'No, Lorelai. It should.'

And just like that, Lorelai wakes up; her heart beats faster than ever. She looks around her room, confused and with a feeling she can't quite define. Lorelai sits up in bed and puts her lamp on. Her mind, just like her heart is racing. Thoughts and feelings overwhelm her but in the middle of that tornado is Luke and his words.

'Not Luke. Dream Luke,' she reminds herself because apparently, it's important to know it wasn't real, despite how much raw emotion was pulsing through the Luke she was looking at. All so vivid. All so real to her heart and mind.

'No. Not real. None of it was real.' Lorelai shakes her head but the frustration just makes her heartache.

'It wasn't real,' she whispers to herself, a little sadness laced in her tone. 'Ugh, Gilmore pull yourself together. It was just a dream.'

She gets out of bed and finds her robe, which she quickly slips into. Lorelai heads down and leaves the house from the side door. After going round to the front porch, she sits on the sofa out there. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes when she feels the cool air around her. The sensation of the cold coating her body is a welcomed feeling. It lets her know she's here. This is it. No dream but reality. She opens her eyes and focuses on her drive. Lorelai takes another deep breath and tries clearing her mind, but her thoughts keep coming back to one thing: Should it really be him?

With the sound of the front door opening, Lorelai's body wakes up. When had she started sleeping? She wasn't sure but she was grateful for it nevertheless. The pattern of Rory's Mr Peanut pyjamas catches her eyes, as the girl in question walks out the door.

'Rory?'

She gets startled by her mother's voice. Rory turns around to face Lorelai. 'Mum! What are you doing out here so early?'

'I could ask you the same thing.'

'I was checking to see if we'd gotten any mail yet. Have you been here long?'

'All night.'

'What? Why?'

'Had a nightmare...well, no, not a nightmare…but a weird dream and I needed some air.'

'So you decided to sleep out here? That's brave of you,' the young girl replies.

'The sleeping part just kinda happened.'

Rory nods. 'Anything you want to talk about?' she asks, curious about her mother's slightly strange behaviour.

Lorelai shakes her head and then says, 'Thanks kid but no, I'm okay. I just want to try and forget about it and get through today.'

'Don't you have your official back-together date with Max tonight?'

'Yeah, I do.' Lorelai tries not to react to the mention of the date with Max but she feels a little uneasy.

'You're still going, right?' Rory asks, noticing the weird attitude her mother has toward it right now.

'I don't know yet. I will If I can take myself out of this weird funk.'

'Maybe a night out with your guy will do the trick?'

Lorelai nods. 'Maybe.'

Rory looks at her mum slightly concerned. 'Breakfast at Luke's?' she asks, knowing that always seems to cheer her up. Luke's coffee is magical that way.

'Yeah, that sounds good babe, go in, I'm right behind you.'

Rory nods and does as she's told.

Lorelai sighs and watches her daughter go. Things feel odd. She takes a deep breath. 'Okay. I'll go back in and forget that dream ever happened. It's just a normal day. A normal day,' she mumbles to herself. Lorelai gets up to head inside.

In the morning the town is buzzing with people, some heading off to work, others to school and like the girls, a lot are going into Luke's. Lorelai has already parked the Jeep outside the diner and she and Rory are slipping out and walking inside. The diner is relatively busy, with the usual morning crowd. There is a window table that's free which the girls take. Rory places her bag down on the ground and sits, while Lorelai has her eyes on the counter trying to scout Luke out, who isn't there.

'What you thinking? A french toast and pancake combo between us?' Rory asks her mother.

'Yeah, that seems good. Just lots and lots of coffee too.'

'I'm with you on that.'

'Ugh, where's Luke?' Lorelai asks and Rory shrugs in reply.

Lorelai stands up with a determined look in her eyes. She leans on the counter, trying to see if Luke is in the kitchen but can't quite see into it. There is a spark of jealousy at the thought of him being out with Rachel again, but that feeling washes away at the sound of his voice.

'What are you doing?' Luke asks.

'Ah, where did you come from?' she questions right back.

'The storeroom. Are you okay?'

'No, I'm in desperate need of coffee and you were nowhere to be found.'

'Well, I'm here now.'

Lorelai smiles. 'Yes, you are. Coffee, please,' she says in a soft and happy tone.

Luke nods and takes a mug from under the counter. He reaches for the coffee jug and then fills it up. 'You want anything else?' he asks as he hands it to her.

'Thanks, and yeah we do.' She gestures to the table that Rory is sitting at.

Luke goes around the counter and they both go back to the girl patiently waiting to be served.

'Hey, Luke,' Rory greets him.

He smiles at her. 'Hi, Rory. You okay?'

'Yeah, I'm good. Just hungry.'

'Let's fix that. What do you girls want?' he asks as he fills a coffee cup for Rory.

The girl glances at Lorelai checking to see what her mother wants to do.

'Pancakes and french toast please,' Lorelai tells him.

'With the usual?'

Lorelai nods.

