Thank you so much for your lovely reviews! :) I will update Home and Away soon but I'm suffering a bit of writer's block at the moment with that story but I promise the next chapter will be up soon for that! :)

Chapter 4

Lorelai came back into the room with two beers and handed one to Luke. "Here."

"Thanks." Luke said taking it and having a sip.

Lorelai did the same and then glanced back over at him. "Did you date anyone after we...broke up?" She asked.

"What?" He asked surprised by the sudden change of subject.

Lorelai shrugged. "I know I have no right asking but I just...wondered." She said.

Luke sighed. "I went on one." He admitted.

"Really?"

"It was April's swimming coach." Luke said. "April set me up. I think she saw how miserable I was and thought if I found someone, I'd be happier." He shrugged.

Lorelai smiled slightly. "That's sweet."

"Yeah." He smiled slightly. "But it was a total dud. She was a vegan..."

"You won't have liked that." Lorelai smirked slightly.

Luke chuckled slightly. "She was nice. We just didn't...click." He said. "I guess I was just not over you. Anyway all the stuff happened with Anna and the custody case that I didn't really have time." He said. He glanced at Lorelai. "Did I thank you for that character reference?" He asked.

"Several times." Lorelai smiled.

"Well I really did appreciate it. After everything we'd gone through and for you to write such an...amazing character reference was really great of you. It was the real dealbreaker apparently in the case." He said. "So thank you."

"I really struggled writing that." Lorelai admitted. "It took me ages. I just didn't know what to write."

"Sorry.." Luke said.

"No it wasn't your fault. I wanted to help. You had the right to be able to see April. You're a great dad, Luke. I've always known that. I saw how you were with Rory." Lorelai smiled.

"I didn't do much for Rory." Luke waved off her statement.

"You did more than you think." Lorelai said. "When I saw you and her talking about all the presents you'd gotten her over the years for birthdays and Christmases, it just came to me. You've been there for Rory through everything. You were a constant in her life and I know how much it meant to her."

"She's a good kid." Luke said ducking his head slightly. He glanced at her. "So...what happened?" He asked cautiously.

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked.

"Between you and...Christopher." Luke said just about being to get Chris' name out.

Lorelai sighed. "It was always bound to go wrong. We should never have gotten married."

"You've said that but I saw you around. You were happy. Well you seemed happy. So something must have happened." Luke said. He sighed. "You can tell me it's none of your business if you want."

Lorelai sighed. "No." She said. She glanced at him. "He found the character reference." She said quietly.

"Oh." Luke said suddenly understanding why she was hesitant in telling him.

"He told me he couldn't be second best." Lorelai said. "And then when he saw you in the hospital..."

"I should never have come." Luke said. "I'm sorry it messed things up for you."

"No, Luke. I'm glad you came." Lorelai said sincerely. "Everything you did for us was really sweet. It was too much considering how I had treated you but you still did it. I really appreciated it." She said.

"I didn't even know what I was doing." He admitted. "Babette came into the diner and was acting all weird and saying how she wasn't sure whether to tell me or not but felt like I'd want to know and then she just told me. Before I knew it, I was at the hospital."

"Good old Babette." Lorelai smiled slightly. She then let out a breath. "To be honest, after that Chris and I realised we'd come to the end. We knew it wasn't working but we were both putting off the important talk. We finally had it and then...Chris moved out with Gigi. And...that was that."

"Sorry." Luke said quietly.

"You don't have to say sorry. It was all my fault. What I did to you and how I used Chris. It was wrong. Everything was my fault." She said.

"No." Luke shook her head. "I mean I can't talk for you and...him but I'm as much to blame for our relationship. I should have let you in with April. I just had it in my head that she would like you better and then when Anna started calling the shots, I was terrified that she'd take April away from me if I didn't do as she said." He admitted. He glanced over at her. "But that was wrong. I should have let you in. It had nothing to do with Anna. I'm sorry that I made you feel so unwanted."

"I should have talked to you. Told you how I was feeling." Lorelai said. "But thank you." She gave him a small smile. "But..." She said hesitantly.

"What?" Luke asked.

"Us...If we were to happen again...what about Anna? She made it clear she wanted me nowhere near April." She said cautiously.

"It's different now." Luke said firmly. "I have shared custody now and I'm not going to let Anna call the shots anymore. I want you to be part of April's life. You're going to be her stepmother and I want you in her life. She already loves you." He said. He then realised what he had said and blushed slightly. "I mean...maybe...in the future..."

Lorelai smiled at him, touched he had obviously been thinking about the future already. "I would be honoured to be her stepmother. Luke, she's an amazing kid. I see so much of you in her."

"You do?" He asked, sounding pleased and proud.

