THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

April's birthday party brings an unexpected twist that changes Luke's and Lorelai's lives forever. Late sixth season.

Disclaimer: None of it is mine. These people just keep talking to me! (With a little borrowed dialogue from the series.)

Chapter Fifty-three: Closure

True to his word, Luke took April aside the first chance he got the next morning and explained to her what had happened, urging her to express any and all concerns she had about it. They talked for a while in the library while Lorelai and Rory sat in the kitchen eating their breakfasts and trying not to eavesdrop on the drone of voices coming from the next room. Finally they heard April laugh, followed by a muffled sound as if the two were hugging. They came out of the library arm in arm, both beaming.

Lorelai smiled at them. "Okay?"

"Okay," they both assured her.

Luke also made the needed effort with Paul Anka. He located the dog in April's room, although when he saw Luke, he scrambled under the bed, whimpering. So Luke made a plate of his special scrambled eggs and cheese that the dog loved and sat on the floor by the bed, feeding Paul Anka tidbits from his fingers and talking softly to him about what a jerk he had been and how sorry he was. The girls were huddled in the hallway listening, their hands clapped over their mouths to keep from giggling. Finally the dog crawled out from under the bed, finished the plate of eggs and looked up at Luke smiling, his tongue lolling out of his mouth and his tail wagging. They came out of the room together and when Luke saw the three sitting on the floor he could only shake his head and mutter, "Ah, jeez," as they burst into laughter. And he tried unsuccessfully to hide his own smile as he walked down the hall.

But all was well in the Danes-Gilmore-Nardini household once again.

Luke and Lorelai continued to occasionally discuss the upcoming dinner over the next two days, just to make sure the lines of their communication remained open. Although he made clear that his understanding of Lorelai's relationship with Christopher had improved a great deal, he could not completely swallow his fears, as Lorelai had predicted. He remained nervous and she continued to reassure him. She remained nervous about the talk she anticipated she would have to have with Chris come Friday night, and he reassured her.

"You know what?" she said whimsically after one such episode of mutual encouragement. She put a comical look on her face. "I think we're actually starting to act the way married people are supposed to."

"Horrors," he grinned and swept her into his arms.

Some of their discussion centered around what to do about April with regard to the dinner. Emily and Richard had begun to enjoy seeing her weekly as much as she liked seeing them. Luke and Lorelai talked to her about it and she expressed some curiosity about meeting Christopher. But ultimately they decided that she would remain home with Luke.

Lorelai arrived home from the inn just as he was leaving to take April to her appointment with Kate. "You all set?" he asked her gruffly.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she sighed. "What are you and April doing after her appointment?"

"There's a restaurant she's seen over in Farmington that she'd like to try. So we're going out to dinner ourselves."

"Oh, great." Lorelai smiled at the idea. "That sounds like fun."

He smiled and pulled her close. "And you're coming home to me tonight, right?"

"You bet," she told him. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

He kissed her. "Like I'd want to."

He and April left, the girl bestowing an anxious look at Lorelai as they did. Lorelai and Rory left an hour later.

They pulled up in front of the Gilmore house a few minutes early. "Well, here goes nothing," Lorelai breathed.

"It'll be okay, Mom," Rory assured her. "We'll all run interference for you."

They ran the bell and Emily herself answered. "Oh, good, you're early," she said in a rush. "He's not here yet."

Lorelai and Rory visibly relaxed. "Good. Now I can get a drink into me before he comes," Lorelai sighed.

They were relaxing in the living room, sipping their drinks when the doorbell rang again. "I'll get it," said Emily immediately and hurried to the door. Lorelai and Rory glanced at each other and then at Richard who gave them a reassuring smile and a nod.

Emily and Christopher entered the room. Rory immediately rose. "Hi, Dad," she said, walking over and hugging him.

"Hey, kiddo," Christopher said brightly as he bussed her on the cheek. "Let me look at you." His eyes roamed over her. "More beautiful every day," he smiled.

He turned to Lorelai who was standing behind her daughter. "Hi, Lore," he said softly, taking both her hands.

"Hey, there, Chris," she smiled as they kissed each other lightly. "How's it hanging?"

He also looked her up and down. "You look beautiful too," he said softly, in quite a different tone than he had just used with their daughter.