Luke smiles at her and as they both look at each other, eyes meeting the other, there's a moment. The busy diner disappears and whatever worries have been dominating her mind and heart don't matter anymore, because he's here and he's looking at her in a subtle way that only she gets to see...oh and Rory, who's still at the table and catching a glimpse of this too. Luke gives Lorelai a little nod before leaving the table and going into the kitchen to make their breakfast.

'Mum?'

Lorelai turns to her daughter and answers with a, 'Yeah?'

'Did something happen between you and Luke?'

'No,' Lorelai instantly says. 'Why would you ask?'

Rory shrugs. 'I don't know. You two just seem friendlier than usual' She takes a long sip from her coffee.

Lorelai does the same, not commenting on what Rory said.

Rory has her eyes on Lorelai. That look she saw between Luke and Lorelai wasn't something completely out of the ordinary. They have been known to flirt and have moments, and Rory has been witness to a few, although you know Lorelai would deny any of it, but this, right now, felt different. Rory can't quite figure out why. She knows her mother would have told her if something was going on and Max is still in the picture. Isn't he?

'You've got the big date night later. Are you going?'

'I don't know yet.' Lorelai shrugs.

'I bet it'll be nice to spend the evening actually together and not just on the phone.'

'Yeah. He's got a nice voice but the whole package would be great,' she says as Luke reaches their table.

He places the plates with their food without saying a word. His eyes barely meet Lorelai's and with a cold attitude that's unusual even for Luke, he turns around and leaves the table, disappearing quickly into the kitchen.

Rory raises her eyebrow at her mother, who is just as confused as she is about Luke's sudden behaviour change. Rory tries continuing their conversation by suggesting, 'Maybe give Max a call? It might help you make your mind up about it,'

'Yeah, maybe…' Lorelai glances over at the diner's kitchen. 'Is it me or did it suddenly get cold around here?'

Rory nods, unsure what to say. Her eyes meet her mother's for a second, both coated with a questioning expression at Luke's sudden change. Though Rory has a suspicion that Luke may have overheard them talking about the date.

Lorelai picks at her food more than actually eating, her mind too clouded with thoughts. With Max and Luke making things a confusing mess and her body and mind unsure what to do about anything. Screaming into the void sounds and feels like the sanest thing to do right now, but she chooses to drink coffee instead. It's the safer option.

Rory heads to the library after eating, leaving Lorelai still sitting at the table. Lorelai wants Luke to come out of his hiding spot. Just to see him and ask him what's up, of course. No other reasons. She glances down at her watch and sighs. She should be at the Inn by now. Lorelai gets up and puts a few bucks on the table. One last glance over at the kitchen. She could have just called his name, just to say bye but it doesn't feel quite right to do so. She doesn't know how they got here. Did Lorelai do something? She should ask him, but Lorelai leaves the diner heading to the Inn.

Work is long and hectic, which leaves Lorelai with no time to call Max, or she's just using it as an excuse. She's home now; she drops her purse and keys on the table in the foyer and then finds a comfortable spot on the sofa.

'Rory?' she calls out just to see if her daughter is back home. There is nothing in return and Lorelai is a bit grateful for it, which wasn't the same reaction as a few days ago, but right now being alone with her thoughts sounds good.

She still has a few hours before her date with Max and it might be wise to cancel with the way she's been feeling, but her mind has wondered if going out tonight will make things clearer. She'll know exactly what her heart and mind want when she's with him again. Lorelai leans her head back and closes her eyes.

'Mum?' Rory's voice and the gentle shake of Lorelai's body wakes the woman in question.

'Rory?... I slept?' she asks as she sits up properly on the sofa, but she already knows the answer.

'Yeah. I went to the library and then Lane's for a few hours. I just got back. Are you still going out tonight?'

'Um.., yes. What time is it?'

'It's a few minutes before 8.'

'What?' Lorelai had no idea how she slept so much. 'Crap.' She gets up off the sofa. 'I need to get ready. Damn.'

Rory watches her mother rush up the stairs to go change.

The doorbell rings when Lorelai is putting her earrings on. She's dressed and has applied her makeup but she doesn't feel quite right. That and the fact she had to rush is making her a little winded.

'The man is always on time,' she mumbles. She usually loves his on-time quirk because it's so Max to do it, but today isn't that day. Lorelai gets her stuff and heads downstairs. She shoves her phone and other items into the bag and then opens the door.

From the gelled back, dark hair and the nice formal jacket, it's very much Max who's come to pick her up. 'Hey, hope I'm not too early.'

'Nope, just on time as always,' Lorelai says back sounding a little annoyed which doesn't go past Max.

'Um..are you okay?'

She looks at him and smiles. 'Yeah, I'm sorry. I accidentally fell asleep after work. Got a headache and it's been a long day.'

'Oh, If you don't want to do this, we could reschedule.'

'No, no, it's okay. You're all dressed up, we might as well go.'

'You sure? Because we don't have to if you're not well..'

