Author's Note: See Disclaimer and Title in Chapter One. Yay! This chapter had lots of stuff going on and I didn't have to break it up. More Luke and Lorelai action for you. If anyone lives in Connecticut, ignore any inaccuracies in my locations. I just used a map and picked a spot. I get the reviews emailed to me so I read them right away but here are some replies to a few specific ones. Thank you to everyone who suggested charities. They were all really helpful. Thank you to Copperboom for the Books for Africa suggestion. I picked it because not only is it something Rory would suggest but it is pretty self-explanatory. Also, to SilverTree for not only a really eloquent review but a suggestion for a charity that I might just steal and use in the sequel. Thank you to everyone who assured me that it is okay to go slow with the relationship, allowing me to keep writing long chapters and take the time to say what needs to be said, and thank you to all the people who are getting frustrated, inspiring me to write faster. I'm going to do both, because I myself am getting antsy. Hopefully this will satisfy your craving for at least a bit. Til tomorrow.

On with the story . . .

Chapter 15: Declarations, Decisions, and Dates

The next morning, at 8:00 a.m., Luke watched Lorelai stumble into the diner. She was wearing the same clothes as the night before and her hair was sticking up at odd angles. She looked as if she hadn't slept at all. She headed straight for the counter and ignored his bewildered look.

"Don't leave" she said bluntly.

"What?" he said, confused.

"Don't leave Star's Hollow" she said simply.

"Rory promised she wouldn't say anything!" Luke slammed his fist down on the counter.

"Wait, what? Rory wouldn't say what?" It was Lorelai's turn to be confused.

"She promised she wouldn't tell you that Nicole asked me to move to Litchfield. A promise she obviously broke." He didn't sound angry anymore, just disappointed.

"She didn't tell me that, Luke" Lorelai said softly. "I mean we were talking about it, but just hypothetically. We don't want you to move. I don't want you to move." She couldn't bear to look at him. She blamed her lack of sleep for her blurting in the first place, but now that she knew he had actually been asked, she felt awful.

"Why?" His voice was quiet but not angry. He, however, couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"We need you. I need you." Her voice broke and Luke knew how vulnerable she was feeling. He couldn't stop the smile that spread over his face. Lorelai looked up cautiously and noticed the smile. She mistook the happiness for a smug grin.

"You need us too," she said stubbornly. "You will be lost without us" she pouted.

"That won't happen" he said. Lorelai's mouth dropped open in shock. He laughed and her forehead furrowed in anger.

"No, Lorelai. I mean, that won't happen because I'm not moving." He stared at her, waiting anxiously for her reaction. It was confused.

"What?"

"Nicole asked me and I realized I didn't want to. This marriage was never going anywhere. We broke up." Relief washed over Lorelai's face and Luke's heart warmed slightly. Lorelai's expression quickly turned to one of annoyance.

"You made me say all that and you were never moving?"

"Nope" he said, a smirk spreading on his face. He turned quickly to hide it, but Lorelai caught it. She huffed loudly.

"And Rory knew? How did Rory know? When was I going to know?"

"Rory only knew that Nicole asked me. And you know now. I only decided this weekend."

"Is Rory psychic?"

"I called her." Luke groaned. He knew she wouldn't drop this. She motioned fanatically for him to explain. "I wanted another perspective" he went on. He refused to admit that he needed advice. "I couldn't talk to you about it, so I asked Rory" he finished quickly.

"Why couldn't you talk to me about it?" Lorelai asked, sounding hurt.

"I needed to make this decision without you." When Lorelai still looked confused, he added, "For Nicole's sake." It was Luke's turn to feel vulnerable and Lorelai finally let it drop.

"Okay. What other secrets are you and my daughter keeping from me?" she asked playfully to let him know everything was all right.

"Well, next week we are planning on having you committed" he dead panned.

"So, is that where you were last Friday? Checking out asylums?" She was teasing him, but not knowing where he was had been bothering her and she didn't know why.

"No, I was up at my cabin. I was doing some thinking." His tone had turned quiet and serious. Lorelai attempted to steer the conversation on a happier path.

"I didn't know you had a cabin. Where is it?"

"It's near Wethersfield. On the river. I just go there when I need to get away. It's just a little log cabin. No electricity even, but it's quiet and peaceful." Luke spoke like it was a place he really loved, and Lorelai was found herself enchanted.