Lorelai's antennae went up but she smiled and responded lightly. "You look pretty healthy yourself," she said and started to withdraw her hands. But Christopher held on to them, gazing into her face. "So, I hear congratulations are in order," he said, smiling his most charming smile.

Lorelai's smile matched his. "They certainly are," she responded firmly. "Thanks." To break the moment she frowned and turned to her mother. "Do you say 'congratulations' to the bride or to the groom? I can never remember."

Emily took her cue. "It's 'best wishes' to the bride and 'congratulations' to the groom. He's the one that won her," she added.

"Ah, like a door prize," Lorelai nodded.

Chris looked a little confused but gamely forged on. "Well, then, I guess it's 'best wishes,''' he said, still smiling into her eyes.

"Thank you, Chris," Lorelai responded. Before he could say more, she pulled her hands away, turned and went back to her seat.

Richard saw his opening and asked, "What will you have to drink, Christopher?"

"Ummm—scotch and soda please," Christopher responded, looking at her curiously.

As Richard fixed it for him, their guest looked around the room. "So—where's your groom, Lore? I wanted to say congratulations to him."

"Oh, he's not here," Lorelai said brightly.

"No?" Chris questioned, looking surprised.

"No." She looked directly at him. "Our understanding was that you wanted to see me and Rory. We all kind of thought it best for Luke to skip tonight."

"Oh."

She smiled. "He's out to dinner with April, actually."

"April?" Chris asked cautiously, sitting down next to Rory.

"His daughter," Lorelai told him. "Didn't Rory tell you? She's living with us now. We bought the old Twickham house. Do you remember that big old house in the middle of town? We bought it and fixed it up and moved in a couple of weeks ago."

"They did a lovely job," Emily put in.

"Oh, that's really nice," Christopher said, sounding more uncertain all the time. But he caught himself and sent another charming smile towards Lorelai. "But, then, you were always great at decorating, Lore. Look what you did with your inn."

It was Rory's turn to throw a diversionary tactic. "So, Dad, how's Gigi?"

Christopher turned his attention towards her. "Oh, she's great. Growing like a weed. Three going on thirty."

"I'm sorry she couldn't come tonight," Rory said graciously. "Do you have any recent pictures?"

"Oh, sure," Chris said and pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "I thought you might like to see some."

That evening, all four Gilmores were at their best as a team, feinting, thrusting, parrying, diverting Christopher whenever he tried to take the conversation to an uncomfortable place. Emily plied him with hors d'oeuvres, chattering questions about his mother, and after they had moved to the dinner table, Richard engaged him in a discussion of his business. Lorelai and Rory caught each other's eyes and exchanged a small look of relief. The evening was going better than they had expected.

Unfortunately, during the main course, Emily had a quick question for Lorelai about one of the wedding plans and once started, they had difficulty getting off the subject. Christopher began to sulk and became very quiet, although he occasionally threw in a question about the wedding himself.

But as the main course was being cleared and they were waiting for dessert, Christopher looked straight at Lorelai. "Lore, could I speak to you alone for a minute?"

Everything in the room stopped cold and Lorelai thought to herself, Here it comes.

She paused to gather herself and in that moment, Richard said, "Christopher, I don't think. . ."

"No, Dad," Lorelai interrupted. "It's okay." She put down her napkin and started to rise. "Would you like to go out on the patio?"

"Sure," Chris said and quickly rose himself, preceding her to open the patio door.

As she was about to go out, she looked back and saw three anxious faces staring at her. She mustered up a smile and said, "Save dessert for us," and gave them a small, confident nod.

They walked outside and Lorelai immediately went to the small stone wall edging the patio, out of sight of the dining room, sat down and crossed her arms as she looked at him.

Christopher watched her carefully, his hands in his pockets. When she sat, he went and stood before her, smiling his most charming smile. "So you're going through with it, huh?"

"Going through with it?" Lorelai echoed, smiling a little but raising her eyebrows in warning. "I'm not getting cosmetic surgery, Chris, I'm getting married. A week from tomorrow."

"Yeah, to the diner guy."

"To Luke," Lorelai corrected.

He saw that she wasn't going to give him an inch, so he dropped down next to her and grabbed her hand. "You're breaking my heart, Lore," he said, looking at her soulfully.

"I'm sorry about that, Chris, I really am," she sighed. "I hate hurting you. But I love Luke. I want to spend my life with him."

