The next week rolled by without further incident with Emily. The girls skipped their Friday night dinner, and stayed in their separate places, Rory catching up on articles at Yale, and Luke and Lorelai sitting in front of the television for a movie night.

"Luke, do you really like doing this, or are you just humoring me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this whole movie night thing. It was a Rory and me thing for a long time, and kind of became habit, but it's not something that the two of us have to always do."

"Lorelai, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't enjoy it, and besides… since we put the 'no more that one weepy chick flick a month' rule in place, I am perfectly content curling up on the couch here with you."

"Aww, Luke, you're so good to me…" she leans up into him for a kiss, letting it linger as the two lay curled together on the couch.

A few minutes into their little make out session, the pair was pulled apart by the annoying ring of the telephone.

"It's okay, let the machine get it."

"That was my plan all along."

They resume their previous positions until they hear the voice coming from the answering machine, certainly ruining the mood that they had.

"Lorelai, it's your mother. I'm not calling you to yell at you for not coming to dinner tonight, but I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. I know that my behavior was inexcusable last week, and I hope that you can forgive me. I wanted to call earlier this week, but knew that you needed some time to cool off. Well…hopefully I'll talk to you soon then…have a good evening."

"Wow, that actually sounded genuine!" Lorelai said to Luke with a shocked expression on her face. She then settled back into his embrace, and decided to start the movie. Just as she pushed play, the phone rang again.

"I'm sorry to bother you again, but… Lorelai… congratulations. I know that I never told you that, but I'm happy for you, and though you may not think I think so, I know that Luke is a good man. Your father also sends his congratulations as well. Yes, well, that's it then… good night."

He looked down into her face, wanting a reaction from her of some sort, but finding her with a deadpan expression.

"I'm still processing." she says with a sigh.

"Okay, just making sure." he replies, hugging her more closely as they start to focus in on the movie.

THE NEXT MORNING

His alarm clock was set early this morning because of an early delivery. He remembered then that he was still at Lorelai's, in her bed, which they stumbled to after a long night of movie watching and necking like teenagers.

"buzzing… stop the buzzing…" she mumbles, reaching a hand behind her and smacking what she thought was the alarm.

"Ow… Lorelai!" he shouts, rubbing his cheek where she hit him in her waking.

"Luke… buzz… no more… stop!"

Turning in bed to attend to the ringing on the nightstand, he tells her that he's working on it, hits the button and lays back down.

"This is why we go to bed early on the nights that I have my early deliveries."

"Stupid early! We talked about how I hate early… remember? I wanted to kill it… why did it come back?" she says with a slurred speech, still not allowing her eyes to open.

He laughs, and pulls her to him, kissing her hair while squeezing her tight. After a few minutes, she appears to be back in her slumber, and he quietly rolls out of bed, puts on his clothes, and makes his way to the diner.

A few hours later, Lorelai is awoken by a subtle knocking on her front door. Looking at the clock, she rolls out of bed and looks out her window, noticing an unfamiliar car parked outside her house. Pulling on her favorite Luke flannel, she made her way down the stairs and to the front door. Opening it, she was pleased to find Mia.

Looking at Lorelai's disheveled appearance, she asked, "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

"No, I just woke up, I'm sorry Mia…"

"You and Lucas sleep in on Saturdays I see…"

"Me AND Luke… no… me… yes… Luke and his happy little buzzing alarm were up at like… I don't know… the butt crack of dawn this morning. I semi-awaken, mumble, possibly hit him, say something about shoes, and then go back to sleep."

"So it's a good arrangement that you have then?"

"Most definitely! Can I get you some coffee Mia?"

"That would be wonderful!" she said, setting her bag on the table in the entryway.

"So… what's with the surprise?"

"Well, I was hoping that the two of us could get re-acquainted, maybe do some shopping in Hartford, swing by to pick up the little one on the way?"

"Well that sounds great… except for the Hartford thing…"

"What? Why?"

"Emily…"

"Your mother has feelings too, and you two just have to work it out. Just remember that…"

"I know that, and I tried to. In fact, I went to her and I talked with her, telling her that I was sorry for what happened back then, and asked her why it was that she never told me about meeting you."

