2000 Founders' Firelight Festival (cont.)

"I suppose you'll blame this on Lenny too, right Taylor?" Harry shouted, the usually calm mayor finally taking out years of frustration on his second-in-command.

"Oh, and just how was I supposed to know Kirk would retaliate?"

"Because he told you he would get revenge at the last town meeting. Remember, when you forced him to turn over his Fire Starter sash to Lenny?"

"We were all at the last town meeting. I hardly think that makes me the one who is responsible for Kirk ruining the lighting ceremony this year," Taylor responded, his voice dripping with a studied condescension.

"You were the one who sold him all of the matches in Doose's!" Harry bellowed. "Not to mention all of the cigarette lighters, lighter fluid, blow torches..."

"As a small business owner who serves the Stars Hollow community, who am I to refuse to serve a member of that community," Taylor cut in, unwilling to accept accountability for Stars Hollow's sudden shortage of fire starting implements.

"You refused to sell a Snickers to one of the Banyon boys just last week! Because he didn't place it on the counter in a respectful manner!" Harry's face had turned bright red in anger.

"Oh please, you should be thanking me for preventing that little hooligan from ingesting any candy. He'd have gone on a sugar-fueled rampage. Anyway, that is hardly the same as selling an upstanding citizen of this town available goods in exchange for legal tender," Taylor replied, drawing out each syllable of his rebuttal for emphasis.

"Ha! What you really mean is that as long as there is enough profit in it for you, you'll sell anything to anyone!" Harry could barely contain his rage. "How much did you mark up the price of those matches anyway?"

"I resent the implication Harry," Taylor scoffed.

"Well I resent you always putting yourself above the town!" Harry exploded, punching Taylor in the face.

It was all Luke could do to keep from cheering.

. . . . . .

"In hindsight, I'm surprised this didn't happen earlier," Luke said, turning to Rachel, who was busy taking pictures of the scuffle.

"Do you mean earlier tonight or at an earlier Festival?" Rachel responded, keeping her camera trained on the fight.

"Both, I guess," Luke chuckled. "Are you getting anything good?"

"Of the Thrilla in Manila over there? You know I was never really one for sports photography. I did, however, get a wonderful one of you right after Harry threw the first punch."

"Oh yeah?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"I don't think I've ever seen you look so gleeful before," Rachel laughed, pausing to change her film as Harry and Taylor were finally pulled apart.

"Pretty sure I was imagining punching Taylor myself."

"Ah, that explains it."

A sudden commotion caused both Luke and Rachel to turn toward the gazebo, where Kirk had suddenly arrived, brandishing a flame thrower and a boombox blasting The Doors' "Light My Fire."

"And you always said that nothing ever happens in Stars Hollow."

"I'm beginning to think I was wrong about a lot of things, Luke. Not just Stars Hollow," Rachel said, sighing and leaning against Luke. Luke hesitated before putting his arm around Rachel, pulling her a little closer. Maybe I shouldn't question this too much? Luke thought, remembering how nice it felt to hold Rachel in his arms. But then his mind drifted again to Lorelai and the faint smile on his lips turned to a frown.

. . . . . . .

"Okay, you were right, this is definitely worth it," Dean said to Rory, as the young couple watched Kirk's appearance at the bonfire.

"I told you!" Rory said, playfully punching Dean in the arm.

"How did he even get a flamethrower?"

"I can safely say I don't want to know. I prefer some things about Kirk to be a mystery."

"I think I'd prefer everything about Kirk to remain a mystery," Dean said, rolling his eyes.

"My mom is going to be so sad she missed this though."

"Well, maybe next year he'll use an Uzi to light the bonfire?"

"Here's hoping!" Rory laughed, but then paused when she spied Luke and Rachel together in the crowd.

So that's Rachel, Rory thought, instantly understanding why her mom had seemed flustered earlier that day. Not only was the woman beautiful but she and Luke looked so comfortable together. Watching the pair interact, trading looks and smiles and light touches, Rory couldn't help but feel that there was something wrong about the scene. Then it hit her. That should be Mom with Luke. Rory was surprised not so much by the thought, but by her reaction to it. Rory had always noticed the connection between her mom and Luke - she had always fought against it really, never quite ready to share her mom with anyone. But now, seeing Luke with another woman, Rory was beginning to feel incredibly selfish.

"Everything all right?" Dean asked, concerned by Rory's sudden silence.

"Yeah. I was just thinking that I'm glad that you're here," Rory replied, giving Dean a shy smile, but stealing a another quick glance at Luke and Rachel, just in time to see Luke put his arm around her.

