"There's nothing like a nice warm bath." Rory commented as she walked randomly through the house. "Clears up a lot of things, makes you feel relaxed..." Suddenly Luke threw a bag down in front of Rory breaking her pointless banter.

"Pack up." Luke replied cooly.

"What?" Rory asked in exchange.

"Pack up. We're leaving." Luke turned to walk away.

"Where are we going?" Rory asked following after him.

"Away." Luke aimlessly replied.

"But..." Lorelai walked over and took Rory by the arm.

"Hey, sweetie... come on, I'll help you pack." Lorelai guided her into the bedroom.

"What's up with him?" Rory asked once inside the bedroom.

"He's just a little aggravated over this whole situation." Lorelai replied grabbing clothes from Rory's drawer.

"Why are we leaving?"

"To get away from all this." Lorelai smiled. "Till, the police catch Matthew."

"I can't just leave." Rory protested. "I have school... and Tristan."Rory's voice raised. "I told Tristan I would see him again tomorrow."

"It'll be okay. Tristan will understand." Lorelai replied. "We really do need to get away for a while. I don't want you getting hurt again." Rory finally gave in and helped her mother pack.

"You ready?" Luke asked poking his head through the door.

"Just a minute." Lorelai responded. Luke walked back through the house. "Rory, I know this is hard on you..."

"I don't want to talk about it." Rory answered quickly grabbing her tooth brush.

"But we need to." Lorelai replied softly. "I think we've been underestimating how dangerous things are... how much more dangerous they can get. Sweetie, I know that you just want to go back to normal, so do I. I keep thinking if we just ignore this, it will all go away, that our little story book life will be returned." Lorelai took her daughter by the hand. "But that's not how it's going to happen." Lorelai sighed. "We have to take action."

Rory grabbed her coat and put it on. "Then let's go." she said zipping her bag.

(Inside the truck)

"I know a buddy of mine who has a spare room we can sleep in." Luke said while driving.

"Just one spare room?" Lorelai asked quickly.

"Why don't we just stay in a hotel?" Rory asked. "Or at the inn?"

"We need to be in a place where he can't find us." Luke replied. "Joe has a place in New York."

"New York?" Rory asked shockingly. "You're taking us to New York? Mom..."

"Rory... please." Lorelai said holding up her hand.

"It'll be for the best Ror." Luke answered. "You'll see."

Rory exhaled deeply and slouched back into the seat. After an hour or two of driving she had fallen asleep on Lorelai's shoulder.

"What time is it?" Lorelai asked sleepily.

"Almost 11:00." Luke replied not taking his eyes off the road.

"When do you think we'll be there?"

"Probably around 12:30."

"Wow..." Lorelai added. "Does he know we're coming."

"Yeah... I phone ahead earlier." Luke replied.

A few moments of silence. "Luke, thanks so much... for everything."

"You're welcome."

"You've been a true friend." Lorelai smiled.

"Yeah." Luke replied casually. "Lorelai..." he said glancing over at her. "What was it about Matthew that almost made you marry him?"

Lorelai was caught a bit off guard by this question. "... I don't know. He seemed to be all the things I had been wanting."

"Like what?" Luke continued.

"Well, he was romantic, kind, funny, smart, witty, understanding. He wanted to be in Rory's life. He made me think he would take care of us." Lorelai paused. "It was nice to think that for once I could let down my guard and have someone else stand watch."

"No one else has ever made you feel safe?" Luke asked in a dry voice.

"Well... You have." Lorelai said half smiling. "But..." she trailed off.

"But what?"

Lorelai fidgeted around in her seat. "I guess I just never thought of you that way."

"And I guess you never will..." Luke added.

"I wouldn't say never." Lorelai replied before she even realized she was speaking.

"Good." Luke nodded and then the conversation was over.