

"Until what? We're having secret liaisons with our local diner guys? That's okay, I'll wait for Dave."

"I may have a diner guy in my future, you never know," Rory said, still giggling.

"I thought we did well," Lorelai said, strolling off.

"Oh, you did!" Both Lane and Rory consoled Lorelai as they walked through the square. Rory and Lane were heading to her apartment, but they had plans to meet up for dinner.

"Al's!" Lorelai called as she waved goodbye.