Ok, so I will try to keep this short. I was REALLY busy this week! I have had a lab to do almost every night this week. And add some French, some social studies, and some algebra 2, and you have got my whole week accounted for. What is the point of an Algebra 2 anyways? I mean, can't they fit it all in Algebra 1? So far I have learned nothing more. Just review. So technically I am getting credits for "learning" things I already know. What a waste of my time. I could have used that time for another class! Stupid school! And this little paragraph is not getting any smaller now is it? So, I have officially come to the conclusion that you have to be crazy to enjoy drawing a map of America--for the forth time. I am sorry, but don't we learn this stuff in 6th grade? I know that I did! So why am I being subjected to this pointless repetition! It makes me mad! Oh, and I would like to dedicate this chapter to my friend Maggie, who has not only helped me with my labs this week, but has also given me a copy of the music from the musical Rent. It made me happy. I believe she is the only friend that can keep me somewhat sane. So we should all be happy that I have Maggie as a friend, or you would be trying to read incoherent thoughts. So, now that I have given a summary of my whole entire week, I say: ON WITH THE STORY!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I do dream about it as I sleep through Algebra 2 though.

A/N:Italics are thoughts and flashbacks.

Chapter 5: Sniffy's and Snappy Hell

"Ooo! Over there! Over there!" Lorelai pointed over to the same booth that their first date had taken place. Luke just laughed as she ran over to the booth. He hesitated a bit so he could watch her.

She was so full of life, happiness, and joy. She was the one thing that could truly make him smile. She could also make him do other things but he quickly pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as he walked over to join her.

"Remember our first date here?" she asked as she looked up from her menu.

"yes." he answered. He was just watching her, observing her, basking in her ever-illuminating smile.

"And the horoscope. And the menu" she said gesturing towards the one lying unopened in front of Luke, "And the food. And Buddy and--" she was caught off by a short woman.

"Luke! Lorelai, dear!"

"Hi Maisy!" Lorelai said as she looked up to see the old woman standing before her. No change.

"Well I haven't seen you two in a while. It must be what, a year?" she said as she tried to count the months on her fingers.

"Yah! We've just been so busy lately!" Lorelai commented. Both Maisy and Lorelai glanced at Luke who was being silent. "Haven't we Luke?" she added nudging him with her elbow. Why wasn't he talking?

"Ow! Ah, yah. We have." he said unsurely. He knew what was coming next. Buddy.

"Luke! It's good to see you!" Buddy said as he came walking over. Luke smiled, stood up and hugged him.

"Yah, it is." Luke said as he sat back down. Now for the interrogation.

"So what have you been doing in the past year that has kept you from visiting?" Maisy asked.

"You, know, being busy." Lorelai said evasively. Not even ten minutes and the subject of the Luke and Lorelai fiasco of 2005 was already about to come up.

"Busy with what?" Maisy asked.

"Ah, well me and Luke, we kind of--" Lorelai started, but was interrupted by her cell phone going off. She looked to see who was calling.

"Who is it?" Luke asked.

"Ah, Rory. I have to go take this." she said looking up from her phone. "Be right back." she said kissing Luke on the cheek and then getting up to go talk to Rory. Once Lorelai was out of sight, Maisy's gaze moved back to Luke. She looked with eager eyes at him wanting him to continue the story. Luke didn't know what she wanted.

"So?" she asked.

"So what?" Luke asked.

"Continue with the story." Maisy demanded.

"Well, me and Lorelai, we were kind of…kind of broken up."

"Broken up? You two?" Maisy asked confused because she had never seen two people so in love and infatuated with each other.

"Yah, for a year."

"A year?"

"Yah. And during that time Lorelai was…Lorelai was…" he began. He didn't know how to say that Lorelai had been pregnant and yet not told him. He still didn't know why she didn't tell him. She could have always asked someone what Liz's number was. Even if he hadn't been staying there he would have told Liz where he was and Liz most surely would have relayed that information on to Lorelai.

"Lorelai was what?"

"Well she was pregnant." Luke finally was able to get out.

"She was what?" Maisy asked with a confused look on his face. Buddy was still standing there but he was completely silent letting Maisy ask all of the questions.

"She was pregnant."

"And now?"

