Lorelai sighed as she sat behind the desk at the inn. Since the fire things were going slower and slower, it was only a matter of time before Mia had to close it.
That was a thought that Lorelai tried to avoid, she couldn't imagine life without the inn. Although she and Sookie had plans for their own inn, it was sad that the Independence would be gone soon.
Getting up she walked into the kitchen, "Hey Sook, what are you up to tonight? Rory's got graduation stuff to do all evening so I was thinking we could get dinner?"
She looked around the sparse kitchen where Sookie was setting up the wine and cheese for that evening's guests. Sookie looked up with a sad look in her eyes.
"I'm sorry sweetie, Jackson and I are going into Hartford to eat with some friends of his, raincheck?" Lorelai nodded and returned to the front desk.
Michel was sitting with an exasperated look on his face, "My chow puppies need me, may I go since you are now here to handle all of this?" He asked sarcastically waving his hand around the empty lobby.
"Go, I wouldn't want them to murder you while you sleep. I'll finish up until Tobin gets here tonight." Michel hurried away to play with his chow puppies and Lorelai busied herself with paperwork until she could escape to Luke's for dinner.
The diner was practically empty when Lorelai walked in, "Luke! I must have coffee, please!" Lorelai sat on a stool with her pout affixed to her face before Luke had a chance to say no.
Placing a cup of coffee in front of her, "Rough day?" He leaned on the counter next to Lorelai.
Taking a long drink of coffee Lorelai answered, "Rough, slow and lonely. I can't stand to see the Inn like this, and with Rory at school late almost every night this week, it's been a tough week."
Luke gave her a sympathetic smile, "Will a cheeseburger and fries make it better? I'll even throw in some apple pie."
Lorelai smiled gratefully as Luke turned to get her dinner.
Ten minutes later Luke sat a plate of food in front of Lorelai and refilled her coffee, as he turned to go back to the kitchen Lorelai stopped him. "Luke, there are like two other customers, sit with me. Keep a sad lady company."
Lorelai was set to whip out her patented pout when Luke relented without argument, coming around the counter and sitting next to her.
"Okay, I'll sit if you promise not to feel sorry for yourself. Must talk happy."
Lorelai smiled at him wistfully, "You first, how are things with you, diner, Nicole and whatnot?" She started digging into her dinner while Luke responded.
"Good, not sure, and huh?" Luke averted his eyes and started wiping the counter in front of him.
Lorelai wiped her mouth with her napkin, "Not sure, are you and Nicole on the outs? Lovers quarrel?" She took the napkin away from him, forcing him to look up.
He shrugged his shoulder awkwardly. "Just didn't work out, things started going downhill after I met her parents and I was freaking out about Jess. After Jess left it just seemed to fall apart. We haven't talked since then and it seemed pretty done then."
Lorelai's face fell, "Luke, why didn't you say anything? I can help you wallow." Luke's eyes widened.
Lorelai finished her food quickly and started planning Luke's Gilmore wallow. "First we'll need essentials, I'll handle that, movies too, you just need to show up at my house in an hour. I won't take no for an answer!"
Before Luke had a chance to even, contemplate a response Lorelai was out the door with a gleeful glint in her eyes.
An hour later to the dot Luke found himself on Lorelai's porch, muttering under his breath about being there. Lorelai opens the door giddily before Luke knocks and drags him into the house with a gleeful giggle.
Lorelai's living room has been transformed, girly items such as pillows and candles have been replaced with hammer and baseball mitts that Lorelai no doubt mugged people for. Arranged on the coffee table are carrot sticks, celery (peanut butter on the side) and vegetable shaped crackers.
"Look, I picked Luke-wallow food! I did hide a few chocolate items around the room for me and if you get desperate you. Come sit and we'll start the first movie." Luke allowed himself to be led to the couch and sat, waiting.
"What are we watching? 'When Sally met Bob…Men are evil…' Meg Ryan marathon?" Luke shook his head as Lorelai gave off fake offense.
"I picked movies specifically for you. 'The Pride of the Yankees,' 'Field of Dreams,' and last but not least 'BASEketball' for a little humor in the wallowing." Luke couldn't help but laugh as he listened to Lorelai ramble on about the movies.
An hour later the veggies were gone, even Lorelai forced herself to eat some celery slathered in peanut butter, and Luke was watching 'Pride of the Yankees' deep in thought. Lorelai was not quite as rapt with attention.
