Wow! Thanks for all your incredibly motivating reviews!! I thought it was high time for some steaminess and romance!! Patience is always rewarded - and so are Reviews!!!

Now, back to the story:

-They remained that way for some time, their bodies locked together in an exquisite embrace. Lorelai was powerless – like a rag doll in Luke's strong arms. Her knees were weak, yet her heart was longing. Oxygen was incredibly necessary at this moment, but neither would dare disrupt their position.

Without warning, a green-faced Jackson innocently crossed the threshold to the balcony and bore witness to the overwhelming affection on display. He was undoubtedly suffering from a severe bout of seasickness, yet his curiosity far outweighed his ill health.

Lorelai noticed Jackson immediately and pulled away from Luke. Both took advantage of their separation and inhaled deeply, terrified to look their unexpected visitor in the eye; terrified to look each other in the eye. Silence fell over them. Luke and Jackson pretended to cough at exactly the same instance, both trying to alleviate the awkwardness, but instead adding to it. Actually, it was a rather humorous occurrence. Silence once again loomed its ugly head, and Lorelai decided she'd had enough.

"Uh, Jackson...I don't know what you saw, or what you thought you saw just now...but you need to promise me you wont breath a word of this to the others!" Lorelai's tone was quite serious. Luke nodded his head, as if in agreement with Lorelai.

Jackson nervously replied, "Lorelai, I, I never meant to intrude...I felt really sick all of a sudd..." Jackson abruptly turned towards the ledge of the balcony and dispelled the contents of his stomach.

"Gross!" Luke and Lorelai chimed in unison. It was nauseating indeed.

Jackson turned to his friends once again, his face pale yet relieved. "I'm sorry guys – what I was trying to say is that your secret is safe with m..." As if on cue, Jackson emptied his stomach for a second time that evening. Lorelai went to the patient's aid; Luke stood back, still in disgust and fighting back nausea himself.

Pandemonium finally reached the balcony as the inevitable happened; the excess Star's Hollow characters made their timely entrance. Sookie ran to Jackson, while the others nosily observed. They naturally wondered why the unique combination of Luke, Lorelai and Jackson were out here together in the first place. Everyone was speaking at once – each offering his or her own remedy for Jackson's ailment.

"Jackson, baby – I'm here!" A near-sobbing Sookie rubbed her husband's back, acting as though he were suffering from a stroke and not simply an upset stomach. Luke couldn't help but smile at the scenario before him – it was bedlam. He couldn't help but smile remembering the events that had occurred prior to this outburst as well. Kissing Lorelai had been more exceptional than his wildest dreams.

Meanwhile:

Nicole had reluctantly entered the Ballroom. She was dressed to the nines, not so much for herself, but to outmatch Lorelai of course. Nicole surveyed the spectacular room, unable to locate the whereabouts of a certain individual. She wore a glamorous golden silk gown that was delicately draped across her body, and a frown that was not so delicately draped across her face. She found it rather warm, perhaps due to the mass of people and the innumerable lights streaming from every angle. Nicole decided to venture outside for a breath of air...

When Nicole caught sight of the others she rolled her eyes in exasperation. So much for a romantic getaway – the entire town of Star's Hollow apparently followed Luke wherever he went. He owned a diner for god's sake - he wasn't freaking Wolfgang Puck! What perturbed Nicole even further was the fact that Lorelai was in Luke's immediate vicinity at that precise moment.

When the others caught sight of Nicole they hastily turned from their distraction (Jackson) and stared guiltily at the woman. Patty as always, opened the conversation.

"Nicole, don't you look lovely this evening." Now she felt ill for paying such a compliment.

"What exactly is going on here?" Nicole inquired, ignoring Patty's flattering remark. Her attention was focused specifically on Luke and Lorelai.

Nicole wanted answers and she wanted them now. She was a businesswoman in every sense of the word. Lorelai took the reigns and tried to explain the situation as best she could. "Nicole... uh Jackson – well, he was sick and uh – we thought fresh air was the uh, best remedy – and..." she was cut off.

"Oh," interrupted Nicole, "And I guess it takes an entire army to tend to a seasick man! How many of you are there anyway?" Nicole examined the crowd and noticed a new face. "And who the hell is that guy?" She was of course referring to Guido.

"That GUY just so happens to be my date for the Ball and his NAME is Guido!" Patty was getting testy. Guido was amused.

Nicole turned again to Lorelai, ignoring Patty for the second time. "Do you townspeople make it a practice to meddle in other people's affairs? You have no right to be on this cruise ship! – None of you do!"

Luke was unimpressed by Nicole's tone. He quickly grabbed her by the hand and escorted her to the adjacent side of the balcony.

"Good riddance!" Patty snidely announced.

Nicole overheard – well, she was meant to. "I beg your pardon?" she glared loathingly at Patty.

"You heard me!" Patty boomed. "I will not tolerate such rudeness, especially when it's directed towards my friends!"

"Ha! Patty, you are the epitome of rudeness!" Nicole snapped back.

"Oooh – did your lawyer friends teach yah that one?" Babette came to Patty's aid. This was becoming a catfight.

By this point Jackson had completely drained his body of all contents. He and Sookie returned to the Ballroom to restore his fluids. Rory accompanied them, pleased to escape the anarchy. Morey and Guido were mesmerized by the display of raw womanpower before them. Luke was incredibly embarrassed and Lorelai was rather bored.

"I have done nothing to deserve this abhorrent treatment! You are the most vile women I have ever met!" Nicole was getting nasty; nastier that is.

"You brought this on yourself – you wretch of a woman!" Patty squawked. "You can dish it out but you sure as hell can't take it!" Babette added.

"That's it! I can't take this ANYMORE!" Nicole stormed back into the Ballroom, leaving a trail of lightning behind her." Luke defiantly remained on the balcony perhaps a little longer than he should have. In all truth, he had no desire to follow her at that particular moment.

Patty, Babette and the boys victoriously made their way into the Ballroom once more. And finally we were back where we started – Luke and Lorelai together in peaceful solitude.

That's all for now folks... I love to leave ya hangin!

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