Taking a deep breath to compose herself, Lorelai walked outside. Max was facing away from her, pacing in front of his car, but when he heard her walk down the steps of the porch, he turned around.

"Hey Lor, is everything all right? Are you ready to go?" he asked, looking slightly concerned.

Lorelai walked over to Max, nervously ringing her hands. "Actually Max, I'm not going," she said.

"Not going? Lorelai, what's wrong? Is it something I did?"

"No, it's not something you did. I just can't go out with you anymore."

"Okay, I'm officially confused. What happened? Does it have something to do with that man you were talking to inside?"

"Look, Max, you are a really amazing guy. The best. You are sweet and funny and smart and polite and everything a girl could want. I have really enjoyed spending time with you-"

"-I sense a big but coming," Max interrupted.

Lorelai gave a small smile. "But it's not going to work out."

"Why not?"

"Well, that's hard to explain…" Lorelai tried to figure out what she was going to say.

"It has something to do with that man inside doesn't it? The diner man? He said something to you, didn't he?"

"Actually, yes this is about Luke." Lorelai curled a strand of hair behind her ear. "The thing is Max, and I want to be totally honest with you about this; Luke loves me. Now, nothing is going on with us yet, so don't get the wrong idea. I mean, he never even told me until tonight. Believe me, I never planned for this to happen, it came as a total surprise to me. Still, as much as I care about you and as much as I enjoy spending time with you, this thing with Luke, well it's a big thing for me. Because I have feelings for him too, I might even love him. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I never meant to hurt you, but I have to give this thing will Luke a shot because if I don't, I'll probably regret it for the rest of my life. I have to go down this path and see where it leads me. I hope you understand."

"Wow, I didn't see that coming," Max said after a long pause.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."

"Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed. You are a phenomenal woman, Lorelai Gilmore, and I wish you the best."

"Thank you Max. I'm sorry that this didn't work out," Lorelai said, frowning.

"I am too. Goodbye Lorelai."

"Goodbye Max."

Max got into his car, and Lorelai watched as he drove away from her house and out of her life. He'd been a great guy and she wouldn't forget him. Maybe in another time, another place they could have worked out, but not in this one. She wiped a stray tear from her eye and headed back inside to face Luke.

*

When she came into the house, Luke was sitting on the couch, fiddling with his baseball cap. She sat down next to him and they both just sat quietly, looking at the floor, neither knowing what to say.

"So…" Lorelai began.

"So…" Luke said.

"Hey, didn't we do this part already?"

"I think we did."

"Okay, just checking," Lorelai smiled. "Well, what happens now?"

"I don't know. I didn't get that far when I was rehearsing what to say in my head."

"You practiced telling me you loved me? That's so cute."

"It is not," Luke grumbled.

"I think it is a little bit."

"Fine."

"Hey Luke, let's keep this between us for a little while. I mean, I'll tell Rory, but I'm not sure I'm ready for the whole town to know just yet."

"I think that's a good idea," Luke smiled, "just as long as I still get to take you out."

"Luke Danes wants to take me out on a date. Why I thought you'd never ask," Lorelai drawled. "So, does that mean I get the patented Luke date."

"And what is that exactly?"

"You know, the batting cages followed by a trip to the juice bar."

"You think you're so funny."

"Of course." Lorelai smiled.

"Well you'll never know what a real Luke date is until you have one. So how about Saturday night?"

"Wow, Luke, I never thought you'd be so forward."

"And I never thought I stood a chance with you. So that goes to show how much either of us knew."

"I guess so. And just for the record, you always had a chance with me. All you had to do is ask."

"Well in that case, is it all right if I kiss you again?" Luke asked hesitantly.

"I insist on it."

As their lips met again, they knew that this was the beginning of something that would change their lives forever.

*

Rory came home later that evening to see her mother curled up on the couch watching TV in her sweats.

"What are you doing home? I thought you were going out with Max?" Rory asked.

"Oh, you're home!" Lorelai jumped up from the couch.

"Yeah, I'm home, why are you home?"

"I'm not going out with Max," Lorelai explained.

"I figured that. Did he cancel?"

"No, I mean, I'm not going out with Max at all anymore."

"Why? What happened?" Rory looked confused.

"Okay, sit down 'cause this is big, huge, mammoth. I'm telling you Rory, this is going to blow your mind," Lorelai led Rory over to the couch and sat her down.

"Okay, mom, what in the world is going on?"

"Luke loves me," Lorelai paused waiting for Rory's reaction when she never got one, she frowned. "Didn't you hear me?"

"yeah, Luke loves you. We've known that forever."

"Well, I didn't," Lorelai pouted. "Hey, who's we?"

"The whole town. I even heard grandma mention it once."

"Way to spoil my fun."

"Anyway, so how did you find out?" Rory asked.

"He told me," Lorelai beamed.

"Wow."

"And the bigger thing is. I think I might love him too."

"Really?" Rory smiled.

"Yeah."

"Wow."

"I know;" Lorelai tried to gage Rory's reaction. "So, what do you think?"

"I think it's great. I'm so happy for you!" Rory hugged her mom.

"Aww, thanks kiddo."

"You have to tell me everything. Leaving out the gory details of course."

"Hey, like I would do anything like that. We haven't even been out on a date yet!" Lorelai protested.

"I know. I'm just kidding. So spill..."

"Okay, so here's how it went…" Lorelai proceeded to tell Rory the events of the evening from the toolbox to the confession, the kiss and Max."

"Well, it sounds like Max took it fairly well," Rory said.

"He did. He's a good guy. I mean in another life maybe we could have made it work, but…" Lorelai didn't know what else to say.

"I know."

"Anyway, Luke and I discussed taking it slow. We don't want to rush it. I mean, we've waited this long, I'm sure we can wait a little longer. Oh, and we want to keep it quiet for now." Lorelai couldn't stop smiling.

"Sounds like a good plan."

"So, are you okay with this? I mean you've know Luke forever."

"I'm very okay with this. I'm happy for you two."

"Good, because I think this may be it. Luke might be 'The One' for me. Scary, huh?"

"Very, but we'll get through it."

"I know. Now give your mother a hug and let me get to bed. It's your first last day of Chilton tomorrow, so I'm going to get up early and make you breakfast."

Rory raised her eyebrows. "You? Make breakfast?"

"Okay, I meant take you to Luke's for breakfast," Lorelai admitted.

"Yeah, because –I'm- the only reason you want to go to Luke's."

"Be quiet you. Now, off to bed."

Rory laughed. "Night Mom." She hugged Lorelai and they both headed off to their rooms for the night.