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

Author's Note: I've always wanted to write Luke and Lorelai at the Renaissance Faire and I thought it would be fun to go back to the beginning of their relationship again. Huge thanks to JeSouhaite for the beta. I was very discouraged about this chapter, but as always, it is much better for her input.

Lorelai walked into the house and kicked off her shoes as she picked up the phone. Before dialing, she plopped down on one end of the couch, her knees curled up against her chest. She punched in the now-familiar number and impatiently tapped her fingers while listening to the phone ring.

"Hello." Luke's voice was friendly and warm.

"How much longer?"

"Lorelai?"

"Who else? I thought no one else had this number? You haven't been writing it on girl's hands in bars, have you?"

"I'm not even sure how to respond to that. Are you okay?"

"I just…it's been a while since I talked to you, and I was thinking about…missing you, so I was just wondering how much longer you have to stay there?" There was a hopeful lilt in her voice. When he didn't respond right away, she asked cautiously, "Luke?"

She could hear him take a breath before speaking, "It'll be a few more weeks."

"A few?"

"Four."

"Four! That's a whole month," Lorelai cried, "It's already been three weeks. You can't even come home for a couple of days?" She caught herself quickly and continued, "No, I know you can't."

"I'm sorry, but Liz and TJ are going to be in their casts awhile longer. If it were just the broken legs they might be able to get around okay on crutches, but with the broken arms..."

"God, listen to me. Multiple broken bones and I'm complaining."

"Well, if it helps, I wish I were there too."

"I'm sorry I'm being so whiny. I just…things aren't the same here without you and Rory." She had mentioned Rory without thinking and she felt a renewed sense of emptiness at the separation from her daughter.

"You've been talking to her on the phone, right?"

"Oh, of course. I've been talking to her and my mom pretty regularly." She could feel that her voice was too bright, almost brittle, and she was relieved when he changed the subject.

"How are things at the inn?"

"Great! I just spent the last few days training some new employees. Now that the occupancy rate is up, we could afford to bump up the staff. I might even be able to take a weekend off." She sighed, suddenly realizing how tired she was.

"Why don't you come visit for a couple of days?" he asked casually.

The question took her by surprise, so much so that she didn't register her answer until the words were out of her mouth. "Sure, that sounds great." Once she realized what she had agreed to, she stammered, "Uh…If you're sure." Maybe it had been one of those polite invitations she was supposed to refuse. She had never been very good at things you were supposed to do. And a whole weekend with Luke? She missed him, but maybe that was a little much for a first date.

"Yeah, I'm sure," although now he sounded a bit nervous. Maybe he wasn't sure what he had gotten himself into either. "It'll be fun to show you around the fair."

"I thought you hated it."

"Yeah, I do, but it'll be fun if you're here. There's a lot of mocking potential."

"Well then, it sounds like we have our weekend cut out for us. Let me check in with Sookie and Michel and I'll get back to you about exactly when I will be able to leave."

"So, I'll talk to you again soon?"

"Yeah, I promise it won't be as long as last time."

"I'll hold you to that. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up slowly, processing what had just happened. Anxiety and anticipation battled for dominance in her confused brain. She was going to see Luke! She was going to spend the weekend with Luke! Holy shit! Where was she going to sleep?

"Are you all ready for your road trip?" Sookie asked eagerly.

"Yep, as soon as Michel gets here at noon, I'm heading out."

"I can't believe it. A romantic getaway weekend with Luke."

"I don't know about that. It's hardly going to be that much of a getaway with Liz and TJ and all the freaky fair people around. I'm not even sure we're ready for a romantic weekend. We haven't even had a date yet."

"That's a technicality."

"A pretty big technicality."

"So...what are the sleeping arrangements?" Sookie asked with a mischievous grin.

"Sookie!" Lorelai looked down, a blush on her cheeks.

"Lorelai!" Sookie mimicked, and then realization dawned. "Oh my God! You're nervous! You're nervous about Luke. Why are you nervous about Luke?"

"It's Luke, Sookie. I know we go way back, but this whole attraction piece of our relationship is new and scary…" Sookie rolled her eyes at Lorelai's fear, "and wonderful." Lorelai allowed herself a small smile. "But I've still only kissed him once."

