Gluglug: lol I dunno.. I read a lot of fanfic.. who knows.. Perhaps I read something or something.. As for your last name.. I have no idea how that scary coincidence happened!
ScoobyGal55: Ooo well.. Hehe I've seen the shirt a couple times.. I thought that's what I saw.. Oo well hehe thanx for telling me tho =)
Jewls13: yay! I'm glad u like him.. I wanted him to be like all devoted to Lorelai.. But not all pathetic.. Cuz Luke is not a pathetic guy, u know? Haha poor luke.. Not getting any.. =)
Luke_Lorelai_ash: aww u're so cool.. U make me feel better about my story!!
I'm feeling yucky about this story now cuz I feel like it's draggging on and on..
But neways, here comes the fun part!
Thanks for reading to the rest of yous =)
*********************
A Couple Days Later
8:45 PM, Wednesday Craig's (and Lorelai's) penthouse "Okay," Craig said, handing Lorelei a pack of Bubblicious. "Go!" Lorelai called out and started to unwrap the gum. She stuffed six pieces in her mouth. "MmMMmerrrphhh.." Craig nodded and chewed rapidly. After about twenty minutes, both were rubbing their jaws. Finally, Craig spit out his humongous wad of gum into his hand. "ACK!" He yelled. "I give up!" Lorelai grinned proudly, strawberry flavored spit running down the side of her face. She spit her wad out onto a paper plate and wiped her face with a napkin. "HA! I am the bubble gum chewing leader of the world!" Craig narrowed his eyes. "I will win one day..." "I highly doubt that! I WIN!" Lorelai pumped her arms in the air and grinned at him. Craig sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine, I will bestow my title onto you." He looked at her and grinned evilly. "But watch out.. I will be back soon." He kissed her sticky cheek and got up from the sofa. "God, where am I going to throw this monstrosity out?" He looked at the slimy pink glob in his hand. Craig walked over to the desk in the corner of the room. He stuck his hand in the garbage can and pulled out a waded up piece of paper. He unfolded it. There was writing on the paper, in Lorelai's handwriting. Dear Luke, I can't stop thinking about you… Craig turned around to see Lorelai happily watching a episode of Sponge Bob on television. She was singing along to the theme song. He placed the letter on the desk. He saw that there was a huge pile of the same stationery inside the wastebasket. Craig pulled out another. Dear Luke, I'm sorry for hurting you……. Frowning, he put that one on the desk and opened the next. Dear Luke, Can you forgive me? I was wrong… Craig bit his lip as he opened the next. Dear Luke, I'm in love with you. That word. Love. The one he had been waiting for her to say to him. "Hey!" Lorelai's voice broke through his thoughts. "It's a new Sponge Bob!" She squealed and pointed at the television. Craig laughed weakly. "I'm coming," He said and turned around to throw the letters back into the basket. It was all becoming so clear to him now. As he went back to the couch where she was sitting, Craig found himself watching her in the darkened room as she happily watched Spongebob. The little box was burning a hole in his pocket. ********************* 11:34 PM, Thursday
Craig's and Lorelai's apartment Lorelai sighed and leaned her head against the headboard. Thoughts of Luke had been tormenting her for the last couple of weeks. She was starting to think it was a lost cause. He had obviously moved on, maybe it was time for her to also. After all, she had a wonderful boyfriend who loved her, a great daughter, an awesome job.. She could be happy without Luke. Right? Her thoughts were interrupted by a kiss. "Hey," Craig murmured. "Hi," Lorelai whispered, smiling as he sat down on the bed next to her. "Sorry, I'm late," He said, loosening his tie. "There was an emergency.." He groaned as he took his tie off. "Car accident, patient hit his head…" "Is he.. okay?" Lorelai asked, watching him walk over to his closet and take off his shirt. Craig threw on an old basketball tee and sweats. He walked back into the bedroom. "Yeah," He said and plopped down on the bed at her feet. "His head's okay." Smiling sleepily, he leaned his head on her knees and looked up at her. "You're beautiful." Lorelai smiled and weaved her fingers through his thick hair. "You too." She could devote herself to this man. He laughed. "Thanks.. I think." She could learn to love him. Craig kissed her fingers and then rolled over onto his side of the bed. He yawned. "Is it okay if I turn this light off?" "Yeah," Lorelai said. "Go ahead." Craig switched the light off. "G'night," he said groggily. Lorelai leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Luke had moved on. So could she. ********************* 8:14 AM, Friday
