It's Right There

by CoffeeDrinker

[Complete] Luke/Lorelai. She looked him in the eye, she saw something there, and she realized she felt the same way. (Update: As of 10/31/14, the story is back to its original M-rated version)

8. Parts 39 to 43

"It's Right There – Parts 39 - 43"

. . .

PART 39

. . .

Luke stood up from the couch. "Do you want something to eat?"

Lorelai groaned and waved him off. "Ugh, I can't even think about food right now." She paused, then added, "Check back in ten minutes."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure you'll be feeling much better by then." He turned and walked into the kitchen.

Lorelai set her cup on the coffee table and lay back down on the couch, pulling the blanket tightly around her. She closed her eyes and buried her face into the soft cushion.

. . .

When she finally opened her eyes, the pounding in her head had calmed down considerably. She sat up slowly and blinked a few times, then rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. She stood up from the couch and wrapped the blanket around her body like a towel.

She walked into the kitchen looking for Luke. Seeing that he wasn't in there, she walked to the bottom of the steps. "Luke!" she called.

"What?" Luke's voice called back.

Lorelai gathered the bottom of the blanket that was dragging on the floor, then climbed up the steps to her bedroom, which was empty. She narrowed her eyes and called, "Where are you?"

"Laundry room," he replied. Lorelai walked to the doorway of the laundry room. Luke was transferring a load of clothes from the washer to the dryer. He turned and smiled at her. "Hey. . . feeling better?"

Lorelai leaned against the doorframe and nodded. "Mmhmm."

"Good," he replied.

"How long was I asleep?" Lorelai asked.

Luke shrugged as he continued changing the laundry. "Not long, like an hour or so." He slammed the dryer door and pressed a button, then walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He kissed her on the cheek, then glanced down at the blanket wrapped around her. "Nice outfit."

Lorelai smiled and glanced down at it. "Thanks. I'm going for that sort of toga-look."

"Yeah, it makes me wanna watch Animal House," Luke replied.

Lorelai smiled and leaned her head against his chest. She kept her arms at her sides as he hugged her. "When did you wanna go to the batting cages?" She lifted her head and rolled her eyes at him. "Speaking of which, are you gonna wanna do that every time we have some alone time together?"

"Probably," Luke replied. Lorelai groaned and leaned her head back against him. Luke sighed. "What's the problem? You said you had fun last time."

"I know, but – "

"Plus you'll probably like the cages around here better since they have a snack stand right near the entrance."

Lorelai lifted her head up and gasped. "Really?" she asked excitedly. "With ice cream?"

Luke, slightly amused at her excitement, smiled and nodded. "Yes, with ice cream – is that more of an incentive to go?"

Lorelai grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She pulled off the blanket and handed it to him. "Here, you might wanna wash this. It sort of has that 'I've been used for several hours by a drunk woman' scent to it." He took it from her and walked it over to the washing machine as she turned around and headed into the bathroom.

. . .

A few hours later, they had finished batting and were sitting on a bench near the entrance to the batting cages, both of them exhausted and hot from the activity. Lorelai was happily licking her ice cream cone as Luke dug into a dish of fat free sorbet.

Lorelai eyed his dessert curiously as he ate a spoonful. He glanced up at her and narrowed his eyes. "What?"

Lorelai pulled the cone away from her mouth and stared down at the bowl. "What does it taste like?"

Luke held out the bowl toward her. "You wanna try some?"

Lorelai opened her mouth wide, and Luke fed her a spoonful of his dessert. She was hesitant at first, but when she closed her lips around the spoon, her eyes widened with surprise. "Mmm."

Luke slowly pulled the spoon out of her mouth. "So?"

Lorelai swallowed and nodded approvingly. "Not bad." She licked her cone and added, "I'd never voluntarily order it if there was ice cream available within a fifty mile radius, but now I know what it tastes like." Luke smirked and shook his head slightly as he continued eating.

Lorelai glanced over at him and smiled to herself. She watched him for a few seconds, then said, "I had fun again."

Luke turned to her and smiled. "Oh yeah?"

Lorelai nodded. "I think I might start coming here more often." She held out one of her arms and flexed her muscle. "Good for my 'ceps."

Luke let out a small laugh. "Yes, it is," he agreed. "But I think your, uh, 'ceps are fine."

Lorelai looked at her arm and wrinkled her nose. "You think? I was thinking maybe I should try to get them a little more buff."

"They're fine, trust me," Luke told her.

"But those women in those videos last night, they had some good, sexy arms," Lorelai said. "Did you notice?"

"They were okay." Luke shrugged and ate a spoonful of his sorbet, then added, "Yours are better."

Lorelai smiled and nudged him with her elbow. "Aw, look at you being all sweet with the complimenting."

Luke gave an embarrassed smirk. "Yeah. . .well. . . it's true," he said, staring down into his bowl. "You're prettier than them, too."

Lorelai gasped. "Wow, two compliments in a row! Now I know you're just trying to get lucky."

Luke laughed and turned to look at her. "I don't have to try very. . . " His voice trailed off as he saw her smiling face staring back at him. He cleared his throat and finished, ". . .hard."

Lorelai took a bite of her cone. As she chewed it, she glanced over at Luke and saw him watching her. "What? Something on my face?" she asked, wiping her chin with the back of her hand.

Luke shook his head. She shrugged and brought her gaze back to her food. As she concentrated on licking the drips of ice cream that were running down the side of the cone, Luke continued to stare at her. After a few seconds, she glanced back over at him and let out a small laugh. "What are you looking at? Do you want some ice cream?" she asked, offering him her cone.

Luke shook his head. "I'm just. . .looking at you."

"For any particular reason?"

Luke shrugged. "Just. . .I don't know. . . because you're cute."

Lorelai smiled and snapped her fingers several times. "Man, you're just shooting out the compliments left and right today, hon." She pointed to his bowl. "Is there something in that sorbet that has reconfigured the chemical structure of your body to turn you into a complimenting machine or something?"

Luke rolled his eyes and set the bowl on the ground next to the bench. "I highly doubt it." He moved closer to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. He cleared his throat as if he was getting ready to say something, so she stared at him expectantly. A few seconds passed before he finally turned to her and said, "I was just. . .ya know, looking at you and thinking. . . I mean, you know that I love you, right?" he asked in a soft voice.

Lorelai smiled. "Yup, I am very well aware of that, thank you."

Luke nodded. "Okay."

Lorelai tapped on her head. "It's etched into my brain."

"Good."

Lorelai shook her head. "I'll never forget it."

"Great."

Lorelai smiled and kissed his cheek. "Guess it seems like a good time to tell you that I love you, too." Luke smiled and laced his fingers through hers.

Lorelai shoved the last piece of her cone into her mouth and chewed it slowly. When she had finished, she leaned her head against his shoulder. "So what was with the random sharing-of-feelings moment we just had there?" Lorelai asked. She quickly added, "Not that I mind random feeling-sharing moments. On the contrary – I love them, I find them quite enjoyable. . .but since this one seemed to just come out of left field, I was wondering what sparked it."

Luke shrugged. "I don't know. . .I was looking at you and it popped into my head that . . .maybe I don't say it enough. . .so now seemed like a good time to tell you."

Lorelai lifted her head and scoffed. "Oh, come on Luke, are you kidding? You say it almost everyday, which is amazing since I know you're not Mr. I-share-my-feelings-all-the-time Guy." She let out a small laugh and said, "Trust me, you're a million times better about stuff like that than I'd ever imagined you'd be."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that you're always so gruff and manly and quiet that it's surprising that you're so open and sensitive sometimes," Lorelai explained with a shrug. "I mean, you're always saying nice things to me and telling me you love me and. . .I don't know, you get into these little zones where you'll be like a completely different person from your usual monosyllabic self – all sweet and romantic and lovey-dovey." Lorelai pinched his cheek and added, "It's just so darn cute!"

Luke rolled his eyes and pushed her hand away. "Okay, enough already."

Lorelai giggled. "I think the moral of this babbling is that, yes, you compliment me enough, and yes, I know that you love me," she concluded with a nod. She smiled and added, "But hey, I'm not complaining if you wanna say it more."

Luke smiled and kissed her. They sat there for a few more minutes before they threw their trash away and headed home.

. . .

Twenty minutes later, they walked through the front door. Lorelai kicked off her shoes, then went into the kitchen to get a drink. Luke walked over and sat down on the couch. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table, but before he turned on the television, he glanced toward the kitchen. He saw Lorelai standing at the table. His eyes glazed over her body . . . up her long legs, over her tight tank top that perfectly accentuated her curves, up to her hair that was pulled into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. Luke swallowed hard as he watched her take a long sip from a water bottle. He bit his bottom lip as he thought for a moment, then slowly got up from the couch.

He walked through the hallway into the kitchen and stood directly behind her. She had set the water bottle on the table and was now flipping through a magazine. He reached around her and pushed the water bottle off the table, then pulled the magazine out of her hand and dropped it to the floor

Surprised, Lorelai turned around and said, "What are you – "

Luke smiled and put a finger on her lips. "Shh. Ready for the element of surprise?"

A smile slowly appeared on her face, and she nodded.

He reached down and unzipped her denim shorts, then turned her around so she was facing away from him. He pulled her shorts and underwear down, and she stepped out of them and kicked them aside. He pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it behind him, then unclasped her bra, slid it off, and dropped it to the floor.

He pulled out her ponytail holder and ran his fingers through her hair. He slid his hands down her back and traced a finger around the heart tattoo. Lorelai's breathing rate increased as his strong yet gentle hands glided over her shoulders, arms, back, and thighs. Her arousal was growing, her body was tingling at the sensations of his touch. She reached her hands back and knocked his hat off, then squeezed his hair between her fists.

Luke reached around her and squeezed her breasts as he kissed across her back and neck. He pulled at her nipples, evoking loud approving moans from Lorelai. She covered his hands with hers and held them on her breasts, urging him to continue. As he did, he used his foot to spread her feet apart. He removed his hands from her chest, ignoring her whimper of disappointment, and pushed her upper body forward so she was leaning over the kitchen table. She rested herself on her elbows and covered her face with her hands, her sex already throbbing with unbearable anticipation.

Luke unzipped his jeans and pulled them and his boxers down around his knees. His hardness sprang to life and he immediately entered her from behind. Lorelai clenched her eyes shut tight and a long moan poured from her lips as she took him in. Luke had to maneuver Lorelai's hips slightly to go deeper, but soon he was completely inside of her.

She started breathing heavily as an intense feeling of pleasure came over her body, and she pressed her forehead against the table to try to control herself. She stretched her hands out in front of her and clutched tightly onto the edges of the table as she waited for him to continue.

Luke started pushing into her, his powerful thrusts causing her thighs to slam hard against the side of the table. Her body glided roughly across the table in short jerks, rocking back and forth with the motions of Luke's pelvis. He ran his hands over her back and tugged lightly on her hair as he began increasing his pace.

Lorelai didn't push back at him; she relaxed herself and allowed Luke to have complete control of her body. He slid his hands down and gripped her waist, and instead of just pushing into her, he also began pulling her body against his, sliding her up and down his hardness.

Lorelai's mouth was gaping open and seemed to get wider with each and every thrust. Luke grunted loudly as he plunged into her, though it was hard to hear him over Lorelai's even-louder moans. "Oh my God... Luke... yes.. oh God…" Her words of encouragement were randomly screamed in between her loud moans of pleasure, and made Luke pump into her even harder. The sensations were making Lorelai's legs weak and she was glad she had the table there to support her body weight.

His motions were fast and rhythmic, and it wasn't long before she felt her orgasm approaching. Luke felt himself ready to explode but was determined to hold off his peak until Lorelai had reached hers. Finally, Lorelai's entire body began quivering, and soon a loud moan echoed throughout the house as she climaxed. A few final rough strokes into her brought him to completion, and he collapsed his exhausted body on top of hers.

They lay that way for several seconds, both of them panting loudly, until he finally stood up. He pulled up his boxers and jeans, then took a few steps back as he stared at Lorelai. She lay sprawled across the table, her eyes closed, her body heaving up and down with her heavy breathing. She was too exhausted to stand upright yet, and even so, was trying to put off the back pain she knew she'd encounter once she did stand up.

"Oh my God," she moaned into the table. A few seconds passed before she opened her eyes, and then it was a few more before she slowly pushed herself up off the table. She grimaced slightly at the pain, and she reached behind her to rub her lower back.

She finally turned around and saw Luke leaning against the counter, staring at her with a sly grin on his face. She sauntered over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him deeply. She pulled her lips away from his and rested her head against his chest, still breathing heavily.

Luke wrapped his arms around her. "So. . .uh, how was that element of surprise?"

"Mmm, incredible," Lorelai muttered as she closed her eyes. "You?"

"Can't complain," Luke replied. He pulled her closer and ran his hands up and down her back. After a few seconds, she pulled back from him and smiled. He smiled back. "What?"

Lorelai shrugged and ran a finger over his cheek. "I was just thinking how no one would ever believe me if I told them what you're really like."

Luke narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean?"

Lorelai gestured to the table. "I mean. . . doing stuff like that, or like how we did it in the gazebo or in my office or just. . .you know. People see you as reserved and conservative, for the most part. They'd never believe some of the stories I could tell them about things we've done."

Luke tilted his head and pursed his lips.

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I'm not saying a word, but. . .there's this side of you that only I know, and no one would believe some of the things we do. I mean, do you think there's anyone who would believe me if I said, 'Oh, Luke just walked up behind me and ripped my clothes off and threw me on the table'?"

Luke glanced over at the table. "Yeah, speaking of which, no food touches that table until I've scrubbed it down."

Lorelai nodded in agreement as she followed his gaze. "Definitely." She turned back to him and smiled. "So. . . is it just me who invokes the savage beast in you to come out, or have you always been like that?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. . . you're definitely a part of it, but I guess I always sort of. . .ya know. . ."

"Had a wild-Luke inside who needed a little encouragement to come out and play?" Lorelai suggested.

"You could say that," Luke nodded.

Lorelai walked over and picked up her clothes. She pulled her tank top on as she asked, "Did you ever think about doing stuff like that to me?"

"Like what?" Luke walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a dish towel, then stared at her expectantly.

Lorelai shrugged as she pulled on her underwear. "Like, back when you used to admire me from afar. . . when you used to have this wild obsession with me. . . when you used to wish that – "

"Okay, okay, get on with it," Luke interrupted, gesturing for her to continue.

Lorelai smiled. "Did you ever think about doing something really wild. . .you know, just grabbing me and making love to me on the counter or the diner floor or something?"

Luke shrugged. "Maybe."

"Oh yeah?" Lorelai asked, smiling.

"Sometimes, but that's not what I thought about the most," Luke replied.

Intrigued, Lorelai sat down in a chair and said, "Go on."

Luke leaned back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. He shook his head slightly and said, "I just really, really wanted to . . . kiss you."

"Kiss me? That's it?"

"Yup." Luke stared up into space as he continued. "I mean, I'd always glance at you from across the diner, and I'd see you talking to Rory or something, and. . .you know, you'd be smiling or laughing, and I'd just think about how much I wanted to kiss you – to just . . .feel your lips against mine. That's what I wanted the most."

Lorelai felt a chill run through her body as she listened to him. He was speaking softly and slowly, as though he'd always wanted to tell her this but was still slightly embarrassed about doing it. Lorelai stared up at him as he continued.

"I would think about how, if I could kiss you one time, just once," he said, holding up his pointer finger, "…then I'd be happy. I mean, even if things didn't work out between us, then I'd still be happy that I got to experience that kiss, you know?"

Lorelai nodded quickly as she stared up at him with fascination. He'd fallen into one of those sensitive moods that she loved to see him in, and she wanted him to keep talking.

Luke sighed, then shrugged. "But I could never get up the nerve to do it." He paused for a moment, then smiled to himself. "Well, I almost did." He squeezed his thumb and forefinger together. "I got this close once."

Lorelai raised her eyebrows with surprise. "You did?"

Luke nodded. "Yup."

"You almost kissed me?" Lorelai asked with disbelief.

He nodded again. "Yup."

Lorelai let out a small laugh and asked, "Uh, was I there? Because I have no recollection of it whatsoever."

Luke walked over to the table and sat down next to her. "Yeah, you were there. It was last year when you came to the diner to help me pick out paint colors. . .remember that?"

Lorelai thought for a moment, then nodded. "Vaguely. What happened?"

