ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
CHAPTER THREE
Luke checked the bedside clock--three thirty.
He opened the door and there she stood. Hair tousled, dressed in flannel boxers, and a huge t-shirt with the words "Love Muffin' covering her chest. He had to smile, even though this wasn't exactly a smiling moment--the shirt said it all.
Lorelai looked at him and then followed his gaze to her chest......she laughed too. God, he has so good looking when he first woke up. His eyes were all sleepy looking and his hair was messy and well, she could wake up to this guy for years.
"Hey, sorry to wake you. I just couldn't sleep.....and I needed to talk.....or just be with someone.....someone who cares.....or understands.....or at least tries to......" She rambled and he pulled her into his room before she woke up everyone else on the floor.
"No problem, come sit." Luke motioned to the chair by the window as he sat down on the bed.
"You know, this is the 'Luke' room."
"No, I didn't know that. There's no flannel in sight, or backward baseball cap wallpaper."
Lorelai laughed and quickly answered, "No flannel, but the plaid is kind of like flannel. Most of the other rooms have flowers or girly colors. But this room is plaid, and masculine, and ......"
"Lorelai, it's me Luke. Its three thirty in the morning and I'm sure you don't want to talk about how this room is decorated, right?"
"Yeah, I don't really want to talk at all. I just don't want to be alone....alone with my thoughts."
She got up off the chair and sat beside him on the bed. "Would you just hold me, please?"
"Of course, sure, I can't think of another thing I would like to do at three thirty in the morning."
Lorelai knew he was teasing and just trying to make her feel better. And she appreciated it. She leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips and snuggled closer to him,
"Ah, Lorelai...."
"Don't worry. I don't want anything more than this, just a broad shoulder and maybe a few more of those delicious kisses of yours."
"Delicious kisses? You make no sense in the middle of the night."
"I know. But your coffee is delicious so I have to like your kisses at least that much."
"Like I said, no sense."
Luke pulled her back against the pillows he had stacked against the head board. He held her and listened to her erratic breathing, and finally felt her relax against him. It was nice. It was wonderful....sharing this time with her in the middle of the night.....no pressure for more....he reached over and turned on the radio. It played softly in the background, and they settled in to comfortable positions and soon they were both asleep.
Luke woke up first, and took a minute to evaluate where he was, and who he was with. And then he remembered her middle of the night appearance at his door. He watched her sleep and noticed she crinkled her nose in a cute little way as she slumbered away. He lay there and enjoyed the feel of her beside him. He knew he could get used to this. She started to awake and her eyes slowly opened. She looked at Luke and down at her usual nightwear. The dream she had been having was quite the opposite of this PG scene. Oh, well, and then she remembered what had brought her here.
"Hey, is it time to get up yet?"
Luke answered, "Depends on your definition of wake up time. It's six thirty. That's sleeping in for me, but I bet it's extremely early for you."
"For sure, but today I really need to get up and get down stairs. I know Michel has things firmly in hand but I really want this day to go well."
"It will, Lorelai. You've worked so hard, and you have a great staff. Today will go just as well as yesterday. You'll see."
Lorelai thought, yeah, yesterday.
"Lorelai, do you want to talk about it? Last night, I mean. What happened with Rory?"
"Luke, I don't think I can go there just yet. I have to figure out a way to handle it with her. It has to be ....."
"Lorelai, remember that night when you came to me so upset? Professing the need for a partner, someone to share the good and the bad?"
"Sure, of course, I totally lost it with you."
"Remember last night? The kisses we shared?"
"Yes, how could I forget."
She smiled up at him but he didn't return her smile.
"Luke, what's wrong?"
"Well, last night was about more than those kisses. It was a lot about you and me finally admitting that there are real feelings here. Feelings that go beyond just attraction, feelings that will probably lead to bigger things down the line."
"And?"
"And, it was about becoming partners, partners in life, not just the bedroom."
"Luke, I..."