Port Authority Bus Station Craig stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked across the bus station. The ticket office was only ten feet away. He shifted his weight, wondering if he should do it. Should he? No, the question was, could he? When you love someone He didn't know much about love. When you love someone - you'll sacrifice But he knew one thing: he loved her. You'd give it everything you got and And that's why he needed to do this. you won't think twice That's why he was going to do this. You'd risk it all - no matter what may come Painfully, Craig walked towards the ticket office, each step thundering in his ears. When you love someone ********************* 4:46 PM, Friday
Hilton Hotel Sipping yet another bad coffee, Lorelai quickly perused the papers before signing each in rapid succession. Maryanne swept the papers away and put them in envelopes to be mailed out. "Hey, Maryanne," Lorelai called out from her office. "Can you do me a favor?" "Sure," Maryanne said, walking back into Lorelai's office. "Can you call the linen people again?" Lorelai furrowed her brow. "They keep telling me that they'll have the new stuff in on Thursdays. And okay, it's Friday, and I'm not seeing any new linen." Maryanne nodded. "Yeah, we've always had that problem. I'll get on it." Lorelai gave her a grateful smile. "You're the coolest, Maryanne!" She turned to the second pile of files on her desk. 'Another exciting day of paper work,' she thought dryly. She loved her job, but the amount of paperwork was atrocious. Lorelai picked up the first file. It was the hotel's restaurant file. She tried to remember when she had last talked to the restaurant manager. Lorelai got up from her desk and walked over the huge hanging calendar. 'Today is..,' She thought, tracing her finger along the calendar. 'Oh, crap..' Her finger fell on Friday. She dashed to the phone and dialed Craig's office. "May I speak to Dr. Diodorous please?" She asked. "Yes, please hold," The secretary said. Lorelai waited impatiently as elevator music played in her ear. "Hello?" "Craig?" "Lorelai?" Lorelai giggled. "Okay, now that we've cleared that up.." Craig laughed. "Hi, Lor. Sorry but I'm gonna have to make this one a quickie." "Oooh," Lorelai said, her voice husky. "Sounds potentially dirty." Craig rolled his eyes. "Okay, first of all, you need to change your waiting music," Lorelai announced. "And secondly, tomorrow's your birthday!" Craig looked at the calendar that hung on the wall across from where he was standing. "Oh yeah, it is. Wow, I totally forgot." "We should do something!" "Okay," Craig said, smiling. "Let's go out to dinner.. at that nice place on 20th Street," Lorelai racked her brain for the name of the restaurant. "Gramercy Tavern?" Craig checked his watch. They were already an hour behind on office visits. "Lor, I have to go, I'm sorry." "Oh, okay," Lorelai said quickly. "I'll make reservations." "Okay, great!" Craig said. "Love you, talk to you later!" He hung up the phone to find half his nursing staff staring at him. "That's so cute!" One nurse said to him as he passed. Craig gave them an embarrassed room and retreated to the nearest examination room. ********************* 7:54 PM, Saturday
