Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Since you had to wait so long for the last chapter I come bearing this one today. I just hope my next update will be as fast! I don't own Gilmore Girls...

Early the next Saturday morning Lorelai dragged herself out of bed. She couldn't remember how she'd finally agreed to play softball with Luke at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m. on a Saturday, but she knew she must have agreed somehow because here she was throwing on sweat pants and preparing to play. Lorelai had tried to guilty Rory into playing with her, but she couldn't be persuaded. However, Rory and Christopher did offer to watch Lorelai make a fool of herself, which she found oddly comforting. Luke assured Lorelai that they weren't playing Dean's softball team and so Rory agreed to go.

Lorelai still hadn't told Luke what happened between her and Rory or between Rory and Dean for that matter. Somehow she felt like it was a family matter and unfortunately, as much as Luke already felt like family, he simply wasn't. Christopher was. And he had been very helpful and supportive over the past week. He had managed to maintain his work schedule, including the long drive between Boston and Stars Hollow, while continuing to stay with Rory and Lorelai.

This fact was not lost on the Stars Hollow grapevine. Everyone knew about Luke and Lorelai's movie date and Taylor could have sworn he saw them kissing while Luke was closing the diner, but Christopher was staying with her. Something didn't seem to add up and everyone was trying to figure it out. Of course because of the secretive nature of Christopher's visit it was nearly impossible to explain. They finally decided on telling everyone that Christopher was going through a divorce, which was true, just not completely forthright. Everyone seemed somewhat satisfied with this explanation but every once in a while Luke was certain he saw people giving him those looks. The ones that said, 'Sorry buddy, just when we thought it was your chance--he comes to town.' Luke couldn't honestly say he disagreed.

Though both Luke and Lorelai had agreed to take things slow and not get too wrapped up in the newness and emotion of what was going on between them Luke knew he wasn't living up to his end of the bargain. He had been emotionally invested in Lorelai for years and now that he could actually touch her the way he'd always wanted and kiss her the way she deserved to be kissed he wasn't sure he could ever go back to being 'just friends.'

That brought up thoughts of Christopher. Luke knew that something had happened between Rory and Lorelai and he knew that somehow Christopher was involved, but it was excruciating to not know exactly what happened. Over the past week Luke felt closer to Lorelai than ever, but every time he dropped her off at home he felt threatened because he was leaving her with Christopher. Luke knew that Lorelai had definite feelings for him, but he worried that her feeling for Christopher ran much deeper than those she had for him.

Lorelai, Christopher and Rory emerged from the house and looked everything like the atypical all-American family. They walked over to the baseball fields garnering inquisitive looks from passers-by, but after five days of these looks they were used to it. They finally descended on the field and Lorelai saw Luke unpacking a bag of equipment.

"Okay, I gotta go join my team," Lorelai told Rory and Christopher. "And remember, no laughing," she warned them as she bounced away.

"Yeah, right," Christopher nudged Rory as they sat down.

"She doesn't even have a glove, how can we not make fun of that," Rory agreed.

"Hey," Lorelai said skipping over to Luke.

"Hey," he replied.

Everything in his body wanted to lean in and kiss her, but he didn't. They weren't hiding their relationship, but they weren't exactly on the Public Display of Affection bandwagon either.

"You seem awfully happy this morning," he commented unpacking a few bats from the bag.

"Well I get to see you, so happiness naturally follows," she smiled a mischievous grin.

"And?" Luke asked knowing that her mirth couldn't possibly be the sight of him.

"And what?" she acted offended.

"And why else are you so happy?" he asked again throwing a few softballs on the ground.

"Well I know I said I'd play and I fully intended to commit to that promise," she started.

"Here it comes," Luke said standing up straight and crossing his arms over his chest.

"But I looked high and low and I could not find a baseball glove at my house," she continued. "Shocker, I know. So I called Sookie and Lane and no one seems to have a spare so I guess this means..."

"That you should have called me," Luke said smiling and reaching into the bag. He produced a baseball glove that looked brand new and held it up in front of her.

"Uh, right," Lorelai responded deflated. "But this glove has rubber bands all over it," she pointed out.

"Well it's new," Luke explained taking off the rubber bands. "I bought it for you a few days ago when you said you'd join my team. I kind of figured you wouldn't have a glove so I bought you one."

"You're a thoughtful one," Lorelai commented. "But if you need rubber bands to hold it together I don't see how it will do me any good," she attempted to dissuade him again.

"The rubber bands are holding the ball inside the glove. I was breaking it in for you," he said handing her the glove.

"Great," Lorelai said taking the glove and trying it on. "Oh, hey," she said putting a hand on Luke's forearm. "This is for my left hand."

"So?" Luke asked.

"So I'm right handed," Lorelai explained. "I can't play, sorry," she said sadly although her face displayed nothing but delight.

