A/N: This is just a short chapter to keep you going, hope you all enjoy.

...

"Thanks for the lift, again" Lorelai said as they pulled to a stop just behind where she had parked her car last night. "I'm really sorry about all the gossip today, it's my fault you were even out in the first place last night. I really do appreciate you rescuing me like that, and then staying with me when I asked" She leaned across the seat in the truck and pulled Luke into a hug. They didn't hug much as a general rule and Luke was taken aback by her gesture at first before he allowed his hands to find a comfortable place; one in the middle of her back and one placed lightly on the back of her head. Her hair felt so soft and silky and the intoxicating scent from her cherry blossom shampoo filled his nose.

"You're welcome, anytime you know that" he finally answered as she loosened her grip on him and pulled back to get out of the truck.

"Well it's greatly appreciated" She said with a smile, she felt slightly high with the smell of him in her nose. He smelt distinctly Luke, an odd description but no other fitted. It was unique to him and it made Lorelai's head spin in a delicious way. "So I'll see you back in town then? Are you going to the town meeting tonight? I'm not sure I want to face them all on my own"

Luke groaned when she reminded him about the town meeting. He'd really rather not go at all but he still had a bone to pick with Taylor. "Actually yes, If Taylor was being serious about his Stepford ideas on how the buildings in the square should look then I want to be there to object. There is no way in hell he can make me take down the hardware sign and put up a stupid awning." Smiling at Luke's feisty response she fumbled around in her bag trying to find her car keys.

...

Luke was still pretty angry with around half the town about the pool and the general gossip about him and Lorelai but he begrudgingly went to the town meeting that had been threatening to pass through a rule about the colours of all the awnings and displays on the buildings in the town square and Luke needed to shoot down that idea before it took route. He settled in the back row ready to argue his point when the time came, a few minutes later Lorelai plonked down in the seat next to him. A few townies looked at them with meaningful glances but Luke shot daggers in warning at anyone who caught his eye. The majority of the meeting was the same old stuff until finally Taylor said "Now for our next matter of business we'd like to settle the matter of Luke and Lorelai's supposed relationship. There has been a dispute amongst some town folk about the outcome of a certain long running pool and to whom the money should go"

"What the hell is this!" Luke shouted as Lorelai dropped her bag in shock, forgetting all about her hunt for the red vines she had stashed in there.

"I won the money" Kirk exclaimed "I had the closest date out of everyone"

"Yeah but that's only if it started the night before Babette caught Luke leaving Lorelai's. For all we know this could have been going on for ages" Gypsy argued back. She had a personal interest in the outcome of this as her latest guess was for a date of only a month ago.

"I did see Lorelai coming home with that big bag from Victoria's Secret last week" Babette added.

"Babette they were pyjamas!" Lorelai exclaimed her eyes wide with shock.

Unconvinced Babette shrugged and said "Sure sure Sugar"

Bootsy leaned across the aisle and whispered with a conspiratorial wink "Victoria's Secret, you lucky man Luke" Luke whipped his head round at this and shot a menacing stare back "Cut it out Bootsy there's nothing going on" he practically growled. He never had liked Bootsy that much, and he really didn't like the way he looked at Lorelai now. It was as if he was trying to picture her Victoria's Secret purchase. Feeling a protective instinct shoot through him Luke stood up. "I've had enough of this! There's nothing going on between me and Lorelai and even if there was it would be none of your damn business!"

Luke's face looked like thunder and Lorelai could see how white the skin was across his knuckles as he balled up his fists in anger. "We're not together, really everybody" She said as she stood up with him in solidarity.

"Prove it!" a voice that sounded a lot like Fran Weston shouted from somewhere in the packed studio.

"What?" Luke and Lorelai chorused in unison, confusion knitting both of their brows.

"Prove it, kiss him and then tell us there's nothing going on" the same voice called again. It was always the sweet old dears who surprised you Lorelai thought.

"We are not kissing in front of all of you!" Luke crossed his arms in front of his chest, the defensive stance hiding how embarrassed he actually felt.

"See they're hiding something" another townie added. Where were all these different voices coming from, Lorelai didn't even recognise that voice. She was so distracted wondering why so many people cared about her relationship with Luke that she was startled by what happened next.

"Oh for goodness sake" Luke mumbled as he turned towards Lorelai and placed a soft kiss on her lips. It was a bare whisper of a kiss but a jolt of electricity shot through them both and Lorelai's voice wavered when she said "See, nothing…"

"Call that a kiss" Miss Patty hollered

"Alright people that's enough of all this nonsense" Taylor interrupted before Patty could demand any more 'proof' "If Luke and Lorelai say there's nothing going on then we should all believe them and call this matter closed. Now if there is no more urgent business I'll call this meeting over and I'll see you all again next week when we'll be discussing plans for the fund raiser for the bridge."

"Come on let's get out of here quick before we get accosted by Patty or Babette for another show and tell" Lorelai said as she picked her bag up from where it had fallen on the floor earlier.

...

TBC