"I'm not looking for a quick fix here. I'm looking for someone to spend my life with, share everything with. And I thought that was you.....but if you can't trust me with..."
"Luke, I trust you with my life. How can you question that, especially now?"
"Because you won't open up to me. You don't have to entrust every detail but you do have to include me."
"I guess I wasn't seeing it that way. It's always been just the two of us, Rory and me. I've had to handle everything. I've never had anyone around to share the parenting burdens with."
"I understand, I do. I'm not trying to be her father, or think I'm involved in your lives, just because we shared some kisses."
"It was more than kisses, Luke. It was the start of something, something big and maybe permanent..."
"Yeah, permanent. And Rory is part of that permanent thing, right?"
"Yep, she sure is."
"So, how about letting me take some of that burden? I'm here. I'm ready to listen. Let me help."
Lorelai settled back into his arms. Luke could tell the wheels were spinning in her head. Maybe he was being unfair, maybe it was too soon for all of this.
"Ok, Luke. But remember, you asked for it."
"I did. So just let me ask.......does all of this have anything to do with Dean?"
Lorelai pulled away quickly and looked startled. "How did you know?"
"That's what I was afraid of. Maybe I should have warned you earlier."
"Warned me? How long has this been going on?"
"I don't think anything has been going on...."
"Oh, believe me, last night, something went on." Lorelai remembered what she had walked in on.
"I mean on Dean's part. Dean has never really gotten over Rory. The night before his wedding he crashed at my place...."
"Dean slept at your apartment?"
"Well, he was drunk and pretty pathetic really. And he was babbling about Rory. I thought it was a good idea for him to sleep it off at my place."
"Whoa."
"There's more, I've found him several times, glancing her way. Trying to be close to her...."
"Luke, no."
"Sorry, I guess I should have told you. But he's married and I thought he would do the right thing. Looking is not a sin."
"But what they did last night was, Luke."
Luke looked startled. What was she hinting at? Certainly not where his mind was going--not Rory and not with a married man.
Tears starting flowing from Lorelai's eyes and Luke knew his suspicion was true. Wow, he hadn't expected anything this serious.
He pulled her back into his arms and let her cry it out. She was heart broken and all he could do was hold her and be there for her.
Lorelai finally pulled away from him and moved off the bed. He followed her to the door and she turned and fell back into his arms. Deeply appreciating what they had shared, she reached up to him and put her hand on his face like she had the night before. She kissed him soundly, and deepened it so there would be no doubt in his mind about her feelings. He buried his face in her dark curls, and whispered, "We'll be fine. Go do what you have to do. I'm here. I always will be."
"I have to get dressed. I have to go down stairs and be the professional and put all of this on hold for a little while."
"I'm sorry. The timing is so bad and well, what can I do to help you get through this day?"
"You already did it my friend. You took me in, and comforted me. You showed me your love with actions instead of empty words. Well, not your love.....we're probably not that far yet."
"Oh, yeah, we're that far. At least I am. I guess I've been in love with you for a while. It just took that damn book...."
"Ok, that's it. What book do you keep talking about?"
"The book, the book you saw in Jess's backpack."
She looked at him, understanding now his little tirade at the wedding. She slowly smiled and added, "Why didn't you read that book years ago?"
He knew she didn't care about the nature of the book anymore. She just cared that something had finally happened to get them to this point. They certainly hadn't done very well on there own.
They both laughed. The laughter broke through the serious moment. No more words were needed. Lorelai walked over to the door and closed it quietly behind her. Luke jumped in the shower and quickly got dressed. He was going to be by her side today. It was about time that the town of Stars Hollow knew that Luke and Lorelai had finally found their way to each other.
Luke left his room at the same time she was coming out of hers. He gently took her hand and they descended the stairway together. It was far too early for most of the guests to be up and about. But the few that witnessed Luke and Lorelai coming down those stairs together were genuinely surprised and pleased.
