Author's Note: The next chapter will be the last!

Disclaimer: Believe me, if I really owned "Gilmore Girls" and "Ed," this would not just be happening in a fanfic.

"Good morning!" Lorelai said cheerfully as she walked into Luke's the next morning and sat down at the counter.

"Hey," Luke said slowly. "What's with the smile?"

"I'm just in a good mood," she sighed as he gave her a cup of coffee.

"Rory coming home early or something?"

"No. Um, actually…do you remember that Ed guy?"

Luke paused, as if it was difficult for him to think back two days when Lorelai was eating with a stranger. "Oh, the lawyer, right?"

"Right. Anyway, we went out again last night and…things are just going really well." Lorelai continued to smile, but then shook her head. "You don't care about this, sorry."

Luke shrugged, but then asked, "So, how long is he going to be in town?"

"Um, I don't know."

"Well, he's probably got to get back to work. You know, in Ohio."

"I know-"

"Probably has cases just piling up, clients waiting. Lawyers don't have a lot of spare time."

"Luke, what's up?" Lorelai asked seriously.

He hesitated. "I shouldn't butt into your private business."

"No, you shouldn't. But why stop now?" she snapped.

"Well," he began slowly, "do you really think it's a good idea to get involved with this guy? I mean, do you really know anything about him?"

"I know a lot."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really. I know that he runs his law practice out of his bowling alley in Stuckeyville, Ohio. I know that he still plays basketball on the weekends with his best friend from high school. I know that he's been divorced for two years from his ex-wife, Liz. I know his favorite restaurant is The Smiling Goat-"

"I get the picture," Luke interrupted, rolling his eyes a little.

"No, you don't, Luke! I know that he is a caring, amazing guy and that he makes me feel special and that I can't remember the last time a guy did!" Lorelai cried out. "Why are you trying to ruin this? Why can't you just be happy for me?"

For a minute, Lorelai thought Luke was about to lash out at her.

But after a deep breath, he finally said, "I want you to be happy, Lorelai. And I know how you get. So, I am just asking, how long do you think this is going to last?" Lorelai didn't answer right away. "I've gotta go run some errands." Luke walked out of the diner, leaving Lorelai staring sadly into her coffee cup.

"So you're having a good time, huh?"

"Yes, Molly, I am having a good time," Ed said as he walked towards the center of town, chatting with her on his cell phone. He chuckled. "No, I am having a great time!"

"With the mystery woman?" Molly asked.

"She has a name."

"Mike would only refer to her as your Secret Lady."

"Her name is Lorelai, and she is unbelievable. I've never met anyone like her, she's just so fun and smart."

"That's…nice, Ed."

He paused. "Nice? Come on, Molls, sound a little happy for me."

"I just don't want you to get your hopes up. Long-distance relationships never work."

"Who says? And we haven't even talked about that yet, we're just having fun."

"Ed, you do realize that you have to come home eventually. You have a business, two actually, and a lot of people depending on you."

"I am not going to move here for a woman, Molly."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time," she scoffed.

Ed shook his head. "I've got to go, I'm going into the diner."

"So?"

"So?" Ed repeated. "No cell phones allowed in Luke's. Bye."

Molly laughed lightly. "Goodbye."

"Hey," Ed said enthusiastically as he walked over to Lorelai and sat down next to her, leaning over to kiss her quickly on the lips.

"Hey, um, could you curtail the PDA?" Lorelai asked quietly, hearing the murmur of the other patrons.

"Why?" Ed asked with uncertainty.

"Because the gossip circuit is already wise to me dating the stranger from Ohio, and I don't need the fact that we were making out in Luke's to be the headline for the Stars Hollow Gazette tomorrow," Lorelai said sternly.

"Kidding, right?"

"Half kidding."

"Alright then. Why don't we meet tonight at your place for Al's take-out, and really send the town into a tizzy?"

"Um, I can't. I'm having dinner with my parents tonight."

"Your parents? That's nice."

"Believe me, it is not," Lorelai groaned. "My parents are paying for Rory's private school so Friday night dinners are mandatory."

"Ah," Ed nodded understandingly.

"Usually it's not so bad, with Rory in my corner. But since she's gone, it's two against one and totally unfair."

Ed chuckled, but then looked thoughtful. "What if I came with you?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'll come with you, I'll be in the Lorelai corner."

She shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Ed, I can't ask you to brave Emily and Richard Gilmore. We've only gone out twice! And who knows where this is going?"

"I thought we were just having fun."

"Well, I can't just have fun. I have a kid and a job and a life here. And I can't go falling for a guy a 500-some miles away!"

Ed paused. "Falling? You mean as in-"

"I have to go." Lorelai stood up quickly and ran out of the diner. Ed wanted to follow her, but figured she needed to be alone for awhile.