A/N: This chapter was really fun to write. I hope I am not butchering Lorelai's character. I really am trying to keep the characters as much like themselves as possible. However, writing Lorelai is really tricky since she is so different from me. I'm trying to keep her light and funny in this chapter. I hope I did not fail too miserably. Thanks to J. Stone for reviewing-made my day. It's nice knowing that even just one person is enjoying what you write.

I panicked when I first woke up in a strange place. Then I recognized Luke's apartment and last nights events came rushing back to me. God, that was embarrassing. Why couldn't I ever be cool, calm, and collected when Luke is around? Probably because I'm never calm or collected, but still it would be nice if Luke didn't always see my breakdowns. I sat up in bed and glanced at the clock on Luke's night stand- 10:00. On that same nightstand sat a cup of the elixir of life, coffee. I smiled at Luke's understanding of my needs and my stomach jumped. Okay, don't exactly know what that was about, probably just hungry. There was a note next to my beloved coffee. It read:

Hey Lore,

Hope you're feeling better this morning. Sorry I had to open the diner this morning, so I'm downstairs. Feel free to heat your coffee in microwave-that is if you have not finished it yet-before you come downstairs. I'll make you breakfast when you get down. I don't know how to avoid people seeing you come down the stairs; we'll just have to deal with the talk I guess. I had your jeep towed to your house so you don't have to worry about it. I'll stop by to fix it tonight after I close up the diner. If you need a vehicle before that you can take the truck, if you know how to drive stick.

-Luke

I couldn't help but laugh at the coffee part. That man really did know me well. My stomach just fluttered again, but I must have imagined it. Luke does not make my insides butterfly. He's just good old dependable Luke. I found a pen and strip of paper and scribbled a note back to Luke.

Luke,

Thanks for the hospitality. Sorry you always have to see me when I'm a running faucet. Don't worry about the jeep, I'll just have Gypsy fix it. I have already inconvenienced you enough. Thanks for everything you've done for me. Come over tonight after you close the diner for movie night.

-Lorelai

I invited him to movie night? I was just trying to be nice, I suppose. That or I did not want to have movie marathon by my self. That must be it. A movie night alone with Luke. That's some way to thank him, making him spend even more time with me. Oh my God, I really did like him. This town has always been right. I think I have for a while. I mean, there is an awful lot to like. He's a family man. Well, not completely, but when they were alive he was. He would've done anything for them. He'd do anything for me. He's probably the only reason Rory and I are even living today. He feeds us practically every meal, half of which he won't let us pay for. Oh my goodness, I've done the worst possible thing I could do. I've fallen for Luke, my best friend.

I did the only thing I could think of doing. I picked up Luke's phone, I did not know where mine was and this was urgent, and dialed Rory's cell.

"Hello, who is this? And why are you calling so early to wake me from my much needed beauty sleep? This had better be very important." Rory answered sleepily.

"I'm gonna puke, Rore. I've done something bad, something very bad. And now I am going to puke."

"Mom? What did you do for this sudden urge to vomit? And it couldn't have waited to an acceptable calling hour?"

"Hey, offspring of mine! Mommy is having a crisis, and all you can think of is sleep. Real good daughter you are."

"This better be a bigger crisis than if the Offspring are really better than Metallica, or what movies to watch tonight, or what pair of shoes to wear, or what you're gonna order at the diner today."

" So glad you think that your mother cannot take anything seriously. Because you know, I can be a real John Kerry when I need to be."

"Oh wow, bring out the politician references, this must be big. Okay, you have my complete attention. I'm listening, mom. Why are you nauseous?"

"Drum roll please, Rory. I like…I like…I think I may like…no, I know I like Luke. I mean really, really like. And now I want to puke both because I said it out loud and because I know it's true."

"Wow, mom, this is big. I mean I always knew you liked Luke. Everyone always knew. But you confirmed it even further when you broke off your wedding. But you admitting it that's big. You do know you can't just like Luke. I mean to be with Luke, you really have to BE with Luke. Like all the way, you can't just half do it. We both risk loosing a lot. You know that right?

