Disclaimer: So maybe in a parallel universe, in a galaxy far, far away, I own Luke, and his flannels, and his backwards baseball cap, and every "Aw geez" that comes out of his mouth, but in this reality, I do not. Nor do I own the rights to any of the other fabulous Gilmore Girls creations. This is the honor of Amy. Damn...Lucky girl. (BTW...I also don't own any of the products, people, or organizations discussed in this fic. If I did, I'd be one rich lady, perfectly capable of hiring a team of experts to clone a Luke especially for me. Nah...It just wouldn't be the same. There's only one Luke, and he belongs to Lorelai. I guess she can have him. I'm generous that way.)
A/N 1: Lots of love and gratitude to two very talented, witty, original, kind, and hella cool girls, gilmoregirl1979 and AudiRox. You chicas make me wanna light sparklers and do high-kicks. Together we laugh, we banter, we analyze, we obbsess...Such is the life of a true Gilmore Girls fanatic.
A/N 2: Note to the Reader: This is an AU fic. In fact, it is a part of a growing, larger body of work known as the Woulda, Coulda, Shouldas. Gilmoregirl1979 and I will each contribute our own seperate fics to this shared category. The goal of this category is to explore what would have/ could have/ should have happened had something gone a different way in a classic Gilmore Girls eppy. This fic revolves around the episode, "In the Clamor and the Clangor." The question asked and answered by yours truly is this: What if Reverand Skinner hadn't interrupted Lorelai before she responded to Luke's question? (A few lines of dialogue are borrowed from the original episode, written by Sheila R. Lawrence and Janet Leahy.)
Title: Super Bell Sunday
INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH--NIGHTTIME
Luke: ....I still see you everyday...I still cook your food...I still serve your coffee...What do you care?
Lorelai: I care.
Luke: Why?
Lorelai: Because I don't want you to move.
Luke: Why?...Why don't you want me to move?
Lorelai: (unable to find the words) Because....
Luke: (interrupting) Because what?
Lorelai: (blurting out) Because I don't wanna lose you.
Luke stood back, taking in what Lorelai had just told him. A look of perplexity washed over his face. Lorelai saw his reaction and immediately she found her boots extremely fascinating.
Luke: (quietly) Okay...I don't know what that means...How are you going to.. "lose me"?
Lorelai: (sighing, her face flushed with embarrassment) Uh...I don't know.
Luke: (even more confused) What do you mean "you don't know"?...You said it...You must have known what you were thinking when...
Suddenly, the bells began ringing loudly. Lorelai squinted as she covered her ears with her hands. Luke's expression turned into one of disgust as he looked towards the stairwell leading up to the bells. He then looked back towards Lorelai.
Lorelai: (shouting) They're so loud from in here!
Luke: (shouting back) What?
Lorelai: (motioning to the ceiling) THE BELLS....THEY'RE SO LOUD.
Luke: (nodding in agreement) YEAH.
Lorelai: (gesturing towards the doors) UGH....LUKE, I'M LEAVING...
Luke: WHAT?
Lorelai: I'M LEAVING!
Luke: LORELAI...WAIT....(She walks out the church doors.).....DAMN BELLS...AGAIN.
GILMORE HOUSE--FRONT HALLWAY--10 MINUTES LATER
The front door opens. Lorelai walks into the house and brushes off the snow from her coat sleeves. She takes off her hat and starts to unbutton her coat, when the phone rings. She walks over to the desk in the living room and picks up the phone.
Lorelai: South Pole...Miss Frozen Tundra 2004 speaking.
Rory: Still snowing there, huh?
Lorelai: (laying her coat on the couch) Nothin gets past you Yalies...Whats up?
Rory: Oh...just wanted to see how your chat with Luke went.
Lorelai: (confused) Who said I had a chat with Luke?
Rory: (sighing) Please, Mom...There are three constants in the universe...One...Rappers will continue to sample classic '80s songs...Two...Bald men will insist on doing the "comb-over" even if they're two wild hairs away from being Mr. Clean...and Three...You and Luke will fight, and then make up...cuz thats your thing.
Lorelai: (sitting down on the couch) That's not our thing.
Rory: It's what you do...You have it down to a science now...In fact, I can practically set my watch by it.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) We don't fight that much.
Rory: It's not like you're all Tyson vs. Holyfield...But you two squabble quite a bit.
Lorelai: We do not squabble...We banter.
Rory: I'm not talking about the famous Gilmore/Danes Verbal-Palooza that we all know so well....Luke and you fight...not a lot, but not a little either...But when you do, you usually make up right away...So, did you make up?
Lorelai: (sighing) I guess.
Rory: (smiling) See...Told ya...The constants remain constant...So...Did you eat?
Lorelai: Yeah...I had a little something...Hey Rory...
Rory: Yeah?
Lorelai: (hesitantly) What does it mean when you say you're afraid of losing somebody?
Rory: Well...It usually means you don't want to lose that person.
Lorelai: (sighing) I know....But, does it mean more than just that?
Rory: Depends on the situation...What's this about?
Lorelai: Okay...well...tonight...(Suddenly, there's a knock at the front door.) Aww...Rory, hold on a sec...Someone's at the door...(Lorelai walks over to the door and calls out.) Who is it?...
Luke: (heard outside the door) It's Luke.
Lorelai: Hey Rory...It's Luke...I'll call ya back.
Rory: Okay...Tell Luke I said hi...See ya...
Lorelai: Bye.
Lorelai beeps off the phone and opens up the front door. Luke stands there, covered in snow.
Lorelai: (smiling) Hey.
Luke: Hi.
Lorelai: (looking him up and down) Geez Luke...You should really think about investing in some quality dandruff shampoo...I recommend Head and Shoulders...They always had those really cool commercials where the guy's head was covered with two different brands....You know, it looked like someone had frosted his hair like a cupcake...Ooo...wait...or was that the commercial for Selsun Blue?
Luke: (sighing loudly) I'm becoming part of a snow drift here.
Lorelai: Sorry. You may enter.
Luke: Thanks.
Luke walks into the house. Lorelai shuts the door and walks into the living room. Luke follows her, dusting the snow off his coat.
Lorelai: (straightening up magazines on the coffee table) So...Why are you out doing your best impression of the Abominable Snowman?
Luke: (gesturing towards outside) I brought your shovel back.
Lorelai: (smiling) You mean your shovel...After all....You... (imitating Luke's earlier rant) "loaned it to me three years ago!"
Luke: (smiling) Yeah...well...I have a few others...You can keep this one.
Lorelai: (sitting down on the couch) Good...He's a valuable member of this family.
Luke: (sitting down on the chair) Really?...Lying buried in a mound of snow behind your garage?
Lorelai: (shrugging) Okay...So, he's more like the pot-bellied, alcoholic, loud-mouthed uncle who we see only at weddings and funerals.
Luke: (rolling his eyes) If you say so...Anyway...I broke the bells....after they stopped ringing.
Lorelai: (smiling) Ah hah...You will proudly retain your title as the Most Competent Quasimodo of Hunchback School.
Luke: (standing up) Yeah...That's me...Always the over-achiever....So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow.
Lorelai: (standing up too) Yep...I'll be the one with the addiction...begging for a fix.