"And?"

"Nothing, but then later on that week, Luke and I told her that we were getting married…."

"She must have been thrilled!"

"No… she thought that I was pregnant… which according to Emily Gilmore is the only reason why her daughter, queen disappointment, would ever think to get married."

"She doesn't think that…"

"I believe that I said that Luke and I were getting married, and I'm pretty sure the next words out of her mouth were 'How far along are you?' Pretty darned sure that's what she thinks."

"Give it time Lorelai, give it time." Mia sighed, sipping on her coffee.

Soon after, Mia shooed her up to the shower, and waited patiently in the kitchen for Lorelai's return. After sitting for a few moments, she pulled out a tattered piece of paper from her purse in the entryway. Staring at it for a few moments, she pulled out the cell phone she used for emergencies and dialed the number written on it.

"Gilmore residence."

"Yes, can I speak to Mrs. Gilmore please?"

"Can I tell her who is calling?"

"It's an old friend, Mia."

"Very well then, hold one moment"

She waited nervously, glancing at the steps every few moments. Finally the silence on the other end of the line was broken when Emily said hello.

"Emily…it's Mia…"

"What's happened! Is Lorelai all right!" she said in a frantic voice, concerned as to why the woman would call her.

"Everything is fine Emily… I just wanted to let you know that we're going to be in Hartford later today doing a little shopping, and I wanted to let you know that if you would by chance run into us, I'm sure that all sides will be heard."

"Though I do appreciate your concern for my daughter, Mia, I don't appreciate you assuming that I'm such a horrible mother that I can't talk to my own daughter without incident."

"Well, then Lorelai lied to me when she said that the news of her engagement to Lucas was met with an insinuation that she was pregnant then?"

There was a long pause after the accusation, and Mia knew that it was true, not that she ever doubted Lorelai for a second.

"Well, it's been nice chatting with you, but my attentions are needed elsewhere. I do apologize."

"It was a leap that I had to take. She needs a mother, and I'm certainly not it."

"Yes…well"

"I will tell you though, that I wish that I was. I don't think that I could be more proud of that young woman than if I had bore her myself. She has a great head on her shoulders, has raised a beautiful daughter all on her own, become the owner of a first class inn, and finally found the perfect man to settle herself down with. She has created quite the life for herself, and I'm so happy for her. I only wish the same for you."

"Again, thank you, but I really must be going…"

"Goodbye Emily."

There was no return but a click and the dial tone. She knew that they would see Emily today. All that she said was true, and she couldn't be more happy for and proud of Lorelai and all that she has done. She only wished that Emily could put aside her stubbornness and see how truly amazing her daughter was. She only wished that Lorelai could put aside her stubbornness and realize that her mother has just wanted the best for her all these years, and didn't know how to make her understand that.

As her thoughts continued, she heard running down the stairs, and a bubbly Lorelai coming into the kitchen.

"Are you ready?"

"I most certainly am!"

"Well, I called Rory, and she is actually on her way here, and seeing as I need my morning caffeine fix, she is going to meet us at Luke's."

"As long as we have a plan then!" Mia said, grabbing her purse and heading out the door behind Lorelai.

LUKE'S DINER

Upon entering the diner, they found it incredibly busy, even for the weekend. Nevertheless, when Luke's eyes met hers, he finished pouring a customer's coffee, and walked up to her, pulling her in for a kiss.

"Glad to see you decided to join us today." he says jokingly as he pulls away.

"Well, someone came to my door mentioning the word shopping, and how could I refuse."

"So that's how it works… all I have to do is mention shopping and you'll wake up mumbling and hitting free?"

"You misunderstand me, she woke me up at a reasonable hour… you on the other hand my friend force me to wake up before the sun is visible… and besides… you think it's cute!" she says, smiling as she leans up for another kiss.

