Discalimer: Once again, I do not own these characters, or anything concerning them…I also don't own the movie mentioned in this chapter. Or any characters from any other movies that I might mention. I just borrow everything, and return it later….eventually. I may hang on to Luke past the due date…..

A/N: Love the reviews! Glad you're all enjoying the humor. But I'm greedy! I want more…LOL. I considered saying that I wouldn't update until I got a certain number of reviews, but decided that even I, Princess Cliffhanger, could not be that evil. You can show your gratitude by clicking the little blue button at the bottom. LOL

Ok, I changed the story summary because it didn't really fit anymore. I also changed the categories because, as much as I love the drama, I can't seem to hold back on the humor. And there really is more humor than romance. Ah well.

I have another little ficlet running around in my head that will be all romance…the sappy kind. It's a songfic using two of my favoritest, most sappiest songs from the 80s. I'll be starting it soon, but I wanted to get you this chapter first.

This chapter is in Lorelai's POV, italics are her thoughts. Items in bold are quoted from the movie.

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As hard as she was trying not to be, Lorelai was impressed.

But you will pay, Darth Vader, for turning my Luke to the dark side.

She sighed and snuck a peek at Rory out of the corner of her eye.

Still, he must actually care about her to go to all this trouble. She looks tired. I wish…

But there were too many things that she wished. So many, she couldn't even coherently finish the thought. She sighed again and turned her attention back to the movie, biting her lower lip with anxiety.

I gotta hand it to him; he knows his stuff…Steel Magnolias, the ultimate in mother/daughter angst movies. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll laugh while you cry…

That's why Lorelai was so nervous. They were getting close to the end of the movie. The time was fast approaching when she would no longer be able to sit next to her daughter and keep up the stony façade. She had made it through the death scene by mentally going through her to do list for the Dragonfly.

I really do have to remember to Call Tom about the banister. She thought still trying to distract herself.

In the movie, the main characters had gathered around the gravesite. It was moments away from Sally Field's hysterical grief filled rant.

And nobody does hysterical like Sally.

In years past when they had watched this movie, they mocked the hair and the accents, and Dolly Parton trying to give a manicure with two inch long nails. Then at the end, they would clutch each other and sob, hugging and relishing in their bond. And then they would mock each other for being so sappy. No matter how many times they watched it, the outcome was always the same. But that was before….

What if she doesn't cry? If she cries, I can reach across all those miles and comfort her. I can wrap my arms around her and she'll be my little girl again. If she cries I'll know that not too much has changed…that as different as she is, and as distant as we've been, WE are essentially still ok, and we can pick up where we left off. But what if she doesn't cry? Uh oh…

I realize, as a woman, how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life, and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life.

Lorelai braced herself, but the tears came anyway. I didn't even make it to the rant part! She tried to sneak another glance at Rory, but it was so blurry, she could only sense a vague shape. She turned her head fully and saw that Rory was looking at her with eyes filled with tears. There was perhaps a millisecond of hesitation before they were in each other's arms sobbing and talking all at once, movie totally forgotten.

Oh thank you God! Thank you Luke! Thank you Logan! Crap! I'm indebted to Limo Boy!

They started talking at the same time.

"Rory, I'm so sorry--"

"Mom, I'm really sorry--"

"—I was just so shocked—"

"—I was so confused—"

Suddenly they both stopped, giggled a little while wiping their tears. They shifted positions so they were facing each other, cross-legged on the couch.

"You first," they said in unison, which brought on another round of giggles.

Rory took a deep breath and began.

"I really am sorry. Things got so out of control, and I was so lost! I didn't want to be one of those career students taking classes forever because they can't decide what they want to be when they grow up. I just felt like I needed to--I don't know—to get out, get away. Everything familiar hurt. It was all a reminder of what I thought I couldn't be anymore—"

Thought? Was that past tense accidental?

"--And I totally manipulated Grandpa. I feel kinda bad about that—"

I'll have to ask her later what the steps are to that. Sounds like a useful skill.

