A/N: Another prompt response! It's sad, it's post-breakup (Season 5 this time), it's another no-dialoguer, one of my shortest ones yet, but don't let that keep you from reading!
Disclaimer: I just don't own Gilmore Girls. Okay? Never have, never will. I don't know how else to say it.
Those Little Things
Lorelai Gilmore was never a patient person. She knew it; everyone who knew her knew it too. She never slowed down and took the time to examine things, to savor things. It was just the way she was and she didn't know how to change it. She probably wouldn't have even wanted to change it if she had stayed with him.
He was the one man who could balance out her impatience. He sometimes made her wait, got her to slow down for a minute. He was an extremely patient person. Her complete opposite in that area. Maybe it had something to do with his parents' deaths, but Luke had always loved the little things. She usually hadn't taken much notice of those little things, as was her nature. She had become so used to them coming from him, that she began to expect them after a while.
The way he would touch her. So gently, so full of care. How he possessed this strange control over her, but never took advantage of it. A small gesture like putting his hand on her knee could comfort her. Placing his hand over hers to show that he supported her. The way he would rub her arm while she was talking to him about a bad day at work. That he always knew when to give her coffee. Played with her hair while they were kissing. Held her against him as if to shield her from the world. Kept her cradled against him while they slept. Even something so simple as giving her his undivided attention while she was speaking. All such little things that she had taken for granted.
Sure he had done some big things for her. He had set up that wonderful first date with a reserved table. He had sat through an excruciating dinner with her mother. He had gone golfing with her father to try to get his approval. He had made a humongous and fancy dinner complete with dessert. He had even built her an ice rink after she had a bad time with snow.
Every relationship had give and take. It seemed to her that she did most of the taking and he did most of the giving. Now that she thought about it, it really wasn't fair to him. She berated herself for not doing more for him. She should have thanked him more. She wondered why she had assumed he would always be there. It seemed so real, like it could grow and become a permanent relationship. She had thought he knew how much she appreciated him, but she saw now that she hadn't even noticed everything he did for her. It was possible that he didn't even notice everything he did either.
If she could have one wish she would go back in time and let him now how much she appreciated him, but it was too late now. Now, he was gone. They weren't speaking. He wasn't doing anything for her now, and he might never do anything for her again. There was a saying that went: "Every cloud has a silver lining." She decided it was true. Being separated from him was awful, but it had taught her one thing. You can never stop watching the person you love who loves you back. They're always doing something for you and if you take your eyes off them for even a minute, you'll miss it all. You'll miss all of those little things.