Luke: (walking towards the door) Okay...See ya...
Luke opens up the door. Lorelai crosses her arms as the cold blows into the house.
Lorelai: (calling after him as he walks down the front steps) Bye Luke. Thanks for bringing back the shovel.
Luke waves in response as he walks down the front path. Lorelai closes the door, pauses a moment in thought, shakes her head, and then starts towards the living room. However, before she sits down, she is startled when there's a knock at the door. She hurries over to the front door and opens it up.
Lorelai: (seeing Luke) Wow...Deja vu...Geez Luke...You should really think about investing in some quality...
Luke: (interrupting, rolling his eyes)We did this already.
Lorelai: (nodding) I know...Hence the usage of words French.
Luke: (walking past her into the house) Are we not gonna talk about what you said earlier?
Lorelai: (confused, shutting the door) When?
Luke: Earlier.
Lorelai: (still perplexed) Well...I said lots of things earlier...Be more specific...
Luke: (standing in the living room) Why don't you wanna lose me?
Lorelai: (with a look of realization) Oh...That...Look...You're my friend...and you moved away without telling me...and you know how it is when you're a kid...and a friend of yours moves away...and you're afraid you won't get to see them again...So you throw a fit....Make a big deal out of it....Decide not to go to their goodbye party....Then feel guilty and end up using a ladder to climb into their window and talk about how Pacey is sleeping with a teacher and how Jack is actually gay and how Jen's having another nervous breakdown as she sleeps her way through the entire senior class.
Luke: (confused) What are you talking about?
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Sorry...I've been watching Dawson's Creek reruns on cable lately...Don't tell Rory...This has severe mockability written all over it.
Luke: (sitting down on the couch) But, it's not like I left town for good....I still come back here everyday to run the Diner...
Lorelai: (sitting down next to him) Right...and how long before the commuting gets old...and you close the Diner and open one in Litchfield....Then I'll never get to see...your coffee...
Luke: (raising an eye brow) You'll never get to see my coffee?
Lorelai: (looking away) Or you.
Luke: And if that happened....If I left Stars Hollow for good... You would miss me?
Lorelai: (turning towards him) Luke, of course I would miss you...You're one of my closest friends...That's one reason why I went all Sean Young when you told me you'd moved...It felt like you only told me as an afterthought...and, as your friend, it woulda been nice to have known that you were relocating prior to the actual relocation...I'm sorry I freaked out...It just...You caught me off-guard...You know, I like to know whats going on...To be on top of things...To be prepared...I'm a Girl Scout....Minus the quest for badges and little green beanie....That never was a good look for me.
Luke: Okay...So you would miss me because we're friends?
Lorelai: (nodding) Yes.
Luke: (with that thinking expression) Well...What's another reason?
Lorelai: What?
Luke: You said that's one reason why you went all Sean Penn...
Lorelai: Sean Young...
Luke: Whatever...So what is it?
Lorelai: (sighing, looking away) It's nothing.
Luke: Tell me.
Lorelai: (crossing her arms) You made it very clear today that I had no right to butt into your private life...What's between you and Nicole is between you and Nicole...
Luke: This is about Nicole?
Lorelai: (uncomfortable) Luke...
Luke: (hesitantly) Okay...If I give you a free pass to say anything you want about Nicole and me, and I promise I won't get mad, will you just tell me what you're thinking?
Lorelai: (shaking her head) I don't know if I should...
Luke: (quietly) Please.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Fine...Why are you living with her?
Luke: Because thats what's customary for normal married couples to do.
Lorelai: (ranting) Normal?...Luke, nothing about the situation is normal....You got married at sea....Flipper was your best man....You said "I do," and then went snorkeling...Your wedding toast was a glass of water with a Dramamine shooter...
Luke: (interrupting, as he grows uncomfortable) Lorelai...
Lorelai: (still ranting) And then when the smoke cleared, and the dust settled, you and Ms. Matlock realized that it was all a mistake...You decide to get a divorce...All is right in Who-ville once again....Until she comes back....and you decide to date her...to date your wife...Your soon-to-be ex-wife....and then you two decide to move in together?....Luke, Speedy Gonzalez is frightened by your G-force relationship speed...
Luke: (shaking his head) It wasn't all that fast.
Lorelai: (calming down) All I'm saying is....That in a situation like this...One that's a little more complicated than the average relationship....You'd think you woulda taken some time and thought about moving in with her before you actually moved in with her.
Luke: I did think about it.
Lorelai: Really?...What exactly did you think about?
Luke: (waving her off) This is getting too personal.
Lorelai: Hey...You opened the door when you told me to tell you what I thought.
Luke: (growing angry) I didn't mean for you to analyze my relationship with her.
Lorelai: (shooting back) Well...Then you shoulda specified that before we started this.
Luke: (sighing) Fine...You really wanna know what I thought about?
Lorelai: Yes, I do.
Luke: (ranting) Maybe Nicole and I shouldn't have jumped the gun about the divorce thing....Maybe we can work this out...I mean...We are married...and marriage is something you have to work at, right?....At least that's what they're always whining about on Oprah...I thought about this, and I realized that I'm not a quitter...Getting divorce would be quitting...
Lorelai: Luke...Yeah...It's true...Sometimes divorce is quitting....But most of the time, it happens because the two people realize that they're just not compatible or because they'd be happier apart....or because one of them is stealing the other one's underwear and wearing it under their Armani suits...Getting divorced will not make you a quitter...It just shows that you're human, and you make mistakes...and that maybe getting married sounded like a great idea at the time, but not so much anymore...Besides, I don't want you to settle...
Luke: (standing up) Who says I'm settling?
Lorelai: (looking up at him) I just wanna make sure that isn't what this is all about...
Luke: (gesturing towards himself) I'm not saying that I am, but...People settle all the time.
Lorelai: (standing up) But its not fair...Its not fair to you, and its not fair to the person you're settling with.
Luke: (pacing) Life isn't fair...It doesn't always work out the way we plan it...We can't always have what we want....
Lorelai: (cocking her head to the side) What do you want?
Luke: (irritated) Uh...Nothing...I don't want anything....Are we done here?
Lorelai: (quietly) Luke...If you won't tell me what you want, will you at least answer one more question for me?
Luke: (looking away) I dunno...I already told you too much.
Lorelai: Please...and then you can go.
Luke: (sighing) Fine.
Lorelai: Supposedly you moved...yet you're still staying here in Stars Hollow...Your stuff is still here...You sleep here some nights...Why?....And don't give me any BS about early deliveries and your germaphobia...I mean...When did you suddenly become Howard Hughes?...
Luke: (sitting down again) I dunno...I've lived by myself for so long...Had a routine...Got used to certain things...Things that are hard to leave behind...
Lorelai: (sitting down too, patting his arm) I hear ya...but sometimes leaving stuff behind is the only way that we can move forward...
Luke: (sighing) I guess....
Lorelai: You don't sound so sure.
Luke: It's just when things are important to you, they're important for a reason, right?...They're a part of you...A part of who you are...
Lorelai: (trying to piece this together) So, what you're saying is that if you leave these "important" things behind, then you're afraid you won't be yourself anymore...You won't be Luke?....You'll be some pod-person version of Stars Hollows' favorite caffeine dealer?...