"Oh really, now that's a bummer. I always thought of Luke as a 'love-em' and leave-em' type'- you know just another 'flavor of the week'. I had no idea I had to be serious with him. Darn, I was really looking forward to a good one-night stand. Honestly, Rory, why do you think I want to puke? I know what this entails. This is big, bigger than big, bigger than the Great Wall of China big. I've fallen for my best friend in the entire world…"

"HEY NOW!"

"I mean, other than my fabulous daughter."

"That's more like it! You know you do have to tell him. He's been waiting for you forever. Don't make him wait any longer. If you've decided you want to be with Luke, you have to let him know as soon as possible."

"Well, I'm not going to go downstairs and proclaim my love for him in the middle of the diner. I'm not Tom Cruise after all. And how are you so sure he has a thing for me?"

"Downstairs…Mom? Where are you?"

Whoops. I groaned. How could I have let that one slip? "Luke's apartment," I said very shyly.

"OH MY GOD! You are in his apartment at…10 in the morning? You went to the diner that early? And why are you in the apartment part anyway?

Wow, she could really take after my mother when she wanted to. I really did not want to tell my kid all of last night's events. "I slept over after Friday night dinner."

"Wow. I mean, wow. You slept over? Oh my- you didn't…you know-did you?"

"RORY! No I did not have sex with Luke! Your grandparents were just in real fine form last night and I didn't want to be alone. Luke has no idea of my feelings yet. Let's just leave it at that, okay?

"Well, you can't exactly blame me mom. You call, from Luke's apartment after having spent the night, with some epiphany of how you like him. I've got to wonder. All right, invite him to movie night tonight and tell him. And mom, if you don't I will when I get home."

"Wow, are you channeling Emily Gilmore's spirit? The similarities are uncanny."

"Grandma's trying to set you up with diner man? Somehow I doubt it. I've got to go now, mom. Goodbye."

"Bye, dear offspring of mine. Thanks for the crisis help."

I groaned as I thought about how I would have to tell Luke tonight. How was Rory so sure that he liked me anyway? I can't see how unless he is completely infatuated by water work displays. I probably repulse him. But I still do have to tell him, because I won't be able to live with myself if I don't. There would always be that chance that he feels the same way. And as long as that chance is there, I would go crazy not knowing. I got dressed and grabbed my note to Luke and prepared to walk down those stairs. I knew that the minute I appeared in the diner the rumor mills would have a field day. And the worst part is that they would be a little right. Because I, Lorelai Gilmore, really did like flannel-clad diner man. Just as I suspected, the whispers commenced the minute I showed up behind the counter. And of course, Miss Patty had to be there.

I went and found a seat and waited for Luke to come wait on me. He came bringing the God-given coffee. He made sure I was feeling better before bringing up the jeep.

"Hey, is it alright if I stop by tonight to fix the jeep?"

"Nope, Gypsy can do it. Not that I don't trust my jeep in your hands, but you've already done plenty enough for me."

"Really Lorelai, it's not a big deal. I can fix it, I am not doing anything else tonight."

"Good to know, but you're not fixing my car. And don't even try to argue with me. I run the inn, I can go there anytime I want. So I've got all day to sit here and argue. And do you really think you can out argue a Gilmore? Didn't think so."

He walked away, but as he did so he yelled, "You are impossible Lorelai Gilmore!"

Oh now, that is just not fair. It is way too easy, and I am not going to be able to resist the temptation. "Not what you were saying last night, Luke Danes!" I yelled back. I am definitely going to regret that one.

When I finished eating, I carefully folded the note to Luke in the money so no one would see me hand a note to Luke. I figured my little comment had done enough damage already. There is no need to further the whole I dug. I walked up to the counter and paid Luke. As I handed him the money I said, "You so much as think about bringing 'Bert' to my house tonight, and you are a dead man."

He found my note in the money and put it in his pocket. "You know, you've already made it worse with that sense of humor of yours. This stupid, crazy town is going to be talking for weeks."

I laughed. I couldn't help it. Sometimes he really was just that cute. "Ah now diner man, I have it on good authority that you actually like this 'stupid, crazy town'," I whispered to him. With that I turned and left the diner with an extra little jaunt in my step. Maybe this whole crush on Luke thing would be okay after all. We certainty had the flirting thing mastered already. Today was going to be a long day waiting for movie night tonight.