Lorelai furrowed her brow, the urge to chicken out again creeping up from the pit of her over-turned stomach. Calm down. Buck up. Any stupid encouraging cliché you can think of- do that. The worst he can say is no. The thought didn't calm her stomach. "Um I was thinking dessert? You want dessert?" Lorelai rang her hands. Wuss.

If she's eating, she can't talk. "I brought ice-cream," he made a bee-line for the kitchen, leaving Lorelai still standing at the base of the stairs, trying to figure out what exactly was happening. "Ugh. O.K." She shook out her hair, tossed it over her shoulder and stretched her arms over her head. Oh for gods' sake, you aren't prepping for a marathon. Get your butt moving. Finally motivated, she charged the kitchen.

"Luke?" she stepped through the doorway to find him furiously spooning out two rather large bowls of ice cream.

"Hey. Chocolate chip O.K.? I mean, it'll have to be O.K. because it's all I brought." Babbling? You sound like her. He held out a bowl.

"It's great." She walked slowly towards him and took the bowl, stabbing her spoon into the ice cream absently.

"You're supposed to eat it, not kill it," Luke tried to joke, shoving an all together too-large spoonful into his own mouth.

"Luke," she started, setting down her bowl on the kitchen's island he was leaning against. "What I started to say, before" she twirled her fingers together absently and looked up at him, her blue eyes full and open- really open, raw emotion flashing so briefly in her usually guarded eyes. It took him by surprise, and he met her gaze and swallowed hard.

"I don't want you to think I haven't thought about this- I mean, really thought about it, Luke, it's practically the only damn thing that's been on my mind for the past couple of months, except the inn, of course, and Rory, but that's a totally different subject." The words tripped out of her mouth clumsily, rapidly, and she was thankful then that he was the quiet and thoughtful type, because if he hadn't been, well, that'd be a mess, right, Focus. She stepped closer to him now; she could reach out and touch him- so she did resting her hand lightly on his arm. He remained frozen in place, the harsh chill of the ice cream he swallowed too quickly stinging his throat. He couldn't talk if he had to.

"Luke, we're such good friendsI feel like we're even closer now since this summer, and I've had the chance to think about things I already said that. Right." This is not going well. "Luke, I don't want to just be friends. I mean, of course I want to be friends, you're one of the best friends I've got, but I'm thinking somewhere around the "more than friends" sort of thing." She stepped closer, her body pressed into his side. She stared at her hand on his arm, her fingers tracing circles into his shirt absently.

"Lorelai," he began; her name sounded like a protest. She started to panic.

"Now, I know what you're thinking, 'Lorelai, you're a big old mess when it comes to relationships and what not, and this might be the numero uno way to screw up a really good thing here, but I told you that I'd thought about all that." She looked up at him, the same depth in her eyes. "I've thought about what it means to date your best friend. It means knowing that it's all for real, and there's no room for panicking and general Lorelai freakiness. It means knowing there's the long haul in front of you- the whole package, and not being afraid of that."

She stopped to take a breath and examine his face. He looked uncomfortable, slightly panicked, but on the good side, he was at least still listening. "I know before, I wasn't ready for any of that. I wasn't really thinking about anything past the day-to-day stuff my mom says I wasn't done "having my fun" or whatever the female equivalent to sowing your wild oats is or whatever. Um, would you say something so I can stop babbling?" she asked suddenly, sounding vulnerable and nervous.

---uh----- "It's I is there something I'm supposed to say?" that sounded idiotic. And shit, look what you've done. Lorelai's face fell.

"Well it's not like there's any protocol or anything like that. I'm new at this too, you know." She leaned back on her heels, giving a bit of separation between them.

He wanted to reach out and touch her face, run his fingers along the side of her cheek and tell her what? What an idiot you are for her? She hasn't said anything about

"I love you, Luke." She whispered softly, looking down at her hands. And there it is, he thought. It was the sweetest, most heartbreaking thing he'd ever heard.

"Lorelai" what do you say to that. The truth. "I love you too" oh god oh god oh god She perked up, her eyes flying to meet his. "I just what if what if this isn't a good idea?" There. Good. It's out there now.

