A/N: Just a mini chapter today to whet the appetite!

"Okay, okay, its simple…" Sookie paced in the small kitchen and wiped her forehead with her apron. "You go to Mia and get her out of town somehow."

"Out of town?" Lorelai said laughing. "Sookie, how am I supposed to do that?"

"I dunno, I need to set up the inn, I need to get the canopy sorted in the rear garden and how can I do that when she is here?"

"Relax...I got this. I know exactly what to do." Lorelai patted Sookie's arm and walked back through the lobby. Mia was talking animatedly with some guests as she walked by and opened her cell phone. She slipped out into the garden and made the necessary calls. Ten minutes later she came back into the kitchen and hugged Sookie.

"All sorted."

"So? Where are you taking Mia?"

"No where. She needs to stay here at the inn." Lorelai took a strawberry off the top of the cake and bit into it. "I made some calls, diverted the canopy and the party will now be in the town square."

"What? How did you-"

"I made some calls. I spoke to some guy named Taylor who seemingly is the local mayor or something and asked Luke to make sure they set up the canopy in the right place. I also called Ms Patty from the dance hall and asked her to spread the word."

"Good call. She will have all the invitees notified in no time."

"So we just now need to keep Mia at the inn for the rest of the day."

"And how are you planning on doing that?"

"I spoke to Michel."

"From the front desk?"

"Yeah I asked him to keep her busy."

"Oh man will she be ready for a few drinks after that!" Sookie laughed and finished decorating the large three tier cake then ushered her kitchen staff into carrying it into the walk in fridge and out of sight.

"So...t minus three hours and we're home safe."

"Great. What could possibly go wrong."

"Oh no Sookie, please don't tell me you said that." Lorelai covered her face with her hands.

"What?"

"That's just tempting fate. Undo it, undo it!"

"How?"

"I dunno, throw salt over your shoulder, break a mirror, walk under a ladder."

"I don't think that's how it works." Sookie was chuckling as she continued to prepare food, both for the party and for the inn.

"I know, I just want this to be perfect."

"It will be honey." Sookie rubbed her friend's hand and smiled. "But for now, get out there and make sure she isn't killing Michel."

Lorelai watched the next few hours pass by excruciatingly slowly. Luke had called to say the tent was set up and the band was completing a sound test on the bandstand. Sookie had sent some of the kitchen staff out in a van to prep the food and drink and Ms Patty had confirmed most of the guests were already showing up at the square.

Lorelai felt the tension ebb from her shoulders and made her way out to the lobby where Michel was still monopolizing Mia's time. She gestured for Michel to finish up then approached Mia and draped an arm over her shoulder.

"Hey, so, are you about ready to go to dinner?"

"Oh god yes!" Mia rubbed her eyes.

"Sookie is just finishing up in the kitchen, she said she'd meet us at the Jeep in five minutes."

"Where are we going for dinner?"

"Sookie suggested we just go round to her house. She has a chicken marinade percolating and a lethal punch distilling."

"Oh sounds perfect!" Mia ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "Maybe we can swing by my place so I can shower first, get out of these clothes."

"No way, you look amazing, and this is exactly how I want to remember you."

Mia chuckled and let Lorelai lead her out into the car park. "You make it sound like we'll never see each other again."

"I know we will, but this night is special. And I want to make it perfect." She pulled Mia in for a tight hug that they only broke up when Sookie came hurrying around the corner.

"Break it up you two, we have some punch to imbibe!" Sookie climbed in the back as Lorelai took the front seat and Mia sat beside her. They spoke animatedly all the way into town and Lorelai parked in Sookie's drive mere moments later. Mia and Lorelai started to walk up the drive but Sookie called them back. "Wait, guys, I need to go to the store, I've no rice."

"Oh, ok, shall we wait for you inside?"

"No, come with me for the walk!" Sookie urged as she backed onto the sidewalk. "I don't want to miss a single second with you tonight Mia!"

