Written In The Stars II

By Gilmoregirl1979

Provider of Quality Fan Fiction

Hi this is your friendly disclaimer: I REJECT ASP's REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN! Once again, I don't own (DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!), No Harm No Sue.

R/R: yes please I love reviews; I wanna marry them (as previously stated, I have strange passions.)

Summary/ the Q: What if they did the show… MY WAY (Like Frank!)

Beta: Thank you Ms Kitten for the looksy

A/N: Still trying to level my home/work/fan fiction life balance!

Dialogue borrowed from : 1.13 - Concert Interruptus

Written by Elaine Arata
Directed by Bruce Seth Green
IMPROVED BY DEBBIE!
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Chapter 45:
Reckless Rockfest and Romantic Refrains

Lorelai opened her eyes and saw Luke's sweet slumbering face; He had held her all night long. She smiled stroking her fingers over his cheek. She was glad he was honest with her, not let what was bothering him fester inside. As long as they could be honest with each other, as long as they could communicate, they could face any issue, together.

Lorelai kissed him, and in no time at all, his arms tightened around her.

"Hi" he offered sleepily.

"Hi," She smiled at him, "I don't want to leave this bed," stretching a bit in their warm cocoon.

"Ah, but if you stay here, you don't go to your concert."

"There will be other concerts; I want to be with you," she moved her lips to his neck.

"We have a lot to do for the sale tomorrow; Rory has been on you about that pile of mending."

"I know, and her study group is coming over today," Lorelai droned, her fingers playing with his hair, "What's your plan for today?" nuzzling his nose, and pecking at his lips again.

"Make breakfast for the two of you, and then make a snack for the study group."

"Any poison in that snack?" Lorelai joked.

"Well, I don't want Rory to accidentally eat it," Luke said dryly.

"You are too nice, but I can see your point!"

"Maybe if they are fed, they won't devour our daughter."

"Or they will just throw it up later in our bathroom."

"Now, that's the right attitude to have. Come on, let's get you fed."

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After breakfast, Lorelai got showered and dressed in a T-shirt and Jeans, tying her hair back with a bandana to keep it out of her face while she organized the rummage sale donations. The living room was overrun with bags and boxes of stuff to the point where they couldn't see their furniture anymore.

Surveying the scene, Lorelai shook her head, "Ok, just a question. Did anyone in town keep anything?"

Luke griped, "Doesn't look like it," sorting things into Rory's marked piles.

Lorelai suddenly vowed, "I'm never being civic-minded again."

"You promise?" Luke joked, earning him a shove from his wife.

Rory came in from the kitchen, on the phone; "Yeah, you too. Bye," She hung up the phone, "That was Lane."

"Oh yeah? What's the verdict?" Lorelai moved a bag to try and make a path in the living room.

Rory shook her head, "She decided to be stupid and tell her mother the truth … that she wanted to go to a rock concert with us tonight in New York."

Lorelai gasped, "Stupid!"

"Stupid," Rory agreed.

"I'm so sorry, hon."

"I'm making coffee," Rory went into the kitchen to pout while it brewed.

"Too bad," Luke said.

"The rest of us are still going, you know," eying her husband sternly.

Luke explained while moving the boxes for his wife, "I know, but Rory wanted to go with Lane. Lane really likes music. Now they are both disappointed."

"Well, Mrs. Kim has her overprotective reasons and as a fellow members of the parent club, we can't judge, I don't want her to tell us how to raise Rory or the baby. Who am I to tell her what for with Lane?"

Then, Sookie came in through the front door, "Oh My God, it's grown from yesterday."

Lorelai was confused, "Are you talking about the pile? Or my belly?"

"Well, um. The pile," she gestured to the unwanted junk.

"I know, we went to sleep and boom!" Lorelai waved her arms at the room.

"But now that you mention it," Sookie looked Lorelai up and down.

"I know, we went to sleep and boom!" Lorelai rubbed the baby bump.

"Um, Lorelai, could I …talk to you?" Sookie asked.

"Sure, hon."

Luke sensing the girl talk, "I'll go see about the tables for tomorrow. The snacks for Rory's study group are in the fridge."

"Okay," Lorelai kissed her husband goodbye before he went out the front door. Turning back to her friend, "okay, Sookie; what's up?"

"I can't go to the concert."

"What? Why?" Lorelai asked with alarm.

"Mario, he can't fill in for me."

"Mario?" Lorelai scoffed, "I'm his boss I will make him fill in for you, it's all arranged and settled." Lorelai started looking for the phone to call him, last seeing it with Rory, "That's the reason we hired Mario, to be your back up for your days off! You can't cook all day every day, besides you're the reason we got the tickets in first place! You have to go. Someone better be in the hospital…"

"Someone is in the hospital," Sookie informed.

Lorelai's head snapped to Sookie, "Who?"

"Mario's wife, she has appendicitis."

Lorelai's hopes sank, "Oh, well, that is kind of serious; we should send flowers or something."

"I was thinking that. I'm sorry; I was so looking forward to it."

"Lane can't go either."

"What? Why?"

"She told Mrs. Kim the truth!"

"What, Stupid!" Sookie gasped.

"I know," Lorelai rolled her eyes at how the best laid plans could fall apart.

"Well, you have two extra tickets…maybe Luke would…"

"Luke's not much of a Bangles fan."

"Who does he like?"

"Asia and Jimmy Buffett."

"Really?"

"I know," Lorelai nodded.

"Well, I came to give you the tickets, all four. And I can still help this morning with organizing all this stuff."

"Thanks, I'm just bummed you can't go."

"Me too! Believe me, but people have to eat!" Sookie shrugged, the hardest part about being a chef was the schedule. The hardest part for Sookie being a chef was her accident prone nature and frequent trips to the emergency room.

"Yeah, and we have to stay in business. And all that."

"Okay, so where can I help?" Sookie asked.

"Well, Rory has a study group coming over," Lorelai scanned the living room again, "so why don't we grab some bags and move it to the side of the room so they have at least the coffee table to work."

"Will do."

Lorelai went into the kitchen to check on Rory, "I'm sorry this place is such a pit."

Rory was staring at the coffee pot, "Mom, don't worry about it. They'll come in, they'll make a face, they'll say something snotty, we'll study, and they'll leave. I'm just looking forward to this whole day being over, and then I can concentrate on the concert."

"Good attitude to have."

"Help!" came from the living room.

Lorelai turned her head toward the living room, "Sookie?" she called.

"Help!"

Lorelai turned to Rory, "I've got to go, someone's in trouble," In mock super hero fashion.

Lorelai flew into the living room again and was surprised not to see her friend again. "Sookie!"

"I'm ok," came muffled from the piles.

"Wave an arm."

A hand suddenly popped up in the corner of the sea of junk.

"I gotcha," Lorelai took her hand and started to pull her up. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Hold on. Up, please."