"But what if it is a good idea, Luke?" she was renewed by his admission. He still looked green, nervous and completely unsure.

"And what if everything's screwed up now? What if there's no going back from any of it, especially this conversation?"

"Who wants to go back? I don't"

"Right now." He stared at his shoes.

"Ah." It's fair, Lorelai, it's a fair fear.

"I just I need to think about this." Luke finally admitted. Give her time, she'll get bored or meet someone elsethe thought turned his stomach but he tried to ignore it.

"O.K. Time is good. Thinking, time- all good things." She nodded, her head jerking like a bobble-head doll. Get a grip. "So just a recap," she said cheerfully, squeezing his arm. He looked up at her. "So now you know I've done lots of serious-major-type thinking here, and that I would like to be with you, and you've said that you need to think. Is that everything?"

"Sounds like it."

"Good." O.K. this is weird. "So"

"Yeah." They stared at each other, nodding.

"Movie?" Lorelai pointed to the front room.

"Sure." Lorelai reclaimed her now-melting ice cream and wandered into the front room. Luke followed wordlessly. O.K. so internal recap- he said he loves you, which is probably the only thing that's keeping you sane right now, so cling to it, no big deal. What to do now. He wants time to think. Fair, it's fair- can't be pushy. Time to think. What do I do during that time, pray tell? She sat on the couch and Luke went to put the chosen movie of the week in- Silence of the Lambs, keeping with the trilogy tradition they had started.

There is nothing going on in this head. Can't put together a single thought. HE glanced over at Lorelai who was studying her ice cream intently. Except that she has got to be the most beautiful and difficult and wonderful person I have ever met and I am on the verge of screwing everything up so badly. He watched as she looked up suddenly, as if inspired; she caught him looking at her. She grinned widely at him as he walked over to sit down.

"So don't you want to know why I'm smiling?" Lorelai bounced on the edge of the sofa next to him, still grinning.

Uh, you figured out that you made a mistake back there and you feel relieved? "Sure. What?" he crossed his arms and looked over at her.

"You might have to spend some time thinking, but I have absolutely nothing more to think about. I know where my mind is. And knowing it like I do, I am not planning on sitting idly by while you think of a million and one reasons why you don't want what I know I want."

"Was any of that supposed to make sense?" he took a bite of ice cream.

"I'm not done," she raised and eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "While you sit and think about it, I am not going to sit around and do nothing. I'm warning you right now, all's fair, and I plan on making certain you realize that you and I are a perfect couple."

Uh oh. "And what does this terrifying plan entail?" Luke shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, I haven't flushed out all the details yet, but you are a stubborn man," she paused to take another bite of ice cream, licking the spoon clean seductively. "I'm thinking all out seduction coupled with some adoration and open admittance of my feelings" She sounded positively wicked.

"Lorelai, you can't" he began. She clamped a hand over his mouth and leaned over.

"Oh yes I can, and I will, Luke Danes. You're luck that you're getting fair warning of my intentions." She removed her hand slowly, running her thumb along his lip purposefully.
"Ice cream," she said showing him her thumb before sucking it clean of any remaining drips.

Danger Will Robinson, Luke felt a flush creep up his neck, a million warning bells going off in his head. Could be fun thoughhe forced his tight muscles to relax as he sank back into the sofa. Lorelai scooted closer and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Could be lots of fun

*****

This is not fun. Luke sighed as Lorelai bounced into the diner along side Annie. He returned the wave and smile she flashed him before ducking into the kitchen towell, to hide.

It hadn't been so bad at first. The spent the rest of the weekend taking care of Emma and things had seemed remotely normal. They'd flirt, because it was already established they were huge flirts, and that was O.K. Crawling into bed next to Lorelai wasn't even all that odd; it was the same bed they'd shared before and Lorelai was the same bed hog she'd been before. Things were like before. He'd relaxed a bit.