Mia chuckled and looped her arm around Lorelai's elbow and walked with Sookie. Lorelai could feel her heart pounding in her chest as they turned the corner towards the square. Mia was talking to Sookie and laughing at her latest kitchen story and didn't notice the crowd that had gathered there. It wasn't until they were directly across the road from the large canopy that she looked up and halted in surprise.

"Oh my gosh…" Mia's hand flew up to her chest and her eyes filled with tears. Lorelai and Sookie walked with her across the road and into the throng of people. The band started playing as Mia was passed from hug to hug, each one as endearing as the next, each one filled with more love that it seemed possible to contain in such a simple gesture.

Lorelai and Sookie stood back to watch and soon the party was in full swing. A space was cleared for dancers, kitchen staff from the inn passed around plates of food while others made sure everyone's glasses were full. Ms Patty was passing around glasses of some lethal concoction that Sookie had warned Lorelai against, even as she took a glass for herself. Lorelai decided to throw all caution to the wind and took a glass for herself but immediately regretted it when she realized how delicious it was, and how much she was going to hate herself in the morning.

But future Lorelai was a problem for another day. She walked around the crowd and realized how tight this community really was. Business owners and families, had all come out to bid farewell to Mia who was clearly a well loved member of the community. Lorelai sipped her drink again and let her eyes seek out the one person she really wanted to see. She spotted him when they arrived and watched him engulf Mia in a tight hug but then he was gone. His diner was dark and looked closed as did the apartment she knew he occupied above it.

Then she found him.

He was standing at the back of the tent, had a beer in his hand, dangling loosely from his fingers and she wondered if it was the first one he had all night. She watched him interact with some of the guests but kept his distance and always stood on the edge. When he spotted Mia he approached her and drew her away from the crowds. They spoke softly, his arm over her shoulder, her arms encircling his waist in a sideways hug. She was laughing at whatever he was saying and he hugged her tighter for a minute more then let her go and waved as he walked away.

Lorelai watched him work his way to the front of the tent then step outside and when he was out of sight she was spurred into action. She put her now empty cup on the nearest table and hurried out after him, catching up as he was stepping off the curb.

"Hey, Luke!" she called out and he turned around to face her. He had both hands in his pockets and as usual was dressed in jeans, a shirt and a backwards baseball cap.

"Lorelai." he said around a soft smile as she came closer and stopped in front of him.

"Leaving so early?"

"I told you, I'm not really a party guy."

"But the dancing is only starting."

"I'm definitely not a dancing guy."

"How do you know? Have you even tried?"

"Yeah, many times." he chuckled and took a few backward steps but she reached out and tugged on his shirt to stop him.

"Then you just didn't find the right partner."

"And you think you are the right partner?"

"Are you asking me to dance?" she said with a demure lilt in her voice.

"No, I was-"

"I'd love to!" she tugged his shirt again and pulled him towards the tent.

"Lorelai, I need to…"

"What?" she whirled around to face him and grabbed his shirt again. "Need to get back to an empty diner?" He looked over at the darkened diner behind him and frowned. "Need to get back home to supervise your daughter?" she jerked her thumb over her shoulder to the bench where Ellie and Lane were sharing large ice cream sundaes, their legs swinging beneath them as they giggled and laughed at all the adults dancing in the tent. "Or was there some other reason you didn't want to dance with me?"

"I um...just...don't, I mean can't dance."

"Oh please." She tugged his shirt again and dragged him through the crowd in the tent to the edge of the dance floor, then faced him all of a sudden shy. "So...ready?"

"I guess…"

He waited for her to take the lead but after a few moments when neither of them moved it suddenly became hard for him to lift his arms. The music that was playing was a fast country and western and people around them gyrated and bounced along in time. When one couple behind Luke moved a little more boisterously than he was expecting he was pitched forward towards her. He grabbed her arms to stop himself from crashing into her and knocking them both over.

"Sorry."

Before he could release her the music changed into a soft country ballad and she smiled up at him. He moved one of his hands along her arm to clasp her hand and the other moved to rest lightly on her waist. She lifted her free hand to rest on his shoulder and they moved in time with the music in slow side to side sways.

"See? This isn't so bad is it?"

"No," he chuckled and moved his gaze away from the top of her head to somewhere over the horizon. "It's not so bad."

