A/N- Hello! I'm sorry but I realized that this chapter is really really necessary for things to make sense together. But there are a couple little hints here that you should enjoy.

In other news, I was re-watching Luke and Lorelai's first date episode today, which is one of my all-time favorite episodes, and the way they fell in love is so beautiful. It intimidated me into reworking parts of how this is gonna go, so bear with me, but I think you'll love it. And a random fact: any of my readers fans of Pretty Little Liars? If you are, the guy that plays TJs brother in that episode is Pastor Ted. Most amusing thing to me today.

As always, please keep reading and reviewing. I do not own Gilmore Girls and at this point in my year I barley get to own my own soul, so thanks for being here to let me express some sense of individuality and be an incredible support system.


Chapter 74

The moment Lorelai and Rory walked out the door, Luke pulled Jess into the kitchen.

"Call Rory, get her alone, and tell her that she needs to keep Lorelai away from the Inn all day. No exceptions."

"And what reason should I give for that request?"

"Say that I think it's absolutely necessary to her minute level of sanity, and to all of mine, to keep her away from it for a while. To distract her. Tell her to bring her to Hartford."

"What's in Hartford?"

"I don't know…isn't there a mall?"

"You're asking me?"

"Just make the call," Luke grinned, before walking out of the kitchen. He looked to be sure that Rory's car was gone and then immediately turned to Jess.

"You're coming with me. Cesar can handle all of this."

"So we're…"

"Going to the Inn."

"To…"

"Fix it."

"Is that possible?"

"Look, you do bookkeeping at Truncheon, right?"

"Some."

"Well, you'll work on that while I handle the physical destruction and we'll tag team on phone calls. I let Sookie and Michel know this morning and they'll be there to help, but by tonight if all goes as planned it should be done."

"So is this some big plan to…"

"No. I just want to make her happy. I can't even think about doing that until she's happy again. So tonight is just about making things better, fixing them for her. It'll happen eventually. When the time's right, I'll do it. And since I'm saying it to you, you know it's not bullshit."

"I believe you," Jess replied, "And I agree. But can I make a suggestion?"

"What?"

A moment later Luke was grinning from ear to ear. "Maybe we should bring it with us, just in case."

"Well aren't you a boy scout, always prepared," Jess smirked before following Luke out the door and to the truck.

Meanwhile Rory, having received Jess' message, was driving Lorelai out to Hartford for mani-pedi-facials followed by lunch followed by shopping followed by cake. A foolproof, time-perfected plan. Rory was sure there was more to the story than Jess was telling her but didn't press it, assuming that it probably wasn't his information to give.

"But I just want to…"

"No," Rory cut Lorelai off, shooting her a death glare for the eighth time in ten minutes, "And if you don't stop asking I'm making a stop at Grandma's."

"Why didn't I drive my own car?" Lorelai pouted, slouching back in her seat.

"Because you're the pretty one and I'm the smart one," Rory smirked.

"Says the girl who believed that stove burners were the devils hands."

"That's when my knowledge base was entirely formed by you."

"Excuses, excuses."

"So is purple with glitter weird now that I'm, like, a real adult?"

"Like that's stopped you with anything else."

"Rory…"

"People expect you to be glittery, Mom. They have at least 20 years of data to back up their hypotheses. I wouldn't overanalyze it."

"You aren't gonna do pink again, are you?"

"Just listen to the music and let me drive, okay?"

"Fine, fine," Lorelai relented, "But when you're toes are yawning from boredom constantly don't say I didn't warn you."

"When my toes start yawning I'll go blonde and get a tattoo of Bon Jovi lyrics on my hip."

"I don't know whether I'm repulsed or impressed by your ingenuity."

"I get it from you."

Later that evening, Luke returned from the Dragonfly's kitchen and handed Jess a fresh cup of coffee and some of Sookie's white chocolate macademia nut toffee cookies.

"Sit down, take a break," Luke gestured to the table, "We've done a hell of a lot."

"You've done a hell of a lot," Jess corrected, "The rest of us spent most of the day watching in awe at the fact that you can actually work a computer."

"Only in dire circumstances, and remember the confidentiality agreement. If you ever tell a soul…"

"You'll make Privet Drive look like Eden, I got it," Jess rolled his eyes, "But seriously, Luke, there's almost nothing left to do."

"Well, everything's in order, the reservations that got messed up have been fixed and or rebooked, the insurance guys have come and gone and done their estimates and been paid, and all of the stolen accounts have been re-secured with their respective agencies. Seriously Jess, I can't thank you enough for your help."

"It was nothing," Jess shrugged, "I get it."

"I know you do," Luke looked at him meaningfully and Jess nodded, "By the way, how's Rory doing with all that?"

"Better in my opinion but probably worse from an outward viewpoint," Jess answered, "She's at Truncheon more than ever and is barely doing anything for her jobs at those publications anymore. And she's taking her time. I think it'll happen soon."

"So she'll be okay?"

"She'll be better than she was before," Jess answered.

"And you two?"

"Same answer," he smirked. Luke grinned.

"Do me a favor and make sure Sookie's got dinner going? Rory and Lorelai are gonna be back soon and I want her to be surprised."

"And you're sure you're not…"

"Of course not! With Michel there?" Luke asked pointedly. Jess laughed.

"Really good point," Jess said, "I will no longer doubt your intentions. Just dinner at the Inn with the people who love it."

"And her."

"That too."