"--When I saw you outside the pool house, I just couldn't face you. You looked so disappointed and mad, and I just--was too raw. But the longer I waited, the more I didn't know what to say, and, well, here we are," She ended with another deep breath.

Here we are. Back. Together. Talking. God, I missed this! She smiled at her daughter.

"Rory, I owe you an apology too. I came down too hard on you—"

I pulled a full-on Emily is what I did. She thought with a wince.

"—It was just such a shock. I was shocked and I was angry, that you were letting one conversation affect you so much. I never meant to say you couldn't live here. I really didn't! I was just searching for anything to try and—I don't know—blast you out of making this horrible decision and before I knew it the words were out of my mouth and it was too late to take it back. And I was angry. Angry at my parents for backing out on me. Angry at Huntzberger for---well—existing. Angry at you for letting him get to you. But I realized that you are an adult, and you have the right to make your own decisions, no matter what my opinion is or what I think about them, and if I try to take that away from you I will be no better than my parents. And I didn't know what to say to you either." Lorelai raised her hands to wipe tears from her eyes as she finished speaking.

Rory Looked up at her mother and smiled then her eyes grew wide and she shouted.

"MOM!"

Lorelai jumped and almost fell off the couch. Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the camel!

"Gah! What? Is there a spider?"

I wonder if we can talk to the guys now that we're talking to each other…we need a spider killer.

Rory grabbed Lorelai's left hand and squealed, "What is this? Oh my God! Did Luke propose?"

Oh that. Hmm…I've got more explaining to do I guess.

"Well, not exactly…" she hedged.

"Not exactly? What do you mean 'not exactly'? Is this, or is it not an engagement ring?" Asked Rory.

"Yes, it is, but—" Lorelai began.

"And is it on the third finger of your left hand?" Rory continued, interrupting.

"Yes, but—"

"And was it not placed there lovingly and solemnly by One Lucas Danes, Diner Owner Extraordinaire, Keeper of the Sacred Horoscope, Mr. Backwards Baseball Cap, himself?" she finished, crossing her arms over her chest.

Mmmmmm. There's one of my favorite memories….probably shouldn't tell her where we were when he did the placing though….

"Yeah, he sure did." Admitted Lorelai in a dreamy voice.

"Well?" Demanded Rory.

….and the look in his eyes as he slid it on my finger, if I hadn't been sure before, I would have been at that moment. And then what we did after….She broke out of her reverie when she realized Rory was looking at her expectantly.

"I'm sorry, what was the question again?"

"MOTHER!" shouted Rory, exasperated.

"What? You got me started remembering…I was caught up in it…" Lorelai whined.

"Are ya back now?

"Yeah, I'm good. Now what were you asking?"

Rory sighed. "Did. Luke. Propose?"

"No, he didn't." Lorelai said.

And he'll never let me forget it, either. She sighed

"No? But, but you said—" Rory stammered.

"I asked Luke to marry me." Said Lorelai, emphasizing the important words.

"You--" Rory said, beginning to grin.

"Beat him to the punch, yes. And let me tell you, you have never seen a man so ecstatic and pissed off all at the same time." She giggled.

"But… when? How? You? Why? Rory was waving her arms in front of her.

"Is there a full sentence in your future, Hun?"

"Mom…" There was a warning in Rory's voice.

This part could get a little sticky.

"'When' is right after seeing you at the pool house. I went to Luke's to vent and for some comfort."

Rory's head dropped to look at her toes. Lorelai waited until she looked up again to continue.

"'How'? I just blurted it out. I couldn't stop myself, and I didn't want to stop myself. It was right. The 'why' is the fascinating part. After I told Luke about—the situation—he went into this rant about how he could help me fix things. And it involved kidnapping and escorting you to classes every day and well you know how much I love ranting Luke—"

"As do we all." Rory interrupted, smiling.

"—exactly. And then it hit me. It has always been like this. Luke has always been there for us, no matter what. Even when he and I weren't getting along, I always knew if we ever really needed him, he'd be there in a heartbeat. And then I started thinking about what a shame it was that it took us so long to be together, how much time we'd wasted. And I was like 'You idiot! This is it…this is the guy! What are you waiting for?' And I proposed." She shrugged, and wiped a fresh set of tears from her cheeks.