"We have a son."

"A son? I have to sit down." Maisy said. She was overwhelmed by what she was being told. And all of this had happened in the past year and a half?

"His name is Jake. He is 7 months old."

"7 months? But…when did you two get back together?" Maisy asked wiping her hand over her forehead.

"Ah…about…three months ago" Luke said hesitantly.

"What!" Maisy asked. She was now REALLY confused.

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"Hey! What's up?" Lorelai asked Rory as she walked over to the bathroom in the back.

"oh, well I was just wondering if I can stop by the house later tonight and pick up a few of my books that I am storing there." she answer.

"Oh, yah! So what time?"

"How about in an hour or so. I forgot my key so I need someone to let me in. will you be home by then?"

"Ah…no. how about in two hours?"

"Ok. Thanks. Bye mom!" Rory said enthusiastically.

"Welcome! Bye babe." and they both hung up. Lorelai laughed when she remembered why Rory couldn't have used the spare key.

Two months previously

There was a thump heard outside. What the hell? Rory thought as she lay in bed. She glanced at the clock. 2:30. Thump!

"What the hell?" she said as she sat up and pulled the covers off from her slowly. She made her way out to the front door. Thump! "Ah!" Rory exclaimed. She opened the door only to find Kirk standing there…naked. "Kirk!" Rory squeaked. She quickly covered her eyes. He had been throwing the ceramic turtle against the wall.

"What do want?" Kirk yelled at her in a terrified tone. Rory heard voices coming from behind her.

"Rory what are you doing out--ah!" Lorelai exclaimed as she walked out onto the porch. She too covered her eyes. "Kirk! What in god's name are you doing?"

"The assassin was trying to get me!" he yelled throwing the turtle once again against the outside of the house, only this time missed and the turtle went through a window.

"What the hell was that?" Luke could be heard from in the house coming down the stairs.

"One, two--" Lorelai started to count and just when she was about to reach three, Jake started to cry from upstairs. "Wonderful! I just got him to sleep an hour ago!" she yelled.

"Lorelai what's wrong? You jumped out of bed an--oh Kirk!" Luke said turning around. Rory ran inside to grab something. She found a blanket on the couch and ran back outside.

"--what the hell are you doing here Kirk?" Luke asked just as Rory walked outside onto the porch. She had her eyes closed and she threw the blanket at Kirk.

"Here!" she yelled. She waited ten seconds and then lifted her hand from her face. He had the blanket wrapped around his waist.

"Hun, I am going to go see if I can get him to sleep." Lorelai said softly, referring to Jake. She looked exhausted and Luke could see it in her face. She trudged into the house, and out of sight.

"This is a very comfy blanket Rory. Thank you." Kirk said detracting Luke and Rory's attentions away from the half sleeping Lorelai that had just exited the scene.

"Kirk, for the second time, what the hell are you doing here?"

"Well I was running from the evil vampires that were flying after me, and then I ended up here and the next thing I know, the turtle is attacking me!" he exclaimed. Luke glanced at the window.

"And what is that?" Luke asked pointing at the window.

"Oh, well I finally got him off. And he just went flying through the window. Although I did see something shiny fly off from him. You should get that checked out." Kirk said as if he was making more sense than anyone else on earth.

"Kirk! Just…leave." Luke said trying to keep as quiet as possible. He could hear Jake still crying from upstairs, and he thought he could hear another quiet sob accompanying it.

"Can I keep the blanket?"

"Yes Kirk, you can keep the blanket." Kirk's face then lit up and he started running down the street screaming "I get to keep the blanket! I get to keep the blanket! I get to--ah! The vampires!"

All Rory and Luke could do was smile. Luke then gestured for Rory to enter the house. He followed her a few moments later and closed the door behind him. Rory picked up the turtle and looked in it.

"Luke, the key is missing."

Lorelai then walked over to the table where she heard a sudden "what?" coming from Maisy.

"Hey! What'd I miss?" she asked.

"Not as much as me!" Maisy answered before Luke could even think of an answer to Lorelai's question.

"What?"

"I told her about us breaking up, and about Jake." Luke said quickly.

"Oh. Yah, sorry Maisy. You did miss a lot." Lorelai commented as Maisy stood up. Lorelai took Maisy's place in the booth next to Luke.

