Lorelai woke happier than she had in the longest time. Spending this time with Luke travelling, being a couple in public, having fun at Mia's wedding, and then back at the hotel again, all this had almost made up for the months they lost.

Waking up in his arms felt more right than anything had with any other man. This was it. They had spent the night before, once leaving Mia's wedding, talking about their future and making love trying to get one step closer to the future they wanted.

Luke felt her stir, she was deep in thought and he knew this because she was absently running her fingers through his chest hair. He lay there motionless to let her think, he lived for the quiet moments with her and there was no way in hell he would speak first and break the peaceful cuddle. He closed his eyes and thought about his conversation with Mia when he and Lorelai returned to the party after their visit to the laundry room.

Mia had asked him to dance and he could never say no to her. She told him how proud she was of him and how proud his parents would be. She watched his eyes light up as he talked about April and his plans to have her spend time with Lorelai. He saw the twinkle in her eye when she waved at Howard.

"So spill it Mia," Luke teased. "The song is almost over and your new man is waiting in the wings, if you have something to tell me, you better get it out now."

Mia toyed with Luke's collar, flattening it and smirking a little. "You know me well," she tilted her head towards the house. "Follow me." Mia led Luke into the house smiling politely to the guests she passed. Once in the dining room Mia opened a drawer from her China cabinet and retrieved a small box. "Lorelai always loved this ring. It was the engagement ring that Michael gave me. I wore it long after he passed away and she always admired it. I want her to have it. I want you to give it to her, it did so well for Michael and I."

Now Luke stared at the ceiling, desperately trying to figure out the best time to ask. She deserved a well planned, romantic and memorable proposal. But it was taking all the strength in him not to sit up, and ask her right there. Mia was right. Howard was right. The whole town of Stars Hollow was right. The two of them were meant to be, the time to start their happily ever after was long overdue.

Suddenly Lorelai's cell phone began to play an annoying electronic song. She sat up and grabbed it from the night stand, read the little screen and smiled brightly, "It's Rory!" She flipped the phone open and answered cheerily, "Hey Kid, what's up?"

"MOM! I got it! I got the Reston!" Rory's voice rang through with glee.

Lorelai's smile grew and Luke couldn't help smiling as well. He could hear every word through the phone as Rory detailed getting the mail and reading her acceptance letter. She was thrilled to be working at the New York Times and still being close to home.

Luke slid from the bed, pulled on his boxer briefs and went to the washroom to get ready for the day. He could hear Lorelai giggling and going between asking Rory questions and answering questions about the trip. She told Rory about the wedding and how Mia and Howard were playing matchmakers. She was also letting her daughter know that she was fine with the fact that their great roller coaster vacation would be on hold.

"So how is it being alone with Luke?" Rory finally asked.

"It's everything I always wanted it to be. We're talking, Kid. Really talking about the mistakes we made, about how we'll be better in the future and plans, we're making so many plans."

"That's great," Rory sighed happily. "You guys are meant to be, I know it. I'm so happy you're finally letting your guard down. What type of plans? Are there any dates I should be holding?"

Lorelai chuckled, "Not quite there yet. It's coming, I know. But the plans that really matter now are, how things will go when we get back into town. Plans about me getting to know April better. Plans about him moving in. You know, good stuff."

"Moving in! Wow, finally!"

"Yeah, finally indeed."

"You sound happy, Mom."

"I am, Kid. You sound happy too."

"I am!"

Lorelai exhaled, knowing that she and Rory were happy and excited about their futures was the best feeling she's had in years.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The next few weeks were busy. Immediately after they returned to town from Mia's wedding the town didn't have to guess or gossip about it anymore, it was clear that Luke and Lorelai were a couple again. Their friends couldn't be happier for them and now the attention turned to Lorelai's left hand and everyone waiting for that announcement to come. But on their talk home they agreed to wait for moving forward until after April's next visit when she would get to spend more time with Lorelai. Between that and Rory's upcoming graduation they felt they had their hands full enough.

