A/N: Hi Guys!

Okay, first of all thanks for reviewing.

Jenna: (I guess that's your name :P) Thanks for your review, and I'm going to do my best to update faster, and I'm sorry if I haven't been able to post any sooner. But I've had tons of homework the last few weeks, so it was around 10 pm before I finally got the time to sit down and write.

Ann: First of all thanks :P About Luke's birthday, I honestly have no idea about his real birthday. I just read about November 6th in other fics too and I decided to rely on the other writers. But well, we can hope it's his real birthday there :D Poor you! I hate having a cold, and I'm sooooo sorry for not answering. Maybe I was writing on the last chapter :P And I don't matter long reviews :P :P :P Next time you need someone to stop you, call me and I'll be right over :P

Randy: And thanks to you too :D I'm glad you like my story so far. And thanks for the suggestion about Lorelai questioning Luke. Actually that crossed my mind too, so now we're two thinking the same thing. I think I'm going to use it, well read and find out.

Lorlai 35 Gilmore: Thanks for your reviews, even though they are connected to part 5 and 6...

Chapter 15: Right around the corner

Song: Delta Goodrem, Lost for words

Lorelai and Rory were still sitting in the dinner waiting for their movie night-junk food when Kirk entered. He walked right over to Lorelai and stood in front of her without saying a word. Lorelai gave him a questioning look, but (hey, it's Kirk we're talking about) he just kept staring at her. After a few moments she had to look away, so she started to look at Rory, who was staring at Kirk. Around five minutes later Luke came out from the kitchen and was pretty surprised to see the scenery. First he questioned himself of what Kirk was doing there, and then why he was just standing in front of Lorelai without saying anything. At last he decided to ask him instead.

"Kirk, what are you doing here? The diner is closed and you know that."

"I want to ask Lorelai something…"

"Okay, go ahead. Ask her and then get out!"

Kirk was now staring at his feet and then he started to do a moonwalk. Rory had to cover her face with her hands to stop herself from laughing. And Lorelai obviously had the same problem.

"Kirk!"

"I wanted to… uh… know… uh… if… Lorelai… uh…"

"In a sentence, please"

"Lorelai, will you be my dance partner at the dance marathon? You are the best dancer in town." Now Rory couldn't hold the laughter back anymore, and she had to stumble out of the diner. Lorelai looked angrily at her daughter for leaving her in such an embarrassing situation. Lorelai couldn't think when Kirk was standing right in front of her.

"Kirk, can you give me a minute"

"Sure" he said and turned around."

"Kirk, outside."

"But it's cold."

"Kirk, out!" Luke shouted and he was forced to leave.

"You're my hero!" Lorelai exclaimed and gave Luke a quick kiss.

"Okay, you owe me an explanation. Why did Kirk just ask you out? And when did he get the idea that you're the best dancer in town?"

"At the 'Love symphony'" Lorelai mumbled. Okay, he couldn't get mad at her for dancing with Kirk at a stupid town event.

"Okay, I admit it Luke. I danced with Kirk that evening. The evening we reconciled."

"You danced with Kirk?" a big smile spread across his face.

"Hey don't mock! Or I'm going to say yes!" They could both see Kirk outside pretending to be freezing, though he was wearing a big jacket. Beside him was Rory with a big grin. At the same time Lorelai's cell rang. Luke pointed at the 'No cell phones in the diner' sign and surprisingly she understood. She just didn't go outside. Instead she walked right pass him and up the stairs to his apartment.

"Hello?"

"Hi Lorelai… It's your aunty Drella"

"Aunty Drella?"

"Yes, hello dear."

"Uh hi" Lorelai honestly couldn't remember anything about an aunt Drella, but she was probably just one of the thousands relatives she had no idea about who was. She was probably just one of the "Hello I'm Lorelai"-"Hi dear, remember me?" kind of aunts.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to the amazing party your mother threw you today. I was just bingo night and it was in my honour, so I just couldn't make it. But anyway, congratulation! I'm so glad you finally got the courage to settle down. You have no idea about how much your mother wanted that for you. For years, darling. For years!"

Lorelai couldn't say anything. Okay, she was suspicious when her mother suddenly decided to throw a party, but for her? And why did everybody say congratulation all the time? At the same time Luke entered the apartment with a questioning look on his face. Lorelai formed the word "Cruella", but Luke didn't seem to get it.

"Lorelai, are you there?"

"Of course Cr… Aunt Drella. I was just… distracted…"

"By Luke?"

"Uh, yeah… By Luke." How could she know about Luke? The questioning mark was growing in Lorelai's head. The whole evening was now one big mystery to her. She gazed at Luke, who looked just as confused as she knew she did herself.

"Uh Drella. It was nice talking to you, but I really need to go" and then she hung up without expecting a goodbye.

