Thank you for your continued support! Here's the next chapter! :)

Chapter 18

"I didn't know Rachel was going to show up like she did." Luke said as he and Lorelai went into the apartment.

"I know." Lorelai said.

"You do?" He said surprised.

"Well anyone who knew their ex was going to show up but didn't tell their girlfriend about it wouldn't be the nicest person and I know you're not like that." She shrugged.

"I handled it all wrong though and I'm sorry. She told me her dad was sick and I just immediately offered her to stay here. I didn't even think about what that would mean. I just thought it was the right thing to do but I realised how inappropriate it would be on you. And I'm really sorry about that. I wasn't even thinking. I'm an idiot." Luke sighed.

"No, Luke, you're not an idiot." Lorelai said softly. "You're just...you."

"What does that mean?" He said confused.

"That's just who you are, Luke. Always trying to do right by everyone. You put everyone first." She explained.

"And that's a...bad thing?" He said still confused.

"No." She smiled. "It's a really good thing. I was the one who overreacted." She said.

"I still should have thought about what I was doing. I mean, of course Rachel showing up and me offering her to stay was going to upset you. Jess pretty much shouted some sense into me." Luke said.

"He did?" Lorelai said surprised.

"Oh yeah!" He chuckled. "Trust me, he's very much team Lorelai."

"And Liv and Rory are very much team Luke." Lorelai laughed slightly. "Seems like the kids wee being the grown ups in this case, huh?"

"I guess so." He smirked slightly.

"I'm sorry Rachel's dad's sick. That sucks." Lorelai said.

"Yeah he's a good guy. Was good friends with my dad." Luke nodded.

"So...where's she gone?" She asked.

"To a hotel. I'm not sure which one. We had a talk and she said she didn't want to mess anything between you and me. I really hope me being stupid didn't ruin things between us, Lorelai." He said. "Rachel is in the past, I swear. I want to be with you. I...I love you." He said nervously.

"You...what?" She said stunned.

"Oh geez, it was too early for stuff like that wasn't it?" Luke cringed, starting to pace around. "I'm sorry. I just thought...I've definitely ruined things now haven't I? I've scared you away now, haven't I?"

"Luke..." Lorelai said.

"I just thought I could prove to you that you're the one I want, not Rachel. But I went too far." He said.

"Luke!" She tried again.

"It's far too early for declarations like that. Of course it is! I'm an idiot!" Luke exclaimed.

"Luke!" Lorelai exclaimed.

"What?" Luke said turning to her.

"I love you too." Lorelai smiled softly before going forward and kissing him. "This is all I've ever wanted. The full package. You, me, the girls, Jess. I don't want any of this to end." She admitted.

"Then it doesn't have to. If you can forgive me for..."

"You're already forgiven." She interrupted him.

"Really?"

"I get it. I get why you did what you did. I overreacted when I saw Rachel but I trust you, Luke." She said. "I want to be with you."

"And I want to be with you." Luke said relieved. He kissed her again before smiling softly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Lorelai smiled softly.

"So this was a fun first evening but we should get home and help dad with the rest of the unpacking." Amy said as they finished a movie at the Crap Shack.

"Yeah ok. It was great seeing you." Rory smiled.

"You too!" Amy smiled. "Come on you. Stop making googly eyes at Olivia." She teased Ben.

"I wasn't!" Ben said.

"So you were just watching her watch the movie then, huh?" She teased.

"Shut up." He mumbled blushing.

"I think it's sweet." Olivia grinned.

"You would." Rory teased.

"Oh and you and Jess weren't doing the same thing huh?" Olivia said.

"Hey, leave me out of this." Jess smirked.

"Amy's right though. We better head home." Ben said getting up.

"See you tomorrow?" Olivia asked getting up with them.

"You can count on it." Ben smiled before giving her a quick kiss. "Let's go." He smiled at Amy.

"Wait!" Olivia said, getting something out of her pocket. "Tristan told me to give this to you when you came. I think someone's eager to get in touch." She teased.

It was Amy's turn to blush this time. "Thanks." She said. "See you guy tomorrow." She said.

"Bye!" Olivia smiled.

"Yeah see you tomorrow." Rory smiled.

"See ya." Jess said.

"So what now?" Olivia asked.

"Well I'm staying here seeing as your mom hasn't returned and that probably means her and Luke have sorted things out." Jess said.

"So another movie?" Rory grinned.

"Another movie." Olivia grinned.

"So long as it's not Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I'm up for it." Jess said. He saw them both exchange grins. "Oh geez..." He groaned.

Jess woke up the following morning and for a moment, it took him a minute to realise where he was. He smiled when he realised he was in the living room at the Crap Shack and both Rory and Olivia were leaning against him, still asleep. He heard movement coming from the kitchen so he carefully and gently moved Olivia and Rory off him before getting up and wandering into the kitchen where Lorelai was making coffee. "So I'm guessing we fell asleep..." He said.

"Yep. I came in and you were all passed out on the couch. Thought it would be mean to wake you so I just put a blanket over you all." Lorelai smiled. "Don't worry, I let Luke know you were here."

"I wasn't worried." He smirked.

"Of course you weren't." She smirked. "But Luke would have been. Coffee?" She asked.

"I'd rather not kill myself thanks." He smirked.

"You're too much like Luke." She said.

"He'll be pleased to hear that." Jess said dryly.

"So...I hear you went off on Luke a bit yesterday..." Lorelai said.

Jess ducked his head slightly. "He told you about that?"

