Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters

This fic takes place at the beginning of the episode in Season 1, "Christopher Returns". It's another way to get Luke and Lorelai together.

Lorelai watched as Rory, excited as could be, laid blanket after blanket on top of their couch.

"Mom?" Rory started.

"What is it, sweets?" Lorelai questioned.

"What are you going to tell Dad?" There was a slight note of concern in her voice. "You know, about your dating life. He is going to want to get back together with you. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Lorelai answered honestly. "I really, truly, with all of my heart, do not want to be with him."

"Really?" Lorelai could hear the disappointment in her daughter's voice, and see it in her eyes, but it was the truth.

Lorelai did not want to be with Christopher. He would leave her disappointed, and she was feeling something . . . . . . .. Different. Not with Max, it just wasn't there for her. But with Luke. She could feel something happening. She was nervous and giddy around him. She thought about him all the time, trying to pick out outfits that she knew he would like, and things like that. And it wasn't as if he wasn't doing anything to stop it. He almost seemed to want it . . .. Just like Lorelai did.

She snapped out of her trance just in time. Christopher was coming down the stairs, saying something about how awful the shower was. Like I don't know that, thought Lorelai.

"I'm gonna fix it." Chris said.

Lorelai's eyes got wide. She had a brilliant idea. "No need to do that," she said nonchalantly.

"And why not?" Chris asked, tilting his head slightly to the left.

"Because, uh, my boyfriend fixes stuff around the house. He was planning on doing the shower next."

Rory stood behind her father, several blankets still in her hand. She stood there, open mouthed, and then mouthed, "LUKE!"

"Oh really?" asked Chris, pretending not to be interested. "And who is this boyfriend of yours?"

"Luke Danes," Lorelai answered promptly. Neither Rory nor Christopher could hide their surprise, but, luckily, Chris couldn't see Rory's reaction.

"The diner guy?" Chris asked, hurt, obvious by his tone.

"Yeah," all three stood there for a moment, then Lorelai spoke, "So, Chris, if there is anything you need in the middle of the night, you can come bug either of us, but not me." There was some fake laughter and Lorelai continued, "So… goodnight. See you in the morning. Rory, can I talk to ya for a sec?"

"Sure. Goodnight, Dad." Rory hugged her father and kissed him on the cheek. "See you in the morning."

The mother and daughter walked outside onto the porch and sat down onto chairs in unison.

Lorelai spoke quietly, "I need your help if we're going to pull this off." Rory nodded, and Lorelai continued, "You have to go to Babette first, then Miss Patty. Tell them that to escape being with your dad, who I don't want to be with, I'm pretending to be dating Luke. Tell them to tell the entire town to pretend that we've been dating for months. Three to five, you get to pick."

"Okay," Rory said more calmly then she felt. "What are you going to do, Mom?"

"I have to talk to Luke," her mom answered flatly.