A/N Sorry for the wait but here is more of the happy couple, again it follows the general plot of season 4 but with the obvious change that Luke and Lorelai are together.

Luke's Lake

Chapter 21

Lorelai entered the main room of Luke's apartment, "Luke kissed who behind the bleachers?"

"Carrie Duncan," Liz replied.

"I kissed no one," Luke insisted.

"It was all over school," Liz said turning to Lorelai, "They made-out at the homecoming game.

"I did not," Luke said snorting, "I didn't not make out with Crazy Carrie Duncan at the homecoming game," he said trying not to look at Lorelai.

"Crazy Carrie?" Lorelai said giggling.

"Lorelai pleased don't listen to my sister," Luke begged.

Liz got up, "It was really good to see you big brother, you do look good," Liz said as Luke stared at his hands. Changing focus to Lorelai, "And I say you have a lot to do with that, it was really good to meet you Lorelai," she add hugging Lorelai goodbye.

"See you soon Liz," Luke said as she closed the door.

Lorelai turned to Luke, "So that was Liz?"

Luke nodded with a sigh, "Yep."

Lorelai walking to the table and sat down, taking a moment to inspect her coffee she picked it up for a sip. There was silence for a moment as Lorelai swallowed the coffee before turning her attention to Luke, "So tell me about Crazy Carrie and how you made-out with her behind the bleacher," Lorelai giggle looking at Luke.

------------

Luke shut the door a little harder than normal as he entered the diner.

"Damn kids!" he said going behind the counter as Lorelai watched.

"Did the Banyan boys egg your truck again Hon?" Lorelai asked as she finished off her coffee.

"It gone!" Luke added.

"I'll need some more details Luke," Lorelai asked.

"Someone took it," Luke dialled the phone.

"Your truck? Lorelai said, still trying to catch up to where Luke was.

"No the Rambler, Jesses old car," Luke added to Lorelai's surprise.

"Why would anyone take that heap?" Lorelai asked.

"Beats me, it barely ran…" Luke said turning his attention to the phone, "Police… okay I'd like to report a car theft," Luke said going on to report the particulars in the vain hope they could do something about it.

Lorelai watched as he hung up the phone, "You okay?"

"No big loss," Luke said picking up the coffee pot to fill Lorelai's cup.

Lorelai smiled as he filled her up, "Luke can I ask you something?"

"As long as it's not about Jess or the car," Luke insisted putting the pot back in its place.

But Lorelai was not one to listen, "Why did you take the car?" she asked a few moments later.

Luke knew he couldn't just brush this off with the promises of coffee, "You know I was trying to get him back on the right path," Luke said looking at Lorelai with a hangdog expression.

"Yes and that worked out so well," Lorelai said with candour.

"I did my best, now in hindsight it wasn't the best plan since he left to find himself, I guess he's a lot more like his mother and father that I ever thought," Luke admitted slumping on the table top.

Lorelai patted Luke on his arm them back, "You gave him every chance but he chose to leave, you can't be blamed for that."

"I guess… I just hope he's okay," Luke added with a sigh.

"So how busy are you today?" Lorelai asked with a look Luke knew so well.

"What do you need," Luke asked.

"Not even putting up a fight," Lorelai joked, "I love how I can wear you down with just sheer anticipation of the outcome," she said leaning in for a quick kiss.

"Low blood sugar. I'll have a Balance Bar and get back to you," Luke said sitting up in his chair.

"Good thing, I need you charged up so you can pick up some things from Mrs Kim's, not much just a few end tables for the Dragonfly when it opens," Lorelai said standing up.

"End tables, got it," Luke said making a mental note.

"I tried to get Mrs Kim to store them but she complained about some chair I bought years ago," Lorelai explained, "Thanks again Hon, I'll be by for lunch and we can go over after," she added drawing Luke in close for a second, longer kiss.

As the kiss ended Luke whispered in Lorelai's ear, "Maybe you could stay a little longer."

Lorelai's knees went weak with the thought, "Don't tempt me Lucas, you know I want too," Luke nibbled on Lorelai's earlobe, "But I have that meeting…" loosing her train of thought.

"Cancel the meeting," Luke said softly in her ear.

"Oh God, I wish I could…But Sookie has a thing with Davey… Michel is working…Oh God you do that so well," Lorelai said as their lips meet.

