Aww, thank you for your sweet replies. Okay, here's the next chapter. Enjoy! :)

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Chapter 8

Next morning at the Diner

Kirk entered the Diner and looked around before he walked up to the counter. "Wow, Luke. I like the new colors of your Diner."

"Thanks Kirk. Coffee?" Luke said.

"No, thanks." He answered and sat down at the counter, starting to read the newspaper.

Luke watched him for a moment, "What can I get you, Kirk?"

"What?" Kirk looked up. "Oh, nothing. Thanks."

"What do you mean, nothing? You can't just sit there. You have to order something."

"Maybe later."

"Not later. Now!" Luke told him, matter of factly.

"Easy. Uhm okay, I'll take a glass of water."

"Water?"

"You wanted me to order something, and I did."

"Okay okay." Luke filled him a glass of water and placed it onto the counter before he brought the ordered food to the tables, totally unaware of the person who just entered the Diner.

"Hey stranger!" Luke heard a voice behind him and turned round. Even before he was able to say something, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.

What the hell , he thought and pulled apart, looking around nervously. "Rachel?"

"Hey." She said smiling and was about to kiss him again but Luke stopped her.

"Rachel, what… what are you doing here?"

"I realized how much I missed you, so I jumped into the next plane and voila, here I am." She grinned and looked at him with bright eyes.

He still couldn't believe it. Rachel was back. His Rachel. "You… you missed me?"

"I always did. Judging by your look you're not glad to see me."

"What? No no, of course I am."

"Good to know." She studied him for a moment, "You look good."

"Yeah, you… you look good, too."

"You still live upstairs?" she pointed at the door behind the curtain.

"Yes, why?"

"Good." She picked up her bag and headed towards the stairs.

"Rachel, what are you doing?" Luke followed her.

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. "I told you I'm back. Do you still have this small bed of yours?" Entering his apartment, she continued, "Oh yes, you have. Okay, this shouldn't be a problem. Actually, it never was."

"What? You want to stay here? With me? In my apartment?"

"Sure." She told him, shrugging.

"Rachel, look. We need to talk."

"Yes, we can do that. There's so much I want to tell you. About my job, my family and what I did the all those years." She sighed, happily. "What do you say about a little trip?"

"A trip?"

"Yes. We could go roller skating. We always went roller skating, remember?"

"Of course I remember, but I have a Diner to run."

"Well, you're your own boss, which means you don't have to work all the time. I'm sure there's someone who can stand in for you the rest of the day." Rachel said, smiling.

"It's not that easy, Rachel."

"I want a trip. You wanted to talk. We can do that. Let's combine those two, hm?"

Luke looked at Rachel and sighed. Suddenly he thought about Lorelai and the phone call they had yesterday. What would she say when she'll come to the Diner and couldn't find him? This would be another day without seeing her. And it almost felt ridiculous as he realized how much he missed her. Her pleading for coffee, her wonderful smile or simply looking into her beautiful eyes. But he needed to talk to Rachel in private to clarify all misunderstandings. The sooner, the better.

"Hey Luke? You're still with me?" Rachel pulled him out of his thoughts and touched his cheek.

"What?"

"Where are you with your thoughts? Did you hear what I was saying?"

"No. I mean, okay… let's make the trip."

"Really? Oh, thank you!" she leaned forward to gave him a kiss but Luke made a step back.

"I forgot, I don't have roller skates."

"It's okay. We borough some. Come on." She took his hand pulled him downstairs.

"Cesar, you're in charge." He managed to say before they left the Diner.

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At Lorelai's

Lorelai came downstairs yawning and walked into the kitchen. Rory sat there already, reading the newspaper.

"Morning." She mumbled and headed straight to the coffee machine.

"Hey mum. Look, there's an article about Luke's Diner."

Lorelai filled her mug with coffee and joined Rory at the table. "Really? Well…" she took a big sip, looking at her daughter over the rim of her mug.

"You wanna read it? There's a picture, too." Rory grinned and shoved the newspaper to her.

Giggling, she looked at the picture. It showed a furious Luke, apparently shouting something like, Out now!"

"Aww, isn't he cute when he's all grumpy?" she bit her lower lip, still looking at the picture.

"Mum!" Rory said, rolling her eyes.

Her lips twitched into a smile, "What?"

Rory shook her head, "Nothing. Do you have work today?"

"Yep." She nodded and took another sip of her coffee. "I have to catch up with some stuff at the Inn . And you?"

"I have a test on Monday, so I'll spend the day with studying."

"You're so smart already. You really should stop learning." Lorelai smirked.

"Haha."

"Anyway, I'm going to Luke's now. You can reach me on my cell."

"Okay, bye!"

"Bye hon'"

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At the Diner

Lorelai entered the Diner and walked to the counter but was surprised when she didn't see Luke. She took a look around and turned back to Cesar, "A coffee please."

"What do you mean, Rachel is back?" Patty asked, raising her eyebrows.

"She came into the Diner today and told Luke she's back." Babette told her.

"Uh-huh. Yes, she's a nice girl. I always liked her."

Rachel, Rachel ? Lorelai heard that name before but she couldn't quite remember where. So she turned to Babette and Patty. "Hey, uhm… who you're talking about?"

"Hello sugar." Babette started, "Oh we're talking about Rachel."

"Rachel?"

"Yes. Luke's Rachel." Babette told her.

"Luke's Rachel? Uh-huh." Lorelai shifted from one foot to the other.

"Yes, she left a few years ago because she didn't want to stay in Stars Hollow her whole life. But she apparently came back this morning."

"And how they kissed. Oh la la!" Patty grinned. "Rachel was all over him. I do hope that she's serious this time. Luke would so deserve it."

Lorelai's heart fell, "They… they kissed?"

"Yes. You should have seen it. Then they headed upstairs before they rushed out of the Diner a few minutes later. God knows where but they looked like they would be in a hurry!" Patty laughed.

"Uh huh…" Lorelai turned away. She couldn't believe it. No no, this could no be true.

"Honey, everything okay?" Patty asked, looking at her.

"What? Oh yeah… sure… I… I just have to go." Lorelai turned around and rushed outside.

"Your coffee!" Cesar shouted after her but she was already gone.

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to be continued....R&R!