"That sounds great. I wish I had an escape like that." Luke smiled one of his genuine smiles. Lorelai had seen so few of those that she felt incredibly special to receive one. While they had been chatting, Luke had placed a plate of fries in front of Lorelai and now noticed that she hadn't even touched them. He started to take them away and she slapped her hand down onto the plate.

"Don't even think about, buster" she warned. He grabbed a fry from her plate and popped it in his mouth. He didn't normally eat that type of stuff, but one was worth it to annoy her.

"Hey! Gross Luke! Now it's like I will be eating fries with everyone you have ever eaten fries with" she said with mock disgust.

"It's gross for me. I have only ever eaten fries with you but who knows where you have been," he teased back.

"Aww!" Lorelai cooed. "I was your first? I'm touched." Luke rolled his eyes while she giggled and munched happily. Her cell phone rang and Luke gave her a dirty look. She saw it was her mother and smiled.

"Hello? Hi, mom. I can't talk. I'm at Luke's and he has this crazy rule about cell phones. I will call you back later." Lorelai couldn't believe her luck when her mother agreed without argument. She was back to eating her fries, with Luke watching her, amused, when the diner phone rang a few minutes later.

"Luke's. Sure hold on. It's for you" Luke said, holding the phone out to Lorelai. Lorelai frowned and took the phone.

"Hello?"

"Lorelai?"

"Mom?"

"Yes, it's me."

"How did you get this number?"

"Rory gave it to me" Emily said simply.

"When?"

"Just now."

"You called Rory just now and asked her for the number to Luke's?" Emily never ceased to amaze Lorelai.

"Well I had to talk to you somehow. Who knows when you would get around to calling me back." Emily sounded annoyed as usual, but also a little hurt.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I have been working on the fundraiser stuff though."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised, Mom. Sookie will do the cooking, of course. Michel wants to do place settings. Apparently, he has been taking a class. I didn't ask. We can use waiters from the inn and Jackson will be the M.C."

"Jackson?"

"Sookie's husband. He was Squire Bracebridge, remember?"

"Ah, yes. He did a wonderful job."

"Yes, he did. That's all done. I'm talking to some people about entertainment, but I will know soon. Come up with a charity yet?"

"Rory seems to think this 'Books for Africa' is a good idea."

"That sounds like her." Lorelai smiled at the thought of her daughter. "I think it's a good idea too."

"That's settled then. I will call the DAR today."

"Sounds good. I think it's pretty much under control. We can talk more at dinner on Friday."

"Thank you, Lorelai" Emily said sincerely.

"Bye, Mom."

Lorelai handed Luke the phone to hang up. That was the first completely pleasant conversation she'd had with her mother in awhile.

"Sounds like you got it all worked out." Luke said.

"Not quite." Lorelai looked at Luke nervously.

"Oh, no. What?" Luke recognized that look. It meant she wanted him to do something. Every time she suckered him into it.

"It's nothing really" she said coyly. He looked at her skeptically. "We just want to use your kitchen. Sookie has to cook a lot and the kitchen isn't quite ready at the inn and . . . "

"Fine"

"What?" Luke never gave in that easily.

"I said fine. I understand. I trust Sookie" he said. Lorelai made a face. "That's all you need me to do?"

"I swear on my life."

"Don't. I don't want to replace a burned stool when you are struck down." Lorelai again made a face and this time Luke smirked.

Luke left the counter to refill coffee around the diner. Lorelai watched him. She thought that he had to be upset about the breakup. He seemed all right though. She ignored the relief that Nicole was gone nagging at her. She thought she should do something for Luke, just in case he was upset and just didn't want to show it. He had done a lot for her after all.

"Hey Luke, you busy Saturday?" she asked him when he returned.

"Working" he replied absently.

"Can you get out of it?"

"Why?" he asked cautiously. She probably just wanted him to come over and fix something.

"Well, I thought we could have a movie night. The last one was fun and I haven't had one in a while." She looked at him expectantly. He pretended to think about it. "Oh, Luke. Just say yes already. You know I will make you anyway."

"Fine. Sure."

"Great. You'll bring food?"

"Would I make it out alive if I didn't?"

"Not likely. Well I have to go call a certain daughter and discuss some things. I will see you later."

"Yep. Bye Lorelai."

"Bye Luke."