His grip on her waist tightened in a natural motion to urge her closer, she stepped in and his hand moved from her waist to the small of her back where one of his fingers rested on the curve of her ass.

"I don't know who told you you couldn't dance Luke, but they were lying." She chuckled at her own words and he closed his eyes at the sensation of her body moving against his as she laughed. The gentle shaking awoke nerve endings he hadn't felt tingling in a long time.

"No one told me I couldn't dance."

"So you just didn't want to dance with me?" she said her voice teasing as she leaned back to catch his eyes and smiled.

"No, of course not, I'm just not, great with…"

"Women?"

"No! Parties."

"Oh right, of course, yeah. Parties." She teased him and loved how his blush washed over his neck and up his cheeks. "You seem to be handling this ok."

"It's not so bad." he repeated his words from earlier and smiled at her.

After the first slow ballad was followed by another and that one by yet another, she felt him sigh not first the first time and decided to release him from her clutches.

"Okay, okay." she loosened her grip on his shoulder and let her fingers flex against his hand as she slowed their sways to an eventual stop and stepped back from him. "I think I've forced you to dance with me long enough."

"You didn't force me."

"Conned you then. Thanks though." She let her hand trail off his shoulder and down his arm to release him, then realized he still had a hold of her. Luke seemed reluctant to let her go as if he thought he might not get another chance. She felt an infinitesimal tightening of his grip on her waist before he let her go then he stepped back and they were only connected by their hands.

"Thanks for the dance." he said and his eyes fell to her lips that were curved in a soft smile.

"Pleasure was all mine."

He leaned down to kiss her cheek but she turned a little towards him and his lips connected with the corner of her mouth. He wasn't expecting to feel the warmth from her touch to burn as bright as it did and it startled him enough to make him step back.

She didn't seem to be as affected as he, and he watched her closely as he took another step back then turned and walked back to the diner. From there, the comfort of his own turf, after hurrying back up to his apartment he could look down at the party in safety. He could see her working the crowd, talking easily to people she didn't even know a week ago, people he had known his whole life and was still unable to talk to.

When she stepped further into the tent and out of sight he turned away from the window and fell into his arm chair with a sigh.

Ellie who had watched her father dancing with this strange woman with interest also watched the botched kiss and then his quick escape. She glanced at her watch and saw it was just coming up to half nine, their agreed time for her to be home so she knew she didn't have much time. She spotted Lorelai standing by the bar and made a beeline for her.

Lorelai had ordered an iced water in an attempt to ward off the effects she knew Ms Patty's punch was going to have on her took the glass and sipped it as she turned to face Ellie who was now standing in front of her.

"Oh, Hi!" Lorelai lowered the glass from her lips and wiped her lips with her fingers. "It's Ellie right?"

"Yeah. Ellie Danes."

"I'm Lorelai. Great to see you have broken out of the confines of your room."

"It's a special occasion. Mia is like a grandmother to me."

"Oh, she is?"

"Yeah, she has been there for me and my dad since my mom left."

"Oh she has? It certainly seems like something she would do."

"My dad and I are bringing her to the airport in the morning."

"Isn't that nice." Lorelai smiled sadly at the girl who was watching her so carefully.

"So what are your intentions with my father?"

Lorelai faltered and nearly choked on her drink at Ellie's question. "Excuse me?"

"My father. What exactly is it you intend for him?"

"Intend?" Lorelai looked up and around at the people who stood near by as if to ascertain that they were being watched and she was being set up. "I'm not sure what you mean, honey."

"Do you intend to date him? Or are you just looking to sleep with him?"

"Um-"

"Because if it's the latter, I'd really rather you didn't."

"And if it's the former?"

"Then I think it's something I can get behind and possibly help you out with."

Lorelai couldn't help but laugh at that. "Myself and Luke, your dad, are just friends. We just met and we're just getting to know each other."

"Yeah but I know my dad. He is shy. Ridiculously shy. He doesn't realize what a good catch he is."

"He's a good catch?"