"Uh, we picked out paint colors," Luke replied.

Lorelai laughed. "Oh, so it was a successful night then."

"Yeah, and then somehow we ended up sitting on the floor behind the counter," Luke continued. "And we were staring at each other, and I remember you were wearing a blue shirt and it made your eyes really stand out. I mean, they were glowing this sparkling bright blue . . . and it was just so incredible," Luke said quietly, shaking his head slightly toward the table. Lorelai stared at him, captivated by the story. "And we were smiling at each other and I had finally worked up the nerve to kiss you, and just as I started to lean forward. . . something happened."

"What? What happened?" Lorelai asked anxiously.

"There was a knock at the door," Luke grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Taylor and some of his stupid cronies were trying to get into the diner and it was locked, so they banged on it, and. . .you turned away and. . .I'll never forget that feeling of regret that I had. I scolded myself so many times for not leaning in quicker." He sighed disappointedly, then added. "Okay, that story doesn't have the greatest ending."

"Aww," Lorelai frowned. "I'm sorry. I hope you did something to get back at Taylor."

"Yeah, I spit in his food the next day," Luke said.

Lorelai gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God!"

Luke laughed. "No, I'm kidding. . .but I did overcharge him for his meal."

Lorelai let out a sigh of relief. "Whew, okay, that's better."

Luke cleared his throat and stood up. "Okay, well, uh, I didn't mean to turn that into story hour."

Lorelai stood up. "It was way better than the ones they have at the library, though." She reached out her hand. He grabbed it and she pulled him toward her into a hug, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. She pulled back and smiled. "See – the story does have a happy ending."

Luke smiled. "Yeah, I guess it does." He kissed her again, then glanced down at the table. "Okay, I really have to sanitize that before I forget."

Lorelai smiled and pulled back from him. "Go on, Mr. Clean, do your thing." She grabbed the rest of her clothes and said, "I'm gonna go take a bath. If you feel like coming up and giving me some entertainment, I'm really getting the urge to see you sing YMCA with all the hand gestures and stuff."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Forget it."

Lorelai shrugged. "Fine, I won't make you sing and dance, but come up when you're done so you can sit and keep me company, okay?" Luke nodded. "Maybe you could. . . tell me some more stories?" she asked hopefully.

Luke shrugged. "Maybe."

"Okay, and then we'll go to the market," she said excitedly. Luke rolled his eyes, and Lorelai smiled at him and walked toward the staircase.

. . .

PART 40

. . .

A few minutes later, Luke walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. Lorelai was already in the bubble-filled tub and just her face was visible, her hair clipped up on top of her head. She craned her neck back to look at Luke as he walked in, and she smiled up at him. "Hey – how's the table?"

"Taken care of," Luke replied. "You can practically eat off that thing now."

Lorelai smiled. "Well, that's the intention I had when I bought it, so that's good."

Luke walked over to the toilet and pulled the cover down. He pulled a towel off of the rack and draped it over the seat, then sat down and faced Lorelai.

Lorelai leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. Luke stared at her until a small smile appeared on Lorelai's face, then he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Lorelai opened her eyes. "Dinner."

Luke rolled his eyes and muttered, "Why am I not surprised?"

"I'm getting a strong craving for Chinese food," Lorelai told him. "What do you say tonight we go to the movies, then pick up Chinese on the way back?"

"The movies tonight? What about your little 'I want to pour food over your body and lick it off' scenario that you've been waiting weeks for?" Luke asked.

"Change of plans – it's pushed back to tomorrow instead," Lorelai said.

"How come?"

"Because I got a sudden craving for Chinese food and everyone knows you can't just eat a little bit of Chinese food – you have to scarf down Chinese food," Lorelai explained. "And since I'll be scarfing down Chinese food, I probably won't have room for any other food tonight, hence we'll need to push back all food-related activities to tomorrow night."

Luke nodded. "Oh . . .okay."

Lorelai stared at his expression, then smiled. "You look disappointed."

He scoffed. "You're crazy."

Lorelai lifted one of her hands out of the water and shook it at him, sprinkling him with water droplets. "You are! You're disappointed that we're not doing it tonight," she said with a laugh.

"Will you knock it off? You're getting water on me."

Lorelai lowered her hand back into the water and smirked. "You act like you don't wanna do it, but you're secretly looking forward to it. Admit it!"

Luke stood up. "Look, I'm only in here to keep you company, not to be annoyed incessantly. I can go if you want me to."

"No, no, don't go," Lorelai said quickly. "I won't annoy you anymore."

Luke slowly sat back down and rested his elbows on his knees. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," she replied as she ran her fingers over the top of the water. "So. . ."

Luke tapped his foot a few times. "So. . ."

Lorelai was quiet for a minute, then started humming the tune to YMCA.

Luke smiled. "Very subtle. Forget it."

Lorelai laughed. "Okay, okay, sorry." She lifted one of her feet out of the water and looked at it. She wiggled her toes and said, "What do you think?"

"I think it's a foot," Luke replied.

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "I mean, I think it's time for me to take off the red nail polish and go with that pretty maroon-ish color. Thoughts?"

"Do whatever you want," he replied with a shrug.

"Whatever I want?" She lowered her foot down. "Hm, can I paint your toes?"

"No."

Lorelai pouted her lips. "Please?"

"No," he replied more sternly. "You know, you're working back up to that 'annoying thing' again."

"Sorry," she muttered. She sighed loudly, then closed her eyes and said, "Tell me another story, Luke."

"About what?" he asked.

"About anything," she replied with a shrug.

Luke thought for a moment, then leaned back and propped his feet up on the edge of the tub. "Okay, I got one for ya."

. . .

Twenty minutes later, as Luke walked out of the bathroom to answer the ringing phone, Lorelai climbed out of the tub and pulled on her robe. She drained the bath water, then walked into the bedroom.

Luke was sitting on the bed on the phone. "Is it Rory?" Lorelai whispered.

Luke shook his head and continued talking. Lorelai walked over to her closet and pulled out some clothes. She pulled some undergarments out of her dresser, then brought everything back to the bed and started getting dressed.

A few seconds later, Luke hung up the phone. "Who was it?" Lorelai asked.

Luke stood up. "Oh, uh, Jess wants to borrow my truck this afternoon."

Lorelai, in the middle of fastening her bra, paused a moment before she said, "Oh."

Luke noticed her trepidation, but decided to ignore it. "Yeah, so he's gonna come pick it up in a few minutes."

Lorelai nodded. "Mmhmm."

Luke gestured toward the stairway. "I'm gonna go down and wait for him."

Lorelai turned toward him and smiled. "Okay, I'll be down soon and we can go to the market." Luke nodded and walked out of the room.

. . .

That night, after the movie, they walked through the front door with dinner. Lorelai was carrying her bag of Chinese food while Luke carried a bag from the diner containing his chicken salad sandwich and a side salad. They brought them to the kitchen and set it on the table. Lorelai brought out some plates and silverware as Luke poured them some drinks, then they sat across from each other and started eating.

As Luke took a bite of his sandwich, Lorelai said, "Doesn't that have mayo in it? Isn't mayo really bad for you?"

"It's lowfat mayo," he informed her. "I made it myself, I know exactly what's in it . . .who knows what the hell you're eating over there." He gestured to her plate and made a face.

Lorelai glanced down at her plate. "I don't care what it is, I just care that it tastes good."

"That's the difference between you and me," Luke said with a shrug. He opened up the plastic container of salad and picked out a cucumber. He took a bite, then said, "So, working tomorrow?"

Lorelai groaned and nodded. "All day. And I can't even leave early because I have a meeting at four." She bit into an eggroll, then smiled. "But at least I'll have something to look forward to at night."

"Mmhmm," Luke mumbled as he sipped his drink. He set his glass down and said, "Though I'm not too sure about some of those foods you picked out."

"Like what?" Lorelai asked.

"Like honey," he replied. "Do you have any idea how messy that's gonna be?"

"Exactly the point of this type of thing, Luke," Lorelai replied. "We get all messy and turned on and then we go at it in the shower while we're getting cleaned up."

Luke smiled and shook his head slightly.

Lorelai let out a small laugh. "You picked out some funky things, too."

Luke looked up and narrowed his eyes. "Like what?"

"Uh, like, yogurt," Lorelai said with a laugh. "Man, I can't wait to see what you do with that one. I can see you like spreading it on my stomach all neatly with a spoon or something."

"What – is that not how you're supposed to do it?" Luke asked innocently.

Lorelai's eyes widened and she sat up straight. "Please tell me you're kidding!" She shook her head. "Luke, no! You have to get messy, you have to use your hands, you have to – "

Luke laughed and held up his hands. "I know, I know, geez. Come on, I'm not a complete moron."

Lorelai relaxed back in her chair. "Yeah, well, sometimes it's hard to tell," she muttered.

Luke picked up a cherry tomato from his salad and threw it at her. She gasped laughingly as it hit her on the shoulder. She picked up a piece of chicken from her plate and threw it at him. It hit him on the cheek and Lorelai laughed loudly.

"Hey!" he exclaimed. "Don't make a mess."

"You started it," she reminded him as she scooped up a forkful of rice and aimed it him.

Luke stood up and said, "I started it with a tomato. They aren't messy." He took a few steps back and pointed to her fork. "Don't even think about it."

She stood up, holding the fork in a catapult position, and walked toward him with a sly grin on her face. "Uh oh, I'm thinking about it."

He walked backward into Rory's bedroom. "You don't wanna make a mess in Rory's room, put it down."

"Oh, she won't mind," Lorelai said with a shrug.

"Yeah, well, I do," Luke said. He reached out and clasped his hand around the fork, and made a face as he felt the rice in his palm.

Lorelai frowned. "I was gonna eat that."

Luke opened his fist and held out the rice. "Go ahead."

Lorelai wrinkled her nose. "I'll pass."

"Thought so." Luke walked back into the kitchen and threw the rice in the garbage, then washed his hands. Lorelai sat back down in her seat, and as Luke sat down across from her, he handed her another fork. "Here, stop fooling around."

"Yes, sir," she said, playfully saluting him. She ate a forkful of food, then said, "What do you wanna do tonight?"

"I don't know," Luke said. "Play a game or something?"

"A game. . .what, like cards?" Lorelai suggested. She paused a moment, then jumped up. "Ooh, I know!" She walked to the front closet and pulled it open. She stood on her tiptoes and grabbed a box from the top shelf, then brought it back to the table.

"You play Trivial Pursuit?" Luke asked, surprised. "I don't picture you as a Trivial Pursuit kind of girl."

"Yeah, well, Rory used to be obsessed with this game and she made me play with her all the time," Lorelai said. "The little brainiac used to always win until I started memorizing the cards at night." She smiled and tapped her head. "Smart move, huh?"

"You used to cheat against your own daughter?" Luke said with a laugh.

Lorelai sat down in her chair and shrugged. "Well, it was a motherly thing to do. You can't let her go through life letting her think that she'll win at everything, right? So I was teaching her good sportsmanship."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Nice one."

Lorelai grinned. "Thank you." She patted the box and said, "So what do you say? We'll bust out some beers and play this tonight."

"Yeah, I'm sure the beers will really help in a game that tests knowledge," Luke said dryly.

Lorelai smiled. "No, but it'll make it more fun. What do you say?"

"Fine by me," Luke replied.

. . .

Later that night, they were sitting on the floor around the coffee table in the middle of the game when there was a knock at the front door. Jess pushed it open slightly and called, "Anyone home?"

"Yeah, come in," Lorelai called.

Jess walked into the living room, twirling Luke's keys around his pointer finger. "Brought the truck back."

Jess tossed the keys to Luke, who caught them and set them on the table. "Thanks. It's still in one piece, I assume?"

"For the most part," Jess replied. He leaned on the back of the couch. "Got a hot game of Trivial Pursuit going? Man, you guys are living the wild life."

"Yes, we are," Lorelai agreed.

Jess glanced toward the television. "Hey, you mind if I borrow a video for tonight?"

"Got a hot night of tv watching planned?" Luke asked dryly. "And you're mocking our Trivial Pursuit playing?"

"Help yourself," Lorelai said, gesturing toward the shelf of videos next to the television. Lorelai glanced down at the board. "Okay, where were we? You need a green question." She glanced down at the card in her hand and read the question to herself, then smiled. "Ha, you'll never get this one. What country in the 1984 Olympics led the parade in the opening ceremonies?" She smiled at Luke.

Luke thought for a moment, then picked up the dice as he answered, "Greece."

"Ha! That's wro – " Lorelai started. She paused and glanced at the back of the card, then gasped. "How could you possibly know that? What are you, some kind of freak?"

Luke rolled the dice. "Everyone knows that. It's a trick question."

"Greece leads the parade for every Olympics," Jess added from behind them. "It's tradition."

Lorelai frowned and threw the card at Luke. "I knew that," she mumbled.

Luke moved his piece across the board. "Blue question." He sat back and waited for her to get another card.

As Lorelai reached for the box, Jess exclaimed, "Whoa!" Luke and Lorelai both turned to look at him. He was standing at the television going through a stack of videos. "What the hell is going on here, Uncle Luke?" Jess picked up two of the dirty movies and turned around with a sly grin. "Now, I don't think these videos are appropriate viewing material to have around Lorelai and Rory. What are you trying to do to these poor impressionable girls?"

Luke jumped up from the floor and rushed over to the television. "Give me those!" He grabbed the movies out of Jess' hands, then grabbed the others off of the television. Lorelai sat on the floor stifling her laughter.

Jess shook his head disappointedly toward Luke. "Man, and I thought you were a better role model that that. I'm deeply ashamed of you."

"Oh, knock it off," Luke grumbled. "It's none of your business what we watch. And just for the record, they're not mine – they're hers." He nodded toward Lorelai. "Tell him."

Lorelai raised her hands innocently. "Luke, I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied, shaking her head. "You must've had too much to drink tonight or something."

"Lorelai!" Luke said angrily.

"I don't watch that kind of garbage," Lorelai said with a scoff. "Take responsibility for your own guilty pleasures, Luke."

"Luke, why are you trying to blame her?" Jess asked with a laugh. "Like I'm sure she's the one who wants to watch this stuff. . . right." He rolled his eyes and patted Luke on the back. "You might wanna get some help for your little addiction there, buddy."

Luke sighed loudly. He dropped the movies onto the armchair and pointed toward the doorway. "Go home."

Jess smirked as he grabbed the Fight Club video from the shelf and waved it in the air. "I'm taking this."

Luke gave him a shove toward the door. "Fine, now go home and watch it."

Jess smiled to himself as he walked through the living room. "Later," he called over his shoulder.

When they heard the front door shut, Luke glared at Lorelai. "What the hell was that about? Why'd you do that?"

Lorelai giggled. "It was funny seeing the look on your face."

"Oh, it was funny, was it?" Luke asked, walking toward her.

Lorelai stood up quickly and backed away from him. "Yeah, it was funny." Luke backed her up against the staircase railing. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"This." He picked her up and brought her to the couch. He dropped her on it and she laughed as he climbed on top of her and started tickling her stomach.

She wriggled back and forth underneath him. "Stop. . .Luke, stop!" she laughed. "Oh my God!"

He continued tickling her, keeping one hand on her stomach and bringing the other down to tickle her behind her knee. "Not until you apologize."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she yelled through her laughing. Tears started to form in her eyes and she smacked his hands away. He finally pulled back from her, and her chest was heaving up and down from laughing so hard. "Oh my God," she panted.

"There, I think you've learned your lesson," Luke said, taking a few steps back from the couch.

Lorelai sat up and adjusted her shirt. "Yes, and it's that your face gets all red when people think you like dirty movies."

Luke walked toward her with his hands out in front of him, poised to tickle her again. She jumped up off the couch. "Kidding, kidding!" she screeched as she backed away from him. He walked over to her and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed him back as she ran her fingers through his hair. Luke brought his hands up around her neck and deepened the kiss by softly parting her lips with his tongue.

Lorelai smiled through the kiss. "Tired of playing the board game?"

"Yup."

"Wanna go upstairs?"

"Yup." Luke grabbed her hand and led her toward the staircase.

. . .

The next night, Lorelai walked into the diner after work. Not seeing Luke, she set her purse on a stool, then walked behind the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. Caesar walked out of the kitchen with some plates and nodded hello at her as she walked back to her stool and sat down.

Caesar delivered the plates to a table, then walked over and said, "I'll tell him you're here."

