I'm Still Here

The bell rang as Lorelai walked into Luke's Diner. Luke was standing, wiping the counter with a barely wet cloth. "We're closed. Come back tomorrow," Luke grumbled angrily. Lorelai just stood there unable to speak or move. Since, he did not hear the bell again he turned around as he said, "I said we're … Lorelai?" He was stunned.

Lorelai hadn't step foot inside his diner since that day she gave him the ultimatum. They had only talked once, but that was when Luke needed help with April. They hadn't even said hello in passing or even turned their heads.

"What are you doing here?" Luke asked after trying several times to come up with an answer himself.

"I, … uh," Lorelai wasn't really sure why exactly she came in. She just saw Luke through the window as she passed and felt the urge to go in. "I … desperately need coffee." Wanting coffee was the easiest answer to give and not have it questioned afterwards, because after all, Luke knows better than anyone that Lorelai needs her coffee.

"Ok. One minute." Luke answered emotionless. He didn't want to lead her on to think he was glad she was there, even though deep down he was.

Lorelai was surprised at his answer. She could tell that there was no pot of coffee already made, and she really didn't expect him to make her some special anymore, especially after everything that happened.

Luke turned around as it was warming up, "You can sit down if you want," he spoke gently and motioned to a stool at the counter.

"Thanks," she replied, as she placed her purse on the stool to her left and took a seat. Luke leaned against the counter behind him and stared at Lorelai. They stood in silence for a long time.

Lorelai contemplated being the first to speak, but decided not to. She knew the right time for one of them to talk would come soon.

Beep, beep, beep. The signal that the coffee was ready rang loudly. Luke pulled the coffee pot out of the machine along with a coffee cup, and poured her a cup. "So …" Luke finally broke the silence, "You're … uh engaged." Luke knew that this was probably the worst way to start the conversation.

"Um, no." Lorelai slowly replied, confusing him, "Not engaged, married." Lorelai looked down as she said this. She couldn't help but feel ashamed that she so easily got married to Christopher after not being able to work things out with Luke.

"Wow, married. That was, well, um, fast." Luke stumbled over the words, trying to stay calm, but on the inside, he was anything but calm. He was already having a terrible week, after April's meltdown and his fight with Anna. Now, Lorelai was piling more things on top of him.

Lorelai could clearly tell he was hurt. She hated to be the one that hurt him. "Yeah, well it was just like a spur of the moment thing." The words just tumbled out of Lorelai's mouth; She didn't think about them, and she wasn't sure if they were the right things to say, but she said them anyway.

"Well, that's really great Lorelai. I'm happy for you," Luke responded in the happiest tone he could muster up.

Lorelai desperately wanted to change the subject. It was so hard talking to the townspeople about her marriage but even harder to talk to Luke about it, since she knew that they had their chance. "So how's April? Is she feeling better after her operation?"

Luke wasn't really sure that April was a much better subject, but he answered her questions, "April's fine. She's feeling much better. I think everyone in her school has seen her stitches by now." They both chuckled a little. It was a nice change for the both of them.

Lorelai missed the sound of his laughter so much. Just hearing it made her smile. "That's good. I'm glad you two are getting closer."

"Yeah. Closer. Finally. And now she's taking it away," Luke murmured quietly.

But Lorelai still heard him. "What? Who's taking it away? Anna? What's happening?" Lorelai questioned, very concerned.

Luke was shocked at how concerned Lorelai was, but then again, he was happy she was concerned. He smiled for a second then realized that even though he was smiling, a tear was running down his cheek. "Anna, yes. She and April are … moving. To New Mexico," Luke sobbed.

Lorelai's jaw dropped wide open. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But, why?"

Before Luke knew it he was making his way to the stool next to Lorelai and retelling everything that was going on, "Anna's mom is sick, and she wants to be closer to her because she could die soon, and I get that she wants to be with her, but I told her that April can stay with me for as long as she wants, maybe just until the school year is over. But Anna said no. And April doesn't want to move. She had a meltdown the other day … j … just like the one I'm having now."

Lorelai rubbed her hand up and down Luke's back. "It's ok. It'll be ok," she whispered in his ear. She gave him a hug, to try to cheer him up. Not realizing at this very moment Christopher was outside watching them.