Monday had been the biggest disaster. Huge. In retrospect, it'd been his fault, sort of. Lorelai had stopped by on her way to work, wearing an outfit he hadn't seen before. He'd commented on it- she looked nice. "I'm glad you think so. I bought it for you," she'd said, grinning from beneath her coffee cup.

Of course, she'd said it loud enough for Miss Patty to notice, which was probably her intent. "Aww, isn't that sweet? I thought you two weren't together" "Oh, we're not. Not yet. Luke's thinking about it. My mind's pretty well made up in the affirmative," she'd responded, leaving him standing there, helplessly listening to her tell the world's biggest gossip what was going on between them.

And then there was the constant distractions. She'd brush up against him when he handed her coffee, and the devastatingly beautiful smiles came more often. He felt like a masochist. You are a masochist. You could end all of this temptation and subterfuge by just simply saying, yes Lorelai, I would love to be with you, to kiss you quiet and hold you at night when you sleep and blech. For how long, Luke?

"You're hiding from me." He could see the pout on her lips in his mind before he turned around.

He snorted. "Don't be silly."

"Too late for that," she waited until he turned before flashing open her suit jacket, revealing yup, that's a Star Trek shirt if I ever saw one.

"Where did you even get that?" He shook his head and started re-stacking his coffee cups, straightening the already pristine kitchen.

"The wonders of the Internet. I'm telling you, I'm becoming a real pro, surfin' the web, hittin' the chat lines. You better move fast boy or you're going to lose me to some hunky guy, screen-name "Klingon470" in Toronto." He rolled his eyes, stomach tightening in knots. You're jealous of Klingon 470. You've gone beyond insane.

Lorelai crossed the kitchen and grabbed his hand to get his attention. "So are you done thinking yet?" She threaded her fingers through his and gave his hand a squeeze.

"Lorelai.it doesn't work that way," he protested. He didn't pull away, though, when she wrapped his arm around her waist and stepped closer.

"I know. I'm just anxious to get started, you know?" She wasn't trying to press the issue but she stared up at him, eyes intense.

"Luke? The uh there's kind of a back up out here," Tom interrupted awkwardly. He'd been skittish around Lorelai since she threatened his life previously, and waited as long as he could before interrupting their whatever. Who knows what those two do back here. Tom shrugged and Luke stepped hastily away from Lorelai.

The diner, your job, customers remember those things? "Gotta go," he said lamely. Lorelai sighed.

"Yeah, I know. Go." She watched as his face began to cloud. Oh, and now I can guess where he's going with this one

"It's my job, Lorelai. Don't expect me to be able to drop things and"

"Stop. I never said I expected any such thing. Don't go looking for excuses, Luke Danes." He shrugged. She was right.

"Sorry. I...I just have to go." He stepped through the kitchen to a crowded but quiet diner, the majority of the customers were town members staring at him intently. "Eat or leave," he said gruffly, pointing towards the door. Heads whipped together and the silent whispering that had been taking place since Lorelai's announcement to Miss Patty began again.

Lorelai appeared from the kitchen then, flashed Luke a weak smile and headed back to Annie's table.

"No luck?" Annie sipped her coffee, peeking over her cup at Lorelai.

"Nope. It's not like things are bad or anything. I can hear his brain churning out reasons to turn me down." She let her eyes follow his now-tense form around the diner. "I wonder if I'm just making him miserable."

"If you back off, he'll take it as a sign that he was right- that you've lost interest or something," Annie warned. Lorelai nodded.

"I know. It's only fair, I guess." Annie giggled into her coffee. "What?"

"You two are just crazy. I swear. It's as if the world would end if you two dated. Please."

"Well, it isn't all that simple, you know. I had to think about it for a while."

"Aww, you're defending him already. You're just like, the most perfect non-couple ever!" Annie did her best impression of a valley girl. She was rewarded with a napkin in the face, courtesy of Lorelai.

"I'm heading to work."

"Fine, fine. Are you coming to my big 'I got laid off' party?" Annie asked, still laughing.

"Of course. I can't believe they fired you after maternity leave."

"I can. I've been a pretty terrible employee. Luke, you're coming, right?" Annie tugged on Luke's shirt to slow him down.

