Epilogue

Rory, Lorelai, and Luke arrived at the Gilmore house at dusk while lightning bugs flickered in the trees. Luke helped to unload the girls' gear and then transferred his stuff to his truck. Lorelai volunteered to go with him to his apartment to help him unpack.

"You really don't need to," Luke said.

"I know," Lorelai said innocently, and Luke knew something was up.

Up in his apartment, Luke dropped his duffle on the floor with a thunk, took the things Lorelai had carried and similarly deposited them, then turned and faced her squarely, arms crossed.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing!" Lorelai trilled. "I just need to talk to you."

"Oh, wonderful. Look, Lorelai, if you're bailing, just say so."

"Luke—"

"Oh, for cryin' out loud, you are bailing! I don't believe this! What does a guy have to do-- "

"Luke! Stop it! I'm not bailing."

"Then what is it?" he said sharply.

"Will you please sit down and chill out so I can tell you?"

Grudgingly, Luke dropped onto the sofa; Lorelai sat beside him, legs curled beneath her, arms crossed.

"There's something I've been trying to say to you," she said with calm she didn't feel. "Something I need to say, but--"

Concern crossed Luke's face. "What is it?" he said gently.

"Um, well, I . . . See, it's like this. I'm in love with you."

Luke's eyebrows shot to the brim of his hat. A grin played on his lips, but before he could respond, Lorelai spoke again.

"But, I'm," she took a breath, "I'm scared. Because you're my best friend and a really great boyfriend, and you always have been – and always will be – really important to me, and to Rory. So, I'm scared that I'm going to screw this up in my usual style."

Luke started to speak, but she interrupted again.

"But. I really will ruin us if I keep trying to -- to protect myself from maybe getting hurt or maybe hurting you." She touched his arm. "I've been keeping you at a distance, and sending you mixed signals, and I'm sorry. I think …I think I have to take this one day at a time and stop waiting for the other shoe to fall." Anxiety twisted in her stomach. This wasn't her usual MO. Normally, if the relationship required this much work, she gave it up for lost.

"Lorelai," Luke pulled her into a hug. "There isn't another shoe."

"But how do you know?" she said into his shoulder.

"I don't. Just like I didn't know if asking you out was going to be the best thing I ever did, or my biggest mistake. I just had to jump in and see what was gonna happen. I didn't know how you felt then, but I amtelling you know how I feel now: I love you. I'm not going anywhere."

Lorelai smiled, looking relieved.

"Really?" she said.

"Really."

She kissed him.

"Well, that's one terrifying conversation down," Lorelai said. "Now I've got to ask my mother when I'm getting a new daddy."

"Huh?" Luke said.

"Rory thinks Emily's having an affair with her neighbor, Mr. Ferguson."

"Who, the gay guy?" Luke said.

Lorelai gaped. "Huh?"

"That old guy next door? Yeah. Him and his, y'know, partner or whatever were renting the house together."

"You know them?" Lorelai said, still trying to process this information into her pre-existing idea. Emily wasn't having an affair? She had spent half the week wondering this, but it hadn't once occurred to her to glance next door and see if there was more than one person staying in that house.

"Well, we talked over the fence," Luke said. "They're Mets fans."

Lorelai laughed. "So . . . my mother's not having an affair?"

"I sincerely doubt it," Luke said.

Shaking her head at the crazy goings-on of the retired set, Lorelai stood. "Well, I should let you unpack," she said.

Luke grabbed her hand. "Or. . ." he said, looking up at her with a half-smile.

Lorelai cocked her head, smiling slyly. "Or?"

Luke stood, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her. When they parted, he arched his eyebrows, questioning. Lorelai's eyes flicked to the twin bed; tiny – or romantic? She grinned at the possibilities.

"Yeah," she said, and kissed him.

Author's Notes

Wow. I can't believe this story is finally done. Since I started working on it about a year ago, it feels like I've sent my baby off to her first day of school! I hope the other stories don't pick on her.

A million thanks to my beta readers Carrilynn and Romantique, who were helping me with this story at the same time they were putting up with me during the Ficathon. :)

And as always thanks for reading. This story wasn't always fun to write, but knowing I've entertained a few people makes it all worthwhile.

-k