The town meeting was already in full swing when Lorelai and Rory push aside the wooded door and make their presence known. The rumble of voices that could be heard through said door just a moment ago suddenly stops at the sight of the Gilmore's.

Rory squeezes her mothers hand in a gesture of good luck before settling into a seat next to Sookie in the back, placing her large tub of popcorn on her lap. From which she and Sookie immediately begin munching while watching Lorelai expectantly.

Lorelai gathers her resolve and marches purposefully toward the podium. The conversations begin again as the town folk stare and comment. Lorelai was sure that at this point the gossip mill had so spun itself that it was a shock for them not to see her in a full body cast. Annoyed she grabs the gavel from a shocked Taylor.

"You don't mind if I borrow this, do you?" She says, her voice sugary sweet.

Unable to think of a suitable response Taylor simply sits relinquishing the floor. Lorelai bangs the gavel with much enthusiasm until everyone quiets, then clears her throat before beginning.

"I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for coming out in support of Luke tonight." A unified gasp of surprise escapes the crowd.

"I wanted you to know that no matter what has happened between us, I would never want to see him hurt." Lorelai tightens her grasp on the podium as she fights to keep her voice from shaking. "The fact that this town, Luke's town, has joined together to protect him from heinous, ridiculous lies makes me feel proud to live among such reasonable and caring people." Lorelai pauses wondering if maybe she was laying it on too thick but at that same moment Miss Patty can be heard sniffling from the front row. Nope, just thick enough, she thinks to herself.

"You all right, Patty?" Lorelai asks feigning ignorance.

"Just a cold, honey." Patty lies, her eyes filled with guilt.

"So you can imagine how shocked I was to hear the rumors myself but I was sure that none of you would ever believe such things of Luke." Lorelai continues, however she is interrupted again by more sniffling, this time from Babbette.

"Babbette?" She questions innocently.

"Allergies, sugar." Babbette says wiping her eyes.

"I mean, how could you believe it? With all the wonderful things Luke has done for this town, for each and every one of us." Lorelai's voice catches. She brushes an unruly strand of hair from her face and is stunned to feel wetness on her cheek. Damn disobedient tears.

"Not cool, man. Not cool." Morey mutters sadly from his seat in the audience. Lorelai takes a deep breath and continues, though she is not keeping it together nearly as well as she had planned.

"I'd also like to thank you for respecting our privacy, knowing how hard this is for us, knowing how important it is to have the support of our friends. Luke really deserves that." Lorelai is aware of them now slipping rebelliously from the corners of her eyes; she wipes them frustrated by their stubborn presence.

"Oh, Luke!" Comes Kirks pitiful wail. She ignores this.

"That's why, I am sure, this meeting was called, to make certain that anyone who believed this gossip feels ashamed of themselves and apologizes to Luke." Lorelai finishes firmly. Sniffles and sad noises can be heard throughout the assembly.

"Taylor, the next time you call a meeting, you should make sure everyone feels up to it. These people are a mess." Lorelai advises sternly as she hands him back the gavel. She walks back through the crowd to collect her daughter but finds herself confronted with a sobbing Sookie.

"Sookie? You too?" She asks gently folding her arms around her friend.

"I should have known better. I'm sorry. Poor Luke." Sookie blubbers her face buried in Lorelai's shoulder.

"Ahhh, honey. You have nothing to be sorry about." Lorelai coos softly.

Rory smiles proudly at her mother admiring her strength. She kisses Sookie on the head then turns towards the door, Rory was going to make her escape before the crowd could recover enough to ask questions. Reaching the door she's a bit surprised to find it open, Rory had closed it firmly herself and no one else came in after she and her mother arrived. Once outside she is floored to find Luke retreating down the stairs.

"Luke?"

"I was just . . ., I was looking for . . something. They're busy in there, so I'll wait or . . . be back or whatever." Luke stutters uncomfortably as he turns towards Rory. Rory can't help but smile at a red faced and flustered, stammering Luke. He doesn't see it though because he is unable to look her in the eye.

"I guess I'll get back to the diner." Luke hopes for an out but as he starts to walk away Rory stops him with a quiet question.

"Luke, did you find what you were looking for?" She asks her tone full of meaning.

"Your mom, she's . . ."

"Really something." Rory offers carefully.

"Incredible. She's incredible." Luke finishes his voice loving and soft. Rory lights up at this compliment to her mother. She's full of hope for their future despite everything.

"Thank her for me." He asks.

"No." She answers decisively. Luke looks up in surprise.

"Normally, I would do anything for you; I guess it kind of runs in the family" Rory gestures back toward the dance studio referencing Lorelai's little speech. "but not this. Luke, if you want to thank my mom, then you need to thank my mom."

Before Luke can respond the noise of approaching footsteps is heard from behind Rory, she turns to see her mother slip out the door. Afraid of a moment of supreme awkwardness she whirls her head back to Luke and finds that he is gone.

"What are you looking at?" Lorelai asks coming down to Rory's stair.

"Nothing." Rory answers, grateful that at least she doesn't have to lie.

"You were wow in there." She says artfully changing the subject. "I bow to the master. I used to think grandma was good, but the waves of guilt you swept over that crowd were making Sri Lanka nervous."

"Yeah? Not too much?"

"Nah, they had it coming." Noticing Lorelai's raised eyebrow she adds. "What can I say; I've become bitter in my old age." Then after a pause. "I still care about him too, mom." Lorelai smiles sadly. "You did the right thing. In fact, I think you deserve a reward." Rory grins attempting to lighten the moment.

"A reward?" Lorelai tilts her head considering her options.

"Coffee." Rory states, after all that's a given.

"And chocolate?"

"And chocolate."

"And pie!" Lorelai demands upping the anti once again.

"And pie." Rory concedes.

"And Ashton Kutcher?" Lorelai grins happily, linking her arm with her daughter's and pulling her towards Weston's.

"I'll talk to Demi."

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