Luke looked over at Lorelai, on the phone in his diner. For once he didn't reprimand her for it. Lorelai was getting emotional again, recounting the events that had happened earlier this morning to her daughter, Rory.

"Honey, all you need to know is that we are okay, our stuff is okay, and that this guy is never gonna show his face in Stars Hollow again. Yup, I'm sure. I have my own personal bodyguard to make sure of that." She smiled up at Luke as he refilled her coffee. He smiled back, and secretly loved that she felt safe with him. "Rory, you don't have to come back home right now, I know you have tests. No, I won't be alone, Yeah, I'm staying at Luke's. No, I won't even go in the house alone until the deadbolts are put in. Yes, Luke is going to put them in. I know, he is kind of like my knight in shining armor, isn't he? Honey, I don't want you to worry. Focus on your schoolwork, and I know that's hard enough with Paris there. I'll be fine. Love ya'. Bye bye, I'll see you next weekend. No you hang up! No you! No you! Okay, fine. Bye. Bye. I miss you. Don't forget what I look like! All right. Buh-bye hun." Finally, Lorelai hung up the phone. Luke had made his rounds at the diner, and was back to the counter where she was sitting. "Is Rory going to be okay?"

"Yeah, she'll make it. She was almost more upset than me, and she was twenty miles away! Am I dismissing this too soon? Should I be worrying more Luke? I don't know anymore."

"Don't worry about it Lorelai. Rory's strong, just like you. It's good that you aren't worrying anymore. There is nothing to worry about right now. You are safe, you have your things back, and…"

"And what?"
"And I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"I know." It was then that Sookie bustled into the diner, a cranky Davey in tow.

"Oh my God!!! Lorelai, are you okay? I just heard about the break in! I can't believe it! Are you sure you're okay?

"Yes, Sookie, I'll be fine. I have Luke."

"Oohhh. Yes, that would make it all okay, wouldn't it" Sookie got a mischievous grin on her face that said it all. Luke walked over to the trio, and asked Sookie if there was anything she wanted. "Just some green tea please Luke."

He looked at her appreciatively. "How come you can't have normal eating patterns like Sookie?"

"Well, we can't all be perfect." replied Lorelai, drolly.

"Oh, you know what Luke?" said Sookie, suddenly, "Cancel that order. I almost forgot! Davey had a doctor's appointment for 11:30, and it's almost quarter after. I've gotta go. Sorry hun," She said to Lorelai, giving her a quick hug. "I hope your day turns out better."

"It's looking up already." Said Lorelai, looking over at Luke.

***

It was 1:30, and the retirees and children were taking their naps, the workers were finished with their lunch breaks, and there was a lull in the diner. Lorelai was still there, she had only left once to make a mysterious trip to Doose's, and Luke had no idea what she had bought there. Until now.

"Hey Luke."

"Yeah?"

"Wanna play Phase 10?"

"The card game?" Luke sounded surprised.

"No, the drinking game. Any time someone says something that could possibly come in a set of ten, we each have a shot of straight up vodka. Of course the card game!"
"Well, I haven't played it in a long time, so I might be a little rusty, but okay."
"Woo Hoo! We're gonna play Phase 10!"

"Come on Lorelai, it's not that big of a deal."
"That's what you think!"

*Forty Minutes Later…*

"I can't believe you beat me, Lorelai!"

"And this one was for all the jellybeans too!"

"You cheated! I know you cheated!"

"Moi? Never! I can't believe you would insinuate such a thing."

"Well, peaking at the cards to decide if you want to take them or not is cheating."

"No, it's not."

"So is taking more than one card at a time."

"Never heard these rules before!!!"

"Right. So you win. Fine." Lorelai jumped up on the counter and started to dance.

"I won! I won! Whoo hoo!"

"Lorelai! Get the hell down from there before someone sees you!" Said Luke from the side of his mouth, trying to ignore her and look out the window to see if anyone had seen her yet. But the dancing was a little too distracting, and he didn't notice one person who was headed towards the door. "Get down NOW!"

"Oh fine, spoilsport. Catch me!!"

"What? Humph!!" and she landed in his arms, and wrapped her legs around his waist. "Lorelai, are you drunk?"

"I've been here all day. The only thing I could have gotten drunk on is coffee." But maybe I did get drunk, looking into your eyes. "Luke?"

He was still holding her. "What?"

"What would you do if I kissed you?" He just looked at her. Suddenly a voice came from the doorway.

"Hopefully he'd tell you that he's married and to back off."
At the sound of Nicole's voice, Luke dropped Lorelai. "Nicole… I…"

"Go for it. Just try and explain. God, I knew this was coming. What am I, blind? How could I think that this could work out? I knew there had to be a good reason you weren't married already, you weren't taken. Now I know you were, that whole time! Our whole relationship has been a farce."

"No, Nicole, that's not…"
"True? I think it is. Goodbye Luke. My lawyers will be in contact with you.?
"Goodbye Nicole. I'm sorry."

"Yeah" She looked at him, then at Lorelai. "I'm sure you are." Then Nicole left. And that was it.

"So, I guess it's over." Luke sighed. "I saw it coming. I can't believe this. Look at me, I'm a failure, again."
"Luke, you have never been a failure. You will never be a failure. It's impossible." Lorelai rubbed his back. "This isn't your fault. If anything, it is mine. I shouldn't have done that."

"Don't say that. Now, before we were so rudely interrupted, I think we were in the middle of something."
"Luke?" Maybe he wasn't heartbroken after all.

"Whose turn is it to deal?" And maybe he needed some time to heal.