Hello people.

It´s me again!Yeah, I know, long time no see but I have a good excuse. First my beta´s internet was down and then she was out of town. So please don´t be mad...or smad.

Thanks for all the kind reviews!You guys rock!

I´t´s my longest chapter ever and I hope you enjoy it.

Luke was busy wiping the counter of his packed diner. He wanted to keep himself from thinking about Lorelai and last chance at a happy future they were beginning.

His thoughts wandered to Rory's departure, instead. It make him sick just reflecting on it. Their goodbye that morning after they ate breakfast together - as a family, how Lorelai described it – was very emotional. Well, Rory and Lorelai shared some tears, and Luke tried to be strong for them, offering a comforting shoulder but he almost didn't succeed, getting rather choked up, himselfHe had watched Rory grow up and couldn't wrap his mind around how fast she had developed into the amazing woman he was seeing off.

"Take care, Rory."

"I will, Luke. Don´t forget me," Rory attempted a joke, but failed as a soft sob escaped her mouth.

"Never," Luke whispered and gave Rory a warm hug.

"Keep an eye on Mom. You know deep down she's still ten years old." Rory smiled at Luke who just nodded, knowingly.

Lorelai watched the whole interaction in silence. She felt so many conflicting feelings. One side of her was broken and sad because her angel, her only child, was leaving for good. Another part of her was happy and hopeful because Lorelai knew she wouldn´t be alone. She´d have Luke and a future with him. Joy and harm often adjoin…

The bells above the diner's door rang and Luke knew without looking up that Lorelai had entered his establishment. She plopped on a stool at the counter and put her purse next to her. It was obvious to him that she had been crying for quite some time. Luke walked over to where she was sitting, and poured a cup of coffee and put it in front of her.

"How are you?" he asked, even though it was clear to him that she wasn't doing so swell.

"Could be better." After a pause she went on. "Rory´s safe on the plane," she explained, looking at him with red eyes, but still attempting a smile. She took a sip of her coffee and let out a little sigh.

Luke wanted to comfort her by taking her in his arms and kissing her, but he didn´t want Patty and Babette to discuss the reconciliation right now. So he decided to comfort her the second best way he knew how to.

"You want some pancakes with extra chocolate and maybe even side of chocolate?" Luke asked, and put a hand on hers.

She looked up and a small smile appeared on her face. She shook her head slightly, "No, I have to get going to the Inn. But thanks."

"Don´t you want to take the day off and, I don't know, watch a movie or something?"

"The work distracts me. I don't want to be reminded of Rory while watching a movie alone, you know?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I'm wiping the counter and the tables like crazy since you two left to keep me from thinking about it."

"Hence the shiny and sparkly surface?" Lorelai joked and Luke could still see through her humor. He decided that she needed a huge lift-me-up.

"Do you want to do something tonight?"

Lorelai's smile remained and she put her second hand over their joined hands. "I´d love to. You want to come over? Bring some food and then we can watch a movie or talk or just sit and, um, hang?"

Luke had to chuckle at her word choice. "What do think of a real dinner. I could come over and cook something you'd like."

"Will it involve chocolate?" Lorelai joked and Luke recognized a little spark in her dark and sad eyes. "Dinner would be great. Seriously, what will you cook?"

"That's a surprise."

"I love surprises," Lorelai said, excitedly. "6ish at my house?"

"I'll be the one with the spatula." He smiled at her.

"Okay I gotta go. I'll see you later." Lorelai hopped off her stool and before Luke could react in any way, she had planted a kiss on his mouth. She held the contact several seconds before she broke the kiss.

"Bye."

"Bye, Lorelai and chin up," Luke said with a wink before she left the diner.

The rest of the day went by rather fast. Lorelai was preoccupied with checking in new guests, dealing with Michel's annoying "I can't talk to these people today, they are even more unkempt and rude than normal," and calling the vet because Cletus was sick.

Sookie tried to be supportive and consolatory but her constant "Rory's gonna be fine," was more depressing than it was helpful. She didn't want to think about Rory, at least not for that day and by avoiding the kitchen besides when getting coffee, she managed to do so.

Around 5.30 Lorelai became flustered, but flustered in a good and exciting way. She was going to have a date with Luke again after all this time.

