I want to thank everyone for the reviews. Ahhh, you guys are the best. It's so encouraging to have feedback. I've had one question asked of me repeatedly and I hesitate to answer because I hate to blow an ending, you know? The L and L question, well let me just say this, I may be a drama queen but I am a huge fan of a big, fat, possibly a little fluffy, happy ending.

Late that afternoon, Michel is engrossed in the books at the front desk when Lorelai walks by, her arms loaded down with paperwork of her own having chosen to throw herself into her work instead of back into bed with the covers over her head and a vat of Ben and Jerry's on standby. The telephone rings. Michel ignores it.

"Michel, phone." Lorelai prompts juggling the stack in her arms.

"I am busy." Michel replies without looking up.

"Michel!"

"Customers will cheer you up."

The telephone continues to ring impatiently.

"Fine, as long as you have my best interests at heart." The sarcasm dripping from her voice. "You can take care of these for me, right?" Lorelai smiles as she dumps her load of papers on top of his books. "I'd like those filed alphabetically." She adds as she picks up the phone.

"Hello, Dragonfly Inn." Lorelai sings into the phone while casting a look of triumph at Michel.

"Mom?"

"Rory." Lorelai acknowledges happily. Michel gives her an I told you so look and she responses accordingly with a look of her own.

"Why aren't you answering your cell?" Rory asks accusingly.

"Oh! I forgot to turn it on." Lorelai lies as she walks into the other room.

"Do you want to explain your sudden aversion to the phone?"

"It's complicated." Lorelai busies herself with arranging the books of the inns small library.

"I bet it's not half as complicated as explaining to grandma why your home phone is also disconnected." Rory's voice returns.

"Oh no, what did you tell her?"

"That they were repairing the lines on your street."

"I love Yale."

"So you've said. Mom, what's going on? I got a really interesting message from Lane today, about you and Luke?" Rory cuts to the chase.

"Why am I not surprised." Lorelai shoves the book in her hand into place on the shelf.

"You didn't mention Luke when you told me you were in bed with the flu." Her voice gentler.

"Luke and I had a conversation. A very lively conversation." Lorelai answers as honestly as she is willing to over the phone.

"No flu?"

"No flu." She confirms sighing.

"Mom . . ."

"Do you want to come to a town meeting tomorrow?" Lorelai interjects.

"Don't change the subject."

"Believe me, I'm not. We can talk before. I can explain. You can yell at me for lying to you." Lorelai offers as she wanders into the kitchen and points to the carafe of coffee. Within seconds Sookie has a cup in front of her. Lorelai smiles her thank you.

"Well then, my nights free." Rory's voice once again light.

"When your yelling at me could you make it really dramatic and intense? You know, really over the top. That way I'll be ready with my fight face on when I walk in." Lorelai plans as she sips her coffee.

"So, it's going to be one of those town meetings."

"I'll buy you some popcorn."

"I'll be there."

"Thanks, Kid."

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On the streets of Starshollow not long before the infamous meeting is to take place, Luke is walking back from Doose's Market with a bag full of groceries in his arms. He pulls his coat tighter around himself in defense against the chill, shifting the bag from one arm to the other. Luke muses to himself that it feels like snow that thought filling his head with one thing and one thing only, Lorelai.

"Pssst, Luke." Kirk whispers interrupting Luke's thinking. At least he's pretty sure it's Kirk, the man is dressed head to toe in black, from the hat and dark glasses to the tip of his trench coat hanging just above the ground. Yeah, has to be Kirk.

"Why are you dressed like that, Kirk?"

Kirk grabs Luke by the arm and pulls him into the alleyway.

"Hey! What?! Get off of me!" Luke yells struggling against Kirk's grasp.

"I can't be seen talking to you."

"Ah, geez." Luke groans adjusting his baseball cap.

"The town has it in for you, man. There's going to be a meeting tonight. You should go." Kirk advises.

"To do what?" Luke asks. He was well aware of the gossip around town and of it's consequences. There was a tiny part of him that wondered if he deserved it for all the pain he'd put her through.

"To defend yourself." Answers Kirk.

"The whole town should be quarantined. Illness like this should not be allowed to spread." Luke grumbles.

"Hey, I've got your back. Women who look like that are nothing but trouble. That vixen toyed with my heart once too, you know." Kirk commiserates.

"Goodbye, Kirk."

"We never talked."

"If only that were true." Luke mutters as he walks away.

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