.
CHAPTER THREE
Luke checked the bedside clock--three thirty.
He opened the door and there she stood. Hair tousled, dressed in flannel boxers, and a huge t-shirt with the words "Love Muffin' covering her chest. He had to smile, even though this wasn't exactly a smiling moment--the shirt said it all.
Lorelai looked at him and then followed his gaze to her chest......she laughed too. God, he has so good looking when he first woke up. His eyes were all sleepy looking and his hair was messy and well, she could wake up to this guy for years.
"Hey, sorry to wake you. I just couldn't sleep.....and I needed to talk.....or just be with someone.....someone who cares.....or understands.....or at least tries to......" She rambled and he pulled her into his room before she woke up everyone else on the floor.
"No problem, come sit." Luke motioned to the chair by the window as he sat down on the bed.
"You know, this is the 'Luke' room."
"No, I didn't know that. There's no flannel in sight, or backward baseball cap wallpaper."
Lorelai laughed and quickly answered, "No flannel, but the plaid is kind of like flannel. Most of the other rooms have flowers or girly colors. But this room is plaid, and masculine, and ......"
"Lorelai, it's me Luke. Its three thirty in the morning and I'm sure you don't want to talk about how this room is decorated, right?"
"Yeah, I don't really want to talk at all. I just don't want to be alone....alone with my thoughts."
She got up off the chair and sat beside him on the bed. "Would you just hold me, please?"
"Of course, sure, I can't think of another thing I would like to do at three thirty in the morning."
Lorelai knew he was teasing and just trying to make her feel better. And she appreciated it. She leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips and snuggled closer to him,
"Ah, Lorelai...."
"Don't worry. I don't want anything more than this, just a broad shoulder and maybe a few more of those delicious kisses of yours."
"Delicious kisses? You make no sense in the middle of the night."
"I know. But your coffee is delicious so I have to like your kisses at least that much."
"Like I said, no sense."
Luke pulled her back against the pillows he had stacked against the head board. He held her and listened to her erratic breathing, and finally felt her relax against him. It was nice. It was wonderful....sharing this time with her in the middle of the night.....no pressure for more....he reached over and turned on the radio. It played softly in the background, and they settled in to comfortable positions and soon they were both asleep.
Luke woke up first, and took a minute to evaluate where he was, and who he was with. And then he remembered her middle of the night appearance at his door. He watched her sleep and noticed she crinkled her nose in a cute little way as she slumbered away. He lay there and enjoyed the feel of her beside him. He knew he could get used to this. She started to awake and her eyes slowly opened. She looked at Luke and down at her usual nightwear. The dream she had been having was quite the opposite of this PG scene. Oh, well, and then she remembered what had brought her here.
"Hey, is it time to get up yet?"
Luke answered, "Depends on your definition of wake up time. It's six thirty. That's sleeping in for me, but I bet it's extremely early for you."
"For sure, but today I really need to get up and get down stairs. I know Michel has things firmly in hand but I really want this day to go well."
"It will, Lorelai. You've worked so hard, and you have a great staff. Today will go just as well as yesterday. You'll see."
Lorelai thought, yeah, yesterday.
"Lorelai, do you want to talk about it? Last night, I mean. What happened with Rory?"
"Luke, I don't think I can go there just yet. I have to figure out a way to handle it with her. It has to be ....."
"Lorelai, remember that night when you came to me so upset? Professing the need for a partner, someone to share the good and the bad?"
"Sure, of course, I totally lost it with you."
"Remember last night? The kisses we shared?"
"Yes, how could I forget."
She smiled up at him but he didn't return her smile.
"Luke, what's wrong?"
"Well, last night was about more than those kisses. It was a lot about you and me finally admitting that there are real feelings here. Feelings that go beyond just attraction, feelings that will probably lead to bigger things down the line."
"And?"
"And, it was about becoming partners, partners in life, not just the bedroom."
"Luke, I..."