Luke: (looking away) Maybe...I dunno.
Lorelai: Okay...Why don't you just tell me what you don't wanna leave, and I'll try to help you figure out this situation?
Luke: I told you....Things...
Lorelai: (curiously) What things?
Luke: Stuff.
Lorelai: (gesturing wildly) I'm so lost....I mean...What stuff?...Are we talkin' animal, vegetable, or mineral here?...
Luke: (giving her a look) This isn't Twenty Questions.
Lorelai: (excitedly) Ooo...Ooo...We could play Truth or Dare.
Luke: (rolling his eyes) We are NOT sixteen-year-old girls at a slumber party.
Lorelai: (giving him a look) Honey...Circa age sixteen, there was never any "slumbering" at the parties I went to....There also weren't that many sixteen-year-old girls there either...Mostly guys...and kegs...Lotsa kegs...and we never played Truth or Dare...Unless it was to get a really drunk jock to put on a dress and dance the tango with the next-door neighbor's Giant Poodle.
Luke: There will be no dancing with quadrupeds for me.
Lorelai: (smiling) Alright...No Truth or Dare...But you so have to tell me what you don't wanna leave behind...I can't stand when I don't know something...It drives me crazy...
Luke: (half-smiling) You mean crazier..
Lorelai: (nudging his arm) Come on Luke...We're friends...This is what friends do...They confide in each other...Look...I don't wanna be just coffee-friends with you...Maybe I haven't made it clear enough over the years...But, I wanna be friend-friends...
Luke: Friend-friends?...What does that mean?
Lorelai: It's not like we're gonna braid each others hair and take turns kissing pictures of Colin Farrell in Seventeen magazine...But...We'll talk about stuff...Important stuff...like this...and share things with each other..
Luke: (unsure) I dunno...This sounds a little too "Lifetime: Television for Women."
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Oh...Just suck it up....It'll be fun...Besides...It's not like we've never talked about personal stuff before...We've had some conversations...We've already done our fair share of "sharing."....Now, it's just time to make it official...
Luke: (looking towards the ceiling) I know I'm gonna regret this.
Lorelai: (excited) Yes!...So, it's a "yes"?
Luke: I haven't agreed to tell you anything.
Lorelai: (waving it off) Yeah...yeah...That's just a formality...cuz we all know I can get you to do anything.
Luke: (shaking his head) That's not true.
Lorelai: (smiling) Please...I am very persuasive...Plus...The Gilmore charm is irresistible...
Luke: (looking away) Whatever you say.
Lorelai: So tell me what you don't wanna leave behind?
Luke: No.
Lorelai: (threatening him) Come on Luke...Don't make me whip out the charm...I'm a quick draw...The Wyatt Earp of Stars Hollow...except with lipstick and cuter shoes.
Luke: (smiling, shaking his head) Sorry.
Lorelai: (making a face) Aww...No fair...Why won't you just tell me?
Luke: Okay...Maybe I'll tell you...But first....You have to answer a question for me...
Lorelai: (interrupting) Boxers...I always wear boxers...
Luke: (giving her a look) Lorelai...
Lorelai: (trying not to smile) Alright....I'll be serious.
Luke: Say you had an idea in your head about the way things should be...Or maybe the way you want them to be....But then after awhile, you realized that maybe things will never be this way...and so you decide that it might be better to leave things as is...because at least you're used to that...So... You try to move on...That's the best thing to do, right?...To move on...Just forget about all that other crap you used to want...and focus on what you can have?
Lorelai: (agreeing) Yeah...Sometimes you have to let things go.
Luke: So...That's it...Just let it go and move on...for good?
Lorelai: It's hard....but like you said, Luke...Life isn't fair....We can't always have what we want.
Luke: (sighing, looking away) Yeah.
Lorelai: (with that thinking expression) On the other hand....Sometimes hope is a really great thing...because it makes us hang in there...so that when we get what we waited for, we appreciate it more...and are happy we didn't give up along the way...
Luke: What you're saying, then, is that there's no easy answer to my question?
Lorelai: (smiling) What I'm saying is that letting go is a part of life...But some things are worth waiting for...no matter how long it takes....
Luke: (half-smiling) So this is like one of those "non-answer" deals, huh?
Lorelai: (smiling) Yeah...I totally feel like Yota...Let the force be your guide, Luke. Huh...Luke...What a coinky-dink!...(hesitantly) So...um...Are you going to Litchfield tonight or staying at your apartment?...I mean....Your old apartment.
Luke: (gesturing towards outside) Well...I probably shouldn't attempt to drive in weather like this...So..I'll probably stay here....(clarifying) I mean....here...in Stars Hollow.
Lorelai: (nodding) Okay...good.
Luke: (confused) Good?
Lorelai: (stumbling over her words, trying to play it cool) I mean....It's good....that you're not gonna drive...with all the snow...Safer...You know...than ending up in the Vehicular Ice Skating Championships...or being caught on a snowy mountain....like that soccer team in Alive...except....Well....If you got hungry, you could only eat yourself...and that just defeats the purpose of feasting on human flesh to survive, right?
Luke: (shaking his head) Your mind should be in a circus sideshow.
Lorelai: (smiling) If only....Aim high....That's what I tell myself.
Luke lets out a small laugh. Lorelai is pleased that she lightened the mood. Then the two of them stand there a second in silence, caught in the moment.
Luke: (snapping out of it) So...I should get goin' before I need a dogsled to get me home.
Lorelai: (looking towards the window) Yeah...It's gettin bad out there.
Luke: (walking towards the door) I'll see ya tomorrow.
Lorelai: (following him) If I'm not snowed in, sure.
Luke: (opening up the door) Hey...You got your shovel back...You could always dig your way out.
Lorelai: True...And no coffee in the house, so I'll definitely see you tomorrow, even if I have to tunnel my way there...
Luke: (walking out the door) Bye.
Lorelai: (smiling) Bye.
Lorelai watches him walk away, and then remembers something.
Lorelai: (calling after him) Hey...Luke...You never did tell me what you don't wanna leave behind.
Luke: (standing on the lawn, half-smiling) We'll save that for another day...After all, we're officially friend-friends now...and I guess that means we have alot of time to talk about that kinda stuff.
Lorelai: (letting him win...for now) Okay...I'll let it slide this time...But I'm not gonna forget about it, mister...So, don't you think you got outta this one...
Luke: Maybe I'll tell ya someday soon.
Lorelai: Yeah....It better be good too, if I have to wait.
Luke: (cleverly) Hey...Some things are worth waiting for, right?
Lorelai: (faking an accent) Ah...Grasshopper...You learn quickly.
Luke: (smiling) Night.
Lorelai: (smiling) Night, Luke.
Luke walks off into the night as Lorelai shuts the door.
GILMORE HOUSE--A FEW DAYS LATER--MORNING
Lorelai wraps herself in an afghan as she walks around the house talking on the phone with Rory.
Lorelai: (shivering) Dear God…I feel like one of those cavemen scientists find in huge chunks of ice…
Rory: (sighing loudly) Will you please get somebody to fix the furnace before I have to come home and defrost you with a hair-dryer?
Lorelai: (thinking out loud) Maybe if I just hit it again real hard with a hammer…
Rory: You hit it with a hammer?!?
