Luke rang the door bell and waited. I gotta tell her tonight. He heard her coming towards the door. When she opened the door, her smile faded.
"Hi."
"You're all dressed up." Idiot, couldn't you think of anything else to say.
"I'm going out."
"I…I forgot my toolbox last time I was here." real smooth
"Rory & I would have brought it back but we couldn't lift it. Then we started called it Burt and…"
Luke half-listened to her babble. He kept going over in his head what he wanted to say to her. He saw her stop speaking, so he said
"Thanks for keeping an eye on him."
He took the toolbox, preparing to leave. Carefully he set it down and turned to her.
"Rachel left today…for good."
"What? Why?"
"She had her reasons." Tell her before its too late.
Luke was about to tell her more when there was a knock on the door. Both turned to see a man poke his head in the door.
"I tried to be late."
"And at a minute past, a complete failure."
The man approached them. Lorelai leaned in to brush a quick kiss across his lips. She turned back to see Luke watching them.
"Max Medira, this is Luke Danes…Luke owns the coffee shop in town."
"Yeah, I think I saw you last night at the town meeting."
"Yeah, I saw you too."
Max looked down at his watch.
"Well we have reservations so…"
"Luke can we finish this later."
"Can we finish it now. It will only take a moment."
Lorelai turned to Max
"I'll be right back."
Max looked down at his watch, then nodded. Lorelai and Luke headed towards the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms.
"So that's Max? Not what I expected."
"Now you know that's not why you asked me to come in here."
"Right…well Rachel left because of you."
"Me? Why? What did I do?"
"She thought that you…I…that we were…"
"Us? That's impossible. Its unimaginable. Its…" Lorelai said, walking around the kitchen
She was so busy trying to come up with other words to describe it that she did not notice Luke come up behind her. He laid his hand on her shoulder and turned her around gently. Looking into her eyes, he said
"Its true."
"What?"
"Its true. I…I love you Lorelai Gilmore and I don't want to lose you."
He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers. She tried to pull back but it was useless. His arms wrapped around her, holding her against him. They broke the kiss, staring deeply into each others eyes.
"I forgot about Max."
She pulled out of his arms and ran into the hall to find it empty.
Did he see us?
She walked back into the kitchen to find it empty as well. The back door was swinging open.
Nice going Gilmore. You lost them both
Her fingers went to her lips, which were still tingling from Luke's kiss. Tears welled up in her eyes when she thought about him.
"Luke." She whispered
The door opened and she heard Rory in the hall.
"Mom?"
Lorelai didn't answer. Instead she walked into the hall, meeting Rory by the living room. She walked by her, not saying a word.
"Mom? Are you okay?"
Lorelai didn't answer, just dropped on the couch. Rory sat next to her, growing concerned. Lorelai looked at her daughter.
"He…he loves me." She whispered
"Mr. Medina? I know he cares about you."
"No…Luke…He told me he loves me."
"When?"
"Today…this evening…about 20 minutes ago in the kitchen."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing…Max was here too. We went in the kitchen to talk and he told me Rachel left because she thought Luke and I were…more than friends. Then he kissed me."
"Luke kissed you? What did you do?"
"I remembered about Max in the living room and ran. He was gone. Then when I came back to the kitchen, Luke was gone too. Why didn't I stay with him Rory? I love him and now I lost him."
Lorelai dropped her head into her hands. For the first time she admitted her love for Luke and it scared her. What scared her most was the prospect of losing him. Rory didn't know what to say. She leaned over, resting her head on her mother's shoulder.
"Mom, it will all work out."
"Rory, I really screw up with him. There is no way to change what I have done."
She stood slowly.
"I think I am going to go to bed."
"Night mom."
"Night."
Rory watched as her mom walked up the stairs. After a moment, she reached for the phone and dialed a number. When the person answered, she said
"We need to talk."
The next morning
Rory woke early to set her plan in motion. She dressed and made her way into the kitchen. It didn't take her long to wake her mom up.
"Rory what are you doing here."
"Making breakfast."
"Honey, you definitely take after me in the kitchen."
"Then let's go have some breakfast."
"The only place open is Luke's and I doubt he wants to see me."
"Mom you can't avoid him forever."
"But I can try."
"And where are you going to get coffee everyday?"
"Sookie will make it as the inn."
"But will it be as good?"
"No…I hate it when you are right."
"Then get dressed and let's go."
Fifteen minutes later, they were standing outside the diner. Rory opened the door, waiting for her mother to step inside. When she didn't move, Rory pushed her inside. Lorelai stumbled into the diner. Luke looked up from the counter to see her, then disappeared into the kitchen.
"See, I told you." Lorelai whispered into Rory's ear
"I'll go order the food."
"And I'll go find a table."
Rory approached the counter. Luke came out from the kitchen a minute later. Lorelai watched them talking back and forth, wondering what they were saying to each other. Rory nodded and turned towards the table. As she slid into the booth, Lorelai said
"So what did he say?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? You two were talking about something."
"I was just ordering our food."
"And he didn't say anything."
"Just that it would be ready in 10 minutes."
"Oh…"
Luke emerged from the kitchen, carrying two plates. He set one in front of Rory and the other in front of her. Lorelai looked up, meeting his eyes. She wanted to tell him how sorry she was for walking away but nothing would come out. Luke held her gaze for a moment, then turned away.
"Luke?" she whispered
He turned back to them, looking at her. Lorelai summoned all the courage she had and slid out of the booth. She approached him slowly.
"Can we go somewhere and talk."
Luke nodded towards the kitchen. Lorelai followed him, pulling the door closed behind her. He leaned against the counter, his arms folded.
"About last night…"
"It was a mistake."
"A mistake?"
"I think the whole thing with Rachel has me confused."
"Well then I guess there's nothing to talk about." She whispered, trying to hold back the tears.
She turned to walk away when he said
"Unless you have something you need to say."
Lorelai turned slowly to see the smile on his face.
"Well Lorelai?"
Lorelai threw herself at him. His arms wrapped securely around her waist. He lifted her up and pressed a kiss to her lips. As he set her down, she whispered
"How did you know?"
"I told him mom."
She looked to see Rory standing in the doorway.
"I called Luke last night after you went to bed. You were so sad mom."
Lorelai detached herself from Luke and walked over to her daughter. She hugged Rory and whispered
"Thanks kiddo."
"You're welcome. Now I better go or I will be late."
"Late for what?"
"Something that I should have done a long time ago."
Lorelai knew what she was talking about.
"Good luck."
"Thanks mom."
Rory slipped out of the kitchen. Lorelai walked back over to Luke. He enveloped her in his arms again.
"So now what happens?"
"I don't know…but I can't wait to find out."