Luke stepped down onto the pavement and started walking towards Lorelai's house. Hell, today was as good a day as any. The streetlights were lighting round patches on the pavement, but there were dark patches between them where you could only see shadows. Luke kicked himself mentally for letting Lorelai walk home alone. Yeah, it was only a few blocks, and yeah, she was a strong independent woman and all that, and yeah, it WAS Stars Hollow, but he still didn't like the idea. He started to speed up a little. But when he stopped thinking about how he'd left Lorelai vulnerable to some insane rapist who was visiting from Hartford he started thinking about where he was going, what he was going to do. He starting walking faster, almost jogging, but not wanting to look stupid. If he was going to do this he had to do it fast, before he lost all his resolve and just turned back or made up some lame excuse. Luke shook his head at himself and started running down the sidewalk. He was out of shape compared to high school, but his running had been mostly natural talent, thankfully. Getting there fast was probably the most important thing now. He didn't really care if he looked stupid now, running down the street at night, because honestly, right now, this was likely the least stupid he was going to feel in the next few minutes. He rounded the corner, only hearing his feet smacking against the pavement and saw her, walking down the middle of the street in a zigzagging pattern, humming to herself. Luke smiled nervously and slowed down to a walk, crossing into the middle of the street. He took a quick breath.

" Ha-......." He tried to start uncomfortably, but cut himself short, frowning and nervous. He swallowed, looking at her back retreating farther down the street. Any second she would be turning up to her porch. Any second now. Any........second.....Holy-Just do it Luke.

" LORELAI!" Lorelai stopped humming and turned around slowly. He could see her frowning, trying to see him in the shadows.

" LUKE? What are you doing?" She looked confused. Luke ran up and stopped, standing right in front of her. " Is everything alright?" She looked worried, running her eyes over him, trying to see if she could find anything wrong with him. He just stood there staring at her, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. " Did you run all the way here." Luke closed his eyes and nodded, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again he looked up at her, breathing deeply through his nose.

" Ask me again." He said, looking her straight in the eyes.

" Ask you....." She looked at him questioningly.

" Ask me again. Your question. Ask me again." For a minute she just stood there speechlessly. Staring at him. Come on Lorelai do it before I lose my nerve.

" Who.........who did you find?" She asked quietly, looking up at him and biting her lip. Luke nodded and started to smile. He was still breathing heavily but he grinned even wider.

" You." He said between breaths. Lorelai grinned back uncontrollably.

" Yeah?" She giggled eagerly. Luke just nodded, feeling really stupid, in a really good way.

" Yeah?"

" I'm happy to be found then." Lorelai teased.

" Yeah?" Lorelai nodded her head up and down slowly, not breaking her eyes away from his.

" Unhunh."

" Good." Luke nodded too and Lorelai agreed.

" Unhunh." They both took a step forward, into the middle of one of the spots of light created by the street lights. Luke reached out tentatively and put his hands on her waist. Lorelai grinned devilishly as she slid them down to her hips, lifting her own hands up to his head.

" Let's just get this out of the way." Luke shivered as she drew her hands slowly up the back of his neck and tugged his hat off. He tightened his arms and she stepped forwards, leaning in against him. Luke looked down at her eyes and glanced at her lips and Lorelai smiled. She tilted her head to the side a little, just as Luke did, bending down a bit. He stopped just short of her, breathing nervously, and Lorelai gave him a tiny little nod. He didn't move for a moment, running his eyes across her face. Luke leaned forward the tiniest bit, breaking the distance between them and kissed her. They stood there silently for a minute, Lorelai's hands teasing the back of his neck as Luke's tightly massaged her back, feeling warm and really, really happy. Luke smiled a bit when he found out that Lorelai's lips tasted kind of like strawberries, not coffee. Lorelai was just grateful she remembered to put on her lip balm right after she left Luke's. When they finally pulled back they were both smiling, leaning their foreheads together for a moment before Lorelai laced her fingers into Luke's hands and leaned back, running the end of her tongue over her lips. Luke was smiling at her and Lorelai giggled.

" Yay!"

" Good?" Luke asked gruffly.

" You've been holding out on me." Lorelai teased him, cocking her head to the side and running her hand down the side of his face.

" Sorry." Luke mumbled.

" You'll have to make it up to me." Luke grinned sheepishly.

" Yeah?"

" Unhunh." Lorelai nodded, running her finger from where it rested on his jaw down along his chest.

" I can probably handle that." Luke nodded nonchalantly, but his eyes were glowing a little bit.

" Good....." Lorelai bit her lip and looked up at him bemusedly. " Hey Luke?"

" Yeah?"

" You unreasonably freakishly happy right now too?" Luke laughed and nodded.

" Yeah."

"Good." Lorelai grinned widely at him, giggling crazily as Luke held onto her hand. She swung it back and forth for a moment, then let go and twirled around in circles.

" Catch me if I jump Luke?" She yelled, swinging around the lamppost.

" Probably not." He shrugged and she pretended to look hurt.

" Luke!"

" Maybe." He shrugged again.

" Softy." She wandered back over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, running her toe along the back of his leg. " Catch please?" Luke sighed and rolled his eyes, but he caught the back of her thighs as she jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist, twisting her feet together behind his back. She bit her lip as she leaned her forehead against his and Luke lifted up his chin as they kissed again. When they broke apart Luke kissed her gently on the forehead.

" I'm glad I changed my mind."

" About the running?" Lorelai said sarcastically, teasing him. Luke furrowed his brows and nodded seriously.

" Yeah. I really want to get back in shape. Now we can buy matching jogging suits and go out jogging in the morning."

"You had better be joking."

" I am. Just so you know, if I ever follow up on that, don't hesitate to shoot me."

" But why? I need you around even more now."

" The day I buy matching jogging suits is the day I go certifiably nuts."

" So they've been in your closet a while then?" Lorelai teased.

" You're hilarious."

" I try."

" You don't succeed. Come on. Hop down. Let's get you home." Lorelai pouted and tightened her legs.

" Carry me?"

" Get down."

" Pleaaaase?"

" I'll drop you."

" No you won't." Lorelai grinned." You like me too much to break my butt."

" Down." Lorelai scowled playfully then leaned forwards and kissed him again, biting gently on his lower lip. As she pulled slowly away Luke sighed reluctantly.

" Fine."

" Yeah!" Lorelai lifted her hands up a little in celebration. " I win!" Luke started walking awkwardly down the street. Lorelai smiled and laid her head down against his shoulder. He glanced over at her and smiled reluctantly.

" You're going to use this to win all our arguments now aren't you?"

" Unhunh." Lorelai nodded.

" I' m screwed aren't I."

" Yup."

" Just so I know." Luke sighed, not really that upset.

" And Luke?"

" Yeah?" Lorelai leaned forward and whispered breathily into his ear.

" Dirty." Luke rolled his eyes and reached down to open the front door awkwardly, readjusting his other arm around her.