A/N: Happy New Year! I hope that this year is bringing you good things. I hope you like this chapter! I've had it written for awhile but our internet crashed over the weekend. New wireless network had some issues. But it's all fixed now. So here is this chapter and the next one is almost finished already. Just enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls! No surprise there, even though I wanted it for Christmas…sad day :(

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June 5, 1989

The start of a very busy summer season has kicked off and I am feeling it thoroughly. We are already booked solid at the Inn for pretty much all summer and that is keeping the maid staff incredibly busy. I have barely had time to breathe let alone relax or spend any down time with my kid.

I feel like I haven't seen in her in ages Maddie and that sucks. A lot. She's been spending most of her time with Liz and William at the store in town and she's usually asleep or almost asleep by the time I'm able to pick her up. That means no time to have our Gilmore girl time anymore.

I hate that I'm short three maids and trying to make up the slack myself while in the process of training new girls. I'm a dead woman walking by the end of the day. I am thankful though for William and Liz for looking after Rory while I'm working. All these extra hours are certainly going to go towards helping to purchase my first car and for that I can't wait.

I'm not sure what I'm going to get yet, but William is helping me look around. I'm determined to find a good car that will last me for a long time but yet I want a car that I feel like me in. That I start up and I just know that this is my car.

Does that sound strange Maddie?

I'm sure it does.

I don't care though. That is what I want.

Working at the Inn has been a great experience though and I've meet a ton of amazingly wonderful people that have been just amazing to me.

The main example I'm talking about, Chef Jenkins. He told me that he is finally going to retire in the fall and move down south to get away from the intense cold we have here during the winter. His kids live in the south and he's excited to be near them again. The reason though that I'm gushing about old Jenkins right now is because he was talking about letting me lease his house on one of those lease to own deals.

We could have a house.

A real house.

Am I in a dream Maddie? Cause it sure feels like it.

I went and looked at it yesterday and it is so cute! It's a precious little three bedroom two-story house, though the third bedroom is more like a closet upstairs next to the master bedroom but there is a room just off of the kitchen that is nice size, I was thinking of that for Rory. I would just completely love to say that we live in a real house, with all the amenities and not the potting shed. The house needs some minor work, nothing major, just a few screws here and there and some tightening of certain pipes, but other than that the house is in amazing shape for its age.

William has already agreed to help me with some of the repairs too. If I decide to take the house, I still haven't given him my answer.

I'm not sure why I haven't. It's nearly perfect.

We'd be moving in the week before Rory starts school if I take it. That will be when Jenkins is all moved out and the house will be ready for us.

I think I'm going to take it. I should, shouldn't I? That really is the only smart thing for me to do really? How could I not take this opportunity? Jenkins and his family have been so gracious to even offer this for Rory and me. I think I'll talk to him tomorrow about signing the papers. I think I will.

This is just too good to be true.

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Luke drummed is fingers against the counter of the hardware store impatiently has he watched his sister attempt to corral Jess and Rory out the door with all of their beach supplies safely. Liz was taking them to the beach today to get some good 'ole summer sunshine in and frankly Luke was just fine with that.

He didn't try to be grumpy around the kids but in all honestly they all but drove him completely nuts.

The girl, Rory, wasn't as bad as Jess could be, but when they would fight or even start to just play with sincere enthusiasm all hell would break lose and Luke's head would begin to throb.

"Okay Luke," Liz was talking to him, "we are officially outta here. Lorelai was saying today how she might get off earlier so if she comes to get Rory and we aren't back yet just have her hold tight or something. Love you bro."

"Bye Liz," Luke called as he watched Jess, Rory, and Liz through the window of the store skip down the street. He sighed deeply, thankful for some piece and quiet.

Luke let his thoughts drift to Kara and his heart lurched at the thought of his fiancé who was still miles and miles away from him. They were staying in daily contact with a letter, postcard, or phone call, but Luke still missed her terribly. They were starting to plan the details of the wedding, though the date was the only thing they couldn't agree on.

