A/N Yes you clever people, you guessed the visitor. Thank you for all the nice reviews, it helps to know you are enjoying the story. Another secret is going to be revealed in a few chapters. To give you a hint, it isn't Lorelai's. Thank you for your time and hope you continue to enjoy reading and reviewing.

I own nothing

Ch 27 The Muse

Luke really never asked why in his life, his mother died when he was ten and left him and his dad to try and raise Liz. When he was eighteen his dad got sick and he was left to try and corral Liz into finishing high school and he failed. He also lost his chance to go to Yale and get a college education because he had to take care of his dad. Then four years later when his friends were graduating from college his dad died and Rachel left him within six months. Just a few months later he found out he was responsible for thousands of people's livelihoods and he accepted that responsibility without question as well.

Since he had met Lorelai his life had changed and he wasn't going to give it up without a fight. "Why are you here?" Luke asked with an edge to his voice and holding onto his counter.

"I was in Chicago waiting for a flight to Miami and saw the flight to Hartford was leaving in half an hour. So I changed my plane ticket and here I am," the woman smiled brightly at Luke either oblivious to his demeanor or used to having to cajole him in the beginning.

She was just as beautiful as she'd always been, her strawberry blond hair settled around her shoulders in tight waves, her smile lit up her face and her body always was something out of a boy's fantasy. But when Luke looked at her he saw Medusa, his perfect life would come crashing to the ground and this time he wasn't going to let it.

"Where are you staying?" he knew the answer before he asked the question.

"Well, I thought I could stay here if that's all right?"

"No."

"No?" she was taken aback, he had never denied her before.

"No room, I turned the apartment back into an office." He was short and concise.

"Huh, well, I guess I'll just find somewhere else to stay then." She picked up her bags and started to back out the door. "You look good Luke, real good. See ya around town" She lingered on his face for a bit and then turned to leave.

As she left Luke felt a tremendous weight lift off his chest, he had adverted that crisis, and then he remembered her last statement. There was only one place in town that housed outsiders. "Crap!"

Luke picked up the phone to call the Inn and Tobin answered, Lorelai wasn't at her desk or in the kitchen. "Crap."

He hung up and called her cell phone, straight to voicemail, "Crap."

He called the house and Rory answered, "Hey Rory, is your mom home?"

"No, Luke, she's working until seven tonight," Rory was confused, Luke knew this, he was making dinner at seven instead of six because she was working late.

"OK, if you see her before I do tell her I'm looking for her, OK?"

"Sure Luke.' Rory was very confused. "Bye."

"Crap," Luke decided to run over to the Inn to try and find Lorelai and hopefully keep himself engaged.

Lorelai was coming back to the Inn from the doctor and came up behind a beautiful young woman in the lobby carrying what looked like a camera bag. "Good afternoon, can I help you?"

"Hi, I just checked in and I thought I'd get some lunch before I went out and took some pictures. Could you tell me which way the dinning room is?"

"Sure, I'm the manager here so I'm supposed to know these things. Are you traveling by yourself?"

"Yes, actually I'm between jobs right now and I thought I'd stop by Stars Hollow to reconnect with a few old friends so I may be here for a while."

Lorelai led them to a table and John came up with a cup of coffee for Lorelai. "John, I want you to steady yourself, but I want you to take this back and get me a glass of water." John looked at her like she had just grown two heads, Lorelai addressed her companion, "Would you like something to drink as well since John has to catch his breath?"

The woman laughed and said, "I take it you normally drink a lot of coffee? I'll have some Ice tea myself."

"Normally I inhale coffee, but I'm getting used to adding more water into my diet and less caffeine. You mentioned that you're wanting to reconnect with some old friends; you used to live here?"

"Yes, I used to live here off and on for a few years, it's a wonderfully odd town with so many interesting people. Have you lived here for a while?"

"Yep, I came here with my daughter almost fifteen years ago, the first ten I pretty much stayed here, we lived out back so I didn't get to meet many people until we bought a house a few years ago. I wouldn't live anywhere else."

"Wow, so you must've been really young when you had her, is her father the one you're engaged to? I'm sorry, I just noticed the ring, it's very beautiful."

"Thank you, no, this is very recent and he isn't her father, although he cares about her like she was his own, we were friends for five years before we started going out and," Lorelai looks up to see Luke enter the lobby, "Well, speak of the devil himself, excuse me, Luke rarely has time to get away from the diner so I need to see what's going on." Lorelai turns and leaves as her companion spits ice tea across the table.