"Jeez, this stuff is like tribbles," Rory came in behind her mother to see what happened.

"Be very careful, this pile just tried to eat Sookie."

"Maybe I should sic it on Paris when she gets here."

"There's a thought," Lorelai nodded. Now that Sookie was okay, Rory went back for her coffee in the kitchen.

Sookie was poking around the piles now that she had her bearings again. "Huh? This looks really familiar."

Lorelai saw that Sookie had picked up the Rhinestone sweatshirt, "You probably saw it on someone in town." Lorelai said innocently.

"Weren't you wearing it the other day?"

"Um, yeah, I was, but Luke convinced me I was buying too much stuff already… and…"

Sookie's mouth came open, "Luke?"

"Yes, tall guy, baseball cap, my husband, how this happened," Lorelai pointed both hands to her belly.

Sookie inspected the sweatshirt more carefully. "Oh my, I wonder if …"

"What?"

"I bet this was Rachel's. It does look like her," Sookie held the garment out.

"She looked like a sweatshirt?" Lorelai raised an eyebrow, trying to make a joke about the Ex.

"No, it's her style; I think I remember seeing it on her a few times."

Lorelai felt herself tense, she swallowed hard, "You… knew her?"

"Well yeah, she was Luke's very serious girlfriend."

Lorelai cleared her throat, suddenly uncomfortable with the topic, but since an opportunity had arisen, she wanted to take advantage of an apparent eyewitness; "When was this?"

"Oh, this must have been what, five, six years ago? Did she ever break that man's heart; it was terrible," Sookie shook her head, almost forgetting who she was talking to.

"How did I not know about this?" Lorelai complained.

"Luke never told you about her?"

"Well, yes, I mean, of course he did; and I knew Luke and I had our separate histories. I mean, I wasn't exactly a virgin when we got married. We talked about, you know, who we'd dated in passing; and we talked about the sweatshirt specifically. But when it was happening… you know? Why didn't I pay attention?"

Sookie tried to soothe her friend, "Oh, Honey, you had an 11 year old kid and you were just moving into this house. You and Luke weren't close back then; I don't think you two had even met yet. Plus, Rachel traveled all the time; she was away most of the time, you never would have seen her even if you had been paying attention," studying the uneasy look on her friends face, "Lorelai, you have nothing to worry about. She's been gone for years."

"I know," Lorelai tried to laugh, "but I still feel like I know so little."

"Well, Luke never talks about it. No one else likes to talk about it because he could probably kill you with that coffee pot if he wanted to."

Lorelai stared at the shirt now on top of the pile, "Did she really break his heart?"

"Lorelai, it was years ago, before he even met you. And look what happened when he did? You two fell in love, got married, and now you're having a baby…. It's ancient history."

Lorelai nodded, "I know. It's just… hormones, I guess." Lorelai handed her friend a laundry basket of imperfect clothes, "Um, here, this is a pile to be mended, could you take that up to my room."

"Ok."

Then Lorelai heard a car outside, at first thinking it was people with more stuff to drop off, only to go to the window and saw three teenage girls getting out of a very expensive looking car. "Rory, I think your friends are here."

"Term 'friends' used very loosely," Rory came up beside her mother.

Lorelai eyed the car, "She must be one great babysitter to earn enough money for that ride."

Rory let out a huge sigh, "Let's just get this over with."

"Take heart, my dear. Suffer today, party tonight."

Rory opened the front door, "Hi. So did you guys find it ok?"

"There's no sign on this street," Paris complained, as if that was Rory's fault.

"I know, that's why I told you to turn right at the big rooster statue."

"I thought you were kidding."

Lorelai tried to lighten the mood with humor, "Oh no, we never kid about Monty."

The blonde one raised an eyebrow and asked, "Monty?"

"Monty the rooster - Monty," Lorelai confirmed.

"Oh," The blonde one sneered again.

Usually people loved Lorelai's off the wall humor, but Lorelai could tell this was going to be an especially tough crowd. The three of them looked like they were going to be contaminated by their surroundings, and from what Rory had told her in the past, the rummage sale merchandise wasn't the only reason for the scorn.

Rory introduced, "Everybody this is my mom."

"You can call me Lorelai."

"This is Louise, Madeline and Paris," Rory introduced in turn.

"Ah, very good girl-group names. Ok, so, um sorry about the house of horrors here. Some crazy lady volunteered to lead this charity thing and we're trying to get her some help, so make yourselves comfortable." Still no reaction, "Uh, Rory, just yell when you guys want pizza."

"Thanks, mom"

Lorelai went upstairs, trying to commit which girl name when with which hair type. Paris was easy, long, straight, light brown hair. The Blonde one was Louise, and Madeline was the black haired one; Before she used any of these names she should double check with Rory.

Madeline asked, "Why is your mom getting fat? I mean, don't get me wrong, she still looks good; but still she has this …." Madeline gestured to her stomach.

Rory rolled her eyes, but Paris supplied, "She's pregnant, you idiot."

"Oh," Madeline nodded with understanding.

"So, do you guys want to work in here or in the kitchen?" Rory wanted them to focus on their work so they would leave sooner.

"Whatever," Paris dropped to the floor by the coffee table.

"Ok," Rory sank to an exposed corner of the couch

Paris dove in, "Ok, so here's how it should go. Madeline will do the introductions, I'll handle the debate, Rory will do the conclusion and Louise will take questions.

"Why do you automatically get to handle the debate?"

"Because I'm the most experienced at it."

"Trust me; you want her to handle the debate. She never gives up."

"Le pitbull."

"Ok."

Louise started poking through the rummage sale bags, "So what is all this stuff?"

"Uh, it's for a big town rummage sale."

Madeline canted her head, "Like a charity thing?"

"Yeah. There's this old bridge that's completely falling apart and the town's trying to save it."

Louise tries on a hat, "Oh, cool hat."

Paris scolded, "Put that down. It's used."

"Vintage, dear."

"Filthy, darling."

Madeline shared, "There's this great store under my therapist office that has the best vintage clothes. I found an original Pucci top for practically nothing."

"Oh, Pucci is very big right now," Louise agreed.

"Is this a Pucci?" Madeline asked.

"No, that's a 'Patty'," Rory had to chuckle.

"A 'Patty'?"

"Miss Patty. She's a dance teacher here. These are some of her old costumes."

"Oh, here Paris. Tristin might like this," Louse held up a pink sequence dress, teasing the introvert on how Tristian had been flirting with her this week.

"Can we just work please?" Paris barked.

"Ugh. I would love to have a boyfriend that looked like Tristin," Louise complained.

Madeline turned to Rory, "Your boyfriend's no slouch either."

"No, he's not," Rory nodded, indifferent to the compliment.

Louise recounted, "Oh yes, 6'2 and feisty. So how's that going? Are you two still 'Joanie loves Chachi'?"

Rory winced, "God, I hope not."

