smileyGGfan: Of course you got a shout-out, I love your long reviews! I was trying to think of a movie that would most reflect them and 'When Harry met Sally' just came to mind. I love Luke 'the ice-man' as well, hehe I still love to watch that scene even five years later. Woot for me using one of your vocabulary words. Tell me your next one and I will somehow add it into one of my fics in the next chapter! I agree with the whole no nickname thing, when 'he-who-shall-not-be-named' calls her Lor it drives me crazy…grr I'm still fuming from that crappy finale. Spongebob must be extremely strange for those who'd never seen him before, I can just imagine Luke looking at him as "crazy sponge wearing a tie".

Ocdwithlhg: Maddy May a job where you have to get up at 7am on a Saturday is a job that I would not like to have…I tend to not sleep during the week and then by Friday I just crash and burn into my bed so sleep-ins are crucial to me! Lol I really appreciated the quick 'I hate you' and departure when I told you there were only 3 more chaps of BTR.

Java Lava: I always get hurt playing sports too but it never stops me. When I was ten I had to get 12 stitches in my hand after I fell skateboarding and my dad stitched me up (he's a doctor don't worry) and I was out again within an hour!

LukeAndLorelaiAllways:Is the movie with the sperm in the hair not 'Something about Mary'…I think so, but I do love that too, funny stuff!

Wendy: Lol I know I usually make people nice but I'm a very chilled out person and don't really have any enemies so I find it hard to believe that not everyone has some good in them…hence the happy endings. Yeah I find it hard to believe Luke never really dated for years, at least not that we saw. I think that's why Luke with someone else drives me a lot crazier than Lorelai with someone else, does that make sense? Mann the whole pad in the front of his jeans was hot, why doesn't he still do that? I find myself wondering sometimes. Lol I tots am an insomniac, I wish it was because of fic reading tho but lately it's been because of stupid work grrrr. I feel so honored that BTR was the first fic you ever read, how did you find out about it? Just out of curiosity.

hay2thelee: Haha yes "thirdly" is a word and I think Jennifer and Lorelai won't be best friends anytime soon!

Lindsey: Well you know me and my cliffhangers, keeps people reading! Haha love the story, so you got pushed in a pool with your cell phone, that SUCKS but it does sound funny! Have you told you dad yet? When I got mine stolen last month I didn't tell mine and when he rang me on my house phone the day after he said he sent me a text message and I was like 'Uhh really well I haven't checked my phone today'…pure lies. I was thrown in the pool sooooo many times last summer fully clothes, once I actually had to ask the guys to let me take my shoes off because they were my last dry pair…ahhh good times!

Charmedchic72: You fell asleep watching When Harry met Sally… crazzzy girl! Haha but I guess if LL did it then it's fine for you too. I don't know this Kim Possible person but yes Spongebob is quite the legend. Hehe I have a little teddy of him my friend bought me, he's so damn cute. Haha yes Jonathan is a crappy name…my brother's called that but it's fine, he was bugging me at the time I was deciding on a name for this character. If you read my BTR fic the name Ethan is my cousin haha but I like the name and again he was with me when I was deciding on a name.


9 – Conflicts & Confessions

"She looked mad" Kirk stated.

"Shut up Kirk" Luke snapped as he followed Jennifer behind the curtain, having no doubts in his mind as to what exactly or who exactly Jennifer wanted to talk about.

When he climbed the stairs he found Jennifer standing with her arms folded across her chest outside the door of his apartment. He opened the door and she followed him in, not wanting the rest of the town to hear the argument.

"Look I know what this is about" he started.

"This is about you staying at Lorelai's last night"

"I fell asleep"

"Why were you even there? You were supposed to stay at my house and then I find out from my brother that you spent the night with her"

"She hurt her leg; I was checking she was okay"

"So you slept there? It was a twisted ankle, hardly a big deal!"

"Lorelai is my friend and I fell asleep on her couch"

"Luke a bunch of people just invaded the place" Caesar screamed from down the stairs.

"I gotta work"

"We need to talk about this" Jennifer argued, not understanding why he couldn't see the problem. When she'd first moved there all she heard from town folk was about Luke and Lorelai and their current non-speaking stance. When they'd started dating he mentioned her from time-to-time and she'd sensed that he missed her. When she'd heard they were friends and speaking again she wondered if it would affect her relationship with Luke…she hoped it wouldn't.

"I don't see why you're so mad, I fell asleep" he reasoned, getting irritated.

"Luke" Caser yelled again.

"I gotta work we can talk about this later"

"Fine" she said in an irritated voice.

"I'll call you later" he muttered before walking out of his apartment and descending the stairs.

"Don't bother" she muttered to herself since Luke was out of earshot.


Hours later...

"Hey" Lorelai said when she came into the diner hours later, limping slightly.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked, surprised to see her walking around.

"I'm here for the love" she said rolling her eyes.

"You shouldn't be walking"

"I drove and I'm fine"

"You're limping" he said as if stating the obvious.

"Can I get some coffee, need to make sure I have sustenance for this overload of questioning" she asked.