Lorelai was sitting on her favourite stool in the diner. She had a large coffee and was flipping through all the information Luke gave her about his boat trip with April. They both had agreed to go on their Summer trips with their daughters (even though Lorelai and Rory would have to cut theirs short due to the internship) and focus on their plans as a couple.

Outside the green truck pulled up in front of the window. Luke hopped out of his truck with a smile on his face as April ran into the diner, "Lorelai!" she called.

Lorelai spun around and threw her arms open, "April!"

April ran into Lorelai's arms and they embraced. Luke walked in and stopped in his tracks, seeing the two of them hugging and talking at the same time. He didn't think he could love Lorelai more, but seeing her hugging his daughter and being genuinely interested in what she had to say, did in fact make him love her more than he could have imagined.

Luke zoned into the conversation his two girls were having and started to laugh.

"I cannot thank you enough for your suggestion. Dad said it was you who told him that I might like a hotel every now and then and I gotta tell you, you're a genius!"

Lorelai smiled brightly, "Be careful April, you're going to make Rory jealous when I tell her you're now my favourite!"

April giggled, took the stool next to Lorelai and looked at Luke, "So are you two engaged again?"

Lorelai's eyes widened with delight and turned her gaze to Luke.

He shook his head at the two of them staring at him, "I knew having you two together would be trouble for me. No April, we are not officially engaged yet. Lorelai and I spoke about it and wanted to have this Spring to celebrate Rory's graduation from Yale and you finishing middle school. Once all that excitement calms down and after she and I get back from our fabulous vacations with our daughters, we'll move forward with our plans as a couple. Is that okay with you?"

April's shoulders slumped. "I thought you two would be living together and that I would get to see the house."

Lorelai locked eyes with Luke trying to have a conversation with him telepathically. She wanted to let him know she was fine with April staying at the house. Even though nothing was official, Luke was there every night. He had pretty much moved in without talking about it.

The diner suddenly got darker causing everyone to look towards the windows.

"What now?" Luke asked as he headed out of the diner. "Taylor, get that hay away from my window!"

April and Lorelai watched Luke yell at Taylor from their seats. They would laugh and exchange looks as the fight went on. Luke finally was exasperated and walked away from Taylor shaking his head. Taylor's voice could be heard as Luke opened the door.

"You'll see Luke! This will put us on the map this tourist season. And it will become a -" the door closed and Luke was shaking his head.

"What's that all about?" Lorelai asked.

"Well it turns out the Stars Hollow fund had a bunch of extra money," Luke glared at Lorelai. "So he decided that this year, the Spring Fling should have an extra large hay bale maze. It's taking over the whole town. I hope you're happy!"

Lorelai smiled brightly, "I am, thank you."

"Why is this Lorelai's fault?" April asked.

Luke's eyes got wide and instantly apologetic as he looked at Lorelai. She hadn't told anyone in town besides Sookie, Luke and Taylor that it was her who had put the extra money in the Town funds. She didn't even tell them that she got Chris' inheritance at all.

"I'll tell you back at the house," Lorelai winked at April.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

The town was beyond shocked at how well the hay bale maze was going. All the tourists loved it and so did the townies. Rory was going to bring Logan to town, but his trip to California was pushed up and he couldn't be there. When she told Lorelai Logan couldn't come she saw this as an opportunity.

"Hey Kid, could I ask you a favour?" Lorelai asked while looking into her fridge.

"Sure," Rory's voice came through the phone.

"Would you still come home this weekend?"

"Of course," Rory smiled. "I want to see this giant maze."

"Okay, great. Now here's the other element to the weekend I want to run by you. Luke has basically been living here even though he hasn't officially moved in. Well this week April's here and she mentioned hoping to stay at the house -"
"Hey, I trundle-d it up with GiGi, OF COURSE I will share my room with April. This would be a really cool opportunity for us to practice being a family."

Lorelai smiled, "That's what I was thinking. Thanks."

After talking and planning the upcoming weekend the girls got off the phone excited. As soon as Lorelai hung up she turned the phone back on to call Luke.