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Lorelai looked at Buffy standing just inside the front door, "You ready honey?" she asked gently.

'This is silly! I've face down a hell god and master vampires. How hard can it be to go to a diner to have something to eat?' After Buffy had finished Rory's first Tai Chi lesson, the Gilmores had spent an hour talking Buffy into accompanying them to the diner for breakfast. Swallowing, Buffy nodded her head, "Yeah I'm ready." She looked pleadingly at the older woman smiling reassuringly at her, "You sure I'm not gonna be asked a lot of questions, I really don't want to answer?"

"Yes, I've spoken to most of my friends and they've all agreed not to bombard you with questions. And Rory and I will be with you," Lorelai told her holding out her hand.

"This is ridiculous, I'm a grown woman," growled Buffy in annoyance at herself, but did take the offered hand and allowed herself to be guided out the door.

Rory stepped up on the other side of Buffy and looped her arm with the blonde's, "Everything's going to be okay, everyone in this town is friendly, you'll like them."

"Mrs Kim scares me," Lorelai reminded her daughter.

"Okay Mrs Kim can be scary," conceded Rory.

"And Luke doesn't like Taylor," added Lorelai.

"Okay mum, Luke doesn't like Taylor," Rory sighed in frustration. "But not helping here."

"Right, sorry. Oh one thing, try to ignore Kirk, it's not very likely that you'll understand what he's going on about anyway," laughed Lorelai.

"Okay, so I avoid Mrs Kim, ignore Kirk and Luke hates Taylor, got it," repeated Buffy smiling slightly trying to ignore the butterflies in her belly as they drew closer to the town square.

As they entered the square, Rory began enthusiastically pointing out places of interest. "Over there is Miss Patty's dance studio, I used to take ballet... but I wasn't very good," she pouted before brightening again, "The town meetings are held there, they can be real fun, especially when Luke is annoyed with Taylor, which is most of the time," she gave a little giggle before continuing. "And over there is the book store, I love books, I usually spend most of my allowance on books..." She gave the blonde an accusing look as the two adults smirked at her, "You're making me babble again," she pouted.

Lorelai laughed at her daughter, "What are you talking about? How exactly is Buffy making you babble?"

Buffy turned from the teenager to Lorelai, "Yesterday, I told Rory it was a special power I seem to have. When I first met my best friend, she would babble like an idiot around me. At the time, we all figured it was just Willow, that's her name. But now it seems Rory is effected as well, so ergo it's me," she laughed.

"Ooh cool power," smiled Lorelai. "I wonder if it would work on Michel. Or whoa my mother. Now I'd pay a lot to see that," she laughed. "We'll need to come up with a cool name... How about the Babbleator?"

"Dearticulator Girl," suggested Rory.

Anticoherent Woman!" offered Lorelai. "We should make a list when we get back."

Buffy could not help laughing at the two of them. They had that easy type of banter that she had with Xander and Willow while still in high school. "You two are crazy," she commented shaking her head.

"Hey we're not the one with the weird superpower," said Lorelai. "Now me, I'd want to have super strength and fast..." she grew concerned when the smile that had lit up the blonde's face a moment before vanished. "What's wrong? Because if it's the whole teasing thing, we'll stop. We don't mean anything by it."

Buffy sighed knowing that Lorelai had no way of knowing about her but knew that she would need to come up with something. "No it's not that. I don't mind the teasing. It just kind of reminded me of something," she said vaguely.

"Lorelai, Rory, hello," greeted a large woman as she exited Doose's market. She smiled at the blonde, "And you must be Buffy. I'm Patty LaCosta but most people just call me Miss Patty or just plain Patty, I answer to both," she glanced at Lorelai for a moment before returning her full attention back to Buffy. "I hope you enjoy your stay here in Stars Hollow, I came here myself over twenty five years ago, and I've pretty much been here ever since, well except for my occasional foray back into the night club scene... Well I must be going. I have a class to teach. It was nice to meet you dear. Bye girls speak to you later," and with that Miss Patty hurried towards her studio.

Buffy watched the large woman walking away before looking to Lorelai, "Thanks," she said smiling.

"For what?" asked Lorelai.