Luke turns as he hears her footsteps and looks beyond from where she came, "Shit."

"Hey you," Lorelai purrs, "What a nice surprise,"

She leans in to kiss him and he takes her elbow, "Can we talk in your office?" he is looking very worried and Lorelai becomes concerned.

"Sure babe," she leads them into her office and locks the door. "Luke you're scaring me a bit, what's up?"

Luke leans into kiss her deeply and to Lorelai it feels like the kiss outside the diner in the alley. Luke is still holding her to him breathing in her shampoo and perfume scent. He runs his hands up her thighs and reaches the hem of her skirt. He isn't sure how to approach the subject, but since she hasn't said anything, he figures she hasn't talked with his visitor. His fingers reach higher as he kisses her again and he realizes that he isn't encountering any other material. He breaks the kiss and looks at her, one eyebrow raised.

Lorelai blushes and whispers, "Laundry day."

Luke knows he needs to talk to her but this information sends him over the edge.

Outside the door Tobin politely tries to give a couple information on the Firelight Festival that will take place the following Friday. He is ignoring the low moans that are coming from behind the door when the young woman who had just checked in steps up to his counter, "I'm looking for the manager of the Inn, I saw her head this way, but I don't know where she went."

Tobin blushed and inclines his head towards the door, "It appears that Miss Gilmore is engaged at the moment, perhaps," a louder moan and a 'shush Lorelai,' comes through the door, "there is something I could help you with?" Tobin tried his best to ignore the noises that were difficult to attribute to anything else.

"Um, no, that's fine. Does this happen quite a bit?"

Tobin looks like he really doesn't want to answer and finally settles on, "It isn't the first time. Are you sure I can't help you?"

"No, really, I'm fine, just surprised, I just never imagined Luke.."

"Madam, none of us did. Enjoy your stay." Tobin discreetly walked away from the counter.

Back inside the office Luke and Lorelai were adjusting clothing, "Well, that was a wonderful surprise," Lorelai purrs as she snakes her arms around Luke's waist and kisses him.

Luke blushes and says, "Yeah, I really didn't intend on this when I got here, I just got sidetracked," he holds her hands in his and says, "Lorelai, something happened today that I want you to know about. I got a visitor and I need to talk to you about it."

Lorelai sits on the couch and is very concerned, "What's up Luke? Was it someone from Chilton?"

Luke sits down next to her and says, "No, it's Rachel. She's in town and she's going to stay for a while I think."

"Rachel?"

"Yes,"

"Your Rachel?"

"Yes and no, she's not 'my Rachel' anymore, I really don't know if she's anyone's Rachel at the moment and if she is I'm sure that's going to change soon. She rarely stays anyplace for any amount of time. "

"You're ranting Luke. Where is she?"

"Well, last I saw of her she was having lunch in your dinning hall."

"WHAT!" Lorelai comes back to a whisper, "That's Rachel? Good God Luke that woman is gorgeous, what the Hell were you thinking in letting her go?"

"This wasn't exactly the conversation I'd anticipated having with you about this subject. Do you want to break up with me?" Luke was very confused.

"Oh, no, babe, I'm just surprised, that's all. I felt like such a boy next to that woman and then to hear you tell me that she was your ex, it surprised me that you would go from that body to this one."

"Lorelai, I love your body, I love how it responds to my touch, I love how it looks when you walk naked from the bathroom to your closet, I had to send Ray out to wait on you twice this week because I had very vivid memories about how our bodies looked joined together on New Years Eve and it made it impossible for me to be close to you with out violating several health codes. Lorelai, the love I have for you is much deeper than just your body, I love everything about you and I trust you with my happiness. I was never able to get to that level with any other woman including Rachel." Luke was looking at her with an intensity that Lorelai had never seen before. "I refuse to let anything especially anything that is over and dead get in the way of that happiness now. I love you and I want to marry you, nothing's going to change that, got it?"

"Got it," Lorelai put her head on Luke's shoulder, "at least I should thank her for motivating you to visit me this afternoon, I almost told you I needed to do laundry when I saw you earlier but I thought that was an unfair tactic, since I know you need to pay attention to the diner, so I was very happy to see you step into the lobby, whatever the reason that brought you."

Luke held her tightly, "I need to get going I'm making dinner tonight right?"

"Yep, I should be home around seven. Thanks for the visit and I," Lorelai's eyes got big, "Oh Luke, I think I told Rachel we're engaged, she saw the ring right about the time you walked in the door."