"You are still together, aren't you?" Madeline asked.

"Yeah, we're still together."

"How long has it been?" Louise pressed.

"I don't know."

"You do too."

"A few months."

"Oh, lifers."

"Hey!" Paris hollered startling Madeline.

"Jeez!"

Paris was a real task master and focused the group, "We have a debate to organize here and this conversation is quickly veering towards the subject of French kissing and glitter eye shadow, trashy or trendy? And I for one have no intention of being humiliated in front of the whole class because we were forced to study in the middle of a carnival and you two couldn't
keep your eye on the prize! I want to win and I'm going to win!"

Louise asked, "So how good of a kisser is Paul Bunyan anyway?" Louise, Madeline and Rory all chuckle.

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Meanwhile upstairs, Sookie held up a pair of one legged pants to Lorelai. "Ok, does anyone in town have a peg leg?"

"Uh...no; convert them to shorts."

"Hem these."

Lorelai had something gnawing at her as she sewed, "Hey, Sookie, was Rachel pretty?"

"What?"

"I'm just curious, was she pretty? Luke never really … described her to me."

"She was pretty," Sookie absently nodded.

"Well, like, what kind of pretty?"

"What do you mean 'what kind of pretty'?" Sookie was still sorting clothes.

"I mean, like was she a 'Catherine Zeta-Jones kind of pretty' or a 'Michelle Pfiffer-y pretty' or… "

Sookie considered a moment, "She was an 'Elle MacPherson kind of pretty'."

Lorelai stopped her sewing; her mouth gaped, "Really."

"Yup."

Lorelai gaped, "That's an intense kind of pretty," Suddenly Lorelai wished Sookie had lied to spare her feelings.

"You're not kidding."

"I never pictured Luke with an 'Elle MacPherson kind of pretty'," Lorelai's stomach did a non-pregnancy related flip suddenly picturing her husband having sex with Elle MacPherson.

"What does it matter since he ended up with a 'Lorelai Gilmore kind of pretty'?"

"I didn't say it mattered," Lorelai defended.

"Right, just that you're jealous?"

"What? No!"

"You're jealous of Rachel, who left Luke a year before he ever met you," Sookie pointed in the air, "that is crazy."

"I'm not jealous; I'm… just…" Lorelai couldn't find the words, and twisted her mouth as if that would make them come.

"Lorelai, talk to me," Sookie urged her friend to vent.

Lorelai sighed, "Could you just tell me a little more about this Rachel?"

"Why? You are with Luke. Not her. You win! Woo hoo!"

"Well, because apparently everybody in town knows everything about it and I don't like to be out of the loop."

"It's old news. You got the man in the end," Sookie shrugged.

Lorelai took a deep breath, frustrated by the road blocks Sookie was inventing; "I know that, it's just, since the sweatshirt thing has been settled just recently, I feel like my chance to ask Luke directly about it has passed. I mean, we talked about the sweatshirt, and what he donated, and why he donated it now, but we didn't really talk about… the relationship aspect. He never mentioned she was 'MacPherson' pretty to me. You know… I mean, Luke is so happy to focus on the here and now, and I love that. I'm glad that he's not carrying a torch for her or like he was disappointed and settled for me because there was no other option; but, as his wife, and just for a clear picture, I feel I should know the whole story; to hear it from a… semi-objective perspective. What happened? Where'd she go?"

Sookie sighed, "Well, Rachel liked to move around a lot. She was very adventurous kind of person. She loved to climb things and fling herself off of cliffs and dive into these really tiny lakes and ride big wild horses and fly planes."

"So, she was 'Wonder Woman'."

"At the time, she was to Luke. I thought they were going to get married."

"Well, what happened?" a little nervous about idea of someone else being married to her husband.

"The rumor is that Stars Hollow was too small for her. She wanted to live somewhere more exciting."

"And Luke didn't."

"You know, Luke. He's lived here all his life. He wouldn't even go away for college. I think we're going to bury him in that diner."

"Wow. It's sad."

"Sad?" Sookie admonished, "He's your husband? If he had left with Rachel, or if she had stayed, Rory wouldn't have a dad right now, you wouldn't have a date every night of the week, and you wouldn't be pregnant!"

"I know. Oh, I don't know what I mean; I'm just sorry he was hurt so badly."

"Whatever Rachel and Luke were way back when, you are 'Wonder Woman' now; Lasso, tiara and all."

"I guess."

"Don't forget those red boots! And the invisible plane!"

Lorelai only smiled.

"Lorelai, trust me, you are the one for that man. You have given him everything he's ever wanted, everything Rachel walked away from. Even before you get down the list to the baby. You are the one! If he hadn't gone through that hurt, maybe he would never have had the courage to ask you out."

"Thanks, Sookie."

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Down stairs, the girls were working hard at hardly working.

"We'll need the actual quotes so learn them by heart," Paris commanded, it wasn't a suggestion.

Madeline asked, "What about using note cards."

Paris Vetoed, "Note cards look sloppy. We will know our information."

"But the other teams will use note cards," Madeline complained.

"And the other team will lose."

Sookie came down the stairs, "Bye girls, Rory, have fun tonight!"

"Bye Sookie," Rory was writing and not really paying attention to what she said.

Louise asked "What's tonight?"

"We've got tickets to see the Bangles at the Pastorella theatre."

Madeline perked up, "In New York?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds potentially not boring," Louise considered.

"It's going to be great actually and the seats are amazing."

"Who are you going with?" Madeline asked.

"My mom and Sookie."

"You're kidding? You're going to a concert with your mom?"

"Yeah," Rory shrugged.

Madeline posed, "I cannot imagine doing anything like that with my mom."

"Actually we do stuff like this all the time."

"Really?" Madeline asked.

"Yeah."

"Hey, how old is your mom anyways?"

"32."

"Young," Madeline nodded.

Louise broached, "So that means she had you when she was..."

Paris slapped her hand on the table and stated frankly, "16. She had her when she was 16. We've done the math, can we just 'ooh' and 'aah' about this quickly and get back to work?"

"16," Louise mused, "I'm 16."

Madeline grinned, "So am I."

Paris growled, "We're all 16 ok. Everybody in this room is 16."

Rory didn't like being the center of attention, "Paris is right. We should work."

"Thank you."

Louise sighed, "I can't imagine having a baby at 16."

"Well, then keep your knees shut," Paris harshly advised.

Louise glared, "Very nice."

"Works every time it's tried," Paris pointed out, trying to find the quote she wanted to copy.

Madeline asked Rory, " Do you think your mom is sorry she got pregnant so young?"

"Of course she is," Paris barked.

Rory snapped, "Why thank you."

Paris rolled her eyes, "I didn't mean that. I just meant that..."

Rory saved Paris' stumbling, "I mean, I don't think my mom would recommend it but I think she's happy with how things turned out."

"I am?" Lorelai's voice said from behind Rory.

