A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to get this out! I wrote it and sent it to my Beta but they didn't send it back... So I decided I needed to finish this before school started (on Thursday, yay! Surprised Im excited for school? So am I) and because Dork1147 hasn't emailed me back, its unbetad... But Ive been doing okay anyway right? Right. All is okay though! Im kinda freaking out cause once the new season starts no one will want to read this.... It makes me sad so Im going to finish it. Soon. I hope. Maybe... Anyway. I like this chapter a lot. It makes me laugh. And it also marks the end of the Dragonfly Test Run and I can finally start MY part of the story. Im so happy!!! Okay, I beg of you, review! Please! I might A/N at the end of the chapter but who knows? Read on!

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Chapter Five: The Number Seven

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The next morning Lorelai found Sookie in the kitchen frantically moving around the room and spitting out commands to her one kitchen staff member: Derek. They were both trying to make certain dishes (seeing how Taylor, Miss Patty, and Babette were already awake), but were barely succeeding in destroying the kitchen.

Lorelai was still annoyed with Sookie about the eavesdropping incident, but she decided to take pity on the red haired chef.

"Sookie?"

"Lorelai! Hi! Avocados in the pan! We have no one to help us! Not that pan, that pan!" Sookie didn't stop rushing around the room and her sentences to Lorelai were interrupted by her curt instructions to Derek. "I got up early to start getting things ready --- Not that pan! Not that pan! --- then I realized I didn't know what to get ready for! No!" she wailed at Derek. "I'll do it!" She shoved him out of the way and pointed to the stove. "Flip the eggs!"

"I'm sorry!" he yelped as he accidentally ran into her.

"S'okay Hun! Just get to the eggs! Taylor decided to order half the stuff on the menu --- we need bacon, Derek! --- just to see if I was good enough for the Inn! Ah! Steak!" She sprinted to the freezer to retrieve a steak.

"Sookie, honey?" Lorelai asked, extremely concerned that her friend was about to explode. "Do you need help?"

Sookie stopped in front of Lorelai.

"Lorelai, you know you can't cook," she said, then hurried to start grilling the meat in her hand. "In fact, I think it would be deadly to our guests. Wait a minute..." She stopped in her tracks again, her expression thoughtful. "Well, maybe I should let you cook for Taylor...No! Murder equals jail. Murder equals jail. Take the steak! We need more sausage!"

Lorelai watched as Sookie and Derek switched places then said, "No, Sookie. I meant that I could call four of your other workers and convince them to come back."

Sookie spun to look at her, eyes wide and questioning.

"But what about---"

"Michel? I'll tell them that we'll keep him as far away from the kitchen as possible."

Sookie, completely forgetting the sausage, ran up to Lorelai and clutched her friend's hands. She smiled widely, her dimples ever present.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Come on!" Lorelai pulled Sookie from the kitchen towards the front desk.

"Take a break, Derek!" Sookie said quickly as she exited.

Derek collapsed against the counter, letting out a large sigh.

The two women managed to recruit the four workers they needed, who all agreed to come to the Dragonfly as soon as possible.

Sookie went to the kitchen to inform Derek that help was on its way and to get started on finishing the meals, then led Lorelai out to the porch. They sat on the steps and silently watched the sun rise further into the sky.

"So, Sookie. Why did you bring me out here?" Lorelai asked, peeling her eyes away from the horizon.

"Lorelai, I have to ask you something."

"Sure. What's the matter?"

"Tell me everything?" Sookie asked excitedly, gripping Lorelai's arm.

Lorelai laughed, smiling happily at her best friend.

"Absolutely."

Sookie giggled. "Okay, start with your first kiss."

"Okay. Well, I had just gotten into this little fight with my parents and Jason, so I went off to take a breather. When I came back, I ran into Luke and he started talking about how Jason and I were still dating."

"But you're not..." Sookie said slowly.

"Oh, God, no! Anyway, we started fighting and he kept talking about books and flowers, and then he said there was a moment, which I agreed there was---"

"A moment? When?"

"After the wedding he walked me home. It was wonderful."

"Oh, okay."

"Then he moved towards me and I was like 'what are you doing?' and he was like 'would you just stand still?' Then..."

Lorelai paused for dramatic effect and Sookie poked her.

"Come on, Lorelai! You can't stop there!"

"He kissed me, Sookie. And, oh my God, was it a good kiss. It wasn't long, but it wasn't short. It was perfect. He knew just where to hold me, you know?"

"I totally know!"

"Then we broke apart, cause, ya know, it was exciting and overwhelming all at once. Then I moved towards him and he was like 'what are you doing?' and I was like 'will you just stand still?' and then I kissed him. I thought it wasn't possible for anything to be better than the first, but it was! And it was so much longer! God, I felt so dizzy! Just thinking about it makes me dizzy!" She giggled and grinned at Sookie.

"It was wonderful?"

'It was a million times more wonderful than wonderful!"

God, it felt good to act like a teenager again!

"You sound like you're in love..." Sookie said softly without thinking.

"What?" Lorelai asked, surprised.

"What?" Sookie replied quickly, realizing her mistake.

"You know what, Sookie. You said I was in love."

"I didn't say that," she defended quietly. "I said you sound like you're in love. There's a difference," she mumbled, feeling stupid.

Lorelai's anger bristled.

"I'm not in love, Sookie. And I don't sound like I'm in love. Got it?"

