See Chapter 1 for disclaimer and summery

A/N: I'll try not to make my A/N's as long as I did last time. I got a little write-happy. This chapter is dedicated to Javamaniac , who shares in my recent use of pop culture in everyday conversations. Gilmore Girls makes us smart!

Chapter 4: Sips, Slips, and Dreams

The diner bells happily jingled as the Gilmore Girls stepped into their favorite dining establishment. They chatted at full speed as they looked for an empty table. At 10 in the morning on a Sunday, the diner was still alive with the morning crowd. Not finding an empty table, the girls opted for the counter. Luke would never admit it to Lorelai, but serving them was usually the highlight of his day. Sure, he acted like he was irritated and grumpy, but the vivacity and feistiness that the girls were famous for made his working experience a bit more enjoyable. After taking the order of a nervous couple with a very sticky baby, we weaved through the crowded tables and made his way over to the counter.

"What can I get you?"

"Ah, how I've missed that," Lorelai said with a classic grin, "Well, I do believe those pancakes are in order, and an entire pot of coffee."

"No pot, I'm only giving you a cup."

"Excuse me, we are paying customers. If we want a pot, we will get a pot."

"Well as the proprietor of this establishment, I have the right to refuse service to anyone."

"Can he actually refuse service to us, a starving single mother and her beautiful child," Lorelai asked, directing her question at Rory.

"Yes, he can still refuse service, but when you put it that when you put it that way it sounds pretty heartless."

"Jeez," Luke grumbled, "What do you want, Rory?"

"Um, pancakes too, and make mine chocolate chip."

"Oooo, that sounds good, change mine to chocolate chip."

"Ok, coming up." Luke handed off the order to Caesar and grabbed two of his famous big mugs. Lorelai wore a greedy expression on her face and snatched up the mug as soon as Luke poured the heavenly coffee. For some reason beyond Luke's imagination, Rory was smirking at him. Then she spoke:

"Hey Luke."

"Yeah Rory."

"You work really hard and you look like you could use a break. Do you want a sip?"

Lorelai put the coffee mug up to her lips to hide her large grin.

"Ah, jeez. You told her?" Luke asked, glaring at Lorelai. Both girls stared back at Luke with huge grins, eyes shining.

"You didn't really expect for me to keep something so good to myself, did you?"

"Jeez," Luke muttered again, as he walked off to serve his other customers. Lorelai turned around to see him shake his head and mutter to himself and then she focused her attentions on her angel child.

"So I have the whole rest of the day planned, since I'm losing my baby girl for the whole summer."

"Aw, Mom. Now you have me all depressed about going."

"Oh, my baybee. Doesn't wanna be away from her mama. No she doesn't. No she doesn't.' Lorelai cooed and pinched Rory's cheeks.

"Welly Maw, suhties you need to git a gwip." Lorelai let go and patted her daughter's head. Then she got a crazy glint in her eye and stroked Rory's face with the back of her hand.

"I have the prettiest mother, everybody thinks so."

"And I believe the word I was looking for was…anyway."

"Ah, the queen of segues. Well, first we hit the malls and shop for some senator-worthy, Washingtonish, clothes. Ooo, and shoes. Ooo, and a Sephora run."

"You're taking me shopping! You really are the prettiest mother."

"Well, thanks, I try. Then, we'll hit one of the crappy summer flicks at the theatre, since you are leaving me and I won't go see them without you. Oh, and did I mention that you are leaving me?"

"No, I believe that was the first time. Thanks for reminding me."

"Then, we have plenty of time for you and Dean to spend some time together and suck face, followed by ultimate mother-daughter movie night. I believe your eminent departure deserves the best of Washington movies. Let's see, that'll be Dick, Dave, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and I was saving the best for last. I had Kirk save me Earth vs. the Flying Saucers."

"Don't think I heard of that one."

"Oh, I hadn't heard of it either. But, I googled movies that were set in Washington and I must say the plot is worthy of us. It's a 1950s sci-fi, and the summery said something about aluminum foil aliens and Cracker Jacks. Mommy did good, huh?"

"Sounds very good. Did you happen to factor in packing time for me?"

"That's all you, babe. I try to help, but I must say that you are very anal about the way you want your pants folded."

