Insert Strong Bad voice:
Like a Phoenix, from the ashes

...she rises again!

DIRTY!

Written in the Stars
By Gilmoregirl1979 (the reigning Quote Queen)

Rating: PG-13

Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue. WE just use the Gilmore Girls dolls during our slumber parties…. It's fun (shirtless Luke: with coffee pouring action, and the "Fry it and Buy it" Luke's Diner Play Set sold separately!)

R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)

Summary/ The Q: What if LL hooked up when they first met? What if things had moved … a touch more quickly…?

Luvz: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY! (Well on MONDAY…)

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CH 11:
Luke's FUNK

As promised, Lorelai made a brief visit to the diner in the morning, her mind made up that she still wanted to see Luke. It wasn't until she left for work that she realized that they hadn't made plans for their next date when she left his place last night or the diner this morning. Luke had made a joke in passing that they seemed to see each other every other day, but that kind of reliable pattern may raise Rory's suspicions. Lorelai couldn't exactly bring up their dates in the middle of the diner, for fear of it getting back to Rory. She began to wonder if Luke had told anyone about their relationship. Lorelai couldn't help but obsess over these questions. Just as Luke didn't know where she lived, she had no idea what his home phone number was.

By Wednesday, Rory was ready to ask, "Mom, can we have a movie night?"

"Sure baby, what do you want to rent for Saturday?"

"No, I want a movie night tonight… your new schedule has thrown off our regular Movie Night schedule …"

"We watched one on Sunday, remember Willy Jack?"

"But it was a Sunday…"

"So…?" Lorelai still did not see her daughter's point.

"So it interferes with focusing on the movies, which is the real purpose of a Movie Night. When you have it on Sunday you only get this guilty gnawing feeling in the back of your mind, like 'Oh well, it's the beginning of another school week', and you can't give the movie your full focus because you know you can't stay up that late…"

"Well, what's the difference today on Wednesday?"

"Mom? You forgot…"

"No, I didn't… what'd I forget?"

"I don't have school tomorrow, parent/ teacher conferences?"

"Oh right…" that's why I have off tomorrow "so… that means you can stay up late?" and that means I can't see Luke.

"Yup… though I wish they'd make the conferences on Friday, then I could have a three day weekend…."

Rory was right, technically this should be time mother and daughter spend together, and even though Luke didn't know she was a mom, Luke never firmed up this evening's plans so, Lorelai decided to focus on Rory, to make up for her guilty conscience. The girls easily made impromptu plans together for Rory's day off. They would still get up like normal for the week, and be the first ones to be seen and thusly out of the way. When the required meeting concluded they could to do whatever Rory wanted with their mutual day off. Lorelai knew this would most likely include going to the bookstore for hours, see what was playing at Black White & Read, and Lorelai got the idea for a fun picnic in the park, complete with takeout's best! This would make up for missed Movie Night, and Lorelai wouldn't feel so bad, that is until she'd have to make up the missed date to Luke.

It wasn't long before Lorelai's "let's blow Luke off for not making a real date for tonight" resolve failed. Lorelai promised Rory she would finish the provision shopping for Junk Food and flicks while Rory was visiting Lane at the Kim's Picket fence, and she zeroed in on the nearest phone booth, she knew she had to clarify things with Luke.

"Luke's"

"Are we on for tonight?"

"Who is this?"

"It's … Lorelai," she replied timidly, wondering how many other girlfriends he had.

"Oh hey? ... I thought so… is tonight not good for you?" He could almost hear it in her voice.

"No, we had a sudden crisis at work… and well … I have to work" Great now I'm lying to him. "Judy called in sick, and Mia needs me," yeah Judy blame Judy.

"Oh, okay… well, we can reschedule…"

"Thanks Luke. I'll see you in the a.m.?"

"Alright… good night."

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Sookie came out of the Independence Inn's kitchen looking for Mia, but was surprised to find Luke wandering the Lobby instead. "Oh, hey Luke."

"Hey Sookie."

"What're you doing here?"

