Good day friends. Had it not been for the kidney stone I passed two days ago, this chapter would have been available much sooner for your viewing pleasure. But enough about that, it's time once more to trespass into Stars Hollow and see what's doing. Allow me to be your guide, but be especially careful…Taylor is in an excessively perturbed mood. Now, get ready for the show…

Luke and Lorelai separated, taking a step back from each other. She looked playfully at him, "So, you love me, huh?"

Luke grinned, "It looks that way."

"Knew it," she said smugly.

Luke began, "I guess we should get downstairs before…"

Lorelai interrupted, "Before they start thinking that we're going for another round up here?"

"Exactly," he agreed.

"Would that be so bad?" she winked.

He shook his head, "Lorelai, I don't think I want to chance it. We've already had your mother walk in on us …and practically the entire town. I can hardly imagine who'll be next."

Lorelai jumped at the opportunity to fill in the blank, "Oh, I bet it'll be Paris Hilton. She's so kinky," she giggled.

"Let's just go downstairs, crazy lady," Luke reasoned, "Maybe Paris will be signing autographs," he added in good humor.

"Anything you say, lover boy," she teased.

He groaned.

She walked closer to him and pressed her mouth to his ear. "In case you were wondering…I love you too."

Luke felt ten years younger.

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Kirk was entirely relieved upon releasing dear Taylor from the evil clutches of room two.

Taylor clenched his jaw, seeking out the very man responsible for his imprisonment, a man by the name of Morey. "Just wait till I get my hands on you. Locking me up like I'm some kind of animal. I have rights, you know! The very idea…"

"Oh, put a cork in it, Taylor!" Gypsy barked.

"If he hadn't done it, there's a long line of us who would've," Babette defended her hubby.

"I don't know," started Jackson, "I think I would have locked him up in the stables instead." My, how persnickety.

There were a few stray giggles.

"Hell, I would have locked him up in room seven," Patty winked at the others.

Babette laughed, "Yeah, he'd never be the same again."

Lucky for him, Taylor was unaware of the happenings in room seven. "I'm an island," he sighed, disenchanted.

Luke and Lorelai made their way down the staircase as nonchalantly as possible. Still, every eye in the place was on them.

Taylor didn't hesitate laying down his two cents, "Lorelai, I am shocked and appalled at the lack of management you have displayed today. Allowing a man of my distinction to suffer unduly for hours on end. It is nothing short of a disgrace. His vanity shone through like a sore thumb.

"Buzz of, Taylor," Luke warned.

"At the very least, Morey should receive sufficient punishment for committing such a malicious deed," the Selectman continued.

Lorelai exhaled deeply, "Taylor, if you insist, we can discuss this later. There are much more important things to address at the moment…like food," she looked to Sookie then.

"And that's another thing. I haven't eaten a bite since breakfast. But I'm sure my caloric intake doesn't interest any of you," Taylor was on a roll.

"Shut-up, Taylor!" Everyone except Kirk replied in unison.

Instead, Kirk came to the rescue of his beloved Taylor, "Listen! This man was held captive for hours, without food, without human contact. He broke the chains of oppression. He lived to see another day. This man isn't our enemy…he is our hero!" Apparently a few hours in a locked room was a feat comparable to Nelson Mandela's, in Kirk's opinion that is.

Everyone, including Taylor rolled their eyes.

Sookie gulped nervously, "Guys, try not to overreact, but I don't think there are any leftovers from lunch. Everyone was pretty hungry. All that hard work," she giggled fretfully.

"Oh, Sookie. You're not serious." Lorelai couldn't hide her disappointment. The sonic booms her stomach was making weren't helping the matter.

"Don't worry, hon. I'll get right into that kitchen and whip us up an early dinner. We can celebrate tonight, and test out that new dining room of ours." Sookie was entirely excited. She raced immediately to her prep area.

"Lord knows, room seven has been thoroughly tested," Patty goaded.

"If you ask me, I think room two could use a little more testing," Gypsy hinted. Increased exposure to Taylor was bad for her skin.

Luke heaved a frustrated sigh, "How about we all get back to work. Sookie will let us know when dinner's ready. There's still plenty to do around here." Now, more than ever he was committed to this Inn. He was committed to Lorelai.

No one could disagree with Luke's reasoning.

Babette grabbed Jackson by the wrist, leading him outside. "Get your ass in gear, Belleville. We're losing our daylight."

"If anyone needs me, I'll be with the wood," Kirk stated with pride. His involvement in D-Day was positively paramount.

"Lulu and I still have some painting to do," Morey supplied. "I have the perfect album to snap us from this late afternoon lull," he contentedly added. He gave himself accreditation over all things music. Lulu grabbed the paint cans and they went to work.

"Hey, Luke," Gypsy began, "I guess that door upstairs needs fixing."

"I can handle it," Luke assured her.

Gypsy panicked, "Please, Luke. Don't make me go back out there with Kirk. I'll do anything!"

He smiled. "Who's the better electrician?"

She huffed, "Y…you are." Gypsy knew how to play the game.

Luke started for the staircase. "And who's the better carpenter?"

Gypsy rolled her eyes, "That would be you." She followed him up the stairs.

"Better plumber?"

Their voices echoed from the second floor.

"For god sakes," she groaned. "You are!"

"Mechanic?"

"Don't you dare say mechanic! You slimy little…"

And their voices disappeared.

Lorelai and Patty laughed at the competitive struggle going on upstairs. Taylor however had a worried look on his face. He'd separated Luke and Gypsy once before. This partnership had collapse written all over it.

"I suppose I'll just keep an eye on things…before all hell breaks loose. Someone around here ought to." Taylor Doose, the acme of sanctimonious.

"Don't be so self-righteous, Taylor. Things were in fine order while you were out of commission," Patty reminded the man of his incarceration.

"Lucky for you, Patty. You couldn't wait to take over my throne," Taylor hissed.

"You wretched ingrate," she bit.

"You power-hungry pest," he bit harder.

"O-okay…I'm going to go see if Sookie needs any help," Lorelai simply couldn't handle those two. She wouldn't dare try.

So, the worker bees had returned to their stations. There were stinging accusations and comebacks flying through the air. Nothing out of the ordinary. Dinner was sure to be a treat. Only an hour to go.

TBC…