She excitedly jumped up when she heard Rory come in, she motioned Luke to stay where he was. "Hey Ror, how was school?" She followed Rory into her room and sat on the bed next to her.
"Paris should seriously consider becoming a drill Sargent. Other countries would cower in fear at her name." Lorelai rubbed Rory's shoulders before getting up to let her lay down. "What's going on out there?" Rory asked as Lorelai started to leave.
"Luke is wallowing, if we bother you let me know. Try and get some sleep." Lorelai closed the door behind her and let Rory rest.
Sitting down next to Luke she sighed, "Rory is working herself to death. This summer vacation will be long overdue for her."
Luke paused the movie; "At least it's almost over. She'll be done soon and you two will be off to Europe. We don't have to finish the movie, I'll leave so you guys can hang out or whatever." Luke started to leave but Lorelai stopped him.
"No, Rory is getting some much needed sleep and you still need to wallow, now eat some chocolate and cry about Lou Gherig!" Lorelai reached for the remote but Luke stopped her.
"I really don't need to wallow. It's fine and I know you aren't enjoying the movie." Luke leaned back on the couch as Lorelai propped her feet up on the coffee table.
"Everyone needs to wallow, just to get it out of their system. Why do you think it ended? If you don't mind talking about it, he of few words."
Luke shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. We just weren't that similar. Hell, I have no idea." He grabbed a handful of carrot sticks and started munching with a confused look on his face.
Lorelai reached behind her and pulled a candy bar from behind the cushion. "Well I'd offer to analyze the relationship for you, like I usually have Rory do for me, but I'm the worst one to talk to. I am an expert wallower and a horrible dater."
Luke laughed to himself, "I guess that makes sense." Lorelai playfully smacked his arm. "I mean Rory tends to be very mature for her age while you…don't, it's not necessarily bad. Although I have seen you date some pretty crazy characters, even for Stars Hollow."
Lorelai's mouth fell open, "Like who? And you cannot use Rune, that was a favor!"
Luke couldn't stop laughing, "Without Rune there was that kid and Max with his weird hair and Alex didn't seem too great, I mean he took you fishing for a date?"
Lorelai succumbed and laughed along with him, "Max's hair was pretty bad wasn't it? I guess I don't have very good luck with guys." She went into the kitchen and grabbed two beers for herself and Luke.
"That's why it's great to have friends like you, no matter what a flake I am when it comes to my love life, you will always be there and vice versa." She sat next to him and handed him both beers to open, which he did wordlessly and handed one back to her.
He nodded in agreement, "I guess it's good to know that I'm not the only one that's horrible at this whole dating thing. Sometimes I think it's all a joke on me, it makes me feel better to know it's on you too."
She laughed as she leaned back on the sofa, "Okay, back to the wallowing, let's finish the movies."
Hours later the movies were over and the food was gone, and at least one six-pack had been finished off as the two of them sat regailing each other with tales of love gone bad.
"We must stop, my stomach cannot take it. You really suck at this stuff." Lorelai wiped tears from her eyes as Luke finished his last story. She was stretched out on the couch, her feet up in his lap.
"You're one to talk, you left some poor guy in a movie theater alone because he asked you not to talk during the movie!" Luke finished his last beer as he looked at Lorelai with disbelief.
"That is a dealbreaker for me, I didn't see the point of wasting his or my time. Oh my god, look at what time it is, nearly five o'clock. Don't you have to be up at some ungodly hour soon?" Lorelai sat up grabbing Luke's wrist to look at his watch.
Surprised Luke started to get up to go, "I guess we got a little carried away with our tales of woe. Caeser will be in early so it won't be that bad."
Lorelai started walking Luke to the door, "I'll write you a note if you want. Dear Caeser, please excuse Luke for needing a good wallow. I"ll be in later for some seriously strong coffee and I expect no arguments from you!"
Luke laughed and agreed, "Okay a one day reprieve, but it will kill you eventually."
Lorelai opened the door for him, "You know Luke, this was fun. Once we get you out of the diner you break out of your mono-syllabic habits. We'll have to do this again. Thank God we're not dating and I can't scare you off with my craziness."
Luke laughed, "No, you showed me all the craziness years ago, but I don't scare easily." He waved good night over his shoulder and Lorelai shut the door behind him, leaning against it with a small smile on her face.