And thinking about how I'm here with my boyfriend while my mom is suffering through dinner at my grandparents' house alone. Rory felt a pang of guilt remembering how she had forbid her mom from dating Luke just the other month. Even going so far as suggesting she try dating Al from Al's Pancake World instead. Her mom had played off the comment as if it was a joke, acting like she hadn't been asking Rory's permission to go out with Luke, but Rory knew better. She could tell her mom was dropping hints and looking for Rory to give her the go ahead, or at least some sign that dating Luke wouldn't result in Rory running away again. Oh Mom, I'm so sorry! Rory thought. I didn't mean never. I just wasn't ready to lose you yet. And now it might be too late.

"And I'm glad to be here," Dean beamed in response, running his hand through his hair. "Although I could do without witnessing that," Dean added, gesturing toward the bonfire where Babette and Morey were taking Jim Morrison's lyrics a little too seriously.

"Oh. Oh my!" Rory exclaimed. "Remind me to put blindfolds on the gnomes when I get home. Poor Pierpont!"

"Well, how about we avoid watching the end of 9 1/2 weeks over there and I show you that surprise now?"

"Sounds perfect. Lead the way!" Rory hated feeling so happy when she knew her mom was lonely. Trailing after Dean, away from the Firelight Festival and toward whatever surprise her boyfriend had planned for their three month anniversary, Rory silently vowed that she wouldn't get in her mom's way again.

. . . . .

An hour into the Festival, the bonfire was going strong, Harry and Taylor had reached a detente of sorts, and Luke and Rachel were still dancing around having a real conversation about her return.

"Tell me that's not a glass of Founders Day party punch," Luke asked, nodding toward the cup in Rachel's hand.

"Oh come on Luke. This stuff is good," Rachel declared, taking a seat next to Luke on the bench.

"Good way to make yourself sick maybe," Luke deadpanned.

"Oh Luke, some things never change, huh?"

"Yeah... but some things do Rachel." Luke fixed Rachel with a meaningful look.

"Oh," Rachel said, understanding that the talk both of them had been putting off was about to take place, but still not sure if she was prepared to hear what he had to say. "Are we doing this now?"

"I think we need to," Luke sighed.

"Okay." Rachel took a large sip of punch, bracing herself for rejection but still hoping Luke would be willing to give her another chance.

"So, what are you doing here exactly?" Luke's voice taking on a bit of an accusatory edge.

"Wow. That's a loaded question."

"Well? I mean, are you just here to play Diane Arbus while the circus is in town? Or were you planning on staying this time?"

"The answer to that depends a lot on you," Rachel replied carefully. After a pause she continued. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem that happy to see me."

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong, but you have a tendency to show up and then leave, quite suddenly," Luke responded. "Not one of your more charming attributes."

"I know. But I'm here now. Isn't that enough?"

"At one time it would have been."

"And now? I missed you Luke. I wanted to see you. Didn't you miss me?" Rachel pleaded.

"I missed you," Luke admitted truthfully.

"But?"

"It's just... it's just a little more complicated than that Rachel."

Rachel took a deep breath and then asked Luke the question that had been on her mind since she first walked into the diner. "So since we're both being blunt then, what's the deal with Lorelai?"

"What are you talking about?" Luke couldn't help but be surprised by the inquiry. Although Lorelai had been on his mind all day, he never expected Rachel to bring her up. He had forgotten how well Rachel could read him.

"I'm talking about Lorelai, the beautiful woman who runs the inn, the one you were having an intimate conversation with when I walked into the diner earlier today, and apparently the one denizen of Stars Hollow you've decided to leave out of every story, anecdote, or gossip about the town."

"There is no deal with Lorelai. We're... we're friends." Luke stumbled over his words, not wanting to label Lorelai as just a friend but recognizing that was possibly all he would ever be to her. The uncertainty in Luke's voice was not lost on Rachel, however.

"For now?"

"Yes."

"And in the future?" Rachel pressed.

"Well, Lorelai is... she's just, uh…I don't know. I mean, at time it seems like... I don't know." All of a sudden Luke very much did not want to have this discussion with Rachel. The same question he had grappled with all afternoon, Rachel was now asking him point blank. He hated not having an answer for Rachel. He hated even more not having an answer for himself.

"So, where does that leave us?"

"I... I don't know." Part of Luke wanted so badly to forget about every other time Rachel had left him, forget about every almost kiss he had with Lorelai over the past year, and just pretend that Rachel being here now, even if it was just for now, would make him happy. It wouldn't and he knew it wouldn't. It might make him less lonely, but it wouldn't make him happy.

Rachel and Luke sat on the bench together in silence for a few minutes, both absorbed in thought, when Rachel spotted Lorelai heading toward them across the square.

"I, uh, think I'm going to go get a refill," Rachel said, gesturing to her empty punch glass. "And you have to make up your mind."

Rachel then stood up, squeezing Luke's shoulder lightly before walking away.

Author's Note: And we have entered AU territory people. So much suspense... But I promise the 2000 Festival will be resolved soon. Will Luke settle for Rachel? Will Lorelai cover up her feelings for Luke by making references to obscure 1970s films? And will Taylor have a black eye? Be sure to tune in next time to find out.