Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, but I wish I was the genius who does!

Chapter 5

Lorelai and Rory stumbled into their home, both of them shoeless and barefoot. After a night of crying and disposing of a very large tub of ice cream, the Gilmore girls had decided that the two of them should return home to Stars Hollow and wallow for the weekend. Lorelai knew that her daughter would need support to get through the two-day period. It would be tough, but Rory could get through it. Lorelai was sure of this fact.

Lorelai led her emotionally drained daughter to her bedroom; her bedroom that smelled of days gone by and aging classic novels such as The Tale of Two Cities and The Scarlet Letter. Rory sprawled out onto her tiny twin bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"Mom. Why did this have to happen? I mean, things were going so well and I thought they were perfect. And then I had to go and mess things up. Granted, the boy was making me insane, what with his crude comments and all, but maybe if I had just looked past these flaws and pet peeves of mine I wouldn't have spent the last three hours sobbing hysterically," Rory contemplated, choking back another set of oncoming sobs.

"Honey, you cannot blame yourself. You don't even know if you're really broken up or not. Just try to get some sleep, and call Logan tomorrow. You guys can get through this, I promise." Lorelai sighed, and stroked her daughter's face. "I love you," she whispered, kissing her offspring delicately on the forehead.

"I love you, too Mom," Rory whispered, closing her eyes, seemingly drifting off to sleep. Lorelai stood up, turned off the light, and closed the door softly behind her.

Sighing, Lorelai made her way into the living room. She wanted to cry. To see her daughter in so much pain brought her extreme heartache. She needed someone to comfort her. Lorelai crawled her way to the end table and picked up the cordless phone, dialing the number that was now etched into her brain.

"Hello?" Luke said sleepily after the fourth ring.

"Hey, it's me. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but it's okay. Is Rory alright?"

"She'll live to see another day. But she's hurting pretty bad. Gosh, it kills me to see her like this. I absolutely cannot deal with it," Lorelai said, the words caught in her throat.

"Lorelai? Are you okay?" Lorelai took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She placed her hand on her forehead to mask her distress.

"Yeah. But I would really love it if you could come over or something."

"Now?"

"Please! I don't want to leave Rory alone, but I really need to see you. I just truly need a hug right now."
"Sure, I'll be right over," Luke replied, going to hang up the phone

"Love you," he heard Lorelai whisper.

"Love you, too," he whispered back right before he finally hung up the phone.

Lorelai paced back and forth on the porch, waiting for the arrival of her amazing boyfriend. It had to be past one in the morning, and he was making his way over to rescue her from a night of sad loneliness. Lorelai couldn't believe that he was hers, and all hers. Their love was unbreakable, unstoppable. No one could break their bond. No one, except maybe Veronica.

Lorelai smiled wide at that last thought. Just then, she saw Luke make his way up the driveway, clad in his gray sweatpants and white long-sleeve tee shirt. There was no flannel to be seen, except for the blue flannel shirt he carried in his right hand. It was her shirt, Lorelai's shirt. The one that brought her comfort no matter what. Lorelai smiled as Luke bounded up the porch steps. Immediately embracing her into a warm bear hug, Lorelai began to feel so much better. Luke released her and draped the flannel shirt around her shoulders. Together, the perfect couple turned and walked into the house, hand in hand.

Rory awoke the next morning as the sunlight streamed through her blinds. She felt extremely groggy and could barely upon her eyes. She moaned in disgust as she realized that she had slept in her clothes. Rory sat up slowly and surveyed her room. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was past eleven.

"Oh crap," she muttered, rubbing her eyes softly. She got up out of bed and walked into the living room. On the couch, she found Luke and her mother curled up next to each other, both of them fast asleep. "Hey guys, wake up," Rory called, gently shaking her mother. Lorelai awoke with a jolt that also caused Luke to wake up.

"What time is it?" Lorelai murmured, rubbing at the crick in her neck that was caused from sleeping in such an odd position.

"It's past eleven," Rory replied, taking a seat on the couch next to the couple.

"Eleven?" Luke exclaimed, jumping up from his seat.

"Honey, not so loud. I just woke up.

"Lorelai, it's eleven! The diner should have been opened five hours ago."

"It's okay babe. I'm sure people won't mind."

"Ay. This is not good. Caesar probably thinks I am dying in a ditch somewhere."

