Disclaimer: I still don't own the Gilmore Girls. Although, I wish I owned Luke and Jess.

Chapter 16

Lorelai woke up when she heard Luke walking around the room. He heard her sit up and turned around. "Hey, did I wake you?" he asked.

"Just a little," Lorelai teased.

"Sorry. I was hoping I could leave without waking you. I had a note and everything." Luke held up a piece of paper and shrugged.

"I can go back to sleep and pretend I was never awake."

"That's alright." He sat at the edge of the bed and put his boots on. "I don't think I'll be home for dinner. I made lasagna and it's in the freezer. All you have to do is put it in the oven for an hour and heat it at three fifty. Make sure you grab the one with the red sauce. The other one is vegetable."

"So, this is how it's going to be every 'Dark Day'."

"Unfortunately."

"I guess I'll have to get used to it."

"I'm sorry. I just need this time. I better get going. I'll see you later."

"Ok. Bye. And be safe."

"I will. Bye. And go back to sleep." Luke kissed Lorelai and left the room. She sighed and went back to sleep.

"Hey Sook," Lorelai greeted as she walked into the kitchen.

"Hey," Sookie greeted. "How's your day going?"

"It's ok. I missed him at the diner this morning. Jess may be Luke's nephew, but the relation stops there. I went to Luke's this morning and Jess made me breakfast. The food was not good."

"I'm sorry. Do you want me to make you something to eat?"

"I'm fine. Jess made up for the horrible food by bringing me loads of coffee. I just really miss Luke."

"What are your plans for your Luke-free day?"

"I thought about it long and hard and I finally came up with an answer. I'm going to spend the whole day here."

"Lorelai, you can't do that. Oh! I got it. Let's have a girls' night."

"What about Davey and the baby? Besides, we need girls for a girls' night."

"Jackson can watch the boys. You call Rory and get her and Paris to come. I'll call Lane and tell her to stop by after work. We can get Rachel and Liz to come too. We can stay up all night, order pizza, play games, and watch movies. It'll be like a pre-bachelorette party, but more importantly, it'll be fun."

"Fine. But if they say no, I'm locking myself in Luke's old apartment."

Lorelai sat in her office as she did some work for the wedding. She sighed and picked up the phone to call Rory.

"Hello?" Rory answered.

"Hey kiddo, it's me," Lorelai said.

"Oh hey Mom. What's up?"

"Nothing much. Are you free tonight?"

"Yes I am. Why?"

"Sookie came up with this great idea of a girls' night. Pizza, movies, games, stories about boys, the whole nine yards. I was wondering if you and Paris want to come."

"Sure. I'll give Paris a call later and have her meet me at the house."

"Why don't you come together?"

"Because Logan and I are heading to town right now. Logan wanted to talk to Luke and I'm going for moral support."

"Good luck with that."

"Huh?"

"Luke's not here."

"As in not at the inn or not at the diner?"

"As in Luke's not here and I don't know where he is. Today's the thirtieth."

"Oh yeah. His dark day. What's that all about anyway?"

"It's not my place to say."

"I understand. Well, I have to go. I'll see you tonight."

"Be there by seven. Hair and make up's at seven thirty."

"Will do. Later Mom."

"Bye Sweets."

"So explain this to me again," Logan said as he and Rory got out of the car.

"On November thirtieth, Luke leaves really early in the morning and comes home in the middle of the night. He spends the whole day alone. Mom says he's been doing it for sixteen years. It's his dark day," Rory explained.

"Sounds like when Finn gets drunk and wanders around in the woods."

"Well there's sentiment behind Luke's dark day."

"Whatever you say. So what are we doing at your house? I remember your mother specifically saying I am not allowed in that house when no one is home."

"I just need to get a book. You can stay out here if you want."

"Whatever you say Ace." Logan waited outside while Rory went inside. He looked around and noticed the garage door was slightly open. He slowly walked over to the garage and was about to open it when he heard Rory.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Your garage is open."

"Really? Hm. I thought it was supposed to look like that."

"How long has it been like that?"

"A year?" Logan moved to close the doors. "What are you doing?"

"Closing your garage. People can walk in and take what's in there." Logan tried to shut the doors, but stopped when he saw what was keeping the doors open. "What's this? Whoa, I didn't know you had a boat."

"We don't have a boat."

"Then what's this?" Logan opened the doors and pointed to the wooden boat inside.

"Oh my God. We have a boat," Rory laughed as they walked in the garage.

"You're telling me you didn't know this was in here?"

"No. We never use the garage. I haven't even been in here since Lane stopped using it for band practice."

"It's not finished," Logan remarked, examining the structure. "This boat is in the process of being built. Looks like it's been years since it was worked on." Logan climbed into the boat and took a closer look at the structure.