"Well Ben has things under control, so…" Luke knew that Lorelai and Sookie were best friends. Although, at that moment, Luke felt stupid for trying to be romantic and to get information from the best friend; "Actually… I was looking for Lorelai… thought maybe we could spend her break together." I wonder if she's told Sookie we're … seeing each other. He'd find out soon enough.

"Oh, she's not here," Sookie dismissed her common knowledge, her tone callous from Luke's point of view.

"She's not?" Luke's enthusiasm dimmed.

"No, silly, she only works the day shift now; she likes to have her nights free," So she can see you… well and her daughter…

If only Sookie had said half of that last part out loud.

"Oh… I must have misunderstood," And Luke abruptly left the Inn. "I thought Judy called in sick…?"

"Judy? …Oh Judy…I think she got fired last week… probably for calling in sick all the time."

"Oh… okay… ummm thanks Sookie…" why would Lorelai lie?

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Thursday,

While Rory was busy smuggling a CD over to Lane's before Mrs. Kim was ready for her own parent conferences, Lorelai went to the diner for her morning coffee, "Hey Luke."

"Hey," he answered shortly.

Okay? Weird… not as warm and friendly as I'd expect from the man I've been sleeping with. "So, um, I really appreciate… you being so… understanding about last night…"

"Oh really?"

There was something pointed about his tone, "Um, yeah? And I was wondering… if we could reschedule our date now…? Friday is usually a date night," Which still makes Saturday the usual Movie Night.

"Well, I don't know."

Lorelai was thrown for a second, "Why not?" Oh God, please tell me he isn't done with me…

"Are you sure that the Inn won't need you?"

"Well, I don't always know…"

"Well, how about when… what did you say her name was?"

"Um, Judy?" She was always calling in sick anyway. Lorelai played along with his questioning.

"Right, how about when Judy is fully recovered… we reschedule."

Luke was so cold and distant… Lorelai began to wonder what she did wrong "But … I liked having our… every other day dates…"

"Well, Mia needs you so…"

"Well, you know, all work and no play…." And she flashed that dazzling smile at him again.

Luke had to give Lorelai credit; even though he was mad at her for lying to him about working, she was persistently trying to spend time with him. Even if there was someone else… she was choosing to be with him. So, he broke down, "Maybe…"

"Okay then, tomorrow night?"

"Sure." In the meantime, maybe I can get the whole story.

"Is everything okay?" Lorelai was still worried about his indifferent behavior.

"Fine," Luke said as he went to settle a bill at the register.

"Right…. fine," and she sipped her coffee as she left, looking back at Luke before she went out the door, trying to figure out what was going on under that ball cap of his.

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That afternoon, Lorelai ranted in a stolen moment with her best friend while her daughter was busy in the bookstore. "It was sooo weird. I mean he is the one who didn't say his usual 'can I see you again?' deal," Lorelai disputed as she paced on the sidewalk surrounding the square with the busy bods bustling about, preparing for the annual Stars Hollow Flower Show.

"Well, maybe he thought it was your turn to mention it… maybe he thought you were just being polite… by continuing to see him?"

"I don't sleep with someone for the sake of being polite," Lorelai commented dryly.

"Well, I don't know… I mean you like him… and he likes you… even the other night when he came to the Inn asking for you…I was like, 'how sweet of him'…"

"He came to the Inn?" Oh no.

"Yeah, he wanted to see if you wanted to spend your break with him…"

"What did you say?"

"Don't worry, I didn't mention Rory… I just told him you didn't work nights…"

"Oh no, oh no, no, no, no, no… "

"What's wrong?"

"Well, to spend the night with Rory, I told him I had to work…"

"Oh no …" Sookie gasped as she realized her contribution to the situation. "What do you think he thinks?"

"Well probably that I'm lying to him…"

"You are lying to him."

"But I'm not cheating on him! Big difference," Lorelai defended, and then she added, "OH GOD… and on Monday, he asked me if there was some one else…"

"Well there is some one else … your daughter …"

"I know that! What must he think…" but Lorelai's worries over her boyfriend…had to be pushed aside, is he my boyfriend?