"He's a great catch," Ellie spoke with conviction. "But he only thinks about me. He only thinks about what he can do for me and he forgets that what I want most is to see him happy."

"And you think I...you think I can make him happy?"

"I don't know, but I think he likes you. And I think you like him." Lorelai looked away and cursed her blush appearing under the 14 year olds intense gaze. "So I just wanted to see if you intend to leave him after you...got what you needed, or if maybe you intended to stick around."

"Honey I-"

"We have enough of women, well one woman, leaving us. So we don't have room for any more."

"Okay, okay," Lorelai put a hand on Ellie's shoulder and guided her away from the party and to the edge of the tent. "I don't have any intentions of leaving. I like your dad just fine. I only met him a week ago and I can see what a wonderful man he is already." Ellie's chest swelled with pride at Lorelai's words. "But you shouldn't be worrying about him and me, or me I mean."

"I gotta worry, because he's my dad. He's all I have and I want him to be happy."

"Of course you do!" Lorelai put her arm around Ellie and hugged her gently.

"So I just wanted to say my piece." Ellie stepped back and unconsciously hitched her jeans up in a motion that reminded Lorelai of Luke's nervous tick and it all but broke her heart. "I gotta get home. My curfew is up and I don't need an extension on it."

"Goodnight hun."

"Goodnight Lorelai." Ellie turned and hurried across the square to the diner. Lorelai watched until she was safely inside then let her eyes wandered up to the apartment above. Her thoughts were firmly on the occupant inside when she turned back to the party and over to Sookie who beckoned her.

Luke sat up when he heard Ellie on the stairs outside. He rubbed his eyes to wake himself up a bit and flicked on the tv to the baseball so it didn't look like he was simply sitting in the dark. She opened the door and locked it behind her then hung up her coat on the rack behind it.

"Hey dad."

"You're late."

"2 minutes." she crossed the room and perched on the arm of his chair.

"Did you talk to Mia?"

"Briefly. She was kind of surrounded. I'll talk to her tomorrow."

His heart was breaking at the sorrowful tinge in her voice. "You wanna come to the airport for the drive?"

"Wouldn't miss it." she rubbed his hair. "I saw you dancing."

"You did?" he coughed lightly and focused back on the screen.

"With Lorelai."

"You know Lorelai?"

"We've talked some."

"You have?" he looked up at his daughter with an arched eyebrow.

"So you danced?"

"Yeah I guess I did. Seemed rude not to."

"Oh it was just manners?" Ellie chuckled.

"Something like that."

"She seems nice."

"Mmmhmm." Luke said noncommittally.

"Why don't you ask her out?"

"Ellie!"

"What? She's beautiful, she's funny, she seems smart, what's the problem!"

"The problem is my teenage daughter is setting me up for dates."

"Oh dad, if I don't, who will." Ellie chuckled then ruffled his hair again and stood up to stretch. "I'm going to bed. What time are we leaving for the airport?"

"8."

"Make sure you wake me. Is she coming by for breakfast too?"

"Yeah."

"Wake me for that too then."

"I will. Goodnight sweetie."

"Goodnight Dad."

The following morning, Luke was standing in the middle of the diner setting up when the door behind him opened. He turned at the sound of the bells and was surprised at the sight of Mia standing there. "Mia! What are you doing here?" he asked as he crossed the room in two steps and gathered her into a hug

"I thought you promised to make me breakfast and bring me to the airport."

"Of course I did, but you didn't need to come here so early, I would have picked you up."

He guided her over to a table and pulled out the chair for her to sit down.

"Well I wanted to walk through the town one last time. One last stroll through Stars Hollow before I left."

"I get that." He brought her over a coffee and pulled out the chair next to her. "Sorry I didn't stay too last last night."

"I know, you and parties don't mix."

"Yeah. It looked like it was going well. Was it a surprise?"

Mia ducked her head and smiled. "No, no it wasn't."

"How did you find out?"

"It's a small town Luke, with a massive gossip tree. I'm just impressed they managed to keep it from me for as long as they did."

"Well you played the part very well."

Mia lifted her cup up in acceptance of his praise then sipped it. "So I saw you dancing with Lorelai last night."