Lorelai smiled. "Thanks."

Caesar walked back into the kitchen. A minute later, Luke walked back out and leaned across the counter to kiss her. "Hey."

"Hi."

"How was work?" Luke asked.

"Looooong," she moaned. "Very long. You know, when one gets used to just picking up and leaving whenever she wants, it becomes very difficult when she has to actually be there for an entire day straight." She took a long drink of her coffee, then sighed loudly.

"Yeah, well, welcome to the real world," Luke said.

"Ugh, I hate the real world," Lorelai replied. "I want to live my life in fantasy land."

"Trust me, you do," he told her. "You want something to eat?"

"Yeah, I'll have the 'I had a long day and I'm ready to relax' meal," she replied.

"Which is essentially a burger and fries, but with a creative title?" Luke asked.

"Yup."

"Coming right up," Luke replied.

. . .

When Lorelai had finished eating, Luke took her plate into the kitchen while she finished up her second cup of coffee. He walked back out and stood talking with her until she was done. When she was finished, she stood up and asked, "Are you coming home soon?"

Luke checked his watch. "Yeah, I should be home in like an hour. Think you can wait that long?"

Lorelai smiled as she leaned forward and kissed him. "It'll be hard."

Luke cleared his throat and winked at her. "Took the words right outta my mouth."

Lorelai giggled and nudged him on the shoulder. "Dirty."

He smiled and kissed her again. "See you later."

"Bye."

Luke stood at the counter and watched her as she walked out of the diner, then turned and walked into the kitchen.

. . .

Later that night, Luke walked through the front door and dropped his keys on the hall table. He took his hat off and hung it up, then walked into the living room. "Lorelai!" he called.

"Upstairs," she called back.

Luke climbed the staircase up to their bedroom. Lorelai was sitting on the edge of her bed in her bra and panties watching television. Luke walked over and sat next to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "What's up?"

Lorelai gestured to the television. "Check this out – I usually suck at this game because the questions are so obscure, but this is the high school championship of Jeopardy, and I'm finally able to answer questions in categories besides the ones relating to music, movies, or television. I mean, I actually knew the answer to a question in the Science and Nature category, can you believe that?" she asked excitedly.

Luke nodded and patted her on the knee. "Very impressive." He walked out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. A few minutes later, he walked back out just as Lorelai was yelling, "What is photosynthesis!" She clapped her hands excitedly when she found out she was right. "Man, I should totally apply to be on this show! What do you think the cut off is for the high school championship?"

"Uh, I'm guessing eighteen," Luke replied.

"Hmm, you think I could pass for eighteen?" Lorelai said.

"No way," Luke replied.

Lorelai frowned. "You didn't have to answer so quickly. You could've at least pretended to consider it."

Luke laughed. "Sorry." He paused for a moment, then repeated, "No way."

Lorelai wrinkled her nose. "Hmph."

Luke walked over to his side of the bed and took off his shoes, socks, jeans, and T-shirt. Lorelai walked over to the television and turned it off. "Did you eat dinner?"

Luke gathered up his dirty clothes and dropped them into the clothes basket at the foot of the bed. "Yeah, I grabbed a sandwich."

Lorelai nodded as he walked over to her and hugged her. He rocked back and forth on his feet a few times, swaying her from side to side. She smiled up at him and said, "You're ready and raring to go, huh?"

He answered her with a passionate kiss, then pulled back and said, "What do you think?"

"I think we should go downstairs and get the show on the road," Lorelai said. "I already put a blanket down there."

Lorelai grabbed his hand and led him down the stairs. As they stepped into the living room, Lorelai said, "Windows and doors." They pulled down all the window shades and checked the door locks, then walked into the kitchen and did the same.

Lorelai had spread a blanket on the center of the floor. She walked over to the refrigerator and began pulling out food, setting it along the edge of the blanket. Luke leaned against the counter and watched her. She kneeled down and pulled out some things from the bottom before she stood up and shut the door. "Okay, I think that's it."

Luke walked over and grabbed a paper cup from the counter, then opened the freezer and pulled out an ice cube. He set it in the cup and placed it on the blanket. Lorelai raised her eyebrows. "Hm, got something in mind with that?"

Luke shrugged. "Maybe." He pulled her close and kissed her. "You'll have to wait and see."

Lorelai kissed him back and brought her hands up to the back of his neck. She massaged it as they kissed, and he ran his hands from her shoulders down her back. His strummed his fingers lightly on the small of her back, sending a chill up her spine. As they broke apart from each other, he brought his hands up to her bra and undid her clasp, then slid it off of her and tossed it aside.

"Let's sit," Lorelai said. She pulled him down to the blanket and they sat staring at each other, their legs folded in front of them.

"Close your eyes," Luke said. Lorelai smiled and obliged his command. Luke picked up the largest strawberry he could find from the selection of food and he slowly brought it up to her mouth. When she felt what it was, she opened her lips and let him slide it inside. She bit down, and as her teeth sank into the firm fruit, red juice slowly ran down her lips. Luke pulled the end of the strawberry away from her, and as she chewed what was left in her mouth, Luke leaned forward and softly licked the juice off of her lips and chin.

When he pulled back, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Wow."

"Nice?" he asked.

"Very nice," she replied. "Let me try. Close your eyes."

Luke closed his eyes as Lorelai surveyed the food. She picked up a banana, peeled it, and broke it in half. She put it halfway into her mouth, then leaned forward and pressed it against his lips. His mouth opened and he accepted the banana, and was surprised when his lips met hers. They kissed around the fruit before they both bit down and ate their own halves. Luke opened his eyes as he finished chewing and nodded approvingly.

Lorelai smiled and uncrossed her legs. She lay back flat on the blanket and stretched one leg on either side on Luke. "Bring on the messiness," Lorelai said.

Luke picked up the ice cube from the cup and held it over Lorelai's stomach. A few drops of water fell onto her skin and she flinched at the coldness. Luke brought the ice cube to her lips and she sucked on it lightly for several seconds before he slowly ran it over her chin and down her neck to her chest. She closed her eyes as he moved it straight down the center of her chest to her stomach, where he ran it over her navel. A trail of wetness glistened down the center of her body, and Luke leaned down and licked it from her bellybutton up to her chin.

Lorelai stared at him as her breathing started to increase. Luke brought her left hand up and placed it above her head, then did the same with the other. Holding the ice cube in one hand, Luke took hold of her wrists with the other and pinned them up over her head. Lorelai glanced up toward her hands, then raised her eyebrows. "Mm, methinks Luke's done this before."

Luke smiled as he brought the ice cube to the center of her chest, then slowly moved it up her left breast. He ran it in a circle around the center of her breast, then slowly ran it over her nipple, which hardened at the touch. Her body jerked at the coldness and she tried to break free of his grasp. Luke tightened his hold on her and moved the ice cube to her other breast, slowly circling her center and then running it over her nipple. Her body jerked again and she moaned loudly. "Uggghhh, my God!" Luke continued running the ice cube between her breasts, watching her body writhe and twitch from the chill of it against her most sensitive areas.

Finally, he removed his hand from her wrists, and her hands immediately went to her breasts and covered them, as if trying to warm them up. She was breathing heavily as she stared up at him, waiting to see what he would do next.

Luke put the ice down, then glanced at the food for a few seconds before he picked up the bottle of chocolate syrup. He held it up and Lorelai's eyes widened with surprise. "Wow, you're gonna eat that?"

"Ah, a little won't hurt me," Luke replied. He opened the lid and held the bottle upside down over her chest. Lorelai watched the bottle anxiously until he gave it a small squeeze and the chocolate slowly dripped out of the container. As it landed on her chest, she felt a surge of excitement run through her body. Luke squeezed a pile of syrup into the center of her chest, and it started to run in all directions.

Luke put the bottle down, then used his fingers to spread the substance over her chest. He covered her breasts with it, massaging them lightly with the syrup as Lorelai let out a soft moan of approval. Her eyes were closed and her chest was heaving up and down as her arousal grew. Luke leaned over her body and placed his mouth over her right breast, sucking on it hungrily and using his tongue to scoop the syrup into his mouth. He moved to the other breast, and Lorelai brought her hands up to his back and stroked it as he continued.

When he had licked most of the syrup off of her, he brought his mouth up to hers and kissed her. When he pulled back, Lorelai giggled at the chocolate covering his face. "Come here so I can lick your face," she said. She pulled him close to her and ran her tongue over his chin and cheeks, licking the chocolate off.

He pulled back from her and hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties. He rolled them down her long legs and tossed them aside, and when he picked up the can of whipped cream, Lorelai's heart started racing. She smiled up at him as he shook the can and took the lid off. He leaned forward and squirted some on her lips, then leaned down and kissed her.

He squirted a straight line down the center of her chest and stomach, then drew an arrow at the end, pointing to between her legs. "There. . .that's in case I forget where I'm headed."

Lorelai lifted her head up and giggled at the arrow. "Nice one." She rested her head back down and watched him intently as he squirted some whipped cream onto his hand and applied it to her inner thighs. Lorelai's body trembled at the touch and she clenched her eyes shut as he continued. He spread the substance along her thighs, then squirted some more directly between her legs.

Luke started at the top of her chest and kissed his way down, following the arrow. When he reached the bottom, he pulled her legs wider apart and licked up one of her inner thighs, then moved to the other. Lorelai's body began throbbing with excitement as he extended his tongue and licked up her slit. "Oh God Luuuuke," she moaned, covering her face with her hands. Her legs were starting to shake slightly from the intense pleasure as he continued licking her sex.

The phone rang. Luke slowly lifted his head up and they looked at each other questioningly. "Ignore it," Lorelai said.

"It might be Rory," Luke reminded her.

"Oh right," Lorelai replied, frowning slightly. "Get it." He grabbed the cordless phone from the table and handed it to her. "Hello," she answered it. "Hey Sweets!"

Luke smiled as he lowered his face back down between her legs and resumed his licking. Her mouth dropped open with surprise as she continued talking to Rory. "Uh huh. . . that sounds fun. . .uh huh. . ." Her breathing became heavier and her face grimaced with pleasure as Luke lapped at her swollen lips, and she pulled at his hair to get him to stop.

He ignored her; instead, he began licking her harder. "Oh my God," she muttered, clenching her eyes shut tight. His tongue penetrated her lips and she bucked her hips with the intense sensations as he entered her wetness. She clenched her teeth together and let out a soft moan as his tongue swirled around inside of her. She swallowed hard and stammered, "Oh, nothing, hon. . .uh, I'm. . .wow. . .look, I need to call you back. . .okay. . .love you, too. . . bye." She turned the phone off, dropped it to the floor, and smacked Luke on the shoulder. "What are you doing?" she groaned.

Luke lifted his head up and smiled at her. "What, didn't like it?"

"That was you getting me back for last night in some weird way, wasn't it?" she said, narrowing her eyes.

Luke smirked and lowered his face down to her stomach, licking the rest of the whipped cream off as he made his way up to her mouth. He lay on top of her and kissed her deeply, and she ran her hands up and down his back as she kissed him back aggressively.

Finally, she pulled back and nudged for him to sit up. She sat up as well, then pushed him down on his back. She kneeled between his legs and picked up the can of whipped cream. "Your turn." Lorelai brought the can to his chest and squirted whipped cream circles around his nipples, then drew a heart around his navel. She made a few random squirts of it around his stomach and chest, then set the can down. She smiled at him as she leaned forward toward his navel. She kissed around the heart shaped design, sucking some of the whipped cream up with each kiss. He closed his eyes and rested his hands on the back of her head as her soft lips worked their way around his stomach.

She licked the remaining residue, then moved her tongue up to his chest. She licked one circle of whipped cream, then used her tongue to flick at his nipple before she began sucking on it. He groaned when she took it between her teeth and tugged at it gently. She moved to the other side and did the same thing, this time evoking a louder groan. She moved her mouth over his chest and stomach, licking up the rest of the whipped cream, then she sat back up.

He opened his eyes and stared up at her. Lorelai picked up a jar of peanut butter and waved it in the air. She smiled and asked, "You know where this is going?"

"No."

Lorelai set the jar down, then brought her hands to the waistband of his boxers. He arched his back to help her remove them, and she tossed them aside. She picked up the jar of peanut butter and said, "Now you know where this is going?"

Luke gave her a sly smirk and nodded as she took the peanut butter jar lid off.

. . .

Later that night, the two of them walked out of the bathroom and into their bedroom. "Now, was that as bad as you thought it would be?" Lorelai asked as she pulled on a t-shirt.

"No," Luke replied. "It was certainly as messy as I thought it would be. Though I now have a newfound respect for peanut butter."

Lorelai giggled as she leaned against the doorframe and waited for him to pull on a pair of boxers. When he did, he walked over and hugged her. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist and pressed her head against his chest. "Mm, I love you," she said softly.

He kissed the top of her head. "Love you, too." He pulled back from her. "But you already know that because it's etched into your brain."

She smiled. "Yes, it is." She grabbed his hand and led him downstairs. "Let's go watch tv."

"Absolutely not," he replied sternly. "We are cleaning up the kitchen first."

Lorelai groaned loudly. "Fine, fine. Let's go."

. . .

PART 41

. . .

After work the next night, Lorelai walked into the diner. Luke smiled and nodded toward her from the counter, then pointed to an empty table in the corner. She smiled and walked over to it. She sat down and pulled the most recent issue of InStyle magazine out of her purse before she hung the purse on the back of her chair.

She flipped through it for a few minutes before Luke finally walked over to her. She didn't notice him until he cleared his throat, and, surprised, she looked up from the magazine and smiled. "Hey."

"Hi." Luke leaned down and kissed her before he sat down next to her. "How was work?"

Lorelai shrugged. "It was okay, same ol' stuff going on." She suddenly smiled and added, "Oh, Michel got a new pair of shoes!"

Luke rolled his eyes. "How many times did you step on them?"

Lorelai giggled. "Four, and then he started screaming French obscenities at me."

"How do you know they're obscenities?"

"Oh, trust me, I've been hearing them for years. Is it completely evil of me to take joy in watching him get upset?"

"Yes," Luke replied.

"Ah, well, then I'm evil," Lorelai said.

"Yes, you are," he agreed. "Did you take those movies back?"

"Yes," Lorelai replied. "I contemplated dropping them off on the way to Friday night dinner, but as many times as I practiced saying the phrase 'Honey, wait in the car while Mommy returns her porn' over in my head, I just couldn't get it to sound appropriate, so I decided to run up there this afternoon."

"Good choice."

"Thank you. So how was your . . ." Her voice trailed off as she glanced past Luke and saw Caesar walk out of the kitchen. "What's he all smiley about? Did you get a fun new kitchen appliance?"

Luke turned around to see who she was talking about. "Oh, Caesar?" Luke turned back to her. "No, he's happy because he just got a promotion."

Lorelai raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

"Yup, and a nice raise to go with it," he added. "You know, since I'd been calling on him more often and putting more responsibility on him, I figured it was only fair."

"Oh, absolutely, he deserves it," Lorelai agreed. "But can I give you a little tip?"

"What?"

Lorelai lowered her voice. "If he's gonna be doing more cooking, you should teach him how to cook fluffier pancakes. His aren't as good as yours."

Luke rolled his eyes. "I'll get right on that. I'll start up my own little cooking class."

"Good, thank you," Lorelai replied. "You gonna eat with me?"

Luke glanced around the crowded diner. "Nah, I should probably get back in the kitchen. Dinner crowd's picking up." He stood up. "I'll bring you a burger."

Lorelai nodded. "Mmkay." As he walked away, she brought her gaze back to her magazine.

A few minutes later, Miss Patty walked over to Lorelai's table. "Hello dear."

Lorelai looked up and smiled. "Hey Patty. What's new?"

Patty glanced around before she said, "Well, I got Sookie's shower invitation today."

"Wow, that was fast," Lorelai said. "I just mailed them yesterday. Can you make it?"

"Oh, I wouldn't miss it," Patty replied. "Let me know if there's anything you need me to help out with."

Lorelai smiled. "Well, if you can choreograph a dance routine involving produce, baked goods, and risotto. . .that would be extremely helpful."

Patty laughed. "I'll see what I can whip together by then," she promised.

"Great."

Patty smiled. "See you later."

"Bye."

Patty walked away as Luke walked over with her plate and cup of coffee. He set it on the table, then glanced back at Patty and said, "What was that about?"