"I could see you in the window," Buffy explained. "You were asking her not to ask me anything. Maybe one day, when I've gotten to know the people here, I may be up to telling you and them some of the things that I've been through. So thank you for running interference for me, I'm very grateful... I'm grateful for everything you're doing for me."

"Does that mean you intend to stay," asked Lorelai holding her breath.

"Yes. I don't know for how long! But yes, I'd like to try staying for a while," clarified Buffy smiling at Lorelai.

Lorelai felt happy for some reason hearing the blonde declaring she planned on staying. "Good... Huh so Luke's," she prompted.

"Yeah Luke's," nodded Buffy allowing the two Gilmores to guide her towards the diner. As they drew closer she frowned, "Ah why does it say Williams Hardware?"

"Luke's dad use to run a hardware store here but when he died, Luke changed it to a diner, he kept the sign in his honour," Rory explained as she pushed the door open. "It's one of the main bones of contention between him and Taylor."

"What about Taylor?" asked Luke coming over to stand by their table as they all took seats.

"The Williams Hardware sign. Taylor doesn't like it still being up," replied Rory.

"Is Taylor complaining about my sign again, I've told him god knows how many time, I'm not taking it down," snapped Luke.

"We know," laughed Lorelai, "We were just telling Buffy."

"Oh hi, I'm Luke," Luke introduced himself smiling down at the bemused blonde. "And you must be the mysterious Buffy I've been hearing rumours about!"

"Ah rumours?" swallowed Buffy.

"Yeah, most are the more mundane kind, like you're a runaway. But there's a couple of really weird ones as well, one has you running away from an arranged marriage between two mafia families. But the weirdest is where you are being hunted by government agents because you know about that strange weather phenomenon over southern California a few months ago." Luke frowned as Buffy went a little pale. "Don't let any of it get to you. Once the crazies in this town have something new to speculate on they'll forget all about you," he tried to reassure her.

"Ah thanks Luke. Could we just have three coffees for now? We'll let you know what we want to eat in a while," broke in Lorelai trying to tell him to drop it.

"Right," nodded Luke actually getting what his most annoying customer was telling him, "Be right back," he hurried away to get the drinks.

"Sorry about that. And sorry I didn't tell you about the rumours that have been doing the rounds. That's one of the problems of living in a small town," sighed Lorelai.

"That's okay," reassured Buffy quietly. "Small towns are just like high school, big rumour mill," she gave the older woman a little smile before opening the menu. She looked at Lorelai again, "You have a breakfast named after you?"

"Oh yeah," laughed Rory. "But mum and I are the only ones that have ever managed to finish it. A couple of Tom's construction crew had it once and couldn't work for the rest of morning, so he now makes it a condition of their employment that they don't try to eat it when they have work to do."

"Wow," exclaimed Buffy. "So why isn't there a list of what's in it?"

"Luke just tells anyone that asks that if you need to ask you can't take it," giggled Rory.

"So ready to order?" smirked Lorelai mischief in her eyes as if reading the blonde's mind.

Buffy returned the smirk and nodded.

Lorelai raised her voice, "Luke, three Gilmore breakfasts."

Luke stopped what he was doing as conversation in the diner died with all eyes turning to consider the three women sitting smiling at him. "You can't be serious?"

"Oh yeah I am," nodded Lorelai, "And don't forget the coffee."

* * * * *

"I can't believe you managed extra pancakes!" groaned Rory, as the three staggered out of Luke's an hour later.

"I can't believe it either," sighed Buffy as they began what all three knew would be a very slow walk back to the house. "Until I came here, I never once ate like that. I use to know a girl that could probably have done it but me... Never."

"Well I hereby abdicate my throne as queen of Luke's to you. You are a god," Lorelai smirked as the three helped each other towards home.

They collapsed onto the couch still groaning.

"Rory hon. make mummy some coffee," Lorelai sighed.

"No, you make me some," mumbled Rory leaning her head on the arm of the couch a whimper escaping her lips.

"No you make some."

"No you."

Buffy groaned, "I'll make some," she said attempting to get up but collapsing back down again. "In a minute," she sighed before letting out a loud belch, "'Scuse me."

Rory giggled, "They probably heard that in Hartford."

Buffy laughed before turning her attention to Lorelai, "So when are you going to take me to the Inn to sort out my new home?"

Rory pushed herself into a sitting position and looked at her mother across the blonde, her eyes pleading.