As soon as the realization hit her, she said goodbye to her staff and headed home. Upon entering her house, she threw her purse on the couch and ran upstairs, two steps at a time. She managed to scatter most of her wardrobe across her bed within minutes. She needed to find the perfect outfit for tonight. Nothing too dressy, nothing too cheerful, but it still had to look wonderful on her. She finally decided on wearing her new jeans and a white shirt with a cascade neck line.

After putting the clothes on, she touched up her make-up. She had been up since the very early morning today, and even though Luke had seen her all messed up from crying hours before, she spent extra time covering up the dark circles the emotional day had caused. Her hair fell in loose curls and she was still wearing her new necklace from Luke, which complimented her shirt and eyes.

At six sharp Lorelai heard a knock on her door.

"I´m coming," she yelled down the stairs. With a big smile on her face she opened the door. There he was, Luke, sans blue hat and flannel, clad in a black sweater and dark jeans, holding a Doose´s bag.

"Hey there," Lorelai said, caught up in admiring him.

"'Hey back. You look beautiful." Luke was as amazed as Lorelai. The vibe of a first date was somewhat hanging in the air, and Lorelai was shocked to be feeling this way around Luke for a third time.

"You don't look too bad yourself either," she replied. Another second of starring and open-mouthed-standing passed before either of them said something again.

Lorelai was the first to break the silence: "Uhm -- come in."

Luke entered the house and headed straight to the kitchen and put the bag onto the counter.

"I'm glad you still remember the way to the kitchen," Lorelai quipped as she followed Luke and he smiled in response.

"It's just intuitive." Again silence.

Lorelai jumped up to sit on the counter and tried to catch a glimpse into the bag, but Luke grabbed it and placed it on top of the table, so he could empty it. She pouted for a moment then shook her head at him. "So, what are you cooking for me?" she inquired.

"Nothing fancy. Stuffed mushroom caps as starters, lasagne as main dish and, after that, your favourite part of a dinner – dessert, it's tiramisu" he explained and he pulled the items out. Lorelai hopped down and walked over to him.

"The perfect dinner." Lorelai smiled at him and stroked his arm.

"Thought so. I better start with it now."

"I´ll drink to that." Lorelai reached for the red wine bottle and poured herself a glass and sat down at the table. Luke began cooking and Lorelai observed him. She'd always loved to watch him cook, first at the diner, then at her home or his apartment. She loved having him back here, cooking for her in her kitchen.

"So how are you?" Luke asked, looking over his shoulder at her for a moment before turning back at the food on the stove top.

"I'm okay. Okay-ish, I guess," she confessed, tilting her head to the side to meet his eyes for a second when he was turned half way around again.

He could see that she was being honest with him and he was glad that she wasn't trying to pretend she was fine. He looked back at the food. "Rory called yet?"

"Yes. Right when the plane landed and then once she got settled a bit. She said she's fine and the staff is very nice, but she already misses Mommy and the town."

"Well, who wouldn´t miss this town?" Luke said, his voice filled with sarcasm.

"Ah, come on. You love this town with all its glory," Lorelai mocked and smiled.

"Yea sure."

"I still detect some sarcasm there." She giggled.

Luke just shook his head smiling, then turned all the way around and locked his gaze with her eyes. "I´d miss you," he said in a serious, confident voice.

Lorelai took a deep breath and gave him a huge smile. "Right back at you."

With beaming faces, Luke returned to his pans, and Lorelai played with her glass. Luke came to join her and got himself a glass of wine shortly afterwards. They sat in comfortable silence when the food was cooking in the oven, sometimes chatting about some crazy townsperson or telling a story about their daughters from the last few months.

"The mushroom caps were delicious, the lasagne was even more delicious, if that's possible, but the Tiramisu – oh my god! You´re the best non-Italian Tiramisu-maker ever. I wanna take a bath in it!" Lorelai exclaimed while taking a spoon full of her dessert.

"I´m glad you like it," Luke said with a smile, taking a bite of the dessert.

"I should marry you because of it," Lorelai said but as soon as the words left her mouth she regretted it.

