Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine; the errors, however, are.

Chapter 11: The adventures of wilderness girl

It was Monday, July 29; Rory and Jess were officially graduated from the beginners' swimming class. They had just received their certificates less than an hour ago; there was a presentation ceremony, some of the older kids showed off their more impressive skills, and, of course, snacks. However, unlike their fellow students Rory and Jess couldn't get excited about the ceremony; their minds kept wandering. The summer was almost over and they wondered what this meant for their friendship. This is why they were both at the diner just watching their ice cream melt as they stabbed it with their spoons.

"Ok guys. What's up?" Lorelai asked the silent pair since she was the currently sitting with them.

"We're just a little sad that summer's almost over," Rory honestly answered her mother, "Jess's mom could be here in as little as a week."

Luke walked over as he heard Rory's explanation. "I was thinking we could do something special this weekend to official mark the end of summer," Luke jumped into the conversation.

"Hey that sounds like a great idea," Lorelai answered trying to be the cheerleader for the group, "What did you have in mind?"

"Well when I was growing we would always go camping the last free weekend before school started," Luke started to explain watching the kids' face brighten up as Lorelai's face simultaneously fell, "What?"

"Couldn't we do something with air conditioning and I don't know toilets," Lorelai started freaking out.

Luke actual looked a little amused by her out burst. "Look it was just an idea," he stated sounding a little defeated.

Lorelai worked around the table she had just brought back down; all six eyes looked ridiculously sad and that's how she found herself saying, "Just how rustic are we talking here?"

Luke smiled at her gesture; "I've done a little research and found a great state park with full service bathrooms for every forty camp sites, and other facility in the interim. We will have tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, and anything else we might need." However Lorelai still looked like she needed some convincing. "We can make s-mores; the actual snack those awful mallomars you love so much are based on," Luke said making a face. Lorelai smiled a bit at that, so he continued with the food strategy, "Just about anything can make at the diner I can make on the camp stove."

Lorelai interrupted, "Ok let's go camping" she tried to smile.

Rory and Jess high-fived, happy to have something else to distract them from the eminent end of their summer.

"Uncle Luke can we go fishing?" Jess asked as Luke got up to help a new customer, who had just entered the diner.

"What?" Lorelai squeaked.

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Lorelai spent the next three days trying to think of a good excuse for not being able to go camping: she had to work, she had some weird allergy to tents or the outdoors, her and mother nature had some sort of disagreement years ago and couldn't be left alone together. "If it's not snow it's not worth it," Lorelai found herself whining to a pillow in Room 5.

"What's not worth it?" a voice from behind Lorelai asked.

Lorelai whipped around quickly still holding the pillow, not wanting to look quite so crazy in front of her boss, "Nothing," she said quietly.

"Let me guess; you're not as excited as Rory and Jess about the impending trip this weekend. Am I right?" Mia asked.

"You are a wonder," Lorelai smiled at the resourcefulness of her boss and one of her favorite people in the world.

"So why did you agree to this trip?" Mia continued to question.

"Well Rory and Jess were really excited about the idea, and they've been a little down thinking about Jess go back to New York in a manner of days," Lorelai explained as if she touting a company line.

"So there wouldn't be any other reason?" Mia tried one last time; she knew she was pushing, but under the circumstances she couldn't help herself.

"What are you insinuating?" Lorelai asked the kind woman, who was keeping an incredible poker face on.

"Nothing dear. I just thought there might be another reason you agreed to this trip. I guess I'm mistaken," Mia knowingly smiled as she left Lorelai to her own thoughts.

"Do I have a post-it on my forehead that says ask me about my inappropriate crush on my daughter's best friend's uncle?," Lorelai asked the pillow, "What do you know?" she threw the pillow back on the bed.

