Disclaimer: These characters are owned by the WB, Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, and Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Author's Note: I know that there are many wonderful follow-ups to Raincoats and Recipes, but I haven't seen a variant where Jason is the one who interrupts Luke and Lorelai's kiss. I mean, he couldn't have been in the bathroom all night. I am trying to stay as close as possible to the events as they happened in Raincoats and Recipes and Say Goodbye to Daisy Miller. I am posting two chapters now out of what will be a six-part story. It is pretty well sketched out, so hopefully I'll be able to post new chapters quickly.

Accusation

"What the hell are you doing kissing him?"

Lorelai jumped and pulled away from Luke, "Jason, god! What business is it of yours? We broke up! What don't you understand about that?"

"Well, now I understand why you really broke up with me. And to think that I actually thought you were motivated by family loyalty. How long has this been going on? What is going on?"

Lorelai was uncharacteristically speechless, knowing that was the one question she couldn't answer. The last few minutes had turned her relationship with Luke upside down and she doesn't know where they stand. She has been gradually realizing the extent of her feelings for him ever since his sister's wedding and he obviously has feelings for her, but she can't put it all together in a logical answer to the question, "What is going on?" Lorelai looked at Luke briefly, in the hopes that she would find the answer to Jason's question on his face, but all she saw was anger and hurt. She thought he might be hurt that she doesn't have an answer for Jason, but how could she possibly put the right words together to tell her ex-boyfriend (emphasis on the ex) what was going on with her best friend who she just kissed for the first time 30 seconds earlier?

Jason interpreted her silence and glance at Luke as an admission of guilt and continued to rail against her, "And to think that I felt badly about suing your father and being the reason for ending this, but I never meant anything at all to you, did I? The lawsuit was just a convenient excuse."

"That's not true. It was about the lawsuit."

I'm sorry Lorelai, I'm just not buying it anymore. You never took us seriously. You never wanted to tell your parents. I was falling in love with you and you just wanted a warm body in your bed, preferably one that would piss off your mother."

This last statement stunned Luke out of his shock and he came to Lorelai's defense angrily, "Who the hell do you think you are to make that kind of accusation? I think she pretty clearly explained the status of your relationship. Just give it up and go home," he said as he moved threateningly toward Jason.

Lorelai held his arm to stop him, "Luke, don't."

"I can't let him talk to you like that."

"Are you sure that it's not that you don't want to know the truth? That you're just the latest warm body to keep her amused until she finds someone more interesting? Just don't get too attached. I don't think that she is capable of having a meaningful relationship. But if what you're looking for is a good roll in the hay, she's your gal. I have to say though, you're a step up in the pissing off Emily Gilmore department, what with the burger joint, flannel and the baseball cap."

Lorelai felt each of Jason's words as if it were a physical blow. "How dare you insult Luke?" she raged, feeling the situation getting more and more out of control, tears threatening to spill over her pale face.

"What, a little sensitive about slumming it with the local diner guy?"

Luke literally growled at Jason, but Lorelai held him back. "I'm not-,"she started but stopped knowing she couldn't deny her relationship with Luke, but still unable to put words to it. She couldn't look him in the eye, knowing that she would see that same anger and hurt she had seen earlier. Since she wasn't looking she couldn't see that his anger was only at Jason and that he felt her pain just as acutely as she did. "I am not having this argument anymore. Jason, it's over. Get the hell off of my property. I don't ever want to see you again. Ever." The last word had a note of finality about it that took Jason by surprise and he realized he had gone too far.

"Lorelai wait, that all came out wrong. I just really care about you and I don't want us to be apart."

"Well you should have thought about that before tearing me apart and calling me a whore." At that word, the floodgates broke and tears poured down her face.

"Lorelai, I didn't - "

"Well, you might as well have, "her voice was ragged and pained through the sobs, as she turned and ran into the inn. She heard footsteps behind her. "Jason, get away from me."

"It's me," Luke said softly.

Lorelai felt her breath catch. His voice was so gentle, but she couldn't face him.

Without turning around she said, "Luke, not right now," more harshly than she intended. "I need to go home. I think that Rory is there and I just need to be home right now."

"Let me drive you."

"No, I need to be alone. I'll see you tomorrow."

It was a dismissal, and it stung. She didn't want his help and he didn't know what that meant. In a matter of minutes he had gone from complete elation to a state of complete loss. He had no idea what had just happened, but somehow the words that idiot had spoken had damaged whatever fragile magic had been established when they had kissed.

Will you just stand still?

That's what he had said right before kissing her. He hadn't planned it. He had been biding his time and going slowly, waiting for her feelings to catch up to his. But Jason showed up and made him question everything. He had been sure she was feeling it. She had been babbling even more than usual every time they were together and had suddenly turned clumsy. And there were the looks they had shared. There was definitely something there. Then this idiot had showed up and said they were together, and it pissed him off. After all this time he wasn't going to play games and he just couldn't keep waiting. So he confronted her and she said she loved the flowers and said that there was a moment. That's when he realized that something had shifted in their relationship. He had admitted what he was doing and instead of the usual banter and backing away, she had admitted a few small things of her own. So he had kissed her and she had let him. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back. It was an indescribable feeling. Slowly her hand slipped down his shoulder and she stepped back, his hands still on her waist briefly, before they dropped to his side. It was her move now. He knew he had surprised her, so he waited, watching desperately for her reaction. His breathing was ragged while he waited, not moving a muscle.

She took a step toward him. "What are you doing?"

Will you just stand still?

It was his line right back at him. She lifted her eyes to his, reaching her hand up to hold his face and then she kissed him, very gently. Lorelai had kissed him and it was amazing. Emboldened by her gesture, Luke pulled her tightly to him while she wrapped her hands around him. They held the embrace for a moment before he slowly unwrapped his arm and Lorelai stepped away. They looked at each other, his fingers still on her waist, hers on his arms. It was as if she needed to get her bearings. The fact that she was still there gave him the confidence to pull her closer. She responded by reaching for him as well and he silently cheered. Luke did not remember ever feeling quite like this and it was wonderful.

And then the idiot appeared again and the moment was gone.

Luke headed back outside to get some air. He was shocked to see Jason still standing there. "Didn't you get the message, pal? She doesn't want you here. Go home and stay away from her."

"Well, we're in the same boat then. It's looks like she doesn't want you around either."

"You know nothing about me or Lorelai."

"OK, so enlighten me. What's going on with you two?"

"That's between me and her. Now get away from her. Obviously she doesn't want to see you." Lukes voice was getting angrier with every word.

"Touchy. Hearing the truth must hurt."

"Nothing that you said here tonight had any relation to the truth and it's clear that you don't really know her at all," Luke said, slowly and firmly. "It makes me sick to think that you could come here and say what you did about someone you claim to be in love with. Now go, before I - "

"Before you what, beat the crap out of me? Is that how things get resolved on your side of the tracks?"

"Forget it, you're not even worth it," Luke replied as he turned to walk back into the inn. He heard Jason's receding footsteps. Then the footsteps stopped.

"Do you honestly think that you have a chance with her? You know her parents will never accept you. Do you really think that she would ever settle for what you have to offer her?"

Luke continued walking and tried to ignore those last questions, but he couldn't help wondering what the answers would turn out to be.