Lorelai: (lying) No.
Rory: Good.
Lorelai: (quietly) Actually, it was a wrench.
Rory: Why would you think that would make it work better?
Lorelai: (sitting at the kitchen table, warming herself by the open oven door) Hey…Bob Vila gets his ideas from somewhere, right?...It has to be all about trial and error…Try something, it doesn't work…So, then you try something else…
Rory: (rolling her eyes) I doubt Bob Vila ever whacked anything with a wrench.
Lorelai: Well, he doesn't think big enough.
Rory: Call a repairman.
Lorelai: (starting to argue) But…
Rory: (interrupting) Fine…Then call Luke…Maybe he can fix it.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Ugh…Luke's busy with the Diner…and Nicole….He doesn't have time to run over here and give Fernando a check-up.
Rory: Then call a repairman.
Lorelai: (sighing) Alright…Alright..
Rory: (pleased that she won) Good…Now that that's settled…Go get some soup and a hot cup of coffee…I'm late for class…Talk to ya later?
Lorelai: (nodding) Mostly likely, yes…I fear this phone is now frozen to my hand.
Rory: (smiling) Bye, Mom.
Lorelai: (smiling) Bye, Hun.
LUKE'S DINER--SAME DAY--AFTERNOON
Lorelai walks in the door and sits down at the counter. Luke is writing something on a notepad. He notices her entrance.
Lorelai: (sighing loudly) Coffee in a vat, so I can swim in it…
Luke: No hello?
Lorelai: I'm serious…We're talking backstroke here…and throw in some soup while you're at it…Not in the coffee…Ah…Hell…Throw it in the coffee, if ya want…and why not wrestle me up some hot chocolate too…I'm freezing…
Luke: (pouring the coffee into a cup) It is winter.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) No…You don't understand…My house has been hit by the Ice Age…I think I saw a glacier forming in my living room…and penguins waddling down the stairs wearing my new suede boots...and possibly a polar bear in the bathtub.
Luke: (curiously) Why so cold there?
Lorelai: (taking a sip of coffee before responding) Eh…My furnace is on life support.
Luke: (wiping off the counter) Did you call someone to look at it?
Lorelai: Yeah…Tom came by this afternoon during his lunch break…
Luke: What's the verdict?
Lorelai: (gesturing) I dunno…He started talking about pilot lights and vents and some kinda piping and before I knew it, everything he said sounded like that teacher from Charlie Brown…Mwah Mwah Mwah Mwah Mwah… (fake smiling) Of course, my ears did perk up when he mentioned the fabulous cost of these repairs.
Luke: (concerned) Expensive, huh?
Lorelai: (nodding) Let's just say he should be able to buy a fine piece of jewelry for Mrs. Tom when all is said and done.
Luke: He's not over-charging, is he?
Lorelai: (waving it off) Nah…The price was pretty fair…In fact, I think he took a few dollars off because I might have accidentally flashed him when I leaned over to demonstrate my repair technique.
Luke: Hitting it with a hammer?
Lorelai: Wrench.
Luke: (half-smiling) Of course.
Lorelai: (smiling) So…Anyhoo…I know you're busy with the Diner…and Nicole and the townhouse and everything…and I really wasn't gonna even ask you about this because I felt like I would be bothering you…but I was wondering since we recently established that we are definitely "friend-friends," if we could properly inaugurate this new era for us, by you coming by and taking a looksy at Fernando…
Luke: (confused) Fernando's the furnace?
Lorelai: That would be him.
Luke: Why didn't you just ask me to do it in the first place?
Lorelai: Well...I didn't wanna bother you…
Luke: But I've always fixed stuff around your house…
Lorelai: Yes…But that was before you married Nicole.
Luke: (confused) What does she have to do with this?
Lorelai: You have a house of your own to worry about now…and I doubt Nicole would be happy about you spending your free time with Fernando instead of her.
Luke: (shaking his head) It's not a problem…You should have asked me sooner.
Lorelai: (excited) So, you'll do it?
Luke: Sure…How 'bout Sunday afternoon? I'm closing early because the Super Bowl's on at 6…
Lorelai: (trying to act all knowledgeable) Ah…That's right…The Pigeons Vs. The Barbarians…Should be a good game…
Luke: (correcting her) It's the Patriots and the Panthers…Like I said, the coin toss and kick-off aren't till after six…
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Mwah Mwah Mwah Mwah Mwah
Luke: You want me to check it out or not?
Lorelai: (smiling) Yes…Please…You're a doll.
Luke: I'll be by at 2.
Lorelai: Sounds like a plan…Fernando will be happy to know that help is on the way.
GILMORE HOUSE--THAT SUNDAY--NOON
Lorelai is watching TV when there's a knock at the door. She gets up, walks into the entry way and opens the door. She's surprised to find Luke standing on the other side.
Lorelai: (surprised) Luke…Hey…(confused) I thought you were coming over at 2.
Luke: (calmly) I'm getting divorced.
Lorelai: (confused) What?
Luke: (with more emphasis) I'm getting divorced.
Lorelai: (still not comprehending) Again, what?
She moves aside gesturing for Luke to come in. He does.
Luke: (irritated) Do I look stupid?...I must look very stupid.
Lorelai: You don't look stupid…However, I'm lovin that new crazed look in your eyes…What happened?
Luke: (walking into the living room and pacing back and forth) I told Nicole the other day that I'd be staying in Stars Hollow tonight because I had a few things to do, and I was gonna watch the game, which I knew she wouldn't be too thrilled about watching with me…So she said "Okay…I'll see you back home on Monday."…But, this morning I realized that I forgot my toolbox at the townhouse…Obviously I needed it to fix your furnace…So, I took a ride over to Litchfield…and noticed this nice, shiny luxury automobile parked in front of our place…Didn't think anything of it…Thought a neighbor had parked there….So I use my key to open the door…and when I walk in, I hear noise coming from the bedroom…Figured it was Nicole…I mean who else would be making noise in our bedroom?…Funny answer to that question…Um...It was a guy…with Nicole…and they were…."making noise" together...
Lorelai: (sympathetically) Oh, Luke…I'm so sorry…
Luke: I can't believe she did that…In our place…I mean…I put up bookshelves there.
Lorelai: (placing her hand on his shoulder) Well, Honey....It's not like they were using the bookshelves.
Luke: (angry) Who knows what the hell they were doing before I got there?…or how the hell long this has been going on?
Lorelai: So, Nicole didn't try to explain?
Luke: (sighing) She said something about me never being there and her being lonely…Of course, I was kind of distracted, trying to restrain myself from bludgeoning the guy with my crowbar…
Lorelai: You didn't do anything crazy, did you?
Luke: (sarcastically) You mean like gettong married on a cruise ship…and deciding not to get a divorce right away…and moving in with Nicole even though I wasn't ready…Yeah…besides all that…Then, no…
Lorelai: (putting her hand on his back and walking him over to the couch) This isn't your fault.
Luke: (sitting down) I know that…I tell myself that…But why did she have to cheat on me?
Lorelai: (sitting down too) People do stupid things…Stupid things that hurt people who should never be hurt in a million years…Even if she was having doubts about your relationship, she should have talked to you about it instead of bedding Mr. Mercedes.
Luke: (shaking his head) I feel like an idiot.