Lorelai shoved a fry into her mouth. "Oh, Patty knows some guy who can get free samples of Viagra and she wanted to see if we needed any, but I assured her you have no problems in that area."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Sorry I asked," he muttered as he walked away.

. . .

Fifteen minutes later, Luke walked back out of the kitchen with two plates. He served them to people at the counter, then glanced toward Lorelai. She was resting her elbows on the table and her hands were covering her face.

Concerned, Luke walked over to her. "You okay?" he asked, narrowing his eyes at her barely-touched plate of food.

Lorelai looked up at him, moving her hands from her face to her stomach. "I just started feeling really nauseous."

"Is it from the food, you think?" Luke asked.

Lorelai shook her head. "No, I was feeling it earlier at work and it went away, but now it's back." She pushed her plate away. "I don't really feel like eating anymore." She stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'm gonna head home and lie down."

Luke eyed her warily. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want me to drive you?"

Lorelai smiled appreciatively. "No thanks, I'll be fine." She kissed him and started walking toward the door. "See you at home."

"Bye."

. . .

The next morning, Luke walked out of the bathroom and into their bedroom as Lorelai was waking up. She yawned loudly, then groggily asked, "What time did you get home last night?"

Luke sat on the edge of the bed. "A little after nine. You were already sound asleep."

Lorelai nodded. "I felt really sick. I just had to lie down and not move for a long time."

"Are you okay now?" Luke asked.

"Not really," she muttered as she sat up. "I still feel crampy and nauseous."

Luke put his hand on her forehead. "You feel warm."

"Really? Because I'm freezing," she said as she pulled the blanket up around her. She brought her hands up to her head. "Ugh, my head is pounding."

"You're not going to work today," Luke said sternly. "Lie back down."

"No, I'll be fine, it's just part of the whole monthly ritual," Lorelai insisted. "Cramps, nausea, headaches, extreme irritability – comes with the territory of being a woman."

Luke tilted his head. "Oh, so you're. . ." His voice trailed off.

"Yup," she replied. "I think that's all it is."

"Still. . .you don't usually complain about it this much. You probably shouldn't go into work until it goes away just in case it's more than that."

"No, I'm sure it's not – " Lorelai stopped in mid sentence and she clutched her stomach. "Ow!" She fell back against her pillow and grimaced. "Sharp shooting pains!"

Luke's eyes widened with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Ugh, these random pains just keep attacking me. They're like the cramps I normally get, only twenty times worse," Lorelai muttered with her eyes closed.

"All right, forget it, you're not leaving this house today," Luke said. "You're probably coming down with a stomach virus or something."

Lorelai opened her eyes and nodded slowly. "Maybe."

Luke stood up. "Okay, so you should call the inn or something."

"I'll call Sookie at home," she muttered. "Can you hand me the phone?"

Luke picked up the phone. "What's the number?"

Lorelai recited it and he dialed, then handed her the phone. "Thanks." She rolled onto her side and held the phone against her ear as Luke walked over to his dresser and started getting dressed.

A few rings later, Sookie answered, "Hello?"

"Hey Sookie, it's me," Lorelai said.

"Hey, what's up?" Sookie asked. "Everything okay?"

"No, I'm in severe pain. I'm coming down with a virus or something."

"Aw, I'm so sorry," Sookie said sympathetically.

"Yeah, I felt sick a few times yesterday, and then last night it really hit me," Lorelai said. "I just feel really nauseous and have bad stomach pains."

"Uh oh," Sookie replied.

Lorelai narrowed her eyes. "What's 'uh oh' – what was that for?"

"Well, I mean. . . do you think you're. . ." Sookie's voice trailed off.

Lorelai paused a moment, waiting for Sookie to continue. When she didn't, Lorelai said, "Uh, Sookie, if you finished that sentence with sign language, I'm gonna have to remind you that I can't see you from here."

"Pregnant," Sookie whispered. "Do you think you're pregnant?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes slightly. "No, I started yesterday right on schedule."

"So maybe that's why you're feeling crappy?" Sookie suggested.

"No, at first I thought that's what it was, but it's much worse than it usually is."

"Aw, I'm sorry," Sookie said. "So you're not coming in today?"

She glanced toward Luke as she replied, "No, I've got strict instructions from my live-in doctor that I should stay home."

"Aw, okay, honey, I'll tell Michel," Sookie replied.

"Thanks, Sookie."

"You're welcome. Feel better. Call if you need anything," Sookie replied.

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

Lorelai reached over to the nightstand and hung up the phone, then sighed loudly as she rolled onto her back. "Luuuuke, I don't like being sick," she whined.

"Yeah, well, not many people do," Luke replied.

Lorelai pouted and twirled her hair aimlessly around her pointer finger as she watched him get dressed. After he pulled on his shoes, he grabbed his wallet and walked over to sit next to her. "Listen, I'll only go into work for a few hours, then I'll come home so you're not alone all day, okay?"

Lorelai nodded. "Okay."

"You need anything before I leave?" Luke asked.

"Can you get me something to eat?" Lorelai asked. "I can feel my stomach rumbling for food underneath the pain and I don't want to starve my poor friend all day."

"All right, I'll get you something light," Luke said. He stood up and left the room.

Several minutes later, he returned with a plate of toast, a glass of water, and some aspirin. He set it all on the nightstand, then sat down next to her. She sat up and leaned against the headboard, and he handed her the aspirin and water. "For the headache."

She took the pills with some water, then picked up a piece of toast and took a small bite. She chewed it slowly, scared that it would upset her stomach even more. Luke watched her closely as she swallowed it down. "Is it okay?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I think so."

"Okay, I gotta go," Luke said. "If you need anything, call me. I'll be home as soon as I can."

Lorelai nodded. "Okay."

He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "Love you."

Lorelai smiled. "Love you, too."

"Bye." Luke stood up and walked to the door, giving her one last sympathetic glance before he walked through it and went down the steps.

. . .

A few hours later, Luke arrived home from work and immediately went upstairs to check on her. He walked into the bedroom and found her asleep on the bed.

He grabbed a couple of dumbbells from the corner of the room, then brought them downstairs. He walked out the side door and onto the porch, and he began working out with them.

Twenty minutes later, he saw Babette come out of her house and walk toward him. "Hey gorgeous!" she called.

Luke casually nodded toward her, used to the numerous pet names she called him. As she walked up the porch steps, he set down his weights and wiped his face on his T-shirt. "How's it going?"

"Good, doll, good," Babette replied. "Not working today?"

"Well, I was this morning but Lorelai's sick, so I came home," Luke explained. "She's asleep right now."

Babette gasped. "Sick? What's wrong with her?"

"Oh, it's some sort of virus that's going around," Luke said. "You know, stomach pains, nauseous feeling, that kind of stuff."

"Aww, the poor baby," Babette said, frowning sympathetically. "And you came home early to be with her, how adorable is that?" She clasped her hands together and smiled sweetly at Luke.

"Yeah, I feel better being here in case she needs me," Luke said with a shrug.

Babette grinned and patted Luke on the shoulder. "You know, not all women are lucky enough to find a guy like you."

Luke glanced down at his feet uncomfortably. "Yeah. . .well . . ." He looked up and shrugged. "Not all guys are as lucky as me to find a girl like her."

"Ah, my God, you're so adorable, I wanna eat you up!" She stared at him for a moment, then smiled and pointed toward his face. "You know, your eyes light up when you talk about her."

Luke's face reddened slightly as he looked toward Babette's house. "Yeah, well, she's, uh, . . .I just. . .ya know. . ."

Babette smiled and nodded. "I know. . .trust me, dear, we all know."

Luke nodded as he picked up his dumbbells and gestured toward the house. "Uh, I'm gonna go in and check on her."

Babette squeezed his arm and said, "Tell her I hope she feels better, will ya?"

"I'll do that," he replied. "See you later."

"Bye-bye," Babette called over her shoulder as she walked down the porch steps.

Luke walked into the house through the back door and set his weights on the kitchen table. He washed his hands, then poured himself a glass of orange juice and walked upstairs with it.

As Luke walked into the bedroom, he saw Lorelai roll over onto her back. He took a sip of his juice, then set it on the nightstand and sat down on the bed. "Hey. . .you up?" he whispered.

Lorelai opened her eyes and saw him sitting next to her. "Hey," she mumbled groggily. "You're home."

"Yeah. . .how ya feeling?" he asked. He pushed her hair out of her face and felt her forehead. "Still warm."

"I threw up my toast like ten minutes after you left," she said with a frown. "Luckily I made it to the bathroom in time. Then I had that disgusting throw-up taste in my mouth for awhile, which was extremely pleasant."

Luke made a face. "Yeah, it's pleasant hearing about it, too," he told her. "Thanks."

Lorelai nodded. "You're welcome. Right after that I went to sleep, and I've been doing that all morning. I do feel a little better, though. The stomach pains have lessened. Now instead of feeling like a thousand burning stakes are jabbing me from the inside, it only feels like six hundred."

"Well, uh. . .that's good, I guess," Luke said. "Babette said to tell you she hopes you feel better."

"Aw, that's nice," Lorelai replied. "You talked to her?"

"No, she sent me a telepathic message," Luke replied, rolling his eyes. She weakly smacked his knee with her hand, and he smiled. "Yeah, I just saw her outside."

Lorelai nodded and sighed softly. She was quiet for a few seconds before she said, "I'm hungry."

"You shouldn't eat anything else," Luke said. "You'll throw it up."

"But it feels a little better," she reminded him.

"I know, but you shouldn't put food in there yet. You should be drinking lots of fluids." He picked up his juice from the nightstand and held it up. "Here, drink this and see how your stomach handles it."

Lorelai groaned with discomfort as she sat up for the first time in several hours. She took the cup of juice and sipped it slowly. Luke watched her, rubbing her leg through the blanket. She drank half of it, then handed the cup back to him to set on the nightstand. She leaned her head against the headboard and closed her eyes.

"You want me to leave so you can go back to sleep?" Luke asked.

Lorelai shook her head, then opened her eyes. "Can you stay with me?" she asked hopefully.

"What. . .like, lie down with you?"

Lorelai nodded. "Please?"

Luke shrugged and stood up. He took off his shoes, then walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed under the covers. Lorelai snuggled up to him and rested her head against his chest. He brought his arms up around her and held her. "Thank you," she mumbled. Luke kissed the top of her head, then closed his eyes.

. . .

Several hours later, they were both sitting on the bed playing cards while Lorelai snacked on crackers. Luke watched her as she took a bite of one. "You're getting crumbs all over the bed," he pointed out.

Lorelai took another bite. "Point?"

"That is my point," Luke said. "I don't like sleeping with crumbs. It feels like you're sleeping with sand, only it's worse because the crumbs attract bugs, so then not only are you sleeping with crumbs, but then you've also got the bugs in there, too."

"Actually, you probably won't be sleeping with bugs *and* crumbs because the bugs would probably eat the crumbs, so you'd just be sleeping with the bugs," Lorelai pointed out. "Duh."

Luke pursed his lips. "I'm so glad that you're feeling better and have gotten that quick verbal thing back."

Lorelai smiled. "Thank you." She lifted up her shirt to expose her stomach and she rubbed it lightly. "Yeah, my pal's feeling better now. I think by tomorrow it will be completely prepared for a burger and fries."

"No way," Luke replied, shaking his head. "You can't go putting fried food into it right away. . .you have to give it time to strengthen back up. If you put heavy food in it too soon, it'll put a damper on the whole 'getting better' process."

Lorelai smiled to herself as she collected the cards. "When did you become such a virus expert?"

Luke shrugged. "I took care of my dad when he was sick. I learned a few things."

Lorelai's eyes widened slightly. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"Okay. . .so, no fried food. Can I at least have some coffee now?" she asked, leaning toward him and pouting. "I'm getting desperate. I'll do anything you want, pleeeeease!"

Luke stared at her for a moment before he said, "Okay, just a little bit, though." He climbed off the bed. "And I'm not making it strong."

"Okay, anything'll do, just hurry!" she urged him. Luke walked out of the room, and Lorelai put the cards back in the box and tossed it on the floor. He returned a few minutes later with a cup of coffee, and she took a long sip and moaned happily. "Ahhh, that's good stuff."

"Don't drink it too fast, I'm sure that's not good for your stomach," Luke said. "Especially since it's not even good for a healthy stomach."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She waved him off and set the mug down. She glanced at the clock. "Oh my God, it's two already?"

"Yup. What do you wanna do now?"

Lorelai shrugged. "Just watch TV, I guess." She picked up the remote and turned the television on. "I think Judge Judy's on."

Luke rolled his eyes and stood up. "Okay, you watch that while I go work in the yard. Holler out the window if you need me." He leaned down and said, "That's if you *need* something important – do not call me all the way up here to complain about somebody on the stupid show."

Lorelai frowned. "But it's always better making fun of people with someone else!"

"Don't do it," he said sternly. He kissed her cheek, then walked out of the room.

. . .

Twenty minutes later, Lorelai heard footsteps on the staircase and she looked toward the doorway expectantly. There was a knock on the doorframe, then a voice asked, "Are you decent?"

Lorelai smiled. "No, Sookie, I tend to just lie around completely naked when I'm sick."

"Oh, well, I'll wait for you to get dressed then," Sookie replied. "Tell me when you're done."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Get in here, Sookie."

"Oh, that was fast," she said as she walked into the room. "How're you feeling?"

"Better," Lorelai replied. "Come sit down."

Sookie sat down on the bed facing Lorelai. "I brought you some soup, but Luke said you might not be ready to eat it yet. It's down in the fridge."

"Aww, thanks Sookie," Lorelai replied. She rolled her eyes and said, "Yeah, he's monitoring my levels of food intake – I'm slowly building up toward more solid foods."

Sookie smiled. "Wow, he finally gets a chance to control your eating habits. He's always dreamed of that."

Lorelai smiled. "Yeah, well, he better not get used to it." She paused a moment, then glanced toward the door and whispered, "Can you shut that?" Sookie nodded and shut the door, then sat back down.

Lorelai lowered her voice. "He's been taking care of me all day, and usually when I'm sick, I just like to be left alone, but . . . " She smiled and shook her head slightly. "It's so cute watching him snap into caretaker mode. He's been lying down with me, playing cards with me, watching TV with me, getting me whatever I need. It's just been so great having him around. It makes being sick go by faster, you know?"

Sookie smiled and patted Lorelai's knee. "I know what you mean."

Lorelai glanced down and examined her fingernails. "You know how when you and Jackson first decided to move in together, you were afraid that seeing each other everyday might make you guys get sick of each other?"

Sookie nodded. "Boy, do I. I worried about that so much."

Lorelai lifted her head to look at Sookie. "Well, I didn't tell anyone this, but. . .I kinda thought about that, too."

"You did?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, and even though I was pretty sure it wouldn't happen, part of me was afraid that I would get sick of him, and an even bigger part of me was afraid that . . ."

"He'd get sick of you," Sookie finished. "Yeah, I can definitely see how that would worry you."

Lorelai raised her eyebrows and smirked. "Thanks a lot, Sookie."

Sookie smiled. "I don't mean it to sound like, 'Oh, you're so annoying that you should've been really worried.' I just meant that I could understand where that's coming from because that's what I was worried about, too. I was more worried about him getting sick of me than the other way around."

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, and I was worried about both, but . . ." Lorelai stared down at her blanket and ran her fingers over the thread lines while she thought to herself. She finally glanced at Sookie and said, "Can I be completely and one hundred percent cheesy with you right now?"

Sookie smiled and nodded. "I love cheese."

Lorelai glanced back down at the blanket as she spoke softly. "It's like, he's around me all the time, but I still get so excited every time I see him. . . and that's never happened to me before with someone. Not this much, anyway. I mean, when he walks into a room, my heart starts beating quicker and I just get this feeling of relief that he's there. Just. . .being around him makes me happier than when I'm not, you know?"

Sookie smiled and nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."

Lorelai nodded. "And even when we're being intimate and stuff. . . I mean, even though we've done it so many times, it hasn't gotten boring or mechanical like it does in some relationships. I mean, even when he holds my hand or strokes my hair or runs his hands over my back. . .even little things like that still make my heart start racing and make chills run through my body. I've never had that happen with someone so far into a relationship. Usually those things tend to fade away, but. . .this time it's different. That's why I know it's something special." She sighed softly and glanced up at Sookie, who stared back at her with wide eyes. "Too corny?"

