Dislaimer: These are not mine, I wish they were, blah blah blah cakes.

Previously: Luke told Lorelai how it is. In other words he laid it out plain and simple for her, in terms that she could understand. What did she do you ask? Read the previous chapter.

Friday evening- Raining

Lorelai's house-

She runs inside from her Jeep, still mumbling to herself. "I think I love him. Do I love him? Can I live my life without him? Yes, but do I want to?" She kept asking herself as she changed clothes trying to make sense of everything.

As she slipped her t-shirt over her head and pulled on some jeans she realized, "No. I don't want to. These last few days have been miserable. Normally, when I get like this, Luke is there to cheer me up. Normally he is there. He is there. Every time. What would I do if he wasn't. I don't want to find out." With that Lorelai walked out of the door still muttering to herself about dreams and cats and being alone and how it just wasn't worth it anymore. She walked toward the one place she had always found solace and warmth. Luke's

Luke's- Raining

Luke busied himself with wiping down the tables that had been cleared after the dinner rush. He was grumpier than normal and so most of the townspeople had left him alone, sensing his mood. As he wiped, he thought, "What if I lost her? What if she's gone for good? I threw the ball in her court, but what if she lets it drop and we lose all of this? I thought there was something there, I thought she could love me too. I thought...." His thoughts were interrupted as he looked up and saw her. Walking down the street alone, in the rain. He wondered for a minute where she was going, but then saw that she was headed for the diner. He dropped his rag and walked out to meet her halfway.

She saw him walk out of the diner, but she didn't stop walking. She felt completely numb. She knew she was probably soaking wet and looked awful, but she didn't care. All she cared about was him. As he walked toward her, her heartbeat quickened. As she got within feet of him he stopped walking. She stopped and he put his hands on his hips and put his head down.

"I'm here," she whispered into the rain.

He lifted his head and looked at her. "Why?" he asked bitterly, almost regretting his words after he spoke them.

"For you. To tell you. To show you. I want this. I'm here for the long run. I want what we had to come back and grow into all that we know it could be. I am here now, and I am letting you in my life. I am giving it to you," Lorelai stammered. "I give you my life. I am letting you in, which is something I have never done before. I am not running away. I give you my heart, please don't make me regret it. All I have thought about is 'Can I live without you?' and at first I kept answering yes. But then the answer changed to another question, 'Would I want to?' and when I answered 'No.' I knew what this was. I am scared to death here. I love you and I hate that I messed this up. I hate that I hurt you. I never want to do that again. I want you to love me, and be my best friend again. I want you. Period. I'm done." She said as she finished.

Luke just stared at her, trying to take it all in. "She really has no idea what she looks like right now. She is so vulnerable, beautiful, and sexy all at the same time. She is dripping wet out here in the rain and she is beautiful. She said she wants me, she said she LOVES me." He took a step toward her and as he reached for her, seeing the confused look on her face, he said, "Just stand still." He then pulled her close to him and pressed his lips against hers. Both of their worlds lit up in fireworks as they pulled each other tighter into the embrace. Lorelai opened her mouth and Luke slipped his tongue inside as they both moaned with pleasure. Unaware of anyone else they kissed and held each other until they felt the arousal well up within them.

Luke pulled his mouth away from hers and lowered it to her ear. "I want you too." He whispered. He pulled his head back to look at her face. "I love you."

"I love you too." She said as the emotions took over her and she released herself into his arms. Tears rolled down her face mixing with the rain as she repeated, "I love you too."

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and as they walked to the diner he asked, "Coffee?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

They went into the diner and she went to sit at an empty table, but Luke stopped her and said, "Towels are upstairs, I'll bring up the coffee. Try not to drip on anything." She walked upstairs and found the towels in the bathroom. Once she had stripped out of her wet clothes, she went through his dresser and found a t-shirt and some sweatpants. She changed into them and then slipped on a flannel shirt because she couldn't get warm. "I don't know if I'm shivering because I bared my skin, or because I bared my soul." She thought to herself. Luke came up a few minutes later with some coffee and handed her a cup.

"You're soaked" she said.

"You're observant."

After he changed clothes, they sat on the couch as she drank her coffee. She looked over at him and said, "Don't you have to get back downstairs?"

"I closed up early. The only place I need to be is with you."

"Oh," she said quietly as she put the coffee cup down and snuggled up against him. "I meant it you know. I love you."

"I know. I love you too. Can you promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"Next time you want to run away, listen to Rory's advice and talk to her first before you freak out on me."

"Deal," she said as she laid her head on his chest.

They just sat there for a while with Luke stroking her hair, until they both fell asleep.

Luke's Apartment- Friday Night

Lorelai opened her eyes and it took a minute for her to remember where she was. Luke's. The one place she always wanted to be. In his arms. She turned her head to look at him, and seeing that he was still asleep, she leaned her head toward his and kissed him gently on the mouth and whispered, "I love you."

Without opening his eyes, Luke felt the gentle kiss and softly murmured back, "I love you too." When he felt her lips press against his again, he kissed back and separated her lips with his tongue. He felt her body respond to his and turn more to face him, with her chest pressed against his. He pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss. Lorelai began to work her hands down toward the hem of his shirt and slipped her fingers underneath to press them against his abdomen. He responded by turning her so that she was lying on the couch and he was propped up above her. He slowly pulled out of the kiss and smiled at her, saying, "Hey."

"Hey yourself, "She responded gently tickling him with her fingers.

"Don't tickle me unless you want to lose those fingers."

"You couldn't hurt lil' ole me. Not the woman you love. Could you?" Lorelai asked teasingly.

"No, you got me there. But I will have to punish you if you keep it up."

"Dirty." Lorelai said as she kissed him again.

"How did I know you were going to say that?" Luke muttered.

"Cause you know everything about me. And that kinda freaks me out a little."

"Why?" Luke asked, sitting up a little.

"Because. You know all my faults and weaknesses and you still love me. I just don't know why." Lorelai said seriously.

"I just do. Do you know why you love me?" He asked her.

"Because you supply my caffeine addiction." Lorelai said jokingly.

"Seriously." Luke asked her. "Why do you love me?"

"Because no one else understands me like you do. No one else can make me feel better when I am down. And lastly, no one else looks as good with a backwards baseball hat on." She said as she flipped off his hat and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Well, I will have to say those are better reasons that supplying your addiction." Luke said as he lowered his face to hers again.

"Yeah?" Lorelai asked.

"Yeah." Luke said as he began kissing her again. He sat up, still kissing her and picked her up. She slipped her arms around his neck as he carried her to his bed. Neither one wanted to break the embrace so as he lowered her onto the mattress, the kiss deepened and turned more insistent. Lorelai began tugging at his shirt and pulled it up over his head. For a brief second she pulled out of the kiss to admire his perfect chest.

Luke looked at Lorelai, whose mouth was still full from his kisses. "Do you want this now, or are we taking it slow?" He asked tentatively.

Lorelai looked him in the eye and said, ..........

Sorry, but I have to leave you in suspense, just for a little while. Please Read and Review. I really need to know what you think.