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Chapter 10

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"Luke Danes!" called the voice as its owner walked into the diner.

Luke looked up, shocked. "Babette, what are you doing?" he asked.

Babette marched up and took Lorelai's seat. Luke opened to point put that Lorelai would be there soon, but Babette raised her hand stopping him before he even started.

"I need to talk to you, suga." She stated, leaning in conspiringly.

Luke frowned. Whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be a good thing, could it? "What is it, Babette?" he asked, sighing.

Babette grinned. "It's about your Lady Friend."

"Lady Friend? What Lady Friend?" he asked, bewildered.

Babette nodded. "Exactly." She replied.

Luke looked around the diner. There was hardly anyone there, which wasn't a great surprise, seeing as it was the middle of a Saturday afternoon on a beautiful summer's day.

"Babette, what are you talking about?"

"You and Lorelai."

"What about me and Lorelai. We're just friends."

Babette nodded again. "Exactly, suga. Miss Patty and I want to help you two get back together. We can see how much you are missing each other."

Luke sighed. He had always known that everybody had wanted to see them together and happy, it was evident in the way the whole town had treated Chris. Or not treated Chris. Was it still considered treating someone when he was completely ignored? Or was that the treatment? Either way, it didn't matter. The townspeople hadn't liked him any more than Luke did. Or Lorelai, evidently, by the way she refused to mention him by name, always calling him Rory's father. "Babette, that's very nice of you but I think there's just far too much baggage for us to get back together. No matter how much we might want it."

Babette narrowed her eyes. "Of course, suga. But don't think that your little scene at the garage earlier went unnoticed. This town has eyes, you know. Especially when it comes to two of its favourite people."

Luke frowned and nodded. "Right. Well, thanks for your concern. But I'm sure if… if anything was to happen again Lorelai and I could handle it ourselves."

Babette nodded skeptically. "I'm sure, suga. If there's anything we could do to help in anyway, let us know." She said, referring to Miss Patty who had just stepped up next to her.

Luke looked between the two town gossips and it suddenly occurred to him that they were fishing for information. He shook his head slightly. "Can I get you two anything, while you're here?" he asked, exasperated.

They glanced at each other. "No thanks, honey. I have a dance class starting in," she looked at the watch on her wrist. "Oh, two minutes ago. I'll see you later Babette. Goodbye, Lukey." She said, waving and grinning.

Luke rolled his eyes and looked at Babette. "Nothing for me, thank you. Morey has dinner cooking at home. I'll see you around."

Luke nodded and watched as the two women spoke briefly on the corner, before turning and going their separate ways. He shook his head at how meddlesome they could be as he started to wipe down the counter.

"At least these two are trying to get us back together, and not break us up." He thought, remembering Lorelai's mother, Emily.

He sighed and looked at the clock. Lorelai would be there within an hour. He pulled one of her cups from under the counter, down near where his father had once made the hardware store order.

As he looked at it, all he could remember were the good times he and Lorelai had had over the years they had known each other. From the first meeting right up until he was at the garage with her only a few hours before. The good times had definitely out numbered the bad times and he knew – if he were honest, he had always known – that he wanted to make many more good times with her. As he thought it, he could just picture her smiling face saying 'dirty', her eyes full of that flirtatious laughter they shared.

He sighed and placed the mug on the counter, spinning it slowly by the handle. While he was being honest with himself, he knew he would never find another like Lorelai. She was it. He raised his hand and pulled off the blue ball cap she had given him all those years ago. He stared down at it, and sighed again.

There was no denying what was in his heart; he wanted her back – for good.

Oh, Babette and Miss Patty, I LOOOOOVE those two! They make me smile all the time. anyway, review, my pretties, and I might get another chapter to you in 12 hours or so! How's THAT sound!?