"So, uh, do you ever talk to Luke?" Lorelai asked Rory somewhere between the fourth and fifth movie. Rory looked over at her as she popped the last of the mini marshmallows into her mouth.

"Like randomly strike up a conversation or do I talk to him at all?"

"At all," Lorelai clarified as she put the empty marshmallow bowl on the floor and pulled the bowl of Cheetos between them.

"Rarely," she said with a shrug as she picked a cheese puff out of the bowl. "I mean, if I'm eating in the diner, then yeah. He says hi when I stop in to talk to Lane. . . Stuff like that. Why?"

"There was a woman in his diner," Lorelai said, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

"Well, lets pause the movie so I can alert the media . . . " Rory said sarcastically. "Oh wait, I am the media! Mission accomplished."

"Not just like a random woman. Possibly Luke's woman."

"Luke has a woman?" she asked, suddenly into this conversation.

"Yeah. That's what I was asking you about, Velma," she said sarcastically.

"Sorry, Daphne. I'll try harder next time. I don't think he's seeing anyone. Lane hasn't mentioned anything."

"That would be because she's been at home with two very small, very angry babies for the last couple of months," Lorelai said with a patronizing smile.

"She stops by the diner. So do Zach, Brian and Gil, and they haven't mentioned anything to her."

"Which really means something given what reliable gossip hounds they all are. Come on Rory!" Lorelai flopped over onto her side on the couch to stare at Rory, who simply stared back at her.

"No," she said quickly shaking her head. "I will not pry into Luke's personal life."

"Then just sit there. You know, a fly on the wall!"

"No way! You want to know, you go ask. You're a big girl now, you don't need mommy to hold your hand," she said comfortingly, patting the back of Lorelai's hand before turning her attention back to the movie.

Lorelai sighed as she turned her attention to the TV and began to pout. Rory noticed the performance after a while.

"Why is this such a big deal?"

"It's not. I just want to know."

"The two of you have been talking. Awkwardly talking, but still talking. Go ask."

"We're not quite passed the 'Hey, coffee please?' 'Yeah, the weather is really weird this year!' conversations yet."

"Are you jealous?"

"Of what?" Lorelai demanded, pausing the movie. Things were getting serious now.

"That Luke may have his personal life in order while yours is not?"

"No, no way Rory," she said confidently. "I am not jealous of Luke. I'm. . . happy for him."

"That was very convincing," she said. "Remind me to talk to the Oscar committee about you the next time I see them," she said, rolling her eyes slightly as she finished.

"Oh, never mind. Just watch the movie, Chatty Kathy," Lorelai muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest and turned her attention fully to the movie.

Rory glanced sideways at her mother, frowning slightly. Something was up. But whether it was about the divorce or about Luke, she couldn't tell.

The weeks after the divorce slowly passed and as they did, Lorelai began to feel rejuvenated. Her smart quips began to roll freely and quickly from her tongue, her coffee guzzling reached all an all time high, and she began shamelessly flirting with men to get her way again.

Although she hadn't returned to Luke's, she no longer went out of her way to avoid walking past the diner, nor did she turn the other way when she saw him walking down the street.

Things were still awkward between them; more so after the fistfight he and Christopher had had in the town square. She had heard Christopher's version of events, but she wasn't really sure how much stock she put in his story.

Part of her was dying to corner Luke and get his version of events, but the more logical part of her was telling her to just let sleeping dogs lie. She was all for not waking the doggies.

"Are you feeling alright?" Sookie asked her one morning as she came in for her 5th cup of coffee before noon. She had noticed her friend's new and improved mood, but had been reluctant to comment on it, given the off chance that it was all just a cover and she was really aching inside.

"Perfect. Why?" Lorelia asked with a smile as she wandered over to the chef to pick at what ever she was cooking.

"I haven't seen you this happy in a long time, like since you were with Lu. . . " Sookie cut herself off.

"Since I was with Luke? It's okay, he's not taboo," Lorelai assured her with a whisper. "I feel like I did when I was with Luke," she confirmed.

"That's fantastic honey!" Sookie exclaimed as she threw her arms around Lorelai and pulled her in for a hug. "What brought this on?"

"I don't know. Being single, I think. There's not all this pressure anymore. No one is picking fights with me, no one is shutting me out. . .† There is no one in my life I have to worry about making happy other than Paul Anka and as long as I keep the treats plentiful and walks brisk, he's good."

"What about Rory?"

"Rory is happily buried beneath tons of old smelly books, furiously writing papers and tests and articles for the paper. She's happy as long as I don't bug her over the phone. We're good too." Sookie chuckled and offered Lorelai a muffin to help soak up all the coffee in her stomach.

"And your parents?"

"Even they can't bring me down," she said. "I've cut back to diner once every couple of weeks and I love it."

"Well, maybe you should go see if this good mood is contagious," Sookie suggested as she stirred a sauce at the stove.

"Why? Who has the audacity to attempt to rain on my parade?" Lorelai demanded dramatically.

"Luke. He seems really down, more so than usual," Sookie commented.

"Oh," was all she could really say. "I should head back to the desk," she said absently as she wandered out.

Seeing as Michel was elsewhere at the moment, Lorelai sat herself down in his chair, pretending to be busy as she mulled over what Sookie said.

Luke was still her friend, even if they weren't exactly acting like it and she wasn't all that pleased to hear that something was bugging him. She wasn't positive, but we she was pretty sure that Luke didn't really have any one to complain to about things. Other than April. And possibly Kirk. But honestly, who wanted to confide in Kirk?