A "Mom!" was shouted from across the street. Lorelai turned and watched as her baby looked both ways and crossed the street at the crosswalk, and held hands with her friend Lane.

Rory was practically glowing over her new book. "Mom! Look, it's my new Pride and Prejudice… in hard cover!" This one is printed to last!

"That's great sweetie, "Lorelai tried to be enthusiastic and forced Luke out of her mind.

"Just smell it. It smells so new…"

"As opposed to the old copy which smells like mildew by now?"

"Didn't we throw it out?" Rory cocked her head to the side.

Lorelai scoffed, "You wouldn't let me, you insisted that we keep it until you got your new copy, and now, a year later…we can throw it out, my little pack rat."

"Well I learned from the best," Rory smiled.

Lane was beside Rory, a little timid, "Ask her…" she nudged her best friend.

Lorelai's mom radar was picking up subtle blips, "Ask me what?"

"Mom … can I spend the night over at Lane's… maybe… a few nights… strategically spaced apart…?"

"You mean purposefully subject yourself to multiple feedings of granola and tofu?"

"Well, yes…" Rory admitted.

"Why?" Lorelai's eyes narrowed.

Lane chimed in, "Well I have a little project… and Rory offered to help …"

"Ooh, a project…?" Lorelai nodded her head with interest. "What kind of project?"

"Well, it's a surprise actually… for my mom," Lane thought that would sell it better.

Rory, good honest child that she was, grinned, "You mean to keep from your mom."

"Rory…" Lane couldn't believe Rory would offer up the secret to her mom like that, she was still getting used to the fact that they could actually be honest with Lorelai, 'Cause she was cool.

"Okay, okay… what's going on…?" Lorelai finally asked.

"Lane has run out of room in her… secret closet…" Rory explained. "And she wants to…. expand …her storage…."

"By…?" Lorelai encouraged the justification.

"By … hollowing out her floorboards…?" It was then that Rory began to wince. Even my cool mom may not go for this.

"What?"

Lane had pitched this idea to Rory months ago, and they finally had it all planned out and were ready to take action. "Her floorboards are the perfect size to file CDs and her mom will never find 'em…"

"Not until she gets the CD sniffing dogs!"

Rory begged, again using her persuasive eyes, "Mom, please… I wanna help Lane… you yourself said no one should be denied the Bangles now that they are on CD."

"How are you gonna do it without Mrs. Kim finding out?"

Lane took that question. "Easy. She is holding choir practice at our house for the next few weeks. We just have to pry in beat to the music and we're all set."

Lorelai sighed. "Alright, though you force me to walk a fine line with the Mom Code."

"You are the best mom ever!" Rory shouted, and gave her mother a tackling hug, knocking Lorelai to the ground; both brunettes laughed at their less than graceful display, not caring about the stares they were getting from Taylor's busy worker bees.

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Friday,

Rory kept asking about Lorelai's nights at the Inn, and how long until Carly went on maternity leave, while in the back of her mind Lorelai was missing Luke. She made a point to remember to ask him about their plans for that evening. Lorelai discreetly glanced across the square, hoping for a glimpse of her beau as she dropped Rory off at school. Once Rory was safely inside, Lorelai's eyes fixed on the diner. She could almost smell his coffee. She didn't even bothering with her Jeep, and made her now second nature way across the square for a morning visit with her favorite coffee supplier. It was then that she saw there was an unusual amount of pedestrian traffic, and the crowd was gathered outside of Luke's. Lorelai wondered if the town knew about them. Wondered if his visit to the Inn had tipped everyone off. She cautiously and casually approached up to Miss Patty. "Hey Patty, what's the trouble?"

"Luke's is closed…"

Okay, not what I was expecting, as she tried to pick her jaw up off the ground, "What? Why?"

"Apparently… he's gone fishing." Kirk stated the obvious, reading from the cardboard sign in the window with a monotone a P.I. would envy.

Lorelai was confused. "That's it… he's gone fishing? Not mention of where or when he'll be back?"

Babette's raspy voice chimed in, "I think he got bad news from the bank…. Maybe he's gonna loose the diner…" she speculated to her neighbors.