Gramercy Tavern "Hi, may I help you?" Craig looked up to see a petite blonde smiling at him like she wanted to eat him up. A brunette stood next to her, holding menus. "Uh.. Yeah, I'm looking for …" Craig peered over the hostess to see Lorelai waving at him. The woman turned around and saw her. ".. my girlfriend," Craig finished as relief washed over him. "Thanks." The woman's face fell as she watched him go. Then she turned to the other hostess and whispered, "The good ones are always taken," She sighed and turned to face a new customer. "Hey," Craig smiled as he sat down. Lorelai beamed at him. "Happy birthday!" "Thanks," Craig said and opened a menu. "Before we order…," Lorelai started and slipped a hand under her seat. "I wanted to give you this." Craig smiled. "You didn't have to.." "It's your birthday!" Lorelai exclaimed and handed him a wrapped box. "Open it!" Smiling, Craig took the box from her. "Nice wrapping paper," He noted, raising an eyebrow. She smiled. "It feels like Christmas already." "But.. Santa in boxers?" Craig asked laughing as he tore the paper. "It's enough to traumatize any first grader." "And Rory," Lorelai replied as he opened the box. "Aw, The History of American Films. Exactly what I wanted," He grinned. "It's the newest addition," Lorelai replied smiling. "And if you wanted to know, the Robert Redford section is new and improved." Craig smiled and set the book aside. "Thanks." "You're welcome," Lorelai replied and beamed. A waiter approached their table and they gave him their orders. "So, how's work?" Lorelai asked. She was trying, she really was. Craig was a sweet guy; he deserved so much more than her. Craig nodded. "It's good." He wondered if he should tell her. 'Should I tell him now?' She thought. "You're awfully quiet tonight," Lorelai commented. "You are the birthday boy tonight.." She winked. "Huh?" Craig said. "Oh." He smiled. "I'm just thinking.." 'Thinking about how stupid I've been,' He thought looking into her twinkling blue eyes. He wondered how he had not seen it before. Her calling out to Luke in the night.. her distractedness.. the letters.. she was in love with another man. 'Lorelai, why didn't you tell me?' He looked at his girlfriend from across the table. She was now concentrating on something in her bag. Sure, they were physically only two feet apart, but inside she was probably miles away in a little town in Connecticut. He touched the little box in his pocket. They were interrupted by the waiter, who brought their entrees. "About what?" She asked spearing a white ravioli. "Huh?" Craig asked, looking up from his tuna. "What were you thinking about?" She chewed slowly. "Mm, this is good." Craig hesitated. "Lorelai.. Do you love me?" "What?" Lorelai asked, a look of surprise on her face. "Do you love me?" Craig asked nervously. "I mean, I feel like you've never outright said it to me…" "Please.. can we talk about this.. somewhere less public?" Lorelai looked around nervously. "I need to know," Craig said looking at her intently. "Look at me." Lorelai looked up at him. Her clear blue eyes were still and she said nothing. 'You love someone else,' Craig thought painfully. After Carla, he had been afraid to love. And now, as he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved so much, he remembered why all those years, all those women, he had been so afraid to fall in love again. He had been afraid of heartbreak. But now, it was too late. He had given his heart away for the second time, only to have it broken again. She looked at him nervously. 'I have to tell him,' Lorelai told herself. 'I have to tell him.' She opened her mouth to speak. Then he started to laugh. He was laughing at his own blindness. Craig chuckled, thinking how pathetic he must seem.. She was startled by his sudden outburst. He pulled the box out of his pocket. "I was going to give you this tonight." Craig placed the square velvet box in the middle of the table. Her eyes widened. "I.. uh," Lorelai said nervously. "But I realize now," Craig interrupted. He pulled out an envelope from his jacket pocket. "That this would be the more appropriate present." "I'm not the birthday boy," Lorelai said, desperately attempting to make a joke. "No, you're not a boy either," Craig said, trying to smile. He looked into her eyes and smiled gently. "Open it." Her shaking hand reached across the table and took the envelope. She opened it. "Star's Hollow?" She asked, confused. Lorelai looked up at him. "A bus ticket to Star's Hollow?" Craig spoke softly. "You love Luke, don't you?" Lorelai's eyes started to tear. "Craig, I…" "Lorelai," Craig said, reaching across the table to brush away her tears with his thumb. "You know I love you. But I can't keep you here. Love goes both ways, right? And we both know that you love someone else." He was giving her the only push she needed. Lorelai smiled at him through her tears. "Thank you." "You're welcome," Craig replied, trying to be cheerful. "The bus leaves in an hour. We should probably go." He motioned for a waiter. "Check please." ********************* 8:55 PM, Saturday