"I told you once, I told you a thousand times before. No wrinkles!"

"And NO WIRE HANGERS! ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH," Lorelai mocked, in her best Mommy Dearest vice.

"One of these days, Alice," Rory said, without emulating Jackie Gleason, "POW! Right to the moon!"

"Order up," Luke said , setting the steaming pancakes in front of the girls. As he set Lorelai's down in front of her, he accidentally brushed her hand. It was something that had probably happened a million times before, but Lorelai felt a chill run down her spine and the hair on her arms started to rise. Her heart was beating, but she couldn't figure out why. Luke has touched me hundreds of times. What is going on with me? Its almost like when I have feeling…Noooohohohoho, that can't be it. Luke is my friend. I do not feel anything for Luke other than that. Unless something happened last night…Stupid alcohol!

"Earth to Lorelai!" Rory said waving her hand in front of her mother's face.

"Huh? What? Oh, sorry. I must've zoned out."

"Yeah, you did one of those chill shakes too. What's up?"

"Uh, nothing. I don't even know what I was thinking about. Let's dig in," Lorelai said, attacking her pancakes with her fork. They ate in silence for a bit, until Rory couldn't stand it anymore.

"Were you thinking about Dad?"

"Ummm, not exactly. Just thinking in general. You're leaving me all summer you know."

"Kinda got that message. It's okay, if you were thinking about him. You can't really erase a Christopher encounter fast."

"I know, kiddo"

"Promise me you'll talk to someone, like Sookie, if you are feeling blue."

"I'll be okay sweets. You're a good kid. Same goes for you too, alright?" Rory nodded and Lorelai reached over and gave her daughter an impromptu hug and kiss on the forehead. "Now, let's finish our breakfast and go hit the town."

A few pancakes later, Luke came back over to the counter. The breakfast crowd had died down a bit, so Luke could spare a few moments with the Gilmore Girls. He couldn't help but notice Lorelai's intense loss of attention when he brought over her breakfast. Sure, their hands had accidentally touched. It had happened before and it was bound to happen again sometime. But, it felt different to Luke. His heart raced and he felt like he needed to get out of there as fast as possible. This time, he needed to get his cool back.

"Glad to see you're back with us," Luke said dryly. The sound of Luke's voice made Lorelai jump and her hand suddenly got a mind of its own. She hit her mug, spilling the hot coffee all over the counter. Lorelai jumped up and nearly fell over backwards. Rory reacted fast and jumped up from the stool, grabbing her mother's arm. Luke quickly sopped up the contents with his rag. Major Deja vu, Lorelai thought. Why does this situation seem so familiar.

"You okay?" Luke asked as he wiped the counter off with a wet rag,

"Oh yeah, um great, terrific. Just don't scare me like that ever again."

"Sorry 'bout that. I'll get you another cup."

Luke was true to his word and brought her another cup of the heavenly blend. He walked away to attend to other customers. Rory glared at Lorelai with a slight smirk on her face.

"What was that all about?"

"You saw what happened. Luke scared me to death."

"You knocked over a coffee cup. You would never waste a precious drop of Luke's coffee."

"Well, it was a fluke. Ha, Luke and fluke rhyme."

Rory's smirk turned into a smile and she started laughing, "The look on your face…priceless."

"Shut up."

Lorelai stood up and gathered their stuff as Rory left money for their breakfast. Rory was still laughing to herself as she calculated the tip, but was interrupted by Jess walking through the curtain. Rory tried to stand up fast, but her feet got tangled with the stool and she lurched forward, hands flailing in front of her. She knocked her breakfast plate off the counter and the crash made the entire diner become silent. As gracefully as she could, Rory got up and placed a couple extra dollars on the counter and walked as quickly as she could out the door. Lorelai followed, but caught Luke's glance and shrugged. Luke waved, knowing he would probably see them for dinner.

Outside, Lorelai laughed a bit, and Rory avoided looking at her mother as they made their way to the Jeep for their shopping excursion.

"Well, that was very graceful."

"Shut up."