"Well you wear the glove on your left hand so you can throw with your right hand," Luke explained walking behind her and peeling the glove from her right hand and pulling it securely on her left.

"Right," Lorelai said. "I knew that."

Christopher and Rory watched the exchange between Luke and Lorelai. "She'll do anything to get out of playing today won't she?" Christopher asked.

"Yep," Rory agreed. "Mom is the queen of excuses, but I don't think Luke is gonna let her off that easy."

"Well the 'this glove is for the wrong hand' bit was a valiant effort," Christopher observed.

"She tries," Rory smiled.

"So, your Mom and Luke," Christopher started. "Are you okay with that?"

"Yeah, I guess," Rory replied. "We've known Luke forever and he's always loved her. She seems happy."

"And are you happy they're together?" Christopher asked again.

"Yeah," Rory said. "It's a little weird I guess," Rory admitted. "But Mom's seems happy. She was really happy before all this stuff with Dean happened. She was excited that Luke had sort of made a move."

"How long ago was this?" Christopher continued on his information-gathering mission.

"I don't know a few weeks ago," Rory said. "They went to this wedding together and then Mom said things were different between them. Does it bother you?"

"What?" Christopher stalled because he was taken aback by her straightforward question.

"Does it bother you to see Mom with Luke? You and Sherry are getting a divorce so I just wondered," Rory explained. "Sorry, should I not have asked that? Is it too personal?"

"Rory you're my daughter," Christopher said. "If you can't ask me a question like that then who can?"

"Mom?" Rory tried.

"Yeah, well her too," Christopher admitted. "It doesn't bother me to see her with Luke. He seems like a nice guy and I just want her to be happy. Your Mom wanted to try things with us and I left. I married Sherry. I guess you could say knowing the way things are now I will always wonder what could have happened if I'd stayed, but I don't begrudge your Mom happiness with Luke, or anyone else."

"How very mature of you," Rory kidded him.

"Yeah being a grown up is a bitch," he sighed with a smile.

"Tell me about it," Rory replied.

Christopher put an arm around his daughter's shoulder and gave her a light hug as the game started.

The fifth inning rolled around and Lorelai was up to bat again. She had struck out the first two times she was up to bat and no one had much confidence in her ability to bring home the runners on second and third, especially since there were already two outs. She stepped up to the plate and held the bat the way Luke had taught her. She took a practice swing and she was ready to hit.

"Strike one," Kirk said.

"Strike?" Lorelai said turning to face him. "That was so high Abraham Lincoln couldn't have hit it?"

"Abraham Lincoln?" Luke muttered.

"Lincoln?" Christopher and Rory exchanged looked.

"I couldn't think of anyone tall okay?" Lorelai yelled.

"Actually it probably would have been a ball if you were Lincoln, since he's tall he would have a different strike zone," Kirk explained. "But for your size, weight and posture I'm sticking with a strike."

"Hey are we gonna have a dissertation on the strike zone or are we gonna play?" someone yelled from the outfield. Lorelai couldn't tell who it was, but she made a mental note to have a talk with them later.

"Come on Lore," Christopher yelled from the stands. He and Rory clapped their hands together for support. "You can do it Mom!" Rory chimed in.

Lorelai stepped back into the batter's box and took another practice swing. She was offended to notice that the in field had moved in. She suddenly felt very sorry for all the Bad News Bears. The pitcher threw the ball and Lorelai took a hard swing and connected with nothing but air.

"Strike two," Kirk yelled.

"Okay, it's okay," Luke yelled clapping his hands together. "Just keep your eye on the ball. We've got some runners out there who'd like to get home. You can do it."

Something about the way Luke spoke made Lorelai feel very confident. The pitcher wound up and the ball sailed over the plate as Lorelai swung the bat. Suddenly she heard a very unfamiliar sound. It was the sound of the bat and ball connecting. She stood there and watched the ball sail over the in field and into the outfield passed whoever taunted her before. She just stood staring at the ball she hit rolling farther out into the field.

But then something broke her reverie. It the sound of Luke, Christopher, Rory, everyone on the bench and the crowd of about 20 that had gathered to watch the game.

"Run!" they shouted. "Go, run! Don't stand there!"

Lorelai realized that she had never gotten to the running the bases portion of baseball before. Well theoretically she had run the bases. In fact, she had gotten to third base by the time she 14, but that was all metaphorical. This was real and she started to run. She got to first and the base coach waved her on to second. She could still hear the chants of the crowd compelling her to run and she ran toward third base. She was so high on adrenaline that she didn't hear the third base coach tell her to stop and she rounded the bag and ran for home. Unfortunately the catcher was there, in the baseline waiting, with the ball. Lorelai tried to turn back but then they got her in a pickle. Finally she decided to make a break for home and she ran, throwing her body into the catcher to get to home plate, where she was triumphantly tagged out.

