Disclaimer: Like everyone else, I own nothing except my imagination.

Author's Note: This was my first fanfic... ever! I was obnoxious and posted a "special edition" a la George Lucas, but in retrospect I'm just going to go back through this original and delete the annoying Author's Notes and call it a day. Happy reading! (And actual story-related note: this takes place after the Season 5 finale and goes into an obviously totally different direction.)

CHAPTER 1: UNDERWATER BASKET WEAVING

Rory sighed as she finished putting the last of her books on the shelves in the pool house.

"All finished," she announced to herself. She looked around. Satisfied with the unpacking, Rory moved all the empty boxes to beside the door. She gave one last forlorn glance at the empty window where her mother stood only moments before, and turned the lights out to go to sleep.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Luke, you heard me," replied Lorelai.

"I know, I just – uh, I just need to process this," Luke said, clearing his throat. His expression suddenly changed from one of surprise to his usual annoyed look.

"Waaaaait a minute; I'm supposed to ask you. You can't do anything traditional, for once, can you?"

"Nope! I mean, you know, I can do traditional, believe me; I even ordered a Honeybaked Ham one year for Christmas instead of Chinese, which either way you look at it can be traditional if you're going for A Christmas Story, you know, "fa ra ra ra ra" and all that jazz, but when it comes to the important stuff, well-"

Luke silenced her with a kiss.

"Is that a yes?" she whispered.

"Damn right, it is," he said huskily.

"A-hem?" she prompted, wiggling her left finger. Luke shot her another mock-annoyed look, then reached into his pocket.

"You knew the whole time, didn't you? When you went behind the counter?" he asked.

"A lady never tells," she said loftily.

"Aaargh!" Rory moaned, sliding her hand out from under the covers and smacking the nightstand in search of her alarm. It took a few seconds to realize it was her cell phone ringing.

"Hello?" she said groggily.

"Ace?"

"Yeah?"

She could hear Logan laughing on the other end. "Call me after your first cup."

"You know me so well," she murmured as she hung up. Rory reluctantly climbed out of bed. After her morning routine, she called Logan back.

"Hey you."

"Hiya, Ace. Do you have any plans for today? Because if not, I have a Jet-Ski with your name on it."

"Well, seeing as I'm a failure as a journalist, my mother hates me, and I have an impending sense of doom as to any job my grandparents set me up with, I planned a full day of self-pity. But the skiing sounds better."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. First things first. One, you are not a failure as a journalist; my father's an asshole. I thought we already established this. Two, I highly doubt your mother hates you, although I don't think she's quite warmed up to me. And finally, why are you grandparents finding you a job?"

Rory sighed. "Well, I'm relieved to hear that you don't think I'm a failure. I mean, when I told you about your dad's comment, you didn't exactly deny his assessment, and - "

"Rory, that's crap! You know I think you're a kick-ass journalist. Why else would I have let you cover the LDB event? I mean, you know, except for my overwhelming attraction to over-caffeinated brunettes."

Rory smiled.

"Seriously, Ace, you know my dad's full of shit."

"I know you have a strained relationship with him, but he still knows what he's talking about. He's, like, the king of journalism, and if he says I can't make it…I can't make it!"

"That's bullshit and you know it," Logan replied.

"Whatever," Rory said, annoyance creeping into her voice. She began pacing the room.

"So what's the deal with your grandparents and the job?" Logan said, attempting to change the subject.

"Well…" Rory said slowly. "My grandpa's probably going to get me a job for the time being because I dropped out of Yale." She cringed, waiting for the bomb to drop.

"Yeah, right," said Logan. There was a long pause on Rory's end. "Are you serious?" he exclaimed.

"Look, I just don't want to be the only person wandering around without a focus, a sense of purpose. I was so career-driven that I never even considered any other options. I'm just not going to waste my time and my grandparent's money on Underwater Basket Weaving while I decide what to do with my life," she said, finally running out of breath.

"Ok, ok. You know, it's alright to take a semester off. Most everybody does it nowadays. I'm just surprised that you would let one little comment from a known jackass deter you from your calling," Logan replied. Even though he sensed Rory's tension over the phone, he began to laugh.

"What?" she said tersely.

"I'm sorry… Underwater Basket Weaving?" he laughed.

