Author's note: Thank you so much to everyone who's read or reviewed this story. I'll try my best to give you a good story. Special shout out to Kal: you rock! you're the greatest beta on Earth applause

Chapter Nine

Lorelai's pillow was moving. It rose and sank with the rhythmic motions of a man sleeping. She smiled as an arm wrapped around her waist and pressed her closer to his chest. Luke. Her Luke. She liked the sound of that. Her Luke. He grounded her, kept her from flying apart. He was her tether. The months without him were the hardest she had ever endured. Not even those first months away from her parents when she worked herself to the bone just to keep Rory in diapers were as difficult. She had always been self-reliant and she had known that she would pull through for her daughter. However, ever since the first awkward foundations of their friendship, Lorelai had relied on Luke. She had not meant to—after all, she did fancy herself Wonder Woman—but the truth was he had become her strength. He fixed her problems as stoically and willingly as he gave her coffee. As long as he was near, she could do anything and overcome any hardship. As long as they were together. She had thought that that was what the complete package was: a man and a woman working together, loving each other, and relying on each other. She had achieved it, her perfect life. It scared her more than anything she had ever faced.

Now that they were back together, she would do anything to keep from getting scared again. That is, if they were back together. No. She would not think like that. They were getting back together; sleeping with Luke confirmed it. Sure, they needed to talk. They would talk in the morning when they were both awake and had time to process. For the moment, Lorelai just wanted to be happy in Luke's arms.

She breathed in Luke's particular scent: pine needles, peppermint tea, and something old and firm—like rock but different. He smelled an old cabin in the woods. It was a uniquely Luke scent, and she wanted to fill herself with it. With him.

"Heh. Dirty," she giggled under her breath. Yes, she was happy. And, happiness must be shared.

Lorelai carefully slipped out of bed and tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen, grabbing the phone her way. She poured herself a glass of orange juice and curled up on the couch as she waited for her daughter to answer.

"Evil." Rory groaned into the receiver.

"Aw, was Beauty sleeping?" Lorelai giggled into the phone.

"No, I was doing jumping jacks and watching the 700 Club."

"Oh good, then you won't mind talking to me."

Rory sighed. "What do you want?"

"There's a man in my bed."

"Anyone I know, or are you trying to go for the whole female version of Hugh Grant?"

"It's a Luke-shaped man."

"Really!" Rory gasped and winced as her own man-shaped lump stirred beside her. She tiptoed out to the common room she shared with Paris. "Really?"

"Why are you whispering?"

"Paris."

"Is sleeping in your bed?"

"Has ears like a bat." Rory hated lying to her mother, but an argument inspired by the true occupant of her bed was not what she wanted to do at two forty-three in the morning.

"He came over just as you left." Lorelai nestled deeper into the couch. "And we kissed and made up. A lot."

"Hey! Keep it PG here."

"Will do, babe. So, anyway, he came over, and we kissed, and now he's in my bed."

"Did you guys talk about what happened?"

"We only said about two words the whole evening."

"That must have been some kiss."

"And how."

"Ew. So, what does this mean?"

Lorelai smiled at the butterflies that fluttered about her stomach. "I think it means we're together again."

"But you guys are still going to talk."

"Right. Tomorrow. After breakfast."

"Yeah, because that's when normal people wake up."

"Sorry, night kiddo. Say goodnight to Logan for me."

"Night mom." Rory laughed into her phone. Trust her mom to know when there was a boy in her bed. She hung up the phone, crawled back into bed, and was immediately embraced by her boyfriend's waiting arms.

"Everything alright?" Concern filled his groggy voice.

"It is now." Rory curled into his arms, and tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder.

Logan's eyes shot wide open. "There was something wrong?"

Rory had to smile at that. Logan could be so cute. "My mom. She took the break-up hard."

"Oh yeah. But she's better now?"

"Yup. She and Luke are back together."

"Luke? The diner guy?"

"Yeah, Luke the guy who fed my mom and I for nearly eight years." Rory pulled the blankets over their bodies. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep. Her family was back and everything was going to be fine.