"Requesting permission to come aboard."

"Permission granted." Logan held out his hand to Rory and helped her on. "So, here we are, in a boat that was probably used in the Trojan War, doing nothing."

"What do you suggest we do?" Logan grinned seductively and kissed Rory.

Luke parked his truck in the driveway and got out. He was on his way inside the house when he noticed the garage doors were opened wider than usual. He slowly made his way over and opened the doors completely. And there, on the deck of his father's boat, was Rory and Logan making out. The young couple pulled apart and sat up when they heard Luke open the doors and the light from outside shined in their eyes.

"Luke," Rory said in shock. "What are you..."

"Get out of that boat," Luke stated with a hint of anger. Logan and Rory were too scared to move. "I said get out of the damn boat!"

They jumped and scurried out of the boat. Luke quickly turned on his heal and stormed back toward his truck.

"Luke, let me explain," Rory pleaded as she and Logan followed him.

Just then, Lorelai's Jeep pulled up and Lorelai stepped out. "Luke, what are you doing home?" she asked.

"I'm leaving," Luke huffed.

She instantly caught on to his anger and then spotted Rory and Logan. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong!" Luke yelled as he slammed the door to his truck. "I come home to get my watch and I see the garage doors opened wider than we keep them, so I go check it out. When I open the doors, low and behold, I find these two making out on the deck!"

"Mr. Danes, Ms. Gilmore, it's my fault," Logan said. "I was the one poking my nose in the garage and I got in the boat first..."

"Logan, I suggest you don't speak," Lorelai said, holding up her hand. She turned her attention back to Luke. "Calm down. She doesn't know about the boat."

"And that's supposed to make it right?" Luke asked. "You know what? You're right. I don't know this guy and I don't like him!" He took a few deep breaths and got in his truck.

"You need to calm down. Please, for me, calm down. I'll talk to Rory." Luke took another deep breath and started his truck. "Hey, I love you."

"I love you too." With that, Luke pulled out of the driveway and drove off.

Lorelai turned to Rory and Logan. "It's time for you to leave Logan," she said seriously.

"Ms. Gilmore..." Logan started.

"Goodbye Logan."

"Right. I'll see you later Ace." Logan was about to kiss Rory, but he changed his mind when he saw Lorelai glaring at him. He got in his car and left.

Lorelai stood with her arms crossed over her chest, shaking her head as she stared at her daughter. "Well? Are you just going to stand there or are you going to explain to me what you were doing making out with your boyfriend in that boat?" Lorelai asked angrily.

"I didn't know about the boat," Rory said softly.

"Oh so you two run around making out in other people's boats? I don't know how things are done in Yale, but around here, you do not make out in people's boats!"

"I already said I didn't know about your stupid boat!"

"One, it's not a stupid boat. And two, it's not mine."

"Yours, Luke's, it's all the same."

"It's not Luke's boat."

"You just have some strange boat in our garage?"

"Stay away from that boat Rory. I mean it."

"Fine, I'll stay away from the boat."

"What is going on with you Rory? This isn't like you. Hiding boys under your bed, keeping boyfriends from me for almost a year..."

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew! I hate to burst your bubble, but you're no Nancy Drew. Logan's parents are friends with your grandparents. Your grandfather has been grilling me about when you and Logan were going to make your relationship official."

"Why does Luke hate Logan?"

"Don't change the subject."

"It's no secret he hates Logan now. He decided that the first day he saw him. He doesn't want to give Logan a chance and I want to know why."

Lorelai laughed to herself. "Believe it or not Rory, Luke was the one that liked Logan."

"What do you mean he was the one that liked Logan?"

"Rory, that boat means a lot to Luke," Lorelai said, bringing the subject back to the boat. "He has a history with it. I wish I could tell you about it, but I can't. Just...just don't touch the boat. Please. For my sanity, stay away from the boat."

"Not like there's much left of your sanity anyway," Rory teased. They both laughed. "So, are we ok?"

"Of course we are. We always are." Lorelai put her arm around Rory and they headed inside.

"Luke's dad's initials were 'W.D.' right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"They're carved into a board on the deck. The boat belonged to Luke's father didn't it?"

Lorelai paused for a minute. She smiled at Rory and kept moving. "Come on, let's get ready for tonight."

A/N: I wanted to embelish the girls' night, but my mind was drawing a blank. To make up for the void, I'll give you a little spoiler of the next chapter. Lorelai gets more suspicious about Luke's whereabouts and is worried about his spending time with Richard.She alsoagrees she and Luke will attend a double date with Rachel and Max without Luke's approval. While working on honeymoon details, Jess and Rory have a not so pleasant encounter about Logan, then get closer. Dean makes an appearance as does Mitchum Huntzburger.