Lost for words in our world that
Does it know
What you mean to say
Doesn't come out so

"Okay Lukey… I think you owe me an explanation to this"

"To what?"

"To the… We break up, you go to my mother, big party, everybody shouting congratulation, aunty Cruella calling, settle down? Answers Luke, answers!"

Lorelai's head was spinning. She tried her hardest to make the pieces in the extremely big puzzle fit. It seemed like the pieces had grown to their double size within to seconds. And they didn't stop. She was pretty sure that her brain would blown out very soon if she didn't get any clarification. At that had to be soon, very soon! She looked at Luke's expression. He was a little pale, and then it hit her. He knew it! He truly did! Then his face turned from what-are-you-talking about to okay-I-admit-it-I-know-a-little-more-than-I-told-you.

"I… uh…"

"Spill!" Lorelai shouted and then she made her puppy-eyes along with a big smile. That was something Luke couldn't resist, not even how hard he tried, but at least he made an effort.

"You know, we kind of left Rory with Kirk. I don't know how wise that is"

"Luke!"

"Okay, you're mother thought we'd made a closer relationship than dating."

"Huh?" Closer relationship? What does he mean by that? she thought to herself. At the same time they heard a crash from downstairs, and the first thought that hit them was : KIRK!

They ran downstairs and found Kirk with a plate in his hands. There was already a broken on the floor.

"Kirk?" Kirk looked on his feet and then pointed at Rory that was sitting behind the counter.

"She started" he mumbled, but Luke didn't listen. He took the plate out of his hands and pushed him out of the door and then he locked the front door. Then he went back to the kitchen and brought back their movie-night food. His face was frozen every time he looked at Lorelai. Exactly why she didn't understand. Why? That world stayed in her thoughts all night. She couldn't even focus on Meg Ryan as Sally, the movie just rolled by and every time Rory asked her a question about what she thought of a person, she just mumbled something. When it was around 1am they turned off the TV and went to bed. Lorelai was just lying there, staring at the ceiling wondering. Why? And what? kept circulation in her head. When she finally fell asleep it was almost dawn.

Lost for words in our world that
Does it know
What you mean to say
Doesn't come out so

It was a busy day at the inn and that required that everybody did their best, but Lorelai was exhausted from the sleepless night. Michel kept complaining about his position. Why wasn't he the manager when he did everything by himself. "Can it be true that just because your earn more money than me, you get to relax while I have to do your job… And MINE!" But Lorelai just asked him to shut up so he wouldn't scare any of the costumers of. But only a few minutes later the fire was lit again. He just kept going from 7 am to midday. Finally Sookie had finished making lunch for all the guests and she almost ran into the lobby where she saved Lorelai from the now even more furious. She dragged her into the kitchen and went straight to the point.

"Okay, what's up with you?"

"Nothing's up with me"

"Oh yeah? God, I'm glad you didn't try as an actress. You may look like Penelope Cruz, but your acting sucks."

"Ouch, knife in the gut!"

"Hey, true sister!"

"I do not suck at acting! My mom's what ever she is says I look like Natalie Wood"

"You still sucks at acting."

"Hey evil lady. I was actually considering a carrier in Hollywood instead of this inn thing."

"Ha ha, very funny. Now tell me what's up or I won't give you any more coffee… Ever!"

"I'll just go to Luke's"

"Then I tell him not to give you any!"

"Puppy-eyes! They always work! Or I'll break up with him then"

"For coffee? God, Lorelai."

"I'm sorry that I love the brown stuff, but that's who I am, so sorry."

"Apologize later, just tell me what's up"

"Kirk asked me out."

"What? That's the whole 'sorry, but I'm tired and bugged, so I can't work'?"

"No…"

"Ha!"

"What ha?"

"You admit it… There's more to it! Give it up, baby."

"What exactly does a closer relationship than dating mean?" Lorelai asked Sookie. She was aware of the fact that Sookie could explode with the answer, but she just needed to figure the "clue" out. And it had to be now, or she'd blow her brain out.

"That's obvious Lorelai. Closer relationship! Ha, Patty that she'd gotten into a closer relationship every time she got engaged."

"Engaged?" Lorelai exclaimed. From where would her mother get the idea that her and Luke were engaged? Now everything suddenly made sense. The whole party, Luke and Emily talking and the "congratulation" part too.

"Of course… But why are you asking? Have Luke asked you to start a closer relationship? Oh my God! You're getting married! Married!" Suddenly Sookie started jumping up and down like some kangaroo.

"No, no! Sookie calm down. Why would Luke ask me?"

"You don't want to get married?" Sookie asked a little disappointed, but at the same time Michel entered the kitchen.

"Who's getting marient?"

"What?" Lorelai and Sookie said at the same time.

"Groom, bride, white dress, bridesmaids."

