Chapter Four

Luke sat at his table listening to Babette and Miss Patty babble on about those stupid bathrobes, while his real focus was only on Lorelai. She was wandering among the tables, smiling, asking questions, putting on a good show. No one else would know that her heart was breaking inside. Only he.....and Rory, if she ever showed up.

When Lorelai finally made her way to his table, Babette and Patty both looked at each other knowingly. This was the moment they had been waiting for.

"So I hope you two slept well." Lorelai commented to the women, while giving Luke a long side glance.

"Wonderful, honey. How about yourself? 'Sleep' well?" Babette winked.

Lorelai looked at her strangely. "Well, it was kind of a long night for me. With all the excitement and all...."

"Yes, the excitement, indeed." Miss Patty looked over at Luke.

Luke piped up. "Hey, Lorelai, want me to check that plumbing problem now?"

Lorelai sighed in relief. "Sure. You two will excuse him, right?"

"Sure, honey. We can't have 'plumbing' problems at your new inn."

"No, that would never do. The plumbing is the most important part of a new venture, if you know what I mean." Babette wined at Patty.

Luke jumped up and followed Lorelai into the kitchen. She grabbed his hand and led him out the back door and over to the stables. She looked around to make sure no one was there and dragged Luke over to the corner where the bales of hay were stacked. Lorelai quickly pulled him back against the wall and just looked up at him. He slowly moved his hands to her waist, pulling her up against his body. Her hands automatically went around his neck, and her lips sought his hungrily.

"I've been wanting to do that all morning," Lorelai whispered in his ear.

"Yeah, me too. Seems like an eternity since the last ones."

Their lips meet again and again.....their bodies pressed together against the hay bales. They necked until they were breathless, and finally Luke pulled away. Taking a deep breath he asked, "Are you OK? I've been watching you and you seem sort of in denial or something."

"I'm OK. Definitely not in denial, shock maybe."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"Yeah, kiss me again. Hold me. Reassure me that I'm strong enough to handle this."

Luke gently kissed her and then whispered, "You're the strongest women I know. You can handle anything. Just give it some thought and when you see her again...."

"Oh, God, Luke. When I see her again. It's going to be hard."

"You'll be fine. It's Rory, and she needs her mother now. Even if she doesn't think so. She'll be here. You'll see."

Lorelai looked up into his eyes and a look passed between them. No words were necessary. Their ever present shorthand was there, there in both of their eyes.

"Guess I should get back."

"Yeah, in a minute." With that Luke pulled her into a crushing embrace and kissed her sensually. She fell quickly under his spell and they continued again until they were both breathless.

Lorelai slowly pulled away. "So what was up with the gossip queens?"

"They were already in the dining room when I walked in. I have a feeling they saw us come down the stairs together."

"Oh, figures. Just what we need, huh?"

"If you're asking me if I mind........I don't. You and I, we're a fact now....a Star Hollow news bulletin."

Lorelai laughed. "I guess so. Better us, then Rory and ........"

"Much better."

Luke and Lorelai walked out of the stable, making sure not to hold hands or touch in any way. But anybody watching would have known how they felt about each other. They were beaming. Luke opened the kitchen door for her to enter, and noticed straw on her back and in her hair. He gently picked it away as she giggled. "Getting rid of the evidence, huh?"

"Yeah, something like that. They (he pointed toward the dining room) don't need any more ammunition."

Sookie looked up to see them coming through the door. There was definitely something up there. Both of them looked so happy, and a little guilty. Could it be, after all of these years, that they had finally really 'seen' each other. And not only seen each other, but actually acted on it. Sookie smiled at them but only said "good morning". The truth would come out soon enough.

"Lorelai, Rory's looking for you. She said she'd be up in your room."

"Thanks, Sookie."

Lorelai looked up at Luke.

"You'll be fine. Go up there and talk to her, Let her tell you what happened, how it happened. Listen to her side and then respond."

"How did you get so wise all of a sudden?"

Luke gently chuckled, thinking about Jess, and that book.

"I can do that, right? I can talk to my daughter about anything.......but this...."

"Go Lorelai. I'll see you later. I'm going to go check on the diner. Then I'll be back and we can talk."

Lorelai squeezed his hand and she walked toward the stairway.

Sookie watched this little interaction and wondered just what was going on. She thought the big news was Luke and Lorelai, but it was obvious that something big had happened that involved Rory. She thought Rory had looked a little distraught. In fact, she thought Rory looked like her nice little world was falling down around her. And now, Lorelai had that same look on her face. She felt badly for her friend. This should be the happiest time of her life......first the Dragonfly....and now maybe Luke.....

Lorelai gave Luke one last wave and then slowly ascended the staircase.