Sookie smiled and shook her head. "No, that's beautiful, honey."

Lorelai smiled and casually glanced past Sookie toward the closet, and her eyes suddenly locked onto something.

After several seconds, Sookie asked, "What are you looking at?" She followed Lorelai's gaze and saw the garment bag containing her wedding dress hanging up in the closet. She turned back to Lorelai with widened eyes. "Have you been thinking about. . ." Her voice trailed off as she gestured to her dress.

Lorelai smiled and slowly nodded.

Sookie gasped and clapped both hands over her mouth. "Oh my God! That's so exciting!" she exclaimed, the words muffled by her hands.

Lorelai shook her head. "He's not ready."

Sookie removed her hands and frowned. "How do you know?"

Lorelai sighed and leaned back against the headboard. "The subject came up and he said he's not ready to talk about it."

"And did you tell him that you were?" Sookie asked.

"No, I told him that I'm not ready to talk about it either," Lorelai replied. "I didn't want to rush him so I told him that I haven't really thought about it, but the truth is. . ."

"You've been thinking about it," Sookie finished.

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I have. I mean, I know it's only been a few months, but I just. . .I've never felt like this before, Sookie. This is what I've imagined it would feel like when I'm with the person who I'm supposed to be with, you know?" She was quiet for a few seconds, then smiled to herself. "Sometimes I pretend that we're married."

Sookie grinned. "I do that with Jackson. I mean, we're already living together, it won't be much different, right?"

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Right." She paused a moment, then added, "I think it'll happen eventually. . .I mean, it's the next logical step, right?"

"Right," Sookie agreed. "Now all you can do is sit here and wonder about how long eventually is. . .months, years, decades."

"I hate not knowing," Lorelai said.

"It's a part of life," Sookie said, falling back onto the bed and staring up at the ceiling.

Lorelai groaned and made a face. "That part of life sucks." They were both silent for a few minutes until Lorelai finally said, "Sookie?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you please go sneak around the warden and bring me up some of your soup?" she begged. "I'm dying of starvation here."

Sookie smiled and sat up. "Sure. Anything else while I'm down there?"

Lorelai shook her head. "Nah, that's it. . .then you can come back up here and tell me cheesy things about you and Jackson."

Sookie smiled. "Will do. Be right back."

. . .

A few hours later, Lorelai, tired of the bedroom scenery, had moved down to the living room. Luke sat at one end of the couch as Lorelai lay across it with her feet propped up on him, and he rubbed them while they watched Footloose.

"You know, this isn't a good movie to watch when I'm sick," Lorelai commented.

"Why not?"

"Because this soundtrack is like one of the greatest movie soundtracks ever and I just wanna get up and dance every time a song comes on, but the sharp pain in my side is preventing me from doing so," Lorelai said.

"I thought that pain was gone."

"It comes and goes," Lorelai replied. "It'll be throbbing one minute, then mild the next."

"Oh."

"Can you get up and dance for me?" Lorelai asked.

"No."

Lorelai pouted. "Please?"

Luke stared at her for a moment. "Maybe later."

Lorelai gasped. "Really?"

He shook his head. "No."

Lorelai frowned at him and turned back to the movie.

. . .

When the movie was almost over, a car horn honked from outside. "Agh, that's Rory!" Lorelai screamed excitedly.

Luke groaned and rubbed his ear. "Yes, and now all of Stars Hollow knows it." He turned off the television and stood up. "Stay here."

Lorelai sat up. "Stay here?"

"Yes, she'll be in the house in a few seconds, there's no point in wasting your energy going out there to see her," Luke said.

Lorelai stood up and wrapped her blanket around her shoulders. "I want to." She grimaced slightly, but began following Luke to the front door. He pulled it open and they stepped onto the porch as Rory and Christopher were climbing out of the car.

"Hey Mom!" Rory called. "Hey Luke!"

Luke walked down toward the car as Lorelai smiled and waved from the porch.

Luke greeted Rory with a hug. "Hey, glad you're home," he said.

"Thanks." Rory pulled back and glanced toward Lorelai, narrowing her eyes at the blanket wrapped around her. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's sick," Luke said.

"Aw." Rory frowned as she walked toward the porch. Luke walked over to Christopher and helped him unload the trunk.

Rory ran up the steps to Lorelai. "Hey Mom!"

"Ah, I missed you, get over here!" Lorelai exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug.

"I missed you, too." Rory kissed her on the cheek and said, "Are you okay? Luke said you're sick."

"Yeah, it's just a stomach virus," Lorelai said. "Forget about it. How was your trip?"

Rory smiled. "Good, it was good. I'll tell you about it later." She bit her lip and narrowed her eyes with uncertainty. "But are you sure you're okay? You look like – "

Lorelai held up her hand. "Judging from the expression on your face and the tone of your voice, I'm guessing that the possibility of you finishing that sentence with something along the lines of 'a million bucks' is less likely then you finishing it with something along the lines of 'a piece of crap.' My tip is, don't finish it."

Rory smiled. "Okay, sorry. Let's go inside." They walked slowly into the house and headed toward the sofa. Lorelai started to sit down, but then said, "Wait."

"What is it?" Rory asked, taking a step back.

"I wanna show you something." Lorelai dropped her blanket on the couch, then turned around and lifted up her shirt. "Check it out."

Rory gasped loudly. "Oh my God!" She reached out and felt the heart tattoo. "Mom, is that real?"

"Is what real?" a voice asked. Both girls looked up and saw Christopher and Luke walk into the living room with Rory's luggage. Luke saw what they were doing and smiled. "Oh, that."

"What is it?" Christopher asked, walking over to them. "Oh my God!" His eyes widened and he reached out to feel it.

"Why does everyone always feel the need to touch it?" Lorelai asked with a laugh.

"Because we need to make sure it's not a mirage," Rory said.

"Wow, Lor. . .nice," Christopher commented, nodding approvingly.

"Thank you," she said as she pulled her shirt back down. She sat down on the couch and pulled the blanket around her. "It's sexy, it's cool, its . . . gonna fade away in three weeks."

Rory smiled. "So it's fake?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah." She felt a pain in her stomach and winced. "Ah, pain."

"You okay?" Christopher asked.

"Stomach virus," Lorelai replied.

Christopher frowned sympathetically. "Oh, not good. How long have you had it?"

"Today and yesterday," she replied. "It's not the 'throw up all the time' kind, it's just the 'severe nausea and pain' kind. It's much better than it was, though."

"Good, that's good," Christopher replied.

Luke walked over and stood behind Lorelai. "Uh, you want something to drink?" he asked Christopher.

"Nah, I'm good, thanks," he replied. "I better get going, actually." He leaned down and kissed Lorelai on the cheek. "Feel better, Lor."

"Thanks," she replied. "And thanks for returning her in one piece."

Christopher smiled. "My pleasure." He reached across the couch and shook Luke's hand. "See ya."

"Take care," Luke replied.

Christopher put an arm around Rory's shoulder. "Come walk me out, kiddo."

Rory smiled. "Okay."

As Rory and Christopher walked outside, Luke put his hands on Lorelai's shoulders and rubbed them. Lorelai tilted her head back to look up at him, and he leaned down and kissed her upside down. She reached up and stroked his face with her hands as she kissed him back.

When he heard Rory walk back in, Luke pulled away from the kiss, but not before she saw them. She smiled and said, "Sorry, don't let me interrupt your Spiderman-inspired moment there."

"Get over here," Lorelai said, patting the seat next to her. "Let's exchange stories."

. . .

Over an hour later, they were still sitting on the couch talking when Luke walked in from the kitchen and sat down in the armchair. "You done gossiping yet?"

"Just about. . .why'd you leave in the middle of the conversation?" Lorelai asked.

"Because when she finished talking about her sightseeing and delved into the personal lives of Chris and Sherry, I decided the basics of the trip were finished and that I didn't need to hear anymore," Luke said.

"You missed all the juicy stuff," Lorelai said. She yawned and leaned her head against the arm of the couch. "Ugh, I'm so tired."

"Aw, this sickness has been wearing you out, huh?" Rory asked.

"Mmhmm," she mumbled as she closed her eyes.

Luke cleared his throat. "Uh, Rory, what do you say you and I go get some dinner and let your mom have the house to herself for a little while?"

Rory glanced over at him and smiled. "Sure, okay." She turned to Lorelai and patted her on the back. "You want us to bring you back anything?"

"A cheeseburger," she muttered. "I need real food."

Luke rolled his eyes. "No, you're not ready for food like that yet." Rory walked toward the front door as Luke walked over to Lorelai and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye."

"Bye."

Luke grabbed his wallet from the desk as he walked to the front door, and he and Rory stepped out onto the porch.

. . .

PART 42

. . .

Luke and Rory walked across the front yard and climbed into the Jeep. Luke started the car, then said, "Okay, this'll be your welcome home dinner, so you pick the restaurant."

"Cool, thanks. Um, have any preferences?" Rory asked.

"Well, I'll probably get a salad, so as long as you pick a place that has that, I'll be all set," Luke replied.

Rory rubbed her hands together. "Ooh, you've just given me so much power, Luke."

"Yeah, well. . .hurry up and use it, I'm hungry," he replied.

Rory rubbed her chin with her fingertips and thought for a moment, then said, "Teriyaki Joe's."

Luke made a face. "Teriyaki Joe's?"

Rory frowned. "What's wrong with TJ's? They have good food. . . it's a little spicy for some people, but it's still good. Plus, they have salad, thereby meeting your criterion for an acceptable dining establishment." She pouted and put her hands together. "Please, Luke, please, please, please?"

Luke let out a small laugh. "You're an exact replica of your mother sometimes."

Rory grinned. "Thank you. I'll take that as a compliment."

"You definitely should," he said. "Okay, Teriyaki Joe's, it is."

Rory smiled at him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied. He backed out of the driveway and headed toward the restaurant.

"I feel so bad that Mom's sick," Rory said.

"Yeah, me too," Luke said. "Though it's easier to keep up with her when she's weak since she doesn't talk as fast. But that's probably from the lack of coffee."

Rory smiled. "Yeah, probably." She shook her head slightly. "I still can't believe she got a tattoo. It looks so real."

"Yeah, it does," Luke said. "I thought it was, too, when I saw it for the first time."

Rory's eyes widened. "You mean, you didn't know she was gonna get one?"

"Nope, she surprised me with it just like you," Luke said.

"Huh, I thought you were with her when she got it," Rory said.

"Well, I kind of was," Luke replied. "We went shopping and we split up for a little while and went into separate stores, and that's when she got it. She showed me when we got home."

"Oh," Rory replied. "Did she get it done around here?"

"Uh, no, it was a little. . .uh, shop in Hartford." He glanced at Rory uncomfortably, hoping that she wouldn't ask any more questions about the store.

"Did you take a picture of it? She should get a picture of it before it fades," Rory said. "You know, just to remember that she went out and got one, you know?"

"Uh, yeah, good idea," Luke said. "We'll have to remember to do that." A minute later, as he pulled up to the restaurant, he said, "Here we are." He parked on the street out front and they walked inside.

. . .

Ten minutes later, they had ordered their food and their drinks had just been served. Luke sipped his tea, then folded his hands in his lap and glanced around the crowded restaurant. He brought his gaze to Rory and said, "So. . .from your trip recap earlier, it sounds like you had a good time with your Dad, huh?"

Rory shrugged. "Yeah, it was all right."

Surprised, Luke raised his eyebrows. "Just all right? From the way you were talking, it sounded like you couldn't wait to go back next month."

"That's true, I can't wait. . .because Boston's great, I love it there," Rory said. "The museums, the sights, Harvard. . .there's so much to do there."

"But?" Luke prompted.

Rory sighed. "But sometimes. . . I don't know, it's just different being with my dad than with Mom, you know?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean, well. . ." Rory thought for a moment as she took a sip of her soda. "I guess I mean that my dad is just. . .my dad but my mom is. . .my friend *and* my mom, you know? It's hard to explain," Rory said. "But I always find myself acting differently around him, and especially Sherry, as if I'm trying to make a good impression or something, but. . .I shouldn't have to do that with my own dad. I should be able to be casual and be myself and not worry about what they think of me, you know?"

"I get it," Luke said.

Rory gestured toward him. "I mean, the way I act with you is the way I should be able to act with him," she said quietly. "I can be myself when I'm hanging out with you. You know me better than he does, you know more about me – you were the one who was there when I was growing up."

Luke shrugged and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Oh, well, I'm sure he wanted to – "

"No, he didn't," Rory interrupted, shaking her head. "He could've if he wanted to, but he didn't." Rory stared down at the table for a few seconds, then brought her gaze back up to Luke. "I mean, sometimes it seems like he's trying too hard to recreate what I have with Mom, you know?"

Luke nodded.

"And. . .I don't know, sometimes I just feel like holding up a sign that says 'Never gonna happen' or something because there's no way he can have something like that." Rory shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to unload all of this on you."

Luke shook his head. "I don't mind at all. Say what you need to say, get it off your chest."

Rory gave him an appreciative smile. "Thanks." She took a sip of soda, then said, "I mean, I know he's my dad, and I love him and all. . .but as much as he aspires to have that casual, sarcastic parent/daughter relationship like Mom and I have, he's never gonna get there. It's like he thinks I'm gonna say, 'Hey, you know how you practically abandoned me for the first fifteen years of my life? Well, since you took me to that play last night, all is forgotten.'" Rory scoffed. "I mean, it doesn't work like that."

"Yeah, it must be tough," Luke said, nodding understandably. "I mean, for you having to always try to push those thoughts aside and focus on the moment."

"Yeah, sometimes it is," Rory said, nodding. Their conversation was interrupted by the waiter bringing their food, and they were quiet for a few minutes while they settled into eating. Finally, Rory looked up and said, "Luke?"

Luke looked up from his plate. "Huh?"

She glanced down at her food and stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork. "I've never said this to you before but. . ."

"Yeah?" he prompted.

She placed the piece of chicken in her mouth and chewed it slowly, then said, "I've always thought of you as. . .you know, a father-figure type of person."

Luke smiled shyly. "Oh yeah?"

Rory nodded. "Yeah. . .you know, you were the one guy who was always there when I was growing up. I mean, granted it might not have been that way if you didn't make the best coffee and burgers in town," she added with a laugh. "But that's how it turned out, so. . .you know, you were always around. You . . .well, you were always more like a dad than my real dad was . . .and now that you're with Mom, it makes it seem even more like that." She paused a moment, then asked, "I'm sorry, does that freak you out to have me say that?"

Luke smiled. "No, not at all," he said, shaking his head. "Uh, the feeling's mutual."

Rory smiled. "Oh yeah? You think of me as a father-figure type of person?" she teased.

"No, I meant that. . ."

"You've had visions of me taking you to the park and buying you ice cream just like I used to have of you?" Rory asked. "Did you want me to buy you a pony, too?"

Luke rolled his eyes and sighed. "You are your mother's daughter."

Rory smiled. "I know."

Luke shoved a forkful of salad into his mouth. "It isn't a bad trait to have."

Rory nodded and ate a few bites of her food. She smiled to herself, then said, "While we're on the subject. . .what's the deal with you two?"

Luke stopped in mid-chewing and brought his gaze up to her. "What do you mean?" he asked, his mouth full of salad. He swallowed it down and took a sip of tea.

"Oh, I think you know what I mean," Rory said, smiling. "You guys are living together, all seems well. . .what happens next?"

Luke narrowed his eyes at her. "Did she put you up to this?"

"What?" Surprised, Rory shook her head. "No, not at all."

Luke sighed softly. "I don't know. . .we just need more time."

"We. . .or you?" Rory asked hesitantly.

"We," Luke reiterated. "It's definitely we. We've talked about it very briefly, and it's a mutual feeling that we don't wanna rush into anything."

"But do you. . ." Rory started. She paused and shook her head. "Never mind, it's none of my business, I'm sorry."

"What?" Luke asked.

"Nah, I don't wanna pry," Rory said.

"It can't hurt to ask. If I think you're prying, I just won't answer," Luke said with a shrug.

"Okay," Rory said. She took a deep breath, then asked, "Uh, the thing that you don't want to rush into. . .do you think you want it to happen. . .eventually?"

Luke's face tightened. He nervously stared down at his plate and began pushing his food around aimlessly with his fork. Rory stared at him for almost thirty seconds before she finally decided that he wasn't going to answer. Slightly embarrassed, she muttered, "I'm sorry" and went back to eating.