"Married, Michel. It's called married." It was obvious that Michel was insulted. But everybody that had known Michel for more than ten minutes would know that he was insulted every time he was corrected.

"And no one is getting married" Lorelai said, mostly to get rid of Michel.

"Someone certain person is asking for you Mrs. Gilmore"

"Why, thank you Michel. Tell the certain someone to wait a few minutes." And while a pretty grumpy Michel left the kitchen, Sookie was staring at Lorelai with the wanna-know eyes.

"No, Sookie. Luke haven't proposed, and I don't expect him to do it. I mean, not that I don't want him to… But we've only been together for a little more than six months and he is not the commitment kind of guy."

"And you're not the commitment kind of girl" Sookie added.

"Not true!"

"True!"

" Oh, guests. Sorry Sook… Gotta go!" and then Lorelai almost ran out of the kitchen to meet the certain someone. Unfortunately the certain someone was her mother. "Like I haven't seen you more than once this week" Lorelai thought as she walked out to meet her mother.

"Mom, what a surprise. What are you doing here."

"You let your mom wait for a very long time Lorelai."

"Seriously, I had no idea it was you."

"Of course you had. That Gerard guy told you I was waiting."

"No he didn't. Well, actually he did, but he didn't say specifically that it was you. He just said a certain someone"

"Why do you have such people here?" Emily asked sarcastically.

"Because… Okay let's start over. I walk in and see my mom. I'm surprised so I ask her: What are you doing here?"

"It's Rory birthday next Saturday."

"Really? I had no idea that 17 years ago I was walking around with a gigantic stomach. And guess who was inside of my big belly. Rory Leigh Gilmore! And she's turning 17!"

"Will you stop that! I was just asking what you had of plans for your daughter's birthday."

"I was planning a party."

"Planning a party? Well, I thought I might would throw her a party for her friends at Chilton"

"Mom, remember last year? She don't really like those Chilton-kids."

"She has to get to know them. We'll do like last year. I'll throw her a party Friday and then you can have your party Saturday. Fair and square."

"Fine"

"Great, see you." And then Emily Gilmore marched out of the Independence inn.

Life is such a wonderful thing
You just never know what life can bring
But, when you're stuck for words
You don't know what to sa
It comes out the wrong way.
It'll be okay

Suddenly it was Saturday… The birthday party at the Gilmore mansion had been a great party after all. Rory had now been at Chilton for more than a year and she could at least talk to Paris now. Tristan DuGrey wasn't at Chilton at the moment, so the party had passed by without any big trouble. Emily had allowed Rory to invite two other friends, and it didn't take more than a few seconds before Dean and Lane were invited too. Emily and Richard had bought Rory a flat screen TV for her room, but it was way to big to fit in there, so instead Rory decided that it should be placed in the living room, and then Lorelai gave her the black TV and moved it to Rory's room. From Madeline and Louise she got a new set of make-up, which didn't surprise her. And from Paris she got a Chilton T-shirt and also a Harvard T-shirt for her collection. It seemed like she had finally accepted that they were going to the same college. Well, that didn't exactly make Emily and Richard thrilled. They still hoped that she would change her mind and go to Yale instead. But right now Rory only focused on Harvard, so the hope seemed vague. Lorelai was a little sad to see her daughter enjoy a party that her grandparents threw her. Seeing Rory walk around in some fancy dress Emily picked out for her, reminded Lorelai of all her own parties. Her 16th birthday hadn't exactly been the greatest. She was like 4 months pregnant and she was starting to show. And that made everybody stare at her. Well, Saturday came and the party was coming up. Lorelai had done all the preparations and when the guests started to show up everything went perfectly. Lane and her mother soon showed up, and it was easy to read on Mrs Kim's face that she didn't approve for her daughter to be at that kind of a party. But as much as she pretended she didn't like Lorelai Gilmore, she somehow still trusted her.

But obviously not much
If you're not gonna say anything nice
Don't say anything at all

Hours went by and the party was already on it's full go. Even Emily and Richard seemed to enjoy it. Rory hadn't gotten to the gift part yet, even though her mom kept begging her. At last she gave in and opened the gift from Lane first. It was a bible. Lane blinked at Rory who pretended to be happy for the book.

"Thanks Lane… And Mrs. Kim" she added. Then she got to Dean's. It was pretty big and when she opened it she found a collection of books, notebooks and everything else she needed for school.

"How considered" Mrs. Kim said. Rory walked over and gave Dean a gentle hug and the same time he put something into her hand. Lorelai was probably the only one who noticed, but she just pretended like she'd seen nothing. Luke had bought Rory all six seasons of "The Nanny" on DVD and Rory was thankful. There was just one thing. They didn't own a DVD-played, but soon that was going to change. Luke and Lorelai had bought her one together.

"You can't have DVD's without something to watch it on, can you?" Lorelai said while Rory hugged Luke.