"I thought it was twice, and almost three times?" Sookie corrected her cheekily.

"Well yeah, but it's still quite a jump from that to a weekend together. I don't even know what we are. This is the strangest way start to a relationship."

"Lorelai, what do you want? Do you want to sleep with him?"

"I'll admit I've been having some impure thoughts-"

"I knew it! Eventually you had to see how hot Luke is. I just never thought it would take this long."

"Don't you think it's a little early, though? I don't want to screw this up."

"Just as long as you're screwing Luke…" Sookie said with a grin.

"Sookie!"

"Wow, you've never agonized like this with your other boyfriends. You're totally smitten. It's cute."

"I'm not…and he's not…" Lorelai started.

"I've seen you when he calls you here. You say it's a vendor or something, but you're all flirty and giddy. You have it bad."

"Okay, so I like him…a lot, but boyfriend, that's definitely jumping the gun."

"He isn't just any guy. This is Luke. Doesn't he merit boyfriend status?"

"Typically you actually have a date with someone before using that term."

"I can't believe how stubborn you are about what's right in front of you. Just go. Have a great time, and don't be afraid to talk to him."

"I just wish I knew what he was thinking," sighed Lorelai.

"Oh honey, I know what he's thinking. I mean, he's a man, he's crazy about you, and you – well, look in a mirror sometime. But Lorelai. I also know Luke, and he would never do anything you didn't want to do. So, I guess the question is, what do you want?"

"I wish I knew."

As Lorelai pulled away from the inn, she felt jittery and butterflies danced around her stomach. The butterflies had certainly made themselves at home recently and Lorelai thought back to when they had started. The fluttering definitely went into high gear after the kiss. That was when she acknowledged them – and acknowledged her feelings, but when they started…that must have been the wedding. That was the night they had crossed the line from 'just friends' to 'something more.' It had started with the 'You look beautiful.' There was something about hearing the words, you and beautiful, coming from Luke's lips that made her shiver. Or was it Luke's lips that made her shiver? She giggled to herself at the thought and allowed a moment of distraction before her mind returned to the wedding – and the dance. No big deal. Friends at a wedding dance, right? But then she remembered the way his hands had felt on her waist and the look in his eye and how she had let him pull her close – and what she had felt when he did. It was the romantic walk home and the movie invite that had pulled them clearly into 'something more' territory. He had made his intention clear and set loose the butterflies to float tentatively for almost a week before the kisses set them all a-flutter again. In spite of how long they had been with her, she hadn't let herself acknowledge what they meant until the phone call the day after the kiss. In a few hours she would be seeing him for the first time since realizing what she felt. Now it wasn't just butterflies, her skin was tingling – in anticipation and nervousness. She had never been this anxious – or excited – about a guy. Knowing that – recognizing that – only added to the confused mess of emotions she was feeling in that moment.

Lorelai called Luke as she pulled off the highway so she wasn't surprised to see him standing near the entrance gate when she pulled into the parking lot. He was wearing the familiar flannel and baseball cap and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans. She waved as she got out of the car and felt her stomach flip when he waved back and started toward her. A nervous smile played on his lips and he looked so adorably hesitant that Lorelai threw her arms around his neck in an excited hug. He held her tightly and they stayed that way a few moments before Lorelai started to pull away. Luke held her waist lightly and tilted his head down for a kiss, which was somehow both gentle and persistent at the same time. Lorelai felt him begin to pull back and before he could, she grabbed his shoulders and held him tighter to extend the kiss. When she did eventually pull away, she smiled shyly.

He smiled back at her and said softly, "Hey."

"Hey yourself. It's good to see you. Missed you."

"Back atcha."

"So, what's the plan? You said something about getting dinner. I'm starved."

"I wouldn't expect otherwise. Let's take your stuff in to Liz's booth and then we can go get some food. We'll probably have to say hello to Liz and TJ, but we can make it quick."

Lorelai gave him a curious look then opened the back door and pulled out two small bags. She threw one over her shoulder and Luke took the other.

"Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"Uh…where are we staying?"

To be continued.