Author's Note: You'll have to forgive me for not updating quickly; since this week I worked overnights (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) it's been difficult to write. But I've managed to get this chapter up to speed and want to get it out since I'll probably work the same schedule next week.

This chapter really sets the stage for the final two, which I'm in the process of editing as we speak. Even though the fourth season never shows that Lorelai told Sookie how she got the money, we'll assume she did since they are close friends. Because of that, the timeline may seem a little out of synch with the fourth season, but I assure you it's not.

As a teaser, both of the final chapters involve elements of the episodes that occurred right after 'The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais.' However, I've bent a few events to suit the needs of this fic, and Gilmore Time has again proved my undoing, so please be patient as I try to reconcile all these components into a believable story.

On to the main event…

"Now I've thrown something far,

And it haunts me like a curse.

I'm like a stone falling hard,

And I'm only getting worse."

'Competition Smile,' The Gin Blossoms

4. Lunchtime Confessions

(A couple of days later. Sookie and Lorelai are discussing the inn at Lorelai's house.)

"I would've loved to have seen how you got him to agree to give us thirty thousand dollars." Sookie laughs a little as she finishes up heating leftover Chinese food.

"Well it wasn't pretty, that's for sure." I try to play it off.

"You didn't cry did you?" Sookie jokes as she sets our lunch on my kitchen table.

"No." I deny.

"Well, come on then. How'd you do it? You've been keeping this from me for two days. Every time I bring it up you just shoot me down or change the subject. And for someone who complained a short while ago about a certain diner man working for the CIA, I have to say that you're giving him a run for his money." She giggles at that. "No pun intended."

"I'd rather not talk about that. We've got the money so let's focus on paying off these bills so Tom can pay his crew." I pick up my pencil and start to go over invoice details again.

"Come on Lorelai, what's going on?" Sookie sounds a little frustrated. "Why won't you just tell me how we got this money?"

"I don't want to talk about it!" I slam the pencil down and walk to the living room. I know I'm overreacting but I don't care. With a sigh I lie down on the couch and rub my forehead. My head is against the armrest and my feet are at the far end of the couch. I'm starting to get a cluster headache over my left eye as I realize that I'll have to tell Sookie how I managed to convince Luke to give us the money. A minute later Sookie finally comes out of the kitchen, gently moves my feet aside, and sits down.

"Okay." She pats my feet. "I want to know what happened that night, 'cause you're beginning to freak me out here."

I know Sookie's concerned, but I wish she would drop it. I open my eyes and see she is waiting for an answer.

"It was just a really bad night." I begin. "And I was feeling a little overwhelmed because I hadn't seen Rory in a while and I had another terrible dinner at my parents' house so I told him I wanted to cancel our dinner. But instead of going home I ended up having a major freak-out in the middle of the street and Luke had to calm me down."

"What do you mean?" Sookie asks.

"I just…broke down. I started sobbing and blubbering about not seeing Rory and having so much to do, and somewhere in there I told him I was going to ask for thirty thousand dollars. So Luke has to hold me while I cry my eyes out, and then…"

I don't think she needs the full version; not yet anyways.

"…eventually he takes me home and the next morning I'm holding a check from him for thirty thousand dollars."

Sookie has a look somewhere between fear and amazement. "Wow." Is all she can get out.

"That was basically my reaction. After the crying and the hysterics."

And the realization that we love him.

"I'm fine now, Sookie. Believe me. I'm just embarrassed about the whole thing."

"Why didn't you call me when you got home?" Sookie asks.

Because we spent the night with Luke. "I just…the whole night was a blur and after I got through crying to Luke I just needed to…process everything."

"I wish you hadn't spent the night alone." Sookie says.

We weren't alone. "No—I mean…I was fine. Luke did a pretty good job of cheering me up."

"Really?" Sookie sounds like she doesn't believe me.

"Yeah," I remember with a smile. "Some comfort, some tough love, a little bucking up and a motivational speech."

"All this from Luke?"

"Yep."

"Wow." Sookie repeats. "I didn't know he could be so…" she trails off, unable to find the word.

"Comforting?" I finish. "Calming? Safe?"

"It just seems so…un-Luke." Sookie thinks aloud. "I mean, I know he's a good guy, but that seems beyond the call of duty there."

"It was." I agree.

It was not the normal Luke, but I don't think it was un-Luke.

Sookie is quiet for several moments before she looks at me again. "And you're fine now?"

"Yes." I assure her. "Luke makes sure I've got my coffee and my sanity every time I go into the diner. I'd really rather not talk about it anymore."

"Alright," Sookie says. "Do you want to finish lunch now?"

"Yes." I stand up and Sookie gives me a tight hug before we get back to work.

Several hours later Sookie and I trail into Luke's with my laptop and a file-folder full of paperwork to go over. We set up shop next to the register and Luke has already pulled my coffee mug out from beneath the counter. He looks at all our stuff and asks, "Why don't you just commandeer a table again?"

"I need an internet connection tonight." I explain. "So I hope you're ready for some more limbo."

"Jeez." Luke grabs a bunch of menus and hands them to me. "See if you can get the cord a little higher this time." He picks up the coffee pot and leaves to check on the other customers.

We get set up and work for a few minutes before I notice that it's almost six o'clock. "Hey Luke, come here!"

"Just a minute." He's passing out plates and trying to fill a couple coffee cups.

"Hurry up!" Isay impatiently. Sookie nudges my elbow.

"What's going on?" she asks.

"Just got to show him something." I tell her.

"You ready to order?" Luke goes around the counter and under the cord.