Taylor chimed in "I have noticed he's been closing early lately…"

Babette jumped on that logic train. "Yeah, I noticed that too."

Taylor shrugged. "Maybe he runs out of food to serve…. Honestly, I run a grocery store… but he is too proud to cross the street and would never accept any help from me if his life …"

He closes for our dates, you nosey rumormonger …Lorelai pushed the insults aside, wanting to find her boyfriend, and asked anyone "Well doesn't he have a cell phone? Or some way to reach him…" Lorelai was starting to worry about more than her need of coffee, if Luke has skipped town.

"He doesn't believe in cell phones," Babette shook her head, "says they give you cancer."

"Or a convenient way to reach people!" Lorelai slapped her hands at her sides in frustration.

"Honey, I didn't realize you and Luke were acquainted…" Patty remarked, genuinely surprised, for she prided herself on being on the pulse of everything in this town. She tried to recall if she had ever seen Lorelai in the diner before, and Patty began to imagine the match of Luke and Lorelai, suppose Lorelai is just the girl Luke needs to get over that Rachel.

Lorelai knew she should play it cool. "Oh well, you know, where there is coffee, there is me," she laughed… and tried to downplay her concern for the man she had been dating on the DL. "I'll just go to Weston's. Bye ladies…"

Lorelai hurried to the other side of the square, and Fran smiled at Lorelai's return to her bakery. "Oh Lorelai, we don't see you in here much now…."

"Oh well, you know… I hate that alarm clock… finally threw it against the wall and now I'm late for everything. Um, do you have any fresh coffee, Fran?"

"Why of course, it's always brewing …" Fran said with her usual sunny smile.

Not as welcome a sight as Luke's butt… but okay. "Thanks." And Lorelai looked back out at the chitchatting crowd in front of the diner… and began to worry about where Luke had gotten himself to and why.

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"2 days? It's been 2 days; he hasn't shown up…he hasn't called …" Lorelai was munching on whatever scraps Sookie could spare.

"Well honey, he doesn't even know where you live, how is he supposed to call?" Sookie finished chopping the walnuts for her salad, her contribution to the Independence Inn's lunch crowd.

For Lorelai, today was another maid day, which didn't help her mood, "Maybe he doesn't think we're that serious," Lorelai speculated on a stool by the kitchen's center island, with waiters and line cooks buzzing about, "you know, he doesn't need to call or tell me where he was going… but we…" Lorelai lowered her voice to avoid the rest of the kitchen staff hearing, "we've slept together for Pete's sake… doesn't that give me priority over the fish? And we had a date set for last night… Friday night is date night and he just skips town."

"Well, it didn't help when you shied away."

"Well, I was having guilty mother syndrome… I felt like I wasn't seeing my kid…."

"A kid he doesn't know about," Sookie pointed out as she went to pull the Gorgonzola cheese from the fridge. "I think Babette is right. Maybe the money isn't coming in the diner and he's gonna loose it… aw, that would be a pity." She shook her head as she crumbled the cheese in the serving bowls to top off the lettuce.

"He's not gonna loose the diner," Lorelai quietly dismissed.

"Aw, what if he has to start over in a new town…"

"He's not leaving town." Don't even joke about that.

"Luke Danes, leaving everything he knows behind to start a new life far, far away…."

"He's not leaving town!" Lorelai insisted.

"Lorelai?" Sookie was surprised by her outburst. "You really care about him," she stated as she put down the bottle of balsamic vinaigrette she had sprinkled over the salad, happy that Lorelai may be taking the diner man seriously.

"Well, when you're … seeing someone" and sleeping with someone "… aren't you supposed to care?"

Rafael chose that moment to come in from his cigarette break. "You, maid… what are you doing in 'ere?"

"Talk to you later…" and Lorelai made a hasty retreat before the foreign head chef threw a pan at her head.

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"Mom, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Hon… why?"

"I don't know," Rory Holmes shrugged. "You seem… sad?"

"Well, I'm loosing my baby girl for the night. My usual entertainment for the evening," and Lorelai had to remind herself to force a smile.

