AN: I don't know why everyone is acting like the story is over. And thanks for the passers by hint, I really had no clue how to say it. This is the second to last chapter. Then you can all start saying "great story" and "that was the best story I've ever read" and "You should work for the WB," okay, I guess you can make the WB comment anytime.

...

By Wednesday, the broken window had been boarded up and the broken counter torn out, but it would be another week at least before the diner could open again. Lorelai followed Luke upstairs for their date. She couldn't believe it. A date. With Luke. God she must be crazy.

When she walked into his apartment she smelt something delightful. Pizza. 'Luke must be going soft,' she thought to herself. As he explained it, pizza was something she could eat with her left hand. Lorelai thought he was trying to impress her. Either way, it was working.

"You sure know the way to a girl's heart," she said as she sat down in the chair he had pulled out for her. A candle was lit in the middle of the table, and a red rose lie across her plate. He served the pizza, and for a while they ate in comfortable silence. Finally, Lorelai said, "Wow, Luke. I never took you for a romantic. This is really sweet."

"Thank-you. So how are things with your mom around?"

Lorelai laughed and nearly choked on her pizza. "Oh my god. She's completely taken over the house. Her poor maid has everything cleaner than it's been since we moved there. I'm not even allowed to help load the dishwasher. If it wasn't for Sookie's daily visits and Rory's daily phone calls I think I'd go nuts. I've watched every movie Rory and I own, some twice, and It's only been three days."

"So, how are you doing on that poem thing? When was Rory's assignment due again?"

"Yesterday. But her teacher gave her an extension due to my condition."

"How thoughtful."

Luke cleared away the dishes and the empty pizza plate (three-fourths eaten by Lorelai, one-fourth by Luke.) "Close your eyes," he demanded. She obeyed and he retreated into the kitchen.

"So," he called as he prepared desert, "Rory told me about a dream you had about me a while ago. Interesting that you never told me about it."

"Which dream was that?"

"So there's been more than one? This one involved me talking to a couple children in your stomach."

Lorelai nearly choked on the soda, (no wine, it might interfere with her pain medications,) that was in her mouth at the time. "Oh my god. She told you about that? Remind me to decrease her allowance."

Soon Luke came in with desert. Lorelai could smell something extremely sweet and delicious. "No peeking," Luke ordered. "Before you open your eyes I have to ask you a very serious question."

"Okay..."

"Do you sleep on the right or left side of the bed?"

Lorelai was caught slightly off guard. "Um... When I'm alone I sleep in the center, a little more to the right because my night stand is on that side...I guess the right when I'm with someone else...This is a serious question because..."

"Because I hope to be sharing a bed with you quite frequently in the near future. Open your eyes."

She did, and sitting in front of her was one large piece of apple pie, with a big scoop of ice cream on top. And set firmly on top of the ice cream was the most gorgeous diamond ring that Lorelai had ever seen. One large diamond sat in the center with two smaller ones on each side. Rory and Luke had picked the ring out on Sunday when Lorelai had been with Emily."

"Luke, pie? Are you trying to buy my love?"

"Shamelessly. This diamond," he pointed to the large one in the center, "Is us. All of us. This one next to it is for Rory. This one is you and this one is me."

"And the fifth one?"

"The fifth one is for...anyone else who may come along."

"Oh." Lorelai brushed a tear off her cheek. She had seen many sides of Luke Danes before, but this one was new.

"Lorelai," Luke was kneeling next to her now, "Lorelai, by wearing this ring, you will say yes not only to marrying me but to a life with me. I know I'm not perfect," Lorelai couldn't believe it, he was getting choked up, "I know I'm not perfect but I love you. I want to be Rory's stepdad. If I'm going to have any more children I want you to be their mother. I want to be the first one you see when you wake up and the last one you see before you go to bed. Marry me."

By this time they were both crying. Lorelai rescued the ring from the ice- cream and licked it off. Then she smiled as she slid it onto her left hand.

Then she kissed him.

Tears were dried, hugs were exchanged, and they kissed again. Luke returned to his chair across the table. He picked up the fork, broke off a piece of pie and ice-cream, and held it up to Lorelai's mouth. "Let's celebrate," he said.

...

Still to come: Lorelai's last poem.