"Here" he grumped as he poured her a cup of coffee.

"You look happy today, your neck still sore?"

"Jennifer found out about me staying the night, she's not happy" he said as he leaned across the counter so no-one else heard him. He didn't want gossip getting around town.

"Did you tell her we fell asleep?" she asked quietly sensing he wanted to keep it quiet.

"Yeah" he sighed as he fiddled with his cap.

"She'll calm down" Lorelai said, unable to help but feel a little happy that there was some problems with Luke and Jennifer.

"Maybe…" he sighed.

"You want me to talk to her?" Lorelai asked, the slight happiness disappearing when she saw how disappointed Luke seemed to be.

"Nah its fine" he said waving it off before he went to take someone's order. He felt strange talking to Lorelai about his relationship and he certainly didn't want her talking to Jennifer for him, it'd be too weird for him.


That evening Lorelai went out to get her mail from the mailbox and saw Jennifer walking up the street towards her house. She stopped and waited for her, deciding to ignore what Luke had said earlier that day. Luke deserved to be happy and after everything he'd done for her she felt she owed him something. The night before had been fun, but she didn't want him helping her then to result in him being sad about a possible break-up with Jennifer.

"Hey" Lorelai said when Jennifer got close enough to hear.

"Hi" she replied.

"Been shopping?" Lorelai asked; feeling a little stupid since the woman was carrying paper bags full of groceries so it was a stupid question.

"Yeah, no food in the fridge"

"I know the feeling"

"Yeah well…"

"Listen I kinda wanted to talk to you about something" Lorelai started as she played with the mail in her hand. Wondering whether the big envelope she was holding were the leaflets she'd ordered for the Independence Inn which of course they weren't since they would be mailed to the Inn and not her home.

"Okay…"

"Luke told me about your little disagreement concerning last night"

"He did?" 'Of course he did' she thought in annoyance, wondering if he told her everything about them.

"Yeah well he was grumpy this morning, I mean even grumpier than usual so I figured something was up"

"Y'know no offence but that's between Luke and I"

"I know and I'm sorry but I just wanted to let you know that it was completely innocent, he was being a good friend and helping me out. Then we were watching 'When Harry met Sally' and he fell asleep, I don't think he even saw the part where Billy Crystal was running through New York to find Sally on New Years…which is really a pity. I love that part, also the fake orgasm part, he saw that part because he got very uncomfortable and excused himself to get a beer" Lorelai rambled and felt silly when Jennifer just stood there looking at her with a funny expression. 'She's cool as a cucumber; I bet that's why Luke likes her'

"…Anyway my point is he likes you and that doesn't happen often" 'I've been friends with him for over five years, trust me I know' she thought to herself.

"Well I like him too" she admitted.

"Good okay…well you better get that ice-cream in before it melts" Lorelai said as she pointed to the Ben & Jerry's tub that was sitting at the top of one of her bags.

"Right, well bye"

"Night" Lorelai said as she walked back into her house, feeling good that she had just been selfless and helped Luke out…but then the twisting feeling in her stomach that had been haunting her for weeks returned.


Jennifer went into her house, going over what Lorelai had said to her, wondering whether she could see what was right in front of her. Luke liked Lorelai, she knew he liked her as well but that didn't change the fact that he thought about Lorelai too. The very few times Luke had called Jennifer by the wrong name hadn't gone completely unnoticed by her. Putting it to the back of her mind she picked up the phone she dialed the number that by then she knew by heart.

"Luke's" his voice answered gruffly.

"Hey"

"Jennifer hi" he said in a surprised tone not expecting to hear from her.

"How's your day been?"

"Not great" he admitted.

"Mine either"

"So…"

"You want to come by when you're close up, we need to talk"

"Sure"

"Okay cool, see you soon"

"Bye" he said as he hung up the phone with a small smile.


Luke walked to Jennifer's house carrying a to-go cup of coffee for her, and Lorelai's scarf that she had left in the diner when she had been in earlier that day. He crossed over to Lorelai's house and climbed her porch stairs. Knocking the door he waited a minute for Lorelai who came to the door wearing a white tank top and navy bottoms.

"Hey come on in, I'm watching this old scary movie about a babysitter and this crazy guy keeps calling her and turns out he's in the house with her and the kids" she rambled quickly as she left the door open for him to come in.

"Why do you have juicy on your butt?" he asked when she turned around.

"…Well Luke now you've revealed where your attention drifts whenever I turn by back" she teased and he just rolled his eyes hoping she didn't know how true that statement had been.

"Come on in"

"I just came to give you your scarf" he explained as he walked into the hallway.

"Are you going to see Jennifer?" she asked as she eyed the coffee in his hand.

"Yeah. Why is it so dark in here?"

"Thought my talk earlier worked" she muttered to herself but Luke heard her.

"You spoke to her earlier?"

"Yes, I mean I know you told me not to but she was there and I wanted to make it up for you helping me last night"

"What did you say?"

"Just that you staying the night was completely innocent and you really like her" Lorelai said, trailing off towards the end. Finding it hard to say it aloud but it was true, Luke was with someone else and she wasn't handling it very well at all.