"I just can't believe that," he burst out. "You and I belong together, Lore. We always have, and you know we do."

"No," she shook her head. "I don't know that. I do know that I belong with Luke. I'm already building a life with Luke. We're living together with our daughters. We've made a home together."

He began to get angry. "What can he give you? A broken-down diner and some good coffee?" he scoffed. "I can give you anything, Lore. I would give you anything you wanted. I can do it now. Just name it," he pleaded.

Lorelai shook her head. "All I want is Luke," she said softly. "Luke and our daughters are my world now. I'm sorry, Chris."

He looked at her desperately. "You're the only one I've ever loved, Lorelai," he said in a low voice. "You're it for me. I'll never feel about anyone the way I feel about you. I'll wait for you forever if I have to. Or I'll be alone forever."

She sighed. "I'm sorry to hear that. Because if you decide that you'll never love anyone else, and you keep believing it, you'll never have a chance at a relationship with anyone else."

"I don't want one," he said, still desperate. "Come on, Lore, we belong together. You and I and Rory are already a family. You know it. Your parents know it. Think how happy it would make your mother," he wheedled.

She looked at him in astonishment. "If I wouldn't marry you when I was sixteen to make my parents happy, do you really think I'd do it now?"

He stared at her, seemingly at a loss. "I don't know what to say to you," he sputtered. "I don't know what the words are to make you see that you and I are right together. Tell me! Tell me what to say to you!"

"You can't find the words because there aren't any," she told him softly.

In desperation, Christopher grabbed her and tried to kiss her. She immediately eluded him, stood up and walked away. "Stop," she warned him, getting angry. "Don't do that, or my parents will throw you out."

He stared at her in disbelief. "Lore," he whispered. Then he dropped his head into his hands.

After a moment, Lorelai, watching him carefully, lowered herself into a chair near him but not too close. "Chris, please listen to me. Please," she said softly.

"What?" he said, his voice muffled by his hands.

She watched him for a moment. "Please listen, because I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've been thinking about you and me a lot since Mom told me you were coming to dinner."

He sighed deeply and finally looked up at her.

"I've learned a lot about emotions this summer, and how they can affect how a person thinks and behaves," she began. "Luke and I have had a number of talks about that sort of thing. So have Mom and I. Luke's daughter, April, had some reactions to her mother's death that really twisted her mind for a while. So I've been thinking a lot about you and me and the things that happened to us when we were kids, and how they affect us now. Do you get me so far?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I guess, but I don't see. . ."

"I remember how important we were to each other as kids," she interrupted. "Don't think I've forgotten that. There were times that we were all the other had. I know that. I remember how close we were. We saved each other, in a way."

He nodded again. "Yeah," he whispered. "I remember, too."

"And, in a way, we were being—well—indoctrinated by our mothers to want to grow up and be together," she went on. "Mom told me just the other day that from the time we were born, she and your mom fantasized about us getting married some day. Remember how they used to ask us who we would marry when we grew up?"

"Sure," Christopher said, wiping his hands over his face and finally looking at her. "My mother would just beam at me when I said I would marry you. It was great."

She looked at him tenderly. "Don't you think that affected us, Chris? Don't you think that idea worked its way into our brains? I know it did mine."

"No," he objected. "It wasn't just that. I always loved you. I always wanted to marry you."

She shook her head. "You didn't know any better. We hardly ever dated other people back then. We had nothing to compare each other to."

"But I've dated other women since then, and none of them compare to you," Chris argued. He adamantly shook his head. "You're wrong."

"I'm right," Lorelai said in the same soft voice. "Chris, I've never for a minute regretted Rory. . .but I think, in a way, that my getting pregnant was the worst thing that could have happened to you."

He looked up sharply. "No, Lore. No! Don't say that!"

"Remember how things were for you then," she said urgently. "My parents were screaming at you to marry me. . .your father was screaming that I was the worst mistake you ever made. . .that you had ruined their lives. . ." She shook her head. "You froze, Chris. You just froze solid. In a way, you've never been able to move past that moment."

He stared at her unhappily.

"We had a really intense relationship back then," she continued, sensing that she was getting through to him. "And really intense, serious things happened. Look how it ended up. Your life basically got smashed to pieces because of us. It's taken you years to get over it. In terms of having an adult relationship, I don't think you've gotten over it yet."