"I still don't understand what happened exactly though." Maisy said.

"Well, let's see, last year, at the end of February, me and Luke had a…" she quickly glanced at Luke, "we had a misunderstanding, and then we broke up. I found out I was pregnant, but he left before I got a chance to tell him." she clarified.

"So when exactly did you get back together?" Maisy asked again trying to have Lorelai fill in the paragraph long blanks that Luke had left in the story.

"Ah…it was about three months ago. Luke came back, saw me with Jake, one thing led to another, and here we are now talking to you!" Lorelai added. She and Luke had never really discussed those fights and insecurities. They had scratched the surface but no effort had been made on either part to go more in-depth than that.

"Wow! So Luke has finally had the son he always secretly wanted!" Maisy teased. Luke blushed at this, it was true but he would never admit it, along with many other things.

"Yah he does." Lorelai smiled at the thought of them being the perfect family, "maybe we can bring Jake by the next time we come. How does that sound?" Lorelai asked. She just wanted to get on with the night.

"Oh yes! I would love to see him! Next week?" Maisy said excitedly.

"Ah, I can't. But how about the Thursday afterwards?" Lorelai suggested.

"Perfect! How does that sound Buddy? Our Lucas has a little baby!" Maisy said pinching Luke's cheeks. Lorelai was barely able to hold back her laughter.

"Sounds good to me!"

"Well we will let you get back to your date!" Maisy concluded as she walked back to the kitchen dragging Buddy behind her.

"Well that was interesting. I am sorry I had to leave you to fend for yourself." Lorelai said sympathetically.

"Oh it's ok. It wasn't actually that bad." Luke said.

"Well I'm glad!" she said with a smile on her face leaned in for a quick kiss. As she pulled back she remembered-- "oh, Rory is going to stop by the house in two hours--"

"And we need to be there to let her in." Luke finished.

"Don't start with me mister! I haven't had anytime to go get an extra copy!"

"A key doesn't take long to copy!"

"Ha! Then why don't you do it?"

"Because I like arguing with you." he said with a grin on his face. He gave her a peck on the lips.

"You are changing the subject!" she said childishly pointing a finger at Luke.

"A kiss is a subject?"

"Well if you can be an expert in it then I believe it can be classified as one." she said.

"Oh, well then ok." he kissed her again.

"Going for your doctorate?" she asked smiling.

"Maybe." he leaned in for another kiss. This time it was repeated a couple of times before someone came over with their food. They smiled shyly and broke apart. Lorelai looked at her plate. What the hell is this? She thought. She tasted it. It tasted like that sheep stomach she had at her mother's house the other day; Wonderful! On second thought, I don't want to know what it is.

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"I told you I didn't want to know! You deliberately disobeyed me! Go to your room!" Lorelai falsely chastised Luke.

"You did not tell me not to tell you what it was! You said 'what is this. It's so good!' and I answered "It's sheep stomach.'!" Luke responded as they both got out of the truck.

They had just arrived at Sookie's and were going in to get Jake. They both walked up to the porch.

"Well you are supposed to know that I don't really want to know what it is! You are supposed to say 'it is turkey, or chicken, or a very odd looking hamburger!' Not 'oh, it's sheep intestines!'" she complained hitting him in the arm.

"Sheep stomach." he corrected with a smile on his face.

"Whatever! Ah! You are getting pleasure out of this aren't you!" she said in astonishment when she saw his smile.

"maybe." he laughed. Luke then knocked on the door. Lorelai was just about to respond when the door flung open.

"Hey guys!" was Sookie's peppy response to seeing them standing in front of her.

"Hey Sook!" Lorelai said turning her attention from Luke to Sookie.

"Come on in! But be quite. All the kids are sleeping." she whispered as she led Luke and Lorelai into the house. Placed strategically around the living room were three sleeping children. It looked as if Martha had just been placed on the couch after falling asleep, while her older brother looked as if he had been in the middle of watching a movie which had been paused after his little nap began. The TV seemed to be just a blurry picture of some random cartoon talking. Lorelai flashed an asking glance at Sookie.

