Thanks for being patient! I had a very busy weekend so I had no time to write at all! But I'm back home now so here's the next chapter. :)

Chapter 5

Lorelai woke up the following morning and squinted her eyes open and looked across her room. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered the previous evening. After the serious talking, her and Luke had drank a couple of beers and watched some tv. It felt so normal and such like old times. Lorelai had told Luke he could stay the night so he did but he insisted on staying on the couch and she reluctantly agreed knowing it would be best considering they probably had more things to talk about.

She slowly got up, putting her slippers on and dressing gown and going downstairs. She couldn't help but feel disappointed when she found the couch empty. Sighing, she went through to the kitchen for her morning coffee fix but found it had already been made for her along with a plate of pancakes. There was a note next to it so she picked it up and couldn't help the giddy smile that appeared on her face as she read it.

Hey, I had to get to the diner early today and I didn't want to wake you up. But I've made you some coffee and pancakes to make up for it. Hope you enjoy. Pop by later to the diner if you can. L. X

Lorelai sat down and sipped the coffee and then divulged in the pancakes which were as fluffy as she remembered them to be. She found herself polishing everything quickly as she wanted to get to the diner. She knew she had a few things to do at the inn first though.

After getting dressed and having a shower, Lorelai found herself at the Dragonfly. "Hey Michel!" She said.

"Ah you finally deigned to show up." Michel drawled sarcastically. "I was starting to wonder if you were just an hallucination."

"Ha you're so funny, Michel." Lorelai smirked. "I'm sorry that me seeing my only daughter off to her new job was such a hindrance on you."

"You disappeared for the whole day." Michel whined. "I had to deal with the nature hikers!"

Lorelai grinned. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah that sounded sincere." He said.

"I'm going to go see Sookie. Ok to hold the fort for a bit longer?" She smirked.

"As if I have a choice." Michel drawled.

"Thanks!" Lorelai grinned heading towards the kitchen. However before she reached it, she heard Michel's voice again.

"Did Rory get there ok?" Michel asked.

Lorelai smiled. She knew secretly that Michel cared for Rory. "Yeah she got there safely. Got her first day today." She said.

Michel nodded. "Good."

Lorelai smiled and went into the kitchen and beamed as she saw her best friend. "Hey Sook!"

"Lorelai!" Sookie smiled. "How are you?" She asked sympathetically.

"I'm doing ok." Lorelai said knowing she was referring to Rory.

"Good." Sookie said. "And I guess that has something to do with a certain man who runs a diner?" She said with a slight smirk.

Lorelai couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. "How did you find out?"

"Babette saw Luke leaving your house this morning. It's been all around town." Sookie said.

"Oh god. Luke's going to love that." Lorelai groaned.

"So are you two back together?" She asked.

"He slept on the couch." Lorelai clarified.

"Oh." Sookie said slightly disappointed.

"We just...We have a lot to sort out. We talked a lot last night which was good. But there's still stuff to sort out. I think we both want the same thing but we're taking it slow. We want it to work." Lorelai said.

Sookie nodded, understanding. "I get it." She then smiled. "I'm so happy for you. You two really do belong together."

"Thanks Sook." Lorelai smiled. "Well I better go let Michel take a break from his reception duties."

"Ok. Keep me updated on Rory and Luke." Sookie said.

"I will." Lorelai smiled and then headed back out to reception.

It wasn't until dinner time that Lorelai managed to finally get to the diner. She entered making the bells ring above the door and immediately smiled when she saw Luke behind the counter. She went up to the counter and sat down. "Hey." She said softly.

"Hey." He smiled. "I thought you weren't going to make it."

"Sorry. I got stuck at the inn. I also owed Michel a long break as he's covered for me the past day." She said.

"It's fine. I'm glad you were able to come by." Luke said.

"Me too." Lorelai smiled. "Thanks for the breakfast this morning. It was really sweet of you."

Luke shrugged. "Figured you'd be hungry and you're always craving coffee."

"I was. And I devoured it all." She grinned.

Luke rolled his eyes. "I knew making so many pancakes was a mistake."

Lorelai grinned and it went even broader as Luke placed a cup of coffee in front of her along with a burger.

"So...Anna called..." He said cautiously.

"Oh..uh..ok..." Lorelai said her heart dropping, her insecurities bubbling up again.

"You know how April and I were going on that boat trip but we can't go now because she got on that camp?" He said.

"Yeah..."

"Anna was ringing to say that it wasn't as long as April thought it would be for so I'll actually have her for three weeks instead of a couple." Luke said.

"Oh..well that'll be nice.." Lorelai said.

"Yeah." Luke said smiling slightly. He then looked at Lorelai. "I told Anna about us. About us talking again and us...well...us getting back together." He said.

"Oh." Lorelai said surprised he had brought it up so soon. "What did she say?" She asked dreading the answer.

"Not much." Luke said. "I told her she couldn't call the shots anymore and that when April was here, I wanted her to be able to spend time with you as well. I told her that I wouldn't let her push us apart again and that I have as much a decision in who April can spend time with as she does."

"Wow.." Lorelai said surprised.

"She wasn't happy but she reluctantly agreed I was right." Luke said. He then sighed. "I think, to be honest, she's afraid that you'll replace her. I'm not defending her but that's the only reason I can give for her actions."

"I don't want to replace anyone." Lorelai insisted. "I know what it's like to feel like that and it's not nice. I will never replace April's relationship with Anna. She's her mom." She said. "I just..I want to be able to spend time with April. She's a great kid."

"And you will." Luke said firmly. "Things will be different this time, I promise."

Lorelai looked at him and could tell he meant it. "Ok." She said with a small smile. "Thank you."

Luke nodded. "You doing anything tonight?" He asked.

"Not yet. But I'm hoping my boyfriend will come round and keep me company." Lorelai grinned.

Luke's heart swelled at her calling him her boyfriend again. "I think he can be persuaded." He smirked.

"Good." Lorelai grinned.

Meanwhile, back in New York, Rory had just come in from her first day and was exhausted. She had gotten a text from Jess after she'd left work to say he'd finished with his editor and that he was free to pop by if she still wanted him to so she told him to definitely pop by. She rang up for a takeaway and got two pizzas so that Jess could have some.

A while later, Jess arrived and soon after so did the pizza and they sat down on the couch to eat.

"So how was your first day?" Jess asked.

"Exhausting." Rory admitted. "But amazing! The buzz was so electric and I had so much to do. It was so good!" She enthused.

Jess smirked at her enthusiasm. "Good."

"How was your meeting with your editor?" She asked.

"Good." He nodded. "He liked it."

"Aw Jess that's great!" Rory smiled. "So you think it will get published?"

"I hope so." He nodded. He pulled out a book from his bag. "Here. Obviously it's not completely finished yet but thought it would be only right to let you have the first read." He said.

"Oh my god, I am so starting this tonight!" Rory grinned.

Jess chuckled. "You don't have to."

"I want to." Rory grinned. "This is amazing, Jess."

Jess ducked his head modestly. "Thanks."

Rory smiled. "So you're heading back to Truncheon tomorrow?" She asked.

"That's the plan." Jess nodded. He glanced across at her. "Although I was thinking that maybe I might hang around for a couple more days." He said cautiously.

"In New York?" Rory asked.

"Yeah." Jess nodded. "Would..uh..would that be ok?" He asked hesitantly.

Rory smiled. "I think that would be nice." She said softly.

Jess smiled and nodded. "Then maybe I will."

"Ok." Rory said.

"Ok." Jess smirked.

Hope you enjoyed it! :) Please keep the reviews coming as I love reading them so thank you! :)