A/N: I almost never write anymore, but I decided to finally watch the one episode I hadn't seen all of (Gilmore Girls Only) and ended up watching to the end of the series, and I was inspired. It was supposed to be more angsty at the end, but I can only bring myself to go so far.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Luke Danes and Lorelai Gilmore had a sweet love story for the ages. It was an understated tale of unrequited feelings, close friendship, and what some would call true love.
They first met at his diner. She wouldn't leave him alone that first day, and that became a repeat performance for the rest of their relationship. She had him completely captivated in those early moments.
He became a father figure to her daughter that she was far too young to have. She became the only woman in his life that could get him to come out of his gruff, almost angry, shell.
Years of friendship. Years of him watching her fall for every guy that smiled her way. He watched her return to the father of her child. He watched her get her heart broken again and again.
He stood by her through her struggles with her distant parents. He subtly helped with her ever present money problems-their food was always on the house at the diner.
Rory never needed babysitting, but he always reserved a place at his counter for her if she needed it.
He made sure the Gilmore girls never went without.
If their house was falling apart, he'd fix it. If their car broke down, he'd repair it. If Lorelai was sick, he brought them food.
He was their sturdy pillar in their insane life, and her and her beautiful daughter brought the color back into his that he'd been missing for years.
When Rory turned sixteen, he remembered. When Lorelai's father was sick, he drove. Rory's first boyfriend? He would've killed him if he hurt her. He would always be around.
He was Lorelai's steady voice of reason when she was looking for a way out. Lorelai was his confidante in his escapades as a reluctant guardian. They shared snowy sleigh rides, picnic baskets, and funeral arrangements. And even when they fought, it was with Rory's best interests in mind.
He saved her from teenagers asking about her pregnancy, and he provided her with coffee on a way-too-early 1940's themed morning. He glued her broken shoe, and they conversed about future children. They were soul mates and didn't even know it yet. She stole his marshmallows, and he kept her flowers. He took her in when she had no place to go, and kept her from his girlfriend. He attended Rory's high school graduation, tears in his eyes, in place of her biological father.
Luke gave up his beloved truck, and dealt with a dirty mattress for his girls. They break a bell. And when she gives in, when it all builds up, when she breaks under her heavy load, he holds her as she cries in the middle of a park at night. He was the solution to her problems-a partner. Lorelai rescued him from jail and helped him through the pain of a cheating lover.
Luke could see her face.
And when she accomplished her dream, he was there. He gave her flowers, which he doesn't do.
They just stood still. (Until naked Kirk, of course.)
For awhile, they had it all. They loved. They loved hard. They stood up for each other.
And then everything went to hell.
Time passed. They were together; they were not. Decisions were made that would slowly ruin them inside.
He gained a daughter, she gained that man.
Rory grew up.
Their very separate lives calmed down.
A maze of hay, her insane demands for her car, and a song.
She would always love him. He had never stopped loving her.
He worked night and day on tarps and tents, just to see her happy.
A reconciliation kiss, and Rory moves on with life.
A happily ever after.
…We can only hope.
