Title: The Animals Were Gone
Author: marybr (myself)
Pairing: Luke/Lorelai (what else?)
Chapters: 4/4
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, blah, blah, blah... Let's be honest, if I did I wouldn't have wasted all that precious screentime on Lorelai and Christopher.
Summary: Lorelai ended her "marriage". Now she's single again, and Luke is also single. Can they work through the issues that led to their break-up? Can they face the consequences of their actions? Will they ever be able to overcome all the mess behind them, and become a couple again? 'Cause we all know that everything that happened, the whole situation was pretty intense. It can't all be solved magically. There are issues for sure, and they need to be dealt with in order to achieve some sort of progress. Yes, it's all messed-up. So, here's my attempt at a reconciliation piece.
A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I'm sorry for taking so long to update, but life is very hectic right now (and was acting up on me yesterday and didn't let me post). I'm juggling too many things, and that's why I have to cut this story short. I had a few more chapters in mind but I just don't have the time to put them down on writing. So, I'm posting the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy it, I know I did writing this. I'm very happy with how it turned out. Anyhow, thanks again for all the support, and let me know what you think :)
Chapter Four
Lorelai turned off the living room tv. She had just indulged herself by watching a movie. And now she was filled with that well known depression post movie, which she called DPM. You know, DPM is that sensation that lingers after you watch an exciting movie, and when it finally ends you come back to reality just to realize that life don't quite measure up. Well, that's what she was feeling at the moment. It was only 10:30 PM, not her usual bedtime. But today she felt like it was way past time to turn in for the day.
She went through her bedtime regular routine: brushed her teeth, washed her face, applied some lotion on it, and went to bed. Sitting up in bed she put some other lotion in her hands, and kept rubbing one hand against the other for awhile. She was finished, so she looked down at the back of her hands and analyzed them for a moment. Man, I ain't getting no younger. That's for sure. She hit the bedside light and lay down, but she couldn't stop thinking about the day's events. Her talk with Luke was hard, but she felt somehow lighter. She wouldn't lie to herself, she was indeed sad about the fact that she would never know what could have been. She would never get to experience the life she once planned... with Luke. She would never have that. But, at least, they were friends. That's a lot, I've always known that. It was decided, tomorrow she would go back to Luke's for breakfast. I sure miss his coffee... and the place altogether.
She tossed and turned in bed. She was tired but couldn't sleep. That's when she heard a tickling sound coming from the bedroom's window. She dismissed, it was probably just the wind. The rain had brought along with itself a chilly wind, and Lorelai just felt a breeze. So, she pulled the comforter closer to her body. Just then she heard the tickling sound again... and again. This time louder and stronger. She turned the bedside light back on, got up, and went to the window. She opened it and looked down. The cold breeze immediately hit her warm face welcoming her, and that made her shiver. She saw him standing down there in her front lawn, ready to throw the next little rock. Her heart skipped a bit. When he saw her he threw the little rock down. He waved. She closed the window, caught her robe that was lying on the small bedroom sofa and put in on, slipped on her sandals, and headed downstairs. What could he possibly have to return to me now?
She opened the front door, pulling the robe closer to her body to protect from the cool wind. He was standing right in front of the door.
"Wow! Twice in a day. Trying to break a record, or something?" she asked joking.
"Where's the, uh, box?" she added, looking around him searching for the item.
"Oh, no box this time. I was wondering... uh... Can I talk to you? Again, I mean," he asked, shifting his weight from one leg to another uncomfortably.
"Sure, uh, come on in," she said, taking a step sideways to let him through.
He entered, and she closed the door behind them. She made her way to the kitchen, and he instantly followed her. She went straight to the fridge and opened it inspecting its content. He just stood there looking nervous.
"Can I get you something? Water, expired milk, something that looks like it once was orange juice?" she asked, looking inside the fridge.
"No, thanks. I didn't wake you, did I? I was going to knock, but I was afraid you'd be already asleep 'cause the lights were all out, and I didn't want to disturb you, and all. So, I figured I'd throw the little rocks... if you were awake you'd hear it, and if you weren't, well, you'd stay that way," he babbled nervously.
"I was... I mean, uh, I wasn't asleep, yet. I was awake," she answered lamely, and also nervous.
"Good, good..." he mumbled, self conscious all of a sudden.
"Shall we seat?" she suggested, changing the subject and motioning to the table.
"This isn't a seated kind of talk, but you go ahead," he stated, and she took a seat.
"Ok, uh, I think it's best if I cut straight to the chase here," he said more to himself, really.
"Anyway, I was saying earlier that things change. But I don't actually believe that people really do... Change, I mean. Not about anything that really matters. But I also said that I do believe that we learn..." he tried.
"Yeah... I was there. I remember," she cut him off, she didn't need to hear his reasoning again.
"Can I finish, please?" he asked annoyed, to which she motioned 'go-ahead' with her right hand.
"As I was saying, I believe we learn. Even though we can't really change who we are, or how we react to things, you can really fight your instincts and act differently if we really want to. If we are really willing to," he stopped to catch a breath, he had been pacing back and forth the kitchen the whole time.
"And I've been thinking... The last couple of hours I couldn't help but think non-stop, and then it hit me. I'm here to say that I've learned, Lorelai. I've learned from experience and..." he searched for the courage to say what he was about to say, as he looked straight into her big blue eyes.
"I'm not about to let you walk out of my life. Not again," he added in a steady and determined tone.
