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

A/N: Sorry it's been awhile since I've updated. This chapter has been sitting on my computer, half done for over a week. School has been satanically hectic and I just haven't had the time. But now, chapter 8 is done and here and I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for all the reviews, and I hope you continue to review because they're greatly appreciated. So I hope you enjoy Chapter 8 of Piecing the Puzzle entitled

Chapter 8

"Luke? What are you doing here?"

"Hey, Rory. How are you doing?"

"Um, I'm alright I guess. But why are you here? I just left Stars Hollow an hour and a half ago," Rory replied, extremely perplexed. Why would Luke just show up at her house out of the blue? Then she had a horrible thought. "Oh my God, is mom okay? Did something happen?"

"Oh no, no, no. Lorelai's fine. I just have something I have to talk to you about." Luke stood in the doorway, wringing his blue baseball cap in his hands. Rory stared at him, one hand on the door, the other shoved in her pocket.

"Oh. Okay. Come on in," Rory said, gesturing for him to enter her basically bare dorm room. The two silently walked to the couch, sitting on opposite ends. "So, what's up?" Rory inquired nonchalantly, crossing her legs as she turned to face Luke.

"Well, you know how your mom and I are going out tonight?" Rory nodded in agreement. "There's something that I was planning that I wanted to run by you first."

Lorelai stood, staring at her closet. What to wear, what to wear? Luke had told her no details about the night he was planning, so she had absolutely no idea what kind of attire was required. She sat down on her bed, still staring, and absentmindedly picked up her cell phone. Dialing her daughter's number from memory, she waited as the phone rang a second and third time.

"Come on Rory, pick up," she muttered, tapping her foot impatiently. After the forth ring, Lorelai was getting ready to hang up when Rory finally picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she said, seemingly out of breath.

"What marathon have you been running?" Lorelai asked, a smirk spreading across her face.

"Huh?" Rory commented, mystified.

"You sound out of breath," Lorelai replied matter-of-factly.

"Oh, no, I was just cleaning out my closet." Rory darted a glance at Luke as he stood in her living room, a bewildered expression spread across his face. "It's mom," she mouthed, letting him know to keep quiet and not say a word. "So, what's up mom? Miss me already?"

"Nah. I just wanted to make sure you were holding up okay."

"Oh, thanks. I glad you miss me so much."

"Darling daughter of mine. You know it's all about the love. It's just that I'm having a major clothing crisis and I could really use your help. I have no clue what I should where out with Luke tonight. I don't know where we're going, or what we're doing. He's being so secretive and I just don't know how to dress! Such a dilemma it is, don't you know?"

"Oh. Well, maybe you should go more a dressier outfit, just in case he surprises you with dinner at a fancy restaurant or something," Rory said, raising her eyebrows at Luke. He nodded firmly, agreeing with the comment she had just made.

"That's what I was thinking. But I can't seem to find anything. I have no clothes and nothing to wear!"

"Mom, come on. You have more clothes than Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears combined."

"Hey! It's not my fault that their shirts are really only half shirts. Just because it looks like I have more clothes, it doesn't mean that it's the truth," Lorelai argued.

"Okay, fine. You can wear the pink polka dot skirt, the black camisole, and the black embroidered blazer. Pair that with you pink necklace, earrings, and flats and you'll be dressy, but not too dressy, and casual, but not too casual. It's pure perfection!" Rory told her mother with a smug cross of her arms.

"Oh, I always knew you were my favorite daughter!"

"Mom, I'm your only daughter."

"So. That doesn't necessarily mean you'd be my favorite!"

"How would I not be…? Oh never mind, I give up. Now go, get ready. Lover boy will be there soon, won't he?" Rory said, trying to refrain from giggling.

"In an hour or so," Lorelai replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

"And you're getting ready right now? Wow. You might possibly be on time," Rory said with a smirk.

"Hey, hey, hey. Let's not make fun of mommy's punctuality problems. You won't be my favorite daughter any more if you do things like that."

"I think I'll take my chances. Okay mom, I've got to go I've got some studying to do. I'll talk to you later. Have fun tonight!"

"Okay, fine. Thanks for you help. Night dear," Lorelai said, "oh, and Rory."

