Chapter Twelve

Lorelai and Rory spent all day at the mall. Rory found some things for her trip and Lorelai bought several outfits to wear at the inn. They couldn't resist buying a couple new bathing suits. The next day was supposed to be almost ninety degrees and they thought it might be better spent at the lake. On the way home they picked up some videos, and as soon as they walked through the door they called for pizza delivery.

Exhausted they crashed in front of the TV and as soon as the pizza was demolished they both fell asleep. They didn't wake up until ten the next morning. The put on their new bathing suits, grabbed some towels and a blanket and headed for the diner for breakfast.

Rory looked around the diner, "Seems weird around here with no Luke."

"Sure does."

"You miss him."

"More than I expected."

Rory thought Lorelai seemed surprised.

"Uh, mom, you should miss him. He's been part of our lives forever. And now he's an even bigger part of yours."

"Yeah, I guess. I just didn't realize. It all happened so fast."

Just then her phone rang.

"Hey.'

"Hey yourself." Lorelai smiled and Rory knew who it was immediately.

"So how are the smelly fish?" "Ah, too bad." "We're fine, on our way to the lake."

Lorelai listened for a while.

"Yeah, me too."
"I'm in the diner, I can't."

"So you'll be home tomorrow?"

"Can't wait."

"Yeah, kind of surprised me too."

Rory knew what Luke had just said. Seeing them talk like this made her smile. "Sure Friday night sounds great. Bye." Lorelai smiled as she hung up.

"Luke?"

"Yeah. He misses me."

"And you miss him."

Rory smiled at Lorelai's silly grin, "Love is in the air."

Lorelai flashed an acknowledging smile.

The girls jumped in the jeep and drove the short distance to the lake. They spent the afternoon lazing around and face to face quietly talked.

"So, you're leaving me."

"Just for two weeks. And I'm leaving you in very capable hands."

"Yeah, very capable hands."

"Uh, mom. Some things I don't need to know."

"Most things you don't." Lorelai teased her daughter.

"It's going to be fun. And I'm going to learn a lot."

"I hope so. I do think you're right. Time away from here can only help."

"I'm not running."

"I know, just creating space."

"Much needed space. And when I come back...."

"Have you talked to him?"

"No. He called a couple of times, but I didn't pick up."

"Was that wise?"

"I don't know. But I do know the timing is all wrong."

"You should talk."

"Why?"

"Well, than you would know. You would know if it was a big mistake or the start of something."

"The start of something for Dean and me means the end of Dean and Lindsay. An end that I started."

"An end you just contributed to."

"An end that will hurt Lindsay."

"But better now than later."

"I guess."

"Rory, what you did, it wasn't right. I know it happened in the heat of the moment and you rationalized it because he was your first love. But someday you might meet a guy that will be someone else's first boyfriend. How would you feel if the same thing happened to you?"

"I get it mom. I really do. I said and did a lot of stupid things that night. I know he's legally Lindsay's."

"They did say the vows. Just because we weren't there..."

"Luke told me not to go."

"What?"

"Luke, he told me not to go."

"Did he give you a reason?"

"Nope, but the way he said it, it was almost like a plea. And we both know Luke and he doesn't ask for much. And when he does ask there must be a valid reason..."

"Smart girl."

"He's a smart man."

"Yeah, so I'm learning more and more everyday."

"Hey, I'm hot and hungry and starting to burn. Let's go home.'

"Wonderful idea."

"Rory,"

"Yeah?"

"I am going to miss you."

"I'm gong to miss you too."

Lorelai and Rory headed home.

"So, dinner?"

"Dinner's always good."

They were mulling over their options when the door bell rang. Rory opened the door to find a sheepish Dean.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"I need to talk to you."

"Not now Dean. Let's just let things coast for a while."

"I can't Rory. I really need to talk to you."

"I can't right now. I'm leaving tomorrow and I have a lot to do."

"Leaving?"

"Yeah, just for a couple weeks."

"When you get back, what happens then?"

"I don't know. But I promise we will talk, if you still want to."

"Of course I'll want to."

"I'll see you in a couple weeks." Rory tried to shut the door.

"Can I call?"

"Please don't. I'm going to be busy."

Dean looked down at the floorboards on the porch. "Rory, I told her."

"Oh, Dean, please, can't it wait?"

"If it has too. I just wanted you to know before you left."

"Maybe you should try to work it out with her."

"Is that what you want...."

"I don't know what I want. I just need space right now."

"I'll be waiting."

"I promise I'll call when I get back."

"You'll call and tell me what?"

"I really have to go now."

"Bye Rory." He tried to kiss her on the check but she turned her head and closed the door.

Lorelai looked up when Rory entered the room. "Who was at the door? Rory, are you all right? Because you don't look alright."

"Dean. Dean was at the door."

"And? Don't leave me hanging here."

"And he wanted to talk and I don't want to talk to him just yet."

"So you left it at?"

Rory didn't really answer her but mumbled.

"He told her."

"He told her....oh, he told her. That was the right thing for him to do."

"Maybe, but now I know that she knows what we did......everything we did."

"Rory, it had to come out. No matter how this thing plays out in the future, the truth needs to be out there."

"Yeah, I know. But she knows, mom."

Lorelai pulled Rory in her arms and murmured, "I know honey. I know."

The door bell rang again and this time Lorelai opened the door. She felt the need to shield Rory right now.

"Hey."

"Oh, Luke." Lorelai launched herself into his arms.

"I guess you missed me?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Good because I missed you too. I couldn't stay away another minute. I brought food." Luke held up huge bulging bags from the dinner.