"About that... Rory doesn't think it's such a good idea for you to be left alone for so long. And neither do I. If something like last night happens while you're alone in the potting shed with no one there with you... Well we don't think you should move out. We both want you to stay here... if you want..." Lorelai trailed off.

Buffy looked intensely at Lorelai, "No. That's not right, for one thing you already pointed out that you only have two bedrooms and for another, I'm quite capable of looking after myself." With some effort she got up and headed to the kitchen, "I'll make the coffee," she said not looking back.

Lorelai looked sadly at her daughter. "I'll talk to her," she promised looking at Rory. She patted her on the knee then with a groan, she rose to follow the blonde.

As Lorelai entered the kitchen, she could see the tension and anger in the younger woman's body language. Lorelai jumped a little as Buffy turned on her. "Who the hell do you think you are deciding where I stay? I'm more than capable of looking after myself... I've been doing it since I was fifteen."

Lorelai looked at the floor for a moment before turning apologetic eyes to the other woman, "I'm sorry... You were in so much pain last night. I can't explain it, you just touched something in me. I don't know what! I just... need to help you. I'm sorry I didn't think to talk to you about the possibility of you staying here this morning, but Rory pointed out that leaving someone who was traumatised by something on their own isn't the best thing to do. And now you seem to be making me babble as well..." she trailed off.

Buffy could not help a small smile coming to her face before turning away to stare out the window. "And where would I sleep?" she asked not turning to look at the other woman. "I can hardly keep sleeping on your couch. No offence but it is hardly conducive to a good night's sleep."

"Well..." frowned Lorelai. "We could get a folding bed and you could use it in either the living room or Rory's room? Or you could take Rory's room for a little while and she can sleep in my bed with me. Or... we could move things around in my bedroom a little; we could probably squeeze a small bed in there."

"None of which would work for any length of time," Buffy pointed out. "Especially me taking Rory's room. It would disrupt her schoolwork."

"Right," nodded Lorelai. "So my room or the living room!"

"Lorelai, your room is so full of stuff, there's no way you could fit another bed in there without removing say, oh I don't know, your bed!" laughed Buffy.

"So my bed or the living room," asked Lorelai arching her eyebrow before laughing at her own joke.

Buffy arched her own eyebrow, "I think maybe the living room. We'll see how it goes but this is only temporary. I'll look at renting an apartment somewhere maybe next week."

"Thank you," Lorelai said happily.

Buffy frowned, "You're weird, you know that don't you?" for some reason seeing Lorelai so happy, made her happy too, although it did not reach her eyes.

"So everyone keeps telling me," she laughed as she grabbed the first cup of coffee through the coffeemaker. She became serious again, as she looked at the blonde, "I really do think you should stay with Rory and me, we want to help..." she trailed off again.

"We'll see," replied Buffy quietly not aware that she was staring into the older woman's eyes.

Lorelai blinked and broke the spell, looking away, "We'll take a trip to the mall later and find you a bed," she said as she made her way back to the living room.

* * * * *

"So I don't think I thanked you for doing all our laundry yesterday..." Lorelai said as the three sat in the living room drinking yet more coffee, having returned from the mall with a bed and several outfits for Buffy.

"Mum hates doing laundry," clarified Rory.

"Yeah, but at least I'm not the one that does her laundry, but doesn't let the woman that gave her life know, so that she can add her own!"

"I can't believe you're bringing that back up," exclaimed Rory. "It was one time. I've done dozens of loads since." She giggled then, "Remember the look on Luke and Taylor's faces when I told them you weren't wearing any underwear."

Lorelai laughed, "Taylor still gives me the occasional speculative look as if he's trying to work out if I'm wearing any."

"And do you sometimes go commando?" smirked Buffy.

Lorelai did not answer she just sat on the couch with Rory, a big smile on her face.

Rory looked sharply at her mother, "Mum!" she exclaimed.

"What!" said Lorelai mischief dancing across her face, "It feels so freeing and breezy. Don't worry I've only gone bottomless twice... so far."

"Mum," cried Rory. "I'm not going anywhere with you ever again."

Buffy smiled at the two Gilmores before blushing as an unconscious image of the leggy brunette bending over and exposing two beautiful round globes leapt into her head. Her blush deepened when she realised she had been caught daydreaming. "Sorry, what were you saying?"