Luke looked at Lorelai with a deer-in-the-headlight-expression and he swallowed hard. They stared at each other, their eyes both wide, and their minds racing over what she had just brought up. Lorelai opened her mouth slightly, but then closed it, not knowing what to even say at the moment. After a little longer of the awkward silence, she finally let out a small, "Luke."

He looked down, he couldn't, not right now. Luke decided to ignore the slip-up. "I should wash the dishes." Luke stood up, gathering up all the dishes and heading to the sink.

"No, you don´t have to," Lorelai said quickly, shaking off the moment they'd just had. "You cooked, I´ll wash the dishes." she offered, and pushed herself up from her chair and joined Luke at the sink.

"Okay, if you want to. I´ll dry," he said, nodding.

They stood next to each other at the sink, often rubbing against each other at the shoulders. Every time, the contact sent a mixed variety of emotions through them: happiness, fear, desire, determination, and they were both relatively quiet, lost in their own thoughts. The situation wasn´t new per se, they'd often cleaned up after meals together like this, but on this night, it was very new to them. One year apart is a long time. So much had changed; Lorelai got married, then divorced, Luke received partial custody over April. They knew they have to handle their third try differently. They knew they have to talk.

"Could we, uhm, talk?" Lorelai asked tentatively, handing Luke the last dish.

"Yeah, we should," he said surely, wipping off the plate and putting it away, then looking back at Lorelai.

"Now?"

"Now."

"Living room?"

"Living room."

They headed for the couch, and once they sat down, Lorelai stared at the television, the dollhouse, the stairs, whatever she could to avoid Luke's glance, and postpone the inevitably emotional conversation they were about to have for just a second longer.

Luke gave her some time, and then spoke up. "So, we should….talk," Luke said, taking a deep breath, and Lorelai looked at him, finally, smiling briefly.

"Where do we start?" Lorelai asked softly, fidgeting with her hands. Luke put his hands on hers to keep them still. He dipped his head a bit to meet her eyes.

"We have to do this," he told her. She nodded in agreement, knowing full well that this needed to be done.

"So, again, where do we start?"

Luke shook his head for a moment, thinking about what was still the most important question he had."Why did you have to sleep with him?" he asked sincerely, but he was surprised by his own bluntness.

"Why did you shut me out?" she asked sadly.

"Why did you marry him?" he said, his voice rising.

"Why didn't you want to marry me?" She spoke a bit more bitterly now.

"Why didn't you talk to me before you walked away?"

"Not fair, you have more 'why's," Lorelai joked, but she regained her serious composure very fast, upon seeing the look on Luke´s face.

"I´m sorry," she apologized, her face becoming a little flushed.

"Me too." Luke wanted this to not totally deflate both of them, especially Lorelai. He didn't want to make her cry after seeing her so upset about Rory earlier. "Okay," Luke said, swallowing. "Maybe that wasn't the best place to start. Why don't we try this again? From the beginning?" Luke suggested, as he resettled more into the couch, making sure he was still holding her hand.

"Okay," Lorelai agreed.

"The day you asked me to marry you, I was the happiest person in the world," he started. "Marrying you was a wish I had since the start of our relationship." Lorelai smiled at Luke and his honesty, feeling her heart pounding a little more. "But then April showed up," he continued.

Lorelai swallowed and looked at her hands which Luke sqeezed to give her a silent Sorry and to make sure she stayed focused as he went on. "First I was shocked and confused, naturally. I wanted to talk to you, but Rory had just come back and you were so happy. You were sad about her for so long, and finally you were happy again: happy to have her back and happy to set a wedding date. I didn't want to destroy that, so I waited to tell you later." He heard Lorelai let out an incredulous huff. "I did try to tell you, Lorelai, I wasn't actively trying to hide it from you. You announced that we were going to get married on June 3rd. I have to admit that I was frightened out of my mind. It felt so soon, and with getting to know April at that point, I thought I couldn´t concentrate on both: you and April."

