The Great Eight.

A/N - Thank you for all of your kind reviews, I am so glad you guys enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing!

Someone asked about chapter length; chapter length will vary according to the storyline as well as how much I can write in the allotted time I allow myself, because in the past I'd go months without updating, and that's not going to happen again.

Someone else asked about other characters besides the girls (such as Lane, Paris, ect.) The answer is yes! They will be in here, just not quite yet.

Disclaimer: Not mine. But, a girl can dream, right?

8.02 - I Just Called, To Say, I Love You.

---

Luke's Apartment, 7:45AM

When Lorelai and Luke woke up the following morning, entangled in each other's limbs for the first time in a long time, they both smiled brightly. Finally, where they knew they belonged.

"Mm, what time is it, Luke?" Lorelai asked, bringing herself closer to Luke who just as she, was lacking clothing.

Luke looked over his shoulder, trying his best not to move anything but his head."It's 7:45, what time do you have to be at the Inn?"

"I should be there at nine." She took a deep breath and kissed Luke's chest. "I should get up, I guess." She started to move, "i don't want to move." Luke looked down at her and seized the opportunity to kiss her. "Now, I really don't want to move." Lorelai wrapped her arms tightly around Luke's neck and pulled him onto her.

"Then don't go." He whispered sensually, right before reenacting several hot and steamy scenes from the night before.

---

Dragonfly Inn, 9:00AM

"Morning, Sookie." Lorelai said, smiling brightly as she walked into the kitchen.

"Morning. Coffee?" Sookie asked, slumped against the kitchen's island.

"Yeah, fresh pot?" Sookie simply nodded. "What's wrong, hon? Bad morning."

"It's Jackson." Sookie closed her eyes, and placed her head in her hands.

"What? What's wrong?"

"He…He…" She paused, and Lorelai waiting patiently. "He won't sell me peaches. All I want to do is make some delicious peach cobbler with homemade french ice cream… and a peach sauce with," she emphasized, "little, tiny peach pieces inside. Little ones."

Lorelai looked at her for a moment. "You're depressed because Jackson won't sell you his peaches?"

"Yes."

"Why won't he sell you the peaches, Sookie?"

"Because he said the last time I needed a lot of peaches I squeezed the entire box, rolled one on the ground, and made you eat one. I ruined the whole box and didn't buy one."

"Sookie, honey, that was eight years ago."

"I know."

"Okay, well, I'll call Jackson later okay?" Sookie nodded. "I'm going to go into the lobby now, okay?" Sookie nodded. "Okay, feel better, sweetie."

"Oh, I'll try."

Lorelai took her cup of coffee and walked through the kitchen, the dining room and into the lobby.

"Good morning Michel."

"Lorelai, good, we are out of purple sticky notes." Michel announced.

"So go buy some more…?" Lorelai replied as she approached the desk, and began fingering through the stacks of papers.

"No. I am paid to stand behind this desk and that is what I shall do. I will not go parading around town in search of silly purple post its. That is your job."

"Michel, if you want purple sticky notes. Go buy them."

"But I am paid to stand here." He said, defiantly. "Please go and buy some Lorelai, my system will be all screwed up, and I will not know what to do with myself."

"Michel, I just got here like five minutes ago. I'll go later."

"No. I need them now."

"Why do you need them now?"

"Because guests will start to check out soon, and for that I need purple post it notes." Lorelai glared at him for a moment before saying,

"Fine. I will go and buy your post it notes." She said angrily, grabbing her purse and walking towards the door.

"Thank you!"

"Ughhh!"

--

Rory practically jogged through the maze of people, leather book bag hanging at her size, notebook in hand. It was difficult to take in her surroundings, she'd never seen anything like it before. Everywhere she turned, another politician, another reporter, flashbulbs seemingly attached to photographer's hands… it was slightly overwhelming. Her first day on the job, and she was scared out of her mind. When she finally found where she was supposed to be, the marked off "Reporters Section: VIP" of the arena, she took a seat in the front and patiently waited for Presidential Hopeful Obama to come out and speak. She took frantic notes of her surroundings, and sat very still.

She was so consumed with her surroundings, that Rory barely noticed the incredibly handsome guy who happened to approach her. "Hey, is there anyone sitting with you?" He asked.