He dropped his eyes again and again gave his head a tiny shake. "I love you," he murmured. "I always have."

"Chris, you don't even know me any more," she said sadly. "I've changed so much since then. I'm still changing."

"I know you," he said. "You're everything I've ever wanted. Exactly as you are now."

"I'm everything you wanted when you were a lonely, mistreated little boy, because you didn't think you had a chance to get anything else," she told him. "I was all you had. But you're not that little boy any more. You're grown. You're a business man. You're a single dad. You're so many things now that you weren't then, just like I'm many things I wasn't then. We're completely different people. If we met today, we'd never make it. We might never even get together in the first place."

"I'd want to," he said stubbornly. "I'd still want you."

"Chris, let me tell you something. I'm sure that there's a wonderful lady out there waiting somewhere for you—I just know it. There's a lady out there who will make you feel the way Luke makes me feel. Let go of the idea of me, Chris. Open yourself up to finding her. You will."

"I don't want to," he said, almost in a whimper. "You've always been such a bright spot in my life. I don't want to give up on being with you."

"I know," Lorelai said steadily. "But it's best that you do. You deserve to have someone, too. You deserve more than a memory."

Christopher was silent for a long time and Lorelai waited, allowing him to process her words. Finally he looked her straight in the eye. "Do you really mean it?"

"I really mean it."

He thought for a minute. "Do you really think so?" he asked. "Do you really think I can find somebody else?"

For the first time, Lorelai could see a glimmer of hope in his eye.

"I know so," she assured him.

He stared at the ground for a minute. "You were always so strong. Being with you, I could be strong, too."

"You can be strong on your own. You have been, the last few years. You've always had it in you, Chris."

He was silent again for a time and finally spoke. "Just tell me something. Honestly."

"Of course."

He looked at her. "Was there ever a time, as an adult, that you considered me? That you thought maybe we could make it work?"

"Of course there was," she assured him, tears filling her eyes. "You've always been this. . .possibility for me. This wonderful possibility. I felt that for you for years. And I think in many ways. . .you've always been the man that I wanted to want. I need you to know that. But now I've moved on from that place. I found Luke and. . .and he brings things out in me that I never thought possible. I know now how right he is for me."

He nodded glumly. After a minute he said, "A couple of years ago, before Sherry got pregnant. . .when we tried to get together then. . .what was that about? Did you really want to?"

Lorelai nodded. "I did."

"I had asked you a year before that and you said no. What was different? Why then?"

She considered it for a minute. "It was lots of things," she said slowly. "Sookie was getting married, and I was lonely. Rory got into that car accident and Luke and I fought and weren't even speaking then. I didn't even realize how much I would miss him until he was gone," she sighed. "I guess I was feeling a little sorry for myself. And then you really, really came through for us when Rory got hurt. All of a sudden you were around and. . .you were the way I had always wanted you to be. That's why I wanted to try again."

"Did you think then that we could work out?"

She thought again. "I hoped so," she said softly. "I wanted us to work out. But," she sighed, "in a way, I think it was good that Sherry got pregnant right then. Because, in retrospect, I don't think we would have made it in the long run."

"No?" he said softly. "I always wondered."

"No. Besides," she added, "I think I was already becoming aware of how I felt about Luke. Hell, I think I was aware of that back when I was marrying Max. But I was too stupid or scared to admit it to myself. Even if you and I had gotten together, I think those feelings would have come out eventually." She shook her head, deep in thought. "When I finally let myself look at him. . .it hit me like a ton of bricks, Chris. I was floored. I've never felt that way about anybody, before or since." She remembered that for a moment and then gave him a small smile. "I've come to believe, Chris, that things always work out the way they're meant to. Even if it seems like the end of the world when you want something and don't get it. I felt that way when you told me Sherry was pregnant. But now I see that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to be with Luke. It was best that you and I didn't work out back then." She looked at him. "And I hope you'll see that someday."

He shrugged and managed a small smile.

She watched him for a minute and said, "Chris, tell me something, and please, please be honest with me."

He looked up at her and nodded.

"Is anything I'm saying making sense to you? Is any of it striking a chord with you? When you look deep inside yourself, can you see that I'm right?"

She waited a long time for her answer as different emotions played over Christopher's face. But finally he looked up and his face seemed calmer than it had. "Yes, Lore. Yes, I can. I really can."