"Lorelai, don't be so defensive. It's okay if you're in---"

"I'm not!" Lorelai snapped, suddenly afraid that Sookie was right. She stood suddenly and turned to go inside. "I gotta go prepare my thank you speech or something."

"Lorelai, wait!"

The curly haired woman stopped but did not turn.

"Don't be afraid of being in love, Lorelai. Especially with Luke. Luke loves you, I know he does. And if you two stay together, you'll be the happiest woman on earth, in the universe. Luke will take excellent care of you. Don't keep thinking that maybe the next one is the right one. Keep thinking that you're looking for the one and maybe this is him."

"I gotta go."

Lorelai kept walking but stopped when she reached the front door.

"Thanks, Sookie," she said gently, and then went inside.

For the entire day, things seemed to go smoothly. Luke and Lorelai threw each other long glances while Miss Patty, Sookie, and Babette gossiped about the love birds.

Towards the end of lunch, Lorelai made her rounds to all of the tables finishing their meals. Her first stop was Luke's table. Today he was sitting with Jackson, who stood to use the restroom just as Lorelai approached. Lorelai chose to sit in his chair while he was gone.

Luke watched her silently as she propped up her chin in the palm of her hand, staring off into space.

"Do you think the number seven is lucky?" she asked after a moment.

Luke stared at her for a second, taken aback.

"I guess."

She rolled her eyes, and then met his gaze.

"It's a yes or no question. It shouldn't be that hard to answer." Her tone was playfully serious.

He gazed at her for a second, and then nodded slowly. "I guess seven is lucky in my opinion. I mean, luckier than the number three."

Lorelai giggled. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately...

"It's my lucky number too. But my favorite number is four."

"You have a favorite number?"

"Of course! You see, numbers one through three sound low, but five and above sound high. Four is not too high and not too low; it's perfect. Can't you see?" She smiled at him.

He smiled back, his eyes laughing. His look was one that said 'I know something you don't know'. She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously.

"What?" she asked.

"You."

"What about me? Perfect, beautiful, absolutely hilarious, and adorable me?"

"You're you. I'm glad you are."

He said it so calmly and confidently that it surprised Lorelai.

"Thanks..." she said, blushing.

They sat in silence for a few seconds, Lorelai looking off into space to avoid Luke's eyes and Luke watching the object of his affection intently. The blush on Lorelai's cheeks was deepening despite her desperate attempts to remain calm.

"Are we still on for tonight?" Luke asked, still grinning.

"Huh?" Lorelai finally met his eyes, and then smiled. "Oh. Yes, of course. I mean, why wouldn't we still be going?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't know. You seemed distressed after coming back here last night. I thought maybe something had come up and you might have to deal with it instead of going to a movie with me."

Lorelai shook her head, her smile still there only lighter. She had completely forgotten that she had to deal with Rory. But Rory would understand, wouldn't she?

"No. It was nothing that serious. I can still go out tonight." Okay, only part of that was a total and complete lie.

Luke noticed the pause in her answer before she replied, but he ignored it.

"Good. I'll pick you up at six. I gotta go back to the diner though. Caesar can't watch it forever." He stood and Lorelai finally realized that he was wearing his flannel again.

"Uh, okay. Six is good. I'll see you then." She rose with him and they stood in an awkward silence, not knowing how to say goodbye to each other. Lorelai was frozen in place until Luke moved towards her. She snapped into action, knowing that he was only going to kiss her cheek. She lifted her hands to his face and pulled him into a kiss on the lips, knowing that everyone in the room had turned to watch them. They broke apart, both blushing slightly. Luke said a goodbye under his breath and turned to retrieve his things. Lorelai smiled after him, and then turned and went to the other tables.

Everyone eventually left the staff to their Inn, saying their thank yous and goodbyes to Sookie and Lorelai, their voices full of emotion. The first weekend at the dragonfly with customers was over and it had gone well.

Well, sort of.

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A/N: Its over and I can start my own part! I have many ideas planned out it my head, including specific events, good and bad...Ha! You'll have to wait to see what they are! I don't know when I'll post again cause Im kinda busy writing my own book (one that will hopefully be published, yay!) and school's gonna start in four days. The good thing for you is that I write better during class while Im supposed to be doing my work. Bad thing for you, I've decided to try harder this year (Junior year is one of the most important) and that might include paying attention (::Gasps of horror sound around the room. People quietly ask 'does she have enough money for that? Hehe. Stupid joke. Ignore me::). So, review and maybe I'll spend a little time on my reviewers and readers.

PS: Luke is going to be very brave and forward in this fic. I like him that way. I love Luke...(::Eyes glaze over as she imagines doing an especially dirty something with said gorgeous man::) Hey! Don't think of me that way! Im only fifteen for God's sake! And since Luke is taken by Lorelai, I'll just take Max... (::Eyes glaze over ONCE AGAIN as she imagines doing that same especially dirty something with latest said man::) Hehe, REVIEW! Luv you guys!

A/N 2: Okay, my computer is seriously pissing me off. There used to be number symbols and now there aren't... I tried to put asterisks and it still didn't work. What is wrong??? And now my title is bolded... Its never bolded before... Im confused! Urgh, just ignore me and review!

A/N 3: I just had to upload my chapter seven times... Does anyone else get this annoyed with sometimes?