A/N: Many much thanks to Jewels for being a wonderful beta! Also, a huge thanks to those involved in the writing sessions! They are very motivational! The final chapter will be following this one asap. Thanks!

Lorelai turned over onto her stomach and covered her head with the pillow attempting to keep the sun and the noise from alluring her awake. The night was long, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was get up.

"Mom, wake up! Mom! We have things to do," Rory yelled up the stairs. "Don't make me come up there!"

Lorelai groaned, hearing Rory's voice faintly downstairs. She hunkered down deeper under her covers to escape the inevitable.

Rory didn't hear a peep from her mom so she slowly walked up the stairs to her room and threw the door open. All she saw was a lump under the covers that was trying in vain to disappear.

Rory went over to the end of the bed and started to pull the covers down, revealing a pajama clad body.

Lorelai threw a pillow in the direction she was sure Rory was standing but missed. "Rory," she whined, slowly turning over onto her back with her hands over her eyes. "I just needed a few more minutes."

"We have plans today. I can't let you sleep the morning away." Rory got out a list from her pocket and started reading it off. "Luke's for breakfast, followed by shopping at Doose's. Then we come home with the groceries, put them away, and head to the mall for some sale shopping. And we can't forget lunch in the food court. This afternoon will be a marathon of musicals."

Lorelai moved her hands away from her eyes, glaring at Rory. "You are so annoying."

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Rory said, pointing a finger at her mother. "Remove yourself from that bed, grab a shower, and get dressed. And hurry. I'm starved. That Sherry doesn't know how to eat," she said, shaking her head and retreating back downstairs.

Lorelai sighed, rolling out of bed. She grabbed some clothes and dragged herself into the bathroom. As she went through her morning rituals, her thoughts ventured to the conclusions she arrived at the previous night. For once, her heart and head are in complete agreement with each other. She now knew with certainty what she wanted. The hard part was going to be assuring a certain person of her sincerity.

Finishing her hair and makeup, she glanced at herself in the mirror. She appeared to be ready to go. She was nervous about seeing Luke in the diner this morning. She really needed to talk to him, but would not be able to until later since Rory had planned out her entire day. She also knew that she should broach the subject of Luke with Rory, too. She wanted Rory to be comfortable with the prospect of Luke being a part of their lives as more than just the diner man. Although, he was always more than that to both of them.

Adjusting her sweater, she went to find Rory to make their trek to the diner.

xoxoxoxo

Luke searched the square for any signs of Rory and Lorelai. Even though he knew she had a lot to think about, he didn't want it to keep her from coming in.

His mind was spinning after the kiss. He was glad that he had the presence of mind to be able to step away from her because he could have let the kiss consume him. The feel of her in his arms was amazing. She fit perfectly. He thought that if he ever did get her into his arms that he would never be able to let go. But he did let go. It was the right decision. He wanted her to be certain that it was him, Luke Danes, that she wanted, and no one else.

He heard them before he saw them. Rory was bouncing around her mom, excitedly chattering about something. They were so full of life and that's one of the things he admired most about them. People were so easily sucked into their world just by being in the same room with them.

He noticed Rory walking away from Lorelai with a wave, and Lorelai stopping in front of the diner, meeting his eyes and smiling. So far so good, he thought. She's still looking at me.

She moved her way through the door and stood before him.

"Hey," he said. Very eloquent, Danes.

"Hey," she returned.

"You all alone this morning?" he asked.

"No, Rory's with me. She just had to run an errand."

"Well, take whatever empty table you want," he stated, gesturing around the diner.

"Okay."

"You okay?"

She sighed, "Yeah, just tired. Had a long, sleepless night."

"Go have a seat. I'll bring you some coffee."

She beamed at him. "Thanks. You know just what a girl needs."

He smiled in return, turning around to grab the coffee pot. He walked over to the table just as Rory came barreling through the door. She scooted into a chair and said, "Me too, please."

Luke rolled his eyes and murmured, "Junkies."

He circled the diner with the coffee pot, giving refills and taking orders. He heard bits of conversation coming from Lorelai and Rory's table. He wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but their discussion wasn't exactly in a private place. His interest perked up when he heard the words Chris, Sherry, and family. He decided to go take their orders when Rory quickly got up and left again.

He stopped beside Lorelai and asked, "What can I get you?"

"Oh, uh, I'm not sure. Rory and I were talking and never decided. I'll just wait until she gets back to order."

"I'll be right over there," he said, pointing to the counter.

Lorelai thought it was cute that Luke seemed a little nervous around her. Her mind starting going over the agenda for the day, trying to figure out the best time to discuss things with Luke. She didn't come to any conclusions when she heard her name being called. She turned her head to where the voice was coming from and saw Sherry and Christopher walking her way.

Sherry fired many questions at her about Rory's whereabouts and then decided to go find her. Lorelai was left with Chris who slid into a seat across from her. They smiled at each other.

"So, quaint evening of theater last night," he said with amusement.

"Ah yes, the Gilmore family players rival the Barrymores for their sophisticated, dramatic productions," she quipped.

"I never thought she'd freak over Rory not being there like that. I never wanted to put you in that position."