"Shh." I grab his shirt sleeve and pull him close so that he's leaning on the counter. "Listen to this." I push a few buttons and my laptop makes a loud beeping sound. "Agh! Not that." I quickly exit out of whatever program I just opened and try again.

"What am I listening for?" Luke cranes his neck to try and see my screen but I swat him away. "Ow!" He backs off a little.

"It's a surprise." I tell him, still concentrating on my screen.

"How long does it take this surprise to load? 'Cause I'm a little short tonight since Lane is off." Luke scans the diner as he talks.

"Not long…" I look up from the screen. "Ooh, here we go! Three…two…one…" I turn the volume all the way up and a man's voice comes through the speakers.

"Turn it down—" Luke stops talking as a song fills the diner. A smile creeps across his face and then he laughs out loud. "Oh my God," is all he can get out.

"Recognize it?" I ask knowingly.

"Yeah." He's still smiling.

"Who is it?" Sookie asks.

"Jimmy Buffett." Luke answers.

"What song?" I quiz him.

"'Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.'" Luke replies. "Where did you find this?" He asks me.

"Well, brace yourself, Luke. I have found the official Parrothead network." I begin.

"What's a Parrothead?" Sookie wonders.

"A Jimmy Buffett fan." I explain before turning back to Luke. "This is and three times a day they play an hour of nothing but Jimmy Buffett songs."

"A whole hour?" Luke asks, and I nod back. "What possessed you to find this?"

"I figure anyone who writes a song about margaritas is a cool guy." I say. "Plus, it's just a little 'thank you' in return for…you know…the last few days." My eyes fall to the counter for a moment. "So, do you want to listen to it?"

"Sure." Luke refills my mug. "You know what you want for dinner?"

"Cheeseburger and fries." I decide.

"I'll have what she's having." Sookie says.

"Coming right up." Luke went into the kitchen.

"Did I just hear him humming?" Sookie whispers to me.

"I think so." I smile.

About ten minutes later Luke comes by with the food. "Enjoy." As he sets the plates down a new song begins and he chuckles a little. "This is your song." He tells me as he walks off.

"What?" I try to get him to explain, but then I hear the words in the song: 'Cheeseburger in paradise, medium rare with mustard be nice…'

Ah, that's why it's our song. I love it.

Sookie starts laughing. "Is he singing about food?"

"I think it's cute." I say.

"Of course you do. It's your song."

I ignore the obvious overtures in Sookie's statement. "Ooh, Luke, I heard that song you referenced the other night, very clever by the way." I wiggle my eyebrows.

"When was this?" Sookie asks.

"Um, it was after my little meltdown." I admit.

"Oh." I can tell Sookie wants me to explain, but thankfully she doesn't press me for answers.

We finish dinner and try to organize things for the inn, but it's nearly seven o'clock before the crowd starts to thin out and we are able to concentrate. Luke comes by to fill my cup for the third time. "I should just leave this with you like the other morning." He grouses as he pours.

"What?" Sookie perks up a little.

Red flag! Danger Will Robinson!

But he stops my rising concern. "Oh, she just wouldn't take no for an answer." Luke says without missing a beat. Good save Brodeur,I think, remembering the hockey highlights I'd seen on Sportscenter. Luke continues in a gruff voice. "It was just easier to leave the pot than listen to Scarlett O'Hara beg for coffee every five minutes."

Okay, no need to paint me as a psycho…

Sookie smiles a little at this and turns to me. "You should be nicer to him."

"I'm very nice to him—which reminds me." I turn to Luke. "I even washed your clothes. You can have your socks back tomorrow but I'm keeping the flannel forever." Luke looks extremely uncomfortable…

We might be in trouble with that comment. How loud did I say that?

"What!" Sookie yells, and the diner goes silent. "Sorry." She tells everyone, and they return to their own conversations.

I keep my voice low as I talk to Sookie. "Uh, it was really cold out the other night, so Luke let me borrow a shirt on the way home." I tried. Sookie just stares at me.

She isn't buying it.

"And the socks?" she asks pointedly.

"My feet were cold." I offer.

"She didn't have socks." Luke jumps in. "They didn't go with her Jimmy Choo's. I didn't want her to—you know—lose any toes…"

Man, we're flat-lining here.

Luke continues. "It was when Lorelai asked for help with the inn."

I don't think that makes it sound any better.

"Oh." Sookie seems to understand a little.

"It was a rough night." I remind her.

"I've…got to check on everyone else." Luke excuses himself. As soon as he is out of whispering range Sookie turns to me.

"What happened?" she tries to keep her voice down but it's nearly frantic. "Because all of the sudden it seems like I'm missing a huge part of what really went on that night."

And the next morning. "It's a really complicated story."

"Well, time is on my side." Sookie tells me.

"I'm not talking about it in the diner." I motion to the people still in it. "Let's go to my house." I'm leaving some money on the counter when Luke comes by again.

"You guys are going?" He seems a little nervous.

"Yeah, we're just—we got some things to finish up tonight that we left at my place."

"Okay…"

"Everything's fine. I'll see you tomorrow." I rush to get out the door.

"I want my flannel back too." I can't tell if Luke is joking or just trying to hold the fabric of our flimsy story together.

"Then come and get it." I cringe at my phrase.

Dirty!

"Err, we'll see about that. Bye" Sookie and I are out the door before he can answer.

Yes, I know, shameless advertising for But hey, it fit into the story. And check out the website if you want to hear some Buffett… Despite that weird schedule, look for an update within three or four days. Thanks for sticking with the story.