More importantly, this story takes place in season six, specifically, beginning during "The Prodigal Daughter Returns". Instead of April, Luke gets another visitor in the diner that day...
Welcome to my exploration of the April alternative.
He isn't sure exactly how it had happened, or what exactly he was thinking, but after he finished mopping the floor and turning off all of the lights, he grabbed his keys and went out the back door instead of up the stairs.
She had slipped him the napkin earlier in the day and maybe, he told himself, he was just going to put an end to whatever had been happening lately. It worries him that she wanted to meet him tonight. It feels illicit and wrong, and yet he turns the key.
Surely it isn't what he thinks.
But he had lied. He had told Lorelai that he wasn't feeling well and was going to spend the night in his apartment. Unfortunately, she hadn't seemed to mind much. He wishes she would of insisted on his return home. But she hadn't.
And now he is in his truck, pulled by a force that is inexplicably strong, tense on the steering wheel and loathing himself.
Three Weeks Earlier...
Lorelai sits at the counter patiently waiting for him to close up. She's nursing a cup of coffee and impatiently drumming her fingers on the counter.
Luke is placing a chair on a table and looks over his shoulder to her when he hears her sigh, "You can wait for me upstairs you know."
She grins and places her chin on her hands, "I know. I just like watching you work."
Sighing, he continues wiping down the coffee machine, "You're just here to try and make me go faster."
She shrugs, "Is it working?"
He buries his grin, "No."
"You missed a spot."
He rolls his eyes and finishes it off. He sets down his rag and turns back to her, "Ready?"
"Done already?" she motions to the unfolded napkins on the counter and the untouched kitchen.
"I'm not good with an audience."
"Dirty!"
"Go, go, get!" he points up the stairs. "I'll finish up before I open."
"Rebel," she says with a flirty jerk of her head and he rolls his eyes.
She playfully jumps off the stool and runs towards the stairs. He places the rag underneath the counter and follows.
Lorelai is lying in bed watching television with a big grin on her face. Other than the television and her occasional laughter, the apartment is washed with a comfortable silence.
Trying to make up for his shortcomings downstairs, Luke is straightening things around the apartment. He takes a glass from the bedside table to the sink and picks up Lorelai's clothes, folding them onto his chair.
Satisfied with his progress, he goes over to the bed crawling in beside her.
He watches her for a second and she turns her head when she senses his eyes on her.
"What?" she asks softly, noticing the serious expression on his face.
He pulls her to him and her head rests on his chest. He lightly strokes her head and drops a kiss where his fingers pass.
"Did I mention I'm sorry about today?"
She hugs him a little tighter, "I'm sorry too."
"I'll call Sookie and Jackson tomorrow to apologize."
"I already did, but I'm sure they'd appreciate it."
"I didn't mean to be such a jealous, raging jerk."
"I shouldn't have turned it off right when you walked in."
"You just freaked."
"I freaked." She lifts her head up to look at him, "You know I'm not hiding anything right?"
"I do."
"And that I would never hide anything like that from you?"
"I know."
"And that I love you?"
"Well I figured," he says with a grin.
She looks at him waiting, "And..."
He cocks his head, "And what?"
She sighs playfully, "And you love me?"
"And I love you."
"Good."
"Very good."
She settles back onto his chest and closes her eyes.
"I've missed staying here."
"Go to sleep," he whispers.
"It's like our secret romantic getaway."
"Sleep."
"And you, such a charmer," she feigns.
"Eyes closing-"
"You make my knees weak when you talk like that," she bats her eyelashes.
"Shhhh..."
She complies long enough for him to close his eyes, "I bet you say that to all the girls," she teases.
He smiles, eyes still closed, and she eventually drifts off to sleep, hugging him tightly against her.
He isn't sure why she catches his eye. It isn't typical for him to notice customers, but there is something about her. Something that intrigues him. So he watches her.
He's never seen her before, but anyone could see that she's beautiful. It's a traditional beauty; brown wavy hair and dark eyes to match. She probably isn't even wearing makeup, he muses as he watches her sipping her coffee.
She hadn't said much to him, just asked him for a coffee with a large smile that showed off her slightly crooked teeth that reminded him of his mother's. They're white, and unless you looked closely, you'd probably think they were perfect. Her skin isn't even unblemished and smooth, there are lines there, imperfections that do nothing but add to her beauty.
She's reading a newspaper and her hair falls from behind her ear. As she tucks it back, with her left, unringed hand, (he can't help but notice), she catches him looking.
Embarrassed, he recovers nicely, "Would you like anything to eat?"
She smiles at him sweetly, "Just coffee for now."
So he resumes working trying to keep her clear from his vision. He methodically gives Kirk his order, and even Taylor, who seems a little stunned when his burger comes out just as fast as anyone else's.
Miss Patty comes in and asks for an iced tea and Bootsie gets a plate of meatloaf.
She's still there, he knows, even though he hasn't dared as much as a glance back in her direction.
The diner begins getting busier and he's happy for the distraction as he runs back and forth from the kitchen delivering food.
He'd been avoiding her end of the counter for quite some time, but when the man sitting near her asks for ketchup, he's forced to return to where she sits.
She clears her throat, grabbing his attention. When he finally looks at her again, she's watching him intently. With a smile she asks, "Could I speak to the manager?"
"Manager?" Luke asks surprised. "I'm sorry, is there a problem?"
"Let me guess. You're Luke."
He raises his eyebrows, "That's me."
"Well Luke, I'm Sarah."
"Is there a problem?" he repeats worried.
"Well the service here is kinda-well..."
He is annoyed now, "Yeah?"
She dips her head a little embarrassed, "You see, I've been wanting to order food for some time now and-"
He cuts her off, feeling once again embarrassed, "Oh geez. Sorry. It's just been kinda hectic in here."
She accepts his excuse, (even though "hectic" is a bit of an overstatement), but she can't help but notice the blush that rises to his cheeks. She smiles and adds, hoping to ease his embarrassment; "Well I did say I didn't want food earlier, so it's just as much my fault as yours."
"Sure, um-" he clears his throat, "Ye-, well. No," he stumbles and she smiles at his nervousness. He takes a breath, mentally kicking himself for bumbling like an idiot. "Tell you what, whatever you order, it's on the house."
She smiles sweetly at him, "Thanks Luke." And with a glint of teasing in her eyes, she pretends to glance over the menu, "Well it all looks so good..."
He stands patiently, watching her. His eyes, with no permission from his mind, take a minute to get a closer look. They slowly glide over her body; smooth shoulders protruding from a perfect neckline---He catches himself and adverts his eyes just in time for her to look back up.
"I'll just have one of everything. On the house, right?"
He smiles at her, shaking his head.
"Just a burger," she amends. He nods and begins to turn away, when she adds quickly, "With onions." He gives her a grin and a nod.
He goes to the kitchen telling Cesar the order, without braving another glance in her direction.
She watches him go with a smile. She shakes her head and returns to the newspaper.
When Luke returns with her burger, he sets it down in front of her, adverting her attention back towards him. "With onions," he says as he lays it down in front of her, and leaves as quickly as he came.
She smiles gratefully at his retreating figure and starts on her burger.
Luke doesn't have to try anymore to advert his attention as the diner starts overflowing with orders.
By the time he gets back to the counter, she's gone. Beside her plate is a ten-dollar bill and a napkin. Scribbled on it reads, "This place wasn't so bad after-all. I'll definitely be back. Thanks, Sarah."
Sarah, he thinks, and smiles.
From the corner of the diner, Miss Patty watches the entire interaction. She looks at Luke's face and frowns. This is bad.