Lorelai quietly let herself out as Isabella picked up her book bag to finish her homework. Luke was at the counter when Lorelai came down the stairs. Without a word or a glance in any direction Lorelai headed for the door. Luke had heard her come down the stairs.

"Lorelai." He said so softly that it would have been easy to ignore it, but instead she stopped, waiting for him to continue without turning around.

"Can we?" he began but Lorelai shook her head.

"You're the one that said you weren't good with words, that you let your actions speak. Your actions have spoken a thousand words the last few months, and it spoke loud and clear that night. All you had to say was my name, but you said nothing. You let me walk away Luke. You let me walk away. I'm sorry, but I can't get passed that right now. I don't know if I ever will." She grabbed the door handle and walked out without a backward glance.

Isabella who was on her way down to tell Luke of her plans, was on the bottom step when she heard Luke call out Lorelai's name. Though she knew roughly what had happened that night, hearing the emotion in Lorelai's voice and the words that she said, she understood how difficult it was for Lorelai to be associated with anything that was connected to Luke, and she was probably the biggest association to him. Isabella counted to ten before coming down the stairs. She began refilling the napkin holders silently beside him. Assessing where he was at.

"I know I have the diner. I do. I just need to feel like I have somewhere else you know. So much has changed Luke, and it feels like I left and everything I've ever known isn't there anymore. Which is silly and stupid because I know you will always love me, that I'm your sister. But it feels like everything has shifted, and I am finding it hard to know where I belong. I love April, and I am glad you are getting the opportunity to spend time with her, but you've gotten to know her while I wasn't here. I didn't get to be a part of that, which isn't your fault because I left. It's just now it feels like I've lost my place. Which is as dumb as it sounds out loud as it does in my head, but I can't help it. I know you're having a rough time, I see it in your face, you used to confide in me, and these days you've gone totally Dad mode that you only talk to me about on the surface stuff. I know you're freaked about being a Dad, but Luke you have been raising me since I was three. Are you saying that because I wasn't yours you weren't doing it properly? We used to be partners, and now it's like you're so scared to talk about how you really feel, how freaked out you are as though that's going to change the way I see you. You don't have to concentrate on being an awesome parent Luke, you already are. You don't need to sacrifice your happiness in search of secrets of divine fatherhood. April is lucky to have you, just as I was. I am."

Luke let her words sink in as she spoke. He knew that the last part was aimed at him and Lorelai.

"The thing is Luke, by doing what you're doing, you're depriving April of the very best of you, because what you're holding back on makes you who you are. Any kid would be proud to have you for a Dad Luke. I know I am."

"Iz, I'm sorry that I gave you any indication that you're not a part of this whole thing with April. You know me, I tend to compartmentalise, and I didn't mean to do that. To you, or to anyone, I just got so worked up in the fact that I had a daughter. That Anna would think that I would not want to be a part of her life. As though I was not good enough to be her father. I got blind sighted by wanting to prove that I could be the best father to April. Everything else had to fit around her, but Lorelai was right. I should have fit April into our lives, included her instead of monopolizing her."

"You had your reasons Luke, it's done."

"But, it cost so much."

"Give her time,"

"I didn't just mean her Iz." Luke said softly,

"I know, for what it's worth I know you didn't do it on purpose. It did hurt, but that's my wounded pride."

Luke draped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him planting a kiss on top of her head.

"You have that Parent thing tonight don't you?" she asked.

"Yeah, did you want to come? We can grab dinner afterwards."

"Uh, no it's your first parent teacher. You'll be fine. I was just going to let you know that I won't be here tonight."

"Iz, you don't have to go just because April is staying the night."

"It's not that I promise. It's just that Rory's home this weekend and Lorelai suggested we do movie night. You mind?"

"Of course not. Are you two okay?" he asked to which she shrugged

"As okay as we're going to be at this point I guess. It is a little weird but if I keep avoiding her it's only going to get weirder."

"You going to walk there or can I drop you off?"

"They're going to pick me up a little later. I told them I was going to give Caesar a hand during the dinner rush."

"Ok, but leave when you want. Zach's coming in for the dinner rush so they should be able to manage,"

"Ok, thanks."

"We good?"

"Yeah, we are."

April came through the diner doors minutes later.

"Hey Brainiac! You ready for your first Parent Teacher Night with Hagrid here?" Isabella greeted as April sat on the stool in front of them. April laughed as Luke gave Isabella a nudge with his shoulder.

"Oi!" he said defensively.

"You coming?" April asked hopefully.

"Would love to, but I have something on tonight. I won't be home till tomorrow, but what do you say we do Science Museum tomorrow?" Isabella suggested crossing her eyes in good humour.

"For that, I will make you go!"

"Fine, but I get to pick the movies that we are watching for movie night tomorrow."

"Deal!"

"I'll be back around midday, and we can go from there."

"Sounds good"

"Okay, well I'm going on up to get my stuff ready. You sticking around down here or you coming?" April looked over at Luke, as if to ask if she was needed.

"Go, go, but keep an eye out on the time, we don't want to be late." He called out to them as they ran up the stairs. Luke was grateful that Isabella looked out for April, and genuinely wanted to be with her, despite how she was feeling. The more he thought about it, the more he knew that Lorelai was the same with April, he just never gave her a chance to be there for April. How he regretted everything.

"So where are you going tonight?" April asked as they both sat on the stools by the counter drinking thickshakes they had begged Luke to make.

"At a friend's. We're just going to probably eat dinner together before parking our rear in front of their TV to watch chick flicks we have seen time and time again." Luke looked up knowing that Isabella had omitted names for the sake of both April and himself.

"That sounds like fun."

"Yeah, fun is always guaranteed when these guys are involved. Hang on. I think I hear my phone. Excuse me." Isabella said hopping off her chair and running for her cell phone upstairs, grateful for the escape, as she was certain April was about to ask which friends she was hanging out with that evening.

"Hello!"

"Hey Kid, why do you sound so out of breath? If I didn't know any better…"

"Shut up!" She said laughing.

"How you doing Jess? I'm so glad to hear from you? Are you coming to visit?" she asked excitedly.

"Do you know any other song aside from that one?" He asked good naturedly, inwardly touched that she missed him that much.

"I do, but I like this particular tune." She replied.

"Alright alright. I'm coming. I'll be there next week. You're on some sort of break aren't you?"

"Sure am! Yay!"

"You okay?"

"Getting there, will fill you in when you get here?"

"You better believe it. I'll see you then kiddo. Take care hey. I'm here if you need me."

"I will. I know. You too! Bye Jess."

"That was Jess, he's coming to visit next week." Isabella reported upon her return.

"Finally wore him down huh?" Luke teased.

"I knew it was only a matter of time." Isabella stated proudly.

"Hey April, what do you say we save the Science Museum Experience for Jess?" Luke stifled a laugh knowing how much Jess would enjoy the Science Museum.

"Sure."

"There's a fair in Woodbridge, why don't we go there instead? Luke?"

"Sure, did you want me to drop you guys off?"

"Why don't you come?" Isabella suggested.

"Yeah Dad, it'll be fun." Isabella raised her eyebrow at Luke upon hearing the Dad come out of April and saw the wide grin on his face.

"Yeah that does sound like fun. It's a date ladies."