Disclaimer: I still don't own anything
Author's Note: As always thanks to Kirsteen and for your lovely reviews.
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Time passed rather quickly and Luke was scheduled to start his chemotherapy again. He really didn't want to go through with it. The last two weeks he had been feeling a lot better. He didn't remember feeling so well in a long time.
Through his "break" from chemo, things starting falling into place. His relationship with Lorelai was doing great. They had missed each other so much that they couldn't be apart for more than a few hours. Lorelai was constantly there, keeping him company. She even managed to convince him to let her bring April with her a few times. They all sat in the room playing board games that Lorelai had insisted on bringing in, and chatting. When Rory stopped by for a surprise visit they seemed like the perfect family. Luke hoped that one day they would make it, merging this strange but perfect family.
The day of the next chemo session, Lorelai was once again by his side, this time through the whole process.
"Lorelai you should go and come back in a few hours."
"Well, it's my day off anyway, and I have nothing to do and I'm bored."
"The whole week was your day off."
"I didn't hear you complaining then, plus you know how I like to torture Michel."
He sighed and Lorelai knew that he wouldn't fight her.
"Aren't you interested in seeing what I've brought to make the time go faster?"
"Knowing you, probably the latest issue of InStyle or something similar."
"Ha! Wrong, mister. In this bag is the latest issue of the sports pages of the paper. Tell me what you want to know. How many points Kobe scored or how many runs the Red Sox won by?"
Luke had an amused smile on his face.
"You are amazing you know that?"
"Yeah, yeah, now pick!"
The chemo session was now over and Luke was in his room, lying on the bed with Lorelai in his arms. They were watching some TV when Luke started to shake.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm cold."
Lorelai got up and placed an extra blanket over Luke.
"Better?"
He didn't answer and turned on his side, his back to Lorelai.
"Luke?"
She went to the other side of the bed to face him, and noticed that he had gone very pale. She rubbed his cheek but this seemed to irritate him more, so she pulled back and just sat there silently. After a while, Luke started throwing up and shaking even more. This continued until later that day, and all the while Lorelai watched without talking. When she saw him finally relax she started crying, thinking that Luke was asleep.
"Stop!"
Lorelai was startled but kept crying.
"I said stop!" Luke repeated harshly.
"I can't stand here watching you suffer when you won't let me do anything."
"Do what Lorelai? Stop me from throwing up? Well, too bad, this is part of the deal." His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"That's why I didn't want anyone here in the first place."
"Well if my presence is so much trouble to you then I'm going to go!" but she made no move to exit the room.
She heard Luke shift in his bed and turn to look at her. His eyes were so sad.
"Sorry. You didn't deserve that outburst."
Lorelai - for the first time in hours - sat on the side of his bed and leaned over to hug him.
"Don't worry about it."
Luke shook his head.
"You don't deserve any of this. You're so great all this time and I'm such a jerk."
"Shhhh, I understand. Now, get some sleep, you're exhausted," she said while placing kisses on the side of his forehead. Not long after, Luke was asleep.
Similar incidents continued to occur for a couple of days until the nausea subsided. At first, Lorelai replied in a harsh tone but after the first few times she just ignored his outburst.
Three weeks passed and finally Luke had his final chemo session. Although the side effects were still strong, he was in a better mood knowing that in a few days he could finally go home for the first time in almost 3 months.
"Aren't we happy today?"
"Well what can I say?" he replied, smiling.
"I wanted to discuss something with you."
"Shoot."
"Well I think it would be for the best if you came to stay with me for the first few weeks, until you start feeling better and stronger. Please, please, please? I will feel a whole lot better knowing you are not alone," she said, while pouting.
Luke thought for a while.
"Don't you think it will be weird?"
"Why would it be?"
Luke looks at her.
"Oh! Luke, Chris never came to the house."
"Jeez! I wasn't talking about that!"
"Oops. Then why would it be weird? We ARE together again."
Luke let out a heavy sigh.
"I guess it will be ok."
"What's on your mind Luke? Tell me."
"You, me, together in bed and I won't be able to touch you."
"Why wouldn't you be able to touch me?"
"Lorelai, after all those drugs they gave me, it will probably take a while to get them out of my system."
"Yeah, so?"
"You don't make it any easier do you? It means that certain parts of my body will be unable to fully function," he said, giving her a knowing look.
"Oh baby, that's what was worrying you?"
She hugged him tight and whispered in his ear.
"I don't expect anything like that so soon. All that matters is that you are healthy. Believe me; we will have plenty of time for that later."
She pulls back smiling and Luke smiles back.
"I'll stay."
He placed his hands on her cheeks and they shared a passionate kiss.