"I really appreciate this, Mia." Luke smiled.

"Anything for you, Lucas." Mia replied. "Plus, I happen to think you're just what Lorelai needs in her life."

"Really?" Luke asked.

"Yes. If you've ever noticed, Lorelai's life has been filled with women who have loved her and watched out for her, and she does the same for Rory, but the absence of a man is quite noticeable. What Lorelai needs, is the love of a good man and role a model for her daughter."

"I'd love to be that person." Luke said sincerely. "But that's her decision, you know how strong willed and independent she is…"

"I do." Mia chuckled. "Good luck, Lucas."

"Thanks." Luke took a deep breath and walked over to the information desk. Lorelai was buried in her work, filing papers and sorting through the guestbook, she hadn't even noticed Luke was standing in front of her. "Hey."

Lorelai was immediately startled. She gazed up and saw Luke. "Oh, hey… I didn't even see you."

"Yeah, you looked pretty caught up in your work…"

Lorelai gazed down at the messy desk. "There's a party next week… a lot of guests and a lot of picky directions and specifications… and of course we're still sticking by that whole "the customer is always right" thing."

"Looks like you need a break…" Luke sat a picnic basket on top of the desk. "Hungry?"

Lorelai looked awkwardly at the large basket. "Is that a picnic basket?"

"Yep."

"Why did you bring a picnic basket to the inn?"

"So we could go on a picnic." Luke smiled. "I know it's a little chilly outside." He held up a thermos full of coffee in his other hand. "So I brought fresh hot coffee as well…"

"Luke, I can't… I have so much to …"

"I already talked to Mia about it, and she's more than happy to give you the rest of the afternoon off."

Lorelai smiled. "Alright… I guess I could use some coffee."

Lorelai and Luke walked outside of the inn. "I fixed up a nice spot by the lake." Luke said while they were walking. "Blanket and everything… whole nine yards."

Lorelai laughed. "I don't even remember the last time I went on a picnic."

"Well, it's a beautiful day. Jess headed off to his first day of school. So I figured hey, why not close up the diner a little early today and go see Lorelai. Besides, I feel like the other night was kind of… well… you seemed…"

"Yeah." Lorelai replied looking down on the ground. "I'm sorry about that."

"It's okay. You're right, I should have called more."

"I shouldn't have acted that way." Lorelai began. "I guess... I'm so used to the bottom falling out that I assumed all these stupid things about our relationship and… I don't want to get hurt and I don't Rory to get hurt and god knows she has her expectations sky high and now there's your nephew and we've been apart for two months and…."

Luke stopped and faced Lorelai halting her jumbled explanation. "Lorelai, I love you with all of my heart."

"I know you do." Lorelai looked him in the eye. "It just always feels like our timing is wrong."

Luke gently kissed her. He pulled away. "Sometimes you just have to take a dive… forget about timing and appropriateness… just jump in head first. Let everything just kind of work itself out. Don't look before you leap, so to speak."

Lorelai leaned forward and returned the kiss with one of her own. "And how often do you leap without looking?"

"Not often enough." Luke honestly replied. "I've spent my whole life trying to be careful and prepared, and it's not gotten me anywhere. Sometimes I just want to go with what I feel and worry about problems later. Just put faith in that everything will work out and I'll find a way to deal. I kind of had to do that with Jess when I brought him back to Stars Hollow. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to help him."

"He's lucky to have you." Lorelai started walking again, Luke followed.

"Over there's the spot." Luke pointed.

"You're right… it's a nice spot." Lorelai smiled. "Perfect view of the pond…"

"In a few more weeks, I bet the pond freezes." Luke began. "Maybe we could talk Mia into letting us use it for ice skating."

Lorelai laughed. "You know how to ice skate?"

"Sure, I do." Luke boasted.

"You do not!" Lorelai's laughed increased.

"I played little league hockey for six years." Luke replied.

Lorelai was shocked. "I never knew that about you… wow."

Luke smiled. "Yeah, see… not as boring as you think I am."

"I don't think you're boring." Lorelai countered.

"Good." Luke nodded. "I don't think you're boring either."

"Well of course not." Lorelai said a bit teasingly. "How could I ever be considered boring?"

They sat down on the blanket Luke had laid out for them. Luke began to pour two cups of coffee while Lorelai dug through the basket.

"Oh!" She exclaimed as she pulled out a large pumpkin pie. "I love pumpkin pie!" She reached inside again and pulled out a plate full of fried chicken and dinner rolls. Lorelai glanced back at Luke. "I haven't had fried chicken in years… Why would you bring this?"

"I remember one time you said, the best meal you had ever eaten was outside with your mom when you were a kid. Joan fixed fried chicken and dinner rolls and you ate it in your back yard."

"I didn't know why eating fried chicken outside made it taste better but…" Lorelai added.

"The cool crisp air must have added some flavor." They both said in unison.

Lorelai smiled. "I can't believe you remembered that. I mean it was just a random, meaningless, small detail."

Luke gazed at her. "Or it was one of your favorite memories of you and your mom."

Lorelai lowered her eyes. "Yeah… it was. Thanks for remembering, Luke."

"Thanks for telling me." Luke handed her a cup of coffee. "You know… I think there's still something left in that basket." He added.

"There is?" Lorelai asked optimistically as she grabbed the basket and stuck her hand inside. She pulled out a small black box. She held the box in her hand for several moments.

"Well…" Luke said softly. "Go on. Open it."

Lorelai gently opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. She placed her hand to her mouth and gasped lightly. "Oh… God." She said slowly. Her mind raced back to the night with Christopher in his car all those years ago, when had given her a promise ring. She looked back up at Luke. "Luke, I …."

Luke took Lorelai by the hand. "Don't look Lorelai… Just jump in." he replied.