"I . . ." her voice faltered.

"Rory, I like you. And I think you like me. Like like I mean."

"There goes that nine year old mentality again," she said nervously.

He cracked her a small smile before continuing.

"I . .I don't know how to put this," he said, thinking aloud. "Yes, I do. Rory, you make me like myself. You make me feel alive and happy to be alive. You make me want to be a better person."

*I think I just came off sounding like Jerry Macguire*

"I really like you Ror."

*Who am I kidding, I think I love her!*

"And I don't want to pressure you," he continued, "but I'd really like it if we could go on a date. You know, the kind of date where we hold hands and play putt putt.  Maybe even share an ice cream. Cookie dough, I insist. I'd really like to get closer to you, and I don't mean that in a perverted way." He paused. "Say something Ror."

"I'm scared, Tris," she started. "I don't want you to be another Dean."

"I'm not like that. Not anymore. In case you haven't noticed, Ror, I haven't dated anyone in two months. I'm not interested in anyone but you. I am totally in awe of you. You've changed me so much. I just wish you could see that.  Let's face it, I think I'd go bonkas if you said no. Please say yes."

"I thought you said no pressure," Rory reminded him.

*I need to think about this. I love him too much to go out with him. That doesn't make sense. I know, I know. I just don't want us to be . . .over. If we go out and we fight, I'll lose him as a friend. Gaah, don't be stupid Ror. Take a chance. I don't know if you realise this, but you just admitted you love him. Isn't love worth the chance? Now stop talking to yourself and go jump his bones!*

Rory smiled at the thoughts currently running through her head. She made a decision.

"So where are we going? Are we doing something Lukey?"

"We are doing something very Lukey," Lorelai answered, taking the jeep off the freeway. "Hence the attire."

Lorelai had donned flannel for her first date with Luke. She was surprised at the constant softness and warmth it offered and no longer questioned Luke's choice in fabric.

"So what's Rory up to tonight? Extra credit?"

"She and Tristan were watching a video when I left"

"She's been seeing a lot of that kid lately," Luke noted.

"That she has. I think she has a thing for him."

"I think he has a think for her," Luke corrected her.

"Well, it's one of the two. Hopefully both. Wouldn't that be something? Can you imagine their kids? Woof!"

Luke laughed.

"Doesn't woof have bad connotations? Hey, where are we?" Luke craned his neck to look beyond the perimeter of the car park.

"We. Are. Here," said Lorelai in staccato.

"And. Here. Is. Where?"

"Where. We. Are."

"E. Nuff. All. Ready."

"O. K."

"Not funny."

"Sure it was, you're just slow. You'll laugh in a minute. Trust me."

"The last time you said trust me I came back and all the coffee was gone," said Luke getting out of the car. "Hartford batting cages?"

"For all your baseball needs," said Lorelai, reading off the sign.

Luke and Lorelai took adjacent batting cages.

"So I just stand here and hit it?" Lorelai asked.

"Yep."

"Here? Right here?"

"Yes, right there."

"Here? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"How sure?"

"Sure sure. About ninety-eight percent sure."

"What about the other two percent?"

"I had to listen to the Bangles in the car, my judgement's a bit cloudy at the moment," Luke explained.

"So the ball will fly out and I just hit it?"

"That's the plan."

"Okay. Sock it to me, baby!" she yelled to the machine.

"You need to press that button first."

"This one?"

"Yep."

"This one right here?"

"That's the one."

"You sure?"

"Aaaargh! Are you even trying to be annoying, or is this natural? I'm just curious," said Luke, leaning through the chicken wire that separated their cages.

"I'm not annoying. I'm just excruciatingly unconventional." She pushed the button. "Sock it to me, baby!"

A ball came flying out and whizzed past Lorelai's head.

"Okay, I'm done."

"You didn't even try."

"Sure I did. I had my elbows up and everything."

"But you failed to swing. It's kind of important," Luke pointed out.

An hour later

"Okay, now that we've done something Lukey, it's time for something Lorelaiey."

"I don't like the sound of that."

Lorelai drove them to a nearby karaoke bar.

"No way," said Luke adamantly.

"Yes way. Come on!"

He reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged inside.

"Everyone participates," said a lady handing them a menu. She walked away.

Lorelai opened it up. Instead of the usual soups, salads and mains, there was a list of songs.

"Let's see . . ." She skipped past the Beatles page and looked at the Bangles songs.

"Think again," was Luke's response.

"Well what do you suggest?"

"Got any Vivaldi?"

"Vivaldi doesn't have words."

"Works for me."

"Nice try." Lorelai snapped the menu shut. "I've got it!" She walked over to the lady and informed her of their choice.

"Exactly what did you put us down for?" Luke asked once she had rejoined him.

Lorelai opened her mouth to respond but was beaten to it.

"And now Luke and Lorelai performing Simply the Best," came the voice over the speaker. The audience applauded in anticipation.

"Aah geez! Tina Turner?"

"Please?"  She stuck out her bottom lip. "Pretty please with chick pee on the top?"

He had a sudden flashback of her yelling, sock it to me, baby.

He gave in.

"Let's rock this joint!" He grabbed her hand and they ran onstage.

*Oh boy! Is he gonna punish me for this*

*Decaf for an entire week*

AN: Want the next chapter? You know the deal. Review. When the counter hits 85 I'll hand over the goods.

PS: Apologies to Princess Ruby and Supergirl101. I have no idea why chapter 9 was repeated twice. Good to know I got you riled up though. LOL. And hey, no reviewing twice (or 70 times) Ruby. At least not for the same chapter. And you call me evil, you conniving little snippet. I like how you think though :) And that goes double for you Kitty and Mimi (and hey, what's up with your name? Do you have a split personality or something?)

OWPNN: Thanks (once again) for your email.

Okay 80 for the next chapter