The four girls were startled by their subject's sudden appearance, apparently she had just come down the stairs, "Yes, you are," Rory informed her mother.

"Ok, good, just checking," Lorelai nodded smiling at the teens, shrugging off what they were talking about.

The front door opened, and Luke called out, "Lorelai! I got two dozen tables."

Lorelai went to the foyer to meet with her husband. "Great, where are they?"

"After the last dance class of the day, Miss Patty said we could put them in her studio overnight. They are being delivered directly there."

"My hero!" Lorelai gave his lips a peck, and then they both remembered they had a teen audience, taking her husband's hand, "Why don't we talk in the kitchen? Um Girls, I'm starving, is it pizza time yet?"

Rory turned to the group; she couldn't call them a study group since only Paris was studying so far, "Are you guys hungry?"

Madeline nodded, "I am."

"I can't eat dairy," Paris announced to the room.

Lorelai smiled, "Ok, one with cheese, one without. Cokes?"

"Lorelai I made…" Luke started, but Lorelai elbowed him in the ribs.

"Yes please," Rory nodded.

"Me too."

"We're never going to finish," Paris complained, as Lorelai pulled Luke into the kitchen.

Madeline whispered to Rory, "Your mom is so cool. It's almost more like having a big sister."

Rory grinned, "She's my best friend. My dad too."

Louise canted her head, "yes the ruggedly handsome, tall drink of water."

Rory almost winced, "Um, I really don't think of him that way, but thank you."

Madeline interjected, "What a second? I thought you were adopted? How can your mom have had you?"

"Uh, I guess technically, I'm only half adopted," Rory explained, "My mom is my real mom. And she has raised me since she was our age," Rory thumbed back to the kitchen, "My dad we didn't meet until later. He met my mom, they fell in love, and when he proposed to her, he … sort of proposed adoption to me."

"Awwww," Madeline cooed.

"How old were you?" Louise asked.

"11"

"So where's your real dad?" Louise pressed again.

"Don't know, don't care," Rory said flatly, "As far as I'm concerned Luke is my real dad."

"But your mom is pregnant?" Louise continued, "A half sibling on the way; isn't that weird? I mean, your step dad being, you know, with your mom."

"Okay, I propose a moratorium on the subject of parental sex," Paris grumbled, "Can we just study."

"Seconded," Rory actually wanted to hug Paris.

"Rory, could you come in here a sec!" her mother called from the kitchen.

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"Things seem to be going well," Lorelai said to her husband.

"How can you tell?" Luke asked.

"They are all still alive! Believe me, I had worst case scenarios running through my head, I was picturing like 'The Craft'."

"Which one is that again?" Luke posed while stirring the beverage he was making.

"We made you watch it at Halloween; Four Teenager friends dabble in witchcraft; three are evil mean losers and only one is truly naturally gifted, but still they combine their power in a covenant, until the evil three turn against the good one."

Luke only nodded his agreement over the similarities, "So, what did you need to tell me?"

"Wrench in the works, Lane and Sookie both can't go to the concert!"

"What?"

"Sookie has to work, long story but it involves a hospital, and Lane told Mrs. Kim the truth so."

"I knew about Lane, I was here for that."

"Great well, now I have two extra tickets, and too little time to put them up on Ebay!"

"You could always …not go?" Luke posed.

Lorelai scoffed, "I'm going to go!"

"Aren't you the one always talking about signs and fate? Your plans are crumbling around you, so maybe you shouldn't go."

"First off, Fate was us getting together," she grinned, thinking back to Sookie's pep talk. "Second, I've been trying to get these tickets for months, and don't think I don't know what this is about. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I have to give up a once in a life time opportunity…It's not like I'm showing…"

"You are showing," Luke argued, as he continued mixing some concoction for his wife.

"Four months."

"Almost five!" Luke argured.

"Still, not showing that much…Luke, I know you're worried, but we will be very careful."

"Lorelai, if you go to that concert, our baby maybe born deaf!"

"Luke, I assure you, the baby is very well protected from the sound waves, besides the baby probably doesn't even have ears yet," she said as an aside, "I'll have to look that up. You're just mad at the moment that I made you order the pizza for the study group."

"What kind of person can't have Dairy?" Luke quietly ranted.

"The Paris kind," Lorelai smiled; that girl had the ability to ruin things even without meaning to. "Your snacks won't go to waste; we'll eat them after we get back from the concert tonight."

Luke rolled his eyes, and handed her a glass. Without questioning her husband's motives, she began to drink from the glass, tasted it and looked at its contents quizzically. "What am I drinking?"

"Protein shake, for you and the baby," Luke informed.

"Huh," Lorelai took another sip, "berry flavored, not bad."

"I also got you chocolate and orange cream. You can have a quick breakfast if you're ever running late."

Then Lorelai hollered, "Rory, could you come in here a sec!"

"Jeez, now I'll be deaf," Luke shook his head, not expecting her outburst.

Lorelai beamed at her daughter, "Hey, how's it going in there?"

"Truly, completely fascinating," Rory offered sardonically.

"Really?"

"Well, we've basically gotten no work done, Paris is having a meltdown, which, by the way, is always fun."

"Yey, Sounds it," Lorelai smiled.

"And, I don't know, we've just been talking."

"Wow, so you're acting like typical teenage girls! I think you're actually making some friends here."

Rory raised her hands, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. They've basically just moved off the plan to dump the pig's blood on me at the prom, that's all."

"Still, Talking, chatting, no work being done …there's friend potential going on."

Rory shrugged, "Maybe… with Louise and Madeline at least."

"Two out of three formerly psychotic enemies, not bad." Lorelai cleared her throat, "Oh, I do have some bad news, Sookie, can't make it tonight."

"What?"

"Mario's wife has appendicitis, so Sookie has to work."

"Is his wife's appendix inside him?" Rory asked.

"No, but needless to say we will have to figure out how to scalp our tickets."

"No!" Luke spoke up. "My pregnant wife isn't going to be scalping tickets in New York! With some strangers sitting next to you and Rory! You tell me you don't want me to worry and you suggest something like that?"

"Luke, I'm running out of ideas here," Lorelai sighed, and then she tilted her head, staring at her beloved husband, then back to her daughter. Raising an eyebrow, "a plan is forming."

"Dad, she's got that crazy look in her eye," Rory warned.

"Hey, I have kind of a crazy idea."

"What did I just say; those are never comforting words coming from you."

"Just consider this ok?"

"Ok."

"Now, we have four tickets to the show tonight."

"Yes we do."

"What if I give them to you? You take them."

"What are you talking about? What is she talking about?" looking for some guidance from her father figure.

"Well, it just seems like you guys have kind of a bonding thing going on in there, it might be fun."

"Go to the concert? With them?" Rory pointed in the living room, "But what about you?"

"No, no you and I have already bonded. In fact, if we bond any further, we will be permanently fused together."

