A/N: So this is it, for now at least. Maybe I'll see you around again sometime...

Disclaimer: The story is mine & so are my thoughts (however strange they may be), but sadly (or fortunately), the characters & everything GG related are not.

5. The only way left is by foot

Everyone has aims and goals. Lukes aim? To keep walking. Luke's goal? To get as far away from the horse named Desdemona as possible. The added benefit of this plan was that the effort to keep up with him was keeping Lorelai quiet.

"Lu-u-ke."

Well, maybe not quiet, but quieter than usual. Without looking back, he grunted, "What?"

"Luke. Stop! Please?" Lorelai came to a standstill as the horses stalled behind her. She jerked on the reins and called out. "Oh for the love of god, stop! I'm tired and I'm cranky and my feet hurt because these shoes, while fashionable, are not made for Lewis and Clark's expedition across America. Can we just take a break?"

From several paces ahead of her, Luke called back; "I'm not getting back on those horses!"

"I'm not asking you to. Luke!"

Finally, he stopped and turned to face her. "We're almost back at the inn, but unless we keep walking we won't get there before dark."

She raised her foot in an attempt to remove the offending shoe, but quickly found herself off-balance. "We'd be there already if you'd just get on the damned horse," she grumbled under her breath.

"Do we really have to go over this again?" he shot back as he made his over to her.

She took his arm and toed off her shoe. Easing her foot down onto the grass, she moaned. "Oh, that's just...mhmm. Much better." She walked around him in a circle and then sighed before reluctantly putting the shoes back on. Releasing her hold on his arm she took a step back and smiled up at him. "Thanks Luke."

He reddened slightly and cleared his throat. "So, you ready to go?"

"I guess," she pouted. "Only, will you walk with me instead of ten paces ahead? It gets a little lonely back here with no one to talk to but Cletus and Desdemona."

For the first time that afternoon, Luke smiled. He'd heard her mumbling to herself earlier, but he'd figured it was just because she was mad at him. "I guess. But..."

"No riding the horses, I got it." With one hand, she pulled the horses forward and began walking. "Hey Luke."

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you didn't fall off the horse and suffer a horrible fate today."

He actually grinned. "Me too."

"Hey Luke?"

"Yes Lorelai?"

"I'm glad you came with me. Even with the whole dare-devil riding escapade."

"Me too," he admitted.

She glanced up at him in surprise. "You are? Really?"

He slowed his pace to a stop. "I...well, I guess." Suddenly uncomfortable with the conversation, he began walking again. Lorelai struggled to match his pace as silence fell over them.

"Hey Luke?"

"Yes?" He didn't even try to keep the edge of annoyance out of his voice.

Biting her lip, she shook her head and looked down. "It's. Never mind."

"What is it?"

"It's nothing. I..."

"Lorelai."

"I was scared earlier. When you took off on Desdemona. When I found you lying on the ground." Her voice caught in her throat. "I thought that...but you were okay then...and..."

She took a step towards the horses, but Luke caught her hand. "Lorelai," he chided softly.

A look of fierce determination passed over her face. "I need you to be here for me Luke. I need you to be okay and whole and.... I need you to be here."

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm not going anywhere."

"But you are. You got married." He made as if to interrupt her, but she continued. "I know. I know it was a mistake, or accident, or whatever you're calling it these days. But Luke, you got married. Married Luke, that's a big thing, a huge thing, and... maybe I didn't lose you this time, but one day..." She looked away in frustration. "I told you it was nothing."

Without warning, he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Soft lips. Warm lips that tickled. Moist lips that forced a tingle up her spine. Luke's lips. She tried to pull away, but he held on tight.

"I'm not going anywhere."

For a moment she stared at him with a look reminiscent of a deer in the headlights, and he could see her mind working furiously to sort things out. He hardly dared to breathe lest she run away, but then suddenly, unexpectedly, her face softened. Her eyes warmed and began to sparkle. She blushed. Lorelai Gilmore actually blushed.

Softly, but clearly, she spoke. "Neither am I."

It wasn't anything solid or certain, but it filled him with hope. Luke glanced down and noticed the way her finger's laced with his. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards, giving the slight hint of a smile. It crossed his mind then to lean in for another kiss, but he held back, determined to let things take their own pace. For now, what he had was enough. She wasn't going anywhere.

Flashing him a smile that was still slightly dazed, Lorelai tugged on his arm, pulling him towards the twinkling lights of the inn. "Come on Luke, we're almost there."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you," he grumbled half-heartedly, tightening his grip on her hand.

And they walked off into the deepening shadows together.