"What? Oh yeah- the party maybe."

"Maybe?" Lorelai asked. "You have other plans?"

"Well, it depends are you planning on flirting and distracting me all night?"

"Well, of course."

"Then maybe I'll come," he stalked off to the counter to fill an order.

"Maybe." Lorelai mimicked. Annie laughed.

"Oh, he'll be there with bells on."

"Bells I haven't worn bells this week," Lorelai joked, making fun of her own attempts to win Luke by fashion.

"Go to work, oh Lucky One with a Job." Annie shooed her off and finished her coffee before heading home to Emma and Jake.

*****

"Luke's here," the fourth person whispered to Lorelai as she stood chatting with Jake.

"Uh, thanks," she said for the fourth time. Jake stifled a laugh. "Wow, they are going to be so broken hearted when he turns me down," she said negatively. Jake raised an eyebrow.

"I had it on good authority that wasn't going to happen," Jake said carefully. Lorelai sighed.

"I hope not. I'm just trying not to psyche myself up too much, so if the let down comes, it will only destroy my entire world, not the universe." She took a sip of her beer and sighed. "Do I sound pathetic?"

"I have no idea how to answer that question," Jake glanced around, looking for Annie to save him. Lorelai knew she was being an absolute drag. Almost two solid weeks of flirting and waiting had driven her up the wall. They'd gone out to the movies, as friends, eaten dinner together twice a week, and she'd even talked him into fixing about twenty random things she'd broken around the house in an attempt to spend more time with him. She didn't have to ask if she was pathetic, she knew she was. Rory had called it "poetic justice." It was the first time she'd ever hung up on her daughter.

"Hey, Sookie!" Lorelai scooted over to her robust friend.

"Hey sweeite!" Sookie hugged her as best she could with baby blocking the way. "Did you know Luke's here?"

"Yes, of course I know. I knew within one one-hundredth of the second her entered the door."

"Oh, you're having a sad day," Sookie rubbed Lorelai's back sympathetically.

"Well, this whole situation is a major blow to the ego."

"Maybe your ego needed some deflating?" Kirk interrupted. Lorelai and Sookie stared at him, appalled. "Just a thought," he muttered before scooting away.

"Did I just get insulted by Kirk. God the day does suck." Lorelai finished the last of her drink.

"Oh honey, just think, the pay off will be so great. I'm just so excited!' Sookie danced back and forth on her heels.

"Excited about what?" Luke's familiar voice interrupted. "Hey Sookie, Lorelai," Luke said graciously.

"The baby, of course," Lorelai supplied.

"Of course!" Sookie echoed.

"Uh right." The three stood uncomfortably. Luke glanced around and saw that Lorelai's glass was empty. "Want another drink?"

"God yes," she handed him her glass and he went of in search of a drink of his own, as well.

"See how weird this is getting?" Lorelai pointed in the general direction of Luke's retreating back. Sookie just shrugged.

"He knew we were talking about him."

"He knows everyone is talking about him, which probably drives him batty. I'm such an idiot," she moaned. "I seriously thought it'd be decided by now" Sookie avoided eye contact, grinning. "Yes, yes, I deserve it all, I know what you're thinking."

"Oh, it's not that harsh Lorelai. It's just cute to see you pining away and everything" she trailed off as Luke returned.

"Here you go."

"Thanks." She flashed him an ebbing smile.

"Something wrong?" She didn't look nearly as bubbly as she'd been the past couple of days.

"Are you kidding?" Lorelai asked, a little sarcastically.

"What?" He couldn't delve any further, as an already drunk Annie came crashing into them, breaking up the conversation.

"Hello, lovebirds!" Annie called loudly. Lorelai saw Luke's face contort with annoyance. "So am I breaking up some secret little lovers conversation?" She giggled, finishing off her drink before she grabbed Lorelai's. "What?" she asked, noticing their less-than-enthusiastic faces. "Aww, are you two in a little lover's spat?"

"Annie," Jake came over to tame his increasingly drunk girlfriend.

