A/N: Hullo! I'm in a goodish mood right now, but that will change as soon as my dad gets home. It always does… To those of you non-reviewers out there, thanks for reading and to all of you reviewers thanks even more! I love getting them! This chapter should be all right. I made a list of things that I want to happen during French because I was bored. If you think that's bad, you should have seen what I did in geometry! Haha it was fun… Anyways, I thought of eleven things, but I may have to split them… Did you guys like what I did with Chris and Sherry?

Ronata- I just remembered I forgot to thank you for calling me brave this morning, so thanks for that. I was hoping somebody would remember that. I'm glad I made your day!

Eternalgorithm- Yes. He. Is.

Kylie1403- Thanks! I hate him too. He's going to get even more attention in this chapter! Maybe she should press charges… I'll think about it… it might be too much though because he's already going to court about Gigi.

A-Karana- Thanks! I'm sorry about those author's notes. I just can't help it sometimes. I'll try to stop. Glad you enjoyed it!

Just Can't Help It

Chapter 12 A/N: Chapter 12? Wow! Can you guys believe it? Crazy!... I don't feel like looking up a translation today. Next time...

Luke was sitting beside Lorelai on the bed icing her face and lip. Lorelai would flinch when he touched her because it hurt so much, but she knew he was helping. He felt horrible for leaving her out there with Chris. He should have known. "Thanks, Luke. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'm just glad I got to you before anything else happened. He was practically raping you!"

"I know. If you'd have been any longer he probably would have done right there in the hall. Luke, I feel so used."

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Lorelai. You don't deserve to be treated like that. I don't know how anyone could do that to you."

"Hey, Luke?"

"Yeah?"

She took the ice pack in one hand and held it on her bruised and swollen face. With the other, she held one of his. She was looking directly into his clear blue eyes. "Did you really mean what you said out there? That you love me?"

"Uh… yeah. Yeah I did. I love you Lorelai. I know we just started dating, but I've always felt something for you. I just didn't know it was love until the first time I kissed you. You don't have to feel the same way… at least not yet, but I just want you to know that you're it for me, Lorelai."

She would have been in tears, but she had used them all on Chris. "Wow. Luke I- I think I love you too. She smiled even though it hurt her face.

He smiled too. He was beaming. "Really?"

"Yeah. I do. I love you, Luke Danes."

"I love you too, Lorelai Gilmore."

He caressed her un-bruised face, and kissed her gently. He wanted to show how he felt right then, but he didn't want to hurt her. She leaned into him and started to deepen the kiss, but she flinched and pulled back. "Ah. Damn Christopher!"

"I am so going to kill him."

She smiled. "Don't kill him, just make him hurt so much he wished he were dead."

"Okay. Will do."

She yawned but closed her mouth quickly. "Ow! Jeez. It even hurts to yawn."

He rubbed her back. "You're tired. I should go so you can get dome sleep."

He kissed her temple and started to get up. "Luke, wait."

Luke stopped and turned around. "Yeah?"

"Will you stay with me tonight? Just hold me?"

"Of course."

Meanwhile…

When Chris was able to get off of the ground, he went into his room and packed his things. He carried his suitcase downstairs and set it down by the desk. He went in the dining room to tell Rory he was leaving. "Hey, Rory. I'm gonna head out a little early."

"I thought we were going to spend the day together tomorrow."

"Uh, yeah well I uh… have to get going. I got a call from my office and-"

"What about mom? Does she know you're going?"

He looked uncomfortable. "Uh… yeah. Yeah she knows."

"Oh. Okay. I guess I'll just… see you later."

"Yeah. Love ya kid."

"You too." They hugged and Chris walked out of the dining room to the desk, and he grabbed his suitcase and left the inn.

When Rory got back to her and Lorelai's room, she saw Luke and her mom cuddled up in bed. It was dark enough for her not to see the bruises on her face and arms.

The next morning, Luke and Lorelai woke up at the same time, still cuddled together. They each knew that the other was awake, but neither of them moved. Lorelai started to get up. "Where are you going?"

"I have to get up. I have to make sure everything's ready for today before everyone else gets up."

"Okay." He got up, walked over to her, and put his arms around her. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Just a little sore. I'll be fine. Thanks again for last night thought, Luke."

"Don't mention it… What are you going to do if someone sees your bruises or cut?"

"I think I'm going to try and cover it up with make up. I'll wear long sleeves too. Hopefully that will work. If not, I guess I'll have to come up with some story."

"Okay. I'm going to let you get ready and go to my room. I'll see you at breakfast."

"Okay. Cool. See you later." They kissed gently, and Luke left her room.

After Lorelai made sure everything was going well so far, she went into the dining room. What she saw surprised her a little. Rory, Luke, Sookie, Jackson, Davey, Emily, and Richard were all at a table eating breakfast together. She walked up behind Luke and rested her hands on his shoulders. "Hey, guys!"

Luke turned to face her, and everyone said, "Hey!"

"What's going on?"