"But, you've been talking about this concert since you heard about it."

"I can still go."

"How?"

Lorelai linked arms with her husband, "Dad and I can buy cheap seats when we get there."

Rory was stammering at her mother's sacrifice, "but, but these tickets are 9th row aisle…dream seats."

"Look, you don't have to do this, but I just think you have three years of Chilton ahead of you and it might be nice to have some friendly type people to talk to there. And I don't know, you guys seem to be getting along, it might be good. And I totally don't mind, I just want to see the show, I don't care from what seat." Lorelai turned to her husband, "and if you come with, you won't have to worry about any of us mixing with nefarious characters, because you will be our body guard."

"Lorelai, hang on a minute," Luke protested. Luke hated it whenever Lorelai and Rory were on a roll in a debate and they ignored him.

"Are you sure?" Rory asked.

"Completely sure."

"Because I …"

"Oh, ladies!" Lorelai called into the living room, taking the decision out of Rory's hands, "Hey what are you guys doing tonight?"

"Why?" the blacked haired one asked. Lorelai couldn't remember her name.

"Well we have these really great tickets to see the Bangles at the Pastorella Theater and Rory thought you might like to come along."

"Are you serious?" the black haired one gushed.

"No way!" Louise gaped.

"Yeah, I mean if you guys want to," Rory offered.

"I would love to go," the black haired one bounced in her seat.

"Count me in," Louise nodded.

"Paris, what about you?"

"I can't."

"Yes, you can," Louise scoffed.

"No, I can't. I have homework."

Madeline assured, "She'll be there."

"Good," Rory smiled.

"Great," Lorelai beamed.

"Can I talk to you?" Luke grabbed his wife's elbow and dragged her back into the kitchen, but he didn't stop until they were outside on the back porch. "Are you insane?" Luke dove right in, "you are claiming responsibility for four teenagers, on a road trip, out of the state, into one of the most dangerous cities in the world? How are we going to transport these girls? Have you seen your car? My car? We can't all fit in one vehicle which means we will need to take two, and I do not trust Paris to drive Rory to the corner mailbox, let alone to New York City!"

"I know."

"So what's your plan for that?" Luke folded his arms across his chest.

"Two cars, the Jeep and your truck."

Luke wasn't following.

"Rory drives her friends in the Jeep. You and me, head down in the truck. They get a little 'road trip, no parents around, bonding' time, and you get to tail them the whole way. If they pull off, we follow, if they go the wrong way we call Rory on the cell phone. You get to watch over all of us, so you won't worry. Luke, Please, I'm doing this for Rory. Please, three more years of Chilton. Just think of that for ten seconds."

Luke stood there, Lorelai slowly watched his resolve and disapproval melt away, thinking of Rory needing a friend at that stone cold school of hers.

"Alright, I'll go."

"Thank you, babe," Lorelai snaked her arms around his waist and kissed him. Taking advantage that they were alone and out of sight from the rummage sale donators and studying teenagers, Lorelai pressed Luke against the porch rail.

Rory opened the back door, "Mom, the Pizza's… oh!"

Pulling away, Lorelai turned, "Sorry, your dad and I needed… to do a little planning for tonight."

"Right," Rory elongated, "Do either of you have a twenty? Joe is here with the pizza."

Luke ushered them inside, reaching for his wallet, "I've got it."

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Luke griped about the price of New York Parking, and Lorelai realized they should have invited Liz and Jess to the concert. They drove all that way they could have had a family visit. Liz probably loved the bangles as much as Lorelai did. Luke and Lorelai were leading the girls to the theater, Luke looked back to make sure they were keeping up, the blonde and the black haired girl were admiring Rory's bracelet. Luke couldn't remember their names, if they became real friends, then he would make an effort to commit them to memory.

"He made it," Rory beamed with pride and affection over the jewelry.

"Oh, he's handy," Black haired one cooed.

"And you wear it all the time right?" the blonde one teased.

"Only when she's breathing," Lorelai turned to the four as the group came up to the front to the theater. "Ok here we are," Lorelai made to offer them the tickets, but then pulled them back, "Ah! With these tickets you are about to enter sacred space, you will be treading on hallowed ground, you will be walking like an Egyptian," and Lorelai was posing like a hieroglyphic.

"Mom," Rory rolled her eyes. Madeline and Louise may have thought her mom was cool, but she could still embarrass like any parent could.

"Alright, take them. Oh, you're going to have a great time. The Bangles are the best! They were my favorite band in high school. I almost named you Susanna. The day I found out you had no musical talent at all was the saddest day of my life."

"I'm sorry," Rory shook her head.

"Well, you say that now," Lorelai handed the Tickets to Rory, "Ok, here's the deal. Take the tickets, go to your seats, have the night of a lifetime … Bangle it up. The second the concert is over, meet us outside in front of the theater, got it?"

"Yes," Rory agreed.

"Good! Now go!"

Rory stepped toward her folks, "Thank you," she said for only them to hear.

"You're welcome," Lorelai grinned, watching her daughter disappear in the crowd. She turned to her husband, took his arm, "Good sir, if you would kindly escort me to where the noses bleed."

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"What the hell was I thinking?" Lorelai complained. "I had ninth row seats and I gave them up to those little….. brats!" Luke took patient breath as he followed her up the stairs, Lorelai's back was starting to hurt from the pregnancy, and they seemed to be climbing the stairway to heaven, which only further aggravated the condition. Luke also suspected a mood swing behind the sudden change of heart, but he didn't dare voice it, lest Lorelai's ire be directed at him.

Lorelai suddenly turned on him, on the stair above. "Did you ever see the movie 'Everest'?"

"No," Luke shook his head.

"Me neither, but now I don't have to, because I freakin' lived it!" she grumbled.

Luke knew better than to correct her and point out she was exaggerating and being a tad over dramatic; "We must be getting close, we're running out of rows," Luke encouraged.

"Yeah, who wants row 9 when I can have row 1,000. If only we were keeping score!"

"Ok, we're here, sit down," Luke soothed.

"Great," Lorelai griped, she sat and took in their view. Her face scrunched up.

"Lorelai?" Luke asked; he had a very bad feeling about the face she was making.

"These are the worst seats in the entire world!" Lorelai whined and started to cry.

Luke looked to heaven, thinking back to that very morning and how Lorelai didn't want to get out of bed, just stay warm and under the covers with him; if only he had listened to her. "They aren't so bad," as he sat down beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh my God," she sobbed, crumbling into tears, she leaned toward him, hugging Luke, burying her face in his shoulder. Luke took another patient breath and rubbed her shoulder.

"I know. I know," then Luke saw a guy sneering at them, "You got a problem buddy?"

"Is she going to cry through the whole show?" the stranger offered snidely.

"She's pregnant! She's a little emotional, this is her favorite band! Now mind your own business. The show is that way!" Luke pointed toward the stage.