"What? Am I loud? Of course I'm loud, I'm drinking, and having a party, and if my two friends would get their heads out of their asses and figure this out, we'd all be having fun," She draped her arms around them, tugging on their necks, hugging them. "Right kiddies? Come on, who's in agreement with me, huh?" She addressed the crowd. Random cheers came from all over, as a group gathered to watch the embarrassing spectacle.

"Annie, really," Lorelai tried to shush her as Luke ducked angrily out of the girls' grasp.

"Please Lorelai, and you're going to act like you have nothing to do with this?" Luke was annoyed; Lorelai was taken aback.

"Luke, I swear I haven't said anything"

"Right. And all these people know about our discussionhow?" Luke spread his arms wide, gesturing to the crowd of partygoers. The music playing in the background thankfully covered up the whispered murmurs as Luke continued.

"So how about it? Since it's all a public thing, now, and I obviously am the one with my- how'd you put it Annie, head up my ass? -we'll put it to a vote. You all think we should be dating?" He was yelling now at the crowd. Unsure of weather to participate in the conversation, there was only a small group of nods. "Oh please, you guys can do better than that- should Lorelai and I date? Stand up and be heard," he snapped. This time the response was louder, if not still hesitant.

Luke whipped around to face a nervous Lorelai, who was twirling her drink in her hands, looking at him with wide eyes. "Hear that. You win, by public opinion. You want us to be together? Fine, we're together. Fine." He crossed his arms across his chest. Aww shit, nice going.

Lorelai looked like she was going to cry. "I'm so sorry I did this," she said sadly, handing him her drink as she past him by, heading out the door.

He watched her go. Shit shit shit shit. Nice going asshole. Everyone was staring at him, and five minutes ago he thought that was the worst thing. It wasn't. Shit. He put down Lorelai's drink and turned, heading out the back door, away from them, away from Lorelai. Shit.

"Oh man I suck," Annie said, breaking the silence. Jake kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't' worry about it I'll goright," he followed Luke outside.
++

"Well that was quite a show in there," Jake tried to be light hearted.

"Yeah, I'm a real Oscar contender. And the award for biggest asshole goes to" Luke sat down on the back step, staring off into space.

"So it's been a rough couple of weeks then?" Jake opened his beer and joined Luke on the step, a manly distance between them.

"It's my own damn fault. I don't know what the hell my problem is."

"It's hard to admit when you've lost the bachelor battle," Jake said, sipping his own beer. "I think I knew I lost when just about every song I heard reminded me of her. "Every Little Thing' by Sting is just totally her song now. That's irritating."

"I'd swear every special I offer at the diner is based around something she eats way too much of," Luke admitted. " I lost a long time ago."

"Yeah?" Jake asked. Luke nodded. "Then why are you sitting here?"

Shit. "Good question." He finished his beer and handed the empty bottle to Jake before getting up to leave. He didn't really need to explain where he was going.
*****

Luke stood outside the screen door and caught a glimpse of her pacing around the house. She turned the corner at the sound of her name and peeked out at him, holding the phone to her ear. She caught his eyes and stared.

Rory? I have to call you back. She didn't wait for a response, didn't break eye-contact as she clicked the phone off and lowered her arm. she wasn't sure what to say.

Look, I screwed up back there. I know that. He rocked on the balls of his feet, hands shoved deep into his pockets. She shrugged nonchalantly, her heart still stinging from the blow his words had delivered earlier.

What I shit. Think think think Luke.

Look, forget it, O.K.? Lorelai tried to save him from the difficulty. Obviously it's just not right

No, wait. He opened the door and stepped into her foyer, a renewed sense of urgency. I'm not going to let it all slip away again damn it. What I should have said back there what I should have said was that I've wanted to be with you for three years now, at least. What I should have said was I'm terrified of it, of losing you somewhere along the way because that would I can't even begin to imagine doing that again. What I should have said is I'm a coward but I love you and I don't know if that's good enough for someone as special as you. His heart stopped and he wasn't remembering to breathe as he stared into her eyes trying to read all the different expressions that passed over her face.

