Author's Note: I don't own Gilmore Girls or this lovely song by Nikka Costa. If you haven't heard of her I highly recommend her CD, especially this little ditty...

Just Because by Nikka Costa...

And they don't laugh the way you do

And they smile the way you do

And their eyes don't shine the way yours do

I love

I love

I love you

Just because

Luke arrived at Lorelai's a little after 7 p.m. He knew her issues with punctuality. She opened the door and grinned as he walked in. After she closed the door and locked it securely she pulled Luke into a soft lingering kiss.

"Hi," she smiled as she pulled away from him.

Luke tightened his grip on her waist and pulled her toward him again. His lips found hers and he kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and parted her lips as she returned his kiss. The kiss was urgent. It displayed their passionate need to be with each other, especially since this was the first time they kissed since their fight and subsequent make up.

The long kiss turned into a series of small, short kissed before they broke away from each other. They stood looking at each other for a moment before Lorelai laughed and pulled his hand to follow her into the kitchen.

"I think we should fight more often," she said with a smile.

Luke stopped her in the hallway and pulled her to him again backing her into the wall gently. "I don't," he replied kissing her again. "I hate fighting with you," he said letting her go and following her to the kitchen.

"I don't like fighting with you either," she said taking a seat. "The popcorn stuff is all set up for you," she grinned.

"How nice of you," he replied getting the kernels out to pop.

"So, Luke," Lorelai said. "I really am sorry about the other night. You know how I get when it comes to my parents. I already feel like the bad seed and when you asked me about my Dad it seemed like you thought I should call him. I got defensive and I'm gonna try to not do that anymore," she said sincerely.

Luke stopped what he was doing and pulled out a chair across from Lorelai. He took her hand across the table and held it in his own.

"I'm sorry too," he replied. "I don't know why I gave you such a hard time."

"It's okay, I gave you a hard time too," she responded.

"But it's not okay," Luke said standing up. "I don't want to be the guy that gives you a hard time because I'm stubborn." He started pacing back and forth in the kitchen. "I don't want to screw this up Lorelai."

Lorelai stood up and walked over to him. "I know, believe me, I know," she said taking his face in her hands. "But we're good. We'll both try harder to be our usual congenial selves," she said with a smile.

Luke couldn't help but return her smile. "Yeah, we will," he said. Lorelai leaned forward and planted a small kiss on his lips. "Now get to popping and I'll get the movie set up," she said as she bounded out toward the living room.

He had agreed to make Lorelai a nice greasy batch of homemade popcorn complete with melted butter. He, of course, would eat the air popped, low fat, no butter, no salt popcorn that he made for himself. He had just finished dumping Lorelai's popcorn into a bowl and was walking to the living room. Lorelai was getting the movie set up when he came in. He walked behind her and handed her the bowl of popcorn over her head. She reached for it as he brushed pasted her. The leg of his pants tightly brushed her back and a million shivers shot up her spine. They had been exhibiting much self-restraint in the face of their mutual attraction. Lorelai was sure it was because they had to continually make out in Luke's truck like teenagers. If they had actually ever been in a room together things were sure to lead elsewhere. Tonight was a dangerous situation.

"Luke?" Lorelai asked getting up and settling next to him on the couch.

"Hmm," he responded.

"How come you like me?" she asked.

"What?" Luke asked surprised. He felt a little put on the spot with her question.

"Well I mean I know why I like you. You're always there for me. You're understanding and caring. I just have to ask and you'll help me with anything. You fix things around my house. You make me food," she held up her popcorn bowl as evidence, "and the best coffee in the world," she smiled. You put up with me. How come?" she asked.

Luke blushed a little at the list of qualities she listed for him. "Well, for one you're crazy and I like my women a little off-kilter," he joked.

She slapped his arm playfully and cuddled next to him resting her head in the crook of this neck. "I mean it," she prodded him.

"You'd help me with anything too," he started. "And you're my partner in crime. Who else would willingly come destroy a set of church bells with me? And you have this light around you that brightens the darkest room. And you make me smile more than any human ever should," he said as he placed his arm around her shoulder and she snuggled closer to him.

Lorelai looked up at him and kissed him. "Good answer," she said as she pulled back and pressed play on the remote control.

They watched the first half of the movie according to Lorelai's "rules." No talking. No phone calls. No bathroom breaks, under penalty of missing the movie. The second half of the movie was where the evening took an interesting turn.