Lorelai laughed and pulled him into the house - - him and all his bags.

Rory looked up and smiled through her tears. "Hi, Luke. Welcome home"

"Thanks. Are you alright? 'Cause you don't look so good."

"There must be an echo in this room."

Luke looked puzzled and turned to Lorelai. "Just the Gilmore Girls getting all misty eyed about their impeding separation."

Lorelai said those words, but mouthed to him, I'll explain later.

"Well, I brought dinner. God, knows what you have two have been eating the last two days."

"Only wonderful things I assure you."

Luke shook his head and headed to the kitchen.

Lorelai called after him, "If there are vegetables or salad in any of those bags...."

"Lorelai."

Lorelai winked at her daughter and followed the aroma escaping from the bags Luke had just carried in. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly. She kissed him and rubbed lightly up and down his back.

"I'm so glad you're back."

"Me too."

They kissed for a few minutes and then she reluctantly pulled away. "To be continued...."

Luke smiled. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart." She made the motion and then called out to Rory.

"Hey, the guilty boyfriend is trying to bribe us with tons of all the things we love."

She winked at him and he knew exactly what she was talking about....and it had nothing to do with food.

"Oh, good. I'm starving!" Rory came into the room with a smile on her face. "I'm eating and then I'm out of here. Some things in life should be experienced but not witnessed."

Lorelai looked at Luke and asked, "What ever could she be talking about?"

Luke just shook his head and handed her a plate. "Don't go. I just stopped by to bring dinner and then I'm going home. I just wanted to see your mom and make sure you girls were getting at least one decent meal."

"It's ok Luke. I've had her for two days and much of that was spent with her mooning about and sighing. Even shopping doesn't do it for her any more. I'm just going to my room anyway. I have lots of sorting and packing to do. If you leave, she will just sit on my bed and make sad puppy dog eyes."

Lorelai piped up, "Will not!"

"Yes, you will. If Luke stays I have a small chance of getting something accomplished. I promise to turn my music up real loud and ignore any creaking noises I may hear from upstairs."

"Rory!"

"Its ok mom. I'm a big girl now."

Luke turn an interesting shade of red and the two girls howled with laughter.

True to her word, as soon as she had eaten Rory disappeared into her room, cranked up the CD player, and wasn't seen again for the rest of the evening. As if they would have noticed anyway........

Luke washed the dishes and Lorelai dried. Their hands touched often, and kisses were shared. Cleaning the kitchen had never been this much fun for either of them. Finally finished, Luke took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly. She sighed and leaned against his chest, "Life without you sucks."

"I missed you too. Fishing just doesn't bring the same satisfaction it used to."

"When you were a lonely bachelor?"

"God, don't remind me. It already seems a million years ago."

Lorelai smiled in agreement.

"Lorelai, I think we need to talk."

"Whoa, that doesn't sound good."

Luke laughed. "Don't jump to conclusions."

Then he grew more serious. "I've learned a lot about myself these last few weeks. The divorce, my sisters wedding, Jess and even that damn book, they made me see things differently."

"Differently?"

"Maybe we should move out of the kitchen? Away from..." Luke pointed to Rory's door.

Lorelai murmured, "Good idea." She took his hand and led him upstairs.

He pulled her gently down onto the bed. He kissed her softly and deeply, but not passionately. When he pulled away, he caught the questioning look in her eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Luke continued quietly. "I had a lot of time to think while I was away."

"Yeah, me too."

"And I came to the conclusion that instead of playing house............maybe we should consider something a little more permanent."

"You want to move in?"

"No, not exactly. Well, sort of. Damn, this isn't as easy as I rehearsed it."

"You what?"

"Give me a minute."

Luke looked into her eyes and finally spoke, "We've known each other for years, trusted and confided in each other for most of those. We've had some ups and downs and always come out better for it. We know the physical part is good. More importantly we finally admitted that we love each other. Love each other in what we hope is that for life kind of way. I'll admit it took us a long time to get here. But I guess that was for a reason. Life had to give us a few extra kicks in the butt. But that night at the inn, I knew I had to have you. I saw you slipping away and I had to take the chance. I was tired of butting my head against a brick wall. I think we both know that we need to embrace this for all that it is."

Lorelai was looking at Luke with very wide, questioning eyes. She had never heard him put so many words together at one time.

"So I've been thinking that we should get married. Not tomorrow, but soon. We should stop wondering if we're ever going to get what we want out of life. And just make it happen. There's no doubt in my mind that you are it for me. You always have been. I just didn't know it. And I was hoping that in some small way, that maybe you might....."

"Return those feelings? I do. These past two days have seemed like a week for me. I woke up last night and reached out for you.....you should have been there. I realized that you should always be there."

Luke pulled her to him and kissed her sweetly and then it escalated quickly. He slowly undressed her and touched her and kissed her while she slowly stripped his clothes away. They lay facing each other, naked and vulnerable. He tenderly ran his hand along her jaw line, across her lips, and down her throat. He looked into her liquid eyes, "So you'll marry me....be my wife?"

Lorelai murmured, "Yes, a thousand time yes." Luke embraced her and kissed her deeply. He gently ran his hands gently down her back, cupping her butt, pulling her closer to him. Their eyes locked. Her hands automatically went to his face. She outlined every curve one finger at a time. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted warm wet kisses on his lips, each lasting longer than the last.

Lorelai was slowly but sweetly torturing him. When he couldn't take another second of her tender caresses, he gently pushed into her. As they moved together as one, she surrendered that last little piece she had been holding back. The one little part of herself that she had shared with no man until now.

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