Sookie answered. "Not much. We decided to eat breakfast together. Don't worry. I made sure I made everyone's food first."

"Oh cool. I'm not worried. I know you got your bases covered."

"Why don't you join us? I know you haven't had breakfast yet."

"Uh. Sure okay."

Luke stood up. "Here. Take my chair. I'll go get another one."

She smiled at him. "Thanks, Luke. That's really sweet."

"No problem. I'll be right back."

The waiter came over. "How is everything?"

Everyone answered. "It's all great. Thank you." Luke pulled up a chair and sat beside Lorelai.

Then, Emily said, "I believe we have another guess." She turned to Lorelai. "Tell him what you want, Lorelai. I'm sure he's got other people to take care of."

"Right. Of course. Um… I'll have what she's having." She pointed to Rory's plate. "Plus, about three cups of coffee." She looked at her mother, then back to the waiter. "Better make that five."

He smiled knowingly. "Yes, ma'am. It'll be right out."

"Great. Thanks."

The conversation was flowing nicely. Everyone was laughing and having a great time… until Emily asked, "Lorelai, where is Christopher? Didn't you say he was staying here last night?"

Luke grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers to let her know he was here for her as always. "Yes. I did say that, but he left. He had to do something for work."

"Oh I see. That's a shame. I was hoping I'd get a chance to talk to him for a bit."

"Yes. Well, I guess that's what phones are for." Luke squeezed her hand.

Emily pursed her lips. "Yes. I suppose you're right." After that, the conversation switched back to a more pleasant one. They talked about work. Davey started playing with his oatmeal. Rory talked about some of the events that happened at Yale. Richard asked Luke a few questions about the diner, and Jackson told a story about his watermelon crop.

After breakfast, Emily and Richard said they had to get going. Everyone said goodbye, and as Richard was checking out at the desk Emily said, "Lorelai. I noticed a cut on your lip earlier. What happened?"

"Oh. It's just nothing."

"It was Luke wasn't it? Lorelai? Has Luke been hitting you?" She examined the rest of her face and notice the bruise Lorelai had tried to hide with make up. "Oh my God! He did! Luke hits you! Lorelai, you cannot be in a relationship with that man! He's crazy. Nobody deserves to be treated like that. Not even you."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? "No, mother. It wasn't Luke. It was Chris. He attacked me last night. Luke saved me." She told her about the event and how Luke came to her rescue.

"I don't believe it!"

"I know! I wa-"

"You really expect me to believe that story? You can't blame Christopher for something Luke did. Christopher loves you. He would never do that."

"No, mom. Luke loves me. Christopher is an ass."

"You really expect me to believe that Chris beat you, and Luke came to your rescue? That's ridiculous, Lorelai. I think you're just covering for Luke because you're afraid that if he gets caught he'll do it again. There is definitely going to be a lawsuit."

"Mother!"

Just then, Richard walked up to them and said, "Lorelai. The inn looks fabulous. You have a wonderful staff."

"Yes. The stay was quite pleasant."

Lorelai looked and smiled at Richard. "Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I guess you should get going. I don't want to keep you from your work any longer."

"Yes. Thank you for a wonderful time, Lorelai."

"Thanks for coming, dad. Bye, mother."

As they walked out the door, Lorelai heaved a big, heavy sigh. Then, she felt hands on her waist and heard a voice whispering right by her ear. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah… No. My mother saw the cut on my lip and the bruise on my cheek. She has eyes like a hawk, that woman!"

Luke wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry. What did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth… Of course, she didn't believe me. She said I was just covering for you and that there will be a lawsuit."

"Ah jeez."

"Sorry… It's okay though because I think they'd need me to say that you actually did it, or else there really wouldn't be any way to prove it was you."

"It's okay. I know she doesn't like me."

"Yeah. That doesn't matter. All that matters is that Rory and me like you, and, as you already know, we do. Very much so."

He smiled. "Good." He kissed her temple and held her for a bit longer. Then he whispered, "I have to go. I told Caesar I'd get back to the diner as soon as I could, and he could have today off."

She sighed. "Okay. Thanks for coming."

"Thank for inviting me. Everything… well, almost everything was great. You and Sookie did a terrific job. I'm really proud of you, Lorelai."

She smiled and hugged him tighter. "Thank you. It means a lot to me that you like it."

"Will I see you later?"

"Yeah. I'll probably come by for dinner or something."

"Good."

Their lips met in a soft, sensual kiss. When they pulled apart, they smiled at each other. "Bye, Luke."

"Bye, Lorelai. See you later." When he got to the door, he turned and waved. When she waved back, he walked out the door. She sighed and went into her office to start reading the comment cards.

A/N: I am going to do the rest of my list in another chapter. I hoped you liked this one. I hate Emily, incase you couldn't already tell. Once again, I'm sorry about those random author's notes. I don't really like them either, but I'm a 15-year-old girl with selective ADD. My parents wont take me to a doctor… haha too much info. I know...R&R please!