Part 3

Luke lied on his back, smiling down at Lorelai sleeping on his chest. He took a hand and brushed the still slightly wet hair from her face. God, she was perfect. She was beautiful and smart and sexy. She was way too good for him, and yet … Something unbelievable had just happened. It was to too good to be true, but it was true. He'd just made love to her. He had made love to Lorelai Gilmore. He was the luckiest man on the face of the planet. He tightened his arms around her and fell into a very contented sleep.

Lorelai awoke the very early the next morning to find herself wrapped in Luke's arms. She grinned, hearing Luke's heartbeat. It was the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard. Everything had happened quicker than she had ever intended, but it was right. Being with Luke was right. Kissing Luke was right. Making love to Luke was right. She hadn't ever felt like this before and it scared her a little, but she knew she could handle it. Luke was going to stay with her. He wasn't going to run, so she didn't have to run first. She finally had someone she could count on and she wasn't ever going to let him go.

Luke shifted underneath Lorelai. "Hi, Luke." Lorelai glanced up at him.

"Hi. Did I wake you?" She shook her head.

"No, I was already awake. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"You and me and us." Luke smiled.

"I like the sound of that. Us."

"Yeah, I like it, too." She yawned and stretched. "Hey, what time is it?"

"4:30," he said. She sat up.

"Oh, I need to go. Today's the last day of the test run." Luke raised his eyebrows.

"Lorelai Gilmore up before daylight?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just want things to go perfectly."

"I know." He paused. "Well, let's get dressed and I'll walk you over there."

"Really? You're going to walk me through town?"

"Hey, I know how to see a lady home in style." Lorelai giggled as she pulled her clothes on.

"You know, if we walk home together, someone might see us."

"It's 4:30."

"Yeah, well, God knows what time Taylor wakes up. And I live next door to Babette. She'll have it all over town in seconds. Although, she is staying at the inn, so it wouldn't really be a problem right now."

"Does that bother you? Everyone knowing, I mean?"

"No. I mean, I'm not giddy about everyone discussing my love life, but I can deal. What about you? I know that you don't particularly enjoy gossip about you. Can you handle it?"

"I can. We don't need to broadcast our news to everyone, but I don't want to hide, either. When people find out, they find out and we'll deal with it." Lorelai smiled.

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Let's go."

"Can I put some clothes on first?" Lorelai considered it for a moment.

"Well, okay. Patty and Babette don't need to get any ideas."

Luke and Lorelai walked to her house in silence. When they got to her house, she turned to him. "Well, you got me home safely, huh?"

"Stars Hollow is a regular hot bed of criminal activity. I had to keep my woman safe." She grinned.

"Your woman?" He nodded.

"Yeah, my woman."

"Normally, I wouldn't allow a guy to use that phrase with me, but I let it go this time."

"Thank you." Luke wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her to him, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. As he pulled away, Lorelai grabbed his head and kept his lips on hers.

Luke groaned. "God, I'm not going to want to go."

"Good," she whispered against his lips.

"You have the inn."

"I know." She continued to kiss him until he pushed himself away.

"Okay, I gotta go. I'll see you later." He waved and jogged away. Lorelai leaned against her door and smiled after him. She walked into her house and went into the kitchen to make coffee, grinning the whole time.

"God, Mom. Do you have fun?" Rory asked, yawning.

"Oh, sorry, babe. Did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, it's no big deal. So, did you have fun?" Lorelai smiled.

"Yeah, I did." Rory groaned.

"You've got it bad."

"I guess I do. But anyway, we'll talk about that later. How are you doing?"

"All right. I feel so stupid. What was I thinking? Why did I do that?"

"I-"

"I wasn't asking for an answer, Mom." Rory sighed. "But- I don't know. Anyway, why are you up so early?"

"I need to get back to the inn, making sure that everyone leaves without Michel offending them."

"Good Luck."

"Thanks. I'll need it. Are you going to come this morning?"

"Uh, I don't think so. Just tell everyone I'm sick."

"Are you sure?" Rory nodded.

"I'm sure. I'll come by once everyone's left. I just can't deal with them right now."

"Okay, bye." Lorelai kissed her forehead.

"Bye."

"Lorelai, I trust you'll take these suggestions under consideration."

"Oh, absolutely, Taylor," Lorelai said, trying to keep a straight face.

"Well, good. This is a good place you've got here. With my proposals, you could end up with a fabulous inn." She nodded.

"Thanks a lot, Taylor. I'll see you."

"Good-bye, Lorelai." He walked out of the inn and Babette came up to her.

"Sugar, I have to tell you. This place is great. Really, I mean it."

"Thanks, Babette. I'm glad you could make it."