"Oh, you too with this?" Luke stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast but from her vantage point she could still see him and her voice reached him with ease.

"Why who else has been teasing you about that dance?"

"Ellie."

"Oh she noticed too huh? Well I don't blame her, it was worth noticing."

"Mia, please don't."

"So are you going to ask her out?"

"No...maybe...I dunno." He came out to her with a warm bowl of oatmeal and a circle of cinnamon honey on top.

"Why the hesitation?" she grabbed his arm and urged him to sit with her.

"I dunno." he shrugged and avoided her gaze.

"Luke William Danes." She spoke sternly and he glanced up. "I've been watching over you for thirteen years. I've watched you pine after that woman who did nothing but break your heart time and time again."

"I wasn't pining. I don't pine."

"And I've watched other women breeze through this town, perfectly nice women and none of them managed to catch your eye."

"Mia-"

"Until last night." Mia looked at him with a smile and waited for the blush she knew was about to appear and when it did she touched his arm. "So someone managed to get you out of the corner and actually got you dancing."

"It was just a dance."

"And it looked amazing." Mia chuckled when Luke dipped his head away from her gaze. "So why don't you do something about it?"

"Geez Mia, what is Stars Hollow going to do without its best pimp."

"I'm not pimping you out, or her. In fact if you use her and leave her I'll fly back from Florida to kick your butt."

"So what are you talking about here?"

"I'm talking about you giving her a chance. Giving you a chance too. A chance to be happy."

"I am happy."

"No, you are surviving." She patted his arm. "I think you can do better. You certainly deserve better."

"Alright, alright, I get it. Drop it."

"So you'll talk to her?"

"I'm sure I'll be talking to her."

"Luke."

"I gotta go up and wake Ellie. She'll kill me if she misses her last chance at breakfast with you." Luke got up from the table and hurried up to the apartment. he stopped inside the door and leaned against it to take a few deep breaths then knocked lightly on Ellie's bedroom door. "Ellie honey, Mia is here. Come down for breakfast."

"Okay I'll be right down."

Luke took a few more breaths then went back down to the kitchen to start breakfast. With plates laden down with egg, sausage and toast he joined Ellie and Mia at the table and they all ate together. He locked up the diner behind them and carried Mia's luggage to the truck then drove her to the airport. It broke his heart to see his daughter clinging onto her so tightly as they walked to the security gate after she checked in. They said tear filled goodbyes and Luke fought his own tears unsuccessfully. He hugged Ellie close and watched Mia until she was out of sight then slowly made their way back to Stars Hollow. He parked his truck in the side alley behind the diner and sat in it for a moment without moving.

"I'm really going to miss her." he said softly and Ellie slid across the bench seat to hug her father. They stayed like that for a few minutes then he tightened his grip for a moment before he opened the door and stepped out. "C'mon. Let's get some ice cream."

He held her hand and walked with her to the ice cream shop. they looked in the window at all the flavors then stepped inside and joined the queue. "Are you getting some too?" She hugged his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I'll get a scoop."

"And I'll get two."

The door behind them opened and Lane came running in. "Ellie! you have to come by the school."

"What?" Luke stepped up and ordered a scoop of strawberry and chocolate swirl for Ellie and a mango sorbet for himself as Lane grabbed Ellie's arms and danced around in a circle with her.

"Open call for the school play, open call!"

"What? I'm not trying out for the play!"

"No, of course you're not, that's social suicide."

"Then why-"

"Because…" Lane looked up as Luke handed Ellie her ice cream and pulled her aside. "Because the guys soccer team is boycotting the play and storming the stage in twenty minutes to pull a chippendales performance."

"What!" Ellie nearly choked on her ice cream and covered her mouth.

"You have to come."

"I can't, I'm grounded." she said loud enough to look up at Luke and make sure he heard.

"Go." He hadn't heard what was going on at the school but he was happy to see his daughter smiling for the first time that day. "I want you back home to study by 2."