Luke's hands went to work on Lorelai's blouse buttons, slowly opening her top and his right hand slipped inside to cup her left breast, Lorelai moaned with the added attention.

"We need to stop this," Lorelai said panting.

"Do you really want to?" Luke asked pulling back.

Lorelai sighed, "No… but I have to," she said straitening her blouse and picking up her handbag.

Luke watched as she went to the door, "Come back at eleven," Luke ordered.

Lorelai turned, "Why do you want me here at eleven?" Lorelai asked.

"Just be here to find out," Luke said with a grin as he looked up to her.

"I'll be here," she said with a giggle never thinking Luke would want to do that in the middle of the day with a diner full of people below.

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Luke placed his hand over Lorelai open mouth, "Quieter!" he demanded as Lorelai looked into his eyes.

"I'm not the one calling out my name," Lorelai said holding Luke tight in the shower, her left leg wrapped around the back of his thigh.

"But your natural higher pitch travels further," Luke said as they stood there.

"Maybe this was a bad idea?" Lorelai said.

"Sex with you is never a bad idea Lorelai," Luke commented as he went back to nibbling her neck.

"Yes but if we can't make noises I might as well go home and get Ernie out from retirement," Lorelai joked.

"I told you never to bring him up again," Luke said not stopping the attention he was now placing on her breast.

"Well at least he doesn't complain when I make the slightest noise," Lorelai said running her finger through Luke's wet hair.

"Any louder we would have Taylor making noise complaints," Luke joked, "Okay turn around," Luke said as he pulled out as Lorelai foot went to the floor.

"Don't you want to look at me anymore?" Lorelai said pretending to pout.

"Just want to move things along," Luke said positioning him self behind her.

"Great now I've gone from being a nooner to a quickie!" Lorelai said still pouting.

"We've been up here thirty minutes already and I'd prefer there be as few a questions later today," Luke said as he slipped inside Lorelai with a groan.

Lorelai bent forward for easy access, leaning over the sink through the open shower curtain. Luke holding her hips as he plunged deeper inside getting closer to his climax with each stroke. Lorelai stood as Luke ran his hand from her crotch, over her teenage like flat stomach and up to cup her breast, pulling them closer together.

Luke could feel Lorelai tightening around him as he let go inside her, their bodies writhing as they supported each other in the tiny shower cubical.

"That was…" Lorelai said still breathless.

"Different…" Luke added, also breathless as he pulled out.

Lorelai nodded in agreement speechless, she could feel what Luke had left inside her. And while they had a varied sex life this was a first for her at this time of the day.

As they stepped out of the bathtub Luke held Lorelai's hand, even though he had place non-slip decals on the slippery surface which he had bought from Kirk.

"You know this is a first for me," Luke said waiting for the comments to come, their relationship had changed in the last few months but he liked how they could still tease each other like they had for years.

Lorelai nodded in silence for a moment, "Me too," she said in agreement.

"So with…" Luke began to say.

"Rory's dad was a once off, one evening when my parents got home late from a function," Lorelai said liking how they could talk about this and not feel weird.

"So not a nooner?" Luke smiled.

"Is this weird?" Lorelai asked and they dried off each other's backs.

"Being with you?" Luke questioned.

"No, talking about our ex's and stuff," Lorelai clarified.

"A little, but I'm a big boy…" Luke said.

"Don't I know it," Lorelai said with a giggle.

"…I know we both have pasts we can't hide from and if we didn't have those pasts we wouldn't be the people standing here right now," Luke said.

"Naked?" Lorelai joked.

"You know what I mean," Luke said as they moved out of the bathroom to find where their clothes had been tossed in a frenzy of sexual energy.

"You make some good points but tell me if it gets weird, I know Chris is not your favourite person in the world," Lorelai said putting clasping her bra around her waist before turning and putting her arms through the straps.

"I don't hate him," Luke said slipping on his jeans.

Lorelai nodded, "I know, and I'm not jealous that you married Nicole," she added.

"I'm glade to hear that," Luke said with a smile, "Can you pass my watch please," Luke said pointing.

"Here you go…" Lorelai said before realizing what it was sitting against, "What is this?" she asked slowly.

"It's nothing," Luke said nonchalant tone rushing over to hide to little black box.

"Luke is that…" She said slowly, here works petering off.

"No it's… Aw Geez," Luke said hanging his head in defeat.