"Really?" she said anxiously.

He nodded again. "Yeah. I think I kind of know what you mean about being scared to admit how you felt about Luke because. . .well, I've met girls that I've sort of felt that way about."

"Really?" she said again, but her tone was happier.

He nodded again. "Just recently, in fact, I met this girl. . .well, this woman really. . .she's a widow with two kids. I think I. . .I think I could have felt something for her. I think I did, actually. And she liked me, too, I could tell. But all of a sudden I got terrified and backed off. Then Rory told me you were getting married and. . .all I've been able to think about since then was getting back to you and telling you I wanted to try again, before it was too late."

"See? It's just like what I've been saying. I'm your safe place. When you're scared of other relationships, you automatically turn back to me, just like I've done with you sometimes. But, wow, Chris. I'm really glad to hear that you think you could feel that way about someone else," Lorelai said in relief. "Give her a try, Chris. Maybe she's your Luke."

He gave a wry smile. "Yeah, maybe." But he looked up at her again. "But there'll never be anybody like you in my life, Lore."

She looked at him tenderly. "And, in a way, they'll never be anybody in my life like you. You'll always be my dear friend—from my childhood. We'll never lose that. And maybe we can go on being friends for real, as adults." Feeling a little overwhelmed by the high level of emotion swirling around them, she couldn't help throwing in a quip. "We'll always have Paris."

Christopher laughed a little at that. "Don't you mean, we'll always have Rory?"

Lorelai smiled warmly at him. "That, too. That goes without saying. But we'll always have something more, too. Just. . .just don't let it be all you have. Okay?"

He took a deep breath. "Okay."

He looked more relieved and relaxed than he had since he had walked in the door. Lorelai looked at him closely. "So are you okay? Do you feel better?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I do," he said, finally giving her a full smile. "Thank you, Lorelai. Thank you for. . .well, for being so honest with me. It really helped."

"Good."

They smiled at each other for a minute, too relieved and drained to say more. "I wish I could come to your wedding," Christopher said softly.

"Do you?" she said in surprise.

"Sure. I want to see my friend happy."

She shook her head. "I understand. But I don't think that's advisable."

"I know," he smiled. "But do you think Rory could send me a picture of you in your dress?"

"Sure," Lorelai said immediately. "And you'll want a picture of her, too, in her maid of honor gown."

"Of course."

They stood up. "Can I have a hug? From my friend?" Chris asked uncertainly.

"Of course," Lorelai said, rising. "Just no funny business, okay?"

He chuckled. "No funny business, I promise."

She walked to him and they hugged for a minute, her face buried in his shoulder. "I like having you for my friend," he told her softly.

"And I like having you," she smiled back. They looked in each other's eyes for a moment and gave each other the casual kiss they usually used for greetings.

Suddenly Lorelai's brow wrinkled. "I'm hungry."

Christopher threw back his head and laughed. "Of course you are. Come on, let's go see what kind of decadent dessert Emily came up with."

They entered the dining room arm in arm. Three heads jerked up at them sharply. Lorelai grinned. "At ease, everybody. Mom, did you save us dessert?"

Emily looked closely at their faces and smiled. "Yes, I did. Richard, Rory, would you like seconds?"

"Seconds?" Lorelai objected. "Christopher, we have some catching up to do."

"You bet," he smiled as he pulled out her chair for her. "Let's get to it then!"

The atmosphere during the rest of the evening was warm and happy, just family and old friends enjoying their time together. After dessert, they moved with their coffee and brandy into the living room and chatted animatedly. Christopher told them funny stories about his business and about Gigi, and Lorelai and Rory recounted some of the humorous things that had happened in planning for the wedding, such as their encounter with Miss Celine, and moving into the house. Christopher seemed to genuinely enjoy the stories. They even described Luke sitting on the floor feeding scrambled eggs to Paul Anka and Christopher, who had a soft spot for animals, said, "Aww! That's really a nice story."

But after a while he rose, saying he needed to get back to Gigi. He went around the room, shaking Richard's hand, air-kissing Emily and hugging Rory warmly. Lorelai walked him alone to the door where they lingered for a moment.

"You'll have Rory send me pictures?" he reminded her.

"You bet."

"Lore," he said, "is there anything I can give you for a wedding present? Something you'd really like and haven't managed to arrange yet?"