Lorelai: You're not an idiot…She's the idiot…
Luke: (sighing) Well, I guess that's it…It's over…
Lorelai: (softly) Yeah…I'm really sorry…I just wanted you to be happy.
Luke: Yeah…Me too.
Lorelai: Hey…Tell ya what…You don't have to look at the furnace today…In fact, close the Diner even earlier…Take the rest of the day off..
Luke: (nodding) Yeah…Don't think I can deal with Kirk and his crazy orders…Do you know yesterday he asked me to scoop out a loaf of bread so that he could pour his soup in it?
Lorelai: (laughing) Why?
Luke: He wanted a breadbowl…and I don't have breadbowls.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Bet Freud's havin a fit in the Great Beyond, wishing he was alive to shrink that man's head....But…Hey…You still got the Super Bowl today…That should cheer you up.
Luke: Uh…I don't even feel like watching it now.
Lorelai: (eyes widening) Whoa…Great idea…I could watch it with you.
Luke: What?
Lorelai: (smiling) I could watch the game with you.
Luke: You're serious?
Lorelai: As a heart attack.
Luke: But you don't like football…
Lorelai: (nodding) True…But it's always good to try new things…Unless its like Crystal Pepsi.
Luke: Don't you have plans with Rory?
Lorelai: Nah…She stayed at Yale this weekend…Had a bazillion papers to write.
Luke: So you didn't have any plans?
Lorelai: (shaking her head) Nope…So what do ya say?
Luke: (sighing and standing up) Okay…But no comments about the players' butts.
Lorelai: Damn…You drive a hard bargain...But….Okay…I'll behave.
Luke: Well…I guess I'll call the Diner, tell Caesar to close up early…and then I'll take a look at your furnace…
Lorelai: (grabbing her coat) Good…Hey…I think I'm gonna make a quick run to the store while you do that…I gotta pick up provisions…
Luke: I could make us something.
Lorelai: (waving him off) No no no…Only wallowing food will be allowed in this house tonight, Sparky…So prepare to be introduced to a new food group…
Luke: (rolling his eyes) Oh God.
Lorelai: (walking towards the door) See…This is gonna be so much fun.
STREET IN STARS HOLLOW--A LITTLE WHILE LATER
Lorelai walks along the street, holding a couple of bags. She's talking to Rory on the phone again.
Rory: So…He walked in and saw them—
Lorelai: (interrupting) Doing the Horizontal Hokey-Pokey?...Yes.
Rory: And I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume Nicole and Mr. Mercedes were in their birthday suits…
Lorelai: Well…I didn't ask Luke for specifics…But I doubt they were in their formal wear.
Rory: (sighing) Poor Luke.
Lorelai: (shaking her head) I know…I just feel so bad…That's why I thought it would be fun to watch the game with him…It'll help take his mind off of things…Hopefully…
Rory: (laughing) Watching three hours of sports?...You'll be bored out of your mind.
Lorelai: (sighing) I dunno…The more I think about this Super Bowl thing, the more I like it…I mean…You get to eat lots of junk food…Drink beer...Yell profanities at the TV screen…and watch guys walk around in really tight pants…..Hmmm…Seems like a dream come true….
Rory: Did you have to cancel with Jason to help Luke wallow?
Lorelai: No…He's out-of-town this weekend…The Bahamas…or was it Hong Kong?
Rory: (shrugging) I dunno.
Lorelai: (remembering) New Jersey…It's New Jersey.
Rory: How exotic.
Lorelai: (smiling) Anyway…I just finished shopping and now I'm gonna head home and see if Luke got lucky with Fernando…Um…Maybe I should rephrase that.
Rory: (nodding) Please do.
Lorelai: Maybe Luke fixed Fernando.
Rory: Still sounds kinda dirty…But it'll have to do.
Lorelai: (smiling) You are so my daughter…..Talk to ya later, Kid…Love ya.
Rory: (smiling) Love you too…Bye Mom
Lorelai: Bye.
GILMORE HOUSE--KITCHEN--LATER THAT EVENING
Lorelai and Luke sit at the kitchen table, eating.
Luke: So, this thing I did to the furnace...It's just a temporary fix…I hate to break it to you, but I think you'll need a new one before this winter's over.
Lorelai: Aww…Man…They're pricey, huh?
Luke: I know a guy….Maybe I could get you some sorta deal.
Lorelai: (waving him off) Oh, you don't have to do that.
Luke: (shaking his head) He owes me a favor anyway.
Lorelai: Ooo…You sound so Godfather…
Luke: Yeah…That's me…Don Danes…
Lorelai: (smiling) So, how's that frozen pizza…Good, huh?
Luke: (sarcastically) Yeah….I feel like I'm in Italy.
Lorelai: Hey…Don't mock the pizza…It's gotten Rory and I through many hunger-filled nights.
Luke: (rolling his eyes) It's not that bad, I guess.
Lorelai: (feeling victorious) Woo-hoo!…So, how bout a corn dog?...I got the frozen kind.
Luke: (grossed out) That's disgusting.
Lorelai: (smiling) Disgustingly delicious.
Luke: (looking at his watch) The game should be starting any minute.
Lorelai: So…Luke…. (singing) "Are you ready for some football?"
Luke: (surprised) How do you know that?
Lorelai: I did some research when I went to get the food.
Luke: In the library?
Lorelai: At the gas station.
Luke: Oh.
Lorelai: Okay…So, Jeb, the guy behind the counter thinks that the Patriots will win…and Gus, the windshield cleaning guy told me we should have a football poll…and Herb…the creepy guy who sits outside with a toothpick in his mouth said I should try out for the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders…
Luke: Sounds like it was very educational.
Lorelai: (nodding) Yes…and scary at the same time….So…How bout we bet on the game?....On what team's gonna win…
Luke: (half-smiling) Bet what? Money?
Lorelai: Nah…Let's make it more interesting…Hey…I got it…If I win, you have to tell me what you never told me the other night.
Luke: (confused) What didn't I tell you?
Lorelai: About the stuff you didn't wanna leave behind…You know…
Luke: Oh…(hesitating) I dunno.
Lorelai: (nudging his arm) Come on.
Luke: (giving in) Alright…But I'll only agree to it because I have a feeling that Carolina will upset the Patriots…even though the score will be close.
Lorelai: So I'm stuck with the Patriots?...I don't even get to choose…
Luke: (sighing) I think you pretty much solidified your selection when you saw Tom Brady on the Pre-Game Show, said he was a "hottie," and he deserved to win the Super Bowl based on looks alone.
Lorelai: (remembering) Oh yeah....Okay…Patriots, it is….So, what do you want if you win the bet?
Luke: I dunno…Gotta think about that.
Lorelai: (rubbing her hands together) While you do that, I'm gonna make some nachos and cheese.
Luke: (rolling his eyes) Your stomach is a bottomless pit.
Lorelai: (nodding) It really is…If you yell down my throat, you can totally hear an echo.
GILMORE HOUSE--SECOND QUARTER OF THE SUPER BOWL
Luke sits on the couch with a beer in his hand. Lorelai sits on the floor in front of the couch, holding a beer of her own. Both are watching the game.