"I do"

"I know" 'No need to rub it in'

"Are you okay?" he asked knowing when there was something up with her.

"I'm fine"

"No you're not, what's wrong?" he asked stepping closer to her.

"I can't tell you"

"You can tell me anything" he said in a softer tone, putting a hand lightly on her arm.

"You'll hate me again"

"I never hated you" he stated, surprised that she ever thought he had.

"Never?"

"Well you annoyed me a lot by calling me Duke when we first met but other than that no" he said trying to understand where she was going with this. Lorelai took a step closer to him, unable to stop herself from wanting to be closer to him. His hand still sat on her arm and she couldn't deny the feelings she experienced when he touched her.

"How come you never asked me out?" she asked quietly, not really believing she was actually asking him. When she heard the words come out of her mouth she felt even stupider than she already did.

"What?" Luke barely managed to get out as Lorelai took a step back from him, her face showing her embarrassment at her question.

"You should go" she said in a soft tone.

"What did that mean?"

"It's nothing"

"Lorelai just tell me" he said impatiently, wanting her to tell him if she was saying what he thought she was.

"I just wanted to know why you never asked me out, I mean we've been friends for five years. I see you everyday almost and then this new woman moves to town and within a few weeks your dating…why did you never ask me out? Am I that off-putting to you?"

"You're annoying, you drink way too much coffee, you reference way too many random things and eat the biggest pile of junk but you're not off-putting…the opposite actually"

"Right…well glad to know I'm not repulsive to men" she replied as she tried to hide what she was really feeling. They stood in silence for a few moments that felt much longer than they actually were.

"Did you want me to ask you out?" he finally asked in a shy tone as he broke the deafening silence. Lorelai stared at Luke's face, studying it intently, the short two-day stubble and the light creases around his eyes…and then there were his eyes, the blue intense pools of perfection. Staring at her intently, waiting for an answer.

"I never used to think about it…but I would have said yes" she said breaking the eye contact to study the blue flannel he was wearing. It brought out the blue in his eyes even more and before she stopped herself she reached out and stroked the warm fabric, it was soft and comforting…it was Luke. She snuck a glance at his face after this admission, afraid to see his expression but still needing to know what it was. The intensity of it made her stomach do a few flips. He was looking at her the way she looked at a big piece of espresso-flavored cheesecake; ravenous, craving, like she was everything he ever desired and he wanted to consume her entirely.

When Lorelai felt Luke's hand grab hers she realized she had still been stroking his flannel the whole time. The way Luke looked at Lorelai made her heart race and the butterflies in her stomach started doing back-flips when he stepped towards her and moved the hand he was holding behind her back and turned them around. They were standing in her hallway with Lorelai's back against the wall and her breasts flattened against his chest. She knew he was going to kiss her as his face inched closer. She wanted him to kiss her.

Luke ran his other hand through her long, silky hair before he brushed his lips with hers. Lorelai closed her eyes and let the instant jolt of that first contact run through her. She moved her hands along his chest and behind his neck. She ran her fingers through the curls on the back of his head and slowly inched her way up until she reached the flap of his cap before throwing it aside. She slowly parted her lips and waited with bated breath as his tongue slid into her mouth. Their tongues engaged in a game of back and forth as they slid in out of each other's mouths. Lorelai's chest heaved as she lost herself in the kiss. Luke gently ran his hands along her back as she ran her hands along his chest. They stood their exploring each other as much as they could. They stood there, lips connected to lips; tongue crashing against tongue until they were both gasping for breath.

The kiss broke slightly, and in the moment where they had to decide if it was time to pull away or pull back in, Luke made the decision for them and captured her lips with his own. Lorelai suddenly had a surge of confidence, her nervousness from a few moments earlier gone completely, and she took the chance to pull his bottom lip between her teeth, biting it lightly. He let out a stifled moan, and she responded by releasing his lip and opening her mouth slightly. His tongue glided over hers immediately, as if it has been waiting for the chance to slip in.

When the phone rang it seemed to bring them back to reality and each pulled away somewhat reluctantly, realizing what they'd just done. His hands were still on her waist when they broke apart and Luke removed them quickly before he took a step back.

"I'm…I should go…sorry" he stuttered before he grabbed his cap which had been thrown to the floor and he left Lorelai in the hallway with Jennifer's to-go cup of coffee which by that time had gone cold just like the atmosphere in comparison with the heat from moments previously.


TBC

SPOILERS

Ahhh I just want to say that I am in complete damn denial about the finale, WTF! Gotta say MOST DEPRESSING EPISODE EVER. Seriously where the hell has old-school GG gone! This season was such a let-down. We deserved a better finale than that. I felt like I needed an anti-depressant when it ended. Lauren Graham is the only reason I still watch that show. Alexis did an amazing job on the crying scene! I'm in denial about Lorelai having sex with Chris, I don't think she did and if she actually did then I will ignore it, pretend it never happened…ignorance is bliss!

And on that note- REVIEW!

For anyone reading BTR, I updated during the week and there's just three chapters left !