The game didn't last much longer given that Lorelai was covered in dirt and had a giant bruise on her upper thigh from colliding with the catcher. She was grateful that Luke had thought to pack an ice pack in that never-ending bag he had brought.

"You did great today," Luke said sitting next to her on the bench as everyone packed up to go home.

"Really?" Lorelai asked. "You're not just saying that?"

"I'd pick you for my team any day. I think we need to talk about listening to your base coach, but other than that you were terrific," he told her.

"Thanks," she grinned shyly. "I may never move again after tonight, but it was worth it."

Rory and Christopher walked over to the dug out to congratulate the team on their victory, which was all due to Lorelai's hit. Even though she was tagged out she still brought in the crucial winning run.

"Hey, how's the leg?" Christopher asked.

"Purple," Lorelai answered moving her ice pack. "Although I hear that purple is this year's pink so I should be good to go."

Lorelai stood up from the bench and stumbled slightly. Luke extended an arm for her to lean on, but Christopher beat him to it. The way Luke saw it he swooped in between them to help her. In actuality Christopher was in a better position to lean in and he simply helped her when he saw her stumble. Luke stepped back and started packing up his bag.

"Thanks," Lorelai smiled at Christopher.

"You walked here," Luke stated. "I can run back and get my truck to take you back home," he offered once his bag was packed.

"No, it's fine," Lorelai waved him off. "It's just a bruise. A purple, mind- numbingly painful bruise, but I'll be fine. See, this is what physical fitness gets you," she kidded him.

"Are you sure?" he asked again.

"I'll be fine," she reiterated. "You need to get back to the diner and I need to get to the inn so scoot," she told him.

Christopher and Rory seemed to be engaged in their own conversation and Luke took advantage of it by sidling closer to Lorelai.

"Thanks for playing today," he said.

"You're welcome," she grinned. "Although you owe me for this bruise. I think I see West Side Story in your future."

"Great," he rolled his eyes, but his mouth suppressed a grin. "I'm looking forward to it."

"I knew you would be," she smiled. Lorelai glanced around the park and noted that most people had left and those that were around weren't looking. She took the opportunity to lean in and give Luke a light peck on the lips. "I'll talk to you later," she said leaning back.

Luke gave her a small grin and said, "Okay. Are you sure you don't need me to bring my truck back to take you home?"

"I'm sure," she said pushing him away. "Now go cook up some grub for this here town," she told him in a fake Southern accent.

"Alright," he replied still unsure, but he picked up his bag and turned to leave. "Bye Rory, Christopher."

"See ya Luke," Rory called.

"Bye," Christopher mumbled.

"So ya ready?" Christopher asked Lorelai once Luke had walked a few feet away.

"As I'll ever be," she replied.

Lorelai took a few steps and winced. "Ah, baseball was a bad idea before work," she said as she limped slowly across the field.

"Come here," Christopher said turning to her and opening his arms.

"What?" Lorelai asked.

Christopher didn't give her a chance to protest. He simply gathered Lorelai in his arms and gently picked her up careful to avoid the deep purple welt that had formed on her thigh.

"Chris," Lorelai screamed. "Put me down. You can't make it all the way back to the house like this," Lorelai said.

"Is that a dare?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Cause it sounded like a dare," he told Rory. "What do I get if I make it?"

"You're incorrigible," Lorelai said as Christopher picked up his pace with her firmly encased in his arms.

"Come on," he chided her. "What do I get?"

"A home-cooked meal," Lorelai said absently.

"Cooked by?" Chris asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yours truly," she replied.

"Hmm, sounds more like a punishment than a reward," he stated.

"Oh shut up," she said playfully hitting him. "What do you want then?" she challenged him.

"I'll tell you when I win," he smirked and he started running with Lorelai in his arms.

"Chris," Lorelai yelled, "You're gonna drop me!" She was putting up a fight but she was laughing the entire way. Christopher started laughing too and then Rory giggled while she chased her parents through the park.

Luke was walking back to the diner when he heard yelps of delight that reminded him very much of Lorelai. He had the urge to turn around and when he finally did he suddenly wished he hadn't. There, approximately 100 yards away he saw them. Lorelai, Christopher and Rory cavorting like the family they always should have been. Lorelai in Christopher's arms her arms around his neck. Luke knew he shouldn't be jealous, but deep in the fathoms of his heart he knew that he'd never be Christopher and he wasn't sure how he could reconcile that fact, to himself or to Lorelai.

Luke hung his head and propped the equipment bag a little higher on his shoulder as he made his way back to the diner. He tried to remember Lorelai's kisses and reassure himself of the feelings he was certain she had for him. He took comfort in those memories, but in the back of his mind he couldn't help but wonder if Christopher remembered Lorelai's kisses like he did. Then Luke wondered if maybe he wasn't fighting Christopher for Lorelai's affection, but himself and his own insecurities. These thoughts plagued him as he made his way back to the diner and returned to a day of cooking for the people of Stars Hollow.

TBC