"I'm not looking for a quick fix here. I'm looking for someone to spend my life with, share everything with. And I thought that was you.....but if you can't trust me with..."
"Luke, I trust you with my life. How can you question that, especially now?"
"Because you won't open up to me. You don't have to entrust every detail but you do have to include me."
"I guess I wasn't seeing it that way. It's always been just the two of us, Rory and me. I've had to handle everything. I've never had anyone around to share the parenting burdens with."
"I understand, I do. I'm not trying to be her father, or think I'm involved in your lives, just because we shared some kisses."
"It was more than kisses, Luke. It was the start of something, something big and maybe permanent..."
"Yeah, permanent. And Rory is part of that permanent thing, right?"
"Yep, she sure is."
"So, how about letting me take some of that burden? I'm here. I'm ready to listen. Let me help."
Lorelai settled back into his arms. Luke could tell the wheels were spinning in her head. Maybe he was being unfair, maybe it was too soon for all of this.
"Ok, Luke. But remember, you asked for it."
"I did. So just let me ask.......does all of this have anything to do with Dean?"
Lorelai pulled away quickly and looked startled. "How did you know?"
"That's what I was afraid of. Maybe I should have warned you earlier."
"Warned me? How long has this been going on?"
"I don't think anything has been going on...."
"Oh, believe me, last night, something went on." Lorelai remembered what she had walked in on.
"I mean on Dean's part. Dean has never really gotten over Rory. The night before his wedding he crashed at my place...."
"Dean slept at your apartment?"
"Well, he was drunk and pretty pathetic really. And he was babbling about Rory. I thought it was a good idea for him to sleep it off at my place."
"Whoa."
"There's more, I've found him several times, glancing her way. Trying to be close to her...."
"Luke, no."
"Sorry, I guess I should have told you. But he's married and I thought he would do the right thing. Looking is not a sin."
"But what they did last night was, Luke."
Luke looked startled. What was she hinting at? Certainly not where his mind was going--not Rory and not with a married man.
Tears starting flowing from Lorelai's eyes and Luke knew his suspicion was true. Wow, he hadn't expected anything this serious.
He pulled her back into his arms and let her cry it out. She was heart broken and all he could do was hold her and be there for her.
Lorelai finally pulled away from him and moved off the bed. He followed her to the door and she turned and fell back into his arms. Deeply appreciating what they had shared, she reached up to him and put her hand on his face like she had the night before. She kissed him soundly, and deepened it so there would be no doubt in his mind about her feelings. He buried his face in her dark curls, and whispered, "We'll be fine. Go do what you have to do. I'm here. I always will be."
"I have to get dressed. I have to go down stairs and be the professional and put all of this on hold for a little while."
"I'm sorry. The timing is so bad and well, what can I do to help you get through this day?"
"You already did it my friend. You took me in, and comforted me. You showed me your love with actions instead of empty words. Well, not your love.....we're probably not that far yet."
"Oh, yeah, we're that far. At least I am. I guess I've been in love with you for a while. It just took that damn book...."
"Ok, that's it. What book do you keep talking about?"
"The book, the book you saw in Jess's backpack."
She looked at him, understanding now his little tirade at the wedding. She slowly smiled and added, "Why didn't you read that book years ago?"
He knew she didn't care about the nature of the book anymore. She just cared that something had finally happened to get them to this point. They certainly hadn't done very well on there own.
They both laughed. The laughter broke through the serious moment. No more words were needed. Lorelai walked over to the door and closed it quietly behind her. Luke jumped in the shower and quickly got dressed. He was going to be by her side today. It was about time that the town of Stars Hollow knew that Luke and Lorelai had finally found their way to each other.
Luke left his room at the same time she was coming out of hers. He gently took her hand and they descended the stairway together. It was far too early for most of the guests to be up and about. But the few that witnessed Luke and Lorelai coming down those stairs together were genuinely surprised and pleased.
.