"No problem. So listen, what happened between you and that guy in the suit? He seemed awfully determined, but I haven't seen him since," Babette said, obviously looking for gossip.

"Oh, well, that's over."

"Yeah, I kind of figured, what with Luke and everything."

"What? What about Luke?"

"Oh, you know, those looks you two were giving each other at dinner the other night. Plus, Luke was grilling me about your guy."

"Babette-"

"You don't have to tell me, I know. You two are just friends … for now. Bye, sugar."

"Good-bye, Babette." Lorelai sighed. "Wow."

"Wow what?" Lorelai turned around.

"Hey, Sookie. I was just thinking about this weekend. We actually pulled it off."

"Yeah, now we just need to open it for real and not a test run."

"We can do it. If we can handle Taylor Dosey, we can handle anyone."

"Good point." The two of them sat down next to the front desk. "So, where were you last night?"

"Rory-Rory needed me to come home last night."

"Yeah, I know that. But I called and you weren't there. Rory said you were out. I was just wondering what you were doing."

"Did you need something? Was there something wrong? You could have called my cell?"

"No, No. It was no big deal. Why are you being so secretive?" Lorelai sighed.

"I don't want you to think I was keeping this from you. I haven't told anyone, except Rory. And it kind of just happened."

"What?"

"Me and Luke."

"You and Luke? What about you and- You and Luke! Oh, my God."

"Shh. Sookie!"

"Okay, I'm sorry. This is just fantastic! When did it happen? How- What happened?"

"Well, the first night of the test run-" Sookie gasped.

"OH! You guys were staring each other during dinner."

"How could you possibly know that? You were in the kitchen all night."

"Jackson told me."

"How'd he know? Oh, wait. Never mind. This is Stars Hollow. Anyway, Jason showed up and Luke thought that we were back together and he got mad. We had an argument and then … He kissed me."

"Luke kissed you?"

"Luke kissed me. I swear, Sookie, it was unbelievable. Then, last night, I went over to his place for a late dinner and we…"

"Wow, sweetie. Don't you think you're moving a little bit fast?"

"Maybe, but it feels right. I want to be with him."

"Great. I always knew Luke had a thing for you."

"I know, I know."

"So, did Luke leave his hat on?"

"Sookie!"

"What? I always wondered about that."

"That is personal and I'm not answering it."

"Oh, fine. What-"

"Ladies, I'm so sorry to interrupt this gab session, but we do have some business to discuss. Unless the inn is less important than your gossip."

"Michel, the inn is important. Sit down and let's talk about any complaints people had."

Lorelai walked into the diner a few hours later. She sat down at the counter and waited for Luke to see her. He dropped off a plate of hamburgers and grinned when he turned around and saw Lorelai waiting for him.

"Hi."

"Hi." He reached for her hand, but she pulled it away.

"You sure you want to do that?" She glanced around at the other customers.

"I guess you're right. So, how'd things go this morning?" She smiled.

"Pretty good. Taylor, of course, had about 60 complaints."

"That's to be expected. How's Rory?"

"Better, I think. She called me at the inn and said she'd meet me here for lunch."

"Really?"

"I think she's sick of the house. Plus, there's not really any chance of Dean showing up here."

"Good point." Luke looked around quickly to make sure that no one was listening. "So, I've been thinking about our first date."

"I thought we had our first date last night."

"I meant out in public, at a restaurant or something."

"Oh, well, you know, the inn opens officially in two days so I don't really have time- I mean, I've got to-"

"I know, that's why I wanted to wait about a week."

"A week?"

"Yeah, a week after the inn officially opens. It could be a little celebratory thing."

"I like that. A week after the inn opens, we'll have our first date." She paused. "Does that mean we have to wait a week to have sex again?"

"Lorelai!"

"I'm just saying, a week is a long time."

"Yeah, we have to wait week."

"Luke," she practically whined.

"Come on, we waited ten years for the first time, I'm sure we can wait a week. Possibly."

"Please-"

"Oh, look. There's Rory. I'll go get you guys some coffee." Rory came and sat next to Lorelai.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hi, how are you doing?"

"Good. Seeing the daylight actually made me feel better. And I talked to Lane."

"That's good. How is she?"

"The band's got some sort of week long job in New Jersey. She's so excited."

"I'll bet." Luke came over with some coffee.

"Hi, Rory. You want some coffee?"

"Always. I'd also like some chili fries." He nodded at Lorelai.

"And what do you want to clog you arteries with?"

"A hamburger and fries. And cherry pie."

"Excellent idea. I want some cherry pie, too."

"I'd better get out of here before you two find something else to kill yourselves with." Luke walked away and Lorelai and Rory giggle.