AN: I'm back with a sort of fill in episode for 622. I know it hasn't aired yet but I have a muse and am going to use my optimism while I still can. Also, this only includes SPOILERS seen in the promo. It takes place right after Lorelai walks away from Luke. I was going to include the fight, but I'm so excited (?) to see what the Palladino's do there, I don't even want to try and compete with them. But the basic sentiment was given in the promo. "Let's elope", "Just wait", "No! I'm not waiting. It's now or never," and Lorelai walks away. This picks up right from her walking away.

Also for those of you wondering what happened to my other story, "Now You Have Your Cake", I couldn't continue, and still can't at this point. I hope to finish it one day but am currently having a hard time writing Chris in a positive light. Not that I think Chris is scum, but with all the anti-Chris sentiments floating around in the fandom, I'm having a hard time finding a voice for him that won't immediately be responded to by, "I hate Chris and anything he does is wretched!" (I humbly admit that sometimes as of lately, I also belong in that category.) But without further ado, I bring you my interpretation of the end of season six, the beginning of season seven.

"Just wait!"

"No I'm not waiting! It's now or never."

Luke couldn't believe what was happening. Lorelai stood in front of him, mere seconds away from crumbling into the sidewalk. His heart broke as she started to take a step back, feeling the weight of the air between them. She stared at him with eyes he had never seen before. Anger, confusion, and heart break glistened in her tears. He realized she was waiting for him to speak. He took a deep breath, determined to calm her down. She was falling apart right in front of him. He lowered his voice considerably and reached out for her hopelessly, eyes burning as the acid in his stomach seemed to rise into his head.

"Lorelai…"

She squeezed her eyes shut tight and vigorously shook her head back and forth. He didn't have to say anything else. In her mind, the absence of words spoke volumes. She turned slightly and started to stumble away from him, fighting off the impulse to collapse into a fit of tears.

He rose his voice again, firm and hopeless, "Lorelai!"

She didn't even turn around. He couldn't let her go away like this. If for no other reason, than for her own safety. She was completely and utterly a mess. He started shaking, as the magnitude of this moment raced through his heart. She was calling it off. She was walking away. He started after her.

"Please wait!" He wasn't sure if he was referring to her waiting for him to catch up with her, or just her waiting for him. He just needed for her to wait. Everything was happening so fast. He was losing her so fast.

She stumbled on the grass, her legs shaky and numb. He watched as her knees caught her on the grass by the gazebo. He ran up beside her. She was making no motion to return to her feet, as she stayed down, whimpering with her head down beside her shoulders. He knelt down beside her, not being able to believe how small and helpless she looked there. His heart ached, and his mind raced.

"I love you," he said it weakly, strands of pleading hope bleeding onto the words. She shook her head and refused to look at him.

"Lorelai please."

She shook her head and began to get up quickly, muttering "no". And then, she was up. And once again, walking away from him. He couldn't move, but his head dropped. He himself muttered a "no", as he couldn't even turn his head to watch her walking away. He stayed frozen there as the sounds of her sniffling and the clicks of her heels slipped further into the distance.

Finally, he pushed himself to his feet and began pacing ominously. To outside observer, one might think he was nervous. But he was shocked, and heartbroken, and unsure of what to do with all of these emotions. He calmly walked to the gazebo, and in what would have appeared to be a premeditated attack, he kicked the handrail beside the stairs, knocking it over with a loud crack and a thud. He wanted to tear the damn thing down. But he stopped and took a deep breath. She needed to rest, he needed to think. They needed time before he could make things right. But he would make things right. He had to.

So he marched back to the diner, ignoring the fearful glances of the diner patrons. It didn't even register that Taylor was saying something about him having to pay for the repairs to the gazebo. It was a good thing he didn't because he probably would have hit him. He stormed through the silent, shocked diner and headed straight for the stairs. Of all the things on his mind right now, closing the diner was the least of his worries. He slammed the door to his apartment, the echo filling the small building.

Lorelai stumbled up the stairs to her house and fell onto the couch. She couldn't believe that it was over. Her sobbing intensified and she found it hard to catch her own breath. Months of emotions overwhelmed her and she began hyperventilating. She placed her hands on the table, balancing herself as she leaned over, still sitting on the couch. The light caught the shiny ring that adored left hand. She hadn't given him back the ring. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the side of the table, bracing herself, holding on so tightly, as to keep herself from removing the beautiful sentiment. Removal of the object held too much symbolism for her to handle and she laid her head down on the table defeated. Her muscles slowly began to relax, the soreness pulsing through every fiber. She was far from relaxed, or comfortable, but she forfeited to her tired body. Forehead lying on the table, hands on either side of her face. As the turned head on the table, the coolness of her tears smeared on the wood felt good against her soft cheek. She closed her eyes to block out the view of the ring. And she surrendered to sleep. Exhausted and relieved, and finally able to catch her breath as it became rhythmic in her sleep.

And that's where he found her the next morning. He had not slept at all. He had listened as Kirk had taken the reigns and ushered everyone out of the diner. The patrons had left, and Luke had even heard a few making comments about Kirk's hairnet. He had listened as the chairs had been one by one put on the table. And finally, he listened as Kirk had finally left, the bell ringing as he closed the door to the diner.

After lying in his cold bed for nearly six hours, not moving, not able to sleep, unable to feel sorry for himself. He wanted, no needed, to know she was okay. He had slowly gotten up and slipped out of the diner making his way to her house.

He tensed as he slowly opened the door to her house. It was unlocked, but he didn't even have the strength to sigh at her carelessness. He snuck into the house and started for the stairs, catching sight of her asleep on table. Her face was turned away from him. The slow rise and fall of her back assured him. His eyes fell to his feet, ashamed at his own ability to bring Lorelai to this.

The first thing Lorelai saw when she woke up was the ring. Any hopeful waking thoughts were immediately shattered as her uncomfortable position reminded her of the night before. She closed her eyes once again, hoping to wake up in her bed. With Luke. She took a deep breath, willing herself from crying once again.

Luke was still as he saw her take a deep breath. He wondered if she knew he was here. He wondered if she was going to throw him out. But most of all, he wondered if they'd ever be the same.

TBC