She heard him so clearly and it startled her, as if she had forgotten for the past few weeks what all the flirting and effort had been for. You need to react- he's going to pass out. A grin spread widely across her face and she took a step towards him. Well, that's quite a bit better than fine, we're together.'

He released the breath he had been holding and stepped closer to her. Yeah, I thought so. She closed the gap between them, her hands on his chest, fingers fidgeting with his shirt playfully.

So, you wanna go steady then? She giggled, and he laughed with relief, nodding. You gonna be my boyfriend? she sang. He nodded again, hands finding the way to her waist, pulling her closer still. You gonna kiss me? He nodded and she gently framed her face with his hands as he leaned in closer.

It wasn't a passionate kiss. It began tentatively, gently- lips closed and warm, molded against one another with sweet sincerity. He ended it sooner than she would have liked, searching again in her eyes for reassurance, for the answer to quiet the fears in his heart. He couldn't put into words what he saw there, in the depths of her gaze, but it struck him to his very core, calmed and warmed him throughout. He ran his thumb along the bottom lip he had fantasized about for so long and she closed her eyes. Luke stared, memorizing every detail.

Lorelai basked in his gaze, feeling his eyes on her face like a caress. She opened her eyes to look at him in anticipation. More please? He laughed, rich and deep, and answered her with a hungry kiss, sliding his hands down her body to her back. She matched his passion then and there was no more hesitation from either of them. She teased his lips with the tip of her tongue until he opened up to her; she pressed her body closer into his and he grasped her tightly, hands sliding under her shirt, finding the smooth skin of her back. Her fingers wound through his hair, tugging gently as their kiss spiraled deeper.

She ended it this time, panting, lips swollen.

He sounded so small.

You didn't think so?

I did I just and she was kissing him again, making the world spin and stand still all at once. A moan escaped her lips, and he made it his goal in life to hear another.

Neither of them really knew how long they stood there, drowning in each others' kisses, but they slowed their passions until they were looking again into each others' eyes.

Now look what you've done. You've gone and changed everything, she teased.

Good. It all needed changing.

I agree. They stood together, entwined comfortably, but unsure of what to do next. So maybe this is a little weird, Lorelai admitted, hugging him tightly.

Well, we skipped a lot of stuff here, Luke said thoughtfully.

Uncomfortable first date. Lorelai responded.

Guessing where to go, what to do.

Wondering if you'll have stuff to talk about.

Figuring out how long to wait before calling. I hate that.

Sounds like we skipped all the crappy stuff. I just

Luke asked as Lorelai snuggled further into his chest.

I just don't want that to mean we rush and skip all the good stuff.

Sounds fair enough. He kissed the top of her head. So why don't I pick you up tomorrow around seven and we'll go out on our first comfortable date. She smiled into his shirt.

Someplace nice?



And you'll get all dressed up and stuff?

You'll have to wait and see. He started to release his grasp on her, reluctantly.

Ohh! Maybe I should buy a new outfit. She was beginning to get giddy, and he enjoyed her silliness.

If you want. I'm grinning like an idiot.

Come here, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him into a kiss, hard and quick. I told you I'd get you sooner or later.

Yeah, yeah. You're always right.

And don't you forget it mister.

Call Rory. Tell her I'm not still such an asshole. He opened the door and stepped onto the porch.

Uh huh. One more she kissed him sweetly and stroked his face. He looked so serious all of the sudden. What, Luke?

This still I'm still nervous, he leaned his forehead onto the top of hers. She smiled, hugging him tightly.

Me too, she admitted, squeezing him. Feels pretty right, though.

I hope so. So I'll see you tomorrow morning? She nodded. O.K., leaving for real now. He didn't move, and neither did she. Going now, he mummbled. She laughed.

I'll see you tomorrow.

She nodded.

She watched as he walked away, glancing over his shoulder every couple of steps to wave. I have a boyfriend. Luke. Wow. She stepped back inside when he was out of sight and called Rory back.
*****

O.K, so I was going to leave the last part for the next chapter, but I got the feeling I would either
a) get more reports of deaths across the world
b) have people totally give up on me
so Happy Easter, hope you all liked it!