Lorelai laughed lightly, "I asked if you ever went commando?"

Buffy arched her eyebrow, "Maybe!"

Rory covered her blushing face with a cushion, "God I'm surrounded by perverts."

"Hey, it's our democratic right to go without underwear," said Lorelai.

"As long as the cops don't catch us bending over or anything," added Buffy smirking at the teenager.

"Right," laughed Lorelai.

"Oh god," cried Rory getting up and running to her room.

"Job well done?" queried Buffy looking at Lorelai.

"Oh yeah," replied Lorelai smirking at the blonde. "I don't get a lot of opportunity to tease Rory like that, except when Christopher, her dad, is around. So more coffee," she asked getting up.

"Yeah," agreed Buffy following the older woman, her eyes inadvertently looking down as Lorelai's derriere swayed hypnotically before them. "So Lorelai, have you really gone commando, or was that just to wind-up your daughter," she chuckled.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" smirked Lorelai as she poured some coffee into her cup before turning to fill the one the blonde held out.

"Oh yeah, you have," Buffy deduced.

* * * * *

"Stars Hollows sanatorium, nurse Lorelai speaking," announced Lorelai picking up the phone and laughing.

"So not to be blunt, but is that over?" came Max's sharp retort.

"Is what over?" frowned Lorelai.

"Whatever was going on that I walked in on the other day?" Max clarified.

"Oh Max, come on, that was Luke being Luke," answered Lorelai finally understanding.

"I kind of picked something up there."

"Okay. Well, drop it back on the ground and kick it under the couch, because there is no there, there," sighed Lorelai.

"Hey, it's okay. I mean, we were apart for quite a while. I never assumed you joined a convent."

"Max."

"I mean, it's not like I didn't date while we were apart," explained Max.

"You dated?" pushed Lorelai a little catch in her voice.

"A little," hedged Max.

"A little person?" smiled Lorelai spotting the look Buffy was giving her from the couch. She stuck her tongue out making the blonde laugh.

"No, I dated a little."

"Okay. Well, I didn't expect you to join a manvent or whatever the male equivalent of that is called. Who did you date?"

"A monastery," explained Max in exasperation.

"You dated a monastery?" smirked Lorelai.

"No, a monastery is the male equivalent of a convent," sighed Max.

"Thank you Mr Medina. I'll make a note for the quiz on Friday," replied Lorelai in her little girl voice.

"I didn't know if I'd ever see you again," he said seriously.

"No, I get it. Yes. We were apart. And, uh, you know, I didn't exactly remain inactive," blushed Lorelai glancing at Rory sitting next to Buffy.

"So you did date Luke?"

"No, I did not date Luke," Lorelai rolled her eyes making Rory giggle.

"You can tell me."

"I did not date Luke," repeated Lorelai firmly.

"There was a vibe," countered Max.

"There was no vibe. What's with the questioning? You won't tell me who you dated."

"There's no one you know," he told her.

"Okay, well, did you date like casual nothing type dating or did you date like get down, soul train kind of a dating?" she asked.

"Well, I wouldn't have phrased it that way, but to be honest, it was the latter."

"Good, good. Okay. Well, I like your honesty. Because I mean you could've lied and left that part out to spare my feelings which would've been unnecessary. So thank you, that was good. I slept with Rory's dad," Lorelai blabbed before she could censor herself.

"Eew mum," cried Rory from the couch. "Could have gone without you telling me that," she blushed a deep red.

"Let's change the subject," said Max hurriedly.

"On my parents' balcony," added Lorelai as she watched her daughter squeak in embarrassment.

"I want to change the subject. And I suspect Rory wants that as well," said Max having heard the teenager in the background.

"Okay, well you started it," smirked Lorelai.

"I did not mean for this to become a 'who slept with whom' contest."

"Well, how did it get that way?"

"I don't know?" frowned Max. "Why do we do this? Why do we let it get weird between us just when it's getting good again?"

"I don't know," replied Lorelai.

"I don't like it."

"I don't either."

"And I'm sick of it," sighed Max.

"Well, so am I," confessed Lorelai.

"We can't keep getting this close just to have something completely derail us again. And frankly there's only one thing I can think of that could solve it."