Rory grinned as she flopped down on the couch.

"No, no, I really think Finn might have taken it during his "artistic" stage last year..."

The bell jingled over the front door of Taylor's shop.

"Welcome to- oh, it's you," Taylor said, his voice dropping from its usual chipper greeting tone.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, Taylor, we need to talk," Luke said.

"About what, pray tell? Your little game of hot potato with that house? First you want it, then you don't want it, then I presume you are interrupting my work day to-"

Luke gripped the edge of the countertop, looked down, took a deep breath and attempted not to throttle Taylor. "Ok, I know I said I didn't want the house, but I was hasty, so just tell me whether or not I need to kick Kirk's ass to get it back."

"Do you really want this house, Luke? Because I don't think I need to tell you that there are many interested parties, and although the board ruled in your favor, I'm beginning to believe that you don't really want this house," Taylor replied snootily.

"Look, I wanted the house, I still want the house, I only said that I didn't because Lorelai was mulling, but she is no longer mulling, so there is a non-issue with mulling because she decided not to be wooed by the fancy hotel chain and- " Luke stopped when he saw the confused look on Taylor's face. "Aw, jeez," he sighed. He decided to cut to the chase. "Look, we're engaged, ya happy? I want the house because we're getting married."

"Oh my! Well, congratulations, Luke! I can throw away the ribbons now. Unless you want me to save them for little Danes'?"

"Aw jeez. Do whatever you want with your ribbons. Look, can I have the house or what?" Luke replied, rolling his eyes.

"Welllllll," Taylor said, drawing out the moment as long as he could. When he saw the near-murderous look in Luke's eyes, he reconsidered. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be fair to let Kirk buy it after the board's decision, so yes, you may still buy the house."

"Thank you!" Luke said, with a look of relief. "Really, thanks, Taylor. Wow. I'm getting married…I'm getting married!" Luke's relief turned to elation. "Oh God, I gotta call Liz, and, heaven help me, T.J., and what are we gonna do about Rory…" Luke trailed off as he muttered to himself, walking back to the diner.

"Ok, Michel, is there anything left to do?" Lorelai asked.

"Hmm, let me see, there is an inn full of guests, who want their every need taken care of, and Sookie is not here so there is a staff of moderately competent cooks trying to feed them…I don't think so," Michel replied in his usual bored tone.

"A-ha! So what you're trying to say is that I should, in fact, stay here rather than go to Friday night dinner, because who knows what kind of crisis may arise than can only be quelled with my experienced hand? What if someone needs an extra towel? What if the hot water runs out and we need to fix it right away? What if they serve cranberry sauce from the can instead of with actual cranberries? What if someone is allergic to nuts, God forbid, and the almonds in tonight's special makes their head swell up and we need someone to call the EMT and explain? I think you can't live without me, Michel," Lorelai said excitedly.

"No," he deadpanned slowly. "Go to your mother's house. If you don't go, she'll call, and when Emily is angry she scares me. Now go."

"Alright, alright. But remember, if someone's pillow is not adequately fluffed, and only my special brand of fluffing will do-"

"Goodnight," he said airily.

"I'll miss you too," Lorelai said over her shoulder as she left the Inn. "Damn," she said softly to herself. She didn't know how she was going to face her parents and Rory, yet she could think of no feasible excuse for getting out of Friday night dinner. "Oh well, here goes nothin'."

Lorelai handed her coat to the latest maid and made her way into the sitting room.

"Hi, Mom, Dad," she said, with the slightest hint of sarcasm.

"Hello, Lorelai," they each replied. She and Rory looked at each other for a long moment.

"Hey, Mom," Rory said, breaking the silence, looking down as soon as she finished speaking.

"Hiya, kid," Lorelai said, false warmth in her voice. There was an awkward pause.

"Dinner is served," proclaimed the maid.

"Alright, Olga, not so loud," Emily said, frustration apparent in her voice. "Just because she finally has a grasp on the English language she thinks she has to shout everything." She huffily made her way into the dining room.

"Ladies," Richard said, gesturing for Lorelai and Rory to enter first.

They ate in relative silence for a full ten minutes before Emily burst out.

"I can't stand it, anymore. Lorelai, what is that thing on your finger!"