"Thanks!" she said loudly and then went back to the present-table. After ten minutes there was only one left, the one from Lorelai. Rory slowly opened it and you can say she got pop-eyed when she saw what is was. Last year she'd gotten a laptop and this year a cell phone.

"Mom, you didn't have to."

"Hon, you're 17 and you go to parties. Don't you think it's a good idea that I can reach you or the other way around?"

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts… You can say but when you turn 30… And lucky you still have 13 years to get prepared."

Suddenly memories from Lorelai's 30th birthday started to flow.

Lost for words in our world that
Does it know
What you mean to say
Doesn't come out so, now

Lorelai walked into the diner. She didn't even bother if she bumped into someone, she just walked through the room and found a nice chair by the counter. Luke looked at her with a little confused look, but she just ignored him.

"Coffee?" he then asked and she nodded heavily.

"Yes please. And make it extra strong and in a biiig mug"

"Okay, what's the situation?"

"Situation? I'm old, that's the situation."

"Old?"

"You see the big cloud over my head?"

"No"

"Well, it's there. God, you're old too. Look at it. Big and dark… And wet and disgusting… Yuck!"

"I see nothing, and I'm not old which leads to the fact that none of us is old."

"Ew raindrop on the nose!"

"There's no cloud."

"There so is… And now please hit me with the coffee before I tumble of my chair. I'm soo old that I can't sit for a very long time before I'm going to fall. And I mean it!"

"Well, here you go!" He handed her a coffee mug and she drank it eagerly.

"Coffee! God, I love it."

"Good"

"Hit me with some more!"

"You just had a big cup!"

"Free refills, remember?" Luke rolled his eyes and filled her mug again.

"Coffee's on the house since it's your birthday."

"Don't you dare to say that again… Ever! I'm turning 30! I'm old!"

"You're not old."

"I so am!"

"No"

"Yes I am!

"No you're not!"

"Yes, yes, yes I'm bloody hell old!"

"Okay, since we're in high school again, neither of us are old. So drink your coffee and open your present"

"Present? For me? Where?"

"Here…" Shyly Luke handed her and velvet box. She opened and found a necklace with her name on a star.

"Wow, thanks… If I get such a present every time I turn 30. I want to turn 30 again!"

"Well, you're welcome. And you only turn 30 once."

"Crap!" Lorelai exclaimed, but then she looked at the necklace. Having one of these only once in her life. That wasn't so bad either.

Now listen to this story I'll tell
About the time when I got lost for words
And it broke people's hearts
Everyone's especially, your own
Be careful not to lose friends

The party passed by and then Sunday came… Sunday lead to Monday which meant a new week, and more work at the inn. Lorelai started every day with coffee at Luke's and Monday morning she thought that people were acting a bit strange. Then she realized they were staring at her finger. She finished the coffee quicker than normally and hurried to the inn. The first person she met was Sookie who was waiting for her. She dragged her upstairs and into an empty room.

"Sook, what's up?"

"I've never been so happy!" again Sookie started jumping up and down.

"What?"

"Married! You!"

"Sookie, look at my finger. Do you see any ring? God, why do everybody suddenly look at my damn fingers?"

"But I though Luke…"

"Well he didn't." Suddenly she noticed the disappointment in her voice. She actually wanted him to propose… Creepy thought.

"But… somebody saw him in a jewellery shop and figured…"

"Who ever that was figured wrong" and then Lorelai left Sookie. She couldn't stand to talk more about it. As she ran down the stairs she felt the tears coming. She needed to talk to Luke… Now!

Is it enough to say I'm sorry?
I didn't mean to say it?
For I'm lost for words, for words.
I was lost for words...

Lorelai walked into the diner. Everybody looked up when they heard the bells jingle, but Lorelai didn't care. She didn't care that they could see she was crying. She just walked pass every one of them and up the stairs followed by a pretty confused Luke.

"Lorelai what's wrong?" he asked

"I think we need to talk."

"What about?"

"Why the hell everybody is staring at my finger all the time. Why, Luke?"

"I…"

"Everybody thinks that we are… and apparently I'm the only one who doesn't know. What are you up to?"

"Lorelai I…"

A/N: And end of chapter! Okay, I know I end it in a mean place, but who doesn't love cliff-hangers? And as you probably know I'm not going to update before after summer. I hope you all will stick on and read when I post again. Maybe if you're lucky I'll post a few fics over summer, but I was thinking of writing a post-finale fic. I already got the first chapter. Well, I hope you liked this part. I don't know why exactly I just thought that I needed to get some more Sookie, Michel and Kirk into this chapter, so here they were. Please review! I need them before I can continue… And if we hit the 50 this time I'll promise to update at least once over summer. So it's up to you guys! Go, go, get… Or more like: Go, go, hit the button!

Asta