"No, I'm okay," Lorelai squeaked as she pulled away, digging in her purse for a tissue.

"Are you sure?" Luke gave her a loving squeeze.

She nodded, "Yes, I'm sorry, that was … weird, I'm not usually a crier."

"I know, I understand."

Lorelai sniffled, "I mean we still can hear the music, right?"

"Yeah, live music is great."

"Yeah, and any seat with you is great," Lorelai smiled, taking his right hand in hers.

"You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Hormones, mood swing," she shook her head, and then she took a cleansing breath.

"It's okay; you did a great thing for Rory. And she'll owe you for the rest of her life."

"I'll make a list," Lorelai grinned.

Luke looked down at the stage, "Hey, they're starting?"

Lorelai started chuckling, "Hey, do you have a flame thrower? Because it's so far, you know, instead of a lighter."

Luke grinned and kissed her forehead. She was making jokes, she was okay.

The announcer came over the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen: The Bangles!"

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As the concert went on, Lorelai's mood improved; she was standing at her seat and dancing in place. Everyone else was up and dancing too, so Luke wasn't really embarrassed, it was a concert for Pete's sake. Luke couldn't remember the last concert he had been too. Luke wasn't dancing, but he enjoyed the music; he stood beside his wife, trying futilely to see the girls from his high perch. It was hopeless; it was too dark, too far away, with too many people; Luke would just have to trust they were okay.

He knew this was Lorelai's favorite band, and seeing the look on her face as she sang along with every song, Luke was glad he hadn't denied her this opportunity. They were a great fit together, she could talk him into seemingly crazy, albeit worthwhile things and he could reason with her when she was being unreasonable.

A song ended and the next began, it was a slow song and Luke thought he recognized the melody from hearing it through the wall of his sister's room in his youth. Everyone else around was starting to sit down during the song's slow introduction.

"I love this song," Lorelai sighed, her hands clutched over her heart.

"Do you have all your stuff?" he asked.

"What? Everything is in my purse. Why?"

"Come on," Luke grabbed her hand.

"Luke, the concert is not over! You're going to abandon our bad seats!" Lorelai complained.

"Trust me," he whispered hurriedly.

Lorelai reluctantly followed him. He led her down the stairs of their section, but then stopped in the middle of the stairs, on a landing that was wider than the regular steps.

"Luke what are you…" Luke put a finger over her lips.

"You can see them a little better?"

"Yes, but Luke you're ruining my favorite song," Lorelai whispered harshly.

"No, I'm going to make it better," Luke smiled, and took Lorelai in his arms and started swaying with her in the aisle.

Lorelai almost started crying again out of happiness, slow dancing with her husband, at a concert of her favorite band, this was turning into a perfect evening.

"Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling

Do you feel my heart beating, do you understand?

Do you feel the same, am I only dreaming?

Is this burning an eternal flame?

I believe it's meant to be, darling

I watch when you are sleeping, you belong to me

Do you feel the same, am I only dreaming

Or is this burning an eternal flame?

Say my name, sun shines through the rain

A whole life so lonely, and then you come and ease the pain

I don't want to lose this feeling"

Lorelai knew the words to the song by heart, but in Luke's arms, with her head on his shoulder as she watched the band on the stage, the true meaning of the words had never been clearer to her in her life.

Lorelai's head shot up from his shoulder, Luke wondered what was wrong, but she smiled taking his hand from her back and placed it on her baby bump. "She likes the music," Lorelai beamed. They could feel the baby moving together.

"Was that a kick?" Luke asked.

"No, kicks are a bit stronger, I think she's just moving around."

Luke smiled, hooked Lorelai's hair behind her ear, "I love you."

"Back at you," Lorelai kissed him.

… am I only dreaming

Or is this burning an eternal flame?

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Rory was waiting with Paris, Rory had her arms crossed, and impatiently was tapping her foot. "I can't believe Louise and Madeline would just leave like that."

"They've done it before," Paris shrugged.

Rory had to admit, despite the other two bailing; she did feel like she was somehow bonding with Paris. Her mom had been right, just not in the way anyone expected. "Can I ask you a question?" Rory decided to take advantage of their new found friendship.

"Maybe," replied the noncommittal Paris.

"What could you possibly see in Tristin?"

Paris suddenly looked vulnerable, very different from the hard shell exterior she projected at school, "You wouldn't understand."

"Is it just that he's cute? Cause there is a lot of cute guys in the world."

"Not like Tristin," Paris sighed.

Rory frowned; she could not image Paris as some forlorn, lovesick teenager, "He's just such a jerk."

"He's not always a jerk," Paris shook her head.

"No?"

"No."

"Ok. When is not a jerk?" Rory pressed.

Paris was a little defensive, "I've known Tristin a really long time ok? We've been in the same class since kindergarten."

"Really?"

"Yes...and he has things in his life that are hard. His parents… not so great. We have that in common."

"Ok," Rory nodded.

"He kissed me once."

"He did?" Rory was unable to picture it.

"In the 6th grade… on a dare," Paris admitted.

"How …romantic."

"You just don't know him like I do ok?" Paris assured.

"Ok, I believe you."

"I know he's flirting with me to get to you, but at least he's flirting with me."

Rory straightened up, if she was ever going to be Paris' friend, this was the moment that mattered, if Paris took her advice to heart or not. "I just… I think maybe you could do better. Someone who likes you…for who you are, in the here and now."

"Hey," Lorelai waved.

"There you are," Rory was relieved they could solve their bailing teen problem with her parents.

Luke and Lorelai walked up to the pair, "Think fast," Lorelai tossed T-shirts their way, which the girls automatically caught, "T-shirts for all the girls because I'm the good witch of the … hey, aren't you missing a couple of kids? Are they in the ladies room?"

"They left," Rory informed. She watched her mother's eyes grow wide, her father straighten up.

"Excuse me?" escaped from Lorelai's stunned expression.

"Madeline and Louise met these guys and they …"

"What guys?"

Rory stated quickly, "I don't know, they were sitting behind us and they were having a party."

"Why didn't you call our cells?" Luke asked.

"Um, it was the middle of the concert."

Luke and Lorelai exchanged a look, "Unbelievable! I sacrifice my ninth row tickets and this is how I get thanked?"

In problem solving mode, Luke asked Rory, "Do you have any idea where they went?"

"Um, they said the party was at a building on the corner of Waverly and First."

"That's not too far," Luke assured his wife, "Liz used to live around here; it's not my first time in the city. We'll find it."

"Then let's go, come on." Lorelai waved the girls to quickly follow them.

Lorelai was talking to herself, as they entered the lobby of the apartment building, "I leave the house with four girls; I'm coming home with four girls." Lorelai knocked on a random door, which quickly opened, "Hi, I'm looking for a couple of college boys, who might live here or have friends who live here."

"I don't talk to anyone. People annoy me," the woman informed then slammed the door closed.