"Oh, no. You can sit here, if you like." Rory replied, smiling. She removed her leather bag from the seat, and smiled sweetly. For a moment she took in the entirety of the man's appearance. Tall, probably about 6'2, dark brown hair and beautiful blue eyes, almost as bright as her own.

"Thanks. I'm sort of new to this, and I wasn't sure where to sit."

"You're new too? Today is my first day on the job."

"Finally, another newbie. Everyone else is so serious and intense it's rough to find someone to talk to. I'm Daniel by the way."

"I'm Rory, it's nice to meet you."

"Rory… is that short for something?" Daniel asked, his inquisitive reporter nature taking over.

"Yeah, short for Lorelai. My mom's name is Lorelai too, so she started calling me Rory when I was really little so it would be less confusing."

"Your mom some sort of crazy feminist or something? You don't hear of too many women naming their girls after them."

"A little feminist, a little Demerol." Rory laughed, Daniel laughed too. Rory caught a glimpse of his gorgeous smile and instantly felt weak at the knees. She thought of how convenient it was that she was sitting so she didn't fall, and also how incredibly pathetic that made her feel. She hadn't felt this way about a guy in a long time. Even when she first met Logan she was far too preoccupied with what a jerk he was to realize how attractive, or how they would be as a couple. With Daniel, though, the instant spark was there. They had chemistry. They had things in common. "So, are you on the campaign trail for the duration?" Rory asked.

"Oh yeah. The entire shebang." He replied, quickly.

"Me too, good to know I won't have to sit alone." She smiled, and the lights quickly dimmed signaling the arrival of Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama.

--

Crap Shack

Lorelai managed to make it through the day without thoughts of Rory's departure, unknown return date or anything of the sort. As she turned the handle on her front door and the familiar scent of home overtook her every sense, she realized that she hadn't yet spoken to her daughter since she left. Immediately thoughts of plane crashes and fire and smoke filled her head…

Then the phone rang.

"Hello?" Lorelai answered nervously.

"Mom? Hey! I've been trying to call you all day!" Rory nearly yelled.

"Oh honey, I've been at work and buying sticky notes all day, did you try my cell phone?"

"It was off, but I called every ten minutes anyway."

"I'm so sorry.."

The conversation continued as if there were no distance between Lorelai and Rory. They each shared the goings on of their day, and plans for the next day. Lorelai complained about Michel and asked for advice about Luke, and Rory told Lorelai about Daniel.

"So, is he cute?"

"How is that relevant? I was telling you that I found a friend, and you ask if he's cute?"

"Rory, honey, how old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"Rhetorical question, but… at twenty two years old how likely is it that you'll be able to keep a steady male 'friend'?"

"Not every male that I meet wants to date me."

"Poor naive, girl. I didn't say date."

"What are you implying?"

"Rory, I'm just saying that you're a young, viable commodity." Rory was quiet for a moment.

Then, she replied, "Are you saying that every male that I meet wants to have sex with me? Because that is utterly ridiculous, and disgusting. And crazy! We're both very, mature people and we can handle being friends without the constant sexual tension. Not everyone is you and Luke."

Lorelai feigned a gasp, "You're just in denial. The first step is, in fact, acceptance."

"Mom, I have to go." Rory said, with finality. Exhausted with the conversation.

"Awh, so soon?" Lorelai laughed.

"It's never soon enough." Rory joked.

"Ouch. Don't me mean to the mommy. I miss you!"

"I miss you too, mom. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay, bye hon." And with that, they both hung up.

Lorelai sat alone on her couch for a few minutes, replaying the quick conversation in her head. Her thoughts continuously reverted to Rory and how much she missed her. Their conversation was far too short, and there wasn't enough information shared for Lorelai's liking. This long distance mother-daughter relationship was not going to work well for Lorelai. With a defeated sigh, Lorelai threw down the phone and trudged up the stairs and slipped into bed.

--Rory ~

As Rory settled herself into bed, she thought of her mother who was surely having a difficult time with their separation, but she also thought of her new friend Daniel in relation to what Lorelai had said. Was it possible that she could have a relationship with Daniel? Would it be too soon after breaking up with Logan? Everything seemed so incredibly jumbled in her head, that she decided to simply sleep it off. She reached over and turned off the lamp beside her, turned over in the uncomfortable hotel bed and slowly drifted to sleep.

--

TBC

I'm so sorry this took so long, I fail, I know. Longer Chapters from here on out, too. I swear!