"I can't believe I'm watching this," Luke said as he watched two men chasing each other around a room singing Like a Virgin.

"Hey, you're talking," Lorelai warned him.

"Lorelai this is a musical, which is weird, and you're forcing me to watch it what else wou-" Luke was cut off by Lorelai's hand shoving some of his popcorn into his mouth before he could finish his thought.

"It's Moulin Rouge and it's weird, but it's a very good story," she said matter-of-factly as Luke finished chewing the popcorn she shoved in his mouth.

Luke took the hint and decided not to talk anymore. He put his bowl of popcorn on the table and Lorelai sprawled out and rested her head on Luke's chest. He rested his hand on her and gently stroked her side while they watched the movie. It was at the point in the movie that Nicole Kidman learns she's dying that Lorelai broke the silence by talking.

"Hey, if I had TB and I was gonna die would you write a story about me?" she asked Luke.

"You're talking," Luke said still watching the screen.

"Come on," she said propping herself up and looking at Luke.

He took his eyes off the screen and looked at her. "You shouldn't talk like that," he said. "I don't really want to think about it."

"Come on," she said playfully shaking his arm. "Indulge me."

"Fine, if I was a poor writer and you were a prostitute with TB and you died I would be so sad that I'd not only write a story about you, but it would be a musical starring the Bangles and David Bowie. I'd be so sad that I'd even sing in the grand finale and donate all the profits to the Lorelai Gilmore TB Fund for Prostitutes," he said dryly.

Lorelai smiled brightly at him. "See that's why I'm in love with you," she said resting her head back on his chest.

It took both of them a minute to catch up, but Luke was pretty certain Lorelai had just said she was in love with him. Lorelai was stunned at what just came out of her mouth. She hadn't just said I love you she said I'm in love with you. Lorelai sat up next to Luke. They both looked at each other incredulously.

"What?" Lorelai said as if Luke had been the one to speak the L word.

"Uh, what did you just say?" Luke asked to clarify what he had heard.

"I, uh, I was, it was," Lorelai stammered horribly. She wasn't sure what to say. She honestly hadn't thought about her feelings for Luke. They had spent every night together since they kissed at the Dragonfly with the exception of one, but wasn't it too soon for Lorelai to love him? She knew she loved Luke before they had started dating, but she wasn't quite sure when that love turned into in love. She was never the one to say I love you first and because this was Luke it scared the hell out of her. She couldn't very well take it back though. Luke was still staring at her waiting for an answer to his question.

"I, uh, I said I was in love with you," Lorelai said, her voice shaking. "But that was stupid, I shouldn't have said it. It's not what I meant," she tried to explain.

Luke was shocked but when she said she shouldn't have said it the look on his face said it all. Lorelai noticed the pained look on his face and wondered if she had made a mistake.

"So, you didn't mean it then?" Luke asked.

Lorelai looked at him. 'Just tell him,' she willed herself. Luke was her boyfriend. She loved spending time with him. She loved him. She was in love with him. But this was a huge and scary step. Being in love with Luke was like jumping off the Eiffel Tower with no net.

"No, I did mean it," she said quietly not looking at him.

"You love me? You're in love with me?" he asked to clarify.

Lorelai only nodded to confirm her answer. Luke didn't know what to think. It was everything he ever wanted. It also scared the hell out of him. Lorelai loving him was like driving on the Autobahn without a seatbelt.

He put his hands on her shoulders and inched closer to her. "I'm in love with you too," he said quietly.

Lorelai looked up at him wide eyed with tears starting to well in her eyes. She fought to keep them back. Luke didn't know why she was crying. He wondered if she wanted to take it back now that she'd said it out loud.

"I'm sorry," Luke said. "Should I not have said that?" He was very nervous that Lorelai would tell him that she didn't mean to say what she said at all. A single tear escaped Lorelai's eye and started dripping down her cheek. In spite of himself Luke used his finger and brushed the tear off her cheek.

"No, I'm glad you said it," Lorelai said taking Luke's hands. "I don't want you to feel like you had to say it though. I don't know why I'm crying. I'm just-- this is a little scary for me," Lorelai explained.

"Tell me about it," Luke agreed with a small grin.