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Luke, on the other hand, had spent the last three days trying to gather up all the supplies they would need. He had the basics: a tent, camping stove, lantern, cooking supplies, two sleeping bags, and few other things he had collected through the years. However, this time he was taking three other people, and none of them had ever been camping before. This fact meant he needed a few more supplies and because of the money limitations of both adults; he had to face one of his greatest fears: ask the town for help. When the town heard about the trip everyone wanted to help anyway. Kirk had like five extra sleeping bags given he was from large family, which Luke thanked him for. Kirk also volunteer to go with them to be their guide through the woods since he had been in the same level of boy scouts for three years; Luke declined this offer and promptly threw Kirk out of the diner. Babette and Morey had camping chairs; they used on Morey's gigs. Many others offered their stuff, some of it was useful, some of it was not, and a few of the items were down right disturbing. Luke learned more things about his neighbors that week then he ever cared to know; however, by Thursday afternoon he had gathered up everything he could think they would need. Despite his reservations things seemed to be working out well.

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The foursome had decided to leave on Friday afternoon after Lorelai shift. Mia had replaced both of the missing maids in the last week, so Lorelai was free to go. Luke had planned it so they would reach the camp before dark to set up their tents and all. They had reservations to stay Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday until noon; however, Luke was aware they probably wouldn't back it past day two.

Luke and Jess drove up to the inn at four with a fairly full load considering the supplies they were carrying. When they arrived at the door of the shed they heard a familiar panic behind it.

"Rory have you seen my jean shorts?" Lorelai yelled from under the bed.

"No," Rory answered from above where she was trying yet again to fit all her clothes and books into her backpack.

"Are you two ready yet?" Luke yelled from the other side of the door.

"What? Owww!" Lorelai jerked her head up in surprise momentarily forgetting she was under the bed.

"What happened?" Luke asked after letting Jess and himself in.

"Nothing," Lorelai said rubbing her head as she got up from the floor.

"Are you ready?" Luke asked again.

"Almost," Lorelai supplied once again looking for her short this time over by the bathroom.

"What does almost mean?" Luke questioned Lorelai vague answer after spending so much time with the girls this summer.

"It's less than 'not at all' but more than 'total ready'," Lorelai explained while digging through her clean laundry basket, "Found it!" she proudly displayed her tiny jean shorts.

"Could you repeat that in English," Luke requested in a slightly perturbed tone.

"10 minutes?" Lorelai tried with a smile throwing a few more items into a large suitcase.

"Fine," Luke turned to wait outside while the girls ran around the shed, "Call me when you need to carry your bags out."

Just a quick thirty minutes later, they were on their way; however, because of unexpected traffic, child size bladder stops, and breaks at every coffee shop on the road they barely made it to the campsite before ten. So now they had to pitch two tents and unpack the car by the light of three flashlights and a medium size lantern. This was one of those worse case scenarios that had been plaguing Luke's mind the last couple of days.

"So what do we do now?" Lorelai look at Luke over Rory and Jess's heads in the cab of the truck.

"I guess we should unpack what we can tonight and leave the rest for tomorrow morning," Luke explained still looking out the window of the cab.

Luke then went into action reaching over to retrieve his flashlight from the glove compartment and went to search for the more important items in the back of the truck. It took awhile, but they got all the tent equipment, sleeping bags, and luggage to campsite 71. Once that was done all three inexperienced campers looked at Luke expectantly, who was lighting the lantern with a match.

"I'm guessing setting these up would be the next step," Lorelai questioned pointing at the canvas bags supposedly holding their shelter for the weekend.

"Yeah," Luke replied hanging the lantern on a centered limb and went to open one of the bags. He started putting the metal poles together, while the rest stood in awe. "You could help you know."

"No we can't," Lorelai answered back.

Thirty minutes later both tents up the small group then found the closest restrooms got ready for bed and started their camping experience.

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Saturday

Even Luke didn't wake up until after nine o'clock the next morning, something about the fresh air. He unpacked the rest of the truck and started breakfast before anyone else woke up. Jess was actual the second one out of the tents displaying an excellent example of bed head. Rory and Lorelai emerged from their tent about ten minutes later. All three were sitting at the table, the park supplied, with their head in their crossed arms.

Lorelai didn't come to until Luke placed a mug of some warm liquid in front of her. "What's this?"