"Lorelai, It's fine, I'm very proud that we're engaged and that you agreed to marry me, besides, the second she runs into Miss Patty or Babette they would've given her the news anyway." Luke grinned.

"I know she did a terrible thing breaking your heart Luke, but I can see why you were attracted to her, besides her body, she is really very nice, at least she was until she found out I was engaged to you, I guess we'll see how everything plays after this, huh?" Lorelai smiled.

"Lorelai, I never thought I'd have to say this, but I really would rather you and Rachel not become friends, OK? I don't like the idea of you two…,"

"Comparing notes on Luke?"

"Yes."

"Fine Hon, I'll be nice but not too nice. Besides, I'm the one with the ring on her finger." Lorelai laughed.

"You remember that." Luke leaned in and kissed her, "I've got to get back to the diner. How many people do you think will be outside the door today?" He had his hand on the doorknob.

"Well, Tobin is much more discreet than Michel, so probably not a lot." They opened the door and even Tobin had disappeared.

"You know I never would've done this before," Luke sighed, "I sometimes can't believe what you inspire me to do."

"I'm your own personal muse," Lorelai giggled.

"You bet," Luke kissed her and headed out to the diner.

Rachel had gotten to the diner almost a half an hour before Luke and did she get filled in, everyone was happy to tell her how wonderful for Luke Lorelai was, how she opened up new experiences for him, Rachel was painfully aware of one particular experience they engaged in. When they were together she'd had to almost get Luke drunk to get him to experiment with anything new other than the missionary position and even then it wasn't more than once a week. From what she was hearing with Lorelai it is at least three times a week that the diner gets shut down. Babette said she heard them most nights as well. Rachel was floored, what had gotten into Luke?

Patty was inviting Rachel to a baby shower for one of the elementary school teachers on Saturday. While the poor woman who was having the baby wouldn't be drinking, Miss Patty said that there would be enough Founder's punch left over that the other non-pregnant women could imbibe. "Sure Patty, why not? I don't have to be in Miami for three weeks, I could stick around for a bit."

Luke got back and avoided Rachel's glance as he sent Ray out to wait on the people and he went in back to cook. Rachel outlasted most of the patrons and Luke had to take over the front when Ray's shift ended. Rachel was sitting at the counter when Luke came out.

"So, any big news to tell an old friend?" Rachel smiled at him.

"I'd bet you've everything that has happened in my life these past four months already covered Rachel. What do you want me to tell you?" Luke was wiping down the counter and avoiding her eyes.

"Well, you could tell me why you want to tie yourself down with a woman who had a kid so young."

"Rachel, here's the reason I'm marrying Lorelai. When I told her you were in town her response was that you seemed like a very nice woman and that she had enjoyed her conversation with you. You on the other hand take the first opportunity to take a verbal swipe at her. Lorelai and her daughter are a package deal, I love both of them and I'm flattered that Rory looks to me for advise and comfort like I was a real parent."

"I'm just surprised Luke, you're always the one who ranted about jam hands on kids and never seemed to want to talk about having any when we were together."

"And who would've raised these kids Rachel?" Luke's voice shot up to anger mode very quickly, "Their mom would be off taking pictures of God knows what and I would've been left to raise them on my own with you popping in and out? Lorelai is the best mom I've ever seen, she made sacrifices for Rory that you'd never have considered. I would be grateful beyond belief if we're able to have any children, because I know she will be a full partner with me in this. You, I'd have been lucky if you came back for birthdays and Christmas." Luke threw the rag on the counter and walked in the back to cool off.

Rachel decided that the shock of seeing her again after seven years wasn't letting Luke appreciate her presence. She decided to take some pictures and go back to the Inn. She'd see him the next day.

That night Lorelai came home to a wonderful smelling kitchen and the sight of Rory washing clothes. "What a wonderful daughter I have! Are you doing mommy's laundry?" Lorelai noticed that the basket was from her bathroom.

"Yep, Luke let me pick the dinner if I'd do one load of laundry for you." Luke was turning a deep red.

Lorelai laughed and whispered to Rory, "Let me guess, it's my underwear?"

Rory just laughed. Lorelai looked at Luke who leaned in and whispered to her, "Self preservation, you're going to want coffee tomorrow and I wouldn't be able to serve you with the knowledge you gave me today, so now I know you have an option I can convince myself you took it."

"Until I take you into the storeroom and inform you otherwise, right?"

"Lorelai!"

"A muse's work is never done."