Lorelai: (gesturing towards the TV, confused) What is all this "down" stuff about?...First down….second down…yards…inches…
Luke: (taking a drink, than answering) Each time a team gets the ball, they have four downs or "tries" to move the ball ten yards…
Lorelai: (surprised) They get four tries?….Geez…Football is so easy…Why don't they just give them fifty downs?
Luke: (smiling) It's not so easy to move the ball…For one thing, the players have to be careful not to make a mistake…and for another….The other team usually does their hardest to try to stop the team with the ball from moving any further down the field…That's called "defense."
Lorelai: (trying to understand) So, when a team has the ball, they try to move down the field so they can get a touchdown?
Luke: (nodding) Yeah…or a field goal.
Lorelai: And that's three points, right?
Luke: (smiling) Right.
Lorelai: And a touchdown is seven points?
Luke: (nodding) Well…yeah…if the extra point is good…Yeah…Seven points total….But, the team could also opt to do a two-point conversion if they need even more points.
Lorelai: (with information overload) Wait…wait…My head's spinning…(shaking her empty bottle) I need more beer.
Luke: (grabbing the bottle from her as he gets up) I'll get you one…and when I come back, I'm gonna teach the names of all of the positions…
Lorelai: (sighing) Geez…You're such a slave driver…I feel like I'm in school.
Luke: (walking to the kitchen) Yep…I'll assign homework after the game.
Lorelai: (calling after him) Oh…I'm so bringing you a rotten apple tomorrow…with worms in it…
Lorelai sits there and smiles, and then notices lights outside the window. A car can be heard pulling into the driving. She gets up, looks out the window, sees Jason sitting in his car, and goes to open the front door. She walks out onto the porch, crosses her arms from the cold. Jason gets out of the car.
Lorelai: (confused) Jason…What are you doing here?...I thought you were in New Jersey.
Jason: (smiling, walking towards her) The meetings ended early, so I came home early…Thought I'd drive down and surprise you…Maybe take you to dinner.
Lorelai: (smiling) Oh, Honey…That's really sweet....But, I sort of already made plans.
Jason: With Rory?…Bring her along if you want…It won't be the romantic dinner I was hoping for, but at least I'll get to spend time with you.
Lorelai: (gesturing towards the house) Actually, I'm watching the Super Bowl with a friend of mine.
Jason: (laughing) You?...I thought you didn't like sports.
Lorelai: (smiling) Well….I really don't…However, after Luke started explaining things to me, football doesn't seem so bad…And the uniforms…Gotta love the uniforms.
Jason: (taken aback) You're watching the game with the diner guy?
Lorelai: (nodding) Yeah…It's a long story…Anyway…He needed to just chill out tonight and not think about certain things, so I figured I could help.
Jason: (uneasy) I didn't know you two were that chummy.
Lorelai: (smiling) Yeah…We're pretty good friends…I've known him about seven years.
Jason: Huh.
Lorelai: Huh what?
Jason: It's just a little odd…You know…You having a guy friend…
Lorelai: (curious) Why is that so odd?
Jason: It's like a universal truth that it's kind of hard for men and women to be just friends.
Lorelai: (shaking her head) That's not true.
Jason: Have you seen When Harry Met Sally?....There's a whole lecture in that movie devoted to this very subject.
Lorelai: Yes…I'm aware of the "Men and women can never be just friends because the sex part always gets in the way" rant….It was Billy Crystal at his finest.
Jason: And you don't think it's true?
Lorelai: (scoffing) Of course not…Men and women can be friends…Look at Will & Grace…
Jason: (giving her a look) Will's gay.
Lorelai: Oh right….Well…I'm sure there are plenty of other examples I could give you that I can't exactly think of right now…but when I do…(smiling) I'm totally rubbing it in.
Jason: So…You and this Luke guy are watching the Super Bowl…and just hanging out….talking…nothing else?
Lorelai: (smiling) Well....I'm also stuffing my face and trying to show him the wonders of frozen cuisine.
Jason: And he's not interested in you?
Lorelai: (laughing) Luke? No way.
Jason: (uncertain) Are you sure?
Lorelai: (smiling) Yes…I'm sure.
Jason: (walking towards the door) Maybe I should just join the two of you...To see if he's giving off any signals.
Lorelai: (confused) What? What signals?
Jason: You know…The "I wanna sleep with you after the Super Bowl" signals…They can be very subtle…I'm an expert on subtlety…
Lorelai: (grabbing his arm) You're not going inside.
Jason: Why not?
Lorelai: (cocking her head to the side) Luke's had a bad day…The last thing he needs is you staring at him, trying to decipher if he wants score a touchdown with me after the game…Which, by the way, is seven points, after the extra point is kicked…Thank you very much.
Jason: (faking a smile) I'll just stay for a little while…I'm sure Duke won't mind.
Lorelai: (faking a smile of her own) It's Luke…and maybe he wouldn't…but I would.
Jason: Why?...Don't you want me around?
Lorelai: (grabbing his hand) Jason, you know I do…It's just…I'm helping out a friend now…and I need to give my attention to that…Listen…I'll call you after he leaves, and we'll make plans to do something later this week.
Jason: (pulling away from her) I'm busy this week with work.
Lorelai: (looks away) Shocker.
Jason: (irritated) What does that mean?
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) You're always working.
Jason: Yes…That's how I pay the bills….and afford my very expensive car with the heated seats which you seem to rather enjoy…I recall the statement, "I'm going to marry this seat--Mark my words--and have little half-human/half-leather mutant children with it."
Lorelai: (sighing) Look...I don't wanna fight….We can spend some alone time together very soon.
Jason: Are you serious about us?
Lorelai: (surprised) What?
Jason: (giving her a look) What exactly are your intentions?
Lorelai: (laughing) My intentions?...You sound like I'm marrying your daughter.
Jason: Where do you see this going?
Lorelai: (trying not to laugh) Well…I see me going back into the house…and you going home…and at some point…We will meet up again…and eat some spaghetti and then listen to me serenade my lover the seat.
Jason: (getting agitated) I'm serious, Lorelai…I need to know if this is just you having a good time…or if this can be something more…
Lorelai: Jason…
Jason: (looking down) I've never been good at the relationship thing…but I can see something going further with you…
Lorelai: We haven't even been dating that long…I can't predict how I'm gonna feel a few months from now.
Jason: So, what you're saying is…You're not sure how you feel about me?
Lorelai: What I'm saying is…I like things the way they are for right now…Why do we have to rush into anything?
Jason: I'm not proposing.
Lorelai: (blurting out) Thank God.
Jason: (offended) Oh, so the idea of me proposing to you freaks you out?
Lorelai: (nodding) Well…Yeah…We're not ready for that.
Jason: (gesturing towards her) You mean you're not ready for that.
Lorelai: (in disbelief) You're ready to get married….Get married to me?
Jason: (shrugging) I dunno....But what if I was?
Lorelai: (closing her eyes) Jason…I don't...um...
Jason: (hurt) You know what?…I think I'm going to head home…
Jason starts walking towards his car.
Lorelai: (calling after him) Jason…Wait…
Jason: (looking back at her) No…um…It's time to leave…I think we're done here.
Lorelai: (with a sad expression on her face) So, this is what you really want?
Jason: (quietly) No…What I want, you can't give me…So…This is what I have to do…Goodbye, Lorelai.