"It's coffee. I didn't think it was fair to take you away from everything you love," Luke explained leaning in to talk quietly.

"Thank you," Lorelai dramatically turned and hugged his waist looking up at his face.

"No problem," Luke said a little awkwardly placing his hand on her head for just moment; a gesture he had repeated on his sister and a few of the other women who had been in his life. "So food?" Luke asked stepping away from the embrace.

"Yes," a cry came out from the table.

That morning everyone enjoyed a typical camp stove breakfast: French toast and eggs. Lorelai helped Luke clean up the dishes and they were off the showers and start their day of exploring.

"Did you know I had to pay three bucks to shower?" Lorelai asked Luke as they drove up to the visitor's center.

"Yeah," Luke shrugged as he drove.

"I had to pay to shower. That doesn't disturb you in anyway?" Lorelai asked in disbelief.

"I'm not a huge fan of playing for my showers, but I've been to enough other camp grounds to know it worth it," Luke explained.

"What?" Lorelai asked it was know her turn to be confused.

"Let's just say there's higher quality of cleanliness went a cost involved," Luke tried to put it delicately.

"Ewwww!" Lorelai, Rory, and Jess squealed as their imaginations took over where Luke's words had left off.

They spent a couple of hours at the visitor's center reading every display they had, and after went on the nature trail that was adjacent to the building. That evening Lorelai, Rory, and Jess enjoyed their first campfire, which was of course accompanied by s-mores. That night everyone went to sleep with a general sense of content and merriment.

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On Sunday everyone woke up to the sound of pouring rain. Luke quickly remembered all their supplies were out in the elements and tried to protect and secure what he could. Once that was completed he went to check on the girls to see if they were still a sleep. "Lorelai," he yelled into the stillness of the tent.

The tent erupted with the sound of girly squeaks, "Eeee!" apparently the rain and noise Luke had made put them on edge.

"Are you guys all right?" Luke asked again by the tent door, the rain pouring on him.

"Yes," Lorelai answered opening the tent just enough to see Luke standing there by now totally soaked, "What are you doing?"

"I just love the rain," Luke deadpanned, "I was covering your food and supplies."

"Oh," Lorelai answered felling a little stupid. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"Wait until it stops raining," Luke said as if there wasn't another choice.

"And until then?" Lorelai continued to question already bored of the four 'walls' of the tent.

"I brought the checkers board," Luke tried offering.

"Cool," Rory joined her mom by the small slit in the door.

"Would you guys like to join us?" Luke asked trying to be chivalrous. The girls were in running the short distance between the tents before Luke could add, "After I change out of these incredibly wet clothes." "Great," he muttered to himself as he joined the other three in the two-man tent.

"Your really wet you know," Lorelai commented as Luke entered the tent.

They played two on two checkers until Luke was almost dry; the rain, however, wasn't letting up.

"What if it doesn't stop raining?" Jess asked wondering about their fishing lesson that afternoon.

"Then we really shouldn't have procrastinated building that ark so long," Lorelai answered vividly.

Luke just rolled his eyes and then answered Jess, "We'll leave tomorrow in the morning, whether it's raining or not. I'm not anticipating having to find two of every animal."

It didn't stop raining the entire day. They did get a change to stretch, get food, and carry out other necessary requirements during a few lulls; however, most of their day was spent in the boys' tent. They played every odd word association game Rory and Lorelai knew, and things got really silly when they convinced Luke to play Truth or Dare with them. Which ended when Luke had to eat an entire mouthful of marshmallows for a second time. Everyone fell asleep around ten, while Luke told a story of the last time he went camping in the rain; it was cramped but no one wanted to leave.

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On their last day at the park, Lorelai came out the tent when she smelled breakfast and quite possibly her beloved coffee. As soon as the air hit her she started to shiver; apparently the rain had brought a cold front with it. "What smells so good?" she asked to distract herself from the chill.

"I'm just starting the bacon; then I'll work on the pancakes," Luke said pointing to a covered bowl that held the pancake batter, "and your coffee should be ready in another minute or two."

