"It just occurred to me that it must be really hard to be a girl." Max observed, and Lorelai smiled.
"Yeah, it is." Lorelai knew that he was referring to Paris' breakdown on national television, but part of her wanted to tell Max just how hard it was. "Sometimes it makes us do really stupid things. Like bad haircuts, or lousy outfits, or...running away from someone really wonderful." She slipped the last part in and checked his reaction.
"Lorelai..." his voice was threaded with pain, but also with something resembling hope.
"Max, I'm so sorry for how I treated you. No one deserves that. Especially not you."
"I would say it's okay, but it's not."
"I know." Lorelai nodded. "Believe me, I know. I went over it a thousand times in my head. Why did I do that to you? Why hurt you like that? I decided after a while that I must just be an awful person." She half-joked. "But being awful is so much work. Kicking puppies, and destroying happiness. Gets exhausting."
"Lorelai, you and I know you're not an awful person. You're a great person, and a great mom."
"It's just the great fiancee part I don't have down yet."
"Would you like to try that again?" Max asked suddenly, taking a step towards her.
Everything in Lorelai wanted to step backwards, away from Max and all he represented, but she found herself stepping forward to meet him. She allowed his arms to close around her and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Can we start over?" Lorelai asked. "Are we capable of it?"
"I know that I have wanted to since the night you left me with the ring."
"Oh, Max. That beautiful ring. I really treated you horribly."
"You were scared. But you aren't now, are you?"
Lorelai stopped for a moment, and truly searched inside of her for that feeling that had made her take to the road with Rory. It wasn't there. It wasn't anywhere to be found.
"No." Lorelai said, truthfully. She leaned into Max and tilted her head back. He gladly met her with a kiss.
"Lorelai Gilmore, will you marry me?"
"Absolutely." Lorelai nodded, and kissed Max back.