Disclaimer: Shucks, I don't own the show or the characters. Too bad. I shall go sing a sad little song now while you read my fic.

The audience went wild as the curtain came to a close. The kids, plus Kirk, stepped out and bowed in a haphazard line, giddy with the emotions that came with the end of a quality production, knowing that it was over and that they had succeeded.

Lorelai, however, was already half way home. She wanted to beat the rush out of the building, and when Kirk had had some difficulties with the donkey cart and needed Luke's assistance, she found the perfect opportunity to make her escape. As she pounded her way through town her mind raced, "Do You Love Me" still ringing through her ears. He had been looking at her, too. She saw him. That was all that had held them back, wasn't it? If she had told him what she felt before the whole vow-renewal fiasco, things would have been better. But now. Now it seemed they were just empty words that would be said without any certainty of the truth in an obvious attempt to vie a way back into the comfort of regularity.

Lorelai entered her garage – her sacred space – unceremoniously and turned on the light. She sighed as she looked around. Yes, it was a space all her own. Luke didn't know what he was talking about. She certainly did not have a whole house that was all hers. The house was haunted with memories that weren't just hers and hers alone. Those memories had Rory in them. It was Rory's space. And memories of Luke... She cursed herself for lingering on those particular memories.

Lorelai sighed and picked up the ladder, setting it up so she could hang the disco ball. She walked back to the table where the disco ball sat and she froze in place as a rush of emotions overcame her. Would telling him how she felt reallycome out just as empty words? The unfortunate timing of things didn't make the words any less true, she argued.

"Lorelai, I need to talk to you."

She heard his voice from behind her. She stiffened up and held back a tear, then laughed slightly at the absurdity of the situation. "No, Luke."

"What?"

"I can't talk to you right now."

"But I really need to talk to you, Lorelai."

She turned around to face him and nodded in muted anger. "When I needed to talk to you, you needed time. And I really needed to talk to you. I didn't know what to do. I knew that I messed up but I also knew that a large part of what happened between us was just a giant miscommunication and was not my fault. But you wouldn't hear that because you wouldn't let me talk to you. You needed time. I'm sorry, Luke. I can't do this right now." She sighed and stood stationary for a few seconds, staring at him in disbelief. "You're still here."

"Lorelai, do you know why I did the sets for the show?"

"Because I signed you up and you felt obligated. I'm sorry for that, by the way, I know I should have consulted with you first. I'll try and be better about that next time."

"Lorelai," Luke glowered.

"What?" she huffed. She was in no mood to discuss anything rationally.

"I did it for you."

She laughed. "That's ridiculous." She wiped a tear away from her face, knowing full well that her makeup was smearing beneath the back of her hand. Powder never reacted well with salt water.

"Lorelai, I was an idiot and things went unsaid that shouldn't have. You know that as well as I do." He shook his head. "Better than I do."

She looked up at him, questioningly. Three little words... she thought to herself. They're just three little words.

"Lorelai," he pleaded.

She ran her hand through her hair and closed her eyes. This was harder than it should have been. "Please, Luke, go."

By the time she opened her eyes all she saw in front of her was a void.

She had said the wrong three words.

Tell me what you think. I haven't written in a long time and it's by far the shortest anything I've ever turned out. Should I continue? If I do I have spoilerages that I could easily include. Let me know.