Author's Notes:

Wow, thanks for the feedback! I'm still new to the GG fanfiction scene, and this is my first Luke/Lorelai, so I'm glad so many people seem to like it. Special thanks to LilYellowDucky20, SlayerKitty00, Lula Bo, JanieSternin, Daisy Deertree, smile1, netherfield, and Luke Rules for your reviews. I know it seems a bit unusual to have Lorelai go to Europe too, especially right after the Dragonfly's opening, but I wanted to put a different twist on this story, as well as have some time to develop the whole Luke/Dean relationship.

Enough of my ramblings, enjoy the next chapter and please review if you like it!

Dean was over halfway home before he realized that he'd left his wedding ring at Rory's. It was too late to go back for it now—Lorelai surely knew everything by now, and he didn't feel like facing her rage at this time of night. Or even worse, her disappointment. The look on her face was enough to overwhelm him with guilt, and the worst part was that would only be the first of many reactions he'd have to face.

He wasn't looking forward to the scene with Lindsay. He had to tell her what had happened—even if he'd wanted to hide tonight's events from her, the chances of doing so in a little town like Stars Hollow were virtually impossible. It would be all over by tomorrow afternoon at the latest, and he'd already hurt Lindsay enough. All he could do for her now was to tell her himself.

And in spite of everything that had happened, of the hurt and pain he'd left behind and face in front of him, there was still a part of him that felt...well, happy. Not happy that he had disappointed Lorelai or hurt both Rory and Lindsay, but a part of him that could still feel Rory's soft skin beneath his hands, and taste her lips on his. He still loved her. He'd never stopped loving her. Whatever it was, and whatever he was feeling, there was still part of tonight's events that felt right to him.

Lindsay was awake and waiting for him when he got home. Somehow he wasn't surprised. She'd been crying. Again, he wasn't surprised.

"Rory called." Her voice faltered, and she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Oh, Lindsay." He hated himself for the pain in her voice, and for knowing that he'd put it there. "Lindsay, I'm so sorry."

"She didn't say anything," Lindsay continued. "She hung up when she heard my voice, but I saw it was her on the Caller ID, and it didn't take much for me to put two and two together.

"You're having an affair with her." There wasn't any accusation in her voice, or suspicion, just a plain statement.

Dean swallowed. "Yes."

His wife's eyes filled with tears. "How long has this been going on?"

"Tonight was the first time. I swear." He realized how little comfort that offered. It didn't make any difference if he'd just been with Rory tonight, or for the last six months. What mattered was how he felt about her, and that was undoubtedly the next question Lindsay was going to ask.

"Do you love her?"

And there it was. Dean looked away, unable to face her. "Yes."

The tears that had been glistening in Lindsay's eyes during the whole conversation now began to spill down her cheeks. "Did you ever love me?"

Oh, God, how could he answer this? What could he possibly say that wouldn't hurt her any more than he already had? "Of course I did. It's just..."

"You never got over Rory, did you?" Lindsay finished. "We never stood a chance, did we?"

"Lindsay, I'm so sorry," he told her. "None of this is your fault. I screwed up, and I hate that I've hurt you like this."

She held up her hand. The tears were still silently sliding down her cheeks. "Dean, please, there's nothing you can say to me right now that's going to change how I'm feeling."

"I know." He nodded. "I'll go get my things."

Ten minutes later he was out the door. He had three changes of underwear, his toothbrush, and an extra shirt in his backpack. His parents had changed his room into a study after he'd married Lindsay, and while he knew they wouldn't mind his sleeping on the couch for the night, he didn't feel up to explaining everything to them right now.

He couldn't sleep anyhow. He was way too awake to sleep, or to do anything. He wanted to talk to Rory, to make sure that she was all right but she wasn't answering her cell phone and he didn't feel brave enough to try her home number. But he wanted—no, he needed—to know that she was all right, and so he found himself walking down that familiar path to the Gilmore house. He could tap on her window if her light was on, or at least leave a note for her. Or even talk to her mother. He was probably Lorelai's least favorite person in the world right now, but she would let Rory know that he'd come by, that he'd asked for her.

Rory's light was off when he got there, but Lorelai's was on. Dean stood at the end of the driveway, watching the rectangle of light up on the second floor and wondering what he should do. Ringing the doorbell didn't seem like such a good idea, and he wasn't sure if Rory wanted to see him right now. He decided to leave a note, and slipped off his backpack to search for a pen and a scrap of paper.

"What the hell are you doing here?" A hand clamped down on his shoulder, and Dean whirled around to face a very large, very scary Luke.

"I was just—I mean—"Dean paused. "Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I asked you first."

"I'll only tell you what I'm doing here if you tell me what you're doing here."

"You're here to see Rory, aren't you?" Luke asked. "At least, that had better be why you're here."

Dean stared at him. "You know, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know," Luke growled. "Lorelai told me all about what happened with you and Rory this evening."

"You don't know all of it," Dean insisted. "There's a lot you don't..." He broke off. "Why did Lorelai tell you?"

Now it was Luke who looked flustered. "She just—I mean, we're friends and—"

"How did you know she'd come home?" Dean continued. "Why did you come over to see her?"

"That's none of your business!" Luke bristled.

"I've seen the way you look at her," Dean continued. "I know you brought her flowers today. Come on, Luke, you can't tell me that it was just friendly concern that brought you here."

"All right!" Luke exclaimed, frustrated. "I'll tell you if you'll tell me."

"Fine," Dean agreed. "You go first."

"Why do I have to go first?" Luke complained.

"Okay, fine," Dean groaned. "I wanted to make sure Rory was all right."

Luke's face softened a bit. "I wanted to make sure Lorelai was all right."

"You love her, don't you?" Dean continued.

"Yeah," Luke admitted. "I do."

"And I love Rory," Dean confessed.

"I know," Luke told him. "You told me."

"What?"

"On the night before your wedding," Luke continued. "When you stayed over at my place, after your friends had taken you out drinking. You told me you loved her."

"Wow." Dean shook his head. "I wish you'd told me."

Luke looked grim. "So do I."

"It's not your fault, though," Dean went on. "What happened tonight was my fault, not anyone else's."

"Are you going to tell Lindsay?" Luke asked.

Dean nodded. "I already told her. Hence the backpack."

"Got anywhere to stay tonight?" Luke asked.

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Is that an invitation?"

"Just for tonight," Luke hastened to clarify. "And only because you really do love Rory."

"Got it." Dean put his backpack back on and followed Luke back to town.