Lorelai: Bye Jason.
Lorelai watches the car pull away, opens the front door, walks back into the house and shuts the door. She then walks into the living, stops dead in her tracks and looks at Luke.
Lorelai: (a little shell-shocked) I think I just got dumped.
Luke: (quietly) Yeah…I'm sorry.
Lorelai: (surprised) You heard?
Luke: I tried not to listen.
Lorelai: (waving it off) It's okay…
Luke: Look...If you want me to talk to him…Tell him nothing's going on here…I'd be happy to…Well...not happy…but I'd do it anyway…
Lorelai: (half-smiling) That's nice of you to offer, but I don't think it was about you.
Luke: (sighing) Relationships suck.
Lorelai: (sighing as she plops down on the couch) They really do…Hey…Did I miss anything?
Luke: (shaking his head) Nothing game-related…(half-smiling) But I think I could tell you something that would definitely cheer you up.
Lorelai: (perking up a bit) Ooo good…What's that?
Luke: Janet Jackson flashed all of America during the half-time show.
Lorelai: (eyes widening) Top or bottom?
Luke: Top…Only one.
Lorelai: (shocked) Wow…It just popped out?
Luke: (shaking his head) Nope…That guy from Nsync ripped her shirt off.
Lorelai: (smiling) What?...Damn…I miss all the good stuff…Okay….Well…You have to describe it…I want details, Mister…
Luke: (rolling his eyes) I'm not describing anything to you.
Lorelai: (gasping) I had to sit through your football lecture…and didn't once fall asleep…
Luke: (smiling) That's because you were too busy eating.
Lorelai: (play hitting him in the arm) Ah…I resent that…Lucas Danes, are you calling me a pig?
Luke: If the snout fits.
Lorelai: (shaking her head) Just for that, I'm making you eat an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's.
GILMORE HOUSE--LATER THAT NIGHT
Lorelai is asleep on the couch. Luke is sitting on the floor. He gets up, turns the TV off, and gently nudges Lorelai's arm.
Luke: (softly) Hey…Wake up…Lorelai…Wake up…The Patriots won.
Lorelai: (half-asleep) Did Tom Brady take his clothes off too?
Luke: (smiling) No.
Lorelai: (sitting up and yawning) Good…Then I didn't miss anything.
Luke: (putting his coat on) I should probably leave…It's late.
Lorelai: (looking around) Oh yeah.
Luke: (half-smiling) Thanks for doing this…It was really nice of you…It sorta took my mind off of the whole "walking in on my wife having sex with another man" thing.
Lorelai: (smiling, standing up) Hey…What are friends for?….Oh...wait a second…You can't leave…I won the bet….You're supposed to pay up.
Luke: (trying to back out) I don't think we shook hands…So it wasn't official.
Lorelai: (shaking her head) Oh...Don't try to weasel out of this…You owe me.
Luke: (giving her a look) I fixed your furnace.
Lorelai: (sighing) Temporarily…and that wasn't a part of the bet.
Luke: You really want me to tell you?
Lorelai: Um….Do I have to hire a sky-writer to answer that in big, huge letters…for the 3,000th time?...Luke…I like learning things about you…Usually you're so mysterious…This would be like another piece to the puzzle that is Luke Danes..
Luke: (rolling his eyes) I'm not that mysterious.
Lorelai: (rolling her eyes) Please....You had your own personal weekly segment on Unsolved Mysteries….It was after the stories about the alien abductions…but before the ones about that big, furry Sasquatch.
Luke: (sighing) Okay…Sit down.
Lorelai: (worried) Oh…Geez…This isn't the part where you tell me I have some terrible, tropical disease, and my only hope for a cure is to eat only vegetables?
Luke: (trying to explain) No…I just…
Lorelai: (nodding) Okay…I'll sit….This must be good.
Lorelai sits down on the couch. Luke takes his coat off and starts to pace the room again.
Luke: (sighing) Alright…So…You asked what it is that I didn't want to leave behind…Part of it is about the apartment…and being in Stars Hollow…because that's what my life has been for so long…But…The other part…
Lorelai: (curious) Yeah?
Luke: (sighing loudly, stopping in his tracks and looking at her) Oh…Hell…Uh…It was about you.
Lorelai: (surprised) Me?
Luke: (quietly) Yeah.
Lorelai: (confused) Why was it about me?
Luke: (struggling to find the words) Because…
Lorelai: (interrupting) Because what?
Luke: (blurting out) Because I didn't wanna lose you.
Lorelai: Hey, that's my line.
Luke: (sitting down on the couch) Yeah…Well…I'm borrowing it.
Lorelai: So…Wait…Lemme wrap my head around this…Bear with me…My mind's still a little fuzzy….You didn't want to officially move-move in with Nicole because you were afraid that you would lose me?
Luke: (looking away) Something like that.
Lorelai: (confused) But…How would you lose me?
Luke: Things would have been different…I mean…I would have been in Litchfield…with Nicole.
Lorelai: (smiling) But….I'd still see you everyday….I'd still eat your food…I'd still beg for your coffee…
Luke: But say you needed me to do something for you…and I wasn't around to do it…because I wouldn't live here anymore...
Lorelai: (feeling guilty) Oh…Luke…I hope you don't think that I consider you my own personal slave?…That I expect you to jump whenever I call you?...You can always say "No," and I wouldn't be mad at you…I know you have a life…And it doesn't revolve around me…
Luke: (interrupting) But I like being there to help you.
Lorelai: (smiling) Well…I like you being there too….But that doesn't mean that I expect it all the time.
Luke: I know you don't.
Lorelai: So…You didn't move in totally with Nicole because of this?...God…Now I feel so guilty.
Luke: (surprised) Why?...It doesn't matter anyway…She was cheating on me.
Lorelai: True…But…
Luke: (waving her off) Don't blame my relationships problems on yourself....Nicole and I just weren't meant to be together.
Lorelai: (agreeing cautiously) I guess.
Luke: (shrugging) Maybe nobody's "meant to be"….Maybe only some people live their lives, get lucky one day, happen to beat the odds, and find someone who they can make it work with.
Lorelai: (smiling) I think that's what "meant to be" means….Two people who find each other, against all odds, and are able to just…click.
The two of them sit in silence for a minute, staring at each other. Luke breaks the gaze, and looks away before sighing loudly.
Luke: It could be the beer…I dunno…but…I'll tell ya something funny…
Lorelai: (intrigued) What's that?...I'm always up for a good laugh.
Luke: (hesitantly) Ah...Hell....I...uh...I used to think that maybe there was something between you and me…
Lorelai: (confused) Something like what?
Luke: (looking down, embarrassed) Like…Maybe we could be more than friends…But…(trying to reassure her) Don't worry or anything…I mean…I don't think that anymore…and hearing what you said to Jason about us shows that you also think it's best for us to just be friends…Which is what I want too.
Lorelai: (taken aback, slightly blushing) Luke…I…don't really know what to say.
Luke: (rolling his eyes) Aw geez, Lorelai...I said this and now things are gonna be all weird between us…Look....I never should have said anything….Forget I said it...
Lorelai: (quietly) I don't wanna forget that you said it.
Luke: (surprised) You don't?
Lorelai: (looking down) No.
