A/N: So a lot of you have been telling me that Lorelai is a little OOC in this story. I'll try to do her justice a little bit better, as I pride myself on how I channel my idol. In writing it, I didn't notice the OOC-ness, actually, I was going for a sensitive-yet-witty side, and she's definitely trying to please Luke. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. See how this does for you, let me know.

"Lorelai, are you almost ready? We have to be at the airport in an hour," Luke called from downstairs.

Lorelai continued to shove tops into her already full suitcase. "I'll be down in just a minute, I'm just shutting my suitcase!" Lorelai replied.

She sat on top of the suitcase, trying to zip it shut. Just as the suitcase was almost finished, her phone rang. Lorelai attempted to stay on the suitcase and reach for the ringing phone at the same time. It just wasn't working. She got off the suitcase and answered the phone.

"Hello?" Lorelai answered, out of breath.

Rory giggled. "Mom, what have you been doing, going for a jog? You're practically gasping for air."

"Well, I didn't know suitcases were secretly mechanical bulls, disguised as suitcases, trying to throw women going on vacation off of them!" Lorelai replied, attempting once again to pull the zipper shut.

"Huh?" Rory asked.

"I can't shut my suitcase. I've tried and tried, but I just can't. And it is humanly impossible to eliminate anything from the suitcase. I've tried, but nothing in here is able to be left behind."

"Mom, really, let's go through the suitcase now. What's so bulky in there that you can't seem to shut it?" Rory asked, trying to be the voice of reason.

"Well, I have to have my 'Baseball for Dummies' book. That's a definite necessity. Except the book is kind of derogatory in a way, who's to say that I'm a dummy? Maybe I just don't care about baseball unless it's for Luke. Hey, did you know that the general manager of the Red Sox… his name is Theo Epstein, he's kind of cute, was the editor of the Yale Daily News?" Lorelai pondered.

"Mom, focus. How many pairs of shoes did you pack?"

Lorelai moved off of the top of the suitcase. "Well, there's the pair of red heels, the black heels, the pink heels, my white wedge heeled sandals, the pink wedge heeled sandals, the slippers… are slippers shoes?"

"Hmmm-mm. Too many pairs of shoes. You might want to consider three… okay, four, essential pairs. One pair of heels, a pair of flip flops that doesn't hurt your feet, a pair of sneakers or similar shoes to walk in, and slippers. That way, you have shoes to look really cute in for the daytime, but you can blow Luke away with your sexy night look," Rory suggested.

Lorelai laughed. "Yeah, like Luke would really be impressed by that. Should I bring my pink wedge sandals, or my pink heels?"

"Mom, close your eyes and point. You don't have a lot of time," Rory insisted.

Lorelai closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, I pick… you!" she pointed to her black heels. "Eh, good enough, I guess. Perfect for any occasion."

"Can you shut your suitcase now?" Rory asked.

Lorelai tried to pull the zipper shut. "Nope. He won't budge."

"How about if you take out a sweater? Buy a Red Sox sweatshirt once you get there, make Luke think you care," Rory suggested.

Lorelai pulled a sweater out of the suitcase. "You're genius. Everything fits now! Again, have I told you that your IQ level is very impressive?"

"About six times since we've started talking," Rory answered. "Remember: make him think you're loving this baseball thing. Do as he does."

Lorelai paused for a moment. "You know, Rory, I'm actually really excited about this," she admitted. "I kind of like baseball."

"You like baseball? Or do you like Luke?"

Lorelai gasped. "You think I like Luke? Is that why you made the comment about my night attire?"

"Well, you have been trying to memorize all 25 guys on the roster. And their numbers, and their statistics. Who else would you do it for?" Rory asked.

Lorelai started to drag the suitcase off of the bed. "Ah, if you liked baseball, I'd do it for you…"

"Mom, come on! You know you like Luke, and that's why you're doing all of this for him. You're trying to let him know, subconsciously. And we can't forget that dream..."