"Oh, you couldn't have known," she said, dismissing his concerns.

"I mean, Rory's missed the occasional dinner before."

"Yeah, well, this was compounded by other things."

"What other things?" he asked.

"You should know as well as I that when it comes to Emily Gilmore, it's never simple," she stated.

"Got it. Sherry had a really good time with Rory last night, and I hope Rory did too. I'm glad they were able to spend some time together. They are both very important to me."

"That's great, Chris. I'm glad you found someone," she said sincerely.

"Sherry is very impressed with Rory, and so am I. She's a great kid, Lor. It's been great getting to know her better."

Lorelai did a mental eye roll, cleared her throat, and said, "You could have gotten to know her a lot sooner. I mean, you could have been a part of the whole raising the kid thing with me."

"You wouldn't marry me. I tried to get you to, but you wouldn't even consider it."

"What does marrying me have to do with it? It shouldn't have stopped you from being there for your daughter." Lorelai glanced around the diner and noticed everyone was watching them.

"Lor, you didn't want me around, so I left." Chris' voice was getting progressively louder.

Incredulous, Lorelai reasoned, "See, that's not how I see it. I stayed awake most of the night reliving events from the past, trying to come to terms with things that have happened in my life, and I don't ever recall telling you to leave."

"Saying no to a marriage was as good as telling me that."

"Okay, even if I allow you that one flawed excuse, what does that really have to do with being a father to Rory? We've always been here. You had access. I would never have denied you a relationship with her."

"I was too young, Lor. I needed to live a little and find myself."

"Live a little? What do you think I've been doing for the past 17 years? I was right here, living, raising our daughter by myself. I was just as young as you were, and yet I did what I was supposed to do," she said forcefully.

"We were supposed to get married."

She slapped her head in exasperation. "Whatever, Christopher. I think it's time for you to go," she said standing up, gesturing to the door.

"Fine. See you around." Without a second glance, he walked out the door.

Lorelai saw him find Rory and Sherry, and give Rory a hug goodbye. Lorelai stood by the window, wondering how the conversation got so out of control. She felt a presence beside her. Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled sheepishly at Luke.

"You did nothing wrong," Luke said with conviction.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he said, squeezing her shoulder.

She turned around to face him and was about to say something, but Rory ran back into the diner and returned to her seat.

"I'm starved, let's order," Rory stated.

Lorelai and Rory placed their orders, ate their food, and walked up to the cash register to pay as Luke moved behind it to ring them up.

Lorelai looked over at Rory and said, "Hey, sweets, go wait for me outside. I'll be right out."

"Okay," she said a little puzzled. Turning to go she called over her shoulder, "Thanks, Luke!"

Lorelai grabbed Luke's hand, and pulled him behind the curtain.

"Luke, I really want to talk to you, but Rory and I kind of have plans all day, so I'll be by later if that's okay."

"Sure, I'll be here."

"Great. Thanks." She rose up on her tip toes, kissed him on the cheek, and whispered in his ear, "I'll talk to you later then."

"Later," Luke repeated in a daze, lightly rubbing his cheek.

xoxoxoxo

Lorelai joined Rory outside.

Rory gave her a peculiar look and asked as they began to walk, "What was that about?"

"Well, how would you feel if Luke and I, uh, started dating?"

Rory's eyebrows shot up. "Dating? When did this happen?"

"Um, see, we're not dating yet. But I, uh, hope to be soon." Lorelai chanced a glance at Rory to gauge her reaction.

"You dating Luke."

"Yes, if it all works out after I talk to him."

"Why wouldn't it?"

"See, last night after the Friday night dinner from hell, I started thinking about some things mom said about your dad and I."

Rory gave Lorelai a dumbfounded look.

"Yeah, I know. Pigs must be flying." Lorelai continued, "I don't usually dwell too much on things mom says, but I don't know, I couldn't stop thinking about this."

"What did she say?" Rory asked very curious.

"She said 'Christopher got his life together with that woman and it should've been you'. You know up until that point the thought had never entered my mind. That's not to say that there aren't pangs of jealousy, but I really am happy for him."

"Yeah, I really think Sherry is good for him."

"I think that's great, but I guess there was always a small part of me that saw the three of us as a family, someday, and so when mom said that, I started thinking about it. I wondered a lot of things about your dad that I really don't want to get into with you," Lorelai said, taking a breath. "However, last night during my musings, I discovered that at some point the male lead in those family fantasies had changed."

"To whom?"

"To Luke. Rory, you know as well as I do what an amazing man Luke is. He has really been the only man that has been a constant in my life, in our lives really, and I finally saw him as not just our food provider but as a very attractive man that cares about us."

"Wow, Mom. Luke, really?" She looked at her mom who was nodding her head yes. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, I can see the chemistry between you two, and I've always known he's liked you so it only makes sense."

"Are you okay with this?"

"Yeah, I think so. All I want is for you to be happy," Rory said with conviction. "So has Luke declared his feelings?"

As they walked around the square, Lorelai filled Rory in on the happenings of the night before in the diner, and her night spent wrestling with her thoughts. She convinced Rory that she was fine to go along with the set plans for the day and that she and Luke would talk later.

Lorelai was anxious to have that talk.