"Jeez, New Yorkers," Luke grumbled, moving to the next door. There was shouting coming from the apartment.

Lorelai listened for a moment, "Okay, apparently she found him with the blonde again. Next one, move, move, move," Lorelai waved her husband forward.

Paris pulled on Rory's sleeve, "She's going to knock on every door in the entire building isn't she?"

"Yep."

"Wow," Paris sounded reverently impressed. As Luke and Lorelai knocked on doors, Lorelai while nearly five months pregnant, Paris mused, "I wonder if I was missing if my mom would come looking for me like that."

"Paris, you know she would."

"Yeah, or at least she'd send somebody."

"Keep up!" Luke called over his shoulder, and both girls complied.

They turned the corner into a new hallway, Luke was about to knock on the new line of doors, when Lorelai put a hand on his arm, "Listen, Music," Pointing a few doors into the hall.

"Let's go," Luke put out his arm to keep the three following him back, he pounded insistently on the door.

When a college age guy opened the door, Rory whispered to her folks, "That's one of the guys."

"Yeah?" the college guy looked back and forth between the sudden crowd at his door.

Luke insistently pushed the guy backward so they could enter, "Hi, could you move please?"

"Hey man, what's going on?" the college guy asked.

Luke looked back to Rory and Paris, "Stay in the hall."

Following her husband's wake, Lorelai immediately spotted the dimwitted teens that had bailed on the concert to put themselves into reckless danger. Walking straight up to Louise and Madeline with a crowd of guys around them, "Hey, did you miss me?" she barked over the music.

"Lorelai," Louise nearly choked on whatever beverage was in her Big Red Clifford cup.

"Mrs. Danes," Lorelai angrily corrected, "Put the cups down, let's move."

"Is there a problem?" the college guy asked trying to get free from Luke who was keeping him at bay, keeping himself between the college guy and his wife like a force field.

Lorelai sinisterly smiled, her voice had the sharpest of edges, "Yeah, see those two idiots over there?" pointing to the formerly missing girls, "They're sixteen, underage and I bet you're not. I also bet those big fancy party cups aren't holding lemonade. You really want to end any further conversation with me right now, so back off, Skippy." Turning back to the girls, Lorelai barked, "Move your asses outside…now!" It wasn't a request.

As they left, Madeline and Louise scowled at Rory and Paris. Rory watched her folks, her mother marching out behind the two idiots, her father backing out of the apartment, his arms at his sides seemed to be tense and at the ready to throw a punch, in case he had to defend their exit. He shut the apartment door for the moronic tenants, "Let's go," he said quickly following his wife down the hall.

Once in the hallway and around the corner away from the music, before the dimwits could lament about just how embarrassing that was, Lorelai decided to let them know exactly who was in charge. "Hey. I am not even going to begin to tell you how completely insane it is to take off with anyone you don't know, or drink things that you don't know what's in them, or act like you have a clue when you don't, but so help me God if you ever pull a stunt like this again, it will not be around my kid! Do you understand me?"

"Yes," Louise and Madeline both said meekly.

"Good, now let's go. I can't wait to meet your parents. We have some catching up to do. I think we'll just talk and talk and talk all night long. MOVE!"

Rory sighed, as they marched outside toward the parking garage where they left their vehicles. Her parents were discussing driving arrangements since Lorelai couldn't drive the stick of her husband's truck, but they wanted to punish the girls somehow.

Rory looked over at Paris who had a strange little smile on her face, "You know what? I think this is the best night I've ever had."

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Two vehicles entered Hartford County; Rory driving the Jeep, Paris in the front with her, and Lorelai in the back seat, Luke was driving his truck, escorting Madeline and Louise home while listening to country music, as part of their punishment.

The pair of cars took Paris home first, since Paris did as she was told. Luke's truck waiting behind the Jeep.

"Thank you very much Mrs. Danes."

"Please, you can still call me Lorelai."

"Thank you, I had a great time, and good luck with those two," Paris glanced at the truck.

Lorelai smiled, she didn't have to look, and she could hear the twang of guitar and the whine of a fiddle. "Do they look miserable?" Lorelai asked Paris.

"Definitely."

"Good," Lorelai moved to the front seat to be a bit more comfortable, on the way to the other two girls' houses.

Paris had given the addresses for Madeline and Louise's houses and Rory led the way again.

As they drove Rory glanced over at her mother, Lorelai was shaking her head, still scolding the misbehaving girls in her mind. Probably trying to think of how to explain what happened to the parents she was just about to meet.

"Well that was a fiasco," Rory said breaking the silence.

"Not completely, but mostly yeah," Lorelai agreed, "I'm so sorry hon. It was a stupid, crazy idea and it seemed so clever when I suggested it; bribing the bullies. I should have just talked your dad into going with us and we'd be out the extra ticket."

"Did dad have fun?"

"Yeah, I think so," Lorelai propped her arm up on the window, resting her chin in her palm, "Even though our seats were awful, he made it… better," thinking about the dance in the aisle, "But I gave up those seats for you, to try to build bridges and now I made things even worse."

"I wouldn't say that?" Rory shrugged, as she made a turn.

"No?"

"Paris had fun."

"She did seem nicer, I thought I scared her and she just didn't want to piss me off."

"No, I think we definitely had some sort of friendship breakthrough. Though I bet school on Monday will be really interesting."

"Oh yes, stories of Rory's Bangles' obsessed mother ripping open apartment doors, scaring the pointy haired boys."

"Totally uncool, man."

"I had to do it, Rory, they could've gotten hurt," Lorelai didn't even want to imagine if Rory had decided to go with them; fortunately, Rory was a smart cookie.

"I know. You were amazing mom. Pregnant and all."

"Thanks; Man, I thought inviting those girls out would make things easier for you at school."

"Well, we'll always have Paris. By the way, Paris decided to let me split the debate time with her."

Lorelai hadn't really paid attention to the girls' conversation on the two hour ride back to Connecticut, "Wow! Wait, why am I wowing?"

"Because splitting debate time with Paris is like doing that whole 'spitting in your palm and shaking hands' friendship oath thing."

"But way less gross?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, good, I'm glad something worked out."

"So dad had fun? At a chick band concert."

"I may get through to him yet."

"So not a total loss right?"

"Yeah, he danced with me and kissed me during eternal flame."

"Awwwww."

"Oh, and the baby moved."

"What?" Rory's smile widened.

"When we danced, it was so… perfectly timed. I'm glad we conceived this kid when we did." Lorelai craned to see the green truck in the rear view mirror. She loved that man.

"I just hope the baby doesn't have any permanent hearing damage from that concert," Rory mused.

"His or her ears are very well protected at the moment," Lorelai focused on the road ahead, "We felt the baby move, she can hear our voices now, you know," Lorelai quoted from her book.

Rory loved her family.