Rory wiped her own moist cheeks. "What did he say?"

Lorelai laughed out loud. "Well, first he said 'What?' but then there was a very enthusiastic 'Yes!'"

"But what about your thing for proposals? The grand gestures?"

"Well, it turns out the proposal doesn't matter so much when it's the guy. Plus it turns out the whole reason Luke hadn't proposed yet is that he was trying to come up with something to top the daisies, poor guy."

"Aw mom, I am so happy for you!"

"Yeah, me too."

They sat in silence for a minute.

Well, in for a penny, in for a pound…

"So, Logan, huh?" Lorelai aked.

"He loves me, Mom." It was Rory's turn to go dreamy, remembering the events of the previous afternoon.

He told her he loves her? Mr. No Commitment?

"Wow! He told you he loves you? What did you say?"

"I told him I love him too." Rory whispered.

"Honey, that's huge!"

"Yes, it is. And what's more, he believes in me. He said what his father did had more to do with him than it did with me. He told me I'm too talented to quit, and made me promise I'd reconsider." Rory said softly.

Is it possible that I misjudged him that badly? He got her to reconsider? I owe him bigger than I thought!

"So you're—reconsidering then?" Lorelai said cautiously.

Oh please, oh please, oh please….

"No, I'm not." Came the firm reply.

Oh noooooooo…

"But you said—"

Rory took a deep breath. "I'm not considering anymore because I've decided—"

Lorelai's eyes were squeezed shut tightly. Ok Ok Worst case scenarios….I'm going to live a life of leisure in the pool house. I'm going to become Logan's trophy wife. I'm going to join a band of Gypsies. I'm going to stalk David Letterman. I'm going to join the Navy. I'm going to…

"I'm returning to Yale in the fall." Lorelai's eyes flew open to find Rory grinning at her evilly.

"You Beast! You did that on purpose! Oh God I almost had a heart attack! Don't ever do that to Mommy again, you wretched child!"

Rory was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe. "You---deserved ----it. You---made----me drag---that ----whole---engagement---thing---out ---of ---you."

Lorelai was laughing now too. She has a point. But she's back! My perfect Rory is back!

Soon the laughter ended and they just sat in comfortable silence watching the movie credits scroll by. Suddenly Rory piped up.

"I wonder where Luke and Logan are. You'd think they'd be in here gloating by now."

Lorelai's brow furrowed. "Yeah, you're right."

I hope Luke didn't do anything rash...like decapitate him.

They got up from the couch and strode into the kitchen arm in arm, only to stop short at the scene laid out before them.

Luke and Logan were sitting propped against the kitchen door, legs stretched out in front of them, crossed at the ankles, and arms crossed over their chests. Luke's hat was hung on the knob of a nearby drawer, and the two men had dozed off with their heads leaning together.

Awwww… Lorelai's heart melted He always looks so cute when he's sleeping. I really wore him out today. Dirty.

The two girls giggled softly.

"I have to get a picture of this." Lorelai gasped and reached into the drawer behind her for her camera.

"Ooh! We should post them all over town!" Rory said softly, clapping her hands softly as her mom snapped the picture.

Lorelai agreed. "Right! Cause what could be more embarrassing than this?"

They giggled some more, and then suddenly stopped and looked at each other wide-eyed, identical evil grins blossoming on their faces.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?" Rory intoned.

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A/N: That's all for today, my lovelies. You'll have to tune in next time to see what the girls have done. In the mean time, ya know just to pass the time, why don't you tell me how evil I am in a review. Seriously I had a more difficult time writing this chapter. There was so much to be resolved, and I didn't want to leave anything out or rush it. I also had a harder time getting into Lorelai's head than any of the other characters, so I really would appreciate constructive criticism. Thanks!

All I have left is a final on Monday, so I should have time to write the next chapter this week and get it posted. I just have a few more pieces of the plot to work out. There's only one maybe two chapters left.