"Baby loonytoons." Lorelai tried to hold back the laughter. So not only had they been desperate enough to make the stupid show (wasn't the original enough?), but they had now copied it onto a tape and mass produced it. Oddly enough, those were also Luke's thoughts exactly.

And then Lorelai's gaze drifted to the port-a-crib sitting off to the side of the room. In it contained the little version of Luke that always made Lorelai smile when she thought of him as this. He was laying there with his mouth wide open with the tiniest hint of a smile.

"He's dreaming." Lorelai whispered.

"What?" Luke asked.

"He's dreaming Luke. Jake is dreaming." she smiled at the sight of her little baby who was now in the safety of his own little world. Lorelai just stood there overlooking Jake while Luke stood behind her, watching from over her shoulder. If only he could take this moment, stop time, and frame it. Frame it in one of those picture frames that are placed around almost every inhabited space of living. But again, that would be cheating.

"You guys want something to eat?" Sookie asked, oblivious to the hallmark moment that had been taking place. Lorelai and Luke were immediately pulled out of their little fantasies and day dreams.

"Ah, yeah, sure." Lorelai responded. Sookie walked into the kitchen to make some kind of snack. Lorelai glanced at Luke and flashed a quick smile before following Sookie into the kitchen. Luke smiled back, and once Lorelai was out of the room, he leaned down and kissed Jake on the head. He then trailed after Lorelai.

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"Ok, now I want some coffee." Lorelai said as she exited Rory's room. She had just put Jake back to bed, because he had woken up on the way back from Sookie's house. It had taken her 20 minutes at least and then he had woken up about 2 more times so she had to rock him back to sleep again. As she closed the door she spotted Luke at the kitchen table looking completely absorbed in some paperwork.

"hey, what ya doin'?" she asked. Luke was pulled out of his state of unawareness to find Lorelai watching him.

"Oh, ah, just some bills and stuff for the diner." he said. She looked exhausted, but she never would admit it. Luke just went back to his work though.

"Oh. So I guess you didn't hear my request for coffee."

"nope." he replied, not looking up from what seemed to be a very interesting sheet of paper covered in numbers. After a minute or so, Lorelai decided to just make it herself. She was shocked and astonished. She had just spent an hour and a half putting Jake to bed, and Luke couldn't even look up from his work to pay attention to what she was saying? She remembered the last time this happened. No, Luke and she were better. They had solved that! But he is ignoring you now! He is blowing you off! You just spent all that time doing something that benefits both of you, and he just pretends like it is nothing! SNAP! Her inner tolerance had just been broken. She didn't yell at him or anything, but inside she wanted to. When did he stop caring? When did he start to become the kind of man that ignores his girlfriend over some stupid bills that could be put off for another 5 minutes? She then recalled how Luke and she had been extremely happy for the past two months. But before that…they had had some problems. And now she was having flashbacks all over again. She hated that first month! She hated it! And she and Luke had worked things out, but this one little thing had brought that month tumbling back into her mind.

"Ok then…I will just make it myself." she said. She looked at Luke intently.

Silence.

After reminiscing over what had just happened, she walked over to the coffee pot. She filled up the coffee pot with water and then filled the coffee maker with it. She put in a new filter and some coffee grounds.She looked at them. Each time she made a pot of coffee, it was a different filter, different water, and different grounds, but at the same time, they were all the same rudimentary elements of the coffee making process. Was her life a coffee pot? Was it always a different guy, different situation, and different problem? Was the outcome always the same? Was Luke her new filter, and her different grounds, and different water? Was the outcome of there relationship going to be like the rest? Was Lorelai going to end up crying over more lost coffee?

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Sorry if none of that last part makes sense! But remember; only I know the real story! So, it may seem like that just came out of no where, but I will probably bring in the reasoning in the next chapter. So don't worry! If it did make sense, then great! So, do you like the metaphor at the end? And how was Sniffy's? Was it too odd? Was everyone in character? Did you like the Kirk thing? That Kirk thing becomes EXTREMELY important in the next chapter or so. The person that guesses why gets a unicorn (I'm out of ponies)! So, please review. I live off from them! Even if it is just to say "I like it!" or "it sucks! Go die!" please say it. Although, constructive criticism or just specific comments are greatly appreciated. I believe this is my longest chapter, so remember that!

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!