Author's Note: See Disclaimer and Author's Note in Chapter One. Okay, this is what I had planned on being part of Chapter 9 but it would've been way too long. Before anyone gets mad, I really do like country music. The Lonestar song was playing at the time I wrote this and miraculously seemed to fit. I just figured Luke would not be the sad country music type. Thank you for the direction with the characters jobs. It helped a lot. Also, I looked at my notes for the story and 3/4 of the rest of the chapters are Luke and Lorelai interaction. I promise its coming. I'm anxious to get to it too, so I will probably be updating faster until we get there. Thanks for sticking with me.

On with the story . . .

Chapter 10: Come Crying to Me

"Well that was an interesting evening" Rory said as they walked out to their car after dinner.

"You can say that again" Lorelai agreed.

"Are you going to help her?" Rory asked, shivering in the cold as she waited for Lorelai to unlock the Jeep.

"I don't know." Lorelai sighed, but didn't elaborate.

"She was really trying, mom."

"I know."

"She was being really nice."

"I know, Rory." Lorelai prayed Rory would drop it, but knew she had her own tenacity.

"It might make Grandpa feel better to see Grandma happy." Rory hated to use that card, but she really liked it when her mother and grandmother were on good terms. Lorelai turned to look at her and her mouth opened but nothing came out. She turned back to watch the road. An uncomfortable silence fell over them. Rory instantly felt like crap. She knew her mother felt guilty enough already. When they were almost to Star's Hollow Lorelai broke the silence.

"I'm stopping at Luke's. I will drop you off at home." Rory looked hurt.

"I'll go with you" she said quietly.

"No, you have studying to do. I want to talk to Luke. It will take awhile." She tried not sound angry. She really did want to talk to Luke. She wanted to talk to anyone but Rory right then. Sookie would definitely be busy with something and Luke always kept coffee on after closing on Friday's. He knew that she would usually need it after dinner with her parents. She loved that. She loved how it made her feel safe. She wasn't sure why, but knowing that it would always be there seemed like a giant cushion for life's little bumps. She couldn't wait to get to Luke's.

She dropped Rory off at home. Normally, she would walk the short distance to the diner. There was snow on the ground and she loved to take her time and enjoy it. Tonight, she just wanted comfort as soon as possible. The journey took five minutes when she drove. She parked next to the diner and smiled when she saw the light was on in the kitchen despite the dark diner. She noticed the 'Closed' sign and was surprised when her skin tingled at the thought of being special enough to just walk in anyway. She took a seat at the counter and waited anxiously when she heard footsteps in the back. Soon he emerged.

"Caesar? What are you doing here?" she asked confused and more than a little disappointed.

"Closing up" he said simply.

"Where's Luke?"

"He took a couple days off. Left town for a bit." Caesar watched her face fall and turned to pour her some coffee. He smiled lightly to himself. He couldn't wait until the day the two of them would realize what was practically hitting them over the head already. "He told me to keep a pot on for you. He thought you would need it."

"Smart man." Lorelai smiled shyly.

"He'll be back tomorrow" Caesar offered.

"Thanks, Caesar" Lorelai said, sounding a little better. She took her coffee and walked out. She wasn't ready to get home right away so she decided to walk. She needed time to think and she could pick up the Jeep tomorrow.

She walked slowly. She had meant to think about what had happened with her mother and with Rory. Instead she found her thoughts focused on Luke. She wondered where he was. Maybe he was with Nicole. She shivered at the thought but convinced herself it was the cold. She couldn't deny the disappointment she felt when Luke hadn't been there tonight. He had been there so many other times. Always willing to listen and give her his thoughts. They weren't always what she wanted to hear, but that was what was so great. Luke always told her the truth. If she was being a jerk, he let her know it. When she was angry, he had a way of calming her down. She counted on that. She realized how much she really did rely on him. Did he do that for Nicole? She wondered why she hated the idea so much. She didn't have to wonder long, however, because she was soon on her own front porch.

Elsewhere, Luke was also mulling things over. He wondered if he was making a mistake. He wished things could be simple. He sat in the dark room, drinking a beer and listening to soft country music on the radio. He hated country music. Between thoughts he caught a lyric or two.

"When you're tired of it all, and tears need to fall. Your backs to the wall, come crying to me"

His thoughts were drawn to Lorelai. He thought of the night almost a week ago when she had come crying to him. He rolled his eyes at his own pitifulness for relating to a sad country song. He kicked the table and the radio fell over, silencing. However, Lorelai wasn't shaken from his thoughts. He liked that she came to him when she was upset. He hated to see her cry. It made him nervous. He felt tense and never knew what to say or do, but he liked it all the same. He liked feeling needed. He liked being able to make her feel better. He never knew how much he helped, but it must be some if she came back. He wondered if she had come in looking for him tonight. She almost always came in after Friday night dinners. Every once in a while, things would be fine and they would laugh for a few minutes and she would leave. More often than not, however, she would be upset over a fight with her mother and they would spend the better part of an hour talking. He loved Friday nights. He hated not being there for her.

Lorelai noticed all the lights were out and figured Rory had gone to bed. She was ready for bed herself. She tiptoed into the dark house and bumped into a figure in the entryway. Lorelai screamed and beat them over the head with her purse. The figure ducked and reached for the light.

"It's a good thing that purse is strictly for decoration." Rory said, smoothing her hair.

"What were you doing creeping around like that?"

"I wasn't creeping. You were the one tiptoeing in. I was standing in one spot. I was lurking."

"Well, great front entryway lurking. Soon you'll be ready for back alleys."

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Talk." Lorelai was still mad, though she tried not to be. She hadn't gotten to talk it out with Luke and she hadn't gotten much resolved on the way home. She walked to the kitchen to avoid glaring at Rory.

"I'm sorry" Rory said following her. "I really didn't mean it the way it came out. I know you feel bad about this whole Jason thing. You shouldn't because Jason is a world class jerk. He doesn't even deserve the dignity of a name. We should just call him something else." Rory waited for any response from Lorelai.

"Scum-sucker Fathead?" Lorelai offered. Rory smiled.

"Scum-sucker Fathead it is. Anyway, none of that was your fault. I was completely wrong to bring it up. I just think it would be a really good idea to help Grandma. I will even help out. We could get the whole town to help out. We could do that for a fundraiser instead of Taylor's Bachelor auction." Rory shuddered at the thought.

"I think there are better causes than the Star's Hollow bridge for a bunch of society women to give money too. Like Somalia. I mean what is more important, our bridge or all of Somalia?" Rory looked at her skeptically.

"I don't think they could afford all of Somalia. Maybe a village or two." Rory was happy the fight was over, no matter how short it was. "But you'll help them with these village saving efforts?"

"If they can come up with a good cause, yes, I will help them." Lorelai agreed and looked up at Rory nervously. Rory kissed her cheek and hugged her.

"Can you believe them? Impoverished Artists?" Lorelai asked as they walked into the living room with their arms linked.