Lorelai's heart began to race. A rush of blood went straight up to her head, and that made she fell kinda dizzy. Am I hearing that right? A slight smile graced her lips.
"Luke... I," she said, but he interrupted.
"I don't want to want another second back. Do you?" he concluded expectantly.
He felt like he was standing before Lorelai with his heart on his hands. He felt so vulnerable, and so... out there. He used to hate that. Put himself in that state of vulnerability, in which he could get seriously hurt. But at least he was trying. He didn't do this before those events happened, and look what happened. He got hurt anyway. She, on the other hand, was floored. She was never, ever expecting this. She couldn't think clearly, this was all too much. All too much for her to handle. But then he sat down across her on the table, maybe he had gotten emotionally exhausted, she figured, and it was then that her eyes met his. His gentle eyes were fixed on hers, vulnerability showing like never before, and at that moment everything was crystal clear again. Everything fell into place, as cheesy as it may sounds.
"No... I don't," she answered frankly and softly.
They shared a moment, and Luke finally let out the breath he didn't even know he was holding. Her eyes were teary, and if she didn't know him better, she could have sworn that his were, too. They sat in silence for awhile letting it all sink in, and adjusting to their new reality. Luke was the first to speak.
"You'll have to come to me when you're not happy about something I did, even if you think that'll be an unpleasant talk. You can't just keep all those feelings inside while you put on a happy face in front of me," he said honestly.
"I will," she replied firmly.
"I'll do my best to try to read you like before. Be more attentive to you, you know. But in case, just in case, I miss something..." he continued.
"I will tell you," she reassured him.
"You'll have to let me in, be more open," she added honestly.
"I will," he mimicked her previous tone.
"You can't just take me for granted," she said.
"I won't," he was the one who reassured her this time.
A moment of silence took place again as both pondered about what was said.
"You know... this won't be easy," she handed smiling, and he nodded.
"But we're willing to try," he said smiling, and she nodded.
He looked down at her hand on the table, and he placed gently his on top of hers. They shared another look, and both got up slowly from the table. They walked towards each other, and stopped face to face. One knew exactly what the other was feeling and thinking. 'Cause the yearning, the longing, were written all over their faces. Their eyes engaged, but it all felt kinda awkward all of the sudden. So, they both grinned.
"Hi," he said gently, rubbing her arm softly.
"Hey," she replied in a low voice.
"This is stupid," he declared grinning.
"Yes, it is. We've done this before... successfully," she added grinning as well.
"I kissed you," he said in a deep, husky and sexy tone.
"I kissed you back," she completed in a flirtatious tone.
Just like that he wrapped his strong arms around her, and she already felt shivers running through her spine. He pulled her closer to him and leaned forward. Their lips collided into this intense kiss that started out gentle, and progressed into a hungrier and more passionate one. His hands started in her hair, and then they proceeded making their way down to her back, stopping there to trace gentle circles. Then they finally found their final destination at her hips. Lorelai felt weak on the knees, and for an instant she thought she would fall to the ground. Her hands rested around his neck, caressing the hair on the back of his head. They were both moaning as their tongues battled for dominion. Moments ago she feared that this first kiss of theirs would be awkward and uncomfortable due to lack of practice, but she was dead wrong. She found out that kissing Luke was just like riding a bike. They continued kissing until they could no longer be oxygen deprived, so, they broke it off for air. Luke noticed that Lorelai's eyes lingered closed for awhile after the kiss.
"Wow, Rhett! You sure weren't telling a lie when you said you knew how to kiss a woman properly," she said in a fake exaggerated southern accent.
"Oh, shut up," he replied rolling his eyes, but was unable to muffle a grin.
He pulled her in for a second go around. They started to kiss again when she suddenly broke apart.
"Something's... not right," she announced, heading out of the kitchen.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked concerned, following her.
She stopped at the foyer's closet, and opened it. He was a couple of steps behind her.
"Lorelai, what's wrong?" he asked again, looking anguished.
She went through the closet clearly looking for something, all he could hear was noise coming from her shifting of things. The noise stopped, and she finally turned around to him.
"Here!" she said happily, showing him his old blue baseball cap.
He let out a sigh of relief, to which she grinned.
"Way to scare a guy to death," he said, as she took the black cap off of his head, tossed it aside on the floor, and replaced it with the blue one.
She took a step back, and took a good look at him.
"Now that's more likely! Now everything's right," she stated proudly, and he shook his head.
"I never liked that thing, anyway" she said, looking at the black cap on the floor with disdain.
"I need something from that box, too," he said heading for the closet.
She grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"Oh, I know what you're looking for. It isn't there anymore," she said knowingly.
His faced expression turned to curious, and he shot her an inquiring look.
"I put it in my wallet this morning, after you dropped by the box. I needed to have it with me, you know. But I'm astonished to behold its magical powers. I guess I wasn't lying when I told you that thing brings luck. Not even a day at my wallet, and look! It already brought me some... a lot. I think I'll keep it there, if you don't mind. I'm digging this luck odds, babe," she stated with a bright smile.
Luke smiled back, and adjusted the cap on his head with a smirk on his lips.
"Fits perfectly... I missed it," he said genuinely looking straight into her eyes, but they both knew he wasn't talking about the cap anymore.
She nodded beaming at him. Then she pulled him in for a long, tight hug.
"This is nice," she said a while later smiling, and still holding on to him.
"Yes, it is," he replied, also smiling, and holding her even tighter.
THE END