Luke: (curious) Why not?
Lorelai: (looking at him) I don't know….I just don't.
Luke: (hesitating) So...It's okay that I told you about this…about the way I …used to feel?
Lorelai: That's past tense, right?...I mean…I'm just checkin…Past tense…as in…you don't feel that way anymore?
Luke: (nodding) Right…I mean…Nothing could ever have happened here...
Lorelai: Because you didn't want anything to happen?
Luke: (looking away) Right…And neither did you?
Lorelai: (looking down) Right.
Luke: (getting up and grabbing his coat) Okay…Well…Glad we cleared that up….So…I should probably leave…Uh…Thanks again…For everything…(walking towards the door) I'll…see ya tomorrow.
Lorelai: (still sitting on the couch, immersed in thought) Yeah…Tomorrow.
LUKE'S APARTMENT--LATER THAT NIGHT
Luke lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. He sighs loudly, gets out of bed, and starts to walk towards the phone when he hears something hit the window and then another something else. He walks over to the window.
Luke: (perplexed) What the..?
He opens the window and sees Lorelai standing on the street below, smiling up at him.
Lorelai: Hey.
Luke: (calling down to her) What are you doing?...It's 2 AM.
Lorelai: (shrugging) Can't sleep.
Luke: (trying to whisper) You're gonna wake my neighbors.
Lorelai: Then come down and let me in.
Luke: (confused) Why?
Lorelai: (sarcastically) Because I wanna trade recipes for gazpacho…Why do you think?....I wanna talk to you.
Luke: (sighing) Ugh…Fine…I'll be down in a minute.
Lorelai: (bouncing up and down, trying to keep warm) Hurry…I'm becoming a human popsicle.
In a couple minutes, Luke appears in the Diner. Lorelai sees him in his T-shirt and sweatpants, and she smiles at the sight. He unlocks the door, and she walks inside. He shuts the door behind her. She walks over to a table, shakes a little, and then sits down.
Lorelai: Ah…Warmth, oh how I've missed you…Would it be too weird if I asked to build a fire on the Diner floor?
Luke: (sighing) Not too weird for you.
Lorelai: (nudging his arm) Ah…Come on…We could roast marshmallows and tell scary stories about hook-handed killers and...
Luke: (interrupting) Think I'll pass…So…(looking down at her) What did you find so important that it needed to be discussed at two o'clock in the morning?
Lorelai: (looking up at him) Well…I thought we could chat about football.
Luke: (surprised) Football?!?…Are you kidding?
Lorelai: (shaking her head) No…I wanna do a little pigskin talk.
Luke: (pointing at the clock) But it's—
Lorelai: (finishing his thought) 2 AM…I know…but…There's some stuff about it that I need to know.
Luke: Now?
Lorelai: (nodding as she looks at him) Yes. Now.
Luke: (shaking his head) I'm too tired to argue about this…So….(turning a chair around and sitting on it the opposite way) What do ya want to know?
Lorelai: (talking slowly) Well....Okay…So…In football…You got a team…and...They're on the field…Playing a game…and they're losing and the game's almost over....But, they're trying really hard to move down the field…To get what they want….A touchdown….but all kinds of things get in their way…like…One of the receivers drops the ball…or….The quarterback fumbles…or…The other team blitzes like crazy…So…The team tries to get the touchdown…But there aretoo many obstacles, so they have to settle for a field goal…which isn't that bad…Hey…It's three points added to the score…But still…Not enough to win the game…So…What I figure is…The team's gotta choice…They can fold…Realize that the other team is just too good…Or they themselves aren't good enough…or they can work even harder…Try to get the ball back…Try to score the points they need…Get that touchdown…and win the game…
Luke: (curious, as his patience start to wear thin) Okay…So what's your question?
Lorelai: My question is…Why would the team give up when it's possible for them to win the game?
Luke: (shrugging) Maybe they're just not good enough.
Lorelai: (looking at him) They're good enough.
Luke: (sighing) Maybe the other team won't let them win.
Lorelai: (smiling) The other team isn't gonna stop them.
Luke: (confused) How do you know?
Lorelai: (quietly) Because the other team wants them to win.
Luke: (confused, still NOT getting it) But that's not what happens in…
Lorelai: (interrupting him and placing her hand on his) Luke...
Lorelai: (looking down at her hand) Yeah?
Lorelai: (softly) I want you to try to win the game.
Luke: (swallowing hard) You do?
Lorelai: (smiling) I do.
Luke: (unsure) But I don't know if—
Lorelai: (interrupting again) You don't know unless you try.
Luke: (worried) But…I don't want to mess this up…What we have…
Lorelai: (shaking her head) We won't.
Luke: (half-smiling) We?
Lorelai: (looking down, blushing a little) Yes.
Luke: (studying her face) You wanna do this?
Lorelai: (looking him in the eyes) I wanna do this.
Luke: But you just broke up with....
Lorelai: (sighing) I know…And you just decided to get a divorce…We don't have to rush into anything…I just wanted you to know that it would be nice if sometime soon, we maybe could become more than just "friend-friends"…
Luke: (nodding) Yeah.
Lorelai: (getting up) So…Anyway…I guess I should let you get back to sleep…After all…(smiling) You have to be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed tomorrow morning, so you can serve me my coffee…
Lorelai walks to the door. Luke gets up and follows her.
Luke: (smiling) Hey…How'd you know all that stuff about football?...I mean… "Blitz"?…That wasn't on my lesson plan….
Lorelai: (smiling) Well…After you left tonight….I kinda watched some ESPN…And---Believe it or not---I didn't lapse into a coma….I actually learned some stuff…and it got me thinking about everything you said before you left…and everything that's happened lately…and so…I decided to come talk to you about it.
Lorelai opens up the door and steps through the doorway. Luke leans his arm up against the doorway a la TATT. She turns around and smiles at him.
Luke: (smiling) So watching ESPN made you decide that you might wanna date me?
Lorelai: (shrugging, smiling) Yeah…Go figure…Maybe I should have started watching it sooner.
Luke: (staring at her, smiling) Huh…Maybe.
Lorelai: (moving closer to him) Hey Luke?
Luke: (quietly) Yeah?
Lorelai: (smiling, inches from his lips) You wanna kiss me?
Luke: (nervously) What?
Lorelai: (softly) There's five seconds on the clock…Go for it.
Luke smiles at her words, leans in and their lips meet. Snow falls onto the street as they stand in the doorway, kissing. After a few moments, Lorelai pulls back and smiles at him.
Lorelai: (whispering) Touchdown.
The End.
Some Final Thoughts: So, this was a new experience for me. Never really wrote this kind of fic before. My whole reasoning behind it was had Lorelai been able to finish her thought in the church, maybe things would have ended up differently. Maybe this small change in history would have led to a series of events that would have brought Luke and Lorelai closer. Maybe it would have helped them discover each other earlier rather than later. That being said, I still love the way that Amy and Co. constructed the whole Luke and Lorelai saga, and I wouldn't wish for it to be any other way because it has been truly ingenious. Also,you probably noticed the bookshelf quote from Girls In Bikinis...Yes...I borrowed it, just because it was so damn clever and so Luke Danes. Thanks all for taking the time to read my work.I'm out for now. G