"Just that you shouted some sense into him and that apparently you were all team Lorelai." She said.

"Yeah..well..." He said awkwardly.

"Hey..." She said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks." He smiled.

Jess glanced at her. "I didn't do much. I just...didn't like how he was handling things. I didn't want him to screw things up with you."

"That's really sweet. I appreciate it. Really." She smiled softly.

Jess just nodded. "It's nothing." He said. "So you two...are good?"

"We're good." Lorelai smiled.

"Good." He nodded just as the doorbell went.

"I'll get it!" Olivia called from the other room.

"Ooh looks like the girls are awake. I have to head to work but have fun." She smiled.

Meanwhile, Olivia opened the door to find Ben stood there in some smart trousers and a shirt and holding a bunch of flowers. "Hey, what's this?" She asked.

"I'm taking you out on our first date." He said.

"What?" She beamed.

"We haven't managed to have one yet. I was thinking lunch at Luke's and then maybe heading to that music store in town to buy some records and then we can play them on the record player back at mine. What do you think?" He asked.

"I think you're on!" Olivia grinned. "Just let me get changed first."

"Sure." He said. "And these are for you." He said giving her the flowers.

"Aw that's so sweet! You bought me flowers?"

"That's what you do on a first date, isn't it?" Ben smiled.

"They're so pretty. Thanks!" Olivia smiled softly. "Hey mom, look what Ben got me!" She said as Lorelai grabbed her jacket from the peg, heading out.

"Aw they're lovely. Hi Ben." She smiled warmly.

"Hi." Ben smiled.

"You guys have fun today. I'm heading to the inn. Meet up for dinner?" Lorelai asked.

"Sounds good." Olivia nodded. "Bye mom. Don't wind Michel up too much."

"As if I would." Lorelai grinned before heading out.

"It was sweet of Ben to plan a first date for Olivia. She was so excited." Rory smiled as she sat down next to Jess on the couch in the living room.

"Yeah, they seem happy together." He nodded.

"Yeah they do. I'm glad." Rory smiled. "I'm glad Liv's happy. She deserves it."

"Yeah she does." Jess smiled. He glanced at her. "I had a talk with her yesterday to check she was ok with everything. With us."

"That's sweet." Rory smiled. "What did she say?"

"She said she was. I just wanted to make sure things wouldn't be awkward. I know her and Ben are starting something but I also realised we were doing well and I wanted to make sure she was ok with that before." Jess admitted. "We are doing ok, aren't we?" He checked.

Rory smiled and leant over, kissing him. "Does that answer your question?"

"Absolutely." He smirked, reciprocating the action. "I still can't believe you gave me a shot."

"Aw Jess, you know how much you mean to me." Rory said softly. "I'm just happy I realised just how much you meant to me before someone else snapped you up." She joked.

"I wouldn't look at anyone else." Jess said.

"And neither would I." Rory smiled. "So what do you fancy doing? Going out or staying in?"

Jess smirked and leant forward, kissing her again. "I think staying in."

Rory laughed. "Staying in it is then!"

"And we've got the whole house to ourselves." He grinned.

"Oh what could we possibly do?" She grinned.

"I'm still jealous that you have a record player. You can listen to records anytime you want." Olivia said as she was sat on the floor with Ben in his bedroom.

"You know you can borrow it anytime." He said.

"I know. But it's not the same." Olivia said. "But I am glad you're here now. It means I can listen to my records so much more regularly." She grinned.

"Ah I see! You're not glad I'm here because you've missed me. It's because you've missed my record player." Ben teased.

"Maybe." She teased. "Nah, life was boring without you." She added, smiling at him.

"I'm glad you think that. Life was pretty boring in New York as well." Ben said. "So, what are your opinions of the first date? Would you maybe want a second one?" He asked.

Olivia smiled, leaning forward to give him a quick, sweet kiss. "I think a second date is very much on the horizon." She said softly.

"Yeah?" Ben smiled.

"Definitely." She said. "You know it's weird...With everything that happened with me and Jess and my feelings and then with Tristan, I thought it would take me age to sort my head out but then...well, you showed up."

"And I took your breath away?" He joked.

Olivia laughed. "Pretty much. We just clicked so quickly and I don't know...I just felt so comfortable around you." She admitted.

"Yeah, I pretty much felt the same." Ben admitted.

"I know we're taking things slow but I really am glad you're here now. Because I really have missed you." She said softly.

"Me too." Ben smiled. "Hey, stand up for a moment." He said pulling her up.

"Why?" She said. "What are you doing?" She laughed as he got down on one knee.

"I'm doing this properly." He grinned, taking her hand. "Olivia Gilmore?"

"Yeah?" She laughed.

"Will you do me the absolute honour of becoming my official girlfriend?" Ben grinned.

Olivia beamed and pulled him up. "Of course I will." She laughed before pulling him towards her and kissing him again. "You're sweet." She smiled.

"I try." He smirked.

"Do you want to come back to mine for dinner? Mom won't mind. To be honest, we'll probably get take out anyway. And Jess will probably be there as well." Olivia said.

"Sure." He nodded. "If you're sure your mom won't mind?"

"Nah she won't." She smiled.

"Lead the way then." Ben smiled.

So I hope you liked it! Sorry it's a bit shorter but I wanted to get something up for you as I'm not sure how busy the week will be for me so I'm not sure when I will update next. :) Please keep reviewing as I love reading what you all think. Thanks again for all your support! It really does mean so much to me. :)