Lorelai grinned in spite of herself. "Oh, yeah, that. Hey, Mom, Luke's gonna make an honest woman outta me."

Emily's eyes grew big, and Richard shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Rory, forgetting her angry words with her mother, squealed with excitement.

"Oh my God! Oh my God, he did it! He proposed!" she exclaimed.

Lorelai smiled. "Well, almost," she said. "I kind of proposed to him."

"Oh wow. This is so amazing! Tell me everything. Oh God, do I have to call him Dad now? Step-Dad? Uncle Luke?"

"No honey, I'm thinkin' just Luke will do."

"Now wait just a minute!" Emily exclaimed. "I think we have a right to an explanation, don't we, Richard?"

"Your mother is right. You're serious with this Luke?" Richard said, frowning.

"Uh, yeah, Dad. I mean, he was going to propose anyway, I found the ring. I just beat him to it in a romantic moment," Lorelai replied.

"Ugh. I cannot believe that you are going to be Mrs. Greasy Diner. Richard, do something!" Emily shrieked.

"Now, now, just a minute. It's Lorelai's life. Lorelai, does he truly make you happy?" Richard asked.

"Yes, Dad," she said warmly. "I am so in love with him. And he's so good to Rory!" she exclaimed, watching Rory's face light up. "He loves her as if she were his daughter, and God, he loves me so much, too."

"Well, then that's all there is to it," Richard announced.

"Oh!" Emily huffed. Lorelai and Rory shared a secret grin.

"Mom, I'm so happy for you," Rory said as she walked Lorelai to her car, their arms linked.

"Thanks, kid."

"Wow, so does the pregnancy scare sound not so scary now?" Rory inquired.

"Hey, whoa! Let's not jump the gun here. One life-altering event at a time, ok?"

"Ok," Rory said as the conversation drifted off into silence. "Hey, Mom?" she said as they approached the car.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm not just overreacting about Mr. Huntzberger's comment. I really do think that I need some time off, regardless," Rory said quietly.

Lorelai sighed. "I don't know what to say, Rory. This isn't you. You're just so focused; you know what you want and you go after it. Still, I can't force you to go to school every day. But I think it sucks that the whole Huntzberger clan has gotten to you. Oh, what I wouldn't love to do to that family!"

"Well, I spoke to Logan again," Rory said.

"And?" Lorelai asked cautiously.

"And he said his dad was full of shit. He said that I would make a kick-ass journalist and to not listen to his father."

"Well…" Lorelai said.

"And he said that most everyone takes a semester off at some point in their college career, that it's perfectly normal."

"Oh, cuz he would know what's perfectly normal," Lorelai said bitingly. She saw Rory flinch, and knew she was pushing it. "Ok, kid," she said, sighing. "Tell you what; you take one semester off – a semester, mind you, not a whole damn year – and promise promise promise to go back to Yale."

"Ok, Mom, I promise."

Lorelai hugged Rory. "You know it's because I love you, right? I mean, you're supposed to have the better life here, and college is included."

"I know," Rory said, her voice muffled against her mother's shoulder.

"Love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

"Adios, kiddo," Lorelai said, getting into her car.

"Bye, Mom." Rory smiled and walked back to the pool house. She whipped out her cell phone as she shut the door.

"Lane! Hey, it's me. Guess what?" Rory said, flopping down on her couch.

"Rory! I have unbelievable news. But you go first." Lane replied.

"Well, my mom proposed to Luke!"

"Oh my God! That's amazing! 'Bout time, too. Wait, did you say she proposed to him?"

"Yeah, you know Mom."

"Yeah. So wait, does this mean he'll be at the wedding?"

"Well, generally it's considered polite for the groom to show up, yes."

"Not Luke, I mean Jess! If Luke is getting married, and Liz and T.J. live in Stars Hollow, then Jess is like totally obligated to come to the wedding. He might even be in it!"

"Oh. Um, well, I hadn't thought of that," Rory said, concern shadowing her voice.

"Have you even seen him since he showed up at Yale?" Lane asked.

"No, no…" Rory drifted off. She decided to change the subject to a more comfortable topic. "So what's this unbelievable news you have?"

"Oh my God, you wouldn't believe what my mother did; you remember the story about the tambourine band and the van? Well…"