"Yeah?"

"I love you," Lorelai said, knowing it was something her daughter needed to hear. As expected, it brought a smile to Rory's face.

"Love you, too, mom," she replied, "talk to you later. Bye." Rory put down the phone and turned to Luke. "You, my friend, are all set. I'm so excited!" She ran over and tackled Luke with a big bear hug. He responded with a warm embrace in return, surprised by her enthusiasm.

"Thanks for your help, Rory," he said, releasing her from the squeeze, "and thanks for not letting on to your mom that I was here. I don't want her to be suspicious."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Luke. She has absolutely no clue. I promise," Rory commented as Luke made his way to the door. "Have fun tonight," she said, opening the big oak door for him.

"I will," he said, a huge smile plastered on his face. And with that, he exited Rory's dorm, humming an unknown tune.

Luke had left an hour ago and Rory knew that it was only a matter of time before he went to pick her up for one the best nights of her life. Rory smiled brightly at the thoughts running through her mind. She sat down on the couch, put her feet up on the coffee table, and pulled her binder into her lap. She tried to study for a few minutes, but she simply couldn't concentrate. Rory sighed heavily, stood up, and with keys in hand exited her dorm.

Night had fallen and stars dotted the sky, twinkling in the distance. Rory strolled through the courtyard, her hands swinging by her sides, her hair ruffling in the breeze. She stopped at a bench and took a seat. Breathing in the warm, almost summer air, she felt more relaxed then she had in the last three days. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes and lost herself in the silence of the surrounding courtyard. Suddenly filled with emotion, she breathed in slowly and opened her tear-filled eyes.

"I've been such an idiot," she whispered to the trees. Rory blinked back the tears and stood up once again to continue her walk. As she made her way around the courtyard, circling it twice, she thought about the situation she was in.

Could it be possible that she was overreacting? Maybe she was acting like a fool for no apparent reason. This entire Logan situation was accomplishing nothing and solving no problems. It was only bringing her heartache and depression. But now that she had come so far, and acted like such an idiot, how would he ever forgive her for causing him unnecessary distress? She didn't know what to do, or how to express her feelings. At this time, it all seemed pointless.

Shaking slightly, Luke ascended up the stairs of Lorelai's porch. A bouquet of white lilies rested in his left hand as he straightened the top button of his shirt with his right.

"Why am I so nervous?" he asked himself as he leaned over to ring the doorbell. "It's not as if I've never gone on a date with her. I feel as I did that night I walked her home from Liz's wedding. I never thought I'd feel like this again." He tapped his foot incessantly as he heard Lorelai bound down the stairs.

She took his breath away the moment she opened the door. From head to toe, she looked gorgeous beyond belief.

"Hey," she said breathlessly, leaning over to kiss him sweetly on the lips. Overcome with anxiety, he handed her the flowers and stared at the floor. He felt like a sixteen year old geek on prom night. "Luke? What, did I suddenly get hit with an ugly stick? Is that why you can't look at me?" Luke chuckled and looked up, focusing on her deep blue eyes.

"The exact opposite. You look amazing," he said, taking her hands.

"Aw, that's sweet. Let me put these in water and then we can go." She ran off into the kitchen and Luke stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He leaned against the doorframe, Lorelai's cozy home surrounding him with a warm welcome. He stared up at the ceiling, a mysterious smile on his face, waiting for her to reappear. When she finally did, he stared at her intently, studying every curve, every inch.

"Luke?" she asked, seemingly confused. "What is it?" she inquired, feeling extremely perplexed by his strange behavior. Luke walked over to her, took her hands, and kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"I love you," he said shyly.

"I love you too," Lorelai replied with a smile. "What is all this about?"

"You'll see," he whispered quietly as he turned, opened the door, and bounded down the steps. Lorelai watched as his figured descended down the stairs and she smirked.

"Marriage?" she thought to herself. "Definitely," she said out loud, far more audible then she expected.

"What?" asked Luke, turning around at the sound of her voice.

"Oh, nothing, nothing." With a reassuring smile, Lorelai walked down the steps and grabbed Luke's hand as he led her to the car.

A/N: Hope it was worth the wait! Please R&R :)