Lorelia ran downstairs and grabbed the phone.

'Luke's.'

'Hi, it's Lorelai. Are you busy?'

'No more than normal.'

'Too busy to take a to-go order?'

'To-go? You're not coming in?' he sounded disappointed.

'Just to pick up food I'm afraid.'

'How's Rory doing?'

'So you have been hearing things?'

Luke hesitated. 'You know I try not to listen but, yes I have.'

'Now you understand why I'd rather pick up the food.'

'I'll have it ready for you. Unless, I could...' he paused, 'never mind.'

'What?'

'I was going to say I could bring it over after I close but that would be late and I'm sure you are hungry and probably want to be alone. And I don't want to seem.. So never mind, I'll have it ready for you. Twenty minutes?'

'Luke, we can wait. I'd really like it if you came over.'

'If you're sure.'

'Yes. See you when you get here.'

There was a knock on the door, this time Lorelai answered. 'Hi Luke.'

'Hi, here you go.' He handed her two bags.

'Wow, did you bring the entire diner?'

'I know how you Gilmores like to eat.' He laughed at the injured look on her face. 'I've been feeding you for years, you know?'

'OK, you're right. Let's get this in the kitchen. Rory, foods here!'

Rory saw all the bags on the kitchen table. 'Wow, is the whole town coming over?'

'Your mom already got me with that one, I told her I know how you girls eat.' He looked at the table, shaking his head. 'I just hope this is enough.'

'Hey!' Lorelai and Rory said in unison, laughing.

They loaded up their plates and ate in the living room. After a while Lorelai leaned back, 'Ohh, I ate too much.'

'Me too.' Rory said. 'Thank you for bringing the food Luke, I am stuffed. I'm going to go to my room and read for a while. I might call Grandma too.' Rory looked at Lorelai. 'Would that be OK?'

'Of course, if that is what you have decided.'

'I'll just see what she has in mind.'

'OK, see you later.'

'Good night Rory.' Luke said.

Rory shut her door and they could hear music. Lorelai and Luke looked at each other. They smiled at each other.

'What?' Lorelai asked.

He leaned over and pressed his lips against hers. He leaned back and looked at her. 'I've been wanting to do that since I walked in here.' Luke said.

'Hmm, I've been wanting you to do that since you walked in here. I've been thinking about you all day.'

'Really? And what were you thinking?'

'Well, I was thinking about a lot of things today, you and me, Rory, the Inn.'

'That is a lot of thinking.'

'Yes it is, my brain is not used to all those thoughts at the same time. Luke, tell me what you have been hearing.'

He looked away and Lorelai touched his arm. 'Please, I want to protect her but I can't if I don't know what they are saying.'

Luke stood up and looked toward Rory's closed bedroom door. 'She can't hear you, I promise. Please tell me.'

'Lindsay kicked Dean out because he and Rory have been...' he stopped. 'Lorelai, I don't really want to repeat this, it just seems so impossible.' He sighed and looked at Lorelai. Lorelai looked down at her feet, Luke walked over to her and she stood up, he lifted her chin with his finger, she had tears in her eyes. 'Lorelai?' She put her arms around his neck, his arms automatically went around her waist.

Lorelai spoke against his shirt, 'Luke, when I came back here last night to pick up some things and I saw her come out of her room with Dean right behind her I was so, so...' she started to cry.

'Shh, its OK.' he tightened his arms around her. He held her until she settled down. She finally pulled back and looked up at him, ''I'm sorry, I got your shirt all wet.' She started to wipe it with her sleeve.

'It's OK, it will dry.' He stepped back. 'I guess I don't know what to say.'

'You don't need to say anything.'

'I do actually, I never told you this but the night of Dean's bachelor party him and his buddies came into the diner, drunk of course. Well, Dean ended up sleeping upstairs that night and he was talking about Rory and how he still had feelings for her and wanted to know why she hadn't loved him. I talked to Rory the next day and told her not to go to the wedding.'

Lorelai looked at Luke, 'Luke, you knowing that Dean still had feelings for Rory has nothing to do with what happened last night. What Rory and Dean did they did on their own, nobody would have been able to stop it, except them.' Luke sighed and moved toward the window, his hands in his pockets.

She walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned around and looked into her eyes. 'You OK?' he smiled down at her.

