"So...why did Taylor want a room?" Lorelai asked, flustered.

"I don't know. He was just trying to be difficult, I think," Michel grumbled. Sookie darted past them suddenly, holding a tray of hot cookies. She shouted back to them as she entered the lobby.

"No. His house has bugs."

"Bugs?" Lorelai frowned, almost amused. "Like...fleas?"

"No. Roaches," Sookie called back, laughing. "Yes, neat freak Taylor Doose has roaches, believe it or not."

"Wow," Lorelai laughed as Luke entered the inn. He kissed her on the cheek as his arm encircled her waist.

"Hey," she greeted him. "You ready to go?"

He nodded. "Yeah." Then he caught the mischievous look on her face and scowled. "Lorelai, no! We are not going to those waste of time-"

"Please? Do it for me?" Lorelai pouted.

"Why do you like them so much anyway?"

"They're fun," she giggled. Luke sighed.

"If we go, no french fries."

Lorelai gasped and pondered this. "No french fries?"

"Yup. It's Taylor or french fries."

She sighed and punched him on the arm. "Fine. I surrender. The fatty potatoes are calling me."

Luke grinned as they walked hand in hand to the diner. When they arrived he stepped behind the counter and began throwing hamburgers on the grill. Lorelai sat humming and tapping her fingers on the counter as the door opened with the bells chiming. She turned to see a pretty woman with curly auburn hair enter. She looked about her age, and completely exhausted. She smiled at Lorelai.

"Hi," she said shyly, gesturing to the barstool next to Lorelai. "Can I sit here?"

"Sure," Lorelai beamed, then put on a dramatic sad air. "My boyfriend left me to make out with the hamburger patties."

"Lorelai," Luke poked his head out behind the grill warningly. Then he saw the other woman and smiled in greeting. "Hey."

"Hi," she smiled back, then turned back to Lorelai. "Is the food good here? I was staying at this inn a few blocks down but I looked at the menu and saw absolutely no junkfood. The place looked nice but I need my fat calorie fix."

Lorelai smiled in recognition. "Oh, that'd be my inn! The Dragonfly? I own it. Sookie's kind of a health nut at times."

"Oh," the woman blushed. "It's a nice inn, I just-"

"No, no, don't worry," Lorelai laughed, placing a hand on her arm. The woman flinched. Lorelai frowned but kept talking. "I'm a junkfood junkie as well. Luke's is the best place for you, my friend."

"Good," the woman smiled and stuck out a hand. "Lisa Reisert."

"Lorelai Gilmore," Lorelai nodded and shook the woman's tiny hand. "You new around here?"

"Yeah," Lisa sighed. "Fresh off the plane."

"Vacation?"

Lisa looked pain-stricken for a moment, but then shook her head. "I hope so. But it may end up being...being long term."

"Um..." Lorelai tried not to press. But hey, she couldn't help it. She was curious.

The woman chewed her lip, her eyes looking sorrowful. "I'd rather...rather not talk about it."

"Okay," Lorelai shrugged. "As long as you're not on the run from the cops or something."

"Contrary," Lisa pointed out. "I'm on the run from someone who's on the run from the cops."

"Kinky," Lorelai said bubbly.

"Lorelai," Luke said, raising an eyebrow as he stepped out from behind the grill.

"Sorry!" she called back out. Then she leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to Lisa. "He gets excited when I mention kinky."

Lisa laughed but something caught in her throat and it sounded choked. Luke stepped out with two plates and handed one to Lorelai. He slid the other to Lisa.

"Want it?" he offered. Lisa looked down at the hamburger and golden fries. "It was originally for me, but if you're going to order it anyway there's no point of keeping it cold on the counter."

"Thanks," Lisa smiled and began eating. "I'm Lisa Reisert."

"Luke Danes."

Suddenly the door was thrown open and Rory dashed in, cell phone in hand. She was gasping for air.

"Mom," she gasped. "You left your cell at home. Guess who called?"

"No, no, no," Lorelai begged. "No, just tell her...tell Emily I..."

"Lorelai!" Lorelai winced as her mother's voice screeched over the phone. She sheepishly took the phone and spoke meekly.

"Yes."

"I know, Mom."

"I'm sorry, Mom."

"I had a date."

"Rory had homework."

"Yes, of course."

"Okay. See you next week."

She handed the phone back to Rory, stoneyfaced.

"You are going to burn in hell, my precious child," Lorelai growled. Rory shrugged.

"Sorry, but I'd rather you get yelled at than me," Rory beamed innocently. Lorelai narrowed her eyes but then turned to Lisa.

"This is my daughter, Rory," Lorelai said politely. "Well, at least I think she's my daughter. Right now I'm pegging her for the spawn of Satan."

Lisa laughed, looking confused. "I-um-your daughter?"

Lorelai nodded and understood. "Yeah. I'm not old or anything. I had her when I was sixteen."

"Oh, oh," Lisa blushed again. Rory shook her hand.

"How old are you, Rory?" Lisa asked kindly.

"Nineteen," she responded. Lisa nodded as Rory pulled up a chair next to her mother and ordered.

As soon as Lisa finished, she wiped her hands on the napkin, tossed some bills over the counter, and stood.

"Well, I have to go," she smiled at the couple. "But it was nice talking to you."

Luke handed back the money. "Here. First timers eat free."

Lisa blushed. "Oh, no, I couldn't-"

"Take it."

She smiled weakly and repocketed the cash. Lorelai watched her as she made her way back down the street, her navy blue skirt billowing slightly in the light wind.

Lisa smiled as she shut the Inn door behind her. She was beginning to like this place. Everybody was so nice, especially that Lorelai, Rory, and Luke. Rory was nineteen, so Lorelai must be...thirty five? So three years older than herself, she must be. Lisa smiled. She hoped they'd meet again, but in a town as small as this it was very likely. And she planned to eat at that diner a lot, and since Lorelai and Luke were obviously together...that would mean Lorelai would often be there.

Lisa threw her coat on the bed and tiptoed to the window, drawing back the curtains. She sighed as she overlooked the quaint town. A few people still were walking the streets. One caught her eye and her throat emitted a tiny scream.

Tall, with dark brown hair... and a thin build.

She turned quickly away from the window. No, no...it wasn't him, it couldn't be...she turned back. The girl she'd met in the diner, Rory, ran up to the man...or boy...and flung her arms around his neck. Phew. Nope, definitely not Jackson. Rory's boyfriend?"

Lisa moaned and collapsed on the bed. She wanted somebody. But why would anyone want her? She was picky. A perfectionist.

And damaged.