"It's okay. We'll go over there now and straighten it out. Come on." Lorelai stood up, her clothes wrinkled from sleeping in them all night. Luke followed behind her as the two of them slipped on their shoes by the door. They began to leave, but Rory, not wanting to be left alone, stopped them.

"Hold on. I'm coming too." She grabbed a pair of flip-flops from her room and followed them out the door.

It had taken awhile, but Luke finally got the whole diner situation figured out. Sure, he had made a few enemies in the process, but what did he care? Lorelai and Rory sat at the counter, emerging themselves in their third cup of coffee. It was noon by that time, and the both of them had finally woken up. The fact that the both of them were dressed in the wrinkly versions of the clothes they had worn the day before didn't seem to bother them in the least bit.

"Hey sugar," said the bubbly Babette, "weren't you wearing that same ensemble yesterday?" Lorelai and Rory just looked at each.

"I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about Babette," Lorelai replied.

"Okay, just wondering. I'll see you two kids later," she answered, winking at them as she made her way out the door. Lorelai turned to Rory with a giggle, but all she got in reply was a half smile. Lorelai could tell that Rory was still down in the dumps. She wrapped her arm around her daughter and sighed.

"If it helps at all, you've always been my favorite daughter."

"I'm your only daughter mom."

"That's what you think. Why do you think I never let you go in attic?" Lorelai said suggestively with a mysterious smile.

"Because you're obviously hiding dead bodies, not mysteriously unknown children."

"How'd you know?"

"Your profile matches that of a serial killer. I just put two and two together." Rory continued to joke with her mother, even though she honestly wasn't up to it at this point. It had been a rough night last night, and Rory was still feelings its affects. After a few more moments of serial killer references, Rory was tired.

"Hey mom, I'm going to go take a walk."

"Okay honey, do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I'd rather just be alone right now." Rory stood up, kissed her mother on the cheek, and walked out of Luke's, causing the bell above the door chime annoyingly. Lorelai watched as her sad, heartbroken daughter made her way down the street to some unknown destination.

"Is she going to be okay?" Luke said, suddenly appearing behind the counter in front of Lorelai. Lorelai sighed and took another sip of coffee.

"I hope so." She looked at Luke with adoring eyes. He had a certain sparkle in his eyes; a sparkle that was only there when he was extra excited about something. And when it comes to Luke Danes, that didn't happen often. "What are you so thrilled about?" Lorelai inquired, the expression on her face showing her perplexed state.

"Nothing at all," Luke said with a small smile, "hey, do you think you'll be able to do something tonight? Or will you need to stay home with Rory?"

"Um," Lorelai commented, biting her bottom lip, "I think I'm going to stay home with her tonight. I'm believe that a night of Molly Ringwald, Ben, and Jerry will do her some good. How about tomorrow night? I know its Sunday, but she'll have gone home by then and I won't worry about her too much.

"Okay," Luke replied with a smile, "sounds great."

Rory scuffed down the streets of Stars Hollow, her hands hanging limply by her sides. She didn't know where to go or where to turn. All of sudden, she looked up and saw that Taylor's Old Fashioned Soda Shoppe was right in front of her. Without even realizing it, she had looped the town already. She immediately felt the undying need for some ice cream. She crossed the road and made her way into the shop. She went up to the counter and ordered from the kind clerk in the red-and-white striped uniform.

"That'll be $2.14," the redheaded, freckle-faced clerk said. Suddenly, Rory realized that she had no money on her.

"Oh, I don't have any money. Do you think this could be on the house?" she inquired in a way that was quite unlike her. She felt Taylor walk up behind her.

"Rory, I'm sorry but you know that isn't possible."

"Taylor, please. I've had a really bad twelve hours and I just need some ice cream."

"Rory if I gave everyone free ice cream that fed me that line, I'd be a very poor man." Rory sighed heavily and placed her head down on the counter. "Rory, could you please not do that. You'll smudge the glass!"

"Well you know what Taylor? That's just too-" she started to exclaim as she lifted her head up off the counter. But she stopped mid-sentence as she saw Logan enter the little ice cream shop. The two locked eyes for a moment. But before Logan could form a sentence in his head, Rory ran out of the store, a look of surprise spread across her face.

A/N: Thank you for all your replies! Please keep them coming. Any type of criticism is certainly welcome. And plus, I just love getting reviews :)