They were sitting on the counter, something Luke would never allow under normal circumstances. It was post Truth or Dare, since the game got sillier after a few shots. They were drinking coffee. Luke and Lorelai were dinking coffee. LUKE DANES was drinking coffee without a bit of whiskey. He wasn't sure what motivated him to listen to Lorelai, but she insisted that it would help with the buzz. There wasn't much discussion, but Lorelai was humming 'Livin' on a Prayer.' She still couldn't believe that she had gotten Luke to admit that Bon Jovi was one of his bands of the 80s. He could've just thought of the first group that came to his head, but the confession made Lorelai gloat and mock all the same. Of course, she liked Bon Jovi too, but she never thought Luke was that kind of guy. She set her mug down in between Luke and herself, not realizing that the hot pot was still there. Her hand came in contact with the heat and she spilled the remaining contents of her own mug on the same hand, burning her. "Ow, dammit!" Luke reacted fast for someone who's inhibitions were slowed. He maneuvered around the counter and grabbed her wrist, getting her off the counter. He led her to the sink and ran the cold water, holding her hand under the flow and slightly rubbing it.

"Are you okay?"

"I think so," she said, turning her head to look at the fast-thinking diner man. They had ended up in quite a different position for them. Luke's arms were around her, and he was standing slightly to her left, very close. Both of his hands were holding her burned one under the water. When she turned her head, their faces were inches apart. It was like a spell took over Lorelai. This whole night had been about Luke helping her. She felt good in his arms, safer then she ever had in Max's or Christopher's. He was looking into her eyes, hands still holding hers. At the precise moment, she wanted to know what it would be like to kiss Luke. She sent him messages with her eyes, hoping he was thinking the same. And he was. One of his hands let go of hers, bringing it up to touch her face, cupping her chin with his dripping hand. Then he leaned in, very slowly.

The diner bells jingled and the unsuspecting couple jumped apart. Jess meandered into the diner, muttering something like "It's about time." Luke wasn't sure what to think anymore. Would he have gone through it? Did Lorelai want to kiss him. He wasn't so sure anymore. He grabbed a rag to dry his hands and handed it to Lorelai.. "Want another beer?"

Luke jumped as he woke from his dream. He had fallen asleep in his chair, watching the game. He dreamed of Lorelai. He dreamed of he and Lorelai kissing. He had dreamed of Lorelai before, embarrassed to even admit it to himself, but never had it been so vivid. It never seemed realistic. Is it possible…No, that didn't happen last night. But, it could have…

Lorelai sat up after her dream, causing Rory to almost lose control of the popcorn bowl.

"Jeez, Mom. Wake up a little nicer."

"Whoa, sorry. Weird dream. I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep."

"Yeah, good thing we decided to watch the alien one first, while we were still fresh. What'd you dream about?"

"Nothing significant," she lied, not wanting to admit that it was about her and Luke in a romantic position, "I want to think about it a bit more."

She went back to watching Mr. Smith in all his glory, but she had lost interest in the movie. Her heart was still beating. Wow, never dreamed of Luke like that. We almost dream kissed. Very weird. But why did it feel so familiar? Have I dreamt that before? No, I would've remembered a dream like that. Wait a minute, I was in my dress from the wedding. Did that happen last… No no no no, it couldn't have. Could it?

Curious, she looked at her left hand, examining it carefully. That's when she noticed the soft, white scar to the side. Like a burn scar. Oh my God!

A/N: I can't believe it! I made it to Chapter 4. I almost panicked because I got a little writer's block, but I think I made it through. I wanted some more LL action, but I wasn't sure how to go about it. Hope you enjoyed it! Please review, because they make me happy happy. I even put off writing my paper a bit more so I can give you guys a chapter.

So, I've been pretty lucky lately (knock on wood). A few weeks ago, my mom entered me in a raffle for a local high school back home, and I didn't even know about it. Well, it turns out, I won! $1500! I was shocked. I don't think I have ever held a check for that much. So, for the point of my story. I was holding the check and said, "Look at the pretty money! Pretty, pretty money!" Then, I was wondering where I had heard it before. Of course, Gilmore Girls. Gotta love Sookie. Ever have moments like that? I loved Tuesday's episode, even though I didn't think I would like Luke's little surprise. But, it was very well executed, not as soap operaish like it could've been. Please review.