Fool for Love

by

javakamp
Chapter 32: To All Things...

Over the next two weeks life returned to something close to normal for Lorelai, and Rory. Close but not quite there. They would eat lots of take out, and drink lots of coffee. Rory would go to school, and Lorelai would go to work, then afterwards they would get together and talk about their days.

Nevertheless, Rory could tell that Lorelai was still trying to work things out. So Rory would do what she could to help. Fortunately, over the years she had gotten good at sensing her mother's moods, enabling her to be there when Lorelai needed to talk, or when she wanted quiet company, or to sometimes let her mother be alone.

On the second Friday after the showdown with Colin, at Luke's, Rory and her mother were quietly riding home from dinner at the grandparents. The first weekly dinner had been relatively peaceful. Apparently, Emily was sympathetic enough to Lorelai's mood that she endeavored not to broach any potentially controversial topics. This Friday things didn't run so smooth. They had definitely had worse Friday night dinners, but given the situation, it was a rough one. Especially since much of the topics of discussion had to do with Colin Fletcher.

That's why on the way home from Hartford, Rory sensed that her mom was due for some alone time. When they arrived home, Rory went into her room to work on homework, while Lorelai, after changing clothes, sat on the couch, pretending to watch TV.

Ten minuets later when Lorelai appeared at Rory's door, and announced, "Rory sweetie, I think I'm going out for a walk," Rory wasn't surprised.

Even thought she knew what the answer would be, Rory asked, "Would you like me to go with you?"

"No, you just stay and study, I just need to get some fresh air."

"Okay, have fun."

As Lorelai turned to leave Rory said, "Don't forget your keys, and your cell phone."

"Huh," Lorelai responded. "One time I lock myself out of the house and you never let me forget."

"That's what makes my life worth living."

Lorelai put on a pair of hiking boots, and grabbed her coat. She pulled open the door and called, "Rory, I'm leaving now."

"Did you remember your keys?"

Lorelai stopped herself halfway out the door, making an angry face. She stepped back into the foyer, grabbed her keys of the counter, as she replied, "Of course I remembered my keys."

Lorelai walked around town without really paying attention to where she was going. She just let her feet wander where they wanted, while her mind did its' own wondering.

An hour and a half after she left Rory, when she looked up and found herself in front of Luke's, she had no real recollection of how she got there. She smiled when she looked inside and saw Luke in the dim light working behind the counter. She stood there watching him for several minutes. Finally, he looked up and saw her staring at him. Surprised he waved at her, and she waved back.

He walked over to the door and unlocked it. He stuck his head outside and asked, "What are you doing out there?"

"Nothing, I was feeling restless, so I decide to take a walk."

Luke nodded and asked, "You wanta come in? I got an apple pie that just came out of the oven."

Lorelai smiled and asked, "Just pie?"

Luke grinned and replied, "What's fresh apple pie with out vanilla ice cream."

Lorelai clapped her gloved hands together and said, "Yippee."

A few minutes later Luke was seated across a table from Lorelai, watching her take the first bite of her pie and ice cream. After she had swallowed she said, "Mmmm, very good. You know you aught to think about doing this professionally. You might be able to make some money at this whole restaurant thing.

Luke chuckled and replied, "I'll take it under advisement." Luke watched her eat for while than asked, "So how was dinner at your parents tonight?"

"You know, the usual, best three out of five."

"So," Luke asked, "You never did say what you were doing out so late?"

Lorelai appeared to consider her answer, then said, "Oh, just out trying to figure stuff out."

"Stuff?"

"Yeah, you know. Life stuff. Relationship stuff. That whole chicken and the egg thing."

"Figure anything out?"

"Well, there still a couple of things I'm trying to get straight, but I'd say that I'm currently sitting in the chicken camp."

"No I mean about the life, and relationship stuff?"

"Oh that," Lorelai said. She pondered for a moment, and then said, "Yeah, there's a couple of things, I figured out?"

"Like what?"

"Well the first thing I decided is that it will probably be awhile before I date again."

Luke nodded and said, "Of course."

When Lorelai narrowed her eyes at him, he explained, "Well, what I mean, that you just had a real bad experience with someone you liked and trusted, and he hurt you badly. Who wouldn't be a little gun-shy after that?" Luke looked at Lorelai's plate, noticing that it was empty, he asked, "Would you like more pie or ice cream?"

"No thanks," Lorelai said, while she used her fork to play with the remains of her pie.

Luke watched her then asked, "What's the second?"

"Hum?" Lorelai asked.

"What was the second thing you figured out?"

"Oh, yeah. That." Lorelai sat down her fork, and looked straight at Luke, then said, "The second thing I figured out, was that when I am ready to start dating again, that I'd like it to be with you."

Luke looked at Lorelai, while he waited for this latest fantasy to end, and he would be back in the real world. However, after a moment Luke realized that he hadn't been fantasizing, but that Lorelai's statement had been real life.

Luke sat up and asked, "What was that?"

Lorelai smiled shyly and answered, "I said, that when I'm ready to date again, that it should be us, who are dating." Lorelai waited a beat for Luke to reply, when he didn't, she said," Each other."

When Luke still didn't speak, she said, "That is if you would like to? Date me that is."

Luke tried not to grin too large, when he said, "Yeah, I would like that."

"Good," Lorelai nodded. "Good."

They looked at each other grinning, for a few moments. Finally, Lorelai leaned forward, touched Luke on the arm, and said, "So we really had some excitement here a couple of weeks ago."

"Yes we did."

Lorelai gave Luke her hair twirl as she asked, "So what was your favorite part? Was when you hit, Colin? Cause that was mine."

Luke appeared to think about it for a moment, and then with a smile he said, "Probably when you called me daddy."

Lorelai's mouth fell open, "I called you what? No way."

"Just ask Rory," Luke challenged. "It was just before you went upstairs."

"Really?

"Would I make something like that up?"

They talked and laughed until well after 1am. In the time to come, they would look back on this night as their first night as a couple, and remember it fondly. They would remember it as...
...The Beginning...
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Well this brings my little story to a close. I hope you enjoyed it, although if you read this far something must have held your intrest.

A big thanks to everyone who took the time to review. I want you to know that I read them all and take your words under advisement. For those of you haven't reviewed yet please take a second to tell me what you think.

Let me know what you thought of the ending. I considered this ending, and one where Luke and Lorelai decide to ignore the obvious, and maintain the status quo. I even considered writting both, but in the end I decided that this was the ending the story should have. Let me know if you agree or disagree.

For anyone who is intrested I have started a sequel, and if you want a chance to read it the best thing to do is to let me know via a review, or an email to javakamp@tampabay.rr.com.

Thanks again for reading

Javakamp Mar 2003