"I don't think so," she told him softly. "Everything's all set. But thanks, Chris. It means a lot to me for you to ask."

"Do one thing for me," he said. "Tell Luke what a lucky guy I think he is."

"I will," she smiled. "Will you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"When you get back to Boston, call your lady friend. Give her a try."

He smiled back. "I think I will."

They hugged and kissed again, this kiss a little longer. "Have a happy wedding, friend," he murmured.

"Thanks. I will. Friend," she replied.

He gave her one last smile. "Really, Lorelai. Thank you." And he walked out the door.

Lorelai watched him get in his car, waving as he started to pull away. She shut the door, staggered back into the living room and collapsed into a chair. "Whew," she muttered.

"Well, don't leave us on pins and needles," Emily said anxiously. "What happened?"

Lorelai thought about it. "In a nutshell. . .he said he wanted me back. We talked. I was really honest with him. And I think he finally, finally understood."

"Really?" Rory said anxiously.

"Really." She repeated some of the conversation she and Christopher had had. "By the end, he was telling me about a lady he met who's been scaring him to death because he's really attracted to her. Get this—a widow with two kids! But now he thinks he's going to go for it." She smiled warmly, remembering. "I told him I hope she's his Luke, and he thinks she could be."

"My goodness," Richard said softly.

Emily sighed. "Well, I must say, that's a relief. It's good that we don't have to worry about him any more." Her usual brisk tone began to return while Lorelai and Rory exchanged an exasperated glance.

Then Lorelai looked at them all. "Thank you, all of you. You were all a huge help."

"Well, we were happy to, Lorelai," her father told her.

The four sat in silence for a while. "Well, it's getting late," Emily finally said, obviously dropping a hint. "Luke will be waiting for you."

"Yeah, he will," Lorelai said. "But before we go, Mom. . ." She looked pleadingly at her mother.

Emily sighed and tried to hide a smile. "Oh, all right, come on." She rose and turned towards the stairs.

"Yes!" Lorelai softly pumped her fist in the air and she and Rory scrambled up and started to follow Emily.

Lorelai paused in the doorway. "Dad, do you want to see it this time?"

"No, thank you, Lorelai," he said indulgently. "I'm going to sit here and enjoy my brandy. I don't want to see the dress until I can see my beautiful daughter in it," he smiled at her.

She grinned. "Okay, Dad," and scurried up the stairs to visit her dress again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

On the way home, Rory asked, "Did it really go that well? Or were you giving Grandma and Grandpa a sanitized version?"

"Well, it wasn't entirely pretty," Lorelai sighed. "He pulled some of his usual tricks. I'll tell you the whole thing at home. I want to tell Luke, too."

They got home and heard voices from the living room. Luke and April were playing a board game; she looked happy and he didn't. Lorelai chuckled at the sight. "Who's winning?" she asked as she walked into the room.

"She's skunking me," Luke reported and April giggled. But his eyes lingered on Lorelai and he looked uncertain and nervous.

She walked straight over to him, raised him by his arms and threw hers around him. "I'm home," she said softly, hugging him close.

He drew her back and looked into her eyes. "Really?" he asked.

"Absolutely. And forever."

She smiled into his eyes. His face lit up and he hugged her tightly.

When he let her go, they turned to see the girls watching them with indulgent smiles. 'All right, floor show's over," Luke said gruffly, pulling Lorelai down on the couch with him. He turned to her. "So?"

Lorelai sighed. "It was an evening and a half."

"He give you trouble?" This was said suspiciously.

"No, not really," Lorelai smiled.

"So what happened?" April burst out. "We've been dying here!"

Lorelai leaned back into Luke's arm. "Rory, why don't you start us off? A little tag-team storytelling."

"Okay." Rory settled into her chair. "Well, Dad got there and zoned right in on Mom, just oozing charm from every pore."

"I knew it," Luke muttered.

"Oh, but Luke, Team Gilmore went into action."

"What do you mean?" asked April.

"Diversionary tactics. Fencing moves—parry, thrust, feint. Confusion from every side."

"Like Confuse-a-Cat from Monty Python," Lorelai put in.

"Exactly. Distracting him at every turn so the conversation couldn't get too serious."

"They were great," Lorelai praised.

"But then, when we were almost through dinner, he asked to talk to her alone."