"You're scared?" Lorelai asked,

"Well it's not every day I tell the most amazing woman I know that I'm in love with her, which I mean completely. You know I'm not good with this stuff," he finished.

Lorelai had stopped crying. She was just hold Luke's hands and looking at him. "You're not bad at this at all," she reassured him. "Look at me, the Incredible Crying Woman! This is...Luke I've never told anyone I love them first. And this just totally crept up on me. It's not something I planned. It took me totally by surprise. I'm just overwhelmed by how I'm feeling right now," she explained.

"Lorelai, I understand," Luke said quietly. "I've never felt so much so fast before."

"We can be scared to together," Lorelai said kissing the tops of Luke's hands.

"Sounds like a plan," he said pulling her close to him. The movie was still playing but Luke and Lorelai only saw each other. Luke leaned his back against the end of the couch and Lorelai placed herself on top of him and they just lay there for a moment breathing together. Luke gently rubbed Lorelai's back and she closed her eyes and took in Luke's scent.

She crept closer to his face and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. He held her face and brushed her hair out of her face as he bent his head to kiss her lips again. The taste was salty and sweet and so very Lorelai. Their lips met and suddenly everything seemed so right, so perfect. Luke's lips parted slightly and Lorelai took the opportunity to deepen the kiss by gently running her tongue over his bottom lip. Luke rubbed his tongue lightly over Lorelai's and rubbed his hand up the back of her arm. He felt her tiny goosebumps form over her arm and Lorelai suppressed a light giggle.

Things between them were getting heated, but neither wanted to stop. They both said they loved each other, which was a huge step for both of them. Now they just wanted to stay wrapped up in each other. Lorelai was the one to initiate more as she reached for Luke's shirt and started to unbutton his flannel shirt slowly. She didn't allow this movement to break the contact of their lips. Luke was surprised by her sudden voracity, surprised and delighted at the same time. He moved his hand under her shirt and gently stroked her back, inching her shirt up as he went.

Lorelai had finally succeeded in unbuttoning all the buttons on Luke's shirt and she forcefully pulled the flannel back over his shoulder. Of course, Luke being Luke, there was another T-shirt to get through before she could get to the good stuff, but she was more than willing to work for it.

"You know, it's summer," Lorelai said panting slightly. "You should really think about not layering your clothes," she said as he moved so she could work his shirt down both arms before throwing it onto the coffee table.

Luke took this change in position to shift his weight forward and lay Lorelai down on the couch with him on top of her. "Bossy," he said as he moved in to kiss her neck.

Lorelai raised her eyebrow and laughed as she said, "Oh you have no idea."

Luke looked up from the spot on her neck and gave her a devilish grin. "I can't wait to find out," he said as he went back to kissing her neck. Her scoop neck T-shirt was not working for Luke and he decided it had to go. He placed his hands under Lorelai's shirt and quickly threw it over her head. It joined Luke's flannel on the coffee table.

"You are a dirty man Luke Danes!" Lorelai laughed as she took Luke's face in her hands and pulled his lips to hers. Lorelai was just starting to fumble with the buckle on Luke's belt when the phone rang loudly.

"Ah hell," Luke breathed as he pulled away from Lorelai.

She pulled on his T-shirt and drew his back toward her. "That's what answering machines are for," she said raspily as she caught Luke's lips with her own.

The phone rang three more times and the answering machine clicked on.

"Mom?" said Rory's voice. "I guess you're not home right now," she continued as Lorelai fumbled to get out from under Luke.

"Sorry, sorry," she said as she scrambled for the phone. "I haven't talked to Rory since she got to Europe," she said as she stood up and answered the phone.

"I'm here, Rory," Lorelai said into the phone breathless.

"Hey," Rory said surprised her mother was there. "You sound out of breath, is everything okay?" Rory asked.

"Oh yeah, great," Lorelai panted as she motioned to Luke to throw her shirt to her. "I uh, ran to the phone. I was outside taking the garbage out," she lied.

Luke threw Lorelai her shirt and caught his breath. If Rory hadn't called who knows what might have happened. He sat up on the couch and stopped the movie. He knew Lorelai and this was probably going to be a long conversation. He turned on ESPN and started to watch a baseball. He stood up to get a glass of water, cold water. He really needed a cold shower, but a glass of water would have to do. He passed by Lorelai and she pinched his butt he walked by. He could only smile to himself as he waited for her to get off the phone.

TBC