"But-"

"Please, let me finish, first. My last attempt to tell you was the day you came down in your wedding dress. It was perfect and you were so beautiful, and I couldn't ruin yourhappiness. Again. I chose to go through the whole parent thing alone. Maybe I was too sure that I'd have you in my life forever that I concentrated my attention on April. I had to make up for twelve years. I didn´t know how to handle a kid, especially not a 12-yeard old. I just wanted to get to know April, alone. I was selfish and dumb but that´s what I thought would be right. Now that I talk about it makes it sound even dumber. I thought that if I introduced you, she would fall for you instantly and she´d lost interest in me." Lorelai was watching him closely, and he looked down again, shaking his head before going on. "God, that´s stupid. You are a crazy but lovely woman and I knew she´d love that. That´s why I kept you both apart. At least at first." Luke looked straight into Lorelai´s eyes, then, and he could see the pain and sadness in them as she struggled to keep from crying. It hurt him to see her that way and knowing that he caused it. He took a deep breath and continued.

"Later when I thought I had the whole April thing pretty well covered – covered as in I could talk to her without feeling like a complete idiot - I still didn´t introduce you two properly. At that point I didn´t know why but after we …separated, I understood. I was scared, frightened. I knew that we'd get married soon and I wanted that, I did. I thought I wasn't ready, though, I still wasn't ready to completely handle both parts of my life. That´s another ´dumb on my list, but that´s what I felt. I chickened out, and I just kept holding things off with you. I didn´t know how upset you were. I was oblivious to it. And then you came to the diner and said you wanted to elope. It went all so fast. You yelling, me yelling and I couldn´t process what this was all about. And then you ran away, and well," Luke finished with a sigh. He was exhausted. But somehow he felt a little relieved. They stared at each other again, both hurt and sad. Lorelai´s eyes were watery and a single tear rolled down her cheek. Luke wiped it away with his right thumb and Lorelai leaned her head into his hand.

"I´m sorry." Luke said and with his left hand he gave her right hand another little squeeze.

Lorelai took a deep breath, nodding slightly. Once she removed her head from Luke's hand, she gave him a weak smile. "My turn, I guess." Lorelai sniffed and tried to get her breathing under control, preparing for her speech.

"I was confused when I noticed you being more absent and even more grumpier than usual. I thought you'd be even more happy because Rory was back, but you weren't, and it just got worse. You wouldn't talk to me the way you used to, and you were distant. When I found out about April my world just crashed down on me. It wasn't so much the fact that you have a daughter, but rather the fact that you didn´t tell me. That killed me. It hurt like hell. But I still thought you would include me now after I found out. I thought, maybe you really were just scared about how to tell me but that things would get better and I'd be able to be involved with you and April. Again, though, I was disappointed and felt like I was losing everything. Everything I believed in and was so sure of was just disappearing. How could the man I love and I am going to marry shut me out that way?" She saw Luke duck his head down, obviously regretful and ashamed, but she went on. "I didn´t know why you were how you were, and I especially didn't know why I was silent about it. Lorelai 'I-never-stop-talking-and-complaining-until-I-get-what-I-want' Gilmore was silent and afraid to talk to her fiancé. I'd always been able to tell you everything, I´m still freaked out about myself, about how I was so scared to lose you that I stopped being myself. It all just spiraled downward, you not letting me meet April, Anna disapproving, you doing nothing about it, until I just couldn't take it anymore. I knew I had lost you. And the night I came to the diner to ask you to elope with me, I was desperate and so scared to lose you, but if I didn't ask you that night, I would have gone crazy watching us fall apart even more. I guess I was right, I lost you, not because you didn´t want to elope that night but because I made a mistake. I don´t know why I went to Christopher that night, but I think it was because he was always a person, a friend I had in the back of my head for my whole life." It was now Luke´s turn to look at his hands, trying not to flinch at the mention of Christopher´s name. Just like Luke before, Lorelai took his hand and stroked it.

"It's not like he was someone I always wanted to be with, but I always knew he'd take me back in a heartbeat. I knew he wouldn't reject me, and that's what I needed that night. It was awful and I should have found some other way, but, I didn't, and what's done is done.You showing up the next morning was one of the most painful moments in my life. It was horrible to see you being ready and all and me telling you those terrible few words. My heart broke into so many pieces, as I watched yours do the same. And I am so sorry. I think at that time we were both hurting so much. I was never that sad in my entire life. You left and I knew I had lost you forever, I never thought that I'd ever be where am I now, with you, again." She gave him a weak smile. "And then there was Chris…."

