A/N: I'm so glad you are enjoying my story so far. Thanks for all the reviews, you guys rock. I hope you enjoy this new chapter, tell me what you think at the end!

Disclaimer: I own nothing...

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Lorelai's mind was a bit foggy as the sunlight forced her eye lids apart. Sitting up, looking around Luke's apartment, she stretched and smiled. She had spent a good chunk of time at the hospital with Sookie, Jackson, the kids, and Luke before heading back to Stars Hollow. Davy and Martha would be spending the next few days with their grandparents so they had driven them to neighboring Woodbury to drop them off there. Sookie and Lexie would have to stay a few days in the hospital, just to make sure they were both one hundred percent before they went home, and Jackson would be catering to his wife's every need for the duration of her hospital stay.

Her conversation with Luke about kids was fresh on her mind too. It hadn't been long, but it had been meaningful. They knew they wanted kids, they wanted a family, together and they didn't want to wait anymore. They decided she'd go off her birth control right away and just let nature take its course. The smile hadn't left her face since that decision was made.

"Good evening," Luke's voice pulled her from her very happy thoughts.

"Evening," Lorelai greeted him with a kiss.

"I brought you up some coffee, prepared to wake you, but I got lucky…"

"Dirty!"

"You were already awake."

"That I am."

"Did you sleep well?"

"I sure did. So well, in fact, that I didn't quite remember where I was at first but then I smelled you and that was good."

Lorelai felt weird, flirting with Luke again, not a bad weird per say, but different. She wasn't going to complain though.

"Well, I'm glad smelling me made you happy." Luke said, slightly sarcastic, joining Lorelai on the bed.

"You in general make me happy." Lorelai dropped her voice and whispered seductively in his ear. Wrapping her arms around her waist she brought her lips against his ear again, "I love you."

"Love you back." Luke answered hoarsely against her mouth before bringing his lips to hers. They both groaned when Lorelai's singing phone interrupted them.

"Hey Rory," Lorelai hid her exasperation surprisingly well.

"Hey mom, I'm starved, wanna grab dinner?"

"Uh huh! Let's grab dinner here at the diner."

"You're already at the diner?"

"Well, I'm in Luke's apartment. I took a nap after getting back from the hospital."

"Ah, I see. Sleeping at Luke's?" Rory asked suggestively.

"Oh Rory, I swear your mind is dirtier than mine."

"Whatever! You're mind is way dirtier than mine."

"Nuh-uh!"

"Uh huh!"

Both Gilmore's burst into giggles, something that was very usual when dirty thoughts were being discussed and Luke simply rolled his eyes. Regaining her composure first Lorelai spoke again, "Diner, fifteen minutes?"

"Deal, see you then."

Lorelai hung up the phone and turned back to Luke. "We've got ten minutes before she's here, wanna make out?"

Luke's answer was simple, his lips hit hers again. Lorelai smiled.

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Rory couldn't believe she'd had enough self control to not blurt out her news on the phone, but this was something she needed to tell her mom in person.

She was so excited, elated really, after a forty-five minute conversation with Mr. James the editor, she had a job. A wonderful job at a top newspaper, that really was all she wanted and now she had it. The only thing that made her hesitant was the distance.

She was going to hate being that far away from her mom, the town, and her grandparents, from everything she knew. It had been hard enough living at Yale during college, seeing her mom only on weekends and the other various random times she was able to get away during the week, but living thousands of miles away, that was going to be a totally different picture.

Walking through Stars Hollow her mind wandered to years before, memories of growing up and she couldn't help but smile. The festivals she and her mother had attended and participated, the high school where she spent her first year of high school, Miss Patty's and ballet lessons that had ended in a disaster, and of course Lane's house and Doose's. All had a special place in her heart and she knew she could never forget any of them. But, at the same time, she was ready to grow up, to start a life that was all her own.

When she got to the diner she was overwhelmed with memories and good times spent there. Sitting at the counter after school doing homework waiting for her mom to get off work, chatting with Luke, pestering the help, her sixteenth birthday breakfast, so much in her life had happened at this place. She smiled thinking about Luke and the great dad he'd been to her, even when he didn't have to be. April is a lucky girl. Rory thought to herself.

Peering through the diner window she saw her mom sitting at the counter leaning over, smiling and saying something to Luke and then she watched Luke chuckle and roll his eyes.

I'm glad they finally got back together. They belong together, everyone knows that.

Rory stood outside for just a few more minutes, gathering her confidence, about to share the biggest news of her life with her mother, her substitute father, and the town. She took a breath and walked through the door, the jingling bells above her announcing her entrance.

"Hey mom!" "Oh, god, do I sound as nervous as I am. I can't let her know something is up yet. Please don't notice, please don't notice.

"Hey sweets. Our burgers are already on the grill, sound good?" Rory exhaled, apparently she didn't sound nervous, but the butterflies were certainly in her stomach.

"Sounds perfect, I was totally hungry for a burger."

"When are you two not hungry for a burger? A burger that will clog your arteries and eventually kill you," Luke asked flippantly, placing a coffee mug in front of Rory as she joined her mother at the counter.