"Break up," Lorelai could not help teasing.

"Ugh."

"Well, I'm not interested in a murder-suicide kind of thing..."

"We should get married," Max interrupted.

Lorelai did not know what to say! "Give me a clue as to whether you're kidding or not."

"I am not kidding," Max assured her.

"Good clue," Lorelai replied still in shock.

"What do you say?"

"Nothing," said Lorelai for some reason looking over at Buffy. "Max, you did not just propose to me," she could not help cringing at what she had just said, or at the looks on Rory and Buffy's faces.

"Yes I did."

"No. A proposal had to be something more than the desperate desire to end a bickering match," stated Lorelai tears appearing in her eyes.

"It was more than that."

"No, it has to be planned," replied Lorelai shaking her head. "Bye Max," she hung up and just stood next to the hall table.

Buffy and Rory both looked worriedly at each other before standing and going over to the older woman. "Mum, did Max just ask you to marry him?"

Lorelai nodded mutely.

"I take it from your reaction that you're not sure... about marriage that is," asked Buffy, feeling a little jealously for some reason.

Lorelai looked into Buffy's eyes, "It should be magical. There should be music playing and romantic lighting and a subtle build-up to the popping of the big question. There should be a thousand yellow daisies and candles and a horse and I don't know what the horse is doing there unless he was riding it, which seems a little over the top, but it should be more than, hey we should get married, over the phone... It should be magical..." she trailed of as tears ran down her cheeks.

Buffy and Rory looked at each other again before moving one on either side of the older woman and guiding her to the couch. "Coffee," suggested Buffy looking at Rory as they eased Lorelai onto the couch.

"Right," agreed Rory hurrying towards the kitchen.

Buffy sat next to Lorelai taking her hand in hers as she turned slightly to face her. "Do you love him?" she asked gently.

"I-I think so!"

"You're not sure?" Buffy frowned.

"No," Lorelai sighed. "I mean I like him... a lot. I get the same feeling in the pit of my stomach I get when I'm around Rory's dad..." she trailed off for a moment before smiling a little. "And the sex is great. But I don't know if I love him!" she confessed absently caressing the blonde's hand.

"Well okay. I admit it wasn't the best way for him to propose, but maybe you should sleep on it, see how you feel tomorrow," suggested Buffy before mischief started dancing in her eyes, "Then if you decide to accept you can spend every moment making him pay for not asking you to marry him how he should have."

"Well that would work," replied Lorelai smiling back.

* * * * *

Lorelai looked up into Buffy's eyes as the blonde slowly leaned down and captured her mouth, in moments deepening it and sending fire into the brunette's brain as Buffy's tongue caressed her lips asking for entry. Opening her lips, she extended her own tongue to welcome its mate within the warm cavity.

Lorelai gasped as she wrapped her legs around Buffy, drawing the blonde's hips into her centre and sending waves of pleasure throughout her body as her clitoris rubbed against her lover's.

Her eyes shot open as a deep moan escaped her throat, easing her hand from inside her panties as she stared up at the bedroom ceiling, "Oh god," she groaned as she looked around her darkened room as her thoughts went to the blonde woman sleeping in her living room.

Lorelai grabbed her phone and quickly highlighted Max's number and pressed dial. Holding it to her ear as she heard it finally picked up at the other end.

"Hello," Max said sleepily.

"Yes," said Lorelai.

"Sorry? Who is this?"

"How many girlfriends do you have?"

"Lorelai?"

"Well at least you guessed the right one."

"Lorelai. What do you want it's... four o'clock in the morning?"

"I said yes, I'll marry you."

"WHAT!"

Lorelai held the phone away from her ear for a moment. "I'll marry you," she repeated again. "If you still want to?"

"Ah yeah I still want to," he smiled happily. "Ah mind telling me what's changed?"

Lorelai closed her eyes for a moment to hold back her tears. "I just had time to think about it and realised it's what I want!" she replied as the tears trickled down her face.

"Lorelai, are you crying?" Max asked concerned.

"Of course I am you big lug. Can you come over later this afternoon after school so we can talk?"

"Of course Lorelai. I'll see you later. I love you, bye Lorelai."

"Bye Max," she said as she disconnected. She turned on her side and cried herself to sleep.

To be continued...