"Oh yeah. Her bluntness is so from you!" Lorelai laughed. "And her determination to do well."

Luke smiled slightly. "I wanted to ring you when she called me dad for the first time. The feeling was so...just wow." He admitted.

Lorelai smiled. "She adores you, Luke. As much as I'd like to be in her life and have a good relationship with her, it's never going to replace your relationship with her. You're her dad and that's never going to change."

"Thanks." He said ducking his head again. He then slowly looked up at her. "God I've missed you." He admitted.

"I've missed you too." Lorelai said softly. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Do you think...could we...start again?" She asked quietly.

Luke smiled. "There's nothing I want more. I never stopped loving you."

"I never stopped loving you either." Lorelai admitted.

Luke suddenly leant over and kissed her. He pulled back sheepishly. "Sorry." He said.

Lorelai smiled and just leant over to kiss him. "God I've missed that too." She joked.

Luke chuckled. "Yeah me too."

"Enough talking for tonight?" Lorelai said.

"I think so." Luke nodded.

"Want another beer?" She asked.

"Please."

"Coming right up." Lorelai smiled.

Meanwhile back in New York, Rory was making some dinner when her doorbell rang. She frowned, not knowing who it could be. No one knew her address and she definitely wasn't expecting anyone. She went and opened the door and she stood there shocked. "What...How?" She stuttered.

"Good to see you too." Jess smirked.

"So you called me to say you were going to be here for a couple of days but you failed to mention it was today?" Rory said. "How did you know where I was living anyway?"

"Do you need to ask that?" He asked.

"Luke really has been busy." Rory said.

Jess stood there awkwardly for a moment. "If it's not ok, if it's not the right time, I can go? I just, I thought I'd surprise you. You surprised me once in New York remember?"

Rory smiled remembering when she had skipped school to go and see him. "Yeah I remember." She said.

"I can go if you want..."

"No." Rory said quickly. "No. Sorry. I was just surprised. Come in." She said.

Jess gave her a small smile before following her inside. "You're making dinner?" He asked surprised seeing all the food in the kitchen.

"Yeah. Don't act so surprised. I'm not a complete invalid in the kitchen." Rory retorted.

"Sorry. Should never have doubted you." Jess smirked.

"I've got a lot. Would you like some?" She asked hesitantly.

"Sure. If that's ok?" He said.

Rory nodded. "Let me just finish off. Then we can sit."

"Sure." He nodded.

About 20 minutes later, the two of them were sat at the small dining room table in Rory's apartment tucking into their food.

"Very nice." Jess said.

"Thanks." Rory grinned.

"So you excited about tomorrow?" He asked.

"Yeah." Rory nodded. "But nervous too. I want to make a good impression."

"You always make a good impression." Jess said.

"Not always." Rory shrugged. "I want them to like me."

"You did with me." Jess shrugged.

Rory looked up at him and couldn't help take in his appearance. He looked good. Really good. She was quiet for a moment taking a mouthful of food before looking up at him again. "I never thanked you." She said quietly.

"For what?" Jess asked confused.

"For knocking sense back into me." Rory said. "You were the reason I went back to Yale." She admitted.

"What?" Jess said surprised.

"That rant you directed at me when you came to visit me during that time, it really stuck." Rory said. "You were so disappointed in me." She said quietly.

Jess sighed. "I should never have shouted at you. I was just so...surprised. You were so smart and you were just throwing it all away."

"I know." Rory said sadly, not really liking thinking back to that time. She looked up at him. "When I saw you so...disappointed in me, it just hit me. You were totally right. It wasn't me, what I was doing. The next thing I knew, i was getting a job back at the Stamford Gazette and I finally went back to Stars Hollow." She said. "I got my life back on track and that was all down to you."

"You would have got there by myself." Jess said waving it off.

"No I wouldn't. Mom had already told me all that you told me and I didn't listen. I even knew Luke was disappointed in me. But hearing you ask me what the hell was going on. It was different. And seeing where you were with your life. I knew you were right and I could do better. So I rang Yale." She said. She looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "So thank you."

Jess just nodded. "Glad I could be of some service."

"You have no idea." Rory smiled.

Jess smiled and then kept eating.

Rory watched him as he sat there and couldn't help but smile. It just felt so...so normal. "I'm glad you came." She said softly.

Jess looked up and smiled. "Me too. I've missed you." He admitted.

"I've missed you too." Rory admitted. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Maybe..after your meeting with your editor...maybe you could come over here again before you go back to Philadelphia?"

"I'd like that." Jess said.

"Ok." Rory smiled.

"Ok." He said with a slight smirk.

So I hope you liked it! :) Please keep reviewing as I love reading your comments! I really do appreciate all of them and they really do motivate me to continue so thank you! :)