Lorelai grimaced as she looked at herself in the full length mirror in her bedroom. Twisting left and right she couldn't see anything that her mother would disapprove of but knowing Emily Gilmore she would definitely find something. She was wearing a knee length navy dress with a white wrap around cardigan to cover her shoulders with sensible sling back shoes that she often wore to work. With a sigh she started to twist her hair up at the back of her neck to see if that would improve her overall image.

"We're going to be late," Rory said as she entered Lorelai's bedroom, "are you still not ready?"

Lorelai flashed her daughter a smile as she pinned the last few locks of hair into place, "Rory, when facing the gallows people don't tend to rush getting ready. They take their time, drag their feet, anything to put off the horror about the face them."

Rory rolled her eyes, "You are such a drama queen at times, it won't be that bad."

Lorelai gasped as she spun round to face her daughter, "Have you met my parents? This will be just the four of us, no buffer to encourage them to be on their best behaviour. Are you sure you won't break your leg for me?"

"Pretty sure," Rory giggled, "I've just finished getting ready, wouldn't want to mess my dress up."

Lorelai smiled as she took in Rory's dress, she had been so busy thinking of the ordeal to come she hadn't even noticed it. Rory was in a knee length red dress that was covered in white butterflies with a high neck line and flared skirt. She was really starting to look grown up and Lorelai felt a lump forming in her throat, "You look beautiful kid. You know, everyone is always telling me that you take after me so you can thank me for you genes whenever you're ready."

"Thank you for my genes," Rory deadpanned. "Now we need to leave, are you ready?"

With a sigh and one more look at herself in the mirror Lorelai nodded, "Lead the way."

They both headed down the stairs with Lorelai dragging her feet. With every step her trepidation increased, as did her need for the biggest coffee she could find. "Rory, you should grab a cardigan in case it gets cold out," she said to Rory picking up her keys, "The house isn't exactly warming either with the reception i'll get," she added under her breath so her daughter couldn't hear her. "I'm going to warm up the car," she called as she headed out of the house, taking a steadying breath in the cool night air.

"Hey, Lorelai," a male voice called out from the darkness behind her car.

She let out a small shriek of fear from the unexpected noise, her heart jumping into her mouth as waited for her attacker to make their move. It was only when the figure moved into the light pooling from the porch that she could make out who it was. "Luke! What do you think you are doing sneaking up on me like that? I thought I was a gonner for sure. My life flashed before my eyes."

Luke scratched his head in confusion, "Sorry. I did say your name though, how many would be killers do that?"

Lorelai clucked her tongue disapprovingly, glad that her heartbeat had started to slow down, well, as slow as it ever got in Luke's presence. "Have you ever seen a horror film? The killer is always someone that the victims know, that's just a fact." She watched Luke as he shrugged, her face warming as he slowly looked her up and down.

"You're going out," he stated matter of factly, tearing his eyes away from her legs.

Lorelai twirled her hair nervously, "You should consider a career as a detective Luke. I mean, how you deduced that I'll never know, what with me leaving the house and everything."

Luke's face tightened, "You're going on a date."

Trying not to read too much into the look he was now giving her, Lorelai shook her head, "Nope. I am about to face something much much worse. I don't think I will make it out unscathed. This might be the last time you ever see me."

Instantly his face changed, confusion and concern warring with each other. He took a faltering step closer, "What are you talking about?"

"She is talking about having dinner with her parents tonight," Rory answered from the doorway, making them both jump.

Luke let out a small chuckle, the noise sending a thrill through Lorelai. "Ah, I see."

Lorelai smiled and started to descend the porch steps. She steeled herself as she closed the distance between herself and Luke, "Did you need something? Or do you always lurk in my bushes."

"I was not lurking," Luke huffed. "I just wanted to make sure that you were ok. You both haven't been in the diner since Sunday and I was worried that Rory hadn't been fed in 5 days."

Lorelai smiled at the joke but could see real concern for them in his eyes. "Hey, I know how to use a phone. She has been fed."

"Right...and the phone brings you coffee too?" he asked quietly, his eyes darting to Rory.

"No it doesn't bring coffee unfortunately. I've relied on Sookies all week which is a pretty good second to yours. Several staff members have decided to get sick this week and I've been rushed off my feet covering them. This is the first night I've managed to get home before 11, and that is only because the wrath of Emily Gilmore is not worth me being late." Lorelai said earnestly. It was mostly true, she had been very busy at the inn but she could have visited Luke's if she had really tried but the thought of Rachel in flannel had really put her off.

"Oh right, ok. So you're fine?" Luke asked, his blue eyes connecting with her own, sending a jolt of longing through her.

"Apart from being tired and caffeine deprived," Lorelai grimaced.

"And we...we're..." he gestured between them lamely, shooting another look at Rory, clearly wishing that they could talk alone.

"Of course, why wouldn't we be?" she replied brightly, plastering a fake smile on her face.

"I don't know. No reason, you just haven't gone that long without coming into the diner before and... and I was worried about Rory," he finished haltingly.

"I'm fine Luke. I promise to come straight to yours if I'm being starved. Mum, we really really have to go now," Rory said with an apologetic smile at Luke.

"Oh yeah, of course. Will I see you tomorrow at least?" Luke asked quietly, taking a small step backwards and increasing the distance between himself and Lorelai. The small step seemed like a physical ache to Lorelai, it took all of her will power to not follow him.

Lorelai made the mistake of making eye contact again, her heart twisting painfully as she lost herself in his gaze. "Yeah, I will see you tomorrow," she said slowly, tearing her eyes away from his and missing the longing look he shot her. "I really do have to.." she gestured towards the car.

"I know," he nodded, his face schooled back into its usual grumpy expression, "I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye Rory!"

Lorelai climbed into her jeep, fumbling slightly as she turned the keys in the ignition. She pulled out the drive, determinedly not looking at Luke as look as they set off. She tried to school her face, glad that she had 40 minutes to recover from the unexpected visit before seeing her mum.

"That was nice of Luke," Rory smiled sweetly.

"Yeah it was kid," Lorelai said distractedly.

"I don't think it was me he wanted to check on though," Rory said with another bright smile.

Lorelai couldn't think of a response to that, instead cranking up the tunes in the car and resolving to ignore Rory's all too knowing smirk.