1

"It's just, in the last few weeks, we've been having some cash flow issues. Oh, this is hard," Tom said.

"Are we not paying him?" Sookie asks frantically.

We're running out of money remodeling the Inn and I just haven't been able to face it. I can't do this alone. Sookie's so busy with Davey, Rory's in school and I'm so tired. Sookie says to ask Luke and it looks like I'm going to have to. He'll be honest with me. If it's too much to ask, he'll say so. I can always depend on Luke to tell me the truth, no matter what. I asked him to dinner tonight. I'm going to ask him to invest in the inn. Very professional. It's a plan. I have a plan.

Then everything just started falling apart. I didn't get my hair cut. I went to my parents. I couldn't hide from Gran. Somehow my plan of asking Luke to bail me out just sounds pathetic. I'm failing and I don't know what to do.

Walking down the street towards Luke's that same chant keeps running through my head ... I'm failing... I'm failing.

"You know, there are very few times in my life when I find myself sitting around thinking, "I wish I was married," but today, I mean -- I'm happy. You know? I like my life. I like my friends. I like my stuff. My time, my space, my TV"

"Yeah, sure," Luke replies.

"But every now and then, just for a moment, I wish I had a partner, someone to pick up the slack. Someone to wait for the cable guy, make me coffee in the morning, meet the stupid sink before it gets sent back to Canada."

"I just thought I had everything under control, but I didn't, and the inn is just falling apart. This has been my dream forever, and I have it, and it's here, and I'm failing."

"YOU ARE NOT FAILING."

Lying in bed, I'm too tired to sleep. It's not that often that I have a complete meltdown. I was taught by the master, Emily Gilmore. Never show your true feelings and above all never let them see you cry. She's one tough broad, my mother. She keeps the feelings from showing with the stiff upper lip, disapproval, disdain. I on the other hand, always found humor to be the panacea for pain.

I can usually keep it together. Keep the wonder woman facade in place. Lorelai Gilmore - able to leap tall building at a single bound. No, that's superman. What did wonder woman do? Oh yeah, fictional character. Almost forgot.

I sobbed all over Luke. I admitted failure. I sure failed the Emily Gilmore handbook tonight. Now Luke, he's seen me cry. Somehow it's never too hard to be weak in front of Luke. Luke's like a rock. Steady. Safe. Honest. When he tells me I'm not failing it's so easy to believe him. It's like he knows something that no one else does...how it's all going to turn out. Reassurance. That's what I needed tonight, and that's what I got. Reassurance. Somehow he's become that person I can turn to. The one that always believes in me. That friend. That best friend.

This is not the first time Luke's offered me reassurance or listened to my failures or watched me cry. It's not the first time that he calmly told me what the future holds - like he has a crystal ball.

My eyes drift shut hearing his voice, "You are not failing."

And I'm lost in a dream. . . .

"This is the second time I let myself do this."

"Do what?"

"Think I finally found it."

"Found what?"

"Love, comfort, safety."

"I just. . .I feel like I'm never gonna have it. . .the whole package, you know? That person, that couple life, and I swear, I hate admitting it because I fancy myself Wonder Woman, but. . .I really want it – the whole package."

"You'll get it."

"How do you know?"

"I know."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know, okay?"

Luke slowly rounds the counter and approaches my stool. I swivel around and look up at him teary eyed. He slowly brushes a lingering tear off my check with his thumb.

"He wasn't the one."

I smile sadly in response to that line.

"You knew that when you were sixteen. You walked away but you didn't let go. Don't let yourself believe that you've somehow been robbed of a second chance. He's still not that guy. He's still not safe. He's still not careful or he never would have hurt you and Rory like that. Let him go." Rant finished.

"I wanted him to be that guy. I wanted..."

"I know. You'll get it. It's out there waiting for you. You just have to stand still long enough to see it."

"So, Mimi is it?" His attempt to lighten the mood appeals to my sense of humor. He smiles suggestively at me, attempting to flirt. "Going to be in town long."

Never one to not join in the game I answer back, "Only for tonight. I'm looking for a place to sleep. Do you have any suggestions?"

To my surprise he steps closer and puts his hands on my waist. "I have a few."

I'm fascinated by the look in his eye. Sure. Cocky. Irresistible.

His thumbs are tracing my stomach as he run his hands up and down my sides. I grab at his shirt suddenly feeling out of balance on my perch and he leans in to kiss my temple, my cheek, my neck. My eyes close and I'm focused on every sensation. His stubble rubs my jaw as he trails kisses down my neck to the vee of my dress. This is Luke. Lorelai can't be doing this with Luke. It's not right. But somehow I can't focus on why. Then I remember I'm not Lorelai, I'm Mimi. One night stand.

His mouth is everywhere but on my lips and I try to keep him still long enough to kiss. He pulls me from the stool running his hands down my hips pulling me close. He gathers my skirt as he pushes his knee between my legs rocking me tight against him. His hands are racing over me keeping me one step behind. Seducing. I tug at his hair trying to find his mouth. He has me moaning with the need to kiss him. He finally relents, brushing his mouth roughly against mine. I bite at his bottom lip wanting more, wanting to taste. His tongue teases mine briefly. It's not enough. Not nearly enough.

I hear the sound but I refuse to acknowledge it. Not yet. I don't want to wake up yet. Frustrated I turn and hit the snoose button. Mimi. She's a dangerous girl.

Luke. I really have to stop dreaming about Luke.