"Luke if you were planning a big elaborate evening you don't have to give this too me now," she said looking at Luke with a smile.

Luke looked up from the box he was holding, "I was trying to think of the right time and place to do this but nothing seemed right. I could have taken you out to a nice restaurant or some other romantic evening. Put the ring is the dessert but I always found that a little dangerous and unsanitary."

Lorelai took Luke's hands, "Luke you don't' need to do any of that, and you've seen me eat so I agree it would be a little dangerous," she said leaning in for a kiss.

After a few moments Luke pulled back and slowly lowered down to one knee, "Oh Luke you don't have to…"

"Lorelai at least let me do this," Luke said groaning as he got down.

"You okay there Hon?" Lorelai asked helping him.

"Can you be quite for a minute," Luke said back with a tone.

Lorelai nodded as her mood changed.

Luke opened the box and took out the ring, "Lorelai I've wanted to ask you this for many years, would you do me the privilege of becoming your husband?" He asked.

Luke's proposal left Lorelai with tears welling in her eyes, "Yes," she said with a whisper, "Of course I'll marry you," she added wiping the tears from her eyes.

Luke smiled back as he placed the ring on her finger. Lorelai looked at it as Luke got to his feet with a groan.

"Maybe I should have done this years ago, when I first realized how I felt," Luke joked now standing.

Lorelai was lost in her own world as she looked at her hand and the ring, "This looks really old," she said admiring the ring design.

"It was my mothers engagement ring," Luke said standing behind Lorelai and rubbing her back with one hand while holding Lorelai's left hand with his as they looked at the ring.

After a few moments Lorelai spoke, "You know this isn't the first time you proposed to me," she smiled.

"You remember that?" Luke replied remembering the time three years before when he made a joke to shut her up.

-----

Luke spend the next two days being congratulated on the engagement, it only took a few hours for the news to spread throughout the small town but he had come to accept the extra attention Lorelai had bought to his life.

Friday night Luke drove the short distance to pickup Lorelai for dinner with her parents.

Luke came to the door of the house he had visited many times in the past, even though their relationship had now changed Luke still felt the need to knock, even with the engagement. Checking his watch one last time it was 6:05 pm, which he had learnt was the right time when he was man to be there at 6pm.

Luke knocked unsure if Lorelai had heard it over the music playing, he waited a moment before calling out, "Lorelai its Luke," he said.

"Come in," Lorelai called back.

Luke pushed the door opened and made his way inside to see Lorelai on the steps pulling her boots on.

Luke turned off the stereo so they could speak.

"You're getting better," Lorelai said as Luke lent down for a quick kiss, "I was unsure about this engagement but tonight seals the deal mister."

"Glade to know I passed the five minute test," Luke said taking note of Lorelai's outfit.

As Lorelai stepped back to put on her coat Luke noticed she was wearing pants and a colorful sweater and her hair was tied back in a ponytail, classic Lorelai winter wear.

Just then Rory arrived, "Sorry I'm late, hi Luke" the younger Gilmore side coming in to the living room.

"Were you supposed to meet us here?" Lorelai asked.

"No, I'm a surprise," Rory answered.

"As was your conception," Lorelai joked back.

"I'll just be two minutes," Rory returned going to her room to change.

"As was your conception," Lorelai joked again under her breath with a smile.

Moments later Rory had changed for dinner going to the kitchen, she opened the refrigerator for a water bottle. Rory was surprised that there was more then just some week old pizza and Chinese food on the shelves.

Picking up a bottle Rory turned to her mother and Luke, now waiting by the water cooler, "Did Luke shop for you again?"

"It's not my doing," Luke said as Lorelai went to close the refrigerator.

"He just taught me, this is nothing strange, move on people," Lorelai said ushering them to the front door.

"Is that bread?" Rory commented as she left the kitchen.

----

A short time later they arrived for dinner. Lorelai decided to move the ring to another finger, so as not to draw attention from Emily before their announcement.

"Hi, we're looking for the Emerald City do you know where it is?" Lorelai told the new maid that answered the door.

She looked confused for a moment before Rory spoke up, "Don't mind her, we're here for dinner, Rory, Lorelai and Luke."

The maid let them in taking their coats as Emily walked up, "You're here," she said greeting Rory with a hug before turning to Luke.

"It's nice to see you again," Emily said with a smile, still not used to the relationship.