Lorelai kisses him before he has the chance to say anything else. 'Yeah, I'm sure.'

Max smiles and takes her hand, leading her to his car.

The night was a good one. Great food and amazing drinks which Lorelai took advantage of. That being said, she wasn't her chatty self, something was dominating her thoughts, even with her attempts to push it aside. So when Max asked her if she wanted dessert or coffee after the waiter took their plates, he didn't get a response.

'Lorelai?'

'Huh?' she asks, snapping back to reality.

'Did you hear what I asked?'

'No, sorry.'

'Do you want coffee or a dessert or anything?'

'Um...a coffee would be good.'

'Okay.' He notices her fiddling with the toothpick that was holding the olive in her now-empty martini glass. He reaches out for her hand. 'You seem distracted. Are things really okay at home?'

'They're fine, I promise. I'm just a bit tired. Nothing coffee won't fix.'

He nods and flags down the waiter. When he does, he asks for two coffees.

'Thanks,' she says. Lorelai tries smiling but it's not until the coffee arrives that she really lets her smile form in the happy way that it should. The smell instantly reminds her of her favourite coffee and by extension her favourite coffee provider. She shakes her head. Even when she's not trying to, he seems to always find a way into her mind, and part of her is tired of trying to push the thought of him away, but then she glances up at Max as she sips the coffee, and she hates herself for her thoughts. Here she is with the nicest guy and she's distracted and thinking of someone else.

'I'm sorry I've been in a weird mood on our official back-together date. I'll make it up to you later.'

'It's okay. But honestly Lorelai, you've got me a bit worried.'

She reaches over to take his hand in hers. 'Don't. Things are good.'

Max nods back at her and smiles.

Lorelai isn't so sure of it herself but she hopes he can see past it, and just to make sure, she squeezes his hand.

When Lorelai arrives back home after her night out with Max, she's met with a sleeping Rory on the sofa, and to no one's surprise and definitely not hers, her daughter has a book on her chest that's still open to the pages she was reading.

She debates for a second whether she should wake Rory up, but decides that it's best to just leave her be for the moment. Lorelai starts heading upstairs when she stops at the sound of a groggy Rory saying something. She turns around to face the girl.

'I wasn't expecting you tonight.'

'Oh yeah? I clearly screwed with your party plans,' Lorelai replies back.

'Yeah, I've just had to tell everyone it's off.' Rory sits up on the couch, pulling the blanket she has around her further up to cover her. 'You know what I mean. It's a big night, I thought you might go over to…his place.'

'I know, but it's a school night.' It isn't but to Lorelai it might as well have been. She noticed the disappointment on his face when she said home was where she wanted to end the night, and when Lorelai said home she very much had her own in mind.

'What happened?'

Lorelai shakes her head. 'Nothing babe. It's just been one of those days. We'll go out again and do it better.'

'You sure?'

'As sure as I know you'll be here waiting for a report.'

'Hey. Who says I'll be here? I have a social life, you know.'

Lorelai raises her eyebrow at Rory in disbelief, only teasing the girl.

'Or I might be in my room,' Rory ends up saying.

'Yeah, or that, but either way, you'll want to know.'

She nods. 'I'll want to know.'

At their agreement, Lorelai starts to head the rest of the way up to her room. The moment she's in it, she switches on her lamp, slips off her heels and lays down on the bed with a sigh. She knows she was horrible company tonight and she's not even quite sure why. Okay, Luke comes to mind, but that's just because of that damn dream, no other reason…not at all.

Lorelai glances at her purse that she dropped on the floor by her dressing table, now wanting her phone. Maybe she should call Max, but the thought of the conversation with him felt as draining as willingly going into a sparring match with her mother. Instead, she gets up and changes into her old washed jeans and her B-52 t-shirt.

Despite it being close to summer, the evening weather was colder than it should be though that didn't stop the other townies from going about their business. Lorelai walks down her usual route to the town square, unsure why she's really out here. She rubs her arms, wishing she had brought a jacket with her on her way out.

Without realising it she's found herself right in front of Luke's. She can so easily find Luke's figure even from a distance, but as Lorelai walks closer to the building he becomes clearer and so does the person helping him deal with the last few customers. It's Rachel.

It was unfamiliar seeing him behind the counter with her. The atmosphere seemed strange even from out here. He seemed more at ease than ever. It was weird the way he appears to effortlessly sport a smile that usually only happens around her, and even then it still takes a lot of coaxing to get it to happen.

Their soft touches and their excuses to cross paths cause an ache in Lorelai's heart. What is she even doing here? The thought of his coffee left a bad taste in her mouth and going in made it worse. She doesn't belong in the middle of that, of them. No. He's happy and she doesn't need to screw that up for him. He was only ever being a friend, and she had clearly seen something that wasn't there. Yet, as she watched Luke laugh at something Rachel must have said, the words she said in her dream comes back to the surface.

'It shouldn't be you.'

But if she was directing it to herself or someone else, she wasn't ready to admit it.