"I've always wanted a spring wedding Luke," Kara sighed into the phone on a late night phone call. "Please, can't we do it in April or May?"

"I don't want to wait that long Kara," Luke had argued, "wouldn't a late fall wedding have the same effect?"

"No," Kara grunted, "fall is when everything is dying before winter; I don't want my wedding in that."

"Then what about December? Have a Christmastime wedding."

"I'm not about to share my wedding day with a worldwide holiday either Luke," Kara persisted. "Spring is the only time I want it and my church has an opening for the last Saturday in April. It's perfect."

"We could always just elope," Luke had offered, "that would save us time and money and we could get married this summer."

"No."

"Kara just think about it…"

"No Luke," Kara interrupted again. "I'm not going to elope. That is final. Luke, I've got to go, we'll finish this discussion later."

"But…"

"Bye Luke," Kara simply said, "love you."

"Love you too," Luke returned the affection and groaned as the dial tone filled his ears. Another unsatisfying phone call completed.

The more he thought about it now the more he realized that fighting her about the wedding would be pointless as it turns out he'd read in a wedding planning book at the library last week that the girls tended to have everything perfect in their mind and nothing was going to change that.

He decided to wait and let her have her spring wedding. It wasn't worth the fights they'd been having anyways.

"Luke honey," Miss Patty cooed as she flung the door to the hardware open and Luke struggled to hide his eye roll and groan. "Don't you be making faces at me handsome, oh if I was just twenty years younger…"

Luke decided it was safest to start the interruption there and proceeded to direct the older woman's thoughts away from any parts of his body.

"What can I do for you today Miss Patty?" Luke asked and Patty started in on supplies she needed to refurbish the dance floor in her studio. Luke worked quickly to get the supplies and worked hard to ignore the ramblings that Patty insinuated.

"So Luke," Miss Patty started again as she followed him around the store, "where is that pretty little fiancé of yours. We haven't seen her around in awhile."

"She's with her family in California," Luke offered vaguely and kept walking.

"Why is she all the way out there," Miss Patty pestered, "if I were her…?"

"Miss Patty is there anything else you need?" William asked, saving his son from the continuing questioning and Luke breathed a sigh of relief and threw his father a grin.

"Not a thing William, Luke here has been just great," Patty gushed, "it must be wonderful to have him back again."

"It is," William agreed with a quick smile, "would you like us to deliver this stuff for you later today?"

"Why William that would be wonderful," Patty said with a grin, "can I entice either of you to help me…shirtless?"

"I thought you had already hired the Williamsons' twins to do the work?" William asked as he ushered Patty closer to the door.

"Oh I did," Patty chuckled, "but I'd trade them for either of you in an instance."

"You wouldn't want to do that for two college boys," William insisted and Patty just nodded, "that is what I thought. I'll have Luke drop off the supplies to you later today, in time for the twins to work on it tomorrow. Have a good afternoon."

"Thank you William," Miss Patty offered with a wave as she sauntered off towards her studio and Luke sighed as William shut the door.

"Thanks dad," Luke said, "she scares me."

"She scares me too," William admitted with a short laugh. "How long was she here?"

"Long enough to admire my butt, make a few suggestive comments, and inquire about my love life and Kara's whereabouts. I swear this town is full of a bunch of crazies."

"They always have been," William joked, "you should have realized that by now. Speaking of Kara…"

"Don't dad," Luke warned, "I'd rather not talk about it."

"But…"

"Please," Luke said, "I'm not sure what is going on anymore."

"So the wedding…"

"Is still on, there just hasn't been a date set."

"And…"

"Dad, enough."

"Fine, I'll leave it be for now…"

"Forever, please dad."

"Okay, I'm just saying that if you aren't…"

"I'm sure," Luke insisted making sure William didn't finish his statement. Luke wasn't sure he could hear the last of that and answer honestly, because he wasn't so sure about anything anymore.

