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Lorelai: Yeah, it was a good party. Rory really loved that necklace you gave her. I love the fact that you think of her as a daughter and that she thinks of you as a father. It made me want to cry.

Luke: I know. I saw the tears in your eyes. I meant every word I said to her. (A few second pause) I wish we could talk more, but I need to get up early.

Lorelai: Yeah so do I. Rory and I have to get ready for that big trip to Europe.

Luke: Oh yeah. I almost forgot about that with everything that has happened today. (Pauses) Hey, are you doing anything tomorrow night?

Lorelai: No.

Luke: Why don't you come to the diner after I close and we can talk more?

Lorelai: Ok. That sounds good.

Luke: Great. Well I need to get going. (He leans forward and pecks her on the cheek.) Goodnight Lorelai.

Lorelai: Goodnight Luke.

Luke gets in his truck and starts the engine. As he starts to back out he waves to Lorelai and she waves back. Lorelai watches his truck until it disappears from sight. As Luke's truck disappears, Lane appears at the edge of the lawn and together she and Lorelai go into the house.

Chapter 6: The Cleanup

When Lorelai and Lane go back into the house, they find Rory waiting for them. Rory and Lane go out to the pile of presents and start going through them. Lorelai goes into the kitchen and starts trying to straighten up, but her thoughts turn to Luke and the events of the day. It amazes her that she even got the nerve up to tell Luke her feelings. Her thoughts are interrupted by the laughter of the two girls in the living room. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts of Luke that she never heard the girls bring the presents into the house. She looks around her at the mess in the kitchen and decides it's no use trying to clean up the kitchen tonight. She decides to get up early in the morning and get the girls to help her clean up. She heads into the living room toward the two girls.

Lorelai: Hey.

Rory and Lane: Hey.

Lorelai: How long are you two going to stay up?

Rory looks at Lane and Lane shrugs.

Rory: I don't know. Why?

Lorelai: Well I'm going to get up early tomorrow and try to at least straighten the house up. I would really like some help. (She smiles at each girl with a pleading look on her face.)

Rory and Lane look at each other and then at Lorelai.

Rory: I'll help.

Lane: I'll help too.

Lorelai: Well thank you.

Lane: No, thank you. I will stay as long as you need me. The longer I stay here the better. I know that as soon as I get home, my mom will want me to do something that I really won't want to do.

Lorelai (Gives her a strange look): You know you'll be cleaning, right?

Lane: Yeah, I know. I also know you make cleaning fun.

Lorelai smiles at her statement.

Lorelai: Unfortunately, I can't argue with you on that. I'm going to go to bed. Don't stay up to late otherwise you will not like me in the morning. Goodnight.

Rory and Lane: Goodnight.

Lorelai goes upstairs, changes and goes to bed. Rory and Lane talk for a while, mainly Luke and Lorelai and what Luke and Lorelai talked about. They went to bed after talking for about an hour.

The next morning, Lorelai changes into some old jeans and a t-shirt that she only wears around the house. She goes downstairs and wakes up the girls. She goes into the kitchen to make coffee while the girls change. She puts pop-tarts into the toaster while she waits for the coffee. The girls come into the kitchen and the three have some pop-tarts and coffee. Lorelai finishes the last bit of her pop-tart and clears her throat.

Lorelai: So how about we start in here, work through the living room, and then we can head outside. I don't think it will take us very long if we got on it and continue to work. Ok?

Lane nods.

Rory: Ok. Lets start cleaning.

With all three working together, they finish the kitchen in about an hour. Lorelai starts the dishwasher and then heads into the living room with the girls following her.

Lorelai: Rory, why don't you two girls take all the gifts into your room while I pick up all the cups and plates?

Rory: Ok.

Lane: Sure that sounds good.

Rory and Lane start picking up the gifts as Lorelai starts walking around gathering the cups and plates together. She heads into the kitchen and throws the cups and plates away. Rory and Lane go into the living room and gather up all the wrapping paper and other trash. They go into the kitchen to throw the paper away. They find Lorelai staring out the window lost in her thoughts. Rory clears her throat startling Lorelai.

Rory: What were you thinking about just now?

Lorelai: Nothing. I wasn't thinking about anything.

Rory and Lane exchange looks with each other.

Rory: Uh huh. Sure. Whatever you say. (Lane starts to laugh when the look of shock crosses Lorelai's features.)

Lorelai: Are you calling your mother a lair?

Rory: Yes.

Lorelai (Gasps): I can't believe you don't believe me, the woman who gave birth to you. I'm hurt. (She makes a sad face at Rory who just laughs.) Fine make fun of me.

Lorelai heads into the yard and starts to take down the decorations around the porch. Rory and Lane join her a few minutes later after they had calmed down. After taking off all the decorations around the porch, they throw everything into the trashcans on the side of the house. The girls go back into the house. Lorelai heads for the couch while Rory and Lane head to Rory's room.

Lorelai lies on the couch and thinks about Luke. She wonders what all they will talk about. Her thoughts then turn to what she will wear. She runs upstairs and starts to look through her closet excited about seeing Luke that night.

TBC

Authors Note: I'm not really sure about this chapter. I know there is not a lot of dialogue in this chapter, but I couldn't figure out how I wanted this chapter to go. Anyways please read and review.