Luke finally looked up from his plate. Rory stopped eating and stared at him expectantly. He swallowed hard before he slowly nodded. "Yes."

A slow smile appeared on Rory's face and she tilted her head. "You do? Really?"

"Eventually," he said firmly. "That doesn't mean soon. That means eventually, like . . .you know, eventually."

Rory smiled. "Eventually, yes, I get it." She rubbed her hands together. "Oh my God, that's so exciting!"

"Rory, do not mention this to your mother," Luke said sternly. "I don't want her getting all anxious or nervous or anything, okay? I don't know how long eventually will end up being."

Rory nodded. "My lips are sealed. We never had this conversation."

"Thank you." Luke took a sip of tea, then continued eating.

They ate quietly for a few minutes before Rory said, "Luke?"

He looked up. "What?"

"I just want you to know that. . .I'm glad it's gonna happen eventually," Rory said quietly. "I mean, you and her. . .it just seems right."

Luke smiled and nodded, then went back to eating his salad.

. . .

Fifteen minutes later, they walked out of the restaurant and climbed into the Jeep.

"Thanks for dinner," Rory said.

"You're welcome," Luke replied as he started the car.

"Uh, would you mind dropping me off at Dean's?" Rory asked. "He doesn't know I'm home yet."

"Oh, sure, yeah," Luke replied. They drove silently toward Peach Street, and as Luke pulled up in front of the house, he said, "Here you go."

Rory pushed open her door. "Thanks Luke," she said as she climbed out. "Bye."

"Bye." Luke smiled as she waved and shut the door. He watched her walk up to the house and knock on the front door. Someone answered, and as she disappeared into the house, he pulled away.

. . .

A few minutes later, he arrived home and found Lorelai asleep on the couch. He picked up her feet from the cushion and sat down, then rested them on his lap. He grabbed the remote from the coffee table and turned the television on.

Almost twenty minutes later, Lorelai stirred slightly and opened her eyes. She blinked a few times before she glanced over at Luke. "Hey."

Luke turned toward her and smiled. "Hi."

She rubbed her eyes as she sat up. "Where'd you guys go for dinner?"

"Teriyaki Joe's," Luke replied.

Lorelai gave a surprised smile. "Wow, how'd she talk you into that?"

"She has her mother's pout," Luke grumbled, rolling his eyes.

Lorelai laughed quietly. "Yeah, I've told her that pout's all she needs to get through life."

"Yeah, well, she's got it down," Luke said. He turned off the television. "How ya feeling?"

"Hungry," she moaned. She slowly stood up from the couch.

"Where are you going?" Luke asked, standing up with her.

"Bathroom. Can you heat me up some more of Sookie's soup?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah, sure," Luke said. He walked toward the kitchen as Lorelai walked slowly toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later, she walked into the kitchen, her arms folded across her chest as she shivered. "Man, it's cold in here."

Luke set the bowl of soup down on the table. "Here, come eat. Or do you want it in the living room?"

She walked toward the table. "No, this is fine, thanks." She sat down and glanced at Rory's darkened bedroom. "Is Rory here?"

"Uh, no, I dropped her off at Dean's."

Lorelai nodded and inhaled the aroma of the soup. "Mm, this is awesome soup. Have you tried it?"

"No, but if Sookie made it, I'm sure it's great," Luke replied. He poured her a glass of iced tea and set it in front of her, then sat down with her.

"Mmhmm." She ate a spoonful of soup, then sat back in her chair and smiled at him. "So. . ."

"So. . .what?" Luke asked.

Lorelai leaned toward him and rested her elbows on the table. "You're so cute."

"I know," he replied.

Lorelai smiled. "I don't mean physically."

Luke frowned. "Thanks," he said dryly.

Lorelai laughed and grabbed his hand. "No, no, I mean you are, but that's not what I meant! I just meant, you're so cute how you've been taking care of me all day." She kissed his hand and smiled at him. "Thank you."

Luke shrugged. "Yeah, well. . .you're welcome. I just want you to feel better."

Lorelai smiled. "And I do, much better than this morning. There's still a little pain in my stomach, but I'm not nauseous anymore."

"Yeah, that pain'll probably be there for another day or two," Luke said. "It's from throwing up."

"But I only threw up once."

"I know, but when you did, it irritated the actual muscles of the stomach, so it'll take some time for them to get back to normal," Luke explained.

Lorelai shook her head slightly. "Thank you, Doctor Danes." She smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Mm, there's a nice little role playing idea. You're the doctor, I'm the patient. . .could be fun."

"Could be," he agreed. "If we were six years old."

Lorelai smiled. "Oh, trust me, it'll be fun. And as soon as my womanly duties are over, I'll show you."

"Mmhmm." He stood up and walked over to the refrigerator. He pulled it open and said, "We need to go shopping soon."

"Make a list," Lorelai said. "Ooh, you know what, actually, grab a pad and pen. We need to start working on the menu for the shower."

Luke closed the refrigerator and pulled open the junk drawer. He rummaged around until he found a notepad and a pen, then he sat back down at the table.

. . .

The next morning, the alarm woke Lorelai up out of a sound sleep and she groaned loudly as she shut it off. She nudged Luke with her elbow. "Time to get up," she muttered.

"I know, I heard," he replied groggily. He slowly sat up and pushed the covers off of him. "You going into work today?"

She rolled over onto her back. "Yeah, I think so. I don't feel sick except for this little pain right here," she said, patting the side of her stomach. "Which you've informed me is a physical pain and not because of sickness."

"Yeah, it's the actual stomach muscle that's aggravated," Luke said.

Lorelai rolled her eyes and held up her hand for him to stop. "Don't go into it again. You explained it three different times last night. Rory and I are both now thoroughly aware of how throwing up affects our internal organs. . .which, I must say, was a successful deterrent from us becoming bulimic."

"Okay, okay, I won't mention it again," Luke said. He climbed out of bed and walked over to the door. "I'm gonna go take a shower," he said, gesturing toward the bathroom. She nodded. He stared at her for a few seconds, then gestured to the bathroom again. "I'm gonna go take a shower," he repeated.

Lorelai smiled. "Oh, sorry, was that an invitation?"

"Yes, it was. Are you accepting it?"

"Yes, I am," she replied. She threw the covers off and climbed out of bed, then grabbed her robe and followed him to the bathroom.

. . .

Forty-five minutes later, Luke had left for the diner and Lorelai was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. Rory's bedroom door opened and she walked out in her pajamas. "Hey."

Lorelai smiled. "Hey you."

Rory slid into the seat across from Lorelai and rubbed her eyes. "So, you look better."

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I think it was just a twenty-four hour bug or something. Now the only pain is the – "

"The stomach muscles. . .yeah, I remember," Rory said, making a face.

Lorelai smiled. "Yeah, I told him that we've heard the story quite enough."

"Where is he? Did he go to work already?" Rory asked, glancing toward the living room.

"Yup. I'm gonna head to the diner for breakfast soon if you wanna come," Lorelai said.

"Oh, yeah, that sounds good," Rory said. "I just need to take a quick shower."

"Okay, hurry up," Lorelai urged. Rory walked into her bedroom and grabbed some clothes, then went to take a shower.

Half an hour later, they both walked out the front door. Babette was on her front porch watering her flowers, and she looked over when she heard a door slam. She set the watering can down and rushed off her porch, calling, "Lorelai! Hold on there, doll!"

Lorelai and Rory stopped in the middle of their yard as Babette hurried over to them. "How are ya, honey? Feeling better?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm much better, thanks," Lorelai replied.

Babette smiled and put her hand on Lorelai's stomach. "Luke told me you had stomach pains and a nauseous feeling – you know what that means!"

Lorelai glanced down at Babette's hand and narrowed her eyes. "Uh, no, what does that mean?"

"It means that someone's got a bun in the oven!" Babette exclaimed. She clasped her hands together. "Oh God, this is so exciting! I knew this would happen one day!"

Rory's eyes widened. "What?" She looked at Lorelai expectantly. "Mom?"

Lorelai gasped. "Babette! It doesn't mean that!" She turned to Rory and rolled her eyes. "It doesn't mean that, hon. I'm not pregnant. And people shouldn't be spreading that rumor," she said loudly, jerking her head back to Babette. "Right?"

Babette frowned. "You mean there's no. . ." She gestured to Lorelai's stomach.

"There's practically nothing in there but Sookie's homemade soup, Babette," Lorelai said, rolling her eyes. "Bye."

With a disappointed look on her face, Babette muttered, "Bye" and walked toward her house.

Lorelai put her arm around Rory and led her toward the car. "Can you believe that? Geez." They climbed into the Jeep and drove to the diner. They parked across the street near the gazebo, and as they climbed out, they noticed Patty walking toward them, waving excitedly. "Lorelai, hello!"

Lorelai and Rory stood on the sidewalk as Patty walked over. "Hey Patty," Lorelai said. "What's up?"

"Well, a little bird told me that maybe you're getting a new addition to the house, and I'm not talking about construction work," Patty said with wide eyes. "Oh, I couldn't believe it!"

Lorelai groaned. "And would the little bird happen to go by the name Babette?"

"Oh, dear, I never reveal my sources," Patty said slyly. She rubbed her hands together excitedly and said, "So, how far along are you?"

As Lorelai scoffed loudly, Rory rolled her eyes and said, "It's not true, Patty." She grabbed Lorelai's hand and pulled her toward the diner. Patty stared after them looking confused.

As they walked toward the diner, Kirk walked out and took a few steps toward them. "Oh, Lorelai, good. I wanted to know – "

Lorelai held up both of her hands. "Kirk, if you say something regarding the false rumor that I'm pregnant, I will have Luke out here in ten seconds to put you in a headlock!"

With wide-eyes, Kirk backed away from her. "I just wanted to know if you wanted me to bring anything to Sookie's shower, but. . .I'll check back with you later." He turned around and ran down the street.

Lorelai sighed and turned to Rory. "Oops."

Rory patted her on the back. "Forget about it. Let's go in."

As they walked into the diner, several people looked at them and started whispering. They sat down at a table and Luke immediately walked over to them. "Okay, four people have come up and congratulated me this morning," Luke said. "You wanna tell me why the hell that is?"

Lorelai covered her face with her hands. "Oh God," she muttered.

"Somehow a rumor got started that. . . .Mom's pregnant," Rory said.

"Which isn't true," Lorelai added, staring up at Luke.

Luke narrowed his eyes. "How did it get started?"

Lorelai shrugged. "You mentioned to Babette that I had stomach problems, and she interpreted it differently than you had intended her to."

Luke sighed. "Great, this is what I get for talking to people."

"It doesn't matter, we know it's not true," Lorelai said. "If they don't believe us now, when they realize, as the weeks go by, that I'm not getting any bigger, it'll tip them off that it was just a rumor."

"Yeah, I guess," Luke said, glancing around at the other customers. "Though, right now it seems like everyone in here is staring at us and wondering what kind of baby presents to buy us."

"Yeah, well, we could go along with the rumor, get a bunch of presents, return them all, and then keep the money. What do you say?" Lorelai asked.

"I don't think so," Luke replied.

"Okay, well, then just forget them and bring us two stacks of your fluffiest pancakes, please," Lorelai said.

"With bacon," Rory added.

"And coffee," Lorelai said. "As fast as humanly possible." She clapped her hands quickly and added, "Chop chop! Quick, hurry, come on, run! We're hungry!"

Luke glared at her with a stern face. Lorelai frowned and sank back against her chair. "Sorry, take your time." Luke smirked and walked toward the kitchen.

Rory smiled at Lorelai. "What was that? You never succumb to his looks, it's always the other way around."

"Yeah, well, let me explain a little something to you about relationships," Lorelai said.

"I'm listening intently," Rory replied.

"Well, an important part of any relationship is letting the other person think they have some control," Lorelai explained. "Now, by occasionally succumbing to his stern looks and letting him think that he has a little power in the relationship, it keeps him happy yet still enables me to maintain my own power."

"Ah," Rory said knowingly.

"Get it?"

"Got it. You're very wise," Rory said.

Lorelai shrugged. "Yeah, well, you live and learn."

. . .

The next afternoon, Lorelai walked into the almost-empty diner, nodding hello toward the other two customers. She walked over and tapped her hands on the counter a few times as she called, "Luke, are you back there?"

A few seconds later, Luke walked out of the kitchen with a dishtowel draped over his shoulder. "Hey. What's up?"

"I need the checkbook," Lorelai said. "I have to go to Weston's and order some stuff for the shower."

"It's outside in the truck," he replied.

"Okay, thanks." Lorelai smiled and pointed to the specials' board. "You can probably erase that now. I think the rumor's officially dead."

Luke glanced up at the sign, which said, 'No, she's not pregnant' in large block letters. "Yeah, well, just to make sure, I'll leave it up for the rest of the day and take it down before I come home."

Lorelai smiled. "Okay. I'll see you after Friday night dinner."

"Have fun," Luke teased.

Lorelai wrinkled her nose. "Sure you don't wanna come with us?"

"No thanks," he replied. He leaned across the counter and kissed her. "Bye."

"Bye." Lorelai turned around and walked out of the diner.

. . .

Later that night, at the Gilmore mansion, Lorelai and Rory sat in the living room sipping their drinks while Emily took Richard a drink in his study. When she returned, she poured herself a glass of wine and sat down across from the girls with a sigh.

"Uh, something wrong, Mom?" Lorelai asked.

Emily glanced toward the hallway. "Well, with your father starting up his own firm and everything, he's just been so busy lately. I mean, I hardly see the man anymore. I call him for a meal, we eat, and then he goes right back into that study."

"Aw, Mom, he's just busy getting everything together," Lorelai said. "I'm sure once the firm gets settled, he won't be quite as busy. It's just. . .the whole process of getting it started is probably a lot of work."

Emily nodded. "I know, you're probably right. . . I just wish he'd realize that Friday nights are the only time we get to see you girls, and it would be more appropriate for him to put his work aside for one night and come out here and talk to you."

"We'll talk at dinner, Mom, it's no big deal," Lorelai said with a shrug.

"He won't even be here next week," Emily said, rolling her eyes.

"Where will he be?" Rory asked.

"Oh, at some insurance seminar in Albany," Emily said. "It's a weekend conference, he's leaving on Friday morning." She took a sip of her wine and sighed. "I didn't expect him to be so busy so quickly. I mean, he's already starting his business trips, which means once again I'll be here all alone for days at a time. You know, I was just starting to get used to having him around."

Lorelai and Rory frowned at each other, both of them feeling sorry for how despondent Emily sounded. Lorelai thought for a moment, then cleared her throat and said, "Uh, Mom, you know, next Saturday we're having Sookie's surprise wedding shower at our house."

"Oh really?" Emily asked.

"Yeah, it should be a lot of fun," Lorelai said. "Maybe you could stop by?"

Rory glanced at Lorelai and widened her eyes with surprise. She looked toward Emily and said, "Yeah, Grandma, it'll be fun. That way you won't have to spend Saturday night here all alone."

"Oh, no, I couldn't," Emily replied. "That wouldn't be appropriate."

"Why not? Sookie knows you," Lorelai said. "She'd love to see you there."

"I don't think – " Emily started.

"And it's not gonna be one of those formal showers where it's just all women sitting around drinking tea and stuff," Lorelai explained. "It'll just be like a regular party."

"A regular party?" Emily asked.

"It'll be fun, Grandma," Rory said. "You should definitely come. Plus, you haven't been to our house in awhile."

"No, I haven't," Emily said. "And it's a very rare occasion that I'm invited, so I might as well take advantage of every opportunity that I get."

Lorelai rolled her eyes toward Rory, then turned back to Emily. "So you'll come?"

Emily thought it over for a moment, then smiled. "Why not?"

Lorelai smiled. "Good."

"Thank you for inviting me," Emily replied. She took a sip of wine, then asked, "When is the wedding anyway?"

"Oh, a few weeks," Lorelai replied.

"A few weeks?" Emily asked, surprised. "And you're just throwing the shower now? Showers are supposed to be held several months before the wedding. That is the traditional – "

Lorelai held up her hands. "Mom, since when do I do things traditionally?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Good point."

. . .

Later that night, Luke was sitting on the couch watching television when the front door opened.

"Ugh, why didn't you slap me!" Lorelai exclaimed as she walked through the door. "Why didn't you grab me by the shoulders and shake me and say, 'Mom, don't you realize what you just said? Stop now, woman! Stop before someone gets hurt!' But no, you only added to the insanity and supported my suggestion!"