Luke shook his head trying to shove the pain in his heart away. Lorelai looked away from him, unable to look at him, knowing what she was about to say.

"He was always some kind of backup guy. There were so many times when I wanted nothing more than for him to grow up and be with Rory and me, and I'd always had him pushed on me as the one I was supposed to be with, by my parents, by him. I was sure I had lost you and he was, well, he was there with me, and he told me that he loved me and that we belonged together. I had wanted to hear that for so long. And I jumped. I jumped because I thought that this might be my only shot at that whole package. The family with a dog and a white fence. His daughter, Gigi, was around a lot, and he wanted me to be involved with her. He was around Rory more than ever, and my parents were happy, and it fell into place. We got married in Paris. I can't believe I gave in there, I can't believe I was that desperate to get married that I'd do it without Rory there, it just shows how I still wasn't myself. I knew he wasn´t you but I had to accept it. And I was happy, but I wasn´t truly happy on the inside. After he read my letter for your custody battle, he knew that I still loved you and that he was just my second choice. I denied it to him, half-heartedly, but he could see right through me. When you showed up at the hospital I couldn't believe it, that after everything, you were there for me, and he wasn't. I wanted to just hug you that day for doing everything that you did, but I knew I couldn´t." Her eyes met his again as she approached happier subjects. "You said I belong with someone like Christopher and I believed you just wanted to be friends. But after the dog´s funeral I knew you´re the only one I'm in love with and that I will always love. That´s what the song said. It did mean something, the song." She tilted her head to the side, giving him a small, momentary smirk.

Luke looked at her with a tiny smile in the corner of his mouth.

"I am glad it did, but I knew that," he stated simply. "What dog?" he wondered.

"Michel´s."

"Ah." Luke looked a little confused, but he accepted the fact that he probably wouldn't get the full story on that, and that he probably doesn't want to know it.

"And then I came into the diner, and it was--"

"Awkward?" he supplied.

"Yeah, but it was good, too. Then you took me car shopping, and you saved the Jeep, and you put the blue hat on again, and you organized Rory´s party. That was all I needed to know. Well, the rest is obvious."

"Yes, it is. We both made some serious mistakes, didn´t we?" Luke almost whispered.

"Yeah we did. I´m sorry."

"I´m sorry, too."

They both stared at each other and then at their hands joined.

"I don´t ever want to lose you again, I can't," she confessed.

"Same here," he said in such a sincere tone that it made her chest fill with emotion. She leaned towards him, and hugged him tightly, burying her head into his chest. His arms wrapped around her body, and he held her, rubbing her back. They stayed there, savoring the feeling the indescribable feeling of being so close again. After some time, Luke pulled away slightly, so he could look directly at her.

"You want to go on the boat trip with me?" Luke asked out of the blue, and smiled at Lorelai´s confused look.

"What about April?"

"She has that science camp coming up and cancelled."

"Ah right, I forgot." Lorelai smiled sympathetically at him.

"So, you wanna come?"

"I definitely need some vacation and I want to see your new boat. And time together, alone, could be amazing."

Luke smiled and stroked Lorelai´s cheek.

"So it´s a done deal."

"It is."

Their mouths slowly approached each other's and they shared a tender kiss. After a few moments they broke the kiss and locked eyes with each other. Their breathing was the only thing to be heard. "I´m glad we talked," Lorelai said while playing with the small curls at Luke´s neck.

"Me too."

They kissed again but now more passionate and eager. Lorelai tossed Luke´s blue hat away and started to open his belt. Luke grabbed her hand to stop her.

"You sure we want to do…have….I mean…now? Isn´t it a bit early." Luke stammered.

"Yeah. You´re right. We should go slow this time. We´ve all the time on our hands. But I want you to stay." Lorelai smiled.

"There´s nothing to be said against it." With this they stood up, never letting go of their hands and walked upstairs, closing the bedroom door behind them, leaving all the past, bad things behind them.

Tada! That was Chapter °2.

Please tell me if it was good, bad or if you are Kirk and you can´t decide give me a job application as assitant writer.

Enjoy your week and I promise you´ll get Chapter °3 earlier because it´s already done!