Bus Station "You ready?" Craig asked. Lorelai nodded and put her bag down on the sidewalk next to the bus. She had thrown a couple of things into her bag but she would have to come back to later for the rest of her stuff. Lorelai reached for his hand. "Thanks," She said and kissed him on the cheek. "And I know this sounds clichéd, but any girl would be lucky to have you." Craig just smiled sadly, thinking of the irony. 'Any girl..?' "We can still be friends, right?" She hugged him and then pulled away to look at him. "I.. I don't know if I could," He replied, his face expression hidden in the shadows. "It hurts me to be here right now, knowing that I'm telling you to go." He laughed weakly. "Telling the woman I love to go." Lorelai started to cry again. "Stop telling me you love me." "But I do," Craig said and pulled her towards him. He wrapped his long arms around her waist and hugged her. "I do." Lorelai hugged him back, but he realized it was a friendly hug, not the kind of longing hug he gave her. "Well," Craig finally said, pulling away. "You should go." Lorelai nodded and sniffled. "I should." "Tell Luke I said hi." "I will." Craig watched her walk up the bus steps and to the back of the bus. She sat down and looked out the window at him. He waved and tried to smile. He knew that if he broke down, she would come running back. Craig knew she didn't want to hurt him, that she would sacrifice her own love for him. And that was one of the many reasons he loved her so much. She was willing to sacrifice. So was he. She waved back. He stood staring at her, a sad smile on his face. The bus driver climbed onto the bus and turned on the engine. Lorelai turned to window and waved again. He found himself waving back as the bus started to pull away. It was soon out of his view. "Goodbye," Craig said gloomily to no one in particular. He took a deep breath and rubbed his right temple. "I remember why I never commit," He said out loud, thinking about Lorelai. "Happy Birthday to me." Shaking his head, he left the bus terminal. ********************* Sigh.. I feel bad for poor Craig…. -Ggirl The lyrics are from "When You Love Someone" Bryan Adams when Craig is thinkinga bout buying the bus ticket.
8:45 PM, Wednesday Craig's (and Lorelai's) penthouse "Okay," Craig said, handing Lorelei a pack of Bubblicious. "Go!" Lorelai called out and started to unwrap the gum. She stuffed six pieces in her mouth. "MmMMmerrrphhh.." Craig nodded and chewed rapidly. After about twenty minutes, both were rubbing their jaws. Finally, Craig spit out his humongous wad of gum into his hand. "ACK!" He yelled. "I give up!" Lorelai grinned proudly, strawberry flavored spit running down the side of her face. She spit her wad out onto a paper plate and wiped her face with a napkin. "HA! I am the bubble gum chewing leader of the world!" Craig narrowed his eyes. "I will win one day..." "I highly doubt that! I WIN!" Lorelai pumped her arms in the air and grinned at him. Craig sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine, I will bestow my title onto you." He looked at her and grinned evilly. "But watch out.. I will be back soon." He kissed her sticky cheek and got up from the sofa. "God, where am I going to throw this monstrosity out?" He looked at the slimy pink glob in his hand. Craig walked over to the desk in the corner of the room. He stuck his hand in the garbage can and pulled out a waded up piece of paper. He unfolded it. There was writing on the paper, in Lorelai's handwriting. Dear Luke, I can't stop thinking about you… Craig turned around to see Lorelai happily watching a episode of Sponge Bob on television. She was singing along to the theme song. He placed the letter on the desk. He saw that there was a huge pile of the same stationery inside the wastebasket. Craig pulled out another. Dear Luke, I'm sorry for hurting you……. Frowning, he put that one on the desk and opened the next. Dear Luke, Can you forgive