"If it makes you feel better, it's for a good cause… the cause of Rock 'n Roll," Rory smiled enthusiastically.

"It does, baby…"

"Just think of it like… I'm going to work… and you can watch a movie with Sookie…"

"Yeah, okay…" as they reached the picket fence of Kim's Antiques, but Lorelai hesitated to go up the walk.

"Mom, you have to drop me off… at the door," the last phrase Rory droned to show her mom how ridiculous she was being.

"But Mrs. Kim is scary," Lorelai whined.

"I'll hold your hand the whole time," Rory soothed. "Besides, I have to spend the entire night with her…"

"Okay, okay you win." The pair knocked on the front door and cold pleasantries were exchanged with the Korean contingent of Stars Hollow.

Lorelai sighed as she found her keys again; dreading the lonely night before her until, across the square, she saw it.

The Hulk… The truck… Luke's truck… he's back…

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In no time at all, Lorelai was across the square, hoping her sudden speed didn't call attention to herself. She knocked on Luke's diner door. "Luke?"

His ball-capped head poked out of the back curtain and, when he saw her, his expression went from "annoyed" to "surprised" in an instant. Obviously, he wasn't expecting her. Luke opened the door with the familiar jingle above their heads. "Hey…"

Lorelai didn't know how to read his face. Is he nervous… happy to see me? ... Um, surprised that I'm here seems to be a given…"Yeah, hey?" Lorelai didn't know if he was mad about her lying to him that night over the phone, or if the town gossip was true, does Luke really have the diner's finances weighing on his mind? "Everything alright…?"

"Um, yeah…" Again, Luke was an unconvincing liar.

"Okay…" she said, her tone relaying that she didn't believe him. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure…" and he made way for her, and then shut the door.

They just stood in an awkward silence for a while, not meeting each other's gaze. Lorelai didn't know how to ask where he was… but figuring if this was the end for them … it might be too emotional a conversation to have in the middle of the diner. "So, um… can we go upstairs?" I have a feeling this is 'upstairs' talk.

"Sure," he agreed, only nodding his head, not taking his shy eyes off the ground. As Lorelai followed him up the stairs, she couldn't believe it was only a week ago that he led her up that same staircase to a romantic dinner and the first time they made love. My God, it was only a week ago? It feels like longer.

They entered the apartment, both keeping a safe distance, both apparently not knowing where they stood because the last few days had been weird without seeing the other.

Luke didn't know if he could look her in the eye, but when he finally did, he was overwhelmed. Her eyes were orbs of concern and he wanted to kiss her again. So he did: he just stepped forward, took her in his arms and kissed her. Lorelai's arms slid around him, happy to have him back. There was an urgent passion in this exchange, and Lorelai breathlessly confessed, "I missed you," between the kisses.

"Me too," Luke agreed.

"Where did you go?" she asked as she ran her fingers through the hair peaking out from under his ball cap, still placing random kisses on him. "You didn't say anything? You were gone for days…"

"Checking up on me?"

"Well you know … you sleep with someone, you just get an urge to keep tabs on 'em," she said as she placed her hands on his cheeks, and pressed her forehead against his.

"I'm sorry," and Luke gave her a squeeze, "my … trip… was unexpected."

"Trip?" Now we are getting to it.

"Yeah you know … fishing trip…"

"Well, sure, if the fish are biting …" Lorelai seemed to think he was looking at her differently. Something in his eyes, in his expression, had changed…

"Um, I know, I missed our date, but I can make it up to you…"

"Yeah? How?"

"Well, it so happens that I had a good fishing trip and I caught some nice… trout ... we could … have them next time you come for dinner."

"You caught a fish…"

"Yeah, a couple actually."

"You caught an animal and are gonna kill it and cook it for me?" Wow a man's man.

"Um, that was the general idea…" Luke replied, a little nervous she wasn't so keen on fish

"Well, I don't know … do they at least get a last phone call to their families?"

"Unfortunately, the fish are already dead," and they had a small laugh at the fishes' expense.

"Well, why can't we… have our make up date… tonight?" Lorelai suggested, knowing Rory was in good hands for the night.