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Lorelai's body ached, she didn't get enough sleep. Her alarm was angrily going off, reminding her she was the Chair for the Rummage Sale that was that afternoon; she had to get up and finish a lot of prep work, somehow get everything to the town square. They had such a late night, meeting parents for the first time, lengthy explanations, and ratting on misbehaving teenagers. Lorelai was pleased that she got some commendation from the "Richie Rich" parents and that the girls were to be appropriately punished further.

Scowling at her alarm clock through squinted eyes, Lorelai saw a manly hand suddenly appear and cease the vile sound.

"Thank you," she sighed.

"We have to get up," Luke grumbled.

"But we just went to sleep, when did we finally get home?"

"3:30"

"Ugh, those vile hateful girls!" Lorelai groaned, and pulled up the covers over her shoulders, determined to sleep in a little longer.

"You did the right thing, it's not our fault the rummage sale and the concert fell on the same weekend," Luke kissed her neck, while continuing to spoon with her, "Or that those girls would be completely idiotic and reckless."

"Do you think their parents even appreciated what I did for them? I mean who knows what could have happened to them if we weren't there?"

"I'm sure they do. And now we know…"

"Know what?"

"How Rory would handle herself in a peer pressure situation. In that respect, I feel a whole lot better, knowing she would make the right choice. I mean, she could have easily gone off with them, but she didn't."

"We got a keeper there," Lorelai patted his arm at her waist.

Lorelai rolled over in his arms to face him better, "Hey, thanks for being the muscle."

"Thanks for being the brains."

"I can't imagine doing that by myself, hunting down those girls, knocking on those doors, so late at night, in that neighborhood, Pregnant!" Lorelai had a hand on the baby, "Luke?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you think… someone was smoking pot in that apartment?"

"Maybe," he frowned with her; he had smelled it, too.

"Do you think the baby will be okay?"

"It was only for a minute, I'm sure the baby is fine. We can ask the doctor."

"I'm so glad you were there with me," Lorelai gave him a squeeze.

"Me too; and it wasn't all bad."

Lorelai smiled, thinking back to their dance, "I'll never forget it." Then remembering all junk in their house that had to somehow make it to the square, figuring they could load up Luke's truck. "Okay, I have to get up and somehow make it through today."

"I'll make us some breakfast; you'll feel better if you have a little energy."

As Luke and Lorelai descended the stairs, through their front windows they could see there was activity on their yard and porch. "What the…?" Luke whispered, leading Lorelai to the front door.

From the porch they saw their neighbors were loading the donations on the porch and in the yard in to their own trucks and cars.

"Lorelai! Oh Good, you're up," Miss Patty greeted, "Taylor has something he wishes to say to you."

It looked like Patty and Babette were forcing Taylor over against his will, to address Luke and Lorelai. Sneering at the two biddies, Taylor cleared his throat, "Um Lorelai, it has come to my attention, that, while we appreciate all your efforts… we are concerned…"

"Not the right note, Taylor," Miss Patty grumbled.

"You say it right!" Babette poked at the grocer.

Taylor swallowed, then said, "I want to apologize. It was wrong of me to put so much pressure on you for this Sale, particularly, in your… present condition," he nodded deferentially. "When we learned what happened last night…"

"How do you know what happened last night?" Luke asked.

"Small town," Babbette rasped in her scratchy voice, "I saw you guys come home so late, then I remembered about the concert, then I called Sookie, woke the poor thing up, she told me the concert was in New York, and Patty and I were on Taylor like that," she snapped her fingers.

Taylor continued, "Seeing as you had such a late night, we're going to set the whole square up, the sale starts at 2, so if you could be there by 1:30, we'll take care of the rest. You've organized it beautifully."

Miss Patty stated proudly, "I have the tables at my studio; Andrew, Jackson and Kirk are already setting them up. You don't worry about a thing, but we do need whatever donations are in the house, if you could let us in now."

"Sure," Lorelai stepped aside on the wraparound porch, and she watched a few other volunteers enter and start carrying things out. She put an arm around Luke's waist. "Wow, I'm having one of your George Bailey Moments."

"It's a Wonderful life!" Luke kissed her forehead, to which Patty and Babette "Awwww"d.

Rory opened her window on the first floor, and stuck half her body out, "What's going on?"

Her parents turned and met her at her window, "They are picking up the donations, just go back to bed. We'll supervise them and we can all sleep in."

"Oh, thank God!" Rory sighed, went back inside and closed the window.

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The Rummage Sale was in full swing, people swapping, trading, dealing, bartering.

Lane and Rory were wandering through the tables, browsing for any oddities or worthwhile purchases now that it was properly displayed and not piled up in her house.

"I cannot believe I missed it," Lane sighed, investigating a table with LPs.

"The concert was amazing."

"Forget about the concert. I wanted to see pregnant Lorelai pull those idiots out of that guy's apartment."

Rory chuckled, "It definitely was a Kodak moment."

Rory saw Dean and waved him over, "Find anything?" she asked her fella.

"People have some weird stuff," he commented taking his girlfriend's hand.

"That's why we have rummage sales, to get rid of our retail regrets," Rory sighed, scanning a table of books.

Luke and Lorelai strolled up hand in hand, Lorelai was proud she pulled it off, she'd never do it again, but at least she pulled it off. Seeing Rory, Lane and Dean, Lorelai smiled at the three teens, "Hey guys, are we finding anything we like?"

"Lane is very happy with the selection; I'm still looking," Rory saw something in her dad's hand, "Dad? What do you get?"

Luke nodded, "Oh, some refrigerator magnets shaped like sushi for a nickel; so basically I scored," he grinned over his purchase.

"Yes, I'm so proud," Lorelai nudged him with her hip.

Lane's arm was full of jewel cases, "Rory, any purchases I make I'm going to have to hide at your house. Hold these for me, so my mom doesn't think I'm getting them."

"I'll hold them," Dean offered.

"Thanks, I'm going to get a soda, anybody want anything?" Lane scanned their group.

"Gum," Rory flipped through Lane's selections in her boyfriend's hands.

Lorelai thought back, "The night of my 14th birthday back so I can right the green-hot-pant-roller-disco outfit wrong."

"Coming right up," Lane sprinted off to the market.

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Still all God Given talent…

Hoppy Easter if that is your thing! Happy Spring if it's not! I'm respectful and inclusive THAT WAY!

A/N: no joke; I was in the grocery store this week and they played "Manic Monday" it's like they KNEW what I was writing about!
Thank you for reading :oD

"Cause your memory it lingers and the time moves so slow, I just never been that good at letting go…"

R/R: PLEASE, I like to better myself. To quote The Princess Bride,

"...Remember this is for posterity ... so be honest."

Please be specific with R/R; name one (or as many as you can think of or want to mention…) At least one specific thing you liked

Please! It makes me feel good...inside (Dirty!)

Hence the Rant option below.

Insert Rant here V

A/N: if not completely satisfied with this chapter, please return UNUSED portion for a full refund...