me? I was wrong… Craig bit his lip as he opened the next. Dear Luke, I'm in love with you. That word. Love. The one he had been waiting for her to say to him. "Hey!" Lorelai's voice broke through his thoughts. "It's a new Sponge Bob!" She squealed and pointed at the television. Craig laughed weakly. "I'm coming," He said and turned around to throw the letters back into the basket. It was all becoming so clear to him now. As he went back to the couch where she was sitting, Craig found himself watching her in the darkened room as she happily watched Spongebob. The little box was burning a hole in his pocket. ********************* 11:34 PM, Thursday
Craig's and Lorelai's apartment Lorelai sighed and leaned her head against the headboard. Thoughts of Luke had been tormenting her for the last couple of weeks. She was starting to think it was a lost cause. He had obviously moved on, maybe it was time for her to also. After all, she had a wonderful boyfriend who loved her, a great daughter, an awesome job.. She could be happy without Luke. Right? Her thoughts were interrupted by a kiss. "Hey," Craig murmured. "Hi," Lorelai whispered, smiling as he sat down on the bed next to her. "Sorry, I'm late," He said, loosening his tie. "There was an emergency.." He groaned as he took his tie off. "Car accident, patient hit his head…" "Is he.. okay?" Lorelai asked, watching him walk over to his closet and take off his shirt. Craig threw on an old basketball tee and sweats. He walked back into the bedroom. "Yeah," He said and plopped down on the bed at her feet. "His head's okay." Smiling sleepily, he leaned his head on her knees and looked up at her. "You're beautiful." Lorelai smiled and weaved her fingers through his thick hair. "You too." She could devote herself to this man. He laughed. "Thanks.. I think." She could learn to love him. Craig kissed her fingers and then rolled over onto his side of the bed. He yawned. "Is it okay if I turn this light off?" "Yeah," Lorelai said. "Go ahead." Craig switched the light off. "G'night," he said groggily. Lorelai leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Luke had moved on. So could she. ********************* 8:14 AM, Friday
Port Authority Bus Station Craig stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked across the bus station. The ticket office was only ten feet away. He shifted his weight, wondering if he should do it. Should he? No, the question was, could he? When you love someone He didn't know much about love. When you love someone - you'll sacrifice But he knew one thing: he loved her. You'd give it everything you got and And that's why he needed to do this. you won't think twice That's why he was going to do this. You'd risk it all - no matter what may come Painfully, Craig walked towards the ticket office, each step thundering in his ears. When you love someone ********************* 4:46 PM, Friday
Hilton Hotel Sipping yet another bad coffee, Lorelai quickly perused the papers before signing each in rapid succession. Maryanne swept the papers away and put them in envelopes to be mailed out. "Hey, Maryanne," Lorelai called out from her office. "Can you do me a favor?" "Sure," Maryanne said, walking back into Lorelai's office. "Can you call the linen people again?" Lorelai furrowed her brow. "They keep telling me that they'll have the new stuff in on Thursdays. And okay, it's Friday, and I'm not seeing any new linen." Maryanne nodded. "Yeah, we've always had that problem. I'll get on it." Lorelai gave her a grateful smile. "You're the coolest, Maryanne!" She turned to the second pile of files on her desk. 'Another exciting day of paper work,' she thought dryly. She loved her job, but the amount of paperwork was atrocious. Lorelai picked up the first file. It was the hotel's restaurant file. She tried to remember when she had last talked to the restaurant manager. Lorelai got up from her desk and walked over the huge hanging calendar. 'Today is..,' She thought, tracing her finger along the calendar. 