"Oh well…" he seemed flustered. "I didn't know if you had already made … plans… you know… I was… gone… you didn't know if I was coming back…"

"I knew you would."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah… I knew…after all, I'm hard to resist," she grinned smugly.

"Yes you are…" Luke agreed.

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Lorelai just couldn't help herself, she loved being with Luke, especially now… naked, spooning with him in his bed, despite the fact that it was only a twin. She let Luke kiss her neck because he now knew exactly where she liked it, "Hmm, you should go fishing more often."

"I'll remember you said that," he teased, just happy she was with him again, knowing they had a lot to talk about …

"So, everything's good?"

"Mmh-hmm?"

"Did you get good news from the bank?"

"Huh?"

"Like a loan or something…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Your funk," Lorelai made clear.

"My…what? Seriously Lorelai, sometimes I don't understand a thing you say."

Lorelai rolled over to face the man she had a growing fondness for, yeah that sounds more mature than having a crush. "It had been reported that you were … in a mood for a few days there…"

"Okay?" Luke recalled the exact reason for his mood.

"Having seen these moods myself… well …it was speculated that you were… gonna loose the diner… because you weren't making any money…"

"What? Where are you getting this?" he asked, almost fascinated how a simple fishing trip could be so blown out of proportion.

"Town gossips…"

"And you believe them…?"

"Well you weren't here… to ask… soo…"

Luke took a deep breath and reassured her: "Everything is fine… I'm not gonna loose the diner…"

"But you were gone…"

"I know, I'm sorry… but I think we just made up for that…" He began playing with her hand.

It still gnawed on Lorelai that he wouldn't tell her where he went or the real reason why, even now that the gossips' theories had been shot down… but then she hadn't really told him the truth either… and she became distracted by the clock again.

Luke sighed, seeing where her gaze had landed. "Time to go already?" And he lay back down, settling in for sleep, basically letting her know she was free to go. No heart feelings.

"No arguments?"

"You have your reasons… you'll tell me… when you're ready…"

Instead of leaving, Lorelai turned her body completely towards Luke and pulled the covers over her bare shoulders, settling in for the night.

"Don't you have to get home?" Luke asked, confused by her relaxed body against his.

"Not tonight… I'm all yours, all night," and she slowly smoothed her hand across his stomach.

"Good to know," loving the feeling of her in his arms.

They became quiet, just on the edge of falling asleep, "Luke?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you my… boyfriend?" she asked hopefully through drowsy slits.

"If you like?" he mumbled, barely playing with her hair, as he was dozing off, and a smile formed on his face. Luke knew they were seeing each other regularly; they had a few dates, and had slept together a few times, which meant an awful lot to him.

"I would like… very much."

"Okay then."

Lorelai still felt guilty; naturally she should tell her boyfriend that she had a daughter. She was so comfortable and warm, but she knew it couldn't wait, so her mouth still made the effort, "Luke…"

"Hmm?"

"I have to tell you something…"

"Lorelai … tell me in the morning…" He gave her a reassuring squeeze.

By then I'll loose my nerve… "No Luke…" and she stifled a yawn, damn body giving out on me. "I have to tell you now…"

"Lorelai… it'll keep till morning, trust me…"

"Okay …" hating that he wouldn't listen now, but Lorelai needed one more dig in before they dozed off, "Luke?"

"Hmm?"

"You need a bigger bed," she mumbled as she fell asleep in his arms.

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AN: I know Kirk was originally Mick. Or what ever but here he is Kirk… I tell you I should be the consistency director of the show. My whole job would be to research the discrepancies and prevent the flaws for example (watch Gilmore girls over and over…and get paid for it AWESOME!) … To have them say Rory never shop lifted? HA I say, how soon we forget the cornstarch in kiss and tell. Hmmmmmmm?

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"That was all God given talent..." why thank you Luke!
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R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,
"...Remember this is for posterity, ... so be honest."
Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention..…) At least one specific thing you liked

Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)

Hence the Rant option below.

Insert Rant here V
A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return unused portion for a full refund …