"Thank you, Freud, you can get back to writing some more of your extremely absurd theories now," Lorelai shot back.

"I bet you five bucks that when you get back from Boston, you'll agree with me," Rory insisted. "And why else would you still be going through on your brilliant plan?"

"Hey, that's where I draw the line. Do not mock my plan. Everyone wants their name on the scoreboard! It would be so awesome!"

"But from what I understand, he can't even see the scoreboard from the Green Monster," Rory said.

Lorelai sighed, crestfallen that her plan wasn't working. "Oh, no! That's so disappointing! It even said 'I Love Luke Danes' and it was going to be all flashy and stuff."

"Did it really say 'I Love Luke Danes'? If so, you owe me money," Rory insisted.

"No, I was kidding. It just said "Welcome to Fenway" or something really weird like that. I figured he'd like it!" Lorelai said.

"Well, Mom, call me when you get there, and have fun. I have a class to get to."

Lorelai sighed. "You're leaving me with Mr. Monosyllables?"

"You're the one that invited him, I have no sympathy for you, goodbye," Rory said, hanging up the phone.

Lorelai threw the phone down on the bed and dragged the suitcase downstairs.

"Do you need some help with that?" Luke asked, grimacing with every thump the suitcase made.

Lorelai shook her head. "Nah, I'm good. All right, I'm ready. Let's go! We're off to see the Wizard!"

Luke took Lorelai's bag as she rambled. "The Wizard? Lorelai, we're not going to the emerald city, you know," he said.

Lorelai shrugged. "Yeah, I know, we're going to Beantown. Hey, can we get some beans while we're there? I just want to see what all the hype is about. Ooh! And we need to go to Quincy Market. Rory says so. And she says we have to eat in the North End. Apparently they have excellent pizza."

Luke put Lorelai's bags in his truck and the two drove to the airport. "I wouldn't be surprised if airport security stops you because they think your bag is full of contraband," he said, lifting her bag out of the trunk.

"Ha, yeah, you're really funny, Luke. Quiz me on the player's numbers. I know them today, I swear," Lorelai insisted, taking the focus off of her bag.

Luke sighed. "Johnny Damon."

Lorelai jumped. "Ooh! He's the hairy one. Center field, number… 16?"

"18," Luke replied.

"So close."

"Trot Nixon. That's one you've been screwing up since I first started quizzing you," Luke said.

"Number 7, right field! Yes! I got it!" Lorelai said, smiling.

Lorelai handed the tickets to the woman at the gate and they found a spot on the plane. "You know, I really don't know why we have to fly from here to Boston… we could have just… you know, taken a camel, or a donkey, like they did in the good old days," Lorelai teased.

"Bill Mueller," Luke quizzed, ignoring Lorelai's side comment.

"You mean Bill Mule-er? You know, like a mule. You said Miller," Lorelai corrected.

"That's how he says his name, Lorelai. Bill Miller. Only it's spelled M-U-E…"

"I got it, I got it. Bill MILLER plays third base and he's number 11. I get him mixed up with Kevin Millar, number 15, first base slash outfield slash random player," Lorelai replied, proud of herself.

"Wow. Impressive," Luke mocked. "I think you're ready, you know the players and stuff," Luke insisted.

"Hey Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I have the window seat?" Lorelai pleaded, pouting.

Luke sighed and stood up to switch places with Lorelai.

"Thanks, Luke. For the seat, and for coming with me, and for sharing this… I know this means a lot to you, and I'll try really hard not to mock it too much," Lorelai said.

Luke shrugged. "Sure. And you can mock it if you want, but don't expect me to stop mocking your coffee consumption."

Lorelai smiled. "Deal."

Luke opened up an issue of Sports Illustrated and began reading. Lorelai stared at him and noticed he was wearing his blue cap, the staple blue cap she gave him. He needed a Red Sox hat, though. There was one in the basket, but that was really… just so not Luke. That became her new brilliant plan. She would get him to wear a Red Sox cap to the game… even if it was backwards.