'Oh, crap..' Her finger fell on Friday. She dashed to the phone and dialed Craig's office. "May I speak to Dr. Diodorous please?" She asked. "Yes, please hold," The secretary said. Lorelai waited impatiently as elevator music played in her ear. "Hello?" "Craig?" "Lorelai?" Lorelai giggled. "Okay, now that we've cleared that up.." Craig laughed. "Hi, Lor. Sorry but I'm gonna have to make this one a quickie." "Oooh," Lorelai said, her voice husky. "Sounds potentially dirty." Craig rolled his eyes. "Okay, first of all, you need to change your waiting music," Lorelai announced. "And secondly, tomorrow's your birthday!" Craig looked at the calendar that hung on the wall across from where he was standing. "Oh yeah, it is. Wow, I totally forgot." "We should do something!" "Okay," Craig said, smiling. "Let's go out to dinner.. at that nice place on 20th Street," Lorelai racked her brain for the name of the restaurant. "Gramercy Tavern?" Craig checked his watch. They were already an hour behind on office visits. "Lor, I have to go, I'm sorry." "Oh, okay," Lorelai said quickly. "I'll make reservations." "Okay, great!" Craig said. "Love you, talk to you later!" He hung up the phone to find half his nursing staff staring at him. "That's so cute!" One nurse said to him as he passed. Craig gave them an embarrassed room and retreated to the nearest examination room. ********************* 7:54 PM, Saturday
Gramercy Tavern "Hi, may I help you?" Craig looked up to see a petite blonde smiling at him like she wanted to eat him up. A brunette stood next to her, holding menus. "Uh.. Yeah, I'm looking for …" Craig peered over the hostess to see Lorelai waving at him. The woman turned around and saw her. ".. my girlfriend," Craig finished as relief washed over him. "Thanks." The woman's face fell as she watched him go. Then she turned to the other hostess and whispered, "The good ones are always taken," She sighed and turned to face a new customer. "Hey," Craig smiled as he sat down. Lorelai beamed at him. "Happy birthday!" "Thanks," Craig said and opened a menu. "Before we order…," Lorelai started and slipped a hand under her seat. "I wanted to give you this." Craig smiled. "You didn't have to.." "It's your birthday!" Lorelai exclaimed and handed him a wrapped box. "Open it!" Smiling, Craig took the box from her. "Nice wrapping paper," He noted, raising an eyebrow. She smiled. "It feels like Christmas already." "But.. Santa in boxers?" Craig asked laughing as he tore the paper. "It's enough to traumatize any first grader." "And Rory," Lorelai replied as he opened the box. "Aw, The History of American Films. Exactly what I wanted," He grinned. "It's the newest addition," Lorelai replied smiling. "And if you wanted to know, the Robert Redford section is new and improved." Craig smiled and set the book aside. "Thanks." "You're welcome," Lorelai replied and beamed. A waiter approached their table and they gave him their orders. "So, how's work?" Lorelai asked. She was trying, she really was. Craig was a sweet guy; he deserved so much more than her. Craig nodded. "It's good." He wondered if he should tell her. 'Should I tell him now?' She thought. "You're awfully quiet tonight," Lorelai commented. "You are the birthday boy tonight.." She winked. "Huh?" Craig said. "Oh." He smiled. "I'm just thinking.." 'Thinking about how stupid I've been,' He thought looking into her twinkling blue eyes. He wondered how he had not seen it before. Her calling out to Luke in the night.. her distractedness.. the letters.. she was in love with another man. 'Lorelai, why didn't you tell me?' He looked at his girlfriend from across the table. She was now concentrating on something in her bag. Sure, they were physically only two feet apart, but inside she was probably miles away in a little town in Connecticut. He touched the little box in his pocket. They were interrupted by the waiter, who brought their entrees. "About what?" She asked spearing a white ravioli. "Huh?" Craig asked, looking up from his tuna. "What were you thinking about?" She chewed slowly. "Mm, this is good." Craig hesitated. "Lorelai.. Do you love me?" "What?" Lorelai asked, a look of surprise on her face. "Do you love me?" Craig asked nervously. "I mean, I feel like you've never outright said it to me…" "Please.. can we talk about this.. somewhere less public?" Lorelai looked around nervously. "I need to know," Craig said looking at her intently. "Look at me." Lorelai looked up at him. Her clear blue eyes were still and she said nothing. 