"I'm sorry, I thought you were being sincere," Rory said as she followed Lorelai into the living room.

"What's going on?" Luke asked as he muted the television.

Lorelai sighed loudly. "Luke, I just did the worst possible thing in the entire world." She collapsed onto the couch next to him.

"You're being a tad dramatic," Rory said.

"What happened?" Luke asked.

"She invited my Grandma to Sookie's shower," Rory told him. She walked over to the armchair and sat down.

Lorelai groaned loudly. "No, don't keep saying it! Maybe if we don't talk about it, it'll turn out that it never happened, that it was just a figment of our imaginations!" She covered her face with her hands and leaned against Luke's shoulder.

Luke narrowed his eyes at Lorelai, then looked over at Rory. "So, uh, why'd she do this?"

"Because she felt bad that my Grandma was sad about my Grandpa working so much," Rory explained. "And then my Grandma mentioned that she would be home alone next weekend, so Mom – "

"I plead temporary insanity!" Lorelai interrupted.

" – invited her to the shower," Rory finished. "You did a nice thing, Mom."

"Yeah, I bet your mom appreciates it," Luke said, rubbing Lorelai's back. "Don't worry about it."

"How can I not worry about it? She'll be here. . .in my house. . .criticizing everything I say and do," Lorelai said, making a face.

"Look, you'll probably be so wrapped up in the whole 'hosting the shower' duties that you won't even notice that she's here," Luke said. "And if she gets too annoying, we'll just sit her down with Patty and Babette. They'll keep her busy for awhile."

Lorelai giggled softly. "Oh, I can just imagine the look on her face after listening to them talk for a few minutes." She leaned back and stared up at the ceiling. "Maybe she won't stay too long."

"Right, maybe she'll get here, see that it's not her type of party, and then leave after a few minutes, in which case all this worrying would've been for nothing," Luke said.

Lorelai shrugged as she stood up. "Okay, maybe I'm overreacting."

"Yeah, and that's totally unlike you," Rory said sarcastically.

Lorelai stuck her tongue out at her before she walked toward the kitchen. "Who wants a drink?"

"Soda, please," Rory called.

"Coming up. Luke?" Lorelai called from the kitchen.

"No, thanks," he called back. He nodded toward Rory. "Hey, check out what I rented tonight." He picked up a DVD from the coffee table and tossed it to her.

Rory caught it and read the cover. "Oh cool, can we watch it now?"

"Yup, I was waiting for you guys to get home," Luke replied.

"Mom, make some popcorn!" Rory called as she put the DVD in the player.

"Okay!" Lorelai called.

"I'm gonna go change first," Rory told Luke as she walked toward her bedroom. Lorelai was setting the bag of popcorn into the microwave as Rory walked into the kitchen. "Luke rented Ocean's 11. We're gonna watch it now."

Lorelai smiled. "Man, does he have good taste or what?"

"Yes, he does," Rory agreed. "I'm gonna go get changed."

"Okay. I'll get your soda, can you grab the popcorn on your way back?" Lorelai asked. Rory nodded as she walked into her room and shut the door behind her. Lorelai grabbed two cans of soda from the fridge and brought them into the living room. She set them on the coffee table, then stood in front of Luke.

She stared at him for a few seconds before she straddled his lap and kissed him. He smiled through the kiss. "Hi."

Lorelai smiled. "Hey." She leaned forward and kissed him again. His hands moved up and down her sides as he kissed her back hungrily. She pulled back and stroked his sideburns. "I'm gonna go change into my pajamas."

"Okay." He kissed her one last time before she pushed herself off of him and walked toward the staircase. "Oh, hey?"

Lorelai turned around. "Yeah?"

Luke shifted slightly in his seat and said, "Uh, you remember Kathy?"

"Kathy. . .you mean 'I'm the girl who stole your virginity' Kathy?" Lorelai asked, smiling.

"That's the one," Luke said.

"What about her?" Lorelai asked.

"Uh, she called the diner tonight and asked about us getting that cup of coffee soon," Luke said.

"She called the diner? What, she got tired of waiting for you to call her?" Lorelai asked.

Luke shrugged. "I guess. . .but we're getting together on Sunday."

"Oh."

Luke stared at her for a moment. "You're okay with that, right?"

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Absolutely. I mean, you weren't planning on having an affair, right?"

"No," Luke replied. He shrugged and added, "Not with her, anyway."

Lorelai smirked. "Funny."

Luke smiled. "Kidding. So. . . you're cool with it?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Good."

"Yeah." She lingered on the bottom step for a moment before she gestured upstairs. "Uh, I'm gonna go get changed." Luke nodded as Lorelai turned around and climbed the steps to their bedroom.

. . .

PART 43

. . .

That night, Lorelai was in the bathroom brushing her teeth when Luke walked in. As she finished up, he stood behind her and watched her in the mirror. She rinsed her mouth, then stared back at his reflection questioningly. "What's up?"

"You didn't say much during the movie," Luke commented.

Lorelai shrugged. "I was just concentrating on watching it."

"You weren't being your normal commentator-ish self," he said as he put his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," she replied. "I'm fine."

"Lorelai," Luke said sternly.

"Luke," Lorelai said, mocking his tone. She turned around to face him. "Nothing's wrong. . . I was just thinking about stuff."

"Stuff. . .what kind of stuff?" Luke asked.

Not wanting to tell him that she was thinking about his upcoming get together with Kathy, Lorelai glanced down at the ground. "Just. . . I don't know. . .stuff."

Luke stared at her for a moment before he sighed. "Oh, I get it."

Lorelai looked up at him and narrowed her eyes. "You know what I'm thinking about?"

"Yes, and you have to stop worrying about it," Luke said. "It's no big deal."

Lorelai grimaced as she walked out of the bathroom. "I just don't know why I'm letting her get to me."

"I know," Luke replied, nodding understandably. He followed her into the bedroom. "But it's too late to do anything about it now. Just forget it, it'll be over before you know it."

Lorelai nodded. "I know."

"And who knows? Maybe she'll end up having a good time and something will click between you two and then you guys can get together more often," Luke said hopefully.

Lorelai's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yeah. I mean, wouldn't it be nice to be able to invite her over for dinner or something?" Luke asked. "I think it'd be good if you guys got along better. . .you know, without you getting so nervous and antsy."

Lorelai shook her head slightly in disbelief. "What?"

Luke shrugged. "Yeah, I mean, I'd like for you guys to be able to be in the same room together without a fight. And it'd probably be a lot easier for Rory, too."

Confused, Lorelai narrowed her eyes. "What does Rory have to do with any of this?"

"Well, I just think that Rory should be able to be around her without feeling like you're going to explode at any minute," Luke said. "I know she probably wants to spend more time with Rory than she already does."

Lorelai stared at him with a look of shock. "Luke, what the hell are you talking about?"

Luke took a step back from her. "Why. . .what do you think I'm talking about?"

"I think you're talking about Kathy . . .and if you are, you've got a hell of a lot of explaining to do," Lorelai said loudly. "Like, uh, why she's spending time with Rory!"

Luke rolled his eyes. "I was talking about your mother!"

Lorelai narrowed her eyes with confusion. "My mother?"

"Yes, your mother," Luke repeated loudly. "Isn't that what was bothering you tonight? Her coming to the shower?"

Lorelai shook her head. "No, that's not the stuff I was thinking about! I was thinking about. . ." Her voice trailed off.

"Kathy," Luke said with an annoyed sigh.

"Kathy," she muttered as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Luke groaned. "I thought we were past this, Lorelai. You said that you were fine with me getting together with her. You said you were okay with it, you were cool, it's no big deal."

"I know that's what I said," Lorelai retorted. "You think I can't remember what I said just a few hours ago?"

"Obviously not since you're acting the complete opposite of how a person who said that would act!" he yelled.

Lorelai jumped up off the bed. "Don't yell at me!" she yelled back. "It's not my fault this bothers me! I can't help it!"

"Yes, you can!"

Lorelai scoffed. "Oh really? How?"

"You can get it through your stubborn head that me having coffee with another woman is not a big freakin' deal!" Luke said loudly.

"Well, it is to me!" she yelled.

"Why!"

"I don't know!"

Luke threw his hands up in frustration. "If you don't know, then how can we do anything to fix it?"

"I don't know that either!" Lorelai yelled.

"Well, if you don't have enough trust in me to feel comfortable when I talk to other women, then maybe we need to sit down and have a little chat!" Luke yelled. He shook his head slightly. "And where the hell did this sudden jealousy thing come from anyway? What, are you gonna flip out every time I talk to Sookie now? Or Patty or Babette or Margie the bank teller? Should I turn the diner into a 'Male Customers Only' diner, will that make you feel better?"

Lorelai groaned loudly. "Stop it!"

Luke's face was reddening as he continued, "No, wait – maybe you can make me a list of the women I can and cannot talk to, and I can carry it around with me and check it every time a person of the opposite sex is walking my way!"

"UGH! Stop being a jerk about this!" Lorelai yelled. She let out an exasperated sigh before she sat down on the bed and buried her face in her hands. Luke walked over to the window and stared out into the yard. They were both silent for several minutes, both of them breathing heavily as they tried to control their emotions.

Finally, Luke turned around and looked at her. She was leaning forward with her hands still covering her face. Luke exhaled loudly and walked over to her.

As he sat down next to her, she removed her hands from her face and folded her arms across her chest. Luke swallowed hard before he cleared his throat and said, "Look, I'm sorry. . .for getting all worked up and yelling and everything."

Lorelai was silent for a few seconds before she said quietly, "Yeah, well, I'm sorry for acting like some psychotic girlfriend who's trying to control who you talk to." She turned to him and shook her head. "That's not me. . .I don't know where that's coming from."

Luke took a deep breath. "Look, just tell me what it is. Is it. . .that you don't trust me? I mean, I don't think I've given you a reason not to, but if that's what it is, then we should talk about that."

Lorelai shook her head. "That's not it."

Luke shrugged. "So, then, what is it? Is the fact that I moved into your house not enough of a clue that I love you and that I'm . . . committed to you?"

She shook her head again and sighed loudly. "I seriously don't know what it is. Just. . .picturing you going out with this strange woman – a woman who you have a history with – it just makes me feel. . .uneasy."

"Uneasy," he repeated.

"Yes, uneasy." Lorelai stood up and paced back and forth in front of him. "And I don't know why because . . . I trust you, I love you, I know you love me, I know you'd never do anything to hurt me. . .I know all of this, yet I still find myself feeling uneasy about you going out with her." She sighed loudly and started biting her thumbnail nervously. "I don't know what this feeling is from."

Luke reached for her arm and pulled her toward him. As she stood directly in front of him, he put his hands on her waist and looked up at her. "Well, try to figure it out so we can deal with it."

Lorelai put her hands on his shoulders and closed her eyes for a moment. "I guess, maybe. . ." She opened her eyes and stared into his as she spoke quickly, "Maybe there's a tiny part of me that's realizing how important you are to me, and how I'm so in love with you and how, if I find you so incredible, then there are other people out there who might realize how great you are, too. . .and I just don't want one of them to catch your eye and . . ." She paused and swallowed hard before she finished, ". . .you know, take you away from me. Sounds stupid and petty and jealous, I know, but – "

"I feel like that sometimes, too," he interrupted quietly.

She raised her eyebrows. "You do?"

"Sure." Luke reached up and pushed her hair behind her ears. "I mean, trust me, some guys out there would do anything to get someone like you. And as much as I trust you, sometimes I get a little nervous because I know what other guys are like."

"But I don't want another guy. . .I only want you," Lorelai insisted.

"Ditto," he replied.

Lorelai smiled. "I'm glad to hear that you don't want another guy. . .now I can narrow my worries down to just the female population."

Luke rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

Lorelai smiled and leaned down to kiss him. Luke pulled back and continued, "Which is why you have nothing to worry about with me hanging out with some other girl. I mean, you just said yourself that you know I'd never hurt you."

"I know."

"You said that you trust me," Luke reminded her.

"I do," Lorelai said firmly. "I absolutely do." She bit her bottom lip for a moment, then said, "I just. . .now that I'm thinking about it. . .I think the uneasy feeling isn't so much a 'me questioning my trust in you' thing as it is a 'me not having confidence in myself' kind of thing. It's like, part of me is all, 'Wow, how did I get this great guy? There must be a mistake. He'll come to his senses one day and realize that I'm not the perfect girl he thinks I am.' You know what I mean? And that's why you going out with some other girl. . .well, it scares me."

Luke closed his eyes and leaned his head against her stomach. "I can't believe you just said that," he whispered too quietly for her to hear. He pulled back and stared up at her. "I'm gonna make this short and sweet – you are the absolute last person in this world who should feel like that. There's no one out there better than you, do you hear me?"

As a smile slowly appeared on her lips, Lorelai nodded. "I hear you, Captain."

Luke smiled. "Good." He ran his hands up and down her arms. "There. . .uneasy feeling gone?"

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Completely. I think we scared it away."

"Good." Luke wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly. As she hugged him back, he leaned backwards and they fell onto the bed.

"Luke!" she exclaimed, giggling. She sat up and straddled his stomach, and they smiled at each other. "Luke, we're due for some major makeup sex after a fight like that."

"Yes, we are," he agreed. He began unbuttoning her pajama top, but Lorelai put her hands on top of his and shook her head.

"Not tonight, though," Lorelai said. "Maybe tomorrow night."

Luke grimaced and pulled his hands back. "Right, I forgot." He sighed. "You know, it's better when you do it right after the fight. We really have to schedule them better so they don't coincide with your. . .uh, thing."

Lorelai smiled. "Actually, I'm thinking that my 'uh, thing'. . .or rather, the crabbiness that accompanies it. . .will be a big factor of many future fights, so get used to them coinciding with it."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Great."

Lorelai giggled at his disappointed look. "Aw, look at you being all sad and pouty."

"I'm not being pouty," he said dryly. "I'm just tired."

Lorelai frowned. "Aw, and I was just gonna suggest that we alleviate some of our sexual tension by having some 'makeup foreplay'. . .but I guess you're too tired," she said sadly. Luke smiled and immediately brought his hands back up to unbutton her shirt. Lorelai laughed. "I thought you might go for that."

. . .

The next morning, Lorelai walked into the kitchen as Rory was pouring some coffee at the counter. "Morning," Lorelai said.

"Hey Mom." Rory handed her a cup of coffee and Lorelai sat down at the table. As Rory poured another cup, she asked, "Uh. . . was everything okay last night? I heard yelling."

Lorelai grimaced. "Ooh, sorry, did we wake you?"

"No, I wasn't asleep yet," Rory replied. "Uh, but . . .is everything okay?"

"Yeah, we had a little argument, everything's good now," Lorelai assured her.

Rory nodded. "Good, I was worried." She sat down across from Lorelai. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Food shopping," Lorelai said. "But first I wanna go to the mall and get some new clothes, maybe a new dress for the shower. Hm, let's see. . .I've got a passenger seat in the car that's begging to be used. . .any takers?"

Rory raised her hand in the air and waved it around. "Me, me, pick me!"

Lorelai smiled and pointed to her. "Okay, little girl, you win a free ride to the mall. . .and if you're really good, I'll give you a ride home, too."

"You're too kind," Rory replied.

. . .

A few hours later, Lorelai and Rory rushed into the diner laughing. They shut the door behind them, then stared out the window through the blinds. "Did he go inside yet?" Lorelai asked.

"I don't think so," Rory replied.

Luke walked up behind them. "Okay, what did you do?" he asked accusingly.

They both turned around, and Lorelai gasped. "What makes you think we did something?"

"Because you look like you're hiding from the Mob in here, so why don't you just tell me what you did so when the police arrive I'll have an idea of why they're here," Luke said.

Lorelai and Rory walked over to the counter and sat down. "We did nothing that would involve the police." Lorelai thought for a moment, then said, "At least I don't think so. It all depends on how mad Taylor gets."

Luke rolled his eyes as he walked to the other side of the counter and stood across from them. "Spill it."

Rory smiled. "Well, we're shopping at the market and all is nice and peaceful, but then Mom bumps into Taylor, and I don't know exactly how it happened, but they began arguing about Oreo cookies."

"He actually told me that he likes the peanut butter and chocolate cream filled ones!" Lorelai exclaimed loudly. "Can you believe that?"