"Hello Mom," Lorelai said standing off to the side with Luke.

"Now the greetings are out of the way why don't we move this to the living room," Emily said leading the way.

Once in the room Emily went to the drinks cart, "So Martini Lorelai?"

"Yes Gin and olive please," Lorelai said sitting with Luke by her side.

"Luke would you like a beer?" Emily asked.

"That would be nice thank you," Luke replied.

"And a soda for you Rory?" Emily said finishing the orders.

A few moments later they were enjoying their drinks before dinner, "So Luke how is that diner of yours?" Emily asked.

Luke had become used to questions from his future mother-in-law, "Business is good…" Luke replied before Lorelai cut in.

"I helped Luke out last week when he was short handed," Lorelai added.

"What about the Inn?" Emily snapped back.

"Don't worry that's under control and on schedule," Lorelai replied quickly.

"So where is grandpa," Rory asked, wanting to change the topic.

"He's in Manhattan having dinner with Jason and some clients, he just called. They're at some restaurant near Times Square. He said that Times Square just keeps getting cleaner and cleaner. They didn't stumble upon one prostitute the whole night," Emily explained.

"Oh yeah. I heard the Disney Company had them all killed," Lorelai joked taking a sip of her Martini.

Emily was silent for a moment, "So the Inn is coming along," she asked in a pleasant tone.

Lorelai's reply was interrupted by her cell phone, "That's me sorry," she said standing, "It could be about the Inn," Lorelai said answering the call.

They listened as Lorelai answered, turning to Luke, "It's for you, something about Jess and his car," Lorelai said handing the phone to Luke who left the room.

"Jess?" Emily asked looking at the girls.

"Hey you know as much as we do Mom," Lorelai said seeing Emily wanted more information.

"He left last year and we haven't heard from him since," Rory added.

They could here Luke getting louder as he returned still on the phone a few minutes late, "Fine I'll be their in thirty minutes," he said handing the phone back to Lorelai to end the call.

"What was that Hon," Lorelai said stepping close enough to Luke to take his hand.

"Jess took the car, it broke down and the police towed it back to town, Jess is at the diner right now," he said still mad his evening was interrupted, "I need to get back there."

"Okay we'll go…" Lorelai started to say.

"No you stay, I can come back and pick you up in a few hours," Luke said.

"Luke that make no sense, we'll take a cab when we've finished dinner," Lorelai said, "You go sort out this family matter and we'll see you home later."

"But a cab is too expensive…"Luke said.

"Luke don't worry about that," Lorelai replied.

Luke smiled. He couldn't believe how lucky he was.

"Here I'll walk you out," Lorelai said taking his arm.

They walked in silence until they got to the truck, "Tell Emily I'm sorry," Luke said opening the door.

"She understands," Lorelai said as Luke hopped in the drivers seat. Lorelai leaned in the open window and kissed Luke, "Drive safe Hon," Lorelai said feeling the cold.

"You better get inside," Luke said starting the truck.

Lorelai went back to the front door and gave Luke a quick wave as he backed out the drive.

-----

Luke came back to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

"So he's spending the night in your apartment?" Lorelai confirmed.

"I drove around the block and watched him go inside," Luke said climbing into bed.

Lorelai latched onto his side as they cuddled up close the keep out the cold, "You did the right thing," she said kissing Luke on the lips.

"I should have been honest with him," Luke said kissing Lorelai back, "Maybe he wouldn't have left?"

"What's done is done, all you can do now is hope he's doing better and visit him in the big house," Lorelai joked.

There was silence for a few moments, "Sorry we didn't get around to telling your mother about this," Luke said as the both looked at the ring back in place on her finger.

"That's okay, one more week of just us knowing," Lorelai said.

"Yes and half the crazy towns people," Luke added, "Tell you what when is your Father due back?" he asked.

"Tomorrow," Lorelai answered.

"Okay invite them over for Sunday Lunch, I'll cook and we can tell them together before they find out," Luke said as the looked at each other.

"Is it a good idea to bring them here, they might see the giant banner in the town square," Lorelai said.

"I'll tear it down tomorrow," Luke joked, "We don't have to do it but I can't get to dinner next week and it's more then likely they will find out the long we leave it."

"Okay Sunday," Lorelai said looking back at her hand.

TBC…

Feedback would be good