'You love someone else,' Craig thought painfully. After Carla, he had been afraid to love. And now, as he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved so much, he remembered why all those years, all those women, he had been so afraid to fall in love again. He had been afraid of heartbreak. But now, it was too late. He had given his heart away for the second time, only to have it broken again. She looked at him nervously. 'I have to tell him,' Lorelai told herself. 'I have to tell him.' She opened her mouth to speak. Then he started to laugh. He was laughing at his own blindness. Craig chuckled, thinking how pathetic he must seem.. She was startled by his sudden outburst. He pulled the box out of his pocket. "I was going to give you this tonight." Craig placed the square velvet box in the middle of the table. Her eyes widened. "I.. uh," Lorelai said nervously. "But I realize now," Craig interrupted. He pulled out an envelope from his jacket pocket. "That this would be the more appropriate present." "I'm not the birthday boy," Lorelai said, desperately attempting to make a joke. "No, you're not a boy either," Craig said, trying to smile. He looked into her eyes and smiled gently. "Open it." Her shaking hand reached across the table and took the envelope. She opened it. "Star's Hollow?" She asked, confused. Lorelai looked up at him. "A bus ticket to Star's Hollow?" Craig spoke softly. "You love Luke, don't you?" Lorelai's eyes started to tear. "Craig, I…" "Lorelai," Craig said, reaching across the table to brush away her tears with his thumb. "You know I love you. But I can't keep you here. Love goes both ways, right? And we both know that you love someone else." He was giving her the only push she needed. Lorelai smiled at him through her tears. "Thank you." "You're welcome," Craig replied, trying to be cheerful. "The bus leaves in an hour. We should probably go." He motioned for a waiter. "Check please." ********************* 8:55 PM, Saturday
Bus Station "You ready?" Craig asked. Lorelai nodded and put her bag down on the sidewalk next to the bus. She had thrown a couple of things into her bag but she would have to come back to later for the rest of her stuff. Lorelai reached for his hand. "Thanks," She said and kissed him on the cheek. "And I know this sounds clichéd, but any girl would be lucky to have you." Craig just smiled sadly, thinking of the irony. 'Any girl..?' "We can still be friends, right?" She hugged him and then pulled away to look at him. "I.. I don't know if I could," He replied, his face expression hidden in the shadows. "It hurts me to be here right now, knowing that I'm telling you to go." He laughed weakly. "Telling the woman I love to go." Lorelai started to cry again. "Stop telling me you love me." "But I do," Craig said and pulled her towards him. He wrapped his long arms around her waist and hugged her. "I do." Lorelai hugged him back, but he realized it was a friendly hug, not the kind of longing hug he gave her. "Well," Craig finally said, pulling away. "You should go." Lorelai nodded and sniffled. "I should." "Tell Luke I said hi." "I will." Craig watched her walk up the bus steps and to the back of the bus. She sat down and looked out the window at him. He waved and tried to smile. He knew that if he broke down, she would come running back. Craig knew she didn't want to hurt him, that she would sacrifice her own love for him. And that was one of the many reasons he loved her so much. She was willing to sacrifice. So was he. She waved back. He stood staring at her, a sad smile on his face. The bus driver climbed onto the bus and turned on the engine. Lorelai turned to window and waved again. He found himself waving back as the bus started to pull away. It was soon out of his view. "Goodbye," Craig said gloomily to no one in particular. He took a deep breath and rubbed his right temple. "I remember why I never commit," He said out loud, thinking about Lorelai. "Happy Birthday to me." Shaking his head, he left the bus terminal. ********************* Sigh.. I feel bad for poor Craig…. -Ggirl The lyrics are from "When You Love Someone" Bryan Adams when Craig is thinkinga bout buying the bus ticket.