"Well, burgers usually aren't on the menu for movie nights," Lorelai replied sarcastically.

"No, then you have endless amounts of junk, sugar-lain crap that is even worse." Luke smiled, even through the bickering it was evident to all the love they had for each other.

"No, but Luke it is so good!" Rory interjected, not to be left out.

Luke just shook his head and sighed, walking to the opposite side of the counter. Lorelai and Rory started laughing uncontrollably. It took several minutes and a glare from Luke to settle them down and start in on their fries.

Conversation was flying through the common stuff and Rory was getting more and more apprehensive as the timed ticked by. Finally, she dove right in, "So mom, I got a job today."

"WH…what?" Lorelai stammered, completely caught off guard.

"Well, when I woke up I went to get the mail and there were some letters for me from some newspapers. Three to be exact and the first two were rejection letters, and I almost didn't open the third, but I had to you know? So I did, and when I did it was from the editor and he expressed how impressed he was with my resume and wanted me to call him and interview over the phone, so I did. I called him right then, and we talked for a long time, almost an hour and then he offered me a job. It's an entry level position as a writer, but I'll have my own cubicle, and I'll file stories and get bylines, it's a real job." Rory spouted on without a breath, determined to get it all out before anyone or anything could stop her.

"Oh honey, that's amazing! I'm so proud of you. I told you not to worry and now you've got a job!" Lorelai burst with praise for her only child.

There were squeals and hugs and of course the announcement for the rest of the diner. Then came the question that Rory feared would put a damper on her celebration, "So where is this job sweetie?" Patty asked from her table by the window.

"Somewhere near I hope sugar," Babette added.

This got the attention of everyone, especially Luke and Lorelai. Rory took a deep breath and shook her head slowly.

"Unfortunately no," she glanced at her mom, "it's with the San Francisco Chronicle."

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Lorelai had stopped listening after San Francisco and she was dangerously close to fainting. She watched as her daughter happily told the town details of her new job, but she didn't hear any of it. She was still trying to process.

San Francisco, she thought, California is so far away. Too far.

He knees started to give way when she felt arms wrap around her waist, holding her up. She leaned back against Luke, thankful for his presence.

"It's going to be okay," he whispered in her ear and she couldn't move. "It is."

She forced herself to nod, but she didn't believe herself.

Too far, so far, was the only thing playing through Lorelai's mind. She couldn't believe her first job was going to be so far away. She had always known it was a possibility, but she didn't think it would actually happen.

She heard Luke's voice in her ear again but couldn't comprehend what he said, her mind was still lost in a deep fog of disbelief.

When she pulled herself back into reality she noticed the diner had been cleared out and now only she, Luke, and Rory stood inside, blinds closed.

"Mom, mom are you okay?" Rory's concerned voice penetrated the fog and Lorelai shook her head, still unable to form words.

Rory spoke again, "I know it's far, way far, but it's a great job offer, I couldn't turn it down."

"I know." Lorelai's voice was barely audible, but they both took her speaking as a good sign. "It's just…far."

Luke still had his arms protectively around her waist and she leaned back into his embrace again. "Lorelai, did you hear any of what Rory was saying earlier? To the town?"

"About?"

Rory took that as a no and now realized she had to tell her mom the other half of the news. "Mom, they want me there soon. Next weekend."

Lorelai was once again grateful for the support Luke's arms provided as she lost her strength again.

"They are booking me a flight for Saturday afternoon. I'll start at the office on Monday, giving me Saturday night and all day Sunday to get settled in my apartment."

"Six days."

"I know, it's soon."

"I think I need to lie down." Luke nodded and he led her upstairs. After getting Lorelai settled in bed, Luke went back downstairs to rejoin Rory. He found her sitting at the counter, head in hands, and the sound of muffled sobs filling the empty diner.

"She'll be okay Rory." Luke insisted, filling the coffee mug in front of her. "She just wasn't expecting this, so soon."

"I know. I shouldn't have sprung it on her like that, in front of everyone. I should have waited until tonight." Rory stammered, words escaping from around her cries.

"If it helps any, I want you to know I'm proud of you. Your mom is proud of you too. You deserve a good job like this."

"Thanks Luke, that does mean a lot."

"I am proud of you hon." Neither had heard Lorelai make her way downstairs and were surprised by her interruption.

"I'm sorry I sprang it on you so suddenly. With no warning, I shouldn't have done that."

"I doesn't matter. I'm so happy for you. I just had an allergic reaction to the distance and time span," Lorelai joked, "but they are right to want you there so quickly. They'll be lucky to get you."

The girls wrapped each other in hugs, more tears let loose, and time stood still for them in that moment. They celebrated with pie and coffee (a muffin and tea for Luke,) and lists started getting made for their last week together.

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A/N: So, another chapter done and submitted, and all rather quickly too! I'm so proud of myself. I know there was a lot of Rory in this chapter, but hey, it is called Gilmore GirlS isn't it? I'm setting it up for some major Luke/Lorelai time though, so be prepared. Read and Review, PLEASE!