Lorelai sidestepped into her living room in her Elmo-socked feet to the beat of The Clash. She juggled the phone, a bowl of popcorn, and several DVDs in her hands as a knock resonated on the door.

"Ah...ah no," she cried, trying to set down as many items as possible without permanently injuring herself. She ended up tossing all the items down on the couch and was shocked as (most of) the popcorn remained in the bowl. Breathing a sigh of relief, she ran to answer the door.

"Sookie brought fudge!" Sookie cried jubilantly, stepping past Lorelai. Lorelai cheered.

"You're pretty," she thanked her as Jackson rolled his eyes. Lorelai grinned and shut the door behind him. "So...I was going to get booze but I complied with ickle Jackie's wishes and I'm not going to let Sookie drink."

Jackson simpered. "Thank you. Even if I'm still the only one who cares about baby Colgate's welfare."

"You're seriously still naming her Colgate?" Lorelai rolled her eyes as Sookie wobbled to the kitchen. "Jesus, Jackson, no."

"My grandmother's name was Colgate!" he said defensively.

"So was the toothpaste!" she shot back as Sookie shouted from the kitchen.

"Jackson, tell her about the radishes!" Jackson scowled and grumbled.

"The radishes...the radishes came out on a good crop this time," he grumbled. Lorelai beamed and patted his arm.

"Good boy!"

Sookie reentered the living room laden down with boxes of leftover food and junk items. "What are we watching?"

"Well, we aren't starting yet," Lorelai said, craning her neck to look at the door. "We have an extra add-on tonight."

"Really?" Sookie frowned curiously. "Who?"

"Lisa Reisert," Lorelai informed. "She's going to be starting at the Inn, she's from Miami. A total sweetheart."

"Are you sure you should be inviting someone you just met over to your house?" Jackson said worriedly. Lorelai raised an eyebrow.

"Jackson, I promise, if she starts getting dodgy, I'll bust my ninja moves," Lorelai said sarcastically as the doorbell rang.

"Just because she seems okay, Lorelai..."

"Jackson, you haven't met-"

"She could be a-"

Lorelai opened the door to reveal the tiny woman on her doorstep. Jackson raised an eyebrow and turned a horrible shade of crimson. "Oh." And turned on his heel back to the living room.

Lisa was more nervous than she'd ever been in her entire life. She was horrible at making new friends and even around nice people like these she felt unliked. But whatever. She had a right to be paranoid.

"Hey, Leese," Lorelai smiled broadly as she threw open the door. Lisa grinned back and politely handed her the flowers she'd brought. Lorelai took them and Lisa stepped forward.

"Thanks so much for inviting me over," she said nervously.

"No problem," Lorelai shrugged and led Lisa to the sitting room.

"Guys, this is Lisa," Lorelai introduced. "Lisa, this is Sookie, Jackson, and Colgate."

"Ex-excuse me?" Lisa cleared her throat at the second name.

"Oh, yeah, Colgate...Sookie's pregnant..."

Lisa pretended that was the source for her confusion. "Oh, oh yeah...haha."

They sat down on the couch and Lisa started as she realized the huge quantity of food laden on the coffeetable.

"Wow," she said in astonishment. "What did you do, order something from everywhere in town?"

"Yeah, and some from Hartford," Lorelai responded seriously, grabbing a slice of pizza. "Don't be shy, go ahead. Casablanca?"

At first Lisa thought she was referring to some foreign alcoholic beverage when she realized she was talking about the movie. "Oh, yeah, sure." Lorelai started the film and Lisa tried to relax.

She needed to stop being so paranoid about people in general. She knew good and well that these people were in now way whatsoever affiliated with Rippner. He was just a memory. Or a horrible creepy memory who would be washed away with time.

It was just a hard road getting there. Why couldn't she get him out of her head? This was just way too weird for her. Why was he stuck in there like gum? Why was he so annoying? And why, most of all, why did she keep thinking of him in the airport? It was so...

She didn't realize she was crying until Lorelai looked at her.

"Sweetie," she said, concern lining her voice. "Are you okay?"

Lisa forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"Okay, see, that was a bad question," Lorelai frowned. "I mean to say, why are you crying and should I be kicking some guy's ass right now?"

"I don't know," Lisa laughed weakly. "I just...it's kind of a long story."

"I like stories," Lorelai pressed.

Lisa sighed. Tell her. Get it off your chest.

"It started when my grandmother died..."

And so she did.

"Damn these cheap hotel alarm clocks," Jackson cursed as he hastily fumbled with his belt. It was already five after six and he needed to get to work. As...a patty-flipper. Hooray.

He grabbed a jacket and darted outside as it began to rain. Luke was on the phone as he finally flew behind the counter. Luke glanced once at him and kept talking.

"Yeah, I know..." he sighed. "But its our only night, we didn't..." Another long pause and a sigh. "I understand, but..." He sighed again and turned to Jackson. "Hold on." Jackson nodded. "Yeah, Lorelai, just...I'll see you at breakfast, okay? Just go back to sleep or whatever." Luke hung up.

"Girlfriend problems?" Jackson smirked. Luke glared at him.

"Yeah. She's the Good Samaritan of the town and has to take any new girl under her wing. So currently she has this one chick staying over who told her some sob story and now Lorelai insists on spending the entire day with her doing, and I quote "girly things". So our plans for today are completely ruined. She even insists on dragging this girl around to the Founders Day Festival. I could still go, but..."

"Three's a crowd," Jackson filled in promptly. Luke nodded.

"Yeah," and then his face lit up. "Hey, I have an idea!"

"What?" Jackson asked cautiously.

"You could take her out for me! It could even be a double date, whatever. Just so I can see Lorelai. You're about my age, right? Please? It'll be perfect!"

Jackson paused. He wasn't really the blind-date type...actually dating...at all. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Listen, you don't even know if she'll want to go out with me."

"Please," Luke snorted. "With your "ravishing" good looks she'll be all over you." Jackson blinked, shocked.

"Well..."

"Please?" Obviously it was rare for this man to beg. Jackson sighed. What harm could it do?

"Fine. But one thing."

"Yeah?"

"Is she blonde?"

"I don't know," Luke frowned and got back on the phone.

"Hey, Lorelai, Luke again," he said, and then paused, scowling. "How hard would it have been just to pick the phone up as soon as it rang instead of throwing a pillow at it and causing it to fall over so you had to get out of bed to pick it up?" Jackson laughed. "Okay, so...my friend here...yeah the one you met in the diner, remember...yeah, well, he'll take her out! Your friend...yeah...on a date, yeah...he just wants to know if she's blonde..." He cupped a hand over the receiver. "No," he mouthed to Jackson. "Is that a good thing?" Jackson nodded. "Yeah. He'll go. Okay, see you at noon. Okay, Lorelai. Bye."

"Thanks so much, buddy," Luke shook his head gratefully. Jackson nodded.

"No problem. But you do realize that means I won't be working this afternoon?"

Luke nodded and waved it off. "Yup. Not in the diner, anyway."

Jackson cringed and hoped Luke wasn't serious.