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June 8, 1989

I did it. I signed the lease agreements with Chef Jenkins and his son, Greg, this morning. I'm excited…and scared shitless at the same time. I mean…I signed papers, committing myself to leasing this house with all intents and purposes in purchasing it after three years. Rory doesn't know yet, I wanted it to be a surprise for her.

I'm still scared to tell her though. I don't know…I don't want to fail and yet…

And yet I'm afraid that is what I'm going to do. Maddie…I'm not even sure that I can do this. About thirty seconds after signing my name the doubts started filling my mind. I've spent most of the day trying to filter them out and not let it get to me…but so far I haven't succeeded.

And no one knows about it so I can't let out my feelings. I asked Chef Jenkins not to say anything yet to anyone. We still have awhile before we can actually move in, so I have time to let everyone know and let my feelings settle.

"You are always writing in that thing huh?" a voice asked pulling Lorelai from her thoughts. "I've never see you without it."

"Not true," Lorelai stated firmly and couldn't help but smile. "I didn't wake you did I?"

"No you didn't," Luke answered as he took a swig of the beer in his hand, "I just wasn't able to fall asleep, and thought I'd get a drink."

"I didn't think your dad keep beer in the house," Lorelai questioned.

"He doesn't," Luke offered, "I keep it in a fridge in the garage. He knows it's there, he just chooses to ignore it."

"Ah," Lorelai breathed with a small smile.

"Would you like one?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Come on," Luke insisted, "one won't kill you."

"Sure," Lorelai shrugged, "one would be nice."

Luke stepped away for a minute and came back handing her a bottle that matched his own, "thanks."

"No problem," Luke answered, "so, what are you writing?"

"Nothing really," Lorelai brushed it off, "just life."

"So it's like a diary?"

"Yeah, sorta. Sometimes I just need to vent and stuff and I really don't have anyone to really vent to, so…"

"So you write it out."

"Yeah."

"That's cool," Luke said and Lorelai blushed slightly, not sure what to think of the Luke that she was seeing.

"Man," Lorelai breathed, "I haven't had one of these in a long time."

"Really?"

"At least five years," Lorelai answered with a short laugh.

"Is this what…?"

"No," Lorelai interrupted, "Rory was conceived on cheap beer. She was conceived on the good stuff."

"Vodka?"

Lorelai shook her head, "tequila."

"Wow," Luke laughed quietly, "that must have been…"

"Surprising?" Lorelai asked for him, "yeah it was. My parent's were too thrilled and his parents were livid."

"Where is he? Does he see her?"

"No," Lorelai's eyes held a hint of sadness and Luke regretted asking anything. "He's a prick. He hasn't seen Rory in…years. I hate to say this, but she is better off without him."

"His loss," Luke said genuinely and Lorelai looked up surprised. "What? I'm just saying, if he can't what an amazing kid Rory is then it is his loss."

"Thanks Luke."

"It's the truth," Luke answered with a shrug. "Look, about our first impressions…"

"Don't even worry about it," Lorelai assured him.

"I was horrible to you and I'm sorry."

"Me too," Lorelai told him. "I wasn't exactly the picture of nice either."

"Can we put that behind us?" Luke asked, "I'd like to be friends…"

"Luke Danes wants to be my friend?" Lorelai gasped with mock shock. "Whatever shall I think?"

"Funny…"

"I'd like to be friends Luke," Lorelai told him and their eyes caught for just a moment before Luke turned away his cheeks on fire.

"Good," he whispered quickly, "well, goodnight Lorelai, I better head to bed."

"Yeah," Lorelai nodded, "me too. Good night Luke."

Lorelai didn't move as she watched Luke take the stairs two at a time before returning her attention briefly to her lap again.

Well Maddie, that was interesting. A conversation with Luke. An actual conversation, without bitterness or sarcastic underlying hints. A friendly interaction. Maybe today was a day of new beginnings. It would be good to have him as a friend. That was good.

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A/N: Okay, so leave some reviews. I'd like to know what you think. Just think of them as late Christmas presents. Thanks!