"Yes dad! Thanks dad!" she looped her arm through Lanes elbow and the two of them ran off laughing and giggling. Luke turned to pay for his ice cream and found himself looking into Lorelai who was taking a large milkshake from the counter and leaving money in its wake. "Oh, hi," he said in surprise and she smiled as she caught her straw between her lips and sucked. He lifted his ice cream to her in a cheers motion then turned towards the door with her. He held it open and let her out first then slowly walked with her on the sidewalk.

"So what did you get?"

"Mango sorbet."

"Sorbet?" she crinkled her nose. "You were in an ice cream shop, filled with any and all flavors imaginable of handmade ice cream and you chose sorbet?"

"Mango sorbet." He corrected as he lifted a small spoonful to his mouth.

"Oh, makes all the difference."

"Want some?" he pulled some onto the spoon and held it out to her. She looked from the offering in his hand to his smiling lips and wondered if he was daring her to take it. When she hesitated he shrugged and took it back and slipped it into his own mouth instead.

"Hey!"

"Too slow Gilmore."

"I was just deciding."

"You gotta be quick when it comes to sorbet. It melts." He took another spoonful and smiled at her.

"Give me another go."

"I'm not sure if you deserve another chance."

"C'mon, I'll let you taste mine."

"What did you get?" he eyed her cup suspiciously.

"A mocha cappuccino blast with extra marshmallows."

"Ugh, I bet the air in my mouth tastes better than that!"

"I needed my coffee fix and your diner was closed." They reached the front of the diner but both were reluctant to part. Luke sat onto the step and urged her to sit next to him.

"I was dropping Mia at the airport."

"Oh Luke, I'm sorry," she rested her hand on his arm. "That must have been hard for you. I know she was very important to you and Ellie."

"Yeah she was. She is, she always will be." He looked down at his melting sorbet and swirled it around in his cup with the small plastic spoon.

Lorelai sat in silence for a few moments and sipped on her drink. She leaned against him offering him the support she could and waited for him to speak. After a few moments when he too was silent she began to wonder if she wasn't intruding on a special moment, when he wanted to be alone. She moved off him and made to stand up and away from him when she felt him nudge her with his elbow.

She turned to look and saw him holding out a spoonful of his sorbet out for her. She looked up to his face and he was smiling so she leaned forward and took the spoon into her mouth and he dragged it out of her lips. the cold sensation of the sorbet, mixed with the hot sensation of his eyes on her lips was sending tingles all down her nerve endings from her scalp to her toes.

"Good?" He asked her when her eyes fluttered closed and she straightened up.

"So good." her voice was barely above a whisper and Luke made a mental note of its timbre, matched with her eyes and how they darkened and wondered if he would be able to do the same thing to her without the sorbet.

"I told you. And heaven forbid but it's also quite healthy."

"Eww," she batted his hand away and pursed her lips around her straw and sucked her milkshake. "You never said it was healthy!"

"Doesn't detract from the fact that you thought it was delicious." He bumped his shoulder against hers and smiled.

"I never said delicious."

"Your lips didn't, but your eyes did." He spoke before he thought. An action he never really let himself do unless he was relaxed and post coital and that, he realized with a chuckle was not a state he had been in for a very long time. He looked up at her to gauge her reaction but found her sucking on the thick straw from her milkshake and smiling at him.

"They did, huh." She watched him watch her. "What else did they say?"

"They said…" he started and wondered briefly if he should continue. his daughter's words, Mia's words his own thoughts swirled round his head, some encouraging him to continue, others screaming in panic to escape. He focused on his sorbet and the memory of the look on her face when she tasted it sprang into his mind and urged him to continue. "They said um that they might want to go out for dinner with me tonight."

"Did they now?" she played along and tried not to show her shock.

"Yeah, something about my picking them up at around 6?"

"I think you misheard." Her words shot through him like a heavy anchor and he cleared his throat in an effort to dampen down his embarrassment.

"Oh right, well um, I guess I should get my hearing checked." He tried to make a joke of it.

"No I mean, I think you misheard 6. 7 would be a better time."

"Oh, really?"

"Definitely."

"Okay. Good." he slapped his hands on his knees and stood up. "I'll see you then."

"See you then."