Luke shook his head slightly. "Uh oh, he was asking for trouble."

"I know!" Lorelai exclaimed, her eyes widening.

Luke smiled and glanced past her, then said, "Hang on." He grabbed the coffeepot and made a quick lap around the room to refill some cups, then walked back over to them. "Go on."

"So Mom was really peeved because . . .well, you know how she gets when people don't agree with her," Rory said. "So we're shopping and she's just babbling on and on about how mad Taylor made her and how she feels like doing something evil. And, finally, we make our way to the checkout line and she sees that Taylor is out front organizing his produce, and she suddenly gets this. . .bright idea."

"Which was?" Luke asked hesitantly.

"To rearrange all of his shelves," Lorelai said proudly. She giggled and added, "So if you're shopping later and you happen to find several boxes of tampons in the refrigerator with the dairy products, you'll know why."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Oh geez. And you, the responsible one in the family, actually helped her?" he asked Rory.

"No way, I was just the lookout." Rory smiled. "Taylor's gonna flip out when he sees that the jars of jelly are no longer by the jars of peanut butter. He spends hours making sure that every item in that store is strategically placed in accordance to the other products around it."

Lorelai laughed. "I know. He even has a little map drawn out of where everything should go, I've seen it before."

"Did no one else in that store notice what you were doing?" Luke asked.

"Probably, but because they know we're crazy, they tend to just smile and ignore us," Lorelai said.

"It's what I try to do," Luke muttered.

"Whew, all that hard work made me hungry," Lorelai said. "Coffee and a muffin, please."

"Same here," Rory added.

Luke poured some coffee and set the mugs in front of them, then turned around to get their muffins. While his back was turned, the door flew open and Taylor rushed into the diner. "Luke, have you seen – " he started. When he saw Lorelai at the counter, his eyes widened. "Aha, just who I'm looking for!"

Lorelai turned around and grinned. "Oh, hey Taylor."

"Don't you 'Oh, hey Taylor' me, young lady." He walked toward her, wagging his finger wildly. "I have several witnesses who saw what you did, Lorelai."

As the other customers turned to see what the fuss was about, Lorelai jumped up from her stool, ran around the counter, and stood behind Luke. She wrapped her arms around his waist and said, "Protect me from the scary man in the cardigan."

Luke held up his hands. "Okay, hold on here, Taylor."

"Luke, do you have any idea what she did?" Taylor asked.

"Yes, I know what she did," Luke replied.

"There's no reason for her to cause chaos in my store just because we don't have the same taste in cookies!" Taylor exclaimed.

"Well, she's very passionate about junk food, Taylor," Luke informed him.

"Now, listen here, young lady. . ." Taylor started as he walked around the counter toward Lorelai.

"Uh oh, Luke doesn't like people behind there," Rory warned him.

"I'd listen to her, Taylor," Luke said, pursing his lips and folding his arms across his chest. Taylor paused a moment and stared at Luke's menacing scowl, then took a few steps back. "Wise move. Now, what exactly do you want? You found her, you made your point clear that you're unhappy with her. . now you can go back to your store and fix all of your shelves back to the way they were."

Taylor folded his arms across his chest and glared at Lorelai. "Yes, that's where I'm going, but any more incidents like this, Missy, and you will be put on full surveillance for any and all future visits to the market."

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Taylor, you desperately need to take a chill pill."

"Excuse me?" Taylor replied.

Luke rolled his eyes. "Uh, forget it."

"Hmph, well . . ." Taylor frowned and turned around. All of the customers watched as he walked out of the diner, and when the door closed behind him, Lorelai and Rory started laughing.

"Oh my God," Rory laughed. "That was so the highlight of my week!"

Lorelai patted Luke on the back. "Good job with the 'defending your woman' act there."

Luke rolled his eyes. "I have a feeling I'm gonna have to do that a lot."

"You know, we never did buy our food, Mom," Rory said.

"Well, we don't know where anything is now," Lorelai said. "We'll go back later when he's done fixing the shelves."

"Good plan."

. . .

Later that night, Luke arrived home from the diner and found no one on the bottom floor. He climbed the steps up to the master bedroom, and found Lorelai and Rory both sitting on the bed. "Hey," he said, walking into the room. Rory was painting Lorelai's toenails and they both smiled as he walked in.

"Hey Luke," Rory said.

"Hey," Lorelai said as he leaned down and kissed her. "You're home earlier than I thought you'd be."

"Yup." Luke glanced at the nail polish and made a face. "I've told you how much I hate that smell, haven't I?"

"Yes, you have," Lorelai confirmed. "And the plan was to get this done and to have the room aired out before you got home, but like I mentioned just a few seconds ago, you're home earlier than expected."

"Ah, so essentially the smelly room is my fault," Luke said as he walked over to his dresser.

"Right," Lorelai replied.

"How was work? Anything interesting happen?" Rory asked.

Luke shrugged. "Nah, not much. Dropped some fries."

"Bummer," Lorelai said.

"It happens," Luke replied. He placed his wallet and watch on his dresser, then slipped off his shoes and sat down on the bed next to Lorelai.

"Hey, you wanna just stick to painting the nail and not the entire toe, please?" Lorelai asked Rory, glancing down at her feet.

"Sorry," Rory muttered. "You keep moving."

"I checked in on Jess' apartment tonight," Luke said.

"Oh yeah, how is it?" Lorelai asked.

"Pretty good," Luke replied. "It's a little cluttered, but . . .ya know, he's a kid – housecleaning probably isn't his top priority."

"Right," Lorelai said. "I'm an adult and it isn't my top priority either."

"We know," Rory muttered, and Lorelai made a face at her.

"He's got food, though," Luke said. "Of course, it's food I'd never touch with a ten foot pole, but it's food nonetheless."

"Ooh, sounds like it's yummy food, then," Lorelai said, raising her eyebrows. "Now we know where to go get junk food when Taylor bans me from the market."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Which will probably be very soon."

Lorelai waved him off. "Nah, Taylor wouldn't do that. He makes a ton of money off of us." She glanced toward the closet, then turned back to Luke. "You wanna see the dress I bought for the shower?"

Luke shrugged.

Lorelai smiled. She deepened her voice and said, "Yeah, sure, Lorelai, I'd love to see it, where is it?" In her normal voice, she responded, "Oh, I'm so glad you asked, Luke, because it's right there in the closet."

Luke rolled his eyes as he climbed off the bed and walked over to the closet. He stared at the clothes for a few seconds before he shrugged and said, "Okay, there are like eighty dresses in here. You want me to guess which one is new or you wanna give me a hint?"

"It's the strapless brown one with the cream colored flowers on it," Rory informed him as she continued on Lorelai's nails.

Luke searched through the dresses until he found the one Rory had described. He pulled it out and held it up.

"You like?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah, it's nice." Luke glanced at the tag hanging off the side of the dress. "Jesus, did you get the most expensive dress in the store?"

Lorelai scoffed. "A well-made dress is an investment, Luke. And that one was cheap compared to some of the other ones."

Luke hung the dress back up. "What, were the other ones made out of diamonds?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes. "You know nothing about dress-buying."

"Which is something I'm proud of," Luke replied. He noticed that the television was on. "What are you watching?"

Rory giggled. "Mom's new guilty pleasure."

"Hey, you watch it too!" Lorelai exclaimed, smacking Rory on the arm. Rory's hand jerked and painted a line of nail polish down Lorelai's big toe. They both giggled and Lorelai said, "Oops."

"This is not my finest work," Rory declared, staring down at Lorelai's toes. "We're gonna be doing a lot of touch up work with the nail polish remover."

Luke was still watching the television. "So, what's this called?"

"Sorority Life," Lorelai replied.

"Luke, Mom is obsessed with these girls," Rory said. "Really, I suggest you find her a new hobby because this one is already becoming unhealthy."

Luke walked over and sat down on the bed. "And why exactly are you obsessed with these girls?"

"I don't know, I can't figure it out," Lorelai replied with a shrug. "And trust me, I'm definitely not one to support reality TV in any way, shape, or form, but this show. . .I don't know, it sucked me in." She hung her head and sighed. "I'm ashamed."

"You should be," Rory said.

"Shush, you," Lorelai said. "I think it might be because I never got to go away to college and do the whole sorority thing. . .not that I ever really wanted to, but it's sort of a peek at what I missed."

Luke nodded. "Ah."

"Not that I mind missing it," Lorelai said. "Trust me, I'd much rather have Rory than a bunch of alcoholic sorority sisters."

"Glad to hear it," Rory replied.

"Speaking of alcoholics, Candace better get some help soon," Lorelai said, turning to the television.

Rory replaced the lid on the nail polish and announced, "Done."

Lorelai glanced down at her toes. "Good, now go get the nail polish remover and make it look somewhat presentable, please."

"Okay. I think it's in my room," Rory said. She stood up and walked out of the bedroom.

Luke stood up and Lorelai asked, "Where are you going?"

"To open the window because when she comes back with that other crap, it'll make the room smell even worse," he said. He opened the window, then walked toward the door. "I'm gonna go get something to eat. . ." He paused at the doorway and stared at her, biting his lip as if he wanted to ask something.

"Yes?" Lorelai prompted him.

He gestured toward the bed. "Uh, can we finally. . .are you. . .I mean, later. . . "

Lorelai smiled and patted the bed. "Yes – me, you, right here, later tonight. Want a preview?" She lifted her shirt and flashed him, then pulled it back down and asked, "Will that hold you until then?" She hugged her knees to her chest and smiled at him.

Luke smirked. "No, but it'll have to. Uh, you want anything from downstairs?"

Lorelai shook her head. "I'm good, thanks."

Luke nodded and walked out of the room, and Rory walked back in a few seconds later with the nail polish remover and some cotton balls. "Okay, let's clean this up."

. . .

On Sunday afternoon, Lorelai walked into the bedroom as Luke was changing. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"What's it look like?" Luke replied.

"It looks like you're changing," Lorelai replied.

"Very astute observation," Luke replied.

As he tucked in his T-shirt, Lorelai sat down on the bed. "So, where ya going?"

"That little café near Bootsy's newsstand," Luke replied.

Lorelai nodded. "Oh, good coffee. . .but their muffins? They're the tiniest things in the world. . .four of them would equal one from the diner, I'm not kidding."

"Well, then, good for me for having bigger muffins," Luke replied.

"Ha, you said 'bigger muffins'." Lorelai giggled. "That sounded dirty."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Geez." He shoved his wallet into his back pocket, then walked over to the foot of the bed and stared at Lorelai. "I'm gonna get going now."

Lorelai crawled down to the foot of the bed, then kneeled directly in front of him. Luke put his hands on her shoulders as he leaned in and kissed her. Lorelai wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back passionately.

Several seconds later, Luke pulled back from the deep kiss, then gave her three quick kisses before he smiled and said, "Okay, I gotta go."

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Okay, have fun."

"I'm gonna stop in at work for a little afterwards so I won't be back right away," Luke said. He rolled his eyes and added, "So if you wanna come bug me for details, that's where I'll be."

Lorelai smiled. "I can wait 'til you get home. It'll give me more time to prepare questions."

. . .

Several hours later, Luke walked through the front door while Lorelai was on the couch on the phone. Her eyes widened as he walked in, and she cut off Emily in mid-sentence. "Oh, look at that, Mom, Luke's home. I gotta go because he's a bit controlling and doesn't like me to be on the phone when he's around and if he sees me talking on it, he might beat me again." There was a brief pause, then Lorelai rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom, that was a joke. . . no, you're right, it wasn't funny. . .yeah, we'll talk tomorrow. . .bye." Lorelai groaned as she hung up the phone.

Luke sat down next to her. "Thanks for making her think I abuse you," he said, rolling his eyes.

"You're welcome," she replied. She smiled and patted his leg. "Okay, give me the scoop – what does she look like, what'd she wear, what's she do for a living, what'd you guys order, what'd you talk about, and did she try to seduce you? Answer in any order you see fit."

Luke smiled and took a deep breath. "Let's see. . .about five foot five, blonde hair, green eyes. She was wearing a red shirt with a black skirt, and she – "

"Ooh, wait, wait – were her legs better than mine?" Lorelai interrupted.

Luke shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, I didn't look at 'em."

Lorelai smiled and gave an impressed nod. "Wow, good answer."

Luke smirked. "And she's a nurse, she ordered coffee and cheesecake, I ordered tea and a fruit cup, she didn't try to seduce me, and we talked about. . .a lot of stuff."

"A lot of stuff?" Lorelai asked curiously. "Can you be more specific?"

Luke shrugged. "Just. . .what we've done since high school, what we're doing now, what we plan to do in the future . . . you know, basic stuff."

"Huh, basic stuff," Lorelai repeated. "And did you happen to mention. . . "

"The beautiful woman that I live with?" Luke suggested, smiling. "Yes, I do believe your name came up a few times."

Lorelai smiled. "Yeah?"

"Of course," he replied, rolling his eyes. "Your name always comes up when I talk to people."

"Well, because the world *does* revolve around me," Lorelai said knowingly.

"That's right," he agreed. He paused, then added, "And she talked about her. . . husband and kids."

Lorelai's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yup, she's happily married to a guy named Philip," Luke said. "And they have two daughters. She had like a million pictures of them in her wallet."

"Husband. . . .daughters?" Lorelai stared down at her lap. "Huh."

"Yes, husband and daughters," Luke replied. "Now, don't you feel bad for assuming that this woman was out to lure me to a motel room when all she wanted to do was catch up with an old friend?"

Lorelai leaned back in her seat and bit her bottom lip. "A little."

"Good, you should," he replied.

Lorelai frowned at him. "Yeah, yeah, I've leaned a valuable life lesson, leave me alone."

"Okay, forget it, this incident is now behind us," Luke said. "So why were you talking to your mother?"

"Oh, she wanted to offer her maid's cooking skills for the shower," Lorelai replied.

"Huh, that was nice. What'd you tell her?" Luke asked.

"Well, she was in the middle of listing all the specialties her new English maid could whip up when you came home," Lorelai explained. "She's gonna call back tomorrow. . .so remind me not to answer the phone."

Luke shrugged. "Hey, if she can help lighten my cooking load, then great." He picked up a magazine from the coffee table and flipped through it.

Lorelai stared at the fireplace for a couple of minutes as she thought about things. Biting her lip pensively, she turned to Luke. "Luke, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah," he replied, not looking up from the magazine.

"Did you know she was married?"

He paused and looked up. "What are you talking about?"

"Kathy. . .you didn't know before today that she was married, did you? I mean, she didn't mention it when you saw her last week, right?" Lorelai asked.

Luke's face reddened slightly and he put the magazine back on the coffee table. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Uh, well. . .she might've . . .possibly mentioned it."

Lorelai gasped. "You knew his whole time that she was married and you didn't tell me? Why didn't you tell me?"

Luke shrugged. "I don't know. . .because."

"Because?" Lorelai repeated with disbelief. "Because? You knew I was upset about something and you had information that could've made me less-upset and you didn't share it with me, and the only thing you can say is 'because'?"

Luke took a deep breath. "Okay, I didn't tell you because. . . I saw that you were jealous and I . . .I didn't want the fact that she was married to be the reason that you felt okay with me getting together with her. I wanted us to have a chance to talk everything out and for you to be okay with it because you trusted me, not because she wasn't available. I mean, I wanted you to figure out why you were feeling the way you were feeling."

Lorelai sank back down against her cushion and was quiet for a few seconds. "Oh."

"Understand?"

"Yes, you withheld the information for the betterment of the relationship."

"Yes. . .and wasn't the result positive?" Luke asked.

Lorelai smiled to herself as she stared at the mantle. "Yeah, it was." She turned to him and wrinkled her nose. "Man, I hate when you do things that are so smart 'cause I always end up feeling like such a loser."

Luke shrugged. "Yeah, well. . .I'm just glad it didn't backfire and that you figured out where the uneasy feeling was coming from." He kissed her. "So. . .you hungry for dinner?"

Lorelai nodded. "Yeah, I'll have an 'I feel like an idiot' meal."

"Chicken?" Luke asked.

"Yup."

Luke smiled and stood up, then pulled Lorelai up off the couch. They walked to the kitchen, and when they reached the entryway, Lorelai said, "Oh, did I mention that Rory's not home?"

Luke turned around and raised his eyebrows. "Okay, taking a little detour . . ." He took Lorelai's hand and led her back to the living room and up the staircase to their bedroom.

. . .