"Ahem… Luke?" says an annoyed Taylor, pointing to his coffee cup. "Do you mind? I would much rather have a full cup of coffee then see you play kissy-face with your… your…"

"Fiancé…" Lorelai says, chiming in. "You can say it Taylor… I know it's what you've been dreading your entire life… but it doesn't change the fact."

With this, Taylor shook his head, and went back to minding his own business.

"Hold on, I'll be right back..." says Luke, annoyed.

"You're saving some of that for me aren't you?"

"That depends…"

"What? What do you mean it depends? There have never been conditions with this relationship? Me and you and coffee, we do good together!"

"Besides, you've seen me before coffee, remember? The hitting, the mumbling…"

"Yes, the faint resemblance to a human being before you get coffee… fine, but I'm gonna start sneaking in some decaf when you don't know about it."

"May I have a cup also?" says Mia, turning over the coffee cup at the counter, smiling at Luke.

"Besides, Rory is coming, and she'll back me up on this one! She won't leave me hanging!"

"And you're so sure of that?"

"Yes, I am!"

"MIA!"

They all turn to the diner's door to see Rory walk in. She runs into the open arms of Mia, then turns to her mother to give her the same warm regard.

"Mr. Grumpy pants is only giving out coffee under protest this morning." says Lorelai, with a pouting lower lip.

"As well he should!" she says, turning to Luke and smiling as Lorelai's eyes widen. "You know, I've actually been looking into this whole coffee obsession of ours, and it's not the healthiest, you know? Caffeine isn't really good for you, and technically it is a drug, which we have obviously gotten addicted to. The long-term effects of caffeine are quite surprising, but not so good. I'm trying to cut down of course."

"You are sooo not my child."

"Yes, I am, mainly proven by the drug addiction that was given to me in the womb!" she points accusingly at her mother.

"You were behind this anti-coffee, mean to mommy routine weren't you?" she points at Luke.

"I've always said there was hope for the younger one." he says, pouring Mia and Lorelai coffee, and asking Rory what she would like.

"Ummm… Orange juice please!" she says cheerfully. "So what is the plan again? Shopping?"

"Hmm… what? Mia, Luke did you hear that? What was that sound? It obviously wasn't my daughter, seeing as my daughter shares with me the love of caffeine."

"Again, the drama queen of Connecticut…"

"Whatever, I'm perfectly fine with you not being addicted to caffeine, but when you come home this summer, you will be so sad when I ban you from Luke Jr."

"Luke Jr.?... Wait…. WHAT! Oh my God! You're pregnant!" she screams, a lot louder than she intended, and all sounds of the diner stopped. All eyes were on Lorelai.

"Lorelai?" asked Luke, coming up to them from behind the counter.

Standing up, she started to speak. "Woah Woah! I assure you fine people that I am NOT pregnant! There was a misunderstanding! We're not even married yet, of course I'm not pregnant! Well, not that the whole marriage thing has stopped me before, but we won't get into that whole drama… again, NOT pregnant!"

As if nothing ever happened, the loud crashes and conversations start once again, and Lorelai met the eyes of her daughter.

"What would posses you to scream that?"

"Well, you said Luke Jr., and I assumed that you meant baby…"

"Well, because of an unfortunate accident involving a non working coffee maker and a hammer, our friend George the coffee maker is no longer with us. I bought a new one, and since I have a knack for naming all of the appliances in our household, I named him Luke Jr. because he keeps us in coffee, just like big Luke does."

"Dirty." Luke says from the counter nonchalantly.

With wide eyes, both of the Gilmore Girls turned to look at him.

"What?... wait… Aw jeez!... I'm turning into you!" he says, pointing at Lorelai.

Laughing, the girls turn back to Mia, who has been watching the entertaining scene before her silently while sipping on her coffee.

"Well, that was fun… shopping anyone?" Lorelai asks the two women, while getting up from her stool, picking up her purse, and walking to the door.

Now, I'm thinking that Mia is going to be a catalyst for the Lorelai/Emily happy relationship thing, well at least a start to it, so yeah, that's where I'm going. … maybe some wedding planning, and then there will definitely be a wedding! woohooo! Sorry it took so long for the update… minor writer's block!