That brought a smile to her frozen face, "Thank you," she shivered.

"You should go put a long sleeve shirt on," Luke remarked after watching her for a moment.

"I didn't think I'd need one. It's August," Lorelai explained stepping a little closer to the little metal stove and Luke.

"How could you not…" he started to reprimand, but quickly thought better of it considering she wasn't exactly a wilderness girl and had been trying so hard this weekend for Jess and Rory, "Do you want to borrow a shirt," he offered.

Lorelai just nodded.

So Luke went back to his tent to find a clean flannel shirt for Lorelai. When he came back out Lorelai had moved even closer to the small stove. "Here," Luke said wrapping his shirt around her shoulders. "Any better?" Luke asked with his hands still on her arms.

"Much," Lorelai answered starring straight into his eyes wondering how one shirt could warm her up so fast.

Luke leaned in until Lorelai could fell his breath on her face, "I wouldn't want you to get sick," he smiled.

"I don't get sick," Lorelai, answered him.

"I know," Luke said practically against her lips. Then he closed the last millimeters, finally finishing the kiss they had been flirting with all summer long; it was a simple and yet incredibly passionate embrace. However, the kiss seemed to end as soon as it begin, and just as Luke was about to apologize for his rash and quite possibly unwarranted move; Lorelai gently grabbed his checks and pulled him into a much more heated kiss, which only ended when both players were out of breath. They starred at each other for a minute, both of their minds running like crazy.

"You said something about coffee?" Lorelai asked teasingly with a huge smile on her face.

"Right, go ahead and sit down; I'll get it for you," Luke answered taking her request incredibly seriously.

"Luke?" Lorelai tried as Luke went back to work, "Shouldn't we talk about this or something?"

"Later," Luke said handing Lorelai her coffee as he heard the tent zipper's opening.

After breakfast they started to break camp and within an hour they were at the visitor's center one last time. Rory and Jess had seen a book there they wanted to buy before they left. They all went in; Lorelai was looking around at the colorful knick-knack, while Luke brought the book for Jess and Rory. Most of the stuff was incredible loud, outrageous, and terribly expensive; however, Lorelai did find a picture frame.

"Hey you ready to go?" Luke asked from behind her.

Lorelai jumped, "Almost. Go ahead and load up I'll be there in one minute," she said while clutching her discovery.

So Luke took Rory and Jess out to the truck, while Lorelai went up to the cash register. The attendant had been watching the little group's interaction since they had arrived. "Your kids are precious and so polite. Are they twins?"

"What?" Lorelai was a little surprised by the question. She usually got bombarded with questions about her and Rory's age and what she must have been thinking. Not if her daughter and daughter's best friend were her twins.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry; I hope you have a save trip home," the attendant finished ringing Lorelai up and let her leave without answering the question. On her way to the truck, Lorelai thought about the trip and how they had practically been playing house all weekend. However, she quickly pushed those thoughts out; no need to get ahead of her.

The trip home was much more fun than the ride up. They played some of the same word games they had in the tent on Sunday, they each shared their favorite part of the trip, and just generally continued to enjoy each other company.

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Once they arrived in town they parked in front of the diner to unpack and eat dinner. When they got out of the truck, Luke noticed someone waiting by the diner's front window.

"Where the hell have you been?" the straggler asked.

Everyone loves a good cliffhanger, right?

About the kiss: I had it written in two other scenes you've already read, but removed it in the first proof read because it just didn't seem right. The longer I kept putting it off the sillier it seemed that he would just lean in the kiss her in the middle of the diner. Anyway… As cheese as it was, it seemed right to me. They were in Luke domain, the camping trip; he had an extra edge. I hope it turned out ok!

Thanks for the reviews peoples and continue!

Okay I haven't been camping in Connecticut, but I have in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Colorado. So I just kind of made a general state park camping site.

Tunes: "The River" by Good Charlotte; I just found this song and I love it.

Please, Pretty Please Review my story insert pouty face