Luke looked at Lorelai. "And you went?" he asked, a touch of anger evident in his tone.

"Yes." She looked at him directly and gave a firm answer. "I knew at that point that he wasn't going to give up until we talked. And, like I told you, I needed to finish this."

"Okay, I know," he said, calming a little. "So what happened?"

"We went out on the patio—my suggestion—and he said he wanted me back."

Luke stiffened. "I knew it," he said, his voice tight. He slapped his hand on the couch. "Damn him!"

"Easy, big guy," Lorelai soothed. "We expected this, didn't we?"

"Yeah, I guess," Luke grumbled.

"So what did he say?" Rory asked anxiously.

Lorelai sighed. "Everything we'd expected, everything we've heard before. The charm, the sadness, the pleading. 'We belong together,' 'Wouldn't your parents be happy,' 'I've never loved anyone else like I love you.' 'I can give you anything.' All the usual, unfortunately."

"So what did you say?" Luke asked. The suspicion and worry in his voice squeezed Lorelai's heart.

She looked at him, her face soft, and touched his cheek. "First, I told him that the only thing in the world that I want is you and the girls."

He searched her eyes and, seeing the truth there, nodded and looked more relaxed.

"After that, I pretty much what I told you I was going to say," she continued. "That I think he's emotionally stuck back in the days when we were all the other had. That he hasn't gotten over the message we got from our mothers that they would be thrilled if we married. That all the trauma that happened to him around my getting pregnant just froze him in one place. That if he continues to focus on me, he'll never give himself a chance with anyone else."

"And?" Luke asked, still suspicious.

Lorelai sighed deeply. "I think he heard me."

"Really?" April said in surprise.

Lorelai nodded. "I really think so. I told him," she turned back to Luke, "I told him about how I hid my feelings for you from myself for so long because I was so scared and he said he thought maybe he'd been doing the same thing with other girls. And that maybe now that he knew there was no chance with me, he might be able to move on."

"Tell them about the lady," Rory prompted.

"Oh, yeah," Lorelai smiled. "He actually said that he met a lady in Boston who he really liked but was scared to try with. And get this—she's a widow with two children!" She giggled at the idea.

"Jeez," Luke said, surprised. "That is a change."

"No Sherry, that's for sure. I told him," she said, smiling into his eyes, "that I hoped that if he opens himself up to it, someday he'll find his version of Luke. Only a girl, of course," she added.

Luke began to look more relaxed. "Anything else?"

"Oh, we just cleared up a few things from a few years ago, when we broke up because Sherry got pregnant. We agreed that we hoped we could stay friends. And he said to be sure to tell you that you're a lucky guy," she smiled into Luke's eyes. "Then we went back inside and stuffed ourselves with dessert," she added humorously.

"So. . .do you feel better?" Luke queried. "Do you feel finished?"

"I do. I really do."

He smiled. "That's great."

"Wow," April said. "Relationships sure are complicated, aren't they?"

Lorelai groaned. "You don't know the half of it, kid. But. . ." she swung back to Luke again. "They can also be pretty wonderful."

They smiled at each other until April whispered, "Rory? Are they going to get gooey again?"

Rory grinned, watching the couple happily. "More than likely, April. More than likely."

"Ew," April said, wrinkling her nose.

Luke broke off his gaze into Lorelai's eyes to glare at them. "So who wants coffee or tea?"

Lorelai threw her hand in the air. "Me!" she shrieked.

"Well, come on." He pulled her up from the couch and led her by the hand into the kitchen, the girls following, giggling.

They held their usual post-Friday-night-dinner cool-down session over their beverages of choice and drifted up to bed.

As they were getting ready for the night, Luke asked Lorelai, "Do you really feel like it's finished this time? Once and for all?"

"You know, Luke, I really do," she said thoughtfully. "I mean, I never thought of Christopher as any kind of obstacle to our marriage, but I'm so relieved now to know that there's no possibility that he'll become one. I feel like. . ." she slid her arms up his shoulders. "I feel like the last wall, or potential wall, has come down and we're completely free and clear to move ahead. Nothing's going to get in our way now."

"Lorelai," he said gruffly, "at this point, I don't think I'd ever let get anything—or anyone—get in the way. I love you too much. I need you too much." He bent to drop kisses on her neck.

She smiled. "The feeling, Burger Boy, is very, very mutual."