'Getting there.' She put her hand against his cheek. 'Thank you for coming over tonight and bringing the food, this is exactly what Rory and I needed.'

Luke pulled her close to his chest. 'Your welcome,' he whispered into her hair. He could stand like this forever with Lorelai in his arms but he knew she needed to talk with Rory, he finally pulled back. 'I should be going now.'

'Really, so soon?' she smiled up at him.

'Yeah, its been a busy weekend, aren't you tired? And I thought you would want to talk with Rory.'

'Yeah, I am tired and I do need to talk to Rory.'

The room was dark and the moonlight was shining through the window, he leaned down to kiss her. There were no interruptions this time. Lorelai moved her arms around his neck and Luke moved his hands up and down her back as the kiss blossomed. When they broke apart they were both breathing heavier. 'I just realized that we are standing in front of your window, anyone could see us.'

'Babette and Miss Patty would have a field day with that.' Lorelai grinned up at him.

'Jeez, I don't want to think about that yet.' They walked to the door holding hands.

'I'll see you later.' Luke said.

'You can count on it.' They shared one last lingering kiss before he opened the door and left.

Lorelai stood at the door smiling and waved to him as he drove away. Rory's door opened and she stepped out to see her Mom leaning against the door with her eyes closed and a dreamy smile on her face.

'Luke left?

'Yep,' she moved away from the door and toward her daughter. 'Did you call Grandma?'

'Yes. I am going to go with her.'

'When do you plan on leaving?'

'Thursday morning, unless that is a problem.'

'You'll miss the grand opening of the Inn.'

'I know Mom, I'm sorry.'

'Don't worry about it, I know you need to do this.'

'Thanks Mom, I think I'll go to bed now.'

'Goodnight Honey.'

The next three days went by quickly, with all the last minute things to do for the Inn and getting Rory ready for her trip she hardly had a chance to see Luke, whenever she was at the diner there were people around so they did not have any private time. Surprisingly, Luke and Lorelai managed to keep their relationship private, or if anyone knew they were not saying anything. The Rory, Dean and Lindsay gossip had not died down.

Wednesday night there was a knock on the door of the diner after closing, Luke didn't have to look up to know it was Lorelai. He moved to the door and unlocked it.

'Hey,' she said.

'Hey yourself. What's up?'

'Rory leaves tomorrow, we're packing and in dire need a caffeine boost.'

'She'll be gone three weeks?'

She nodded. 'I'm going to miss her.'

'Of course you will.'

'The Inn will keep me busy.'

'Yes it will.'

'You will keep me busy,' she looked up at him.

'I can do that.' Smiling, he leaned over the counter and kissed her.

'How is she doing?'

'She's doing better.'

He handed her two to-go cups. 'Thanks, Luke. I'd better get back. I'll see you later.' She leaned over the counter and kissed him and headed out the door.

'Rory, coffees here!'

Rory met her in the hall, 'Great, thanks Mom. How is Luke?'

'He's good. How much have you packed?'

She walked into Rory's room - clothes were strewn everywhere. 'Oh my God.'

'I know, I know.... I don't know what to bring.'

'Good thing we have the coffee then. Let's figure it out.'

They pulled up to her parents house, Lorelai took two suitcases out of the back of the Jeep. Rory grabbed her carry-on and they headed to the front door.

Emily answered it herself. 'Is that all you are bringing?' she asked.

'Good morning to you too, Mom. You are only going to be gone three weeks, right?'

'Grandma, we bought those bags that you press all of the air out of it and you can pack twice as much stuff, believe me, almost everything I own are in these two suitcases.'

Emily had a confused look on her face, 'I have never heard of such a thing, where would you get something like that?'

'Home shopping channel.' Lorelai answered.

Emily rolled her eyes. 'Of course, where else would you have gotten them?'

'Grandma, they are a real space saver. I'll have you hooked on them before we get back.'

'Well, the car will be here shortly, hopefully we do not run late.'

'I'd better get to the Inn.' Lorelai hugged Rory hard. 'Bye hon, be safe, have fun and buy me lots of presents. And call...a lot.'

'I will do all of the above, good luck tomorrow. Love you.'

'Love you too. Bye Mom, have fun and take care of Rory.'

'Of course. Goodbye Lorelai.'